Throughout history there is ample evidence of the many contributions some individuals have made to promote love and unity among mankind even though some of them have been ridiculed to the point of blasphemy and hatred.
What is sad is that even the Prophets sent to mankind came under the same pressure and ridicule, some even being assassinated while others escaped the wrath of those who question the message of our creator.
One good thing to reflect upon is the tremendous support which some of these Prophets have received, especially from Non Muslim scholars who saw in Prophet Muhammad, a beautiful pattern of conduct. No matter how they try, using fabrication and half truths to malign the Prophet Mohammad (OWBP – On Whom Be Peace) they will never succeed.
There are scholars throughout the world who can attest to the honesty, integrity and truthfulness of the Prophet Mohammad (OWBP).
What Prophet Mohammad (OWBP) made clear was that the Holy Quran explicitly pointed out in Chapter 22, verse 136:
Say ye; “We believe in God, and the revelation given to us and to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes and that given to Moses and Jesus and that given to all the Prophets from their Lord. We make no difference between one and another of them, and we bow to God in Islam.”
This very important chapter in the Quran has either been overlooked or misunderstood and is perhaps why there is so much misunderstanding about Mohammad (OWBP) and Islam. But there is some solace when one views the many comments by many individuals who have understood the message from Mohammad (OWBP).
Among the many scholars is the noted scholar George Bernard Shaw, as noted in some of his remarks.
“I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion, which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence, which can make itself appeal to every age.
I have studied him – the wonderful man and in my opinion far from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Savior of Humanity.
I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness.
I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad that it would be acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today.
If any religion had the chance of ruling over England, nay Europe within the next hundred years, it could be Islam.” Sir George Bernard Shaw in ‘The Genuine Islam,’ Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936.
How fitting that this stalwart and scholar could make such comments about Prophet Muhammad (OWBP).
There are also many other world leaders who have said to portray Muhammad (OWBP) as a great leader and peace advocate for all mankind, not only Muslims.
Another example of the high esteem in which Prophet Muhammad (OWBP) was recognized is evidence in the words of another scholar, Rev Reginald Bosworth Smith, who said:
“He was Caesar and Pope in one; but he was Pope without Pope’s pretensions, Caesar without the legions of Caesar: without a standing army, without a bodyguard, without a palace, without a fixed revenue; if ever any man had the right to say that he ruled by the right divine, it was Mohammed, for he had all the power without its instruments and without its supports.”
There has never been another Prophet who was more insulted, maligned and ridiculed than Muhammad (OWBP) but the examples of his honesty, integrity and sincerity are legion He was able successfully to bring together the warring tribes in Arabia. Hence it is not surprising to read the tributes that world leaders have made.
Another example is from the great Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi who said:
“I wanted to know the best of one who holds today’s undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind… I became more than convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet the scrupulous regard for pledges, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission….” Young India
Such renowned scholar like Karen Armstrong needs no introduction and her commends on Muhammed ((OWBP) is more Than important and is testimony about the character of the seal of the Prophets. Here is what she has to say:
In her book, Muhammad, a Biography of the Prophet, Karen Armstrong wrote:
“But the very idea that Muhammad would have found any thing to be optimistic about in the carnage committed in his name on September 11th is an obscenity, because, as I try to show in these pages, Muhammad spent most of his life trying to stop that kind of indiscriminate slaughter. The very word Islam, which denotes the existential “surrender” of the whole being to God, which Muslims are required to make, is related to salam, “peace.”
And most importantly, Muhammad eventually abjured violence and pursued a daring, inspired policy on non-violence that was the culmination of his prophetic career. In imagining that the holy war was the culmination of his career, the fundamentalists (extremists) have distorted the whole meaning of his life.
Far from being the father of Jihad, Muhammad was a peacemaker, who risked his life and nearly lost his closest companions, because he was so determined to effect a reconciliation with Mecca. Instead of fighting an intransigent war to the death, Muhammad was prepared to negotiate and to compromise. And this apparent humiliation and capitulation proved, in the words of the Qur’an, to be a great victory (fat-‘h)….If we could view Muhammad as we do any other important historical figure we would surely consider him to be one of the greatest geniuses the world has known.”
