Medieval critics treated pagan birth as discrediting prophecy, not enhancing it.
Evidence
The paganism of Muhammad’s birth was seen as an argument against his claims; this reversed the modern view that the revelation is more impressive that comes to an idolator, the conversion more creditable that happens in spite of circumstances. — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 467 (
#corroborates, via linked claim)
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: Medieval writers treated pagan origin as disqualifying, unlike modern esteem for converts — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 467
Related
- Medieval writers treated pagan origin as disqualifying, unlike modern esteem for converts (similarity 0.95)
- Medieval Christian polemicists attacked Muhammad’s pagan youth as disqualifying prophecy (similarity 0.82)
- Only a very few writers gave Muhammad credit for destroying paganism (similarity 0.82)
- Medieval Christians read Muhammad’s life as a failed imitation of Christ (similarity 0.82)
- Medieval anti-Islamic polemic could work from accurate hadith rather than fabricated detail (similarity 0.81)
- Medieval critics debated what predating Muhammad by Islam meant (similarity 0.81)
- Medieval Christians doubted Islam’s truth yet marveled at its success (similarity 0.81)
- Medieval Christian polemicists attacked the Prophet’s biography as the strongest disproof of Islam. (similarity 0.81)
- Medieval polemicists branded Muhammad a lifelong idolator unworthy of prophecy (similarity 0.80)
- Medieval writers’ picture of pagan Arabia was largely historically plausible (similarity 0.80)
- The feudal West’s low-birth reproach against Muhammad was an unsupported inference from his poverty (similarity 0.80)
- Medieval Christian writers widely understood Muhammad as merely a prophet (similarity 0.80)
- Medieval Christian critics mirrored modern assumptions about Muslim shrine devotion (similarity 0.80)
- Medieval Christians read Muhammad’s human fallibility itself as disproof of prophecy (similarity 0.80)
- Medieval Christian polemicists mined Islamic sources to justify pre-existing accusations against Muhammad. (similarity 0.79)
Broader Connections
- Medieval writers treated pagan origin as disqualifying, unlike modern esteem for converts
#corroborates(0.82) — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 467