Historical Attestation of Muhammad - Revision history

Asmith: /* Collection of the Qur'an */

2025-12-11T21:54:14Z

Collection of the Qur'an

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	==Introduction==		==Introduction==
	===Historical Critical Method===		===Historical Critical Method===
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	One fundamental problem pointed out with accurately dating the contents of the Qur'an is that the verses, even by traditional Muslim accounts, were not collected and put together into a single book during the lifetime of Muhammad. They were put together at least a decade after his death through a process of gathering and recording verses that had been etched upon scraps of papyrus, bone, and wood along with interviewing members of the early community who had committed parts of the Qur'an to memory.		One fundamental problem pointed out with accurately dating the contents of the Qur'an is that the verses, even by traditional Muslim accounts, were not collected and put together into a single book during the lifetime of Muhammad. They were put together at least a decade after his death through a process of gathering and recording verses that had been etched upon scraps of papyrus, bone, and wood along with interviewing members of the early community who had committed parts of the Qur'an to memory.

	If this narrative of the Qur'an's formation is true then it raises questions about ~~how accurate was~~ the ~~collection~~ of the ~~book, and if the current version of the [[Corruption~~ of the Qur'an~~\|Qur'an reliably Muhammad's]]?~~ It is possible that parts of the originally recited Qur'an were not included in the book or entire passages were included that came from an author other than Muhammad. There were countless [[Legends\|legends]] and stories circulating at this time in the Middle East, many, many of which show up in the Qur'an. Combined with relative paucity of eye witness attestation of Muhammad's contemporaries these facts suggest that our knowledge of the original contents of the Quran may be suspect.		If this narrative of the Qur'an's formation is true then it raises questions about the accuracy of the collection process of the Qur'an. It is possible that parts of the originally recited Qur'an were not included in the book or entire passages were included that came from an author other than Muhammad. There were countless [[Legends\|legends]] and stories circulating at this time in the Middle East, many, many of which show up in the Qur'an. Combined with relative paucity of eye witness attestation of Muhammad's contemporaries these facts suggest that our knowledge of the original contents of the Quran may be suspect.

	===Earliest Manuscripts===		===Earliest Manuscripts===

Asmith: /* Collection of the Qur'an */

2025-11-19T03:58:14Z

Collection of the Qur'an

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:58, 19 November 2025
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	One fundamental problem pointed out with accurately dating the contents of the Qur'an is that the verses, even by traditional Muslim accounts, were not collected and put together into a single book during the lifetime of Muhammad. They were put together at least a decade after his death through a process of gathering and recording verses that had been etched upon scraps of papyrus, bone, and wood along with interviewing members of the early community who had committed parts of the Qur'an to memory.		One fundamental problem pointed out with accurately dating the contents of the Qur'an is that the verses, even by traditional Muslim accounts, were not collected and put together into a single book during the lifetime of Muhammad. They were put together at least a decade after his death through a process of gathering and recording verses that had been etched upon scraps of papyrus, bone, and wood along with interviewing members of the early community who had committed parts of the Qur'an to memory.

	If this narrative of the Qur'an's formation is true then it raises ~~several~~ questions; how accurate was the collection of the book, and is the current version of the [[Corruption of the Qur'an\|Qur'an reliably Muhammad's]]? It is possible that parts of the originally recited Qur'an were not included in the book or entire passages were included that came from an author other than Muhammad. There were countless [[Legends\|legends]] and stories circulating at this time in the Middle East ~~and any number~~ of ~~them could have been erroneously added to~~ the Qur'an. ~~Based on this information, there is the possibility~~ that the ~~handful~~ of ~~verses in~~ the ~~Qur'an about Muhammad's life~~ may ~~not actually~~ be ~~authentic. They may well have later found their way into the book as it is known today~~.		If this narrative of the Qur'an's formation is true then it raises questions about how accurate was the collection of the book, and if the current version of the [[Corruption of the Qur'an\|Qur'an reliably Muhammad's]]? It is possible that parts of the originally recited Qur'an were not included in the book or entire passages were included that came from an author other than Muhammad. There were countless [[Legends\|legends]] and stories circulating at this time in the Middle East, many, many of which show up in the Qur'an. Combined with relative paucity of eye witness attestation of Muhammad's contemporaries these facts suggest that our knowledge of the original contents of the Quran may be suspect.

