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Muhammad
Muhammad is a shimmering, lyrical biography of the Prophet, composed from the words of Muslims throughout the centuries. Drawing on a variety of Islamic sources, from the hadith , or sayings of Muhammad and his companions, to Abbasid and Persian texts, Weinberger weaves a subtle, mystical prose poem, spanning Muhammad’s birth and childhood; his adolescence, miracles and marriages; to the isra and miraj , his journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and ascent into heaven, with the angel Jibril (Gabriel) as his guide. The result is a vivid triptych that presents the final prophet of Islam with extraordinary clarity.
At a time when the Muslim world is being demonized in much of the media Muhammad provides a sense of the awe surrounding this historical and sacred figure.
At a time when the Muslim world is being demonized in much of the media Muhammad provides a sense of the awe surrounding this historical and sacred figure.
- GenresIslam
Hardcover
First published September 1, 2006
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About the author
Eliot Weinberger
98 books158 followersEliot Weinberger is a contemporary American writer, essayist, editor, and translator. His work regularly appears in translation and has been published in some thirty languages.
Weinberger first gained recognition for his translations of the Nobel Prize winning writer and poet Octavio Paz. His many translations of the work of Paz include the Collected Poems 1957-1987, In Light of India, and Sunstone. Among Weinberger's other translations are Vicente Huidobro's Altazor, Xavier Villaurrutia's Nostalgia for Death, and Jorge Luis Borges' Seven Nights. His edition of Borges’ Selected Non-Fictions received the National Book Critics Circle Award for criticism.
Weinberger first gained recognition for his translations of the Nobel Prize winning writer and poet Octavio Paz. His many translations of the work of Paz include the Collected Poems 1957-1987, In Light of India, and Sunstone. Among Weinberger's other translations are Vicente Huidobro's Altazor, Xavier Villaurrutia's Nostalgia for Death, and Jorge Luis Borges' Seven Nights. His edition of Borges’ Selected Non-Fictions received the National Book Critics Circle Award for criticism.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 5, 2015
This is a really strange but lyric collection of fragments from the biography of Muhammad. Weinberger says it's a response to the first Gulf War, an attempt to arrange and make readable some of the literary treasures of Islamic civilization, which I totally get and respect.
I'm not sure he does that here, though, or at least not with as much of a straight face as his afterward suggests (mayber that's why it's an afterword, because he knows it doesn't quite line up with the read reality, whereas if this were an introduction it might wrongfoot you?) Anyhow, the book divides into three sections-- the first deals mainly with cosmology-- so what happened before Muhammad's birth, and then after his birth, the incorruptible nature of his body. The next deals mostly with his wives-- of which there were many, and which are described here in terms that are kind of puzzling, intentionally so-- long lists of names with attributes and genealogy's that are otherwise unexplored. It feels like here, Weinberger has his fingers on the scale of repesentation, or else he's using a process almost like automatic writing here to get across this info, that it's more mechanical, somehow, that sensible. The last section deals with Muhammad's tour of the divine world, and it's full of mysteries, heaven and hell and the rest. It's strange, to be sure, but felt less loaded or clearly ironic than the middle section-- but then, maybe I don't know enough about the subject to make that judgment.
It's a weird project, and one I really enjoyed reading. Weinberger does put on this strange voice that sounds so natural in 12th century manuscripts, but which I think must be really hard to compose in right now. I admire the skill with which he did it; it's a real feat, and makes this book a really intiguing parcel of language. Good stuff, with all kinds of unresolved tensions on every page.
I'm not sure he does that here, though, or at least not with as much of a straight face as his afterward suggests (mayber that's why it's an afterword, because he knows it doesn't quite line up with the read reality, whereas if this were an introduction it might wrongfoot you?) Anyhow, the book divides into three sections-- the first deals mainly with cosmology-- so what happened before Muhammad's birth, and then after his birth, the incorruptible nature of his body. The next deals mostly with his wives-- of which there were many, and which are described here in terms that are kind of puzzling, intentionally so-- long lists of names with attributes and genealogy's that are otherwise unexplored. It feels like here, Weinberger has his fingers on the scale of repesentation, or else he's using a process almost like automatic writing here to get across this info, that it's more mechanical, somehow, that sensible. The last section deals with Muhammad's tour of the divine world, and it's full of mysteries, heaven and hell and the rest. It's strange, to be sure, but felt less loaded or clearly ironic than the middle section-- but then, maybe I don't know enough about the subject to make that judgment.
It's a weird project, and one I really enjoyed reading. Weinberger does put on this strange voice that sounds so natural in 12th century manuscripts, but which I think must be really hard to compose in right now. I admire the skill with which he did it; it's a real feat, and makes this book a really intiguing parcel of language. Good stuff, with all kinds of unresolved tensions on every page.
April 11, 2018
Such an incredibly odd collection of fragmented tid bits in, for lack of a better descriptive term, myth making around the Prophet Muhammad. I was amused by the content, and a little disturbed by the lack of proper citations for the claims presented within the work.
Apparently the bulk of this work must come from outside material, like Hiyat al Qulub by al-Majlisi because I ran into very little that i recognized from my own extensive reading of biographies, albeit modern, of the Prophet. While Weinberger suggests drawing from the Quran and Hadith, I feel certaint that if proper citation work be done, the bulk of this work will not be from within that authentic Islamic tradition. Which leads me to conclude that it comes more from Abbasid era fantasy, when al-Majlisi was writing then from traditional schools of thought.
