Mohamad Jebara > Quotes

“Shining the spotlight on a sacred figure like Muhammad can seem intimidating. Examination might lead to the desecration of a venerated relic, and exploring the unknown might shatter established beliefs. Considering a fresh perspective might provoke harsh reactions.”
― Mohamad Jebara, Muhammad, the World-Changer: An Intimate Portrait

“Jahiliyyah is not an epoch but a mindset—and willful stagnation can occur among any people. After stagnating in the Dark Ages for cen- turies, Europeans finally realized that the Muslims—long dismissed as heathens—had actually preserved classical European wisdom. Once the Europeans opened their minds to reclaim that heritage, they embarked on the Renaissance. Muslims can benefit from a similar perspective. Western knowledge is not heretical but rather has preserved and built upon Muhammad’s core values.”
― Mohamad Jebara, Muhammad, the World-Changer: An Intimate Portrait

“I have lived with Muhammad my entire life: I was given his name the day I was born, yet for years knew nothing about him.”
― Mohamad Jebara, Muhammad, the World-Changer: An Intimate Portrait

“On the day he was born, Muhammad was given a unique name—and with it a mission to model positive behavior to inspire others. The great inventors of the Golden Age sought to emulate his success by applying his mindset of blossoming to their own circumstances. Each manifested his methodology in trailblazing innovations that not only reflected their individuality but also transformed the world—precisely the lifetime goal Muhammad’s mother had articulated for her son on her deathbed.

Indeed, Aminah’s inspiring last words reverberate beyond six-year- old Muhammad to reach people of all backgrounds across the genera- tions: strive to be a world-changer in your own unique way.”
― Mohamad Jebara, Muhammad, the World-Changer: An Intimate Portrait

“Key to his success was the mindset he championed. An optimist, Muhammad constantly sought new solutions to surmount obstacles and promote yusr (flow). He also insisted that people make the most of their limited time on earth, observing that “the beginning of time is serenity (ridhwan), the middle of time is optimism for a better future (rahmah), and the end of time is accountability (‘afw).”
― Mohamad Jebara, Muhammad, the World-Changer: An Intimate Portrait

“Each time we use our cell phones, snap pictures with a camera, or use a search engine’s algorithms, we benefit from the legacy of Muhammad’s modern mindset. His mindset is not tied to Mecca or Medina, for as the Golden Age political philosopher Al-Farabi observed, “Medina is not a location but the manner in which a community comes together.” Indeed, people of any culture or race can establish a “place of flowing change.” As Muhammad declared in the final days of his life, “My progeny are those who uphold my legacy!”
― Mohamad Jebara, Muhammad, the World-Changer: An Intimate Portrait

“Assembling a coherent portrait of Muhammad’s life required piecing together scattered fragments and structuring them in an organized manner. What emerged from the reconstruction was the realization that Muhammad had endured terrible setbacks and traumatic suffering, only to turn his brokenness into an asset, unlocking latent abilities to improve the world around him. Moved by his own experience in overcoming challenges, Muhammad dedicated himself to inspiring others to see their imperfections as the very source of their potential. Despite all the pain, Muhammad refused to see himself as a victim. His nickname al- Badr Laylat At-Tamam (the fullest moon) referred to illumination of the darkness by his bright shining face.”
― Mohamad Jebara, Muhammad, the World-Changer: An Intimate Portrait

“I have therefore included in this book details of Muhammad’s life that I subjected to an extensive analytical process. In fact, cross-referencing sources and researching the historical record is insufficient without also developing expertise in the particular nuances of Muhammad’s cultural context. One cannot understand his world without appreciating the in- formation he himself was sifting through on his life journey.”
― Mohamad Jebara, Muhammad, the World-Changer: An Intimate Portrait

