ISBN: 9960892263
Author: Imam Imaduddin Abul Fida Isma'il Ibn Kathir ad Damishqi (Ibn Kathir); Rashid Ahmad Azami (translator)
Publisher: Darussalam Publishers & Distributors (2nd Edition March 2003)
Pages: 544 Binding: Hardcover

Description from the publisher:

In this book, the stories of the prophets have been compiled from 'Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah' (The Beginning and the End) which is a great work of the famous Muslim exegete and historian Ibn Kathir and has a prominent place in the Islamic literature. The stories of the prophets and all the events in their lives have been supported by the Qur'anic Verses and the Sunnah (traditions) of the Prophet (S). Wherever it was necessary, other sources have also been reported for the sake of historical accounts, but on such places a comparative study has been made to prove the authenticity of the sources. Ibn Kathir has reproduced the views and interpretations of all the great exegetes of the Qur'an of his time. The systemic narratives of the Stories of the Prophets have been written in chronological order which renders a historical style to the book.

Allah the Most Exalted says in the Qur'an:

"We are relating unto you the most beautiful of stories in that what We have revealed to you from the Qur'an, though before it you were from among those who were not aware of them." (12:3)

"We have indeed sent aforetime Messengers before you, of them there are some whose stories We have related to you, and whose stories We have not related to you..." (40:78)

"We relate to you the important news of their story in truth..." (18:13)

"And all that We relate to you of these stories of the Messengers, We strengthen with them your heart. Through them there come to you the truth as well as admonition and reminder to all those who believe." (11:120)

"There is, indeed, in their stories lessons for people endowed with understanding. It is not any invented tale, but a confirmation of what went before it, and a detailed exposition of all things, and a guide and a mercy to the people who believe." (12:111)

"...so relate the stories, perhaps they may reflect." (7:176)

Table of Contents

1. The Story of Adam and Eve (Hawwa)
---1-Ahadith about the Creation of Adam
---2-The Story of Cain and Abel (Habil and Qabil)
---3-The Death of Adam and His Son Seth (Shith)
2. The Story of Idris
3. The Story of Noah
---1-Noah's Mission
---2-The Ark and the Flood
---3-Noah's Will
4. The Story of Hud
---1-'Ad and Idolatry
---2-'Ad's Punishment
5. The Story of Sileh
---1-The She-Camel
---2-Thamud and the Punishment
---3-The Prophet (S) through the Thamud's Ruins
6. The Story of Abraham (Ibrahim)
---1-Abraham and His Father
---2-Abraham and the Idols
---3-Abraham and the Fire
---4-Argument between Abraham and Nimrod
---5-Migration of Abraham to Syria
---6-The Birth of Ishmael (Isma'il)
---7-Hagar and Ishmael in Makkah
---8-The Story of the Sacrifice
---9-The Birth of Isaac (Ishaq)
---10-The Construction of Ka'bah
---11-Allah praises His Prophet Abraham
---12-Age and Death
---13-Abraham's Children
7. The Story of Lot
---1-Lot's Mission
---2-Lot's Guests
---3-The Punishment
8. The Story of Shu'aib
---1-The People of Madyan
---2-The Punishment
9. The Progeny of Abraham
---1-The Story of Ishmael (Isma'il)
---2-The Story of Isaac (Ishaq)
10. The Story of Joseph (Yusuf)
---1-Joseph and the Dream
---2-Joseph and His Brothers
---3-Joseph taken to Egypt
---4-Joseph and Seduction
---5-Joseph in the Prison
---6-Pharaoh's Dream
---7 Joseph's Innocence
---8 -Joseph as Minister
---10 Joseph's Brothers in Egypt
---11-Benjamin meets Joseph
---12-The Brothers tell their Misery to Joseph
---13-The Dream comes true
11. The Story of Job (Ayub)
---1-Job's Trial
---2-Relief from Suffering
12. The Story of Dhul-Kifl
13. The Story of the People of:
---1-Ar-Rass
---2-Yd-Sin
14.The Story of Jonah (Yunus)
---1-Jonah flees
---2-Jonah in the Belly of Whale
---3-The Excellence of Jonah
15. The Story of Moses (Musa)
---1-The Birth of Moses
---2-Moses enters Pharaoh's Palace
---3-Moses kills
---4-Moses goes to Madyan
---5-Moses gets Refuge
---6-Moses and Mount Tur
---7-Moses goes to Pharaoh
---8-Moses and Magicians
---9-Chiefs incite Pharaoh to kill Moses
---10-The Believer
---11-Signs and Trials
---12-Destruction of Pharaoh and his Army
---13-Sea splits
---14-Israelites after Pharaoh
---15-Israelites go in Wandering
---16-Moses asks to see Allah
---17-Israelites and the Worship of Calf
---18-The Story of Cow
---19-The Story of Moses and Khidr
---20-The Story of Qarun
---21-The Excellence of Moses
---22-Moses and His Pilgrimage
---23-The Death of Moses
16. The Story of Joshua (Yusha')
17. The Story of Khidr
18.The Story of Ezekiel (Hizqil)
19. The Stories of Elias (Ilyas) and Elisha (Al-Yas'a)
20. The Story of Samuel
21. The Story of David (Dawud)
22. The Story of Solomon (Sulaiman)
---1-Hoopoe and Belqis (the Queen of Sheba)
---2-The Death of Solomon
23. The Stories of Other Prophets:
---1-Isaiah (Shi'ya)
---2-jeremiah
---3-The Destruction of Jerusalem
24. The Story of Daniel (Daniyal)
---1-The Reconstruction of Bait-ul-Maqdis
25. The Story of Ezra ('Uzair)
26. The Stories of Zachariah and John (Yahya)
27. The Story of Jesus ('Isa)
---1-The Birth of Jesus the son of Mary (Maryam)
---2-Does God need a Son?
---3-Gospel
---4-Prophecies of Jesus about Our Prophet
---5-The Story of Ma'idah
---6-Elevation or Crucifixion
---7-The Excellence of Jesus