What Western intellectuals thought of Muhammad

[iffo]

My reason for writing this is totally academic. I do not want to start a never ending thread of arguments,
that's why I myself will not respond to any reply.

Lot of nasty stuff been said about Prophet Muhammad on this site and perhaps many other sites.
There is not a crime out there that he has not been accused of. After reading these accusations
when one reads the western intellectuals and historians, ancestors of the same people who are accusing him of these horrendous crimes, one gets quite a different picture. One wonders, whats going on, are we all on the same planet, why such a contrast?


Following are some of the comments of westerns Intellectuals, historians and big brains who were extremely knowledgeable about Islamic history & Muhammad.

This is very serious stuff. We all strive for truth and deserve the truth. Please read it carefully and then decide for yourself. I sincerely wish and hope whatever you decide, its the right and fair decision and in the end a good one for you.
Regards

--------------------------------

Thomas Carlyle, Scottish satirical writer, essayist, historian and teacher
In 'Heroes and Hero Worship and the Heroic in History,'
1840

The lies (Western slander) which well-meaning zeal has heaped round this
man (Muhammad) are disgraceful to ourselves only....
A silent great soul, one of that who cannot but be earnest. He was to
kindle the world, the world?s Maker had ordered so.

Edward Gibbon- (1737-1794) Considered the greatest British historian of his time.

The greatest success of Mohammad’s life was effected by sheer moral
force without the stroke of a sword.

Alphonse de Lamartine - (1790-1869) French writer, poet and statesman.

.... the founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire, that is Muhammad.
As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may
well ask, is there any man greater than he?

Reverend Bosworth Smith- (1794-1884) Late Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford.

… he was Caesar and Pope in one; but he was Pope without the Pope’s
pretensions, and Caesar without the legions of Caesar. Without a standing
army, without a bodyguard, without a palace, without a fixed revenue, if
ever any man had the right to say that he ruled by a right Divine, it was
Mohammed; for he had all the power without its instruments and without its
supports.

Annie Besant
(1847-1933) British theosophist and nationalist leader in India. President
of the Indian National Congress in 1917.

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.

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW
Irish secular comic dramatist and literary critic. 1925 Nobel Prize for Literature,1856-1950

He must be called the Saviour of Humanity. 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 much needed peace and
happiness.

John William Draper, American (English-born) scientist, philosopher, physician, chemist, historian, and photographer.
History of the Intellectual Development of Europe, London 1875, Vol.1,
pp.329-330

Four years after the death of Justinian, A.D. 569, was born at Mecca, in
Arabia the man who, of all men exercised the greatest influence upon the
human race . . . Mohammed . . .

De Lacy O'Leary, Author, Historian

ISLAM AT THE CROSSROADS, London, 1923, p. 8.
"History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims
sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword
upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that
historians have ever repeated.

Edward Gibbon and Simon Oakley in ?History of the Saracen Empire,? London,
1870
-Edward Gibbon- English historian. His most important work, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,

The greatest success of Mohammad?s life was effected by sheer moral
force.

Lane-Poole - British orientalist and archaeologist
In 'Speeches and Table Talk of the Prophet Muhammad'

He was the most faithful protector of those he protected, the sweetest and
most agreeable in conversation. Those who saw him were suddenly filled
with reverence; those who came near him loved him; they who described him
would say, "I have never seen his like either before or after." He was of
great taciturnity, but when he spoke it was with emphasis and
deliberation, and no one could forget what he said...

W.C. Taylor- historian- in 'The History of Muhammadanism and its Sects'

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.

Arthur Glyn Leonard in 'Islam, Her Moral and Spiritual Values'

It was the genius of Muhammad, the spirit that he breathed into the Arabs
through the soul of Islam that exalted them. That raised them out of the
lethargy and low level of tribal stagnation up to the high watermark of
national unity and empire. It was in the sublimity of Muhammad's deism,
the simplicity, the sobriety and purity it inculcated the fidelity of its
founder to his own tenets, that acted on their moral and intellectual
fiber with all the magnetism of true inspiration.

Michael H. Hart - Jewish American (1932- ) Professor of astronomy, physics and the history of science.
In his book "The 100" most influential person in history

My choice of Muhammad 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
religious and secular level.

William Montgomery Watt (1909- ) Priest of the Scottish Episcopal Church, - Professor (Emeritus) of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Edinburgh.

