Book Review [160] : The First Muslim

The First Muslim : The Story of Muhammad by Lesley Hazleton is a masterly written book on the life of Prophet Muhammad. 

It describes in great detail about the society of pre-Islamic Mecca and also dwells on the circumstances and tragedies that made an Orphan boy one of the most influential human being ever lived. 

Muhammad was the only son of Abdulla of Hashim clan of Quraysh tribe. This tribe controlled the resources of Mecca as well as holy Kaaba. Muhammad's father died much before his birth. He was raised by a Beduin wet nurse and was returned to his mother Amina when he was 5. Amina would die a year later.

Muhammad started working for his uncle abu Talib as his caravan agent. He built his reputation as an expert and honest agent. He asked the hand of abu Talib's daughter in marriage but he refused. Muhammad then marries a rich widow Khadija. She was 15 years senior. 

Quran was revealed to him starting 610 AD. He started preaching those revelations but was expelled from Mecca in 622. He found refuge in Medina (then called Yathrib). From here he changed the history of the world within next 10 years. 

There were three Jewish tribes in Medina that time. After the battle of Badr (624 AD) he expelled Qainuqa tribe from Medina. After battle of Uhud (625 AD) he expelled Nadir tribe from Medina and after the battle of Trench (627 AD) all men (600 to 900) of Qurayz Jewish tribe were beheaded in a trench. This created a terrible precedent but those were times of tribal warfare even then it was unprecedented.  

 

By 630 AD he opened up Mecca and the Quraysh leadership of Mecca accepted Islam without major bloodshed. Muhammad continued with all the ancient customs including circling of Kaaba, shaving of head, washing, sacrifices, wearing Ihram etc. The tribal totems were smashed and Kaaba was rededicated to one God. After that he returns to Medina and there he dies in June 632 AD without categorically declaring his successor.

Must read book. Highly Recommended (10/10)