The Message of Islam — Page 44
44 Conclusion Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational dogmas…; 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 ask, is there any man greater than he? ( Lamartine, Histoire de la Taurquie [History of Turkey], vol. 2, p. 276–277, Paris, 1854) …if the object of religion be the inculcation of morals, the diminution of evil, the promotion of human happiness, the expansion of the human intellect; if the performance of good works will avail in that great day when mankind shall be summoned to its final reckoning, it is neither irrelevant nor unreasonable to admit that Mohammad was indeed an Apostle of God. ( S. P. Scott, History of the Moorish Empire in Europe, vol. 1, p. 126, Philadelphia, 1904) Muhammad saw left an enduring impress upon a large mass of mankind. He indeed proved an excellent exemplar, as God had described him in the Quran. (see Surah al-Ahzaab, 33:22) God proclaimed: َّنِا َهّٰللا َو ٗهَتَكِٕىٰٓلَم َنْوُّلَصُي ىَلَع ِّيِبَّنلا١ؕ اَهُّيَاٰۤي َنْيِذَّلا اْوُنَمٰا اْوُّلَص ِهْيَلَع َو اْوُمِّلَس اًمْيِلْسَت Allah sends down His blessings on the Prophet, and His angels constantly invoke blessings on him; do you, O believers, also invoke Allah’s blessings on him and offer him the salutation of peace. (see Surah al-Ahzaab, 33:57)