HISK00038U Muhammad today

This course will investigate modern Muslim interpretations of the life and character the prophet Muhammad. Drawing from classical Muslim historians and biographers, Muslim intellectuals of the late 19^th century set out to demonstrate that Muhammad could still be considered a model for Muslims to emulate. Only their focus and priorities had shifted; Muhammad was now seen, less as a saint, and more as a human being with a divine vocation, ready to combat barbarian practices and guide his community towards welfare, peace and progress. The course will follow the developments of these modernist interpretations, in books, films and other media, and analyse their various and often contradictory claims. It will end by discussing anti-Modernist, Sufi, Liberalist and Jihadist interpretations of Muhammad.