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Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
Mīrkhwānd’s The Garden of Purity recounts the life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) through the traditions preserved in a fifteenth-century Persian chronicle. The history begins with his ancestry among the Quraysh, a powerful Arab tribe based in Makkah, where the Kaʿbah stands as the sacred sanctuary. Accounts of his birth set his arrival within a long tradition of prophecy, before the chronicle follows his upbringing on the Arabian Peninsula. His calling by Allah (SWT) brings the message of Islam to the city, where an emerging community of believers seeks to establish itself amid pressure from tribal leaders. The Hijrah, the migration to Madīnah, opens a new period for those followers as they build their communal life. The chronicle follows their encounters with the Quraysh through the Battle of Uḥud near Madīnah.
Mīrkhwānd’s The Garden of Purity is an exquisite work of Islamic historical writing, distinguished by the affection with which its author portrays those surrounding the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). His treatment of Khadījah, the wife of the Prophet (PBUH), is particularly beautiful, revealing a tenderness that feels inseparable from the history being told. When the angel Jibrīl first appears to her husband, Khadījah comforts him by recalling his kindness toward people in need. Her reassurance speaks so eloquently of the regard she holds for him. His humility is portrayed just as movingly during the Muslim army’s journey to the Battle of Badr, when he willingly walks beside the camel he shares with two companions. The modern edition’s annotations are a welcome gift to readers, illuminating the sources behind these traditional accounts. Readers who cherish Islamic history will find much to treasure in this lovingly presented work. Very highly recommended.
