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ISL172Arts3 Unitsintermediate

As-Sirah: The Biography of the Prophet Muhammad

This course introduces the biography of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), exploring the pre-Islamic era and its characteristics in the Arabian Peninsula. It examines the Prophet's life, contributions to humanity, and critiques by Orientalists. The course reviews key books on his biography and sheds light on ambiguities recorded by historians. It covers his youth, marriages, battles, treaties, and provides insights for applying lessons from his life.

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52h
Study Time
13
Weeks
4h
Per Week
none
Math Level
Course Keywords
As-SīrahProphet MuhammadBiographyIslamArab History

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📚
Math Level
No Math
📖
Learning Type
Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Pre-Islamic Arabia

2

Prophet Muhammad's Biography

3

Islamic Reforms

4

Orientalist Criticisms

5

Battles in Islam

6

Diplomacy in Islam

7

The Farewell Message

8

Prophet Muhammad as Role Model

Total Topics8 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

tutor-marked assessments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

final examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Computer Based Test

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Religious Teacher

Apply your skills in this growing field

Historian

Apply your skills in this growing field

Islamic Scholar

Apply your skills in this growing field

Cultural Analyst

Apply your skills in this growing field

Diplomat

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

EducationReligious OrganizationsResearch InstitutesGovernment and DiplomacyCultural Heritage

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: The Early Life of Prophet Muhammad

2h

Unit 1: Arabia before Islam

2 study hours
  • •Read about the ancestry of the Arabs and their location.
  • •Describe the religious, economic, social, and political lives of the Arabs before Islam.
Week
2

Module 1: The Early Life of Prophet Muhammad

2h

Unit 2: The Reforms Brought by Islam

2 study hours
  • •State the positive changes that Islam introduced into the religious life of the Arabs.
  • •Describe the economic reforms introduced by Islam.
  • •Explain the socio-political reforms brought by Islam.
Week
3

Module 1: The Early Life of Prophet Muhammad

2h

Unit 3: Prophet Muhammad – His Childhood, Youth and First Marriage

2 study hours
  • •Trace the family background of Prophet Muhammad.
  • •Explain the circumstances surrounding his birth and early upbringing.
  • •Discuss his stay with his uncle Abū Ţālib.
Week
4

Module 1: The Early Life of Prophet Muhammad

2h

Unit 4: The Holy Prophet's Marriages and the Orientalists' Criticism

2 study hours
  • •Discuss the marriages of the Prophet.
  • •Mention the circumstances surrounding his plural marriage.
  • •Examine objectively the Orientalists' criticism.
Week
5

Module 2: The Prophet's Mission in Makkah and Migration to Madinah

2h

Unit 1: Muhammad's Call to Messengership and the Mecca's Opposition

2 study hours
  • •Mention the circumstance that led to Muhammad's visits to Cave Hirā'.
  • •Describe how Angel Jibrīl appeared to him in the Cave and taught him the first revelation.
  • •Discuss the support Muhammad got from his uncle Abū Tālib.
Week
6

Module 2: The Prophet's Mission in Makkah and Migration to Madinah

2h

Unit 2: The Hijrah/the Prophet's Arrival and Settlement in Medina

2 study hours
  • •State what led to the migration of Muslims to Ethiopia.
  • •Discuss how the people of Ţā'if treated the Prophet.
  • •Narrate the incident of cAqabah.
Week
7

Module 3: The Battles and Triumph of Islam

2h

Unit 1: Battles of Badr and Uhud

2 study hours
  • •State the internal problems the Prophet encountered in Medina.
  • •Mention the reasons why the Meccans decided to attack Madina.
  • •Account for the Badr encounter.
Week
8

Module 3: The Battles and Triumph of Islam

2h

Unit 2: The Battle of Khandaq

2 study hours
  • •Mention the forces that constituted the confederates.
  • •Account for the defensive measures put in place by the Muslims against the confederates.
  • •Justify the stern measures taken by the Prophet against Banū Qurayzah.
Week
9

Module 3: The Battles and Triumph of Islam

2h

Unit 3: The Holy Prophet and the Orientalists' Criticisms

2 study hours
  • •Discuss critically the epileptic theory propounded by the Orientalists against the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
  • •State with explanation whether or not the Prophet plagiarized the Qur'ān.
  • •Critically examine the allegation that the Prophet used force in spreading Islam.
Week
10

Module 3: The Battles and Triumph of Islam

2h

Unit 4: The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah and the Conquest of Mecca

2 study hours
  • •State what led to the bay c atu riđwān.
  • •Give a summary of the content of the treaty of Hudaybiyyah.
  • •State the significance of the treaty to the Prophet's mission.
Week
11

Module 3: The Battles and Triumph of Islam

2h

Unit 5: The Prophet's Diplomatic Ingenuity

2 study hours
  • •Describe the Prophet's diplomatic ingenuity when he was in Mecca, during the hijrah, at Hudaybiyyah and during the conquest of Mecca.
Week
12

Module 4: Prophet Muhammad– His Teachings and Qualities

2h

Unit 1: The Farewell Message

2 study hours
  • •Describe the farewell pilgrimage of the Prophet.
  • •State the lessons contained in his farewell message.
Week
13

Module 4: Prophet Muhammad– His Teachings and Qualities

4h

Unit 2: Prophet Muhammad – A Role Model

2 study hours
  • •Relate some of the remarkable comments made by non-Muslim writers on Muhammad.
  • •State and discuss of the noble characters of Prophet Muhammad.

Unit 3: Mawlidu 'N- Nabiyy- Polemics Over Its Celebration

2 study hours
  • •Trace the origin of the celebration of Mawlidu 'n- Nabiyy.
  • •State the argument of the proponents and the opponents of Mawlidu 'n-Nabiy.
  • •Discuss the significance of Mawlidu 'n-Nabiyy.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create timelines of key events in the Prophet's life (birth, migration, battles, treaties).

2

Compare and contrast different accounts of the same event to identify biases.

3

Summarize the main points of each unit and create flashcards for key terms and figures.

4

Practice answering essay questions on the main themes of the course (e.g., the Prophet's leadership, the impact of Islam on Arabia).

5

Review the Orientalist criticisms of the Prophet and prepare counter-arguments based on the course material.

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