Chapter 3
FASTEST GROWING RELIGION TODAY
THE SWORD OF THE INTELECT
The enemy, the sceptic, the missionary and their passive camp followers will not stop bleating that “lslam was spread at the point of the sword!” but they will not venture to answer our question — “WHO BRIBED CARLYLE!?” In 1840 when Carlyle defended Muhammad (pbuh) and refuted the allegation about the sword, there was nobody around to bribe. The whole Muslim world was in the gutters. The countries of Islam were all under subjugation by the Christians, except for a few like Persia, Afghanistan and Turkey who were only nominally independent. There were no riches to flaunt and no petro-dollars to bribe with!
That was yesterday and many yesterdays ago, but what about today, in modern times? It is claimed that “Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world.” The overall increase of all the sects and denominations of Christianity was a staggering 138 per cent with the incredible increase of Islam by 235 per cent in the same period of time of half-a-century. It is further affirmed that in Britain and the United States of America, Islam is the fastest growing faith. It is said that in Britain “There are more Muslims than Methodists in the country.” You have a right to ask, “What sword?” The answer is, “THE SWORD INDEED!” {Thomas Carlyle}1 It is the sword of intellect? It is the fulfillment of yet another prophecy; IT IS HE (God Almighty) WHO HAS SENT HIS MESSENGER (Muhammad) WITH GUIDANCE AND THE RELIGION OF TRUTH (Islam) THAT HE MAY MAKE IT PREVAIL OVER ALL RELIGIONS, AND ENOUGH IS GOD FOR A WITNESS.
Holy Qur’an 48:28
The destiny of Islam is spelt out here in the clearest terms. Islam is to master, overcome and supersede every other faith – That He (God Almighty) make it (Islam) prevail over all religions … In Arabic the word is Deen
[Usually translated as Religion, which literally Islam is not.] (literally meaning “Way of Life”,), to supersede all, whether it be Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianism,
[In the time of Thomas Carlyle this was the team applied to Christianity. ] Judaism, Communism or any other “ism.” This is the destiny of Allah’s Deen. The same Qur’anic Verse is repeated in chapter 61 verse 9 which ends with this slight variation – (Never mind) Though the unbelievers might be averse to it (Islam).
TRIUMPH OF ISLAM
Islam will prevail. It is the promise of God, and His Promise is true. But how? With the sword? Not even if we had the laser gun! Could we use it? The Holy Qur’an forbids us to use force as a means of converting! Yet the verse prophesies that Islam would be the most dominant of religions. The triumphs of its doctrines have already started and is gaining hold over the religious ideology and doctrines of the various schools of thought in the world. Though not in the name of Islam, but in the name of reformation and amendments, the doctrines of Islam are being fastly grafted into the various religious orders. Many things which are exclusively Islamic and which were formerly unknown, or which were being opposed before with tooth and nail by the other creeds, are now part of their believes. The Brotherhood of man The abolition of the Caste system and untouchability The right of women to inherit Opening the places of worship to all. Prohibition of all intoxicants The true concept of the Unity of God etc. etc.
Just one word on the last subject above, before we proceed further. Ask any theist, polytheist,
[. Polytheist: One who believes in many gods] pantheist,
[Pantheist: The one who believes that everything is god. Of course the "trinitarian,'' you already know ] or trinitarian: how many Gods he believes in? He will shudder to say anything other than ONE! This is the EFFECT of the strict monotheism of Islam.
THE CREED OF MOHAMED IS FREE FROM THE SUSPICIONS OF AMBIGUITY AND THE KORAN IS A GLORIOUS TESTIMONY TO THE UNITY OF GOD.
Gibbon in his ”Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.”
VERDICT OF NON-MUSLIM ORIENTALS
Almost all the defenders of Muhammad (phuh) who spoke out against the false theory that he spread his religion at the point of the sword, were Westerners. Let us now hear what some non-Muslim Easterners have to say on the subject:
8a. THE MORE I STUDY THE MORE I DISCOVER THAT THE STRENGTH OF ISLAM DOES NOT LIE IN THE SWORD.
Mahatma Gandhi – the father of modern India, in “Young India.”
b. THEY {Muhammad’s critics} SEE FIRE INSTEAD OF LIGHT, UGLINESS INSTEAD OF GOOD. THEY DISTORT AND PRESENT EVERY GOOD QUALITY AS A GREAT VICE. IT REFLECTS THEIR OWN DEPRAVITY… THE CRITICS ARE BLIND. THEY CANNOT SEE THAT THE ONLY ‘SWORD’ MUHAMMAD WIELDED WAS THE SWORD OF MERCY, COMPASSION, FRIENDSHIP AND FORGIVENESS – THE SWORD THAT CONQUERS ENEMIES AND PURIFIES THEIR HEARTS. HIS SWORD WAS SHARPER THAN THE SWORD OF STEEL.
