Many people knew the Prophet Muhammad personally; here are some of
the things they narrated about him:
• He was born to a noble tribe, whose lineage included the leaders of Makkah.
• He never fell into the common practice of his tribesmen of worshipping
statues, idols or man-made “gods.”
• He believed that God was truly One God, and as such, only He was to be
worshipped, without any other “gods” beside Him.
• He adhered to the Commandments of Allaah, in the same way as prophets
of old.
• He forbade usury and interest on money lending, as did the Jews and Christians
centuries before him.
• He never gambled and did not allow it.
• He never drank alcohol or strong drink; even though it was a very normal
thing for people of his time and place.
• He did not engage in gossip and used to turn away from hearing it.
• He taught of the Immaculate Conception of Jesus and of his miracle birth to
Mary, and taught that Mary was among the best of Allaah’s creation.
• He commanded the payment of charity to the poor and he was the defender
and protector of widows, orphans and wayfarers.
• He ordered people to unite with their families and honor the ties of kinship
and he restored relationships between family members.
• He required his followers to engage only in lawful marriage relationships with
women, and forbade sex outside of Allaah’s Ordinance.
• He insisted on giving women their proper rights, dowries, inheritance and
property.
• His patience and humble attitude were exemplary and all who knew him
acknowledged his virtues.
• He was famous with all the tribes in Makkah for his impeccable manners.
• He was known as Al-Ameen19 because he never lied, never broke a trust
and never bore false witness.
• He forbade killing unless the orders came from Allaah, and he clearly
spelled out the limits. Even when waging war against those who raised arms
against the Muslims and Islaam, combat was only fought according to very
strict rules from Allaah.
• Slavery was common in those days in all nations. Islaam strongly encouraged
people to free their slaves and promised those who did so great
rewards from Allaah. Prophet Muhammad set the example by freeing
slaves and encouraging all of his followers to do the same.
• Curses and invocations of evil were directed at the Prophet by his
enemies, but he responded by praying for their guidance. A classic example
of this is his journey to the town of Taif. The leaders of Taif refused to listen
to him or to offer him the normal courtesy extended to visitors. Instead, they
set the street children on him, who pelted him with stones until his body
bled. He was offered revenge by the angel Gabriel, who said that he had but
to give the command, and Allaah would cause the surrounding mountains to
fall down upon them, destroying them all. But instead of cursing them or asking
for their destruction, he prayed for them to be guided so that they would
only worship their Lord, without any partners.
• Muhammad taught his followers to believe in Adam, Noah, Abraham,
Jacob, Moses, David, Solomon and Jesus, as true prophets, messengers
and servants of Allaah.
• He also taught that the Torah, Zaboor and Injeel20 were originally from the
very same source as the Qur’an - they were all from Allaah.
Much has been written about Prophet Muhammad. He has been highly
praised by famous non-Muslims for centuries. The Encyclopedia Britannica
states that: “. . . a mass of detail in the early sources shows that he was an
honest, upright man who had gained the respect and loyalty of others who
were likewise honest and upright men.” (Vol. 12)
Another impressive tribute to Muhammad is from Michael H. Hart, who
wrote “The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History.” He
states that the most influential person in all history was Muhammad .
Examine his actual words: “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.”
George Bernard Shaw, the famous writer said: “He must be called the Savior
of Humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume leadership 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)
Mahatma Gandhi, speaking on the character of Muhammad said 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 Islaam 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, and 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.”
Although Muhammad was nothing more than a human being, he was a man with a noble mission, which was to unite humanity on the worship of the
One and Only God and to teach them the way to honest and upright living
based on the commands of God. He always described himself as, ‘A Servant
and Messenger of God’ and so indeed every action of his proclaimed to be.
In the words of the Dutch Orientalist Professor Hurgronje: “The league of nations
founded by the Prophet of Islaam put the principle of international unity
and human brotherhood on 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 Islaam has done towards the realization of the idea of the
League of Nations.”
