A poem composed by ibn Abil-‘Izz al-Hanafee, author of Sharh al-‘Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah. The poem presents a summarized timeline of important events which occurred throughout the lifetime of the Messenger of Allaah, Muhammad [sallallahu alaihi wasallam]
Translated by Aboo Shaybah
[1] All praise is for Allaah, The Eternal, The Maker;
followed by His salaah upon the chosen one.
[2] Here is the Messenger’s biography
in poem form with succinct sections.
[3] His birth was on the tenth of the distinguished month,
Rabee‘ al-Awwal, in the year of the elephant.
[4] However, the common view is that it was the twelfth,
on a Monday at the break of dawn,
[5] corresponding to the twentieth of April.
Prior to that, his father passed away.
[6] Two years later he was weaned
and brought back safe and sound by his wetnurse,
[7] Haleemah, to his mother. She then returned
with him to her own family as she had desired.
[8] Two months later his belly was cleaved open,
though some say it was when he was four years old.
[9] At six years and one month, while returning,
his mother passed away at al-Abwaa’.
[10] And his paternal grandfather, ‘Abdul-Muttalib,
passed away while he was eight, no lie.
[11] Then his paternal uncle, Aboo Taalib, took on
his guardianship, and later to ash-Shaam he travelled.
[12] That was while he was twelve years old
and the well-known incident with Baheeraa took place.
[13] The best of mankind again travelled to ash-Shaam
at the age of twenty five – remember it –
[14] as a trader for our mother, Khadeejah,
and he returned that year after profitable trade, happy.
[15] In that year was his marriage to her,
and he later consummated his marriage with her.
[16] All his children were from her except Ibraaheem.
The first to earn that distinction was al-Qaasim.
[17] Then came Zaynab, Ruqayyah, Faatimah,
and Umm Kulthoom, who was the last of the girls;
[18] and At-Taahir, At-Tayyib, ‘Abdullaah;
but some say each name belonged to a separate beautiful child.
[19] All of them tasted death during his lifetime,
except Faatimah who died half-a-year after him.
[20] At thirty five he participated
in rebuilding the House of Allaah after its dilapidation.
[21] They appointed him to arbitrate and accepted his solution
for putting the Black Stone into place.
[22] At the age of forty he was sent as a Messenger;
on a Monday with certainty – so convey it –
[23] during Ramadaan or Rabee’ al-Awwal,
and Soorah “Iqra’ ” was the first of the revelation.
[24] Then wudoo’ and salaah he was taught
by Jibreel, as two complete units of prayer.
[25] Then, after the passing of twenty full days,
enormous, terrifying stars pelted the Jinn.
[26] Then, in the fourth year, he called
openly to Islaam as commanded.
[27] Four women along with twelve
men among the Companions all migrated
[28] to the lands of Habashah in the fifth year.
The same year, they returned, but went back without blame.
[29] They were eighty three men
accompanied by a group completing their total number;
[30] and they were eighteen women. Later on,
in the sixth year, Hamzah – al-Asad – accepted Islaam.
[31] Nine years after his Messengership
came the death of Aboo Taalib, his guardian;
[32] followed by Khadeejah who passed away
after three days had elapsed.
[33] After fifty and a quarter years, Islaam was embraced
by the Jinn of Naseebeen, who then departed – let it be known.
[34] Thereafter, he married Sawdah
in Ramadaan; followed by
[35] his marriage to the daughter of as-Siddeeq in Shawwaal.
At the age of fifty one
[36] he was taken by night, and the salawaat were obligated;
five with the reward of fifty, as authentically preserved.
[37] The first bay‘ah was with twelve
of the people from Taybah, as has been mentioned.
[38] At the age of fifty two came
seventy in the Hajj season – and this is confirmed –
[39] from Taybah. They pledged allegiance, and he later left
Makkah on a Monday in the month Safar.
[40] Thus, the one contented arrived in Taybah, for certain,
having reached the age of fifty three
[41] on a Monday. He remained there
for ten full years as we shall recount.
[42] In the first year, salaah of a resident was made complete,
this was after he prayed Jumu‘ah – listen to my words.
[43] He then constructed a masjid at Qubaa’,
as well as the masjid in the noble city, al-Madeenah.
[44] Then, around it, he built his dwellings.
Later this year arrived
[45] less than half of those who had travelled
to the lands of Habashah when they migrated.
[46] In the same year, the noblest of all elite established ties of brotherhood
between the Muhaajireen and Ansaar.
[47] He then consummated marriage with the daughter of his best Companion,
and legislated the athaan, so follow his example.
[48] The battle of al-Abwaa’ took place afterwards, in Safar.
Subsequently, in the second year, combat spread
[49] to Buwaat and then Badr. The obligation
of redirecting the Qiblah came in the middle of Rajab
[50] following Thil-‘Ushayr, o my brothers.
Fasting for a month was obligated in Sha‘baan,
[51] and the major clash which was at Badr
happened during fasting, on the seventeenth of the month.
[52] Zakaah al-Fitr was obligated in it
following Badr by ten nights.
