Muhammad

A provocative new interpretation of the origins of Islam that focuses on Muhammad's vision of peace, by the preeminent Middle East expert and blogger of Informed Comment
Master storyteller and history professor Juan Cole weaves a vibrant historical narrative with rich textual analysis to bring to life the fascinating and complex world in which the Prophet Muhammad lived and taught.
Cole examines the roots of Islam by going back to its origin story--that of an orphan boy in search of meaning, community, and sanctuary, a young merchant committed to living in a peaceful society and a prophet who wanted to spread his vision of peace while respecting tribal mores and tradition. He shows how Muslims non-violently resisted the pressures from the pagan elite, and describes the ways in which peacemaking informed the lives of many of the prophets described in the Qur'an.
In this fresh, deeply researched exploration of Muhammad's life and times, Cole delivers a portrait of an era of breathtaking geopolitical shifts as titanic forces from Rome to Persia battled for the soul of the Middle East. Skillfully countering the established Western narrative of Islam as a religion of violence and war, Juan Cole presents a history that is both eye-opening and utterly original.

O noua interpretare provocatoare a originilor Islamului, care se concentreaza pe viziunea lui Mohamed asupra pacii, de catre expertul preeminent din Orientul Mijlociu si bloggerul Informed Comment Maestru povestitor si profesor de istorie Juan Cole tese o naratiune istorica vibranta cu o analiza textuala bogata pentru a aduce la viata fascinant si lume complexa in care a trait si a predat profetul Mahomed. Cole examineaza radacinile Islamului revenind la povestea sa de origine - cea a unui baiat orfan in cautarea sensului, a comunitatii si a sanctuarului, un tanar negustor angajat sa traiasca intr-un societate pasnica si un profet care dorea sa-si raspandeasca viziunea asupra pacii respectand in acelasi timp moravurile si traditia tribului.