People do not hesitate to declare other individuals divine, even though their
lives and missions have been lost in legend. Historically speaking, none of
these legends achieved even a fraction of what Muhammad accomplished.
And all his striving was for the sole purpose of uniting mankind for the
worship of the One God on the codes of moral excellence. Neither Muhammad nor his followers, at any time claimed that he was a son of God
or the God-incarnate or a man with divinity— on the contrary he is and was
always considered to be just a man, but a man chosen by Allaah to be His
Messenger.
Today, fourteen centuries later, the life and teachings of Muhammad
have survived without the slightest loss, alteration or interpolation. They offer
the same undying hope for treating mankind’s many ills that they did when he
was alive. This is not a claim of Muhammad’s followers, but the inescapable
conclusion arrived at by a critical and unbiased history.
Now it is up to us – as rational thinkers and concerned human beings – to
ask ourselves whether these extraordinary, revolutionary and amazing statements,
all about this one man, could really be true.
What if they are all true?
..............................................................................................................
the things they narrated about him:
• He was born to a noble tribe, whose lineage included the leaders of Makkah.
• He never fell into the common practice of his tribesmen of worshipping
statues, idols or man-made “gods.”
• He believed that God was truly One God, and as such, only He was to be
worshipped, without any other “gods” beside Him.
• He adhered to the Commandments of Allaah, in the same way as prophets
of old.
• He forbade usury and interest on money lending, as did the Jews and Christians
centuries before him.
• He never gambled and did not allow it.
• He never drank alcohol or strong drink; even though it was a very normal
thing for people of his time and place.
• He did not engage in gossip and used to turn away from hearing it.
• He taught of the Immaculate Conception of Jesus and of his miracle birth to
Mary, and taught that Mary was among the best of Allaah’s creation.
• He commanded the payment of charity to the poor and he was the defender
and protector of widows, orphans and wayfarers.
• He ordered people to unite with their families and honor the ties of kinship
and he restored relationships between family members.
• He required his followers to engage only in lawful marriage relationships with
women, and forbade sex outside of Allaah’s Ordinance.
• He insisted on giving women their proper rights, dowries, inheritance and
property.
• His patience and humble attitude were exemplary and all who knew him
acknowledged his virtues.
• He was famous with all the tribes in Makkah for his impeccable manners.
• He was known as Al-Ameen19 because he never lied, never broke a trust
and never bore false witness.
• He forbade killing unless the orders came from Allaah, and he clearly
spelled out the limits. Even when waging war against those who raised arms
against the Muslims and Islaam, combat was only fought according to very
strict rules from Allaah.
• Slavery was common in those days in all nations. Islaam strongly encouraged
people to free their slaves and promised those who did so great
rewards from Allaah. Prophet Muhammad set the example by freeing
slaves and encouraging all of his followers to do the same.
• Curses and invocations of evil were directed at the Prophet by his
enemies, but he responded by praying for their guidance. A classic example
of this is his journey to the town of Taif. The leaders of Taif refused to listen
to him or to offer him the normal courtesy extended to visitors. Instead, they
set the street children on him, who pelted him with stones until his body
bled. He was offered revenge by the angel Gabriel, who said that he had but
to give the command, and Allaah would cause the surrounding mountains to
fall down upon them, destroying them all. But instead of cursing them or asking
for their destruction, he prayed for them to be guided so that they would
only worship their Lord, without any partners.
• Muhammad taught his followers to believe in Adam, Noah, Abraham,
Jacob, Moses, David, Solomon and Jesus, as true prophets, messengers
and servants of Allaah.
• He also taught that the Torah, Zaboor and Injeel20 were originally from the
very same source as the Qur’an - they were all from Allaah.
Much has been written about Prophet Muhammad. He has been highly
praised by famous non-Muslims for centuries. The Encyclopedia Britannica
states that: “. . . a mass of detail in the early sources shows that he was an
honest, upright man who had gained the respect and loyalty of others who
were likewise honest and upright men.” (Vol. 12)
Another impressive tribute to Muhammad is from Michael H. Hart, who
wrote “The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History.” He
states that the most influential person in all history was Muhammad .
Examine his actual words: “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.”
George Bernard Shaw, the famous writer said: “He must be called the Savior
of Humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume leadership 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)
Mahatma Gandhi, speaking on the character of Muhammad said 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 Islaam 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, and 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.”
Although Muhammad was nothing more than a human being, he was a man with a noble mission, which was to unite humanity on the worship of the
One and Only God and to teach them the way to honest and upright living
based on the commands of God. He always described himself as, ‘A Servant
and Messenger of God’ and so indeed every action of his proclaimed to be.
In the words of the Dutch Orientalist Professor Hurgronje: “The league of nations
founded by the Prophet of Islaam put the principle of international unity
and human brotherhood on 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 Islaam has done towards the realization of the idea of the
League of Nations.”
People do not hesitate to declare other individuals divine, even though their
lives and missions have been lost in legend. Historically speaking, none of
these legends achieved even a fraction of what Muhammad accomplished.
And all his striving was for the sole purpose of uniting mankind for the
worship of the One God on the codes of moral excellence. Neither Muhammad nor his followers, at any time claimed that he was a son of God
or the God-incarnate or a man with divinity— on the contrary he is and was
always considered to be just a man, but a man chosen by Allaah to be His
Messenger.
Today, fourteen centuries later, the life and teachings of Muhammad
have survived without the slightest loss, alteration or interpolation. They offer
the same undying hope for treating mankind’s many ills that they did when he
was alive. This is not a claim of Muhammad’s followers, but the inescapable
conclusion arrived at by a critical and unbiased history.
Now it is up to us – as rational thinkers and concerned human beings – to
ask ourselves whether these extraordinary, revolutionary and amazing statements,
all about this one man, could really be true.
What if they are all true?
..............................................................................................................
The importance of telling people about Prophet Muhammad is because
he was sent to all people. Jennifer Moore introduces the Prophet to the
readers by offering a synopsis of his life as a Messenger.
Al-Ameen – a nickname given to him by the pagans of Makkah – was charged
by Allaah the Almighty to “…deliver the universal message to all humankind.”
Moore tells us that his mission lasted 23 years, and it culminated in the complete
transformation of the society of Madinah from a feuding nothingness
into “… an advanced and just political, legal, economic and social system.”
he was sent to all people. Jennifer Moore introduces the Prophet to the
readers by offering a synopsis of his life as a Messenger.
Al-Ameen – a nickname given to him by the pagans of Makkah – was charged
by Allaah the Almighty to “…deliver the universal message to all humankind.”
Moore tells us that his mission lasted 23 years, and it culminated in the complete
transformation of the society of Madinah from a feuding nothingness
into “… an advanced and just political, legal, economic and social system.”
It all began in the year 610 C.E., with a few brave individuals differing in tribe,
status, and gender, secretly winding through the alleys of Makkah to meet
the man known as Al-Ameen. One by one they went, like stealthy shadows in
the moonlight, hoping not to be noticed and reported to powerful city leaders.
They were prepared to sacrifice everything – their cultures, families, even
their own lives – for the sake of worshipping the One True God.
Al-Ameen had called them to cast aside the pagan religion of their forefathers,
and to embrace pure monotheism. The 40-year-old man, whose name was
Muhammad claimed that God saw all people, men and women, free
and enslaved, as equal: A message which would, in two short decades, bring
peace to the war-torn Arabian Peninsula and beyond; a message forbidding
tribal feudalism and corruption by any leader; a message that came to be
known as “Islaam,” calling for devotion and submission to God alone.
