Muhammad (Past Masters) First Edition

I have been a serious student of the history of western religions for 5 or 6 years, with emphasis on the beginnings and early years of Christianity in the context of the cultures, philosophies and religions of the time (Jewish, Greek, Roman, Persian etc.), and the subsequent development of the 6th-7th century world in which Islam arose and flourished. I have accumulated a sizable reference collection and thought I hadn't missed very much. But I just ran across Michael Cook's 'Muhammad', and it is the book I would recommend that any interested beginner read for a short account of Muhammed and the origins of Islam. Only 89 pages, it is especially good on the relationships between Islam and its Arabian cultural roots, and between Islam and Judaism & Christianity. The writing style is so clear and effective that it took my breath away more than once. Other reviewers here criticize it as an apology for Islam, as speculating things that are in dispute, and as not being the best source on this subject. The first says less about this book or about Islam than it does about the reviewer. The second is true but trivial - Cook is clear that he is speculating when he does and it is a strength of this book that he is willing to. From my extensive reading, there is nothing in his speculations that is unreasonable. On the third, there are other good introductory books such as Karen Armstrong's 'History of God' and 'Islam', but this is the best well-written short treatment I have seen. Cook wrote a short, clear book in part by leaving out all the "maybes" and "so-and-so doesn't agree with this theory" verbiage. If you want a longer, every question & detail covered, a struggle to get through, reference-style treatment, well, they're out there. That's not what this is.

Michael Cook's brief biography of Muhammad meets all the criteria of a fine, insightful analysis, worthy of repeated readings. I had first come across it in a graduate school seminar on "Muhammad and the origins of Islam" back in 1989, and I was immediately struck by its conciseness, its getting down to basics in narrating the life and historical fact of Muhammad. More, Cook adds on chapters putting Muhammad in historical and religious perspective of Middle Eastern monotheism, which cover the monotheist understanding of the universe, law, politics and history.Throughout, Cook's narrative and analysis makes splendid reading, and one gains significant insight by repeated re-readings. I would recommend this short book to anyone wishing to get a first orientation to Muhammad, Islam, and the Qu'ran.

Cook says early on in the text that most Muslims are "Sunni" and that Islam is more monolithic than Christianity. This is his round-about way of stating his intent to retell Sunni beliefs and history from his own, personal opinion. Sunni beliefs are read into the Qur'an, and controversial Hadiths are cited, sometimes as fact, without pointing out opposing arguments. You leave this book with the notion that Muhammad was as intelligent a product as his culture could make him; a self-proclaimed prophet that invented polemics against Jews and Christians in order to extend his own political influence. Religious animosity is highlighted, especially negative feelings certain Muslims harbor toward Jews, while positive inter-faith interaction is downplayed. If you want a book that discusses the multitude of opinions regarding Muhammad and the Qur'an, don't get this. But if you want a quick, yet biased, introduction against conservative, Sunni Islam, this is your book. If you want a genuine introduction to Islam, I'd recommend anything written by Karen Armstrong.

Was a good little book. Even though it is small it is chocked with interesting information and was well worth the purchase.

I enjoyed it as much as I had enjoyed Cook's A Short History of Quran. He writes, plainly and is compellingly very impressive.

A disciplined, thorough-enough (it picks and chooses from what is known about the subject in wise ways) account of the Prophet's life and impact. It also suggests possible redactions, alternate points of view, and thoughts on how Muhammad himself would respond to Islam as it has been practiced since his death. Michael Alan Cook never slips into self-indulgence; his spare humor is achieved subtly, with word order - but I found myself laughing aloud. Moreover he brings Muhammad's world of nearly endless tribal conflict and negotiation to vivid life - like a movie. Without addressing directly the reader's lack of information per se, he fills in gaps and offers a genuine knowledge base. I learned much I previously had little clue about regarding Islamic, pre-Islamic and Peninsula culture. I cannot recommend this book enough.

An interesting and original semi-biography. If you want a chronological description of his life, then this is not for you. But if you are interested in an original perspective, check out this small book.

Gives a very brief account on the life of the Prophet (pbuh) and his mission and beginning of the Islamic civilization.

One of the best on this subject for balance and frankness. Prose occasionally rather opaque.