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The Historical Muhammad
In his quest for the historical Muhammad, Zeitlin's chief aim is to catch glimpses of the birth of Islam and the role played by its extraordinary founder. Islam, as its Prophet came to conceive it, was a strict and absolute monotheism. How Muhammad had arrived at this view is not a problem for Muslims, who believe that the Prophet received a revelation from Allah or God, mediated by the Angel Gabriel. For scholars, however, interested in placing Muhammad in the historical context of the seventh-century Arabian Peninsula, the source of the Prophets inspiration is a significant question.
It is apparent that the two earlier monotheisms, Judaism and Christianity, constituted an influential presence in the Hijaz, the region comprising Mecca and Medina. Indeed, Jewish communities were salient here, especially in Medina and other not-too-distant oases. Moreover, in addition to the presence of Jews and Christians, there existed a third category of individuals, the Hanifs, who, dissatisfied with their polytheistic beliefs, had developed monotheistic ideas.
Zeitlin assesses the extent to which these various influences shaped the emergence of Islam and the development of the Prophets beliefs. He also seeks to understand how the process set in motion by Muhammad led, not long after his death, to the establishment of a world empire.
It is apparent that the two earlier monotheisms, Judaism and Christianity, constituted an influential presence in the Hijaz, the region comprising Mecca and Medina. Indeed, Jewish communities were salient here, especially in Medina and other not-too-distant oases. Moreover, in addition to the presence of Jews and Christians, there existed a third category of individuals, the Hanifs, who, dissatisfied with their polytheistic beliefs, had developed monotheistic ideas.
Zeitlin assesses the extent to which these various influences shaped the emergence of Islam and the development of the Prophets beliefs. He also seeks to understand how the process set in motion by Muhammad led, not long after his death, to the establishment of a world empire.
184 pages, Paperback
First published January 31, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 21, 2021
The book is basically a literature review. It suffers from a huge amount of repetitions that makes reading it extremely difficult.
The hypothesis of the book is that the theory of Ibn Khaldun about the continuous struggle between settled people and marauding tribes is applicable to early Muslim history; in this case Jewish tribes are the settled people and Muslims are the tribes. While some aspects of life in Arabia can be explained by this theory, many do not. For example, Aws and Khazraj, the two Arab tribes in Medina were already settled whose primary activity was agriculture. Security né, by the death of the Prophet, the settled people succeeded in subjugating the desert tribes which are s completely opposite to the theory of Ibn Khaldun.
The saving grace of the book for me were some scattered interesting research.
The hypothesis of the book is that the theory of Ibn Khaldun about the continuous struggle between settled people and marauding tribes is applicable to early Muslim history; in this case Jewish tribes are the settled people and Muslims are the tribes. While some aspects of life in Arabia can be explained by this theory, many do not. For example, Aws and Khazraj, the two Arab tribes in Medina were already settled whose primary activity was agriculture. Security né, by the death of the Prophet, the settled people succeeded in subjugating the desert tribes which are s completely opposite to the theory of Ibn Khaldun.
The saving grace of the book for me were some scattered interesting research.
July 29, 2025
I think its better. Writers expression is quite good job.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews