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!
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).
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
To Be Continued....
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