Joel Blecher

Said the Prophet of God

Joel Blecher

Although scholars have long studied how Muslims authenticated and transmitted Muhammad&rsquo;s sayings and practices (hadith), the story of how they interpreted and reinterpreted the meanings of hadith over the past millennium has yet to be told.&#160;Joel Blecher&#160;takes up this charge, illuminating the rich social and intellectual history of hadith commentary at three critical moments and locales: classical Andalusia, medieval Egypt, and modern India. Weaving together tales of public debates, high court rivalries, and colonial politics with analyses of ethnographic field notes and fine-grained arguments adorning the margins of manuscripts,&#160;<I>Said the Prophet of God&#160;</I>offers new avenues for the study of&#160;religion, history, anthropology, and law.<BR /><BR /> &#160;