PROPHET MUHAMMAD PBUH (SAW) - THE LAST MESSENGER OF GOD (ALLAH SWT) AND THE SAVIOR OF HUMANITY(1)
by Syarif Hidayat
What is freedom of speech?
What are the boundaries, if any, that fiction should be contained within?
Salman Rushdie's novel, The Satanic Verses,
and the 'Rushdie Affair' that followed its publication, the recent
publication of blasphemy cartoons and caricatures against Prophet
Muhammad PBUH in the US-led western civilization countries and the
latest one, the distribution through Internet a blasphemy movie “Innocence of Muslims” by Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, from southern California, have brought these important questions to the forefront of debate.
What has also been highlighted by the Affair is the entire religion
of Islam - the faith of more than a billion followers world-wide.
Questions have been asked about its place in modern society, about its
supposed staunch authoritarianism, its violence and its narrow-minded
views.
In the cultural apparatus within which Muslims are brought up nothing is more sacred than Islam. The Satanic Verses and the blasphemy cartoons, caricatures, films or movies against Prophet Muhammad PBUH such as “Innocence of Muslims” movie therefore caused hurt and anger to Muslims that it seemed the West just could not understand.
The “Innocence of Muslims” movie caused
hurt and anger to Muslims worldwide because every Muslim loves Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him) more than himself and more than everything
in his life.
To add to these western bigotry and hatred toward Islam, Muslims saw
the western media that are supposed to be the champions of free and
responsible press turn against them. The western media circus apply
double standards and biased news reporting that are mostly lies about
Islam and Muslims. In this coverage the western media circus spoke of
'us' and 'them' - Muslims understood that they were seen as an 'Other'.
News and current-affair features, chat shows, the tabloids as well as
the quality papers, carried articles that showed Muslims as alien
because of their inability to assimilate into Western society.
THE WESTERN MEDIA CIRCUS DOUBLE STANDARDS
Here are some of the Zionist-controlled Western media circus “BIASED”
or “IDIOTIC” Interpretation Standards ON TERRORISM, REVOLUTION,
REVOLUTIONARIES, A DICTATOR, A DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED LEADER, STATE
TERRORISM and AGGRESSION.
If a terrorist suspect is a Muslim = Muslim terrorist
If a terrorist suspect is a Christian = Right-wing nut
Israeli state terrorism = Self defense
Palestinian resistance and freedom fighting = Palestinian terrorism
The US state terrorism = War on terror
A dictator friendly to the US-led western civilization regimes = A democratically elected leader.
A democratically elected president, but unfriendly to the US-led western civilization regimes = A dictator.
The US aggression = Intervention to liberate local citizens from a dictator.
Revolutionaries (with US interests) = Freedom Fighters
Revolutionaries (against US interests) = Terrorists
When people attack White people, they call it Racism.
When people attack Jewish people, they call it Anti-semitism
When people attack ur country, they call it treason.
When people attack ur religious sect, they call it hate.
But, When you attack the Muslim countries, they call it War on Terror;
When you attack the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, they call it FREEDOM of
SPEECH and When u produce a mocking caricature of Prophet Muhammad PBUH,
they call it FREEDOM of EXPRESSION.
The Anti-Islamic Tradition
It is important to establish that before the Rushdie Affair there was
already a well established anti-Islamic tradition in the West,
especially in literature (for an excellent detailed discussion of
anti-Islamic works in the medieval period see N. A. Daniel's Islam and the West: The Making of an Image, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh: 1960, for Orientalism see Rana Kabbani's Imperial Fictions: Europe's Myths of the Orient, Pandora, London: 1994, and for an overview see Asaf Hussain's Western Conflict with Islam: Survey of the Anti-Islamic Tradition, Volcano Books, Leicester: 1990).
Rushdie's novel was by no means the first work of literature that
insulted Islam, and its fundamental beliefs, as Kabbani points out, "No
one should suppose that Islam and the West coexisted amicably until
Rushdie came along to sour our relationship ... there have been tensions
between them since the seventh century - that is, since Islam emerged
as a political and ideological power able to challenge Christendom" (A Letter to Christendom, p.1).
