In The Footsteps of the Prophet by Tariq Ramadan

                For most people in modernity, free time during the day feels like it’s constantly decreasing, and it feels very fateful that such a version of the Muhammad (Peace be upon him)’s Prophetic biography should be available in In The Footsteps of the Prophet by Tariq Ramadan.

                Unlike it’s predecessors this version feels very concise, short even, but not without focusing on the most important aspects of the Prophet (Peace be upon him)’s life that is still more than ever relevant to our modern times and the coming future. Throughout the book, from beginning to end, Ramadan tries to analyze, and show us how (although prophetic) a man’s life is one whole work of art that only by passing the different stages and events do Divine lessons take root in the heart and are we ready at the end of this worldly life for the return back to God.

                Ramadan again and again refers to God as Muhammad’s divine and loving Teacher Rabb, protector, so much to the point that one begins to lose conception of Muhammad as this independent character and more as a relative personality that manifests God’s intervention in the created world for it’s own salvation through Him, and it’s ability to find Him still in the direst of times, and as a living example that all human beings can use with a universal level of relativity to transcend age, race, gender, and time.

                As with most seerahs (Islamic biographies of the Prophet Muhammad’s life) Ramadan starts out with the Prophet (Peace be upon him)’s childhood, and then progresses chronologically through the book, although sometimes taking pauses in different chapters to reflect on the less dramatic events and times of the prophet’s life that are more relevant to what most Muslims deal with until today.

                Even a few a questions are left to the reader to conclude on his or her own, and this contributes to the book’s overarching theme in the journey to God that embraces critical thinking as part of that journey and as a proof itself to God’s help and the manifestation of faith.

                What I loved most about this book (May God bless the author and all people with it) is that while other seerahs may reflect on “Muhammad, the Greatest Messenger”, “Muhammad the Political Leader”, or “Muhammad the Greatest Man” etc. this seerah seemed to reflect most on Muhammad (Peace be upon him) the human being whom although, God’s messenger, was not exempt himself from the same test that we as human beings are all bound, who himself was not without flaw (keeping in mind his prophetic state), and who although is our leader, teacher, and guide (Peace be upon him) cannot help us where our direct relationship with the All-Merciful is concerned. For this reason it’s felt like the most beneficial book to me in that sense to draw from, understand, and implement.

And God is the best Appraiser, and Granter of success.