In exploring the issue of Muhammad, it is best to start with those biographies considered normative by the Muslims. The advantage in doing this is that the picture of Muhammad contained in these original Muslim sources cannot be accused of bias against Muhammad. The picture of Muhammad these traditional biographies present is, in some significant areas, highly uncomplimentary of Muhammad. While Muhammad certainly behaved in a manner that might be expected from a 7th century Bedouin, it is apparent that he did not live in conformity to universal standards of conduct, or even standards that were acknowledged by the Jews and Christians of Arabia.
A. Guillaume, The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ibn Ishaq's Sirat Rasul Allah.
Al-Waqidi, The Life of Muhammad (Rizwi Faizer, ed.)
The History of at-Tabari (or Al-Tabari) (English translation published by SUNY (Volumes VI, VII, and VII)
Books on Islam from Christian/Catholic Perspective
There are a number of books that address the issues raised by Islam from a Catholic or a Christian perspective, some of which are broader and include both philosophical (natural law) and political criticisms, some of which are focused specifically on theological or revelational issues. Among the best I have found are the following:
Samir Khalil Samir, S.J., 111 Questions on Islam (San Francisco: Ignatius, 2008). This text, in question and answer format, presents a balanced, Catholic view of Islam from a variety of vantage points: historical, revelational, developmental, its relationship with Christianity and modernity, its (lack of) adaptability, its relationship to human rights, women's rights, and religious freedom, its political implications, and practical problems associated with its presence in culturally Christian countries. Highly recommended.
