Irving began writing notes for a book on Muhammed as early as 1827 while working on his biography of Christopher Columbus.

[1] He completed his first chapters of the book while simultaneously working on his Tales of the Alhambra.

He offered Life of Mahomet to Murray in England for 500 guineas.

[2] In a letter to his John Murray, dated October 8, 1827, Irving noted: "In our conversation you will recollect it was agreed that I should receive 500 Gs.

After returning to the United States from several years abroad, settled at his New York home Sunnyside, he rapidly completed The Life of Mahomet and Mahomet and His Successors, which were published in 1849 and 1850, respectively.