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Syed Zaid Zaman Hamid

Howcan you describe a man who remains indescribable? Howcan you capture the magnanimity of a soul
whichstill remains somystifying? Hedazzledtheworldwhenhecame, transformedit whenhewas around
and continues to amaze even today with his spectacular balance of contradictions within his soul. So
influential yet somerciful. Somagnificent yet sohumble. Solackinginworldly resources, yet sogenerous in
distributing. Possessed so meager means yet shaped the world for all times to come. Had so little time yet
changed the destiny of the entire humanity till eternity. Such excellence in mystical spirituality, yet such
brillianceinmundanemanagement.
Companions adored him, enemies respected him, kings feared him and slaves followed him. He was
unlettered but world called him the Muallim, the teacher. He tended sheep yet he created empires of
unprecedentedly humane civilization which mesmerize the worldeventoday. His innocence was startling,
yet his wisdomwas penetrating. His gazewas always lowered, yet his visionpenetratedthesoul of themen
andthe time. Couldbewoundedunder the barrageof stones andarrows andyet onother occasions would
performastoundingmiracles defyinghumanintellect or physics.
He never wrote a book, yet world acknowledge himas the greatest lawgiver of all times, bringing with him
the Quran, the epic divine literary and spiritual master piece. He was not a king, yet he still rules the hearts
and minds of over a billion humans. He was a General in battles, yet with a healer's touch of mercy and
benevolence, and would appear as a monk at night, shunning all worldly pleasures and comforts. Yet he
would be a husband par excellence and a most loving father of daughters at a time when new born girls
wouldbeburiedalive.
He was borninthe cruelest of times andinthe darkest of age, yet he was the mercy to the creation for all
times tocome. Hebrought humanrights at atimewhentheconcept never existed. Hespokeof slaverights,
when the very idea was a blasphemy. He taught women rights when there existed none. He preached
animal rights whenmercytothesecreatures was unheardof.
Sopredictable, yet soenigmatic. Sohuman, yet sodivine.
For Muslims, there is no god but Allah and indeed Muhemmed is His messenger! The last in the
golden chain of prophets fromAdamto Noah to Ibrahimto Moses and to Jesus. Continuation of the divine
chainof Ibrahimic religions JudaismandChristianityculminatingintoIslam.
Evenas achild, hehadamysterious radianceabout him. Inthemedieval worldhelivedin, was recognizable
by the learned and wise men of the Ibrahimic religions. Once at a tender age of around 10 years, he
accompanied his uncle on a trading journey to Syria, under Byzantine rule at that time. There a Christian
monk not just recognized him as the future prophet but also warned his uncle to hide him and take him
away as the Jews were also looking for the awaited prophet and would be hostile enough to physically
harmhimif they seehim.
When at the age of 40 years, he receivedthe first divine revelation throughangel Gabriel; he was intensely
shaken up emotionally and sought advice from another Christian monk, Warqa Bin Nofel, uncle of his
belovedwifeKhadija. Warqarecognizedhiminstantly as well, promisingtosupport himinthecomingtrials
destinedfor aprophet sent byGodtoignorant people.
Once, when the message hadstarted to spreadwithinthe Arabs, Prophet was sitting with his companions.
A Jewcame and started to hurl abuses at the Prophet. Prophet responded with a pleasant smile and kept
blessing the insolent man. Suddenly, that man changed his tone and openly testified that prophet
Muhemmed is indeed the true messenger of Allahand addedthat he has nowfully recognized himas

AndMuhemmed is His messenger!


