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Abstract

This article presents an analytical study of the critical methodology employed by Dr. Muhammad Yaseen Mazhar Siddique in the field of Seerah writing. Dr. Siddique was a renowned Indian historian and scholar of Seerah and Islamic history whose approach marked a significant evolution in Seerah literature. Departing from the traditional narrative style, he emphasized a research-oriented, contextual, and critical framework for studying the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. His method combined both riwāyah (transmission-based) and dirāyah (rational-critical) approaches, giving primacy to authenticity and reliability while evaluating Seerah sources. He strongly rejected fabricated and weak narrations not for the sake of negation, but with the intent of purifying and reconstructing Seerah studies on academically sound foundations. Dr. Siddique’s perspective on the Seerah was not confined to spiritual or moral dimensions; rather, he portrayed it as a comprehensive human, social, and political model relevant to the modern age. His unique style and critical insight have earned him scholarly recognition within and beyond the Indian subcontinent. This study explores the meaning and significance of his critical methodology, its roots in Islamic historiography, and its impact on contemporary Seerah scholarship. It concludes that Dr. Siddique’s methodology provides an important blueprint for objective and contextually relevant Seerah studies, offering valuable guidance for both researchers and society at large.