إدريس عبدالله
_2 _April _2015هـ الموافق 2-04-2015م, 02:50 PM
Below are excerpts from the sayings of some Western philosophers and orientalists about Prophet Muhammad (may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) elucidating their acknowledgement of the greatness of this Noble Prophet, his Prophethood, praiseworthy attributes, and the reality of his mission, far away from the fanaticism and falsehood promoted by some of the enemies of Islam[1] (http://english.islammessage.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?articleId=4533#_ftn1):
In his book "Muhammad", which was burnt to ashes by the British Authority, Bernard Shaw said in ‘The Genuine Islam’: “If any religion had the chance of ruling over England, nay Europe, within the next hundred years, it could be Islam.”
“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.”
He also said, "The medieval ecclesiastics, either through ignorance or bigotry, painted Mohammedanism in the darkest colors. To them Muhammad was Anti-Christ. 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".
The English Philosopher and Nobel Laureate, Thomas Carlyle in 'Heroes and Hero Worship and the Heroic in History, says, "The lies (Western slander) which well-meaning zeal has heaped round this man (Muhammad) are disgraceful to ourselves only".
“It is a great shame for anyone to listen to the accusation that Islam is a lie and that Muhammad was a fabricator and a deceiver. We saw that he remained steadfast upon his principles, with firm determination; kind and generous, compassionate, pious, virtuous, with real manhood, hardworking and sincere. Besides all these qualities, he was lenient with others, tolerant, kind, cheerful and praiseworthy and perhaps he would joke and tease his Companions. He was just, truthful, smart, pure, magnanimous and present-minded; his face was radiant as if he had lights within him to illuminate the darkest of nights; he was a great man by nature who was not educated in a school nor nurtured by a teacher as he was not in need of any of this.”
The Hindu Philosopher, Ramakrishna Rao, says in her book “Muhammad, Prophet of Islam”: “When he appeared Arabia was a desert – a nothing. Out of nothing a new world was fashioned by the mighty spirit of Mohammad – a new life, a new culture, a new civilization, a new kingdom which extended from Morocco to Indies and influenced the thought and life of three continents – Asia, Africa and Europe.”
The Canadian Orientalist, Zwemer says, "Indeed, Muhammad was no doubt one of the greatest religious leaders. He deserves the word that he was an able reformer, eloquent and well spoken, courageous and daring, a great thinker. We may not attribute to him anything that contradicts these qualities, and this is the Qur'an that he brought and his life history, all bear witness to the validity of this claim".
Sir William Muir says, "Indeed, Muhammad the Prophet of Muslims was titled "The Honest One" since childhood, unanimously by the people of his country, due to his noble morals and sound conduct. Whatever the case may be, Muhammad is higher than what a describer may describe. He that does not know of him would not know him. An expert of him is he that had a careful consideration of his glorious history, a history that left Muhammad in the forefront of messengers and the thinkers of the world".
He further says, "Muhammad exceled by his clear speech and stress-free religion. He has accomplished works that astound the minds. History does not know of any reformer that awakened souls, revived morality and promoted virtue in a short time, as did Muhammad the Prophet of Islam".
The Famous Russian Novelist and Philosopher Leo Tolstoy says, "It suffices him (Prophet Muhammad) that he led a whole nation to the enlightenment of truth, and made it more inclined towards tranquility and peace, preferred modesty, and prevented it from shedding blood, and widely opened to it the gate to development and civilization. The legislation of Muhammad would lead the world as it agrees with reason and wisdom".
Mahatma Gandhi, speaking on the character of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, says in 'Young India':
"I wanted to know the best of one who holds today 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 his pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the 2nd volume (of the Prophet's biography), I was sorry there was not more for me to read of the great life."
The Austrian Schabrak says, "Mankind should be proud of having a man like Muhammad among them, for despite being illiterate he was able, more than ten centuries ago, to introduce legislation that we Europeans would be the happiest ever if we could produce something of equally high quality".
In his book "Muhammad", which was burnt to ashes by the British Authority, Bernard Shaw said in ‘The Genuine Islam’: “If any religion had the chance of ruling over England, nay Europe, within the next hundred years, it could be Islam.”
“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.”
He also said, "The medieval ecclesiastics, either through ignorance or bigotry, painted Mohammedanism in the darkest colors. To them Muhammad was Anti-Christ. 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".
The English Philosopher and Nobel Laureate, Thomas Carlyle in 'Heroes and Hero Worship and the Heroic in History, says, "The lies (Western slander) which well-meaning zeal has heaped round this man (Muhammad) are disgraceful to ourselves only".
“It is a great shame for anyone to listen to the accusation that Islam is a lie and that Muhammad was a fabricator and a deceiver. We saw that he remained steadfast upon his principles, with firm determination; kind and generous, compassionate, pious, virtuous, with real manhood, hardworking and sincere. Besides all these qualities, he was lenient with others, tolerant, kind, cheerful and praiseworthy and perhaps he would joke and tease his Companions. He was just, truthful, smart, pure, magnanimous and present-minded; his face was radiant as if he had lights within him to illuminate the darkest of nights; he was a great man by nature who was not educated in a school nor nurtured by a teacher as he was not in need of any of this.”
The Hindu Philosopher, Ramakrishna Rao, says in her book “Muhammad, Prophet of Islam”: “When he appeared Arabia was a desert – a nothing. Out of nothing a new world was fashioned by the mighty spirit of Mohammad – a new life, a new culture, a new civilization, a new kingdom which extended from Morocco to Indies and influenced the thought and life of three continents – Asia, Africa and Europe.”
The Canadian Orientalist, Zwemer says, "Indeed, Muhammad was no doubt one of the greatest religious leaders. He deserves the word that he was an able reformer, eloquent and well spoken, courageous and daring, a great thinker. We may not attribute to him anything that contradicts these qualities, and this is the Qur'an that he brought and his life history, all bear witness to the validity of this claim".
Sir William Muir says, "Indeed, Muhammad the Prophet of Muslims was titled "The Honest One" since childhood, unanimously by the people of his country, due to his noble morals and sound conduct. Whatever the case may be, Muhammad is higher than what a describer may describe. He that does not know of him would not know him. An expert of him is he that had a careful consideration of his glorious history, a history that left Muhammad in the forefront of messengers and the thinkers of the world".
He further says, "Muhammad exceled by his clear speech and stress-free religion. He has accomplished works that astound the minds. History does not know of any reformer that awakened souls, revived morality and promoted virtue in a short time, as did Muhammad the Prophet of Islam".
The Famous Russian Novelist and Philosopher Leo Tolstoy says, "It suffices him (Prophet Muhammad) that he led a whole nation to the enlightenment of truth, and made it more inclined towards tranquility and peace, preferred modesty, and prevented it from shedding blood, and widely opened to it the gate to development and civilization. The legislation of Muhammad would lead the world as it agrees with reason and wisdom".
Mahatma Gandhi, speaking on the character of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, says in 'Young India':
"I wanted to know the best of one who holds today 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 his pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the 2nd volume (of the Prophet's biography), I was sorry there was not more for me to read of the great life."
The Austrian Schabrak says, "Mankind should be proud of having a man like Muhammad among them, for despite being illiterate he was able, more than ten centuries ago, to introduce legislation that we Europeans would be the happiest ever if we could produce something of equally high quality".