Lesley Hazleton (1945–2024)

A cunning and self-seeking 'prophet'
By sally tarbox on 22 June 2017
Format: Kindle Edition
I knew next to nothing about muhammed when I picked up this book at the library. I'd HEARD a lot - almost worship from the muslims, a lot of very negative stuff from the Right Wing (violent, married a child...) So I was interested to find an even-handed report on his life from someone without an agenda.
This takes us right through mohammed's life: his father died before he was born; he was fostered out by show more Bedouins then - briefly- returned to his mother, who also soon died. Successful in the family caravan business in Mecca, and contentedly married to an older wife, I found myself unexpectedly warming to him, as he began adopting the life of a 'hanif', focussing on spirituality, meditation and a rejection of multiple gods. Lesley Hazelton uses contemporary sources to describe his first visitation, and the shock it inspired:

"Trembling, shuddering almost convulsively, he begged Khadija to hold him and hide him under her shawl. "Cover me, cover me", he pleaded, his head in her lap...Even as he still shook in Khadija's lap, Muhammad found his voice and the first revelation of ther Quran formed into words that another human being could hear."

Like a latter-day Christ, muhammed is reviled for his new ideas and flees to Medina with a group of followers. And still he seems a persuasive character, striving to engage with local Jews, holding resolutely to his beliefs.
But absolute power corrupts absolutely, and this reader's empathy for him swiftly started to evaporate as his consummate political nous turns him into a rather Machiavellian character. Launching raids on his foes in Mecca - less for religious reasons than to seize the luxury goods being transported in their caravan; turning cruelly on those same Jewish locals with whom he once was on friendly terms (much beheading); a handy divine revelation that reversed the prohibition on marrying the wife of an adopted son - just in time for him to do just that. The 'Satanic verses' (no, not the Rushdie book) in which muhammed pragmatically acknowledged the local goddesses (to the joy of the locals - but Allah bid him remove them) proved his fallibility. Also his decision to take nine wives - although the quran only allows four (and warns against that), divine revelation allowed the prophet as many as he wished (and concubines besides.) I increasingly disliked him, comparing his warmongering and political manoeuvring unfavourably with the first Christians. There wasn't even a steady purpose - after massacring one lot of Jews (miffed that they wouldnt accept him as 'prophet') he later instructs his followers to show tolerance for those who wouldn't convert!!

As I neared the end, I have to say my sympathies were with his arch-enemy, a woman named Hind, who urged the people to "kill that fat, greasy bladder of lard."
I think he did have some sort of visitation. But whether divine or satanic - the reader must decide. show less

Hazelton's book reads more like a novel than a work of scholarship, making it a bit breezy at times. The extensive bibliography will be useful for readers who want to explore further. Her switching between the narrative of Jezebel and her own experiences tracking down the modern locations of the story reminded me of Kapuściński's Travels with Herodotus. I found her deductions regarding the power and failure of Elijah informative along the same lines as the aforementioned work of creative show more journalism. Also, Hazelton's decision to use her own translations of biblical sources rather than rely on more familiar and sanitized translations was refreshing, as it brings the earthiness, and vulgarity, of the sources to a wider audience. On a personal note, the fact that Tyre was originally an island came as surprise, as it forces me to recalibrate certain Freemasonic symbolism. show less

Though I was questioning this book at first (I am growing a little tired of the predictable attacks on "The New Atheists"), this book quickly took a turn toward explaining agnosticism in a clear and profound way. If you thought agnostics were simply mediators between "believers" and "non-believers," think again (preferably while you are reading this book). Agnosticism has its own grounding and should be viewed as providing a unique and explicit response to life, the universe, and everything. show more Not to mention that you will run across insightful gems like this:
By resisting despair, then, I rationally choose to be irrational. I defy my own disbelief. And that, I believe, can be called an act of faith.
Thanks for your manifesto, Lesley Hazleton. It was, indeed, spirited. show less

I loved this book, it was the very best kind of non-fiction: engaging, entertaining, informative.

Things that made the book great:

1. The story itself is damn fascinating.
2. The writing was wonderful, it truly felt like a story rather than a historical account.
3. There was a good amount of tie-in with modern times, explaining how specific events or teachings or symbols turn into what we know today (I especially liked learning about how Muslim women came to wear the veil, which was a show more situation that every high schooler understands).


This book is especially useful for Americans because none of this is covered in our public schools' history classes, unlike the Catholic/Protestant split, which is covered extensively. show less