Muhammad and the Empires of Faith: The Making of the Prophet of Islam
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In Muhammad and the Empires of Faith, Sean W. Anthony demonstrates how critical readings of non-Muslim and Muslim sources in tandem can breathe new life into the historical study of Muhammad and how his message transformed the world. By placing these sources within the intellectual and cultural world of Late Antiquity, Anthony offers a fresh assessment of the earliest sources for Muhammad’s life, taking readers on a grand tour of the available evidence, and suggests what new insights stand to be gained from the techniques and methods pioneered by countless scholars over the decades in a variety of fields. Muhammad and the Empires of Faith offers both an authoritative introduction to the multilayered traditions surrounding the life of Muhammad and a compelling exploration of how these traditions interacted with the broader landscape of Late Antiquity.
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Additional information
| Publisher | California University Press, Illustrated edition (21 April 2020) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Hardcover | 304 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0520340418 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0520340411 |
| Dimensions | 15.24 x 2.79 x 22.86 cm |
by D_S
Good look at overlooked evidence that shows we know a surprising amount about the Prophet: he was indeed a merchant who led Arab armies and was recognised as a prophet by his people. Much of this information corroborates the Quran, which is a rather accurate document when it comes to describing the main events of Muhammad’s life. Within years of his death, his memory was used to legitimise Islamic dynasties (starting with the Ummayads, Zubairids, and eventually the Abbasids). The author also shows how Christians in the region reacted to the beginning of Islam. They saw that these Arab raiders represented something different, and within decades of Muhammad’s death were writing pointed rebuttals of Islam. At the same time, many Christians blamed rival Christian sects for the rise of this new “heathen” faith
It is also interesting to see how Muslim elites eventually recognised the usefulness of writing down the history of Muhammad and Islam, beyond the Quran. They realised how Muslim histories could help current caliphs justify their lineage and rule.
by Dr Saqib
I liked this because it’s an excellent review of some of Islam’s sources. It’s a nuanced space but if you want to study the sources of Islam, and especially the Hadith and tafsir, this is an excellent book