Long before medieval Christian polemicists wrote about “Mahomet,” and centuries before European historians tried to reconstruct early Islam, a different group recorded the rise of Muhammad and his followers in real time: Syriac-speaking Christians of the Near East. These communities lived not in Rome or Constantinople, but in Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia—the very lands conquered … Continue reading The Earliest Mentions of Muhammad from Syriac Sources
The Messenger vs. The Message
A messenger of God comes to deliver God's message, and it is this message that should be valued and pursued throughout one's life. However, people often shift their focus from the message to the messenger, losing sight of the true purpose of their coming. This is evident, for example, in how many Christians have become … Continue reading The Messenger vs. The Message
Can one greet the dead?
One of the standard practices among Sunni Muslims is their greeting (Attahiyat) of the prophet during their Salat. Despite such practices being a blatant form of idol worship (shirk) according to the Quran and discussed in previous articles, does it even make any sense to send greetings to one who is dead according to the … Continue reading Can one greet the dead?
Arabs vs. ‘Aarabs
In modern Arabic, there is a distinction between the words Arab ( عرب ) and A'rab ( أَعْرَاب ), where the former means Arabs and the latter implies Bedouins. Interestingly, the Quran does not use the term Arab ( ٱلْعْرَب ) but only the term Aʿrab ( ٱلْأَعْرَاب ). This is because the Quran does … Continue reading Arabs vs. ‘Aarabs
1st Revelation: What shall I read?
Many are familiar with the well-known narrative of how the Prophet Muhammad is believed to have received his initial revelation, encapsulated in Sura 96:1-5. This story centers on the Angel Gabriel urging the Prophet to read, which he reportedly could not fulfill. Traditional interpretations of this account postulate that the prophet could not complete this … Continue reading 1st Revelation: What shall I read?
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