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Why The Recent Book Release Called Ilm Un Nabi ? Why Not Tarikh Un Nabi?
Why is the recent book release called Ilm un Nabi ? Why it is not called Tarikh un Nabi ? after all it contains akhbaar e ahad said by the people who saw prophet (sws) and then transmitted orally and then recorded after 180 years
Its like calling out that hadith is history thousand times but when it comes to writing down the title you end up calling it ilm un nabi. When it is not responsibility of the prophet and it was the people who transmitted it then why hesitate to call it as Tarikh un Nabi.
Ghamidi sir stance is still not clear to me that muhaddiseen made a perfect system of filtering the hadith. If hadith grading system is perfect why it is still in development 1400 years afterwards. Modern day science and its principles never considered itself to be perfect so why does this science is any different. Was it guarded by angels when it was in its cradle?
When its time to prove an atheist wrong then scholars say that science’s yardstick to measure the divine is a mistake because its man made human endeavour but when it comes to hadith sciences it is said that they are perfect.
Is it not ascribing a lie to the prophet to call the sayings of the people of 3rd generations after prophet’s death as the knowledge of prophet?
Jazakallahu khairaa.
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6 Replies
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Why The Recent Book Release Called Ilm Un Nabi ? Why Not Tarikh Un Nabi?
updated 4 months ago
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Your confusion lies in not understand how words give different meanings in different context.
The historical record of the sayings and actions of the prophet contains his knowledge and biography. Then his knowledge has two dimensions: His knowledge and his understanding of Deen. So Ghamidi saheb categorised this historical record in three categories, ilmun Nabi, Fighun Nabi and Seeratun Nabi. Categorization is very important in this school of thought.
The narrators describes the knowledge of prophet therefore it is his knowledge, of course, if it proves to be authentically narrated and is in conformity with the established principles of Deen. Read the prefaces of the book and you may get the better understanding.
The word perfect has been used in the domain of social science or literature, not in empirical science. For example, we say that one is the perfect example of uprightness. But we know perfection is just a concept. Still we use it.
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Sir, you are right that context matters. So I am trying to understand it:
When proving hadith’s place in Deen – that it’s not binding like the Quran and not part of asal deen – the context becomes ‘it’s just history.’
But when titling a book and providing categorization, the context suddenly becomes ‘it’s the Prophet’s knowledge.’
The same content but definition IS changing in different situations.
I agree that the Quran’s meaning depends on context, nazm, and internal coherence. But should scholarly terminology also shift with context? Shouldn’t the terms used to describe the nature of hadith material remain consistent across entire school of thought – whether you’re defending it from critics or presenting it to students?
Also, please correct me if I’m wrong, sir: Did Imam Bukhari title his work ‘Knowledge of the Prophet’ or did he call it ‘Al-Jami’ al-Sahih’ (The Authentic Collection) – a title that describes it as a compilation/collection rather than claiming it IS the Prophet’s knowledge?
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I understand its a classification of hadith.
My question is related more with – why categorize history as prophet’s knowledge when the IF of hadith science (if it proves to be authentically narrated) is always in development and not final.
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When proven authentic and narrated correctly, it is the prophet’s knowledge and thus referred to as the title of the book.
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That’s a very thoughtful question. The title “Ilm un Nabi” (Knowledge of the Prophet) is used because the book focuses on what the Prophet ﷺ knew, taught, and conveyed, rather than just the historical record of his life. Tarikh un Nabi would emphasize chronology and events, while Ilm un Nabi highlights the prophetic wisdom, teachings, and guidance preserved through narrations.
As for the hadith sciences — they were never claimed to be divinely perfect, but rather a human scholarly effort built with strict methodology to preserve authenticity. Scholars continue refining it, not because it was flawed at the core, but because research and discovery are ongoing — just like any other science. Calling it Ilm un Nabi is not ascribing lies to the Prophet ﷺ, but recognizing that this body of knowledge ultimately traces back to what he taught and how he guided humanity.
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Thanks to you both pakeeza safdar and AI. Appreciate your responses. I took assistance from AI and got this answer.
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