	===Earliest Manuscripts===		===Earliest Manuscripts===

CPO675: /* Ibn Ishaq */ Linked to the seerah for Ibn Ishaq here

2025-06-30T18:24:31Z

Ibn Ishaq: Linked to the seerah for Ibn Ishaq here

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:24, 30 June 2025
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	==Sira Literature==		==Sira Literature==
			{{Main\|Sirat_Rasul_Allah}}

	===Ibn Ishaq===		===Ibn Ishaq===
			Read [https://archive.org/details/TheLifeOfMohammedGuillaume/page/n1/mode/2up Ibn Ishaq's Sirat Rasul Allah] - The Life of Muhammad, Translated by A. Guillaume for free on internetarchive by clicking on the link

	===Ibn Hisham===		===Ibn Hisham===

CPO675: /* Historical Methods */ Linked to the section in 'Quranism' that covers modern academic criticism of hadith as historical sources

2025-06-30T18:19:13Z

Historical Methods: Linked to the section in 'Quranism' that covers modern academic criticism of hadith as historical sources

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:19, 30 June 2025
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	===Historical Methods===		===Historical Methods===
			{{Main\|Quranism#Criticism_of_hadiths}}

CPO675: /* Historical Critical Method */ Added some text here with Sinai's take on the 'Historical-Critical Method'

2025-06-30T12:02:16Z

Historical Critical Method: Added some text here with Sinai's take on the 'Historical-Critical Method'

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	{{QualityScore\|Lead=1\|Structure=3\|Content=2\|Language=2\|References=2}}		{{QualityScore\|Lead=1\|Structure=3\|Content=2\|Language=2\|References=2}}
	==Introduction==		==Introduction==


	===Historical Critical Method===		===Historical Critical Method===
			Professor Nicolai Sinai (2017) writes the 'historical-critical method' (all of ancient sources) essentially involves firstly suspending pre-conceived notions about it/them, before carrying out an investigation of the text without these to arrive at a conclusion. And secondly, interpreting its meaning as something that could plausibly have been thought or said in its original historical context. While these assumptions can be debated, they are foundational to contemporary historical scholarship. Thus, historical-critical interpretation significantly differs from traditional religious exegesis by postponing judgments about the truth or relevance of scripture and avoiding supernatural explanations.
			{{Quote\|Sinai, Nicolai. Qur'an: A Historical-Critical Introduction (The New Edinburgh Islamic Surveys) (p. 14-16). Edinburgh University Press. Kindle Edition.\|At this point, the reader may legitimately demand to know what, exactly, I understand by approaching the Qur’an from a historical-critical perspective, and why this may at all be a worthwhile endeavour.<sup>3</sup> I shall take the two components of the hyphenated adjective ‘historical-critical’ in reverse order. To interpret a literary document critically means to suspend inherited presuppositions about its origin, transmission, and meaning, and to assess their adequacy in the light of a close reading of that text itself as well as other relevant sources...<br> ...Moving on to the second constituent of the adjective ‘historical-critical’, we may say that to read a text historically is to require the meanings ascribed to it to have been humanly ‘thinkable’ or ‘sayable’ within the text’s original historical environment, as far as the latter can be retrospectively reconstructed. At least for the mainstream of historical-critical scholarship, the notion of possibility underlying the words ‘thinkable’ and ‘sayable’ is informed by the principle of historical analogy – the assumption that past periods of history were constrained by the same natural laws as the present age, that the moral and intellectual abilities of human agents in the past were not radically different from ours, and that the behaviour of past agents, like that of contemporary ones, is at least partly explicable by recourse to certain social and economic factors.<sup>7</sup>... ...The foregoing entails that historical-critical interpretation departs in major respects from traditional Biblical or Qur’anic exegesis: it delays any assessment of scripture’s truth and relevance until after the act of interpretation has been carried out, and it sidesteps appeals to genuine foresight and miracles.<sup>8</sup>}}

