Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources

How I came across the book?

I love to have #ShareARead with my friend, Sidrah Khalid, from my bookclub, Bookay.

As the holy month of Ramadan was approaching, we decided to read the Prophet’s  (pbuh) biography. We asked around our book club and this one by Martin Lings was a favourite. We decided to read it during Ramadan and discuss it along the way.

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Reading histories (religious or otherwise) one can never be sure which account is the honest account as there are differing (sometimes opposing) accounts available out there. The same came up in a conversation with a colleague today. He said that he read a few pages from this book (the one pictured) and it is really good. He added a but to it though. The but being, how can one be sure that the incidents happened as described in this book? Some do differ from what I have previously heard myself. QOTD: What is at the forefront of your mind when you read non-fiction? Specially histories? #CurrentRead #CurrentlyReading #BookPhoto #BookstagramFeature #BookPhotography #BookstagramPk #Bookstagram #Bookgram #BookgramPk #History #NonFiction #RamzanReads #Biography #Muhammad #MartinLings

A post shared by Hina Tabassum Khatri (@khatrihina) on May 15, 2019 at 11:50am PDT

What do I rate it?

To answer this question, I have to first answer as to what am I rating it on.

For the way it is written, I give it a  4. In between, it sort of gets confusing, Though I understand the reason for that is not on the part of the author. People in Arabia had a penchant for some names and people for the part had the same names and it got confusing as to who was being referred to at the time.

For the subject the matter of the book, I believe I am not qualified to rate that.

Thus, the rating will be a 4.

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Reading late into the night has long been a habit. Something that has become a part of me. It is peaceful at the time and I can concentrate fully on what I read. Making notes as when required. The thing is, I share the room with my sister and it's always a tussle as to the light being switched on or off. She wins because it is, after all, the time to sleep! That's where my lamp comes in. A resource that let's me do what I want to do without causing troubles for another. Also, I think the picture came out pretty great with the lamp light the only source of lighting. QOTD: What is your favourite time to read and why. #Bookgram #BookgramPk #Bookstagram #BookstagramPk #BookstagramPakistan #BookstagramFeature #Bookstagrammer #BookBlogger #InTheDark #BookPhoto #LampPhoto #BookPhotography #LateNight #Reading #CurrentlyReading #BookishHabits #HinaLovesToRead #ReadingHabits #RamzanReads #RamadanReads

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Why?

Why I believe I am not qualified for rating the subject matter is because this is sensitive information and in places also differs from what I have been hearing since I was a kid. As of right now, with my limited (very limited) research into the subject, I cannot say which incidents happened and how they happened (in some cases minute details differ from what I had previously been told).

Overall Experience

The starting was very interesting. It started from Abraham and continued with how the Arabs got to where they were by the time Muhammad’s (pbuh) time came around.

Many know of Abraham and Ismail already but what happened in the interval is something I doubt anybody bothers reading. That hooked me right into the book.

After that came the details that I have been hearing all my life (we study Islamiyat all our lives) and I wanted the history to move further. Those parts weren’t interesting enough as nothing new was being mentioned.

Then started the details of how everything panned out during the days. How the Prophet married his first wife and how his domestic life was and how he was respected throughout the Quraysh. How with the advent of the Revelations he was ridiculed and boycotted.

The Prophet’s (pbuh) Hijrat to Medina and all that transpired there. The battles that were fought and the victories that were achieved.

Though it is history, it was a somewhat emotional journey for me as I read the book.

The Questions and The Discussion

As I have previously mentioned, the purpose of #ShareARead is to discuss the story or facts as one reads. I am , alhamdulillah, very lucky to have friends with whom I can have discussion on topics as sensitive as the subject matter of this book without being branded an infidel and a call for my head to be made.

For the same reason, I am not going to go into what ensued in those discussion and the questions I came up with. Suffice to say, if you are anything like me, the book will put many questions to you. Questions that require proper research.

From what I understand, one cannot read one perspective and say they have found the truth because at the end of the day it is History. More so, history that was actually penned ages after the actual events based on what people of the time recalled and had references to put forward for what they proclaimed to be history.

Albeit all that, I will recommend this book. It is informative and will help you understand many a things.

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Sharing a read is an amazing experience and it gets awesome times 10 if it is with a friend. Sid is that friend for me. This will be out third book together and I am so looking forward to the discussions that I know await me. Reasons why I lovers read with her are: 1. She doesn't judge me for any and every kind of question tgat I bring to the table. 2. She takes my questions seriously and believes they are with the time she spends pondering over them and looking for answers with me. 3. I know I can share my thoughts on what I have read – however unconventional my comments – and know that no will be calling for my blood. Something about the book. From what I have read, it starts from point where a family line got divided to seta basis and I am enjoying it. Not even done with the first chapter yet and I have messaged so many questions to Sid already! So, basically this one will keep me engrossed. QOTD: Do you share reads? With whom and why? #ShareARead #BookPhoto #BookstagramPk #Bookstagram #BookstagramFeature #BookgramPk #Bookgram #KindleReads #KindlePhoto #AtMyWorkStation #ReadingWithAFriend #Muhammad #Biography #MartinLing

A post shared by Hina Tabassum Khatri (@khatrihina) on May 1, 2019 at 12:55pm PDT