The Life of Muhammad by Ishaq, I. unknown Edition [Hardcover(2002)] Hardcover

I read this book because I wanted to know more about the founder of a religion which seems to generate so much controversy in current affairs. I would like to believe the mainstream media which tells us that radical Islam is an aberration of what is really a religion of peace, human rights, and morality. I think we would all like to believe that. After reading this book, I'm not so sure.In my quest to find an authentic biography of Muhammad, I avoided, modern sanitized, apologetic acounts which ignore or whitewash some of the more controversial events of his life. I also avoided the more polemic accounts written by right-wing evangelicals who want to demonize him. After doing some web surfing, I found what seems to be the oldest biographical account of Muhammad translated into English and available to the general public.Ibn Ishaq was commissioned by a caliph in the 8th century to write a history of creation which included the Sirah (life journey) of Muhammad. Ishaq collected oral traditions handed down by eyewitnesses. Ishaq's work became the basis for some of the other earliest accounts of Muhammad, including Ibn Hisham's widely heralded biography. However, Hisham edited much of what Ishaq wrote. Ishaq was a devout Muslim and as a man of his time and culture probably felt that victory in battle and supremacy over one's enemies was a sign of "god's" favor.Alfred Guillaume, an Oxford scholar who specialized in Arabic language and the study of Islam, translated Ishaq's work, comparing it with other early Arabic accounts. Guillaume's translation was first published in 1955, long before Islam became associated with modern terrorism. His middle eastern colleagues who helped him translate the work as well as reviewed and edited it, did not seem to have any issues with it.What impressed me about this book was its meticulous attention to detail in recording the names of the sources of information and the chain of individuals who handed it down. Ishaq also recorded the names of Muslim martyrs killed in battle as well as the tribes they came from. This makes for tedious reading but lends credibility to his work.Muhammad is portrayed in his early years as a misunderstood visionary who suffered persecution and humiliation from leading members of his clan and community in Mecca which forced him and his earliest followers to emigrate to Medina.Reading between the lines, Muhammad must have had tremendous charisma which enabled him to have a Svengali-like influence on his followers who had a cultic devotion to him. Although his followers didn't worship him, they never questioned the divine authority he claimed was bestowed upon him and they blindly obeyed him...(p.406) "When he gives an order, we do not examine it...our desire is to obey him in all that he wants." This blind devotion enabled him to do thing which shock modern sensibilities.Throughout this review, I refer to Muhammad's god as "god" because I have too much respect for GOD to legitimize the monstrosity which Muhammad has made of him. Muhammad's "god" told Muhammad what Muhammad wanted to hear.Since Muhammad was guided by "god" he could conveniently excuse his failures. Nobody could question Muhammad's orders to fight since "god" himself said, "He who turns his back except in manuevering or intending to join another section, incurs the wrath of 'god' and his destination is hell." (p.322). Muhammad's lavish praise and venerarion of martyrs killed in his battles as well as the promises of a sublime otherworldly paradise was another ruse he used to make his followers overlook his failures.Muhammad exploited and bastardized Jewish and Christian scriptures to justify himself as a prophet. Muhammad often reminded Jews and Christians who rejected him that they were disobedient to their own faith since he was written into their holy books. For example (p.104), one tradition identifies Muhammad as the Comforter or Paraclete who Jesus promised in the Gospel of John. On (p.182) Muhammad had a visionary experience of being in the Temple in Jerusalem where he met Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and a company of prophets and acted as their prayer leader (imam).This account portrays Muhammad as a megalomaniacal brigand. He could also be compared to a powerful organized crime boss who ordered assassinations of his enemies. He was compassionate, generous and magnanimous to his adoring followers but brutal to his enemies. It seems that his followers loved the wealth he bestowed upon them which he obtained by plundering his enemies.If you think I'm being prejudiced and Islamophobic, I will let the book speak for itself.The following passages illustrate Muhammad's intolerance:(p.186) Muhammad disdained children born out of wedlock. During a visionary experience through hell, "Then I saw women hanging by their breasts. These are those who had fathered bastard on their husbands"..."Great is 'god's' anger against a woman who brings a bastard into her family. He deprives the true sons of their portion."(p. 364) Muhammad said, "O you who believe, take not Jews and Christians as friends."(p.523) Muhammad decreed that two religions should not be allowed to remain on the (Arabian) peninsula and advised the Jews to emigrate.The following passages illustrate Muhammad's cruel, vindictive nature and his lack of mercy:(p.267) Muhammad ordered two Jews caught in the act of adultery to be stoned to death.