Book: Dalail an-Nubuwwah by Bayhaqi

تقدمة المصنف للكتاب

Chapter: The author's introduction to the book

Volume: 1 (Page:67)

English:

Author's Preface to the Book

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. May God's blessings be upon our Master Muhammad and his family and companions.

Imam Al-Hafiz Abu Bakr, Ahmad ibn Al-Hussein ibn Ali Al-Bayhaqi, the author of this book, may Allah have mercy on him and benefit us with his knowledge, said:

All praise belongs to Allah who created the heavens and the earth, brought forth darkness and light, invented jewels and accidents, composed forms and bodies, ordained death and life, determined living and resurrection, and granted from among His creation whom He willed the faculties of hearing, sight, and heart. He gives whom He wills among them knowledge, intellect, vision, and reasoning, and guides whomever He wills towards the right path. He sent messengers with orders and prohibitions, promising Paradise to those who obey Him, and warning with Hellfire for those who disobey Him. He supported them with miracles proving their prophecy and signs of their truthfulness, so that mankind might have no further argument against Allah after the sending of His messengers.

He favored us with the distinguished Prophet, the trustworthy Messenger, the master of all messengers and seal of Prophethood, Abu Al-Qasim, Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Abdul-Muttalib. He is the best of all His creation, combines every good character and is the best of them in terms of lineage, religion, and life.

Footnotes:
[1] Between the present two, there is no "H", and in "S".
[2] In "H" and "S": He sent.
[3] In "S": Paradise.
[4] In "S": Hellfire.

Arabic:

[تقدمة المصنف للكتاب]بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ وصلى الله على سيدنا محمد وآله [وصحبه.قال الإمام الحافظ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْبَيْهَقِيُّ، مصنف هذا الكتاب، رحمه الله، ونفع بعلومه] [ (١) ] :الْحَمْدُ للَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السّموات وَالْأَرْضَ، وَجَعَلَ الظُّلُمَاتِ وَالنُّورَ، وَابْتَدَعَ الْجَوَاهِرَ وَالْأَعْرَاضَ، وَرَكَّبَ الصُّوَرَ وَالْأَجْسَادَ، وَقَضَى الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ، وَقَدَّرَ الْمَعَاشَ وَالْمَعَادَ، وَأَعْطَى مَنْ شَاءَ مِنَ السَّمْعِ وَالْبَصَرِ وَالْفُؤَادِ، وَمَنْ شَاءَ مِنْهُمُ الْمَعْرِفَةَ وَالْعَقْلَ وَالنَّظَرَ وَالِاسْتِدْلَالَ، وَمَنْ شَاءَ مِنْهُمُ الْهِدَايَةَ وَالرَّشَادَ، وَبَعَثَ [ (٢) ] الرُّسُلَ بِمَا شَاءَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ وَنَهْيِهِ، مُبَشِّرِينَ بِالْجَنَّةِ [ (٣) ] مَنْ أَطَاعَهُ، وَمُنْذِرِينَ بِالنَّارِ [ (٤) ] مَنْ عَصَاهُ، وَأَيَّدَهُمْ بِدَلَائِلِ النُّبُوَّةِ وَعَلَامَاتِ الصِّدْقِ، لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللهِ حُجَّةٌ بَعْدَ الرُّسُلِ، وَخَصَّنَا بِالنَّبِيِّ الْمَكِينِ، وَالرَّسُولِ الْأَمِينِ، سيّد المرسلمين، وَخَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ، أَبِي الْقَاسِمِ: مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ، أَفْضَلِ خَلْقِهِ نَفْسًا، وَأَجْمَعِهِمْ لِكُلِّ خُلُقٍ رَضِيٍّ فِي دِينٍ ودنيا، وخيرهم نسبا،[ (١) ] ما بين الحاضرتين من (ح) ، وليس في (هـ) ، و (ص) .[ (٢) ] في (هـ) و (ص) : وبعث.[ (٣) ] في (ص) : الجنة.[ (٤) ] في (ص) : النار.