“The Arabic term for Gospel, Injil, plays off the original Greek euangelos (“bringing good news”), but with a twist on the Semitic root N-J-L, meaning “opening eyes wide.” The name reflected Jesus’ mission to deliver his people from the bondage of blindly following corrupt clerics by reawakening individual powers of perception.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“Rather than retreat inward, the evangelical followers of Jesus focused out- ward, marketing their message to the pagan masses. The appeal of their pitch lay in its simplicity: anyone could become one of God’s chosen people by joining the Brotherhood in Jesus Christ. Harnessing monotheistic energy for mass liberation, these devout followers invited people of all backgrounds to join a Catholic (from the Greek katholikos—“universal”) movement.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“The Qur’an does not hesitate to retell biblical incidents with modifications—or to introduce entirely new vignettes around iconic biblical figures. As a book purposely not constructed around a formal narrative, the Qur’an leverages these allusions primarily to emphasize a moral value rather than re- veal an origin story. Every time the Qur’an presents a story, it always follows with terse analyses synthesizing key takeaways.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“In one sense, the Qur’an regards the Torah and the Gospel as older siblings— and looks on with dismay at the family feud tearing apart Abrahamic cohesion. In another sense, the Qur’an exists as an orphan. It presents the first Abrahamic scripture in Arabic, delivered by an Arabian prophet. Claiming a lineage back to the Torah yet revealed in a thoroughly pagan society, the Qur’an enjoys an insider-outsider status—one that empowers it to look lovingly yet critically at its ancestry. This complex inheritance means the Qur’an is aware of its roots yet free to develop its own identity without being confined by parental oversight.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“Echoing the inspiration and pedagogic power of Jesus’ parables, the Qur’an abounds with simple allegories to convey complex ideas.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“While deeply admiring and affirming past prophets, the Qur’an casts a critical eye on human misapplication of their revelations. “Our prophetic guides came to them with clarifying signs, yet many among them soon lapsed, spreading disorder in the land” (5:32). The perpetual dynamic of monotheistic values revived by prophets only to be subsequently squandered by humans is what concerns the Qur’an. It diagnoses a range of repeated failures, including: losing a close relationship with the Divine and reverting to idolatry; debating minutiae as an excuse to avoid bold action; imposing dogma not found in scripture and turning petty disputes over dogma into deadly violence; and elites selfishly abusing their leadership positions to mislead and manipulate.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“Like many of the prophets who came before him, Jesus attracted both an intense following and harsh opposition. In the span of just three years of preaching, he reignited the age-old Jewish spirit of rebellion against oppression. Both the priestly elites and the Romans regarded him as a threatening agitator—this even though Jesus often spoke in parables as a way to deliver his bold critique in a less directly provocative manner.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“The Qur’an calls Jesus Al-Masih, the Messiah—literally, “the anointed one” or “the one who wipes away injustice.” Rather than adopting the Jewish framing of the messiah as a political redeemer, the Qur’anic understanding of the messiah is a reformer anointed by God to revive the theory of Abraham and the structure of Moses. Or, in a related sense, as a great clarifier who wipes away the filmy haze obscuring clear understanding.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“In 762, to symbolize and propel the new order, Al-Mansur decided to build the grand new capital of Baghdad as a massive round city. The caliph assembled an elite team of the empire’s top engineers, architects, and visionaries—notably including Zoroastrians, Christians, and Jews, such as Mashallah Ibnul-Athari.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“Brilliant Muslim scholars applied Qur’anic insights to spark the medieval Islamic Golden Age filled with a mind-boggling outpouring of creativity in science, math, medicine, fashion, philosophy, economics, mental health therapy, architecture, art, and beyond.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“Daring to publicly express ideas independent from the dominant elite narrative indeed had serious consequences. Those who did faced isolation— and worse—if they failed to heed repeated warnings to remain silent.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“The Qur’an is a book with enormous power. When not understood properly, it can yield perilous results—similar to how powerful natural elements like hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen are vital components of air, soil, and water, yet can also be manipulated to manufacture explosives.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“I became like the bee: intensely gathering information from as many sources as possible and analyzing the material to construct my own understanding of Muhammad’s mindset. I analyzed every piece of data, scrutinizing it for accuracy. I sought to shorten as much as possible the chains of scholarly transmission that separated me from Muhammad. Approaching Muhammad with an open mind proved transformational: making my own sense of him forged a much more meaningful personal relationship with his legacy.”
― Mohamad Jebara, Muhammad, the World-Changer: An Intimate Portrait

“To help inspire refined analysis of the Qur’an’s content, the second field was called Tafsir—literally, “separating strands of raw flax and weaving them into a garment.” Tafsir sought to become an oral tradition for preserving knowledge about how to understand and apply the Qur’an. The field covered the meaning of words (including their Semitic root concepts and the implication of grammatical structures); their context (when it was said, to whom, and why); and their application (initial purpose, lessons for other situations, and distilled wisdom). The field aimed to capture commentary by Muhammad, the historical insights of his companions, and knowledge of preexisting Abrahamic traditions.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“As the Qur’an itself had quoted Moses to declare (and as Muhammad had cited in his final letter to the assassin Musailimah): “The earth belongs to the Loving Divine, who allots it to whomever He wills; yet the most lasting legacy will be the enduring impact of those who have action-based hope.” Tellingly, when Al-Mansur inaugurated his new capital, the cornerstone of Baghdad featured that very verse etched for all to see.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“Algebra did not simply ease how numbers were depicted or calculated, but fundamentally revolutionized how to operate efficiently.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“The Qur’anic experience went far beyond reading, chanting, or memorizing. The Qur’an was not merely ink on parchment, sounds emerging from someone’s throat, or ears listening to recitation. Rather it was the precious moment when inspired audiences found the courage to blossom out of stagnation, opening once-closed petals to reveal dormant potential ready to be unlocked.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“As it devises its own system, the Qur’an takes pains to explain its reasoning. For example, the admonition against indulging in alcohol and gambling is justified by the “immense social harm” both can cause, especially the ripple effect of damage to others via drunken violence and crippling debt (addicts in
Arabia often sold their own children into slavery to repay debts).”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“When the Qur’an critically evaluates the individual behavior of certain Jews, Christians, and pagans, it does so because these individuals serve as models for both what to do and not to do. Compared to the standards of harsh prophetic chastisement found in the revelations of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, the Qur’an is a gentle critic—despite attempts by some translators to heighten the tension.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“In the valley of death,
and upon the mountains of Peru
Upon the raging seas,
and the calming morning dew
Through strength,
and weakness,
remaining true to you!
I will love you forever,
I always will love you!”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Illustrious Garden

“While today the Qur’an is viewed in retrospect as the grand scripture of powerful and triumphant empires, virtually its entire unfolding was defined by corresponding experiences of persecution, banishment, slander, and other intense suffering endured by its followers. In many ways, the Qur’an is the product of pain and sorrow.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy

“In essence, the algebra mindset transformed broken situations into dynamic opportunities for lasting impact. And it did so with elegant equations, precise numerals, and dynamic efficiency. The world would never be the same.”
― Mohamad Jebara, The Life of the Qur'an: From Eternal Roots to Enduring Legacy