The Makkan polytheists opposed him and threatened his few followers harshly, but that did not shake his faith nor cause his steadfastness to waiver, nor did it stop more people from responding to his preaching. Finally, when the majority of the people of Madinah embraced Islam, the Makkan Muslims took flight to Madinah. Later on, the Messenger of Allah himself migrated to Madinah to establish there the Islamic Nation. A few years later, the polytheists of Makkah and their allies succumbed to the growing power of the Muslims, and through the mercy of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, Makkah was liberated without violence. Some thirty years after the death of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be on him, Islam had already spread throughout the world and displaced the two greatest empires at the time; the Persian and the Roman.

The Prophet (pbuh) was the living example for muslims of all the qualities Allah wished them to encourage and build up in themselves. He was gentle, and kind, and honourable, and brave, taking the side of the helpless, the children, the destitute, the abused women. He did this even before his call to Prophethood, for it was the main aim of the Order of Chivalry (the Hilf al-Fudul) founded by his uncle Zubayr b. Abd al-Muttalib, and the chief of Taym, Abdallah b. Juda’an. The Prophet (pbuh) believed in good manners, always greeting people kindly, showing respect to elders. He was never arrogant or ‘superior’ despite his eminent position as leader, making no-one ever feel small, unwanted or embarrassed. People who sat in his company never felt that he was rude to them, or that he ignored or neglected them. When he shook hands with someone, he was never the first to withdraw his hand. He would not break off a conversation until he was sure the person had finished and was ready to turn away.

During the centuries of the crusades, all sorts of slanders were invented against the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). With the birth of the modern age, however, marked with religious tolerance and freedom of thought, there has been a great change in the approach of Western authors in their delineation of his life and character. The views of non-Muslim scholars regarding Prophet Muhammad, justify this opinion.

The West has still to go a step forward to discover the greatest reality about Muhammad, and that is his being the true and last Prophet of God for all of humanity. In spite of all its objectivity and enlightenment here has been no sincere and objective attempt by the West to understand the Prophethood of Muhammad (pbuh). It is so strange that very glowing tributes are paid to him for his integrity and achievement, but his claim of being the Prophet of God has been rejected explicitly and implicitly. It is here that a searching of the heart is required, and a review if the so-called objectivity is needed. The glaring facts from the life of Muhammad (pbuh) facilitate an unbiased, logical and objective decision regarding his Prophethood.

Up to the age of forty, Muhammad was not known as a statesman, a preacher or an orator. He was never seen discussing the principles of metaphysics, ethics, law, politics, economics or sociology. No doubt he possessed an excellent character, charming manners and was highly cultured. Yet there was nothing so deeply striking and so radically extraordinary in him that would make men expect something great and revolutionary from him in the future. But when he came out of the Cave (Hira) with a new message, he was completely transformed. Is it possible for such a person of the above qualities to turn all of a sudden into 'an imposter' and claim to be the Prophet of Allah and thus invite the rage of his people? One might ask, for what reason did he suffer all the hardships he did? His people offered to accept him as their king and to lay all the riches of the land at his feet if only he would leave the preaching of his religion. But he chose to refuse their tempting offers and go on preaching his religion single-handedly in the face of all kinds of insults, social boycott and even physical assault by his own people. Was it not only God's support and his firm will to disseminate the message of Allah and his deep-rooted belief that ultimately Islam would emerge as the only way of life for humanity, that he stood like a mountain in the face of all opposition and conspiracies to eliminate him? Furthermore, had he come with a design of rivalry with the Christians and the Jews, why should he have made belief in Jesus Christ and Moses and other Prophets of God (peace be upon them), a basic requirement of faith without which no one could be a Muslim?

Is it not an incontrovertible proof of his Prophethood that in spite of being unlettered and having led a very normal and quiet life for forty years, when he began preaching his message, all of Arabia stood in awe and wonder at his wonderful eloquence and oratory? It was so matchless that the whole legion of Arab poets, preachers and orators of the highest caliber failed to bring forth its equivalent. And above all, how could he then pronounce truths of a scientific nature contained in the Qur'an that no human being could possibly have developed at that time?

Last but not least, why did he lead a hard life, even after gaining power and authority? Just ponder over the words he uttered while dying: "We, the community of the Prophets, are not inherited. Whatever we leave is for charity".

As a matter of fact, Muhammad (pbuh) is the last link of the chain of Prophets sent in different lands and times since the beginning of human life on this planet.

• What Others Say About Muhammad (Pbuh)?

For details: Please refer to the Prophet Section on the site.