this was also an indication of
the true prophet in Jewish
scriptures that if abuses are
hurled against him, he
would respond with mercy,
benevolenceandsmiles.
The pagans of his native
town of Makkah al so
immensely respectedhimas
a truthful and honest man,
even
beforeheproclaimedtobea
prophet. But when he
declared a war against their
idols, they became his
staunch enemies. Jews of
the nearby city of Medina,
on the other hand, fully
understood his mission and
the message and were in no doubt about his prophetic credentials. Still, they decided to oppose him
because he had been born in the bloodline of Prophet Ismail within the pagan Arabs and not within the
Jews.
The pagans of Makkah agreed with the man but had problems with his mission. Jews of Medina agreed
withhis missionbut hadproblems withtheman.
King of Ethiopia at that time was a good Christian King, Nijashi. A group of early convert Muslims had
migrated to Ethiopia to protect themselves fromthe ruthless prosecution at the hands of the pagan Arabs
in Makkah. While the Prophet himself had stayed back in Makkah, his companions had the opportunity to
present themessageof IslamtotheEthiopianKing.
The King compared the teachings of the Prophet Muhemmed with those of the Prophet Jesus and
testified that both religions Christianity and Islam had emerged fromthe same tree. Later, he accepted
Islamas well anduponhis deathinEthiopia, his funeral prayers wereledinabsentiaby theProphet himself.
Once, the Prophet sent a letter to Ceaser Heracles, the ruler of Byzantium in Syria. Ceaser then invited a
group of Arabs, led by Abu Sufyan, a staunch opponent of the Prophet at that time. The objective of the
meeting was to discuss this newprophet who had risen in Arabia and to put to test his claims of prophet-
hood and to judge his character. History documents a very interesting conversation between the Ceaser
and Abu Safyan. After this dialogue Caesar was fully convinced of the truthfulness of the prophet and
remarkedthat the Prophet shouldone day be a master of the place, he (Caesar) was occupying. Thereafter
Caesar orderedthat theletter of Prophet beread.
Heracles was absolutely right. Withinthirty years, Syriawas under Muslimrule!
Prophet Muhemmed also sent a letter to the Christian ruler of Egypt, whom Arabs called Al-
Muqawqis, who was the viceroy for the Byzantine Empire. Al-Maqawqis gave great protocol to the
emissary of the Prophet and ordered that the letter shouldbe placed in an ivory casket, to be kept safely in
thegovernment treasury, andhesent thefollowingreply:
Sadiq and Ameen,

I read your letter and understood what you have written.


I have treated your messenger with respect and honor. I
am sending two maids for you as presents. These maids belong to a very respectable family amongst
us. In addition I send for you clothes and a (steed) for riding. May God bestow security on you
I know that the coming of a is still
due. But I thought, he would be born in
Prophet
Syria
The magnani mi ty of the Prophet
Muhemmed was not just recognized
by the finest visionaries, scholars and the
wise rulers of that time, he has also been
highly respected, admired and even
revered by the many non-Muslims who
had the enlightenment within their souls
to recognize his divine attributes and
prophetic mission. Throughout the ages,
to those with vision and insight, he
continues to mesmerize as the epitome of
what humanexcellenceactually is.
Each one of themhas understood Prophet
Muhemmed according to their own
vi si on, understandi ng, depth and
knowledge. Each one has tried but has
remained partially successful only, for the
person and the personality of the Prophet
is toomagnanimous tocomprehendfor all
of themcombined.

Duldul
Thomas Carlyleis one of the finest Britainhas ever produced. A
Nobel laureate for his book The Heroes, he is indeed a good
Christian, just like the King of Ethiopia, honorably recognizing
thegreatness of Prophet Muhemmed .
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.
How one man single-handedly, could weld warring tribes and
wandering 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 (Muhammad) are disgraceful to us
only.
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.
George Bernard Shaw is another of the great writer,
philosopher, thinker that the Western civilization has
produced. His praise and admiration of the Prophet
Muhemmed is stunning, to say the least, in the era of
western liberal democratic values and cultures.

I have always held the religion of Mohammad 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 Saviour of humanity.
As a historian and a political philosopher of
contemporary age, John. B. Noss's admiration of the
achievements of the Prophet Muhemmed
touches thelevels of amazedbewilderment.

How Muhammed Succeeded in so short a


time, both in subduing the long-standing feuds
among the Arabs of Medina and in establishing
a brotherly unity between his Meccan fellow
immigrants and the native Medinese Arabs, has
been a marvel to historians
JohnB Noss, Man's Religions (1969). (Page 516)
Gandhi was perhaps the best Hindu produced by his pagan nation.
Despite the fact that Islam and Paganism are antithesis of each other,
Gandhi's honest admiration and understanding of Prophet
Muhemmed andhis merciful divinemissionis interestingindeed .
It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of Prophet
Muhammed the scrupulous regards for 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.
Young India (23 sept, 1924) Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, My Jail
Experiences, Vol29, Pae 133
Leo Tolstoy, [1828-1920], Russian Writer, Novelist, Essayist,
Philosopher and Educational Reformer said:
There is no doubt that Prophet Mohammad is one of the
greatest reformers who served the social framework
profoundly. It suffices him that he led a whole nation to the
enlightenment of truth and made it more inclined towards
tranquility and peace, prefers modesty and prevented it
from shedding blood and giving human sacrifices and
widely opened to it the gate to development and
civilization. This is a great deed that only a strong man can
do and a man like that deserves to be regarded with respect
and admiration.
For political leaders and revolutionary icons, the stunning
role model set by Prophet Muhemmed defies logic and
understandings when seen through contemporary vision.
Modern political philosophy fails to answer the reasons for
the fundamental strength in the movement built by Prophet
Muhemmed . Their bewilderment is amusing. It was the
merciful character of the Prophet which attracted the people
around him like a magnet, galvanizing them into a hurricane
built on moral and spiritual foundations which tore through
the cruel decayed and obsolete systems and the powers of
thetime, either pagan, Romanor thePersians.

