This is a very good introduction to the early stages of Muhammad's career and to the traditional Sunni Muslim view of his companions. He also tackles some controversial issues such as the age of Aisha, Muhammad's child bride (who went on to become a major narrator of the traditions concerning him and an influential early Islamic scholar). Muhammad Asad had planned to translate the entirety of Sahih al Bukhari but his plans were dashed by the chaos of the partition of India. His studies eventually bore fruit in his influential translation of and commentary on the Qur'an, entitled the Message of the Qur'an. I recommend this book to anyone seeking to understand Islam on the basis of sources that Muslims themselves recognize as authentic.