Title: It’s All About Muhammad: A Biography of the World’s Most Notorious Prophet
Author: F.W. Burleigh
Genre: Biography / Historical Critique / Religion
Pages: ~500
Published: 2014
🔍 Summary
It’s All About Muhammad aims to present a detailed and critical biography of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, focusing primarily on his life based on Islamic source material—mainly the Qur’an, the Hadith, and the Sirah (biographical literature). The author reconstructs the timeline of Muhammad’s life—from his birth in Mecca, his early prophetic claims, the formation of Islam, and his eventual rise as a religious and political leader in Medina.
The book portrays Muhammad as a complex figure who began with spiritual claims but later used force, political strategy, and fear to expand his influence. Key themes include:
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The transformation from a preacher to a warlord.
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Use of revelations to justify political and personal decisions.
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Accounts of raids, battles, and treatment of enemies.
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His interactions with various tribes, especially Jews and non-believers.
The author adopts a tone that is sharply critical, portraying Muhammad in a controversial light, often describing his actions as manipulative and violent.
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Why all the car bombs, beheadings, and mass murders in the Middle East? Why the relentless killing of non-Muslims throughout the world by the followers of Muhammad’s religion? Why Boston, Chattanooga, Paris, San Bernardino? People blame verses of the Koran for all of this, but it’s not about the Koran.
Author F. W. Burleigh draws on an academic, investigative, and literary background to bring forth this penetrating look at the man behind it all. Burleigh’s interest in Islam was sparked by the destruction of the World Trade Center on 9/11. The question guiding his studies was, “Why is there so much violence connected with this religion?” After a line-by-line scrutiny of 20,000 pages of the original literature of Islam, the author gives his blunt assessment in the title: It’s All About Muhammad.
The book contains 25 stunningly bold illustrations and is divided into three parts: The Cave, The Twilight Zone, and Darkness at Noon. The first 12 chapters explore evidence that Muhammad experienced epileptic fits that convinced him he was in communion with God. They explain the Koran and why Muhammad composed it the way he did. They show the humble origin of the Kabah, which only attained its cubic shape in the year A.D. 605 with Muhammad as a member of the construction crew. These first chapters expose the magma chamber of hatred that formed in him due to traumatic early-life experience and they track the emergence of what can be described as a psychopathic nature. His belief in himself as the “last and final messenger” led him finally to declare war on all people who refused to accept him and his religion.
In the second part, Muhammad’s magma erupts on the world. The book shows the creation of his al-qaeda–his base of operations in Yathrib (Medina) where he fled after the Meccans decided they had to kill him; his conflict with the Jewish tribes of Yathrib after they refused to accept him as their prophet; his genocide of the Jews including the beheading of the men of an entire tribe; the assassination of his critics; the battles and raids and orgies of rape, plunder, and slaughter; and finally his conquest of Mecca. Like a dramatic arc, these 18 chapters form Act II of a script that is still being played out today.
In the final part, Muhammad’s conquest of all of Arabia is presented. This section also gives an account of his numerous wives and the expansion of his wars beyond the confines of the Arabian Peninsula. One of the final chapters explores his claim that he will be the first to be resurrected on the day of resurrection and that he will assist God in determining who goes to heaven.
What Muhammad created continues to wreak havoc on the world, and that is because Muslims are obligated to follow the example of Muhammad–his sunna, which is where the Sunnis take their name. And his sunna includes the example of the violence he committed against people who rejected him.
It is not sufficient any longer merely to raise the alarm about Islam–an ideology of submission to the will of a psychologically deformed and spiritually bankrupt man. What needs to accompany the alarm is a solution, and this book offers a solution: It is a matter of an aggressive, relentless, and unapologetic exposure of the truth about Muhammad in every graphic form possible, from illustrated books to docudramas to full-length feature films. With its 25 illustrations, It’s All About Muhammad offers itself as an example of the approach. The truth about Muhammad is a powerful weapon of self-defense that people must take up to oppose and ultimately push back what he created. The truth about Muhammad can bring an end to what he created, and it is a weapon within the reach of everyone.
source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30659251
F.W. Burleigh 2nd book
2nd book The Imam of Time, A Novel of Then and Now F. W. Burleigh
https://www.kobo.com/ww/en/ebook/the-imam-of-time-a-novel-of-then-and-now
Author F.W. Burleigh gives Ahmed his wish by sending him into 7th century Arabia, first as a slave and then as Muhammad’s scribe. He gets the experience he longed for, but it is not what he was anticipating, for he has entered into a world of stomach-turning violence brought about by the very founder of the religion in which he was raised.
After witnessing Muhammad commit a series of horrific atrocities, Ahmed’s faith crumbles and he becomes a warner of what is to come out of Arabia. He ends up trapped in Mecca at the time of Muhammad’s invasion and is about to be slain when he returns to present day Iran in such a way that shows he is the Mahdi, the long-awaited Imam of Time. But what he has to say to his contemporaries brings the rage of Iran’s clerical rulers down on him.
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/38261189-the-imam-of-time
✍️ Book Review
⭐ Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
✅ Pros:
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Heavily researched: The book draws extensively from Islamic sources. Readers interested in detailed narratives will find it informative.
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Chronological clarity: Events in Muhammad’s life are presented in a structured and coherent timeline.
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Unapologetic approach: It boldly addresses controversial aspects often avoided in more sympathetic biographies.
❌ Cons:
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Strong bias: The tone is overtly critical and adversarial. It lacks balance and may alienate readers looking for a more nuanced or academic take.
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Provocative language: The use of terms like “notorious” in the title and throughout the text reflects a polemical rather than scholarly approach.
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Not suitable for all readers: The book is likely to offend devout Muslims or those looking for a respectful interfaith understanding.
🧠 Who Should Read It?
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Readers interested in religious history from a critical lens.
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Those looking to understand controversial narratives surrounding early Islam.
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Individuals researching differing perspectives on Muhammad’s life and legacy.
⚠️ Not recommended for:
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Readers seeking a neutral or balanced biography.
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Those unfamiliar with Islamic traditions—it lacks context for beginners.
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Anyone looking for an interfaith-friendly or respectful dialogue.
📌 Final Thoughts
It’s All About Muhammad is a provocative and detailed critique of Muhammad’s life. While it’s well-researched and comprehensive in scope, its critical tone and strong biases make it a challenging read for those expecting objectivity or religious sensitivity. It’s more of a polemical biography than a scholarly or neutral account.
Note: This book represents one perspective and should ideally be read alongside other biographies (such as by Karen Armstrong or Martin Lings) to gain a more balanced understanding.