[Niiinioa]

Hello,
I am a new muslim and I am almost finished reading the book, The Sealed Nectar. There are a lot of beheadings and violence, plots, and killing of non muslims just because they are non-muslims.. and I thought Islam was a religion of peace?
I am not writing this to challenge anyone, I am sincerely asking if these acts are true. This book has left me with a bad feeling and I'm trying to reconcile it in my mind. Can anyone explain this to me? Thanks, Brother Dan

[Hoglaunccoolf]

Bismillah
It is not suitable for a beginner. Sealed necter is a good book but is recommended once they have read other seerah books. The focus of the book is about war. It is important to note one has to know situation of the time and context.
Hence read As Shifa by Qadi Ilyad translated by Ayesha Beweley and also read Martin lings seerah. There are few mistakes on martin lings but in general very good.

There are selection of books listed here under the tips & guidance section
http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/show...s-Please-Reply

Allahualam

[QuidQuoPro]

Hello,
I am a new muslim and I am almost finished reading the book, The Sealed Nectar. There are a lot of beheadings and violence, plots, and killing of non muslims just because they are non-muslims.. and I thought Islam was a religion of peace?
I am not writing this to challenge anyone, I am sincerely asking if these acts are true. This book has left me with a bad feeling and I'm trying to reconcile it in my mind. Can anyone explain this to me? Thanks, Brother Dan

as-Salaamu 'Alaykum Brother, welcome to Islam.

Im positive the killings were not done without reason, it may have been battles of two parties i.e. in War. No one should get unjustly killed. Infact killing non Combatants in war is also Haram and the ahadith are clear regarding this. Maybe you have read it wrong and misunderstood it.

Other brothers who have that book could better clarify it.

[WhonyGataxott]

Hello,
I am a new muslim and I am almost finished reading the book, The Sealed Nectar. There are a lot of beheadings and violence, plots, and killing of non muslims just because they are non-muslims.. and I thought Islam was a religion of peace?
I am not writing this to challenge anyone, I am sincerely asking if these acts are true. This book has left me with a bad feeling and I'm trying to reconcile it in my mind. Can anyone explain this to me? Thanks, Brother Dan

Welcome!

No one is killed in Islam "just because" he is a non-Muslim.

If you could point out the specific instances where it is confusing why a certain individual was killed, we could point out the reasons and justifications behind it.

And Allah knows best.

[duminyricky]

The sealed nector is a good book for providing a history of the muslims and the prophet(sallallaho alayhi wa salam) whos lives were constantly under threat, the reason so much is mentioned of battles and campaignes is because they were constantly attacked by the'powers' that be trying to destroy them, none of them succeeded and islam has flourished while their empires have crumbled. different biographys focus on different aspects of the lives of Rasoolullah sallalaho alayhi wa salam, some as a leader, some showing the history of revelations and each of their contexts and history, some on the personal life, some on the ascetic life, some on the life as a business man, some on the life of a husband, some on the life of friend etc. You take from each different book what you will, the sealed nector is a good resource for those who want to know about general history, for a book on personal value, manners, etiquettes you would find another suitable book. It is for the reader to know what they want, do you want to know about general islamic history where the muslims were constantly under attack or would you like to know more about the personal life of Rasoolullah sallalaho alayhi wa salam.

[Niiinioa]

Thanks, I understand what you are saying, appreciate the clarification. I have ordered a copy of ash shifa..by Aisha Bewley as suggested by Nomadic below. I want to thank all of you for your help. I am mainly looking for a book that help me build love for the Prophet(pbuh). If any other books come into mind from anyone, please let me know! Wa'laikum Salaam, Br. Danyal

[Keeriewof]

brother Danyal:

Here are a couple more for your list:

Muhammad: His Life Based On The Earliest Sources by Martin Lings

and

Noble Life of The Prophet (Peace be upon him) a 3 volume set by Dr. 'Ali Muhammad As-Sallaabee, translated by Faisal Shafeeq. I haven't read this personally but a teacher recommended it to me and I've consulted it a few times. Also, a young brother on SF is busy reading this and he too recommends it.

[ireleda]

As salaamu alaykum,

I highly recommend Seeratul Mustafa (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) by Maulana Idris Kandhelvi (rahimahullah). Recenly translated. One of the best ive read in english.