The words 'revolution' and 'revolutionary' have a


modern ring to them. Yet they do not seem out of place
when applied to Muhammad's achievement in seventh
century Arabia. Muhammad's career was the classic one
of a revolutionary leader.
Edward Mortimer, Faith and Power- The politics of Islam (Page
39&40)
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.
W. Montgomery, Mohammadat 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.
Alphonse de Lamartine, the renowned French historian, speaking on the essentials of human greatness
wonders in 'Histoire De La Turquie', (Paris, 1854, Vol. II, p 276-277)
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, 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. This dogma was two-fold, the unity 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 the 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 the standards by which
Human Greatness may be measured, we
may well ask,
IS THERE ANY MAN GREATER THAN HE?
Followers adhered to
the new prophet with
a loyalty and devotion
seldom paralleled in
the world's history.
Huston Smith, The
Religions of Man (1958).
(Page 223)
Diwan Chand Sharma, another Hindu and a
contemporary of Gandhi was equally honest in
accepting the benevolence and mercy in
personality and the mission of the Prophet
Muhemmed .
Muhammad (pbuh) was the soul of kindness
and his influence is felt and never forgotten by
those around him.
Diwan Chand Sharma, The Prophets of the East,
Calcutta, 1935, Page 12
Michael Hart, author of the book The 100: A Ranking of the
Most Influential Persons in History' explains his reasons for
placing Prophet Muhemmed on the top of this list of great
peopleof all times.

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. Muhammad founded and
promulgated one of the world's great religions, and
became an immensely effective political leader. Today,
Islam exerts an enormous influence upon the lives of
its followers. It is for this reason that the founders of the
world's great religions all figure prominently in this book.
Since there are roughly twice as many Christians as
Moslems in the world, it may initially seem strange that
Muhammad has been ranked higher than Jesus. There are two
principal reasons for that decision.
First, Muhammad played a far more important role in the
development of Islam than Jesus did in the development of Christianity.
Although Jesus was responsible for the main ethical and moral precepts of
Christianity (insofar as these differed from Judaism), St. Paul was the main developer of
Christian theology, its principal proselytizer, and the author of a large portion of the New
Testament.
Muhammad, however, was responsible for both the theology of Islam and its main ethical and
moral principles. In addition, he played the key role in proselytizing the new faith, and in
establishing the religious practices of Islam.
Moreover, he is the author of the Moslem Holy Scriptures, the Koran, a collection of certain of
Muhammad's insights that he believed had been directly revealed to him by Allah. Most of these
utterances were copied more or less faithfully during Muhammad's lifetime and were collected
together in authoritative form not long after his death. The Quran therefore, closely represents
Muhammad's ideas and teachings and to a considerable extent his exact words.
No such detailed compilation of the teachings of Christ has survived. Since the Koran is at least
as important to Moslems as the Bible is to Christians, the influence of Muhammed through the
medium of the Koran has been enormous. It is probable that the relative influence of
Muhammad on Islam has been larger than the combined influence of Jesus Christ and St. Paul
on Christianity.
On the purely religious level, then, it seems likely that Muhammad has been as influential in
human history as Jesus. Furthermore, Muhammad (unlike Jesus) was a secular as well as a
religious leader. In fact, as the driving force behind the Arab conquests, he may well rank as the
most influential political leader of all time the Arab conquests of the seventh century have
continued to play an important role in human history, down to the present day. It is this
unparalleled combination of secular and religious influence which I feel entitles Muhammad to
be considered the most influential single figure in human history.
And indeed we have sent you (Muhemmed ) as
the mercy to the entire creation