Maybe its meant to be ironic. Or that it channels that weird lyrical Arabic style found in manuscripts from that period. Maybe the whole this is just a farce to show how silly religious communities are and not really a work to bridge cultures as put into context by Weinberger is the Afterword, where he lists works he cites as well. Maybe I am taking this whole read too seriously and just should shut up, because really who reads leftist Verso publication stuff anyway?
Dont let that stop you from reading it. It is poetic and lyrical and if anything will engender you to some very silly legends that have cropped up around the persona of the Prophet Muhammad. In that way you get a chance to figure out what is the man, the myth, and legend.
Apparently the bulk of this work must come from outside material, like Hiyat al Qulub by al-Majlisi because I ran into very little that i recognized from my own extensive reading of biographies, albeit modern, of the Prophet. While Weinberger suggests drawing from the Quran and Hadith, I feel certaint that if proper citation work be done, the bulk of this work will not be from within that authentic Islamic tradition. Which leads me to conclude that it comes more from Abbasid era fantasy, when al-Majlisi was writing then from traditional schools of thought.
Maybe its meant to be ironic. Or that it channels that weird lyrical Arabic style found in manuscripts from that period. Maybe the whole this is just a farce to show how silly religious communities are and not really a work to bridge cultures as put into context by Weinberger is the Afterword, where he lists works he cites as well. Maybe I am taking this whole read too seriously and just should shut up, because really who reads leftist Verso publication stuff anyway?
Dont let that stop you from reading it. It is poetic and lyrical and if anything will engender you to some very silly legends that have cropped up around the persona of the Prophet Muhammad. In that way you get a chance to figure out what is the man, the myth, and legend.
February 12, 2014
Quite rare & Description of Prophet Muhammed SAW, in a sense it gives details about His personal life.
The Book speakes of Muhammed Mustafa SAW as a Person.. eg.. being " He has three caps.... His walking stick name was Memshuq... Two Horse Erbaz & Sekeb... Coat of mail named Zat al-Fazul... His turban was named saheb.
The book is Quite information and 'Seems'/ Looks good apparently but has a very good 'Cover' under its cynic literary appearance.
The way Mr Eliot Weinberger tells about the life of Prophet Muhammed SAW is highly abridged and sometimes the first time reader may not even follow, rather a normal Muslim may even doubt the source the way His story is told.
Yet as reader i am pretty enlighten by his Presentation
a Good read until not taken as the only English 'Source' to be quoted in books or speeches ...
The Book speakes of Muhammed Mustafa SAW as a Person.. eg.. being " He has three caps.... His walking stick name was Memshuq... Two Horse Erbaz & Sekeb... Coat of mail named Zat al-Fazul... His turban was named saheb.
The book is Quite information and 'Seems'/ Looks good apparently but has a very good 'Cover' under its cynic literary appearance.
The way Mr Eliot Weinberger tells about the life of Prophet Muhammed SAW is highly abridged and sometimes the first time reader may not even follow, rather a normal Muslim may even doubt the source the way His story is told.
Yet as reader i am pretty enlighten by his Presentation
a Good read until not taken as the only English 'Source' to be quoted in books or speeches ...
August 4, 2007
b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l.
Eliot Weinberger brings together legends about the Prophet to compile a brief, poetic biography. The skill with which he does that is so remarkable that I am now inclined to read everything else by Weinberger. I'm sure I'm not the only one to comment on the influence of Borges on Weinberger, but the best way to describe this 'poemessay' is perhaps as a Borgesian biography of the Prophet.
Note that a tendency to judge the factual merit of some of these traditions may spoil their aesthetic experience (as was almost the case with me)! This tiny 'book' can be read in about 10 minutes.
Eliot Weinberger brings together legends about the Prophet to compile a brief, poetic biography. The skill with which he does that is so remarkable that I am now inclined to read everything else by Weinberger. I'm sure I'm not the only one to comment on the influence of Borges on Weinberger, but the best way to describe this 'poemessay' is perhaps as a Borgesian biography of the Prophet.
Note that a tendency to judge the factual merit of some of these traditions may spoil their aesthetic experience (as was almost the case with me)! This tiny 'book' can be read in about 10 minutes.
January 19, 2011
He created an angel to hold up the earth, and a rock without measure for the angel to stand on, and a bull on whose back the rock rested, and a fish to support the bull. The fish rests on water; the water rests on air; the air rests on darkness; but what the darkness rests on only God Himself knows.
July 18, 2012
the booklet is a fair account of Muhammad's life, but it fails to particularly arouse one's interest in getting to know about his deeds. it sounds more like the Old Testimony, where one cannot rationalize nor comprehend the legitimacy of a so-called Ordained Almighty. and unfortunately it did give me more questions than before reading about him.
November 30, 2008
This is a beautiful and strange book-length lyric essay (a form I love) that draws its story from the Quran, and canonical non-Quranic writings. I was surprised to learn what emphasis is placed on Muhammad’s decidedly supra- and not-human characteristics—foreign to my understanding of prophets.
October 29, 2011
Weinberger is brilliant, but this collection of pithy anecdotes about the life of Muhammad end up sounding like a list of exaggerations about Chuck Norris (or Bill Brasky).
June 1, 2007
EW retells the legends of the Prophet in a cross between a rune and a brochure.
April 18, 2011
Easy read on the prophet...
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews