Islam and the Challenges of Modernisation

Islam and the Challenges of Modernisation

Dr. Mozammel Haque

Dr. Farhan Nizami, Director of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Oxford, welcomed the former Prime Minister of Lebanon, HE Mr. Najib Mikati to lecture on “Islam and the challenges of Modernisation” at the Examination Schools, Oxford, on Thursday, the 19^th of February, 2015. Mr. Mikati briefly spoke on the subject and then engaged in the discussion with the audience. Lord Williams proposed the vote of thanks after the Questions and Answers session.

While introducing Mr. Mikati, Dr. Nizami said, “Mr. Mikati is a graduate of American University of Beirut and applied his Masters and Business Administration to set up with his brother a brilliantly successful telecommunication company. He turned from business to government service and from 1998 ad ministerial post with responsibility for public works and transportation. And he was elected as a member of parliament for a constituency in Tripoli which I understand is his home town.”

Dr. Nizami also mentioned, “His Excellency was and remains a figure trusted by the different religious and political constituencies that make up the political kaleidoscope of modern Lebanon.  He always try to be the voice of the centre, the voice of moderation and tolerance and a symbol of national unity. That is why in 2005 at a time of renewed political mistrust in the country he was chosen to head the transitional government pending new elections. The general consensus was that he to be credited for steering the country away from civil war. The elections held on schedule and a new centre alliance duly formed a freshly legitimised government. His second term as Prime Minister begun in early 2011; as the so-called Arab Spring was beginning to gather steep.”

“Mr. Mikati failed to unable to continue as Prime Minister and resigned in March 2013. That aspiration of the Arab Spring vote for the modern democratic society, for transparent government free from corruption and incompetence, from military interference, from sectarianism and from the social injustices that are the consequences of such failure,” mentioned Dr. Nizami.

Dr. Nizami also mentioned, “Though events are still unfolding it is clear that those aspirations remain unrealised that the spring has become harsh winter. His Excellency has spoken and written extensively on the challenges that faced the Arab and Islamic worlds. He has consistently championed pluralism, tolerance and government by consensus. Because he has direct hands-on experience of the realities of political life entrepreneur world; he is well placed to tell us whether and how the Islamic world can deal with those realities. Things that instability that accompanied the acute inequalities and injustices is not confined to the Islamic world his perspective can also enrich us and understand what is happening in other parts of the world.

Mr. Najib Mikati, former Prime Minister of Lebanon

The former Prime Minister of Lebanon, His Excellency, Mr. Najib Mikati, said, “The terror today is about Islam and how it might be on a collision course with other religions especially within the modern western society. For me, this is a fundamentally forced debate. Religious theological believes clash with no other organisations, since they connect to all people at virtual level. What seems to be coming to be fore rather cultural differences between people, by the way, economic pressure, fast communication means and political turmoil. Religion is firmly outside this debate. When watching the evening news or grabbing the morning papers one has the clear sense that something is confusing in the relation between Islam and the western world.”

Signs of Fear and Mistrust

Mr. Mikati said, “This is translated by growing signs of fear and mistrust. Fear has primarily to do with   the issue of violence. Violence that transcends the ancient past and the modern present; from suicide attacks, conquest of Spain, the Crusades, the colonialism, the Iraq war, the Palestine, headscarves, the youths created chaos in the suburbs, Jihad, provocative, humour and the freedom of speech.”

Important Messages of Islam

Mr. Mikati made it point blank clear, “I am neither a theologian nor a historian but a man who fed his life.  I view Islam, my religion and that of 1.2 billion around the world to have relate important messages that have gone noticed beyond certain circles of curious researchers or brave intellectuals. Those messages are felt with humanity, humility and equality and one can draw many lessons and construct the linier conjecture but Islam which wanted to instil in society at the outset.”

1) First Message: Woman and entrepreneurship

Former Lebanese Prime Minister started with the message on woman and entrepreneurship. Mr. Mikati said, “Islam is always portrayed in the western media as discriminating against woman and especially one that confined woman to procreation and household duties. Khadijah, the first wife of the Prophet (peace be upon him), was a lady entrepreneur, not an idle homemaker. Khadijah was a very successful trader. Her businesses outnumbered all other traders of the Makkah tribes put together or Khadijah employed others to trade on her behalf; Prophet as her sole representative. Ladies and Gentleman, 1400 years ago, a rich female merchant was Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) first and only employer. This event established a guidance for the role of woman and business as productive full economic partner in Muslim culture. This is the first teaching of Islam.

2) Message on Racial Equality

After the first teaching of Islam, His Excellency moved to the message on racial equality. Mr. Mikati mentioned, “Bilal (R.A) was one of the most trusted and loyal companions of the Prophet. Bilal was among the emancipated slave freed by Abu Bakr. Thanks to the Islam and to the Islamic teachings on slavery, he was freed in the Arabian Peninsula at a time racism and in the name of tribalism was prevailed in Makkah. The Makkan tribal man … considered themselves superior to all other people of the world. A black man had no place amongst the Arab tribes except as a slave and that way before Islam. The Qur’an stated that: “No Arab is superior over a non-Arab and no white is superior over black. And superiority is but righteousness and God fearing alone.”(Sura Huzaira) Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also declared that if a Black Muslim were to rule over Muslims he should be obeyed. Such clear and more conventional act of racial equality by promoting Bilal into a prominent position within a nation religion was really a very powerful message that reverberated long ago and far.”

3) Message of Social Harmony

Former Lebanese Prime Minister then moved on to another message on Social Harmony. Mr. Mikati said, “Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) came to Madinah after the period of 13 years of preaching Islam in Makkah. At that time the City of Madinah and its surrounding area were home to many Jews, Christians and other Arabian pagan tribes. There were also people of various racial and national origin, including Romans, Persians and Ethiopians. Taking into considerations of the hopes and aspirations of this community of multi-ethnic multi-religious background, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) drew up the basic principles of pluralistic Constitution. The new Constitution had strengthened the unity between the immigrants from Makkah and the people of Madinah. Moreover, it established the rights of equality of every citizen irrespective of their religious orientations before the law as well as freedom of belief, trade and speech. The following is a statement by the Prophet on this subject: “Let it be known: If any one Muslim commits injustice, insults, aggravates, mistreats or abuses a person of the people of the Book who are protected by the state or an agreement he will have to answer to me for his immoral action on the Day of Judgement.””

4) Fashion and Humour

The former Prime Minister of Lebanon said, “Let’s move to current issues; topics of social relevance such as fashion and humour.” He started with fashion. He said, “I think this is rather a sign of cultural difference. ….To us, the head cover from cowboy in hat to the Russians ocean cars as the Arabian had headscarf. Most people think of the veil as socially and religiously a term affiliated with Islam and then to forget it is much older. Originated from ancient Indo-European cultures such as the Greeks, Romans and Persians. It was also common with the Assyrians.”

“Strong association of veiling with class rank as well as urban presence persistent historically up until  the last century Women even in Europe dressed more like women in the Muslim world than it is generally realised. It was customary especially for married women to cover their head with various kind of head-dresses,” said Mr. Mikati and added, “This becomes part of the classic man outfit that represent the most conservative style of  female dress in the Christian world.”

His Excellency also maintained, “As we know, Western societies have moved on from this former fashion trend yet the veil causes such a controversy initiated by an enactment of law and forced discrimination in the street. This is an example of modern society rejecting an old habit and accusing those women maintained it of religious backwardness not simply looking at it as being out of fashion.”

5) Humour

What about humour? Former Lebanese Prime Minister said, “Weeping is universal but laughing is not. What’s funny for an English audience could be seen as boring for the American crowd and what is satirical in French could look blasphemous in Africa. It is a question of sensibilities. Of course, I am not suggesting censorship; absolutely not; but it does trigger question of whether humour could be displayed and not illegal.”

“Some people get it and some don’t. What is one’s right of expressing gives other the right to be displeased. The difference in human cultural is from centuries, from country to country and from region to region. Again what is funny in New York may be not in Texas and what’s funny in Massey might be less so in Paris,” Mr. Mikati added.

In the United States, religiously inspired humour does not go behind the confined comedy clubs and seldom into the broader place. “Why, because United States is a deeply religious society with references to God,” said Mr. Mikati and added, “Consider for a moment, the American dollar … in God we trust. This does not worry in the Western society. Yeh, if a Muslim takes the phrase, in Allah we trust; wanted to be treated with suspicion; somehow the belief in Allah might carry with the possibility of being a fanatic gun with the devils.”

6) Islam rejects democracy?

Former Lebanese Prime Minister then spoke of another cases of religious divide and the Muslims live principally in non-democratic regime. Mr. Mikati said, “Now they say religious divide. Is that Muslim live in a non-democratic society; henceforth Islam rejects democracy and some pundits assert that Islam as a religion does not encourage the freedom of speech; but when Communism prevails in USSR and the Nazi regime in Germany, Fascism in Spain and Italy; was Christianity playing for promoting totalitarian regime. Such regimes have no religion, creed or nationality. The transition from the totalitarian regime to liberal democracy is always painful; certainly was in Europe as it is very painful today in both Arab and Muslim countries. But surprisingly labelling certain Muslim societies as non-democratic purely on religious grounds rather than for political reason. This is a grave show of lack of knowledge and great display of misunderstanding of Islam. This is ever-changing modern society. People from all creed, religion and backgrounds are hardly coping with the shifting social landscape.”

