The exalted Prophet selected by Allâhu ta’âlâ to spread this new religion was Hadrat Muhammad (’alaihi ’s-salâtu wassalâm). The section entitled Qur’ân al-kerîm and Bibles contains many explanations about how Hadrat Muhammad grew up, how he was given the first divine order, and how he began to spread Islam; hence, there is no need to repeat them here. We shall only add here facts not mentioned previously.
Islam is a true religion sent by Allâhu ta’âlâ and which Hadrat Muhammad (sall-Allâhu ’alaihi wa sallam) began to preach to his people forty-three years after his birth in
The holy book of the Islamic religion is the Qur’ân al-kerîm. The Qur’ân al-kerîm is definitely the word of Allahu ta’âlâ. Whereas the other holy books were interpolated or changed in the course of time with human words inserted into them, the Qur’ân al-kerîm has remained in its original form since the time it was revealed and no words, even one, have ever been changed. The information concerning faith in Islam is the same as that in the religions of other Prophets, that is, “Tawhîd.” On the other hand, unfortunately, some myths and illogical scriptures were inserted into the other religions.
Today, the Islamic religion is mentioned with approbation all over the world. During the Middle Ages, however, scholars of the Christian religion attacked Islam blindly by calling it
‘Religion founded by the devil’ without picking up a smattering, let alone sufficient knowledge, of it to do so and, as we have mentioned before, the popes, who occupied the highest religious position in Christendom, organized crusading expeditions to annihilate Muslims. Only after the eighteenth century did European historians study the Islamic religion and gradually translate the Qur’ân al-kerîm into their own languages. Despite the fact that some of those translations were done by fanatical Christians, and, as a result, they were not exactly in accordance with the original Qur’ân, there were also reliable translations done by honest historians. On the other hand, there have been some translations of the Qur’ân al-kerîm done by Muslims. The people who read correct translations or interpretations of the Qur’ân al-kerîm and understood it, such as Goethe, Carlyle, Lamartine, Tagore and so on, who are among the world’s famous personalities, did not hesitate to reveal their admiration for the Islamic religion. Detailed explanations about their reactions can be seen in our books[1] . But now we are going to furnish some articles written by various statemen who came to Turkey after 1266 (1850) concerning the Islamic religion and Hadrat Muhammad (sall-Allâhu ’alaihi wa sallam).
In a chapter entitled “Islamic Religion” in his book Turkey in Europe published in 1900, Sir Charles, the first secretary of the British embassy in Istanbul between the years 1311-1316 (1898) says: “This world was not the domain of Jesus (’alaihi ’s-salâm). If Christianity had been attached to a certain government or any state organisations, it would have been lost. We see that this fact is quite the opposite with Islam. Muhammad (’alaihi ’s-salâm) was not only a religious man, he was also a great leader. He was respected by his visitors in a way similar to the unity of respect shown to the Pope and Czar. He was always an attentive statesman and, in spite of his extraordinarily successful activities and mu’jizas (miracles), he said he was only a man. No fault is there in his private life.”
In another part of the same book, it says: “If we consider the life style of the people during the time of Jesus (’alaihi ’s-salâm) and the sins and faults they committed, it will be surprising for us
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[1] Please see our book Why Did They Become Muslims, available from Hakîkat Kitâbevi, Fâtih, Ist., Turkey.
to see that those practices were not prohibited in the Bible. The Bible only recommends that people not commit those sins. It does not mention what will happen to people who committed them. In contrast, the Qur’ân al-kerîm clearly reveals what a sin is. For instance, worshipping idols or burying newly born girls alive, as well as the punishments for each of them in the hereafter is given. Accordingly, it rendered a very great service to the nations of Arabia by completely contradicting the false and infamous religions and customs of those days.”
Sir Eliot adds: “One of the best principles of Islam is that it does not discriminate between its citizens and foreigners. No intermediator is between Allah and His slave in the Islamic religion. Intermediators, such as priests, have been abrogated in Islam.”
“Man is highly esteemed in Islam. Turkish soldiers are a good example of this. They are completely disciplined. They exercise private initiative. Other nations hardly have similar soldiers. But, their discipline, strict obedience to their commanders and moral courage originate from the fact that they are good Muslims. It is Islam that instills into them these good characteristics. In addition, it is Islam that establishes “the unity of property” among people, with the help of “zakât.” It tries to remove the chasm between the rich and the poor, which can produce social upheavel. This magnificient religion is simple enough for everybody to understand. Anyone who studies impartially and in detail the biography of Muhammad (’alaihi ’s-salâm) will feel great respect and love for him.”
