by Ahmad Deedat

"And most certainly, thou (O Muhammad) are of most sublime and exalted character."1 (The Holy Quran, 68:4)

How the Topic Arose
About ten years ago, a distant cousin of mine - Mr. Mohamed Mehtar Farooki2 gave me a typed quotation by the French historian, Lamartine. The quotation3 purported to prove that Muhammad (pbuh), the prophet of Islam, was the greatest man that ever lived. Mr. Mehtar was in the habit of passing information on to me, believing that I might put the same to some good use at the proper time and place. Before this he had presented me with "The Call of the Minaret," an expensive book written by (Bishop Kenneth Cragg). By analysing this book I discovered the
masterful deceit of the Christian orientalists.

1. I urge my Muslim brethren to memorize the verse in Arabic and its meaning.
2. Mr. Mehtar was for a long time editor of the Muslim newspaper "The Indian Views," in South Africa.
3. A detailed exposition of the quotation will be found on page 38.

Lamartine's tribute to our prophet inspired me and I had a great desire to share his thoughts about our Nabee with my Muslim brethren. The opportunity to do so was not long in coming.
I received a phone call from the Muslim community in
Dannhauser, a small town in Northern Natal,, who were
organising a birthday celebration of the Holy Prophet. They
invited me to give a lecture on that auspicious occasion. So I
deemed it an honour and a privilege, I readily agreed.
When they inquired, in view of their advertising needs, as to
the subject of my lecture, I suggested on the inspiration
from Lamartine, "Muhammad (pbuh) the Greatest."

REPEATED LET-DOWNS
On my arrival in Dannhauser, I noticed a lot of posters
advertising the meeting which in essence said that Deedat
would be lecturing on the subject "MUHAMMAD THE GREAT."
I was somewhat disheartened and, on inquiring was told that
the change in the title was due to a printer's error.
Some two months later, I got another, similar invitation.
This time from the Muslim community of Pretoria the
administrative capital of South Africa. The subject I had
mooted was the same - "Muhammad (pbuh) the Greatest."
To my dismay the topic was again changed to "MUHAMMAD
THE GREAT." Identical reasons and excuses were given. Both
these incidences happened in South Africa, my own country.
But, let me give you one more example of our inferiority
complex - so much part of the sickness of the Ummah.

USA NO DIFFERENT
On my lecture tour of the mighty United States in 1977,
1 discovered that our soldiers in the New World also had
feet of clay. Out of the many sad experiences I have had, I
think that this one will suffice to prove the point.


The Muslims of Indianapolis were advised to organise a
lecture for me on the subject "What the Bible says about
Muhammad (pbuh)".1 T'hey agreed to advertise just that,
but their timidity did not permit them to do so. They
thought the topic was too provocative, so they, in their
wisdom (?), toned it down to "A PROPHET IN THE BIBLE." A
lifeless, insipid title you will no doubt agree. Which Hindu,
Muslim, Christian or Jew would be intrigued to attend? What
does "A PROPHET" mean? To most A PROPHET means ANY
PROPHET, and who would be interested in attending a
meeting where just any prophet in the Bible was debated?
Job, Joel, Jonah, Ezra, Elisha, Ezekiel are just a few of the
many mentioned in the Bible. As was to be expected the
attendance left much to be desired.
INFERIORITY COMPLEX
What is the cause of this sickness? This inferiority
complex? "Yes!" We are an emasculated people. Dynamism
has been wringed out of us, not only by our enemies but
by our own spiritless friends. We even dare not repeat
Allah's Own testimony regarding his beloved -

And Most Certainly, Thou (O Muhammad) Are of most sublime And Exalted Character.
Holy Quran 68:4 2

THE MOST INFLUENTIAL
Normally, it is quite, natural for anyone to love, praise,
idolize or hero-worship ones leader, be it a guru, saint or
prophet: and very often we do.

1. A book with the same title is available absolutely FREE from the IPCI.
2. This verse, together with its Arabic text heads this chapter memorize the vene with its meaning.


Regards,
Sardarzada

However, if I were to reproduce here1 what great
Muslims have said or written about our illustrious prophet, it
could be played down as exaggeration, fancy or idolization
by the sceptics and the opponents of Islam. Therefore, allow
me to quote unbiased historians, friendly critics and even
avowed enemies of that mighty Messenger of God -
Muhammad (pbuh). If the tributes of the non-Muslims do
not touch your hearts, then you are in the wrong faith. Opt
out of Islam! There is already too much deadwood on the
"ship" of Islam.
In recent times, a book has been published in America
titled "The 100," or the Top One Hundred, or the Greatest
Hundred in History. A certain Michael H. Hart, described as a
historian, mathematician and astronomer has written this
novel book. He has searched history, seeking for men who
had the greatest influence on mankind. In this book he
gives us The hundred most influential men, including Asoka,
Aristotle, Buddha, Confucius, Hitler, Plato, and Zoroaster. He
does not give us a mere chart of the topmost "one
hundred" from the point of view of their influence on
people, but he evaluates the degree of their influence and
rates them in order of their excellence from No. 1, through
to No. 100. He gives us his reasons for the placing of his
candidates. We are not asked to agree with him, but we
cannot help admire the man's research and honesty.
The most amazing thing about his selection is that he
has put our Nabee-e-Kareem, the Holy Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) as No. 1, 2 the first of his "100!" Thus confirming,
unknowingly, God's Own testimony in His Final Revelation to
the World:

MOST CERTAINLY, YOU HAVE
IN THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH 1
AN EXCELLENT PATTERN (OF BEHAVIOUR)
Holy Quran 33:21
JESUS (PBUH) No. 3!

