Tag: Prophet Muhammad

Book Reviews

A Path-Breaking Book on Sirah – Review of The Humanity of Muhammad – A Christian View

Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

By Professor Abdur Raheem Kidwai of Aligarh Muslim University Amid the plethora of the Western writings on Sirah (Prophet Muhammad’s illustrious life and career), the book The Humanity of Muhammad: A Christian View by Craig Considine. Clifton, N J, USA, Blue Dome Press, 2020. Pp. 165. ISBN: 978-1-68206-529-7, stands out on several counts. Although authored by Craig Considine, Professor…… Continue reading A Path-Breaking Book on Sirah – Review of The Humanity of Muhammad – A Christian View

Book Reviews

Indonesian Book Review of “People of the Book – Prophet Muhammad’s Encounters with Christians”

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I am happy to share a new book review of People of the Book – Prophet Muhammad’s Encounters with Christians. The review was created by Haris Fatwa, a religious moderation activist at the Islamic Institute, and published on Islamico.co. Below is an English translation of the article’s original title and the review itself. Thank you…… Continue reading Indonesian Book Review of “People of the Book – Prophet Muhammad’s Encounters with Christians”

Prophet Muhammad’s “Emotional Intelligence” and the Christians of Najran
Quoted

Prophet Muhammad’s “Emotional Intelligence” and the Christians of Najran

Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

Dr. Mohamed Bin Ali of the prestigious Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore produced an article on the role of “emotional intelligence” in Christian-Muslim relations, with a specific focus on lessons learned from Prophet Muhammad’s encounters with the Christians of Najran. I am honored to see that he cited two of my books – The…… Continue reading Prophet Muhammad’s “Emotional Intelligence” and the Christians of Najran

Interfaith

Muhammad and Mary – A Christmas Reflection

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As the Christmas season approaches, let us briefly reflect on the connections between Prophet Muhammad, who considered Jesus his “brother,” and the Virgin Mary, Jesus’s mother. Muhammad and Mary are similar in many ways. One commonality is that both were said to have been visited by the Angel Gabriel to usher in God’s plans for…… Continue reading Muhammad and Mary – A Christmas Reflection

Sociology

Prophet Muhammad and Community Building

Dr. Craig Considine1 Comment

Prophet Muhammad’s approaches to community building provide us with inspiration in building our own communities today. Exploring his life and legacy is valuable because it entails many positive encounters with ethnic, racial, and religious diversity. Racial harmony Racial inequalities are rife in the United States and beyond. Muhammad did not merely condemn racism; he actively…… Continue reading Prophet Muhammad and Community Building

Work

Order “People of the Book – Prophet Muhammad’s Encounters with Christians”

Dr. Craig Considine1 Comment

What can Prophet Muhammad’s encounters with ancient Christians teach us about today’s relationship between Christianity and Islam? More than you may think, according to Rice University’s Craig Considine, a lecturer of sociology. He examines these interactions in his newest book, People of the Book: Prophet Muhammad’s Encounters with Christians. Considine describes the book as biographical…… Continue reading Order “People of the Book – Prophet Muhammad’s Encounters with Christians”

Interfaith

First Hijra Symbols Attacked in Ethiopia

Dr. Craig Considine4 Comments

Ethiopia has seen its fair share of violence in recent months. The ongoing conflict (a summary of which can be found at the Washington Post) pits the Ethiopian and Eritrean armies against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The escalating tension has even touched one of the region’s most revered religious buildings – the historical…… Continue reading First Hijra Symbols Attacked in Ethiopia

Books

Order “The Humanity of Muhammad: A Christian View”

Dr. Craig Considine12 Comments

What makes an American Catholic of Irish and Italian descent one of the leading global voices in admiration of Prophet Muhammad? In this overview of Muhammad’s life and legacy, prominent scholar Craig Considine provides a sociological analysis of Muhammad’s teachings and example. Considine shows how the Prophet embraced religious pluralism, envisioned a civic nation, stood…… Continue reading Order “The Humanity of Muhammad: A Christian View”

