Testimonies About The Prophet Muhammad

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Here are some testimonies said by western orientalists and philosophers praising the Islāmic discourse values and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Michael Heart, an American astrophysicist and author, wrote:

“My choice of Muhammad (PBUH) to lead the list of the world’s most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religion and secular levels.”

“Muhammad (PBUH) founded and promulgated one of the world’s great religions, and became an immensely effective political leader. Today, thirteen centuries after his death, his influence is still powerful and pervasive.”

Michael H. Hart

The 100 A Ranking of the most Influential Persons in History,p.3.

Lamartine (d. 1869) a French writer, Poet, Politician said:

“If greatness of purpose, smallness of means, and astounding results are the three criteria of human genius, who could dare to compare any great man in modern history with Muhammad (PBUH) ? The most famous men created arms, laws and empires only. They founded, if anything at all, no more than material powers which often crumbled away before their eyes.

This man moved not only armies, legislations, empires, peoples and dynasties, but millions of men in one-third of the then inhabited world; and more than that, he moved the altars, the gods, the religions, the ideas, the beliefs and souls… the forbearance in victory, his ambition, which was entirely devoted to one idea and in no manner striving for an empire; his endless prayers, his mystic conversations with God, his death and his triumph after death; all these attest not to an imposture but to a firm conviction which gave him the power to restore a dogma.

This dogma was twofold, the unit of God and the immateriality of God; the former telling what God is, the latter telling what God is not; the one overthrowing false gods with the sword, the other starting an idea with words.”

He also said:

“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, that is Muhammad (PBUH) . As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he?”

Alphonse de Lamartine

History of Turkey, Paris 1854, Vol II, pp. 276-77

Bernard Shaw (d. 1950), an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist, and political activist said:

“I have always been respectful of Muhammad (PBUH) ‘s religion due to its fabulous living characteristics. In my opinion Islām is the only religion which has some features that make it capable of absorbing different changes and adaptable to every era’s figures. I have anticipated that Muhammad (PBUH) ‘s creed will be acceptable for the future Europe as it has been stated to be accepted in today Europe.

I am of the conviction that if a man such as Islām’s prophet takes the absolute lead of the new world era, he will be successful in solving world’s problems in such a way that meets the deep need of human being for peace and prosperity.”

George Bernard Shaw

The Genuine Islam

Edward Gibbon, 18th century English historian and famous writer of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire writes about Qur’ān:

“From Atlantic ocean to Ganges river in India, Qur’ān is not only known as the religious jurisprudence, but also the Constitution including judiciary, civil and criminal rules to manage all humankind’s financial affairs and all these affairs will be fulfilled by the fixed laws administered by God.

In other words, Qur’ān is Muslims’ Constitution and general commands including religious, social, civil, martial, judiciary and criminal as well as a set of daily life rules covering all religious rituals, self-purification, body care, hygiene practices, individual and public rights, public interests, moralities, crimes, this world’s agony and the other world’s torment.”[6]

Edward Gibbon

Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Vol. 5, Chapter L: Description Of Arabia And Its Inhabitants. Part IV.

David R. Sorensen described Carlyle’s position in an article which is part of Thomas Carlyle’s Book:

“Carlyle expresses it in his lecture, the Prophet’s message could not have endured for long if it were rooted in violence. It triumphed and prospered because it fulfilled an eternal human desire for peace, order, beauty, conduct, and purpose”

David R. Sorensen

Will Durant (d. 1981), an American Philosopher, historian and writer said:

“If we judge greatness by influence, he was one of the giants of history. He undertook to raise the spiritual and moral level of a people harassed into barbarism by heat and foodless wastes, and he succeeded more completely than any other reformer; seldom has any man so fully realized his dream.

He accomplished his purpose through religion not only because he himself was religious, but because no other medium could have moved the Arabs of his time; he appealed to their imagination, their fears and hopes, and spoke in terms that they could understand.

When he began, Arabia was a desert flotsam of idolatrous tribes; when he died it was a nation. He restrained fanaticism and superstition, but he used them. Upon Judaism, Zoroastrianism, and his native creed he built a religion simple and clear and strong, and a morality of ruthless courage and racial pride, which in a generation marched to a hundred victories, in a century to empire, and remains to this day a virile force through half the world.”

Will Durant

The Story of Civilization, v4, p.174

Islām is not just an ordinary religion; rather it is a comprehensive way of life, which regulates peoples’ social, political, economical, moral, civil, religious and most importantly the spiritual aspects of their life. And what Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had come with extensively covers all that and left not any room for an intruder to question the credibility, compatibility or consistency of these legislations.

Logically, all this, and among many other well substantiated proofs, left no choice but to conclude that Muhammad (PBUH) cannot be but a true Prophet, who was sent by God to mankind to promulgate God’s word and legislation to all mankind.

Allah, the Exalted, said:

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ

“And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad (ﷺ) ], except as a mercy to the worlds.” [Noble Qur’ān 21:107]

Testimonies About The Prophet Muhammad

Michael Heart, an American astrophysicist and author, wrote:

Michael H. Hart

Lamartine (d. 1869) a French writer, Poet, Politician said:

Alphonse de Lamartine

Bernard Shaw (d. 1950), an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist, and political activist said:

George Bernard Shaw

Edward Gibbon, 18th century English historian and famous writer of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire writes about Qur’ān:

Edward Gibbon

Will Durant (d. 1981), an American Philosopher, historian and writer said:

Will Durant

Testimonies About The Prophet Muhammad

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