DOC Muhammad: A Western Attempt to Understand Islam by Karen Armstrong in History

Review

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Knowing MuhammadBy William Garrison Jr.ISBN:0575050128 is the 1991 "Victor Gollancz Ltd." (London) paperback edition titled "Muhammad: A Western Attempt to Understand Islam" by Karen Anderson; 290 pages with notes and index. It is a reprint of ISBN:0062500147 (hardback)titled "Muhammad: a biography of the prophet"; or ISBN: 0062508865 which is the 1993 "HarperSanFrancisco" (HarperCollins Publishers)paperback edition; of the same later title. Review: "Karen Armstrong's thought-provoking biography offers a picture of Muhammad which facilitates a profound understanding of Islam and the people who adhere to it so strongly. While discussing Muhammad's life and the fragile society of seventh-century Arabia; she takes particular events as a focus for exploring major tenets of the faith. In dealing with Muhammad's war against Mecca; she asks how far Islam should be considered a religion of the sword; in describing his relationships with his wives; daughters and female converts she considers the claims that Islam is a fiercely misogynistic religion; and while analysing his major political achievements in uniting the tribes of Arabia she explores the reasons why Muslims regard political activity as a religious duty. At the same time she asks why Muslims tend to see worldly success as a sign of God's blessing while Christians sanctify the notion of poverty and humility. Unlike other Western biographers of Muhammad; Karen Armstrong takes as her starting point the reality of his religious experience; thereby illuminating Islam's powerfully inspirational nature and offering challenging comparisons with the two religions most closely related to it - Judaism and Christianity."