The Military Strategy of the Prophetic Biography (Sīrah), Orientalist Perspectives, and Western Studies

Abstract

The Prophetic biography (Sīrah) of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ represents a luminous chapter in human history, serving not only as the source of a revolutionary spiritual and moral movement but also as a comprehensive embodiment of political, civilizational, and military insight. Every aspect of the blessed life of the Messenger ﷺ whether invitational or defensive, personal or collective reflects wisdom, foresight, and strategic acumen. Among these, the military strategy holds a central place, not merely as a set of tactical maneuvers but as a reflection of a principled system rooted in justice, ethics, strategic wisdom, and international norms.In the domain of military leadership, the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ strategic approaches not only challenged the tribal and pagan norms of his time but also offered a timeless model for future Muslim leadership. His military policy was based on values such as defensive resistance, principles of war and peace, ethics in combat, and just treatment of adversaries bestowing a new moral dimension to traditional military concepts.However, the Western world and Orientalists have approached this aspect of the Sīrah from varying perspectives. Some have acknowledged it as a supreme model of defensive strategy, while others guided by prejudice and suspicion have portrayed the Prophet’s ﷺ military conduct as a manifestation of political expansionism, power-seeking motives, or tribal maneuvering. Analyzing such studies is essential not only for a true understanding of the military dimensions of the Sīrah but also to uncover the ideological and intellectual frameworks through which Western scholars interpret the life of the Prophet ﷺ.It is this critical and analytical framework that underlies the present study, which aims to highlight the original Islamic conception of the Prophet’s ﷺ military strategy contextualized within its historical and ethical parameters while simultaneously offering a rigorous scholarly critique of Orientalist interpretations of the Sīrah. This approach seeks to distinguish between truth and bias and to restore the authentic narrative grounded in justice and historical accuracy.

Keywords: Military Strategy, Prophetic, Orientalist, Western Studies, Invitational