Muhammad’s prophethood was similar to those of the Prophets before him,
including Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus and many others. An orphan by the
age of seven, he grew up a simple, yet pious individual. He was known for his
justice and honesty, earning the nickname Al-Ameen years before he was to
learn of his own prophethood.
He despised the injustices he saw within Makkan society, and as a young man
helped form an alliance, “Hilf21 Al-Fudhool,” to help preserve the rights of the
poor and oppressed. He was troubled by the abundance of idols and senseless
acts of paganism dominating his people. A staggering 360 idols were
housed in Makkah, and they were called upon daily by most residents of the
city. For someone of deep moral character, it must have been a confusing
and difficult place to live. Muhammad used to go for days at a time into hills
around Makkah to meditate.
It was during one of these times, in a cave in Mount Hiraa22, that God sent
His first revelation to Muhammad . Muhammad was now the final
Messenger of God, and would be entrusted with delivering the universal mes-
sage to all humankind. The Archangel Gabriel came to Muhammad and
commanded, “Read!” A terrified Muhammad replied, “I am not a reader,”
for he could neither read nor write, as literacy, where he lived, was rare. The
angel took hold of him, hugged him with incredible force, released him and
repeated the command: Read! Muhammad repeated himself and once
again the angel hugged him tightly until Muhammad thought he could
bear it no longer. After the third time, Muhammad felt the intense ringing
of bells and heard Gabriel recite the literal words of God. Words so powerful
that it felt like they were inscribed on his heart: “Recite in the name of your
Lord who created - Created man from a clinging substance. Recite and your
Lord is the most Generous.” [96:1-3]23
He ran from the cave in terror, trying to escape the intense and frightening
experience. But everywhere he looked on the horizon, he saw Gabriel; he
could not escape it; he had already been chosen.
Over a period of 23 years, the revelations continued to come. The verses
make up the Holy Qur’an, and Muhammad and the believers committed
them to memory, in addition to having designated scribes copy the verses
onto parchments and flat bones.
The thriving city of Makkah saw Muhammad as a grave threat; their
strong economy depended upon the commerce of tribes that came to pay
homage to the many idols housed in Makkah. The Makkan chiefs, upon seeing
Islaam spread, summoned Muhammad and offered him any amount
of wealth or power he wanted, in exchange for him to stop preaching. To this
offer, which was delivered by his own uncle, Muhammad’s reply was swift:
“If they placed the sun in my right hand, and the moon in my left, I would not
abandon this path I am on.”
For teaching the concept of One God and obedience to His law, Muhammad was mocked, beaten and cast out by his own people, who refused
to abandon the idols and blood sacrifices surrounding the religions of their
forefathers.
status, and gender, secretly winding through the alleys of Makkah to meet
the man known as Al-Ameen. One by one they went, like stealthy shadows in
the moonlight, hoping not to be noticed and reported to powerful city leaders.
They were prepared to sacrifice everything – their cultures, families, even
their own lives – for the sake of worshipping the One True God.
Al-Ameen had called them to cast aside the pagan religion of their forefathers,
and to embrace pure monotheism. The 40-year-old man, whose name was
Muhammad claimed that God saw all people, men and women, free
and enslaved, as equal: A message which would, in two short decades, bring
peace to the war-torn Arabian Peninsula and beyond; a message forbidding
tribal feudalism and corruption by any leader; a message that came to be
known as “Islaam,” calling for devotion and submission to God alone.
Muhammad’s prophethood was similar to those of the Prophets before him,
including Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus and many others. An orphan by the
age of seven, he grew up a simple, yet pious individual. He was known for his
justice and honesty, earning the nickname Al-Ameen years before he was to
learn of his own prophethood.
He despised the injustices he saw within Makkan society, and as a young man
helped form an alliance, “Hilf21 Al-Fudhool,” to help preserve the rights of the
poor and oppressed. He was troubled by the abundance of idols and senseless
acts of paganism dominating his people. A staggering 360 idols were
housed in Makkah, and they were called upon daily by most residents of the
city. For someone of deep moral character, it must have been a confusing
and difficult place to live. Muhammad used to go for days at a time into hills
around Makkah to meditate.
