Muhammad

Starred review from October 8, 2018
In the vein of 40-hadith collections—well-known retellings of stories about the prophet Muhammad—Knight (Magic in Islam) delivers both a personal practitioner’s and a scholar’s view of the many ways Muhammad is imagined today. More than a survey of the prophet’s life and times, this book is an introduction to the stunning diversity of Islam and the ways in which Muslims think, dream, and make Muhammad into their very own prophet. Knight addresses topics such as gender, sexuality, law, environmentalism, and mysticism in chapters each pegged to a saying of or story about Muhammad. For instance, a story about the prophet allowing a Bedouin to urinate within a mosque is used as precedent for not immediately censuring profane behavior. He also uses the often-cited “Hadith of Intention” (a selection of Muhammad’s sayings that question the intention behind behaviors) as, Knight says, a way to “assess personal choices beyond simple questions of permissible or prohibited.” Anyone who picks up this sparkling book will be introduced to the many Muhammads who exist in the world and the ways in which they are in conversation with each other in the lives of Muslims across the globe.

October 15, 2018
The character and life of Muhammad based on a collection of his sayings.Knight (Religious Studies/Univ. of Central Florida; Magic in Islam, 2016, etc.) draws on the hadith tradition in Islam--collections of sayings by Muhammad--to provide his own introduction to the prophet, seeking "Muslim traditions that offer representations of Muhammad that speak from outside canonical privilege." The author's portrait of Muhammad is progressive, sometimes controversial, and he aims to be inclusive of a variety of Muslim voices. The hadith structure works well as a framework for approaching the complex character of Muhammad from a variety of angles. Some chapters are relatively straightforward and portray the prophet as, for instance, a doting grandfather, an orphaned boy, or even an advocate against animal cruelty. But most chapters dig deeper into Muhammad's personality and his legacy. Knight finds in Muhammad radical hospitality, patience in judgment, and, above all, a paragon of "the greater jihad"--the battle against one's ego. As in previous books on Islam, the author occasionally delves into contentious territory, especially in discussions of Muhammad's sexuality; at one point, he asks readers to "imagine the Prophet...as a gay man." Later, in discussing the variety of forms that Islam has taken, Knight discusses the Nation of Islam and other related controversial groups. The author also uses the hadith tool to explore those who were close to Muhammad and who had an influence on the beginnings of Islam. For instance, he explores the life of Aisha, one of Muhammad's later wives, and through her brings a feminist focus to the roots of the Muslim faith. During his conclusion, Knight states, "if someone objects to me with the clichéd charge that I treat Islam 'like a buffet, ' I answer that I treat it like a dozen buffets." Indeed, readers will find 40 buffets in this single book.A worthwhile and sometimes challenging read for Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

COPYRIGHT(2018) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 1, 2018

After converting to Islam at 16, novelist Knight (Magic in Islam) adopted the name Muhammad. In his latest work, the author explores the life of the Prophet Muhammad while demonstrating the importance of the Forty Hadith genre in Islamic literature. Hadiths are the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad; they are considered the second most important text in Islam after the Quran and number in the thousands. The author begins with a quote by Imam al-Nasawi stating that whoever preserves the hadiths will have the prophet intercede for them on the Day of Resurrection. Traditionally, the Forty Hadiths subgenre is one in which the author compiles the aforementioned number of hadiths with a specific purpose or theme in mind; for example, ethics, justice, and worship. There have even been Forty Hadith compilations on modern topics, such as business and social media. In each chapter here, Knight selects a hadith that describes a specific aspect of the prophet's life and character. He then elaborates on each in his own unique way with the purpose of expressing his personal walk with Muhammad. VERDICT A compelling work recommended for those wishing to explore the life of Muhammad and the Forty Hadith tradition.--Dave Pugl, Ela Area P.L., Lake Zurich, IL

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.