EBOOK Muhammad: A Very Short Introduction

As the founder of Islam Muhammad is one of the most influential figures in        history. The furor surrounding the Satanic Verses and the Danish cartoon crisis        reminded the world of the tremendous importance of the prophet of Islam, Muhammad.          Learning about his life and understanding its importance, however, has always proven        difficult. Our knowledge of Muhammad comes from the biography of him written by his        followers, but Western historians have questioned the reliability of thisstory in        their quest to uncover the 'historical Muhammad'.As modern controversies have shown,        whatever the truth about Muhammad's life, his persona has taken on numerous shapes        and played a crucial role in Muslim life and civilization. This Very Short        Introduction provides an introduction to the major aspects of Muhammad's life and        its importance, providing both the Muslim and Western historical perspectives. It        also explains the prominent roles that Muhammad's persona has played in the Islamic        world, from the medieval to the modernperiod.