Muhammad’s pre-prophetic life was ordinary merchant success in a polytheist Mecca

Evidence

The center of the pagan cult, for the Chanson d’Antioche, is Mahomes, an idol held in midair by magnets. A defeated Saracen general, Sansadoines, strikes the idol, knocking it down and breaking it after it has shown itself powerless to secure victory for its devotees. Here again, the pagan enemy himself realizes the powerlessness of his idols and destroys them with his own hand. Sansadoines then predicts to the Saracens that they will be defeated by the Christians who will “break the walls and palisades of Mieque [Mecca], will take Mahomet down from the pedestal where he is placed, [and will take] the two candelabra that sit there.” — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 671 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Muhammad’s mission was partly driven by economic and commercial motives — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 287; Christian polemicists explained Islam’s worldly success via Muhammad’s failed-prophet legend — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 808; Muslims expected the Prophet to work geographical miracles in Mecca — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 433 (+19 more)

Broader Connections

• Muhammad’s mission was partly driven by economic and commercial motives #complicates (1.00) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 287
• Christian polemicists explained Islam’s worldly success via Muhammad’s failed-prophet legend #complicates (1.00) — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 808
• Muslims expected the Prophet to work geographical miracles in Mecca #complicates (1.00) — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 433
• Medieval Christians held Muhammad’s lack of miracles as decisive against his prophethood #complicates (1.00) — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 1524
• Muhammad’s Arabia was polytheistic, centered on a Ka’ba housing Allah and three goddesses #exemplifies (1.00) — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 180
• Medieval Christian polemics modeled Muhammad’s life on Christ’s as a deliberate inversion #complicates (1.00) — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 496
• Medieval Christians read Muhammad’s life as a failed imitation of Christ #complicates (1.00) — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 499
• An eighth-century Christian chronicle described Muhammad as noble and prudent #complicates (1.00) — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 465
• Early Christian polemics canonized caricatures of Muhammad that persisted for centuries #complicates (1.00) — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 50
• Muhammad’s polygamy was standard evidence against his prophethood #complicates (1.00) — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 1200
• Muhammad’s miracle was the Koran itself because earlier prophets’ miracles were rejected #complicates (1.00) — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 218
• Early Islam saw worldly success as confirming prophecy rather than contradicting it #complicates (1.00) — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 233
• The Koran explains Muhammad’s lack of miracles by prior peoples’ unbelief #complicates (1.00)
• Ancient criteria of prophecy were applied selectively to predetermine Muhammad’s failure #complicates (1.00)
• Christian polemic framed Muhammad’s lack of miracles as itself miraculous but perverse #complicates (1.00) — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 429