OUTSTANDING RESULTS Muhammad the Greatest

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," 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. "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

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To Be Continued....