◈ Works Written on the Biography of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
More books have been written on the biography of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ than on any other figure in history. While the majority of these works are authored by devoted Muslims, there is also a considerable number of non-Muslim researchers—especially Christian and Jewish Orientalists—who have written on the Prophet’s biography and Islamic history for various reasons. These Orientalists have been writing on Islam and the Seerah of the Prophet ﷺ for nearly a thousand years, and this activity continues to this day.
◈ Positive Scholarly Contributions of Orientalists
✔ Orientalists searched for original and ancient Islamic sources and gathered manuscript copies from around the world.
✔ They edited these manuscripts and published their translations in various languages.
✔ Their efforts resulted in a vast academic treasure, which continues to assist scholars writing on Islamic subjects.
◈ Critical Perspective from Muslim Circles
There is a widespread perception in Muslim scholarly circles that:
① Orientalists presented Islam and the Seerah with prejudice and distortion rather than objectivity.
② Events were misrepresented and Islamic history was deliberately twisted.
③ Their works failed to present the true image of Islam, leading to confusion and doubts about Islam in the minds of non-Muslim readers and future generations.
◈ Background of the Objections Raised by Orientalists
✦ Early Opposition to Islam
✔ During the Meccan period, Jews and Christians began raising objections against Islam and aligned with the Quraysh in opposition.
✔ In the Madinan period, this opposition intensified—especially from the Jews—and is mentioned in several verses of the Noble Qur’an.
✦ Rapid Spread of Islam and Rise of Hostility
✔ The swift spread and growing popularity of Islam alarmed the followers of other religions.
✔ The illuminating teachings of Islam exposed the baseless claims of other religions, affecting the religious and political interests of Jews and Christians.
✔ The fact that the Prophet ﷺ was sent among the Banu Ismail instead of Banu Israel fueled the jealousy of the Jews.
✔ Muslim conquests, the capture of Jerusalem, and the conversion of large numbers of Christians to Islam became unbearable for Christian rulers and clergy.
◈ Crusades and Anti-Islam Propaganda
Christian clergy incited the masses by portraying Islam as the enemy of Christianity, laying the groundwork for the Crusades.
✔ These wars lasted for nearly two centuries (1096–1296 CE) and were aimed at defeating Muslims and reclaiming the sacred sites.
✔ Alongside military aggression, Europe launched a propaganda campaign involving false accusations, fabricated stories, and blasphemous narratives against Islam and the Prophet ﷺ.
◈ Scholarly Method and Prejudice of Orientalists
✔ Medieval Orientalists used fabricated accusations and baseless tales to malign Islam.
(Encyclopedia Britannica, 1984, Vol. 12, p. 609)
"Among the great figures of history, Muhammad (ﷺ) has been the most maligned. Medieval Christian scholars labeled him a deceiver, hedonist, and bloodthirsty man."
◈ Positive Aspects of Modern Orientalists
✔ A.J. Wensinck compiled indexes of Hadith.
✔ G. Le Strange worked on Islamic geography in his book Lands of the Eastern Caliphate.
✔ Carl Brockelmann authored the monumental History of Arabic Literature (Tarikh al-Adab al-Arabi).
◈ The Reality of Orientalist Bias
While some Orientalists rendered valuable services to Islamic scholarship, the majority distorted Islamic history due to their prejudiced mindset.
✔ Their writings were aimed at appeasing Christian readers, which led them to make unfounded and false claims without hesitation.
◈ References
- Mirath-e-Islam, Ed. Sir Thomas Arnold & Wilfred Guillaume (Crusades by Ernest Barker), Urdu Translation: Abdul Majeed Salik, Majlis Taraqqi Adab Lahore, 1960, p. 63
- Urdu Daira Ma'arif-e-Islamia, Article: Crusades by Azhar Zahoor Ahmad, Punjab University Lahore, 1973, Vol. 12, p. 209
- Encyclopedia Britannica, Article: Muhammad (ﷺ), 1984, Vol. 12, p. 609
- Islam and the West, p. 40
- Dr. Abdul Qadir Gilani, Islam, The Prophet ﷺ and the Thought of Western Orientalists, 2007, pp. 162 & 319
- Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, pp. 3, 5, 6, 40, 68, 79, 92, 97, 101
- A.J. Wensinck, Takhreej Ahadith and Al-Mu'jam al-Mufahras li-Alfaz al-Hadith al-Nabawi
- G. Le Strange, Lands of the Eastern Caliphate
- Carl Brockelmann, Tarikh al-Adab al-Arabi
- Dr. Abdul Quddus Hashmi, Commentary: Brockelmann’s Writings and Critique on Islamic Literature
