Muhammad as a Prophet Venerated among the Muslims in the Light of Sirat Ibn ’Ishâq

Abstract

The Muslim religious doctrine is founded on the Quran as well as on so-called “Traditions of the Prophet” (Hadith) and Sirah, which is a biography of Muhammad. Sira (Arabic: ةريس), means as much as “he way out”, “the way of proce- eding”, “acting” or “way of life”. The author of the biography of the Prophet of Islam, Ibn Ishâq, refers to many texts in which it is foretold. They can be divided into two groups: i) revealed before his birth and ii) proclaimed during his lifetime. These writings have one purpose, namely to show that Mohammed is the true messenger of Allah. A similar goal is the narrative about the Prophet’s calling. At times it bears a resemblance to the narrative describing the vocation of Moses or Jeremiah. Following the Quran, Ibn ‘Ishâq shows Mohammed as “the seal of the prophets” that conclude the entire process of Allah’s revelation. The author of Sirah meant to present the image of Muhammad as one who is not only the most important prophet but also the most wonderful of all the people. Therefore, he assigns to him all the necessary qualities. Hence, the Prophet is a man of impeccable morality, a political and religious leader of the community sometimes called a king and a descendant of Adam and Abraham who brings forth the will of Allah and warns against the punishment for the infidels. He was shown as a model for Muslims and for this reason his life may be a norm not only for a particular follower of Allah but also a source of the moral and legal values of the Muslim community.