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Critical Lives
Critical Lives: Muhammad
Muhammad was a religious visionary and political leader. Raised in the harsh Arabian Peninsula and orphaned while still a child, this unlikely leader and military genius received a calling to transform his society from a collection of raiding tribes into one of the world's most progressive societies. His message of monotheism and righteousness motivated an entire people to abandon idolatry and spread the word of God to surrounding nations. Although he was a military genius, his greatest accomplishments came from the religion he Islam, which called its adherents to lead a life of prayer, charity, and contemplation. The second largest religion in the world, both Islam's prophet and its values are today often misunderstood by adherents and outsiders alike. This concise, informative biography
330 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
34 people are currently reading
335 people want to read
About the author
Yahiya Emerick
123 books43 followersYahiya Emerick has been a prolific author and has written many articles that have been published in local as well as national magazines, both in North America and abroad. Amirah Publishing was founded by Yahiya Emerick in 1992 in order to further his ideal of publishing American-oriented literature on Islam. Much to his chagrin, Brother Yahiya found that many traditional Muslims were quite content with the old, outdated books imported from overseas and could not conceive of the need for literature specifically designed for the North American environment.
After having written two books, which received wide acclaim in local Muslim circles, Brother Yahiya looked in vain for a publisher willing to work with him in this vision. After many promises and vague arrangements, he decided to form his own company and work for Allah as best he knew how. Today, with the addition of Reshma Baig, Qasim Najar and Samina Baig to the team, Amirah Publishing is enjoying rapid growth and recognition among Muslims as a source for original, as well as improved literature, for use in a strictly American environment.
(courtesy islamfortiday.com)
After having written two books, which received wide acclaim in local Muslim circles, Brother Yahiya looked in vain for a publisher willing to work with him in this vision. After many promises and vague arrangements, he decided to form his own company and work for Allah as best he knew how. Today, with the addition of Reshma Baig, Qasim Najar and Samina Baig to the team, Amirah Publishing is enjoying rapid growth and recognition among Muslims as a source for original, as well as improved literature, for use in a strictly American environment.
(courtesy islamfortiday.com)
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 4, 2012
I was conflicted between giving this four or five stars. On the one hand, this prophetic biography is lucid and engaging. On the other, I could constantly sense an apologetic undertone that seemed to permeate throughout the book. This is somewhat understandable, especially considering that this was published not too long after 9/11.
This criticism aside, whether you are completely ignorant of the life of the founder of the world's second largest religion, or are a devout Muslim looking to refresh your memory on the life of the Prophet, God's peace and blessings be upon him, then this book is for you.
This criticism aside, whether you are completely ignorant of the life of the founder of the world's second largest religion, or are a devout Muslim looking to refresh your memory on the life of the Prophet, God's peace and blessings be upon him, then this book is for you.
April 30, 2010
This is by far the best book I have read about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) It also has great Qur'an quotations, and culture notes on Pre-Islam Arabia vs. Post-Islam Arabia through out the book.
July 15, 2012
Knowing so little about Islam, I sought out a book that would tell me about the man behind the religion. My search led me directly to Yahiya Emerick and I enjoyed learning the new and different path Muhammad chose to set for his people, the problems he faced, and the choices he had to make. This book allowed me to feel that I had spent a few days beside Muhammad on his journey in which he told me about his life.
August 11, 2012
Raised into Islam, all I knew about the Prophet was from my parents and from the various Sheikhs that I listened to. They were all correct, but I wanted to know about the Prophet from birth to death, with a focus on his wives and the people around him.
I learned so much about my Prophet that I did not know before. I learned how each occurrence in his life pertaining to the teaching of Islam was the inspiration of specific verses of the Qur'an, which is the holy book of Islam.
I learned the dept of the struggle that Muhammed (SAWW) went through in order to preach Islam successfully, and in the end, the people that resented him were the ones asking for forgiveness, and renounced idolatry for Islam.
I also love how the author put cultural notes to better explain the Arabian culture and history at the time. Overall, a fantastic, well-written biography of the greatest man in history.
I learned so much about my Prophet that I did not know before. I learned how each occurrence in his life pertaining to the teaching of Islam was the inspiration of specific verses of the Qur'an, which is the holy book of Islam.
I learned the dept of the struggle that Muhammed (SAWW) went through in order to preach Islam successfully, and in the end, the people that resented him were the ones asking for forgiveness, and renounced idolatry for Islam.
