Mother of the Believers: A Novel of the Birth of Islam

Mother of the Believers is a loving, yet eyes-wide-open look at the dawn of Islam. Kamran Pasha's writing is deeply respectful of traditional Islamic values. That said, he presents Mohammed (peace be upon him), his wife Aisha, and their companions as full and real humans, and does so with humor and great compassion. I am a Muslima, and I have read many scholarly books on the early days of Islam but this one got my heart pounding at times, made me laugh, made me cry. It fleshed out beloved Sahabah (companions of Prophet Mohammed) in a way no dry history book could do, while remaining true in story and in spirit.

I was skeptical at first because I thought this book was going to be just another ignorant book, but I was pleasantly surprised. I really fell in love with the book because firstly it is written very well. Kamran Pasha is a smart and entertaining writer. He knows how to keep his readers interested. As for the content in the book, I assure you it is rich and full of beautiful descriptions. Prior to reading this book, I read a few books about the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), but this is the first book that I was able to read like a normal novel rather than a historical biography, which tend to be a bit dry for my taste. It is not sacrilegious or offensive, and it certainly does not add unnecessary fluff. The novel reads beautifully and Pasha has put great effort into being as true to the facts as possible. From the first page, the story pulls you in, and you find yourself willing to let it do so. Like I said, it's beautifully written and very visual. A masterpiece. I can't wait to read Pasha's next book!

Ohhh....so good! What an amazing Epic; fiction based on fact. This book was excellent and enlightening. I'm so glad I read it. I am a Catholic and know little about the Islamic faith with exception to the basics. This book opened my mind to the belief system of millions around the world. I am more sympathetic to Muslims. I now have a greater understanding of where the fighting stems from with the Sunnis and Shiites. I've learned so much while enjoying a great story and fun read. I couldn't put it down. You will not be disappointed!

In the seventh century in the Arabian Desert, Muhammad has surfaced as a prophet who is gaining a loyal following. He envisions a woman as his wife and arranges with her father to marry Aisha, who may be his youngest wife, but by far the most intelligent and spirited of Muhammad's dozen. She is his favorite, but loses her place when the other wives accuse her of adultery to the Prophet. She tries to prove her innocence, but he receives a revelation from God that regains her position. When Medina is attacked, Aisha's bravery and leadership help save the day, but the Muslim men prefer docile women so she earns some respect but also perhaps more loathing. Muhammad becomes more than just a prophet as he becomes the Prophet uniting the Arabian tribes. However, God works in mysterious ways as soon after he succeeds in conquering the holy city of Mecca, Muhammad dies. His nineteen year old youngest widow Aisha earns a position as advisor to the Caliph of Islam pushing for universal civil rights. Aisha becomes a teacher and a commander as perhaps the most powerful known female in the Muslim Empire. However, her efforts for the rights of women lead to civil war. This work of biographical fiction is a great historical tale that brings insight to the early growth of Islam, the Muslim Empire, and the role of women in that society. Aisha is a brave person who does what she believed is morally right; which led to the "least" wife becoming the most spouse through conviction and courage. Ironically as Islamic women placed her on a pedestal as their champion, Aisha had become less confident that she chose right and suffered remorse for those who died for her cause. Readers will appreciate this excellent historical fiction that depicts the key Muslim woman during the cradle years of Islam. Harriet Klausner

Pasha's book is a true page-turner! His style of writing is captivating and engaging from beginning to end! His ability to bring to life the story of Islam through the eyes of Aisha is creative, bold and intentionally strategic. I respect and admire his disclosure at the beginning of the book that it is purely a fiction novel. That his intent was to shed light upon such a passionate and uplifting story of struggle, patience, persistence, trust and love for humanity and most importantly God. His reference to non-fiction works from Islamic scholars and of course the original reference the Quran is not only smart but responsible. Kamran makes it very clear that he wrote a fiction which is only made to inspire others to learn more about Islam - rather then turn them away. I applaud his efforts and hope that millions of people get a chance to read such a wonderful novel.