7) Islam and Modernisation are not mutually exclusive

This comfort brings about fears of the unknown, vices from the unfamiliar and doubt about the other. Former Lebanese Prime Minister mentioned, “The challenge of Islam with modernisation is neither religious nor theological. Islam and modernisation are not mutually exclusive. Islam was one of the first religions that promoted modernisation fourteen centuries ago in Arabia. The challenge, in fact, is cultural or I would say, multi-cultural. What common between Islam and many religions enter in dogmas, principles and spiritual belief are far greater than what’s keep them apart.”

Mr. Mikati suggested for launching a consortium

“However, cultural patterns between nations combined with a fast moving modern society are pitting more non-religious issue into the fold than any differences of executive interpretations and divine cultures. The narrative dimension of the conflict is greatly needed because recent event has sacrosanct increased temptation to embrace deeply polarised position as a popular level narratives and inter-cultural have become dominant. To avoid becoming that into this level and to this destructive debate we must come together as experts and politics education, sociology  and communication to launch a consortium where policies based on plurality and tolerance can be discussed and initiated. Dialogue should be established in all different levels otherwise from all sides will shade trying to prevail.”

Lebanon: A living example of multi-

cultural democratic society

Former Lebanese Prime Minister concluded his speech by saying that morality consisting avoiding excesses by giving limit to our own freedom and tolerance. Mr. Mikati said, “It is to let others set their own limits as part of a living together in this space. Living example of multi-cultural democratic society is my country Lebanon where people coming from over 20 religious and ethnic backgrounds have been living together for centuries and in total serenity and mutual respect. I believe, it is about time for moderates or the silent majority takes the lead and become more pro-active. Extremists never betrayed the true values of any religion they belong to. No matter how religiously different we might be, tolerance and mutual respect are the only way to bring us together culturally.”

Mr. Mikati ended his lecture by saying that morality consisting avoiding excesses by giving limit to our own freedom and tolerance. “It is to let others set their own limits as part of a living together in this space. Living example of multi-cultural democratic society is my country Lebanon where people coming from over 20 religious and ethnic backgrounds have been living together for centuries and in total serenity and mutual respect. Allow me ladies and gentlemen, I believe it is about time for moderates or the silent majority takes the lead and become more pro-active. Extremists never betrayed true values of any religion they belong to. No matter how religiously different we might be, tolerance and mutual respect are the only way to bring us together culturally.”

Lord Williams

Lord Michael Williams, Peer of the House of Lords, of the British Parliament, moved the vote of thanks for Najib Makati.

Lord Williams said, “Few years ago in 2008.  I took up the post of UN Special Representative in Lebanon and I remember just before going and speaking with an old friend of the Foreign Office and saying who should I turn for counsel there and he mentioned two people, one was the late Nassif Lahood and the other was Najib Makati and throughout my three years in Lebanon Najib done in support and counsel, receiving in his home in Tripoli, in office Dakota and lately in the Brunson.”

Speaking about former Prime Minister of Lebanon and his country, Lord Williams mentioned, “You come from a country of great tolerance and flexibility and it is something in Lebanon that has shown throughout its history. Remarkably people seldom know this that Jewish population in Lebanon went up in 1940, not down and the reason for this is many Jewish people particularly those who are very settler of the left, politically from Syria and from Iraq, came to Lebanon and the latest 1968 I think there was still functioning Synagogues and that sort of tradition of openness you sustained under the great pressure.”

“We see it now the enormous toll that the Syrian War has taken on Lebanon. The way you hosted huge numbers hundreds and thousands,” Lord Williams mentioned and he said he felt shame to say that we have only a few hundreds in spite of our own traditions. Lord Williams also added, “But in Lebanon you have held firm to your traditions; and you have not being without attention to your own city Tripoli, home to Alawites community.”

“Most remarkable thing is that you managed to cope with those tensions,” he said.

Lord Williams recollected while mentioning about tradition of moderation that deep within Islam, he said, “I first went to Lebanon in 1973 as a doctor of student and then there was a civil war I had to leave. I went to another Muslim country but a very small country but I went to largest Muslim country; very very far apart. But that tradition of moderation and of willingness to live alongside and to recognise truths of religion something that remains very very strong. You yourself embodied I think that before you continue to play the very prominent role in your country particularly perhaps in days of a considerable” trial and tribulation.

