Islam in the Eyes of Non-Muslim Scholars
M Ahmad
Islam is a Global and a Universal religion and in every period it has been proved by factual evidences, arguments and proof that Islam is the true religion. Islam’s global presence is the main reason of it being considered as a Universal Religion.
In Islam there is no conflict between rich and poor, King and labour, President and Public, White and Black, Big and Small. Islam addresses humanity at large and offers basic guidance regarding all human problems. It goes beyond the political boundaries of nations as every Muslim is a brother of another Muslim in true spirits of Islam, regardless of the differences between color, creed and race.
All Muslims are equal and no one is superior to other. It is due to this quality of Islam, a wide variety of notable Non-Muslims, including academics, writers, philosophers, poets, politicians, and activists admire it yet none of them ever became Muslim. But all these thinkers had a great respect of Islam. Even their personal views on various aspects of the religion of Islam reflect their stand. Some of the examples are:
Leo Tolstoy, a Russian writer who is regarded as one of the greatest authors of all time said “After I have read the Quran, I realized that all what humanity needs is this heavenly law.” “The legislation of Quran will spread all over the world, because it agrees with the mind, logic and wisdom.”
Canon Taylor, the Priest of St Francis Xavier parish in Carfin, near Motherwell, Scotland, a philologist, toponymist, and he is chiefly remembered for his archaeological and philological studies. He said, “It (Islam) replaced monkishness by manliness. It gives hope to the slave, brotherhood to mankind, and recognition of the fundamental facts of human nature.”
Sir Hamilton Alexander Rosskeen Gibb known as H. A. R. Gibb, was a Scottish historian of Orientalism and a leading orientalist scholar of his time. regarding Islam he said, “But Islam has a still further service to render to the cause of humanity. It stands after all nearer to the real East than Europe does, and it possesses a magnificent tradition of inter-racial understanding and cooperation. No other society has such a record of success uniting in an equality of status, of opportunity, and of endeavours so many and so various races of mankind … ”
James A. Michener Leading American writer; recipient of honorary doctorates in five fields from thirty leading universities and decorated with the Presidential Medal of freedom, America’s highest civilian award quoted, “No other religion in history spread so rapidly as Islam . . . ”
Edward Gibbon considered the greatest British historian of his time said, “I believe in One God and Mohammed the Apostle of God,’ is the simple and invariable profession of Islam. The intellectual image of the Deity has never been degraded by any visible idol; the honours of the prophet have never transgressed the measure of human virtue, and his living precepts have restrained the gratitude of his disciples within the bounds of reason and religion.
Jared Diamond Professor of Physiology at the UCLA School of Medicine; recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction in 1998 said, “Medieval Islam was technologically advanced and open to innovation. It achieved far higher literacy rates than in contemporary Europe; it assimilated the legacy of classical Greek civilization to such a degree that many classical books are now known to us only through Arabic copies. It invented windmills, trigonometry, lateen sails and made major advances in metallurgy, mechanical and chemical engineering and irrigation methods. In the middle-ages the flow of technology was overwhelmingly from Islam to Europe rather from Europe to Islam.
Annie Besant British theosophist and nationalist leader in India said, “I often think that woman is freer in Islam than in Christianity. Woman is more protected by Islam than by the faith which preaches Monogamy. In Al-Quran the law about woman is more just and liberal. It is only in the last twenty years that Christian England, has recognized the right of woman to property, while Islam has allowed this right from all times.”
Sarojini Naidu a writer, poetess and one of the most visible leaders of pre-Independent India told, “Sense of justice is one of the most wonderful ideals of Islam, because as I read in the Qur’an I find those dynamic principles of life, not mystic but practical ethics for the daily conduct of life suited to the whole world. It was the first religion that preached and practiced democracy for, in the mosque when the call for prayer is sounded and worshippers are gathered together, the democracy of Islam is embodied five times a day when the peasant and king kneel side by side and proclaim: “God Alone is Great.” I have been struck over and over again by this indivisible unity of Islam that makes man instinctively a brother.”
Arnold J. Toynbee British historian, Lecturer at Oxford University has written, “The extinction of race consciousness as between Muslims is one of the outstanding achievements of Islam, and in the contemporary world there is, as it happens, a crying need for the propagation of this Islamic virtue.”
William Montgomery Watt Professor (Emeritus) of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Edinburgh said, “I am not a Muslim in the usual sense, though I hope I am a “Muslim” as “one surrendered to God,” but I believe that embedded in the Qur’an and other expressions of the Islamic vision are vast stores of divine truth from which I and other occidentals have still much to learn, and Islam is certainly a strong contender for the supplying of the basic framework of the one religion of the future.”
George Bernard Shaw an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist and a prominent British socialist. said, “I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him – the wonderful man and in my opinion for from being an anti-Christ, 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 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.”
Arnold Joseph Toynbee an English historian, a philosopher of history, an author of numerous books and a research professor of international history at the London School of Economics and King’s College London, said, “The extinction of race consciousness as between Muslims is one of the outstanding achievements of Islam, and in the contemporary world there is, as it happens, a crying need for the propagation of this Islamic virtue.”
A.M.L Stoddard an American Historian and Journalist siad, “The rise of Islam is perhaps the most amazing event in human history. Springing from a land and a people like previously negligible, Islam spread within a century over half the earth, shattering great empires, overthrowing long established religions, remoulding the souls of races, and building up a whole new world – world of Islam. “The closer we examine this development the more extraordinary does it appear. The other great religions won their way slowly, by painful struggle and finally triumphed with the aid of powerful monarchs converted to the new faith.”
William Montgomery Watt was a Scottish Orientalist, historian, academic and Anglican priest. From 1964 to 1979, he was Professor of Arabic and Islamic studies at the University of Edinburgh. He said, “I am not a Muslim in the usual sense, though I hope I am a “Muslim” as “one surrendered to God,” but I believe that embedded in the Quran and other expressions of the Islamic vision are vast stores of divine truth from which I and other occidentals have still much to learn, and ‘Islam is certainly a strong contender for the supplying of the basic framework of the one religion of the future.”
M K Gandhi, thinker, statesman, and nationalist leader and 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. These, and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every trouble.”
R. L. Mellema an Anthropologist, Writer and Scholar of Holland, said, “The doctrine of brotherhood of Islam extends to all human beings, no matter what color, race or creed. Islam is the only religion which has been able to realize this doctrine in practice. Muslims wherever on the world they are will recognize each other as brothers.”
H.G. Wells famous English Novilist and Journalist wrote about Islam, “The Islamic teachings have left great traditions for equitable and gentle dealings and behavior, and inspire people with nobility and tolerance. These are human teachings of the highest order and at the same time practicable. These teachings brought into existence a society in which hard-heartedness and collective oppression and injustice were the least as compared with all other societies preceding it….Islam is replete with gentleness, courtesy, and fraternity.”
Karen Armstrong a British author and commentator of Irish Catholic descent known for her books on comparative religion wrote about Islam, “Islam is a religion of success. Unlike Christianity, which has as its main image, in the west at least, a man dying in a devastating, disgraceful, helpless death… Mohammed was not an apparent failure. He was a dazzling success, politically as well as spiritually, and Islam went from strength to strength to strength.”
Dalai Lama of Tibetan Buddhism told, “In Islam I think the very praising Allah means love, infinite love, compassion, like that. I understand Islam, they usually carry rosary, all 99 beads, different name of Allah, all refer compassion, or these positive things.”
George Walker Bush an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009, told about Islam, “Islam brings hope and comfort to millions of people in my country, and to more than a billion people worldwide. Ramadan is also an occasion to remember that Islam gave birth to a rich civilization of learning that has benefited mankind.”
Oprah Winfrey an American television personality, actress, and entrepreneur whose syndicated daily talk show, wrote about Islam, “Love Sufism …’the divinity of the human soul… Within Our spiritual heart there is a direct connection to God… I have respect for all faiths. All faiths. But what I’m talking about is not faith or religion. I’m talking about spirituality.”
John Paul II was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years and he travelled abroad extensively in an effort to promote greater understanding between countries and religions, has written about Islam, “… the religiosity of Muslims deserves respect. It is impossible not to admire, for example, their fidelity to prayer. The image of believers in Allah who, without caring about time or place, fall to their knees and immerse themselves in prayer remains a model for all those who invoke the true God, in particular for those Christians who, having deserted their magnificent cathedrals, pray only a little or not at all.”
James Carter an American former politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981, told about Islam, “I have been struck by the human and moral values which Americans as a people share with Islam. We share, first and foremost, a deep faith in the one Supreme Being. We are all commanded by Him to faith, compassion, and justice. On the basis of both values and interests, the natural relationship between Islam and the United States is one of finest friendship.”
Sir Jadunath Sarkar, a famous Historian said, “I’ve never been so emphatically influenced by any other religion that has so much simplicity like the clarity of Islam. It’s the religion that has the potential to appeal to the very core of every individual. No wonder, the Subcontinent accepted it so warmly.”
V V Giri, former President of India has told, “Islam came into the Subcontinent with Sufis and mystics, not with the wielders of swords. It became a faith in the broadest sense of the word because it has the elements of 3 Ts: Truth, Transparency and Tenacity.”
Those who listen to the word and follow the best of it; those are the ones whom Allah has guided, and those are the ones endowed with understanding (Holy Qur’an 39:18)
(The author is a regular contributor to ‘Kashmir Vision’)
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