Al-Bidaya Wal Nihaya is structured chronologically, beginning with the creation of the world and the early history of humanity. The book then proceeds to cover the lives of prophets, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, peace be upon them. Ibn Kathir also discusses the history of ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, as well as the rise and fall of various Islamic empires, including the Rashidun Caliphate, the Umayyads, and the Abbasids.