The Methodology and Contemporary Relevance of Seerah al-Nabi by Allama Shibli Nomani / Syed Sulaiman Nadvi سیرت النبی ﷺ از علامہ شبلی نعمانی/سید سلیمان ندوی کا منہج اور عصری معنویت Section Articles

Abstract

The arrival of Islam in the Indian subcontinent led to the introduction of Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) personality and virtues through early Seerah literature, initially written in poetic and masnavi (rhymed couplet) forms, primarily in Dakhani Urdu. Key works from this period include Mawlood Nama, Miraj Nama, and Wafat Nama, which highlighted various aspects of the Prophet's life. Post-1857, Seerah literature underwent a shift from poetry to prose, influenced by the rise of analytical approaches and the challenges posed by Christian missionaries and Orientalist critiques of Islam. This shift led to two primary trends in Seerah writing: one that followed traditional Arabic and Persian biographical styles, and another pioneered by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, which emphasized rational and scientific principles. Among the most influential works in this new analytical trend is Seerah al-Nabi by Allama Shibli Nomani, a significant intellectual contribution of the 19th century, praised for its historical insight, scholarly tone, and refutation of Orientalist arguments. Although Shibli Nomani was unable to complete the work before his death, his disciple, Syed Sulaiman Nadvi, continued it, adhering to his mentor's methodology. This paper explores the scholarly significance of Seerah al-Nabi in contemporary Seerah studies, discussing its intellectual and artistic merits through three main sections: an introduction to Allama Shibli Nomani, the scholarly status of Seerah al-Nabi, and its artistic and intellectual contributions to Seerah literature. What is the methodology and style of Seerah writing in Allama Shibli Nomani's renowned work? And what is its artistic and intellectual significance in the field of Seerah studies today? These are the questions addressed in this paper. The paper is divided into three main sections: the first section provides a "brief introduction to Allama Shibli Nomani," the second discusses the "scholarly status of the book Seerah al-Nabi," and the third section evaluates the "artistic and intellectual significance of the book".

Keyword: Analytical Seerah narrative, Historical phases of Seerah, Scientific approach to Seerah, Missionary criticism of Islam, Critical Seerah studies