The father of anti-Islamic polemics was John of Damascus (675-749),
and he began the tradition of ridiculing Islam and the Prophet (peace be
upon him). He claimed, in his book De Haeresbius, that the Quran was
not revealed but created by the Prophet (peace be upon him), and that
he was helped by a Christian monk, Bahira, to use the Old and New
Testament to create a new scripture. He also claimed that the Prophet
(peace be upon him) created verses of the Quran to
fulfil his own wants, and these were usually to do with lust and sexual
deviancy.
Others followed John of Damascus in spreading ideas that
portrayed Islam as an inferior religion, such as Peter the Venerable
(1094-1156) and Martin Luther (1483-1546), works by figures as
well-known as Chaucer, Gower and Dante also contained anti-Islamic
elements. All of these figures added to the myths surrounding Islam; the
revelations received by the Prophet (peace be upon him) were claimed to
be no more than epileptic fits, and eventually the Prophet (peace be
upon him) was seen as simply the disciple of Satan and the anti-Christ.
The language of these works always referred to the Prophet (peace be
upon him) as the 'impostor', the 'pretender', and the 'deceiver' - soon
he was referred to as 'Mahound', the devil incarnate (the name Rushdie
chooses for his Prophet (peace be upon him), of which more will be said
later).
This sentiment was again revived in the nineteenth-century, when the
East again became a favourite subject in the West. Richard Burton
(1821-1890), William Blunt (1840-1922) and Charles Doughty (1843-1926)
were all major figures in studies of Islam and the East, or Orientalism,
but again they provided the West with a distorted view of Islam -
presenting the Muslim people as lacking in morals, and being preoccupied
with sex and violence. In fiction these pseudo-scientific ideas were
given life.
In Richard Burton's The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night (London,
1885-88), for example, we are provided with the image of Muslims as
lacking any decency; Princesses go to visit black lepers to satisfy
insatiable sexual appetites, men have they limbs chopped off for being
unfaithful, and there is a general preoccupation with sex. In William
Beckford's Vathek (Penguin, Harmondsworth:
1995), we are provided with the story of an unjust Caliph (Islamic
ruler), who sacrifices fifty children to satisfy his greed.
Both of
these writers use the works of Orientalists, through detailed footnotes,
to support their stories, what Byron Porter Smith, in Islam In English Literature, calls
the "grotesque scheme of substantiating the incidental features of an
imaginative work by means of an apparatus of learned notes" (Caravan,
New York: 1977, p.127). Anti-Islamic literature created a version of
Islam that was far removed from the real Islam, but there was a purpose
behind this misrepresentation, as N. A. Daniel observes in Islam and the West: The Making of an Image:
“[the] West formed a more or less invariable canon of
beliefs about Islam; it decided for itself what Islam was, and formed a
view materially different from anything Muslims would recognise ... The
important thing was it suited the West. It corresponded to need ... it
gave Christendom self-respect in dealing with a civilisation in many
ways its superior.” (p.270)
In Imperial Fiction: Europe's Myths of the Orient, Rana Kabbani further expands on the reasons why Muslims and the East were portrayed in this manner, and concludes that:
If it could be suggested that Eastern peoples were
slothful, preoccupied with sex, violence, and incapable of
self-government, then the imperialist would feel himself justified in
stepping in and ruling. Political domination and economic exploitation
needed the cosmetic cant of mission civilisatrice to seem fully
commendatory ... The image of the European coloniser had to remain an
honourable one: he did not come as exploiter, but as enlightener. (p.6)
THE ANSWER:
Through the centuries, orientalists have advance numerous accusations
and far-fetched theories to discredit Islam and its last Prophet,
Muhammad (peace be upon him). Praise be to Allah alone, all such
accusations have been successfully refuted by the Muslims Ummah.
