A Day in the Life of Prophet Muhammad(SAW)

This Book's Methodology

1 . The idea of writing this book was first conceived about 20

years ago, in an ordinary discussion between me and my late friend

and brother Abd al-Aziz al-Majid (may God bless his soul) . The

idea came from him, and I remember his word, 'the complete day

of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)', and his signal with

his hand as he mentioned that the servants of Madinah used to

come to him with their water and he would dip his hand in it to

bless it. This scene and his words remained with me. I do remember

the time and place as if it is happening now. May God enter this in

his record under 'contribution to knowledge that remains useful

after the departure of its contributor.' May God grant him the best

reward he gives for brotherly advice.

2. The idea continued to ferment in my mind and I started to

pick up its features and details. I worked on organizing these and

placing each at the most suitable point in the Prophet's daily

programme. I then wrote a short version of 'the Prophet's day' and

sent it to my teachers and brothers mentioned in the

Acknowledgements. I benefi ted greatly from their remarks,

observations and corrections. All that they suggested has been taken

up in the book. May God give them His best reward.

3. The aim of this book is to present a complete scene of the

daily programme of the Prophet's life. It will thus be possible for us

to identify the points which we need to emulate, so that we take

from his life what will set our life on the right track: "In God's

Messenger you have a good model for everyone who looks with

hope to God and the Last Day." (33: 2 1 ) We will find in the

progress of the Prophet's day and the events of his life what is

perfectly consistent with human experience in its broadest context

and common aspects. Thus all people can see the example that is

closest to the sublime and yet very human and practical: "Say:

Limitless in His glory is my Lord. Surely I am only a man and a

messenger." (1 7 : 93)

4. Most books on the Prophet's life take up a historical

approach; thus they present a history of the Prophet's life . I imagine

that this work presents the Prophet's life from a different angle, namely, his daily life practices. We are in need of both, and indeed

we need to look at his blessed li fe from other angles. The breadth

of Muhammad's life and his great achievements deserve all that and

more.

5. The scenes that are presented did not all take place in one

day. What happened in one day did not neces sarily happen every

day. However, their total sum gives us as close a picture of what

took place in his day as possible.

6. As for the timing o f events and practices, I may say that

sometimes the reports clearly indicate the time of certain practices.

I n other cases, I relied on some indications to attach practices to

their likely time. These indications vary in strength and clarity, and,

as such, they must be carefully studied. I have endeavoured to place

every story in its appropriate time, according to its context, the total

sum of the reports mentioning it and comparison with similar cases.

However, human effort is liable to error. All I say is that I have

tried my best.

7. I endeavoured t o choose authentic reports wherever

possible. I may include reports and stories that have some weaknes s

in their chains o f transmission. These, however, are normally

complements of what is given in authentic reports. I make sure not

to include any such report when its text is clearly flawed. The fact is

that taking the different reports and comparing them often indicates

what is flawed or what is at variance with the authentic sum of the

story. It may also strengthen a story that has been ruled as suspect

because of some weakness in its chain of transmission. There may

be a confirmation of the meaning given, or what the context

reqmres .

8. When I relate a story, I d o not commit myself to any

particular one of its reports. I make up the most complete version

based on the total sum of the reports. Hence, I have included an

extensive bibliography, mostly of hadith sources. Together, these

sources give the full version of every story or report mentioned in

the book, although some stories may not be fully found in any

single source.

9. Wherever pos sible, I try to give the exact wording of the

Prophet's companions as they reported events, but I do not commit

myself to that. I may adapt the wording so as to fit with other texts and to give a more complete story. Where the Prophet is quoted, I

give his exact words, making no change. However, I may choose

from different reports, or add them together so as to provide the

fullest version.

10. I am very grateful to everyone who reads this book and

favours me with a comment that may correct a mistake or add a

complement. Everyone needs advice. Whenever we acquire fresh

knowledge we remember God's words: "You, [mankind] , have been

granted but little knowledge." (1 7: 85)