The Shams’il of al-Imam al-Tirmidhi is one of the most extensive and celebrated works on the description and attributes of the Messenger of Allah. The 415 narrations were carefully selected by the great muḥaddith to craft a vivid portrayal of the Prophet. Through this, a portrait of his blessed physical appearance, habits, worship, daily routine, spirituality and much more is painted by those most beloved to him: his noble companions and family members.
To aid the reader in extracting the maximum beauty and wisdom from the narrations, we have carefully selected explanatory gems from numerous classical and contemporary works. Some of the scholars from whom we have taken include:
Al-Qāḍī ʿIyad (1083–1149)
Ibn al-Jawzi(1116–1201)
Ibn al-Qayyim(1292–1350)
Ibn Kathīr Ismail ibn Umar ibn Kathir, (1301–1373)
IbnʿAbd al-Barr (Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, 978–1071)
Imam al-Ghazālī(1058–1111)
Abu Bakr b. al-ʿArabi (1076–1148)
al-Nawawī Ismail ibn Umar ibn Kathir, (1233–1277)
Ibn Rajab (1335–1393)
Ibn Taymiyyah (1263–1328)
Ibn Battal (Ismail ibn Umar ibn Kathir, 1058–1127)
Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalani(1372–1449)
Alī al-Qari (1602–1668)
al-Bājūrī (1275–1337)
al-Qastallani (1448–1517)
al-Hafiz al-ʿIraqi (1786–1869)
Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytami(1503–1566)
IbnʿAbd al-Barr (Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, 978–1071)
Ibn al-ʿUthaymin (1925–2001)
al-Shawkani (1759–1839)
al-Suyuti(1445–1505)
al-Sanʿani (1447–1572)
al-Qāḍī ʿIyad (1083–1149)
Muḥammad Amin al-Shanqiti (1928–2008)
Abd al-Razzaq al-Badr (born 1935)
Abd al-Muḥsin al-ʿAbbad (born 1939)
Abd al-Rahman al-Mubarakfuri (1942–2006)
Ibn Kathir Said:
“Scholars authored many titles on the description of the Prophet, some of which were dedicated books and some of which were chapters in books. From the best books authored about the description of the Prophet is the book of Abū ʿĪsā, Muḥammad b. ʿĪsā al-Sulamī al-Tirmidhī, known as al-Shamaʾil.” [al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah 8/385]
Abd al-Razzaq al-Badr Said:
“This blessed book is from the best and most beneficial books written about the character and description of the Prophet and its author made it such an excellent work through his structuring of it and the ḥadīths he included therein. This is the reason why many scholars praise the book and consider it from the best books authored about this topic.”
About Imam al-Tirmidhi
Muhammad b. 'Isa b. Thawra b. Musa b. al-Dahhak Tirmidhi. His Kunya (honorific name) was Abu 'Isa but most widely known as Imam Tirmidhi He was born in the year 209 A.H and died in Rajab279 A.H. at the age of seventy.
He was the compiler of al-Jami` ut-Tirmidhi which is among the six authentic books of hadith. al-Jami` ut-Tirmidhi has been categorized as fifth amongst the six most authentic books of hadith. According to the most preferred opinion, Bukhari enjoys the highest status, followed by Muslim, Abu Dawood, Nasai, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah respectively, however some scholar differ on this categorisation , (Haji Khalifa in al-Kashf al-Dhunoon has categorised Tirmidhi in third position. Some Scholar Do Include The Muwatta of Imam Malik in this List after Bukhari and Muslim).
According to Ibn Taymiyya and Shah Waliullah, Imam Tirmidhi was an independent Jurist (Mujtahid).
By Al-Imam Abu Isa al-Tirmidhi
Paperback 472 Pages
ISBN: 9781739294038
Size 16 x 24 cm
Dar al-Arqam Publishing, UK