Muhammad: A Story of God's Messenger and the Revelation That Changed the World

by Deepak Chopra

Overview

“Compassionate and clear…a courageous undertaking.” —Greg Mortenson, New York Times bestselling author of Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools

“As a scholar and storyteller extraordinaire, Deepak Chopra portrays a morally courageous yet highly human messenger of God.” —Irshad Manji, Director, Moral Courage Project, New York University

From the New York Times bestselling author of Buddha and Jesus comes the page-turning and soul-stirring story of Muhammad. Deepak Chopra—easily one of the most influential spiritual leaders in the world today—delivers this stunning, sincere, and highly accessible portrait of the Prophet of Islam. Chopra’s Muhammad is an outstanding resource for everyone who thinks they should know more about the man who inspired the world's fastest-growing religion.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061782435
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	05/31/2011
Series:	Enlightenment Series , #3
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	475,030
Product dimensions:	5.31(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.65(d)

About the Author

Deepak Chopra, MD is the author of more than eighty books translated into over forty-three languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers in both fiction and nonfiction categories.

Hometown:

La Jolla, California

Date of Birth:

October 22, 1946

Place of Birth:

New Delhi, India

Education:

All India Institute of Medical Sciences

Table of Contents

Author's Note vii

Prelude: The Angel of Revelation 1

1 The Water of Life 7

2 The Angel's Embrace 101

3 Warrior of God 171

Afterword: A Walk with Muhammad 255

What People are Saying About This

Ayaan Hirsi Ali

“It’s worth discovering Muhammad through Deepak Chopra.”

Irshad Manji

“Chopra shows that neither revering nor reviling Muhammad will unlock the meaning he embodied. So what will? Chopra’s answer is bound to challenge Muslims and non-Muslims alike.”

Greg Mortenson

“Chopra takes us into the past through the Prophet Muhammad’s journey, and brings wisdom and perspective to an often misunderstood figure. His compassionate and clear depiction is a courageous undertaking, and a valuable effort against the enemy of ignorance. An important and timely book, indeed.”

Harvey Cox

“I am grateful that Deepak Chopra, instead of adding to the often useless pile of [Muhammad] biographies, has instead crafted an absorbing novel based on Muhammad’s life. Any reader will come away better informed both about the prophet himself and about Islam, the world’s second largest religion.”

Dalia Mogahed

“His approach is as engaging as it is informative and deeply humanizing. The first-person narratives each paint a new layer onto the picture of the Beloved of God, in all his humanity and complexity and perfection.”

Editorial Reviews

Chopra shows that neither revering nor reviling Muhammad will unlock the meaning he embodied. So what will? Chopra’s answer is bound to challenge Muslims and non-Muslims alike.” — Irshad Manji, Director, Moral Courage Project, New York University

“Chopra takes us into the past through the Prophet Muhammad’s journey, and brings wisdom and perspective to an often misunderstood figure. His compassionate and clear depiction is a courageous undertaking, and a valuable effort against the enemy of ignorance. An important and timely book, indeed.” — Greg Mortenson, New York Times bestselling author of Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools

“I am grateful that Deepak Chopra, instead of adding to the often useless pile of [Muhammad] biographies, has instead crafted an absorbing novel based on Muhammad’s life. Any reader will come away better informed both about the prophet himself and about Islam, the world’s second largest religion.” — Harvey Cox, Hollis Research Professor of Divinity at Harvard University, and author of The Future of Faith

“It’s worth discovering Muhammad through Deepak Chopra.” — Ayaan Hirsi Ali, bestselling author of Infidel and Nomad

“Compellingly told, this is not only good storytelling, it also helps readers, especially non-Muslims, better understand the complexities and contradictions surrounding Islam.” — Booklist

“[O]ne of the most imaginative and touching biographies of Muhammad….Chopra’s grasp of Muhammad’s life and mission extends his range in a surprising direction; his popularization is welcome.” — Publishers Weekly

“...an intricate, deeply considered depiction of the Prophet’s life. At a time when Muhammad is largely misunderstood outside (and sometimes inside) of the Muslim world, the novel gives a vivid voice to his story.” — The Daily Beast

“It is a positive portrait that nonetheless points to human flaws and complexities.” — The Arizona Republic

