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The First Muslim

The Story of Muhammad

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The First Muslim

Written by: Lesley Hazleton
Narrated by: Deepti Gupta
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About this listen

Muhammad's was a life of almost unparalleled historical importance, yet for all the iconic power of his name, the intensely dramatic story of the prophet of Islam is not well known. In The First Muslim, Lesley Hazleton brings him vibrantly to life. Drawing on early eyewitness sources and on history, politics, religion, and psychology, she renders him as a man in full, in all his complexity and vitality. Hazleton's account follows the arc of Muhammad's rise from powerlessness to power, from anonymity to renown, from insignificance to lasting significance. How did a child shunted to the margins end up revolutionizing his world? How did a merchant come to challenge the established order with a new vision of social justice? How did the pariah hounded out of Mecca turn exile into a new and victorious beginning? How did the outsider become the ultimate insider?

Impeccably researched, Hazleton's narrative creates vivid insight into a man navigating between idealism and pragmatism, faith and politics, nonviolence and violence, rejection and acclaim. The First Muslim illuminates not only an immensely significant figure but his lastingly relevant legacy.

©2013 Lesley Hazleton (P)2017 Tantor Biographies Islam Middle East Outcast Middle Ages Africa Crusade Prophet Muhammad

What the critics say

"This book offers a welcome chance to read [Muhammad's] life story in a more familiar and accessible form than the Islamic sources.... The First Muslim succeeds. It makes its subject vivid and immediate." ( The New York Times)
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Highly absorbing and fascinating account of key historical events. A great learning indeed . A must read book indeed.

Was wonderful listening to it

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If you've never felt conflicted about an audiobook, this would be your opportunity to experience it firsthand.

The book itself is phenomenal. Lesley Hazelton's approach to providing an immersive understanding to a well sought-after, dynamic and an undeniably influential individual (Muhammad PBUH) revolutionizes the literary scope in this genre.

The disservice most certainly lies with the performance depicted by Deepti Gupta. The auditory experience is littered with mispronunciation (both English and Arabic), monotones and my personal pet peeve - the run on reading.

I have decided to buy a copy and read it for myself as, like I said, the book itself is phenomenal.

Hope to have a better experience with my next one!

Uninspired Performance

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Loved the approach. rational & on point. very detailed it's nice to hear an unbiased perspective

brilliant

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in the guise of facts, this book tries to show the human side of prophet Muhammad (SAW). However during the later parts of the book, there are connotations that the Prophet killed people for no particular reason and also had his followers kill people simply because they annoyed him. I think this book is a propaganda from non muslims to put doubt inside them about the greatness of the last Prophet. However, muslims are encouraged to be curious and seek truth. I will do the same, but I did not like this book at all. Some parts were good, and ok. But generally it leaves you with a bad taste in your heart. I would discourage people from reading/listening to this book.

Mis representation

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The writer has an amazing way to unfold stories. But the choice of narrator could not be any worse. Specially in citation of Arabic names and places, it sounds like there is an inherent racial hate she has towards arab nations and Muslims at large! Very disappointed.

Great Book but Poor Narration

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