Volume: 1 (Page:68)

English:

The Divine Guidance and The Revelation of The Holy Quran

The Most Noble of them sent him (Prophet Muhammad) with guidance and the religion of truth, to all accountable beings of creation. He initiated His mercy with him, ended His prophecy with him, chose him for His message, selected him to declare His legislation, and elevated his mention in company with His. Along with him, He revealed a Mighty Book, the Noble Quran, a blessed, glorious, clear evidence, a firm cord, a radiant knowledge, and a dazzling miracle that accompanied his call throughout his life and remained in his nation after his death.

He ordered him to challenge his opponents, asking them to produce something similar- though Arabic was their nature, eloquence their inherent trait, and composing verses their skill- but they failed to confront and turned alternatively to combat, which was even more challenging than what he had invited them to do. Thus, he challenged them, as He (God Almighty) said: "Say, 'If mankind and the jinn gathered in order to produce the like of this Quran, they could not produce the like of it, even if they were to each other assistants.'"

Conveying the Message despite Obstacles

Along with all the miraculous signs and the obvious clarifying proofs given by Allah, that he may cause it (Islam) to prevail over all religions, even if the polytheists detest it. Hence, he properly delivered the message, honestly gave counsel, clarified the way, illuminated the path, identified the straight path, and worshipped Allah until certainty came to him.

May Allah’s blessings be upon him, and upon his pure family, whenever they are mentioned by those who remember, and even when they are forgotten by those who forget, the best and purest of blessings, the sweetest and the most enduring.

Subsequent Achievements

As for what follows, when I finished- with the help of Allah and His good guidance- documenting the narrations regarding Names and Attributes, vision, faith, destiny and punishment. And may Allah grant acceptance. Ameen.

Arabic:

وأشرفهم دار، أَرْسَلَهُ بِالْهُدَى وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ، إِلَى كَافَّةِ الْمُكَلَّفِينَ مِنَ الْخَلْقِ.فَتَحَ بِهِ رَحْمَتَهُ، وَخَتَمَ بِهِ نُبُوَّتَهُ، وَاصْطَفَاهُ لِرِسَالَتِهِ، وَاجْتَبَاهُ لِبَيَانِ شَرِيعَتِهِ وَرَفَعَ ذِكْرَهُ مَعَ ذِكْرِهِ. وَأَنْزَلَ مَعَهُ كِتَابًا عَزِيزًا، وَقُرْآنًا كَرِيمًا، مُبَارَكًا مَجِيدًا، دَلِيلًا مُبِينًا، وَحَبْلًا مَتِينًا، وَعِلْمًا زَاهِرًا، وَمُعْجِزًا بَاهِرًا، اقْتَرَنَ بِدَعْوَتِهِ أَيَّامَ حَيَاتِهِ، وَدَامَ فِي أُمَّتِهِ بَعْدَ وَفَاتِهِ. وَأَمَرَهُ فِيهِ بِأَنْ يَدْعُوَ مُخَالِفِيهِ إِلَى أَنْ يَأْتُوا بِمِثْلِهِ- وَالْعَرَبِيَّةُ طَبِيعَتُهُمْ، وَالْفَصَاحَةُ جِبِلَّتُهُمْ، وَنَظْمُ الْكَلَامِ صَنْعَتُهُمْ- فَعَجَزُوا عَنِ الْمُعَارَضَةِ، وَعَدَلُوا عَنْهَا إِلَى الْمُسَايَفَةِ الَّتِي هِيَ أَصْعَبُ مِمَّا دَعَاهُمْ إِلَيْهِ، وَتَحَدَّاهُمْ بِهِ، كَمَا قَالَ، - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ-: قُلْ لَئِنِ اجْتَمَعَتِ الْإِنْسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلى أَنْ يَأْتُوا بِمِثْلِ هذَا الْقُرْآنِ لَا يَأْتُونَ بِمِثْلِهِ، وَلَوْ كانَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ ظَهِيراً [ (٥) ] مَعَ سَائِرِ مَا آتَاهُ اللهُ وَحَبَاهُ مِنَ الْمُعْجِزَاتِ الظَّاهِرَاتِ، وَالْبَيِّنَاتِ الْبَاهِرَاتِ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ [ (٦) ] . فَبَلَّغَ الرِّسَالَةَ، وَأَدَّى النَّصِيحَةَ، وَأَوْضَحَ السَّبِيلَ، وَأَنَارَ الطَّرِيقَ، وَبَيَّنَ الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ، وَعَبَدَ اللهَ حَتَّى أَتَاهُ الْيَقِينُ. فَصَلَوَاتُ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ، وَعَلَى آلِهِ الطَّيِّبِينَ، كُلَّمَا ذَكَرَهُ الذَّاكِرُونَ، وَغَفَلَ عَنْ ذِكْرِهِ الْغَافِلُونَ، أَفْضَلَ صَلَاةٍ وَأَزْكَاهَا، وَأَطْيَبَهَا وَأَنْمَاهَا.أَمَّا بَعْدُ: فَإِنِّي لَمَّا فَرَغْتُ- بِعَوْنِ اللهِ وَحُسْنِ تَوْفِيقِهِ- مِنْ تَخْرِيجِ الْأَخْبَارِ الْوَارِدَةِ فِي الْأَسْمَاءِ وَالصِّفَاتِ [ (٧) ] ، وَالرُّؤْيَةِ [ (٨) ] ، وَالْإِيمَانِ [ (٩) ] ، وَالْقَدَرِ وَعَذَابِ[ (٥) ] الآية الكريمة (٨٨) من سورة الإسراء.[ (٦) ] الآية الكريمة (٩) من صورة الصف.[ (٧) ] فِي كِتَابِ «الْأَسْمَاءِ وَالصِّفَاتِ» طبع بالهند في جزء كبير سنة (١٣١٣ هـ) ، وطبع بمصر بعد ذلك.[ (٨) ] وهو جزء في «الرؤية» أو كتاب «الرؤية» .[ (٩) ] وهو كتاب «شعب الإيمان» أو الجامع المصنف في «شعب الإيمان، وقد طبع اختصاره في جزء، وأما الكتاب فهو في عشرة أجزاء.

Volume: 1 (Page:69)

English:

The Grave, Signs of the Hour, and the Resurrection (10)

Regarding the grave, signs of the Hour, the resurrection and the gathering (11), the scale, accounting, the straight path, and interceding, Heaven and Hell, and further connected with the principles and their discernment (12). This is to aid those who have discussed it, cited it, reached its conclusions, but did not know its condition (13), what is accepted and what is rejected from it (14).

The Miracles of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

I intended, with the will of Allah the Most High, to compile some of what we have reached of the miracles of our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings upon him, and proofs of his prophethood, to assist them in affirming his message. I sought Allah's guidance, the Most High, in initiating what I intended and sought his help in accomplishing what I meant, along with the honor of its origin, his pure birth, describing his names and traits, the extent of his life, the time of his death, and more related to knowing him, peace and blessings be upon him.

Specification in Authorship

I specified in my authorship to satisfy with the correct of the detrimental, and the known of the peculiar (15), except in what the intention is not clear from the correct or the known without it, I shall cite it. Depending on the sum of what preceded of the correct, or the known with the people of conquests, and dates.

And with Allah is success, and He is sufficient for me in my matters, and the best disposer of affairs.