	===Traditionalist Historians===		===Traditionalist Historians===

IbnPinker at 20:05, 24 February 2021

2021-02-24T20:05:45Z

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	[[Category:Muhammad]]		[[Category:Muhammad]]
	[[Category:Criticism of Islam]]		[[Category:Criticism of Islam]]
			[[Category:Hadith]]
			[[Category:Salaf al-Salih (Pious Predecessors)]]
			[[Category:Sacred history]]

IbnPinker at 20:04, 24 February 2021

2021-02-24T20:04:59Z

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	==References==		==References==
	{{reflist}}		{{reflist}}
			[[Category:Islamic History]]
			[[Category:Muhammad]]
			[[Category:Criticism of Islam]]

Asmith: Asmith moved page Historicity of Muhammad to Historical Attestation of Muhammad

2020-11-10T08:33:20Z

Asmith moved page Historicity of Muhammad to Historical Attestation of Muhammad

← Older revision

Revision as of 08:33, 10 November 2020

Asmith: /* Sura Literature */

2020-11-10T08:30:06Z

Sura Literature

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	===Earliest Manuscripts===		===Earliest Manuscripts===

	==~~Sura~~ Literature==		==Sira Literature==

IbnPinker at 20:50, 13 August 2020

2020-08-13T20:50:31Z

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	~~{{underconstruction~~}}
	==Introduction==		==Introduction==


	===Historical Critical Method===		===Historical Critical Method===



	===Traditionalist Historians===		===Traditionalist Historians===



	===Revisionist Historians===		===Revisionist Historians===

	Patricia Crone, Michael Cook, John Wansbrough, and Yahuda Nevo. <ref name="Brown">Brown, Jonathan A. C. "Muhammad. A Very Short Introduction", Oxford University Press. pgs 94-95. </ref>		Patricia Crone, Michael Cook, John Wansbrough, and Yahuda Nevo.<ref name="Brown">Brown, Jonathan A. C. "Muhammad. A Very Short Introduction", Oxford University Press. pgs 94-95. </ref>

	==Timeline==		==Timeline==
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	The following gives a brief summary of the key artifacts and early literary documents about the life of Muhammad. The items are listed chronologically based on when they were first created. Other key events from the first two centuries of Islamic history are also listed for reference. Many dates are approximate and noted with a ~.		The following gives a brief summary of the key artifacts and early literary documents about the life of Muhammad. The items are listed chronologically based on when they were first created. Other key events from the first two centuries of Islamic history are also listed for reference. Many dates are approximate and noted with a ~.

