Mohamad Jebara's 'Muhammad, The World-Changer. An Intimate Portrait' offers a refreshing and engaging take on the life of Prophet Muhammad, avoiding miraculous accounts and instead focusing on the Prophet's leadership and teachings. The book is praised for its novel interpretations and powerful imagery, making it a standout among biographies of the Prophet.
Mohamad Jebara's 'Muhammad, The World-Changer. An Intimate Portrait' is a refreshing departure from traditional biographies of Prophet Muhammad. The author, a Canadian-born Muslim and multi-linguist, avoids miraculous accounts and instead focuses on the Prophet's leadership and teachings. The book is praised for its novel interpretations and powerful imagery, such as the translation of 'iqra' as 'a moment a bud unfurls and opens to the world around it.' This makes the book engaging and thought-provoking. The reviewer appreciates the book's focus on the Prophet's central message of individual rights and his leadership style, which is compared to natural imagery like streams flowing around rocks. The book is seen as a valuable addition to the literature on Prophet Muhammad, offering a fresh perspective that avoids insulting the reader's intelligence.
Quick quotes
He does not challenge readers’ credulity nor insult their intelligence.
Jebara translates _iqra’_ as 'a moment a bud unfurls and opens to the world around it.' Powerful floral imagery!
The Prophet’s central message and the respect he placed on it is that each individual has certain unalienable rights endowed by his Creator, not to be trifled with or abridged by mere mortals no matter how powerful.