Uploaded February 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
The Prophet of Islam possessed a rare combination of talents that laid the foundation for a movement which would rapidly expand both within and beyond Arabia at a pace unprecedented for its time. However, achieving success in numerous spheres of human activity, as Muhammad did, is not without its fair (and sometimes unfair) share of criticism. This brings us to the topic of discussion in this edition of the Real Talk podcast.
For some outsiders to the religion of Islam, this is one of the most controversial aspects of the life of the Prophet Muhammad. It is also one of the more contentious topics among a considerable number of Muslims. We’re talking about Muhammad and war. To help navigate this subject, and drawing from the research in his latest publication, The Warrior Prophet: Muhammad & War, we are joined by Professor Joel Hayward, who will share his thoughts in what promises to be an insightful and thought-provoking conversation on a subject that interests many people.
Professor Joel Hayward is a New Zealand-born British scholar and author, currently serving as Professor of Strategic Thought at the Rabdan Academy in the United Arab Emirates. The daily newspaper Al Khaleej called him “a world authority on international conflict and strategy,” while Kirkus Reviews described him as “undeniably one of academia’s most visible Islamic thinkers.” He is also listed as one of “the world’s five hundred most influential Muslims” in the 2023 edition of The Muslim 500, which notes that “he weaves together classical Islamic knowledge and methodologies with the source-critical Western historical method to make innovative yet carefully reasoned sense of complex historical issues that remain relevant in today’s world.”
Professor Hayward is the author or editor of seventeen books and major monographs, along with dozens of peer-reviewed articles. His work primarily focuses on strategic studies, military history, the Islamic ethics of war and conflict, and both Islamic and Western history. His best-selling books include a major analysis of German airpower during the Stalingrad campaign and a thematic investigation of Horatio Lord Nelson and his approach to warfare. His recent publications include Warfare in the Qurʾan (2012), War is Deceit: An Analysis of a Contentious Hadith on the Morality of Military Deception (2017), Civilian Immunity in Foundational Islamic Strategic Thought: A Historical Enquiry (2019), and The Leadership of Muhammad: A Historical Reconstruction, which won the prestigious "Best International Non-Fiction Book" award at the 2021 Sharjah International Book Awards. His newest book, The Warrior Prophet: Muhammad and War (2023), is the focus of much of today’s discussion.
📢 For More from Prof. Joel Hayward:
Explore more of Professor Hayward’s research, publications, and academic work at the links below! 👇
🌍 Official Website: professorjoelhayward.com
📚 Research & Publications: researchgate.net/profile/Joel-Hayward
Stay informed and dive deeper into his insights on strategic thought, military history, and Islamic studies! 🔍📖✨
The Prophet of Islam possessed a rare combination of talents that laid the foundation for a movement which would rapidly expand both within and beyond Arabia at a pace unprecedented for its time. However, achieving success in numerous spheres of human activity, as Muhammad did, is not without its fair (and sometimes unfair) share of criticism. This brings us to the topic of discussion in this edition of the Real Talk podcast.
For some outsiders to the religion of Islam, this is one of the most controversial aspects of the life of the Prophet Muhammad. It is also one of the more contentious topics among a considerable number of Muslims. We’re talking about Muhammad and war. To help navigate this subject, and drawing from the research in his latest publication, The Warrior Prophet: Muhammad & War, we are joined by Professor Joel Hayward, who will share his thoughts in what promises to be an insightful and thought-provoking conversation on a subject that interests many people.
Professor Joel Hayward is a New Zealand-born British scholar and author, currently serving as Professor of Strategic Thought at the Rabdan Academy in the United Arab Emirates. The daily newspaper Al Khaleej called him “a world authority on international conflict and strategy,” while Kirkus Reviews described him as “undeniably one of academia’s most visible Islamic thinkers.” He is also listed as one of “the world’s five hundred most influential Muslims” in the 2023 edition of The Muslim 500, which notes that “he weaves together classical Islamic knowledge and methodologies with the source-critical Western historical method to make innovative yet carefully reasoned sense of complex historical issues that remain relevant in today’s world.”
Professor Hayward is the author or editor of seventeen books and major monographs, along with dozens of peer-reviewed articles. His work primarily focuses on strategic studies, military history, the Islamic ethics of war and conflict, and both Islamic and Western history. His best-selling books include a major analysis of German airpower during the Stalingrad campaign and a thematic investigation of Horatio Lord Nelson and his approach to warfare. His recent publications include Warfare in the Qurʾan (2012), War is Deceit: An Analysis of a Contentious Hadith on the Morality of Military Deception (2017), Civilian Immunity in Foundational Islamic Strategic Thought: A Historical Enquiry (2019), and The Leadership of Muhammad: A Historical Reconstruction, which won the prestigious "Best International Non-Fiction Book" award at the 2021 Sharjah International Book Awards. His newest book, The Warrior Prophet: Muhammad and War (2023), is the focus of much of today’s discussion.
📢 For More from Prof. Joel Hayward:
Explore more of Professor Hayward’s research, publications, and academic work at the links below! 👇
🌍 Official Website: professorjoelhayward.com
📚 Research & Publications: researchgate.net/profile/Joel-Hayward
Stay informed and dive deeper into his insights on strategic thought, military history, and Islamic studies! 🔍📖✨
