Customer Reviews

Memories of Muhammad: Why the Prophet Matters

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In this second decade of the century, we have a chance to read some remarkably mature new books on Islam, the Prophet Muhammad's legacy and the whole host of issues that were raised so explosively on 9/11/2001. As a journalist covering these issues, I collected the scores of books produced in the years immediately following 9/11--some of them good, some of them politically biased and some of them absolutely dreadful. Beyond pure bias, the haste in which many books were produced led to tragic inaccuracies and limitations in authors' perspectives.

Unfortunately, the non-Muslim world still is desperately seeking information about Islam largely because of continuing violence linked to individuals and groups claiming to represent the faith.

Whatever factors led to HarperOne's decision to publish "Memories of Muhammad," the fact is that this book ranks as a milestone for non-Muslim readers. Dr. Safi is professor of Islamic studies at the University of North Carolina and he serves as the chair of the Study of Islam at the American Academy of Religion.

He's a Muslim scholar writing for general readers from the wealth of his authority as an academic. Looking over the stacks of books available about Islam, he correctly identified the Prophet Muhammad as a central point of confusion for non-Muslims and produced this book to help guide us in understanding the significance of this major religious figure.

When most of the other books in this era are forgotten, people will continue to read "Memories of Muhammad."

I enjoyed readings this book a lot for a number of reasons:

[a] it is not a typical description of Muhammad's biography and important events in Muslim history. Omid Safi described/analyzed major events by contextualizing them. For example, it does not just talk about when one of the major events in Muslim history took place. He sheds light into why it happened, what were its precursors, as well as immediate and long term implications for Muslim and non-Muslim world;

[b] Omid Safi makes great attempt to associate/relate major events in Muslim history with other world religions, Judaism, Christianity and Buddhism;

[c] Though it is easy to grasp Shia-inclination, I liked how Omid Safi attempted to explain centuries-long tension between Sunni and Shia Muslims;

[d] The style and structure of the book is unprecedented. For example, one of the sub-titles reads "Muhammad, Eric Clapton, and the Tale of Layla and Majnun"...

Please don't be discouraged that Omid Safi's book includes some depictions of major events in Muslim history. One of the reviews refers to this fact and apparently that made him give 1 out of 5. But that's the problem Muslims have. We don't look at the substance and overrule something based on what someone said or what illustrations it includes... I am Sunni Muslim and yet enjoyed reading this book very much, AND would gladly read new pieces of scholarship by Omid Safi.

This is the book that was missing in the dialogue on Islam in the West: an authentic, accessible representation of what Islam is for, not just what it is against. It explains why a billion and a half Muslims look to their religious tradition for the same spiritual guidance in their daily lives as Christians, Jews, or Buddhists, with whom they have so much in common, and provides an invaluable resource for Muslims raising English-speaking children in the West.

The Naqib's Daughter

I found this book to be very interesting to read as the author takes us through the journey of time. The author has done a wonderful job by writing an account of the life of prophet Mohammad viewed through many lenses. The lenses of Christian, Jewish muslim ( sunni shia and suffi traditions)

The subject is complex and sensitive as religious people tend to hold on to their own view of things and many people like to read accounts of historical figures that collaborate their own view. This book is for reflecting people.

I am now interested in reading other works by this author.

This book should be a required reading for Muslims and for Non-Muslims who want to understand prophet and how and why Muslims adore him more than their own parents. Once I started reading the book, I could not put it down. At the same time there were several sections of the book, where I had to stop reading so I can ponder and absorb the beauty in this book.

Without being overly zealous Omid Safi gives arguments about need of humanity to believe in God. To quote from the book "In the begnining we imagine God to be a slightly better version of ourselves, then the comforter of all that is missing from our lives, and then a king, before we finally realize that God is the Ultimate, the One, the perfection of Love, Majesty, and Beauty." God tells Muhammad PBUH "My heaven cannot contain me, nor can my Earth. But the heart of my faithful servant contains me". The one line which touched me the most from the book is "You can not know yourself without knowing God. You can not know God without knowing yourself."

