The Prophet Muhammad:

Publisher: I. B. Tauris in association with The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London and New York: 2020, x + 203pp. ISBN: 9781838606565.

The Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) holds a pivotal position in the edifice of Islam. This is not a hero-worship or idolizing on the part of Muslims; the Qur’an, the primary source and Scripture of Islam, bestows upon him this grand status.

Given this exemplary status of Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) in Islam and his unparalleled role in shaping the Muslim identity, both individual and collective, it is not amazing that his life and mission catch the scholarly attention of even those who do not adhere to his faith. Rather, it is indicative of the veracity of the Qur’anic proclamation: “Have We not exalted your renown?” (Surah al-Inshirah 94: 4). Notwithstanding that Orientalist scholarship on the life of Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) has been mostly informed by a deep-seated malice and prejudice against Islam and Muslims, it is undeniable that several recent Orientalists, such as Karen Armstrong, Lesley Hazleton, Craig Considine, etc., have presented him in a relatively positive light, thanks to their academic integrity and unbiased scholarship. The present book under review is a notable and welcome addition in this direction.