lecture of Dr. Zakir Naik about prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
Lecture of Dr. Zakir Naik
Video link: https://youtu.be/uwEZqIfYNeM
Was Muhammad a real historical figure? What is the evidence for his existence? What is the most verifiable, indisputable, archaeological evidence for his existence?
Read more: Hazrat Muhammad ( PBUH) | Islamic State and Constitution
He was as successful in religious life as he was in political life. He is foremost a pioneer of the awakening of the entire Arab world; One of the achievements of his life was the unification of the conflicting Arab peoples. Along with the Quran, its teachings and practices form the foundation of Islamic religious beliefs.
Hazrat Muhammad (sm). He was the greatest human being of all time. No one compares to him.
George Bernard Shaw, Thomas Carlyle, Mahatma Gandhi, and some other famous personalities about Muhammad (PBUH)
Sir George Bernard Shaw in 'The Genuine Islam,' Vol. 1, no. 8, 1936.
I have always held high regard for the Muhammadan religion because of its wonderful liveliness. It seems to me that this is the only religion that has the power to integrate itself with the ever-changing way of life which is able to appeal to the hearts of men of every age. I have studied him (Muhammad) – a wonderful man and in my opinion, he must be called the savior of mankind, despite being the antichrist.
I believe that if a man like him were entrusted with the dictatorship of the modern world, he would have successfully solved its problems in a way that would have brought much-awaited peace and happiness. I predict that Muhammad's religion will be acceptable to the Europe of the future, which has already begun to gain acceptance in Europe today.
Thomas Carlyle in 'Heroes and Hero Worship and the Heroic in History,' 1840
The lies (Western slander) that have accumulated around this man (Muhammad) - which may well mean fanaticism - are a shame to ourselves.
Mahatma Gandhi, the statement published in 'Young India,' 1924.
I wanted to know about the life of one of the best of lives who today holds an undisputed place in the hearts of millions…….I am more convinced than ever that Islam did not take its place in the way of life in those days by the sword. The reason for the spread of Islam was the Prophet's firm simplicity, self-importance, careful thinking about the future, extreme self-sacrifice for friends and followers, unwavering courage, fearlessness, infinite faith in God and the responsibility assigned to him (the Prophet). All these have helped the Muslims to overcome all obstacles. When I closed volume 2 of the biography of Muhammad I was very sad that I had nothing more to read about this great man.
Dr. William Draper in 'History of Intellectual Development of Europe'
Four years after Justinian's death, in 569 A.D., a man was born in Arabia who exerted the greatest influence on mankind of all….To be the religious head of many empires, to act as the guide of daily life for one-third of mankind—all this justifies his title as the Messenger of God. .
Alphonse de LaMartaine in 'Historie de la Turquie,' Paris, 1854.
If greatness of purpose, the smallness of means and amazing results are the three characteristics of a great man, who would dare to compare Muhammad with any other great man in history? Most famous people have only built armies, laws and empires. If they have established anything it is nothing more than worldly power which has often been disintegrated before their eyes. This man not only managed armies, laws, empires, rulers, and manpower but also moved the lives of millions of people in the world at that time; Above all, he moved gods and goddesses, religions, concepts, beliefs and souls.
Philosopher, Orator, Messenger, Legislator, Innovator/Improver of Ideas, Restorer of Real Beliefs…..The founder of twenty worldly and one spiritual empire—this is Muhammad. If we consider the criteria for measuring human excellence, we can ask ourselves - is there anyone better than Muhammad?
Michael H. Hart in 'The 100, A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons In History,' New York, 1978.
Placing Muhammad at the top of the list of the most influential people of all time may surprise many readers and raise questions in others, but he is the only person in history who achieved the greatest amount of success on both the secular and religious levels. Perhaps the relative influence of Muhammad on Islam is greater than that of Jesus and St. Paul combined on Christianity. I think it is this rare combination of influence, both religious and secular, that makes Muhammad the most influential single figure in human history.
W. Montgomery Watt in 'Muhammad at Mecca,' Oxford, 1953.
All the hardships he endured to establish his ideals, the high character of those who believed in him and followed him as a leader, and the enormity of Muhammad's achievements all testify to his integrity. Consider Muhammad a dishonest man who created more problems than he solved. Moreover, no other historical figure has been so undervalued in the West as Muhammad……not only on the basis of what is described but must be judged with the necessary honesty and fairness if we are to understand him in the slightest. If we wish to correct the errors inherited from our past, it must not be forgotten that ultimate proof is a much more difficult condition than what appears to be true. And it will be really difficult to get proof in this regard.
D. G. Hogarth in 'Arabia'
Important or trivial, his everyday behavior created a precept that millions of people follow consciously even today. No section of mankind has been so idealized and no man so thoroughly followed as Muhammad. The conduct of the founder of Christianity did not govern the lives of his followers. Moreover, no founder of a religion has left such inimitable characteristics as the Prophet of Muslims.
Gibbon in 'The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire 1823
Muhammad's conception of greatness defied the idea of pompous kingship. The Messenger of God was devoted to household chores; He lit the fire; He used to sweep the house; prayed for sheep's milk, And he used to mend his own shoes and clothes with his own hands. He rejected the concept of atonement and asceticism. He was never seen to be unduly boastful, his food being the common food of an Arab.
Lane-Poole in 'Speeches and Table Talk of the Prophet Muhammad'
He was the most faithful protector of those he sheltered, very soft-spoken and gentle in speech. Those who saw him were filled with reverence; All who came to him loved him; Those who described him would say, "I have never seen a man like him before or since." He was very taciturn, but when he spoke he spoke loudly and thoughtfully. And no one could forget what he said.