It would only be prudent if we try to understand the profound depth of his mercy through his own
examples, as referred to by the Muslims. After Quran, the remains the primary source of
Islamic faith and law. Prophet's words, , and his biography, has been most carefully
documented and preserved for centuries. Unlike Prophet Jesus or Prophet Moses, the life of Prophet
Muhemmed is well preserved for all times to come giving a clear windowto this wonderfully amazing and
mystifying life. It is a consistent example of the strength of character, patience, wisdom, tolerance,
benevolence and mercy for all creation friends, followers, family, slaves, enemies, animals and even
plants andtrees -- the goldstandards of morality andmercy for the coming centuries, for all humanity, for
all times to come. In the medieval dark ages, he came with such divine benevolence and mercy that he
appearedsurreal.
He came into the pagan Arabia, in the city of Makkah, where idol worshiping powerful elite immediately
took his benevolent message of one God and equality of man, mercy, tolerance and justice as a mortal
threat to their system and faith. More than the unseen God of Muhemmed , it was his revolutionary
and benevolent message, which made slaves as equal humans to their masters, which threatened the
rulingelite.
The persecution began almost immediately. For 13 years, the Prophet and his small band of poor and
destitute followers had to brave the worst crime against humanity. Not allowed to retaliate and almost
defenseless, the poor followers were burnt on hot sands, imprisoned, chained, beaten, exiled and even
killed. They wererebels of thesystemandgods andinthose times therewas noconcept of humanrights or
slave rights or womenrights. The persecutionwas brutal andtotal. The Prophet wouldsee withteary eyes,
his beloved follower Bilal, a black slave, beaten mercilessly on hot sands, being forced to abandon his new
faith. Old Yasir and his aged wife Sumayya's story is yet another tale of soul shaking cruelty which they had
tobear for beingfollowers of theProphet. Sumayyatoowas brutally killed.
Prophet himself went through the worst of atrocities against him. Once on a visit to Taif, he was so badly
beaten with stones that his sandals were soaked with his blood oozing fromhis head and face. Even then,
herefusedtocursethe perpetrators, prayingfor their guidance instead. History records these words of the
Prophet at this most difficult timeof his lifetill date.
Sunnah, Sunnah
Hadees Seerat,