Interviews

Prophet Muhammad, COVID-19, and Islamophobia – Al Jazeera Interview

Dr. Craig Considine1 Comment

Al Jazeera (Arabic) hosted Dr. Craig Considine for a discussion on his March 2020 Newsweek article related to Prophet Muhammad’s recommendations on dealing with a pandemic like COVID-19. The discussion also examines Islamophobia, religiosity, and bridge building between people of different faiths. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaJOLk3P1es&t=1s

Talks

A Prophetic Call To Welcome Refugees – Muhammad’s Example

Dr. Craig Considine1 Comment

Refugee stories are part of our common history. Prophet Muhammad was a refugee. Jesus was a refugee. Mary, his mother, was a refugee. Joseph, too. Moses was a refugee. Abraham was a refugee. Rejecting the most vulnerable among us is an affront to the prophets. How would Muhammad himself approach a refugee crisis? I answered…… Continue reading A Prophetic Call To Welcome Refugees – Muhammad’s Example

Talks

Inspired by Prophet Muhammad – Interview With “Muslims 4 Peace”

Dr. Craig Considine1 Comment

Representatives of Muslims 4 Peace, an organization that aims to bridge people from different religious and ethnic backgrounds through interfaith activities, interviewed Dr. Considine on a range of topics including (but not limited to) the life and legacy of Prophet Muhammad and effective ways of engaging in interfaith work. The interview was conducted in February…… Continue reading Inspired by Prophet Muhammad – Interview With “Muslims 4 Peace”

Work

International Media Feature Prophet Muhammad’s Teachings to Fight Coronavirus

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The 14-centuries-old sayings of Prophet Muhammad, which advocated for unprecedented sanitary measures, have attracted the attention of international media amid the novel coronavirus crisis, reports Morocco World News. The founder of Islam, Muhammad, had incredible tips for combatting infectious diseases and surviving a pandemic, as highlighted by ABC (Spain). US magazine relies on Prophet Muhammad’s…… Continue reading International Media Feature Prophet Muhammad’s Teachings to Fight Coronavirus

Books

Pre-Order “The Humanity of Muhammad: A Christian View”

Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

PRE-ORDER HERE The publication of The Humanity of Muhammad: A Christian View has been postponed due to the coronavirus. Originally scheduled to be published on May 1st, 2020, the book is now likely available in August 2020. God willing. Here is the book’s description: “What makes an American Catholic of Irish and Italian descent one…… Continue reading Pre-Order “The Humanity of Muhammad: A Christian View”

Commentary

Prophet Muhammad and Coronavirus: Prayer is Not Enough

Dr. Craig Considine1 Comment

The following article was first published on Newsweek.com. Here is an excerpt: Perhaps most importantly, [Prophet Muhammad] knew when to balance faith with reason. In recent weeks, some have gone so far as to suggest that prayer would be better at keeping you from the coronavirus than adhering to basic rules of social distancing and…… Continue reading Prophet Muhammad and Coronavirus: Prayer is Not Enough

Books

New Book Connects Prophet Muhammad to U.S. Founding Fathers

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By Amy McCaig What did Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, think about freedom of religion and women’s rights? Did the likes of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson imagine Muslims as future citizens of the United States? What is it really like to be a follower of the Islamic faith in the U.S.? A new, first-of-its-kind…… Continue reading New Book Connects Prophet Muhammad to U.S. Founding Fathers

Books

New Book – Islam in America: Exploring the Issues

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Dr. Craig Considine’s fourth book – Islam in America: Exploring the Issues (ABC-CLIO 2019) – is a first-of-its-kind reference work that synthesizes Islamic teachings, the example of Prophet Muhammad, & the vision of the U.S. Founding Fathers.

Interviews

What Makes an American Catholic Professor a Global Voice Speaking in Admiration of Prophet Muhammad?

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Dr. Craig Considine speaks to Sally Mousa of Life Beats on Pulse 95 Radio in the United Arab Emirates about his personal journey and belief in Prophet Muhammad.