King Abdullah's Reign (2005-2015) - Decade of Development & Reform

King Abdullah’s Reign (2005-2015):

Decade of Development & Reform

Dr. Mozammel Haque

Media Advisor

Islamic Cultural Centre, London

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud died on Thursday, 22 January 2015, royal officials have announced. Abdullah, who had ruled since 2005 and was said to be aged about 90, had been suffering from a lung infection.

His 79-year-old brother, Salman bin Abdulaziz, has been confirmed as the new king. King Salman vowed to maintain the same policies as his predecessors. “We will continue adhering to the correct policies which Saudi Arabia has followed since its establishment,” he said in a speech broadcast on state television.

King Abdullah’s Vision and Leadership

Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz became King of Saudi Arabia on 1^st August, 2005, following the death of his brother King Fahd. King Abdullah’s reign has been characterized by a number of important reforms and achievements, which have elevated the Kingdom to an advanced rank among the world’s countries.

Since King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz’s ascension to the throne in 2005, a date which has been followed by a period of remarkable changes sparked by major social, education, health and infrastructure projects across the Kingdom. The Kingdom’s leadership has introduced policies for education development in the Kingdom through the expansion of university education and opening of more universities.

Ten-year rule of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud of Saudi Arabia brought many revolutionary changes in development and reform. It can rightly be described as a decade of development and reform. King Abdullah will be remembered in golden letters in world history, particularly in the history of Saudi Arabia for his reform, achievements and initiatives in the field of national dialogue, independence of judiciary, educational development, expansion of Haramain domestically and interfaith dialogue and Middle East Peace Initiative internationally. He was a bold leader loved both at home by his own people and abroad by friends and allies.

King Abdullah’s Reforms

1) Independence of Judiciary

During the reign of King Abdullah, a number of important and noteworthy reform steps were taken in Saudi Arabia. Since assuming the throne, king Abdullah made a number of key reform steps in the kingdom. One of the most important achievements was the king’s landmark reform of the judicial system and the consequent creation of specialised courts.

2) Allegiance –Baya - Loyalty

King Abdullah also set up “the Allegiance Commission” or  Hay’at al-Bay‘ah, which is a codification of the unwritten rules that have governed the selection of Saudi rulers since the passing of King Abdul Aziz in 1953.Also during the reign of King Abdullah, ‘the Allegiance Council” has been set up.

3) National Dialogue

King Abdullah launched National Dialogue mechanism and allows Saudi citizens to engage each other in addressing issues that concerned society. This is not an idle exercise in a country where civil society is non-existent. The fact that these dialogues are not only occurring but truly significant.

4) King Abdullah’s Education programme

King Abdullah lived up to his reputation as a bold leader. He made decisions that hold a lot of promise for generations to come: his interfaith initiative, his decision to allow women to participate in the upcoming municipal elections, his decision to focus on young Saudis, his decision to spend heavily on the education sector, his decision to institute hundreds and thousands of scholarships in some of the best institutions in the world all these decisions indicated his love for his country and his religion.

a) King Abdullah’s Scholarship programme: King Abdullah established the visionary scholarship programme for the young generation to study abroad. Education was at the heart of reform King Abdullah promoted since taking office in 2005 with the launching of a $2.4 billion education programme in the same year. King Abdullah gave top priority to education and training of young Saudi men and women and allocated more than 25 percent of the national budget for the purpose. During his rule, the number of government universities jumped from eight to 24, giving students in all parts of the country access to higher education. More than 80,000 Saudis are now pursuing their higher education in reputed international universities. There are more than 33,000 schools in the Kingdom with more than five million students representing a third of the nation’s population and nearly 500,000 male and female teachers.

b) King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST):  King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST). KAUST is one of the major achievements of King Abdullah. The most notable aspect of King Abdullah’s accomplishments in the advancement of education in September 2009 was the launch of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology – KAUST – in Thuwal.  On September 23, 2009 when King Abdullah inaugurated a world-class University for Science and Technology in 80 km north of Jeddah, he was not only realizing a dream that was living in his heart for 25 years but was driving home a strong point that the Muslim world has to achieve scientific and technological progress in order to join the League of developed countries.

c) Princess Nora Bint Abdulrahman University for Women: The year 2007 saw the opening of Princess Nora Bint Abdulrahman University for women with its 32 colleges across the Riyadh region. This is the first women’s university in Saudi Arabia and largest women-only University in the world. It has a new library capable of holding 4.5 million volumes.

d) King Abdullah’s Scholarship Programme: King Abdullah’s Foreign Scholarship Programme is the largest scholarship programme in the history of the Kingdom. Currently more than 130,000 Saudi students are pursuing different fields of study in some of the best universities in the world.

