The Presence of the Prophet: General Introduction

Attachment to the Prophet Muḥammad is shared by all the various individuals, groups and communities that define themselves as Muslims, whether Sunnī, Shīʿī, Ibāḍī or others, whether attached to the letter or to the spirit of Islam, whether they are proponents of Islamic reform or secular Muslims. As a focus for personal emulation and normative precedence and as a source of hope for salvation and of cultural identity and socio – political empowerment, the Prophet of Islam continues his presence among the Muslim believers. In his function as messenger of both divine mercy and wrath and as intercessor on behalf of his community in the present and in an eschatological future, the Prophet of Islam stands out as a necessary intermediary between God’s transcendence and the human realm. The belief in Muḥammad’s intermediacy engendered a constant tension between the superhuman and human aspects of his person and message, which increased with the growing historical distance from him. The engagement with this tension ushered in the development of prophetology, and in diverse and sometimes contested forms of devotion to the Prophet. These have aimed to revivify his memory and his tradition, to directly or indirectly identify with him, and to look for encounters with him in blessings, dreams and visions. The objective of this series is not another historical study of the life of the Prophet and of the origins of Islam. It rather approaches the significance of his image for his community with its diverse group affiliations and identities, in the course of history. What have been the foundations of the Muslims’ attachment to the Prophet, and the modalities of his presence within their religious endeavours? What has been the role of his figure and memory in the construction of their identities and expectations?