Prophet Muhammad Man of Allah

by Seyyed Hossein Nasr

This short study of the life of the Blessed Prophet of Islam, for high school and above, is neither a new historical analysis nor yet another purely devotional sketch of the earthly career of God's last prophet. This biography takes the spiritual dimensions into consideration as well as the more factual and historical elements of the life of the person who changed human history.

Genres: Islam, Religion, Biography, History, Spirituality, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Seyyed Hossein Nasr was born on April 7, 1933 (19 Farvadin 1312 A.H. solar) in Tehran into a family of distinguished scholars and physicians. His father, Seyyed Valiallah, a man of great learning and piety, was a physician to the Iranian royal family, as was his father before him. The name "Nasr" which means "victory" was conferred on Professor Nasr's grandfather by the King of Persia. Nasr also comes from a family of Sufis. One of his ancestors was Mulla Seyyed Muhammad Taqi Poshtmashhad, who was a famous saint of Kashan, and his mausoleum which is located next to the tomb of the Safavid king Shah Abbas, is still visited by pilgrims to this day.

Seyyed Hossein Nasr, currently University Professor of Islamic Studies at the George Washington University, Washington D.C. is one of the most important and foremost scholars of Islamic, Religious and Comparative Studies in the world today. Author of over fifty books and five hundred articles which have been translated into several major Islamic, European and Asian languages, Professor Nasr is a well known and highly respected intellectual figure both in the West and the Islamic world. An eloquent speaker with a charismatic presence, Nasr is a much sought after speaker at academic conferences and seminars, university and public lectures and also radio and television programs in his area of expertise. Possessor of an impressive academic and intellectual record, his career as a teacher and scholar spans over four decades.

Professor Nasr began his illustrious teaching career in 1955 when he was still a young and promising, doctoral student at Harvard University. Over the years, he has taught and trained an innumerable number of students who have come from the different parts of the world, and many of whom have become important and prominent scholars in their fields of study.

He has trained different generations of students over the years since 1958 when he was a professor at Tehran University and then, in America since the Iranian revolution in 1979, specifically at Temple University in Philadelphia from 1979 to 1984 and at the George Washington University since 1984 to the present day. The range of subjects and areas of study which Professor Nasr has involved and engaged himself with in his academic career and intellectual life are immense. As demonstrated by his numerous writings, lectures and speeches, Professor Nasr speaks and writes with great authority on a wide variety of subjects, ranging from philosophy to religion to spirituality, to music and art and architecture, to science and literature, to civilizational dialogues and the natural environment.

For Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr, the quest for knowledge, specifically knowledge which enables man to understand the true nature of things and which furthermore, "liberates and delivers him from the fetters and limitations of earthly existence," has been and continues to be the central concern and determinant of his intellectual life.

Reviews

[Dženan Mušanović · Rating 5 out of 5]

Životopis Poslanika sa naglaskom na spiritualnom (Osvrt na knjigu Muhammed, čovjek Božiji S. H. Nasra)

Kada čitamo životopise poslanika Muhammeda, a.s., koje su pisali razni autori, možemo primijetiti da svaki od njih odabire jedan aspekt koji će istaknuti usput prenebregavajući nekoliko njih. To je tako jer su one prve sire i nekolicina potonjih a obuhvatnijih obujmile sav povijesni kontekst uključujući i sva događanja te se stoga nema šta novo kazati u tom pogledu. Otuda je svaka nova sira fokusiranje na nekom aspektu i osvjetljavanje istog iz perspektive koju sam autor odabire. Primjerice, Zapečaćeni džennetski napitak Mubarekfurija pokriva cijeli život Poslanika i sve zbudove i događanja u okviru njegovog predposlaničkog i poslaničkog života. Muhammed – poslanik za naše vrijeme autorice Karen Armstrong nastoji kontekstualizirati poruke i ideje, ćudoređe i uzoritu narav Poslanika u sadašnje vrijeme, dočim Muhammed Martina Lingsa (aka Abu Bakra Siradžuddina) oslanjajući se na najranije izvore pisane o Poslaniku nastoji revitalizirati cijelu povijest uzrasta islama koristeći književni pitki stil čineći tako svoju lektiru prijemčivom, lagahnom i zanimljivom za sve vrste čitateljstva. Juan Cole u Muhammed – poslanik mira usred sukoba imperija motri svetopovijest i začetak islama kroz prizmu mirotvornih studija (te pravi i dosta činjeničnih omaški). Kenan Musić u knjizi U susret Resulullahu donosi, prateći tok Muhammedove, a.s., misije, one krunske ideje koje se i dan danas mogu inkorporirati u naše vlastite živote, ekstraktuje ideje vodilje i načelne paradigme po kojima se može skrojiti savremeni život.

