Commentary of Bidayat as-Sul Fi Tafdil ar-Rasul -

English with Separate Arabic Text,

by  Shaykh 'Izz al-Din ibn 'Abd al-Salam [d.660h],

*by Raheem Limbada,

If one truly wishes to develop their recognition of the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, it is necessary for them to study him, ﷺ, in the context of his closest comparisons – the other Prophets of Allah, peace be upon them. It becomes apparent quite imminently that the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, was granted great superiority and virtue by Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, over the rest of creation.

The publication attempts to shed light on this particular point and by studying it, you will be able to recognise the truly magnificent status of the Beloved Messenger of Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala.

Bidayat as-Sul fi Tafdil ar-Rasul (The Beginning of the Quest for the High Esteem of the Messenger) is a concise work summarising succinctly forty distinctive virtues and characteristics of the Messenger of Allâh, Allah bless him and give him peace. 

About Imam Izz al-Din Abd al-Salam :

He is Shaykh al Islam 'Izz al-Din 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn 'Abd al-Salam ibn Abi al-Qasim ibn al-Hasan al-Dimashqi, Sultan al-'Ulama, Abu Muhammad al-Sulami. He was a famous mujtahid, theologian, jurist and the leading Shafi'i authority of his generation. Ibn 'Abd al-Salam was born in Damascus in 577 AH. He received his education in Damascus by such scholars as Ibn Asakir and Jamal al-Din al-Harastani in Sacred law, Sayf al-Din al-Amidi in usul al-Fiqh and theology, and tasawwuf with Suhrawardi and Abul Hasan al-Shadhili, may Allah be pleased with them all.



Amongst his more famous students were :

---Ibrahim b. 'Abd al-Aziz ibn 'Abd al-Salam, his son.
---'Abd al-Latif  b. 'Abd al-Aziz ibn 'Abd al-Salam, his other son.
--- Sharf al-Din al-Tilmisani,
--- Taj al-Din Ibn bint al-A'zi,
--- Shihab al-Din Abu Shamah al-Maqdasi. The famous teacher at al-Ashrafiyyah where al-Nawawi studied from him and later inherited his seat.
--- al-Imam al-Qarafi al-Maliki; the Mufti and the author of al-Ihkam fi Tamyiz al-Fatawa.
--- Muhammad ibn Ali Ibn Daqiq al-'Id, who spent al lot of time with him and was known to have given him the title of Sultan al-Ulama.



The biographers indicate that he was the first to teach Qur'anic commentary in Egypt. Ibn 'Abd al-Salam's exploits eventually earned him the title Sultan al-'Ulema (Sultan of the scholars).


He produced a number of brilliant works in Shafi'i jurisprudence, Qur'anic jurisprudence tafsir, methodological fundamentals in Sacred Law, formal legal opinion, government and Sufism though his main and enduring contribution was his masterpiece on Islamic legal principles Qawa'id al-ahkam fi masalih al-anam.

 

Some of his more popular works are:

--- Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim,
--- Mukhtasar al-Nukat wa'l 'Uyun lil Imam al-Mawardi,
--- al-Isharah ila al-Ijaz,
--- Fawa'id fi Mushkil al-Qur'an,
--- Amali al-Imam 'Izz al-Din ibn 'Abd al-Salam,

--- Mukhtasar Sahih Muslim,
--- Bidayat al-Sul fi Tafdhil al-Rasul ; available in its translated form as The Beginning of The Quest of the High Esteem of the Messenger,
--- Targhib Ahl al-Islam fi Sakni al-Sham,

--- al-Mulhat fi I'tiqad Ahl al-Haqq or by its other title; al-Radd 'ala al-Mubtadi'ah wa'l Hashawiyah; transmitted by his son 'Abd al-Latif.
--- al-Farq bayn al-Iman wa'l Islam or Ma'na al-Iman wa'l Islam,
--- al-Anwa' fi 'ilm al-Tawhid,
--- Bayan Ahwal al-Nas yawm al-Qiyamah,

--- Shajarat al-'Arif wa'l Ahwal wasalih al-Aqwal wa'l A'mal,
--- al-Fitan wa'l Balaya wa'l Mihan,
--- Mukhtasar Ra'ayah al-Muhasibi or Maqasid al-Ri'ayah li Huquqillah,

--- Qawa'id al-Kubra or by its full title; Qawa'id al-Ahkam fi Masalih al-Anam. Its popular commentary is available by Imam al-Qarafi who was one of his students.
--- al-Qawa'id al-Sughra, or al-Fawa'id fi Mukhtasar al-Qawa'id; is an abridgement of the above title.
--- al-Imam fi Bayan Adillat al-Ahkam, or ad-Dala'il al-Muta'aliqah bi'l Mala'ikah wa'l Nabiyin,