Edward Gibbon and Simon Oakley in 'History of the Saracen Empire,' London, 1870
It is not the preaching but the permanence of Muhammad's religion that amazes us. The genuine and absolute hypnotic power which he acquired in Mecca and Medina remains the same twelve hundred years later among his Indian, African and Turkish followers who were converted by the Qur'an. Despite being tempted/afflicted, Muslims did not allow their core beliefs to erode. "There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah" - this is the simple and unchanging belief of Islam. The consciousness of the intellectual God was not diminished by any visible image; The dignity of the Prophet never exceeded the scope of human qualities. His way of life kept the gratitude of the disciples within the bounds of reason and religion.
Jules Masserman in 'Who Were Histories Great Leaders?' in TIME Magazine, July 15, 1974
Leaders must perform three kinds of tasks—providing followers with a sense of belonging, creating a social institution in which ordinary people feel relatively safe, and providing followers with a complete sense of trust. The leaders in the first consideration were Louis Pasteur and Salk. Considering the second and third characteristics Gandhi and Confucius on the one hand and Alexander, Caesar and Hitler on the other - these are the leaders. Jesus Christ and Gautama Buddha are the leaders in the third consideration. Perhaps Muhammad is the greatest leader of all time who performed all three of the above functions. Moses did the same thing, albeit on a smaller scale.
Annie Besant in 'The Life and Teachings of Mohammad,' Madras, 1932.
Whoever studies the life and character of the great Prophet of Arabia cannot but feel in his heart reverence for the great Prophet, who knows how he (the Prophet) taught and lived; He was one of the great messengers of God. Although what I am about to tell you may sound familiar to many, yet every time I re-read the biography of Muhammad I am awakened in my mind with a new sense of admiration and respect for the great teacher of Arabia.
W.C. Taylor in 'The History of Muhammadanism and its Sects'
His kindness to poor people was so great that families often had to fast. He was not content merely to relieve their want, but conversed with them and showed deep sympathy for their miseries. He was a close friend and trusted ally.
Reverend Bosworth Smith in 'Muhammad and Muhammadanism,' London, 1874.
Head of State as well as Head of the Church, he was simultaneously Caesar and Pope; He was Pope but without papal arrogance, he was Caesar but without Caesar's great army, without bodyguards, without line guards, without permanent allowances. If any man has ever ruled in just heaven, it was Muhammad.
Dr. Gustav Weil in 'History of the Islamic Peoples'
Muhammad was a shining example for his followers. His character was pure and strong. His house, dress, food - everything was very simple. He was so unassuming that he did not accept any special respect from his fellows, nor did he unduly seek the help of servants for work that he could do himself. His door was always open to everyone. He visited the sick and had immense compassion for all. His generosity and magnanimity were boundless, and he always thought of the welfare of his followers.
J.W.H. Stab in 'Islam and its Founder'
Considering the extent and duration of his work, he shines more brightly not only as a prophet of Mecca but also in the history of the world. ….Judged by the standard of man's fame, can any other mortal's fame compare with his?
Washington Irving in 'Life of Muhammad,' New York, 1920.
Muhammad's military victories instilled in him no pride and undue boasting. In adverse days his manners and dress were so ordinary that he maintained them even after attaining supreme power. Staying away from royal splendor, he would even get angry if someone showed him special respect after entering the room. He was loved by the common people as he received everyone with hospitality and listened attentively to their grievances. He was fair in personal transactions. He treated everyone equally, friend and stranger, rich and poor, strong and weak.
Arthur Glyn Leonard in 'Islam, Her Moral and Spiritual Values
It was the genius of Muhammad, the inspiration that he transmitted to the Arabs through Islam, that gave them a high place. Which freed them from inertia and tribal narrowness and helped them build great symbols of national unity and build empires. It was Muhammad's evocative monotheism, simplicity, austerity and sincerity that repeatedly recalled the Founder's fidelity to ideals, which sharpened their moral and intellectual spirit to the highest degree.
James Michener in 'Islam: The Misunderstood Religion,' Reader's Digest, May 1955, pp. 68-70.
No other religion in history has spread as fast as Islam. The belief in the West is very strong that this spread of Islam was possible by the sword. But no modern scholars accept this idea, and the Qur'an also emphasizes freedom of conscience/thought.
Muhammad, the inspired man who founded Islam, was born in 570 AD to a tribe of Arabs who were idolaters. Orphaned at birth, he was always concerned for the helpless, the poor, the widows, the orphans, the slaves and the downtrodden. By the age of twenty he was a successful businessman, and soon became the director of a widowed woman's trading caravan. When he reached the age of 25, his employer, impressed by his talent, proposed marriage. Although she was twenty-five years older, Muhammad married her and remained devoted to her as long as she (Khadijah) lived.
Like most prophets before him, Muhammad expressed his inability to fulfill his duties as a messenger of God, considering his limitations/inabilities. But the heavenly angel commanded, "read". As far as we know, Muhammad could neither read nor write, but he began to utter the rousing words that would soon revolutionize a large part of the world: "There is no god but Allah."
After Muhammad's own death there was an attempt to ascribe divinity to him, but his supposed administrative successor destroyed the misconception in one of the greatest speeches in the history of religion: "If there remain among you any who worship Muhammad, Let him know that Muhammad is dead. But those who worship Allah should know that He is Eternal.
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