Why did Thomas Carlyle include Muhammad among the heroes in On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History?

In his 1841 work On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History, Thomas Carlyle included Muhammad as a hero—specifically as a prophet—to challenge the prevailing Western view of the time that dismissed his teachings as a deliberate, diabolical deception or a "miserable piece of spiritual legerdemain."12

Carlyle argued that such a dismissal was incorrect, noting that a vast number of people believed in Muhammad’s word. By categorizing him as a hero, Carlyle emphasized his sincerity and subjective truthfulness, positing that Muhammad was a "genuine enthusiast" who was deeply convinced of his own divine mission. This perspective marked a significant shift in Western scholarship, moving away from medieval polemics that labeled the Prophet an imposter and toward a more impartial assessment of his role as a major historical protagonist. Carlyle’s inclusion of Muhammad reflected his broader reverence for strength and individuals driven by a profound, God-given conviction.23