بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

“The history of the world is but the Biography of great men.” [Thomas Carlyle [1795 – 1881] in The Hero as Divinity [1841])

Undoubtedly, this universe of ours has been witness to the lives of many great personalities, all of who contributed to the development of mankind. But no matter how great these people, no one can surpass God’s chosen people, the messengers and prophets and from amongst them His last and final Messenger, the Seal of Prophethood, our beloved Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

There have been many works on him and his life, but no matter how many times the events of his life are relived, there is always a new lesson to be learnt. There is always something new that people of all ages and times can be inspired by.

The biography I have chosen to translate and present to you here on my blog is called: نور اليقين في سيرة سيد المرسلين (Nūr ul-Yaq̣īn Fī Sīrati Sayyid il-Mursalīn) written by the late Egyptian Scholar ‘Allāma Moḥammad al-Khudarī (العلامة محمد الخُضَري), Allah Almighty have mercy on him. The distinctive feature of this biography is its very appropriate length that does not compromise on detail of the significant events in the life of the Beloved Messenger. It is not drawn out to an extent to where it relies on weak narrations or accounts of history to fill out the pages nor is it too short such that it fails to mention the key moments in the life of the Beloved, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. By his own admission, ‘Allāma Mohammad al-Khudari has sighted the blessed Qur’ān, Sahīh Bukhārī, Sahīh Muslim as his primary sources, with occasional use of ash-Shifa of Qadī ‘Ayyād, as-Sīrat ul-Ḥalabīya, al-Muwāhib ul-Ladunya, al-Qastalāni and Ihyā ‘Ulūm ud-Din of Ghazālī.

Beacon of Certainty

The title of the book, Nūr ul-Yaq̣īn Fī Sīrati Sayyid il-Mursalīn, presents some translation problems; I have selected the title “Beacon of Certainty in the life of the Best of Humanity”. I have arrived at this translation after some considerable thought.

The Arabic word Nūr (نور) is a very special word and should not be translated simply as ‘light’, as the Arabic word for light is ḍaw’ (ضوء).

Al-Mu’jam al-Wasīt gives the following meaning:

النور: الضَّوء و سُطوعه . و ما يُبيِّن الأشياء و يُرَى الأبصار حقيقتها

Nūr is light when it spreads. It makes things clear and reveals the item’s reality.

اليقين: العلم الذي لا شك معه

al-Yaq̣īn is the knowledge that contains no doubt.

In this context the title means that this book will grant the reader an ever illuminating light on the facts – that have no doubt in them – in the life of the blessed Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. The study of this great life will become a beacon of guidance for the reader, a torch by which the darkness will fade and dissipate, a compass by which orientation in a confused world will become facile.

The English word I have selected to capture this meaning is “Beacon”. Checking this word in a dictionary reveals:

Beacon: a guiding or warning signal especially one in an elevated position or a person or thing that warns or guides.

I think ‘beacon’ as a translation of Nūr is most suited in this context as it captures other aspects of the Prophet’s life. The Prophet himself warned and guided humankind;

وما أرسلنك إلا كآفة للناس بشيرا و نذيرا و لكن أكثر الناس لا يعلمون

We have not sent you but as a universal (Messenger) to men, giving them glad tidings, and warning them (against sin), but Most men understand not. [Saba’ – 34:28]

He warned against God’s punishment for disobedience and guided people, through glad tidings, to salvation in this world and the Hereafter. Also, the blessed Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has the loftiest and most elevated of stations before Allah Almighty. In this manner, I feel that ‘Beacon’ is the most appropriate word to be used in the title.

Lastly, Fī Sīrati Sayyid il-Mursalīn would translate as “in the biography of the leader of messengers.” When this is used in conjunction with the main title of Nūr ul-Yaq̣īn, Beacon of Certainty, it doesn’t have a ring to it. So I have decided to change it slightly to, “in the life of the Best of Humanity.”

Thus, the title of this work will be – Beacon of Certainty in the life of the Best of Humanity.

If you have any suggestions to give me on the title of this work or on any other aspect, I will be pleased to hear from you.

So for now, ma’ as-salāma and ila al-liqā – peace be with you until our next meeting.