Pandit Gyanandra Dev Sharma Shastri, at a meeting in Gorakhpur lndia). 1928
c. HE PREFERRED MIGRATION TO FIGHTING HIS OWN PEOPLE, BUT WHEN OPPRESSION WENT BEYOND THE PALE OF TOLERANCE HE TOOK UP HIS SWORD IN SELF-DEFENCE. THOSE WHO BELIEVE RELIGION CAN BE SPREAD BY FORCE ARE FOOLS WHO NEITHER KNOW THE WAYS OF RELIGION NOR THE WAYS OF THE WORLD. THEY ARE PROUD OF THIS BELIEF BECAUSE THEY ARE A LONG, LONG WAY AWAY FROM THE TRUTH.
A Sikh journalist in “Nawan Hindustan,” Delhi, 17 November 1947.
It was Rudyard Kipling who said, “East is East and West Is West, never the twain shall meet!” He was wrong! In the defence of Muhammad {pbuh}, all, who are not blinded by prejudice will converge.
THREE OTHER STANDARDS
Fourteen years after Thomas Carlyle had delivered his lecture on his Hero Prophet, a Frenchman by the name of Lamartine wrote the history of the Turks. Incidentally, the Turks being Muslims, Lamartine touched on some aspects of Islam and its founder. Like our Jules Wasserman (see page 10) of current times, who had conceived three objective standards for discovering greatness of leadership; Lamartine had over 2 century ago thought of three other objective standards for conferring GREATNESS. We must give credit to the Westemer for this type of insight. Lamartine opines:
9. IF GREATNESS OF PURPOSE, SMALLNESS OF MEANS AND ASTOUNDING RESULTS
[The full quotation from Lamartine's book will be found in appendix''B" page 61. ] ARE THE THREE CRITERIA OF HUMAN GENIUS, WHO COULD DARE TO COMPARE ANY GREAT MAN IN MODERN HISTORY WITH MUHUMMED? {Lamartine ends his lengthy segment of literary masterpiece with the words): . . . PHILOSOPHER, ORATOR, APOSTLE, LEGISLATOR, WARRIOR, CONQUEROR OF IDEAS, RESTORER OF RATIONAL BELIEFS, OF A CULT WITHOUT IMAGES: THE FOUNDER OF TWENTY TERRESTRIAL EMPIRES AND OF ONE SPIRITUAL EMPIRE, THAT IS MUHUMMED. AS REGARDS ALL STANDARDS BY WHICH HUMAN GREATNESS MAY BE MEASURED, WE MAY WELL ASK, IS THERE ANY MAN GREATER THEN HE? Lamartine, “Historie de la Turquie,” Paris 1854
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The answer to his question, “Is there any man greater than he?” is reposed in the question itself. By implication he is saying . . . “there is no man greater than Muhammad. Muhammad is the greatest man that ever lived!” And have We not raised high the esteem (in which) thou (O Muhammad are held)? |
MOST CERTAINLY THOU HAST, O MY LORD! Holy Quran 94:4
Before we absolve Lamartine of any favouritism, partiality, or of the charge of being bribed, we will scrutinize his three standards, and whether they can be justified in the case of Muhammad {pbuh).
1. GREATNESS OF PURPOSE
History of the time will tell you that it was the darkest period in the history of mankind when Muhammad {pbuh} was commanded to declare his mission. The need was for the raising of prophets in every corner of the world, or the sending of one Master Messenger for the whole of mankind, to deliver them from falsehood, superstition, selfishness, polytheism, wrong and oppression. It was to be the reclamation of the whole of humanity. And God Almighty in His wisdom chose His prophet from the backwaters of Arabia as His universal Messenger. Thus He records in His Noble Book
AND WE SENT THEE NOT {O Mubammad}, BUT AS A MERCY UNTO {all} THE WORLDS. Holy Quran 21:107
“There is no question now of race or nation, of a “chosen people” or the “seed of Abraham,” or the “seed of David”: or of Hindu Arya varta; of Jew or Gentile. Arab or ‘Ajam {Persian), Turk or Tajik, European or Asiatic, White or Coloured; Aryan, Semitic, Mongolian, or African: or American, Australian, or Polynesian. To all men and creatures who have any spiritual responsibility, the principles universally apply.”
Abdulbh Yusut Ali
[Get your copy now of Yusuf Ali's English translation and cornrnentary, with over 6000 annotations. Obtain a copy for your non-Muslim friend, also.]
