Martin Lings in his book Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources provides a new look at the life of the prophet Muhammad, his life, the origins of his teachings, and the nature of the religion he founded based on Arabic sources from the eighth and ninth centuries, sources not previously analyzed by scholars. These sources were written by eyewitnesses to Muhammad and his era. The book is not written in the form of a scholarly treatise but more as a novelistic account, telling the story through an omniscient and unseen author who uses the accounts of real people to flesh out his story. He begins the story in ancient times, with the biblical account of the story of Abraham from the Book of Genesis. He then continues the story through various Arabic tribes leading to the time of Muhammad and to Muhammad himself.
The story of Muhammad is embodied in the Qur'an, but in Ling's book it is fleshed out with other accounts from the period. Although these added accounts are but a modicum of knowledge more than what is in the Qur'an, what is included about the early life of Muhammad is beyond what has been known before. The story of Muhammad begins with what is known of his ancestry and his father, Abdallah. Aspects of the social position of Abdallah's family (and by extension, Muhammad's family) is inferred from marriage records and other secondary sources. Much of this vital information is sketchy and uncertain, however, we do know that Muhammad was born in the Year of the Elephant, about 570 A.D. Much of the early life of Muhammad is also inferred from the way people lived at the time and from other data, and there is really very little information until Muhammad's marriage.
It is Muhammad's public life that is illuminated most by the material translated by the author. Muhammad received his call from God when he was nearing his fortieth year. His early preaching was considered young and enthusiastic by the Meccans....