His readiness to undergo persecutions for his beliefs, the high moral
character of the men who believed in him and looked up to him as leader,
and the greatness of his ultimate achievement – all argue his fundamental
integrity. To suppose Muhammad an impostor raises more problems than it
solves. Moreover, none of the great figures of history is so poorly
appreciated in the West as Muhammad.

Dr. Jan Lake Spanish writter, in his book (The Arabs):

The historic life of Muhammad cannot be described using any words that
are better than what Allah says in a few words through which He mentions the
reason of the Prophet’s mission saying: “And in no way have We sent you
except as a mercy to the worlds“. . Moreover, the Prophet
has proved by himself that he has the greatest mercy for every weak, and every one who needs help.
Muhammad was a true mercy for all of the orphans, poor, wayfarers, fate-stricken,
weak, workers and the people of pains and trouble. I, with love and longing, ask Allah for prayers to
be upon him and his companions.

The English scholar and Ex-priest Dorrany.

I can say with all strength that there isn’t any new Muslim that doesn’t hold in his soul
the gratitude to our master Muhammad for what he pervades him of love, assistance,
guidance and inspiration. Thus he is the good model that Allah has sent to us out of mercy and love to
us to trace his footsteps.

Washington Irving, American author, essayist, biographer and historian
said, in his book (Life of Muhammad)

The acts of the Messenger (peace be upon him) in the aftermath of capturing Mecca (Ramadan the 8th Hijra year / 630 AC) indicated that he was a Prophet entrusted with a message, rather than a victorious leader. He treated his fellow citizens (of Mecca) with mercy and deep sympathy, in spite of the strong position he attained. He topped his successes and victories by mercy and forgiveness

Gustave Le Bon, borne 1841, a well-known French historian

Muhammad had high moral standards, wisdom, warm heartedness, deep sympathy, mercy, truthfulness, and fidelity. Those morals were the reason of attracting the views of impartial thinkers to the Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him, and considering him one of the greatest figures of history.

James Albert Michener, American author of more than 40 titles, the majority of which are novels of sweeping sagas, covering the lives of many generations in a particular geographic locale and incorporating historical facts into the story as well. Michener was known for the meticulous research behind his work.

Prophet Muhammad the inspirational man, who set up the principles of Islam, was born in a tribe that worshiped idols. He was an orphan; he loved the poor, the needy, the widows, the orphans, the slaves, and weak people.

The famous English author Thomas Carliel (1795 – 1881), Scottish satirical writer, essayist, historian

Inside the great heart of this man – that has a great soul, full of mercy, peace, good, wisdom - some thought far from greed, and intentions that don’t seek for power or authority.
That is because he was faithful and serious with a big silent character…
We may see others in high positions, living their lives lying and doing things completely different than their promises, Muhammad in the contrary never said a lie, and he was a rare and unique great person.

- George Bernard Shaw in "The Genuine Islam"
Irish secular comic dramatist and literary critic. 1925 Nobel Prize for Literature,1856-1950

I have studied him — the wonderful man — and in my opinion he must be called the saviour of humanity.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German poet, novelist, playwright, courtier, and natural philosopher, one of the greatest figures in Western literature.

Us, Europeans, with all our concepts could not reach what Muhammad has reached, and no one will be able to precede him. I have looked in the history of humanity for an example and found that it was Muhammad, as the truth must be revealed. Indeed, Muhammad succeeded to subdue the entire world to monotheism.

Th e British philosopher, Thomas Carlyle, who won the Nobel Prize for his book ‘The Heroes’ wrote:

It is a great shame for any one to listen to the accusation that Islaam is a lie and that Muhammad was a fabricator and a deceiver. We saw that he remained steadfast upon his principles...... he was lenient with others, tolerant, kind, cheerful and praiseworthy ....”

Mahatma Gandhi - The Indian Legend- needs no introduction
Mahatma Gandhi, statement published in 'Young India,'1924.

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, I was sorry there was not more for me to read of that great life.

[yeezevee]

iffo comes out to defend Muhammad on what Western intellectuals said about Muhammad., Well these people say many things for many reasons dear iffo., The defense of Muhammad can only come from his action and his words during his life time. REST OF IT what TOM -DICK_MARY said is Hadith and cock-bull story..

here is the link that you can add more to your list.. viewtopic.php?p=26079#p26079

Any ways. when Allah says these words such as

027.026 : Allah, there is no god but He: He is the Lord of mighty power and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (048.029)

What is the big deal about these guys .. Edward Gibbon- Annie Besant -Michael H. Hart - George Bernard Shaw - Mahatma Gandhi .. TOM -DICK.. XYZ saying good about Muhammad?
Word of Allah is end of the story dear iffo., Or do you not believe in Allah words??

Incidentally when it comes to Allah/God.. No one is unquestionable. Every body noses will be dragged through the same mud it doesn't matter whether the guy is Bernard Shaw - Mahatma Gandhi.., No one is unquestionable..

yeezevee

[KufirbintKufr]

After the fall of Khartoum and the retreat of the British armies the Mahdi became the absolute master of the Soudan. Whatever pleasures he desired he could command, and, following the example of the founder of the Mohammedan faith, he indulged in what would seem to Western minds gross excesses. He established an extensive harem for his own peculiar use, and immured therein the fairest captives of the war."

[sum]

Hello iffo

I presume that you have read the accusations that Ali Sina made against Muhammad with the evidence from Islam`s own muslim historians that provided the details for Ali Sina to make his accusations.

I am convinced by Ali Sina`s arguments. Are you?

sum

[Chief Chingachgook]

How many of these people who are

extremely knowledgeable about Islamic history & Mohammad

have said the sha-hah-hah-hah-dah dear iffo?

You seem so fond of things that gives you 'that good feeling" about Islam such as KKKoranic science and what others says about Islam. If there ARE people who praises Mr. PissBUH and his Islam there ARE too people who curses him. The only difference is that people who writes favourably about Islam will be given the keys to Islamic cities and those who question him would either get stabbed or fartawaed. Maurice Buccaile is one who was given the keys to Riyardh in Saudi Babaria and Vincent Van Gook Gogh was stabbed to death.

Chief Kafirgook knows best!

[skynightblaze]

@IFFO

What do you say about the following quotes? People whom you brought provided no proof for their claims. For e.g Gandhi says there was no sword involved for the spread of islam. I can quote proofs from your own scriptures that this statement of Gandhi is baloney. We can prove what we say using islamic scriptures . WE dont assume something as true just because someone says so.WE can use our own brains to see what sort of guy Muhhamad was.

"The militant Muslim is the person cutting the head of the infidel while the moderate Muslim holds the victims feet".

". The law which their prophet Mohamed has given to muslims is that any harm done to any one who does not accept their law and any appropriation of his goods, is no sin at all".

"THE ESSENCE OF MOHAMMED'S DOCTRINE WAS VIOLENCE AND LUST: TO EXALT THE BRUTAL OVER THE SPIRITUAL PART OF HUMAN NATURE".

"Over a billion people believe in Allah without truly knowing what Allah supposedly stands for or what he really demands of them. And the minority that do understand continue to be Moslems because they have redefined their morality and ethics to fit within the teachings of Islam, which are floridly lacking in morality. They therefore redefine what is good and evil in order to fit their lives into what is preached by Islam, instead of examining Islam to see if it fits within the good life. Backwards thinking, imposed by a backward religion".

Churchill, W - The River War 1899:
"How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property - either as a child, a wife, or a concubine - must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men."

"I studied the Kuran a great deal ... I came away from that study with the conviction that by and large there have been few religions in the world as deadly to men as that of Muhammed"

"Muslims are the first victims of Islam. Many times I have observed in my travels that fanaticism comes from a small number of dangerous men who maintain others in the practice of this religion by terror. To liberate the Muslim from his religion is the best service that one can render him".

"The Islamic conquest of India is probably the bloodiest story in history. It is a discouraging tale, for its evident moral is that civilization is a precious good, whose delicate complex of order and freedom, culture and peace, can at any moment be overthrown by barbarians invading from without or multiplying within."

"The Muslim conquests, down to the 16th century, were for the Hindus a pure struggle of life and death. Entire cities were burnt down and the populations massacred, with hundreds of thousands killed in every campaign, and similar numbers deported as slaves. Every new invader made (often literally) his hills of Hindus skulls. As a contribution to research on the quantity of the Islamic crimes against humanity, we may mention that the Indian (subcontinent) population decreased by 80 million between 1000 (conquest of Afghanistan) and 1525 (end of Delhi Sultanat)"

"Show me just what Prophet Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."

