Ibn Hisham

Abu Muhammad Abdul-Malik ibn Hisham (d. 218 AH / 833 CE) was a scholar and historian of Egyptian or Basran origin who produced the definitive edition of the Seerah (prophetic biography) that has come to be the standard reference for the life of Prophet Muhammad. His birth date is not precisely known, but he was active in the early third century of the Islamic calendar.

Ibn Hisham's great contribution was his editing and abridgement of the original Sirat Rasul Allah composed by Muhammad ibn Ishaq (d. 150 AH / 767 CE). While Ibn Ishaq's original work has been lost in its complete form, Ibn Hisham's recension, known as as-Sirah an-Nabawiyyah or Sirat Ibn Hisham, preserved the core narrative while removing material he considered unreliable, extraneous, or not directly related to the Prophet's life. He also added linguistic notes explaining obscure Arabic vocabulary and poetry found in the text.

As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyah covers the Prophet's genealogy, the pre-Islamic context of Arabia, the revelation, the persecution in Mecca, the migration to Medina, the major battles and events of the Medinan period, and the conquest of Mecca. It remains the oldest surviving and most widely read biography of the Prophet Muhammad, serving as the primary source for later seerah works by scholars such as Ibn Kathir. Ibn Hisham died in 218 AH (833 CE), most likely in Egypt. His editorial work ensured the survival and accessibility of the foundational narrative of prophetic history.