Personal

Muhammad, Humanity, and Christian Religiosity

Dr. Craig Considine5 Comments

Greetings of peace to those of you who are new to this page (and peace to those who have been here for a while). Every now and then it is important for me to make this kind of post, as there seems to be some questions around who I am, what I stand for, and…… Continue reading Muhammad, Humanity, and Christian Religiosity

Racialization and Racism

Video: Prophet Muhammad – The World’s First Anti-Racist

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Prophet Muhammad is recognized as the world’s first “anti-racist.” He knew racism was a disease of the heart and mind. He made it clear that no person is superior to another by virtue of race. He was the first person in history to assert that: “An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab… a white…… Continue reading Video: Prophet Muhammad – The World’s First Anti-Racist

Talks

Prophet Muhammad’s Love of Humanity – “Lessons For Our Time”

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Prophet Muhammad is one of the most vilified and misunderstood people in the history of the world. In this talk, “Prophet Muhammad’s Love of Humanity: Lessons for Our Time,” I will dispel misinformation about Muhammad in an accessible, appealing, and scholarly way. I will present historical sources and stories about Muhammad’s relations with Jews, Christians,…… Continue reading Prophet Muhammad’s Love of Humanity – “Lessons For Our Time”

Talks

Video: Christian Scholar Examines Prophet Muhammad’s Covenants and Pluralism

Dr. Craig Considine2 Comments

Dr. Craig Considine speaks at the 5th annual Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies. The Forum, led by Sheikhs Abdallah bin Bayyah and Hamza Yusuf, was titled “Alliance of Virtues: An Opportunity for Global Peace.” Dr. Considine spoke on a panel titled “Covenants, Treaties, the Nation State and Muslims in the Global Order.” The host…… Continue reading Video: Christian Scholar Examines Prophet Muhammad’s Covenants and Pluralism

Talks

Video: Christians Defending Muslims – The Spirit of Prophet Muhammad’s Covenants with Christians

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Dr. Craig Considine gives a talk at the Parliament of World’s Religions in Toronto, Canada. He provides an overview of his personal experiences in interacting with Muslims and examines the ways in which Christians defend and protect Muslims. The anchor of the talk is Prophet Muhammad’s Covenants with Christians and their spirit of religious pluralism.

Activism · Talks

Prophet Muhammad’s Covenants With Christians – An Offering at the Parliament of the World’s Religions

Dr. Craig Considine1 Comment

The Covenants Initiative is a collection of scholars that is spearheading a movement to promote the Covenants of Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of the World. This initiative calls Muslims to the Covenants of Muhammad, which command them not to attack, but rather defend peaceful Christians until the end of time. On Saturday evening (November…… Continue reading Prophet Muhammad’s Covenants With Christians – An Offering at the Parliament of the World’s Religions

Talks

The Prophet’s Relations with Christians – Connecting in the Classroom

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Islam

The Sanctity of Life and the Legacy of Prophet Muhammad

Dr. Craig Considine4 Comments

What does it mean to be Muslim? It is a striking question, especially when a Catholic – such as myself – considers it after years of research on Muslim-Christian relations. One matter which has struck me in my experiences with Muslims is the sanctity of life that so many of them hold dear in their…… Continue reading The Sanctity of Life and the Legacy of Prophet Muhammad

Islam · Religion · Video

Video: Christian-Muslim Relations in the Early Years of Islam

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In early December 2017, I had the opportunity to give a lecture for the Dialogue Institute Dallas in Dallas, Texas. I talk about the Christian-Muslim relations in the early years of Islam in light of the covenants Prophet Muhammad made with the Christians.

