“…Author Robert Spencer says of all this, ‘The more one looks at the origins of Islam, the less one sees.’ He has engaged in concerted detective work of a scholarly nature. His book is no polemic. It is a serious quest for facts.”
So says the Washington Times about the first edition of Did Muhammad Exist? An Inquiry Into Islam’s Obscure Origins. This new revised and expanded edition contains 25% new material and a substantial reworking of the original book. It includes new discoveries since I wrote the original, answers to objections, and a great deal more.
This is not just a theoretical investigation. The implications for the Islamic world, and for jihadis today, are profound. That’s why there were so many attempts to suppress and discredit the first edition, and I expect even more now. But the one thing no one who hates the book has been able to do is prove that what it reports about the origins of Islam is false.
Preorder here.
Infidel says
I disagree that this has any implications for the islamic world. They’ll continue to believe what they’ve always believed – that the qur’an was handed over to Muhammad from allah, that Muhammad did all those things and that it was ready by the time the Arab brigands were all over the Middle East. It won’t matter what the Patriarch of Jerusalem said or anything else
But it is fascinating from a standpoint of how much of islam’s origins are fictional, as opposed to historical
gravenimage says
It certainly might get some Infidels thinking.
Terry Gain says
Infidel
I respectfully disagree. Facts tending to show that Mohammed did not exist will not disturb the beliefs of the zealots, but what percentage of Muslims are zealots as opposed to people who go along with the fable because they don’t want to incur the consequences of dissent, including alienation from family members and the tribe?
I have been enjoying Jay Smith’s historical analysis as well as Robert Spencer’s written work and audios and I think they are making a very good case that Mohammed was invented after the fact to solidify the imperialism of the Arabs which appears to have begun in earnest around 630 AD.
If Mohammad was invented it speaks to the lack of enlightenment of the Arabs, given that Mohammad is objectively evil and Allah is perverse. Surah 4:34 by itself ought to be enough to doom Islam.
But I am not completely convinced that Mohammad did not exist. How do we explain the difference between the Meccan and Medina Surahs if he did not exist? What need would there have been for the kinder and gentler Meccan Koran if it was invented after the world from Spain to India had been conquered?
Demsci says
Hello Terry, I too enjoyed + still enjoy all the analysis of Jay Smith, and Al Fadi, Mel from sneakers corner and from Dan Gibson and Daniel Brubaker. Of course I know Robert Spencer’s book “did Mohammed exist” by heart. I also have (and read) Tom Holland’s book about early Islamic theory.
Your question is excellent and I too think that somehow, with all these idiosyncrasies in the Muhammad “story”, there well could have been some kind of rolemodel.
One of my questions is about the name “muhammad”. It means “the blessed” or so and I now believe that THAT name AND the constant phrase “messenger of Allah” in the Koran is not or not always “the historical Muhammed” moslims say he is. Only 4 times “muhammad’ appears in the Quran and it seems that maybe Jesus is meant there! Of course It s A theory but plausible!
look, in speakers corner nut also On the internet Islam criticism spreads. It is heard by Muslims. They respond with gross enmity, often with threats of violence, intimidation, and when answering, with pigheadedness and often changing the subject or disrupting the critic where they can, so dishonest, so WEAK (because devoid of good logical counter arguments).
Of course some Muslims respond ny attacking Christianity and the Bible, but that is stupid, because with that they can make little headway with followers of atheism. Darwinism, history experts.
But sooner or later massive doubt will get into Muslim communities. As muslims will understand that Islam really is indefensible and that unintimidated critics (and they grow) have the easy winning side for those who are intellectually honest, I think.
When I can I will also carefully try to argue with broadminded moslims, as I have done haphazardly, because of possible bad reactions, in the past.
Infidel says
Terry
You make a good argument against the thesis of RS’ book. It does make the whole thing even clearer – as mud!
gravenimage says
“Concerted detective work. ‘Did Muhammad Exist?’ is no polemic. It is a serious quest for facts.”
……………..
Good review from the Washington Times!
docfreddy says
Kudos to Robert for having the courage to research, write, and publish this book which he would certainly know to be a ‘radioactive’ topic in the Islamic world. There are serious biblical scholars who have done the same regarding the myth of the historical Jesus and had to endure the vicious pushback from the blind faithful flock. The Jesus myth is even more convincing as exposed by the work of Dr. Richard Carrier and many others. Here’s an intellectual adventure… explore the website: jesusneverexisted.com
Terry Gain says
docfreddy
One can rationally argue whether Jesus is God, but the historicity of Jesus is in no more doubt than that of Julius Caesar.
