The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ibn Ishaq's Sirat Rasul Allah by A. Guillaume

Product Details

• Product Type: Academic Book / Biography / Historical Translation
• Title: The Life of Muhammad (A Translation of Ibn Ishaq's Sirat Rasul Allah)
• Translator: A. Guillaume (Alfred Guillaume)
• Original Author: Ibn Ishaq (edited by Ibn Hisham)
• Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
• ISBN: 978-0196360331
• Impression: Thirty-fifth Impression (2025)
• Genre: Islamic History, Seerah, Religious Studies, Classical Literature
• Language: English
• Paper Quality: 80gsm Offset Paper
• Country of Publication: Pakistan (Karachi)

Overview

Gain access to the earliest and most comprehensive biography of the Prophet of Islam with The Life of Muhammad, masterfully translated by Professor A. Guillaume. Published by the prestigious Oxford University Press, this volume is considered the standard English translation of Sirat Rasul Allah (The Life of the Messenger of God) by Ibn Ishaq.

Written in the eighth century, Ibn Ishaq's work is the primary source from which practically all subsequent biographers of the Prophet have drawn their material. Alfred Guillaume’s translation not only presents Ibn Hisham’s famous abridgment of the text but also reconstructs lost sections using quotations from other early authors like Al-Tabari. This 2025 impression ensures that this critical piece of historical and spiritual scholarship remains accessible to modern students, historians, and general readers seeking an authentic understanding of the origins of Islam.

Product Features

• Complete Reconstruction: Unlike other versions that rely solely on Ibn Hisham, this translation incorporates additions and variants found in the writings of other early scholars, offering the most complete English version of Ibn Ishaq’s original work.
• Scholarly Introduction: Includes a detailed introduction where Guillaume discusses the historical character of the Sira, the reliability of early sources, and the complexities of the Arabic poetry embedded in the text.
• Primary Source Material: Recognized as the earliest monument of Arabian prose literature, this book is essential for anyone conducting serious research into Islamic history.
• High-Quality Production: Printed on durable 80gsm offset paper by Oxford University Press, ensuring longevity for library and personal collections.

Interesting Facts

• The "Lost" Original: The original text by Ibn Ishaq (died 767 AD) does not survive in its entirety. It was preserved primarily through the editing of Ibn Hisham (died 833 AD). Guillaume’s work is unique because he painstakingly attempted to "restore" the original scope of Ibn Ishaq's work by hunting down excerpts that Ibn Hisham had removed but which were preserved by other historians.
• The Translator: Alfred Guillaume (1888–1965) was a titan of Oriental studies. He served as Professor of Arabic at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London and later at Princeton University. His expertise was crucial in translating the archaic and difficult poetry found within the Sira.
• Collaborative Scholarship: As noted in the acknowledgments, Guillaume consulted with prominent Arab scholars of his time, including Dr. Abdullah al-Tayib and Dr. W. Arafat, to ensure the accuracy of the translation, particularly regarding the obscure vocabulary of pre-Islamic Arabia.

Publishers

• Publisher: Oxford University Press (Pakistan)
• Address: No. 38, Sector 15, Korangi Industrial Area, PO Box 8214, Karachi-74900, Pakistan.

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