Work

Islam and the People of The Book: Critical Studies on the Covenants of the Prophet

Dr. Craig Considine1 Comment

I am  excited to share the new book of John Andrew Morrow (editor), Islam and the People of the Book: Critical Studies on the Covenants of the Prophet. My own chapter in the book focuses on how the Covenants of Prophet Muhammad with the Christians of his time embodied the spirit of religious pluralism. Islam…… Continue reading Islam and the People of The Book: Critical Studies on the Covenants of the Prophet

Politics

The Muslim Nation as a Civic Nation

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Scholars have dedicated much time and effort to unpack the various kinds of nation-building projects, but the distinction between “civic nation” versus “ethnic nation” is perhaps the most widely-employed conceptual building block in the study of nationhood and national identity. While these types of nations share common elements like historical territory and common culture, they…… Continue reading The Muslim Nation as a Civic Nation

Talks

Dialogue Matters: Christian Muslim Relations in the Early Years of Islam

Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

On December 1st, 2017 I will be speaking at the Dialogue Institute of the Southwest in Dallas, Texas. The event starts at 7:00PM. The title of the talk is “Christian Muslim Relations in the Early Years of Islam.” I will be engaging mainly with the concept of religious pluralism and how it relates to the…… Continue reading Dialogue Matters: Christian Muslim Relations in the Early Years of Islam

Islam · Sociology

Prophet Muhammad’s Model of Integration for the U.S. and the Ummah

Dr. Craig Considine1 Comment

I had the pleasure last Saturday of breaking the fast with the Clear Lake Islamic Center, the Muslim American Society, and other members of their communities at an annual Ramadan gathering in Seabrook, Texas. I was invited by my friend Dr. Mohamed Shalaby, who asked me to speak on Prophet Muhammad’s model of integration and how…… Continue reading Prophet Muhammad’s Model of Integration for the U.S. and the Ummah

Interfaith · Islam

The Growing Movement to Inform the World of Prophet Muhammad’s Covenants With Christians

Dr. Craig Considine7 Comments

Forbes just published an article by Melik Kaylan which caught my attention and the attention of some of my colleagues. Kaylan refers to The Covenants Initiative, a body of scholars in the West which is spearheading a movement to promote Prophet Muhammad’s Covenants with the Christians of his time. These Covenants have been well documented…… Continue reading The Growing Movement to Inform the World of Prophet Muhammad’s Covenants With Christians

Interfaith · Islam

The Spirit of Ramadan – When the Prophet of Islam Opened the Door of His Mosque For Christians

Dr. Craig Considine2 Comments

Ramadan is almost here. In preparation for my talk on Prophet Muhammad’s relations with Christians at The Islamic Institute/Blue Mosque in Houston on Friday, I prepared this short post on how people can understand the true spirit of Ramadan. Last year, a young Protestant man in college sent me an e-mail with some questions about Christian-Muslim…… Continue reading The Spirit of Ramadan – When the Prophet of Islam Opened the Door of His Mosque For Christians

History · Interfaith · Islam

When a Priest Recognized the Prophethood of Muhammad

Dr. Craig Considine5 Comments

Prophet Muhammad’s relations with Christians is a topic that I have dedicated a lot of time to researching. I have focused on two primary issues: 1) the Covenants of the Prophet with the Christians of his time, showing how these Covenants stand for religious pluralism and civic national principles, and 2) the visit of the Christians of Najran…… Continue reading When a Priest Recognized the Prophethood of Muhammad

Interfaith · Islam

Turkey Restoring Tomb of Abyssinian Christian King, Who Sheltered Prophet Muhammad’s Companions

Dr. Craig Considine1 Comment

Have you ever heard of King Najashi, a Christian, of the Kingdom of Abyssinia (also known as Aksum)? The Daily Sabah notes: “King Najashi, also known as Armah, was the ruler of the Kingdom of Aksum from 614-631. The Empire was a trading nation situated in modern-day Eritrea and Ethiopia, existing from approximately 100-940 AD……… Continue reading Turkey Restoring Tomb of Abyssinian Christian King, Who Sheltered Prophet Muhammad’s Companions

Islam · Islamic State

As ISIS-Affiliate Attacks Egyptian Christians, Remember Prophet Muhammad’s Covenant on the Sinai Peninsula

