Chief of the Prophets — Page xv
xiv Foreword Muḥammad sa is revered by over a billion Muslims around the globe as the pinnacle of mankind. However, the picture that emerges in the minds of the people of the West is quite different. Muslims consider him the greatest person who ever lived on the face of earth, a mercy for the mankind, and the very reason for the creation of the earth and the heavens. However, there is very little known in the West about Islam or the life of Muḥammad sa , except what is depicted by the media, generally in the aftermath of terrorist activities by Muslim extremists. Very often, Islam is considered an oriental religion in direct conflict with Western values and traditions. It is often perceived as an intolerant religion that infringes upon free speech and the rights of women. Who was Muḥammad sa ? What were his teachings? Was his life marred with violence? Does the Qur’ān teach the killing of infidels? Who is Allah, the God of Islam? These are some of the basic questions that intrigue the people in the West. It is imperative for seekers of truth to independently research these questions to have a more accurate perspective about the fastest growing religion in the world. This book presents a chronological account of the events of the life of Muḥammad sa as seen by a Muslim and answers some of the above questions. Though, this book was not authored by an independent researcher, it provides a treasure of information and references from the original sources, including the Qur’ān and Aḥādīth (sayings of Muḥammad sa ). It is an easy read and a must have for the Muslim youths, as well as for those that seek the truth about Islam. The first edition of Sīrat Sayyidul-Anbiyā’ () (Urdu) was published in 1939 at the occasion of the Jubilee celebrations of the Khilāfat of Khalīfatul-Masīḥ II ra. The author, Sheikh ‘Abdul-Qādir, formerly Saudāgarmal (1909– 1966) converted to Islam from Hinduism at a very young age after meeting some saintly Muslim figures in Qādiān, India, the birthplace of Aḥmadiyya Muslim Community. A brief note about the life of the