Mahatma Gandhi

(1869 - 1948) A political and spiritual leader of the Indian independence movement

“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 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 Muhammad, the scrupulous regard for pledges, his intense devotion of his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the second volume (of the Prophet’s Biography), I was sorry there was not more for me to read of that great life.”

Michael Hart

He is an Astrophysicist who has also written three books on history.The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History, 1978 (Revised Edition, 1992)

“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 succesful on both the secular and religious level...It is probable that the relative influence of Muhammad on Islam has been larger than the combined influence of Jesus Christ and St. Paul on Christianity...Its is this unparalleled combination of secular and religious influence which I feel entitles Muhammad to be considered the most influential single figure in human history.”

George Bernard Shaw

(1856 - 1950) An Irish playwright and a co-founder of the London School of Economics. He was also an essayist, novelist and short story writer.

“I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him –the wonderful man and in my opinion far from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Savior of Humanity.”

Karen Armstrong

A British academic and writer. Winner of TED Prize 2008, Author of “Muhammad A Prophet For Our Time” 2007

“Muhammad was not a man of violence. We must approach his life in a balanced way, in order to appreciate his considerable achievements. As a paradigmatic personality, Muhammad has important lessons, not only for Muslims, but also for Western people. His life was a Jihad: as we shall see, this word does not mean “holy war”, it means “struggle”. Muhammad literally sweated with the effort to bring peace to war-torn Arabia, and we need people who are prepared to do this today. His life was tireless campaign against greed, injustice, and arrogance. If we are to avoid catastrophe, the Muslim and Western worlds must learn not merely to tolerate but to appreciate one another. A good place to start is with the figure of Muhammad.”

Edward Gibbon

Edward Gibbon and Simon Ockley, in ‘History of the Saracen Empire’ London, 1870, p.54

“ ‘I believe in one God, and Muhammad, the Apostle of God,’ is the simple and invariable profession of Islam. The intellectual image of the Deity has never been degraded by any visible idol: the honours of the prophet have never transgressed the measure of human virtue: and his living precepts have restrained the gratitude of his deciples within the bounds of reason and religion.

Muhammad brought an end to idol worship. He preached Monotheism and infinite Mercy of God, human botherhood, care of the orphan, emancipation of slaves, forbidding of wine. No religion achived as much success as Islam did.”

Leo Tolstoy

(1828 - 1910) A Russian writer who primarily wrote novels and short stories. a master of realistic fiction and is widely considered one of the world's greatest novelists.

“Muhammad has always been standing higher than the Christianity. He does not consider god as a human being and never makes himself equal to God. Muslims worship nothing except God and Muhammad is his Messenger. There is not any mystery and secret in it.”