What do you think?
Rate this book
De boodschapper
De kroniekschrijver Zeeëd is de rechterhand van Mohammad en de man die Allahs openbaringen aan Mohammad verzamelt in een nieuw boek: de Koran. Na de dood van Mohammad vraagt Zeeëd zich af wie de profeet eigenlijk was. Zeeëd besluit langs te gaan bij mensen die de profeet hebben gekend: familie, vrienden, vijanden, volgelingen, wetenschappers, vrouwen en dichters. Met de optekening van hun verhalen reconstrueert Zeeëd het leven van Mohammad, de boodschapper, vanaf zijn geboorte tot aan zijn dood.
Recensie(s)
De auteur wil de Koran toegankelijk maken voor een Nederlandstalig publiek. Hij stelt dat je de Koran niet kunt begrijpen, als je niet het leven van Mohammed kent. Daarom voegde hij aan zijn vertaling van de Koran* een afzonderlijk deel toe, een novelle met het levensverhaal van Mohammed, 'De boodschapper'. Daarin wordt het leven van Mohammed naverteld op grond van de traditionele overleveringen. Het is niet bedoeld als een wetenschappelijk gefundeerde biografie. Door de nadruk te leggen op Mohammed als mens brengt de auteur de profeet dichterbij een modern lezerspubliek. Voor islamitische lezers zal deze benadering problematisch kunnen zijn; bevat een enkele anti-joodse passage. Gebonden, leeslint; kleine druk.
Prof. dr. K.A.D. Smelik
Recensie(s)
De auteur wil de Koran toegankelijk maken voor een Nederlandstalig publiek. Hij stelt dat je de Koran niet kunt begrijpen, als je niet het leven van Mohammed kent. Daarom voegde hij aan zijn vertaling van de Koran* een afzonderlijk deel toe, een novelle met het levensverhaal van Mohammed, 'De boodschapper'. Daarin wordt het leven van Mohammed naverteld op grond van de traditionele overleveringen. Het is niet bedoeld als een wetenschappelijk gefundeerde biografie. Door de nadruk te leggen op Mohammed als mens brengt de auteur de profeet dichterbij een modern lezerspubliek. Voor islamitische lezers zal deze benadering problematisch kunnen zijn; bevat een enkele anti-joodse passage. Gebonden, leeslint; kleine druk.
Prof. dr. K.A.D. Smelik
313 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
23 people are currently reading
344 people want to read
About the author
Kader Abdolah
54 books593 followersKader Abdolah is the penname of Hossein Sadjadi Ghaemmaghami Farahani, an Iranian writer who also writes in Dutch. Abdolah has lived in the Netherlands since 1988.
He studied physics at the Arak College of Science and fled the country as a political refugee in 1988. Today he lives in Delft (The Netherlands), writing under a pseudonym made up of the names of two murdered friends. Het huis van de moskee (The House of the Mosque), catapulted Abdolah into the Dutch bestseller lists.
He studied physics at the Arak College of Science and fled the country as a political refugee in 1988. Today he lives in Delft (The Netherlands), writing under a pseudonym made up of the names of two murdered friends. Het huis van de moskee (The House of the Mosque), catapulted Abdolah into the Dutch bestseller lists.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
May 27, 2017
27 χρονών, πρώτη φορά κάθομαι να ξενυχτήσω για να τελειώσω ένα βιβλίο.
Πως δημιουργείται μια θρησκεία;
Φωνές απο τον ουρανό; Μπα.
Ραβδιά που μετατρέπονται σε φίδια και νεκροί που ανασταίνονται; Ούτε.
Η ανάγκη να δημιουργήσουμε κάτι ξεχωριστό, που θα ενώσει τις φυλές μας και θα μας κάνει πιο ανταγωνιστικούς απέναντι στους γειτονικούς λαούς; Σίγουρα.
Η ιστορία του Μωάμεθ και κατ' επέκταση της γέννησης του Ισλάμ μέσα απο την περιγραφή του χρονικογράφου του Μωάμεθ, Ζέιντ μας παραθέτει ίσως τη πιο ρεαλιστική απεικόνιση της γέννησης μιας θρησκείας που ξεκινάει απο ένα ερώτημα: Γιατί οι άλλοι λαοί έχουν τον Γιαχβέ, τον Θεό και τον Ζωροάστρη και ζούνε αξιοπρεπώς, ενώ ο δικός μου λαός πιστεύει ακόμη σε σαθρά είδωλα και ζει στη φτώχεια και την καταπίεση; Απο αυτό ακριβώς το ερώτημα ξεκινάει ο Μωάμεθ τη κατασκευή της θρησκείας του.
Ο τελευταίος φαίνεται να παίρνει εντολές απο μια ανώτερη δύναμη (επιληπτικές κρίσεις;) και να διατυμπανίζει πως μόνο ο δικός του λόγος είναι ο αληθινός. Στη πορεία φυσικά διαμορφώνει τα λεγόμενα του με ότι τον βολεύει και έτσι διαμορφώνεται ο Ισλαμικός Νόμος. Η εχθρότητα του απέναντι στις άλλες θρησκείες ξεκινάει απο τη κατάληψη της εξουσίας και στη Μέκκα και στη Μεδίνα, εξού και η πλέον σφοδρή και προαιώνια κόντρα του Ισλάμ με τις άλλες θρησκείες. Τι θα κάνω για αυτό ως Μωάμεθ; θα ενώσω τις αραβικές φυλές και θα στραφώ κατά των χριστιανών και των εβραίων επιδιώκοντας την ομογενοποίηση της επερχόμενης αυτοκρατορίας μου, έτσι ώστε ο λαός μου να παίζει επι ίσοις όροις με τους άλλους λαούς.
Γενικά το βιβλίο και ο τρόπος αφήγησης του είναι καταπληκτικός και προφανώς τα πράγματα δεν έγιναν ακριβώς έτσι, αλλά σίγουρα είναι πάρα πολύ κοντά στη πραγματικότητα, όσον αφορά τα κίνητρα, το παρασκήνιο και τον ίδιο τον Μωάμεθ. Συνίσταται ανεπιφύλακτα.
