3714 | Tabaqat Al Kubra. Vol. 3 Pg. 269 H.

The Life of a Narrator: Unpacking Citation Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 3, Pg. 269, H. 3714

In the vast ocean of Islamic biographical literature (‘ilm al-rijal), few works command as much authority and reverence as Ibn Sa‘d’s Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir (often shortened to Tabaqat al-Kubra). For the historian, the hadith scholar, or the student of early Islamic sociology, a citation from this text is a gateway to the 1st and 2nd centuries of the Hijri calendar.

Text summary (reconstructed from standard sources): Ibn Sa‘d narrates via his chain: Muhammad ibn ‘Umar (al-Waqidi) ← ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ← ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Ubayd ibn ‘Umayr ← Ibn ‘Abbas: “When Surah al-Nasr was revealed, the Prophet (PBUH) said, ‘My death has been announced to me.’ ‘Umar said to Ibn ‘Abbas: ‘Do you know what it means? It means his term (ajal) has come.’ Ibn ‘Abbas said, ‘I know it as you do.’” tabaqat al kubra. vol. 3 pg. 269 h. 3714

Interpretation:
This section could involve commentary by Ibn Sa'd or another scholar on the significance of the narration, who the narrators are, and how this particular report contributes to the understanding of Islamic law, history, or societal norms. The Life of a Narrator: Unpacking Citation Tabaqat

"Muhammad ibn ‘Umar (al-Waqidi) informed us, saying: ‘Abdullah ibn Ja‘far informed us, on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Utbah ibn Mas‘ud, who said: 'I entered upon ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) and asked her about the quality of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) prayer at night. She replied: “He used to sleep at the beginning of the night, rise at its last third, pray eleven rak‘ahs, then lie down on his right side until the muezzin called the dawn prayer.”'" 3714 In the vast ocean of Islamic biographical