Its weekly observance reflected Arabia’s obsession with tribal identity. The Meccans called it yawm-ul-‘urubah (day of Arab-ness). Yet the man’s color combination matched no established tribal look and suggested instead a fusion of identities, including styles from beyond Arabia.įriday was supposed to be a time of heightened Arab pride. Residents of Arabia declared their clan affiliations via the distinct styles, colors, and shapes of their apparel and the arrangement of their headdresses.
The man in red and white stood out amid the crowd, his bold garments defying standard tribal classification in a society where clothing functioned as an identity card. The aroma of fresh spices and frankincense saturated the crisp morning air as a striking figure in red and white navigated Mecca’s marketplace filled with shoppers preparing to celebrate the spring equinox. Jebara places Muhammad’s life in a broader historical context, vividly evoking the Meccan society he was born into and arguing that his innovative vision helped shape our modern world. Surrounding the protagonist are dynamic women who nurture Muhammad Jewish and Christian mentors who inspire him and the enslaved individuals he helps liberate who propel his movement. From his dramatic birth to nearly being abducted into slavery to escaping assassination, Muhammad emerges as an unrelenting man on a mission. I loved this book!” - Reza Aslan, author of No God but God and Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of NazarethĪ six-year-old cries in his mother’s arms as she draws her last breaths to urge him: “Muhammad, be a world-changer!” The boy, suddenly orphaned in a tribal society that fears any change, must overcome enormous obstacles to unleash his own potential and inspire others to do the same.įusing details long known to Muslim scholars but inaccessible to popular audiences, Mohamad Jebara brings to life the gripping personal story of Islam’s founding prophet. “A beautifully written, immaculately researched meditation on the impact of the Prophet Muhammad on the modern world. Insightful, thoughtful and thought provoking! " - Azar Nafisi, New York Times bestselling author of Reading Lolita in Tehran
"A joyous read, presenting the Prophet Muhammad both as human and humane.
" An accessible biography of Muhammad, Islam’s founding prophet, tracing his development from orphan to political leader and providing insights into his personal life and tastes." - New York Times Book Review
0 kommentar(er)
