Sirah Writing East and West: A Comparison of Selected Writers

Authors

  • Fozia Fiaz Head/Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, the University of Sialkot, Pakistan

Keywords:

Sirah, Orientalism, Comparative Study, Prophet Muhammad

Abstract

In the past, mode of Sirah writing was historical and descriptive but during the 19th century, this trend has been changed to the empirical research methodology. Due to religious devotion, unauthentic narrations were not judged and had been quoted constantly in Sirah literature on which orientalists laid the foundation of their objections. In response, various books are produced introducing argumentative, logical and scholarly way of writing to defend “Sirah of Prophet (PBUH)”. Question is what are the motives and causes which have changed classical trend of Sirah writing and what are its consequences? In this paper, a comparative analysis will be taken of books of Eastern Muslim scholars; Rehmatullah Keranwi, Syed Ahmad Khan, Karam Shah Alazhari, Shibli Noumani, Sana ullah Amertasri as well as Western Muslim scholars Mohammad Hussain Haykel, Hameed ullah, and Mohammad Asad. This paper will elaborate the difference between both of their research methodology and its effect in the field of Sirah writing and will be helpful for researchers.  

Author Biography

Fozia Fiaz, Head/Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, the University of Sialkot, Pakistan

In the past, mode of Sirah writing was historical and descriptive but during the 19th century, this trend has been changed to the empirical research methodology. Due to religious devotion, unauthentic narrations were not judged and had been quoted constantly in Sirah literature on which orientalists laid the foundation of their objections. In response, various books are produced introducing argumentative, logical and scholarly way of writing to defend “Sirah of Prophet (PBUH)”. Question is what are the motives and causes which have changed classical trend of Sirah writing and what are its consequences? In this paper, a comparative analysis will be taken of books of Eastern Muslim scholars; Rehmatullah Keranwi, Syed Ahmad Khan, Karam Shah Alazhari, Shibli Noumani, Sana ullah Amertasri as well as Western Muslim scholars Mohammad Hussain Haykel, Hameed ullah, and Mohammad Asad. This paper will elaborate the difference between both of their research methodology and its effect in the field of Sirah writing and will be helpful for researchers.  

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Published

2021-06-24

How to Cite

Fozia Fiaz. (2021). Sirah Writing East and West: A Comparison of Selected Writers. Negotiations, 1(1), 20–33. Retrieved from https://journals.mehkaa.com/index.php/negotiations/article/view/6

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