The Messenger

Interspersed with spiritual and philosophical meditations, this book shows how Muhammad's message can be used to address controversial issues - from the treatment of the poor and the role of women to the interpretation of jihad and relations with other religions. It introduces non-Muslims to the story of the Prophet and to the riches of Islam. In The Messenger: The Meanings of the Life of Muhammad, leading Muslim scholar Tariq Ramadan considers the ways in which the Prophet''s actions, words and teachings can guide us in the modern world. The life of the Prophet Muhammad, to whom the Angel Gabriel revealed the verses of the Quran, has provided inspiration to Muslims for hundreds of years. Interspersed with spiritual and philosophical meditations, this profound and stimulating biography shows how Muhammad''s message can be used to address some of today''s most controversial issues - from the treatment of the poor and the role of women to the interpretation of jihad and relations with other religions. It offers Muslims a new understanding of Muhammad''s life and introduces non-Muslims to the story of the Prophet and to the riches of Islam. ''Fascinating . . punctuated by spiritual reflections, it tells Muhammad''s life from orphaned childhood to his death, with Islam dominant across Arabia'' The Times ''Draws lesson that are crucial for Muslims and non-Muslims alike'' Financial Times ''Communicates a sense of spiritual transcendence'' Guardian ''Important, readable and intelligent . . an eloquent account of the religion''s founder and his core teachings'' Scotland on Sunday Tariq Ramadan is Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies at the Faculty of Oriental Studies and St Antony''s College (University of Oxford). He is the Director of the Centre for Islamic Legislation and Ethics (Doha) He is the author of The Quest for Meaning and The Messenger, and has been described as one of the ''most important innovators for the twenty-first century'' by Time magazine.