ولیم میور اور ہربرٹ جارج ویلز کے سیرتِ نبوی ﷺ پر اعتراضات کا تنقیدی جائزہ

A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF WILLIAM MUIR’S AND H.G. WELLS’ OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPHETIC BIOGRAPHY (PBUH)

Abstract

This research paper critically examines the objections raised by two prominent Western scholars, William Muir and H.G. Wells, regarding the biography (Sīrah) of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The study explores their claims through a rigorous analytical lens, probing the underlying biases, historical inaccuracies, and methodological flaws in their works. It investigates Muir’s assertions about the Prophet’s (PBUH) Medinan period, where he alleges a shift from spiritual sincerity to political opportunism, and scrutinizes Wells’ portrayal of the Prophet (PBUH) as egotistical and self-deceptive. By engaging with primary Islamic sources, historical evidence, and rebuttals from Muslim scholars like Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and Syed Abul A’la Maududi, the paper systematically deconstructs these Orientalist narratives. Additionally, it highlights the testimonies of non-Muslim intellectuals, such as W. Montgomery Watt and R. Bosworth Smith, whose objective analyses counterbalance the polemical claims of Muir and Wells. The study concludes that the objections of both authors stem from cultural prejudice, selective readings, and a lack of contextual understanding, ultimately reaffirming the moral, spiritual, and historical integrity of the Prophet’s (PBUH) life and mission.