Muhammad’s Military Expeditions: A Critical Reading in Original Muslim Sources
By Ayman S. Ibrahim
Oxford University Press
ISBN: 9780197769171
Between 622 and 632, the early Muslim community became involved in a series of military conflicts with rival Arabian groups and the Byzantine Empire. This book examines the military history of these encounters, “emphasizing them as a series of tribal incursions rather than religious missions.”
Excerpt:
This is a historiographical study concerned with the fascinating and multifaceted historical accounts, written by classical Muslims, of the life and career of their prophet, Muhammad. This book focuses on the last ten years of his life when he reportedly resided in Medina, after being forced by pagan Meccans to emigrate from his hometown, Mecca, to Medina. Muslim traditions describe those ten years as significantly pivotal in the history of the Muslim community. They represent a remarkable portrayal of Muhammad’s success not only in reconciling many Arab tribes under his leadership, as they embraced his religious message, but also in becoming the most powerful leader in Arabia. In particular, this study focuses on the various ways early Muslim historians described Muhammad’s military campaigns. Scholars and students of Arabic Muslim literature are now truly fortunate—as compared to previous generations— to have access to ample Muslim primary sources, many of which are in scholarly critical editions and some of which have been translated into English. The question remains: why should we study Muhammad’s military activities?
Who is this book for?
This book addresses a subject that has received little attention in English-language scholarship: the military campaigns conducted during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad. It will appeal not only to military historians but also to scholars of early Islam, especially for its close analysis of the available sources and insights into the emergence of Islam in Arabia.
“The author has done a valuable service by making much of this material accessible both to scholars and students and to the general reader. Anyone interested in learning more about the Prophet’s battles against his enemies, particularly as these are portrayed in early Muslim historiography, will benefit greatly from reading this book.” – review by Cole Bunzel in The Journal of the Middle East and Africa
The Author
Ayman S. Ibrahim is Professor of Islamic Studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and has researched extensively on the early Muslim community. You can also follow him on X/Twitter @al2ostaz
Muhammad’s Military Expeditions: A Critical Reading in Original Muslim Sources
By Ayman S. Ibrahim
Oxford University Press
ISBN: 9780197769171
Between 622 and 632, the early Muslim community became involved in a series of military conflicts with rival Arabian groups and the Byzantine Empire. This book examines the military history of these encounters, “emphasizing them as a series of tribal incursions rather than religious missions.”
Excerpt:
This is a historiographical study concerned with the fascinating and multifaceted historical accounts, written by classical Muslims, of the life and career of their prophet, Muhammad. This book focuses on the last ten years of his life when he reportedly resided in Medina, after being forced by pagan Meccans to emigrate from his hometown, Mecca, to Medina. Muslim traditions describe those ten years as significantly pivotal in the history of the Muslim community. They represent a remarkable portrayal of Muhammad’s success not only in reconciling many Arab tribes under his leadership, as they embraced his religious message, but also in becoming the most powerful leader in Arabia. In particular, this study focuses on the various ways early Muslim historians described Muhammad’s military campaigns. Scholars and students of Arabic Muslim literature are now truly fortunate—as compared to previous generations— to have access to ample Muslim primary sources, many of which are in scholarly critical editions and some of which have been translated into English. The question remains: why should we study Muhammad’s military activities?
Who is this book for?
This book addresses a subject that has received little attention in English-language scholarship: the military campaigns conducted during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad. It will appeal not only to military historians but also to scholars of early Islam, especially for its close analysis of the available sources and insights into the emergence of Islam in Arabia.
“The author has done a valuable service by making much of this material accessible both to scholars and students and to the general reader. Anyone interested in learning more about the Prophet’s battles against his enemies, particularly as these are portrayed in early Muslim historiography, will benefit greatly from reading this book.” – review by Cole Bunzel in The Journal of the Middle East and Africa
The Author
Ayman S. Ibrahim is Professor of Islamic Studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and has researched extensively on the early Muslim community. You can also follow him on X/Twitter @al2ostaz
You can learn more about this book from the publisher’s website.
You can buy this book on Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
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