James Howard-Johnston (born 1942) is an English historian of the Byzantine Empire. He was University Lecturer in Byzantine studies at the University of Oxford. He is an emeritus fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. His approach to Byzantium follows that of Edward Gibbon and concentrates on comparisons between the Byzantine state and its Western counterparts. Howard-Johnston has also done research on Late Antiquity, especially the Roman-Persian Wars and the early history of Islam.
We spotlight perspectives in Islamic history that often go unnoticed, keeping you informed on the latest academic research and discussions. Our content is non-sectarian and grounded in rigorous academic approaches to Islamic studies, offering deep and thoughtful analysis.
Quran, literally meaning "the recitation" is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims believe to be a revelation from God (Allah). It is widely regarded as the finest work in classical Arabic literature. The Quran is divided into chapters (surah in Arabic), which are then divided into verses (ayah). Muslims believe that the Quran was verbally revealed by God to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel (Jibril), gradually over a period of approximately 23 years, beginning on 22 December 609 CE, when Muhammad was 40, and concluding in 632, the year of his death. Muslims regard the Quran as the most important miracle of Muhammad, a proof of his prophethood, and the culmination of a series of divine messages that started with the messages revealed to Adam and ended with Muhammad.
Video Description (from Youtube)
🎙️ In this episode of the Real Talk Podcast, we’re thrilled to welcome back to the channel the eminent Mr. James Howard-Johnston to discuss the contents of his recent article, “The Qur’an as a Historical Source” 📜✨ (link below ⬇️).
James Howard-Johnston is a Lecturer in Byzantine Studies at the University of Oxford, and author of the monumental Witnesses to a World Crisis: Historians and Histories of the Middle East in the Seventh Century — a masterclass in deep source analysis. His work examines the formative phase of Islam through both Islamic and non-Islamic sources, offering an unparalleled look at this pivotal historical period.
In this discussion, we explore:
🔍 Why he considers the Qur’an a key historical source
📆 What a chronological reading of the text—alongside other materials—can reveal about the Prophet’s evolving role as both a spiritual and political leader of a religion that reshaped the world
🔗 Link to the article:
https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/jiqsa-2024-0006/html
💬 Be sure to like, share, subscribe, and let us know your thoughts on this powerful and thought-provoking discussion!
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