Modern Approaches to Sirah Genre

This book comparatively examines modern approaches towards the sirah genre (biography of Prophet Muhammad). It explores the connection and juxtaposition of the sirah genre with the Islamic systematic theology (kalam), particularly since the emergence of Islamic modernism. It sheds light on the interconnectedness of the sirah and kalam disciplines as scholarship on sirah and prophethood is inherently relevant. The book presents a careful study of the reading and interpretation of the sirah genre as penned by Fethullah Gülen from a broad perspective of modern debates and investigates Gülen’s approach to sirah based on kalam discipline and philosophy of sirah. The author argues that reading sirah from the perspective of the kalam discipline (kalamisation of sirah) is a novel response to modern debates around the life of Prophet Muhammad. Kalamisation of sirah together with the notion of sirah philosophy is a significant contribution to sirah writings in terms of methodology and approach and it is likely to define future trajectories of sirah writings. Gülen’s contribution is ground-breaking and innovative, paving the way for new perspectives to read and interpret sirah in a modern world for a contemporary audience. This book is of interest to scholars and researchers of Islamic studies, religion, religious movements, philosophy of religion, theology and literature.