History has recorded the appearance and
deeds of many religious leaders: Moses, Jesus Christ, Zoroaster, and Abraham,
to name just a few. But there is one religious leader who stands alone, an
unlettered man who transmitted a revelation from God that literally changed the
course of history and the destinies of a major portion of mankind.
He was nothing more
or less than a human being. But he was a man with a noble mission, one which
was to unite all human beings on the worship of the one and only God and to
teach them the way to honest and upright living based on the commands of God.
He always described himself as "a servant and messenger of God," and
every single one of his actions proclaimed loudly the truth of this phrase.
ENCYCLOPEDIA
BRITANNICA confirms:
"...a mass of
detail in the early sources shows that he was an honest and upright man who had
gained the respect and loyalty of others who were likewise honest and upright
men." (Vol. 12)
Do You Know This
Man?
"His name is Muhammad" May the Peace of God Be upon Him (PBUH)
Born in Arabia in the
year 570 CE, Muhammad (PBUH) started his mission of preaching Islam, the religion of truth and the
submission of man to one God, at the age of forty and died at the age of
sixty-three.
During the short
twenty-three year period of his prophet hood, Muhammad (PBUH) changed the entire
Arabian Peninsula forever.
Within the space of
one generation, the vast majority of people went from paganism and idolatry to
devout and strict monotheism, from tribal quarrels and wars to national
solidarity and cohesion, from drunkenness and debauchery to sobriety and piety,
from lawlessness and anarchy to a lifestyle characterized by discipline, from
moral bankruptcy to the highest standards of moral excellence.
Human history has
never seen such a complete transformation of a people or a place before or
since - and just IMAGINE that all of these unbelievable wonders took place in
JUST OVER TWO DECADES and because of the efforts of one man.
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) accomplished so much
in so many fields of human thought and behavior in the fullest blaze of human
history. Every detail of his private life and public utterances has been accurately
documented and faithfully preserved to our day The authenticity of the records
so preserved are vouched for not only by the faithful followers but even by his
prejudiced critics.
Muhammad (PBUH) was a religious teacher, a social
reformer, a moral guide, an administrative colossus, a faithful friend, a
wonderful companion, a devoted husband, a loving father - all in one. He was also
a philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas,
restorer of rational dogmas, of a cult without images, the founder of twenty
terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire.
No other man in
history ever excelled or equalled him in any of these different aspects of life
- but it was only for the selfless personality of Muhammad (PBUH) to achieve such
incredible perfection.
Today even after a
lapse of fourteen century, the life and teachings of Muhammad (PBUH) have survived
without the slightest loss, alteration, or interpolation. They offer the same
undying hope for treating mankind's many ills that they did when he was alive.
This is not a claim of Muhammad's (PBUH) followers but also the inescapable
conclusion reached by a critical and unbiased study of human history.
Maybe it is time for
you to get to know this outstanding person who has influenced the life of
billions of people over the last fourteen hundred years. He could also change
your life.
(Gist compiled from “The Messenger” written by
Administrator Islam Awakened - Thursday, 23 June 2011)