O Allah! I complain to You of my weakness, my scarcity of resources and the humiliation I have
been subjected to by the people. O Most Merciful of those who are merciful. O Lord of the weak
and my Lord too. To whom have you entrusted me? To a distant person who receives me with
hostility? Or to an enemy to whom you have granted authority over my affair? So long as You are
not angry with me, I do not care. Your favor is of a more expansive relief to me. I seek refuge in
the light of Your Face by which all darkness is dispelled and every affair of this world and the next
is set right, lest Your anger or Your displeasure descends upon me. I desire Your pleasure and
satisfaction until You are pleased. There is no power and no might except by You.
I pray that Allah (S.W.T) blesses their children to be Muslims and worship Allah (S.W.T) alone.
Even if they have rejected Islam, I pray that Allah (S.W.T) blesses their progeny to be Muslim.'
Have mercy on those who are on the planet earth and you shall have the mercy of He who is in
heaven.
The Prophet still bleeding and his shoes still wet with blood then went on to pray for the guidance of these
people.
It was during these times of persecutionthat he had allowed a bandof his followers tomigrate toEthiopia,
where they had met the good King Nijashi. Every day, the Prophet would be insulted, humiliated, harmed
and even attacked. His patience was stunning, his kindness shocking even to his worst enemies. It was his
acts of kindness and mercy that would win himmany followers fromhis staunchest of enemies. A woman
would always throwgarbage on himto hurt himas much as she could. One day, Prophet found the woman
absent fromher routine. Upon inquiry, it was told to himthat she was sick. Prophet visited her, tended her
andprayedfor her speedy recovery. Shewas movedbeyondwords, instantly convertingtothenewfaith.
Throughout this period of most brutal persecution, called the Mekkan period, the focus of his mission was
on building a spiritual, benevolent and merciful group of followers who were to lead the world tomorrow
and capture the Roman and the Persian empires to create such a magnificent and benevolent civilization
whichwas never seenby theworldbefore. His visionwas clear, his missiondefined, his teachings incredibly
spiritual, simple and humane. Worship only one God, prepare for the Day of Judgment, Feed the hungry,
give charity, free the slave, protect the orphan, respect the women, do not bury your daughters, be
merciful tothe creation, donot bearrogant, beforgiving. The teachings documentedinthe Quranat that
timearestill calledtheMekkanrevelations.
After facing 13 years of brutal persecution and suffering atrocities at the hands of Makkans, The Prophet
decided to migrate to the city of Medina, where he founded the first Islamic state and formed a
government, created civil and social administration and formulated laws of economics, warfare and
international relations. He was so sure of his destiny and purity of the cause that while he was secretly
migrating fromMekkah to Medina, apparently, to save his life and flock fromtotal decimation, he foretold
his followers that within their lifetime, they will be capturing the Roman and the Persian empires! Within
35 years of this migration, Muslim armies had marched out of the Arabian Peninsula and had taken over
Iraq, Persia, SyriaandEgypt andhadmarchedintoNorthAfrica, Central Asia andChina andhadcreatedthe
greatest benevolent humansociety ever knowntoman.
Hewas adivinely blessedProphet besides beingaconqueringworldly ruler andhis personality reflectedan
amazing and precise balance between the two seemingly diametrically opposite duties. He was a mentor
and a teacher to his flock, while planning and executing military campaigns and expeditions, both with
sublime spiritual purity and overflowing benevolence. The spiritual and merciful dimension never left the
mundane management of secular world-craft, a concept not known to the world before him. A spiritual
benevolent dictatorship!
Rules of warfare were defined in a time when Roman and Persian empires were famous for mass
butchery and rape of non-combatants, women, children and the infirm.
Women and Children are not to be harmed. Honor of women to be protected. Those who surrender to be
protected. Those inplaces of worshiptobe protected. Notrees tobe cut. Nofarms tobe burnt. Noanimals
tobekilled. Nofreedmantobeturnedintoaslave. Noamputationor disfiguringof slaves or prisoners.
And then lead by his own example of such mercy that drove even his staunchest of enemies into a state of
disbelief. After 21 years of facing persecution, warfare and hardships, Muslims armies finally marched
victoriously into Makkah. Everyone, including some of his followers, expected scores to be settled.
Makkans expectedworst for their crimes as nowthe persecutedones marched as victorious Generals. The
Prophet askedtheMakkans whowereawaitingtheir fate,
Rules of warfarewerechangedforever!
For all times to come, this benevolence of the Prophet became the Muslimlawof warfare and conquests.
When conquering Muslim armies captured Christian Jerusalem from the Roman Empire, nearly 10 years
after Prophet's demise, thesamelaws wereappliedtothelocal population. Unlikethetraditions of thewar
of the time, not a single soul was killed, not a woman dishonored, not a coin robbed, not a church
destroyed. Entire population was brought under the protection with full freedom to practice their faith,
trade and customs. The Caliph Umer
refused to pray in the Christian
Church under the fear that Muslims
might be tempted to convert this
place into a Masjid later. He stepped
out andprayedinanopenunclaimed
piece of land, where later on,
Muslims did construct a Masjid as
memorial.
Almost 3 hundred years later, when
the marching Christian armies re-
took the city during Crusades, every
single Muslim in the city was
butchered, woman raped, children
thrown from watch towers and such
slaughter was carried out that it is
reported that Muslimblood reached
the knees of the Knights' horses in
thesameMasjidof Umer!
Howdo you expect me to treat you? They responded unanimously: "You are a noble one, the son
of a noble one."
Thencamethejudgment:
You are free to go. There is not going to be any revenge or punishment.
May God forgive you.
Ninety years later, Syrian Sultan Salahuddin once again re-took the city and once again displayed the
same benevolent and merciful character which the Prophet had showed in Makkah and Caliph Umer