(p.308) Muhammad ordered a captive, Uqba, killed. when Uqba pleaded with him saying, "But who will look after my children, O Muhammad!" Muhammad replied, "Hell" and had him killled.(p.367) Muhammad ordered the death of Ibnu'l-Ashraf who had insulted him.(p.387) Upon seeing his dead uncle, Hamza, Muhammad said, "If 'god' gives me victory over Quraysh in the future, I will mutilate 30 of their men."(p.551) Muhammad ordered the execution of two women who sang satirical songs about him. (one of them survived)(p.675) Muhammad sent Salim b. Umayr to kill an enemy, Abu Afak. When Asima d. Marwan spoke out against Islam due to this assassination, Muhammad ordered her to be killed as well. After Umayr performed the deed, Muhammad said, "You have helped 'god'and his apostle O Umayr."(p.678) Muhammad sent Kurz b. Jabir to capture some men who had killed his slave (yes, Muhammad was a slaveholder) and stolen his camels. When they were brought to Muhammad, he cut off their hands and feet and gouged out their eyes.The following passages describe Muhammad as a brigand sanctioned by "god" to plunder his enemies:(p.287) Regarding a plundered caravan...1/5 of the booty went to Muhammad. "god" would give it to them as prey.(p.304) After the battle of Badr, Muhammad thanked "god" for the head of Abu Jahl, one of his enemies. Then Muhammad ordered the dead enemies thrown into a pit and divided the spoil among his followers.(p.321) According to a revelation from "god",..."They will ask you about the spoils, say 'The spoils belong to 'god' and his apostle".(p.326) Muhammad claimed, "booty was made lawful to me as to no other prophet before me."(p.327) "god" told Muhammad, "So enjoy what you have captured as lawful and good." (an example of "god' telling Muhammad what Muhammad wanted to hear).(p.438) The Jews from B. Al-Nadir were exiled from their homes and left their property to the apostle to dispose of as he wished. Their date palms "were cut down by 'god's' order; it was not destruction, but vengeance from 'god'".(p.571) To settle a dispute, Muhammad said anyone who killed a foe could have his spoil. One Muslim took all the spoil from one he had killed and bought a small palm grove with it. (How nice!)(p.672) Ibn Hadrad (a Muslim) brought a large number of plundered camels and sheep to Muhammad along with the head of an enemy, Kifa'a b. Qays. As a reward, Muhammad allowed him to keep 13 of the stolen camels which enabled him to pay the dowry for his marriage. (How nice!)The following passages illustrate Muhammad's use of fear, intimidation, and terror:(p.322) "god is quoted as saying, "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve, so strike off their heads and cut off all their fingers becaused they opposed 'god' and his apostle".(p.326) "god" told Muhammad to strike terror into unbelievers and make an example of them as a warning to future generations.(p.368) One of Muhammad's followers said, "Our attack upon 'god's' enemy cast terror among the Jews, and there was no Jew in Medina who didn't fear for his life".(p.369) Muhammad said, "Kill any Jew that falls into your power". Subsequently, one of his followers killed a Jewish merchant with whom he had done business. When his older brother (a non-Muslim) rebuked him, the killer replied, "Had he (Muhammad) ordered me to cut off your head, I would have done so". (Needless to say, the older brother became a Muslim).(p.523) When the men of Fadak heard about the Muslims' brutal raid on Khaybar, "god" struck terror in their hearts and they offered peace on condition that they be allowed to keep half their produce.. "Thus Fadak became his (Muhammad's) private property".(p.547) A conquered enemy, Abu Sufyan, was taken to Muhammad who said, "Isn't it time you recognize that I am 'god's' apostle?" When Abu Sufyan expressed doubt, one of his Muslim captors told him, "Submit and testify that there is no god but 'allah' and that Muhammad is the apostle of 'god' before you lose your head". (Needless to say, Abu Sufyan became a good and obedient Muslim).(p.618) Muhammad made the proclamation, "When the sacred months are passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them, and seize them and beseige them and lie in wait for them in every ambush. but if they repent and perform prayer and pay the poor tax, let them go their way".(p.645) Muhammad sent Khalid b. Al-Walid to the B. Al-Harith inviting them to accept Islam before he attacked them. (Needeless to say, they accepted Islam). When they came to Muhammad, he told them, "If Khalid had not written to me that you had accepted Islam and had not fought, I would throw your heads beneath your feet".Muhammad's use of captured women as property can be found in these passages:(p.490) Regarding the raid on the B. Al-Mustaliq, "god" put the B. Al-Mustaliq to flight and killed some of them and gave the apostle their wive's children, and property as booty.