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What is Volume 1 of Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalā?
Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalā is Imam al-Dhahabī's biographical history of the most eminent figures of Islam, recorded generation by generation. Al-Dhahabī wrote in the 13th–14th century, and his work has served as a working reference for scholars for seven centuries. It answers a plain question: who were the people who carried this religion from the Companions onward, and what did they actually do? Volume 1 is the opening volume. It begins where the history begins, with the Companions of the Prophet, peace be upon him.
The volume carries the heading 'Stars of Guidance — Volume 1: The Companions' and moves through 92 chapters, one figure at a time. It opens with Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah, then Talhah ibn Ubayd Allah, al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam, Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf, and Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas. Later chapters cover Mus'ab ibn Umayr, Hamzah ibn Abd al-Muttalib, Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, Zayd ibn Harithah, and Abd Allah ibn Rawahah, among many others. Each entry gathers what was reported about that person's character, service, and standing among the Muslims.
The first life sets the tone. The Prophet, peace be upon him, sends Abu Ubaydah with reinforcements to Amr ibn al-As. When Amr claims command, Abu Ubaydah, known for his good character and obedience to the Messenger of Allah, gives way rather than dispute. The chapter then records the Prophet's words that every nation has a trustworthy one, and that the trustworthy one of this nation is Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah. The listener meets the Companions not as a list of names but as people whose conduct was watched and remembered.
Is there an English audiobook of Volume 1 of Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalā?
Yes. Joyful Muslims publishes the complete Volume 1 of Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalā as an English audiobook (about 10.5 hours), translated from the Arabic, with a word-synced bilingual transcript. It is the opening volume of Imam al-Dhahabī's biographical history of the most eminent figures of Islam, recorded generation by generation.
Is it free to listen?
The whole library is open to everyone. Every member gets five hours of listening free each month; Joyful+ removes the time limit.
What does it cover?
Volume 1 covers the Companions of the Prophet, peace be upon him, in 92 chapters, one figure each, from Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah and Talhah ibn Ubayd Allah through Hamzah ibn Abd al-Muttalib, Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, and Abd Allah ibn Rawahah. It runs about 10.5 hours.
Last updated 2026-09-11
Inside the book.
Chapters
Word-synced with the narrator.
The first three minutes are transcribed here. In the app, the Living Manuscript scrolls through the entire book in rhythm with the audio — Arabic alongside English.
Living Manuscript
Listen to the full book in the app for the complete Living Manuscript.
The full, word-synced transcript in Arabic and English is in the app.