had shown in the first capturing of Jerusalem not a single soul, not even the armed knights, were
harmed and all were forgiven, treated with mercy, allowed to leave with all their belongings under
protection of Muslim patrols.
WhenMuslimarmies captureda city in Syria inthe earliest campaigns of the companions of the Prophet, a
tax was imposed upon the local Christian population for their protection and security. But later, Muslim
armies had to abandon the city due to campaigns elsewhere and the agreement to protect the local
population stood breached. On the orders of the Muslim theatre Commander, Khalid Bin Waleed, the
entire tax collectedwas refundedtothe local Christianpopulationbefore the Muslimarmies marchedout.
Thelocal RomanChristianpopulationwas sostunnedby this justiceandmagnanimity that they beggedthe
Muslimarmy toreturnat their earliest!
In those times, it was the warfare between the empires which brought out the worst face of humanity.
Butchery, slaughter, rape, arson, looting and destroying the cities, orchids and the farmlands and
decimating the animals was a standard norm practiced by all societies Christian Romans, Zoroastrian
Persians or Pagan Arabs. Prisoners had no rights, slaves were not considered humans. Women were
auction-able commodity and concepts of human or animal rights were considered lunacy. It was in those
times of total darkness, the Prophet and his companions created an empire nurtured on such stunning
benevolence and mercy that it defies human logic. In 23 years of his struggle from facing brutal
persecution to finally capturing Makkah and creating a State in Arabian Peninsula, Prophet only had to kill
less than a thousand opponents in battles! A mind boggling figure considering the staggering size of the
accomplishment. Enemy prisoners caught in battle were released if they would teach ten Muslimchildren
to read and write! Captured enemy combatants were treated better than own household members and
fedbetter thanthefoodMuslimfamilies wouldeat.
It was not the swordwhichbrought himsuchstunning success or suchdiehardfollowers. It was him! It was
Taking of Jerusalem by the Crusaders, 15th July 1099. Painting by Emile Signol
impossiblenot tofall inlove withhim! Hewas thelegend, theiconandpersonificationof mercy never seen
before.
Themission, whosebeginnings weresohumble, hadturnedintoapowerful galeforcewindwithin22years
with over 125 thousand followers marching with himon his last Hajj, fewmonths before his passing away.
And within the next 30 years, Muslimempire had spread to 3 continents fromChina to North Africa. It was
an astounding welfare empire where no human being went hungry. Where every baby born was paid a
stipend. Where even an old Jew was given a pension. Where a Christian slave could win a case against a
Muslim ruler and get him lashed. Where the Muslim Caliph could lose his case in court against a subject
Jew. Where Muslim armies would simply hand over the city intact back to the defeated army because a
Muslimjudge had ruled that Muslimarmy had violated the terms of war. Where a MuslimCommander in
Egypt would abandon his tent and place guards on it for protection just because a female pigeon had laid
eggs onit.
Every act done by his followers were reflecting him in them. It was the Prophet who had once cut off a
sleeveof his shirt becauseheneededhis shirt but acat was sleepingonit andhedidnot want todisturbthe
animal. Once coming back froman expedition, the Prophet noticed a disturbed bird because its eggs were
picked up by one of his companions. He ordered himto return themto the nest and only after the restless
bird calmed down that he too felt at ease himself. He had taught that
even a sinful Jewishwoman may be forgiven by God if she is kind towards
theanimals. Hewarnedof hell fireif ananimal is kept tiedandnot fedand
watered or burdened beyond his capacity. Once a man burnt a den of
ants. Prophet was saddenedandorderedthat nocreature shouldever be
burnt again. He would be saddened when he would see an underfed
camel, always warninghis followers tofear Godinsuchmatters.
His benevolence towards children especially little girls was intense. Once
the Prophet cried like a baby when a man told himthe story that howhe
had buried his own daughter alive for fear of poverty. In those times
when girls or women had no rights and were treated worse than animals
and even buried alive, he gave them the rights of inheritance, of
education, to chose in marriage, to separate froma husband and to own
wealthanddotrade. He wouldplay withhis grandsons, making themride
on his shoulders and advising all around him to love and respect the
children.
*********
It is called the last sermon of the Prophet in the Islamic scriptures. In the
22 year of the mission, just few months before he passed away, when he
had firmly established his authority over the Arabian peninsula and had
written letters, as a sovereign head of the state and a prophet of God, to all
the major powers of the world, inviting them towards Islam, the Prophet
gave this sermon at the time of Hajj. Over 125 thousand followers and die
hard companions listened in awe and reverence and noted this universal
declaration of human rights, spiritual enlightenment and benevolent
governance for all humanity for all times to come. 1400 hundred years
before any UN charter or centuries before any magna carta, this supreme
declaration of human rights and benevolence became the cornerstone of
Islamic civilizations over the following centuries. Human intellect and
genius still fails to produce such a masterpiece even today. It would be
prudent to copy the contents of this amazing charter which is the
fountainhead of all human rights charters ever known to man till this time.
nd
*********
"All praise is due to Allah, so we praise Him, and seek His pardon and we
turn to Him. We seek refuge with Allah from the evils of ourselves and
from the evil consequences of our deeds. WhomAllah guides aright there is none to lead him
astray; andthere is none to guide himaright whomAllah leads astray. I bear witness that there is
noGod but Allah, the One, having no partner with Him. His is the sovereignty and to Himis due
all praise. He grants life and causes death and is Powerful over everything. There is no God but
Allah, the One; He fulfilled His promise and granted victory to His bondsman, and He alone
routedthe confederates (of the enemies of Islam).
O' People! Listen to my words, for I do not know whether we shall ever