(p.493) One of the capured wmen from the B. Al-Mustaliq, Juwayrira, described as a "most beautiful woman", Muhammad claimed for his wife.In addition, "god" would not allow captured women who converted to Islam to return to their husbands. (It didn't matter, the other women were used as slaves and concubines).Perhaps the most egregious example of Muhammad's cruelty and depravity, as illustrated in this book, is the raid in the B. Qurayza, a settlement of Jews in Medina with starts on page 461. After the B. Qurayza surrendered, Muhammad appointed one of his followers, Sa'd to pass judgement on them which was met with Muhammad's approval and carried out on his orders. They had their property taken and their wives and children were taken, (Muhammad took one of the women, Rayhana, as his wife). The men, numbered between 600 and 700 were taken to a trench where they had their heads cut off.Another egregious example of Muhammad's cruelty and depravity, as illustrated in this book, is the expedition to Khaybar. The women of Khaybar were distributed among the Muslims. Muhammad took one of them, Safiya, as his wife.(p.515) Safiya was the wife of Kinana who had custody of the treasure of the B. Al-Nadir (who the Muslims previously conquered and plundered). When Kinana refused to disclose the location of the treasure, Muhammad ordered him to be tortured until he revealed its location. A fire was kindled on his chest until he was nearly dead. Muhammad had his head cut off. (This was probably a mercy killing).Another horrific example of brutality was committed by Muhammad's followers during a raid which he ordered against the B. Fazara. A prominent elderly woman, Umm Qirfa, was captured and put to death by having each leg tied to a camel and "driving them until they rent her in two".This book may give us a better understanding of radical Islam. The plundering, kidnapping, and head cutting of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL is no different than what Muhammad and his followers did in the 7th century. We may have to face the truth that radical Islam is the Islam of Muhammad. If this portrayal is accurate and if we wonder why so many psychopaths are attracted to Islam, we need look no further than its founding prophet.

Like Caesar's description of Gaul, the primary materials of Islam are divided into three parts.If you wish to be fully informed regarding Islam then you must read all of the foundational documents. 1. The Quran, 2. the Hadiths and 3. The biography of Muhammad. It is in the biography that you will find information regarding the sequence of the announcements of the Quranic verses (as the Quran is not arranged by order of “revelation” but by length of passage). Here you will find the sequence of events in Muhammad's life (even the prediction by a Jewish soothsayer of his coming birth and mission, discussed below). You will find who really started what and why (as the followers of Mr. Muhammad were quite proud of his accomplishments). Ibn Ishaq documents as far as possible the “chain of provenance” of who said what regarding events and the comments of his editor Ibn Hisham further clarify both the reliability of the passage and provide further details. In addition, controversies regarding accuracy are acknowledged by both Ishaq and Hisham. Large amounts of poetry written in reaction to events are included in the biography (and potential forgeries acknowledged). The poetry is quite the window into the mindset of the participants and therefore their world (I recommend Raphel Patai's “The Arab Mind” for further insights into why the poetry takes it's specific form and language). I am reminded of the game known as “telephone” but from a practical standpoint such a concern is irrelevant as serious practitioners of Islam will regard all materials as established fact. So, let's look into these facts. Page 94: Ibnu'l-Hayyaban came from Syria to Mecca in order the hope of seeing the “...emergence of a prophet whose time was at hand” and was a Jewish soothsayer. He predicts the coming of Muhammad by noting the following: “His time has come, and don't let anyone get to him before you, O Jews; for he will be sent to shed blood and to take captive the women and children of those who oppose him. Let not that keep you back from him”. Page 131: In this episode some members of Muhammad's tribe (the Quraysh) had been insulting Mr. Muhammad as he walked around the temple enclosing the black stone. Mr. Muhammad did not care for being insulted and so “...He stopped and said 'Will you listen to me O Quraysh? By him who holds my life in His hand I bring you slaughter' “. Page 165: Regarding Sura 109. One of the “Satanic” verses (meaning put into the mind of Muhammad by Satan. Yes you read that right, by Satan). Interestingly Sura 109 is one of the verses frequently quoted to show the “tolerance” of Islam “...You can have your religion, all of it, and I have mine”. Later Mr. Muhammad is chastised by Allah (via Gabriel) for saying this (page 166) and Muhammad is remorseful. Allah then “sends down” a rewrite of Sura 109 via Sura 22.51 which then abrogates the original and acknowledges that this Sura is an undoing of the influence of Satan. Page 197: Here we see “The Beginning of Islam Among the Helpers”. The interesting passage here is found on 198 where 12 “helpers” are at a fair and “..they gave the apostle the pledge of women. This was before the duty of making war was laid upon them”.Page 208: The second pledge[aka 'Aqaba] (and NOT of women). “When God gave permission to his apostle to fight, the second 'Aqaba contained conditions involving war which were not in the first act of fealty. Now they bound themselves to WAR AGAINST ALL AND SUNDRY FOR GOD AND HIS APOSTLE, WHILE HE PROMISED THEM FOR FAITHFUL SERVICE THUS THE REWARD OF PARADISE” (my emphasis, not in the original).Page 212: Permission is given to fight defensively in reaction to being “abused” by the Quraysh via being “seduced” away from Islam and being exiled (note that by this time Mr. M.had been stirring up quite the fuss and destroying idols. In addition he had converts from other tribes and this was a HUGE problem as now there were converts not constrained by kinship ties in a society where disputes often lead to bloodshed save for fearing to shed the blood of a relative, even if distant).Page 213: Sura 22.40-22 makes the scene: “ 'Fight them so that there be no more seduction', i.e. until no believer is seduced from his religion. 