One of my most controversial books (okay, they’re all controversial), Did Muhammad Exist? An Inquiry Into Islam’s Obscure Origins, has just been published in paperback by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. This edition is not only handy, portable, and paper-bound, but it also contains a brand new Foreword by Ibn Warraq, in which he surveys the reaction to the book, compares it to Reza Aslan’s Zealot, and chides the mainstream media for its eagerness to deconstruct Christianity but carefully respectful, even reverential, stance toward Islam. Don’t miss this one. You can get it at Barnes and Noble here and at Amazon here — as well as at any self-respecting brick-and-mortar bookstore.
A sampling of critical reactions:
“A well-written, sober, and clear account . . . The revisionist account is no idle academic exercise but, as when Judaism and Christianity encountered the Higher Criticism 150 years ago, a deep, unsettling challenge to faith. . . . May the revolution begin.” —National Review Online
“Without indulging in polemics or pushing a partisan political agenda, the author simply investigates the question of whether we can really trust the traditional Islamic accounts for the life of Muhammad and the supposed early days of Islam. . . . For too long, the topic of Islamic historiography has been confined to highly specialized academia, with the growing problem of Islamist intimidation. Thus, an accessible primer on the subject as we have here is most welcome. In addition, the project of translating this book into Arabic is to be commended. In the years to come, it would be good to see Spencer’s book prescribed as introductory reading for courses on Islam in schools and universities.” —American Spectator
“Careful, detailed, well-reasoned survey and analysis . . . [A] brave book.” —FrontPage Magazine
“[Spencer] has engaged in concerted detective work of a scholarly nature. His book is no polemic. It is a serious quest for facts. The ones wrapped up in the Muslim canon are, alas, elusive. . . . Well-written and moves right along.” —Washington Times
“In an impeccably researched book, Spencer shows that all our Arabic sources for the life of Muhammad are very late, tendentious, and unsupported by any archaeological or epigraphic evidence, while the non-Islamic sources are scant and ambiguous. Thanks to this book, skepticism regarding what we can know about Muhammad must now and forever be taken seriously.” —Ibn Warraq, editor of What the Koran Really Says
“This will send shockwaves through Islamic communities.” —The Blaze
“A surprising and eye-opening new book . . . Quite a convincing job.” —PJ Media
“Robert Spencer has displayed brilliant scholarship and fierce courage in his previous books. In this one he perseveres and confronts with deep erudition the most topical problem of our century.” —Bat Ye’or, author of The Decline of Eastern Christianity under Islam
“A super detective service for the West . . . Spencer leaves few rocks unturned in his search for the truth about Islam and Muhammad.”
—Capitalism Magazine
squeezethejuice says
The real question is, does Spencer really exist, or is he just a persona created by the enemies of Islam?
bicky says
The proof of the pudding is in the eating, the proof that Spencer exists is in that we can see mahoundians like you copying and pasting on our forum.
Beagle says
I guess I should thank you for exemplifying the conspiratorial, imperialistic, and barbaric nature of Islam and Muslims. Nah, go martyr yourself in Syria. You are a munafiq.
gravenimage says
“squeezethejuice” (“squeeze the Jews”) wrote:
The real question is, does Spencer really exist, or is he just a persona created by the enemies of Islam?
………………………..
It comes as no surprise that this pious Muslim is incapable of conceiving of the existence of a rational, thorough scholar who actually scrutinizes the historical record.
And note: he regards anyone who dare criticize or even question the pieties of Islam as “an enemy of Islam”.
And why not? Islam forbids its violent followers to think at all.
Jon says
Every time I see the name Reza Aslan I think of him intoning ‘I have a Ph.D’ in the Lauren Green interview. Did you hear that? The guy has a Ph.D. Hardly anyone has one of those these days.
joeb says
Was it ever translated into arabic and distributed in PDF form? I recall before it was originally published, Robert saying something along these lines…
Robert Spencer says
As for the Arabic translation, a generous donor paid thousands of dollars to one translator whose work proved to be wholly inadequate — one reviewer said it read like a Google Translate piece. Then we spent thousands of dollars on another translator whose work seemed promising at first, but his, too, ultimately proved to be absolutely unacceptable.
That was it for me. I regret to say that there is now no money and no translator, so there will be no Arabic translation.
Charli Main says
Surely, their are plenty of highly educated, ex- Muslim, native Arabic speakers who could get together and translate this book for Robert, free of charge.
An Arabic translation of Robert´s book would be highly instrumental in persuading more Muslims to leave Islam.
I, of course, appreciate that printing costs are another issue, but a translation would be a significant start.
awake says
It’s funny that I was just speaking with my wife about this book whilst speaking about the daily body count perpetrated by the denizens of the “RoP”.
I’ve never read that one, but surely will now, in paperback.
It will likely expose the myth of Muhammad, the “perfect man”, per 33:21, but more importantly, provide a conundrum for Muslims and Islam apologists alike to decide whether their “prophet” and his “revelations” are a thing to be praised, or if Islam is better served as a charlatan ideology, perpetuated historically and currently by the means and desires to solely support Arab supremacy.
Godspeed, Robert!
Aasiyah says
Do you really believe a catholic islamophobe could alter the minds of muslims, because he’s opinion of our prophet is sitting in a bookshop,now for sale ? Is christians not intrigued to know more about their religion, or is it that christianity is so unintresting and animated that Islam fascinates them more ?
He’s book doesn’t effect anyone else but the burfoons that chooses to spend money and waste their time on someone who clearly chose to base his book on his hatred of muslims, since blogging wasn’t satisfying him enough. Why didn’t he just re write the bible, every century there’s a new version anyway, what a waste of time.
