Best Books on Muhammad?

[Hugh Slaman]

Please list here the best books you have read on the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (if any).

(I'm interested to see what educated and theologically informed Christians are reading about him!)

[Andrew]

Hugh,

How are you? :) If I decide I like this place, we might be seeing more of each other. I've been interested in Christian-Muslim dialogue for some time now and, last semester, took Shariah as a law elective within my law degree.

If you have the dedication, I recommend Crone, P, Meccan Trade and the Rise of Islam. John Wansborough has also written some excellent books on the development of Islam.

For information of what Muslims believe about Muhammad, I read the Sirat literature and the hadith (particularly the big three collections).

[Hugh Slaman]

Andrew,

As I pointed out in another reply, I have little respect for Crone's "Hagarism." But I have heard some good things about this other book.

I read Wansbrough a while back I forget which book now), and I came to the conclusion that he was a charlatan trying to create doubts about Islamic history under the guise of being scholarly. My attitude to the sceptical movement in Islamic studies is similar to J.P. Holding's attitude to the sceptics in New Testament Studies :) I will give him another try though. Which of Wansbrough's books do you recommend?

Best,

Hugh

[Andrew]

Hugh, I didn't recommend Hagarism. Try Meccan Trade.

And the Wansbrough book I would recommend is Wansbrough, J, The Sectarian Milieu: Content and Composition of Islamic Salvation History, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1978

[Happy Giraffe]

Just got a book a few days ago, " A Perfect Quran" very informative. looking at the Quran rather than Muhammed, but its very revelant to that topic. ( its also avaible online at www.aperfectquran.co.uk )

[nickcopernicus]

I suggest the Koran.

Cheers,

Nick

p.s. This was the last thread on the last page. It has not had a reply in over 5 years, but maybe the OP still follows it.