Sirah

Sirah, also transliterated Seerah, is the traditional Islamic genre devoted to the life of the Prophet Muhammad. In its core sense, Sirah recounts Muhammad’s biography: his birth in Mecca, the onset of revelation, the prophetic mission, the migration to Medina, the formation of the early Muslim community, major events and campaigns, and his death, together with the legacy of his teachings and example. The term can also be used for life-writing about other figures, but it is most closely associated with Muhammad.

Early Sirah sources mix oral reports and written notes. The most influential work is Ibn Ishaq’s Sirat Rasul Allah, preserved in later recensions such as Ibn Hisham. Other significant compilations include Ibn Sa’d’s Tabaqat and al-Waqidi’s Maghazi. Because these texts were compiled decades after the events and rely on uncertain chains of transmission, scholars treat them as historical sources whose reliability varies.

Sirah informs understanding of the Qur’an and the early Muslim community, but it is not identical with hadith. Some biographies and incident reports overlap with hadith literature, while others are debated or considered legendary by modern scholarship. Modern approaches combine traditional analysis with critical history, archaeology, and contextual interpretation.

Today Sirah remains a central reference in Islamic studies, education, and devotional life. Translations and critical editions exist, and scholars across Muslim and Western traditions continue to debate chronology, attribution, and the nature of early Islamic society. The genre has shaped religious thought, ethics, and political concepts, and it continues to be read for guidance as well as historical insight.