This is the title of a book I am slowly working on. This work prioritizes a stylistically critical approach to analyzing Siyar [works having as their subject the biography of the Prophet (SAWS)], Maghazi [works about the holy wars conducted for Islâm], Shamail [works depicting the character, good manners and looks of the Holy Prophet (SAWS)], Hilya [works illustrating the outward appearance, virtues and beautiful qualities of the Holy Prophet (SAWS)], Mujizat [works describing the miracles showed by the Prophets (AS)], and Hasais [works informing about the characteristics of the Prophet (SAWS)] which are each evaluated as an independent discipline by classical writers but which are all a part of the literature dealing with the life or an aspect of the life of the Holy Prophet (SAWS).
You may ask “Who are the three Muhammad?” Let me enumerate as follows:
1. Muhammad (SAWS) that is excluded from the life by being treated as a superhuman or an angel.
2. Muhammad (SAWS) that is perceived at the level of a postman between ALLÂH (SWT) and man, as if performing the function of “a connecting cable.”
3. Muhammad (SAWS) that is unlike and opposite to these; that is such as introduced by the Noble Qur’ân as an example of the morals set in it.
Besides this category, some Islamic disciplines also have one-sided ways of understanding the Holy Prophet (SAWS):
1. Understanding the Prophet (SAWS) as somebody indefatigably speaking, whose life consisting of nothing but talking.
2. The Sufis’ perceiving the Prophet (SAWS) as somebody who is a little secluded, a little elitist, a little bit delirious, but always sunk in ‘mystery’ and necessarily ‘extraordinary’.
3. Islâmic jurisprudence scholars’ perceiving the Prophet (SAWS) as somebody constantly setting rules, View full article »