In the Name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the Most-Gracious and Peace be upon Allah’s Messenger
In Islam, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is the Messenger of God. He
was the last messenger from God, (before him there was a large number of
Prophets such as, Moses, Jesus and Noah etc). Angel Gabriel was sent to
Prophet Muhammad PBUH and he received divine revelation from the
Almighty Allah . He was chosen by God to spread this message throughout
all earth, unrestricted by time, place, race or color claiming that his
message is the last between Heaven and earth and that he is the last of
Allah’s Messengers and Prophets.
Is Prophet Muhammad the man that people claim that he was a
terrorist? someone who married 12 woman for no reason? a military man
who kill innocent people and enemies?
If people actually had the time to go read about this man,
the husband, the friend and the human being, “Prophet Muhammad”; they
will correct their misconceptions. Muhammad (SAW) was the best man that
ever lived on planet Earth.
Many people have a wrong idea of who Prophet Muhammad is and
disrespectfully draw him, make fun of him or even talking badly about a
person they never read about . No matter what religion you are, you
should respect anybody and everybody despite differences that you may
have.
Study him from proper good Muslims instead of the people that
make up stories about this beautiful person who loved humanity,
equality and justice. I would advise you to restrict bad language about
the prophet and say peace instead.
The Prophet Muhammad PBUH commanded us to maintain social solidarity
and cooperation, to open our hearts to our fellows, and to help one
another at all times. He said, "Do not cut relations between each other!
Do not turn your backs on each other! Do not grow hatred between each
other! O God's servants! Become brothers and sisters!"
“I believe 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 much needed peace and happiness. I
have studied him - the man and in my opinion is far from being an
anti–Christ. He must be called the Savior of Humanity. I have prophesied
about the faith of Mohammad that it would be acceptable the Europe of
tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today.” - George Bernard Shaw - The Genuine Islam Vol.No.8, 1936.
Who is Muhammad that is followed by more than One billion Muslims?
Is he a venerable scientist?
Is he a popular prince?
Is he a sophisticated Prime Minister ?
Is he a fair king?
The answer is : No
He is greater than all of those . He is the Messenger of Allah
Muhammad peace and blessing be Upon him received the message from
Allah 1433 years ago to call all mankind to follow the true path, no
matter where or when; no matter if white or black, his message is for
all.
His message is the last and the lasting one, no messenger will come after him, he is the last Messenger.
Who is Muhammad peace be upon him ?
Is he a terrorist, as said by the Western media, or is he the brave
warrior who won most of his battles against the enemies of Islam, or is
he the genius who resolved all cases and troubles between the tribes ?!
He is the one who protected our Rights.
He protected men's, women's and children rights
He protected the relations between neighbors
He established the relationship between Muslims and Non-Muslims .
He organized the relationship between the members of the family showing the duties towards the parents
He prevented injustice and called for justice, love, togetherness and cooperation for the best.
He called for helping the needy, visiting the patients, love and exchanging advises between people.
He prohibited bad manners such as steeling, lying, and murdering .
He is the one who changed our lives and manners to the best ...
A Muslim doesn't steal
A Muslim doesn't lie
A Muslim doesn't drink alcohol.
A Muslim doesn't commit a crime
A Muslim doesn't cheat
A Muslim doesn't kill innocent people
A Muslim doesn't harm his neighbours
A Muslim obeys his parents and helps them
A Muslim is kind to young and elderly people, to women and to weak people.
A Muslim doesn't torture humans or even animals
A Muslim loves his wife and takes care of his children and show mercy towards them until the last day of his life.
A Muslim's relationship towards his children never stops even when they become adults
➲ He is Muhammad (PBUH)
Did you know why all Muslims love Muhammad (PBUH)?
Did you know what does Muhammad mean for Muslims?
Every Muslim loves Muhammad (peace be upon him) more than himself and more than everything in his life.
Why Did Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Married Young Aisha Siddiqa (r.a.)?
Through the centuries, orientalists have advance numerous accusations
and far-fetched theories to discredit Islam and its last Prophet,
Muhammad (peace be upon him). Praise be to Allah alone, all such
accusations have been successfully refuted by the Muslims Ummah.
