Muhammad: Prophet For Our Time

The mark of a good biography is always contextual awareness coupled with historical accuracy. And Karen Armstrong has managed to do both with equal tenacity and vigour. The Prophet has always been subject of immense controversy in popular media, particularly among the non-Arab historians - and while it is easy to dismiss them as racially prejudiced, it’s important to understand how complex and nuanced history really is. Karen Armstrong has managed to make this work though - and she’s done it using references that are often irrefutable - both from Muslim as well as western scholars and historians. This balanced approach, while understandably controversial from orthodox perspectives, is a refreshing read for anyone who’s academically inclined about a man who’s personal life is the subject of much reverence as well as ridicule by different groups today. All in all - it’s a beautifully written book - and I’d argue a must read for anyone who’s interested in understanding Muslims, or Arab culture in the 6th and seventh century. It’s written objectively, yet kindly and respectfully and is a very heartening read indeed.

Karen Armstrong tells the story of Muhammad's life with sympathy and compassion, and a sense of what the modern reader, the recipient of such a text, feels, values, believes. This is thus suited to be an introductory book on the prophet's life, and does well to serve that purpose. For those familiar with the story, there is still enough that is evocative and interesting to read, particularly in the way that Muhammad is portrayed as all too human, and as much as the book attends to his depth of vision, his commitment to truth, his mastery of administrative and military matters, it also highlights his sorrows, confusions, despair, disappointment and desire. At the same time as he is emerging as the most powerful chieftain in Arabia, he also weeps bitterly at the death of his little son Ibrahim. While he has effectively executed the expulsion of enemy tribes from Medina, he is also riddled with confusion and sorrow about how, instead of bringing peace to the area, his plans for limited and defensive warfare have got him embroiled in the same cycle of unending violence that has been a characteristic of Arab society for centuries before him. As a humane, sensitive portrait of Muhammad, this book is a valuable contribution to seerah literature. For a more rigorous analysis of the material forces that shaped the prophet's life, Montgomery Watt's books would be suggested. For a profound immersion into how the prophet may be seen from the eyes of those who have faith, the biography by Martin Lings is perhaps unmatched, and that by Tariq Ramadan also being a fairly educative read. Armstrong's book is somewhere between these two dimensions, navigating both the material and the spiritual, not reaching the degree of thoroughness or profundity of either kind of work, yet communicating some of the essence of each.

Brings out in true effect the circumstances of that time and Mohammed's deft navigation through it by erring on the side of peace instead of belligerence. Ofcourse all under GOD'S guidance through his revelations. A book highly recommended. It will bring tears to the eyes.

Gives a lot of insights into the context of the society where Muhammed started his journey as a prophet. For those who are trying to understand Islam in an age when misconceptions about the religion is strife within and outside of the system. At one level, this book gives a lot of areas for Muslims to look at the history of the contexts of some of the seemingly controversial vantage points which is used by ultra conservative sects. For those outside, this book makes a very balanced look at the evolution of Muhammed as a prophet and also the evolution of the religion. For the discerning reader, it may help clear some of the widespread misconceptions.

This is the 3rd Karen Armstrong book I have read. As she did with the biography of the prophet this book is extremely well articulated. The prophet played many different roles In his life and I feel the book encapsulates the role of a statesman that he played more aptly than others.

Well, the concluding paragraph of the book tells it all, what you will get out of reading this book. Muhammad founded the religion called 'Islam' in truth and didn't bring it from heaven. The book is definitely of help to those with objective minds. The brief history of the twenty-first century shows that neither side has mastered these lessons. If we are to avoid catastrophe, the Muslim and Western worlds must learn not merely to tolerate but to appreciate one another. A good place to start is with the figure of Muhammad: a complex man, who resists facile, ideologically-driven categorization, who sometimes did things that were difficult or impossible for us to accept, but who had profound genius and founded a religion and cultural tradition that was not based on the sword but whose name—“Islam”—signified peace and reconciliation. Armstrong, Karen. Muhammad: Prophet for Our Time (p. 170). HarperCollins Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Very objectively written with facts backgrounded.

Our concept of Islam is tainted with superstition and ignorance , but this book will enlighten the reality of Muhammad.

Easy to read and eloquent, I thought the author focussed on some arbitrary topics meddled by the anti islam crowd. A succinct conclusion, thought the book ended too quick after reading. I would recommend not as a first book for those interested in islam but as furthur reading. Good effort by the author but i believe she was forced to speak about topics based on mainstream media.

Das buch ist sehr interessant, hat meine meinung und eindruck über den Islam positive geändert, klar ist weiter zu empfehlen

Being a person very familiar with the life of Muhammad, both through personal study, and from the interactions with learned Muslims, I was at first a little ambivalent as to whether there was much for me to learn in this study. I am happy to be proved wrong in this case, as Karen Armstrong's work provides a realistic and healthy rebuttal to the many detractions against Islam's Prophet. Even the most stubborn skeptic of the supernatural would find it hard to disagree that Muhammad was a much better man than the times he lived in. He was, as Karen Armstrong demonstrates, a benevolent social reformer who tried to provide a better path forward than the eclectic paganism of his time, and the lawless, dog eat dog system of tribal honor. Armstrong's study does not concern itself greatly with the supernatural aspects of the prophet's life. Revelations are mentioned, but only in passing, and the main bulk of the text concerns the intentions and deeds of the prophet's life. Contrary to the claims of his detractors, Muhammad was a man who abhorred violence, and took to it only as a last resort, and even then did so with a system of rules, far more noble and lenient than the other tribes of his time. Muhammad is presented as a man with a great degree of respect and reverance for the people of the book, and one struggles to imagine as to why the three holy faiths are at loggerheads today. Very little attention is given to the supernatural, rather the biography simply focuses on the man, and presents a positive, yet wholly human, portrait of the prophet. On the whole, a much needed study, and one that can be recommended to all, regardless of one's familiarity with the subject matter.