King Abdullah’s scholarship programme was established in 2005 to sponsor highly qualified Saudi students to continue their studies in different universities across the globe. Since the inauguration of the scholarship programme as many as 62,000 Saudi students have been sent to various colleges and universities around the world. The programme is an integral aspect of the Kingdom’s comprehensive education plans.

5) Empowerment of Women

a) Woman education minister; member shoura council and foreign ambassadors: King Abdullah appointed a woman as Deputy Education Minister and Saud al-Faisal as Foreign Minister declared appointment of several women as ambassadors in the councils and embassies overseas. Innumerable additions and alterations of reforms natures in such areas as human rights, particularly women rights.

IMF chief Christine Lagarde paid tribute to the Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, saying he was a strong believer in pushing forward women's rights. Women not only constitute half of Saudi society but they are also the driving force behind the Kingdom’s future development as a 21st-century society.

b) Saudi Women in Shoura Council: King Abdullah appointed 30 highly educated Saudi women to the Shoura Council (consultative assembly) and to ensure women make up at least 20 percent of the Council in the future is a key turning point in the history of the Kingdom. The historic decision by King Abdullah to appoint women, for the first time, to the Shoura Council is a major initiative to reform the existing political system.

6) Expansion of the Two Holy Mosques

a) King Abdullah’s Haram Expansion Project: King Abdullah ordered additional expansions to the Grand Mosque. Described as the largest in Muslim history, the project will create additional prayer space for more than a million worshippers. King Abdullah officially launched on Friday, 19^th of August, 2011, the largest expansion of the Grand Mosque in history, which will increase the Mosque’s capacity to more than 2.5 million worshippers and cost 80 billion Saudi Riyals. The new project will comprise three parts: construction of a new building; expansion and development of courtyards around the mosque, including walkways, tunnels and toilets; and development of service facilities for air-conditioning, electricity and drinking water.

b) Expansion of Masa’a : The project also include plans to expand the mataf (the circumambulation areas around the Holy Ka’aba) and provide air-conditioning for all parts of the Grand Mosque. Masaa, the area between Safa and Marwa, which is located inside the mosque, has been expanded to help pilgrims perform the sa’ie ritual more easily and comfortably. King Abdullah took expansion projects of Masa’a.

c) Makkah Tower Clock: King Abdullah also officially inaugurated the Makkah Tower Clock, considered the largest in the world; the Makkah Time, the newly expanded masaa (the running course between Safa and Marwa); the King Abdul Aziz Endowment Towers; the Jamarat Bridge complex in Mina; and the Mashair Railway linking the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifa as well as the sunshades around the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah by pressing buttons.

d) Jamarat Bridge Project : The Jamarat Bridge is 950 meters long and 80 meters wide. Each floor is 12 meters high. The entire project is designed to hold 12 stories and as many as five million pilgrims in the future if the need arises. The project is now complete and ready for pilgrims. The completion of the Jamarat project allows for the throwing of pebbles from all five levels of the bridge.

e) Makkah Metro Monorail Project : The 20 km Makkah Metro monorail project, costing USS1.8 billion, was launched in 2010 to link the Grand Mosque with Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifa, to ease pilgrim transport. It includes the construction of nine railway stations in Arafat, Mina and Muzdalifah, each 300 meters long. The metro railway is designed to operate 17 trains with 12 coaches in each train.

f) Haramain Railway Project: Another project, the high-speed Haramain Railway, costing SR37.5 billion will link the holy sites of Makkah and Madinah to the Red Sea port of Jeddah, an entry point for millions of pilgrims to relieve road congestion.

g) King Abdul Aziz Street Project: Another huge project to ease traffic flow in roads close to the Grand Mosque is the new SR12 billion King Abdul Aziz Street project in Makkah. The project, which covers 1.2 million square meters, is scheduled to complete in 2012. It represents a third of development projects and basic infrastructure schemes in Makkah. The road, which runs from Jeddah to Makkah’s entrance, will make entry and exit to and from the Grand Mosque very easy. The 60-meter-wide road would incorporate the Haramain rail tracks.

7) International Interfaith Dialogue

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said he admired King Abdullah greatly. “Despite the turmoil of events in the region around him, he remained a stable and sound ally, was a patient and skilful moderniser of his country leading it step by step into the future,” Mr Blair said. He paid tribute to the monarch's advocacy of "inter-faith relations", his embracing of education for women, and his investment in renewable energy.

