Celebrating a birthday or observing a death anniversary is generally not encouraged in Islam. There are also no ample historical records showing that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself ever observed his own birthday or encouraged his companions to observe the occasion. Nevertheless, the Muslims in many parts of the world celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). They observe the day as Eid-e-Milad-Un-Nabi on the 12th day of Rabiul Awal, the day when the Prophet was born in Makkah in 570 AD (or 571 AD). It is also the same day when Muhammad (PBUH) passed away at the age of 63 years in Madinah in 633 AD. Thus, the day is quite significant for the Muslims who observe it to demonstrate their respect and great admiration for the Prophet.
The Muslims, however, are always enthusiastic about knowing the life and works of their beloved Prophet and learning from his sermons, examples he set, and deeds. So, they always try to learn from the life and works of the Prophet. Since the inception of Islam in the sixth century and its persistent spread from the Arab peninsula to the East and the West, non-Muslims have also shown their interest and enthusiasm in knowing about the Prophet and the religion preached by him. That's why, over the centuries, thousands of biographies on Muhammad (PBUH) has been written by both Muslims and non-Muslims and published across the world to know the amazing life and works of the Prophet. Nevertheless, there remains an enduring interest in exploring the Prophet of Islam, a testament to his enduring significance, and thus researchers, scholars, and academics worldwide continue to write, rewrite, and translate biographies of the Prophet.
The first comprehensive biography of Muhammad (PBUH) was published in eighth-century Arabia. Compiled and written by Muhammad Ibn Ishaq, it is 'Sirat Rasul Allah.' Another contemporary work is Ibn Hisham's 'Sirat al-Nabawiyya', though it is essentially an edited and revised version of Ibn Ishaq's pioneering work. Heidelberg professor Gustav Weil first translated the 'Sirat Rasul Allah' into German from Arabic in 1864. A few decades later, the first English translation was done by Hungarian scholar Edward Rehatsek. Alfred Guillaume's work titled 'The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ibn Ishaq's Sirat Rasul Allah' is recognised as the best English translation of the book, first published in 1955.
In Bangla, Moulana Abdur Rahim writes the first comprehensive biography of the Prophet. First published in 1887, the work was revised several times by the author. However, the most popular Bangla biography of the Prophet is 'Bishwanawbi' (The Prophet of the World) by Golam Mostafa, a poet and Islamic scholar. Due to its lucid poetic language, coupled with detailed descriptions and analysis, Bishwanawbi has become immensely popular among readers of different levels since its first publication in 1942.
'Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum' is awarded the first prize by the Muslim World League in a worldwide competition of biographies of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) held in Mecca in 1979. Written by Indian scholar Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, the book was first published in 1976 simultaneously in Urdu and Arabic. The English version, titled The Sealed Nectar, was released in later years. Several Bangla translations of the book are also available.
'The First Muslim: the Story of Muhammad' by British-American author Lesley Hazleton is one of the popular biographies of the Prophet in recent times. Again, two of the much-acclaimed titles include 'Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources' by Martin Lings and 'Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet' by Karen Armstrong. Bangla translations of all these are available.
Today, when Muslims observe the Eid-e-Milad-Un-Nabi in Bangladesh, it is not just a celebration, but also a solemn occasion to delve deep into the various authentic biographies of the great Prophet. Understanding the deep meanings of his life, which he dedicated and sacrificed to the cause of Islam, is a responsibility for every believer. It is also necessary to understand the views and perspectives of the non-Muslims about the Prophet of Islam and engage in constructive discussion with them in the greater interests of humanity.
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