Πως δημιουργείται μια θρησκεία;
Φωνές απο τον ουρανό; Μπα.
Ραβδιά που μετατρέπονται σε φίδια και νεκροί που ανασταίνονται; Ούτε.
Η ανάγκη να δημιουργήσουμε κάτι ξεχωριστό, που θα ενώσει τις φυλές μας και θα μας κάνει πιο ανταγωνιστικούς απέναντι στους γειτονικούς λαούς; Σίγουρα.
Η ιστορία του Μωάμεθ και κατ' επέκταση της γέννησης του Ισλάμ μέσα απο την περιγραφή του χρονικογράφου του Μωάμεθ, Ζέιντ μας παραθέτει ίσως τη πιο ρεαλιστική απεικόνιση της γέννησης μιας θρησκείας που ξεκινάει απο ένα ερώτημα: Γιατί οι άλλοι λαοί έχουν τον Γιαχβέ, τον Θεό και τον Ζωροάστρη και ζούνε αξιοπρεπώς, ενώ ο δικός μου λαός πιστεύει ακόμη σε σαθρά είδωλα και ζει στη φτώχεια και την καταπίεση; Απο αυτό ακριβώς το ερώτημα ξεκινάει ο Μωάμεθ τη κατασκευή της θρησκείας του.
Ο τελευταίος φαίνεται να παίρνει εντολές απο μια ανώτερη δύναμη (επιληπτικές κρίσεις;) και να διατυμπανίζει πως μόνο ο δικός του λόγος είναι ο αληθινός. Στη πορεία φυσικά διαμορφώνει τα λεγόμενα του με ότι τον βολεύει και έτσι διαμορφώνεται ο Ισλαμικός Νόμος. Η εχθρότητα του απέναντι στις άλλες θρησκείες ξεκινάει απο τη κατάληψη της εξουσίας και στη Μέκκα και στη Μεδίνα, εξού και η πλέον σφοδρή και προαιώνια κόντρα του Ισλάμ με τις άλλες θρησκείες. Τι θα κάνω για αυτό ως Μωάμεθ; θα ενώσω τις αραβικές φυλές και θα στραφώ κατά των χριστιανών και των εβραίων επιδιώκοντας την ομογενοποίηση της επερχόμενης αυτοκρατορίας μου, έτσι ώστε ο λαός μου να παίζει επι ίσοις όροις με τους άλλους λαούς.
Γενικά το βιβλίο και ο τρόπος αφήγησης του είναι καταπληκτικός και προφανώς τα πράγματα δεν έγιναν ακριβώς έτσι, αλλά σίγουρα είναι πάρα πολύ κοντά στη πραγματικότητα, όσον αφορά τα κίνητρα, το παρασκήνιο και τον ίδιο τον Μωάμεθ. Συνίσταται ανεπιφύλακτα.
March 21, 2017
Ik vind het schrijven van Kader Abdolah prachtig en het was interessant om over het leven van Mohammed te lezen. Het verklaart veel over de Islam, maar het maakt me beslist geen fan. Veel van de wetten die hij introduceert leken mij vooral eigenbelang.
January 16, 2016
I bought this book to increase cultural understanding. I had expected that this would render me somewhat more positive to one of the biggest religions in the world. It did not. It certainly did not improve my view on the Prophet. However, given the climate these days, I dare not express my opinion.
The book itself is written in a very simplistic, but fragmented way. It is told by Zaid, who collects stories about the Prophet's life from various people. The timeline is chronological for most part, but this way of writing gives little cohesion is certainly not beneficial towards sympathy. Certainly I learned a few things. More importantly though, there isn't anything I "unlearned". No opinion that I feel I need revise.
The first fifty pages were quite fascinating and the rest were absolutely interminable. This is not a long book, but it was down-right painful to read. I am so glad it is over.
The book itself is written in a very simplistic, but fragmented way. It is told by Zaid, who collects stories about the Prophet's life from various people. The timeline is chronological for most part, but this way of writing gives little cohesion is certainly not beneficial towards sympathy. Certainly I learned a few things. More importantly though, there isn't anything I "unlearned". No opinion that I feel I need revise.
The first fifty pages were quite fascinating and the rest were absolutely interminable. This is not a long book, but it was down-right painful to read. I am so glad it is over.
December 23, 2025
Roman over leven van Mohammad, het ontstaan van Islam en Koran vanuit een interessante invalshoek. Zijn kroniekschrijver, Zeeëd, vertelt het verhaal na de dood van de profeet en is bedoeld voor ons in deze tijd.
Eenvoudige, korte hoofdstukken. Bij mij riep het wel al snel het gevoel op van langdradigheid.
“Mohammad kon dan geen wonderen verrichten op de manier waarop Mozes en Jezus dat gedaan hadden, hij was zelf een wonder geworden.”
Eenvoudige, korte hoofdstukken. Bij mij riep het wel al snel het gevoel op van langdradigheid.
“Mohammad kon dan geen wonderen verrichten op de manier waarop Mozes en Jezus dat gedaan hadden, hij was zelf een wonder geworden.”
April 20, 2013
A fronte di una scrittura esageratamente piana, paratattica, povera di parole, che incanta e un po' assopisce come un'antica cantilena, Il messaggero dell'ateo e laicista Kader Abdolah, perseguitato da tutti i regimi avvicendatisi in quel dell'Iran, risulta un romanzo godevole, denso di significato, dal senso stratificato, che dà da pensare. Nel bene e nel male, sia chiaro.