Dr. Craig Considine3 Comments

A Washington Post article has caught my eye. It is titled: “Christians flee Sinai Peninsula in fear of Egypt’s Islamic State affiliate.” According to the Post: “Hundreds of [Coptic] Christians are fleeing Egypt’s restive Sinai Peninsula as the Islamic State affiliate there has increasingly targeted the community in recent weeks, according to witnesses, clergy and…… Continue reading As ISIS-Affiliate Attacks Egyptian Christians, Remember Prophet Muhammad’s Covenant on the Sinai Peninsula

Quoted

Tolerance Is a Vital Part of the Islamic Faith

Dr. Craig Considine4 Comments

An important article in The News International was published today. It touches on whether Muslims should greet Christians with Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. The author of the piece, Aijaz Zaka Syed, was taken aback by the convoluted logic that Muslims are “aping the West” by sending warm greetings to Christians. Syed claims that the…… Continue reading Tolerance Is a Vital Part of the Islamic Faith

Interfaith

Christians and Muslims Gather at the Table of Coexistence, Friendship, and Fellowship

Dr. Craig Considine3 Comments

“Treat others how you would like to be treated.” That is the Golden Rule. As I have discussed in the Huffington Post, Jesus and Muhammad lived by this Rule. The legacy of Christ and the Prophet teach Christians and Muslims to overcome animosity and bigotry in favor of generosity and coexistence. It is in this spirit that…… Continue reading Christians and Muslims Gather at the Table of Coexistence, Friendship, and Fellowship

Islam

Praise of Prophet Muhammad Among Noteable Non-Muslims

Dr. Craig Considine5 Comments

If you follow my social media you know that I post regularly on the life of Prophet Muhammad. I have published a peer-reviewed journal article on his relations with Christians, and I have published extensively on his legacy in outlets like Huffington Post, Middle East Eye and Mvslim (also see the search results of “Prophet…… Continue reading Praise of Prophet Muhammad Among Noteable Non-Muslims

Islam · Islamic State

Persecution of Christians Totally Inconsistent With Islamic Teachings

Dr. Craig Considine6 Comments

Prophet Muhammad’s Last Sermon, as I wrote on Monday, has key lessons for our time. In the Sermon the Prophet of Islam provides an anti-racist stance that echoes Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech. Muhammad, like King, left humanity with a message of peace and goodwill. While history bears witness that Islamic…… Continue reading Persecution of Christians Totally Inconsistent With Islamic Teachings

Islam

Prophet Muhammad’s Last Sermon Has Key Lessons For Our Time

Dr. Craig Considine3 Comments

Writing for the Daily O, Moin Qazi claims that Prophet Muhammad’s Last Sermon, delivered on the ninth day of Dhu al-Hijjah in the tenth year of hijrah (632 AC), has key lessons for our time. In the sermon, the prophet of Islam stressed universal human values such as sacredness of life and property, equality, justice,…… Continue reading Prophet Muhammad’s Last Sermon Has Key Lessons For Our Time

Islam · Islamic State

Islamic Teaching Does Not Justify ISIS Persecution of Christians, Study Says

Dr. Craig Considine1 Comment

Islamic teaching does not justify the Islamic State’s (ISIS) persecution of Christians, based on a study on Prophet Mohammed’s previously untranslated writing. Rice University professor Dr. Craig Considine, who authored a study on Prophet Mohammed’s writings from 622 to 632 AD, says the writings indicate that Christians who lived in Arabic communities were protected. Considine says…… Continue reading Islamic Teaching Does Not Justify ISIS Persecution of Christians, Study Says

Islam · Islamophobia

The Sum of Our Fears – Islamophobia, Faith and Non-Violence

Dr. Craig Considine2 Comments

By John Smelcer and Craig Considine Sometime between 622 and 632 A.D., during what is called “The Medina Years,” the Prophet Muhammad decreed a series of covenants specifically addressing Christians in the region… For the most part, these covenants have been neglected or forgotten in the Western world, although religious scholars have been aware of their…… Continue reading The Sum of Our Fears – Islamophobia, Faith and Non-Violence

