Al-Ameen

A. "A man of truth and fidelity; true in what he did, in what he spoke and thought. They noted that he always meant something. A man rather taciturn in speech; silent when there was nothing to be said; but pertinent wise, sincere, when he did speak; always throwing light on the matter. This is the only sort of speech worth speaking!" Heroes and Hero-Worship, p. 69

B. Muhammad (Peace be upon him) naturally gave offence to the Quraish, keepers of the kaabah, super intendents of the idols. One or two men of influence had joined him:

“The thing spread slowly, but it was spreading, naturally he gave offence to everybody." [The Jews hated the Prophet: the Christians hated the Prophet: the mushriks (the Polytheists) hated the Prophet, and the Munafiqeen (the hypocrites) hated the Prophet. It is the nature of Falsehood to hate the Truth. Light dismisses Darkness, but darkness does not take kindly to light. ] Heros and Hero-Worship, p. 77 c.

"Not a mealy mouthed man! A candid ferocity, if the case calls for it, is in him; he does not mince matrers! The war of Tabuc is a thing he often speaks of: his men refused, many of them, to march on that occasion; pleaded the heat of the weather, the harvest, and so forth; he can never forget that your harvest? It lasts for a day. What will become of your harvest through all eternity? Hot weather? Yes, it was hot; 'But hell will be hotter!' sometimes a rough sarcasm turns up: He says to the unbelievers, ye shall not have short weight!" heroes and Hero-Worship, p. 95/6.

Remember, Thomas Carlyle uttered these words, and many more to a shocked and bewildered Christian audience in England, a hundred and fifty years ago. History did not record for us the lively arguments and debates which his lecture must naturally have caused. He kept to his promise: "I mean to say all the good of him (his Hero Prophet) I justly can" and he went on in his talk to defend Muhammad (peace be upon him) against the false charges, slander and calumnies of his enemies.