The Islam that was revealed to Muhammad
(PBUH) is the continuation and culmination of all the preceding revealed religions
and hence it is for all times and all peoples. This status of Islam is sustained
by glaring facts. First, there is no other revealed book extant in the
same form and content as it was revealed. Secondly, no other revealed
religion has any convincing claim to provide guidance in all walks of human
life for all times. But Islam addresses humanity at large and offers basic
guidance regarding all human problems. Moreover, it has withstood the
test of fourteen hundred years and has all the potentialities of establishing
an ideal society as it did under the leadership of the last Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH).It was a miracle that Prophet
Muhammad could win even his toughest enemies to the fold of Islam without
adequate material resources. Worshippers of idols, blind followers of the
ways of forefathers, promoters of tribal feuds, abusers of human dignity and
blood, became the most disciplined nation under the guidance of Islam and
its Prophet. Islam opened before them vistas of spiritual heights and human
dignity by declaring righteousness as the sole criterion on merit and honour.
Islam shaped their social, cultural, moral and commercial life with basic
laws and principles which are most in conformity with human nature and hence
applicable in all times as human nature does not change.
It is so unfortunate that the Christian West instead of sincerely trying to
understand the phenomenal success of Islam during its earlier time, considered
it as a rival religion. During the centuries of the Crusades this trend gained
much force and impetus and huge literature was produced to tarnish the image
of Islam. But Islam has begun to unfold its genuineness to the modern scholars
whose bold and objective observations on Islam belie all the charges levelled
against it by the so-called unbiased orientalists. Here we furnish some observations
on Islam by great and acknowledged non-Muslim scholars of modern time. Truth
needs no advocate to plead on its behalf. But the prolonged malicious propaganda
against Islam has created great confusion even in the minds of free and objective
thinkers.We hope that the following
observations would contribute to initiating an objectived evaluation of Islam.It
(Islam) replaced monkishness by manliness. It gives hope to the slave,
brotherhood to mankind, and recognition of the fundamental facts of human
nature.
Cannon Taylor.
Paper read before the Chursh Congress at Walverhamton, Oct. 7, 1887,
Quoted by Arnond in the Preaching of Islam, p.p. 71-72.Sense
of justice is one of the most wonderful ideals of Islam, because as I read
in the Qur'an I find those dynamic principles of life, not mystic but practical
ethics for the daily conduct of life suited to the whole world.
Serojini Naidu,
Lectures on "The Ideal of Islam" see
Speeches and Writings of Sarojini Naidu, Madras, 1918, p. 167.History
makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through
the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races
is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated.
De Lacy O'Leary,
Islam at the Crossroads, London, 1923 p. 8.But
Islam has a still further service to render to the cause of humanity.
It stands after all nearer to the real East than Europe does, and it possesses
a magnificent tradition of inter-racial understanding and cooperation.
No other society has such a record of success in uniting in an equality of
status, of opportunity, and of endeavours so many and so various races of
mankind... Islam has still the power to reconcile apparently irreconcilable
elements of race and tradition. If ever the opposition of the great societies
of East and West is to be replaced by cooperation, the mediation of Islam
is an indispensable condition. In its hands lies very largely the solution
of the problem with which Europe is faced in its relation with East.
If they unite, the hope of a peaceful issue is immeasurably enhanced.
But if Europe, by rejecting the cooperation of Islam, throws it into the arms
of its rivals, the issue can only be disastrous for both.
H. A. R. Gibb, Whither Islam,
London, 1932, p. 379.I have
always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful
vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me to possess that
assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence which can make itself
appeal to every age. I have studied him-the wonderful man and in my
opinion far from being an anti-Christ, 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 the much needed peace and happiness: I have prophesied about the faith
of Muhammad that it would be acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is
beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today.G.
B. Shaw, The Genuine Islam,
Vol. 1, No. 81936.The extinction
of race consciousness as between Muslims is one of the outstanding achievements
of Islam and in the contemporary world there is, as it happens, a crying need
for the propagation of this Islamic virtue..
A. J. Toynbee, Civilization on Trial,
New York, 1948, p. 205.
The rise of Islam is perhaps the most amazing event in human history.
Springing from a land and a people like previously negligible, Islam spread
within a century over half the earth, shattering great empires, overthrowing
long-established religions, remoulding the souls of races, and building up
a whole new world - world of Islam. The closer we examine this development
the more extraordinary does it appear. The other great religions won
their way slowly, by painful struggle and finally triumphed with the aid of
powerful monarchs converted to the new faith. Christianity had its Constantine,
Budhism its Asoka, and Zoroastrianism its Cyrus, each lending to his chosen
cult the mighty force of secular authority, Not so Islam. Arising in a desert
land sparsely inhabited by a nomad race previously undistinguished in human
annals. Islam sallied forth on its great adventure with the slenderest human
backing and against the heaviest material odds. Yet Islam triumphed with seemingly
miraculous ease, and a couple of generations saw the Fiery Crescent borne
victorious from the Pyrenees to the Himalayas and from the desert of Central
Asia to the deserts of Central Africa.
A. M. L. Stoddard, quoted in Islam - The Region of All Prophets,
Begum Bawani Waqf, Karachi, Pakistan p. 56
Islam is a religion that is essentially rationalistic in the widest
sense of this term considered etymologically and historically. The definition
of rationalism as a system that bases religious belief on principles furnished
by the reason applies to it exactly.. It cannot be denied that many doctrines
and systems of theology and also many superstitions, from the worship of saints
to the use of rosaries and amulets, have become grafted on the main trunk
of Muslim creed. But inspite of the rich development, in every sense
of the term, of the teachings of the Prophet, the Quran has invariably kept
its place as the fundamental starting point, and the dogma of unity of God
has always been proclaimed therein with a grandeur, a majesty, an invariable
purity and with a note of sure conviction, which it is hard to find surpassed
outside the pale of Islam. This fidelity to the fundamental dogma of
the religion, the elemental simplicity of the formula in which it is enunciated,
the proof that it gains from the fervid conviction of the missionaries who
propagate it, are so many causes to explain the success of Muhammadan missionary
efforts. A creed so precise, so stripped of all theological complexities
and consequently so accessible to the ordinary understanding might be expected
to possess and does indeed possess a marvellous power of winning its way into
the consciences of men.
Edward Montet,
"La Progpagande hretienne et ses Adversaries Musulmans" Paris 1890.
quoted by T.W. Arnold in the Preaching of Islam London 1913,
pp. 413-414I am not a Muslim
in the usual sense, though I hope I am a "Muslim" as "one surrendered
to God", I but believe that embedded in the Quran and other expressions
of the Islamic vision are vast stores of divine truth from which I and other
occidentals have still much to learn; and 'Islam is certainly a strong contender
for the supplying of the basic framework of the one religion of the future.'
W. Montgomery Watt, Islam and Christianity Today
London 1983, p. IXReferencesT.
B. Irving, et al. : The Quran : Basic Teachings
Hamuda Abdulati : Islam in Focus
M. Qutb : Islam : The Misunderstood Religion
Maudoodi : Towards Understanding Islam
Maurice Bucaille : The Bible, The Quran and Science
Suname Haneef : What Everyone Should Know About Islam and the Muslims.