Si potrebbe pensare, per cominciare, a un paragone esageratamente banale e ben poco equilibrato tra Saramago e Abdolah. Mentre il primo è risultato semplicemente "indigesto" per le sue posizioni nette nella storia politica del Portagollo, per il suo laicismo che non ha fatto prigionieri, scagliandosi contro l'intera triade delle religioni monoteiste, ad Abdolah è "bastato" parlare (bene o male poco importa) di Maometto, guadagnandosi così un biglietto di sola andata fuori dal suo paese. Se poi gli si affianca Rushdie, il gioco di specchi si fa più ricco e stimolante. Ma rimane una sensazione: che mentre Saramago, Rushdie e altri del genere hanno schiacciato il pedale dell'acceleratore sulla via della blasfemia pura, Kader Abdolah ha shakespeariamente suscitato molto rumore per nulla - tanto scalpore per un romanzetto a prima vista banale. Ma è davvero un raccontino alternativo sulla vita di Maometto e niente più?
Domanda retorica dalla risposta scontata: eppure spiegarla non è tanto semplice. Chi ha alzato la voce contro Kader Abdolah, a differenza di quanti sono caduti nel tranello di una blasfemia esibita provocariamente (come nel caso di Saramago), ha ben inteso la finissima operazione intellettuale compiuta dallo scrittore iraniano: il racconto di un Maometto umanamente contraddittorio si trasfigura nella metafora di un intero popolo, della sua storia passata, ma soprattutto del suo presente e del suo futuro. L'autore ricostruisce sapientemente il contesto storico che fa da sfondo all'azione mitica di Maometto: la frammentazione del popolo arabo, stritolato tra ebrei, bizantini e persiani, mai unito, disseminato tra clan e tribù economicamente, politicamente e soprattutto religiosamente indipendenti. Chi mastica un po' di storia conosce bene l'eterno tallone d'achille dei popoli arabi, la loro incapacità ad amalgamarsi in un'unità. Un popolo che, in momenti fortunati nella storia della Terra, è pure riuscito a espandersi oltre il consentito, spargendosi nel Mediterraneo. E anche oggi, quando il mondo arabo pare più forte che mai, la mancanza di un unico Stato dell'Islam è sintomo di dissidi interni millenari, a frattali, dall'entità più grande a quella più piccola. Cos'è cambiato in questi duemila anni? La religione. Cos'è accaduto? Maometto. Come illustra Abdolah, Maometto è un giovane idealista e sognatore, che cerca e invoca una divinità a sostegno del suo sogno rivoluzionario: unire gli arabi, distruggere le tribù, abbattere gli idoli dei clan, saldare i popoli in un unico potere politico ed economico. Di qui l'intuizione della religione come unico collante e la necessità della sua invenzione. Poi, il passaggio da Maometto il Messaggero a Maometto il Condottiero, che uccide, depreda e conquista, incollando i cuori con la religione e con il sangue degli oppositori.
Ecco la colpa terribile di Abdolah: aver riletto la storia di Maometto da un punto di vista socio- economico e politico, come gli insegna la sua buona formazione marxista. Forse è proprio questo ad apparire intollerante: più del Maometto umano, del Maometto condottiero e del Maometto sciupafemmine, della sua sposa quattordicenne e dei suoi vizi. A disturbare il regime dello Scià e poi di Khomeini è l'operazione volta a squarciare il velo della religione, smascherare la necessità della sua invenzione, come collante dei popoli e soprattutto braccio armato dei regimi.
Si potrebbe pensare, per cominciare, a un paragone esageratamente banale e ben poco equilibrato tra Saramago e Abdolah. Mentre il primo è risultato semplicemente "indigesto" per le sue posizioni nette nella storia politica del Portagollo, per il suo laicismo che non ha fatto prigionieri, scagliandosi contro l'intera triade delle religioni monoteiste, ad Abdolah è "bastato" parlare (bene o male poco importa) di Maometto, guadagnandosi così un biglietto di sola andata fuori dal suo paese. Se poi gli si affianca Rushdie, il gioco di specchi si fa più ricco e stimolante. Ma rimane una sensazione: che mentre Saramago, Rushdie e altri del genere hanno schiacciato il pedale dell'acceleratore sulla via della blasfemia pura, Kader Abdolah ha shakespeariamente suscitato molto rumore per nulla - tanto scalpore per un romanzetto a prima vista banale. Ma è davvero un raccontino alternativo sulla vita di Maometto e niente più?
Domanda retorica dalla risposta scontata: eppure spiegarla non è tanto semplice. Chi ha alzato la voce contro Kader Abdolah, a differenza di quanti sono caduti nel tranello di una blasfemia esibita provocariamente (come nel caso di Saramago), ha ben inteso la finissima operazione intellettuale compiuta dallo scrittore iraniano: il racconto di un Maometto umanamente contraddittorio si trasfigura nella metafora di un intero popolo, della sua storia passata, ma soprattutto del suo presente e del suo futuro. L'autore ricostruisce sapientemente il contesto storico che fa da sfondo all'azione mitica di Maometto: la frammentazione del popolo arabo, stritolato tra ebrei, bizantini e persiani, mai unito, disseminato tra clan e tribù economicamente, politicamente e soprattutto religiosamente indipendenti. Chi mastica un po' di storia conosce bene l'eterno tallone d'achille dei popoli arabi, la loro incapacità ad amalgamarsi in un'unità. Un popolo che, in momenti fortunati nella storia della Terra, è pure riuscito a espandersi oltre il consentito, spargendosi nel Mediterraneo. E anche oggi, quando il mondo arabo pare più forte che mai, la mancanza di un unico Stato dell'Islam è sintomo di dissidi interni millenari, a frattali, dall'entità più grande a quella più piccola. Cos'è cambiato in questi duemila anni? La religione. Cos'è accaduto? Maometto. Come illustra Abdolah, Maometto è un giovane idealista e sognatore, che cerca e invoca una divinità a sostegno del suo sogno rivoluzionario: unire gli arabi, distruggere le tribù, abbattere gli idoli dei clan, saldare i popoli in un unico potere politico ed economico. Di qui l'intuizione della religione come unico collante e la necessità della sua invenzione. Poi, il passaggio da Maometto il Messaggero a Maometto il Condottiero, che uccide, depreda e conquista, incollando i cuori con la religione e con il sangue degli oppositori.
Ecco la colpa terribile di Abdolah: aver riletto la storia di Maometto da un punto di vista socio- economico e politico, come gli insegna la sua buona formazione marxista. Forse è proprio questo ad apparire intollerante: più del Maometto umano, del Maometto condottiero e del Maometto sciupafemmine, della sua sposa quattordicenne e dei suoi vizi. A disturbare il regime dello Scià e poi di Khomeini è l'operazione volta a squarciare il velo della religione, smascherare la necessità della sua invenzione, come collante dei popoli e soprattutto braccio armato dei regimi.
March 3, 2015
Quick read, a bit like a children's book. Intriguing view on the origins of a religion. Could be true, could be fiction, could be a bit of both...
December 21, 2025
Per comprendere davvero una religione, una corrente filosofica o una scia di pensiero, è necessario risalire alla sua origine. È da questa consapevolezza che nasce il percorso di Zayd, convinto che il Corano, da solo, non basta. Per capirlo fino in fondo occorre conoscere prima di tutto Muhammad, figura storica rivoluzionaria, centrale non solo per la nascita dell’Islam, ma per l’intera storia delle grandi religioni monoteiste.
“Il messaggero” di Kader Abdolah è un racconto molto poetico, costruito come un mosaico di testimonianze, versi, speranze e immagini. Attraverso la voce di un popolo inizialmente legato alla cultura degli idoli, il romanzo narra il passaggio verso la devozione assoluta a un unico Dio, Allah, guidata dalla parola del Profeta.
Maometto emerge come una figura umana prima ancora che sacra: all’inizio inascoltato, rifiutato, persino deriso, diventa col tempo un punto di svolta nella storia dell’umanità. La sua influenza, per portata e profondità, si colloca oggi accanto a quella di Gesù Cristo, segnando in modo indelebile la cultura, la fede e il pensiero di milioni di persone.
Abdolah non scrive una biografia tradizionale, ma un atto di comprensione: un invito ad avvicinarsi all’Islam attraverso il racconto, la poesia e la memoria, restituendo al Profeta e al suo popolo una dimensione storica, spirituale e umana.
“Il messaggero” di Kader Abdolah è un racconto molto poetico, costruito come un mosaico di testimonianze, versi, speranze e immagini. Attraverso la voce di un popolo inizialmente legato alla cultura degli idoli, il romanzo narra il passaggio verso la devozione assoluta a un unico Dio, Allah, guidata dalla parola del Profeta.
Maometto emerge come una figura umana prima ancora che sacra: all’inizio inascoltato, rifiutato, persino deriso, diventa col tempo un punto di svolta nella storia dell’umanità. La sua influenza, per portata e profondità, si colloca oggi accanto a quella di Gesù Cristo, segnando in modo indelebile la cultura, la fede e il pensiero di milioni di persone.
Abdolah non scrive una biografia tradizionale, ma un atto di comprensione: un invito ad avvicinarsi all’Islam attraverso il racconto, la poesia e la memoria, restituendo al Profeta e al suo popolo una dimensione storica, spirituale e umana.
December 10, 2024
Heel mooi boek en mooi geschreven, ook interessant omdat het over het islam en het onstaan erover gaat, maar voelt geen moment als mijn geschiedenisboek. Ik vraag mij af hoeveel hiervan door Kader Abdolah is verzonnen.
February 26, 2021
Goede inleiding voor de leek in de Islam en fundering van deze wereld. Wel belangrijk om niet alles even letterlijk te lezen.
March 21, 2014
Of course I am a bit biased, being sort of a fan of Kader Abdolah. That's by the way his pen name.
A name that's a lot easier to remember and write down than his real name. I never can remember that one.
I admire a person that came from a country with a language that is significant different than the structure of the Dutch language. Yet, he chose to write books in Dutch. He has received some negative critics because of it. His writing was supposed to be 'too simple'.
Hello! Try it yourself then. Try write a book in Persian as a Dutch person, then we talk again.
About the book
The prophet Mohammad.
The messenger, as the title already mentions.
Mohammad starts out in life as being abducted and becoming a 'throw away' kid slave.
Later he gets adopted and lives a normal life again, back in Mekka where he was also born.
He's different from other kids his age. He stands out.
When he's a young man, he marries Khadijah who's significantly older than him. He stays with her until she dies, shortly after their three year ban from Mekka. In the book her name is slightly different. As well as the name of the young wife he later marries: Aisha.
In the book she's called Ajeshe.
The Mohammad after Khadijah dies seems to be a different man than before.
And after he asserts he is thé messenger of Allah and arrives in another city to live than Mekka, he changes into a hard leader. Like he's the man, the boss, the king, someone who decides for everyone.
I do think Kader somewhat might have made his own version of the life of Mohammad, because on Mohammad on Wikipedia the story is different on several points. I don't know which version is really the most likely one, but they are at least very similar.
The life of Mohammad is told by Zeeëd. He calls himself the Chronicler of Mohammad.
I'm not sure if that is a made up character, it could be.
My opinion>
I liked the way it was written. Even some humour was added. It definitely made me smile.
The changed Mohammad I didn't like. For example the force he used to get people to follow his beliefs and how he dealt with unwillingness. To me, he was more a strange man with his so called visions and 'messages' he supposedly got from Allah. In my opinion he just thought those out himself, used it to suit his own needs and personal interest under the guise of 'having talked to Allah, who ordered this'. He played it smart because in the end a lot of people, out of free will or by force, bought that.
It's not just an ennumaration of Mo's life. It's definitely written in an appealing story style.
Kader, you won't read this I assume, but still I want to say, I don't regret buying your book!
A name that's a lot easier to remember and write down than his real name. I never can remember that one.
I admire a person that came from a country with a language that is significant different than the structure of the Dutch language. Yet, he chose to write books in Dutch. He has received some negative critics because of it. His writing was supposed to be 'too simple'.
Hello! Try it yourself then. Try write a book in Persian as a Dutch person, then we talk again.
About the book
The prophet Mohammad.
The messenger, as the title already mentions.