JESUS {PBUH) DlSCRIMINATES
Muhammad’s (pbuh) immediate predecessor advised his disciples, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs” (meaning non-Jews}, “Neither cast ye your pearls before swine” (meaning non-Jews, Matthew 7:6). The Gospel writers are unanimous in recording that Christ lived by the precepts which he preached. In his lifetime he did not preach to a single non-Jew. In fact he spurned a gentile woman who sought his spiritual blessings {“the woman was a Greek” Mark 7:26). Then during the “Passover” season in Jerusalem when the master with his disciples had congregated for the occasion, certain Greeks hearing of his reputation sought an audience with him for spiritual enlightenment, but Jesus {pbuh} gave them the “cold shoulder” [Means a deliberately unkind or unfriendly treatment; a slight; a snub.] as narrated by St.
John:
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And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: The same came therefore to Philip . . . and desired him saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. John 12:20-22 |
SELF GLORIFICATION
The verses that follow do not even record the courtesy of “Yea,yea;” or “Nay, nay;” (Yes, yes or no, no of Matthew 5:37). They continue with his own praise
And Jesus answered them (Andrew and Philip), saying, The hour is come, that the son of man (referring to himself} should be glorified. John 12:23
HIGHEST STANDARDS
Muhammad (pbuh) could never afford any such latitudes. Remember, how the Almighty reminded him of the highest etiquette required from him. Even the thought of being ruffled by the untimely intrusion of a blind man, was not accepted from him {see page 22 “He frowned’]. As a universal Messenger, God set for him the most lofty standards: And Most Certainly, Thou (O Muhammad) Are of most sublime And Exalted Character. Holy Quran 68:4
And his diocese, his field of mission? The whole of mankind!
And We sent thee not (O Muhammad), but as a mercy unto (all) the worlds. Holy Quran 21:107
UNIVERSAL MESSENGER
These are not mere platitudes; beautiful sentiments bereft of action. Muhammad (pbuh) practised what he preached. Among his first Sahabas (companions) and converts, beside the Arabs can be counted Bilal the Abyssinian, Salman the Persian and Abdullah Bin-Salaam the Jew. The sceptics may say that his outreach was simply incidental but what can they say about the historical fact that before his demise, he sent out five epistles, one to each of the five surrounding countries, inviting them to accept the religion of Islam.
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The Emperor of Persia
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The King of Egypt
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The Negus of Abyssinia
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The Emperor Hiraclius at Constantinople, and
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The King of Yemen
Thus he set the example for the fulfilment of his impelling mission, his “greatness of purpose,” the reclamation of the whole of humanity into the Master’s fold. Is there another example of such universality in another religion? Muhammad (pbuh) was not out to set or to break any records, he was simply carrying out the trust that was reposed in him by the Lord of Creation!
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SMALLNESS OF MEANS
Muhammad (pbuh) was born with no silver spoon in his mouth. His life begins with infinitesimal support. His father had died before he was bom. His mother dies by the time he was six years old. He was doubly-orphaned at this tender age, his grandfather Abdul-Muttalib takes charge of the child, but within three years he also died. As soon as he was able, he began to look after his uncle Abu Talib’s sheep and goats for his keep. Contrast this poor, double-orphaned Arab child with some of the great religious personalities that preceded him, and you must marvel at what Destiny had in store for him!
Abraham (pbuh) the spiritual father of Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (May the peace of God be upon them all), was the son of a very successful businessman of his time. Moses (pbuh) was reared in the house of Pharoah. Jesus (pbuh) though described as “a carpenter and the son of a carpenter,” was well endowed with learning as well as material means. Peter, Philip, Andrew, etc. all downed tools and followed him to be at his beck and call, not because he had any halo
[Halo.- An imaginary luminous ring or disc surrounding the head of saintly men and women in religious paintings.] on his head; there was no such thing, but because of his affluent attire and princely bearing. He could command mansions in Jerusalem for himself and his disciples even during the height of the festive season; and have sumptuous suppers arranged; and you could hear him reproach the materialistic Jews -
And when they found him (Jesus) on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”
Jesus answered them and said, “most assuredly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw the signs,
[The veracity of the Messiah's message and his mission.] but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. John 6:25-26
NOTHING TO OFFER
Muhammad (pbuh) had no bread nor meat to offer, no sugar-plums of any kind, in this world or the next! The only thing he could offer his bedraggled, poor shepherd people was trial and tribulations and the strait-jacketing of their lives here on earth and the good pleasures of God in the Hereafter. The life of the Prophet was an open book before them. He had shown them as to what he was; the nobility of his character, his integrity of purpose, his earnestness and fiery enthusiasm for the truth he had come to preach revealed the hero; and they followed him. Mr. Stanley Lane Poole’s estimate of our hero is so beautiful and yet so truthful that I cannot resist the temptation of quoting it here:
HE WAS AN ENTHUSIAST IN THAT NOBLEST SENSE WHEN ENTHUSIASM BECOMES THE SALT OF THE EARTH, THE ONE THING THAT KEEPS MEN FROM ROTTING WHILST THEY LIVE.
