Muhammad and His Followers in Context - Dr. Ilkka Lindstedt

In this episode, we discuss a fascinating book about the early Islamic community and its social and religious context, titled Muhammad and His Followers in Context: The Religious Map of Late Antique Arabia, written by our guest, Dr. Ilkka Lindstedt of Helsinki University. Dr. Lindstedt’s book emphasises the importance of understanding the Prophet Muhammad and his followers within their Arabian milieu, supported by epigraphic and contemporary sources. By problematising any sharp contrast with the pre-Islamic period, it reconstructs and contextualises the early reception of the Qur’an, before going on to examine how Islam developed into a reified religious identity in the post-Prophetic era. If you sign up on and enter the Summer Sale discount code DGBSS24, you can get Muḥammad and His Followers in Context for 50% off, valid until August 31, 2024. And be sure to check out more of Dr. Lindstedt’s work on his page @