Is it possible to write a scientific and historical biography of the Prophet Muḥammad? To what extent can Islamic and external sources be trusted, or critically examined? And what methodology allows us to approach such a complex, multifaceted subject as the Sīrah with objectivity and intellectual honesty?
In this groundbreaking work, Tunisian scholar Mhamed Najar tackles these questions with clarity, courage, and scholarly rigor. Through a critical and comparative approach, he re-evaluates traditional narratives in light of lesser-known archaeological evidence, ancient inscriptions, numismatics, and contemporaneous non-Muslim texts.
This first volume, which covers the Prophet's life from birth up to the eve of the Hijrah, challenges long-held assumptions and offers fresh insights. Among the original findings: the possibility of a forgotten younger brother of the Prophet who died in infancy, a reassessment of the accounts regarding his breastfeeding among the Banū Sa'd, a critical analysis of the narratives of the Isrāʼ and Mi'rāj, and an in-depth investigation of the legend surrounding Mariyah the Copt.
Najar does not limit himself to the Islamic tradition but confronts it with external sources and scrutinizes the textual layers, political contexts, tribal dynamics, and ideological motivations behind the transmission of these reports.
This is a pivotal work for readers, scholars, and critical thinkers who seek to move beyond both apologetic and hyper-skeptical approaches, and to explore the Prophet's life at the intersection of history, anthropology, and textual criticism.