علامہ ابن فارس کے رسالہ سیرت ’’أوجز السير لخير البشر‘‘کا مطالعہ

A Study of Ibn Faris’ Short SirahBook “ Awjaz al-Sīyar li-Khayr al-Bashar”

Abstract

History of Islamic Scholarship is replete with countless writings on Sirah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW).These belong to all periods of Islamic history and all regions of Muslim world. These writings cover various topics and aspects of Sirah. These are also in different types like Nazam, Nasar and different sizes of books , monographs , pamphlets, and other shapes. Short Sirah books are one of them which cover important information about Sirah in a few pages. Ibn Faris (395 AH) is pioneer of this type of Sirah writings and author of very first known book of this kind. His book titled “Awjaz al-Sīyar li-Khayr al-Bashar” had a great impact on coming Sirah writers which include great names like Ibn Salah, al Sohaili,  al Zahbi, Ibn Sayed al Nass , Ibn Nasir ud Din al Damishqi and many more. They derived his data , information, and unique dates of Sirah events which Ibn Faris fixed very minutely. His short book was quoted, commented, rhymed and translated in other language.   This article deals with information regarding its manuscripts, publications, impact on later books, unique qualities and a detailed review of its text (Matan). Article includes analysis of its text and methodology(Manhaj) of author. This article contributes in elaborating Sirah sources and compiling detailed history of Sirah writings in Arabic language.