This study treats the religious and intellectual history of the city of Harran (Eastern Turkey) from biblical times down to the establishment of Islam. The author starts from the well-known reference in the Qur'an and the early Islamic histories to the people of Harran as Sabian…
The City of the Moon God treats the religious and intellectual history of the city of Harran (Eastern Turkey) from Biblical times down to the establishment of Islam. The author starts from the well-known reference in the Quran and the early Islamic histories to the people of Har…
Although Muhammad had no natural sons who reached the age of maturity, Islamic sources report that he adopted a man named Zayd shortly before receiving his first revelation. This "son of Muhammad" was the Prophet's heir for the next fifteen or twenty years. He was the first adul…
Although Muḥammad had no natural sons who reached the age of maturity, Islamic sources report that he adopted a man named Zayd shortly before receiving his first revelation. This "son of Muḥammad" was the Prophet's heir for the next fifteen or twenty years. He was the first adul…
In Zayd, David S. Powers restores Muhammad's adopted son to his place at the center of the Islamic foundation narrative, arguing that Zayd is modeled on earlier biblical figures to address ideas about legitimate succession and the theological doctrine of the finality of prophecy.
"Based on a critical review of the relevant scholarship, and with the use of epigraphic and other material evidence as well as more traditional sources, this book presents a comprehensive and innovative reconstruction of the rise of Islam as a religion and imperial polity. It re…
Based on a critical review of the relevant scholarship, and with the use of epigraphic and other material evidence as well as more traditional sources, this book presents a comprehensive and innovative reconstruction of the rise of Islam as a religion and imperial polity. It rea…