" Ibn Ishaq's view point on Muhammed, like many other Arabic writers' view points, sees Muhammed as God's messenger, a prophet, the first apostle of Islam, and views Muhammed in total adoration. The author wants the reader to view Muhammed in the same light. It is interesting to note that Muhammed wrote a document known as the Constitution of Medina intended to establish a friendship/partnership with the Jews because since then the Jews and Muslims have never really seemed to get along. Another important thing to note in order to get a better understanding of the Muslim faith is that Islam is not just a religon, but a way of life, as Ibn Ishaq describes, "When the apostle was firmly settled in Medina.prayer was instituted, the alms tax and fasting were prescribed, legal punishments fixed, the forbidden and the permitted prescribed.". Islam has not changed much since then, because even today Islam dictates most aspects of a Muslim person's life.
The second source on Muhammed in the Sowards book was written by Sayed Ameer Ali, who was an English-trained Indian lawyer and judge in Bengal, and a devout Muslim. Most of Ali's writings were published in the late 1800's. He is a credible source because he is widely accepted among the Muslim community as a biographer of Muhammed, and he has written five books on the topic. Ali, like Ishaq, views Muhammed as a prophet of God who can do no wrong, which is also probably how he wants the reader to view Muhammed as well. His account of Muhammed is completely uncritical and adulatory in everything that Muhammed does. He justifies Muhammed's violent actions towards the Jews because the Jews didn't return Muhammed's kindness and generosity, so God ordered Muhammed "to do battle with His enemies". Ali also stresses that Muhammed and his followers believed, ".that the angels of heaven had battled on their side against the unbelieving host.", and in every battle there after was a fight in God's name against the sinners.
