RELIGION 1078 2023 Fall / Full Term / Section: 1 / Class number: 27000

The Prophet Muhammad in History, Devotion, and Polemic

Course website Warning! This Canvas course site is only open to class members.

In the early seventh century, a man named Mu ammad son of Abdallah founded a movement that in time grew into a global religion, empire, and civilization. This course introduces students to three discourses that developed around the life and character of the Prophet Muhammad. First, we will survey some of the biographies that Muslim scholars, both ancient and modern, have written about the life of their prophet. Second, we will explore how the Prophet's life, teachings and persona have served as subjects of Islamic devotion. Finally, the course examines some of the ways in which non-Muslims, again both ancient and modern, have perceived and portrayed Muhammad in polemic against Islam or dialogue with Muslims.