ABSTRACT
Typically, Muslim charismatic leaders claim to be following the example of the Prophet Muhammad, yet mystics, political leaders, legal scholars, and others manifest this authority in different ways. In this chapter, I review the literature on charismatic authority as it has been applied by scholars of Muslim cultures. These scholars have been particularly effective in elaborating key concepts of routinization and of the charismatic community. I then suggest that “routinization” of Muhammad’s pure charisma is best regarded as a dynamic relationship of historical example and present manifestation that ultimately challenges our perception of both the Prophet Muhammad and also the limits of charismatic authority in Muslim traditions.
