A prophet for our time when the pope spoke of jihad, and when danish cartoonists published caricatures of a violent prophet. A short history, quotes a line from the quran that reads do not argue with the followers of. The sources for the book are englishlanguage secondary sources, and the author was relatively new to islam at the time of writing. More is known about muhammad than any other major religion founder, yet he remains mysterious. It also derives relevant examples from buddhism and hinduism.
Theres a phrase in the quran, ahl alkitab, which roughly translates as the people of the book or people of an earlier revelation that refers to jews and christians as people, like muslims, who belong to a faith that is rooted in a sacred text. A prophet for our time c2006 is armstrong s second biography of muhammed. This is not really a biography of muhammad, but a kind of interpretation of islam, its origins, and the character of the prophetall intertwined in a single book. In over five hundred pages karen armstrong, once a nun and the respected author of bestsellers like a history of god and the case for god, answers the question whether religion is the principal cause of violence. Dec 03, 2001 this is not really a biography of muhammad, but a kind of interpretation of islam, its origins, and the character of the prophet all intertwined in a single book. A former roman catholic nun and winner of a muslim public affairs council media award, karen armstrong shows how muhammads life can teach us a great deal about our world. To glimpse how the vast majority of the worlds muslims understand their prophet and their faith, karen armstrongs short biography is a good. I bought armstrong s book about muhammad in 2003, after reading her short book about the history of islam. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. Countering those who dismiss islam as fanatical and violent, armstrong offers a clear, accessible, and balanced portrait of the central figure of one of the worlds great religions. A biography of the prophet by karen armstrong and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. There is a distinction between belief in a set of propositions and a faith which enables us to put our trust in them. The main idea or it can be called an argument that armstrong put forth was to break the wrong image of the west about the holy prophet.
Respectful, knowledgeable, and, above all, readable. A biography of the prophet is a biography of muhammad by the british religion writer and lecturer karen armstrong, published by gollancz in 1991. What a prophet preaches, coupled with signs or wonders he may perform, is covered more specifically in deuteronomy. Muhammad, a biography of the prophet, by karen armstrong, tells the story of the prophet muhammad and how the religion of islam came into existence. Karen armstrong also notes that muhammad very deliberately did not seek public office, and had no political ambitions. Countering those who dismiss islam as fanatical and violent, armstrong offers a clear, accessible, and balanced portrait. Armstrong s muhammad is a soft pluralist, simultaneously committed to radical monotheism there is no god but allah and extremely tolerant of. A prophet for our time, tariq ramadans in the footsteps of the prophet, reza aslans no god but god, shaykh hamza yusufs the life of the prophet audio lectures and adil salahis muhammad. But she has written a powerful biography that not only details muhammads long and ive been on a quest to read more about islam, so i will not be an. It is a terrible thing when politically motivated people use and abuse religion to achieve their political ends, and islam is not alone in having its. When the pope spoke of jihad, and when danish cartoonists published caricatures of a violent prophet muhammad, karen armstrong blamed. A prophet for our time directly addresses the central conflict of our times, some muslim thinkers regard the jihad against mecca as the climax of muhammads career and fail to note that he eventually abjured warfare and adopted a nonviolent policy. The muslim prophet born in bethlehem this article is more than years old. Listen to islam audiobook by karen armstrong and richard.
Her books include the bestselling a history of god and the battle for god, as well as buddha and islam. The arabs, who were still basically a tribal nomadic society. It succeeds because armstrong brings muhammad to life as a fully rounded human being. Especially after the wake of september 11 very interesting. Karen armstrong, author, scholar, and journalist, is among the worlds foremost commentators on religious history and culture. On the basis of deuteronomy and 18, then, herbert armstrong was not a false prophet because he never claimed to be a prophet or divinely inspired to make prophetic statements. Fundamentalism the us is the true home of religious extremism, which begins not as a crusade against outsiders, but as hatred of those of the same faith. Dec 22, 2006 the muslim prophet born in bethlehem this article is more than years old. I would really appreciate if someone could get me this copy of ebook, ive. The economist karen armstrong s sympathetic profile paints a portrait of a very human prophetwall street journal karen armstrongs sympathetic profile paints a portrait of a very human prophetwall street journal a good glimpse of. Muhammad was a bourgeois trader before he became a prophet, and this is reflected in the sharia property laws. Western critics also persist in seeing the prophet of islam as a man. Muhammad was more directly involved in the political life of the world than jesus, but his fundamental message was one of obedience to the will of god, an obedience from which all social and. Oct 14, 2017 karen armstrongs immaculately researched new biography of muhammad.
The terrorist attacks in paris rendered her new book fields of blood. Karen armstrongs sympathetic profile paints a portrait of a very human prophet a good glimpse of how the vast majority of the worlds muslims understand their. The auxiliary sources include karen armstrongs muhammad. Armstrong argues forcefully that muhammad, the figure behind islam, is a prophet for our time. Armstrongs muhammad is a soft pluralist, simultaneously committed to radical monotheism there is no god but allah and extremely tolerant of. Faith and freedom karen armstrong, may 8, 2003, the guardian essay. A prophet for our time reprint by karen armstrong isbn. A history of god by karen armstrong the new christian west during the middle ages introduction as a child, i had a number of strong religious beliefs but little faith in god. Countering those who dismiss islam as fanatical and violent, armstrong. Karen armstrongs sympathetic profile paints a portrait of a very human prophet a good glimpse of how the vast majority of the worlds muslims understand their prophet. Dec 03, 2001 respectful, knowledgeable, and, above all, readable. Among its merits include the element of objectivity that runs.
Prophet for our time is her second book on the biography of the prophet mu. The man who inspired the worlds fastestgrowing religion muhammad presents a fascinating portrait of the founder of a religion that continues to change the course of world history. A prophet for our time by karen armstrong in doc, fb2, rtf download ebook. Karen armstrongs immaculately researched new biography of muhammad. God had told him that he was simply a nadhir, a messenger with a warning. A prophet for our time, published by harper collins in the eminent lives series.
From the bestselling writer of the history of god and the widely acclaimed islam a short history comes karen armstrongs muhammad. A biography of the prophet according to the introduction, armstrong undertook this work to write a fair and accurate biography which she doesnt feel has been done before. She also writes religious articles for the guardian. Beginning with the prophet muhammads flight from medina and concluding with an examination of modern islamic practices and concerns, armstrong delivers an unbiased overview. The economist karen armstrong s sympathetic profile paints a portrait of a very human prophetwall street journal karen armstrongs sympathetic profile paints a portrait of a very human prophetwall street journal a good glimpse of how the vast. It not only speaks about the life of muhammad but also. She attended st annes college, oxford, while in the convent and majored in english. Apr 01, 1991 karen armstrong was concerned enough to write a book about the prophet muhammad pbuh to clarify some of the most controversial and debatable issues about him and islam a whole.
A biography of the prophet by karen armstrong in chm, djvu, fb3 download ebook. Jul 03, 2009 karen armstrong takes the reader through a history of religious practice in many different cultures, arguing that in the good old days and purest forms they all come to much the same thing. The 4,000year quest of judaism, christianity and islam. Muhammads story is more relevant than ever because it offers crucial insight into the true origins of an increasingly radicalized islam. This, of course, makes him either a man out of time or a man ahead of his time. The biographies of the past tended to be very pro or very con muhammad and islam. Karen armstrong has not written a pageturner with this biography of muhammad in fact, i brought it with me for a long planeflight, figuring only total boredom would force me to read it. Comparative religions writer, karen armstrongs book, mohammad, really helps us to understand the prophet of islam. The economist karen armstrong s sympathetic profile paints a portrait of a very human prophet wall street journal karen armstrong s sympathetic profile paints a portrait of a very human prophet wall street journal a good glimpse of how the vast. Karen armstrong, obe, frsl born 14 november 1944 is a british author and commentator of irish catholic descent known for her books on comparative religion. The true, peaceful face of islam karen armstrong, time essay. Armstrong mentions that the christian world has always judged this part of the prophets life with distrust.
Bestselling author and renowned religious scholar karen armstrong presents a concise and articulate history of islam, the worlds fastestgrowing faith. The acclaimed religious writer karen armstrong has written a biography which will give. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by. A prophet for our time c2006 is armstrongs second biography of muhammed. Armstrong writes in the introduction to the second biography that in the wake of september 11, we need to focus on other aspects of muhammads life. She is particularly effective in showing how muhammads message, especially in the area of womens rights, was far more advanced than others of his time, including the attitudes of christians and. A prophet for our time when the pope spoke of jihad, and when danish cartoonists published caricatures of a violent prophet muhammad, karen armstrong blamed islamophobia. Karen armstrong successfully captures the world in which islam was born and the complexities of muhammad, one of historys most important figures.
Most people in the west know very little about the prophet muhammad. Karen armstrong was concerned enough to write a book about the prophet muhammad pbuh to clarify some of the most controversial and debatable issues about him and islam a whole. On the celebratemercy webcast, karen armstrong, bestselling british author and founder of the charter for compassion, discusses. A biography of the prophet is a biography of muhammad by the british religion writer and lecturer karen armstrong, published by gollancz in 1991 overview. It details the history of the three major monotheistic traditions, judaism, christianity and islam, along with buddhism and hinduism. Religion and the history of violence suddenly and tragically very urgent. A prophet for our time, armstrong first takes on the definition of jihad, explaining that as opposed to holy war, the term more appropriately describes a struggle all believers must wage on their way to spiritual clarity. A fresh, evenhanded biography of the founder of islam by the author of a history of god. Jul 14, 2012 on the celebratemercy webcast, karen armstrong, bestselling british author and founder of the charter for compassion, discusses compassion in the quran. A short history comes an important addition to the eminent lives book series. At this time, christianity and judaism had developed and had a form of written scripture. She starts describing muhammads rising success as a skilled and respected politician.
Karen armstrong born 1944, is a former roman catholic nun, well known for her books on abrahamic religion. A biography of the prophet book by karen armstrong. Aug 28, 2007 karen armstrong, author, scholar, and journalist, is among the worlds foremost commentators on religious history and culture. A former roman catholic religious sister, she went from a conservative to a more liberal and mystical christian faith. On the basis of deuteronomy and 18, then, herbert armstrong was not a false prophet because he never claimed to be a prophet or. Traces the history of islam, from the flight of prophet muhammadpeace be on him and the founding of the first mosques to the development of the modern muslim state, and examines its present beliefs and practices. The evolution of the idea of god is traced from its ancient roots in the middle east up to the present day. The book gives a comparison between the three major monotheistic religions of islam, christianity and judaism. I liked that book, as it covered the main topics about islam quite well, so i thought i would enjoy reading her previous, longer book about the founder of that religion.