May One Read Shibli Nu‘mani’s “Sirat al-Nabi”?

Question

In Hazrat Thanawi’s work “Ashraf al-Jawab”, part four, page 163, under the heading “Detailed comparative preference among the prophets is forbidden”, an objection is raised against the book “Sirat al-Nabi” authored by Mawlana Shibli Nu‘mani, which was completed by Mawlana Sayyid Sulayman Nadwi, and its author is criticised. Now the question is this: this book consists of six substantial volumes and I have it in my possession. May it be studied or not?

Answer

In the book “Sirat al-Nabi” by Allama Shibli Nu‘mani, objections are raised against certain hadiths, and that [objecting] is mistaken. Besides this, owing to his free-thinking disposition there are other errors as well: people of knowledge notice them, while others do not realise it.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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