I also love how the author put cultural notes to better explain the Arabian culture and history at the time. Overall, a fantastic, well-written biography of the greatest man in history.
January 12, 2011
I really liked this because it is instructive to see how the most heinous facts can be whitewashed by an author so inclined.
February 3, 2013
Very informative. This gives strong context to past and current events.
July 15, 2014
Fell in love with my Prophet (SAW) once again...
November 18, 2024
took me quite a long time to get through reading this and i'm not sure why because the text was written in an engaging, accessible way, but perhaps i found it a bit difficult to lock in because it jumped around often and packed in a lot of info at once, a fairly dense read. it is enjoyable to read the seerah of the Prophet ﷺ by different authors to continue shaping my understanding of his life, and this is a good choice as an early read!
January 10, 2026
Everyone should read this book especially in these times of hate for the Muslim community.
It was easy to read and gave great in site in Muhammad life and the Muslim religion. I think some Christains have the wrong opinion about Muslim. They believe that they are all terrorists which is not completely true .Yes some terrorists are Muslim but there are terrorists who come from almost all religions.
It was easy to read and gave great in site in Muhammad life and the Muslim religion. I think some Christains have the wrong opinion about Muslim. They believe that they are all terrorists which is not completely true .Yes some terrorists are Muslim but there are terrorists who come from almost all religions.
April 21, 2020
An excellent concise book to understand Muhammad and foundation of Islam
I would recommend this book to everyone who has not read about Islam or Muhammad. This is 101 kinda book with great information. Excellent biography and concise. There are books and Hadiths which describe Muhammad’s life but they are voluminous. Great book
I would recommend this book to everyone who has not read about Islam or Muhammad. This is 101 kinda book with great information. Excellent biography and concise. There are books and Hadiths which describe Muhammad’s life but they are voluminous. Great book
August 4, 2021
Beautiful. Would recommend for Muslims and non-muslims.
October 6, 2022
A beautifully written and inspirational book
June 16, 2024
Inspire everyone
March 16, 2012
Muhammad, Critical Lives by Yahiya Emerick (2002)
I once belonged to a men's non-fiction book club, and given the events facing the world involving radical Islam, it was agreed that we would try to understand more about the origins of Islam by reading this biography. The club didn't last long, as eventually there were only two people interested—the organizer and me. My review:
Muhammad, from the lineage of Abraham, was born in 570 and raised in poverty by a Bedouin tribe in a culture where custom, superstition and tribal leaders were all that held the various groups together. Civil government was unheard of in Arabia. Idolatry was the prevailing form of worship; Jewish and Christian influence existed but was limited. Muhammad became a recognized caring leader early in life, quite mystical and given to meditation, but didn’t have his first “revelation” until the age of forty, from the angel Gabriel. It thus became clear to Muhammad that monotheism was the only true basis for religion, which he began to announce with authority, much to the consternation of the idolaters. Early on, he established rules of tolerance and taking care of the poor, as well as recognizing Adam, Moses, Jesus (and others) as true “prophets.” He claimed himself, the last prophet, signaling God’s final messages for man on earth.
The book covers much about his ongoing revelations, the writing of them (the result being the Qur’an) the persecution of the growing group of followers, and the fight for a home for Islam. A good portion discusses major war battles with the idolaters and the hypocrites, the collecting of booty (he got 15%) and the taking of prisoners, often released after quick conversions to Islam. While there were setbacks along the way, with “God on their side,” the Muslims ultimately won all their wars and established Islam over much of Arabia. He died of natural causes at age sixty-three.
What a guy—a loving family man, tolerant, he cared for the poor, accepted other monotheistic religions, was open to intellectual inquiry, treated women with the utmost respect, was open to advice and criticism in his counsels (unless God gave him a specific instruction), and I assume, was kind to old people and puppies. In Christian terms, he would be a “saint.”
So who highjacked the religion? Either the book is a whitewash of his character and beliefs, conveniently ignoring the parts about stoning adulterers, crushing homosexuals, honor rapes and honor killings, beheadings, or tearing out fingernails of women who wear the wrong stuff; or a bunch of whacked-out fanatics made up their own rules along the way.
