7 Seerah Books to Read on the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
by Selina Bakkar in Culture & Lifestyle on 12th September, 2024
As the blessed month of Rabi’ al-Awwal begins, we turned to social media for recommendations on books and resources about the life of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Whether you are exploring his (ﷺ) seerah for the first time or looking to deepen your understanding, starting with children’s books can be surprisingly effective. These books present the events of his (ﷺ) life in a straightforward, chronological order, allowing you to understand the key details easily. This can make it much easier to dive into more comprehensive and complex literature later on.
1. The Simple Seerah
The Simple Seerah was authored by Ustadh Asim Khan and is produced by Toyris Miah who shares on the site
“The idea for The Simple Seerah came about when Toyris discovered his 11-year-old nephew Zakaria had a passion for reading history books. He tried to find some Islamic history books for Zakaria but struggled to find anything which catered to his age group, this sparked a desire to produce a book on the Seerah that appealed to a younger demographic.”
2. When The Moon Split: A Biography of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)
The book was published many years ago but recently was revised and has a new front cover, it also has full colour pictures and Lessons & Morals at end of each section. It’s another good one for children, families looking at the Seerah together or for someone that wants to grasp the timeline and character of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
3. The First Muslim: The Story of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)
The book was researched and written by Lesley Hazleton who is a British-American author whose work focuses on the intersection and interactions between politics and religion.
4. The Sealed Nectar
One of the older books in the list, the book is still highly recommended. This book was awarded first prize by the Muslim World League in worldwide competition on the biography of the Prophet (ﷺ) held at Makkah Al-Mukarramah in 1399H/1979.
5. Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources By Martin Lings (Abu Bakr Siraaj al-Din)
“Muhammad” by Martin Lings is a classic that thoughtfully details the life of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) using early Arabic sources. With its clear and engaging narrative, this book provides a comprehensive look at the key events and teachings of the Prophet’s life, making it a great starting point for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding. We recommend the 2006 edition as it contains a few additional chapters that Martin Lings added in the last couple years of his life.
Fair warning, Martin Lings isn’t a scholar however, so unfortunately, he mistakenly added 3-4 stories that are known fabrications – the details of which you can find online.
6. The Sirah of the Prophet (ﷺ) by Dr.Yasir Qadhi
Dr Yasir Qadhi is a student of Sheikh Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri, who wrote the famous seerah book titled al-Rahiq al-Makhtum/The Sealed Nectar/Sirah Nabawiyah.
In the foreword, the Author directly compares between the two, in which this book will be more intermediate-advance as it provides deeper analysis into the story and events. Dr. Qadhi presents the Seerah with clarity, focusing on historical accuracy and contextual analysis.
This is a unique parenting book from an Islamic perspectivc offeringa view on the Prophet Muhammad’s (ﷺ) role as a mentor and role model for children. The author examines the lives of the young companions, exploring the Prophet (ﷺ) approach to nurturing and educating children. This book highlights the Prophet (ﷺ)’s methods and teachings in shaping the character and values of children around him, offering practical lessons for contemporary parenting and education. Dr. Al-Awadi provides insights into the Prophet (ﷺ) ‘s approach to addressing the challenges children face, making this a valuable read for anyone interested in effective parenting and education.
Selina Bakkar
I'm a simply striving to be better and improve in different areas of my life through more self awareness, experiences and learning more about the deen. You'll find me talking about community, connection, planting & growing, seeking the truth in an age of propaganda and misinformation. This year I want to document more to do with food heritage and history so watch this space or reach out. Have a listen to the Amaliah Voices podcast where I talk passionately about Islam, nature, motherhooding and back home. Link in bio peeps. To join the Amaliah Writer Community email me at selina@amaliah.com IG: SelinaBakkar
