W. Montgomery Watt | |
|---|---|
 Watt (right), being interviewed by Ali Akbar Abdolrashidi. | |
| Born | William Montgomery Watt 14 March 1909 |
| Died | 24 October 2006 (aged 97) Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Title | Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Oriental studies and Religious studies |
| Sub-discipline | Arabic History of Islam Muhammad Islamic Philosophy Islamic theology |
| Institutions | Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem University of Edinburgh |
| Notable works | Muhammad at Mecca (1953) Muhammad at Medina (1956) |
William Montgomery Watt (14 March 1909 – 24 October 2006) was a Scottish historian and orientalist. An Anglican priest, Watt served as Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Edinburgh from 1964 to 1979 and was also a prominent contributor to the field of Quranic studies.
Watt was one of the foremost non-Muslim interpreters of Islam in the West. Watt's comprehensive biography of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, Muhammad at Mecca (1953) and Muhammad at Medina (1956), are considered to be classics in the field.