'And the religion is God's' , i.e. until God alone is worshipped' (spelling in the original)”.Page 239: Jewish adversaries and hypocrites[polytheists in league with the Jews] (note the language used): “They were the hypocrites, clinging to the polytheism of their fathers and denying the resurrection; yet when Islam appeared and their people flocked to it they were compelled to pretend to accept it to SAVE THEIR LIVES” (my emphasis).Page 280: And so it starts: “Then the apostle prepared for war in pursuance of God's command to fight his enemies and to fight those polytheists who were near at hand whom God commanded him to fight”.Page 281: “The raid on Waddan which was his first raid”. Note that the text does NOT say this was a defensive action but a RAID. “Then he went forth raiding in Safar...”.Page 287: Caravan of Quraysh raided while the Muslims pretend to be pilgrims.Pate 363: Muhammad goes to war with the Banu (tribe) Qaynuqa (Jews) over allegedly breaking an agreement with “the apostle”. Turns out this was an ordinary blood feud over killing and counter killing that was provoked by a joke played on a Muslim woman in which her dress was briefly lifted and people laughed. Normally these things were handled by paying a blood price so the feud would end but Muhammad threatened to kill 700 men over the issue (Jews) and was dissuaded by Abdullah b. Ubayy b. Salul (who was a Muslim) as these potential victims were clients of his who had protected him. Mr. M. then backed down but then he later gets a “message” from you-know-who: Sura 5.56 in which it states; “Oh you who believe, take not Jews and Christians as friends. They are friends of one another. Who of you takes them as friends is one of them...”.Page 369: This episode demonstrates the power and influence Muhammad was now wielding. Two brothers, one a Muslim, one not argued after the Muslim had killed a Jew per Muhammad's orders (he had given an order to “Kill any Jew that falls into your power”. And so they did. The Muslim brother killed Ibn Sunayna. The non-Muslim brother was shocked and the following transpired: “You enemy of God, did you kill him when much of the fat on your belly comes from his wealth?” The Muslim brother replied: “Had the one who ordered me to kill him ordered me to kill you I would have cut your head off”. The non-Muslim brother was amazed and exclaimed: “By God, a religion which can bring you to this is marvellous! (spelling in the original)”. He then became a Muslim (i.e. this religion was so wonderful it could cause a brother to forget kinship ties and kill his own brother).And so it goes on from here. Rather than list page after page of murder, mayhem, lying, betrayal, marauding ad-nauseum I will note only two additional episodes.1. This is the case of the Banu (tribe) Qurayza. (page 461 is the start of the story). Here Mr. M. gets a visit from Gabriel who asks him if he has stopped fighting, Mr. M. explains that he has and Gabriel states “God commands you, Muhammad, to go to Banu Qurayza. I am about to go to them and shake their stronghold”. And so Muhammad sets out to attack this Jewish tribe. They are told they can save themselves and their women and children if they convert but refuse. The Jews lose the battle and surrender hoping to negotiate terms (as was usually done). The terms were death. Muhammad HIMSELF, PERSONALLY beheaded between 600-900 men in one day (done in batches, as, after all, this hard work!). 2. The taking of Khaybar (A.H.7)(page 510). By now the reputation of you-know-who had spread. The Jews of Khaybar surrendered and negotiated a settlement in which they remained (subject to expulsion at any time) but had to give the Muslims 50% of everything they produced. The biography notes: “So Khaybar became the prey of the Muslims...”. You read that right, “THE PREY” (page 516).In sum: There is nothing like original source material. By reading this for yourself you will not be subjected to dissembling obfuscation by Islamic apologists who are quick to complain about “taken out of context”. Read the biography and see the context for yourself. Although mind-numbing at times it is well worth the effort. And you better hurry up and get to it as there WILL be a quiz next Tuesday! Just to help you prepare, here is a sample question: If you were to read aloud in a public place, word-for-word from the biography, some of the descriptions of what was done by the “Prophet Of Islam”while you were in a Muslim-majority country, how many seconds would it take until you were relieved of any concerns regarding having enough savings for retirement?