ENTHUSIASM IS OFTEN USED DESPITEFULLY, BECAUSE IT IS JOINED TO AN UNWORTHY CAUSE, OR FALLS UPON BARREN GROUND AND BEARS NO FRUIT. SO WAS IT NOT WITH MOHAMMED. HE WAS AN ENTHUSIAST WHEN ENTHUSIASM WAS THE ONE THING NEEDED TO SET THE WORLD AFLAME, AND HIS ENTHUSIASM WAS NOBLE FOR A NOBLE CAUSE. HE WAS ONE OF THOSE HAPPY FEW WHO HAVE ATTAINED THE SUPREME JOY OF MAKING ONE GREAT TRUTH THEIR VERY LIFE-SPRING.
HE WAS THE MESSENGER OF THE ONE GOD, AND NEVER TO HIS LIFE’S END DID HE FORGET WHO HE WAS, OR THE MESSAGE WHICH WAS THE MARROW OF HIS BEING. HE BROUGHT HIS TIDINGS TO HIS PEOPLE WITH A GRAND DIGNITY SPRUNG FROM THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF HIS HIGH OFFICE, TOGETHER WITH A MOST SWEET HUMILITY, WHOSE ROOTS LAY IN THE KNOW-LEDGE OF HIS OWN WEAKNESS.”
It may easliy be conceded that Muhammad (pbuh) was blessed with the flimsiest of human resources. In fact the odds were loaded against him. But what about his fortune towards the end of his earthly sojourn? He was the overlord of the whole of Arabia! What about the endless means at his disposal then? We will allow a Christian missionary to answer that -
HE WAS CAESAR AND POPE IN ONE, BUT HE WAS POPE WITHOUT THE POPE’S PRETENTIONS, AND 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 BY THE RIGHT DIVINE, IT WAS MOHAMMAD, FOR HE HAD ALL THE POWERS WITHOUT ITS INSTRUMENTS AND WITHOUT ITS SUPPORTS.” R. Bosworth Smith -Mohammad and Mohammadanism”, London 1874, p. 92
HIS HANDICAPS
His “weakness” was his strength. The very fact that he had no material means of support made him to put his entire trust in God, and God the Merciful did not forsake him. His success was all the more staggering. May not the Muslims justly say, the entire work was the work of God? And Muhammad (pbuh) his Instrument?
OUTSTANDING RESULTS
In the words of Thomas Carlyle – “One man against all men,”
[See full quotation by Thomas Carlyle on page 31.] to a hundred and twenty four thousand at the Farewell pilgrimage alone. How many were left behind of men, women and children, believers all?
On the 12th of RABI I., in the 11 th year after the Hijra,
[Hijra literally means Migration.] approximating to the 8th of June 632 of the Christian Era, whilst praying earnestly in whisper, the spirit of the great Prophet took flight to the “blessed companion-ship on high” (Ibn Hisham).
Hazrat Omar (May Allah be pleased with him), on receiving the sad news of the demise of the Holy Prophet, lost his bearings. He was so shocked that he blurted out “if anyone says that Muhammad is dead, I will chop off his head!” Hazrat Abu Bakr As-Siddiq presently verified that the Master had indeed departed from this world; and coming out from the Prophet’s apartment announced to the gathering throng outside, that, “Muhammad (pbuh) had indeed passed away. Those that worshipped Muhammad,” he said, “‘Let them know that Muhammad is dead, but those who worship Allah, let them know that Allah lives for ever!”
This brought Omar al-Farooq (R.A.) back to his senses. Could this man who was to become the second great Khaleefah of Islam at this moment imagine that fourteen hundred years later there would be a thousand million followers of Muhammad (pbuh) at one time? Could he have visualized that the religion of the Prophet would be the fastest growing religion in the world?1
Christianity had a 600-year start on Islam. Numerically the Christians claim to outnumber the followers of any other faith; this is true but let us look at the picture in its true perspective -
THERE ARE MORE PROFESSING CHRISTIANS IN THE WORLD THAN PROFESSING MUSLIMS, BUT THERE ARE MORE PRACTISING MUSLIMS IN THE WORLD THAN PRACTISING CHRISTIANS.