Hart placing the Prophet of Islam as No. 1, has naturally
pleased the Muslims. But his choice has shocked the
Non-Muslims, more specially the Jews and the Christians,
who consider this as an affront. What? Jesus (pbuh) No. 3 and
Moses (pbuh) No. 40! This is for them very difficult to stomach,
but what says Hart? Let us hear his arguments -

SINCE THERE ARE ROUGHLY TWICE2 AS MANY
CHRISTIANS IN THE WORLD, IT MAY INITIALLY
SEEM STRANGE THAT MUHAMMAD HAS BEEN
RANKED HIGHER THAN JESUS. THERE ARE TWO
PRINCIPAL REASONS FOR THAT DECISION.
FIRST, MUHAMMAD PLAYED A FAR MORE
IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF
ISLAM THAN JESUS DID IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF
CHRISTIANITY.
ALTHOUGH JESUS WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
MAIN ETHICAL AND MORAL PRECEPTS OF
CHRISTIANITY (INSOFAR AS THESE DIFFERED FROM
JUDAISM), ST. PAUL WAS THE MAIN DEVELOPER
OF CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY, ITS PRINCIPAL

1. Allah: A proper noun for God Almighty in the Semitic languages: i.e. in the languages
of Moses , Jesus and Muhammad (Peace be on them all). For more details obtain
"What Is His name?" from the I.P.C.I.
2. The latest estimate is that there are one thousand million Muslims in the world and
one thousand two hundred million Christians.

PROSELYTIZER, AND THE AUTHOR OF A LARGE
PORTION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.
MUHAMMAD, HOWEVER, WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR
BOTH THE THEOLOGY OF ISLAM AND ITS MAIN
ETHICAL AND MORAL PRINCIPLES.
IN ADDITION, HE PLAYED THE KEY ROLE IN
PROSELYTIZING THE NEW FAITH, AND IN
ESTABLISHING THE RELIGIOUS PRACTICES OF
ISLAM.
Michael H. Hart in his book - "THE 100"-pages 38/39
PAUL THE FOUNDER OF CHRISTIANITY

According to Hart, the honor for founding Christianity
is to be shared between Jesus (pbuh) and St. Paul. The latter
he believes to be the real founder of Christianity.
I cannot help agreeing with Hart. Out of the total of 27
Books of the New Testament, more than half is authored by
Paul. As opposed to Paul, the Master has not written a single
word of the twenty-seven books. If you can lay your hands
on what is called "'A Red Letter Bible," you will find every
word alleged to have been uttered by Jesus (pbuh) - in
red ink and the rest in normal black ink. Don't be shocked
to find that in this so called "Injeel," the Gospel of Jesus,
over ninety percent of the 27 Books of the New Testament
is printed in black ink!
This is the candid Christian confession on what they call
the "Injeel." In actual any confrontation with Christian
missionaries, you will find them quoting one hundred
percent from Paul.
NO ONE FOLLOWS JESUS (PBUH)
Jesus (pbuh) said,
"If you love me, keep my commandments."



Regards,
Sardarzada

__________________
God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him! How shall we console ourselves, the most murderous of all murderers? The holiest and the mightiest that the world has hitherto possessed, has bled to death under our knife....

He said further,
Whosoever therefore shall break one of
these least commandments, and shall
teach men so, he shall be called the
least in the kingdom of heaven . . ." (matthew 5:19)
Every Christian controversialist you question, "Do you
keep the laws and the commandments?" will answer, "No!"
If you ask further, "Why don't you?" He will if he is a Bible-
thumper, invariably reply, "The law is nailed to the cross!"
Meaning the law is done away with. "We are now living
under grace!"
Every time you prod him with what his Lord and Master
(pbuh) had said, he will confront you with something from
Cornithians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, etc. If you ask,
"Who are they?" You will hear, 'Paul, Paul, Paul!" "Who is
your master?" you question, and he will say, "Jesus!" But he
will ever and anon contradict his own Jesus (pbuh) by his
Paul!
No learned Christian will ever dispute the fact that the
real founder of Christianity is St. Paul. Therefore, Michael H.
Hart to be fair, had to place Jesus (pbuh), in slot number
three.
WHY PROVOKE YOUR CUSTOMER?
This placing of Christ in the number three spot by
Michael H. Hart poses a very serious question for us. Why
would an American publish a book of 572 pages in America
and selling in America for $15 each, go out of his way to
provoke his potential readers?
Who will buy his books? Surely, not the Pakistanis and
the Bangladeshis, neither the Arabs nor the Turks! Except for

a few copies here and there, the overwhelming number of
his customers will be from the 250 million Christians and the
6 million Jews of America. Then why did he provoke his
customers? Did he not hear the dictum - "the customer is
always right!" Of course he did. Then why his daring
choice. But before I close this episode of Hart, I will
allow him to make his one last apology for his "temerity."
"MY CHOICE OF MUHAMMAD TO LEAD THE LIST
OF THE WORLD'S MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS
MAY SURPRISE SOME READERS AND MAY BE
QUESTIONED BY OTHERS, BUT HE WAS THE ONLY
MAN IN HISTORY WHO WAS SUPREMELY
SUCCESSFUL ON BOTH THE RELIGIOUS AND
SECULAR LEVEL." Michael H. Hart
"The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in
History", New York: Hart Publishing Company, Inc., 1978, p.33.

WHO WERE HISTORY'sS GREAT LEADERS
TIME, JULY 15, 1974

The world famous "Time"1 carried the above rubic on
its front cover. Inside the magazine were numerous essays as
to 'What makes a great leader?' 'Throughout history,
who qualifies?' TIME asked a variety of historians, writers,
military men, businessmen and others for their selections.
Each gave his candidate according to his "light" as objec-
tively as is humanly possible, depending on one's own
awareness and prejudice.
WHO KNOWS DR. SALAZAR?
It is my habit and pleasurable duty to take non-Muslims

on a guided tour1 of the largest mosque in the Southern
Hemisphere - "The Jumma Masjid" Durban.
On one occasion I was hosting a Portuguese couple, a
husband and wife team. At some stage during the discussion
the Portuguese gentleman said that "Dr. Salazar was the
greatest man in the world!" I did not debate the point
with him as I personally knew little about Dr. Salazar except
that he was a one time dictator of Portugal albeit to many a
great benefactor to his nation. My poor visitor was, however,
speaking according to his own knowledge, point of view
and prejudice.
MUHAMMAD (PBUH) CAN NOT BE IGNORED!
Among the contributors to the "Time," it seems that
none could ignore Muhammad (pbuh).
WILLIAM McNEILL, a United States historian, of the Uni-
versity of Chicago, records:
"IF YOU MEASURE LEADERSHIP BY IMPACT, THEN
YOU WOULD HAVE TO NAME JESUS, BUDDHA,
MOHAMMED, CONFUCIUS, THE GREAT PROPHETS
OF THE WORLD ..."
McNeill does not go into details, nor does he give us
any explanation as to why he placed Jesus (pbuh) first and
Muhammad (pbuh) number three. Perhaps it was by force
of habit. It is very likely that McNeill is a Christian. However,
we will not argue with him. Then comes -
JAMES GAVIN, described as a United States army man, a
retired lieutenant general. He says -


1. Obtain the Video Tape - -NON-MUSLIMS IN YOUR MOSQUE.- available on Pal and NTSC systems from the IPCI.


Regards,
Sardarzada

__________________
God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him! How shall we console ourselves, the most murderous of all murderers? The holiest and the mightiest that the world has hitherto possessed, has bled to death under our knife....

JULES MASSERMAN
"AMONG LEADERS WHO HAVE MADE THE
GREATEST IMPACT THROUGH AGES, I WOULD
CONSIDER MOHAMMED, JESUS CHRIST, MAYBE
LENIN, POSSIBLY MAO. AS FOR A LEADER WHOSE
QUALITIES WE COULD MOST USE NOW, I WOULD
CHOOSE JOHN F. KENNEDY."
The General does not say much more, yet we have to
salute him. It calls for tremendous fortitude to pen the name
Muhammad before that of Christ (peace be upon them
both). It surely, was no slip of the pen.
JULES MASSERMAN, United States psychoanalyst and
professor of the Chicago University, gives us, unlike the
other contributors, the basis for making his selection. He
gives us his reason for choosing his greatest LEADER of all
times.
He wants us to find out, what we are really looking for
in the man, the qualities that sets him apart. We may be
looking for any sets of qualities. As in the case of Michael H.
Hart, he was looking for a person wielding the MOST
Influence.1
However, Masserman does not want us to depend on
our fancies or prejudices: he wants to establish objective
standards for judging, before we confer greatness upon
anybody.
He says that "Leaders must fulfil three functions--"
No. 1 THE LEADER MUST PROVIDE FOR THE
WELL-BEING OF THE LEAD ...
1. Since Hart published his 'TOP 100' many people have published books with the same theme. '100 GREAT GOLFERS." or "100 GREAT BATSMEN." Many more will no doubt follow.

The leader, whoever he is, must be interested in your
welfare. He must not be looking for milking cows for his
own greed like the Rev. Jim Jones of Jonestown, Guyana, of
the "Suicide Cult" fame. You will remember him as the
man who committed suicide together with 910 of his
followers, all at the same time EN MASSE!
The United States Government was on his trail and he
was on the verge of being caught for certain felonies. But
before they could apprehend him, he thought it wise to
eliminate himself, together with all his followers, so that no
one would be left to testify against him. He laced lemonade
with cynide and inspired his devotees to drink it, and so
they did and they all died in disgrace! In the meantime, it
was discovered that the Rev. Jim Jones had salted away
fifteen million dollars and stacked it in his own account in banks
throughout the world. All his victims were his milking cows
and he was exploiting them to satisfy his own lust and
greed. Masserman's hero must be found to benefit his
sheep, his flock, and not himself

No. 2 THE LEADER OR WOULD BE LEADER MUST PROVIDE A SOCIAL ORGANIZATION IN WHICH PEOPLE FEEL RELATIVELY SECURE ...
Unlike the Marxist, the Facist, the Nazi, the Neo-Nazi
the Ashkenazi,l the Zionist, and their fellow-travellers,
Professor Masserman, in his brief essay in the TIME magazine,
did not spell this out. But his beliefs and feelings are
abundantly clear. He is in search of a Leader who will
provide a social order free of self, and greed and racism: for
all these "isms" carry within them the seeds of their
own destruction.
1. Askhenazi: the Jews from Germany, Central Europe and Eastern Europe, mostly from Russia who are in unlawful occupation of Palestine. There is something prophetic in the name itself - the Jews are doing to the people of the occupied territories exactly what the Nazis did to them. What an irony!


There's still with us much sorrow and sin,
Injustice, Oppression, wrong and hate.
Still does Arrogance deaden Conscience
Rob struggling souls of e'en the crumbs
Of Pity, and make, of loathsome flesh
And crumbling dust, fair-seeming Idols
For worship. Still does Ignorance blow
A mighty Horn and try to shame
True Wisdom. Still do men drive Slaves, - -
Protesting smoothly the end of Slavery!
Still does Greed devour the substance
Of helpless ones within her power.
Nay, more, - - the fine Individual Voice
Is smothered in the raucous din
Of groups and Crowds that madly shout
What they call Slogans New, - -
Old Falsehoods long discredited ...
Abdullah Yusuf Ali

No. 3 THAT THIS LEADER MUST PROVIDE HIS
PEOPLE WITH ONE SET OF BELIEFS ...

It is easy to talk of the Fellowship of Faith and the
Brotherhood of Man, but in South Africa today, there are a
thousand different sects and denominations among the
Whites (people of European descent) and three thousand
among the Blacks (of African descent).
The White Churches in my country are Spawning "Black"
Bishops, fast, but in the first three hundred years of
European conquest, they did not produce a single Black
Bishop. Even now, the Black, the White, the Coloured and
the Indian cannot pray together in most of the Dutch
Reformed Churches. The hatred between the Christian sects
was aptly described by the Christian Emperor Julian, who
said:


Regards,
Sardarzada

__________________
God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him! How shall we console ourselves, the most murderous of all murderers? The holiest and the mightiest that the world has hitherto possessed, has bled to death under our knife....

"NO WILD BEASTS ARE SO HOSTILE TO MAN AS
CHRISTIAN SECTS IN GENERAL ARE TO ONE
ANOTHER."
Sayed Amir Ali in his "Spirit of lslam,"- page 1 ii.
With the foregoing three standards, Masserman searches
history and analyses Louis Pasteur, Salk, Gandhi, Confucius,
Alexander the Great, Caesar, Hitler, Buddha, Jesus and the
rest;1 finally coming to the conclusion that -
PERHAPS THE GREATEST LEADER OF ALL TIMES
WAS MUHAMMED, WHO COMBINED ALL THREE
FUNCTIONS. (and) TO A LESSER DEGREE, MOSES
DID THE SAME

We cannot help marvelling at Masserman, that as a Jew
he condescends to scrutinize even Adolf Hitler, the arch-
enemy of his people. He considers Hitler to be a great
leader. His race, the mighty German nation of 90 million
people, was ready to march to destiny or destruction at his
behest. Alas, he lead them to ruin.
Hitler is not the question. The question is why would
Masserman, as an American Jew, a paid servant of the
Government proclaim to his countrymen of over two hun-
dred million Jews and Christians that not Jesus, not Moses
but Muhummed 2 was "The greatest Leader of all
times!" ACCOUNT FOR THAT!
WHAT SAY THE SCEPTICS?
Michael H. Hart put Muhammad No. 1 on his list and
his own Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (pbuh) No. 3.
Why? -"He was bribed!"(?)



1. For Masserman's full essay see Appendix "C"
2. Blessings of God on all His Messengers.

William McNeill considers Muhammad as worthy of
honour in his list of the first three names of his.
Why? "He was bribed!" (?)

James Gavin puts Muhammad (pbuh) before Christ
(pbuh). Why? "He was bribed!" (?)
James Masserman adjudges Muhammad (pbuh) No. 1
and his own hero Moses (pbuh) a close second.
Why? "He was bribed!" (?)
"ARE WE TO SUPPOSE THAT ALL THE GLOWING
ADULATION OF MUHAMMAD (PBUH) WAS A
MISERABLE PIECE OF INTELLECTUAL LEGERDEMAIN,
HOCUS POCUS . . . I, FOR MY PART, CANNOT
FORM ANY SUCH SUPPOSITION ... ONE WOULD
BE ENTIRELY AT A LOSS WHAT TO THINK OF
MANKIND AT ALL IF QUACKERY SO GREW AND
FLOURISHED IN THE WORLD."1
Yet the scoffers bemoan anyone who has anything good
to say about Muhammad (pbuh) or Islam AS HAVING BEEN
BRIBED by the Arabs! They are giving too much credit to my
bretheren. I repeat: "It is possible, but it is improbable!"
During the Second World War, Norway produced only
one "Quisling."2 He was tried for treason and executed. It
is unlikely that America and the Western world have just
reached puberty to spawn a breed of Quislings nurtured by
hot petrodollars from the Middle East. Please do not
demean your honest, courageous men, who without fear or
favour are prepared to suffer obloquy for their convictions.
We must all admire them!


1. With apologies to Thomas Carlyle and his -"Hero and Hero-worship."
2. "Quisling" has come to mean a person who is a traitor to his nation and his country.


We can now justifiably conclude that the God of Mercy,
Who forever recognises the sincere efforts of His servants, is
only fulfilling His Promise to Muhammad (pbuh), His Chosen
Messenger -
AND HAVE WE NOT RAISED HIGH
THE ESTEEM (IN WHICH) THOU
(ARE HELD)? Hoiy Quran 94:4
Alternative renderings: 1
(a) Have We not exalted thy fame?
(b) And have We not raised thy name for thee?(c) Have We not given you high renown?
Friends and foes alike, as if by some secret compulsion
are made to pay unsolicited tributes to this mighty Messen-
ger of God. But the Almighty commandeers even the devil
into His service, as He had done in the time of Jesus (pbuh),
(Matthew 4:1 -11). Even the devil sometimes speaks Gospel
truths.
Professor K.S. Ramakrishna Rao, a Hindu philosopher in
his book "MUHUMMED - The Prophet of lslam",2
quotes the arch-devil himself, yes, Adolf Hitler, to prove the
unique greatness of Muhammad (pbuh).
The Professor, like Jules Masserman who had evaluated
the Prophet of Islam on three grounds (see appendix "C"


1. These quotes are from different translations of the Holy Quran. There are no separate
"Versions" of the Holy Quran. For "What is a Version," obtain my book - "Is the
Bible God''s Word?"
2. Obtainable FREE from the IPCI.


Regards,
Sardarzada

__________________
God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him! How shall we console ourselves, the most murderous of all murderers? The holiest and the mightiest that the world has hitherto possessed, has bled to death under our knife....

also saw in Hitler's "Mein Kamp!" a three-
faceted jewel, a rare commodity which he found in our
hero under discussion. Quoting Hitler, he says:
"A GREAT THEORIST IS SELDOM A GREAT LEADER.
AN AGITATOR IS FAR MORE LIKELY TO POSSESS
THESE QUALITIES. HE WILL ALWAYS BE A BETTER
LEADER. FOR, LEADERSHIP MEANS THE ABILITY TO
MOVE MASSES OF MEN. THE TALENT TO PRO-
DUCE IDEAS HAS NOTHING IN COMMON WITH
THE CAPACITY FOR LEADERSHIP." HITLER CON-
TINUES, "THE UNION OF THE THEORIST,
ORGANISER, AND LEADER IN ONE MAN IS THE
RAREST PHENOMENON ON THIS EARTH; THEREIN
CONSISTS GREATNESS." PROFESSOR RAO CON-
CLUDES, IN HIS OWN WORDS, "IN THE PERSON
OF THE PROPHET OF ISLAM THE WORLD HAS
SEEN THIS RAREST PHENOMENON ON EARTH,
WALKING IN FLESH AND BLOOD."
SHARE THE ANGER
Before anyone assails the Professor of undue bias and
"bribery," let me give them a few more names of admirers
of Muhammad (pbuh).

1. "MUHUMMAD WAS THE SOUL OF KINDNESS,
AND HIS INFLUENCE WAS FELT AND NEVER
FORGOTTEN BY THOSE AROUND HIM."
A Hindu scholar - Diwan Chand Sharma in his
"The Prophets of the East," Calcutta 1935, p. 122.

2. "FOUR YEARS AFTER THE DEATH OF JUSTINIAN,
A.D. 569, WAS BORN AT MAKKAH, IN ARABIA
THE MAN WHO, OF ALL MEN EXERCISED THE
GREATEST INFLUENCE1 UPON THE HUMAN
RACE ... MOHAMMED ..."
John William Draper, M.D., LLD., in his "A History of the
lntellectual Development of Europe",- London 1875.
3. "I DOUBT WHETHER ANY MAN WHOSE
EXTERNAL CONDITIONS CHANGED SO MUCH
EVER CHANGED HIMSELF LESS TO MEET THEM."
R. V. C. Bodley in
"The Messenger,"- London 1946, p.9.
4. "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."
George Bernard Shaw, in
"The Genuine Islam,- Vol. 1, No. 81936.
5. "BY A FORTUNE ABSOLUTELY UNIQUE IN HIS-
TORY, MOHAMMED IS A THREEFOLD FOUNDER
OF A NATION, OF AN EMPIRE, AND OF A
RELIGION."
R. Bosworth-Smith in
"Mohammed and Mohammedanism".- 1946.
6. "MOHAMMED WAS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL OF
ALL RELIGIOUS PERSONALITIES."
Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Edition
1. I wonder whether Michael H. Hart, as a historian, had stumbled across Draper's remark
to inspire him to write his "THE 100"- a ranking of the Most Influential Persons in
History? See page 3. Have you written for your FREE copy of the chapter on
Muhammad (pbuh) from the "TOP 100," yet?
FROM THE HISTORICAL PAST
It is not difficult to reproduce a further dozen or more
eulogies by the admirers and critics of Muhammad (pbuh).
Despite all their objectivity, jaundiced minds can always
conjure up some aspersions. Let me take my readers deep
down in past history.
It was Friday the 8th of May, 1840, that is about a
hundred and fifty years ago, at a time when it was a
sacrilege to say anything good about Muhammad (pbuh),
and the Christian West was trained to hate the man
Muhammad (pbuh) and his religion, the same way as dogs
were at one stage trained in my country to hate all black
people.1 At that time in history, Thomas Carlyle, one of the
greatest thinkers of the past century delivered a series of
lectures under the theme - "Heroes and Hero-worship."
DEVELOPED SICKNESS
Carlyle exposed this blind prejudice of his people at the
beginning of his talk. He made reference to one of the
literary giants a Dutch scholar and statesman, by the name
of Hugo Grotius,2 who had written a bitter and abusive
invective against the prophet of Islam. He had falsely
charged that the Holy Prophet had trained pigeons to pick
out peas from his ears, so that he could by this trick bluff
his people that the Holy Ghost in the shape of a dove was
revealing God's Revelation to him, which he then had them


1. By the way "dogs are colour blind!" Yet it can be done.
2. From page 57 of the book - "On Heroes Hero-worship and the Heroic in History" by
Thomas Carlyle, London 1959.


Regards,
Sardarzada

__________________
God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him! How shall we console ourselves, the most murderous of all murderers? The holiest and the mightiest that the world has hitherto possessed, has bled to death under our knife....

recorded in his Bible the Quran. Perhaps Grotius was
inspired into this fairy-tale from his reading of his own Holy
Scriptures:
'Then, Jesus, when he had been
baptized (by John the Baptist in the Jordan
River), came up immediately from the
water; and behold, the heavens were
opened to him, and he saw the
Spirit of God Descending Like A
Dove and alighting upon him.
(Emphasis added) Matthew 3:16
WHERE'S THE AUTHORITY
Pococke, another respected intellectual of the time, like
"doubting Thomas" (John 20:25), wanted proof about
Muhammad (pbuh), the pigeons, and the peas? Grotius
answered "THAT THERE WAS NO PROOF!"
He just felt like inventing this story for his audience. To
him and his audience the "pigeons and peas" theory was
more plausible than that of the Archangel dictating to
Muhammad (pbuh). These falsities wringed the heart of
Carlyle. He cried:
"THE LIES, WHICH WELL-MEANING ZEAL HAS
HEAPED ROUND THIS MAN, ARE DISGRACEFUL TO
OURSELVES ONLY."
Thomas Carlyle
THE HERO PROPHET
Carlyle was a man of genius and God gifted him with
the art of articulation. In his own way, he wanted to put the
records straight. He planned to deliver a lecture and he



chose a very provocative topic"The hero as Prophet." and
he chose this hero-prophet to be the most maligned man of
his time, "MUHAMMAD (PBUH)!" Not Moses, david, Solomon,
or Jesus but Muhammad!1 To placate his overwhelming
Anglican (belonging to the Church of England) fellow
countrymen, he apologised -
"AS THERE IS NO DANGER OF OUR BECOMING,
ANY OF US, MAHOMETANS, 2 I MEAN TO SAY
ALL THE GOOD OF HIM I JUSTLY CAN."
In other words he, as well as his elite audience were
free from the fear of converting to islam, and could take a
chance in paying some compliments to Muhammad (pbuh).
If he had any fears regarding the strength of their faith, he
would not have taken that chance.
In an era of hatred and spite towards evernhing Islamic
and to an audience full of scepticism and cynicism, Carlyle
unfolded many a glowing truth about his hero -
Muhammad (pbuh). To the "praise-worthy," indeed be
praise. For that is what the very name Muhammad means -
the Praised One - the Praiseworthy. There are times when
Carlyle uses words and expressions which miqht not be too
pleasing to the believing Muslim, but one has to forgive him
as he was walking a cultural tightrope, and he succeeded
eminently.
He Paid our hero many ardent and enthusiastic tribute,
and defended him from the false charges and calumnies of
his enemies, exactly as the Prophet had done in the case of
Jesus (pbuh) and his mother.3


1. May the Peace and Blessings of God be upon all his servants.
2. "Mahometans' means Muslims
3. See -Muhummed the Natural Successor to Christ" by the author.
HIS SINCERITY
la. "THE GREAT MAN'S SINCERITY IS OF THE
KIND HE CANNOT SPEAK OF: NAY, I SUP-
POSE, HE IS CONSCIOUS RATHER OF IN-
SINCERITY; FOR WHAT MAN CAN WALK
ACCURATELY BY THE LAW OF TRUTH FOR
ONE DAY? NO, THE GREAT MAN DOES NOT
BOAST HIMSELF SINCERE, FAR FROM THAT;
PERHAPS DOES NOT ASK HIMSELF IF HE IS
SO: I WOULD SAY RATHER, HIS SINCERITY
DOES NOT DEPEND ON HIMSELF: HE CAN-
NOT HELP BEING SINCERE!" Heros and Hero-Worship, p.59
b. "A SILENT GREAT SOUL, HE WAS ONE OF
THOSE WHO CANNOT BUT BE IN EARNEST,
WHOM NATURE HERSELF HAS APPOINTED TO
BE SINCERE. WHILE OTHERS WALK IN
FORMULAS AND HEARSAYS, CONTENTED
ENOUGH TO DWELL THERE, THIS MAN COULD
NOT SCREEN HIMSELF IN FORMULAS; HE WAS
ALONE WITH HIS OWN SOUL AND THE
REALITY OF THINGS. . . SUCH SINCERITY, AS
WE NAMED IT, HAS IN VERY TRUTH SOME-
THING OF DIVINE. THE WORD OF SUCH A
MAN IS A VOICE DIRECT FROM NATURE'S
OWN HEART. MEN DO AND MUST LISTEN TO
THAT AS TO NOTHING ELSE, - - - ALL ELSE IS
WIND IN COMPARISON." Heros and Hero-Worship, p.71
In his lengthy speech, Carlyle did not have the oppor-
tunity to inform his audience about the sources of his
inferences. I may furnish just one incident from the life of
the Prophet. An incidence which reflects the highest degree


Regards,
Sardarzada

__________________
God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him! How shall we console ourselves, the most murderous of all murderers? The holiest and the mightiest that the world has hitherto possessed, has bled to death under our knife....

of his sincerity in recording a Revelation in the Holy Quran
even if it seems to reprove him for some natural and human
zeal.

ADMONITION AS REVEALED
It was in the early days of his mission in Makkah.
Muhammad (pbuh) was deeply engrossed in trying to wean
the leaders of the pagan Quraish to his teachings. Apparen-
tly one of them was giving him an attentive hearing when a
poor blind man by the name Of Abdullah lbn Umm-1-
Maktum tried to barge in into the discussion and wanting
to draw attention to himself. The blessed Prophet said
nothing, but a thought went through his mind (why don't
you have a little patience, can't you see (sense) that because
of your impatience I might lose these customers). I believe
that lesser men, sinners and saints, will not be questioned for
such lapses, but not so for Muhammad (pbuh). Did not God
choose him and honour him with that lofty status as
recorded?

And Most Certainly Thou (O Muhammad) Are of Most sublime And Exalted Character. Holy Quran 68:4
HE FROWNED
Whilst in the midst of the conversation with his pagan
fellow tribesmen, God Almighty sends Gabriel, the Angel of
Revelation, with this admonition:
(THE PROPHET) FROWNED
AND TURNED AWAY,
BECAUSE THERE CAME TO HIM
THE BLIND MAN (INTERRUPTING).

BUT WHAT COULD TELL THEE
THAT PERCHANCE HE MIGHT GROW
(IN SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING)?
OR THAT HE MIGHT RECEIVE
ADMONITION, AND THE TEACHING
MIGHT PRORT HIM?
Holy Quran 80:1-4
The holy Prophet (pbuh) had naturally disliked the
interruption. Perhaps the poor man's feelings were hurt. But
he whose gentle heart ever sympathised with the poor and
the afflicted, got new Light (Revelation) from his Lord, and
without the least hesitation, he immediately published it for
all eternity!
Subsequently, everytime he met this blind man, he
received him graciously and thanked him that on his
account the Lord had remembered him. During Muhammad's
(pbuh) absences from Madinah, the blind man was made
the Governor of the City twice. Such was the sincerity and
gratitude of Carlyle's Hero Prophet.
HIS FIDELITY 1
2. "IT IS A BOUNDLESS FAVOUR.HE
NEVER FORGOT THIS GOOD KADIJAH. LONG
AFTERWARDS, AYESHA HIS YOUNG FAVOURITE
WIFE, A WOMAN WHO INDEED DISTINGUISHED
HERSELF AMONG THE MOSLEMS, BY ALL MAN-
NER OF QUALITIES, THROUGH HER WHOLE
LONG LIFE; THIS YOUNG BRILLIANT AYESHA
WAS, ONE DAY, QUESTIONING HIM.'NOW AM
NOT I BETTER THAN KADIJAH? SHE WAS A WIDOW; OLD, AND HAD LOST HER LOOKS:
YOU LOVE ME BETTER THAN YOU DID HER?'
'NO, BY ALLAH!' ANSWERED
MAHOMET: 'NO, BY ALLAH! SHE BELIEVED IN
ME WHEN NONE ELSE WOULD BELIEVE. IN THE
WHOLE WORLD I HAD BUT ONE FRIEND, AND
SHE WAS THAT!... Heros and Hero-Worship, p. 76
It would have been easier to repel the temptation of
the devil than to succumb to the ego of a young, loving,
brilliant and beautiful wife like lady Ayesha Siddiqa. Why
not let her hear the soft soothing balm of flattery-, it will not
harm anyone. Even the soul of Bibi Khadija, the mother of
the Faithful, would look light-heartedly at the ruse. There is
no shamming, no innocent "white lies" with Muhammad
(pbuh). Traits of this kind show us the genuine man, brother
of us all, brought visible through fourteen centuries, - - -
the veritable son of our common mother.
'AL AMEEN. THE FAITHFUL'
3a. "A MAN OF TRUTH AND FIDELITY; TRUE IN
WHAT HE DID, IN WHAT HE SPAKE AND
THOUGHT. THEY NOTED THAT HE ALWAYS
MEANT SOMETHING. A MAN RATHER TACI-
TURN 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!" Heros and Hero-Worship, p. 69
b. "MAHOMET NATURALLY GAVE OFFENCE TO
THE KOREISH, KEEPERS OF THE KAABAH,
SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE IDOLS. ONE OR
TWO MEN OF INFLUENCE HAD JOINED HIM:

Regards,
Sardarzada

__________________
God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him! How shall we console ourselves, the most murderous of all murderers? The holiest and the mightiest that the world has hitherto possessed, has bled to death under our knife....

THE THING SPREAD SLOWLY, BUT IT WAS
SPREADING, NATURALLY HE GAVE OFFENCE
TO EVERYBODY."1 Heros and Hero-Wotship, p. 77 c. "NOT A MEALYMOUTHED MAN! A CANDID
FEROCITY, IF THE CASE CALL 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 HOTRER!' SOMETIMES A ROUGH SARCASM
TURNS UP: HE SAYS TO THE UNBELIEVERS, YE
SHALL NOT HAVE SHORT WEIGHT!" Heros 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 I defend
Muhammad (pbuh) against the false charges, slander and
calumnies of his enemies:
1. 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.


CHARGE OF FALSITY

4a. "A FALSE MAN FOUND A RELIGION? WHY,
A FALSE MAN CANNOT BUILD A BRICK
HOUSE! IF HE DOES NOT KNOW AND
FOLLOW TRULY THE PROPERTIES OF
MORTAR, BURNT CLAY AND WHAT ELSE
HE WORKS IN, IT IS NO HOUSE THAT HE
MAKES, BUT A RUBBISH HEAP. IT WILL
NOT STAND FOR TWELVE CENTURIES,1
TO LODGE A HUNDRED-AND EIGHTY
MILLIONS;2 IT WILL FALL STRAIGHTAWAY
. . . SPECIOSITIES ARE SPECIOUS3 . . . IT
IS LIKE A FORGED BANK NOTE; THEY
GET IT PASSED OUT OF THEIR
WORTHLESS HANDS: OTHERS, NOT
THEY, HAVE TO SMART FOR IT. NATURE
BURSTS-UP IN FIRE-FLAMES, FRENCH
REVOLUTIONS AND SUCH-LIKE,
PROCLAIMING WITH THE TERRIBLE
VERACITY THAT FORGED NOTES ARE
FORGED."
Heros and Hero-Worship ), p. 58
b."IT GOES GREATLY AGAINST THE
IMPOSTER THEORY, THE FACT THAT HE
LIVED IN THIS ENTIRELY
UNEXCEPTIONABLE, ENTIRELY QUIET
AND COMMON PLACE WAY, TILL THE
HEAT OF HIS YEARS WAS DONE. HE
WAS FORTY BEFORE HE TALKED OF ANY
MISSION FROM HEAVEN . . ALL HIS
'AMBITION,' SEEMINGLY, HAD BEEN,
HITHERTO, TO LIVE AN HONEST LIFE; HIS
'FAME,' THE MERE GOOD OPINION OF
NEIGHBOURS THAT KNEW HIM..."
Heros and Hero-Worship, p. 70


1. Now, fourteen centuries.
2. A thousand million today.
3. Specious: Having the ring of truth or plausibility but actually false.


c. "AMBITION? WHAT COULD ALL ARABIA DO
FOR THIS MAN; WITH THE CROWN OF GREEK
HERACLIUS, OF PERSIAN CHOSROES, AND ALL
THE CROWNS IN EARTH; - WHAT COULD
THEY ALL DO FOR HIM? IT WAS NOT OF THE
HEAVEN ABOVE AND OF THE HELL BENEATH.
ALL CROWNS AND SOVEREIGNTIES WHAT-
SOEVER, WHERE WOULD THEY IN A FEW
BRIEF YEARS BE? TO BE SHEIK OF MAKKAH
OR ARABIA, AND HAVE A BIT OF GILT
WOOD PUT INTO YOUR HAND, - - -
WILL THAT BE ONES SALVATION? I DECIDEDLY
THINK, NOT, WE WILL LEAVE IT ALTOGETHER,
THIS IMPOSTER HYPOTHESIS, AS NOT CREDIT-
ABLE: NOT VERY TOLERABLE EVEN, WORTHY
CHIEFLY OF DISMISSAL BY US."
Heros and Hero-Worship, p. 72/3

