Descriptions:
“Perfection is something that is appreciated not only by friends but also by foes.” In this work, we will quote some of the statements of foreign philosophers and thousands of scientists worldwide who appreciated the perfection of the Prophet (pbuh). With their statements, they witnessed the truthfulness of the Quran and Hz. Muhammad (pbuh).
Prof. Michael H. Hart, who created reactions all over the world with his book called “The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History”, joined an award ceremony ten years after his book was published in Cairo. He was asked, “About ten years passed after the publication of your book called ‘The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History’. You allocated the first place to Hz. Muhammad. Do you still insist on your opinion?” He answered as follows:
“This is the first list of famous people. Even if the number is increased to 200-300, the place of Muhammad (pbuh) in the first place of the list is certain. I determined some fixed criteria while analyzing famous people. One of them is the big and deep marks the most influential people leave in history. My choice of Muhammad (pbuh) as the most influential person is his prophethood and his becoming extraordinarily successful on both the religious and secular levels. Humanity has not seen a better religion than Islam in terms of ethics, philosophy and law. I believe that a person like Hz. Muhammad, who is perfect in all aspects, will not come to the world again.”
The American Prof. Bosworth Smith stated the following: It is possible to see all of the qualities and heroism of Hz. Muhammad at a glance. Some of them took place in the first days of his prophethood and others after his prophethood. I regard him as the greatest and loftiest man in terms of rank. Furthermore, humanity has never seen and will not be able to see anyone like him…” (Mohammed and Mohammadanism, London 1874)
Prince Bismarck, the first chancellor of Germany, who played the most important role in the transformation of Germany into a powerful empire, states the following: “Scrutinizing heavenly books, which are said to be sent by Allah to manage people in various eras, I could have seen no wisdom and accuracy. Those laws are not eligible to ensure happiness of society, even not a family. However, Muslims’ Quran is free from this description. I scrutinized the Quran in every aspect. I observed the great wisdom in each word of it. Even though enemies of Muslims claim that this book is Muhammad’s word, claiming that such a wonderful will arose from the most perfect brain means just ignoring the truth and winking at hatred and grudge which is incompatible with enlightenment and wisdom.
I claim that Muhammad is a distinguished power. It is far out of possibility to bring up such a hand of power again. O Muhammad! I am sad that I am not in your time. That is why humanity will not see a distinguished powerful person like you once more. I bend the knee of a deep reverence in your presence.”
Annie Besant states the following: It is impossible for anyone who studies the life and character of the great Prophet of Arabia, who knows how he taught and how he lived, to feel anything but reverence for that mighty Prophet, one of the great messengers of the Supreme. And although in what I put to you I shall say many things which may be familiar to many, yet I myself feel whenever I re-read them, a new way of admiration, a new sense of reverence for that mighty Arabian teacher. (The Life and Teachings of Muhammad, Madras, 1932)
Irish dramatist, socialist thinker George Bernard Shaw, who is one of the leading playwrights of the 20th century, states the following: Mankind, in order to solve their accumulated problems, needs nothing more than the Prophet Muhammad, who solved the most complicated problems as easily as one drinks coffee.
I analyzed the life of this astonishing man’s life. In my opinion, we need to recognize him as the savior of humanity.
Famous English philosopher, Thomas Carlyle states the following: He did not hide behind veils of magnificence and splendour. He would clout his own cloak, cobble his own shoes; fight, counsel his Companions, order in the midst of them: they must have seen what kind of a man he was, let him be called what you like! No emperor with his tiaras was obeyed as this man in a cloak of his own clouting. During three-and-twenty years of rough actual trial. I find something of a veritable hero necessary for that. People should listen to Muhammad more than anything or anybody else. All of the other words are insignificant in the presence of his words.
French historian Alphonse Marie Louis de Lamartine says: If the grandeur of the aim, the smallness of the means, the immensity of the results are the three measures of a man’s genius, who would dare humanly compare a great man of modern history with Muhammad? The most famous have only moved weapons, laws, empires; they founded, when they founded anything, only material powers, often crumbling before them. Can there be a greater man than him no matter how greatness is measured?
German poet and writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe states the following: Nobody can step further than Hz. Muhammad’s principles. Despite all of the achievements of Europe, our laws are incomplete compared to the Islamic civilization. We, European nations, are on the first step of the stairs of which Hz. Muhammad reached the last step despite our big facilities of the civilization.
Dr. Gustav Weil states the following: Muhammad was a bright example of his people. He had a clean and pure character. His house, food, clothes were representatives of a rare plainness. That is, he did not receive any special respect from his friends; he did not expect his slaves to serve him. He was a person that can be reached at any moment by anyone. He visited ill people and showed mercy to everybody. His benevolence, generosity and desire of working for his community were endless. (History of the Islamic Peoples)
Mahatma Gandhi states the following: I wanted to know the best of the life of one who holds today an undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind…. I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet the scrupulous regard for pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the second volume (of the Prophet’s biography).” (Young India, 1924)
There are hundreds of more statements that we can quote. However, we find it enough so as not to lengthen this work. We say, ‘Perfection is something that is appreciated not only by friends but also by foes.’
All people with clear conscience and honest nature accept that Hz. Muhammad (pbuh) is Allah’s Messenger. For, the peace of the heart and satisfaction of the conscience can occur only when the truth is accepted. When a person who has a clear conscience sees the truth, he tends toward it. He tells the truth and does not show loyalty to what is wrong. Besides, the aim of such a person is to find the truth. These people do not avoid telling the truth by acting justly even if they are members of other religions. You might think as follows: Some scientists and philosophers may have uttered some nice statements but there hundreds of scientists who say just the opposite. What will you say against what they say?
Yes, there are some scientists who deny Hz. Muhammad but there is a difference between them: Those who praise him and accept him decide by searching his life. Those who deny him speak based on their thoughts and apprehension without searching. That is, the statements of a group emerge from knowledge and research. The statements of the other group emerge from closing their eyes and ignorance. The one whose statements are worth accepting is the group that speaks based on research. The statements of those who make their judgment based on their opinions are worthless.
