Essay Question: Who do you think has been one of the greatest leaders in the course of history and

why?

Synopsis:
The labyrinth of history has produced some remarkable leaders in its long course; figures who rose up during their time to inspire the population around them to work towards a common objective. Many were military geniuses renowned for their brilliant conquests, some were prominent due to their tireless efforts working for equality and justice, while others were fountains of spiritual enlightenment who tried to purge the world free from darkness. However, perhaps the most outstanding of all those leaders, has been the man Muhammad, who has made an indelible impression on all conceivable aspects of human life, and was a leader who moulded all the excellences of human achievement into one personality, to be one of the most influential men to walk on this earth. After his claim of being an Apostle of God, history witnessed one of its most phenomenal turns, when in the space of twenty-three years Muhammad had transformed his barbaric Arabian people to men and women of faith and of the highest of morals, and had consequently taken complete leadership over the Arabian Peninsula. From there an Empire, inspired by his ideals grew exponentially and was an illuminating light for centuries, excelling in every sphere of life from astronomy, mathematics, medicine and many others besides, and eventually laying the platform for the European Renaissance.

What made him all the more a great personality was not only his achievements, but his moral side to life which very few other leaders in history have emulated; his exceeding generosity to the poor and needy, his flowing humbleness, compassion and simplicity which warmed the hearts of all those around him, not a grain of arrogance ever entered his heart, all while an entire nation lay at his control. Such was the man Muhammad, one of the most spectacular leaders history has witnessed.

The Greatest Leader in the Annals of History

If one takes an unprejudiced glance at the great leaders which history has produced throughout the ages, there would appear on the surface, a number of validate candidates. However as one begins to sift thoroughly through the lives of each one of these influential men, scrutinizing their overall contribution to civilization, and analyzing their consequent influence reverberating through the centuries, it is evident that one man stands clear from the rest. A man who emerged from the most humble of origins, yet through his leadership created profoundly deep impressions on multifarious aspects of life. A man who was a philosopher, statesman, military genius, teacher of morals, spiritual guide, one who transcended his immediate surroundings to purify humanity of all indecency, a man who orchestrated one of the most dazzling revolutions, without the momentum of history and surrounding favourable conditions on his side. This man was Muhammad, who with the aid of a magnificently powerful message entrusted to him by God as he claimed, laid the foundations of a stunning era of human development; one which saw unrivalled intellectual activity in the field of literature, history, linguistics, medicine, astronomy and mathematics. A man who inspired a spiritual empire which spanned across three continents, and continues to influence the lives of hundreds of millions around the world; he is without any doubt the greatest leader history has had the honour to produce.

If one assiduously analyzes all other leaders of history it is instantly discernible that none of them possessed a genius capable of making a deep impression on more than one or two aspects of human life. Some were exponents of theories and ideas but were deficient in practical action, others displayed a keen military proficiency or were renowned statesmen but lacked in areas of moral development of human society. Some devoted their lives to ethical and spiritual verities but ignored economics and politics. While conversely others took to economics and politics but failed to simultaneously mould a spiritual and moral side of life. In short, one comes across leaders who are

experts exhibiting proficiency in one walk of life only; Muhammad is the only example where all excellences of human achievement have been blended into one single personality.

He was a philosopher and a seer, one who was a living embodiment of his own teachings. He was a great statesmen as well as a military genius, he was a legislator and a teacher of morals. He was a spiritual luminary as well as a religious guide. His vision penetrated every aspect of life, and adorned everything which he touched. His orders and commandments covered a vast field from the regulation of international relations down to the simple habits of life like eating, drinking and maintaining cleanliness. He founded and established a civilization which produced such a fine equilibrium in the conflicting aspects of life that there is to be found no flaw, deficiency or incompleteness.1 Can anyone point to another example of a leader with such a perfect and all-round personality?

In the cavalcade of world history this man Muhammad's sublime figure towers so high above all other great leaders that it makes them almost dwarf-like in comparison. 2 This is no exaggerated claim; Michael Hart in in his monumental work 'The 100, a Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History' ranks Muhammad as his number one choice, superseding all other personalities which have arisen in history as the most influential man to walk on this earth. He writes in his prodigious book, 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 levels. 3 Alphonse de La Martaine a famous French poet and politician also writes in his 'Historie de la Turquie', If greatness of purpose, smallness of means, and astonishing results are the three criteria of a human
1 Maududi, S.A 1960, Towards Understanding Islam, Alhuda Publishers, New York 2 Maududi, S.A 1960, Towards Understanding Islam, Alhuda Publishers, New York

