Muhammad in History, Thought, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of the Prophet of God [2 Volumes]

Marc Notes:
Includes bibliographical references and index.

Biographical Note:

Coeli Fitzpatrick is associate professor of philosophy in the Frederik Meijer Honors College at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI.

Adam Hani Walker is pursuing his doctorate in Islamic history and completed his undergraduate studies in Arabic (University of Leeds) and postgraduate studies in law (Leeds Law School) in the United Kingdom.

This in-depth examination of the life, history, and influence of Muhammad as discussed by leading scholars provides a wide-ranging look at the prophet's legacy unlike any other in the field of Islamic and culture studies.
Within the Islamic world, the prophet Muhammad's influence is profound. But even outside of the religion of Islam, this visionary had a wide-ranging impact on history, society, literature, art, philosophy, and theology. Within this work's more than 200 A-Z entries, internationally recognized scholars summarize views of Muhammad from the earliest editors of the Qu'ran to contemporary Muslim theologians. This detailed resource explores the traditions, ceremonies, and beliefs of Islam as they have spread worldwide, and examines Muhammad's role in other religious traditions as well as the secular world.

Muhammad in History, Thought, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of the Prophet of God distills 14 centuries of thinking about Muhammad, fully capturing his enduring legacy. This encyclopedia will benefit any reader seeking a greater understanding of the founder of Islam, the fastest-growing religion in the world. No other publication discusses Muhammad at such a high level of detail while remaining easily accessible to non-specialist, Western audiences.

• Documents Muhammad's broad impact on history, culture, and society
• Shares viewpoints from more than 100 scholars in the field of Islamic studies to provide different perspectives on how Muhammad's life and beliefs have changed the course of history
• Explores Muhammad's changing image--and controversies over his depiction and the communication of his ideas--in art, music, and literature
• Provides an in-depth overview of Muhammad's influences on secular life and culture

"This scholarly and comprehensive resource is fairly unusual in its focus on Muhammad and his legacy. Although there are many great works on Islam, this is the only one that concentrates particularly on the prophet and his influence."

Library Journal

"The introduction is an excellent digest of issues encountered when treating not just a man but also a legacy; nonspecialists will find this an especially useful orientation. . . . Recommended."

Choice

"Recent world events have fueled public interest in all things Islam, spurring even more academic interest. Hence, a publication that tries to compile how the Prophet Muhammad relates to other areas is a welcomed reference. This two-volume set would be an excellent reference for high school students and general readers wanting to explore how the Prophet Muhammad relates to the diverse areas of study since the advent of Islam."

Booklist

"The text is accessible to the general reader, and uniquely Muslim terms are explained. Some entries contain sidebars encouraging readers to further explore the topic. This is an excellent reference for those wanting to explore how the Prophet Muhammad relates to specific themes or for those interested in the diversity of ways in which the prophet was (and continues to be) invoked since the advent of Islam."

ARBA

Review Citations:

• Booklist 09/15/2014 pg. 4 (EAN 9781610691772, Hardcover)
• Library Journal 10/01/2014 pg. 111 (EAN 9781610691772, Hardcover)
• Choice 10/01/2014 pg. 230 (EAN 9781610691772, Hardcover)