S. H. Nasr u ovoj knjizi Muhammed, čovjek Božiji naglasak stavlja na spiritualnu dimenziju Poslanikove misije te iluminira pojedine segmente njegovog djelanja skladno odabranoj perspektivi. Tako se on zadržava na Isra'u i Mi'radžu, duhovnim uznesenjima i kako je Poslanik, uzašavši u više duhovne sfere i kročeći nebeskim prostranstvima, bio odabran i počašćen takvim blagodarjima. Tu Nasr detaljno pojašnjava, koristeći izrazito intelektualan i eruditivan jezik, stepene, milosti, uzvišenost takvih činova te ih uvodi u životopis Poslanika obogaćujući prethodno stečena (sa)znanja onih koji su imali priliku čitati neke druge biografije Poslanika. Gdje god je moguće osvijetliti pojedini događaj duhovnim svjetlom, Nasr zastaje i to čini.

Knjiga Muhammed, čovjek Božiji prevashodno je pisana za zapadnoevropsko čitateljstvo, pisana na taj način da i oni koji nisu muslimani mogu polučiti i mnogo toga naučiti iz Poslanikovog života. Kada kažemo da je pisana za nemuslimansku audijenciju, to ne isključuje korisnost i plodotvornost čitanja za pripadnike islama. Protkana je duhovnom notom i nešto drugačijim stilom nego je to uobičajeno za siru, stoga nudi drugačije uvide koji mogu raspiriti, potaknuti i probuditi zaboravljene duhove i kreativnu imaginaciju sposobnu da pretoči sve vrijednosti, paradigme, obrasce i standarde Poslanikovog života u naš, današnji, život u 21. vijeku. Insistirajući na jednakosti znanja, vjere i spoznaje, Nasr protažira tezu da vjerovati znači neprestano spoznavati i u svoj život nepretrgnuto uvoditi standarde koje je uprimjerio Poslanik i živjeti po njima i njihovim kvalitetama.

Prevodilac akademik Rešid Hafizović u ovom izdanju prijevoda odlučio je prevesti i uvrstiti tri poglavlja iz Nasrove knjige Ideals and Realities of Islam. Ova poglavlja nadopunjuju životopis te se na njega organski nastavljuju pojašnjavajući u tančine šta su i šta znače šerijat, tarikat i hakikat te kako su oni povezani sa Poslanikom, sa jezgrom islama i nama danas. Čitanje ove knjige je obogaćenje prethodnih znanja o Poslaniku, o vjeri samoj, plodotvorno je i uvelike korisno. Na jednoj od promocija ove knjige sam Hafizović kazao je:

Intelektualno islam danas stanuje na zapadu. Islam je promijenio mjesto stanovanja. Najljepše stvari o islamu i Poslaniku danas se uglavnom pišu na zapadu. Trudimo se da zemaljske godine iskoristimo da svaki dan naučimo nešto novo i napravimo određeni iskorak. Bitno je da se krećemo.

[Ghadeer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and concise biography of Prophet Muhammad, with very interesting reflections from the author on various aspects of his life and his personality and what they mean for his followers throughout time.

[Iman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful little biography of the Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him and his family. Seyyed Hossein Nasr mentions in the preface that he wrote this to enlighten young readers with historical facts, and more importantly to elucidate the spiritual significance of these facts from traditional sources in contemporary manner.

At first, the book struck me as too short considering the complexity and greatness of the subject matter, but when I began reading I was surprised at how skilfully Nasr covers enough breadth to give a complete overview of the Prophet's life and more than sufficient depth in matters necessitating that. The dates, the events, the important figures are all there, and so is the superb commentary.
The contemporary manner that Nasr employs is one that addresses the increasingly humanistic and scientistic attitudes of modernised Muslims who down play certain aspects of the Prophet's life in order to fit a more "rational" view of the world/religion. (Nasr refers to this process as reductionism) Nasr assures the reader that there is nothing illogical about events like the nocturnal ascent (mi`raj). He reminds us that " the conditions which modern physical science sets upon itself in its study of physical reality [must not be mistaken] for conditions and limitations
of reality itself."
These small "interventions" Nasr peppers throughout the book made it one of the elements that made me appreciate this book so much. Others are the inclusion of lengthy hadith/riwayat (like that of mi`raj and the farewell pilgrammage) as well as the mentioning the differences in significance of particular events or figures between Sunni and Shi`i thought.

The only thing I am critical of is the lack of sourcing, especially when Nasr recounts unorthodox hadiths non-verbatim. I know citing everything in a biography would be tedious, but I think it should be expected at least when we're talking about things like having icons in the Ka`bah.

All in all, I believe Seyyed Nasr successfully achieved the aim he set out with.
I would recommend this book to those in want of a short introduction to the Prophet pbuh and to the more seasoned who still wish to get a nuanced perspective on the spiritual significance of some of the most important events of the Prophet's life.

[Pashew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful biography of prophet Muhammad PBUH. Very easy to read.

[Nuruddin Azri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jika terdapat dua aspek menarik yang dapat dicuplik daripada buku ini, sudah tentulah i) Apabila baginda Nabi Muhammad diajak bermain oleh rakan-rakan sebayanya sewaktu muda, tetapi baginda menjawab, “Sesungguhnya manusia itu dicipta untuk tujuan yang lebih mulia daripada tenggelam dalam kegiatan yang sia-sia.” dan ii) Baginda telah melalui semua aspek kehidupan manusia daripada senang mahupun susah seperti yatim piatu sejak kecil, kematian isteri, kematian anak sewaktu kecil, dikhianati masyarakat sendiri, ugutan nyawa, keluarga dan harta benda serta penyeksaan sewaktu memikul tugas Islam.

Buku ini layak mendapat lima bintang sekiranya beberapa kesalahan ejaan tipis dikurangkan seperti (Bahira -> Buhaira, “mithikal” -> mistikal) dan faham pemilihan khalifah yang dianuti oleh penulis.

[Hesham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though it is brief bioghraphy about the greatest man ever, it signify the aspects which was ignored intendedly by western scholars and demonstrate its significance on the account of its impact on the mankind.
moreover, it shed light on the poinf of view of islam toward metaphysical phenomenas ,especially when such an event has a critical role to understand the life of the prophet,and that western scholars are bound within the limitation of physics.

[Saifullah]

I'm elated by how this book connected me to my childhood memories. Those of my sufi madrassa Wednesdays when we sit on the carpet around our mallam to listen to the biography of the noble Prophet. This book has a similar tone to the cherished moments. It's a spiritual dive into the bio. It's short but beautiful and moving.

[Hariz S. H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief yet excellent biography written about Prophet Muhammad Pbuh. Some of narrations includes the views of both shiite and sunni traditions. Included are also some rebuttals of negative views from modern western scholar about some contreversial instances of prophet's life.

[Norziati · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sesuai dengan hasrat Nasr untuk melihat aspek kerohanian menerusi sirah Nabi Muhammad, ada beberapa perkara menarik yang dibahaskan pada akhir buku. Antaranya, hakikat anak yatim, adab, ilmu, peranan ibu bapa dan beberapa lagi

[Tariq Mahmood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent first biography of the prophet Muhammad.

[Delilah]

I didn't realize Seyyed Hossein Nasr is Shia... Well, on the middle ground, I guess. He was weirdly unbiased to either side. I noticed some typos in the book. Short and sweet. I liked it.

[Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and concise introduction to the life and teachings of Muhammad (PBUH).

[Agustus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huft.. Singkat, namun indah sekali. Awalnya karena melihat salah satu "tren" kecenderungan prof. Nasr spt dlm Knowledge and the Sacred dan beberapa buku lainnya yg bersifat diskursif, saya kira buku tipis ini agak cenderung panjang dan njelimet, sbgmana panjang cara mendongeng penulis2 zaman old (mis. Sejarah Tuhan Karen Armstrong, dst). Nyatanya ga juga, malah cenderung singkat.

Yang agak "se-genre" secara cara penulisan dg buku ini mis. Sadr al-Din Shirazi and his transcendent theosophy sama Three Muslim Sages. Dalam beberapa hal, buku tentang Mulla Shadra cenderung ekstensif dan butuh kemampuan abstraksi yang lumayan, meskipun bersifat pengantar. Utk Three Muslim Sages, cenderung lebih mudah utk membacanya secara melompat-lompat sbg ensiklopedi ringkas (yg ttp berbobot). Sedang buku Muhammad man of God ini, lebih ringkas lagi daripada Three Muslim Sages. Ringkas (maka tdk seluruh kesejarahan diceritakan), namun dengan penyajian fakta2 serta sudut pandang menarik dari prof Nasr.

Misalnya, bagaimana prof Nasr "menafsirkan" peristiwa gua Tsaur (momentum hijrah bersama Sidi Abu Bakr) sbg perlunya kita utk masuk mendalami "gua" hati kita, yang terkadang diselubungi dunia sbgmana jejaring laba2 menyelubungi mulut gua tsb.

Begitu juga cerminan perbedaan pendapat antara prof. Nasr dan Dr. Syariati bahwa betul bahwa masyarakat butuh tindakan perubahan secepatnya, namun tdk bisa scr gegabah dg tanpa keterlibatan bimbingan esoterik sebagaimana gerakan2 rakyat yg diorganisir para santo, waliyullah, dan org2 suci dari berbagai khazanah keagamaan. Apa sebab? Seorang mukmin selalu bercermin pada peri hidup Nabi Muhammad sbg suri tauladan (uswah hasanah). Sedang sbl melibatkan diri dlm aktivisme sosial yg lebih terorganisir (pada periode madinah), nabi Muhammad berkali2 melalui proses2 esoterik (pembedahan dada, penyepian di gua2 dan bukit2, hingga puncaknya pada mikraj hingga ke haribaan-Nya).

Demikian prof. Nasr scr ringkas dan ciamik tidak hanya membahas aspek2 kesejarahan yg hanya berkaitan dg esoterisisme islam / tashawwuf, akan tetapi juga mengenalkan kepada pembacanya akan keberimbangan sudut pandang sunni dan syiah yang dg begitu akan menambah kekayaan khazanah keislaman pembacanya. Berikut pula dg topik2 penting lainnya spt Hadis dan Sunnah sebagai rantai tradisi (sebagaimana penekanan kuat dalam khazanah katolik Roma maupun gereja Timur), serta topik2 kontemporer spt tuntunan Nabi kepada kaum muda dan bagaimana org tua perlu bersikap utk bisa mengakomodir kaum muda scr produktif, alih2 scr helikopter otoritarian.

