Model and Mercy to Mankind (1/3)

In truth, Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was and is for persons in the Arabian world, and for many others, the religious reformer, lawgiver, and leader; the prophet per se. Basically Muhammad (Peace be upon him), who never claimed to be anything more than a human being, is more to those who follow him than a prophet is to us: he is a model for the mode of life that Islam strives to be:

I am convinced that, despite all the renewed fears of Islam, there is a growing conviction among Christians that, in the light of Muhammad’s (Peace be upon him) place in world history, we must correct our attitude toward Islam. The “scourge of exclusiveness”, arising from Christian dogmatic impatience and intolerance, condemned by the British historian Arnold Toynbee, must be abandoned. Regarding the figure of the prophet, I believe the following must be admitted:

• Arabians in the seventh century rightly listened to and followed the voice of Muhammad (Peace be upon him).

• In comparison to the very worldly polytheism of the old Arabian tribal religions before Muhammad (Peace be upon him), the religion of the people was raised to a completely new level, that of a purified monotheism.

• The first Muslims received from Muhammad (Peace be upon him) — or, better still, from the Qur’an — endless inspiration, courage, and strength for a new religious start: a start toward greater truth and deeper understanding, toward a breakthrough in the revitalizing and renewal of traditional religion.

In truth, Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was and is for persons in the Arabian world, and for many others, the religious reformer, lawgiver, and leader; the prophet per se. Basically Muhammad (Peace be upon him), who never claimed to be anything more than a human being, is more to those who follow him than a prophet is to us: he is a model for the mode of life that Islam strives to be.

If the Catholic Church, according to the Vatican II “Declaration on Non-Christian Religions”, “regards with esteem the Muslims”, then the same church must also respect the one whose name is embarrassingly absent from the same declaration, although he and he alone led the Muslims to pray to this one God, for through him this God “has spoken to humanity”: Muhammad the prophet. But does not such an acknowledgment have very grave consequences, especially for the message he proclaimed, the teachings set down in the Qur’an? (Hans Kung) (An excerpt taken from “Christianity and World Religions: Dialogue with Islam”, in Leonard Swidler (ed.), Muslims in Dialogue: The Evolution of A Dialogue, vol. 3, Published by the Edwin Mellen Press, 1992).

To them Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was Antichrist. I have studied him, the wonderful man, and in my opinion far from being an Antichrist he must be called the savior of humanity:

I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to possess that assimilating capability to the changing phases of existence which can make it appeal to every age...

I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad (Peace be upon him) that it would be acceptable to the Europe of today. Medieval ecclesiastics, either through ignorance or bigotry, painted Muhammad in the darkest colors. They were, in fact, trained to hate both the man Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and his Religion (Islam).

To them Muhammad was Antichrist. I have studied him, the wonderful man, and in my opinion far from being an Antichrist he must be called the savior of humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world he would succeed in solving the problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness. Europe is beginning to be enamored of the creed of Muhammad. In the next century it may go still further in recognizing the utility of that creed in solving its problems, and it is in this sense that you must understand my prediction. (Graham Bernard Shaw, 1935, p.77)

Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is a model in every phase of life. His achievements are not limited to one aspect of life, but cover the whole field of human conditions:

To ascertain the whole truth of the personality of Muhammad is very difficult. Only a glimpse of it can be caught. What a dramatic succession of picturesque scenes? There is Muhammad, the Prophet. There is Muhammad, the General; Muhammad, the King; Muhammad, the Warrior; Muhammad, the Businessman; Muhammad, the Preacher; Muhammad, the Orator; Muhammad, the Reformer; Muhammad, the Refuge of Orphans; Muhammad, the Protector of Slaves; Muhammad, the Emancipator of Women; Muhammad, the Judge; Muhammad, the Saint. And in all these magnificent roles, in all these departments of human activities, he is like a hero.

Orphan hood is the extreme of helplessness and his life upon this earth began with it. Kingship is the height of the material power and his life ended with it. From an orphan boy, to a persecuted refugee, then to an overlord --spiritual as well as temporal - of a whole nation and arbiter of its destinies, with all its trials and temptations, with all its vicissitudes and changes, its lights and shades, its ups and downs, its terror and splendor, he has stood the fire of the world and come out unscathed to serve as a model in every phase of life. His achievements are not limited to one aspect of life, but cover the whole field of human conditions. (K. S. Ramakrishna Rao 1987, p. 16)

Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was a divinely guided leader:

Head of the State as well as the Church he was Caesar and Pope in one: but he was Pope without Pope’s pretensions, Caesar without the legions of Caesar, without a standing army, without a bodyguard, without a palace, without a fixed revenue, and if ever any man had the right to say that he ruled by the Right Divine, it was Muhammad, for he had all the power without its instruments and without its supports.” (B. Smith, 1874, p.92) (Note the Author embraced Islam.)

Muhammad (Peace be upon him) enjoyed the greatest power and aimed at the universal dominion of Islam:

His military triumphs awakened no pride or vain glory, as they would have done had they been affected by selfish purposes. In the time of his greatest power he maintained the same simplicity of manners and appearance as in the days of his adversity. So far from affecting a real state, he was displeased if, on entering a room, any unusual testimonial of respect were shown him. If he aimed at universal dominion, it was the dominion of the faith; as to the temporal rule which grew up in his hands, as he used it without ostentation, so he took no step to perpetuate it in his family. (Irving Washington, 1969, p. 199)

(Continued)