The Cambridge Companion to Muhammad

Cambridge Companions to Religion

by Jonathan E. Brockopp (Editor)

As the Messenger of God, Muhammad stands at the heart of the Islamic religion, revered by Muslims throughout the world. The Cambridge Companion to Muhammad comprises a collection of essays by some of the most accomplished scholars in the field exploring the life and legacy of the Prophet. The book is divided into three sections, the first charting his biography and the milieu into which he was born, the revelation of the Qur’ān, and his role within the early Muslim community. The second part assesses his legacy as a law-maker, philosopher, and politician and, finally, in the third part, chapters examine how Muhammad has been remembered across history in biography, prose, poetry, and, most recently, in film and fiction. Essays are written to engage and inform students, teachers, and readers coming to the subject for the first time. They will come away with a deeper appreciation of the breadth of the Islamic tradition, of the centrality of the role of the Prophet in that tradition, and, indeed, of what it means to be a Muslim today.

Genres: Islam, Religion, History

346 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2010

Reviews

[Arbaz Fahad]

Typical for any founder of a global religious tradition, the Prophet Muhammad has enjoyed unusually high attention from friend, foe, and onlooker. From the beginning, his followers were obviously attentive to his words and deeds but also to his demeanor, and their recollections became critical for the meaning and future of Islam. His foes lost no opportunity to make their own conclusions about him, often cast in their familiar frameworks. And we have also occasionally had observers for whom the event of the Prophet was sufficient inspiration to record. This volume is a rich collection that presents an examination of all three perspectives on the Prophet of Islam. It includes an extensive discussion of the particular identity, emergence, location, and value of these divergent positions. Covering the beginning of Islam through the premodern periods and up to the most recent debates, the chapters provide an overview of the Prophet Muhammad, particularly how he has been reflected in word, ritual, philosophical concept, and literary novel.

The Cambridge Companion to Muhammad comprises a collection of essays by some of the most accomplished scholars in the field who are exploring the life and legacy of the Prophet. The book is divided into three parts, the first charting his biography and the milieu into which he was born, the revelation of the Quran, and his role in the early Muslim community. The second part assesses his legacy as a lawmaker, philosopher, and politician. In the third part, chapters examine how Muhammad has been remembered across history in biography, prose, poetry, and, most recently, in film and fiction.

I found the book thoroughly enjoyable and fascinating, carrying within itself the penchant of immersing the reader into its vast and awe inspiring cosmos of knowledge and erudite scholarship. The articles are engaging and many a times provoke the reader to reasses his knowledge about the life of the Prophet. Some of the essays that I absolutely loved include :

The Arabian context of Muhammad's life : Walid A Saleh
Muhammad's message in Makkah : Warnings, signs and miracles : Uri Rubin
Glimpses of Muhammad's medinian decade : Michael lecker
Personal piety : Robert Gleave
The Prophet Muhammad in ritual : Marion Holmes Katz
European Accounts of Muhammad's life : John V Tolan

[Joseph Lumbard]

A good collection of essays on different issues relating to the place of the Prophet Muhammad in Islam, from biography, to Sufism, to popular devotion. The essays cover a good range of academic perspectives are all useful and well written. The essay by John Tolan, "European Accounts of Muhammad's Life" was particularly useful.

[Santanu Mallik]

A solid read for anyone curious about the Prophet and early Islam beyond the purely devotional account.

May seem a bit challenging at times because of its academic approach, especially if you’re expecting a straightforward biography. But you’ll manage.