سیرت نگاری میں قواعدِ فقہیہ کا بلاغی و تربیتی کردار

The Rhetorical and Pedagogical Role of Fiqhī Principles in Sirah Writing: An Analytical Study

Abstract

This study examines the rhetorical and pedagogical significance of Fiqhī (Islamic legal) maxims in the genre of Sirah literature. It explores how foundational principles such as al-Umūru bi Maqāṣidihā (actions are judged by intentions), al-Yaqīnu lā Yuzālu bi al-Shakk (certainty is not removed by doubt), al-Mashaqqatu Tajlibu al-Taysīr (hardship brings ease), Lā Ḍarara wa Lā Ḍirār (no harm and no reciprocating harm), and al-ʿĀdatu Muḥakkamah (custom is authoritative) are not only embedded in the Prophetic biography but also shape its narrative style, moral depth, and educational impact. Through a detailed analysis of classical works like Ibn Hisham’s Al-Sīrah al-Nabawiyyah and modern contributions such as Shibli Nomani’s Sīrat-un-Nabī, the paper demonstrates that these Fiqhī maxims serve as powerful rhetorical tools. They provide structural coherence, ethical clarity, and persuasive force to the narration while transforming historical events into timeless moral lessons. The study argues that Sirah writers skillfully employed these principles to balance factual authenticity with spiritual guidance, making the biography an effective medium for character formation and ethical training. By highlighting the interplay between legal maxims, rhetorical elegance, and pedagogical purpose, this research underscores the unique literary and didactic character of Sirah literature. It further suggests that these principles remain highly relevant for contemporary biographical writing, Islamic education, and ethical discourse in the modern world.