Muhammad (Critical Lives)

Author’s writing style is such that he makes you imagine the scenes of prophet’s life so vividly, it feels like you are actually there in real time . I have read Prophets biographies by 3 different authors before. I would highly recommend this one.

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.

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

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.

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!

I thought it was a very good book. I appreciated the analogies and details. I really felt like i was there and could see the events of the prophets life unfolding. Parts of the book actually made me cry. Very good. Thank you.

This is an excellently written text about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), with plenty of detail and description without being a heavy or tedious read. I try to re-read it at least once a year.

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.

A really great book, if you want to discover the story of our prophet Muhammad then it's a must read, before reading this i knew nothing about him, and know i understood a bit more the origin of islam and began to learn the coran

The story of Muhammad is a complex one, and is quite difficult to follow, especially when you are unfamiliar with it. This book however, gives a detailed but simple account of his life, prophet hood and the struggle for survival. It has references from Quran and Hadith, giving it support. Great read and great value for money!

Great story. A true struggle. It's a shame people forget historic events. We can change the world by changing ourselves first.