(Emphasis added) R.V.C. Bodley (the American) in “The Messenger: The Life of Mohammed.” U.S.A. 1969
1 understand from the above that Mr. Bodley is trying to tell us that there are people in the world who, when filling their census forms, will tick off the term Christian under “Religion.” It is not necessarily that they believe in the dogmas of Christianity. They could actually be atheists or bush-Baptists,
[Bush-Baptist: There are forty different Baptist Churches in the United States of America. But bush-Baptists are people with strong religious feelings yet will not go to any Church; and will not affiliate with any sect or denomination.]as opposed to being a Jew or Hindu or Muslim; coming from a Christian background they would for the purpose of convenience label themselves “Christian.” From that point of view, and from the point of view that a person who practises what he believes, there would be more Muslims in the world than Christians. Chronologically, Islam is six hundred years behind Christianity, but amazingly it is at least a very close second, and is catching up fast – the fastest growing religion in the world today (see chart on page 34). “One Billion!” The figure is outstanding and the sincerity and practise of the Believers astonishing!
Taking into account his own three objective standards: (a) “greatness of purpose;” (b) “smallness of means;” and (c) “outstanding results;” does Lamartine dare to produce another candidate greater than Muhammad (pbuh)? He further awes his readers with the multifarious roles of Muhammad (pbuh) in which he excelled, ie. Philosopher, Orator, Apostle, Legislator, Warrior, Conqueror of Ideas, the Restorer of Rational Beliefs, of a Cult without Images, the Founder of twenty Terrestrial Empires and of one Spiritual Empire, that Is Muhammad. As regards ALL standards (I repeat “ALL”) by which Human Greatness may be measured, we may well ask, “IS THERE ANY MAN GREATER THAN HE?” (Emphasis added).
No! Muhammad (pbuh) was the greatest man that ever lived! According to Lamartine the French historian. And God Almighty questions –
And Have We not raised high the esteem (in which) thou (O Muhammad) are held?
MOST ASSUREDLY THOU HAST, O MY LORD! Holy Quran 94:4
THE QUALITY OF MERCY
The Christian propagandists make the wild boast that there is nothing in the history of mankind to compare with the merciful and forgiving cry of Jesus (pbuh) on the cross … “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Luke 23:34
Amazing as it may sound, of the four writers of the Canonical Gospels, only St. Luke was inspired by the Holy ghost (?) to pen these words. The other three – Matthew, Mark and John never heard these words or they felt them to be too insipid or not important enough for recording. St. Luke was not even one of the twelve disciples selected by Jesus (pbuh). According to the revisers of the Revised Standard Version (RSV) of the Bible, these words are not in the most ancient manuscripts which by implication means that they are an interpolation.
In “The New King James Version,” (Copyrighted by the Thomas Nelson Publishers inr 1984), we are told that these words are “not in the original text” of the Greek manuscripts of St. Luke. In other words they have been fabricated by some pious gentleman. Although the quotation is unauthentic, we will still entertain it because it demonstrates great piety of loving one’s enemies and of unsurpassed forgiveness as preached by the Master himself.
For forgiveness to be of any worth, the forgiver must be in a position to forgive. If the victim of injustice is still in the clutches of his enemies; in that helpless position and he would cry out, “I FORGIVE YOU!” it would be meaningless. But if the aggrieved party had turned the tables on his enemies and was in a position of taking revenge or exact retribution, and yet say “I forgive you!”, only then would it mean something!
MUHAMMAD’S (PBUH) CLEMENCY
Contrast the alleged forgiveness from the “cross” with the historical bloodless conquest of Makkah by Muhammad (pbuh) at the head of ten thousand “saints”
[A fulfilment of another prophecy in Muhammad (pbuh). "...He came from mount Paran (that is in Arabia), and he came with ten thousand saints..." Deuteronomy 33:2.] (his companions).
“THE CITY WHICH HAD TREATED HIM SO CRUELLY, DRIVEN HIM AND HIS FAITHFUL BAND FOR REFUGE AMONGST STRANGERS, WHICH HAD SWORN HIS LIFE AND THE LIVES OF HIS DEVOTED DISCIPLES, LAY AT HIS FEET. HIS OLD PERSECUTERS RELENTLESS AND RUTHLESS, WHO HAD DISGRACED HUMANITY BY INFLICTING CRUEL OUTRAGES UPON INOFFENSIVE MEN AND WOMEN, AND EVEN UPON THE LIFELESS DEAD, WERE NOW COMPLETELY AT HIS MERCY. BUT IN THE HOUR OF HIS TRIUMPH EVERY EVIL SUFFERED WAS FORGOTTEN, EVERY INJURY INFLICTED WAS FORGIVEN, AND A GENERAL AMNESTY WAS EXTENDED TO THE POPULATION OF MAKKAH …” Sayed Amir Ali in “The Spirit of Islam”
Calling before him the populace of the vanquished city, he addressed them with “What do you expect at my hands today?” His people had known him too well, even from his childhood so they replied, “Mercy, 0 generous brother and nephew!” Tears came into the eyes of the Prophet, and he said, “I will speak to you as Joseph spoke unto his brethren, I will not reproach you today: go you are free!”
And now a scene was enacted of which there is really no parallel in the history of the world. Hosts upon hosts came forward and adopted the religion of Islam. God Almighty testifies as to the lofty and exalted behaviour of His Messenger – Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct). Holy Quran 33:21
How well has Lamartine1 unknowingly echoed these sentiments -
“AS REGARDS ALL STANDARDS BY WHICH HUMAN GREATNESS MAY BE MEASURED, WE MAY WELL ASK, IS THERE ANY MAN GREATER THAN HE?”
In reply, we too can say once more, “No! there is no man greater than Muhammad (pbuh). Muhammad (pbuh) was the greatest man that ever lived!”
So far, our hero has earned the unsolicited and ungrudging tributes from many non-Muslims of different religious persuasions and from varying intellectual fields of endeavour. But all this still remains incomplete without the Master’s verdict; Muhammad’s (pbuh) predecessor – Jesus Christ, (pbuh). We will now apply his own standard for evaluating greatness.
JOHN THE BAPTIST
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John the Baptist,
["JOHN- not to be confused with John the disciple of Jesus (pbuh). A very common name among the Jews and Arabs, even today, like Tarik Aziz the recent Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs. Real name Tarik Hanna Aziz; Hanna short for Yuhanna meaning John. No one in the non-Arab Muslim world knowing that our friend is a Christian Marxist.] Known throughout the Muslim world as Hazrat Yahya Alaihis-salaam (Peace be upon him) was a contemporary prophet of the Messiah. They were also cousins. Here is what the Master has to say of him:
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Full quotation of Larmartine will be found in Appendix “B” on page 61.
Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist:Matthew 11:11
Every son of man is “born of women.” By this very fact John the Baptist is greater than Moses, David, Solomon, Abraham or Isaiah; none of the Israelite prophets excluded. What gives John this ascendancy over every other prophet? It could not be any miracle, because the Bible records none to his credit. It could not be his teachings, because he brought no new laws or regulations. Then what makes him the greatest? Simply because he was the heralder, a pre-cursor, a harbinger of the happy news of the coming of the Messiah. This is what made John the greatest, but Jesus (pbuh) claims that he himself was even greater than the greatest (ie. John). Why?
But I have greater witness than that of John (the Baptist): For The Works which the Father hath given me to finish: (Emphasis added) John 5:36
It is the “witness,” the commission which God Almighty had entrusted him with, which makes Jesus (pbuh) greater than even John. Applying these very standards as enunciated by the Master, we find that –
1. John the Baptist was the greatest of all the Israelite prophets, because he heralded the mighty Messiah (Jesus pbuh). Similarly Jesus (pbuh) would be greater than even John because he heralded “The Spirit of Truth, the Comforter,” who was to guide mankind into all Truth (of the Gospel of St. John, chapter 16).
[ For a detalted explanation about this prophecy, obtain today your FREE copy of the book -MUHUMMED (pbuh) the Natural Successor to CHRIST (pbuh) from the IPCI.]
2. The diocese, the mission of Jesus (pbuh), or “the works which God had given him to accomplish,” was limited to the Lost sheep of the House of Israel (Matthew 15:24), whereas the mission of Muhammad (pbuh) was universal. He had been told -
And we have sent thee not (O Muhammad), but as a Mercy unto (all) the worlds. Holy Quran 21:107
In keeping with his grand commission, Muhammad (pbuh) consistently delivered his Message to one and all who would hear, irrespective of race, class or creed, He welcomed them all in the religion of God, without any discrimination. He had no thought of dividing the creatures of God into “dogs and pigs” (Matthew 7:6) or into “sheep and goats” (Matthew 25:32). He was the Messenger of the One True God, who was sent as a Mercy unto all mankind, nay, unto the whole universe (H.Q. 21:107 above). And, he never forgot this mission even right up to his dying day.
Towards the end of his earthly sojourn, when he could look back to a hectic and dangerous past, now crowned with success; he now feels that he could sit back and enjoy the fruits of his toil; he dreams of a life free from turmoil and full of satisfaction and relaxation. Not for him! There is no time to rest or relax. There is work still to be done. God Almighty reminds him – - WE HAVE NOT SENT THEE (O MUHAMMAD) BUT TO THE WHOLE OF MANKIND.
AS A GIVER OF GLAD TIDINGS AND AS A WARNER,
BUT MOST OF MANKIND STILL DO NOT KNOW.
Holy Quran 34:28
[This is your last chance to memorize the text and the translation of this verse. It you are lackadaisical, we can only mourn your loss.]
