The Islam of Mohamed

Published in 1909, this early twentieth-century scholarly work asks a deceptively simple question: how did Islam take root in the apparently uncongenial soil of pre-Islamic Arabia? S. Khuda Bukhsh traces the answer through the commercial networks that exposed Arab traders to foreign civilizations, the proximity of Judaism and Christianity within the peninsula, and the spiritual restlessness of a society trapped between tribal paganism and emerging monotheistic traditions. The author examines the Prophet Muhammad's teachings as they emerged, distinguishing the core message from later theological developments and cultural accretions. Bukhsh argues that Islam's revolutionary emphasis on the absolute oneness of God, ethical responsibility to others, and communal solidarity beyond tribal affiliation fundamentally transformed Arab society. This text remains of interest to scholars and readers seeking an early academic perspective on Islamic origins, though it reflects the assumptions and limitations of its era.