The image of the Prophet Muhammad in 21st century German sira literature (The example of Tilman Nagel)

Throughout history, Orientalists have produced extensive studies on the Prophet Muhammad in the Western world, employing diverse perspectives and methodologies, thereby creating a rich and evolving body of literature. The earliest authors in this field were primarily clergymen who, drawing directly or indirectly from works written in the Islamic world and Byzantium, composed studies that touched upon the life of the Prophet. However, these writings were generally polemical in nature and, despite their references to the Prophet, lacked any genuine effort to understand him. With the Enlightenment and the consequent decline of ecclesiastical authority, a number of authors began to adopt a new tone and discourse in their works on the Prophet Muhammad. One of the main factors behind this shift was the discovery of Arabic sīra sources by Western scholars and their subsequent translation into European languages. During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries -a period often referred to as that of "scientific Orientalism"- Islamic studies, particularly in Germany, gained significant prominence. Substantial progress was made in the field of sīra studies, and many German Orientalists emerged as leading figures. Foundational texts that would shape later scholarship were produced both in the West and in the Islamic world, and these works provided the basis for the methodological debates of the twentieth century concerning the authenticity of sīra materials and the feasibility of composing a reliable biography of the Prophet. Against this vast background of literature and ongoing methodological discussions, modern German-language studies and their authors stand out, among whom the works of retired Islamic scholar and Orientalist Prof. Dr. Tilman Nagel are particularly noteworthy. Accordingly, the present study aims to analyze Nagel's portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad and to elucidate his perception of prophethood. Nagel's approach, grounded in source criticism and historical contextualization, is especially striking. His methodology represents a distinctive example that continues the classical Orientalist tradition while simultaneously integrating methods characteristic of modern historiography. In line with the objectives of this research, the data and interpretations provided by Nagel have been meticulously compared with the narratives found in primary sīra and Islamic historical sources. The similarities and differences among the narrations have been carefully evaluated, and the origins of Nagel's assertions have been examined in order to construct a comprehensive analytical framework. While offering a general perspective on the Orientalist conception of the Prophet, this study focuses specifically and in detail on Tilman Nagel's views concerning Muhammad. Methodologically, the research employs qualitative, text-centered analysis techniques. Nagel's academic writings on the sīra are examined through a discourse-based critical content analysis. The introduction presents the study's subject, aims, significance, methodology, scope, and limitations. The first chapter discusses Tilman Nagel's life and works, highlighting his approach to sīra methodology and his use of sources. The second chapter analyzes the Prophet's Meccan life, including the pre-revelation period and the events from the beginning of his prophethood to the Hijra. The third chapter focuses on Muhammad's military activities, while the fourth chapter examines his personality, private life, and message. Within this framework, the study seeks to determine, on the basis of Islamic historical sources, how the Orientalist scholar Prof. Tilman Nagel approached the sīra and the life of the Prophet Muhammad.