Kitab at-Tabaqat al-Kabir : Companions of Badr Volume 3
The Companions of Badr
Ibn Sa'd's Kitab at-Tabaqat al-Kabir Volume III
Translated By Aisha Bewley
Hardback 541 Pages
ISBN: 9781842001332
Ta-Ha Publishers
This third volume oft he Tabaqat (Volume III) focuses on two significant groups of the early Muslims.
The Companions who participated in the Battle of Badr – These were the noble men who fought alongside the Prophet Muḥammad (S) in the first major battle of Islam in the second year after Hijrah. Their status is uniquely honored in Islamic history and tradition, as the Qur’an and numerous ḥadīth highlight the virtues and high rank of the people of Badr. This volume provides their names, biographical details, and their contributions to the nascent Muslim community.
The leaders of the Anṣār who pledged allegiance at al-‘Aqaba – These were the men from Madinah who gave the historic pledge of support and protection to the Prophet (S) before the Hijrah. Their pledge marked the foundation for the establishment of the Muslim community in Madinah and the beginning of the Islamic state. This section records their identities, their roles in the pledge, and their subsequent services in the cause of Islam.
Together, these accounts offer not only a detailed record of some of the most pivotal figures of early Islam but also highlight the sacrifices, courage, and loyalty that laid the foundations for the growth and strength of the Muslim ummah.
About Ibn Sa'd
Abū ʿAbdullāh Muḥammad ibn Saʿd (168-230 AH / 784-845 CE) was a pivotal early authority in Muslim biography, born in Basra. He later moved to Baghdad, where he became known as the "secretary" of Muhammad ibn Umar al-Waqidi, his primary teacher. His pursuit of knowledge also led him to Kufa and Madina. Esteemed scholars like Ibn Hajar, adh-Dhahabi, al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, and Ibn Khallikan all vouched for his reliability.
Aisha Abdurrahman at Tarjumana Bewley is a highly productive translator of classical Arabic works into English. For over 25 years, her deep understanding of Arabic and Islam, gained through experience, has made essential texts accessible to English readers, including notable works like Ash-Shifa
About The Translator
Aisha Bewley is one of the most distinguished and prolific contemporary translators of classical Arabic texts into English. Her work goes beyond mere academic translation—she combines deep linguistic understanding with lived experience and authentic transmission of Islamic teachings.
For over 25 years, she has devoted herself to making key classical texts accessible to English-speaking audiences. Among her most notable translations are Ash-Shifāʾ by Qāḍī ʿIyāḍ, Al-Muwaṭṭaʾ of Imām Mālik, Glossary of Islamic Terms, and Muslim Women: A Biographical Dictionary. She has also co-translated The Noble Qur’an: A New Rendering of its Meaning in English, widely recognized for its clarity and fidelity.
Her work has played a crucial role in bridging the gap between the Arabic Islamic heritage and English-speaking readers around the world.