Mohammad starts out in life as being abducted and becoming a 'throw away' kid slave.
Later he gets adopted and lives a normal life again, back in Mekka where he was also born.
He's different from other kids his age. He stands out.
When he's a young man, he marries Khadijah who's significantly older than him. He stays with her until she dies, shortly after their three year ban from Mekka. In the book her name is slightly different. As well as the name of the young wife he later marries: Aisha.
In the book she's called Ajeshe.
The Mohammad after Khadijah dies seems to be a different man than before.
And after he asserts he is thé messenger of Allah and arrives in another city to live than Mekka, he changes into a hard leader. Like he's the man, the boss, the king, someone who decides for everyone.
I do think Kader somewhat might have made his own version of the life of Mohammad, because on Mohammad on Wikipedia the story is different on several points. I don't know which version is really the most likely one, but they are at least very similar.
The life of Mohammad is told by Zeeëd. He calls himself the Chronicler of Mohammad.
I'm not sure if that is a made up character, it could be.
My opinion>
I liked the way it was written. Even some humour was added. It definitely made me smile.
The changed Mohammad I didn't like. For example the force he used to get people to follow his beliefs and how he dealt with unwillingness. To me, he was more a strange man with his so called visions and 'messages' he supposedly got from Allah. In my opinion he just thought those out himself, used it to suit his own needs and personal interest under the guise of 'having talked to Allah, who ordered this'. He played it smart because in the end a lot of people, out of free will or by force, bought that.
It's not just an ennumaration of Mo's life. It's definitely written in an appealing story style.
Kader, you won't read this I assume, but still I want to say, I don't regret buying your book!
November 12, 2014
Ik las van hem al Het huis van de moskee. Ik vind hem eerlijk gezegd niet per se een goed schrijver; daarvoor vind ik zijn vertelstijl eerder wat te stijf en te oppervlakkig. Zo leer je de verteller van dit verhaal, Zeeëd de kroniekschrijver en adoptiefzoon van Mohammad, helemaal niet kennen: hij doet gewoon zijn job en vertelt over het leven van zijn grote idool aan de hand van getuigenissen van vrienden, kennissen, collega’s, familie.
Het verhaal zelf trok me aan omdat het terugkeert naar de basis van de Koran, hoe die ontstaan is, over het leven van de profeet Mohammad. Een onderwerp waar ik als schoolgaand kind bij ‘de nonnekes’ natuurlijk niks van afweet, dus heel interessant om daar iets over bij te leren. Natuurlijk is het grotendeels fictie en moet je een korrel zout bij de hand houden, maar dat is bij alle historische romans zo.
Voor de islam zijn intrede deed, aanbaden de inwoners van Mekka allerlei afgoden en waren vrouwen niet meer dan voorwerpen die op de sociale ladder nog lager stonden dan slaven en slavinnen omdat die tenminste nog hun nut hadden, maar Mohammad is erin geslaagd om zijn volk (al dan niet met geweld) te bekeren tot één god en de vrouw een hogere status te geven.
Hoewel mannen in zijn tijd nog verschillende echtgenotes plus een resem concubines mochten houden, terwijl de vrouw haar ‘juwelen’ niet meer aan mannen mocht tonen, zo had Allah aan Mohammad geopenbaard toen Mohammads jongste echtgenote er een minnaar op na bleek te houden, dus vandaar de burka’s en sluiers…
Van die hallucinaties van Mohammad kwamen mijn haren trouwens recht overeind; hij geloofde echt dat er iemand tot hem sprak en hem instructies gaf. In onze huidige (Westerse) maatschappij zou zo iemand genadeloos worden bestempeld als een complete zot en zou hij met dwangbuis en al in een isoleerkot worden gestoken, licht uit en gedaan ermee. Het ergste is nog dat al zijn volgelingen hem geloofden. Enfin. Het waren natuurlijk andere tijden, waarin de nood naar verandering erg hoog was.
Al bij al een interessant boek.
Het verhaal zelf trok me aan omdat het terugkeert naar de basis van de Koran, hoe die ontstaan is, over het leven van de profeet Mohammad. Een onderwerp waar ik als schoolgaand kind bij ‘de nonnekes’ natuurlijk niks van afweet, dus heel interessant om daar iets over bij te leren. Natuurlijk is het grotendeels fictie en moet je een korrel zout bij de hand houden, maar dat is bij alle historische romans zo.
Voor de islam zijn intrede deed, aanbaden de inwoners van Mekka allerlei afgoden en waren vrouwen niet meer dan voorwerpen die op de sociale ladder nog lager stonden dan slaven en slavinnen omdat die tenminste nog hun nut hadden, maar Mohammad is erin geslaagd om zijn volk (al dan niet met geweld) te bekeren tot één god en de vrouw een hogere status te geven.
Hoewel mannen in zijn tijd nog verschillende echtgenotes plus een resem concubines mochten houden, terwijl de vrouw haar ‘juwelen’ niet meer aan mannen mocht tonen, zo had Allah aan Mohammad geopenbaard toen Mohammads jongste echtgenote er een minnaar op na bleek te houden, dus vandaar de burka’s en sluiers…
Van die hallucinaties van Mohammad kwamen mijn haren trouwens recht overeind; hij geloofde echt dat er iemand tot hem sprak en hem instructies gaf. In onze huidige (Westerse) maatschappij zou zo iemand genadeloos worden bestempeld als een complete zot en zou hij met dwangbuis en al in een isoleerkot worden gestoken, licht uit en gedaan ermee. Het ergste is nog dat al zijn volgelingen hem geloofden. Enfin. Het waren natuurlijk andere tijden, waarin de nood naar verandering erg hoog was.
Al bij al een interessant boek.
April 27, 2016
At times when a cloud of suspicion stubbornly appears to be hanging over Muslims and the prophet Mohammad is reduced to a caricature, it comes as a breath of fresh air when an author steps up to write about all that is beautiful and valuable in Islam tradition. That Kader Abdolah - a self-declared atheist and Marxist who lives as an exile in the Netherlands - felt compelled to do this may seem ironic, but I think it makes this story about the life of Mohammad and the contents of the Quran all the more convincing.
