Prophet Muhammad (saw) (pbuh) is the greatest person born on earth and this is a reality accepted in both Islamic and non-Islamic circles.
Prophet Muhammad (saw) was born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia about 1400 years ago. A man pious character and dignity he was bestowed with the religion of Islam by Allah (swt). He would go onto establish Islam as a religion and as a world order for years to come.
Never has one person had so much impact on lives of people and the world as a whole 1400 years after their passing. The teachings of the Prophet and the lessons from his biography are held in high esteem by Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
Muhammad (saw) was the first person to establish a governing system based on divine guidance from the Almighty. He civilized a nation which was notorious for conflicts, useless wars, misogyny and rooted deeo into moral corruption.
This article is not any answer or justification about the greatness of Prophet Muhammad nor are we looking for endorsement from anyone of any kind about the prestige and honour that the Prophet holds. For Muslims part of our faith is to follow, obey and respect his teachings as decreed by Allah.
As for non-Muslims this is a clear statement that speaks of the virtues of a great personality that changed the world forever. This is a reasoning of why Prophet Muhammad (saw) is the greatest person to ever walk the face of the earth.
Character of the Prophet.
Prophet Muhammad (saw) was the best in his character. He was respected all over Mecca and beyond due to the purity of his character. As he propagated the message of Islam, even his fiercest detractors couldn’t lay a finger on his character.
His mannerisms where that of a person unlike any other.
He was gentle and kindhearted, always ready to overlook the faults of others. Politeness, generosity, simplicity, and sincerity were the hallmarks of his character.
His teachings about personal life and etiquettes are lesson to us all. Before being a leader, a commander, he was a family man and indeed the best of them.
It was Muhammad (peace be upon him) who for the first time taught people to give up alcohol, drugs and all kinds of food harmful to them.
When he spoke, he spoke to the purpose or else he kept quiet. He was the first to greet a person. He never liked people paying him too much respect and prohibited them from standing up when he entered.
A Leader Beyond Compare.
Prophet Muhammad (saw) was a leader of the men. He led people with his teachings, action and compassion.
Not only did he bring together people in Mecca, but united to waring tribes of Aws and Khazraj in neighbouring Medina.
He united people of different cultures, nationality and races into one Ummah and gave them a purpose breaking down age old barriers.
A religious leader, he was holistic and modern in his approach. Condemning racism, making people break the shackles of nationalism were just two of the high points of his leadership. Interestingly, enough the world today continues to be plagued by these issues.
He established laws to protect animals, trees, and the environment; he established workers’ rights.
People speak about how Islam oppressed women but forget or do not know that it was Muhammad (peace be upon him) who for the first time in history established women’s rights by allowing them to own property, inherit, question authorities, reject arranged marriages, and seek divorce with valid reasons while the West didn’t allow women to vote till the 20th century.
In just over two decades of his Prophethood, Muhammad (saw) was able to transform Arabs into a disciplined, cultured and learn nation, a far cry from the days of the old.
Subsequently, his teachings would spread across the world and bring a change to the society resonating to this day.
Revered By Non-Muslims.
The impact of Prophet Muhammad (saw) is not limited to only followers of Islam. He was revered, respected for what he achieved by non-Muslims as well. Philosophers, leaders and historians have time and again pointed to the perseverance, judgement and leadership of Muhammad (saw).
Michael H. Hart an American author and historian put Muhammad (saw) Number one on his list of Ranking Of The Most Influential Persons In History.
“He was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular level,” Hart said.
Mahatma Ghandi , India’s prominent freedom fighter said,”….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 his pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission.
Edward Gibson, considered by many as the greatest British historian said, “His (i.e., Muhammad’s) memory was capacious and retentive, his wit easy and social, his imagination sublime, his judgment clear, rapid and decisive. He possessed the courage of both thought and action.”
Washington Irving known as the first American man of letters wrote, “In his private dealings he was just. He treated friends and strangers, the rich and poor, the powerful and the weak, with equity, and was beloved by the common people for the affability with which he received them, and listened to their complaints … His military triumphs awakened no pride nor vain glory, as they would have done had they been effected for selfish purposes. In the time of his greatest power he maintained the same simplicity of manners and appearance as in the days of his adversity”. [Life of Mahomet, London, 1889, pp. 192-3, 199]
Even as recently as 2013 a Hindu scholar, Swami Lakshmi Shankaracharya, said, “We are talking about Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and we should keep it in our mind that he is the greatest individual in history. If anyone wants to know about Islam, one should judge Islam by Prophet’s (peace be upon him) life and his teachings.”
Why Muslims Cannot Tolerate Any Insult To The Prophet?
Not for the first time in history some people have taken it upon themselves to try and bring disrepute to the name of Muhammad (saw) but only met condemnation and fierce opposition worldwide.
The recent case of a political leader slandering Muhammad (saw) on TV has led to a uprising and communal tension not only in India but other parts of the world.
The protests, calls for arrest of the political figures and massive uprisings are not for nothing. For every Muslim the honour of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) is above everything.
The fact that people are ready to come out on streets, protest, put their lives on line tells you about the influence and impact of the man who gave people an identity in a world muddled with ignorance.
The very fact that people from different ethnicities, cultures and nations have come together to condemn and oppose this act showcases the binding power Muhammad (saw) still has even after centuries.
No one, not even a single person from history exerts this type of hold on the hearts and minds of people, it is not fanaticism, it is the love Muslims have for the man who made them into one nation.
People from different backgrounds may see these protests and call us uncultured, backwards or more such things, but as we have seen and known over the years those people claiming to be civilized are exposed the moment their system breaks.
The cultures still having racism, bigotry, misogy deep rooted in their system should not lecture people when it comes to morals and ethics and civilized behaviour.
After all it was the religion of the Prophet (saw) that uprooted many social evils in the first place while the world was still under darkness.
Civilizations will rise and fall and people will come and go but what will remain is the honour, teachings and name of Prophet Muhammad (saw) which Muslims will defend even if the world entire world is against them.
Prophet Muhammad (saw) is the greatest person ever born on this earth and there is not a shadow of a doubt about it.