Remembering the beloved prophet (PBUH)
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Book: Zikri Habib: A Biography of the Prophet (PBUH)
Author: Professor Abdur Rashid NazkiPublisher: J&K Offset Jamia New Delhi Language: Kashmiri
Reviewer: Mir Tariq Rasool
The two-volume book, Zikir-i-Habib, yet to be released, is the first biography of prophet Muhammad (SAW) written in Kashmiri language. The book is akin to classical prose. It is innovative in many ways, with the elements of drama and rhythm. Author has tried to be comprehensive while writing the biography of prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Professor Abdur Rashid Nazki, the first doctorate in mystical studies in Kashmir, best known for-Vaharat (collection of Kashmiri poems) and Isra (Mehraj-with philosophical and mystical notion) is a genuine scholar and an intellectual of high order. To write the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) biography in ones own language is an uphill task, but Professor Nazki makes it possible to compile the biography of God's beloved prophet (PBUH) in Kashmiri Language. While going through the pages of the book, a reader can easily discover the beauty of mystical impressions that the Nazki has carved with his pen.In the book under review author profiles Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as mystic, a reformer, and a simple human being living equally with the tribal populace of Arabian desert. Professor Nazki undertook this work to write a fair and accurate biography, which he does not feel, has been done before. There is charming continuity in presenting the circumstances around the character of Holy prophet Muhammad (PBUH).Author begins with the Prophetic period of Hadrat Ibrahim (A.S) and Hazrat Musa (A.S) by giving the reader some background information on the times and culture in which Islam was first appeared. Then he discusses Muhammad's (PBUH) life in such a way that a reader feels himself as being lifted to the times of prophet. While reading the book, reader finds himself as a part of the situation that the book deals with. Author has dramatized the events of Prophet’s (PBUH) life in such a way that reader finds himself in the company of the Prophet (PBUH). When author mentions the conversations of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) with the Meccans who are trying to persuade prophet (PBUH) to shun inviting people towards Islam, reader feels himself watching the scene live in the lands of Arabia. This kind of treatment to the events of prophet’s life has a magical effect on the minds of the reader. It carries a reader into the desert of Mecca where Haleema is carrying prophet (PBUH) on her camel. Sometimes a reader feels that he has been captured by the Meccan tribal lords and put in shub-i-Abi-talib. Likewisw reader lives through the times of prophet.Besides trying hard to present the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as a human being, the mystical bent of mind of the author can be easily traced in the pages of the book, albeit if one has some taste for mysticism. Author has presented Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as a political and social reformer, preaching God rather than tribe, reconciliation rather than rift.To maintain continuity and make it look more real cahpterisation of events has been avoided, as is the routine in biography writing. Once a reader starts reading the book he continues his reading till end. It is the uniqueness of the book and author that the continuity of the life and events of Prophet’s time has been so nicely maintained that reader follows the times of prophet without any break.Perhaps the most interesting portions of the book (at least to me or others who are interested in the history of religions) are those dealing with the subjects that have created lots of confusion among the Muslims and non-Muslims. Such topics have been presented in such a way that a reader gets comfortably convinced; events like Ascension (Mehraj), Treaty of Hudaibiya, waq-i-Ifak. Author has avoided argumentation and needless discussion on some particular events and has relied mostly upon the Quranic verses and prophet’s sayings to make his argument attractive and understandable.Author has consulted almost all the important biographies of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) written in different languages from time to time. From the earliest biographies including Seerat-i-ibni Ishaq (complied by Muhammed bin Ishaq Bin Yasaar), Sirat-i-Ibn-Kathir (complied by Imam Hafiz Abu Ima-du-Din Ibn Kathir) to modern English biographies of Prophet Muhammad Like the ones written by Hyakl and Martin Lings. However, author always refers to Quranic verses and Ahadith to explain the events and occasions related to Prophet (PBUH).I have read some of the books about Muhammad, but this is the most comprehensive one in our mother tongue - Kashmiri. Even reading the preview made me fall in love with this book. It put Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) just as a human being, not some godly being or a magical person above human understanding. The writer describes and tells the story about Muhammad (PBUH) with a deep and wide research at the back of his narration. I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about the prophet of Islam and the cultural language of Kashmir. The only criticism I have is that Professor Nazki tends to tell the reader too frequently about the Prophet's (PBUH) thinking regarding various occasions which Prophet (PBUH) faced in his life. Author may be correct in some cases, but I don't think it is possible to draw such conclusions--especially about a Person who at once is Prophet, guide, a common man, an economist, a political thinker, a leader, a social reformer and as the beloved of Allah.