CHARGE OF SINNING

5. "FAULTS? THE GREATEST OF FAULTS, I
SHOULD SAY, IS TO BE CONSCIOUS OF
NONE. READERS OF THE BIBLE ABOVE ALL,
ONE WOULD THINK, MIGHT KNOW BETTER.
WHO IS CALLED THERE 'THE MAN ACCORD-
ING TO GOD'S OWN HEART'? DAVID, THE
HEBREW KING HAD FALLEN INTO SINS
ENOUGH; BLACKEST CRIMES; THERE WAS NO
WANT OF SINS.1 AND THEREUPON THE
UNBELIEVERS SNEER AND ASK, IS THIS YOUR
MAN ACCORDING TO GOD'S HEART? THE
SNEER, I MUST SAY, SEEMS TO ME BUT A



1. This is the Jewish and Christian concept of God's prophets. They charge their prophets
with incest, adultery and even murder. They impure horrendous crimes to them on the
authority of the Holy Bible.

Regards,
Sardarzada

__________________
God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him! How shall we console ourselves, the most murderous of all murderers? The holiest and the mightiest that the world has hitherto possessed, has bled to death under our knife....

SHALLOW ONE. WHAT ARE FAULTS, WHAT
ARE THE OUTWARD DETAILS OF A LIFE; IF
THE INNER SECRET OF IT, THE REMORSE,
TEMPTATIONS, TRUE, OFTEN-BAFFLED, NEVER-
ENDED STRUGGLE OF IT BE FORGOTTEN? 'IT
IS NOT IN MAN THAT WALKETH TO DIRECT
HIS STEPS.' OF ALL ACTS, IS NOT, FOR A
MAN, REPENTANCE THE MOST DIVINE? THE
DEADLIEST SIN, I SAY, WERE THE SAME SUPER-
CILIOUS CONSCIOUSNESS OF NO SIN; THAT
IS DEATH; THE HEART SO CONSCIOUS IS
DIVORCED FROM SINCERITY, HUMILITY, AND
FACT; IS DEAD: IT IS 'PURE' AS DEAD DRY
SAND IS PURE."
Heros and Hero-Worship. p. 61

CHARGE OF "THE SWORD"

The greatest crime, the greatest "sin" of Muhammad
(pbuh} in the eyes of the Christian West is that he did not
allow himself to be slaughtered, to be "crucified" by his
enemies. He ably defended himself, his family and his
followers; and finally vanquished his enemies. Muhammad's
(pbuh} success is the Christians' gall of disappointment: he
did not believe in any vicarious sacrifice for the sins of
others. He believed and behaved naturally. IN THE STATE
OF NATURE, EVERY ONE HAS A RIGHT TO DEFEND HIS
PERSON AND POSSESSIONS, AND EXTEND HIS HOSTILITIES
TO A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF SATISFACTION AND
RETALIATION," says Gibbon, the master historian in his
"Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." His struggle and
victory over the forces of unbelief and evil made the editors
of the Encyclopedia Britannica to exclaim, Muhammad
(pbuh} to be - - - "THE MOST SUCCESSFUL OF ALL
RELIGIOUS PERSONALITIES."
How can the enemies of Islam account for Muhammad's
phenomenal achievements except to decry that he spread
his religion at the point of the sword? He forced Islam down
peoples' throats!?

6a. "HISTORY MAKES IT CLEAR HOWEVER, THAT
THE LEGEND OF FANATICAL MUSLIMS SWEEP-
ING 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 in "Islam at the Crossroads'' London, 1923, p.8
You do not have to be a historian like O'Leary to know
that the Muslims ruled Spain for 736 years. The longest the
Christians ever ruled over Muslims was 500 years in Mozam-
bique, a territory captured from an Arab governor by the
name of Musa-bin-baique, a name they could not properly
pronounce, hence the name Mozambique. Even today, after
five centuries of Christian overlordship the country is still 60
percent Muslim.

However, after eight centuries in Spain the Muslims were
totally eliminated from that country so that not even one
man was left to give the Azan {the Muslim call to prayer}.
If the Muslims had used force, military or economic there
would not have been any Christian left in Spain to have
kicked the Muslims out. One can blame the Muslims for
exploitation if you like but one cannot charge them with
using the sword to convert Spaniards to the Islamic religion.

Today, Islam is still spreading all over the world -
and Muslims have NO sword!!


The Muslims were also the masters of India for a
thousand years, but eventually when the sub-continent
received independence in 1947, the Hindus obtained three-
quarters of the country and the Muslims the balance of the
one-quarter. Why? Because the Muslims did not force Islam
down the Hindus' throats! In Spain and in India, the Muslims
were no paragons of virtue, yet they obeyed the Qur'anic
injunction to the letter -

LET THERE BE NO COMPULSION
IN RELIGION:

FOR TRUTH STANDS OUT
DISTINCT FROM ERROR. Holy Quran 2:256
The Muslim conquerors understood from this command
that "compulsion" was incompatible with true religion:
because

(a} Religion depends on faith and will, and these
would be meaningless if induced by force.
Force can conquer but cannot convert.

(b) Truth and Error have been so clearly shown
up by the Mercy of God that there should
be no doubt in the minds of any person of
goodwill as to the fundamentals of faith.

(c) God's protection is continuous and His Plan is
always to lead us from the depths of dark-
ness into the clearest light. 1

Except for some eccentrics here and there, the Muslims
as a whole adhered to the commandment of God in the
lands over which they held sway.



1. (a), (b} and (c) are Yusuf Ali's comments on verse 256. Obtain his translation with over 6000 explanatory footnotes from the IPCI.



Regards,
Sardarzada

__________________
God is dead! God remains dead! And we have killed him! How shall we console ourselves, the most murderous of all murderers? The holiest and the mightiest that the world has hitherto possessed, has bled to death under our knife....