Abdolah gives voice to Mohammad's friends and followers as well as to those who doubted his revelations and did not agree with him. They all get a chapter: the merchants who knew Mohammad as a boy; his first wife Gadidje, a rich business woman; a goat herder who helped him when Mohammad was lying sick in the mountain cave where he often retreated, and where he reported to have experienced his first visions; a run-away slave who was among his first followers; his favourite wife Ajeshe whom he married at the young age of nine after Gadidje had died; and an old rabbi who accused him of stealing entire passages from the Torah. Mohammad was a lier, says Ashaa the old poet, and he believed his own lies. He just invented it all. But they sounded good, his surahs.
It's true - a lot of what's in these surahs does sound beautiful. Say some of these phrases aloud a few times, and you'll see how they stick.
La ilaha ella Allah. There is no God but Allah.
Lam jalad en lam julad. He was not born nor does He give birth.
Mohammad could hardly read or write, but he did have an ear for poetry. The Quran, as it was written down by his followers, is an eloquent, articulate book, an impressive work of art. And it took Abdolah's book for me to realise this.
Abdolah gives voice to Mohammad's friends and followers as well as to those who doubted his revelations and did not agree with him. They all get a chapter: the merchants who knew Mohammad as a boy; his first wife Gadidje, a rich business woman; a goat herder who helped him when Mohammad was lying sick in the mountain cave where he often retreated, and where he reported to have experienced his first visions; a run-away slave who was among his first followers; his favourite wife Ajeshe whom he married at the young age of nine after Gadidje had died; and an old rabbi who accused him of stealing entire passages from the Torah. Mohammad was a lier, says Ashaa the old poet, and he believed his own lies. He just invented it all. But they sounded good, his surahs.
It's true - a lot of what's in these surahs does sound beautiful. Say some of these phrases aloud a few times, and you'll see how they stick.
La ilaha ella Allah. There is no God but Allah.
Lam jalad en lam julad. He was not born nor does He give birth.
Mohammad could hardly read or write, but he did have an ear for poetry. The Quran, as it was written down by his followers, is an eloquent, articulate book, an impressive work of art. And it took Abdolah's book for me to realise this.
April 11, 2016
I liked the book very much, rather because of it's writing style than its content. I would even say the content doesn't matter that much, it's open for discussion. The story doesn't read as a fact-history of the prophet muhammad. I even don't know if that's possible, with or without all religious and non -religious aknowledgement we have today about his life.
the writing style shines out and reads quickly due to it's romantic summing up in her dialogues. Every chapter comes over as an ancient interview, with Zeëd asking questions to friends, enemies, women, men, warriors and craftsmen... fictional and non -fictional people who would have known Muhammad personnally and tell about their own experiences with him at the time he still lived. Sometimes in a positive way, other times in a negative way. So even if the story isn't based on historical facts, it reads with a lot of nuances . In that way it's logical the book seems a bit tricky, but you may not expect or believe it's a historical correct biography. It's clear enough that such a thing wasn't the intention of Kader Abdollah.
Anyway you won't regret this book, even if you don't like the idea behind, it doesn't take much time to read out, the letters are big and the dialogues easy to follow. Beside it gives a good instep and romantic overview for islam-dummies on some happenings important for the islam and the life of the young Muhammad. Enjoy!
the writing style shines out and reads quickly due to it's romantic summing up in her dialogues. Every chapter comes over as an ancient interview, with Zeëd asking questions to friends, enemies, women, men, warriors and craftsmen... fictional and non -fictional people who would have known Muhammad personnally and tell about their own experiences with him at the time he still lived. Sometimes in a positive way, other times in a negative way. So even if the story isn't based on historical facts, it reads with a lot of nuances . In that way it's logical the book seems a bit tricky, but you may not expect or believe it's a historical correct biography. It's clear enough that such a thing wasn't the intention of Kader Abdollah.
Anyway you won't regret this book, even if you don't like the idea behind, it doesn't take much time to read out, the letters are big and the dialogues easy to follow. Beside it gives a good instep and romantic overview for islam-dummies on some happenings important for the islam and the life of the young Muhammad. Enjoy!
April 21, 2013
A fronte di una scrittura esageratamente piana, paratattica, povera di parole, che incanta e un po' assopisce come un'antica cantilena, Il messaggero dell'ateo e laicista Kader Abdolah, perseguitato da tutti i regimi avvicendatisi in quel dell'Iran, risulta un romanzo godevole, denso di significato, dal senso stratificato, che dà da pensare. Nel bene e nel male, sia chiaro.
Si potrebbe pensare, per cominciare, a un paragone esageratamente banale e ben poco equilibrato tra Saramago e Abdolah. Mentre il primo è risultato semplicemente "indigesto" per le sue posizioni nette nella storia politica del Portagollo, per il suo laicismo che non ha fatto prigionieri, scagliandosi contro l'intera triade delle religioni monoteiste, ad Abdolah è "bastato" parlare (bene o male poco importa) di Maometto, guadagnandosi così un biglietto di sola andata fuori dal suo paese. Se poi gli si affianca Rushdie, il gioco di specchi si fa più ricco e stimolante. Ma rimane una sensazione: che mentre Saramago, Rushdie e altri del genere hanno schiacciato il pedale dell'acceleratore sulla via della blasfemia pura, Kader Abdolah ha shakespeariamente suscitato molto rumore per nulla - tanto scalpore per un romanzetto a prima vista banale. Ma è davvero un raccontino alternativo sulla vita di Maometto e niente più?
Continua su
http://www.lastambergadeilettori.com/...
Si potrebbe pensare, per cominciare, a un paragone esageratamente banale e ben poco equilibrato tra Saramago e Abdolah. Mentre il primo è risultato semplicemente "indigesto" per le sue posizioni nette nella storia politica del Portagollo, per il suo laicismo che non ha fatto prigionieri, scagliandosi contro l'intera triade delle religioni monoteiste, ad Abdolah è "bastato" parlare (bene o male poco importa) di Maometto, guadagnandosi così un biglietto di sola andata fuori dal suo paese. Se poi gli si affianca Rushdie, il gioco di specchi si fa più ricco e stimolante. Ma rimane una sensazione: che mentre Saramago, Rushdie e altri del genere hanno schiacciato il pedale dell'acceleratore sulla via della blasfemia pura, Kader Abdolah ha shakespeariamente suscitato molto rumore per nulla - tanto scalpore per un romanzetto a prima vista banale. Ma è davvero un raccontino alternativo sulla vita di Maometto e niente più?
Continua su
http://www.lastambergadeilettori.com/...
March 6, 2016
This book is about the prophet Mohammad and the beginning of Islam. It is not, however, a religious book and should not be treated as such. The book opens with the lines: "While based on historic events, this book is a work of fiction and should be read as such".
The story actually does not follow Mohammad as the main character. Instead, the reader follows the thoughts and words of a man called Zeeëd whom, throughout the years, goes from slave child to adopted son of Mohammad and on to becoming the personal chronicler of the prophet and later, the merger of the Quran (he bundles all the texts Mohammad receives from Allah). After merging the Qoran, Zeeëd sets out to find old friends and aquaintances of Mohammad and asks them to tell his life story and record them into history.
Although this novel never becomes as poetic as House of the Mosque (by the same writer), it is still a good read. Also, it provides some acurate details about the prophet, his place in history and the history of the city Mekka and it's culture before Mohammad and his Islam. I heartly recommend this book to anyone wanting to read a good story, wants to learn a bit more about the forming of Islam or just wants to learn some facts (for example, about the black stone in the middle of Mekka).
As said before; it is a work of fiction based on historical events. Please treat it as such.
The story actually does not follow Mohammad as the main character. Instead, the reader follows the thoughts and words of a man called Zeeëd whom, throughout the years, goes from slave child to adopted son of Mohammad and on to becoming the personal chronicler of the prophet and later, the merger of the Quran (he bundles all the texts Mohammad receives from Allah). After merging the Qoran, Zeeëd sets out to find old friends and aquaintances of Mohammad and asks them to tell his life story and record them into history.
Although this novel never becomes as poetic as House of the Mosque (by the same writer), it is still a good read. Also, it provides some acurate details about the prophet, his place in history and the history of the city Mekka and it's culture before Mohammad and his Islam. I heartly recommend this book to anyone wanting to read a good story, wants to learn a bit more about the forming of Islam or just wants to learn some facts (for example, about the black stone in the middle of Mekka).
As said before; it is a work of fiction based on historical events. Please treat it as such.
May 23, 2019
Met dit boek is het lastig objectief te beoordelen op kwaliteit van schrijven en verhaallijn. Aangezien deze onlosmakelijk verbonden zijn aan het geloof, islam.
Alhoewel ik het persoonlijk niet helemaal eens ben met de manier waarop bepaalde dingen gaan/zijn gegaan binnen het geloof. Ben ik ervan overtuigd dat ik er een hoop uit heb kunnen halen. Momenteel ben ik geboeid door religie en van de islam weet ik zeer weinig. En zoals Kader (Hoessein) zelf zei: Om de koran te begrijpen moet je Mohammad begrijpen. Dat,daar ben ik achter gekomen, is helemaal waar.
Mohammad is een ontzettend belangrijk figuur die het geloof het gevormd (of hervormd). En dat wordt door middel van dit boek(je) relatief eenvoudig uitgelegd. Met behulp van korte hoofdstukken, enkele citaten uit de koran en historische feiten krijg je een beeld van de belangrijkste gebeurtenissen uit Mohammeds leven en de gevolgen ervan.
Dus afgezien van het feit dat ik geen moslim zou kunnen zijn vanwege bepaalde persoonlijke overtuigingen, begrijp ik het geloof nu beter en waar bepaalde dingen vandaan komen.
Alhoewel ik het persoonlijk niet helemaal eens ben met de manier waarop bepaalde dingen gaan/zijn gegaan binnen het geloof. Ben ik ervan overtuigd dat ik er een hoop uit heb kunnen halen. Momenteel ben ik geboeid door religie en van de islam weet ik zeer weinig. En zoals Kader (Hoessein) zelf zei: Om de koran te begrijpen moet je Mohammad begrijpen. Dat,daar ben ik achter gekomen, is helemaal waar.
Mohammad is een ontzettend belangrijk figuur die het geloof het gevormd (of hervormd). En dat wordt door middel van dit boek(je) relatief eenvoudig uitgelegd. Met behulp van korte hoofdstukken, enkele citaten uit de koran en historische feiten krijg je een beeld van de belangrijkste gebeurtenissen uit Mohammeds leven en de gevolgen ervan.
Dus afgezien van het feit dat ik geen moslim zou kunnen zijn vanwege bepaalde persoonlijke overtuigingen, begrijp ik het geloof nu beter en waar bepaalde dingen vandaan komen.
December 29, 2010
WM4: Da un punto di vista a-confessionale le religioni sono un fatto storico, culturale. Sono portatrici di un messaggio definito dal corso degli eventi e dalle forze storiche che mettono in movimento, messaggio che anche quando viene canonizzato in un solo testo sacro rimane soggetto a diverse interpretazioni. L’Islam non fa eccezione, naturalmente, e tuttavia la vulgata mediatica e politica occidentale preferisce presentarlo come una religione afflitta ab origine da tare congenite, quindi immutabili. Potrebbe anche bastare questa considerazione a riconoscere l’importanza di un romanzo come Il Messaggero, cioè il romanzo della vita di Muhammad, profeta dell’Islam.
La recensione completa è qui:
http://www.wumingfoundation.com/giap/?p=1391
La recensione completa è qui:
http://www.wumingfoundation.com/giap/?p=1391
June 17, 2014
Una prosa semplice, povera di aggettivazioni, ma incantevole come una fiaba delle “Mille e una notte”; racconta la storia di Maometto scevra da ogni contaminazione religiosa (l'autore è ateo e laicista), ma vista nel suo contesto sociale, politico ed economico.
