The Life of Our Prophet (Book)

The Life of Our Prophet is a classical work authored by Ahmed Cevdet Pasha, an Ottoman historian and statesman, detailing the life of Prophet Muhammad. This work is a simplified version of the section on the life of Prophet Muhammad from Cevdet Pasha’s larger study titled Kısas-ı Enbiyâ ve Tevârîh-i Hulefâ. The edition published by Çamlıca Basım Yayın is regarded among classical sources in the field of sīrah.

The work chronologically covers the life of Prophet Muhammad from his birth to his death. During this period, the emergence of Islam, the Meccan and Medinan phases, wars, treaties, and the process of prophethood are described in detail. Ahmed Cevdet Pasha also provides context regarding the social and cultural conditions of the time while narrating these events.

The book details the lineage, birth, childhood, and youth of Prophet Muhammad. This section emphasizes his honesty, reliability, and the respect he commanded within society.

The life of Prophet Muhammad before prophethood is elaborated, including his involvement in trade, his marriage, and his position in society.

This section covers the occurrence of prophethood, the first revelation, the proclamation of Islam, and the challenges faced by Prophet Muhammad in Mecca.

The migration of Prophet Muhammad to Medina, the establishment of the Islamic state there, the wars fought, and the treaties concluded are described in detail.

The book concludes with the death of Prophet Muhammad and the events that followed.

Ahmed Cevdet Pasha employed a simple and clear language in his work. While narrating historical events, he relied on contemporary historical sources. He also enriched the text with descriptive accounts reflecting the social and cultural structure of the era.

• The First Revelation: The detailed account of the first revelation received by Prophet Muhammad in the Cave of Hira.
• The Hijrah: The migration of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina and the events during this period.
• The Battle of Badr: The narration of the Battle of Badr, a pivotal event in Islamic history.
• The Farewell Sermon: The speech delivered by Prophet Muhammad during his Farewell Pilgrimage and the messages it conveyed.

Ahmed Cevdet Pasha carefully presented historical events in an objective manner. He based his accounts on contemporary sources and avoided personal interpretation. For this reason, the work serves as a valuable reference for both historical and academic research.