Currently, one of the 'reinvented' accusations against the noble
character of the Prophet is about his marriage to young Aisha Siddiqa
(r.a.).
Let's probe some of the orientalists' charges in detail in the light
of modern research, historic evidence and the Islamic sources of the
Qur'an and the Sunnah to separate truth from falsehood, and display to
the world that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is indeed an
exemplary for all of mankind.
Two main theories are often advance by orientalists to attack
the pure character of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) on his marriage to Aisha
(r.a.) at her young age.
A. He was a Paedophile.
B. He was involved in child abuse.
Let's analyse each theory to dig out the truth, through the Guidance of Allah (SWT).
A.Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) married Aisha (r.a.) because he was a paedophile?
Definition of a Paedophile:
"Pedophile: also spelled PAEDOPHILIA, psychosexual disorder in which
an adult's arousal and sexual gratification occur primarily through
sexual contact with prepubescent children. The typical paedophile is
unable to find satisfaction in an adult sexual relationship and may have
low self-esteem, seeing sexual activity with a child as less
threatening than that with an adult." Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1998.
"pe.do.phil.ia n [NL] (1906): sexual perversion in which children are
the preferred sexual object -- pe.do.phil.i.ac or pe.do.phil.ic adj."
Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.
The diagnostic criteria for paedophilia according to American Psychiatric Association:
Over a period of at least 6 months, recurrent intense sexual urges
and sexual arousing fantasies involving sexual activity with a
prepubescent child or children.
The person has acted on these urges, or is markedly distressed by them.
The person is at least 16 years old and at least 5 years older than the child or children in A.
DSM-III-R Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, rev ed. 3, (American Psychiatric Association).
"In addition to their paedophilia, a significant number of
paedophiles are concomitantly or have previously been involved in
exhibitionism, voyeurism, or rape". (Voyeurism is the recurrent
preoccupation with fantasised or acts that involve seeking out or
observing people who are naked, or are engaged in grooming or in sexual
activity).
Harold I. Kaplan et al., Synopsis of Psychiatry, 5th ed. (Williams and Wilkens, 1988), p. 360.
Does the prophet fit the above criteria of a paedophile?
With the above criteria of a paedophile in mind, lets analyse the lifestyle of the prophet and his marriages.
His marriages:
Name of Bride Bride's age at marriage Comments
Khadija bint khawilad 40 Twice widowed before
Sauda Bint Zama 50 Widow
Aisha bint Abu Bakr
9 Started
living with the prophet at the age of 9.
Hafsa Bint Umar bin Khattab 22 Widow
Zainab bint Khuzaima 30 ?
Umm-I-Salma bint Abu Umayia 26 Widow
Zainab Bint Jahash 38 Widow
Juwaeria Bint Harith 20 Widow
Umm-I-Habiba bint Abu Sufyan 36 Widow
Marya Qibtiya bint Shamun 17 Virgin, Egyptian
Safia bint Hayi bin Akhtab 17 Widow
Raihana bint umru bin hanafa ? ?
Maimuna bint harith 36 widow
Source: Syed Abu Zafar Zain, The Prophet of Islam, the Ideal Husband (Lahore: Kazi Publications), pp. 10-12.
Statistics from the above table:
Percentage of his wives who were 17 years and older = 91 %
Percentage of his wives who were widows = 75%
Comments: The statistics show that the
prophet's marriage to Aisha at her young age was an exception and not a
norm of his other marriages. Furthermore "a paedophile's main mode of
sexual satisfaction is with prepubescent girls", which is contradictory
to the 91% of prophet's marriage to women 17 years and over. An unbiased
examination of Prophet's life and his marriages to his wives blatantly
rejects the notion of his lifestyle fitting that of a paedophile. All
his brides were aged widows (except Aisha and Marya).
Moreover, according to the criteria in the references cited above in Synopsis of Psychiatry,
a vast majority of paedophiles possess a history of exhibitionism,
voyeurism, or rape. Again, there is no single reference from either
religious or secular sources that the noble Prophet ever indulged in
such sadistic behaviour (God forbid). This truth is observed and
accepted by both Muslims and unbiased non-Muslims scholars.