[53] There is difference regarding Zakaah al-Maal – you must realize this.
The daughter of the righteous Prophet passed away,
[54] Ruqayyah, prior to the army’s return;
she was the wife of ‘Uthmaan. The marriage of the chaste
[55] Faatimah to the esteemed ‘Alee.
And al-‘Abbaas accepted Islaam after being taken captive.
[56] And as for Qaynuqaa‘, battle with them ensued afterwards.
And he sacrificed on the ‘Eed of slaughter.
[57] And the battle of as-Saweeq, then Qarqarah.
And combat in the third year spread further
[58] to Ghatafaan and Banee Sulaym.
Umm Kulthoom, daughter of the noble esteemed,
[59] was married to ‘Uthmaan and he earned this distinction.
And the Prophet later married Hafsah,
[60] and Zaynab also; then headed to Uhud for battle
– in the month of Shawwaal – and Hamraa’ al-Asad.
[61] Intoxicants were prohibited undoubtedly – so listen –
and that year his grandson, al-Hasan, was born.
[62] In the fourth year, battle reached
Banee an-Nadeer in Rabee‘ al-Awwal.
[63] Then followed the death of Zaynab, the aforementioned,
and afterwards, marriage to Umm Salamah,
[64] and the daughter of Jahsh. Then, to Badr as appointed
followed by al-Ahzaab – so listen and keep count –
[65] then Banee Quraythah, though regarding these two
there is difference. And at Thaat ar-Riqaa‘ he taught
[66] how to pray Salaah al-Khawf; and prayer was shortened, as reported.
and the verses about hijaab and tayammum.
[67] Some said and his stoning of the two Jews,
and the birth of his lovely grandson, al-Husayn.
[68] In the fifth year – listen and trust me – was
the slander during the battle of Banee al-Mustaliq.
[69] Doomah al-Jandal happened before that. And also
he wed the daughter of al-Haarith later on, and consummated.
[70] His marriage to Rayhaanah was in the fifth.
Then Banee Lihyaan was at the beginning of the sixth year.
[71] After that, his istisqaa’ prayer, and Thoo Qarad,
and he was obstructed from performing ‘Umrah as he wished.
[72] Bay‘ah ar-Ridwaan came first, and he consummated
that year his marriage with Rayhaanah, as clarified.
[73] And Hajj was obligated, though with difference – so take heed –
and the conquest of Khaybar was in the seventh year.
[74] The meat of domestic donkeys was prohibited
that year, as well as the corrupt Mut‘ah form of marriage.
[75] He later married Umm Habeebah
and her mahr on his behalf an-Najaashee paid.
[76] A lamb was poisoned and offered as a gift,
and he later chose for himself the pure Safiyyah.
[77] She came, as well as all the remaining migrants.
And marriage to Maymoonah was the last.
[78] Prior to that was the Islaam of Aboo Hurayrah,
and after was the famous ‘Umrah al-Qadaa’.
[79] And the envoys in the sanctified month of Muharram
he sent them to the kings – so know this.
[80] Presented as a gift was Maariyah al-Qibtiyyah
that year. Then in the eigth year was a sariyyah
[81] which headed to Mu’tah. And during fasting
the conquest of al-Balad al-Haraam took place.
[82] After it, they relate what happened during
the day at Hunayn, and then the day at at-Taa’if.
[83] Later, in Thul-Qa‘dah, he performed ‘Umrah
from al-Ji‘irraanah, and he was settled.
[84] His daughter, Zaynab, passed away and then
Ibraaheem was born in it, surely.
[85] And turn was given to ‘Aa’ishah by
Sawdah for as long as she remained alive.
[86] The minbar was made and placed conspicuously,
and ‘Attaab led the people in Hajj.
[87] Then expedition to Tabook was in the ninth year
and he demolished Masjid ad-Diraar, removing its harm.
[88] Aboo Bakr led the people in Hajj, and there
‘Alee recited “Baraa’ah” and decisively declared
[89] that no mushrik would again perform Hajj, and none
unclothed would make Tawaaf – they both carried out as instructed.
[90] Delegations came in plenty, one after the next,
and he swore he would not go to his womenfolk for a month.
[91] He announced the death of an-Najaashee and prayed
upon him from Taybah, earning him great virtue.
[92] Ibraaheem passed away in the final year
and al-Bajalee accepted Islaam, and his name was Jareer.
[93] He performed the Farewell Hajj as a Qaarin
and he stopped on a Friday during it in security.
[94] And revealed that day was a glad tiding for you:
This day I have perfected for you your religion.
[95] Rayhaanah’s death was after his return,
and the nine lived on after him.
[96] And on a Monday he finished – for certain –
having completed sixty three.
[97] He was laid to rest in the dwelling of the daughter of as-Siddeeq
at the location of his death, precisely determined.
[98] The duration of his illness was two-fifths of a month,
but some say it was a third and a fifth – know this.
[99] This concludes the hundred line poem
recounting the life of the most noble of all creation.
[100] May Allaah, my Lord, send salaah upon him, and upon
his Companions, his family, and those who follow.
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