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The Maghazi of Sayyiduna Muhammad ﷺ

The Maghazi of Sayyiduna Muhammad ﷺ

Lost for almost 500 years. The oldest Seerah in history. Rediscovered.

Musa ibn Uqbah (author)

Publisher: Imam Ghazali Publishing

This text is the first English translation of The Maghāzī of Sayyidunā Muhammad ﷺ by the eminent Tabi'i scholar Musa ibn 'Uqbah, the earliest biography of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ currently known to exist. Until recently, no copies of The Maghāzī of Sayyidunā Muhammad ﷺ had been seen for over 400 years, and most scholars believed the text to be lost forever. Thus the good fortune of its reappearance cannot be overstated. The discovery of its manuscripts in the archives of the National Library of Tunisia by Dr. Muhammad Tabarani is a significant event, the like of which the Ummah may not see again for many years, if ever. Ninety-one folios were found, which together contain approximately three-quarters of the original text. We hope that the remaining parts may be found soon. Renowned in his own time as a muhaddith and historian, Mūsā ibn ʿUqbah ranks as one of the first individuals to compile reports specifically related to the sīrah, the biography of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. More significant, however, is the fact that his Maghāzī (Expeditions) was acclaimed by his contemporaries and by scholars of later generations, as the most authentic work of its genre.
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Detailed Description

This text is the first English translation of The Maghāzī of Sayyidunā Muhammad ﷺ by the eminent Tabi'i scholar Musa ibn 'Uqbah, the earliest biography of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ currently known to exist.

Until recently, no copies of The Maghāzī of Sayyidunā Muhammad ﷺ had been seen for over 400 years, and most scholars believed the text to be lost forever. Thus the good fortune of its reappearance cannot be overstated. The discovery of its manuscripts in the archives of the National Library of Tunisia by Dr. Muhammad Tabarani is a significant event, the like of which the Ummah may not see again for many years, if ever. Ninety-one folios were found, which together contain approximately three-quarters of the original text. We hope that the remaining parts may be found soon.

Renowned in his own time as a muhaddith and historian, Mūsā ibn ʿUqbah ranks as one of the first individuals to compile reports specifically related to the sīrah, the biography of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. More significant, however, is the fact that his Maghāzī (Expeditions) was acclaimed by his contemporaries and by scholars of later generations, as the most authentic work of its genre. Those who praised him and affirmed his trustworthiness include Imam Malik, Imam al-Shafi'i, and Imam ibn Hanbal:

“I recommend the Maghazi of the pious man Musa ibn ‘Uqbah because it is the most accurate of Maghazi works”
— Imam Malik ibn Anas

"There is none from the Maghazi genre that is more authentic than his book despite its shortness, and it is void of what is mostly mentioned in books other than his."
— Imam Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi’i

“Hold tight to (Kitab) al-Maghazi by Ibn 'Uqbah because he is absolutely trustworthy.”
— Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal

“His trustworthiness is confirmed. And he narrated many ḥadīths.” 
— Imām al-Dhahabī

“[The scholars] agreed upon his trustworthiness. Both al-Bukhārī and Muslim narrated his ḥadīths.” “His trustworthiness is confirmed. He was one of the junior Tabi‘īn.” 
— Imām al-Nawawī

“He was a trustworthy jurist and authority in (the field of) Maghāzī.”
— Imām Ibn Ḥajar al-‘Asqalānī

Following its completion, The Maghāzī of Sayyidunā Muhammad ﷺ served as an authoritative source for many later works on the life of Allah's Messenger ﷺ.

A sub-genre within the field of Prophetic studies, the maghāzī literature covers the battles and military expeditions of the Prophetic era, and by extension, the biography of the Prophet ﷺ as well. The maghāzī literature is thus both historical and religious in its scope. What sets The Maghāzī of Sayyidunā Muhammad ﷺ apart, even among the works of maghāzī and sīrah, is the fact that its author was a muhaddith first and foremost, and as such, adhered to strict requirements for documentation of both narrators and narrations in his works. The result is that his Maghāzī is a work of history that is documented almost to the same standards as a work of hadith.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is “The Maghazi of Sayyiduna Muhammad ﷺ”?

“The Maghazi of Sayyiduna Muhammad ﷺ” refers to an early historical account focusing on the expeditions (military campaigns) and battles during the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). “Maghazi” literally means battles or military expeditions. This particular book is significant because it is attributed to Musa ibn ‘Uqbah, one of the earliest historians of the Prophet’s life (he was a student of Imam al-Zuhri and lived in the generation after the Prophet’s companions). Essentially, this text is one of the earliest biographies of the Prophet, and likely the earliest that specifically compiled narrations about the campaigns of the Prophet.

2. Why is Musa ibn ‘Uqbah’s Maghazi important?

Musa ibn ‘Uqbah’s work is precious for scholars and history enthusiasts because of its antiquity. Written in the 8th century, it predates the famous Sirah of Ibn Ishaq/Ibn Hisham. Although not all of Musa ibn ‘Uqbah’s writings survived fully in original form, what we have (through later historians quoting him) is considered reliable and authentic. His Maghazi offers a firsthand early perspective on events like the battles of Badr, Uhud, Khandaq, Tabuk, etc., and how the Muslim community formed and defended itself in the Prophet’s time. Studying it gives insight into how early Muslims recorded and remembered the Prophet’s life.

3. Is this book a direct translation of Musa ibn ‘Uqbah’s work?

Yes, the edition at ilmStore is essentially an English translation of the known text of Musa ibn ‘Uqbah’s Maghazi. It may be reconstructed from quotations of later historians (since the original manuscript in full might not exist, historians piece it together from others who cited it). The book likely includes footnotes or commentary explaining the context. The publisher (possibly Imam Ghazali Publishing in collaboration) has taken care to produce it as the first time Musa ibn ‘Uqbah’s Maghazi is presented fully in English. That’s a big deal for history buffs!

4. Who should read “The Maghazi of Sayyiduna Muhammad”?

This book is a great read for those who love Islamic history or want a deeper understanding of the Seerah (Prophet’s biography) beyond the basic narrative. If you’ve read a general Seerah and want to go to source materials, this is for you. It’s also useful for students of knowledge or researchers. That said, even an enthusiastic layperson can enjoy it – the translation is meant to be accessible. Keep in mind it will focus mostly on the battles and expeditions, so it complements other Sirah books (which might focus more on spiritual lessons or Makkah period events). If you read this, you get a very authentic early account of pivotal moments like Badr and Uhud from an almost eyewitness-like source.

5. What can I expect in terms of content style from this early Sirah work?

Early works like Musa ibn ‘Uqbah’s Maghazi often read as straightforward narrative listings of events. Don’t expect modern analysis or a lot of author commentary. It will likely present: year by year, what major events happened, where the Prophet went with the Sahaba, which tribes were involved, outcomes of each campaign, treaties made, etc. It might also include letters the Prophet sent, or accounts of delegations. The style is concise and factual. The benefit is it’s closer to the source; the challenge might be fewer interpretative comments (which a modern Sirah author would add). But usually good translations include a preface or footnotes to help fill in blanks. Overall, reading it feels like traveling back in time and seeing the Sirah from the lens of someone just a generation or two after the Prophet – which is pretty fascinating!

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