meet again and perform Hajj after this year. O' Ye people! Allah says, O'
people We created you from one male and one female and made you into
tribes and nations, so as to be known to one another. Verily in the sight
of Allah, the most honored amongst you is the one who is most
God-fearing. There is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab and for a non-Arab over
an Arab, nor for the white over the black nor for the black over the white except in God-
consciousness.
All mankind is the progeny of Adam and Adam was fashioned out of clay.
Behold; every claim of privilege whether that of blood or property, is
under my heels except that of the custody of the Ka'bah and supplying of
water to the pilgrims, O' people of Quraish, don't appear (on the Day of
Judgment) with the burden of this world around your necks, whereas other people may
appear (before the Lord) with the rewards of the hereafter. In that case I shall avail you
naught against Allah.
Behold! All practice of the days of ignorance are now under my feet. The
THE LAST SERMON
blood revenges of the days of ignorance are remitted. The first claim on
blood I abolish is that of Ibn Rabiah bin Harith who was nursed in the
tribe of Sa'ad and whom the Hudhayls killed.
All interest and usurious dues accruing from the times of ignorance stand wiped out.
And the first amount of interest that I remit is that which Abbas ibn Abd-al Muttalib had
to receive. Verily it is remitted entirely.
O' people! Verily your blood, your property and your honor are sacred and
inviolable until you appear before your Lord, as the sacred inviolability
of this day of yours, this month of yours and this very town (of yours).
Verily you will soon meet your Lord and you will be held answerable for
your actions.
O' people! Verily you have got certain rights over your women and your
women have certain rights over you. It is your right upon them to honor
their conjugal rights, and not to commit acts of impropriety, which if
they do, you are authorized by Allah to separate them from your beds amd chastise
them, but not severely, and if they refrain, then clothe and feed them properly.
Behold! It is not permissible for a woman to give anything from the wealth of her
husband to anyone but with his consent.
Treat the women kindly, since they are your helpers and not in a position
to manage their affairs themselves. Fear Allah concerning women, for
verily you have taken them on the security of Allah and have made their
persons lawful unto you by words of Allah.
O' people! Allah, the Mighty and Exalted, has ordained to everyone his
due share (of inheritance). Hence there is no need (of special) testament
for an heir (departing from the rules laid down by the Shari'ah).
The child belongs to the marriage-bed and the violator of wedlock shall be stoned. And
Reckoning of their (deeds) rests with Allah.
He who attributes his ancestry to other than his father or claims his
client ship to other than his master, the curse of Allah is upon him.
All debts must be repaid, all borrowed property must be returned, gifts
should be reciprocated and a surety must make good the loss to the assured.
Beware! No one committing a crime is responsible for it but himself.
Neither the child is responsible for the crime of his father, nor the
father is responsible for the crime of his child.
Nothing of his brother is lawful for a Muslim except what he himself gives willingly. So
do not wrong yourselves.
O' People! Every Muslim is the brother of every other Muslim, and all the
Muslims form one brotherhood. And your slaves; see that you feed them with such food
as you eat yourselves, and clothe them with the clothes that you yourselves wear.
Take heed not to go astray after me and strike one another's necks. He who (amongst
you) has any trust with him, he must return it to its owner.
O' people! Listen and obey, though a mangled Abyssinian slave is appointed
your Amir, provided he executes (the Ordinance of) the Book of Allah among you.
O' people! No Prophet would be raised after me and no new Ummah (would be formed)
after you.
Verily I have left amongst you that which will never lead you astray, the
Book of Allah, which if you hold fast you shall never go astray.
And beware of transgressing the limits set in the matters of religion, for
it is transgression of (the proper bounds of) religion that brought
destruction to many people before you.
Verily, the Satan is disappointed at ever being worshipped in this land of
yours, but he will be pleased by obedience in anything (short of worship
that is) in matters you may be disposed to think insignificant, so beware
of him in your matters of religion.
Behold! Worship your Lord; offer prayers five times a day; observe fast in the month of
Ramadhaan; pay readily the Zakat (poor due) on your property; and perform pilgrimage
to the House of God and obey your rulers and you will be admitted to the Paradise of
your Lord.
Let him that is present, convey it unto him who is absent, for many people
to whom the message is conveyed may be more mindful of it than the
audience.
And if you were asked about me, what would you say?"
Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) lifted his forefinger towards the
sky and then pointing towards people said:
"O' Lord: Bear Thou witness unto it.
O' Lord: Bear Thou witness unto it."
They answered, "We bear witness that you have conveyed the trust (of
religion) and discharged your ministry of Prophet-hood and looked to our
welfare."
*********
Islamwas anideawhosetimehadcome!
People fell in love with the idea and the man who brought it. The sword only allowed the people to make
free choices as liberatedmenandthey chose tofollowthe Messenger whommost of themhadnever seen
but hadwitnessedtheincrediblestrengthof character, benevolenceandmorality of his companions which
he had trained in his own image. As one great companion of the Prophet and the theatre commander for
the Iraqi and Syrian fronts Khalid Bin Waleed explained the mission we have come to liberate humans
fromtheslavery of manandtobringthemunder theprotectionof God!
Spiritual merciful benevolence woven into the brutal craft of warfare, seemingly diametrically opposite
concepts, built anexplosiveideology whichtooktheworldby thestorm.
Inthemedieval dark ages, it was this incredibledisplay of benevolenceinshapingtheglobal geo-politics by
theIslamic civilizationwhichswelledits ranks staggeringly insuchshort periodof timewithintheChristian,
