historical research using internal and external Islamic material to study the real history of Muhammad

map of the three arabias excerpted partly from the arab of nubia partly from several other authors
nuremberg chronicles mohammed cliv
The historicity of Muhammad refers to the study of Muhammad as a historical figure and critical examination of sources upon which traditional accounts (the Quran, sīrah, hadith especially) are based. Other historical … Wikipedia
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Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Historicity_of_Muhammad
Historicity of Muhammad - Wikipedia
3 days ago - Though the Quran contains few and rudimentary details of the prophet's life, most of the biographical information about Muhammad comes from the sirah (biographical literature), especially the work of Ibn Ishaq (d. 768). These sources normally provide a historical trail of names that lead, in ...
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Amazon
amazon.com › Muhammad-Life-Based-Earliest-Sources › dp › 1594771537
Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources: Lings, Martin: 9781594771538: Amazon.com: Books
Based on the sira, the eighth- and ninth-century Arabic biographies that recount numerous events in the Prophet's life, it contains original English translations of many important passages that reveal the words of men and women who heard Muhammad speak and witnessed the events of his life.Scrupulous and exhaustive in its fidelity to its sources, Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources is presented in a narrative style that is easily comprehensible, yet authentic and inspiring in its use of language, reflecting both the simplicity and grandeur of the story it tells.
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What are the scholarly sources of Muhammad’s biography?

The Qurʾān provides very few concrete details regarding Muhammad’s life. Most such information thus comes from the sīrah (“biography”) literature, consisting of accounts of his life by various writers dating mainly from the 8th and 9th centuries. Those reports are not consistent, however, and some include miraculous elements or stories obviously adapted from the Bible. By carefully comparing accounts, scholars have identified common elements that were in circulation by the late 7th century, and some rudimentary details are confirmed by non-Islamic sources (e.g., a Syriac chronicle and an Armenian history) dating to the first few decades after his traditional death date.
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britannica.com
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Muhammad | Biography, History, & Facts | Britannica

What are the traditional events of Muhammad’s life?

Born in Mecca about 570 CE, Muhammad married a wealthy widow, Khadījah, in 595. In 610 he experienced a vision of the archangel Gabriel. His public preaching aroused opposition from other clans of his tribe. He undertook his miraculous Night Journey (Isrāʾ) from Mecca to Jerusalem, where he prayed with Moses, Jesus, and other prophets. After his clan withdrew its protection, he fled to Medina in 622 and repulsed two attacks by Meccan forces in 625 and 627. He concluded a truce with Mecca in 628 but later forced it to submit. He led the Farewell Pilgrimage to Mecca, the precedent for the hajj,
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britannica.com
britannica.com › philosophy & religion › religious personages & scholars
Muhammad | Biography, History, & Facts | Britannica

Who was Muhammad?

