صفاتِ نبی ﷺ اور سیرت نگاری کا کلامی اسلوب: سید جعفر مرتضیٰ عاملی کی کتاب "الصحیح من سیرت النبی الاعظم" کا انتقادی جائزہ

Theological Discourse on the Attributes of the Prophet ﷺ and Sīrah Writing: A Critical Review of "Al-Ṣaḥīḥ min Sīrat al-Nabī al-A‘ẓam" by Syed Jafar Murtaza Aamili

Abstract

This article examines the attributes of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) within the framework of Sīrah literature, with particular focus on the theological (kalāmī) methodology employed in its interpretation and presentation. It offers a critical study of the works of Sayyid Ja‘far Murtadā al-‘Āmilī, especially his renowned contribution al-Ṣaḥīḥ min Sīrat al-Nabī al-A‘ẓam, in which he seeks to reconstruct the Prophetic biography through a rigorous analytical and doctrinal lens.

The study explores how theological presuppositions influence the selection, authentication, and interpretation of Sīrah narrations, particularly in relation to the attributes and infallibility (‘iṣmah) of the Prophet (ﷺ). It highlights the ways in which al-‘Āmilī critiques earlier historical reports, reassesses their reliability, and presents an alternative reading shaped by specific theological commitments. The paper further evaluates the strengths and limitations of this approach, considering its impact on the broader discipline of Sīrah studies.

By employing a comparative and analytical method, the article aims to shed light on the intersection between theology and historiography in Islamic scholarship. It argues that while a kalāmī approach can contribute to a more coherent and doctrinally consistent understanding of the Prophet’s (ﷺ) life and attributes, it may also raise questions regarding methodological objectivity and historical inclusivity.

The study ultimately seeks to contribute to contemporary discussions on Sīrah methodology by emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that integrates both critical historical analysis and sound theological principles.