How was he to respond to this new challenge in his ripening old age? There were no electronic gadgets of modern communication methods at his disposal; there were no telex and fax machines which he could exploit. What could he do? Being an ummi (unlettered), he called the scribes and dictated five letters, one each to the Emperor at Constantinople, the King of Egypt, the Negus of Abyssinia, the King of Yemen and to the Emperor in Persia. He called forth five Sahaaba (his holy companions) with five Arab steeds and set them out in five different directions inviting the nations of the world to the universal religion of God.
I had the good fortune of seeing one of those holy epistles in the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul (old Constantinople) Turkey. That letter is collecting dust! Materially the Turks have preserved the parchment. But the Message is collecting dust, as I have said.
The letter begins, “From Muhammad the Messenger of God, to Heraclius the Emperor at Constantinople:
Accept Islam and be benefited.” followed by this exhortation from the Book of God – -
SAY: “O PEOPLE OF THE BOOK!
["People of the Book," stands for the Jews and the Christians. You will never have it so good for learning Allah's Kalaam. Don't ignore this opportunity. Memorize the verses as they occur.]
COME TO COMMON TERMS AS BETWEEN US AND YOU:
THAT WE WORSHIP NONE BUT GOD;
THAT WE ASSOCIATE NO PARTNERS WITH HIM;
THAT WE ERECT NOT, FROM AMONG OURSELVES, LORDS AND PATRONS OTHER THAN GOD.”
IF THEN THEY TURN BACK, SAY YE: “BEAR WITNESS THAT WE (AT LEAST) ARE MUSLIMS (BOWING TO GOD’S WILL) Holy Quran 3:64
After the above Quranic insertion in the letter, it is concluded with felicitation in the Prophet’s own words, ending with a seal on which is inscribed – “There is no other object of worship but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger.”
The letter in Turkey arouses our curiosity; and interest with regards to its preservation, but the preservation itself is lost upon the sightseer. The same Quranic Message is in almost every Muslim home; being read and re-read a thousand times over without the reader being moved to deliver its Message to the addressees!
Glance once more at the above verse. It is addressed to the “ahle-Kitaab,” – the People of the Book, the Jews and the Christians. But, for over a thousand years we have utterly ignored that great directive at our own peril. We are sitting on that Message like a cobra on a pile of wealth, keeping the rightful heirs at bay. This utter neglect will continue to inflict untold suffering to the Ummah for generations to come.
After over fourteen hundred years of our reading, and chanting the Quran in every rhythmic style, we still hear this poignant cry:
But Most of mankind still do not know. Holy Quran 34:28
This is the concluding phrase of the verse revealed fourteen hundred years ago. It was the factual situation of the then religious world. The question which must be asked is if it is any different today? Not at all! There are today more Mushriks in the world than there are believers in the One True God.
Is there any hope of changing this situation? Allah commanded His Prophet then as He is commanding us now through the first seven verses of Sura Muddaththir (chapter 74).
1. 0 THOU WRAPPED UP (IN A MANTLE)! “As usual, there is these wonderful early mystical verses (including the ones that follow), a triple thread of thought:
-
A particular occasion or person is referred to
(b) a general spiritual lesson is taught, and
(c) a more profound mystical reverie is suggested.
As to (a), the Prophet was now past the stage of personal contemplation. Wearing his mantle; he was now to go forth and boldly deliver his Message and publicly proclaim Allah The One True God. His heart had always been purified, but now all his outward doings must be dedicated to God, and conventional respect for ancestral customs or worship must be thrown aside. The work of his Messengership was the most generous that could flow from his personality, but no reward or appreciation was to be expected from his people, but quite the contrary, there would be much call on his patience, but his contentment would arise from the good pleasure of God.
As to (b), similar stages arise in a minor degree in the life of every good man, for which the Prophet’s life is to be a universal pattern.
As to (c), the Sufis understand, by the mantle and outward wrappings, the circumstances of our phenomenal existence, which are necessary to our physical comfort up to a certain stage; but we soon outgrow them, and our inner nature should then boldly proclaim itself, not that it brings any credit or reward with men; the very hope of expectation of such would be inconsistent with our higher nature, which should bear all checks and rejoice in the favour of God.”
2. ARISE AND DELIVER THY WARMING!
3. AND THY LORD DO THOU MAGNIFY!
4. AND THY GARMENTS KEEP FREE FROM STAIN!
5. AND ALL ABOMINATION SHUN!
“(a) Rujz or Rijz means abomination and is usually understood to mean idolatry. It is even possible that there was an idol called RUJZ. But these days it has a wider significance as including a mental state opposed to true worship, a state of doubt or indecision.”
6. NOR EXPECT, IN GIVING, ANY INCREASE (FOR THYSELF)!
“(b) The legal and commercial formula is that you give in order to receive what is worth to you a little more than you give, but expect nothing from the receiver. You serve God and God’s creatures.”