"It is impossible for anyone who studies the life and character of
the great Prophet of Arabia, who knows how he taught and how he lived,
to feel anything but reverence for that mighty Prophet, one of the great
messengers of the Supreme. And although in what I put to you I shall
say many things which may be familiar to many, yet I myself feel
whenever I re-read them, a new way of admiration, a new sense of
reverence for that mighty Arabian teacher." Annie Besant, The Life and Teachings of Muhammad (Madras, 1932), p. 4.
B. Others claim that the noble Prophet (peace be upon him) indulged in child-abuse when he married Aisha at her young age
Let scrutinise this allegation...
Definition of Child Abuse:
Child Abuse, also called CRUELTY TO CHILDREN, the wilful and
unjustifiable infliction of pain and suffering on children. The term can
denote the use of inordinate physical violence; unjustifiable verbal
abuse; the failure to furnish proper shelter, nourishment, medical
treatment, or emotional support; incest; other cases of sexual
molestation or rape; and the making of child pornography. Frequently
described by the medical profession as the "battered-child syndrome,"
abusive treatment of children is almost universally proscribed by
criminal statutes. Child abuse can have serious future consequences for
the victims involved. Delays in physical growth, impaired language and
cognitive abilities, and problems in personality development, learning,
and behaviour are common following instances of child abuse or neglect.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1998
Comments: None of the criteria of
child-abuse applies to the noble life of the Prophet (pbuh). There is no
single incident of any infliction of pain and suffering by the prophet
on Aisha or any other human being for that matter. Neither any instance
of verbal or sexual abuse can be concluded from the relationship of the
prophet with Aisha (r.a.) or any of his wives.
An abused child can have serious future consequences...delayed
physical growth, impaired language..learning and behaviour...etc (above
definition). As one examines the chaste life of Aisha (r.a.), her
personality, physical, mental and spiritual development are all contrary
to that of an abused child. In fact through the Prophet's marriage and
his guidance to Aisha, history testifies that she should be labelled not
as an abused child but as a 'blessed child'.
After analysing and refuting the accusations against the noble
character of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the only viable
alternative left with us is:
C. The Prophet married Aisha for the benefit of Islam and Humanity
Lets analyse...
1. The Prophet married Aisha primarily for three reasons:
a. To reinforce the friendly relations already existing with Abu Bakr (his closest companion).
b. To educate and train Aisha for the purposes of Islam.
c. To utilise her capabilities for the sake of Islam.
2. Her Marriage with the prophet was a Wahy (Divine Revelation). She, herself relates from the Prophet. "He
said, 'I saw you in dreams three times. The angel brought you to me and
you were clad in white silk. He (the angel) said that it was your
consort and he (angel) showed me by opening your face. You are just like
that..." Sahih Muslim, Vol.2, p. 285.
3. Aisha (r.a.) was born after her parents had
embraced Islam. Therefore, she was free from the defilement of
polytheism right from her birth.
4. In her youth, already known for her striking
beauty and her formidable memory, she came under the loving care and
attention of the Prophet himself. As his wife and close companion she
acquired from him knowledge and insight such as no woman has ever
acquired.
Aisha lived on almost fifty years after the passing away of the
Prophet. She had been his wife for a decade. Much of this time was spent
in learning and acquiring knowledge of the two most important sources
of God's guidance, the Qur'an and the Sunnah of His Prophet. Aisha
(r.a.) was one of the three wives (the other two being Hafsa (r.a.) and
Umm Salama (r.a.) who memorised the Revelation. Like Hafsa (r.a.), she
had her own script of the Qur'an written after the Prophet had died.
So far as the Hadith or sayings of the Prophet is concerned, Aisha
(r.a.) is one of four persons (the others being Abu Hurayra, Abdullah
ibn Umar, and Anas ibn Malik) who transmitted more than two thousand
sayings. From her, 2210 Hadith have come, out of which 174 Hadith are
commonly agreed upon by both Bukhari and Muslim.
