ABSTRACT
There are references to Muhammad in early non-Muslim writings including an Armenian chronicle written in the 660s by Bishop Sebeos. His existence as a historical figure is therefore established beyond all reasonable doubt. Nevertheless, most of our information about him is drawn from works preserved or composed by Muslims: the Quran, the Hadith and the traditional biographies. In this chapter, I shall examine each of these in turn, so as to indicate their limitations as historical sources. Then I shall discuss the evidence for what non-Muslims have traditionally considered to be Muhammad's moral failings. This will be followed by a brief survey of his place in Muslim devotion. Finally, the chapter will end with a discussion of the relationship between prophets, messengers, Imams and saints. No attempt will be made to summarise Muhammad's career as this has already been done inChapter 3.