Muhammad was the founder of Islam and the proclaimer of the Qurʾān, Islam’s sacred scripture. He spent his entire life in what is now the country of Saudi Arabia, from his birth about 570 CE in Mecca to his death in 632 in Medina. According to Islamic tradition, the Qurʾān, understood as a literal transcription of the speech of God (Allah), was revealed to Muhammad in stages by the archangel Gabriel, beginning in 610.
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britannica.com
britannica.com › philosophy & religion › religious personages & scholars
Muhammad | Biography, History, & Facts | Britannica
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Bishop's Encyclopedia of Religion, Society, and Philosophy
jamesbishopblog.com › 2020 › 10 › 15 › the-non-muslim-seventh-century-sources-for-the-prophet-muhammad
The Non-Muslim Seventh Century Sources for the Prophet Muhammad – Bishop's Encyclopedia of Religion, Society, and Philosophy
October 16, 2020 - This eyewitness account’s value lies primarily in that it affirms the existence of Muhammad, a war leader who wreaked havoc in the region. Historian and scholar of Islam Robert Hoyland writes that it is significant that the “fragment accords with one of the dates given in Arabic sources for the battle of Gabitha (assuming this to be identified with Yarmuk), namely 20 August AG 297/12 Rajab AH 15 (636)…” This account, however, provides little in the way of biographical information other than claiming Muhammad’s followers were unwelcome raiders who ruined villages within the region, killed inhabitants, took captives, and fought the Byzantines.
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Mecca Books
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Muhammad (S): His Life Based on the Earliest Sources Published by... – Mecca Books
Muhammad (S): His Life Based on the Earliest Sources
Muhammad (S): His Life Based on the Earliest Sources Published by Inner Traditions available at Mecca Books with Free Shipping About The Book Martin Lings biography of Muhammad (P.B.U.H) is an internationally acclaimed, comprehensive, and authoritative account of the life of the prophet. Based on the sira, the eighth- and ninth-century Arabic biographies that recount numerous events in the prophet’s life, it contains original English translations of many important passages that reveal the words of men and women who heard Muhammad (P.B.U.H) speak and witnessed the events of his life. Scrupulous
Rating: 5 ​
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Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Muhammad:_His_Life_Based_on_the_Earliest_Sources
Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources - Wikipedia
January 21, 2025 - The book also includes excerpts from original English translations of speeches by men and women who lived close to Muhammad, heard him speak, witnessed his actions, witnessed the way he interacted with situations and witnessed events he encountered throughout various stages of his life.
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Studio Arabiya
studioarabiya.com › home › blog › 10 proofs muhammadﷺ was a prophet
10 Proofs Muhammad Was A Prophet - Studio Arabiya
May 16, 2024 - However, there are many miracles attributed to Muhammad, including the Quran, the Isra, and the miraculous splitting of the moon. The Quran itself is considered a miracle, and the Night Journey is also listed as a miracle in the Islamic tradition.
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Fonsvitae
fonsvitae.com › home › islam › prophetic tradition/hadith › muhammad: his life based on the earliest sources – martin lings
Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources - Martin Lings - Fons Vitae Publishing
February 20, 2025 - Acclaimed worldwide as the definitive biography of the Prophet Muhammad in the English language, Martin Lings’ Muhammad: His Life Based to the Earliest Sources is unlike any other. Based on Arabic sources of the eighth and ninth centuries, of which some important passages are translated here for the first time, it owes the freshness and directness of its approach to the words of men and women who heard Muhammad speak and witnessed the events of his life.
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Encyclopedia Britannica
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Muhammad | Biography, History, & Facts | Britannica
July 26, 1999 - Arguably the single most important ... the life of Muhammad and also prior to it, which Ibn Isḥāq arranged into what he deemed to be their correct chronological order and to which he added his own comments. Each such report is normally introduced by a list of names tracing it through various intermediaries back to its ultimate source, which in many cases is an eyewitness—for example, ...
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Goodreads
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Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources by Martin Lings | Goodreads
Based on the sira, the eighth- and ninth-century Arabic biographies that recount numerous events in the prophet’s life, it contains original English translations of many important passages that reveal the words of men and women who heard Muhammad speak and witnessed the events of his life. Scrupulous and exhaustive in its fidelity to its sources, Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources is presented in a narrative style that is easily comprehensible, yet authentic and inspiring in its use of language, reflecting both the simplicity and grandeur of the story it tells.
Author: Martin Lings
Pages: 384
Rating: 4.6 ​ - ​ 712 votes
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Its
its.org.uk › home › catalogue › qur'an, sira & hadith › muhammad
Muhammad | THE ISLAMIC TEXTS SOCIETY
March 26, 2025 - Based on Arabic sources of the eighth and ninth centuries, of which some important passages are translated here for the first time, it owes the freshness and directness of its approach to the words of men and women who heard Muhammad speak and witnessed the events of his life.
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Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Muhammad
Muhammad - Wikipedia
2 days ago - At the same time the study of the earliest periods in Islamic history is made difficult by a lack of sources. While the narratives were initially in the form of a kind of heroic epics called magāzī, details were added later, edited and transformed into sirah compilations. Western historians describe the purpose of these early biographies as largely to convey a message, rather than to strictly and accurately record history. The earliest written sira (biographies of Muhammad and quotes attributed to him) is Ibn Ishaq's Life of God's Messenger written c.
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The Gospel Coalition
thegospelcoalition.org › home › articles › 9 things you should know about muhammad
9 Things You Should Know About Muhammad