King Abdullah began this journey of his interfaith dialogue in 2005 in the Holy City of Makkah, when he called on all 57 Muslim heads of state to meet in Islam’s holiest city to ponder the issues of extremism and call for a Muslim renaissance. The King travelled to Vatican and met Pope Benedict in 2007 offering him peace and friendship on behalf of the Muslim world. The following year, in June 2008, King Abdullah hosted a first historic Interfaith Dialogue Conference in Makkah al-Mukarramah where more than 500 Muslim religious scholars and leaders attended.  It was followed by a multi-religious conference in Madrid in July 2008, which was hosted by King Abdullah along with King Juan Carlos of Spain and attended by more than 300 representatives from Vatican, Anglican Church, Judaism, Hinduism and other faiths. Then King Abdullah took the interfaith dialogue to the global centre-stage at the UN.

The Inauguration Ceremony of King Abdullah International Centre for Interfaith Dialogue (KAICIID) took place on 26^th of November 2012 at the Hofburg Vienna.

8) Middle East Peace Initiative

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair said, “And of course he launched the Arab Peace Initiative in 2002 which has stood the test of time as a potential basis for a solution to the Israeli Palestine issue," the ex-PM added.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) - The Greatest Leader and Reformer

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh): The Greatest

Leader, Reformer and Finality of Prophethood

Dr. Mozammel Haque

This is the month of Rabi al-Awwal when Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him came to this world and spread the message of Islam revealed to him by Archangel Jibrail. This year, I read three books on the life of the Prophet (peace be upon him), two by non-Muslim and one by a Muslim.

This is the month when the Union of Muslim Organisations of UK & Ireland (UMO OF UK & Eire) under the leadership of Dr. Syed Aziz Pasha, celebrated the day, without fail, for more than four decades organising a Seminar on the Life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him where ministers, political leaders, academics and Islamic scholars were invited to participate and speak on different aspects of Prophet’s life. After the demise of Dr. Pasha in 2011, The UMO still organised a Seminar on the Life of the Prophet at the Islamic Cultural Centre, London, last year in 2013 where a brilliant academic presentation “Love for the Prophet (peace be upon him) was made by Dr. Ahmed al-Dubayan, Director General of the Centre.

(http://www.iccuk.org/page.php?section=media&page=loveofprophet2014b)

Unfortunately, this is the first time, in the 43 years of the UMO, when it failed to organise a regular seminar of its calendar on the day of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi when there is so much media debate, talks and discussions on the Prophet (peace be upon him).

However, during this month of Rabi al-Awwal, I usually used to read some books on the biography of the Prophet (PBUH) and write review of those books. This year, I started reading the book on Muhammad: Prophet For Our Time by Karen Armstrong, published by Harper Prerennial, London, 2006 and another book Muhammad (SAW): 1001 Universal Appreciations and Interfaith Understanding and Peace by Dr. Mohammed A. Lais, published by Zaitun Media Ltd., in 2014 and thought to write a review article on the basis of that. But as the media has written so much on the Paris cartoons, I thought it is better to present the life of the Prophet peace be upon him) from the writings of non-Muslim thinkers and statesmen.

At the beginning, I want to raise the following questions – Who is Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)? In order to know that, we have to find answers to the following: i) what was the situation of Arabia when he was born? ii) . How he was treated by the Makkah people? iii) What was his reaction; whether he was violent and aggressive with them or he was tolerant and restraint? In the following passages I would like to find answers from the pens and writings of non-Muslim writers, statesmen, scholars, and thinkers.

As usual, there are some misunderstanding and misinterpretations about the life, works and message of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In this article, I would like to see through the pens and writings of some of the prominent non-Muslim thinkers, academics and scholars what they think about him.

Jahiliya Period

When Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born, the condition of Arabia was described as Jahiliya. During this period, the situation of Makkah was described by Reverend Stephens as follows: “The vices most prevalent in Arabia in the time of Muhammad which are most sternly denounced and absolutely forbidden in the Qur’an were drunkenness, unlimited concubinage and polygamy; the destruction of female infants, reckless gambling superstitious arts of divination and magic.”