Many of her transmissions pertain to some of the most intimate
aspects of personal behaviour which only someone in Aisha's position
could have learnt. What is most important is that her knowledge of
Hadith was passed on in written form by at least three persons including
her nephew Urwah who became one of the greatest scholars among the
generation after the Companions.
It is the claim of the Scholars of Islam that without her, half of the Ilm-I-Hadith [knowledge, understanding of the Hadith (and Islam)] would have perished.
5. Many of the learned companions of the Prophet and
their followers benefited from Aishah's knowledge. Abu Musa al-Ash'ari
once said:
"If we companions of the Messenger of God had any difficulty on a matter, we asked Aisha about it."
"Yahya related to me from Malik from Yahya ibn Said from Said ibn
al-Musayyab that Abu Musa al-Ash'ari came to Aisha, the wife of the
Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said to her, "The
disagreement of the companions in a matter which I hate to bring before
you has distressed me." She said, "What is that? You did not ask your
mother about it, so ask me." He said, "A man penetrates his wife, but
becomes listless and does not ejaculate. "She said, "When the
circumcised part passes the circumcised part ghusl is obligatory." Abu Musa added, "I shall never ask anyone about this after you." -
Al-Muwatta of Imam Malik, Hadith 2.75.
Arwa Bin Zubair says,
"I did not find anyone more proficient [than Aisha (r.a.)] in the
knowledge of the Holy Qur'an, the Commandments of Halal (lawful) and
Haram (prohibited), Ilmul-Ansab and Arabic poetry. That is why, even
senior companions of the Prophet used to consult Aisha (r.a.) in
resolving intricate issued". -
Ibn Qayyim and Ibn Sa'ad, Jala-ul-Afham, vol. 2, p. 26.
Abu Musa al-Ash'ari says:
"Never had we (the companions) had any difficulty for the solution of
which we approached Aisha and did not get some useful information from
her".
Sirat-I-Aisha, on the authority of Trimidhi, p. 163.
6. As a teacher she had a clear and persuasive
manner of speech and her power of oratory has been described in
superlative terms by al-Ahnaf who said: "I have heard speeches of Abu
Bakr and Umar, Uthman and Ali and the Khulafa up to this day, but I have
not heard speech more persuasive and more beautiful from the mouth of
any person than from the mouth of Aisha."
The Prophet PBUH said,
"The superiority of 'Aisha to other ladies is like the superiority of Tharid
(i.e. meat and bread dish) to other meals. Many men reached the level
of perfection, but no woman reached such a level except Mary, the
daughter of Imran and Asia, the wife of Pharaoh." - Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith, Narrated by Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari Hadith 4.643.
Musa Ibn Talha (r.a.) says,
"I did not see anyone more eloquent than Aisha (r.a.)"
Mustadrak of Hakim, vol.4, p.11.
7. Men and women came from far and wide to benefit from her knowledge.
Aisha's great interest in the study of the Qur'an is understandable.
She was an eye-witness to a number of revelations and had therefore a
clear idea of the circumstances in which they were revealed. It was on
her bed alone (and no other consort's) that the Prophet received Wahy
(Divine Revelations) several times. This helped her in interpreting the
verses.
8. At the time of the Prophet's death, the Prophet's head was on her lap. It was in her quarters that the Prophet was buried.
The life of Aisha (R) is a proof that a woman can be far more learned
than men and that she can be the teacher of scholars and experts. Her
life is also a proof that a woman can exert influence over men and women
and provide them with inspiration and leadership. Aisha (R) is a
continuing inspiration and role model to today's youth who are
diligently searching for an example amongst the pop stars, movie
actresses and sports stars. May the memory of her's live forever in the
heart of the Muslim Ummah and may Allah grant her the highest abode in
Paradise...Ameen.
Conclusion
It was the aforementioned qualities of Aisha (r.a.) and the Prophet's
guidance in moulding these capabilities for the service of Islam, were
the main reasons, why the Prophet Married young Aisha (r.a.), and not
the perverted reasons brought forth by misguided orientalists.
Muslims invite all sincere humans to study the life of Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon) in the light of the authentic sources of the
Qur'an and the Sunnah (exemplary sayings and deeds of the Prophet) and
judge for themselves where the truth lies. Indeed, by recognising the
truth of Islam as the final and complete Guidance sent by our Creator
can humanity find lasting peace in this world and a means of salvation
from the hell fire in the hereafter.
"I have studied him - the wonderful man and in my opinion
far from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Saviour 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."- George Bernard Shaw, The Genuine Islam, vol. 1, no. 8, 1936.
Though, the Prophet is not among us in his flesh, but his exemplary life has been preserved for all humanity to follow.
When Truth comes Falsehood disappears, Islam came, now Shirk (polytheism) must clear.
What non-Muslim scholars said about Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him)
1>>Nepolean Bonaparte – Quoted in Christian Cherfils BONAPARTE ET ISLAM (PARIS 1914)
“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.”
2>>M.K.Gandhi, YOUNG INDIA, 1924
"...I became more than ever 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 his pledges, his intense devotion to his friends
and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in
God and his own mission. These, and not the sword carried everything
before them and surmounted every trouble." YOUNG INDIA, 1924
3>>Lamartine - Histoire de la Turquie, Paris 1854, Vol II, pp. 276-77:
"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 with 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, legislations,
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... the 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. This dogma was twofold, the unit of God and
the immateriality of God; the former telling what God is, the latter
telling what God is not; the one overthrowing false gods with the sword,
the other starting an idea with words. "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 standards by
which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man
greater than he?"
4>>Edward Gibbon and Simon Ocklay - History of the Saracen Empire, London, 1870, p. 54:
"It is not the propagation but the permanency of his religion that
deserves our wonder, the same pure and perfect impression which he
engraved at Mecca and Medina is preserved, after the revolutions of
twelve centuries by the Indian, the African and the Turkish proselytes
of the Koran...The Mahometans have uniformly withstood the temptation of
reducing the object of their faith and devotion to a level with the
senses and imagination of man. 'I believe in One God and Mahomet 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 honors of the prophet have never transgressed the measure of
human virtue, and his living precepts have restrained the gratitude of
his disciples within the bounds of reason and religion."
5>>Rev. Bosworth Smith, Muhammad and Mohammadanism, London 1874, p. 92:
"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 Muhammad, for he had all the power without its
instruments and without its supports."
6>>Annie Besant, The Life and Teachings of Muhammad, Madras 1932, p. 4:
"It is impossible for anyone who studies the life
and character of the great Prophet of Arabia, who knows how he taught
and how he lived, to feel anything but reverence for that mighty
Prophet, one of the great messengers of the Supreme. And although in
what I put to you I shall say many things which may be familiar to many,
yet I myself feel whenever I re-read them, a new way of admiration, a
new sense of reverence for that mighty Arabian teacher."
7>>Montgomery Watt, Mohammad at Mecca, Oxford 1953, p. 52:
"His readiness to undergo persecutions for his
beliefs, the high moral character of the men who believed in him and
looked up to him as leader, and the greatness of his ultimate
achievement – all argue his fundamental integrity. To suppose Muhammad
an impostor raises more problems than it solves. Moreover, none of the
great figures of history is so poorly appreciated in the West as
Muhammad."
8>>James A. Michener, 'Islam: The Misunderstood Religion' in Reader's Digest (American Edition), May 1955, pp. 68-70:
"Muhammad, the inspired man who founded Islam, was
born about A.D. 570 into an Arabian tribe that worshipped idols.
Orphaned at birth, he was always particularly solicitous of the poor and
needy, the widow and the orphan, the slave and the downtrodden. At
twenty he was already a successful businessman, and soon became director
of camel caravans for a wealthy widow. When he reached twenty-five, his
employer, recognizing his merit, proposed marriage. Even though she was
fifteen years older, he married her, and as long as she lived, remained
a devoted husband.
"Like almost every major prophet before him, Muhammad fought shy of
serving as the transmitter of God's word, sensing his own inadequacy.
But the angel commanded 'Read'. So far as we know, Muhammad was unable
to read or write, but he began to dictate those inspired words which
would soon revolutionize a large segment of the earth: "There is one
God."
"In all things Muhammad was profoundly practical. When his beloved
son Ibrahim died, an eclipse occurred, and rumors of God's personal
condolence quickly arose. Whereupon Muhammad is said to have announced,
'An eclipse is a phenomenon of nature. It is foolish to attribute such
things to the death or birth of a human-being.'
"At Muhammad's own death an attempt was made to deify him, but the
man who was to become his administrative successor killed the hysteria
with one of the noblest speeches in religious history: 'If there are any
among you who worshipped Muhammad, he is dead. But if it is God you
worshipped, He lives forever.'"
9>>Michael H. Hart, The 100: A Ranking of the Most
Influential Persons in History, New York: Hart Publishing Company, Inc.
1978, p. 33:
"My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the
world's most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be
questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was
supremely successful on both the religious and secular level."
10>>Sarojini Naidu, the famous Indian poetess says – S. Naidu, Ideals of Islam, Speeches and Writings, Madaras, 1918
“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'... “
11>>Thomas Caryle – Heros and Heros Worship
“how one man single-handedly, could weld warring
tribes and Bedouins into a most powerful and civilized nation in less
than two decades?” “…The lies (Western slander) which well-meaning zeal
has heaped round this man (Muhammed) are disgraceful to ourselves
only…How one man single-handedly, could weld warring tribes and
wandering Bedouins into a most powerful and civilized nation in less
than two decades….A silent great soul, one of that who cannot but be
earnest. He was to kindle the world; the world’s Maker had ordered so."
12>>Stanley Lane-Poole – Table Talk of the Prophet
“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...”
13>>George Bernard Shaw - The Genuine Islam Vol.No.8, 1936.
“I believe 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 much needed peace and happiness. I
have studied him - the man and in my opinion is far from being an
anti–Christ. He must be called the Savior of Humanity. I have prophesied
about the faith of Mohammad that it would be acceptable the Europe of
tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today.”
Before judging a person be neutral and ➮ ➮
1-Listen to this person, and follow his doings.
2-Compare his ideas and teachings with what is acceptable to the mind and heart.
3-If you think that his thoughts are right, compare them with his doings; is he applying his teachings?
4-If he is applying his teachings and sayings, so he is for sure right and one must believe him.
I hope and pray that at the end you will get a clear answer
for all confusing questions and you will know for sure: Who Muhammad
peace and blessing be upon him.
Religious Mutual Respect according to Islam:
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Say: (O
Muhammad PBUH to these Mushrikûn and Kâfirûn ): "O Al-Kafirûn
(disbelievers in Allah, in His Oneness, in His Angels, in His Holy Books
(Taurat, Injil, Zabur and Al Qur’an), in His Messengers, in the Day of
Resurrection, and in Al-Qadar )! I worship not that which you worship,
Nor will you worship that which I worship.And I shall not worship that
which you are worshipping. Nor will you worship that which I worship.TO
YOU BE YOUR RELIGION, and TO ME MY RELIGION (Islamic Monotheism)." - Al Qur’an, Surah Al Kafirun.
That is why there is no and never a single
Muslim on this planet produces a blasphemy caricatures, cartoons,
movies or films against the other religions prophets or holy men!
Bibliotheque:
1. An article Posted in Learning Islam, prophet on June 7, 2010 by Muslimah
2. Welcome to Islam... by Sabeel Ahmed 29 April 1998.
[Currently, he is the co-chairman of the Da'wa Committee and Board of
Director at the Muslim Community Center, Illinois. A student of Ahmed
Deedat and now works for the 1-800-662-islam hotline of ICNA. His main
interest is in comparative religion.]
3. Analysis on Salman Rushdie's novel, The Satanic Verses http://victorian.fortunecity.com/coldwater/439/rushdie.htm#anti
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