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zhelana's review against another edition
5.0
When my father told me he had purchased this book in the airport in Turkey, this is not at all what I was expecting. What I was expecting was propaganda, and a book that pushed Islam. Instead I got a clear historian's eye on a major but very controversial figure. It clearly stated when things that are commonly believed are not likely to be true, and tried to portray Muhammad as a very human figure with common worries alongside the uncommon ones he clearly bore as a politician and major religious figure. For example, it showed the scene where he came back to Mecca as difficult for him because exiles build up their old homes in their minds, and then when they come back it is not at all what they expected. It also showed how Muhammad's decisions were against a lot of what Islam later came to stand for including shrouding women and dynasties of rulers. This is one of the best nonfiction books I've read in years.
jessicad777's review against another edition
5.0
Erudite, engrossing, and thoughtful biography of Muhammad. Helped clarify some fundamentals of Islam. Impressive. Reminded me of No God but God, by Reza Aslan for its ability to engage.
kalakakku's review against another edition
4.0
Informative and at many times engaging book. It helped me see the Quran's events in a better context. I also enjoyed getting to know more about the last prophet's (pbuh) life.
bookbeatle's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
একজন অতিমানব নবী (সঃ) এর বাইরে একজন মানবিক গুণ সম্পন্ন অতি সাধারণ মানুষের কথা জানায়। হঠাৎ পরিবর্তিত পরিস্থিতিতে তাঁর বিশ্বাস-বাস্তবতার দ্বন্দ্ব তুলে ধরতে পেরেছেন লেখিকা অবলীলায়।
diannel_04's review against another edition
2.0
I, unfortunately, had to put this book down. I guess I just wasn't in the mood to read something that was written like a history textbook.
donzhivago's review against another edition
3.0
I won't discuss the actual content of the book, which deserves its own post. But, the writing is deserving of comment.
In short, it's a vexing mixture of interesting references (a good thing) followed by an astonishing infantilization (a bad thing). One moment she'll relate something, in a bit of an overwrought manner, to the Allegory of the Cave in Plato's Republic. The next she'll make a truly cringeworthy allusion to modern life. It's a fascinating story, if wildly different than I expected, but I often felt the writing was the literary equivalent of chewing the scenery.
In short, it's a vexing mixture of interesting references (a good thing) followed by an astonishing infantilization (a bad thing). One moment she'll relate something, in a bit of an overwrought manner, to the Allegory of the Cave in Plato's Republic. The next she'll make a truly cringeworthy allusion to modern life. It's a fascinating story, if wildly different than I expected, but I often felt the writing was the literary equivalent of chewing the scenery.
shuvro29's review against another edition
5.0
আমার সীরাত যাত্রার শুরুটা খুব বেশিদিনের না। শুরুটা রেইনড্রপসের দুই খন্ডের "সীরাহ" দিয়ে। তারপর "আর রাহীকুল মাখতুম" এবং এটা সর্বজনবিদিত। তো এই দুটো সীরাত ই গতানুগতিক ইতিহাস নয় আবার শুধুমাত্র হাদীস গ্রন্থ বা তার উদ্ধৃতি ও না। দুয়ের মাঝামাঝি এবং সাথে আছে প্রচলিত কিছু সংশয়ের ব্যাখা। কিন্তু তার ও বাইরে গিয়ে লেখিকা লেজলি হেইজেলটন চমৎকারভাবে বৈজ্ঞানিক, মনোবৈজ্ঞানিক এবং মনস্তাত্ত্বিক ভাবে ব্যাখা দিয়েছেন, লিখেছেন প্রত্যেক মুসলমানের হৃদয়ের কুঠুরিতে বাস করা নবীকে নিয়ে। সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম
nevermoreliterature's review against another edition
3.0
Islam.
The world's 2nd Largest Religion. With followers encompassing over 1.8 Billion people.
It is enigmatic. Yet controversial. With a history thoroughly intriguing in it's complexity. ~
Personally, I am always looking into matters relating to religion. I find it's power of altering history, fascinating.
The monumental prowess of shifting the course of time, commendable.
~
And one such religion constantly under scrutiny is Islam.
And like majority of other religions, it all began with one single individual.
The prophet, Muhammad.
~
A life that has been written and discussed about so much and has yet remained a mystery till this day. ~
Hazleton writes this book asking some very basic questions, "Why him? Why Muhammad, in the seventh century, in Arabia?"
She tries to see beyond "the deeply held beliefs, unwitting preconceptions, and cultural assumptions." In attempts of drawing a humane portrait of a man, who was flesh and blood, just like the rest of us. Who felt, who doubted and who by all means constantly navigated between acclaim & rejection.
~
In the process, being neither a pious follower, nor a reviler. Hazleton retains a neutral standpoint, using speculations to question the narrative, trying to unearth the historical roots from divine episodes.
~
It is always engrossing reading about Muhammad, his exploits from being the Orphan. The humble beginnings. The exile to Medina. And finally his emergence as a global political leader. The beginning of a storied history of the Middle East.
~
Along this, the Author has also painted a vivid picture of Mecca & Medina. The harshness of the desert lands trodden by the iron-willed Beduins. The congested Mecca where the tribes had quickly realized "that if you controlled the sacred, you would never starve."
~
At the end of the day, I am still fascinated. And I still believe that everything has it's good & bad. And I do not wish to pass a judgement without knowing both the sides.
The world's 2nd Largest Religion. With followers encompassing over 1.8 Billion people.
It is enigmatic. Yet controversial. With a history thoroughly intriguing in it's complexity. ~
Personally, I am always looking into matters relating to religion. I find it's power of altering history, fascinating.
The monumental prowess of shifting the course of time, commendable.
~
And one such religion constantly under scrutiny is Islam.
And like majority of other religions, it all began with one single individual.
The prophet, Muhammad.
~
A life that has been written and discussed about so much and has yet remained a mystery till this day. ~
Hazleton writes this book asking some very basic questions, "Why him? Why Muhammad, in the seventh century, in Arabia?"
She tries to see beyond "the deeply held beliefs, unwitting preconceptions, and cultural assumptions." In attempts of drawing a humane portrait of a man, who was flesh and blood, just like the rest of us. Who felt, who doubted and who by all means constantly navigated between acclaim & rejection.
~
In the process, being neither a pious follower, nor a reviler. Hazleton retains a neutral standpoint, using speculations to question the narrative, trying to unearth the historical roots from divine episodes.
~
It is always engrossing reading about Muhammad, his exploits from being the Orphan. The humble beginnings. The exile to Medina. And finally his emergence as a global political leader. The beginning of a storied history of the Middle East.
~
Along this, the Author has also painted a vivid picture of Mecca & Medina. The harshness of the desert lands trodden by the iron-willed Beduins. The congested Mecca where the tribes had quickly realized "that if you controlled the sacred, you would never starve."
~
At the end of the day, I am still fascinated. And I still believe that everything has it's good & bad. And I do not wish to pass a judgement without knowing both the sides.