MuhammadMuhammad was born in 570 C.E. Over the course of the following sixty years, he built a thriving spiritual community and laid out the foundations of a religion that has changed the course of world history. There is more historical data available about his life than that of the founder of any other major faith, and yet, particularly in the West, his is a consistently misunderstood story. An acclaimed authority on religious and spiritual issues, Karen Armstrong offers a balanced portrait of this revered figure. Through comparison with other prophets and mystics, she illuminates Muhammad's spiritual ideas; she uses the facts of his life, from which Muslims have drawn instruction for centuries, to make the tenets of Islam clear and accessible for modern readers of all faiths. This vivid and detailed biography strips away centuries of distortion and myth to reveal the man behind the religion. Karen Armstrong, bestselling author, scholar, and journalist, is among the world's foremost commentators on religious history and culture. Post-9/11, she has become a crucial advocate for mutual understanding between the world's major faiths. Her books include Buddha: A Biography, The Battle for God, and Islam: A Short History. "Respectful without being reverential, knowledgeable without being pedantic, and, above all, readable. It succeeds because [Armstrong] brings Muhammad to life as a fully rounded human being." -The Economist |
Contents
1 | |
9 | |
21 | |
Muhammad the Man of alLlah | 45 |
Jahiliyah | 55 |
Revelation | 72 |
The Warner | 91 |
The Satanic Verses | 108 |
A New Direction | 134 |
Holy War | 164 |
Holy Peace | 211 |
Death of the Prophet | 250 |
Notes | 267 |
Select Bibliography | 278 |
Index | 281 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Abdallah Abu Bakr Abu Jahl Abu Lahab Abu Sufyan Abu Talib Aisha al-Lat al-Llah al-Muttalib Arabia Arabs army asked attack Badr Bani became become Bedouin believed camels caravan century chief Christian clan companions converted Crusades death divine Emigrants empire enemy faith felt fight give God's Guillaume trans hajj Hashim Helpers hijra holy Hudaybiyah Ibid Ibn Ishaq Ibn Ubbay inspired Islam Jesus Jews jihad Judaism Ka'aba Khadija Khasraj Khaybar killed knew later lives Mecca Medina monotheistic mosque Muham Muhammad Muhammad ibn Muslim world oasis pagan peace pilgrims political prayer Prophet Qaynuqa Qu'ran quoted Quraysh Qurayzah realised recite refused religion religious revelation Sa'd sacred Safwan Satanic Verses scriptures seemed sent shrine Sira society spiritual story Suhayl Sura Taif told tradition tribal Uhud Umar umma Uthman Uthman ibn Affan verses victory vision West Western wives women words worship Yathrib Zayd Zaynab