Updates

Complete: Commission poetic translation, establish Scholarly Oversight Committee, and hire project manager ($20,000) ✅

Complete: Commission illustrations, cover design, translation of selected commentary, editing, and book interior design (+$25,000) ✅

Complete: Recorded audiobook and video commentary in a professional studio for free distribution, organize free courses and seminars teaching the book in various countries (+$45,000) ✅

Current Goal: Retain the services of a dedicated marketing and outreach team. In order to share the story of the Messenger ﷺ as far and wide as possible, we're going to need professionals who can reach audiences we presently do not. (+$36,000)

Help create an English epic poem to teach Seerah

Throughout the history of Muslim civilization, didactic poems have played a central role in religious education. From an early age, children memorized poems of seerah, 'aqidah, and other sciences. 

For scholars, these poems provided the foundation upon which to build & seek knowledge. For the majority of Muslims, memorization of these poems was sufficient to equip them to know their religion and to fulfill their fard 'ayn throughout their lives. 

Famous didactic poems that teach basic Islamic knowledge exist in Arabic, as well as in many other languages of the traditional Muslim world. However, at present, there are very few such poems in English. 

A Rhyming English Seerah for the Whole Family

As a starting point for this project, we have chosen Hafiz al-Iraqi’s famous one-thousand-line poem, titled Naẓm al-Durar al-Sanīyah fī al-Siyar al-Zakīyah. This poem covers both the Seerah and Shama’il, and the original Arabic consists of 1,032 verses of rajaz. 

Our intention is to translate each verse of rajaz into a "heroic couplet": a pair of rhyming lines of English verse, in iambic pentameter. Translating the original poem into traditional, metered English poetry will retain the nobility of form present in the original. Iambic pentameter is a very natural English rhythm. When combined with rhyme, this translation will facilitate memorizing elements of the blessed Seerah. 

As an added benefit, this poetic form will aid in presenting the seerah in an understandable, dignified manner to non-Muslims.

This project represents an opportunity to help establish a tradition of Islamic didactic verse in the English language. In doing so, we will be following in the footsteps of Muslim cultures of many other languages, and strengthening the roots of Islam in the English speaking world.

Illustrations Worthy of the Seerah

As an added unique element of this project, we’ll be working with a world-class illustrator based in the United Kingdom to add a unique captivating illustration on each page of the book. Our goal is to engage families, especially children, in the hope they will read this Seerah together.

Who We Are

Imam Ghazali Institute is a publisher based in New York City, though we have organized seminars & weekend retreats in various countries around the world. 

Last year, we published our landmark edition of Imam al-Tirmdhi’s “al-Shama’il al-Muhammadiyya,” with a full-scale commentary and ground-breaking tradition-honoring design. 

Our hope is that this work of Seerah will help generations of English speaking Muslims to grow in knowledge of the Prophet ﷺ, such that this knowledge becomes firmly rooted in our lives.

Muhammad ﷺ: The Life Story: His Character and Noble Traits

This project is bound to take us on a spiritual journey back in time to approach the heart and mind of the Beloved ﷺ. Readers can hope to explore his life and that of his Companions, to see how they dealt with the rough and smooth with wisdom, perseverance, and reliance on Allah. Through our intended commentary, this book will share rarely heard accounts in English, and love, through opening our hearts and minds to aspiring to be with our Prophet in this life and the next. 

Our Vision and Goal

• It’s our vision to see a world where the seerah is truly experienced, implemented and lived by. 
• To do this, we need your help in these last 10 nights of Ramadan. 
• Please consider making a donation towards this project. 
• Your support will share the story of the Messenger ﷺ  around the world. More than anything, please remember us in your Duas.