Now, let us examine another book. In his book
“The religion of Islam orders humanity to be compassionate and to have perception. The poor men expelled from Europe because they have been labeled “atheists”, have been the guests of the Emperor and have lived in freedom and safety in the Turkish Muslim world, which they were deprived of in their own country. All the members of every kind of religion have been shown the same compassion and the same justice. The Europeans, who say that Turks and Muslims are barbarians, took
lessons of humanism and hospitality from them. An author who lived in the sixteenth century said: ‘Strange, but I have travelled in the Islamic countries. I saw neither harsh treatment nor murder in the cities of Muslims, whom we call barbarians. They are respectful of others’ rights. They are very helpful towards lonely people. It is understood that the old, the young, the Christian, the Jew or the Muslim, and even the atheist are subjected to the same justice and kindness.’ I agree with him.”
Ubicini says in the same book as follows:
“In the city of Istanbul few incidents occurred in a quarter called ‘Fâtih’ where Muslims live. But, everyday hundreds of thefts, robberies and crimes happen in the quarter called Pera (Beyođlu) where Christians live. Here, people rob and kill one another, and it has become a den of vice just like the large cities of Europe. While hundreds of thousands of Muslims live in peace, honesty and tranquility in the quarter called ‘Fâtih’, about 30,000 Christians in Pera are exemplifying dishonesty, grossness and vagrancy for the world. Italians have composed a song for Pera: ‘Pera, dei sulirati il nido’, (Pera is a den of vagrants). They sing this song continuously.”
Now, we want to report what an atheist has said about the Prophet of Islam (sall-Allâhu ’alaihi wa sallam). In his book Muhammad, which was recently published and translated into 25 foreign languages, he changed the meanings of some verses according to his own thoughts, but this unbeliever named Maxima Rodinson, a Marxist, a communist and originally a Jew, accepts no religion, and deems all the Prophets (alaihi-mussalawâtu wattaslîmât) epileptic patients who saw ghosts. However, concerning the Prophet Muhammad (sall-Allâhu ’alaihi wa sallam) he said: “As a matter of fact, we know very little about this personality whose thoughts and activities shook the entire world. But it is possible to see that Muhammad (sall-Allâhu ta’âlâ alaihi wa sallam) gleamed with a personal light which cannot be seen on anyone else. This is the light which made the people that gathered around him brilliant. We must admit this. I myself have tried to describe in my book this light [halo] as far as I can see.”
As it is seen, even European writers admit the perfection of the Islamic religion, praise its Prophet (sall-Allâhu ’alaihi wa sallam) and look upon the Qur’ân al-kerîm as a perfect book.
But, they themselves think that this book was not sent to him by Allâhu ta’âlâ. They believe: “It was written down by our Prophet (sall-Allâhu ’alaihi wa sallam); that is, it resulted from his power to think and was not a revelation. But Muhammad (’alaihi ’s-salâm), who was perfectly honest, believed that they were really sent to him by Allâhu ta’âlâ.” Some of these historians claim that Muhammad (’alaihi ’s-salâm) knew how to read and write or that he acquired religious knowledge from the Christian (or Jewish) men of religion. Rodinson, the communist mentioned above, tries to prove that the word “ummî” (illiterate), which is revealed in the Qur’ân al-kerîm for the final Prophet and used by Muslims, does not have the meaning “one who did not know how to read and write.” He tries to prove that it means something completely different. He mentions the name “Bahîra” as the priest who taught our Prophet.
Bahîra was a Christian monk. In some sources, his real name is said to have been Georgius or Sargius. In the Aramaic language, Bahîra [or Behîra] means “distinguished” and maybe it was a nickname used for this monk.