Publications · Quoted

From Islamic History, Lessons on Religious Freedom

Dr. Craig Considine1 Comment

Rice Magazine (Summer, 2016: p. 19) wrote a short piece on my research paper on Prophet Muhammad’s covenants with Christians. Author Amy McCaig wrote: “Prophet Muhammad believed that freedom of religion and civic rights were important components of a ‘Muslim nation,’ according to a new analysis of the prophet’s covenants with Christians. Research by Rice…… Continue reading From Islamic History, Lessons on Religious Freedom

Quoted

9/11 Made Me Hate Prophet Muhammad, But Now He’s My Role Model, Says a Catholic

Dr. Craig Considine1 Comment

A big thank you to the Muslim Council of Hong Kong for shedding more light on my research and spiritual/intellectual growth. Here is what they have to say: Dr. Craig Considine, a Catholic Irish, is a well-known sociologist at Rice University in Houston, USA. Last year, he tweeted about 9/11 and Prophet Muhammad. A tweet…… Continue reading 9/11 Made Me Hate Prophet Muhammad, But Now He’s My Role Model, Says a Catholic

Work

Rabwah Times Interview on Islam and Religious Freedom

Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

It was an honor to talk to Dr. Kashif Chaudhry of Rabwah Times, an excellent news source which I hope everyone will follow via social media. Dr. Chaudhry and I covered a range of topics including: 1) my trip to Jalsa USA 2016; 2) Islamophobia as racism; 3) “true Islam” and religious freedom; 4) motivation…… Continue reading Rabwah Times Interview on Islam and Religious Freedom

Video

Video: Speech at Annual Ahmadiyya Convention

Dr. Craig Considine3 Comments

Here is the 8 minute speech I gave this past weekend – I talk about religious pluralism, Prophet Muhammad and DEUCE.

News · Quoted

Quoted in “Slain French Priest Was Attack on ‘All of Us'”

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Father Jacques Hamel’s gruesome murder in northern France July 26 – by men claiming allegiance to the Islamic State – prompted sorrow and outrage from Muslim leaders around the world. Carol Zimmerman of Catholic News Service called me shortly after the murder to gain insight on how a Catholic like myself views Hamel’s murder. Here…… Continue reading Quoted in “Slain French Priest Was Attack on ‘All of Us'”

Islam · Islamic State

Prophet Muhammad Stood for Humanity in Medina, While ISIS Tries to Destroy It

Dr. Craig Considine4 Comments

Here is one of my favourite stories about Prophet Muhammad. It is noted in a hadith that he and several of his companions were sitting down along a street in Medina. Suddenly, a companion spotted a funeral procession approaching the group. In respect of the dead human body, Muhammad stood up as the procession crossed…… Continue reading Prophet Muhammad Stood for Humanity in Medina, While ISIS Tries to Destroy It

Islam · Religion

Religious Freedom Was Key To Muhammad’s “Muslim Nation”

Dr. Craig Considine9 Comments

Prophet Muhammad believed that freedom of religion and civic rights were important components of a “Muslim nation,” according to an analysis of the prophet’s covenants with Christians. Craig Considine, a lecturer in Rice University’s sociology department, studied “The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with Christians” and found that these agreements established freedom of religion and…… Continue reading Religious Freedom Was Key To Muhammad’s “Muslim Nation”

Islam

Believe It or Not, Prophet Muhammad Promoted Women’s Rights

Dr. Craig Considine13 Comments

Women’s rights. Those two words aren’t often associated with Prophet Muhammad or Islam, but they should be. Here’s why… Anyone who wants to learn about Prophet Muhammad must learn about the women in his life. The Prophet led a community filled with active, independent and strong women. Khadijah, his first wife, was also his boss.…… Continue reading Believe It or Not, Prophet Muhammad Promoted Women’s Rights