Preface to
"The Prophet of Islam from a Western Perspective"
By
Professor Yousef Amer,
ACT Director
God has sent His Prophet Muhammad with guidance and the religion of truth to all people, Arabs or non-Arabs, literate or illiterate. The main objective of his message is to differentiate between the right and the wrong and to guide people to the way of peace that enables them to enter paradise. Muslims and non-Muslims witness to these facts.
In this book titled, The Prophet of Islam from Western Perspective, the author, Prof. Ezzuddin Farrag reviews acknowledgments and testimonies of western philosophers, clerics and politicians concerning the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him (PBUH) and Islam. His approach is not affected by media fabrications related to Islam and the Muslims. Moreover, the author is keen to argue against the slanders towards Islam, its Prophet and sanctities. He also sheds light on the role of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in saving humanity through the solutions he introduced to handle the problems of the whole world.
One of these testimonies is what the English writer, Bosworth Smith, said, "Muhammad has been very successful. The history has no one like him. He enjoyed three leaderships, that is, the leadership of people, religion and governance. Although he was illiterate, his Divine Book, which is honored by more than one-sixth of the world's population, features rhetoric, legislation and worship.
The English writer “Thomas Carlyle” said in his book On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and The Heroic in History: “The word this man spoke has been the life-guidance now of a hundred-and-eighty millions of men these twelve-hundred years. Are we to suppose that it was a miserable piece of spiritual legerdemain, this which so many creatures of the Almighty have lived by and died by?! The Religion of Islam is the Religion followed by more than of sixth of the world … And I don’t think that a nation adhered to its religion as did the Muslims”.
The book also deals with the opinion of “Le Comte Henry De Castries” regarding the fact that Islam spread through reason, logic and good preaching. No single event shows evidence that Islam spread by force, and Muslims never killed anyone who refused to embrace Islam.
Describing how the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) dealt with his enemies, Sir William Muir says, “Muhammad (PBUH) was just and moderate; he did not lack gentleness in dealing with his enemies when they became his subjects … and treated them with honor and generosity”.
On the Prophet Muhammad’s treatment with prisoners of war, Mr. Lane-Poole wrote, “Muhammad gained the respect of the whole world and of his enemies in particular, as he was a model of good manners. In his lifetime, he set free ten thousand prisoners of war, who used to be keen to kill him and his companions”.
The prominent French poet Lamartine mentions that, "Muhammad (PBUH) was a philosopher, an orator, a legislator, a leader, and an intellectual propagating creeds matching with the reason. He built twenty countries all over the earth. In other words, if we are to measure Muhammad’s values against the noble human morals, he will definitely surpass everyone else."
The American Colonel R. F. Podley describes him saying, "Unlike his peer Prophets, Muhammad (PBUH) was not only conscious of eschatological issues but he was also fully aware of this worldly life and its problems. He did not neglect the spiritual aspect in religion but managed to strike a balance between the Hereafter and this short worldly life. Consequently, he avoided the mistakes of all previous reformers”.
The Russian Count Leo Tolstoy says," There is no doubt that this Prophet was one of the greatest reformers who exerted sincere efforts to humanity. It suffices him that he guided his nation to the light of the truth and made it incline to peace and shun blood shedding and killing. It is sufficient to say that he paved the way for development and progress. It is a great work carried out by a man who had strength, wisdom and knowledge. He is a man who deserves respect and esteem.
Gandhi, the outstanding Indian leader, writer and intellectual says about the life of Muhammad (PBUH), “His life should be analyzed. The great prophet was poor, ascetic, not interested in the pleasures of this life when he was able to be a wealthy man if he wished. When I was reading the history of this great man, my eyes flooded with tears. A truth researcher like me should bow before this personality who worked only for the benefit of the whole humanity”.
With regard to woman rights in Islam, Islam releases women from slavery, gives them all their rights, and mentions them with all due respect. This fact is confirmed by the French orientalist André Servier.
In conclusion, this book calls all people to think about the life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in order to realize his true message.