Prophecy of the coming of Prophet Muhammad

Peace be upon him

There were many sayings about the advent of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and it was known to some well-versed scholars of the previous religions and scriptures. About one incident, Karen Armstrong wrote: “To reassure Muhammad, Khadijah consulted her cousin Waraqah, the hanif, who had studied the scriptures of the People of the Book and could give them expert advice. Waraqah was jubilant: Holy Holy! he cried, when he heard what had happened. “if you have spoken the truth to me, O Khadijah, there has come to him the great divinity who came to Moses aforetime, and lo, he is the prophet of his people.” The next time Waraqah met Muhammad in the Haram; he kissed him on the forehead and warned him that his task would not be easy.” (Karen, pages 47-48)

Prophet Muhammad endured pain

and mistreatment from others

After Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) received revelation and he invited the Makkah people to accept the new religion, then the people of Makkah went against him and started badly treated him. How the Makkah people treated him, Karen Armstrong wrote: “Muhammad’s neighbors played disgusting tricks with a sheep’s uterus, thwacking him with it while he was at prayer, and once even dropping it into the family cooking pot. One day, a young Quraushi threw filth all over Muhammad while he was walking in the city. When his daughter Fatimah saw him in this state, she burst into tears. “Don’t cry my little girl,” Muhammad reassured her tenderly, while she tried to clean him up. “God will protect your father.” But to himself, he added grimly: “Quraysh treated me thus while Abu Talib was alive.” (Karen, page 89)

Similarly Leslay Hazleton mentioned, “As news spread of Abu-Lahab’s withdrawal of protection, the attacks on Muhammad became more pointed. Pails of dust were emptied over his head as he walked to the Kaaba precinct, and stones thrown at him when he tried to preach there. Even at home, he was at risk. As he sat in his own courtyard, someone threw sheep’s offal at him, splattering him with blood and gore. The specific organ hurled was the one distinctly female part of the animal, the uterus, making the insult all the more flagrant in a society based so strongly on male pride. It was clear that if Muhammad was not to live under virtual house arrest – in fact, if he was to survive – it was of paramount importance that he finds the protection of a clan leader.”

While Dr. N. K. Singh said, “People threw rubbish on his body and showered abuses. One particular lady adopted a novel technique: as the Prophet passed in front of her house every day, she threw rubbish, collected in her house, right on his body. This became such a regular practice that one day when rubbish was not thrown on him; he wanted ton know the reason for it. On enquiry, he learnt that the old lady was sick. He then went into the hollow, sat by the bedside of the lady, consoled her and prayed for her early recovery.”

Prophet never thought of revenge but

Showed greatest restraint

Dr. N. K. Singh also claimed, “The life of the Prophet (God’s blessings be on him) is an illustrious model for all Muslim to emulate. He has shown the greatest restraint in the preaching and practice of Islam. His life in Makkah was full of examples where he suffered without a protest. Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him) was subject to many hardships and personal injuries while he was preaching Islam in Makkah. His reaction to these was nothing short of the true exposition of non-violence.”

Rendered extensive service to humanity

Leo Tolstoy said, “Undoubtedly, the Prophet Muhammad is one of the greatest reformers who rendered extensive service to the human community. As an indication of his greatness, it suffices to mention that he guided an entire nation to the light of truth and made it incline to serenity and peace and opted to live a life of asceticism. He forbade acts of bloodshed or human sacrifice. He opened up for his nation the way to progress and civilisation. That was a great feat which nobody – no matter how powerful he may be – is able to achieve. Such a man, indeed, is highly respectable and estimable.”

Reverend Stephens compared Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him) with Moses; both of whom revived a pure religion from their common father, Abraham. “For a confused heap of idolatrous superstitions he substituted a pure monotheistic faith; he abolished some of the most vicious practices of his countrymen, modified others; he generally raised the moral standard, improved the social condition of the people, and introduced a sober and rational ceremonial in worship.”

“The abolition of some of these evil customs and the mitigation of others, was a great advance in the morality of the Arabs, and is a wonderful and honourable testimony to the zeal and influence of the Reformer. The total suppression of female infanticide and of drunkenness is the most signal triumph of his work,” wrote Reverend Stephens.

Simplicity was his greatest power

Pierce De Lacy Henry Johnstone, a famous European author mentioned that simplicity was a great power of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “He visited the sick, followed every bier he met, accepted even a slave’s invitation to dinner, mended his own clothes, waited on himself. Never was he first to withdraw his hand from another’s, nor to turn away ere the other hand turned. His hand was the most generous, his heart the most courageous, his tongue the most truthful, staunchest was he of protectors, and sweetest in conversation; and he inspired all men with awe and reverence.’ He was taciturn of habit, yet playful with children but not given to jesting.”

On the other hand, Professor T.L Vaswami paid tribute to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) for bringing huge reforms in the society. He mentioned, “And consider for a moment what the faith he preached has achieved. Islam has given the world a religion without priests; Islam abolished infanticide in Arabia; Islam enjoined on the faithful total abstinence from drink; Islam emphasized the great qualities of faith, courage, endurance and self-sacrifice.”