Lane Poole
There is absolutely doubt about the sincerity of the Prophet Muhammad (OWBP and this is attested to by Muslims as well as Non Muslims. An example is what noted scholar Lana Poole said:
“He was the most faithful protector of those he protected, the sweetest and most agreeable in conversation. Those who saw him were suddenly filled with reverence; those who came near him loved him; they who described him would say, ‘I have never seen his like either before or after.’
He was of great taciturnity, but when he spoke it was with emphasis and deliberation, and no one could forget what he said…”
Speeches and Table Talk of the Prophet
Speaking on the essentials of human greatness wonders, the historian Lamar Tine states:
“If greatness of purpose, smallness of means and astounding results are the three criteria of human genius, who could dare to compare any great man in modern history than Muhammad.
The most famous men created arms, laws and empires only. They founded, if anything at all, no more than material powers which often crumbled away before their eyes.
This man moved not only armies, legislation, empires, peoples and dynasties, but millions of men in one-third of the then inhabited world; and more than that, he moved the altars, the gods, the religions, the ideas, the beliefs and souls….
His forbearance in victory, his ambition, which was entirely devoted to one idea and in no manner striving for an empire;
His endless prayers, his mystic conversations with God, his death and his triumph after death; all these attest not to an imposture but to a firm conviction which gave him the power to restore a dogma.
Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational dogmas, of a cult without images, the founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire, that is Muhammad.
As regards all the standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, ‘Is there any man greater than he?”
Alphonse De Lamar Tine, Histoire De LaTurquie, Parise, 1854 Vol. II, PP 276-277
The democracy of Islam is adumbrated in so many ways and Sarojini Naidu explained this is great detail in her following comments:
“It was the first religion that preached and practiced democracy; for, in the mosque, when the call for prayer is sounded and worshippers are gathered together, the democracy of Islam is embodied five times a day when the peasant and king kneel side by side and proclaim: ‘God alone is great’…”
S. Naidu, Ideals of Islam, Vide Speeches & Writings, Madras, 1918
The important principles of the Holy Quran is emphasized by no other than Napoleon Bonaparte and these words ring out
In such truths that they cannot be successfully contradicted. He said
“I hope the time is not far off when I shall be able to unite all the wise and educated men of all the countries and establish a uniform regime based on the principles of Qur’an which alone are true and which alone can lead men to happiness.” Quoted in Christian Cherfils’ Bonaparte Et Islam, Paris, 1914
In the History of the Saracen Empires, Edward Gibbon had these comments to make, comments that will promote a Greater understanding of the Prophet Mohammad; Here is what he had to say:
“’I believe in one God, & Muhammad, is the Apostle of God’ is the simple and invariable profession of Islam.
The intellectual image of the Deity has never been degraded by any visible idol; the honor of the Prophet has never transgressed the measure of human virtues; and his living precepts have restrained the gratitude within the bounds of reason and religion.” History of the Saracen Empires, London, 1870, p. 54
There is an unending source of comments about Prophet Muhammad (OWBP) and one cannot be amazed by these worthwhile comments which hopefully will open the eyes of those hate filled individuals the world over who perhaps fit into the category of “those who have eyes but cannot see” Here is another illustration
Prof. Jules
“People like Pasteur and Salk are leaders in the first sense. People like Gandhi and Confucius, on one hand, and Alexander, Caesar and Hitler on the other, are leaders in the second and perhaps the third sense. Jesus and Buddha belong in the third category alone. Perhaps the greatest leader of all times was Mohammad, who combined all three functions. To a lesser degree, Moses did the same.”
USA Psychiatric Association
Hopefully, the world will begin to understand the message of Islam brought by the Prophet Mohammad (OWBP)
And put an end to the malicious, unfounded, ridiculous, and uncalled for condemnation of this Prophet who brought a message to all mankind. It is unbelievable but true that the majority of the world’s population do not know anything about Islam and the Prophet. Let us all play a part in promoting peace that is so badly needed in the world in which we live today.