7. BUT, FOR THY LORD’S (CAUSE) BE PATIENT AND CONSTANT! (c)
[Remember to memorize Allah's Kalaam with its meaning]
Holy Quran 74:1-7
“(c) Our zeal for God’s Cause itself requires that we should not be impatient, and that we should show constancy in our efforts for His Cause. For we have faith, and we know that He is All-Good, All-Wise, and All-Powerful, and everything will ultimately be right.” AbdullahYusuf Ali
[The English translation and the commentaries were by Abdullah Yusuf Ali. Obtain your volume from the IPCI at a specially subsidised price. Ako order a volume for your non-Muslim friends.]
To the Arabs in general and to our Holy Prophet in particular “a mantle” was the protective covering used for protection against the sun, wind and sand. He was so to say girding himself, rolling up his sleeves, to accomplish his task. Although most of the Muslims in the world do not cover themselves with shawls (mantles), in their day to day living, they carry a host of mantles in the way of inferiority complexes.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE GOD’S LIGHT SHINE FORTH THROUGH THE DARKNESS AROUND US?
WE MUST FIRST LET IT SHINE IN OUR OWN TRUE SELVES WITH THAT LIGHT IN THE NICHE OF OUR INMOST HEARTS WE CAN WALK WITH STEPS BOTH FIRM AND SURE: WE CAN HUMBLY VISIT THE COMFORTLESS AND GUIDE THEIR STEPS. NOT WE, BUT THE LIGHT WILL GUIDE! BUT OH! THE JOY OF BEING FOUND WORTHY TO BEAR THE TORCH, AND TO SAY TO OUR BRETHREN- “I TOO WAS IN DARKNESS, COMFORTLESS, AND BEHOLD, I HAVE FOUND COMFORT AND JOY IN THE GRACE DIVINE!” THUS SHOULD WE PAY THE DUES OF BROTHERHOOD, – - BY WALKING HUMBLY SIDE BY SIDE, IN THE WAYS OF THE LORD, WITH MUTUAL AID AND COMFORT, AND HEARTFELT PRAYER, BACKED BY ACTION, THAT GOD’S GOOD PURPOSE MAY BE ACCOMPLISHED, IN US ALL TOGETHER!
BUT MOST OF MANKIND STILL DO NOT KNOW
Thus spake, inspired our Holy prophet, Muhammad (pbuh) on whom we invoke God’s blessings for ever and ever – AAMEEN!
APPENDIX “A”
He attained the height of eminence by his perfection;
He dispelled the darkness (of the world) by his grace;
Excellent were all his qualities,
Pray for blessings on him and his descendants.
Shaikh Sa’di Sheeraazi (RA)
APPENDIX “B”
“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 Muhammed moved not only armies, legislations, empires, peoples nd dynasties, but millions of men; and more than that the altars, the gods, the religions, the ideas, the beliefs and the souls. On the basis of a Book, every letter of which has become law, he created a spiritual nationality which blended together peoples of every tongue and of every race … The idea of the unity of God, proclaimed amidst the exhaustion of fabulous theologies, was in itself such a miracle that upon its utterance from his lips it destroyed all the ancient superstitions … 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 twofold, the unity of God and the Immateriality of God; the former telling what God is, the latter telling what God is not …
… “PHILOSOPHER, ORATOR, APOSTLE, LEGISLATOR, WARRIOR, CONQUEROR OF IDEAS, RESTORER OF RATIONAL BELIEFS, of a cult without images; the founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire, that is Muhammed. AS REGARDS ALL STANDARDS BY WHICH HUMAN GREATNESS MAY BE MEASURED, WE MAY WELL ASK, IS THERE ANY MAN GREATER THAN HE?”
(Lamartine, Historie de la Turquie, Paris 1854, Vol II pp.276-277).
APPENDIX “C”
JULES MASSERMAN, U.S. psychoanalyst
TIME, JULY 15, 1974
Leaders must fulfil three functions – - – provide for the well-being of the led, provide a social organization in which people feel relatively secure, and provide them with one set of beliefs. People like Pasteur and Salk are leaders in the first sense.
People like Gandhi and Confucius, on one hand, and Alexander, Caesar and Hitler on the other, are leaders in the second and perhaps the third sense. Jesus and Buddha belong in the third category alone. PERHAPS THE GREATEST LEADER OF ALL TIMES WAS MOHAMMED, WHO COMBINED ALL THREE FUNCTIONS. To a lesser degree Moses did the same. (Emphasis added)
APPENDIX “D”
Fidelity is said to be a human attribute,
Which makes the modern gentleman distinguished from the brute,
But that supreme fidelity, inborn in every hound, Which is the mark of man’s best friend, In man, it’s rarely found!
A South African Poet.