Notes:

  • (10) In his book 'Proof of Punishment in the Grave'
  • (11) The Book of Resurrection and Gathering- volume
  • (12) More on this, refer to the works of Al Bayhaqi in our translation of the author at the beginning of this part
  • (13) In 'Ha': its men, and proving what's in 'Ha' and 'Sa'
  • (14) In 'Ha': 'and is rejected', and in 'Sa': 'What is accepted and rejected'
  • (15) In 'Ha': 'From the known by the peculiar'

Arabic:

الْقَبْرِ [ (١٠) ] ، وَأَشْرَاطِ السَّاعَةِ، وَالْبَعْثِ وَالنُّشُورِ [ (١١) ] ، وَالْمِيزَانِ، وَالْحِسَابِ، وَالصِّرَاطِ، والخوض، وَالشَّفَاعَةِ، وَالْجَنَّةِ، وَالنَّارِ، وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ مِمَّا يَتَعَلَّقُ بِالْأُصُولِ وَتَمْيِيزِهَا [ (١٢) ] ، لِيَكُونَ عَوْنًا لِمَنْ تَكَلَّمَ فِيهَا، وَاسْتَشْهَدَ بِمَا بَلَغَهُ مِنْهَا فَلَمْ يَعْرِفْ حَالَهَا [ (١٣) ] ، وَمَا يُقْبَلُ وَمَا يُرَدُّ [ (١٤) ] مِنْهَا- أَرَدْتُ، وَالْمَشِيئَةُ لِلَّهِ، تَعَالَى، أَنْ أَجْمَعَ بَعْضَ مَا بَلَغَنَا مِنْ مُعْجِزَاتِ نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَدَلَائِلِ نُبُوَّتِهِ، لِيَكُونَ عَوْنًا لَهُمْ عَلَى إِثْبَاتِ رِسَالَتِهِ. فَاسْتَخَرْتُ اللهَ، تَعَالَى، فِي الِابْتِدَاءِ، بِمَا أَرَدْتُهُ، وَاسْتَعَنْتُ بِهِ فِي إِتْمَامِ مَا قَصَدْتُهُ، مَعَ مَا نُقِلَ إِلَيْنَا مِنْ شَرَفِ أَصْلِهِ، وَطَهَارَةِ مَوْلِدِهِ، وَبَيَانِ أَسْمَائِهِ وَصِفَاتِهِ، وَقَدْرِ حَيَاتِهِ، وَوَقْتِ وَفَاتِهِ، وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ مِمَّا يَتَعَلَّقُ بِمَعْرِفَتِهِ، صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، عَلَى نَحْوِ مَا شَرَطْتُهُ فِي مُصَنَّفَاتِي، مِنَ الِاكْتِفَاءِ بِالصَّحِيحِ مِنَ السَّقِيمِ، وَالِاجْتِزَاءِ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ مِنَ الْغَرِيبِ [ (١٥) ] إِلَّا فِيمَا لَا يَتَّضِحُ الْمُرَادُ مِنَ الصَّحِيحِ أَوِ الْمَعْرُوفِ دُونَهُ، فَأُورِدُهُ، وَالِاعْتِمَادُ عَلَى جُمْلَةِ مَا تَقَدَّمَهُ مِنَ الصَّحِيحِ، أَوِ الْمَعْرُوفِ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْمَغَازِي وَالتَّوَارِيخِ.وَبِاللهِ التَّوْفِيقُ، وَهُوَ حَسْبِي فِي أُمُورِي، وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ.[ (١٠) ] في كتابه «إثبات عذاب القبر» .[ (١١) ] كتاب البعث والنشور- مجلد.[ (١٢) ] في (هـ) : وغيرها.. وراجع تصانيف البيهقي في ترجمتنا للمصنف في أول هذا الجزء.[ (١٣) ] في (هـ) : رجالها، وأثبت ما في (ح) و (ص) .[ (١٤) ] في (ح) : «ويرد» ، وفي (ص) : «وما يقبل ويرد» .[ (١٥) ] في (ح) : «من المعروف بالغريب» .

Vols: Intro, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Chapters