Also, Salat & Salam: In Praise of Allah's Most Beloved: A Manual of Blessings & Peace upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) (white thread press) is an excellent book. It "consists of fifty invocations of blessings upon the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), most transmitted from the Messenger s himself. It also includes another ninety-nine invocations, composed by Shaykh Yusuf Motala, which beautifully couple the Names of Allah with attributes of His Beloved Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace)."

[Fuerfsanv]

السلام عليكم

I would also recommend Shamail Al-Tirmithi which is a collection of narrations on the characteristics of The Prophet pbuh. If you go to http://www.sacredknowledge.co.uk Shaykh Muhammad Yaqoubi has lectures where he goes through the narrations. I'm sure you would enjoy them.

Also, watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F8sqGINADA.

[Loopyjr]

Thanks, I understand what you are saying, appreciate the clarification. I have ordered a copy of ash shifa..by Aisha Bewley as suggested by Nomadic below. I want to thank all of you for your help. I am mainly looking for a book that help me build love for the Prophet(pbuh). If any other books come into mind from anyone, please let me know! Wa'laikum Salaam, Br. Danyal

Brother Dan, welcome and congratulations!!!
You have partaken in the right path on the most valuable and significant decision of your life!!!

To better get to know the Prophet Muhammad , one should FIRST study the Quran and its commentary. The Quran is the first "biography' of the Prophet

And by getting to know the Quran, one will learn about Allah and Who is Allah.

To know Allah is to love Him and to love HIm is to love the Prophet .

And Allah knows best.

[Niiinioa]

Thanks for telling me about these other resources, very helpful indeed. Are there any good Qur'an commentaries in english/like one volume books. I don't have a whole lot of cash so this might be good for me. Also, has anyone heard of this book;

The Life and Work of Muhammad (Critical Lives) [Paperback]
Yahiya Emerick.... I have heard good and bad about it. I ordered a copy of Ash Shifa last night from Amazon. Thanks for your continuing advice everyone! Danyal

[EmpokemyMok]

Bismillah
It is not suitable for a beginner. Sealed necter is a good book but is recommended once they have read other seerah books. The focus of the book is about war. It is important to note one has to know situation of the time and context.
Hence read As Shifa by Qadi Ilyad translated by Ayesha Beweley and also read Martin lings seerah. There are few mistakes on martin lings but in general very good.

That is funny, there is a whole chapter in shifa about the death penalty of those who insult the prophet.

[appabessy]

Assalamu alaikum,

As a convert going on 10 years, I've come to realize that our Prophet (saws) is one who truly traveled the middle path. As Ecclesiastes says, there is a time for war and a time for peace. If you read a biography that emphasizes the war, it is good to read one that emphasizes the mercy, peace and love that our beloved Messenger (saws) embodied.

A few I would recommend:

The Prophet of Mercy, Muhammad by Osman Nuri Topbas - less of a traditional book of seerah and more vignettes of the life of the Prophet (saws) that emphasize certain qualities and characteristics

In the Footsteps of the Prophet by Tariq Ramadan - the life of the Prophet (saws) that is geared towards a western audience, highlighting aspects of his life that will stick in the western mind.

[xIuvyAuT]

Life is a real examination - not a mock one.
Reality strikes us with a thud - not a velvet.
Luckily we do not have to establish Islam - we only have to use it.
May Allah (SWT) make it easy for you brother Dan.
And for us all.

[Hoglaunccoolf]

Bismillah

To be a good muslim you don't need to read a whole lot of books or even attend courses. It is Allah who guided you and so seek Allahs assistance all the time. Most if not all aspects of Islam is innate. You will discover this as you learn at the feet of a humble qualified scholar. My humble advise would be to priorotise.
If I was you, my first priority would be to find a scholar who is sensitive to a reverts mind. The rest will inshallah fall into places.
There is no clergy system in Islam so we seek assistance and guidance from Allah alone even when we are learning from a qualified scholar lest what we get is information instead of knowledge. Knwoledge makes us reflect on ourself and surrounding, information on the other hand remains impersonal and a tool for debasing self and others. So keep checking your heart and intention and pray to Allah to open your heart and mind for clarity of thought and action.
The best and easy way to start is to attend lecturs conducted by seassoned Qualfied scholars or listen on line lectures if you have none available.
The online lecturs sites are listed in the thread I listed earliers.

