Muhammad: Prophet of Peace Amid the Clash of Empires

This is an excellent book, Juan Cole as an Historian provides evidence consistently from the Quran that Muhammad was peaceful, and that all wars were waged in self-defence. More over he also proves that the Quran respects Jews and Christians.These are just two of the many examples Juan Cole gives which are right belowSurah The Cow verse 2:190 says “fight in the path of God those who enter into combat against you, but do not commit aggression. God does not love aggressors.”Surah The Cow Verse 2:62 Proclaims, Those who believed, and the Jews, ,and the Christians, and the Sabians, and whoever has believed in God and the Last Day and performed good works, they shall have their reward with their lord.

Interesting book. Very well researched perspectives...great read

In this book, Juan Cole, Professor of History at the University of Michigan and a renowned authority on the modern Middle East and South Asia, takes us on a journey through the early history of Islam. He raises the most controversial question of all, was Muhammad a belligerent prophet who forced Islam by the sword?Cole theorises that there was a form of unorthodox alliance between the early Muslims and Christian nations, not least the Roman Empire. This goes against the common historical notion that Islam was constantly at war with Rome. He concludes, also based on the Quran and Sunnah, that Islam was deeply sympathetic to the 'monotheistic' Christians in their struggle against the non-believers. This, consolidated by the Islamic/Quranic perspectives on Christ, facilitated the spread of Islam in the predominately Christian communities in places like the Levant and Egypt.Moving away from the traditional, Orientalist Western scholarship on Islam and Muhammad, the author argues that Islamic conquests in most part fell within the concept of defensive 'just war.' Muhammad and his followers, who suffered a tremendous amount of abuse in Arabia, were forced to fight not only for the message of God but also, if not primarily, for their very existence.According to Cole, Muhammad succeeded in creating rich and harmonious multi-cultural societies outside Arabia. This in itself both followed and contradicted the trajectory of history at the time. Driven by the power of faith and also because of the socio-economic necessities of a growing nation (later, empire), the spread of Islam was inevitable. Contradicting the nature and ‘historical logic’ of most of the existing empires at the time, Islam - as a conquering power - maintained, enriched, and was itself influenced by the local cultures in the conquered nations. This led to the creation of a multi-cultural society, if not large identity.This book can be described as a sober academic endeavour and certainly adds to the mountain of literature on, for, or against Islam. Highly recommended.

The book came it ripped and the corner are bent

The book misses all fundamental theological difference between Islam and Christianity.In Islam, War can be holy and a way to paradise.In Christianity, War is never holy and as such evil but something just and as such he might not bring to hell.In general, medieval Christian saw themselves as near certain to end up in hell as the standard is high while Muslim are guarantee to go to paradise if they die killing unbeliever during a jihad.For Christian, the land of Israel is holy but not the war to reach it.Also, both religions are apocalyptic and at the end days, they both expected the extermination of all unbeliever. Nonetheless, in Islam, the extermination is to be done by the jihad while in Christianity, angels only would be in charge of the extermination of unbelievers. This explains a lot!!!!