One day our Prophet (Sall-Allâhu alaihi wa sallam), when he was about twelve years old, saw Abű Talib preparing himself for a travel on business. When Abű Tâlib told him that he did not want to take him along, he said, “In whose care are you going to leave me in this city? I don’t have a father, nor anyone else to feel compassion for me.” Deeply moved by these words, Abű Tâlib decided to take him along. After a long journey, the trade caravan stayed for a time near a monastery, which belonged to Christians from Busra. In this monastery there lived a priest named Bahîra. The priest, who had formerly been a deeply learned Judaic scholar and had been converted to Christianity afterwards, had a book that had reached his possession through a chain of several generations and which he had been keeping as a reference book to answer the questions he was asked. He was not interested in the Quraish caravan at all, though it had visited this area several times during the previous years. Every morning he would go up to a terrace adjacent to the monastery and look out towards the direction of approaching disbelievers as if he were expecting something unusual. This time something happened to Priest Bahîra; in a fit of great excitement, he stood up with astonishment. He had
observed a cloud, which was gliding over and following the Quraish caravan. This cloud was actually shielding our Prophet against the heat of the sun. After the caravan had settled down for a rest, Bahîra also saw the branches of a tree bending over our Prophet as he was sitting down under it. His excitement swelled. Immediately, he ordered for the preparation of dinner tables. Then he invited all the members of the Quraish caravan to dinner. They all accepted the invitation, leaving our Prophet (Sall-Allâhu alaihi wa sallam) to watch over the caravan. Bahîra examined the visitors carefully and asked, “Dear Quraish gentlemen, is there anyone among you who did not come for dinner?” They said, “Yes, there is one.” The clould was still there, though all the Quraish had come. When he saw this, he knew that there was someone left to safeguard the caravan. Bahîra insisted on his coming to the dinner. As soon as the Prophet arrived, Bahîra looked at him and examined him carefully. Afterwards he asked Abű Tâlib, “Does this child belong to your descendants?” Abű Tâlib said, “He is my son.” Bahîra remarked, “According to certain books, it is written that the father of this boy is not alive; he is not your son.” This time Abű Tâlib answered, “He is my brother’s son.” Bahîra asked, “What happened to his father?” He answered, “His father died just as he was born.” Bahîra: “You are absolutely right. What happened to his mother?” Abű Tâlib replied, “She died too.” Confirming all these answers, Bahîra turned to our Prophet and asked him to make an oath in the name of some idols. But our Prophet said to Bahîra: “Do not ask me to make an oath in the name of these idols. In this world for me there are no other enemies worst that these. I hate them all.” Bahîra then requested an oath with Allâhu ta’âlâ’s name and asked “Do you sleep?” He said, “My heart does not sleep, though my eyes sleep.” Bahîra continued to ask a lot of questions and received answers to them all. These answers coincided exactly with the books he had read before. Then, looking into the eyes of our beloved Prophet, he asked Abű Tâlib, “Does this redness always stay in these blessed eyes?” “Yes,” he said, “We have never seen it disappear.” Next, Bahîra wanted to see the Seal of Prophethood in order to tranquil his heart after seeing such a preponderance of evidence. However, our Prophet (sall-Allâhu alaihi wa sallam) did not want to expose his back due to his noble sensibilities. But his uncle requested, “Oh apple of my
eye, please do what he wishes.” Upon this our Prophet exposed his back and Bahîra beheld the beauty of the Seal of Prophethood with great satisfaction. He kissed it excitedly while tears poured down his face. Then, he said, “I confess that you are the Messenger of Allâhu ta’âlâ.” And with a loud voice he addressed everyone: “Here is the master of the universe... Here is the Lord of the Universe... Here is the great Prophet whom Allâhu ta’âlâ has sent as a blessing to all the worlds.” Members of the caravan were astonished; they exclaimed, “In the eyes of this priest how high and great an estimation Muhammad (alaihis-salâm) is given.” Bahîra then turned towards Abű Tâlib and said, “This is the last and the most honorable of all the Prophets. His religion will spread all over the world and nullify all the previous religions. Do not take him to Damascus. The sons of Israil (Jews) are his enemies. I am afraid they will try to bring harm upon his beloved person. A lot of oaths and promises were made in respect to him.”Abű Tâlib asked, “What is the meaning of all these oaths and promises?” He answered: “Allâhu ta’âlâ ordered all the Prophets including Jesus (alaihis’s salâm) to inform their umma (followers) about the last Prophet (Sall-Allâhu alaihi wa sallam) who will come.
Abű Tâlib, after hearing these words from Bahîra, changed his mind about going to Damascus. He sold all his trade goods in Busra and returned to Mecca. This meeting of our Prophet (Sall-Allâhu alaihi wa sallam) with Bahira was the first and the last. Therefore, it was impossible for a twelve-year-old boy to receive any meaningful amount of information concerning religion in such a short interval of time.
Even though some Christian historians claim that the final Prophet (sall-Allâhu ta’âlâ ’alaihi wa sallam) took lessons from a priest called Mastűrâ (but, as they confessed themselves) there are no proofs for it. Perhaps, this was a short meeting, too.
How is it possible that the Qur’ân al-kerîm, which is so great and the actual words of Allâhu ta’âlâ, can be ascribed to a man? When the Qur’ân al-kerîm is examined, it can be seen that it reveals within itself natural laws, whose secrets are being solved only recently, and the evolution of life itself. (For example: the first life forms came from water; food for humanity is basically made with elements coming down from the sky, etc.) Furthermore, the social systems we are trying to develop today have been explained
in the most logical and reliable way. The justice in having property is realised under the name “zakât.” The best moral principles and the best manner of worshipping are taught. Even if he were a very clever man, this understanding and knowledge is impossible for a man who never read a book, or for this information to have been known or written down 1400 years ago. When an ayât (verse) of the Qur’ân al-kerîm descended, even the Prophet did not know its entire meaning, but he used to ask Gabriel (’alaihi ’s-salâm) in order to learn it. If Europeans admit his prophethood, there is no doubt that they will become Muslims and thereby attain eternal happiness. We hope that one day in the future they will prefer the true religion and thereby attain endless bliss (heaven).