Introduction -- 1. The Teaching of Jacob the Newly Baptized -- 2. Synodical Letter, Homily on the Nativity, and Homily on Epiphany, Sophronius of Jerusalem -- 3. A Syriac Fragment Concerning the Believers' Invasion of Syria -- 4. Letter 14, Maximus the Confessor -- 5. Chronicle, Thomas the Presbyter -- 6. The Armenian Chronicle of 661, Attributed to Sebeos -- 7. The Spiritual Meadow, Appendix to the Georgian Version, John Moschus -- 8. Homily on the End Times, Ps.-Ephrem the Syrian -- 9. Letter 14C, Ishoơyahb III of Adiabene -- 10. Edifying Tales, Homily on the Lord's Passion, the Hodegos, and the Questions and Answers, Athanasius of Sinai -- 11. The Khuzistan Chronicle -- 12. The Secrets of Rabbi Shimon b. YohĐai, The Apocalypse of Rabbi Shimon b. YohĐai -- 13. Pirqe de-Rabbi Eliezer -- 30. 14 The Maronite Chronicle -- 15. On the Holy Places, Adomnan / Arculf -- 16. The Apocalypse of Ps.-Shenoute -- 17. The Book of Main Points, John Bar Penkaye -- 18. Fourth Letter to John the Stylite, Jacob of Edessa -- 19. The Passion of Peter of Capitolias -- 20. Excerpts from a Lost Seventh-Century Greek Source -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index.
Summary:
"The first anthology to compile the most significant non-Islamic sources for understanding the rise of Islam. Early Islam has emerged as a lively site of historical investigation, and scholars have challenged the traditions of both Islam and its academic study by drawing attention to the wealth of non-Islamic sources that describe its rise. A Prophet Has Appeared brings this approach to the classroom. The collection provides students with carefully selected, introduced, and annotated materials from non-Islamic records dating to the early years of Islam, which students and scholars can read alongside the Qur'an and later Islamic materials. Applying historical-critical analysis, the volume aims to place these invaluable sources on more equal footing with the much later Islamic narratives about Muhammad and the formation of his new religious movement. The sourcebook includes new English translations of twenty different authors or sources. Initially written in many languages-not just Greek and Latin, but Syriac, Georgian, Armenian, Hebrew, and Arabic-these texts span a broad geographic expanse from England to Egypt and Iran. Ideal for the classroom and personal library, readers will gain the tools to meaningfully approach a new, burgeoning area of Islamic studies"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.