Customer Reviews

The Life and Work of Muhammad (Critical Lives)

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Yahya Emerick has written a masterful and gripping account of the incredible life led by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). His ability to keep the reader interested at all times is the key to this book. He keeps matters simple yet accurate without getting lost in the overwhelming topic literature that exists out there. Just like another reviewer mentioned earlier I too felt like I was right there with the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions. The tone and the content are consistent and give a fair, balanced view of the background that led to many events. A classic example of the author's writing ability is displayed in the inspiring and almost poetic narration of Al-Miraj and Al-Isra. The book also maintains its balance while educating the reader regarding the Prophet's personal, spiritual, political and uniquely influential life.

The only section of the book that deviates from this incredible uniformity stretches roughly from page 154-160. The content here regarding the prelude to the Battle of Badr (missed attempts at attacking Abu Sufyan's loaded Meccan caravan) and the Prophet's actions is rather questionable in light of the authentic material available on the matter. This very small but crucial part of the book seems out of place as it ascribes actions far less than prophetic to one (the Prophet) who had such a close relationship with God and His angel Gabriel.

Overall this is the finest account of the Prophet's life that I've read so far; far more interesting than Martin Lings' book and far superior to the book from Karen Armstrong. Highly recommended.

I have Martin Ling's book too but whenever I open and try to read it, I get bored and quickly put it aside. But the moment I opened this one, I just had to read it to end. There is something about the way he writes. It is very simple and very magnetic. It is a great book for those who do not know and a good refresher for those who already know. It takes you from the 21 century and put you right there in the seventh century. The other good thing about it is it connects some Quran's verses with the historical context and circumstance of its revelations. And that clarifies where, how, and under what condition some verses of Quran were revealed. I highly recommend this book.

Beautifully written in a story like formate, which was easy to follow and visualize. I would highly recommend to all readers interested in this topic!

Must Read:
This is a definite "Must Read" for all Muslims, not just converts.
He writes with sensitivity beyond what one usually finds in a biographical work. I did find,in reading this, many of the passages in the Quran became clearer.
I had set out to read only religious material during the month of Ramadan and this was the first book I chose. After reading it, through my local library, I immediately went into Amazon.com and bought the book. I did this with the next book I read also. That is "In The Footsteps Of The Prophet." If you want to see what I thought of that one, then check out my review when they send me the request to do so. :)
Br. Emerick is a marvelous writer. I am now going to write my review of his "An Idiots Guide To Islam" Insha Allah. YUP, bought that too!

This easy to read and easy to understand biography of Muhammad (S) explains subtle parts of his life that made him one of the most influential men in history. Emerick's flow makes the book enjoyable. The little side information about Arabic society also helps us understand Muhammad.

This is a beautiful piece of work by Yahiya Emerick. He gives lots of details, but still would not overwhelm you with facts. Beautiful and factual portrayal of Muhammad. If you want to understand Islam, start with Muhammad and this book can be a great starting point.

Another beautiful work is by Martin Lings Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources

I would definitely recommend this work to all with an interest or curiosity of the beginnings of Al-Islam. I strongly agree with E.C. Luhurbudi's review of this book because I, myself, could not find the brakes to stop once I started reading it. The author does a fantastic job from start to finish as he gives an account of the life of the Holy Prophet (SAWS) and his lineage. There were many things that I learned and that I never knew about. This lead to a greater appreciation of what Islam is about, the trials and tribulations of Muhammad (SAWS) and, the overall significance of the holy month of Ramadan and also Eid Al-Ahda to name a few. To make a long story short (too late), this book is awesome.

This was one of the best I have read on the prophet Muhammed (SAW). Clear simple & made very interested reading. Even my dad who hates reading enjoyed it. Mr. Emerick is a blessed writer.

Engaging and Unputdownable book on life of Prophet pbuh and the earliest History of Islam. Recommend for discerning people of all ages or religions . To be read with an open mind without any preconceived notions . For the more spiritual, some of the chapters will move you to tears.

This book is at the same level as Haekal's seminal work on Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

My wife and I found it very easy to read and very inspiring.
I almost cried when I read the book descriptions on the ordeals that the Prophet went through leading to the Hijrah.

For Muslims, this book is full of info on not commonly known aspects of the Prophet life.
For non-Muslims, because of his unique background, the author wrote lengthly and clear explanations on many issues sometimes not clearly explained in other books.

Definitely a must read for everyone!