Author name:
جمعة ثجيل عكلة الحمداني
Supervisor name:
سلمى عبد الحميد حسين الهاشمي
Abstract:
This study falls into four chapters. The first chapter focuses on the importance of the prophetic biography as contained in the narrations of Imam Al - Sadiq. The chapter was divided into two main topics; the first centered around the way by which the prophetic biography was subjected to deformity, distortionand misinterpretation, mentioned by many texts and historical testimonies which showed the influence of the authoritative interferencein this deformity. All different forms of this intervention were discussed; among these modes was the prevention ofrecording andcommunication ofAl - Hadith. This occurred during the reigns of the first three Caliphs. Other kinds of deformity, clarified in this research, were the methodology of Hadith fabrication, fraudulence and misinterpretation during both Umayyad and Abbasid ages. It alsohighlighted the qualities of fabricated Hadith and the reasons behind this fabrication, attested by examples, evidences and texts, with clarification of its effects on the recording of the biography. It also studied Israeli narrations and their role in the alteration of the biographical events. It emphasized the sense of the Israeli narrations, digging out the historicalroots behind their fabrication and reasons behind their proliferation in the Islamic society. The topic did not overlook the phenomenon of fanaticism, extremism and the extremists in Islam, headed by the scholars of different Islamic schools and sects. Those scholars took of Hadith invention as a legal method to justify and prove a certain ideology whether sunni or shia.Therefore, their impact was so great that they could manipulate the events of the prophetic biography backing their perspectives by fabricated Hadiths. The chapter also extended to Imam Ali's attitude towards extremists' phenomenon and his fight against it.The second chapter took completely different course. Instead of concentrating on the texts of prevention of Hadith recording, it tackled the priority of Ahl - Al - Baytin Al - Hadith recording. It also dealt with the significance of recording in Islam, attested by Quranic revelations, texts and testimonies from Prophet Mohammed's biography through his Hadith and Shari'a which both hinted to the importance of recording. Imam Ali, on his side, translated those hints into practical steps and left a lot of the prophet's recorded Hadith. He rejectedthe principle of preventing Hadith recording, so did his decedents Imams. Ahl - Al - Bayt school started writing down Prophet's Hadith as the prophet was still alive. It also continued after his death. The infallible Imams,alternately continued the process of recording until Imam Al - Sadiq's time. The researcher referred to the enormity of Imam Al - Sadiq narrations which fills the books of Islamic heritage and different Islamic sects', with no exception. Then, the chapter tended to study the scientific value of Al - Sadiq's narrations, their validity and other qualities. He also seized the chance to refer scholars' testimonies and discourses concerned with Imam's sciences as considered a solid evidence on his scientific superiority. Imam's supremacy was an impetus behind the researcher's choice to write on the Prophetic biography through Imam's narrations. The second chapter, entitled Mohammed's bringing up till his holy mission, focused on the fact that there were greater actions which largely affected Prophet's life. It is known that Mohammed grew up in a pagan society. This atheist environment was the secret behind his grandeur. He was the only one who was brought up in the environment of ignorance, stupidity and foolishness.Despite this, he grew up in an atmosphere of truth, science and wisdom. The second chapter is divided into five topics due to the multiplicity of its contents. The first was devoted to Imam Al - Sadiq's narrations, in relation to Mohammed's personality and disdain. The topic, first, dealt with the purity of Mohammed'sdecent, descriptions and qualities. It, then, referred to Mohammed's preference all over other prophets and messengers. Later, it focused on very important matter which was controversial among Muslims' creeds; his forerunners'belief and purity, and the connection between Abd Al - Mutalib's sons and the story of the harbinger in Quran concerned with Abu Talib'sbelief and that of his successors.This story hasan important place in this research because it tackled aspects of Imam's narrations, scientifically. It accurately analyzed them, based on sound logical criteria, far from prejudice,intending to attain what would support and avail thevalidity of the biography.The prophet's birth and genealogy constitutesan important side of this chapter. The second topic discussed Mohammed's birth and the stories associatedwith it. Some of those stories were over dominated by legendary and miraculous side. That's why they were studied through criticism and analysis, with aim of pinpointing elements of weakness and strength in them. It also dealt with subject of Mohammed's suckling by. Although there are modern studies involving Mohammed's suckling, which brought in new ideas. Scientific methodology was applied to discuss these ideas, to reach truth.Third part considered Mohammed's grandfather's guardianship. Al - Mutalib, his grandfather sponsored Mohammed two months after Mohammed's father's death. But when he became eight years old, his grandfather died. So he came under the guardianship of his uncle Abu Talib. During his uncle's time, great events in his life took place; his travel to Sham and the story of Buhayra, the monk, which was mentioned by many narrations. This part,analytically, studiedthis storyin detail as it will be seen.InBuhayra's story, there was a reference to Mohammed's work in trade, first, then to his being sheep shepherd. Did he mind sheep, or not?The fourth part discussed Imam Al - Sadiq's narrations concerning the prophet's marriage to Khadija and his children. It analyzed the marriage tales and studied the reasons behind