	* 622 Hijrah?		*622 Hijrah?
	* 633 Death of Muhammad?		*633 Death of Muhammad?
	* ~634 [[#Doctrina Jacobi\|Doctrina Jacobi]] : "Prophet who has appeared with the Saracens"		*~634 [[#Doctrina Jacobi\|Doctrina Jacobi]] : "Prophet who has appeared with the Saracens"
	* ~636 [[#Syriac Gospel Fragment\|Syriac Gospel Fragment]] : " killing of {the Arabs of} Muhammad (Muhmd)"		*~636 [[#Syriac Gospel Fragment\|Syriac Gospel Fragment]] : " killing of {the Arabs of} Muhammad (Muhmd)"
	* 637 Arab conquest of Jerusalem		*637 Arab conquest of Jerusalem
	* ~639 [[#Sophronius\|Sophronius]] : "Saracen conquests"		*~639 [[#Sophronius\|Sophronius]] : "Saracen conquests"
	* ~640 [[#Thomas the Presbyter\|Thomas the Presbyter]] : "the Arabs of Muhammad (tayyaye d-Mhmt)"		*~640 [[#Thomas the Presbyter\|Thomas the Presbyter]] : "the Arabs of Muhammad (tayyaye d-Mhmt)"
	* 656 First Islamic Civil War- First Fitna. End 661.		*656 First Islamic Civil War- First Fitna. End 661.
	* ~660's [[#Sebeos, Bishop Of The Bagratunis\|Sebeos, Bishop Of The Bagratunis]] : Mentions "Mahmet", gives sparse details of his life		*~660's [[#Sebeos, Bishop Of The Bagratunis\|Sebeos, Bishop Of The Bagratunis]] : Mentions "Mahmet", gives sparse details of his life
	* ~690's [[#John, Bishop of Nikiu\|John, Bishop of Nikiu]] : Uses the term "Moslem" and "Mohammed"		*~690's [[#John, Bishop of Nikiu\|John, Bishop of Nikiu]] : Uses the term "Moslem" and "Mohammed"
	* 691 [[#Arab-Sassanian coins\|Arab-Sassanian coin]] : "Muhammad Rasul Allah"		*691 [[#Arab-Sassanian coins\|Arab-Sassanian coin]] : "Muhammad Rasul Allah"
	* 692 [[#Dome of the Rock Inscription\|Dome of the Rock Inscription]] : "Muhammad" & "Jesus son of Mary", Qur'anic verses		*692 [[#Dome of the Rock Inscription\|Dome of the Rock Inscription]] : "Muhammad" & "Jesus son of Mary", Qur'anic verses
	* 696 [[#Reformed Coinage\|Reformed Coinage]] : "Muhammad"		*696 [[#Reformed Coinage\|Reformed Coinage]] : "Muhammad"
	* 747 Ababasid revolt against Umayyad Caliphate.		*747 Ababasid revolt against Umayyad Caliphate.
	* 761 [[#Ibn Ishaq\|Ibn Ishaq]] : Siratu Rasul Allah - first biography. Not extant.		*761 [[#Ibn Ishaq\|Ibn Ishaq]] : Siratu Rasul Allah - first biography. Not extant.
	* 776 Graffiti from northern Arabia : Quran - first mention as generic "book"		*776 Graffiti from northern Arabia : Quran - first mention as generic "book"
	* 810 Tombstone, Egypt : Quran - first explicit reference		*810 Tombstone, Egypt : Quran - first explicit reference
	* 826 [[#Hadth\|Muhammad al-Bukhari]] : Begins Hadith collection. d 870.		*826 [[#Hadth\|Muhammad al-Bukhari]] : Begins Hadith collection. d 870.
	* 840 [[#Ibn Hisham\|Ibn Hisham]] - Quotes from Ibn Ishaq's work		*840 [[#Ibn Hisham\|Ibn Hisham]] - Quotes from Ibn Ishaq's work
	* 843 The earliest dated literary papyrus		*843 The earliest dated literary papyrus
	* 876 Earliest Qur'an Manuscript Fragment - (no later than this date)		*876 Earliest Qur'an Manuscript Fragment - (no later than this date)

	==Qur'an==		==Qur'an==

	The traditional narrative of Muhammad's life identifies him as the author, or original reciter, of the Qur'an. If this is true then the Qur'an would be a document contemporary to his life and could serve as a valuable source of information about the prophet. However, the Qur'an offers very few details about the author nor much information about the lives of the people in early 7<sup>th</sup> century Arabia.		The traditional narrative of Muhammad's life identifies him as the author, or original reciter, of the Qur'an. Critical historians suggest that if this is true then the Qur'an would be a document contemporary to his life and could serve as a valuable source of information about the prophet. However, the Qur'an offers very few details about the author nor much information about the lives of the people in early 7<sup>th</sup> century Arabia.