33 Hart, M 1978, viewed 26 July 2010, <http://www.themodernreligion.com/quotes_muhammad.htm#hart>. 3

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. He also writes, Philosopher, Orator, Apostle, Legislator, Conqueror of Ideas, Restorer of Rational beliefs.... 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? 4 It is evident from the quotes of these prominent learned men that Muhammad was truly a phenomenal character. Most of the great leaders of the world are said to be products of their environment, but his case is incredibly unique. His environment seems to have played no part in the making of his personality; Arabia was at the time a regressive civilization of barbarism rampant with violent tribalism. Centuries of free and independent life in sandy deserts had bred and nourished extreme ignorance among them, making them steeped in a sea of superstitious beliefs and worship of numerous gods. Yet it was in this very environment that the orphan of the humblest origins was born, who was known by those around him as 'Al-Amin' - The Trustworthy. No philosophy in the world can explain how such an environment could produce a man whose mission was to teach the best morals, to purify humanity of all indecency, and to wipe out prejudices and superstitions of the days of ignorance. One who looked beyond the compartments of race, nationality, and country of birth, who laid the foundations of a moral, spiritual, cultural and political superstructure for the good of the world and not for his country alone, who practically, not theoretically, placed business transactions, civics, politics, and international relations on moral grounds and produced such a balanced synthesis between worldly

4 La Martaine, A 1854, viewed 26 July 2010,

<http://www.themodernreligion.com/quotes_muhammad.htm#lamartaine>.

life and spiritual advancement, that even to this day it is considered a masterpiece of wisdom and foresight.5 Can anyone honestly name another man in history who accomplished such extraordinary feats in so many different aspects of life?

What makes the man Muhammad even more unprecedented as the greatest leader the world has seen, is the sheer individual role he played in making such an indelible impression on human history; if one scans the lives and circumstances of the great leaders of the world who brought about revolutions, one will find that on each such occasion, the forces of revolution were already gathering momentum before the elevation of their persona rising to a sphere of influence and executing the ultimate upheaval. All other revolutionaries merely played the part of an actor for whom the stage and role was already set. Muhammad was the only man who had to find the means himself to orchestrate and engineer the revolution he caused; who had to mould and produce the kind of men wanted for his purpose, as the very spirit of revolution were non-existent among the people he lived among. He made a riveting imprint on the hearts of thousands of his disciples via his irresistible personality and moulded them accordingly to the nature of the task which he envisaged. 6

Can anyone cite another example of a maker of history possessing such brilliance in leadership and astonishing resolve to achieve what he envisioned?

To further grasp the full extent of the incredible leader Muhammad was, one must then recognize the simply breathtaking impact he made on the course of history. From being an illiterate man, and living the life of a merchant with no definitive direction in life, he suddenly at the age of forty, after claiming to be the Messenger of God, had a completely new objective and purpose in life. Within twenty-three years he had propagated his message so successfully that all of Arabia had professed him as their Prophet. From there his legacy could be witnessed in one of the most glorious
5 Maududi, S.A 1960, Towards Understanding Islam, Alhuda Publishers, New York 6 Maududi, S.A 1960, Towards Understanding Islam, Alhuda Publishers, New York

civilizations history has ever seen: an Empire which encircled the Mediterranean Sea from Syria and the Euphrates Valley and which spread East to Southern China and Western India, south through what had been the Persian Empire and Saudi Arabia, west through Egypt and across North Africa, and north through Spain to the Pyrenees. This Empire, based on his teachings, provided a platform for a golden period of unrivalled intellectual activity in the fields of literature, history, and liguistics. 7 At a time when Europe was living through the Dark Ages, the Islamic world created the greatest legacy of scientific knowledge seen in history to that date. The sciences of medicine, geometry, algebra, astronomy and even sociology were developed systematically for the first time and it was during this time the most decisive scientific inventions were made. 8 For the West, much of the history of Islam has been obscured behind a veil of fear and misunderstanding. Yet Islam's history is deeply and surprisingly interwoven with Western civilization. In an article published in Salon.com, a prominent voice of the liberal American media, author George Rafael writes in an article titled A Is For Arabs; From algebra and coffee, to guitars, optics and universities... the West owes to the People of the Crescent Moon... A millennium ago, while the West was shrouded in darkness, Islam enjoyed a golden age. Lighting in the streets of Cordoba when London was a barbarous pit; religious tolerance in Toledo while pogroms raged from York to Vienna. As custodians of our classical legacy, Arabs were midwives to our Renaissance. Their influence, however alien it might seem, has always been with us, whether it's a cup of steaming hot Joe or the algorithms in computer programs. It was a time where scientific discoveries were made in their thousands, artistic creativity explored, great architectural feats built, huge libraries, hospitals, universities, mapping of the world, and the discovery of the sky and its secrets were all delved into detail. A time when the names of Al-Biruni, Al-

7 Matthews, Z 2004, The Golden Age of Islam, A Splendid Tapestry, viewed 27 July 2010,

<http://robtshepherd.tripod.com/islamic.html>.
8 Islam Knowledge and Science, viewed 26 July 2010, <http://www.pre-renaissance.com/intro.html>.

Khwarizmi, Ibn Sina, Al-Razi, Ibn Khaldun, Al-Khazin, Al-Ghazali and hundreds more scientists came into being.9 In essence what many inhabitants of the current world now take for granted have arisen from the Islamic Empire, which was laid down on the teachings of the man they believed was their Prophet; the very structure of society, from the laws which regulated it right down to the moral fibre which was ingrained in the masses, the man Muhammad was a stirring force in it all materializing into shape. So wide and far has is influence been! Can one imagine an illiterate in the desert of Arabia to be the driving force behind the pioneers of the modern age?! Can one point to any other leader in the annals of history who has shaped society with such meticulous splendour, who influenced so many walks of life in such dazzling fashion?!

