I’m Dante Muhammad, an independent scholar working in sacred geography, ancient Near Eastern studies, and comparative readings of the Hebrew Bible and Qur’an.
My recently published book, We Were Not Looking: Reconstructing the Patriarchal World Through Ancient Near Eastern Context, examines how geography, political boundaries, travel corridors, wells, altars, hydrology, and territorial law shape the sacred narratives associated with Abraham and the patriarchal world.
The book begins from a simple premise:
The prophets did not move through empty space. They moved through contested land.
Rather than treating geography as background scenery, the study asks what becomes visible when the land itself is read as part of the narrative. It explores how roads, ridges, water systems, tribal boundaries, and political pressures help explain the movements and encounters preserved in the Torah and Qur’an.
The book may be of particular interest to readers of:
• Biblical studies • Qur’anic studies • Ancient Near Eastern history • Sacred geography • Archaeology and historical geography • Jewish, Christian, and Islamic interreligious studies
The project has received advance praise from Ellen F. Davis of Duke Divinity School and John Kaltner of Rhodes College.
I would also be interested in hearing from readers who have explored other works that treat land, migration, ecology, or political geography as essential to understanding sacred texts.
I’m Dante Muhammad, an independent scholar working in sacred geography, ancient Near Eastern studies, and comparative readings of the Hebrew Bible and Qur’an.
My recently published book, We Were Not Looking: Reconstructing the Patriarchal World Through Ancient Near Eastern Context, examines how geography, political boundaries, travel corridors, wells, altars, hydrology, and territorial law shape the sacred narratives associated with Abraham and the patriarchal world.
The book begins from a simple premise:
The prophets did not move through empty space. They moved through contested land.
Rather than treating geography as background scenery, the study asks what becomes visible when the land itself is read as part of the narrative. It explores how roads, ridges, water systems, tribal boundaries, and political pressures help explain the movements and encounters preserved in the Torah and Qur’an.
The book may be of particular interest to readers of:
• Biblical studies
• Qur’anic studies
• Ancient Near Eastern history
• Sacred geography
• Archaeology and historical geography
• Jewish, Christian, and Islamic interreligious studies
The project has received advance praise from Ellen F. Davis of Duke Divinity School and John Kaltner of Rhodes College.
You can learn more about the book here:
We Were Not Looking
[https://www.dantemuhammad.com/]
I would also be interested in hearing from readers who have explored other works that treat land, migration, ecology, or political geography as essential to understanding sacred texts.
We Were Not Looking: Reconstructing the Patriarchal World Through Ancient Near Eastern Context