“...profound summation of his life, teachings, and service of humanity...” — Spirituality & Practice

“His approach is as engaging as it is informative and deeply humanizing. The first-person narratives each paint a new layer onto the picture of the Beloved of God, in all his humanity and complexity and perfection.” — Dalia Mogahed, in a Huffington Post review

“...the finest of his long shelf of books. ...Chopra returns in his own attractive voice with one of the more level, tough-love, discussions of Islamic religion available.” — The Daily Beast

“[Chopra] produces an imaginative, evocative rendition of what it must have been like to be in the company of such an individual, making his way in an environment in many ways so alien to our own.” — The Historical Novels Review

From the Publisher

Chopra takes us into the past through the Prophet Muhammad’s journey, and brings wisdom and perspective to an often misunderstood figure. His compassionate and clear depiction is a courageous undertaking, and a valuable effort against the enemy of ignorance. An important and timely book, indeed.

Greg Mortenson

It is a positive portrait that nonetheless points to human flaws and complexities.

The Arizona Republic

Chopra shows that neither revering nor reviling Muhammad will unlock the meaning he embodied. So what will? Chopra’s answer is bound to challenge Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

Irshad Manji

It’s worth discovering Muhammad through Deepak Chopra.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali

His approach is as engaging as it is informative and deeply humanizing. The first-person narratives each paint a new layer onto the picture of the Beloved of God, in all his humanity and complexity and perfection.

Dalia Mogahed

...profound summation of his life, teachings, and service of humanity...

Spirituality & Practice

I am grateful that Deepak Chopra, instead of adding to the often useless pile of [Muhammad] biographies, has instead crafted an absorbing novel based on Muhammad’s life. Any reader will come away better informed both about the prophet himself and about Islam, the world’s second largest religion.

Harvey Cox

...an intricate, deeply considered depiction of the Prophet’s life. At a time when Muhammad is largely misunderstood outside (and sometimes inside) of the Muslim world, the novel gives a vivid voice to his story.

The Daily Beast

Compellingly told, this is not only good storytelling, it also helps readers, especially non-Muslims, better understand the complexities and contradictions surrounding Islam.

Booklist

[Chopra] produces an imaginative, evocative rendition of what it must have been like to be in the company of such an individual, making his way in an environment in many ways so alien to our own.

The Historical Novels Review

Compellingly told, this is not only good storytelling, it also helps readers, especially non-Muslims, better understand the complexities and contradictions surrounding Islam.

Booklist

Chopra, an iconic figure in American popular culture, proves with this biography of Muhammad that he is more than just a New Age talking head. Varying by chapter the narrative viewpoints and using actual characters from the life of Muhammad, such as Muhammad's first wife, Khadijah, and his daughter Fatima, Chopra tells the story of Muhammad's life in this "teaching novel." Similar volumes by Chopra have already profiled Buddha and Jesus. While technically this is fiction, several historical events--including ones dear to many Muslims' hearts--are related. The result is one of the most imaginative and touching biographies of Muhammad. For instance, in the prelude, inventively narrated by the Angel Gabriel, the angel bringing the revelation of the Qur'an to Muhammad, describes the illiterate caravan trader who had married his wealthy female boss. The next chapter, narrated by Muhammad's grandfather Abdul Muttalib, tells the legend of the Zamzam well, which Muslims visit to this day in their annual hajj pilgrimage. Chopra goes on to describe a people yearning for a message that would liberate them from polytheistic tribalism and the messenger, a trustworthy but frightened man who became a prophet. Chopra's grasp of Muhammad's mission and life is accessible and extends his range in a surprising direction; his popularization is welcome. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

Chopra’s historical novel of Muhammad is told through many characters who were known to be around the prophet—or types of characters, such as scribes, who it is reasonable to believe were around him, given the time period. Chopra is not the easiest narrator to listen to. His reading is delivered in a monotone, and he does not demonstrate the skills or tools audiobook listeners are accustomed to. In a novel with a wide cast of characters, these weaknesses are particularly noticeable. There may be a benefit in hearing a nonfiction philosophical work in Chopra’s own voice. In this work, however, it distracts from the storytelling. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

OCTOBER 2010 - AudioFile