Mohammad and the Rise of Islam

The standpoint from which this book is written is suggested by the title of the series. The author regards Mohammed as a great man, who solved a political problem of appalling difficulty: the construction of a state and an empire out of the Arab tribes. The author has endeavored, in recounting the mode in which he accomplished this, to do justice to his intellectual ability and to observe towards him the respectful attitude which his greatness deserves; but otherwise this book does not aim at being either an apology or an indictment. Indeed neither sort of work is now required. The charming and eloquent treatise of Syed Ameer Ali, The Spirit of Islam, is probably the best achievement in the way of an apology for Mohammed that is ever likely to be composed in a European language, whereas indictments are very numerous – some dignified and moderate, others fanatical and virulent. These works are ordinarily designed to show the superiority or inferiority of Mohammed’s religion to some other system; an endeavour from which it is hoped that this book will be found to be absolutely free.