Book Review
A prophet has appeared: the rise of Islam through Christian and Jewish eyes: a sourcebook, by Stephen J. Shoemaker, University of California Press, California, 2021. ISBN 9780520971271 (epub). XII + 320 pages.
A valuable sourcebook.
Despite Robert G. Hoyland's book 'Seeing Islam as Others Saw it: a Survey & Evaluation: A Survey and Evaluation of Christian, Jewish, and Zoroastrian Writings on Early Islam', 1997 is the standard text in the matter, I chose this work by Stephen J. Shoemaker because of his declaration in the book that "in contrast to Hoyland’s book, the focus here is on the texts themselves, each of which we give in translation—something that Hoyland does only piecemeal and selectively". (Introduction of the book).
That is beneficial indeed.
However, I was extremely surprised by author's decision not to provide any reference for his opinions and information that he brought in the course of interpreting the texts in question. The author provided an explanation for this:
"As a further point of clarification, I would note that in the endnotes I frequently refer readers to my earlier publications for further clarification of various points. This pattern should not be taken as a sign of vanity—as if to suggest that only my work on these topics is worth consulting. Far from it: this is a matter of convenience. Since in these works I have already engaged a wide range of scholarship on a variety". (Introduction of the book).
I found this dangerous and extremely harmful, to say the least. How is it sufficient that you make an argument in the present book that we are reading and the reason for the argument and the reference for that information is provided in a different book, which the reader may or may not have access to?
This is to deprive the reader an opportunity to judge the propriety of the information or the argument that the author has provided and form a justified opinion in his mind on the matter he just read. It is a serious deception.
I recently read another book after finishing this one: Donner, F.M., Muhammad and the believers _ at the origins of Islam, 2010. In that book Dr. Donner does not provide an apology for not mentioning a single reference for his history book, like Dr. Shoemaker did.
Are these writers writing for young children or a mature audience? Do they want us to learn only what they are telling us?
Abu Raihan Muhammed Khalid, bar-at-law.
Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh.
October 6th, 2025.