Another defining characteristic of the personality of Muhammad was his amazing character, extraordinary humility and perfect morals despite being a leader who held immense power at his disposal. He was the most patient and bravest among men, and was surrounded by people with varying characters and temperaments, and treated everyone around him with respect, paying attention to their needs. He educated them in all matters from cleanliness to matters of faith.

It was this compassionate, tolerant, understanding and patient attitude which warmed the hearts of his followers and instilled in them a genuine love for him. 10 No one could equal him in his generosity and charity, he never turned away one who would come to his house empty-handed, and always gave preference to the needy over his own needs, and would in turn preach these noble values to his disciples. He is once reported to have said, "The believer is not the one who eats when his neighbor beside him is hungry". In his book 'The History of Muhammedanism and Its Sects', W.C Taylor writes, So great was his liberality to the poor that he often left his household unprovided, nor did he content
9 Islam, Knowledge, and Science, viewed 26 July 2010, <http://www.pre-renaissance.com/intro.html>. 10 Yahya, H 2005 The Prophet's Patience, viewed 28 July 2010,

<http://www.islamonline.net/english/IN_DEPTH/mohamed/1424/MANNERS/article18.shtml>.

himself with relieving their wants, he entered into conversation with them, and expressed a warm sympathy for their sufferings. He was a firm friend and a faithful ally.11 His hand never touched a strange woman, and he would mend his own shoes. He would join his wives in their labours and help them cut meat and prepare food. He accepted invitations of slaves, widows and the poor. He would bind his stomach with stones to appease his hunger and would consider milk sufficient if there was not enough food available. His wife 'Aisha is reported to have once said, He always joined in household chores and would at times mend his clothes, repair his shoes and sweep the floor. He would milk, tether and feed his animals. He would not eat leaning against a pillow or upon a high table, and would visit distant places to visit the sick and sit with the poor and destitute, conversing with them.12 He was the most modest without pride and would at times walk bare-footed, and at other times take his servant behind his back on his horse. He would sleep on a mat which would cause him to have marks on his side 13: such was his humility and simplicity. Can one point to another single figure in the course of history, who lived so simply and modestly, whose character was embedded with such noble qualities, yet simultaneously was such a proficient leader in so many walks of life?

In conclusion it can be said without the shred of a doubt, that Muhammad was indeed the greatest leader history has ever witnessed. His irrevocable genius in making a timeless imprint in so many spheres of life, the immense role he played in causing a spiritual revolution; moulding and preparing its ground tirelessly himself. His role in creating one of the most dazzling civilizations which excelled in every area of life; from the various sectors of learning which illuminated the world in the fields of science, mathematics, geography and architecture, a civilization which sowed the seeds of the European Renaissance and paved the way for discoveries which influence the lives of hundreds of
11 Taylor, W.C, viewed 26 July 2010, <http://www.themodernreligion.com/quotes_muhammad.htm#taylor >. 12 Ghazzali, I 1003AD, Ihya-Ulum-Id-Din, Darul-Ishaat, Karachi, Pakistan 13 Al-Sheha, A 2006, Muhammad the Messenger of Allah, The Islamic Propagation Office in Rabwah, Riyadh

millions to this very day. His spiritual and moral side to life which enabled him to warm the very cores of the companions around him, the profound austerity, humility, simplicity ingrained in his character. His willingness to help the poor and visit the sick; qualities he displayed all while a kingdom lay at his feet. Thus, all these incredible multifarious attributes and achievements of the humble man Muhammad, indeed emphatically exemplify the absolutely unique personality that he was, and it can be said in all fairness that he was indeed the greatest leader which the course of history has ever witnessed.

Bibliography
9

Al-Sheha, A. 2006, Muhammad the Messenger of Allah, The Islamic Propagation Office in Rabwah, Riyadh.

A. Zahoor and Z. Haq, Quotations From Famous People The Modern Religion, 1997, <http://www.themodernreligion.com/quotes_muhammad.htm>. 26 July 2010.

Ghazzali, I. 1003AD, Ihya-Ulum-Id-Din, Darul-Ishaat, Karachi, Pakistan.

Islam, Knowledge, and Science. Pre-naissance, <http://www.pre-renaissance.com/intro.html>. 26 July 2010.

Matthews, Z The Golden Age of Islam, A Splendid Tapestry. Tripod, 2004,

<http://robtshepherd.tripod.com/islamic.html>. 27 July 2010.

Maududi, S.A. 1960, Towards Understanding Islam, Alhuda Publishers, New York.

Ottoman Empire Wikipedia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Empire>. 28 July 2010.

Yahya, H. The Prophet's Patience Islamonline, 2005, <http://www.islamonline.net/english/IN_DEPTH/mohamed/1424/MANNERS/article18.sht ml>. 28 July 2010.

[Essay Wordcount: 2497 words (excluding Synopsis, Footnotes and Bibliography)]

10