Most of my limited knowledge is not gained from books but by sitting with scholars & seeker of knowledge for self discovery & realisation. Often a simple believer sincere action illuminates the teaching of a islam.
When one is humble and sincere knowledge manifest in thought and by reflecting.
If you want to read commentry of Quran / Tafseer, there are many different types with different focus. Mariful Quran is available on the net for free. i would reccomend this one for a starter. It is 8 volume books. Once you have read this, move on to others like Tafsir e Jalalyn, Ibn Katheer, Qurtubi, Nurul Quran etc.
http://islamicstudies.info/maarif/

For hadith in absense of Compodium of knowledge by Ibn Rajab, go through Riyadus Saleheen of Imam Nawai as Shafi, again available on the net translated by Alimah Ayesha Beweley.
http://spl.qibla.com/Hadith/H0004P0000.aspx


Hope that helps

Br. Ansar
As shifa is recommended by many scholars from the east to the west where as sealed nector is not for the way it is written, deemed not appropriate for everyone in absense of scholar to explain things.
I have mentored Reverts and have consulted with revert scholars as well as non reverts grounded in traditions and this was their recommendation.
Allahualam

Thanks for telling me about these other resources, very helpful indeed. Are there any good Qur'an commentaries in english/like one volume books. I don't have a whole lot of cash so this might be good for me. Also, has anyone heard of this book;

The Life and Work of Muhammad (Critical Lives) [Paperback]
Yahiya Emerick.... I have heard good and bad about it. I ordered a copy of Ash Shifa last night from Amazon. Thanks for your continuing advice everyone! Danyal

[xIuvyAuT]

I think the basic query of this new Muslim is regarding violence.
Can violence be completely avoided in life?
The practical evidence is towards the contrary.
Every country in the world has a military (those who do not have depend upon other countries).
Even the country that was liberated by a non-violent freedom movement eased itself into acquiring a very powerful defense establishment having army, navy and air force.
And then every country has police - think of the dictum : When police is there can violence be far behind.
And some countries, many countries, have paramilitary forces called the riot police.
It is true that some countries have abolished death penalty.
It is silly because these countries have made themselves very prone to individuals facing extreme violence. It is really horrifying. One wonders how could they be so dumb. How could they expose their innocent citizen to criminal elements whims in order to bargain for an image of being a merciful society - merciful to murderers and cruel to citizens.

May be society in future will move to a higher state of evolution where crime will not be there and your enemies will not attack you. But this is not coming tomorrow or in your life.

Violence is repugnant and hence you have to arm yourself against it. It is a fact of life that is impossible to ignore. I have already give you the end product of the best copy book example of non-violence philosophy. And now a few words about the lofty Christian doctrine of turning the other cheek. This is indeed noble. Except for a technical detail. It is supposed to be followed by you non-Christians. If you not believe then just take a quick account of the violence unleashed by the Christian world on themselves and the rest of the world. I'll blame Jewish holocaust on them and the all the deaths at the time of partition of India on them because of their divide and rule paradigm.

[Saispapedlimi]

Thanks, I understand what you are saying, appreciate the clarification. I have ordered a copy of ash shifa..by Aisha Bewley as suggested by Nomadic below. I want to thank all of you for your help. I am mainly looking for a book that help me build love for the Prophet(pbuh). If any other books come into mind from anyone, please let me know! Wa'laikum Salaam, Br. Danyal

Have a look here too.

[griddle]

I don't see anything wrong with the battles, beheadings and what not. He was sent to establish Islam on earth, to fight them until they accept; not to make people feel good.

[xIuvyAuT]

Have a look here too.

Brother Danyal,
I have been promising myself to read that thread for long time.
Can you read that on my behalf and sent the reward to me?
Wassalam

[Christopherso]

This book specifically talks about the single portion of the world where these things are happening but not all over the world. I have seen the interview in college essay writing service reviews blog the author of this book he clearly said it belongs to specific place and only written of that place and those people.