Docfreddy says
Read with an unbiased mind the references I posted and then get back to me.
suburbanbanshee says
Richard Carrier was discredited a long time ago, a shorter time ago, and all the agos between then and now. He’s silly. The guy who wrote the silliness that is Chariots of the Gods had better understanding of the ancient world, and that’s a pretty darned low bar.
The sad thing is that the Jesus mythicists, who don’t have a leg to stand on, have discredited the investigation of Muhammad’s existence, in the minds of many. Because they’re so silly, that they make other people assume that investigating anybody’s existence must be silly.
Ecosse1314 says
The Romans were superb record keepers. If there was no evidence for the existence of Jesus then many people would have mentioned it in the early centuries.
Whether he was God made man is another question
Ecosse1314 says
“Endure the vicious pushback from the blind faithful flock”
Perhaps you could expand on this and tell us how many were threatened with death or indeed murdered. Perhaps you could provide citations.
Brando says
There is the JAMES OSSUARY, which says in ARAMAIC:
“JAKOB ( James ),SON of JOSEPH, BROTHER of YESHUA ( Jesus).
In 2013 a study of the PATINA ( which can Not Be Falsified) showed the phrase ” Brother of Jesus” is AUTHENTIC.
OSSUARIES
From circa 20 BC to 70 AD ONLY in Palestine did Jews have the custom of:
1.Placing the BONES of the dead in BOXES ( ossuaries)
2.We have 1,000 ossuaries
3.Of which 20% have INSCRIPTIONS
NO LAST NAMES
Till around the 18th century Jews had no family names: they were Abraham,Son of X
or Abraham of A ( Jerusalem, Nazareth, etc).
Joseph, Jakob and Yeshua were VERY common Names in 1st century Palestine. The ONLY reason to add ” Brother of Yeshua” would be if…..
the Yeshua was a FAMOUS man in 1st century Palestine called Yeshua.
ALSO
The ONLY Famous man in Palestine:
1.Who lived in the 1st century
2.Whose father was called JOSEPH
3.Who had a Brother called Jakob
4.And whose name was Yehsua, was Jesus of Nazareth
READ Article of Open Journal of Geology:
“The Authenticity of the James Ossuary ”
It says:”Abstract
An archaeometric analysis of the James Ossuary inscription “James Son of Joseph Brother of Jesus”
strengthens the contention that the ossuary and its engravings are authentic.”
https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=43671
gravenimage says
“docfreddy” here is missing the point–probably deliberately. No one minds if the historicity of Jesus is questioned–but Muslims threaten to murder anyone who dares question Islam.
You can find “docfreddy” here, sneering at persecuted Christians:
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2018/01/over-200-million-christians-facing-severe-persecution#comment-1813562
Ugly stuff.
Beneath the Veil of Consciousness says
Even if it turns 20 percent away from Islam that is an incredible leap forward when one considers it’s been entrenched for 1400 years.
Don Ameche says
I would say that if it turns even 5-7 % away that would be an incredible leap forward.
gravenimage says
This is an awful lot to ask of a single book, no matter how brilliant the author.–especially recall that few Muslims listen to “filthy Infidels”. I doubt that many Muslims are going to read the book to begin with.
Andrew Blackadder says
If the Founder of islam was poisoned, as is the belief, then where is he buried, and would that spot not be thought of as a “holy site”, like where Buddha was born and where he claimed enlightenment, or where Jesus was Crucified.
Inquiring minds want to know
Ecosse1314 says
The guy also forgers that the family of Jesus were still known to be alive and accepted as such in the early 3rd century (Eusebius).
Would that be the case if there was even a slight suspicion that he never existed.
Michael Copeland says
To AB
Medina, off limits to kuffar.
“The Prophet ﷺ is buried in the Sacred Chamber, along with two of his most faithful companions and the first two caliphs of Islam, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq and Umar ibn al-Khattab. The Sacred Chamber was once the house (hujra) of his wife Aisha – the house in which he was staying in at the time of his physical demise. Today, it forms part of the Masjid Nabawi complex…”
https://hajjumrahplanner.com/prophet-muhammad-grave/
GOLDMANN says
“Doc,,” JESUS CHRIST was seen by a vast amount of people after He arose from the grave. and the Apost Thomas touched him .and today as in the past He has changed people s lives . Looks like you need to REPENT of your sins. ✝️
Walter Sieruk says
If Muhammad did not really exist then obviously all those books that give that story about the life of Muhammad are fictions . The whole point is that the former US President Abraham Lincoln had it right when he had said that History isn’t history unless it’s truth.”