Muhammad ﷺ Messenger of Allah – Ash-Shifa of Qadi ‘Iyad

Kitab Ash-Shifa bi ta’rif huquq al-Mustafa (Healing by the recognition of the Rights of the Chosen One), of Qadi ‘Iyad (d. 544H/1149CE) is perhaps the most frequently used and commented upon handbook in which the Prophet’s life, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, his qualities and his miracles are described in every detail.

Generally known by its short title, Ash-Shifa, this work was so highly admired throughout the Muslim world that it soon acquired a sanctity of its own for it is said: “If Ash-Shifa is found in a house, this house will not suffer any harm… when a sick person reads it or it is recited to him, Allah will restore his health.”

This book gathers together all that is necessary to acquaint the reader with the true stature of the Prophet ﷺ.

The author: Qadi ‘Iyad (476 – 544 AH/1083 – 1149 CE)

Qadi ‘Iyad Ibn Musa Al-Yahsubi was born in Ceuta during the time of the Murabitun. He travelled to Andalus to study and in Cordoba he learnt from such luminaries as Ibn Rushd, the grandfather of the Qadi and philosopher of the same name. Iyad was already accepted in scholarly circles when he was eighteen and was appointed Qadi when he was 35 becoming first the Qadi of Ceuta in 515 AH/ 1121 CE and later Granada in Spain in 531 AH/ 1136 CE. He was exemplary in his knowledge of the sciences of hadith from which ocean he drew his astonishing work ash-Shifa.

The Translator: Aisha Bewley

Aisha Abdurrahman Bewley is one of today’s most prolific translators of classical Arabic works into English. For more than thirty-five years she has been concerned with making the contents of many classical Arabic works more accessible to English-speaking readers. She is co-translator of The Noble Qur’an A New Rendering of its Meaning in English.

Table of Contents:

Part One : Allah’s Great Estimation of the Worth of His Prophet expressed in both Word and Action :

—Chapter [I]  Allah’s Praise of him and His Great Esteem for him,
—Chapter [II] Allah’s perfecting his Good Qualities of Character & Constitution, and giving him all the Virtues of the Deen and this World,
—Chapter [III] On the Sound & Well-Known Traditions related about the Immense Value placed on him by His Lord, His Exalted Position and His Nobility in this World and the Next,
—Chapter [IV] On the Miracles which Allah manifested at the Prophet’s Hands and the Special Properties and Marks of Honour (Karamat) with which he honoured him.

Part Two : Concerning the Rights which people owe the Prophet, may Allah bless him & grant him peace, :

—Chapter [I] The Obligation to Believe in him, Obey him, and Follow his Sunna,
—Chapter [II] On the necessity of Loving the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace,
—Chapter [III] Exalting him and the Necessity  to Respect and Honour him,
—Chapter [IV] The Prayer on the Prophet and asking Peace for him, and the Obligation of doing it, and It’s Excellence.

Part Three : On what is necessary for the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant peace, and what is impossible for him, and what is forbidden for him and what is valid in those  human matters which can be ascribed for him :

”This part is the secret of the book and it’s core of the fruit. What comes before it lays the foundation and provides the proofs for the clear anecdotes we will relate in it. It governs what follows it and accomplishes the goal of this book. When its promise is put to the test and its duty fulfilled, the breast of the accursed enemy will be constricted and the heart of the believer will shine with certainty and its lights will fill his breast. The man of intellect will then value the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant peace, as he should be valued ”.

—Chapter [I] Concerning matters of the Deen and the Prophet’s, upon them be peace, being Protected from Imperfection,
—Chapter [II] The States of the Prophet in Respect of this World and what non-essential human qualities he could have.

Part Four : The Judgements Concerning those who think the Prophet, imperfect or curse him, may Allah bless him & grant peace, :

—Chapter [I] Clarification about cursing the Prophet or saying that he is imperfect by allusion or clear statement,
—Chapter [II] The Judgement against someone who curses the Prophet, reviles him, disparages him or harms him, and how someone who does this should be punished; about calling on him to repent and the status of his inheritance,
—Chapter [III] Concerning the Judgement on anyone who curses Allah Almighty, His Angels, His Prophet’s, His Books, and the Family of the Prophet and His Companions,

Appendices :
—Glossary of Arabic words,
—Glossary of Hadith Collections referred to in the text,
—Glossary of People mentioned in the text,
—Synopsis of Section Contents,
—Biographical Note on the Author of the Shifa.