Islamic History from the Beginning to the End (AI-Bidayah wan Nihayah)

The story of creation compiled by Ibn Kathir has amazing insights into the origin of God’s creations including Jinn, angels, and humanity. For parents, it is an incredible source of meaningful bedtime stories for children of all ages, to help bring our children closer to Allah, to be awed by Allah’s majesty, and to satisfy the ever-growing curiosity about our world.

This is an invitation for the parents to explore these amazing resources and enrich our lives with readily available knowledge. In this article, we’ll discuss the ways parents can partake in this exploration and what awaits them as they commence the discovery.

Who is Ibn Kathir? 

Ibn Kathir was born in 701 A.H. and was orphaned at age 4. He studied under many eminent scholars of his time in Damascus and Egypt. He earned his reputation as a leading historian, a scholar of hadeeth (the Prophet’s sayings and actions) and tafseer (commentary and explanation of the Quranic verses). His time in this world ended in 774 A.H. During his lifetime, he composed many books including The Beginning and The End (AI-Bidayah wan Nihayah).

Where to Start 

Books Set:

Many Islamic publication organizations carry The Beginning and The End (AI-Bidayah wan Nihayah), in their online or brick-and-mortar stores. Darussalam Publications has a set of 8 volumes translated into English. It is best to invest in these books by purchasing from authentic publishers. The table of contents allows you to select your favorite topic and delve into the details.  It is best to read ahead in advance to note important points and summarize for a bedtime story for children. The information here is eye-opening and sometimes feels out of this world, literally. Some of you may find it to be more fun to hop around the table of contents and others might want to continue with the topics in a series as presented in the book. However, the reader and the storyteller are free to choose topics of interest.

Online:

Sheikh Omar Suleiman’s short YouTube videos series (by Bayyinah Institute) presents a fun learning experience for the whole family. The 70 videos serve as a good introduction to children and adults alike. These videos do a great job of hooking you to the journey of this great exploration.

What to Expect 

Ibn Kathir starts from the very beginning when nothing existed but Allah, and he takes you down the path by distangling mysteries of the world, one at a time. He hears the collective humanity’s nagging questions:  Where do we come from? Where we are going? The curiosity of who we are, what we are made of and what is our purpose comes into sharp focus when we can see the timeline of our existence. Ibn Kathir outlines the following in his book. 

Creation of Universe and Living Beings

Ibn Kathir gives you a tour of Allah’s magnificent universe and introduces us to his Throne. He relates stories of the creation of angels, Jinn, the affairs of Jinn, and then the creation of Adam. 

Prophets Sent to Humanity

Here he enlightens us with the stories of the eminent prophets of Islam, along with the mysterious Dhul Qarnain, Luqman the Wise, and stories of Bani Israel. 

Seerah of Rasul Allah

He memorializes the time of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, the events before, during, and after his birth to receiving his assignment of prophethood, his miracles, major wars, treaties, delegations, and expeditions.

Reign of Islam till 132 A.H.

Then he documents the rise and spread of Islam through the efforts of our pious and faithful salaf (predecessors), from rightly guided caliphs to Banu Ummayah. 

Events of the End Times

Finally, he ends with a mention of Signs of the Hour and the events of End Times in detail. Knowledge of the future has always intrigued humankind, sometimes taking over the mind, soul, and existence. The anxiety and uncertainty of our future in this journey of faith was relieved by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, when he informed us of all the end times’ events to come. Ibn Kathir has taken great care in noting these. In our turbulent times of grief and pain at the affairs of Muslim Ummah, you’ll find these stories helpful and uplifting. 

There is no better way to tell a story than from the beginning to the end. For the sake of clarity of vision and strength of faith, Ibn Kathir does not leave you hanging and anticipating. Reading The Beginning and The End (AI-Bidayah wan Nihayah) is like coming home.

 End Notes

 The Beginning and the End with Sh. Omar Suleiman: Introduction

Tayaabah Qazi has a master’s degree in Educational Leadership, an AdminI/II Certification from the State of Maryland Education Department, and a Secondary Teaching Certification in Chemistry as well as a CPP certificate. She has served in the education field as a teacher and an administrator of schools. Recently, she served at Community College of Baltimore County as a Coordinator of Adult Basic Education program. Currently, Tayaabah is the Program Manager at the Office of Workforce Development at Maryland Department of Labor. She has been a long-time resident of Maryland for 17 years, with her family, but hails from Southern California. She is also a staunch believer of the 4 Cs: Compassion. Commitment. Conversation. Cultivation.