Hichem Djaït and Prophet Muhammad's Biograph: A Methodological Critique

Since the first part of the Arab Tunisian historian Hichem Djaït’s biographical trilogy of the Prophet Muhammad was published, it has been subject to both extensive critique and acclaim. Many reviews focused on Djaït’s methodology, while others questioned or praised his conclusions. This study surveys some of the critiques of Djaït’s trilogy, especially those that focus on the methodology. The study concludes with some reflections on the reviews of Djaït’s work and what they reveal about historical writing and critique in the contemporary Arab world. Finally, the conclusion lays out the prospects for interaction between proponents of different methodologies and schools.

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Since the first part of the Arab Tunisian historian Hichem Djaït’s biographical trilogy of the Prophet Muhammad was published, it has been subject to both extensive critique and acclaim. Many reviews focused on Djaït’s methodology, while others questioned or praised his conclusions. This study surveys some of the critiques of Djaït’s trilogy, especially those that focus on the methodology. The study concludes with some reflections on the reviews of Djaït’s work and what they reveal about historical writing and critique in the contemporary Arab world. Finally, the conclusion lays out the prospects for interaction between proponents of different methodologies and schools.

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