--- al-Ghayah fi Ikhtisar al-Nihayah; is an abridgement of Nihayat al-Matlab fi Dirayat al-Madhab of Imam al-Haramayn al-Juwayni.
--- al-Jam' bayn al-Hawi wa'l Nihayah; not known to have finished it.
--- al-Fatawa al-Misriyyah,
--- al-Fatawa al-Musiliyyah,
--- al-Targhib 'an Salat al-Ragha'ib, or by another title; al-Targhib 'an Salat al-Ragha'ib al-Mawdu'ah wa bayan ma fiha min Mukhalafat al-Sunan al-Mashru'ah, or by another title; Risalat fi Dhamm Salat al-Ragha'ib,
--- Risalat fi Radd Jawaz Salat al-Ragha'ib or by the title of Risalat fi Tafnid Radd Ibn al-Salah,
--- Maqasid al-Sawm,
--- Manasik al-Hajj,
--- Maqasid al-Salah,
--- Ahkam al-Jihad wa Fadha'ilihi,

 

Zaki al-Din al-Mundhiri, the Shafi'i jurist, hadith expert and author stated that, "We used to give legal opinions before shaykh 'Izz al-Din arrived; now that he is among us we no longer do so." Qarafi describes Ibn 'Abd al-Salam as a "staunch defender of the Sunnah who had no fear of those in power" A number of sources report that Ibn 'Abd al-Salam reached the level of ijtihad transcending the Shafi'i madhhab altogether.
 

He passed away in Cairo in 660 AH.

Table of Contents :

---Foreword,

---Editor's Preface,

---Introduction,

Session One :

---Introduction to Bidayat as-Sul fi Tafdil ar-Rasul,

---The Creation of Adam, alayhi salam,

---The Difference between a Rasul and a Nabi,

---Can one Favour a Prophet over Another?

---Notable Prophets of Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala,

---The Prophets of Courage,

---The Superiority of the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ,

---The Characteristics of the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ,

Session Two :

---Biography of Shaykh 'Izz al-Din ibn Abd al-Salam,

---The Lineage of the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ,

---The Qur'an : A Great Miracle,

---"We favoured some of these Messengers over others ..."

---The Special Virtues Given to the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, in this World,

---The Master of Mankind,

---The Banner of Praise will be in His Hand,

---All Prophets will Gather Beneath His Banner,

---The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, is sinless,

---'Umar, radi Allahu anhu, sits by the Grave of the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ,

---The State of the Prophets on the Day of Qiyamah,

---The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, will be the first to Intercede.

Session Three :

---The Twelth of Rab'i al-Awwal,

---He reserved His Supplication for the Intercession,

---Allah Almighty took an Oath on the Messenger of Allah's, ﷺ, life,

---Allah Almighty Called the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, by the Most Beloved of Names,
---The Radiance of the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ,

---Allah Almighty granted the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, protection,

---A King's Love for the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ,

---The Miracles of the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, are Everlasting,

---Stones and Trees would Converse with the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ,

---The Miracles of the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, were Unique,

---Some Accounts of the Messenger of Allah's, ﷺ, Miracles,

---The Miracles of Musa, alayhi salam,

---The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, Restored a Companion's Eye,

---The Blessed Saliva of the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ,

---The Blessed Hair of the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ,

---The Story of 'Isa, alayhi salam and a young man,

---The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, Awoke the Spiritually Dead,

---The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, Will have the Largest Ummah and is Rewarded Through Their Good Deeds,

---Bid'ah and it's Types,

---The Night Journey and It's Ascension,

---The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, Was Sent to the Entire World,

---Allah Almighty Spoke to the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ,
---Did the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, See Allah Almighty?

---The Ummah of the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ,Will be the First to Enter Jannah,

---The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, Will be the First to be Resurrected,

---The Creation will humbly Petition for the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ,

---Seventy Thousand of the Messenger of Allah's, ﷺ, Community Will Enter into the Garden Without Reckoning,

---Ruqyah and Healing,

---Ali ibn Sina Doubts ruqyah,

---The Method of Ruqyah Used by the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ.

Session Four :

---The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, Will be Granted Wasilah,

---The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, Will be Granted the Fountain of Al-Kawthar,

---The Messenger of Allah's, ﷺ, Ummah Came Last But are the Forerunners,

---Spoils of War was Made Lawful for the Messenger of Allah's, ﷺ, Ummah,

---Tayammum,

---Allah Almighty Praised the Messenger of Allah's, ﷺ, Character,

---Allah Almighty Spoke to Him, ﷺ, in Three Ways,

---The Qur'an is the Most Complete Scripture,

---The Ummah will Receive a Greater Reward Than any Other,

---The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, Preferred Humility,

---The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ, Was Sent as a "Mercy to All Beings,"

---The Messenger of Allah's, ﷺ, Gentleness,

---The Messenger of Allah's, ﷺ, Mercifulness and Enthusiasm Regarding the Believers,

---The Messenger of Allah's, ﷺ, Dedication in Conveying the Message,

---The Messenger of Allah's, ﷺ, Ummah will be Witnesses,

---The Ummah Will Not Unite Upon Misguidance,

---The Qur'an is Protected,

---Allah Almighty Concealed the Ummah's Rejected Deeds,

---The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ,Was Gifted with Great Oration,

---The Messenger of Virtue, ﷺ,

---The Arabic Text of : Bidayat as-Sul fi Tafdil ar-Rasul.

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*Dimensions : 21 x 15cm.