• The Truth About Muhammad

  • Founder of the World's Most Intolerant Religion
  • By: Robert Spencer
  • Narrated by: James Adams
  • Length: 6 hrs and 45 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (1,156 ratings)

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The Truth About Muhammad

By: Robert Spencer
Narrated by: James Adams
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Editorial reviews

There have been other biographies of the Prophet of Islam, a few written by authors living in non-Muslim countries (Yusuf Islam's splendid audio work The Life Of The Prophet springs instantly to mind here), but not that many by non-Muslims. And it is purely because Robert Spencer is not a Muslim that he is able to discuss, without fear and without any degree of 'political correctness', aspects of the holy man's life that many, both believers and unbelievers, hitherto did not know.

Mr. Spencer is no stranger to controversy, as his books and his 'Jihadwatch' Web site speak for themselves, yet he manages never to pull his punches. He takes quotations from the Qur'an, and other works held in high regard, and uses them to present different sides of the Prophet's character: his skill as a military leader, his views on other religions, his pressure and agitation for constant war against unbelievers. It's a challenging work, and will probably win him fans and sworn enemies in equal measure.

James Adams reads the audiobook, endowed with a mellow English accent, yet tackling the Arabian pronunciation with skill and aplomb. The English accent surprised me, since Robert Spencer is American, but being a straight factual work I believe a good voice from either side of the Atlantic would suffice. I listened in one sitting; the near seven hours passing remarkably swiftly (always a good sign) and the narration and audio quality were of consistently high quality. Simply an all-round excellent book.

--Brad Jackson, UK

Publisher's summary

In The Truth about Muhammad, New York Times best-selling author and Islam expert Robert Spencer offers an honest and telling portrait of the founder of Islam - perhaps the first such portrait in half a century - unbounded by fear and political correctness, unflinching, and willing to face the hard facts about Muhammad's life that continue to affect our world today. Spencer details Muhammad's development from a preacher of hellfire and damnation into a political and military leader who expanded his rule by force of arms, promising his warriors luridly physical delights in Paradise if they were killed in his cause. He explains how the Qur'an's teaching on warfare against unbelievers developed, with constant war to establish the hegemony of Islamic law as the last stage.

©2006 Robert Spencer (P)2006 Blackstone Audio Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Enlightening

Here is current information not found in news reports, a perspective taken from Islamic documents. In light of hair-trigger reactions, it's amazing that the author and publisher decided to provide this insight.

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87 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Eye Opening

This book serves three major purposes. First, it helps you understand the structure and origin of the Islamic Religion. Second it gives a recount of the life and times of Muhammad. Third, it places the puzzling actions of Muslims in a clear and stark light of their traditions and beliefs. While I was somewhat disturbed by the implications of this book it is an invaluable read. No responsible Westerner should overlook this book . . . or disregard its warnings.

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54 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Coward attempt

Spenser is a biased writer who breathes hate and his book is a coward attempt to defame the benifector of humanity.

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53 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Good to learn about Muhammad

Given the current political situation in the Muslim world, it's important for westerners to learn about the prophet Muhammad and the origins of Islam. This book presents a clear, concise account of the prophet and his religion, while stimulating thought--and, hopefully, discussion on the topic. Makes for good, interesting listening.

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47 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

The worst book i have ever read.

This book is filled with information. Alot true and more untrue. The problem is the writer does not have a clear idea of the quran. He has taken alot of the verses out of its context and made it suit his own point of view.
Alot of the facts of the history is also untrue. I dont know where he got his information from?
I am positive there are much better books out there.
I can challange alot of what was said in this book.

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40 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Lacks Accuracy

I have taught World Religions in college and have done some research on Islam in China. I am not a fan of Islam nor of its image of God/Allah in the Q'uran. And yet Robert Spencer's book does a disservice to Christianity by using inaccurate translations of the Q'uran and relying on just a few of the more radical ancient Islamc sources.

Arabic, like Hebrew, is a Northwest Semitic language. I may not be able to read Arabic script but I can read with a phonetic script because of it's close association with Hebrew. Any seminary trained Christian can can read Arabic phonetic by studying Hebrew. So I was surprised at some of Spencer's reading of the Q'uran. Spencer is not an Arabic scholar. He ignores the better translations.

There are pacific and militant Muslims. Within a generation of Muhammad's death, Muslims differed as to the militancy of Allah. It may be safe to say that the origin of the confusion is in the ambiguity of Muhammad himself. By siding with the radical interpretation Spencer sees pacific Islam as a contradiction. It's not. It's the part of Islam that will survive the Islamic age of the Internet more than Jihadist swords of steel.

--Dana Roberts, MA, MTS

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38 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Learn More

Spencer’s book will make you want to learn more about early Islamic history. He does not mince harsh words about one of the world’s largest and fastest growing religions.

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37 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

sobering

This book is a careful and scholarly analysis of Muhammad and his legacy based on respected islamic sources.

Muhammad is revered by something close to one billion people and held up as an example of how his followers should live their lives. His apologists often point out his wisdom, his charisma, and the respect he earned from his contemporaries. What his islamic apologists don't mention to non-muslims is that he was a bloodthirsty warlord who married a seven year old girl, his daughter-in-law, and 10 to 15 other women. He conquered the Arabian peninsula in the name of his new religion, and repeatedly commanded his followers to kill non-muslims "wherever they found them". His example reverberates to this day. The "religion of peace" is often anything but, and no amount of wishful thinking will make it so. The West sorely needs a better understanding of the life of Muhammad and the example he set.

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36 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Well read, packed with facts.

Audio: Narrator James Adams does an excellent job. His British accent and pronounciation of the many Arabic words are both very understandble. The pace is just right, neither dragging nor being a "speed-read". The recording is clear and unobstructed by any interference. I will look for other works J. Adams has read as possible future choices.

Content: As in Spencer's P.I. Guide to Islam that I read, this book is packed with referenced facts. These are largely quotes and accounts from the Quran, Sura, and hadith. The book is largely a fascinating and reasonably brief historical account of the life of Muhammad. As a Protestant Westerner and minor history buff, I enjoyed it and felt educated by it! I was enthralled enough to listen to the 7 hour book within a single 24-hr period. Spencer sticks to the facts throughout and lets them speak for themselves. Only in the final chapter does he coalesce the various points presented and apply them to our modern world. Is 7th century Muhammad a bad example for conduct in the 21st century? (My question.) Read\listen and decide for yourself. I highly recommend this book.
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35 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Enlightening & Frightening

I was shocked to learn about Islam & their prophet, Mohammed. I took those saying Islam is peaceful at their word - it is not. Mohammed was a brutal, warring figure. One has a far better understanding of why the Jihadist are so fanatic in their ways after listening. I would be interested in any books that say otherwise about this religion and their prophet. The book is well-referenced and well read.

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34 people found this helpful