[SB] Sifat al Sofwah / صفة الصفوة

This book discusses the attempts of immoral cartoonists to malign the Prophet Muḥammad (peace be upon him) through satirical caricatures having no resemblance to reality. Likewise, it discusses the ideology of the Khārijite terrorists, their remoteness from Islām and the complete innocence of the Prophet Muḥammad (peace be upon him) from them and their evil ideology. The issues of jihād and Muslim relations with non-Muslims in their countries are also discussed. This book is for open-minded people who see beyond media propaganda and wish to acquire an accurate understanding of Islām and its position on extremism and terrorism. Speaking in relation to the terrorist attacks which took place in France on 7th January 2015, Shaykh ʿUbayd al-Jābirī said: I advise the [imāms] who give sermons, the teachers, the lecturers and Muslim journalists to unite upon a single word and it is: To openly announce [their] disavowal and innocence from this action and other actions of anarchy… The people of the Sunnah hold it as their religion before Allāh that in the lands of Europe, America and other non-Muslim lands besides them in which they have settled there is a covenant, a contract [binding upon them]. Hence, they must not violate it [through treachery], ever. And speaking in defence of the Prophet Muḥammad (peace be upon him) with respect to the slanderous and abusive Danish cartoons, Shaykh Rabīʿ bin Hādī said: Muḥammad (peace be upon him) and his rightly-guided Caliphs and his noble Companions did not erect factories for the manufacture of elementary weapons such as swords and spears, let alone atomic bombs and missiles and other such wholly destructive weapons. Muḥammad (peace be upon him) did not erect a single factory because he was sent as a mercy to the worlds, to guide all of mankind to that which brings them happiness in the world and afterlife.

Muhammad, Messenger of Allah is the first English translation of Qadi Iyad’s definitive text ash-Shifa. For a thousand years this beautiful and majestic book has guided the Muslim community to a straight and balanced path in their beliefs and practices concerning the Messenger, blessings of Allah and peace be upon him, in particular and the risalah (the message) in general.

This book contains: The most comprehensive compilation of Quranic references about the Messenger, with Qadi Iyad’s authoritative commentary on them. A complete catalogue of the Messenger’s qualities and life-pattern received in a direct line of transmission by Qadi Iyad. A unique record of the salafi community of Madinah’s transactions with and behaviour towards the Messenger of Allah. The rights of the Messenger and the honour, obedience and protection due to him and his name from his followers, the Muslim community. Qadi Iyad (476 – 544 AH/1083 – 1149 CE) Abu’l-Qadl Iyad ibn Musa ibn Iyad al-Yahsubi, Qadi of Ceuta during the time of the Murabitun. He travelled to Andalus to study and in Cordoba he learnt from such luminaries as Ibn Rushd, the grandfather of the Qadi and philosopher of the same name. Iyad was already accepted in scholarly circles when he was eighteen and was appointed qadi when he was 35 becoming first the qadi of Ceuta in 515 AH/ 1121 CE and later Granada in Spain in 531 AH/ 1136 CE. He was exemplary in his knowledge of the sciences of hadith from which ocean he drew his astonishing work ash-Shifa. He also wrote the Foundations of Islam on fiqh, and Tartib al-Madarik on the luminaries of the school of Madina. He opposed Ibn Tumart’s claim to be the Mahdi and was exiled to Marrakech where he was murdered.

The Translator: Aisha Bewley Aisha Abdurrahman at Tarjumana Bewley is one of today’s most prolific translators of classical Arabic works into English. For more than thirty-five years she has been concerned with making the contents of many classical Arabic works more accessible to English-speaking readers. She is co-translator of The Noble Qur’an A New Rendering of its Meaning in English. Other works include Al-Muwatta of Imam Malik, The Meaning of Man, Mu’awiya – Restorer of the Muslim Faith, A Glossary of Islamic Terms, Islam: The Empowering of Women and Muslim Women, a Biographical Dictionary.