MUHAMMAD A Prophet for Our Time

To Westerners, especially after 9/11, Islam has become a great enigma that seemingly renders coexistence impossible. By carefully piecing together Muhammad’s life and vision in the context of his cultural roots, however, Armstrong tries to show that Muhammad’s message is rooted in respect, compassion, and compromise. Her plea for understanding is all the more moving because she herself is the narrator and is committed to the message. The post-9/11 world we live in has lent urgency to her voice, and if she sometimes sounds like an apologist for Islam, this portrayal shows she is far more. She refuses to gloss over or excuse the negatives. The prophet is a man to the end of his life—with all the human weaknesses that suggests—but his message remains as valid in our time as it was in his. P.E.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, AudioFile Best Audiobook of 2007 © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 07/ JAN 08]