Golden words with regards to

neighbourly relations

“Apart from all those things which he preached to his followers he said some golden and charming words with regard to neighbourly relations. ‘Be kind to your neighbour. Draw the veil over him. Avoid injury to him, look to him with kindness. If you see him doing evil, forgive him. If you see him doing good to you, proclaim your thankfulness’. These are words to be treasured and the Man who said them should be weighed in gold,” said David De Santillan.

Prophet’s life style

Bosworth Smith writing about the simplicity and life style of the Prophet (peace be upon him) elaborated: “His ordinary dress was plain, even to coarseness; yet he was fastidious in arranging it to the best advantage. He was fond of ablutions, and fonder still of perfumes; and he prided himself on the neatness of his hair, and the pearly whiteness of his teeth. His life was simple in all its details. ….Ayesha is also our authority for saying that he did not get a sufficient meal. The little food that he had was always shared with those who were always to be found a number of the poor who lied entirely on the prophet’s generosity and were hence called the people of the bench. His ordinary food was dates and water or barley bread; milk and honey were luxuries of which he was fond, but which he rarely allowed himself.”

Similarly, The historian Edward Gibbon, like Bosworth Smith described: “The good sense of Mahomet despised the pomp of royalty; the apostle of God submitted to the menial offices of the family; he kindled the fire, swept the floor, milked the ewes, and mended with his own hands his shoes and his woollen garment. Disdaining the penance and merit of a hermit, he observed, without effort or vanity, the abstemious diet of an Arab and a soldier. On solemn occasions, he feasted his companions with rustic and hospitable plenty; but in his domestic life, many weeks would elapse without a fire being kindled on the hearth of the Prophet.”

Object of so much discussion, hate as well as love

In Spite of his so much service to humanity, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is an object of so much discussion since his time to today’s world. About this, Dr. Henry Stubbe, a British writer and scholar wrote in his book: “There is no man under heaven who has been the object of so much discussion, due either to extreme hatred or great love, as the Prophet Mohammed. Exalted in the East and discarded in the West, the Prophet has acquired a position which is difficult to define and for which it is impossible to find a parallel. He has been a central figure, to a large part of mankind, during the last thirteen centuries. His great enemies were the infidels of Makkah, but their hostility is as nothing compared to that shown by the Christian nations, which casts the story of the Jews and their detestation of Jesus entirely into the shade. It is a strange irony of fate that, Mohammad, who so manifestly honoured Isa and respected his teachings, has been made the object of the grossest abuse and the vilest calumny by the followers of Isa.”

Alphonse Marie Louis de Prat de Lamartine, a French writer, poet and politician states that History is a testimony to the creation of empires and armies which after periods of existence met its demise. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was not only successful in these fields, but his real success lied in the ability to penetrate the hearts of men.

According to him, “If greatness of purpose, smallness of means, and astonishing results are the three criteria of a human genius, who could dare compare any great man in history with Muhammad? 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, 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 the souls.”

Need balanced approach to

Prophet’s life, says Karen Armstrong

 When international community praised and acknowledged Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) for his personality, good moral character and non-violent policy, there is an animosity among some people who used all kinds of abuses against him as the people of Jahiliya used to do in the seventh century. Karen Armstrong wrote in the Introduction of her book mentioned earlier: “We have a long history of Islamophobia in Western Culture that dates back to the time of the Crusades. In the twelfth century, Christian monks in Europe insisted that Islam was a violent religion of the sword, and that Muhammad was a charlatan who imposed his religion on a reluctant world by force of arms; they called him a lecher and a sexual pervert. This distorted version of the Prophet’s life became one of the received ideas of the West, and Western people have always found it difficult to see Muhammad in a more objective light.” (pages 17-18).

Karen Armstrong also mentioned, “Western critics also persist in viewing the Prophet of Islam as a man of war, and fail to see that from the very first he was opposed to the jahili arrogance and egotism that not only fuelled the aggression of his time but is much in evidence in some leaders, Western and Muslims alike, today. The Prophet, whose aim was peace and practical compassion, is becoming a symbol of division and strife – a development that is not only tragic but also dangerous to the stability on which the future of our species depends.” (pages 22-213)

Ms Armstrong advised, “We must approach his life in a balanced way, in order to appreciate his considerable achievements. To cultivate an inaccurate prejudice damages the tolerance, liberality, and compassion that are supposed to characterize Western culture.” (page 18).

Present world needs leader like Prophet Muhammad,

(pbuh), says George Bernard Shaw

George Bernard Shaw, an Irish playwright and a co-founder of the London School of Economics (LSE) argued that the present world needs leaders like Prophet Muhammad (SAW) for the general peace and comfort. Shaw observed:” I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness: I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad that it would be acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today.”