Modern Approaches to Sīrah Genre

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