Throughout history, countless religious figures have emerged and faded, but one leader stands alone: Muhammad, the Prophet and Messenger of God. Born in Arabia in 570 CE, this man—known historically as al-nabī al-ummī, or the unlettered prophet—transmitted a divine revelation that fundamentally altered the course of history and the destiny of a major portion of humanity.
In just 23 short years, from the start of his mission at age forty until his death at sixty-three, Muhammad transformed the entire Arabian Peninsula. This revolution included:
- A shift from paganism and idol worship to absolute and strict monotheism.
- The replacement of tribal conflicts and lawlessness with national unity, social discipline, and cohesion.
- A move from moral bankruptcy to the highest standards of ethical excellence.
Historians universally acknowledge that human civilization has never witnessed such a complete transformation of a people, achieved so rapidly and entirely through the efforts of one man.
I. The Prophet's Character and Integrity
The foundation of this transformation was the Prophet Muhammad’s renowned character and trustworthiness. Historical analysis confirms this integrity, even from non-Muslim sources.
The Encyclopedia Britannica confirms:
"...a mass of detail in the early sources shows that he was an honest and upright man who had gained the respect and loyalty of others who were likewise honest and upright men."
This innate goodness was reflected in his dealings with everyone. Diwan Chand Sharma, an Indian writer, noted the profound personal impact he had:
"Muhammad was the soul of kindness and his influence was felt and never forgotten by those around him."
II. The Unique Dual Success: Secular and Religious Leadership
Prophet's influence is unparalleled because he succeeded completely in founding both a major world religion and a formidable political state, merging spiritual doctrine with temporal law. This dual achievement forms the basis of his recognition by modern Western analysts:
A. The Quantitative Assessment (Michael H. Hart)
Michael H. Hart, an American astrophysicist and historian, ranked Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as the most influential person in history in his book, The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History. He explained his choice explicitly:
"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 levels."
Hart noted that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was solely responsible for the theology, moral precepts, religious practices, and the holy scripture (the Qur'an), whereas the foundation of other major faiths often required multiple key figures to fully develop.
B. The Political Genius (George Bernard Shaw)
George Bernard Shaw, the Nobel Prize-winning Irish playwright and socialist spokesman, praised Islam’s structural design and its potential to solve modern problems:
"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 much-needed peace and happiness."
Shaw admired the capacity of the faith for adaptation and its "wonderful vitality," believing that a leader who followed Muhammad's model of effective, rational governance could overcome the global crises of the 20th century.
C. The Composite Hero (Alphonse de Lamartine)
Alphonse de Lamartine, the renowned French poet and statesman, defined Muhammad's historical stature by applying three criteria for human genius: greatness of purpose, smallness of means, and astonishing results.
Lamartine concluded that no one could compare to Muhammad, whose impact went beyond material power:
"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?"
III. The Essence of His Mission and Lasting Legacy
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) never claimed divinity, always describing himself as nothing more than "a servant and messenger of God". His mission was simply to unite all human beings in the worship of the one God and to teach a way of life based on moral excellence.
Thomas Carlyle, the Scottish historian, was simply amazed when asking:
"how one man single-handedly could weld warring tribes and wandering bedouins into a most powerful and civilized nation in less than two decades."
Mahatma Gandhi confirmed that the success of this mission was not achieved through force:
"I became more than convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days... It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidness, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission."
This faith was founded on a simple, invariable principle, as noted by Edward Gibbon and Simon Ockley:
"'I BELIEVE IN ONE GOD, AND MAHOMET, AN APOSTLE OF GOD' is the simple and invariable profession of Islam."
This principle fostered a profound sense of brotherhood and equality. Sarojini Naidu, the Indian poetess, praised Islam as the first religion to practice 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.'"
Furthermore, Professor Hurgronje recognized the profound political structure established by the Prophet:
"The League of Nations founded by the prophet of Islam put the principle of international unity and human brotherhood on such universal foundations as to show candle to other nations... the fact is that no nation of the world can show a parallel to what Islam has done towards the realization of the idea of the League of Nations."
Even after fourteen centuries, the life and teachings of Muhammad have been accurately and faithfully preserved. They offer the same enduring solution for humanity’s many problems today as they did when he walked the earth.
Comments
Post a Comment