I know little about Islam. This book was “interesting,” mainly in assessing the comparisons and the clear distinctions to Christianity, but left a huge gap in reconciling the character of Muhammad, as depicted, and what we see today from the radical elements...the so-called “religion of peace.”
I once belonged to a men's non-fiction book club, and given the events facing the world involving radical Islam, it was agreed that we would try to understand more about the origins of Islam by reading this biography. The club didn't last long, as eventually there were only two people interested—the organizer and me. My review:
Muhammad, from the lineage of Abraham, was born in 570 and raised in poverty by a Bedouin tribe in a culture where custom, superstition and tribal leaders were all that held the various groups together. Civil government was unheard of in Arabia. Idolatry was the prevailing form of worship; Jewish and Christian influence existed but was limited. Muhammad became a recognized caring leader early in life, quite mystical and given to meditation, but didn’t have his first “revelation” until the age of forty, from the angel Gabriel. It thus became clear to Muhammad that monotheism was the only true basis for religion, which he began to announce with authority, much to the consternation of the idolaters. Early on, he established rules of tolerance and taking care of the poor, as well as recognizing Adam, Moses, Jesus (and others) as true “prophets.” He claimed himself, the last prophet, signaling God’s final messages for man on earth.
The book covers much about his ongoing revelations, the writing of them (the result being the Qur’an) the persecution of the growing group of followers, and the fight for a home for Islam. A good portion discusses major war battles with the idolaters and the hypocrites, the collecting of booty (he got 15%) and the taking of prisoners, often released after quick conversions to Islam. While there were setbacks along the way, with “God on their side,” the Muslims ultimately won all their wars and established Islam over much of Arabia. He died of natural causes at age sixty-three.
What a guy—a loving family man, tolerant, he cared for the poor, accepted other monotheistic religions, was open to intellectual inquiry, treated women with the utmost respect, was open to advice and criticism in his counsels (unless God gave him a specific instruction), and I assume, was kind to old people and puppies. In Christian terms, he would be a “saint.”
So who highjacked the religion? Either the book is a whitewash of his character and beliefs, conveniently ignoring the parts about stoning adulterers, crushing homosexuals, honor rapes and honor killings, beheadings, or tearing out fingernails of women who wear the wrong stuff; or a bunch of whacked-out fanatics made up their own rules along the way.
I know little about Islam. This book was “interesting,” mainly in assessing the comparisons and the clear distinctions to Christianity, but left a huge gap in reconciling the character of Muhammad, as depicted, and what we see today from the radical elements...the so-called “religion of peace.”
August 9, 2014
It had been a while since I had read the life of our Prophet (Peace and Blessings be upon him). And reading this was refreshing. Though it does not get into specific details about certain conversions or the abuse our prophet and his companions went through, it still lays out a concise and easy-to-understand flow of events whereby anyone, whether muslim or non-muslim were to read it, they would be able to visualize his entire life through this book. I would recommend this for anyone who would like to get an idea of the life of our prophet, along with understanding the post-islamic influence and bias that we are faced with today.
March 5, 2021
This was my first in depth reading of The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). It will NOT disappoint. This book begins far before the Prophet's birth and finishes in present day society. A truly enlightening read for anyone open to understanding the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his peaceful ways.
August 7, 2013
Very readable, accompanied by handy textbook-like explanatory insets and photos. The text sometimes jumped from one topic to another with little transition in between, and the author espouses certain views that are debated by other scholars, but this book's overall flow and minimal use of technical terms make it worth reading.
February 20, 2008
This was a good biography of Muhammad. It was written by a devoit Muslim. It provided good information on who Muslims believe Muhammad was and what he accomplished. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about him.
June 8, 2007
Great book on the Prophet Muhammad.
February 15, 2008
Another read for the same religion class, I'd suggest a lot of people read this, it gives you a pretty good insider view about the prophet Muhammad.
September 16, 2010
The 3rd, and best English biography of Muhammad I read so far.
September 26, 2012
One of the most beautifully written, light read on the life of the Prophet.
June 27, 2014
Wanted to find out more about how islam started so I decided to get this book. Truly a good read if one wishes to understand the birth of this amazing religion with little biasness:)
August 17, 2020
It brought me closer to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and felt his hardships. I personally like the way Emerick wrote this book, with less jargons.
However I think it's too dramatic.
However I think it's too dramatic.
July 26, 2013
Enjoyed all the history and tidbits I hadn't heard before.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews