Ibn Sa'd
IBN SA'D, [Abu 'Abdallah Mahommed ibn Sa'd ibn Mani' uz-Zuhri, often called Katib ul-Waqidi (" secretary of Waqidi ") of Basra] (d. 845), Arabian biographer, received his training in tradition from Waqidi and other celebrated teachers. He lived for the most part in Bagdad, and had the reputation of being both trustworthy and accurate in his writings, which, in consequence, were much used by later writers. His work, the Kitab ul-Tabaqat ul-Kablr (15 vols.) contains the lives of Mahomet, his Companions and Helpers (including those who fought at Badr as a special class) and of the following generation (the Followers) who received their traditions from the personal friends of the Prophet.
This work has been edited under the superintendence of E. Sachau (Leiden, 1904 sqq.) ; cf. O. Loth, Das Classenbuch des Ibn Sa'd (Leipzig, 1869). (G. W. T.)
Note - this article incorporates content from Encyclopaedia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, (1910-1911)