White and Earth: A Biography of the Prophet Muhammad - Hardcover

by Aaron Van Altenberg (Author)

This book - in its fourth edition - offers a fresh and thoroughly researched reading of the biography of the Prophet Muhammad, grounded in the Quran and the traditions of the Ahl al-Bayt, and supported by the oldest Eastern historical sources and ancient manuscripts. Among these is the Sinai Arabic 597 manuscript, recently identified by scholar Adrian C. Pirtea of the Austrian Academy of Sciences as the oldest known external historical testimony documenting the existence of the Prophet Muhammad, his legislative role, and his book - the Quran - written as early as 713 CE, well before any official Islamic biographical narrative was committed to writing.

Written in a vivid narrative style that brings to life events from fourteen centuries ago, the book maintains rigorous scholarly precision and uncompromising historical fidelity throughout. Rather than merely recounting events, it pauses to analyse them and draw out their deeper significance - illuminating the Prophet's personality across its human, social, moral, and leadership dimensions, moving beyond the one-dimensional portrayals that focus exclusively on military campaigns.

The book opens with a comprehensive introduction covering the emergence of Islam and its foundational teachings, a critical discussion of the methodology of biographical writing, and an objective assessment of Orientalist approaches to Islamic sources. It then proceeds to a detailed chronological narrative of the Prophet's life from birth to death, following the method the Prophet himself prescribed - the Quran and the traditions of his household.

The book strives to correct centuries of accumulated misconceptions - both those that arose within Islamic tradition and those propagated by Orientalist scholarship - and to present an accurate, human, and civilisational portrait of the man who changed the course of history. It invites readers of all backgrounds, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, to engage with this biography with an open mind and a sincere search for truth, setting aside prejudice and preconceived judgement.

This book is a valuable reference for anyone seeking a genuine and authentic understanding of the Prophet Muhammad and of the original sources of the Islamic message.