The Sirah of the Prophet (pbuh): A Contemporary and Original Analysis Paperback – July 25, 2023

Review of “The Seerah of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)”The book “The Seerah of the Prophet” is a profound and transformative work that beautifully encapsulates the life, character, and mission of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It serves as a beacon of guidance for readers, offering timeless lessons about compassion, patience, justice, and unwavering faith.What makes this book stand out is its ability to touch the hearts of diverse readers, regardless of their prior knowledge or background. The detailed narration of the Prophet’s life, from his early days in Makkah to his final moments, is presented in a way that not only educates but inspires. It is particularly moving to see how the book sheds light on the humanity and mercy of the Prophet (peace be upon him), making his example relatable and achievable for all.The impact of this book on readers is evident in the way it transforms lives. Sending this Seerah book to Muslim inmates is an incredible initiative, as its message has sparked an awakening in their hearts, leading some to embrace Islam after reading it. This is a testament to the book’s power to guide people toward the truth and rekindle faith.May Allah reward those involved in the creation and distribution of this book abundantly. Your work is not only a source of immense knowledge but also a means of dawah that is changing lives and bringing people closer to Allah. Truly, the rewards for such efforts are with Allah, who multiplies goodness beyond measure.If you are looking for a book that offers spiritual enlightenment and practical guidance, The Seerah of the Prophet is an essential read. It is a treasure that continues to illuminate hearts and strengthen the bond between the Creator and His creation.

This is not the first Sirah book I've read, I purchased it based on a recommendation from a friend and I've also read other books by the author, listened to his lectures, etc. I had some expectations of what I would be buying before making the purchase (or so I thought!). Side note: I bought a two more copies to give away to family members before I made it through the first chapter!I needed that brief intro because I want the reader of this review to understand that when I got this thick book in my hand I was intimidated. Although, I've been through other Sirah books, lecture series (in both Arabic and English) and I thought to myself "here is another impulsive purchase that will accumulate dirt on my bookshelf." When I started reading it I found myself flying through it. This book is really well written. It took me less than a month to finish (mostly because I did not want to read the last chapter about the Prophet PBUH death). I did not want to finish the book because it made me feel like I was in another place, almost like being in a movie.I want to highlight this because it's an important differentiator between this work and other works. The author stays true to his podcast/video series in the way he explains things (side note I would highly recommend you look up the podcast and listen to it as it has more depth). You feel like you are there in Arabia more than 1400 years ago. The lens is the lens of those that live there and this is important because many people misunderstand the context of the Quraan/Islam/Sunnah and the Revelation in general. The author challenges the "modern" or "western" lens that everyone looks through and puts you in the time and place of the Prophet PBUH and his companions. He also addresses many misconceptions that people have about Islam; including the popular "Fox News" types of accusations that stem from ignorance and orientalism/racism.For those that love to dig in deeper (podcast is great) there are plenty of end notes that have all the references you would need without being in footnotes all over the entire book. This helps keep the flow to where it feels more like a Novel or a Movie script as you read it.I highly recommend this as one of the best books written about the Prophet in the English language. My recommendation goes to everyone whether or not they have accepted Islam or are just curious about Islam and the Prophet Muhammad PBUH life story. It offers such a good middle ground between depth and breadth that's so easy to just flow with as you read through it.

I have to highly recommend this book on Sirah, especially for converts who are not yet fluent in Arabic. I just finished Dr. Joel Hayward's "The Warrior Prophet: Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ and War" earlier this week, and following it up directly with Dr. Qadhi's book has been an extremely enjoyable experience. I intend to finish Mohiuddin's "Revelation: The Story of Muhammad" صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ (which is more of textbook rather than narrative breakdown of the Sirah, and very useful in that way) in the next week or two. I have read the classic Martin Lings' "Muhammad" صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ at least five times since converting in 1993, and we are reading that and the essential (I would argue the most essential book on Sirah translated into English) Shifaa' of Qadi Iyadh ("Muhammad, Messenger of Allah صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ : Ash-shifa of Qadi 'Iyad" translated by Aisha Bewley) as a group in weekly gatherings. There are more and more resources in Sirah. When I was a new Muslim in the '90's, we were happy when "The Sealed Nectar" was translated (very poorly) into English (I love the book in many ways, but they needed a native speaker for a translator and a good editor). Now, there is so much more for us to read.This book flowed beautifully. The narrative style is excellent. It is an essential text for a Muslim household or for anyone who wants to know about the beauty of the life of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ from a believer's point-of-view.The book had me in tears at many points, in such a good way. It is a poignant reminder of what our Islam should be, for we have in our Prophet the Perfect Exemplar. صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ

I’m not even exaggerating when I say this books changed my life. There’s so many gems and lessons that we can learn from the life of our beloved prophet’s (SAW) life. May Allah bless and elevate Dr. Yasir Qadhi for writing this book.