Muhammad at Mecca

Written in the early 1950s, this study of the Prophet Muhammad's life in Mecca sets out to place his story within a wider historical context. The author draws on early Islamic traditions while treating the Qur'an as a central source, and he weighs newer research and scholarly interpretations alongside them. Economic and social conditions in the city receive careful attention, though the author argues that such forces do not on their own explain what happened. The book is written for general readers approaching the subject for the first time as well as for students of Islam who want a fuller account than a purely academic treatment would give.