Ibn Ishaq was an 8th-century Islamic historian and biographer, best known for his work on the life of the Prophet Muhammad. His most famous book, the "Sirat Rasul Allah" (Life of the Messenger of God), is one of the earliest and most important biographies of Muhammad, providing insights into his life and the early Islamic community. Ibn Ishaq's writings were based on oral traditions and accounts from those who knew Muhammad and his companions. Although his original text has been lost, later historians, such as Ibn Hisham, preserved and edited his work, ensuring that his contributions to Islamic history remain influential to this day.