THE TRUE PERSPECTIVE

It is obvious from an understanding of the Quran that the mission of the Prophet was different from that of emperors and kings. The mission of kings is one of conquests and wars. However, on the other hand, the mission of a prophet is not to rule over people, but to change their minds and direct their hearts towards spirituality; to teach them God-oriented living thereby making them divine personalities. From the above analysis, it should be obvious that the Prophet Muhammad was a prophet of peace, and not a prophet of violence. The approach to the biography of the Prophet by both Muslim and other biographers is therefore not correct. AFTERWORD We would like to conclude this study with the views of scholars about the Prophet Muhammad from across the globe. Sir George Bernard Shaw: I have studied him (the Prophet) -the wonderful man, and in my opinion, (…), he must be called the saviour of humanity. Mahatma Gandhi: 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 and his absolute trust in God that surmounted every obstacle. Edward Gibbon and Simon Oakley: The greatest success of Mohammad’s life was effected by sheer moral force. Alphonse de La Martaine: 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?