Foreword

 

In an attempt to render more complete its endeavour to consolidate Islamic culture and preserve the independence of Islamic thought from the effects of cultural invasion and distortion, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) strives to correct the false information and notions about Islam and Muslim contained in encyclopedias and approved references that are widely consulted. The Islamic Organisation gives special attention here to the correction of the mistakes found in The Encyclopedia of Islam (published by Brill in Leiden, Holland), because of the cultural importance that it has acquired as a result of its wide circulation among students and scholars.

For many years now, the Islamic Organisation has given attention to the refutation of the false allegations and ideas contained in this Encyclopedia with regard to the Holy Quran and Muslim religion. To respond to these falsehoods, the Islamic Organisation has relied on sound scientific method and scholarly methodology which deploy the instruments of unbiased historical research and the means of honest, objective refutation. Thus, it has published two books in three languages : Arabic, French and English.

The present book, which is also published by ISESCO, follows the same methodology adopted in the writing of the two previous books. For it relies on fair argumentation that is based on logical proof and clear evidence in its refutation of the false claims and inventions published in The Encyclopedia about the Prophet's life. This is a tendentious treatment that has nothing to do with historical facts and the rules of scientific research which depends on objectivity, fairness and intellectual integrity. The causes of such flaws is the reliance of the authors of The Encyclopedia materials on unreliable sources, doubtful references and their deliberate ignorance of authentic historical sources which are not tinted by desire or interest.

In presenting the third book of this series to researchers, scholars and specialists, the Islamic Organisation takes this opportunity to praise its fruitful cooperation with the International Islamic Charity Organisation in Kuwait. Part of the yield of this cooperation is the elaboration of this book in an attempt to let Islamic truths prevail and be crystal clear to everybody, while refuting the misleading and suspicious ideas which have been disseminated about the True Religion through false claims and inventions.

I would like to thank my dear friend His Excellency Professor Yussuf Jassem Al Hajji, the President of the International Islamic Charity Organisation for his cooperation with ISESCO in realizing this scientific, Islamic project which will be of great benefit to  Islamic culture, Allah Willing.

May Allah crown our efforts in the service of our religion, culture and civilisation with success, and may He make this work beneficial to truth-lovers and knowledge-seekers among researchers and scholars.

Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - ISESCO -