May 27, 2022 - Many are skeptical of the information about his life because the Muslim accounts of it were documented about two centuries after his death. We have no eyewitness accounts. This is problematic, as we cannot fully trust the records about him.
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About Islam
aboutislam.net › reading-islam › about-muhammad › the-first-christianwitnesses-of-muhammads-prophethood
The First Christian Witnesses of Muhammad's Prophethood | About Islam
October 2, 2021 - We have records of early Jews and Christians, both monks and rabbis, who witnessed that Muhammad was the fulfillment of specific Bible prophecies.
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Wardah Books
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Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources — Wardah Books
Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources
Martin Lings Paperback 9780946621330   Acclaimed worldwide as the definitive biography of the Prophet in the English language, Martin Lings’ life of Muhammad is unlike any other. Based on Arabic sources of the eighth and ninth centuries, of which some important passages are translated here for the first time, it owes the freshness and directness of its approach to the words of men and women who heard Muhammad speak and witnessed the events of his life.   Martin Lings has an unusual gift for narrative. He has adopted a style which is at once extremely readable and reflects both the simplicity a
Price: SGD 36.30
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Zaytuna College
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Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources – Zaytuna College Bookstore
Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources
Martin Lings’ biography of Muhammad is an internationally acclaimed, comprehensive, and authoritative account of the life of the Prophet. Based on the sira, the eighth- and ninth-century Arabic biographies that recount numerous events in the prophet’s life, it contains original English translations of many important passages that reveal the words of men and women who heard Muhammad speak and witnessed the events of his life. Scrupulous and exhaustive in its fidelity to its sources, Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources is presented in a narrative style that is easily comprehensible,
Price: $19.95
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QURAN FOR HUMANITY
quranforhumanity.org › home › portfolio › book corner › seerah › seerah - advance
Muhammad: Life Based on Earliest Sources - QURAN FOR HUMANITY
August 2, 2023 - Based on the sira, the eighth- and ninth-century Arabic biographies that recount numerous events in the prophet’s life, it contains original English translations of many important passages that reveal the words of men and women who heard Muhammad speak and witnessed the events of his life. Scrupulous and exhaustive in its fidelity to its sources, Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources is presented in a narrative style that is easily comprehensible, yet authentic and inspiring in its use of language, reflecting both the simplicity and grandeur of the story it tells.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/critiqueislam › historical authenticity of muhammad the prophet.
r/CritiqueIslam on Reddit: Historical Authenticity of Muhammad the Prophet.
Very likely that Islam as a distinct religion is 90% invention of Abbasids. In pre-Muhammad time there were monotheistic Judeo-Christian sects in Arabia that didn’t acknowledge Jesus as god, and some of them accepted him as a prophet. They never positioned themselves as separate religions, and Muhammad could be a part of one of such sects. Initially the followers of Muhammad called themselves just “believers”. At some point he might have begun claiming that he is a new prophet, but likely he never intended to create a new religion. Because he claimed being a prophet within the lineage of prophets of already existing religion. He wasn’t like Ron Hubbard or something that invented some completely new thing. Later, Abbasids thought they could use Muhammad as a symbol and a useful political tool, funded creation of Hadith, Sunnah, Sharia, new clergy and whatever, and turned it into a new religion.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/academicquran › has anyone read “muhammad: his life based on the earliest sources” by martin lings?
r/AcademicQuran on Reddit: Has anyone read “Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources” by Martin Lings?
It's basically a retelling of the traditional story by a talented author, though sanitizing by omitting certain elements that would be less appealing to a modern audience. So it's in the genre of a modern hagiography. So in whether to read it, it just depends on what you're hoping to get out of it. An academic biography of Muhammad that attempts to reconstruct his life from the earliest sources (including non-Muslim ones) and utilizing historical-critical methods? No, it's definitely not that. A book to read to see how the traditional portrait of Muhammad is understood by at least some modern Muslims? For that it could give you some insights. Though personally if one wants to get a more comprehensive view of the traditional portrait of the man (without modern filtering), I generally just recommend going and reading the sources that Lings himself would have been using, e.g. Ibn Ishaq and other seera books, many of which are available now in English translation.
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Southern Equip
equip.sbts.edu › home › article › nine important facts about muhammad
Nine Important Facts about Muhammad — Southern Equip
November 7, 2024 - Many are skeptical of the information about his life because the Muslim accounts of it were documented about two centuries after his death. We have no eyewitness accounts. This is problematic, as we cannot fully trust the records about him.
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Stack Exchange
history.stackexchange.com › questions › 27644 › what-historical-evidence-do-we-have-for-the-existence-of-mohammed
religion - What historical evidence do we have for the existence of Mohammed? - History Stack Exchange

Your question touches on the problem how one would prove any historical fact when there is no living (and credible) witness or modern forensic analysis. Look at the sources, consider who wrote them, consider who would benefit from forging them, consider if multiple different sources give a coherent explanation.

  • There seem to be fragmented non-Islamic sources from the 7th century AD.
  • Naming differences are easily explained by exonyms and endonyms. The fact that the western chroniclers got the name wrong early on is only to be expected. (Consider that the French call the Germans Alemanni while the Slavic languages simply call them Nemec, mute ...)

The preponderance of evidence seems to show that Mohammed did exist. I'd call it about as strong as the evidence for Jesus. What Mohammed did, what he wrote and what he taught is another matter, where faith enters the question.

Answer from o.m. on history.stackexchange.com