Eighth-century Latin writers gave factually accurate, non-polemical accounts of Muhammad’s role

Evidence

The chronicler also explains that the Saracens “revere [colunt] him with such honor and reverence that they affirm in all their sacraments and all their writings that he is God’s apostle and prophet.” The verb colere could be misleading (it can be translated as revere but more frequently means worship); otherwise this passage offers a succinct and accurate account of Muhammad’s place in Islam, with no suggestion of contestation or disapproval. In short, the reader is not asked to be shocked or saddened by the Saracen conquest of Syria. — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 466

Categorization

• XREF: Shows that the ‘Muhammad as heresiarch/impostor’ trope central to later polemic (as in the Anidjar-linked material) had an alternative, accurate Christian register also present in the West.
• QUESTION: What shifted between the Chronicle of 741’s accuracy and later polemical distortion — which institutions or events tipped the register?