Shane Von Russell says
Audiobook soon?
enwhitenment says
A little Muhammad exists in all of us yet he only shows in those that believe psychotic thoughts are normal ie: psychopaths.
The rest of us have enough common sense to know he does not exist and if we think he does we seek medical intervention before we get really sick and harm others with our delusional thoughts.
ECAW says
I see the word “psychotic” used in relation to various things Islamic quite often these days (the latest example was a reference to the “social psychosis if ISIS) and often paired with the word “psychopath”. I think this pairing is wrong. Psychopathy and psychosis are different creatures and live in different parts of the psychiatric jungle even though their paths may cross at times . Mohammed appears to have been a psychopath but not psychotic unless you think that being spoken to by God is psychotic (er…).
I have done a great deal of research in this field – at least a couple of hours worth – and modestly offer my efforts as a contribution to the scholarly debate:
http://ecawblog.wordpress.com/2014/04/12/diagnosis/
enwhitenment says
ECAW , I admit I do not know a “psychotic from a psychopath” and if i have offended anyone with such illness I whole heartedly apologise for stereotyping the two as one.
How about I just say the character of the story was not of sound mind.
ECAW says
Agreed 🙂
voegelinian says
I don’t know if a standard dictionary (e.g., The American Heritage College dic●tion●ar●y) comports with the medical technical definition (e.g., the DSM-5); but it’s good enough for the general public concerned about Islam:
psychopath — “a person with an antisocial personality disorder, esp. one manifested in aggressive, perverted, or criminal behavior”
psychotic — “A person affected with psychosis” (psychosis — “A severe mental disorder, with or without brain damage, characterized by derangement of personality and loss of contact with reality”).
Mohammed eminently qualifies as both.
I’d also add the diagnostic term of philosopher Eric Voegelin: pneumopathic (see this excerpt by Voegelin called “The Revolt of the Spirit” for more details).
voegelinian says
When I wrote that “Mohammed eminently qualifies as both” I of course mean the Mohammed that is all too real in the diseased hearts and minds of all Muslims, whether or not there existed a Prophet Mohammed in history or not.
Richie says
Robert, are any of your books available in book on tape/cd format with you narrating? id love to buy such and listen as I drive, plus I know some people who are visually impaired would love that alternative to print
Robert Spencer says
No, plenty of them (but not all) are available as audiobooks, but none with me narrating. I think the audiobook companies were wise to get other people to do the voicing.
Richie says
I can understand that Robert, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Muslims would threaten to kill people at the audiobook companies if you provided the narration for audio versions of your book
Will Doohan says
I’ve read a a couple of your books Mr. Spencer but unfortunately, haven’t had time to read them all. I don’t know enough about it to comment on whether Mohammad was a real person or mythological figure, or possibly a real person who’s story was embellished to make him into a prophet. I’ve read that the story of Jesus wasn’t written until many decades after his death and that it’s possible he too was just a myth, though, again, I’m not enough of a scholar about such things to make any kind of definitive statement about it.
ONE question that’s been on my mind lately though is, Who wrote the Koran? It seems to me that the men who wrote that book and ‘compiled’ the hadiths are more responsible for starting this nightmarish cult that some illiterate 7th Century Arab warlord.
Champ ✞ says
Will wrote:
I’ve read that the story of Jesus wasn’t written until many decades after his death and that it’s possible he too was just a myth, though, again, I’m not enough of a scholar about such things to make any kind of definitive statement about it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Question: “Did Jesus really exist? Is there any historical evidence of Jesus Christ?”
Answer here:
http://www.gotquestions.org/did-Jesus-exist.html
Will Doohan says
That was interesting. Thanks Champ. 🙂
George Romero says
Robert , i went to the borders bookstore and asked if i can be directed to your book ‘Did muhummad Exist?.
The pretty girl at the counter said she has not heard of that book and asked who the author was.
She typed in her computer desk’ Robert Spencer’ and informed me
‘We dont stock that book or author’ , you will have to go online and order it!.
Those bastards cost me time and money , when they should have just stocked your excellent book on the shelf!.
R. Craigen says
This answers the age-old question:
Does “Did Muhammad Exist?” exist?
Yes, apparently.
Loren Rosson says
Although I haven’t been moved to Robert’s conclusion, I like the book and reviewed it here, along with a book by Richard Carrier that argues Jesus didn’t exist. There’s some good discussion in the comments.
Enezio E. de Almeida Filho says
Portuguese speaking people around the world, specially in Brazil and Portugal need to have this book translated into Portuguese. I’d be willing to translate it and look for a publishing house.
Anushirvan says
Keep up the good work. I actually bought the hardcover about 3 months after its publication, I had completed it in 2 days. A very worthwhile read, indeed.
Louise from Canada says
Fantastic book! MUST read! I also believe that mohamed did not exist. If he did then, he was possessed. Plain and simple. People that say Jesus did not exist, are also possessed. Plain and simple. I have many books from Mr. Spencer and he has done and still doing an AMAZING work.
Aasiyah says
You need Jesus and an exorcism, plain and simple
AtomicB says
Thanks a lot Robert for this book, it really helped me with a conversation I had with a Muslima at my insurance company. It was a great introduction to a fascinating part of history. Right after your book I read In the shadow of the sword by Tom Holland and am now reading “Early Islam” by by Karl-Heinz Ohlig. The foggy picture of the first two hundred years of Islam is slowly coming to light- I believe books like this will be the true source of an Islamic age of reform.
Will there be a future part II to “Did Muhammad exist?” as more discoveries are made?