Ibn Ishaq

Abû `Abd Allah Muhammad Ben Ishâq Ben Yasâr Ben Khyâr or simply Ibn Ishaq was a historian Arab traditionalist Musulman (Médine towards 704 - Baghdad towards 767). It is known to have written the first “biography of the prophet” Mahomet called will sîra. This biography reached us only in the shape of the version altered by Ibn Hichâm known under the name of Biographie of the messenger of God, Muhammad Ben `Abd Allah or the biography of the prophet or Biographie due to Ibn Hichâm .

Biography

Ibn Ishâq was born around 704 in Médine. The weather was the small son of Khyâr a slave is captive during one of the countryside of Khalid ibn Al-Walid, then freed after being himself converted with Islam. That made of him a Mawâli. The starting point of the work of traditionalist of Ibn Ishâq would come from the accounts which would have made him his/her father (and his/her grandfather). He had become an expert in connection with the campaigns of Mahomet. However Ibn Khaldun trusts him little as-with the solidity of its sources with regard to the traditions: This last (Ibn Ishâq) transmits traditions which he did not hear itself, and declares that he received them according to so-and-so according to so-and-so.

Towards 734 it goes to Alexandria in Egypt to follow there the courses of the traditionalist Yazid ibn Abu Habib.

Towards 749, Ibn Ishâq is turned over to Médine in the middle of the scientists of the city. After the seizure of power by the Abbasid , it left to be established in Baghdad under the pressure of some médinois, in particular of Mâlik ibn Anas which reproached him for being in favor of the free will.

Ibn Ishâq died in Baghdad towards 767.

Works

Ibn Ishâq wrote several books of which none reached us. Its compilation of the traditions on the life of the prophet Mahomet reached us by two sources:

a copy of the work makes by Al-Bakka' I, one of its pupils, was taken again and published by Ibn Hichâm. The originals disappeared and only the version of Ibn Hichâm remains.
Another copy due to Salama ibn-Fadl Al-Ansari, also raises him of Ibn Ishâq, with been used as a basis for the drafting of the chapter of the Chronicle of Tabarî devoted to the life of Mahomet. This copy it also disappeared.

Both version which results from it comprise some notable differences. In particular, Tabarî tells the episode known as of the satanic verses whereas it does not appear in the Biographie due to Ibn Hichâm .

One allots to him also a history of the caliphs Kitâb Al-Khulafaʾ and a collection of sunnan ; both disappeared.

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