La ricostruzione è molto bella, piana e comprensibile; la figura di Maometto è molto umana, descritta con le sue debolezze e grandezze, dotata di una volontà e di un’ostinazione miracolose nella ricerca della più alta Verità.
Questa storia mi ha affascinato per la sua fantasiosità da favola persiana, per i personaggi che si susseguono nella narrazione e per l’atmosfera esotica che la pervade.
La ricostruzione è molto bella, piana e comprensibile; la figura di Maometto è molto umana, descritta con le sue debolezze e grandezze, dotata di una volontà e di un’ostinazione miracolose nella ricerca della più alta Verità.
Questa storia mi ha affascinato per la sua fantasiosità da favola persiana, per i personaggi che si susseguono nella narrazione e per l’atmosfera esotica che la pervade.
May 13, 2013
Volgens Abdolah zelf moet je dit boek - een biografie van Mohammed in romanvorm - lezen volgens de wetten van de literatuur, maar dat is juist het zwakste gedeelte. De opzet - een verteller langs alle personen laten reizen die Mohammed gekend hebben - is eventjes interessant. Daarna schiet het tekort en wordt het als verhaallijn een beetje vervelend. Het resulteerde in een hoog 'en toen, en toen, en toen'-gevoel waar je op school voor wordt gekort op je cijfer. Historisch vond ik het wel aardig en het beeld van Mohammed dat eruit voortkomt heeft alles weg van een genuanceerd beeld.
Read
August 26, 2014Dat is de slechtst boek dat ik ooit heb geleesd. Ik ben altijd gek op Kader abdolahs romans. Maar dit is echt slecht.
hoe kan jij een verhaaltje maken uit de geschidenis van ons profeet Mohamed.
Jij gaf een slecht voorbeeld over Mohammed. Zo veel dingen waren helemaal fout, FOUT, FOUT.
Ik weet wel dat het een roman is, maar dat mag echt niet. de ongelovers kunnen niet weten wat waar en niet waar is.
Alles was fout; de joods, oorlogen, vrouwen, hoofdoek, Zeeed, Omar ibn el Khattab, Khadija, .. enz.
hoe kan jij een verhaaltje maken uit de geschidenis van ons profeet Mohamed.
Jij gaf een slecht voorbeeld over Mohammed. Zo veel dingen waren helemaal fout, FOUT, FOUT.
Ik weet wel dat het een roman is, maar dat mag echt niet. de ongelovers kunnen niet weten wat waar en niet waar is.
Alles was fout; de joods, oorlogen, vrouwen, hoofdoek, Zeeed, Omar ibn el Khattab, Khadija, .. enz.
September 30, 2016
Very interesting read about the life of Muhammed, the founder of the Islam, which provides in depth insights about how the islam was founded.
Although the book contains quite some detail I am still left with quite a number of questions regarding the religion after reading the book...
Kader Abdola has done an excellent job in trying to convert the original version of the Koran into a current-day version, while combining it with the additional live-story of Muhammed.
Once started I almost couldn't stop reading and finished the book in days.
Although the book contains quite some detail I am still left with quite a number of questions regarding the religion after reading the book...
Kader Abdola has done an excellent job in trying to convert the original version of the Koran into a current-day version, while combining it with the additional live-story of Muhammed.
Once started I almost couldn't stop reading and finished the book in days.
January 21, 2015
Kader Abdolah levert ons voor het navertelde leven van Mohammed een reeks van vertellende personen uit de omgeving van de profeet. Dat maakt het als verhaal aantrekkelijk en genuanceerd. Naar verluidt is het de pretentie van de auteur geweest dit boek vanuit de literaire invalshoek te schrijven en te laten beschouwen. Gelet op stijl en overig taalgebruik zie ik daarvoor onvoldoende aanknopingspunten. Het blijft wel lezenswaardig. JM
June 16, 2018
I would love to hear a Muslim's opinion of this book - in my mind Kader Abdolah doesn't paint a very kind portrait of Mohammed - the level of power and violence, the level of mysogeny compares very poorly to his rival, Jesus. Fancy hearing from Allah/God that if women wanted to 'give themselves' to the prophet he would have sex with them!!
As a story it was an okay read ... but give me Jesus any day.
As a story it was an okay read ... but give me Jesus any day.
November 23, 2011
De boodschapper, wat een mooi boek. Het klinkt misschien afgezaagd, maar het heeft mijn denkwijze verruimd. Het was ontzettend interessant om op deze boeiende manier te lezen over de Islam en het ontstaan ervan. Echt, echt een aanrader.
December 7, 2012
Måste säga att boken var intressant men svår att hänga med i emellanåt. Det är bra om man har lite förkunskaper om hur islam uppstod och vet lite om muslimsk kultur för 1400 år sedan. Bra att läsa i gymnasiet om man pluggar historia och/eller religion (Y)
March 18, 2013
In het tweede boek 'De boodschapper' vertelt Abdolah ons op een vlotte manier over het leven van Mohammad die niet enkel een boodschapper Gods was, maar tevens een krijgsheer en door talrijke oorlogen een machtig man werd, alles in dienst van zijn Allah.
May 13, 2024
Pseudo-biografia del profeta Maometto narrata sotto forma di cronaca dal figlio adottivo Zayd ibn Thabit. Storia molto semplice ma evocativa, interessante per scoprire la nascita della religione islamica. Forse non al livello dei capolavori di Abdolah, però nel complesso molto gradevole.
Read
January 6, 2013Ik vind het leuk .... Maar soms vind ik 't een beetje intressant !....
March 9, 2015
mi ha stimolato la curiosità verso l'Islam
May 30, 2015
Hoewel intrigerend en meeslepend vond ik dit niet zo beklijvend als Het Huis van de moskee. Inhoudelijk gezien zeer zeker de moeite waard, maar toch net...minder.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews