Heaven’s Tidings

The ’Final testament’ or ’Revelation’ from God to humanity, the Quran and the life of the final Messenger of God, Prophet Mohamed (May the Peace and Blessings of God be upon him) are inextricably intertwined to the extent that the Prophet was the living embodiment of the Quran. He was attacked by his own family during his lifetime for his progressive views, the pagan Arabs drove him out of his own city of birth for preaching the Unity of God, in medieval times he was attacked by authors like Dante and Martin Luther followed by the Orientalists who unleashed their vitriol in the 19th century, and more recently we have all read the headlines about the infamous Danish cartoon controversies and the Charlie Hebdo caricatures. Whilst the life of the Prophet rages the tempest of faith and love for him within the hearts of Muslims, one must deal with these many outside attacks, which are important not only for what they reveal about non-Muslims’ ability to understand the significance of one of the leading figures in human history, but also because Muslims today are exceedingly concerned, even defensive, about what others say regarding their Prophet. In short, what is said about Prophet Muhammad affects all of us, regardless of our faith. It has become commonplace to acknowledge that we live in an interconnected world. Yet it is not just goods and people and ideas that now flow freely across the world; it is also the religious insights, sensitivities, and prejudices of our fellow human beings that we increasingly come face-to-face with. This is particularly relevant to the case of Muhammad, probably the least known and most misunderstood of all the founders of the major world religions. Just as God, in the Quran exhorts its readers to ponder and deeply reflect on its verses to understand its essence, the ’Seerah’ or the life of the Prophet Muhammad requires reflection to derive from it the wisdom, beauty, mercy, justice and human welfare of its true physical and metaphysical significance for life and its purpose.'Trying to condense the rich and remarkable life of a prophet into a slender volume is not an easy task, but Ifthikar Hassen has managed splendidly to find and convey genuine meaning, and to create new and important knowledge, in this fascinating, insightful, carefully argued and beautifully written book.'- Professor Joel Hayward, author of The Leadership of Muhammad