Untuk karya ringkas spt ini, bisa selesai dlm waktu yg relatif singkat. Baik dalam sekali duduk sampai habis (spt saya d hari ini) ataupun dalam 2, 3, atau bbrp hari dengan pembacaan yg santai tapi fokus.

Dipersilakeun~

[Syahiran Ramli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muhammad Insan Kamil terjemahan Muhammad Man Of Allah merupakan sebuah buku biografi serba ringkas junjungan Nabi Muhammad saw sebelum dan selepas menjadi Rasul, sehinggalah ke akhir kewafatannya. Walaupun diceritakan secara ringkas, namun buku yang ditulis oleh Seyyed Hossein Nasr banyak membincangkan makna di sebalik kejadian atau peristiwa yang dilalui oleh Rasulullah saw.

Orientalis Barat sering mengkritik Nabi Muhammad saw yang mempunyai isteri yang ramai, namun begitu kritikan mereka hanyalah atas dasar bilangan, bukanlah sebab dan mengapa terjadi sesuatu perkahwinan itu berlaku. Dijawab oleh penulis bahawa;

"..Baginda tidak berkahwin sehingga berusia 25 tahun, dan dalam tahun-tahun berikut apabila keperluan batin begitu tinggi bagi kaum lelaki, Baginda hidup seorang isteri yang 15 tahun lebih tua daripadanya. Lebih daripada itu perkahwinan Baginda yang kemudian umumnya lebih bertujuan politik dan sosial. Ia bertujuan untuk membawa perpaduan antara kaum dan suku-suku di Semenanjung Arab di bawah satu naungan masyarakat dan politik.."

Buku ini juga menjawab juga kepada peristiwa Israk dan Mikraj yang sering kali juga dimainkan oleh Orientalis Barat dan saintis yang mengatakan bahawa perjalanan Nabi Muhammad saw diangkat ke langit adalah palsu semata-mata. Sedangkan, "...sains moden secara terang terangan menyatakan bahawa had kajiannya adalah dalam lingkungan realiti fizikal dan bukan realiti pada lapisan alam lain seperti alam rohani."

Banyak lagi yang diulas oleh penulis di dalam buku ini antara simbolik gua yang menjadi tempat persembunyian Nabi Muhammad saw ketika dikejar puak kafir Quraisy, penghijrahan Nabi ke Madinah yang menjadi satu fasa baru buat Baginda menjadi pemimpin, peristiwa peperangan dan sebagainya.

Agama Islam bukanlah agama yang mengajak kepada peperangan seperti yang digembar gemburkan oleh Orientalis Barat.
Memetik petikan di dalam buku ini;

"Walaupun peperangan Badar dan peperangan lain yang berikutnya merupakan penentu kepada kelahiran dan keutuhan masyarakat Islam yang baru lahir itu, Rasulullah masih menamakan peperangan itu sebagai jihad kecil (al-jihad al-saghar) dan apabila ditanya oleh para sahabat akan jihad besar (al-jihad al-akbar), maka Baginda menjawab, "berjihad menentang nafsu hawaniyah dalam diri seseorang".

Meskipun begitu, Rasulullah sebagai pemimpin pastinya tidak lari daripada tugas memimpin atau terlibat dalam peperangan apabila tiba pada 'masanya'. Peranan tersebut haruslah dilaksanakan, membuktikan bahawa Islam mencakupi segala aspek kehidupan sepertimana yang ditempuhi oleh Nabi Sulaiman dan Nabi Daud.

Saya kira buku ini banyak menjawab persoalan dan kritikan yang sering kali dilemparkan oleh pihak Orientalis Barat dan seharusnya buku ini dibaca oleh semua orang tidak kira apa anutan yang seseorang itu bawa.

[Mahdiye Fateh · Rating 4 out of 5]

محمد: مرد خدا
روایتی ساده، دلچسب و گیرا درباره‌ی رحمه للعالمینمان.