Allah the Glorious says in the Holy Qur'an, "You have indeed in the Apostle of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct)" (33:21). Addressing the Prophet Allah (SWT) says, "And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character" (68:4). There are so many other verses in the Holy Qur'an in which Allah (SWT), the Creator and Sustainer, has highly lauded our beloved Prophet (SAWS). The Muslims regard him more than any other human being. Allah says, "The Prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves…." (33:6).
Surprisingly enough there are few wretched and freakish type of writers who very unjustly invented some sorts of slanders against Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) whereas all the Muslims and the non-Muslims with a fair mind are greatly impressed by his personality. Herein I am quoting, for the kind information of the readers, some writers who have very highly praised our Prophet in their writings:
Michael H. Hart: "My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most intellectual 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 on History, New York, 1978, p. 33)
Thomas Carlyle: In his Heroes and Hero-worship, Carlyle was simply amazed as to "how one man single-handedly could weld warring tribes and wandering Bedouins into a most powerful and civilized nation in less than two decades."
George Bernard Shaw: "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 much needed peace and happiness." (The Genuine Islam, Singapore, vol. 1, No. 8, 1936)
Lamartine: "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?" (Lamartine Histoire De La Turquie, Paris, 1854, vol.2, pp 276-277)
Bosworth Smith: "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 the right divine, it was Mohammed, for he had all power without its instruments and without its supports." (Bosworth Smith, Muhammad and Mohammedanism, London, 1874, p.92.)
W. Montgomery Watt: "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 the ultimate achievement-all argue his fundamental integrity. To suppose Muhammad an impostor raised more problems than solves. Moreover, none of the great figures of history is so poorly appreciated in the West as Muhammad." (W. Montgomery Watt, Muhammad at Mecca, Oxford, 1953, p. 52.)
Prof. Hurgronje: "The league of nations founded by the prophet of Islam put the principle of international unity and human brotherhood in such universal foundations as to show candle to other nations." He continues: "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."
Mahatma Gandhi: Speaking on the character of Muhammad (SAWS) Mahatma Gandhi says in Young India, "I wanted to know the best of one who holds today's undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind…I became more than convinced that it was not the sword that won a palace 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."
Sarogini Naidu, the famous poetess of India says about Islam: "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 and over again by this indivisible unity of Islam that makes man instinctively a brother." (S. Naidu, Ideas of Islam, video Speeches and Writings, Madras, 1918, p.169).
Diwan Chand Sharma: "Muhammad was the soul of kindness, and his influence was felt and never forgotten by those around him." (D. C. Sharma, The Prophets of the East, Calcutta, 1935, pp.12).
K. S. Ramakrishna Rao (an Indian Professor of Philosophy): "Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, …PERFECT MODEL FOR MANIND." Professor Ramakrishna Rao explains his point by saying, "The personality of Muhammad, it is most difficult to get into the whole truth of it. Only a glimpse of it I can catch. What a dramatic succession of picturesque scenes! There is Muhammad, the Warrior; Muhammad, the Businessman; Muhammad, the Statesman; Muhammad, the Orator; Muhammad, the Reformer; Muhammad, the Refuge of Orphans; Muhammad, the Protector of Slaves; Muhammad, the Emancipator of Women; Muhammad, the Judge; Muhammad, the Saint. All these magnificent roles, in all theses departments of human activities, he is alike a hero."
Thus the peerless supreme personality of our beloved Prophet (SAWS) is universally acknowledged by all the reasonable scholars of the world. I feel pity for them who fail to get into the deep of his individuality. I feel pity for the few writers who show their academic dishonesty by the frustrated try that they have made to malign the distinct character of Muhammad (SAWS).
by Md. Mahmudul Hasan