Book Review: Biography of Prophet Muhammad (saws)
Reviewed By: Mufti Jaseemuddin Qasmi
Coordinator, Online Darul Ifta and Lecturer, MMERC, Mumbai
Book 1: Biography of Prophet Muhammad (saws)
This book, written in the Lingala language—a widely spoken local language in the Republic of Congo, Africa—is a translation of the Arabic book “Khulasa Noor al-Yaqin fi Sirat Sayyid al-Mursalin.” The original book was authored by renowned scholar Umar Abdul Jabbar.
The book is translated by Maulana Zubair Ahmad Nasri and assisted by young African scholars Abdul Fattah Kuhosa, Ibrahim Kasmib and Sulaiman Ebosi.
About the Book
The book presents a concise yet meaningful account of the life of Prophet Muhammad (saws). It is well-organized with suitable headings and subheadings, making it easy for readers to follow and benefit from.
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saws) is the eternal role model for all humanity until the Day of Judgment, as he is Allah’s final Messenger. His blessed life serves as a complete and balanced example of moral excellence. His teachings guide believers toward personal transformation, ethical conduct, justice, humility, and compassion.
It is, therefore, a responsibility of the Islamic scholars to convey the life and message of the Prophet (saws) to people in every language of the world. This translation into Lingala is indeed a commendable and appreciable effort in this noble direction.
Book 2: Translation of “Al-Mahfoozatmin al-Qur’an wa al-Hadith”
This book is also a Lingala translation of the famous book“Al-Mahfoozatmin al-Qur’an wa al-Hadith,” a collection of selected Qur’anic ayahs and Prophetic traditions arranged under different topics.
About the Book
The book was originally compiled by the eminent scholar and Muhaddith, Mufti Saeed Ahmad Palanpuri (ra), the former Head Teacher of Darul Uloom Deoband and Shaykh al-Hadith.
The compilation was originally prepared for students of Islamic seminaries to memorize. Memorization serves as an effective tool for comprehension and deeper understanding, since what is preserved in the heart remains firmly in the mind and is better retained.
Some of its key benefits include:
- Helping students strengthen their grasp of foundational principles of Islam.
- Opening the way for detailed understanding through a firm basis of memorized texts.
- Equipping future scholars and preachers with ready references from the Qur’an and Hadith, which can be cited with confidence in their work of da‘wah and teaching.
About the Translator
The translation of both works into Lingala was undertaken by a distinguished scholar of Hadith and Arabic, who is also the author of The Status of Women in Islam (Urdu). Belonging to a respected scholarly and religious family known for its contributions in the fields of authorship, education, advocacy, and poetry.
Currently, he serves as a teacher of Qur’anic exegesis (Tafsir) and Prophetic Hadith at Dar al-‘Ulum al-Iman, under Muslim Foundation of Congo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
His educational background is rooted in the world-renowned Darul Uloom Deoband, India, from where he graduated in Islamic studies. He later pursued English Language at the Markazul Maarif Education and Research Center (MMERC), Mumbai, which has, for the past 30 years, been training Ulama in English for global outreach.
Maulana Muhmmad Burhanuddin Qasmi, Director of MMERC, praised the scholarly contributions of his student, saying: “It is truly a moment of happiness to see our students working across the world, serving the Ummah, and even translating Islamic works into local languages for the benefit of people.”
Conclusion
Both of these translated works—one focusing on the noble life of the Prophet Muhammad (saws) and the other on selected Qur’anic and Hadith texts—are invaluable contributions for the Muslims of Central Africa. They will not only educate but also spiritually uplift the readers, making Islamic knowledge more accessible in their mother tongue, Lingala. Both the two books are taught as syllabus book in the Madaris run under Muslim Foundation of Congo. The efforts of the translator deserve heartfelt appreciation and duas.
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