selecting Khadija as a wife. It took by search the engagement ceremonies, and the amount of dowry. Then it went to Khadija's social position; was she virgin or matron (not virgin)? It also dealt with the tale of the prophet's children. The fifth part of the second chapter discussed the problem of rebuilding of Kaaba and placing of the black stone almost five years before Mohammed's mission.The third chapter was devoted to the study of Imam Al - Sadiq's narrations on the graceful prophetic mission until his Hijra to Madina. The chapter was divided into four parts. The first part consideredthe beginnings of the prophet's mission and of the divine inspiration. It also discussed the opinions accompanying thosebeginnings of the mission, thedivine inspiration, and how it descended, was parted. The topic concentrated on the differences between Ahl Al - Bayatschooland other Islamic schools in regards to Divine inspiration. Then it referred to thelagging of divine inspiration and the Quranicrevelations. The determination of the date oftheir decent, which assumes a special importance in the Islamic history and the prophetic biography, was seriously considered in the research; did the Prophet read or not? (Was the Prophet literate or illiterate? After all these proceedings prior to Islamic Call and its declaration, the second part came to study how Islamic call started within its two stages; secret and public. It discussed the conflict which took tribal, intellectual, religious and class aspects and so on. It also pinpointed methods used by Quraysh in this conflict and Abu Talib's stance towards these methods for combatting the Islamic Call.Due to the seriousness of Mohammed'sIsra and Mi'raj topic (journey and heavenlyascent) as entered in the framework of the Islamic creed and one of the Prophet's miracles which proved the truth of his prophecy, third part discussed the Isra and Mi'raj, coming out with new results by which the researcher proved that Isra and Mi'raj was not only one event but two, attesting that with what the infallible Imams brought of evidences from the Holy Book verses, texts,Prophets'Hadithand other scientific evidences. So the third topic paid great attention to the issue of Isra and Mi'raj; emphasized the fact that Isra and Mi'raj were subject to manipulation, forgery and falsification through what Jews inserted into it of their fabricated narrations after they had failed to combat Islam scientifically and correctly, for the Holy Book is void of defects.The fourth part dealt with the rest of happenings of biography, starting from the immigration to Abyssinia, then to Madina. It also studied the reasons behindHijra toAbyssinia; were there any political and religious reasons and impetuses which made Prophet Mohammed to order his followers to migrate toAbyssinia or only because of the oppression and coercion the first Muslims suffered at the hands of the unbelievers in Quraysh as many references mentioned? This situation was elaborately discussed here. It also focused on Quraysh besiege to BaniHashim in Abu Talib's passage, Abu Talib's death and its resultant effects on the battle between Messenger and the unbelievers inQuraysh. Then, the topic ended up with discussing of Mohammed's marriage to Aisha. The researcher made newfindings about Aisha's age when she was married to the Messenger. He proved by historical evidences that Aisha was older than what was commonly and explicitly known. The fourth chapter dealt with Imam Al - Sadiq's narrations during the civil reign. It falls into five topics. The first topic centered about the conditions of Hijra to Madina, setting up the foundations of the Islamic state, and the Messenger's actions of building up the state such as theconstruction of Al - Masjid (mosque), settlement of the conflict between Awas and Khazraj tribes, the attainment of brotherhood between the migrants and supporters so that he could get ready to face impeding dangers. The second focused on the intellectual dimensions of Jihad in Prophet's biography because Jihad occupied the first placein all actions in which the Islamic state was engaged since the beginning of its establishment. Jihad, as a concept,sprouted fromthe intellectual, religious and scientific principles ofIslamcore and it was not meant to be killing or bloodshed. That's why it was referred to at the beginning of the research, before the researcherembarked on the details of both Badr and Ehud battles as considered the first Jihadi fights for setting up the foundations of Islamic state.The third topic studied the ideological and political conflict up to Hudaybia truce. In this context, Imam Al - Sadiq mentioned that despite the profound ideological difference which separated Jews from the unbelievers, Jews hated the Messenger and his call too much. And this hatred made them cooperate with the unbelievers against Islam. The Unbelievers' cooperation with Jews continued even after their sham conversion into Islam due to Muslim's victory in Badr Battle. This ideological, political, and even intellectual conflict took five focuses in discussion. All of them concentrated on important events, such as change of the direction of Kiblah, the hypocrites' backing to Jews and the Messenger's attitude towards this backing. It also discussed the coalition of Arab unbelievers' parties with Jews against the Prophet and his policy towards BaniQuradhah. While the fifth dealt withlies and slanders as propaganda being fabricated against the Messenger to defame and underestimate his human personality, and finally with Imam Al - Sadiq's certification of some of those stories, through his narrations.The fourth topic concentrated on the discussion of the Messenger's policy toconsolidate the basics of Islam and impose its sovereignty, based on the events which took place after Hijra to Madina;Hudaybia truce, conquest of Khyber, conquest of Mecca, Hanin Day, and Al - Ta'f besiege. The fifth topic studied the end of the Message age by declaring innocence from the unbelievers, the farewell pilgrimage and the Prophet's sickness and then his death
