Prophethood in Translation Through an Occidental Lens: Rewriting Seerah as Seen in The West Across Centuries

Abstract

The Islamic world has long been the subject of attention for Western scholars, often perpetuating stereotypes and misconceptions about the Islamic world. However, in the contemporary era, these scholars have tended to look at various perspectives and analytical frameworks to study Seerah. Western scholars have devoted considerable scholarly attention to the Prophet Muhammad, examining his profound presence in historical and theological contexts. Therefore, the current study addresses a critical gap by examining the polemical theological portrayals of Prophet Muhammad in the 17^th and 18^th centuries as a ‘false prophet, to the 19^th century skepticism were Western scholars questioned the life and Seerah of Prophet Muhammad, which holds an enduring significance for the Muslim Ummah in the contemporary spiritual discourse. This research is established through a comprehensive historical analysis based on the shifting trends of Western scholars and their writings from the 16^th century onwards. Additionally, various approaches, considering postcolonial, occidental, and theological perspectives and their methodological assumptions, were illustrated based on an extensive review of literature that indicates the Western depiction of polemical tracts and influential writing in modern scholarly works. Thus, the reliance on Western thought situates a framework for a better understanding of Western engagement with life and the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad to see the occidental view of spiritual discourse in cross-cultural perception.