Book Review on “Muhammad his life based on the earliest sources”…

Lings has set out to tell the story of Mohammed as a narrative, which is quite a relief given that so many Islamic texts make references to common knowledge that was prevalent at the time of writing, but has fallen from popular consciousness. The author Martin Lings was a Muslim convert and Arabic speaker who spent formative years in Cairo and earned a Ph.D. on Sufism at SOAS University of London in 1959. He had a brief career overseeing eastern manuscripts at the British Museum and Library. This biography of Muhammad was written in 1983 and received prizes from governments in Pakistan and Egypt, as well as international acclaim from Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

If you've read "The Lord of The Rings" and are thinking "Islam/Mohammed... what's that then?" you'll be capable of dealing with this text and following the narrative style. It's presented in a similar vein to popular fiction, with very little analysis going on, instead we start with the scene being set with a battle featuring an elephant and a water source being found in Meccah. Our reluctant hero is introduced to similar individuals as him. Battles are fought, visions are had and women are romanced. Eventually, following a period of quest and exile, they make their way back into Mecca. This is the most exciting treatment of the foundation of Islam that you're going to find.

The pros are that the book covers most major events in the life of the Prophet (PBUH), or at least those I am aware of. It doesn't omit controversial events such as child marriage, caravan raiding, execution of enemies and ransom of captives. It is exciting and rendered in its unadulterated original form; angels fight alongside the believers in their battles with infidels. And it follows a clearly presented and consecutively narrated timeline without digression into the author's opinions.

The cons are that the book provides few dates; perhaps some are found in the footnotes missing from the ebook. It declines any discussion of theological context; the past century of study goes unnoticed by Lings. It uses anachronistic English quoting people of the period; thee, thou and the smiting of thine foes abound. So overall I would give it 3.5/5 stars. ⭐

It is a standard synopsis of the life of the Prophet (PBUH), as told the Quran, Hadith and Sira in a unified work. It is an acceptable introduction if followed with more discerning books by Watt, Donner, ​and others. Whether you are Muslim, Christian, Jew, Hindu, agnostic, atheist or spiritual without associating with any organised religion; you can learn the following from the life of the Prophet (PBUH).