He forcefully makes the point that the prophet Muhammad was sent as the mercy to all the worlds. He reminds Muslims to practice compassion and justice practiced by the last prophet to mankind. He mentions "For me, Muhammad represents the completion of the possibilities available to us as human beings, not because he is a superhuman, but precisely because he embodies the meaning of what it means to be fully human." Author refers an incident from the life of the prophet "on the way to Mecca, Muhammad saw a female dog that had given birth to a new litter of pups. Concerned that the commotion of an army ot ten thousand might disturb them, Muhammad bid one of his followers to stand guard over them, sheltering them"

Omid safi has done a beautiful job describing the Miraj (heavenly ascension) of the prophet, "Without the Miraj, Muhammad is the Warner who is sent to admonish society to abandon its heathen ways and return to God's path. With the Miraj, Muhammad also charts a path for humanity to ascend to the Divine." In another place Omid Safi summarizes the Quranic call of living by noting that "how one lives in the midst of humanity is related to how one sees God, and vice & versa. Theology and humanity are forever linked". Author reminds the readers " we can ascend to a height and a level of intimacy with God that angels dare not attempt".

Talking about war and violence "The Quran attests that Muhammad was predisposed by nature to despise war, but that God commanded him to undertake it when necessary: "Fighting is ordained for you, even though it be hateful to you Quran 2:216. The Quran emphasizes that when one has to confront enemy - those who, in the words of scripture, have driven one from one's home and oppressed a whole community- then the fighting must be undertaken in a noble fashion, with set bounds not to be exceeded." "And fight in God's cause against those who wage war against you, but do not commit aggression- for verily, God does not love aggressors. Quran 2:190"

On topic of social activism of the prophet author refers the spiritual practice of the prophet to link inner reflection with social action. He also mentions verses from the Quran regarding alleviating poverty in society, Quran 2:177 and one of the prophet's saying "Food for one person suffices two persons, and food for two persons suffices four persons, and food for four persons suffices eight persons".

For the first time I read different ways prophet is revered by different groups of Muslims (Sunni, Shia and Sufi). Omid Safi quotes Ali, the first male convert to Islam and one of the greatest Muslims (4th Caliph for Sunnis and 1st Imam for Shias) "I marvel at the creation of humanity: The human sees through a clear veil (the eye), speaks through a piece of meat, hears through a bone and cartilage, and breathes through a narrow opening". Author describes in brief the sacrifices of the grandson of the prophet when he with his family bravely fought against tyranny of the ruler Yazid. How he gave up everything (life of most of his family member and his own) and showed to Muslims how not to bow against tyranny and injustice, whatever the cost maybe.

Finally the author rues the fact that modern Muslims are neglecting the cosmic aspect of the prophet and are emphasizing the role of the prophet as a community leader and social engineer & wahhabi influence has destroyed many of the physical memories of the prophet including his place of birth etc. In the end he quotes Iqbal the famous Urdu poet from South Asia "Love of the prophet runs like blood in the veins of his community".

To understand Islam and Muslims, you have to understand the life of the prophet Muhammad from authentic sources. Other great works are by Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources and In the Footsteps of the Prophet: Lessons from the Life of Muhammad.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It enhanced my understanding of Islam and the Prophet. It was simultaneously readable, scholarly and thorough.

The book glorifies Islam and the Prophet of Islam.

What is wrong with worshipping Hubal, Lat, Manat and Uzza ?

They never harmed anyone.

Only Islam destroyed the temple for Hubal, and later, temples of other religions.

Where is Freedom of Religion in Islamic countries which persecute and discriminate against non-Muslims and their religions?

Has the author even considered this ?

Muslims demand freedom of religion when they are in a minority and persecute non-muslims when they are in a majority. Why does the author not deal with this issue?

What a waste of time and effort !

I read the first chapter (long chapter), then he starts giving us a little brief autobiography. In it, he explains how beautiful his portrait of MUHAMMAD is. Islam, pictures of Muhammad are not allowed. Don't learn about Islam through a SHIA