Muhammad: The Man Who Transformed Arabia

by Peter Cotterell

Muhammad: the man who transformed Arabia. The man whose life in some measure determines the everyday behaviour of more than a billion of his followers across the world. And yet a man it is difficult to know. As the author of this book points out, biographies of Muhammad have tended to present him either as a man who could do nothing right or else as a man who could do nothing wrong. Somewhere in between is the real Muhammad. Dr Cotterell has taught and lectured on Islam for more than 30 years. For over 20 years he lived and worked in Ethiopia. This book is the result of those years of struggling to understand Islam and Muhammad, its central figure.

188 pages, Paperback

First published November 5, 2011

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

The greatest strength of this book is Cotterell's willingness to allow the primary sources to paint our understanding of Muhammad himself. Cotterell engages with the most trusted sources of Islam to show us who Muhammad was. The reader is to make up her own mind over whether Muhammad really was the prophetic messenger he claimed himself to be, and Cotterell maintains an irenic tone throughout the whole book. This is especially welcome given the heated tone discussions surrounding Islam are conducted in today.

This book is a great introduction to the man who founded Islam, and I would recommend it to anyone seeking to understand the social, political, and cultural context of Muhammad's time.

Some weaknesses are that the editing is at times poor, with too many different topics being covered paragraph after paragraph, and sentences lacking clear and succinct phrases.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding history of Muhammad.

A great strength is its constant referral to the essential source documents: The Qur'an, Traditions (Hadith), Ibn Ishaq's biography of Muhammad (the 'official Islamic biography) and The Sunna (the practice of Muhammad).

I hope to write an extended review as there is so much to reflect upon. The author is a Christian, as am I, and to my mind his scholarly formation and lived experience of Islam shine through in respect and fairness. His aim is to present Muhammad, the man who transformed Arabia, and this, he acheives quite brilliantly.

A fitting follow up the the brilliant 'Christianity Alongside Islam' by John W Wilson, also of Acorn Press. These 2 books are a must for your bookshelf.