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Title: Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet by Karen Armstrong ISBN: 0-06-250886-5 Publisher: Harper SanFrancisco Pub. Date: 10 September, 1993 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.72 (53 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Concise and Sympathetic
Comment: This well organized and very well written book is a sympathetic but generally fair portrait of the founder of Islam. Armstrong takes pains to provide a fair and unanachronistic depiction of Muhammed and the founding of Islam. She is concerned particularly with rebutting the prejuidices accumulated during several centuries of Christian - Islamic conflict. She draws on a number of sources, including early historical accounts, the work of a number of modern scholars, and a close reading of the Quran. Armstrong presents background on life and religion in Muhammed's Arabia, the details of his life, and how his life and teachings gave rise to Islam. Muhammed's charismatic leadership and the somewhat improvised nature of his teachings are detailed carefully. At the same time, Armstrong takes pains to present the basic features of Islam in a favorable but generally fair light. There are frequent comparisons with Christian traditions and Armstrong points out aspects of Islam, notably its tolerance of other faiths, which compare very favorably with Christianity. Armstrong clearly aimed this book at reducing tensions between Christians and Muslims. In this respect, this is a successful effort. Open minded non-Muslim readers will find this book reassuring as well as interesting. Disparagement of Muhammed is deeply offensive to Muslims and this effort to educate non-Muslims about his life may decrease both deliberate and inadvertant attacks on Muhammed.
While Armstong succeeds well within the bounds of her chosen mission, this book is a bit misleading. I think Armstrong's presentation of Muhammed and the basics of Islam are generally fair. What is necessarily left out of this book is the subsequent history of Islam. It is true, for example, that Islam has been often more tolerant of other religions than Christianity. This fact, however, is incomplete. Some versions of Islam, notably the Wahabhism that began as an 18th century revival movement, are not particularly tolerant. In addition, the history of relations between the Shia and Sunni branches of Islam is marred by much violence. Perhaps most important, Islam is probably inimical the idea of separation of Church and State (probably to an even greater extent than Christianity) and this is a serious problem for dealing with the modern world.
Rating: 4
Summary: The most accessible bio on the Prohpet available today.
Comment: Armstrong has written what is likely the most accessible biography of Muhammad available today. It gives an intriguing account of not only Mohammed's life, but also the historical context under which Islam emerged. The book provides a sound introduction to how and why the Muslim world came to be, as well as glimpse into why it has evolved into its current state.
One negative aspect of the novel is that Armstrong often painstakingly tries to justify many of the Prophet's actions, likely out of fear that Western readers will simply write these actions of as barbaric and primitive. There is no need to do this, and the downside is that Armstrong often comes off sounding biased. Armstrong already gives us a clear understanding of the harsh and violent society which plagued 6th century Arabia. Based on this, why the Prophet took many of the actions he did should be understandable to the reader.
This however is only a minor criticism and it by no means mars this fascinating book. One only wishes Muslim writers could offer such enriching accounts of their Prophet rather than blindly praising him to no end and offering little valuable insight into the complexities of the man.
Rating: 2
Summary: Wrong conclusions
Comment: This book draws all the wrong conclusions. It bills itself as an attempt to 'build a bridge' so that people can understand violence is not the norm in Islam. The book claims that fundamental extremism and its popularity is due to the 'population explosion' in Islamic countries but this is not true. The Iranian youth of today are secular and hate the Ayatollahs, it was only in 1979 that they were all fundamentalist. The author refers to the Mohamad as the 'Prophet' but this is innaccurate. Any biogrpahy should explore the true life of a person. How often do you see biogrpahies of Jesus called 'jesus: The son of God' no, because that would betray that duty of the book to investiage the actual events. This book is perfect for the apologist because it white washes the truth about the Badr offensive, the selling into slavery of the tribes of Medina and other such acts that took place around 632. A very suspect account written by someone who is obsessed with only the good sides of Mohomads life and a book that does not cirtique or even try to tell the truth.
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Title: Islam : A Short History by Karen Armstrong ISBN: 081296618X Publisher: Modern Library Pub. Date: 06 August, 2002 List Price(USD): $11.95 |
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Title: A History of God: The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam by Karen Armstrong ISBN: 0345384563 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 09 August, 1994 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: The Battle for God by Karen Armstrong ISBN: 0345391691 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 30 January, 2001 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: Buddha by Karen Armstrong ISBN: 0670891932 Publisher: Viking Press Pub. Date: 15 February, 2001 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Holy War : The Crusades and Their Impact on Today's World by Karen Armstrong ISBN: 0385721404 Publisher: Anchor Pub. Date: 27 November, 2001 List Price(USD): $17.00 |
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