The messenger

It is always gratifying to read a biography of the Prophet (peace be upon him) which narrates his life focussing especially on areas that are often neglected or glossed over in many Sirah books. Such books usually give more prominence to the accounts of battles and skirmishes but omit to mention the efforts the noble Prophet (peace be upon him) made in diplomacy, reconciliation and peace building. Thus, in this book two very experienced authors have tried to dispel many myths and expose the hypocritical and biased interpretations of Islam that tarnish the image of the Prophet (peace be upon him) by decontextualizing incidents and some of his sayings in order to serve nefarious ideologies. The work comprises three major sections. A lengthy introduction outlines the setting of the events in Makkah covering the pre-Islamic era. It explains the part played by the ancestors of the Blessed Prophet (peace be upon him) in the administration of Makkah and providing hospitality service to those