Ibn Ishaq's سيرة رسول الل (Biography of the Messenger of Allah) has been lost. But an annotated version by Ibn Hisham does exist and this is the version that Alfred Guillaume (1888-1966) used to write his book "The Life of Muhammad".As with any Oxford Universtity Press publication, this is a worthy piece of academic literature, which is just as well because there aren't any other publications in the English language to compare it with. There's at least one summary of Ibn Hisham's book that I know of (by The Folio Society) that's light reading and less academically oriented. Both books have a place in the literature but clearly Guillaume's book covers far more detail at 690 pages of biography plus 170 pages of Ibn Hisham's notes.I have on small niggle, which is surprising given the academic credentials of the author and his publisher. Nowhere in the book does is tell you what "I.I.", "I.S." and "I.H." mean. It's conventional in academic literature to give the name in full together with the associated abbreviation before you start using the abbreviation, but this edition of the book doesn't do that. It's frustrating when you are trying to track down sources not to be given this information. Now obviously "I.I." means Ibn Ishaq, and "I.H." probably means Ibn Hisham, but what about "I.S."? In the end I had to go to another book on my shelf about the life of Muhammad ("Muhammad: his life based on the earliest sources" by Martin Lings) to find out what "I.S." means (Ibn Sa'd, the author of Kitab at-Tabawat al-Kabir).

This book was hard going as it wasn't the easiest to read. The language was dry, the poetry tedious but it's the best way to get to know Muhammed.This is the earliest biography we've got. Many people say it can't be trusted but only because they want Muhammed to be some Disney character.The biography took ages to get to Muhammed as there was a lot of earlier history that didn't seem necessary.Once we got to Muhammed, there was a fair bit of detail. Insights into his life and character. But it wasn't pleasant reading as Muhammed seemed to be more a warlord than a spiritual man. His followers seemed to have been quite cruel to their enemies, with Muhammed's blessing.**Spoiler Alert** According to this biography, his dying words were to tell his followers that there should only be one religion in the Arabian Peninsular. That the Jews were to be removed from the region fits with Muhammed's example in the previous years when he attempted to annihilate a number of Jewish tribes.So overall, it's worth reading to get to know the real Muhammed, easier than trawling through thousands upon thousands of Hadiths but it takes perseverance and I can't guarantee you'll like Muhammed anymore and you might even take a strong dislike to him by the time you finish.I'm glad that to get to know the Lord Jesus Christ, there are 4 relatively short Gospels which are quick and easy to read. He's a much nicer character too!

Bought this book to gain a better understanding of Muhammad's life. It's a little hard going at times, every account within the book is backed up with a name and their genealogy. It is a very interesting read and certain facts will probably surprise quite a few people. The book itself is hardback and the paper quality is good, however some of the pages have separated from the spine in places. I read the Quran prior to reading this book and this book certainly sheds light on quite a few passages within the Quran which I didn't initially understand as some Quaranic verses are specific to certain locations and certain people/peoples. I would certainly recommend this book as it is very informative and a great help if you're struggling with understanding the Quran, it is however in my opinion quite a slow read and I found it difficult/boring to read more than a few pages at a time.

My daughter very pleased with this book.

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