Muhammad the World-Changer: An Intimate Portrait

The introduction begins with the vital moment when Muhammad, whom the author refers to as "the man in red and white,"[8] proclaims his revolutionary message before the people of Mecca. Rejected and derided, Muhammad must find innovative ways to get the message across. The author interludes with:

"I have lived with Muhammad my entire life. I was given his name the day I was born, yet for years knew nothing about him."[9]

He then gives an account of his personal journey that leads him to memorize the Qur`an, and deeply study the Islamic faith.[5] Seeking deeper meaning after performing the Hajj, the author decides to dig deeper into the origins of his faith and goes on a scholarly journey that ultimately leads him to write Muhammad the World-Changer: An Intimate Portrait.[5][10]

Muhammad's father dies before he is born. His grandfather gives him a unique name of Biblical origin.[11][12] This chapter traces Muhammad's early life as an infant and toddler among the nomads of Banu Sa'd. The chapter concludes with Muhammad accompanying his mother to the oasis city of Yathrib where she becomes ill. With her last breath she urges her son to "become a world-changer." This parting advice is where the book derives its title.[11][13][14]

Muhammad's foster-mother Barakah cares for him as he deals with the trauma of becoming an orphan. His grandfather Abdul-Muttalib becomes his mentor. He teaches Muhammad the history of his people, including his great-grandmother Salma,[15] and gives him his first education in the Arabic language. The chapter ends with his grandfather's death and his moving into his uncle Abu Talib's home.[16]

Muhammad joins his uncle Abu Talib on a caravan, where he meets the monk Bahira. This chapter explores Muhammad's adolescent years as he navigates new responsibilities and works at odd jobs to support his uncle's family. The chapter concludes with Muhammad forming the ethical pact of Hilf-ul-Fudhul.[2][17][18][19]

Khadijah, a wealthy widow, hires Muhammad to manage her business. After two years, she proposes marriage. The chapter follows Muhammad as a family man and explores his relationship with his children. The devastation of losing his two sons leads him to deeper contemplation about the meaning of life. In his mid-thirties, Muhammad begins to meditate at mount Hira.[20][21]

After meditating for years, Muhammad experiences a Divine Revelation and becomes a prophet. This chapter chronicles his various, often unsuccessful attempts to bring his message to pagan Mecca. The Meccans persecute him and his followers, and the chapter ends with an imminent boycott.[14][22]

As Muhammad remains behind to be incarcerated with his Hashimite clan, his followers flee to Africa. The chapter explores the adventures of the followers in Africa, and their building the first mosque in Abyssinia. The chapter ends with hope, as the Yathribites invite Muhammad and his followers to their city.[23]

The Yathribites are excited to receive Muhammad in their city, but they are anxious because the Meccans had placed a bounty on his head. His arrival is met with messianic fervor and he renames the city to Medina. The chapter explores his visionary impact on the city and his clemency towards the Meccans by sending them aid during a famine that sweeps across the region.[24]

Muhammad and a handful of followers must face the invading Meccans before they devastate Medina. This leads to a victory for Muhammad at the wells of Badr. The Meccans continue their animosity and the chapter explores Muhammad's response to wartime aggression and his ultimate plea for peace through the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. The chapter ends with the Meccans breaking the treaty by murdering Muhammad's pagan allies.[25]

Muhammad enters Mecca unarmed, forgives his former enemies, and establishes a new order in Arabia. The chapter explores Muhammad's activities after the conquest of Mecca and sheds more light on his personal life, including a love affair with his new wife Maria the Copt.[26]

As he grows more frail, Muhammad gathers his scribes to finalize the edition of the Qur`an. The chapter goes on to explore the basic tenets of the Islamic faith, namely Shahadah, Salah, Zakah, Sawm, finally leading to Muhammad's last sermon at the Hajj. It concludes with his final days and subsequent death.[19][27]

The struggle for Muhammad's legacy begins as his body is being ritually prepared for burial. The author gives an overview of the struggle for Muhammad's mantle, which leads to civil wars and sectarian divisions before a golden age. After the fading of the golden age, the author explores how the Islamic faith has evolved, and then speaks again of his personal journey.[18][21][28]

The author outlines his methodology in writing the book and provides traditional references to key issues covered in the book. He addresses misinformation enshrined in dominant historical narratives, including Muhammad's stance on slavery, the controversial ages of Aishah and Khadijah, and the myth of the Medina Massacre.[18][29]

Muhammad’s revulsion towards slavery begins early on, when in chapter two he publicly frees the enslaved Barakah near the Ka’bah. He supports his employer's slaves in chapter three, and convinces her to emancipate them in chapter four. As a prophet, Muhammad's mission is propelled and supported by former slaves, and his close followers make a point of emancipating the enslaved.[5] In chapter seven, as he enters Medina, the city's elite try to impress him by publicly emancipating slaves. In chapter nine, after the conquest of Mecca, the author makes a point to point out that "When Mecca’s markets reopened after Muhammad’s conquest, the city’s onetime slave market remained shuttered".

In chapter nine, Muhammad emancipates the enslaved Maria the Copt, whom he marries. The author makes a point of referencing over 60 Hadith in the book to illustrate Muhammad's discontent with the institution of slavery, and the Qur’an's desire to end the practice.[5][30]

Muhammad sets an example for women's empowerment, particularly through his relationships with the females who were central to his life.[4] The book highlights several strong women who were instrumental in Muhammad’s early development. In chapter one, he is taught his first language and life skills by Halimah in the desert. In chapters two and three, after his mother's sudden death, he is mentored by Barakah and Fatimah bint Asad. In chapter four, Khadijah, the wealthy widow makes him her business partner. As his wife, Khadijah is the first to recognize his prophetic calling. As a prophet, he is supported by several women, including Sumayyah, who becomes the first Islamic martyr. In chapter eight, a group of women save Muhammad's life at the battle of Uhud. In chapter nine, Umm Waraqah is assigned the role of Imam of her neighbourhood.[31]

Muhammad the World-Changer: An Intimate Portrait reveals the author’s fascination with Semitic root words. Arabic texts are traced back to their original Semitic root words, in reference to language and cultural expressions.[32] The evolution of root words is explained in chapter two by outlining the main stages of the language’s development:

The root Q-R-A developed among farmers to describe the blossoming of fruit trees. This was in contrast to the root Z-H-R, used for all forms of blossoming, including fruitless flowers. The root image of blossoming evolved to become associated with the opening of the mouth to utter a command. Again, nomads or urban dwellers used the word constantly while remaining oblivious to the underlying physical concept. The root S-L-M had developed to describe repairing cracks in city walls and urban buildings (distinct from the root S-L-H, used to describe repairing orchard walls). With time, the concept salam came to mean the safety of being surrounded by solid walls and then further evolved to mean peace (the absence of insecurity). Urban dwellers understood that S-L-M required scaffolding, cooperation, and regulations—concepts largely lost on nomads and farmers.[33]

Muhammad the World-Changer: An Intimate Portrait received generally positive reviews from critics.[14][40][41] Several critics pointed to the book's human depiction[18][42][43][44][45] of the prophet Muhammad as balanced,[5][46][47][43] while some readers criticized the absence of miracles, divine intervention, and its unconventional translations that rely on etymology and Semitic root words.[47]

The website History Today published a review by American anthropologist Lawrence Rosen in which he said, "Most accounts of the Prophet, whether malignant or hagiographic, have been stilted and one-dimensional. Mohamad Jebara’s biography aims for somewhere between...For Westerners who read only one book on the Prophet, this version may very well alter their view of Muhammad. And if it were to be translated into the languages of the Islamic world and widely disseminated – if, in short, it were to become the popularly accepted version of the Prophet’s life and thought – it is possible that the written life of Muhammad, as he appears in Jebara’s book, might change the world once again."[4]

The New York Times described the book as "an accessible biography of Muhammad...tracing his development from orphan to political leader and providing insights into his personal life and tastes".[3]

Publisher's Weekly's review included a quick synopsis of the book's main points,

"In this accessible debut, Islamic scholar Jebara delivers an intimate portrait of Muhammad as a spiritual figure and leader. Here, the prophet emerges as a man who “endured terrible setbacks and traumatic suffering, only to turn his brokenness into an asset, unlocking latent abilities to improve the world around him." Jebara traces Muhammad's footsteps in the deserts of Arabia to create an endearing account of his tumultuous journey from orphan to businessman to political leader. Jebara humanizes Muhammad with stories of him doing housework and building a lover's loft for his wife Khadijah, and by considering Muhammad's personal tastes, such as his favorite color: green. Along the way, Jebara depicts Muhammad as a hero who “laid the intellectual mindset for the modern world,” and also explains the roots of Arabic words including Quran (the blossoming process), Muslims (those who repair cracks in the city wall), and Islam (the constant pursuit of completion). Those looking for an introduction to the life of the Islamic prophet would do well to start here."[43]

In an interview with Religion News Service, the author alluded to the purpose of his book, stating:

“Exploring Muhammad’s dramatic personal life story can help readers of all backgrounds gain deeper access to his remarkable message. My book tries to point to a healthier way forward, where both Muslims and non-Muslims can appreciate Muhammad’s remarkable life and deep impact on the world. I hope readers discover in my account a Muhammad who emerges very relevant to our modern lives”.[5]