10 Books on Muhammad the Chosen ﷺ
In the Name of God, the Most Kind, the Kindest بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Have you ever witnessed the birth of a new moon? Spiritually it’s a time of receptivity, for those following the Islamic lunar calendar, the start of a new month. Rabi’ al-Awwal is the month Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was born. In honor of this auspicious period, I want to recommend 10 books on Muhammad the Chosen ﷺ, which I feel typify aspects of his life, character, and legacy. Ten books, written by Muslims and non-Muslims, on a wide range of topics, some that pertain to him directly and others that point to his way (Sunnah).
Before I divulge the list, it may be helpful to share what saints and scholars feel about Allah’s Messenger ﷺ whom the Quran describes as a mercy unto the worlds (21:107), a light (5:15), an intercessor (17:79), and the Seal of the Prophets (33:40). Maulana Rumi said, “I am the servant of the Qur’an as long as I have life. I am the dust on the path of Muhammad, the Chosen One ﷺ.” In a letter to Rabia Martin, Hazrat Inayat Khan shared that all Sufi lineages originate from Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, “the root of all murshids and the fruit of all prophets” (Caravan of Souls). In the climax of an Urdu ghazal, he said, “The spirit of Muhammad is the Inayat (or, ‘grace’) in my body” (Minqar-i Musiqar). Our late Pir would recite hymns in praise of the Prophet ﷺ daily and encouraged us to do so after each ritual prayer. Across the globe, Muslims invoke blessings on him (33:56).
What follows are ten books on or relating to Muhammad the Chosen ﷺ: #1. Muhammad: A Story of the Last Prophet by Deepak Chopra #2. Secrets of Divine Love: A Spiritual Journey into the Heart of Islam by A. Helwa #3. The Leadership of Muhammad by John Adair #4. Muhammad: 11 Leadership Qualities that Changed the World by Nabeel Al-Azami #5. The Book of Hadith by Charles Le Gai Eaton #6. The Productive Muslim: Where Faith Meets Productivity by Mohammed Faris #7. Al-Shura: The Quranic Principle of Consultation by Ahmad al-Raysuni #8. Ayat Jamilah, Beautiful Signs: A Treasury of Islamic Wisdom for Children and Parents by Sarah Conover #9. The Light of His Beauty: Recounting the Birth of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ by Maryam Qadri, illustrated by Rose Paoletti #10. 1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2 to 12 by Thomas Phelan (I learned about 1-2-3 Magic in a class on Islamic parenting. The Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ is to correct children with loving-kindness. This book enables parents to do just that and has the approval of our eldest daughter, who read most of my parenting books!) May the month of Rabi’ al-Awwal be felicitous and bright, a source of endless delight.
With love, Your sister, m PS. Which of these ten books looks the most appealing to you and why? What book(s) would you recommend? PPS. Attached here is one of our late Pir’s hymns in praise of the Prophet ﷺ. He would recite it after speeches moving members of the audience to tears. The attachment is in Urdu and English.
Subscriber SpotlightChrissy and Rohit share their reflections on last week’s newsletter”The Gunas (गुण) of Music” (30 July 2021)
Hi Maryam, I was surprised at just how many angles you fit in there: a few Muslim perspectives with quotes, Indic philosophy, recollections of you and your dad’s relationship with music – wow! The Coke Studio songs you added are PHENOMENAL! I love them. Glad to have gotten some new things to listen to. The Zariya song gives me goosebumps, and I want to learn more. XOXO, Chrissy
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Excellent references and perspectives from both Hindu and Islamic philosophy. I liked all the quotes and the last 2 paragraphs most. ~Rohit
[Fun Fact: Rohit played Bismillah for us when he visited this summer. It was the first time I heard the song and fell in love with it!]
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