Muhammad

By Demi

Book Overview

Muhammad is the messenger of Islam. Born in Mecca in the year 570, Muhammad grew into a sensitive and thoughtful man who believed deeply in the worship of one true god. In his fortieth year, Muhammad experienced a revelation from the angel Gabriel that he, Muhammad, was the messenger of God. Over the next twenty-three years, he received many such revelations, all of which were written down by scribes at the time of revelation to become the Koran, the sacred scripture of Islam, a religion that is practiced by nearly one-quarter of the world's population and holds as its most sacred tenet that there is no god but God. Through a clear text and stunning illustrations based upon those of traditional Islamic expression, the award-winning artist Demi here introduces the remarkable life of the Prophet Muhammad for young readers.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0689852649
• ISBN13: 9780689852640
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
• Length: 48 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 10.2" x 10.3"
• Age Range: 7 to 10 years
• Grade Range: Grades 2 to 5

Customer Reviews

Wonderful introduction to the life of Muhammad

This is a beautiful, brief biography of the life of Muhammad. Demi's illustrations are lovely and are a perfect complement to his life. Of course it does not cover every aspect of Muhammad's life, but it is respectful and Demi's selection of episodes in his life are accurate and not misleading at all. I highly recommend this book as an introduction to Muhammad and Islam.

An enlightening piece of work

Sensitive prose and detailed, beautiful illustrations in the style of Persian miniatures make this one of the best books for readers young (and old) seeking an introductory biographical sketch of the Prophet Muhammad and the story of the origins of Islam. What is most remarkable is that the author presents this story as it is widely understood within Islam-her sources and bookjacket endorsements are all Muslims-yet in a way that illuminates that understanding for non-Muslims. DD

A work of art

The illustrations in this book are amazing -- gold gilt and beautiful details. The text is easy to read and fluid and is the standard accepted scholarly biography of Muhammad's life. (This is not a revisionist religious studies discussion, after all, and she's not pushing any envelopes.) Demi's tone is not reverent, but respectful and considerate. The review from School Library Journal above reveals more about the author's prejudices than this book's biases: she says that Muslims weren't supposed to be friends with Jews and Christians, but the Jews and Christians to whom the Qur'an refers were the ones persecuting the early Muslims in 7th century Arabia. The reviewer neglects to mention that the Qur'an also says that Muslims can MARRY Jews and Christians because of their elevated status in Islam (Jews and Christians are called "People of an Earlier Revelation").Demi, on the other hand, has adopted a very appropriate tone for this book. In a children's book about Jesus or Moses or Krishna, I would want to see a respectful narrative tone, as well.Highly recommended for both children and adults -- a lovely way to get to know something about the 2nd largest religion in the world.

Beautiful

This is a gorgeous book, with really beautiful illustrations and a respectful narrative that's been checked and proofread by academic historians on the subject. It's informative without being either for or against the subject matter. (In fact, the tone is a bit like a college classroom professor's, but of course much easier to understand!) Highly recommended. She's done books on other religous personages, too.

Highly recommended for all ages

Written and illustrated by award-winning children's book author Demi, Muhammad is a unique and superbly crafted picture book presentation of the religious and historical figure of Muhammad, the man who brought the scripture and faith of Islam to the world. In keeping with Islamic tradition, the Prophet Muhammad and his family are not pictured directly; instead, a solid gold silhouette represents Muhammad in the various simple, expressive color illustrations. The text succinctly records Muhammad's life, faith, and his efforts to spread the word of God. Muhammad is highly recommended for all ages and would make an excellent acquisition choice for school and community libraries wanting reliable materials to explain Islam to young American readers.