ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses a formulation of an equivalent Islamic typology that would specifically characterize Muhammad's charismatic authority. It examines the juxtaposition of Muhammad's "charismatic authority" against the Arab traditional order as the necessary background of the later doctrinal/political movements in Islam. Although "charisma" is, and shall remain, an essentially Christian phenomenon, the Weberian conceptual categorization of "charismatic authority", as a "neutral" sociological designation of a mode of authority, directs attention to other "similar" modalities of command and obedience. Muhammad's establishment of Islam as a "universal", or metahistorical, religion was implemented through physical force and was simultaneous with the foundation of the Islamic state. The particular nature of Muhammad's charismatic authority, that is, the way his authority was charismatic, provides the Weberian typology with a specific case to observe the constituent elements of a rising charismatic movement. "Charismatic authority" in the context of the Weberian theory of domination is first and foremost a mode of authority.
