A RESEARCH AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE SOURCES OF SIRAH AND HISTORY BY THE CONTEMPORARY ORIENTALIST WAEL HALLAQ

Abstract

The primary sources of Islamic sciences are in the Arabic language, making proficiency in Arabic language and literature essential for understanding the Quran, Hadith, Sirah, history, and Islamic jurisprudence. One of the most significant shortcomings of early Orientalists was their reliance on secondary sources in their study of Islam, often resulting in unreliable research findings. Contemporary Orientalists have made substantial efforts to overcome this limitation, with Wael Hallaq achieving remarkable success in this regard. This can be attributed to two key factors: his Palestinian heritage and his deep interest and rigorous scholarship in Islamic sciences. His proficiency in Arabic language and literature distinguishes him among Orientalists, enabling him to utilize primary sources for his study of Islamic jurisprudence. While Wael Hallaq’s primary area of research is Islamic law and politics, his methodological and evolutionary approach to Islamic law has also led him to address topics related to Sirah (biography of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him) and history. Hallaq’s research places particular emphasis on the legislative and political aspects of the Sirah. Similarly, in the realm of Islamic history, he has expressed his views on the political, economic, social, and legal theories of the early Islamic period. However, the sources Hallaq employs in his discussions of Sirah and history are predominantly secondary and, in many cases, rooted in Orientalist research. This appears to stem from his reliance on Orientalist thought as a framework for understanding pre-Islamic history through a legal perspective and for reinforcing his evolutionary and historical theories regarding the Islamic period. From our perspective, this constitutes a significant weakness in his scholarship. This paper presents a research and critical analysis of the "Sources of Sirah and History" utilized by the contemporary Orientalist Wael Hallaq, addressing the issues and examining the strengths and weaknesses of his methodology.