Tracing Pluralistic Trends in Sirah Literature

A Study of Some Contemporary Scholars

Abstract

Due to many factors, Muslim societies have struggled with great difficulties in constructively addressing the issues of diversity and pluralism. From this perspective, both the call for radical measures and the call for reforms in the Muslim world stem from deep feelings of powerlessness fostered by governmental corruption, autocracy, inequality and subservience to foreign masters. The difference between the two groups is in their fundamental interpretation of the appropriate measures that should be used in addressing these problems. Contemporary Muslim scholars call for revisiting and reformulating the agenda for future. Some of the scholars have focused on the pluralistic trends to be traced in the life and teachings of the holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The concentration on the selective themes like the portrayal of the Prophet as a role model for Muslim minorities, the nature and scope of pluralistic society of Makkah, the Muslim community of Abyssinia, the hilf al-fudul agreement, the Prophet’s dealing with the king of Abyssinia, the case of the Christians of Najran are highlighted by the contemporary scholars on the biography of the Prophet. Scholars like Abu al-Kalam Azad, husain Ahmad Madani, Sayyid Jalal al-Din ‘Umari, Muhammad Razi ’l-Islam Nadvi, Sultan Ahmad islahi, Rachid Ghannouchi, Ismaill Raji ’l-Faruqui, Mohammad Abu-Nimer, Fazlur Rahman Farid, Muhammad Yasin Mazhar Siddiqi, Abdul Aziz Said, me and a number of scholars have tried to examine the pluralism and diversity in the light of the sirah literature. This paper evaluates their ideas and thoughts and assesses their validity and authenticity within an islamic perspective.