It was during one of these times, in a cave in Mount Hiraa22, that God sent
His first revelation to Muhammad . Muhammad was now the final
Messenger of God, and would be entrusted with delivering the universal mes-
sage to all humankind. The Archangel Gabriel came to Muhammad and
commanded, “Read!” A terrified Muhammad replied, “I am not a reader,”
for he could neither read nor write, as literacy, where he lived, was rare. The
angel took hold of him, hugged him with incredible force, released him and
repeated the command: Read! Muhammad repeated himself and once
again the angel hugged him tightly until Muhammad thought he could
bear it no longer. After the third time, Muhammad felt the intense ringing
of bells and heard Gabriel recite the literal words of God. Words so powerful
that it felt like they were inscribed on his heart: “Recite in the name of your
Lord who created - Created man from a clinging substance. Recite and your
Lord is the most Generous.” [96:1-3]23
He ran from the cave in terror, trying to escape the intense and frightening
experience. But everywhere he looked on the horizon, he saw Gabriel; he
could not escape it; he had already been chosen.
Over a period of 23 years, the revelations continued to come. The verses
make up the Holy Qur’an, and Muhammad and the believers committed
them to memory, in addition to having designated scribes copy the verses
onto parchments and flat bones.
The thriving city of Makkah saw Muhammad as a grave threat; their
strong economy depended upon the commerce of tribes that came to pay
homage to the many idols housed in Makkah. The Makkan chiefs, upon seeing
Islaam spread, summoned Muhammad and offered him any amount
of wealth or power he wanted, in exchange for him to stop preaching. To this
offer, which was delivered by his own uncle, Muhammad’s reply was swift:
“If they placed the sun in my right hand, and the moon in my left, I would not
abandon this path I am on.”
For teaching the concept of One God and obedience to His law, Muhammad was mocked, beaten and cast out by his own people, who refused
to abandon the idols and blood sacrifices surrounding the religions of their
forefathers.
When he visited the city of Taif, people sent their children and slaves to hurl
stones at him. The people of Makkah once draped the intestines of a camel
upon his blessed shoulders while he was prostrating in prayer, then doubled
over in laughter at their cruel prank. The Makkan’s seized several believers,
men and women, torturing and even killing them, and several attempts were
made on Muhammad’s life.
After 13 years of harsh conditions in Makkah, including a social and economic
boycott in which Makkans were forbidden to meet, marry, or trade with the
Muslim minority, Muhammad emigrated to the welcoming city of Yathrib24,
some four hundred kilometers to the north of Makkah. The city adopted the
name “Madinah,” and is still known today with the same name. Muhammad was made head of state and in matter of years established an advanced
and just political, legal, economic and social system.
His years of prophethood were at many times tumultuous, but he knew his
patience and perseverance was not in vain and would not go unnoticed. Hewas always conscious that Allaah was All-Seeing, All-Knowing
stones at him. The people of Makkah once draped the intestines of a camel
upon his blessed shoulders while he was prostrating in prayer, then doubled
over in laughter at their cruel prank. The Makkan’s seized several believers,
men and women, torturing and even killing them, and several attempts were
made on Muhammad’s life.
After 13 years of harsh conditions in Makkah, including a social and economic
boycott in which Makkans were forbidden to meet, marry, or trade with the
Muslim minority, Muhammad emigrated to the welcoming city of Yathrib24,
some four hundred kilometers to the north of Makkah. The city adopted the
name “Madinah,” and is still known today with the same name. Muhammad was made head of state and in matter of years established an advanced
and just political, legal, economic and social system.
His years of prophethood were at many times tumultuous, but he knew his
patience and perseverance was not in vain and would not go unnoticed. Hewas always conscious that Allaah was All-Seeing, All-Knowing
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