"Islamic societies are suffocated by shackles around the human spirit and brain. Islamic theology is driven by machoism, dominance, intolerance, submission and violence to all that disagrees with Islam's principles of law":

"The most successful lecherous man who used religion for his personal gain is Prophet Mohammed. Islam is a cult with it's complete irrational belief in Allah created by Muhammed who was a liar, thief, murderer and rapist till his last breath".

." Allah is a cruel tyrant, a barbaric killer and a violent despot . Islamic Umma is the biggest criminal gang on earth and Allah is leader and guide of that criminal gang and is trying to establish himself as the God of the world (not of the universe) with the help of the mujahidin through terror and bloodshed".

"Islam is a false and dangerous way of living".

[Trojan]

. . . I must say, it [the Koran] is as toilsome reading as I ever undertook. A wearisome confused jumble, crude, incondite; endless iterations, long-windedness, entanglement; most crude, incondite; — insupportable stupidity, in short! Nothing but a sense of duty could carry any European through the Koran . . . It is the confused ferment of a great rude human soul; rude, untutored, that cannot even read; but fervent, earnest, struggling vehemently to utter itself in words . . . We said "stupid:" yet natural stupidity is by no means the character of Mahomet's Book; it is natural uncultivation rather. The man has not studied speaking; in the haste and pressure of continual fighting, has not time to mature himself into fit speech . . . The man was an uncultured semi-barbarous Son of Nature, much of the Bedouin still clinging to him: we must take him for that. But for a wretched Simulacrum, a hungry Impostor without eyes or heart . . . we will not and cannot take him. Sincerity, in all senses, seems to me the merit of the Koran; what had rendered it precious to the wild Arab men . . . Curiously, through these incondite masses of tradition, vituperation, complaint, ejaculation in the Koran, a vein of true direct insight, of what we might almost call poetry, is found straggling. [Carlyle 64-67]

[sword_of_truth]

Bing-bing-bing-bing.

Logical fallacy alert!

Appeal to authority. Appeal to authority.

Red alert.

Logical fallacy detected.

Confirmation bias. Seeking out information which supports your conclusion, while ignoring information that conflicts with it. As we've seen, you can also find many thinkers who were not happy with Islam.

As for the explanation of why these people may have been impressed with Islam, it is because they didn't really know Islam. Islam swept all the dirty Hadith under the rug and tried to present itself as a nicer religion. Muslims invented Islam 2.0, which still has some defects, but the bigger problem is Islam 1.0 from Muhammad. Maybe Islam is not all bad. I'm not saying there's nothing good in Islam. But it's like 50% bad, 50% good, which is actually pretty horrific. Half the Hadith maybe say something good and the other half say something horrible. I don't know if those are exactly the right numbers. But if 50% are horrible, that's enough to make the religion horrible, no matter how good the other 50% are.

If you want to convince anyone that Islam really isn't that bad, one thing you are going to have to do is PROVE that the bad Hadith are fabricated. That is your task. Make another thread about that.

It ought to be easy to provide evidence that SOME Hadith are fabricated. However, you don't know which Hadith are fabricated. You can't just say that it has to be that the fabricated ones just coincidentally HAPPEN to be the ones that make Islam look bad. That's absurd. If you want to show that some particular Hadith is not authentic, you have to provide evidence that that particular Hadith is not authentic.

And, in case, you didn't realize it, appealing to authority is not evidence that these Hadiths are not authentic. We believe the Islamic sources.

Finally, even then, we can still read the Quran for ourselves and see that it is no good, and your appeal to authority certainly has no relevance to what we can see with our own eyes in the Quran.

[manfred]

Bing-bing-bing-bing.

Logical fallacy alert!

Appeal to authority. Appeal to authority.

Red alert.

Logical fallacy detected.

What is wrong with you??? Billions of flies can't all be wrong. We all should be eaten faeces.

[iffo]

Just wanted to congratulate on your dream team , send them to Olympics they will get you guys a gold medal for sure

Make Singh the skipper
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GkuQDScRKGc/S ... +Photo.jpg

[katlike]

iffo: On Sat Jun 27, 2009 3:00 pm wrote:

My reason for writing this is totally academic. I do not want to start a never ending thread of arguments,
that's why I myself will not respond to any reply.

iffo: On Fri Jul 03, 2009 8:00 pm then went on to write:

Just wanted to congratulate on your dream team , send them to Olympics they will get you guys a gold medal for sure

Make Singh the skipper
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1S8g9P9UX3Y/S ... h+copy.jpg

It's hard for me to now trust your motives.