Persian, African and the Roman lands. Almost the entire population of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Egypt and North
AfricabecameMuslims andthesecountries remainMuslimmajority lands eventoday.
The humble journey that began from the barren
mountains in Makkah and was led by a Sheppard and
followed by the black slaves and the weakest of the
men in the pagan society transformed the world
forever, creating the greatest spiritual civilizations
known to man, larger than the Roman empire,
expansive than Alexander's, all within a span of mere
50 years! Indeed the phenomenon has baffled the
social scientists andhistorians forever.
**************
The beginning of the 20 century sawthe zenith of the
western civilization as industrial, economic, cultural
and military power. The doctrine of separating the
Church from the State had been firmly established.
Now the western world would be ruled by the secular
values either democratic or dictatorial. God had no
place in the modern geo-politics. The industrial age
meant that now man could destroy itself at an
industrial scale too, unbridled, free from the shackles
of spiritual morality or prophetic guidance. The result
was predictable.
The greatest mass slaughter of humanity began,
hidden under the faade of liberty, equality and
fraternity or ethnic, nationalist and linguistic arrogance. More humans women, children and the weak --
died in brutal warfare in the first 50 years of the 20 century than in the last 1000 years of human history!
Western civilization as we see today is built on the biggest mass slaughter of humanity known to history
and it is still continuing. Desperate efforts tofind solutions by confusedmento end the crisis created more
chaos. Over 200 million more people were killed and countingin the anarchic wars, disease and poverty
inthesecondhalf of the20 century!
21 century brought more wars, more misery and more anarchy and it is clear that mad men are in charge
of the world today driven by greed, lust, power and the very Satan himself. The excellence of technology
has brought out the worst of humanity. Search for the higher quality of life has brought out a disgusting
quality of man. Oceans are polluted, acid rain is pouring, animal and plant species are becoming extinct,
disease, poverty, wars are tearing apart the social and moral fabric of societies, over half the population of
the world goes hungry when only 500 people control 90%wealth and resources of the world! Families are
tornapart, marriagehas becomeobsolete, adultery has become a norm, racial, religious andethnic hatred
rulewithvengeanceinthespaceage, thedarkages havereturned!
Humanity is heading towards a collective suicide led by the deaf, dumb and the blind. Human race is at
risknow. This is thevery best this liberal, secular amoral westerncivilizationhas tooffer!
*************
th
th
th
st
Dr. Muhemmed Iqbal, the greatest philosopher, thinker, poet, visionary and the ideologue born in the 20
century is also called the poet of the East, , and the Messiah of the nation,
, had clearly prophesized that this western secular civilization will commit suicide with its own
dagger andhadgiventhefinal verdict that:
About theliberal secular westerndemocracy of thepresent times, Iqbal hadwarned
th
shair e Mashriq Hakeem ul
Ummah
Whether it is powerful kings or the circus of democracy, whenever Statecraft and politics would
be devoid of the spiritual guidance, morality and the benevolence of the divine faith, the result
would be anarchic chaos, death and destruction such as orchestrated by the Genghis Khan!
You consider democracy as a fairy of freedom, but in fact, it is a monster of tyranny and cruelty
which is charging towards you.
Have you not seen the democracy of the west? Its face may seem bright but what it hides within
its soul is darker and crueler than Genghis Khan.
Democracy is a system in which they count the people but do not respect their wisdom.
Tauntingonthecharter of theUnitedNations, Iqbal commentedinanUrduverse.
In another Urdu verse, Iqbal had called the modern secular nation states as the,
But was quick to clarify that he is talking of the nations in the western sense and not in the sense used
in Islam. He also introduced the terms spiritual democracy or benevolent dictatorship, an alternate
political model on the prophetic methods to create a universal welfare and benevolent state to replace
the modern divisive liberal secular amoral nation state concept.
Iqbal, like so many other finest minds from the western civilization, had reached the conclusion that it is
only the prophet Muhemmed and his model of spiritual benevolent leadership which can salvage
humanity from this present catastrophically abysmal state. Iqbal was also acutely aware that the
fundamental responsibility of delivering this message remains on the shoulders of the Muslimcivilization,
as the custodians of the great inheritance of the Prophet. He would shake the collective conscious of the
Muslims violently:
Makkah (where Muslims gather humbly in a bond of brotherhood from all over the world
irrespective of their caste, color or creed for the pilgrimage of Hajj) sends a message to Geneva:
is it better to divide people into small nations based on ethnic, linguistic and religious differences
or is it better to unite the humanity under a common bond of faith, equality, tolerance and love?
The largest of the
newly crafted idols, worshiped by the modern civilization which buries the moral and spiritual
benevolence of the divine faith,
You are the last message of God on earth.
The message is yet to be delivered to all humanity.

You would need fanatical zeal and passion to overcome the obstacles and you must hold the
name of Prophet Muhemmed high to dazzle and brighten the world once again
He must be called the Savior of Humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume to
dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed In solving its problems in a way that would
bring it much-needed peace and happiness

BernardShawwas not far behindIqbal:


It is time the world listens to Iqbal and Bernard Shaw for there is no other alternate for humanity now
except to come under the benevolence of Prophet Muhemmed . God sent him as the mercy to the
entrecreation, for all times, for all ages, for all nations.
For indeed, thereis nogodbut AllahandMuhemmed is His messenger!
*************
The Genuine Islam, Singapore, Vol 1, No 8, 1936)

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