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Muhammad according to Historians

Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi, John Tolan

Co-edited by Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi (Directeur d’études at EPHE-PSL, Chair of “Exegesis and Theology of Shi’i Islam”) and John Tolan (Professor Emeritus of Medieval History at Nantes Université, co-director of the ERC Synergy EuQu).

Published as Le Mahomet des historiens (Éditions du Cerf, Paris, 2025, 2 224 p.), Muhammad remains one of the most influential figures in world history, shaping both East and West. Revered by countless faithful but also a target of controversy, he remains, despite the thousands of works devoted to him, largely misunderstood.

While his historical existence is widely accepted, the traditional narrative of his life has always fuelled debate. A veritable scientific revolution is now underway, whose findings had until now remained confined to academic circles.

A world first, this monumental yet accessible work brings together fifty international specialists and offers, in two thousand pages, a complete and critical synthesis of past scholarship and current research on the Prophet of Islam.

An unprecedented scholarly outreach. A bridge between scholarship and the general public. A decisive step towards genuine mutual understanding.

Presentation lecture by the co-editors at the Théologies en dialogue Chair of UCLy: see the trilingual video recording on pluriel.fuce.eu.

Codirigé par Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi (directeur d’études à l’EPHE-PSL, chaire « Exégèse et théologie de l’islam shi’ite ») et John Tolan (professeur émérite d’histoire médiévale à Nantes Université, co-directeur de l’ERC Synergy EuQu).

Figure incontournable de l’islam, Mahomet est l’un des personnages les plus marquants de l’histoire de l’humanité, façonnant l’Orient comme l’Occident. Vénéré par des myriades de fidèles, mais aussi cible de controverses, il demeure, malgré les milliers d’ouvrages à son sujet, méconnu.

Si son existence historique est largement admise, le récit traditionnel de sa vie a toujours alimenté les débats. Mais une véritable révolution scientifique est désormais en marche, dont les découvertes sont restées confinées aux cercles académiques. Jusqu’à aujourd’hui.

Première mondiale, ce monument savant et accessible, qui réunit cinquante spécialistes internationaux, offre, en deux mille pages, une synthèse complète et critique des travaux passés et des recherches présentes sur le Prophète de l’islam.

Une entreprise de divulgation scientifique inédite. Un pont jeté entre la science et le grand public. Une avancée décisive pour une connaissance mutuelle authentique et une paix véritable.

Conférence de présentation par les codirecteurs à la Chaire Théologies en dialogue de l’UCLy : voir la captation vidéo trilingue sur pluriel.fuce.eu.

عمل جماعي ضخم، أشرف عليه محمد علي أمير-معزي (مدير دراسات في المدرسة التطبيقية للدراسات العليا EPHE-PSL، كرسي «التفسير واللاهوت في الإسلام الشيعي») وجون تولان (أستاذ فخري في التاريخ الوسيط بجامعة نانت، ومنسّق مشترك لبرنامج EuQu ضمن ERC Synergy).

يُعدّ النبي محمد من أبرز الشخصيات التي طبعت تاريخ الإنسانية، شرقاً وغرباً. يبقى، رغم آلاف المؤلَّفات التي كُتبت عنه، مجهولاً في كثير من جوانبه؛ بين تبجيل جمهور المؤمنين والجدل السياسي والفكري المتواصل. ورغم أنّ وجوده التاريخي مُقرّ به على نطاق واسع، فإنّ الرواية التقليدية لسيرته ظلّت دائماً موضع نقاش. وثمّة اليوم ثورة علمية حقيقية آخذة في التبلور، ظلّت اكتشافاتها حبيسة الأوساط الأكاديمية.

يجمع هذا العمل، وهو الأوّل من نوعه عالمياً، خمسين متخصّصاً دولياً، ويُقدّم في ألفَي صفحة توليفة شاملة ونقدية للأبحاث السابقة والمعاصرة حول نبيّ الإسلام. مشروعٌ للتعميم العلمي غير مسبوق، وجسرٌ ممدود بين العلم والقرّاء العامّين، وخطوةٌ حاسمة نحو معرفة متبادلة أصيلة وسلام حقيقي.

محاضرة تقديم بصوتَي المحرّرَين المشاركَين ضمن كرسي «لاهوتيات في حوار» بجامعة UCLy: انظر التسجيل بالفيديو على موقع pluriel.fuce.eu.

Le Mahomet des historiens, sous la direction de Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi et John Tolan, Éditions du Cerf, Paris, 2025, 2 224 p.

By the same authors on Pluriel

Video2025 “Le Mahomet des historiens”, by Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi and John Tolan Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi · John Tolan Two-voice lecture by Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi (Directeur d'études at EPHE-PSL, Chair of "Exegesis and Theology of Shi'i Islam") and John Tolan (Professor Emeritus of… Video2024 Christian Thought, Muslim Thought and Societal Issues: Launch of the “Theologies in Dialogue” Chair Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi · Michel Younès On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, this inaugural conference presents a new chair entitled "Theologies in Dialogue" at the Faculty of Theology of the Catholic… Article2024 The Guide, Pivot of Creation: The Sources of Shi’i Gnosis Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi The aim of the article is to explore the relationship between cosmo-anthropogony and Imamology in Shi'ism through its earliest sources in the corpus of… Publication2024 Islam and Scientific Examination: A Renewed Quest Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi · Dominique Avon “How can we establish an objective, rigorous, and detached study of Islam in the face of the excesses generated by its politicization? It is… Video2022 The Quran of Historians Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi How is historical research on the Qur'an received in the Muslim world? What do we know about the historical figure of Muhammad? Interview with… Video2021 The Hidden Imam and religious and spiritual authority in Shia Islam Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi Conference « Religious Authority in Islam », organised by the Centre for the Study of Cultures and Religions and the Research Unit of the…

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