Article by Dr. ASIF in Echo of IndiaNews Paper. Port Blair 17 Jan 2015 Check ouechoofindia/port-blair-do-you-know-man-prophet-mohammad-peace-be-upon-him-76417t this link.... DO YOU KNOW THIS MAN? No matter who you are, and no matter what your beliefs, personal and social habits happen to be. You must still know this man. 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.” (Vol. 12). George Bernard Shaw said about him: “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”. (The Genuine Islam, Singapore, Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936). His name is Muhammad (Peace be upon him). Born in Arabia in the year 570 CE,in the month of Rabi’al –Awaal. He started his mission of preaching the religion of Truth, Islam (submission to One God) at the age of forty and departed from this world when he was sixty-three. During this short period of 23 years of his prophet hood, he changed the entire Arabian peninsula; from tribal quarrels and wars to national solidarity and cohesion; from drunkenness and wickedness to sobriety and piety; from lawlessness and anarchy to disciplined living. Human history has never known such a complete transformation of people or a place before or since – and imagines all these unbelievable wonders took place in just over two decades. La Martine, the renowned historian, speaking on The Essentials or Human Greatness, said: “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? (La Martine, Historic de la Turquie, Paris, 1854, Vol. II, pp. 276-277) Muhammad (Peace be upon him), was a religious teacher, a social reformer, a moral guide, an administrative colossus, a faithful friend, a wonderful companion, a devoted husband, a loving father – all in one. Mahatma Gandhi, speaking on the character of Muhammad (Peace 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….. 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”. Speaking on the aspect of equality before God in Islam, the famous poetess of India, Sarojini Naidu says: “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. I have been struck over again by this indivisible unity of Islam that makes man instinctively a brother.” (S. Naidu, Ideals of Islam, vide Speeches & Writings, Madras, 1918, P. 169). Michael H. Hart in his recently published book on ratings of men who contributed towards the benefit and upliftment of man writes: “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”. (M.H. Hart, ‘The 100: A ranking of the most influential persons in History’, New York, 1978 pp.33). Today after a lapse of fourteen centuries, the life and teachings of Muhammad (Peace be upon him), have survived without the slightest loss, alteration or interpolation. They offer the same undying hope for treating humankind’s many ills. This is not a claim of the followers of Muhammad (Peace be upon him), but also the inescapable conclusion forced upon by a critical and unbiased history. We invite you to make a discovery of this wonderful man, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 06:05:45 +0000