Muhammad: The Messenger of Islam
May 18, 2005
People often ask me what is the best book on the Prophet (s.a.w.). I often reply, “The Qur’an”. While this may not have been the answer the questioner was expecting, I think it is important for us to have this understanding. The Last Prophet (s.a.w.) is also described in every book revealed to man.
You can find books written about the Prophet (s.a.w.) in virtually every language. A huge body of Islamic literature is dedicated to him (s.a.w.). The Shamail of Imam Tirmidhi, the as-Shifa’ of Qadi ‘Iyad, the Dala’il al-Khairat of Imam Jazuli, the Burdah of Imam Busiri, and the Sirah an-Nabi of Imam Dibae are just some of the luminous works describing and praising the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.). These works are so beautiful that, in traditional Muslim homes, they are often recited in gatherings. In our time, we have the works of Martin Lings, Haykal, and Siddique.
Why are there so many books on the Prophet (s.a.w.)? The answer is simple: It is love. If love is the ink, the lover’s pen will never dry.
Award to him whatever you want in terms of praise, and stand by it, and ascribe to his person whatever you want in terms of nobility and ascribe to his power every greatness you want, for the excellence of the Messenger (s.a.w.) of God has no limit so that anyone who speaks with his mouth could express it completely.— The Burdah of Imam al-Busiri
Back to the question I began with, the one that people often ask me. Well, it is really very hard for me to value one book over another, especially since they are all written out of love. But one book does stand out from the rest. The book is Muhammad: The Messenger of Islam — His Life and Prophecy by Hajjah Amina Adil. The author’s previous works include Lore of Light, Volumes 1, 2 and 3. The Lore of Light series describes the life histories of the eminent 24 Prophets; from Adam (a.s.) to Isa (a.s.). The book Muhammad, must be seen as the final instalment of the Lore of Light.
Reading this book has affected me deeply in two ways. Firstly, the author’s narrative style is descriptive, impressionistic and above all, moving. She does not simply list events like a historian, but rather fleshes out stories connected to the Prophet (s.a.w.) and strings them together to breathtaking effect. She also shifts her focus now and again to the Noble Companions and describes their love for the Prophet (s.a.w.). One simply cannot read this book and remain unmoved. However, I am not saying that her writings are all emotion and no detail. In fact, the description of the Mi’raaj is the most detailed I have ever come across in the English language.
Secondly, her writings depict the Prophet (s.a.w.), not solely as a historical figure within a specific period in history, but as a reality that is unconfined by time. She liberally juxtaposes her narration with modern-day doctrinal dilemmas such as the issue of the permissibility of celebrating the Prophet’s Day of Birth (Maulud Nabi). She also pauses between sections to discuss lessons that can be gleaned from a particular story. By doing so, she forces the reader to think about the Seerah and its immediate relevance to the ‘modern’ milieu we find ourselves in.
Nowadays when people ask me, I reach for the book whose cover bears a photograph of the Prophet’s (s.a.w.) holy relics in the Topkapi Museum, Istanbul.
{Hajjah Amina Adil, passed away peacefully earlier this year. May Allah bless her soul. Al-Fatiha.}
Title: Muhammad: The Messenger of Islam — His Life and Prophecy
Author: Hajjah Amina Adil
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