In fact, with the exception of Christ and Napoleon, perhaps no figure has received as much attention by Western biographers as the Prophet. Needless to say, most of these works have been based on either ignorance or prejudice or both. It was not until the 13th/19th century that a number of Western writers began to appreciate, at least to some extent, the grandeur of the Prophet and somewhat more sympathetic biographies began to be written about him although the slanderous treatments of his life also continued unabated. This trend to give a more positive treatment of the Prophet's life has continued into this century with works of such scholars as E. Dermenghem, G. Gheorghiu and W. Watt which deal with some aspects of his life and achievements in a positive light. Meanwhile, several biographies of the Blessed Prophet have been written in European languages by contemporary Muslims such as M. Hamidullah or translated into these languages as in the case of A. Azzam, Z. Rahnema and M. Haykal.
As far as the English language is concerned, however, the most eloquent and moving biography of the Prophet is Muhammad by Martin Lings (Vermont:Inner Traditions, 1991) which is recommended highly to those seeking to understand how the Prophet is seen in traditional Islamic sources . We also recommend the work of Annemarie Schimmel, And Muhammad is His Messenger (Chapel Hill, the University of North Carolina Press, 1985) which contains a unique selection of translations of devotional literature concerning the Founder of Islam, including both poetry and prose written over the centuries by devout Muslims and reflecting the love and respect which Muslims have always held and continue to hold toward that being whom God addressed in these words, "If thou wert not, I would not have created the heavens" (law laka wa ma khalaqtu fl-aflak).
Hadith in Islam: Sunni and Shia
