A Critical and Historical Overview of the <i>Sīrah</i> Genre from the Classical to the Modern Period
<i>Sīrah</i> (the life and biography of Prophet Muhammad) has been the point of focus and writing since the Prophet passed away. Approaches to <i>sīrah</i> have evolved in the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds over the centuries. This has had a significant impact on how the Prophe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/3/196 |
| _version_ | 1827626080033308672 |
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| author | Suleyman Sertkaya |
| author_facet | Suleyman Sertkaya |
| author_sort | Suleyman Sertkaya |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Sīrah</i> (the life and biography of Prophet Muhammad) has been the point of focus and writing since the Prophet passed away. Approaches to <i>sīrah</i> have evolved in the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds over the centuries. This has had a significant impact on how the Prophet and even Islam are viewed in the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds. While Muslim scholars have focused on details of the exact biography, what and why a particular incident occurred in his life, his leadership, reverence of his teachings and other aspects of his life as a role model as well as lessons that can be derived from his life to emulate in daily life, non-Muslim authors have approached <i>sīrah</i> quite differently. Some are extremely critical to the point of ridicule and slander, while others approach it in a more authentic and genuine manner. The sources to which they have access, namely Arabic sources, play a critical role in the way <i>sīrah</i> is approached. Similarly, interactions with Muslims, scientific developments and globalisation have had significant impacts on the way <i>sīrah</i> is perceived, particularly in modern times. This article provides a chronological and systematic review and analysis of the major <i>sīrah</i> works written by Muslims and non-Muslims since the 7th century. It traces the evolvement of <i>sīrah</i> literature in Muslim and non-Muslim scholarship by documenting the reasons and fundamental factors affecting various approaches to <i>sīrah</i> across the centuries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:47:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3ba3638d60d34d8eba78537657908e21 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:47:51Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-3ba3638d60d34d8eba78537657908e212023-11-30T22:09:37ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442022-02-0113319610.3390/rel13030196A Critical and Historical Overview of the <i>Sīrah</i> Genre from the Classical to the Modern PeriodSuleyman Sertkaya0Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation, Charles Sturt University, Melbourne 3062, Australia<i>Sīrah</i> (the life and biography of Prophet Muhammad) has been the point of focus and writing since the Prophet passed away. Approaches to <i>sīrah</i> have evolved in the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds over the centuries. This has had a significant impact on how the Prophet and even Islam are viewed in the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds. While Muslim scholars have focused on details of the exact biography, what and why a particular incident occurred in his life, his leadership, reverence of his teachings and other aspects of his life as a role model as well as lessons that can be derived from his life to emulate in daily life, non-Muslim authors have approached <i>sīrah</i> quite differently. Some are extremely critical to the point of ridicule and slander, while others approach it in a more authentic and genuine manner. The sources to which they have access, namely Arabic sources, play a critical role in the way <i>sīrah</i> is approached. Similarly, interactions with Muslims, scientific developments and globalisation have had significant impacts on the way <i>sīrah</i> is perceived, particularly in modern times. This article provides a chronological and systematic review and analysis of the major <i>sīrah</i> works written by Muslims and non-Muslims since the 7th century. It traces the evolvement of <i>sīrah</i> literature in Muslim and non-Muslim scholarship by documenting the reasons and fundamental factors affecting various approaches to <i>sīrah</i> across the centuries.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/3/196<i>sīrah</i><i>sīrah</i> literature<i>maghāzī</i>Prophet MuhammadOrientalist studies<i>fiqh al-sīrah</i> |
| spellingShingle | Suleyman Sertkaya A Critical and Historical Overview of the <i>Sīrah</i> Genre from the Classical to the Modern Period Religions <i>sīrah</i> <i>sīrah</i> literature <i>maghāzī</i> Prophet Muhammad Orientalist studies <i>fiqh al-sīrah</i> |
| title | A Critical and Historical Overview of the <i>Sīrah</i> Genre from the Classical to the Modern Period |
| title_full | A Critical and Historical Overview of the <i>Sīrah</i> Genre from the Classical to the Modern Period |
| title_fullStr | A Critical and Historical Overview of the <i>Sīrah</i> Genre from the Classical to the Modern Period |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Critical and Historical Overview of the <i>Sīrah</i> Genre from the Classical to the Modern Period |
| title_short | A Critical and Historical Overview of the <i>Sīrah</i> Genre from the Classical to the Modern Period |
| title_sort | critical and historical overview of the i sirah i genre from the classical to the modern period |
| topic | <i>sīrah</i> <i>sīrah</i> literature <i>maghāzī</i> Prophet Muhammad Orientalist studies <i>fiqh al-sīrah</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/3/196 |
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