	===References to Muhammad===		===References to Muhammad===

	{{Quote\|{{Quran\|3\|144}}\|"'''Muhammad''' is not but a messenger. [Other] messengers have passed on before him. ..." }}		{{Quote\|{{Quran\|3\|144}}\|"'''Muhammad''' is not but a messenger. [Other] messengers have passed on before him. ..." }}


	{{Quote\|{{Quran\|33\|40}}\|'''Muhammad''' is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets. And ever is Allah, of all things, Knowing." }}		{{Quote\|{{Quran\|33\|40}}\|'''Muhammad''' is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets. And ever is Allah, of all things, Knowing." }}


	{{Quote\|{{Quran\|47\|2}}\|" And those who believe and do righteous deeds and believe in what has been sent down upon '''Muhammad''' - and it is the truth from their Lord - He will remove from them their misdeeds and amend their condition. " }}		{{Quote\|{{Quran\|47\|2}}\|" And those who believe and do righteous deeds and believe in what has been sent down upon '''Muhammad''' - and it is the truth from their Lord - He will remove from them their misdeeds and amend their condition. " }}


	{{Quote\|{{Quran\|48\|29}}\|"'''Muhammad''' is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves...." }}		{{Quote\|{{Quran\|48\|29}}\|"'''Muhammad''' is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves...." }}


	{{Quote\|{{Quran\|61\|6}}\|"And [mention] when Jesus, the son of Mary, said, 'O children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is '''Ahmad'''.' But when he came to them with clear evidences, they said, 'This is obvious magic.' }}		{{Quote\|{{Quran\|61\|6}}\|"And [mention] when Jesus, the son of Mary, said, 'O children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is '''Ahmad'''.' But when he came to them with clear evidences, they said, 'This is obvious magic.' }}


	===Collection of the Qur'an===		===Collection of the Qur'an===

	One fundamental problem with accurately dating the contents of the Qur'an is that the verses, even by traditional Muslim accounts, were not collected and put together into a single book during the lifetime of Muhammad. They were put together at least a decade after his death through a process of gathering and recording verses that had been etched upon scraps of papyrus, bone, and wood along with interviewing members of the early community who had committed parts of the Qur'an to memory.		One fundamental problem pointed out with accurately dating the contents of the Qur'an is that the verses, even by traditional Muslim accounts, were not collected and put together into a single book during the lifetime of Muhammad. They were put together at least a decade after his death through a process of gathering and recording verses that had been etched upon scraps of papyrus, bone, and wood along with interviewing members of the early community who had committed parts of the Qur'an to memory.

	If this narrative of the Qur'an's formation is true then it raises several questions; how accurate was the collection of the book, and is the current version of the [[Corruption of the Qur'an\|Qur'an ~~corrupted~~]]? It is possible that parts of the originally recited Qur'an were not included in the book or entire passages were included that came from an author other than Muhammad. There were countless [[Legends\|legends]] and stories circulating at this time in the Middle East and any number of them could have been erroneously added to the Qur'an. Based on this information, there is the possibility that the handful of verses in the Qur'an about Muhammad's life may not actually be authentic. They may well have ~~been fabrications that~~ later found their way into the book as it is known today.		If this narrative of the Qur'an's formation is true then it raises several questions; how accurate was the collection of the book, and is the current version of the [[Corruption of the Qur'an\|Qur'an reliably Muhammad's]]? It is possible that parts of the originally recited Qur'an were not included in the book or entire passages were included that came from an author other than Muhammad. There were countless [[Legends\|legends]] and stories circulating at this time in the Middle East and any number of them could have been erroneously added to the Qur'an. Based on this information, there is the possibility that the handful of verses in the Qur'an about Muhammad's life may not actually be authentic. They may well have later found their way into the book as it is known today.

	===Earliest Manuscripts===		===Earliest Manuscripts===