Source: Fatāwā ʿUlamāʾ-e-Ḥadīth, Volume 1
Western critics have raised numerous objections against the noble personality of the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ—objections that every thoughtful and informed individual recognizes as baseless and biased. Over time, the truth behind these objections has become increasingly exposed and discredited.
Even well-known Western intellectuals, such as Thomas Carlyle, have admitted that such criticism stems from prejudice, not from any just or honest examination.
He writes:
"Our current notions about Muḥammad ﷺ—that he was (God forbid) a false prophet, and that his religion was a mere bundle of superstitions—upon reflection, these ideas prove to be utterly false. The heaps of lies we have piled around this great man are a disgrace to us Christians."
(Thomas Carlyle, Semi-Annual Journal al-Sīrah, Issue 17, March 2007, p. 365)
One of the greatest proofs of the Prophet’s ﷺ unmatched stature is that no other personality in human history—even those falsely accused or slandered—has ever received such widespread global acceptance.
✔ If, God forbid, he were false, why then has humanity shown lasting interest in his message and teachings?
✔ His success is unprecedented—in his own lifetime and ever since.
✔ Followers of the Prophet ﷺ exist all across the globe, including some of the most brilliant minds of the Western world.
✔ The number of his followers has only ever increased—never diminished—through every era of history.
Dr. Muḥammad Ḥamīdullāh observes:
"Thousands of books have been written on the life of the Prophet ﷺ in various languages. Among the authors are also his critics, who deliberately attempt to distort his image. However, even such writings indirectly affirm his greatness. Despite all the resources at the disposal of the modern West, their propaganda against the Prophet ﷺ has yielded no significant results."
(Muḥammad Ḥamīdullāh, Muḥammad ﷺ Rasūlullāh, 2003, pp. 253–254)
✔ Islam is spreading rapidly in Western countries such as England, Germany, and France.
✔ The number of mosques is increasing, and conversion to Islam is rising, despite extensive missionary and ideological opposition.
✔ The more they attempt to defame the Prophet ﷺ, the more hearts are drawn to him.
Western attacks on the Prophet ﷺ are, in reality, attempts to:
Yet, these efforts have backfired. People continue to embrace Islam because of its truth and the timeless beauty of the Prophet’s ﷺ teachings.
"Within the next hundred years, especially England will be forced to adopt a religion—either Islam or one very similar to it."
(Monthly Dār al-ʿUlūm, Deoband, Feb. 2001, Vol. 85, Issue 2, pp. 43–44)
Dr. ʿAbd al-Qādir Jīlānī critiques the West's flawed criteria for recognizing greatness:
Such prejudice and artificial standards prevent acknowledgment of the greatness of the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ.
Dr. Jīlānī concludes:
"Until these standards are revised, recognizing truth and justice will remain impossible."
(ʿAbd al-Qādir Jīlānī, Islam, the Prophet ﷺ, and the Western Orientalist Mindset, p. 321)
Despite centuries of criticism, hostility, and misrepresentation, the greatness of the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ continues to shine and win hearts—even among fair-minded Western thinkers.
✔ His life, message, and legacy continue to attract people from every background.
✔ Western objections only reinforce the truth of Islam by drawing more attention to his unmatched example.
❖ The Reality of Western Objections
Western critics have raised numerous objections against the noble personality of the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ—objections that every thoughtful and informed individual recognizes as baseless and biased. Over time, the truth behind these objections has become increasingly exposed and discredited.
Even well-known Western intellectuals, such as Thomas Carlyle, have admitted that such criticism stems from prejudice, not from any just or honest examination.
He writes:
"Our current notions about Muḥammad ﷺ—that he was (God forbid) a false prophet, and that his religion was a mere bundle of superstitions—upon reflection, these ideas prove to be utterly false. The heaps of lies we have piled around this great man are a disgrace to us Christians."
(Thomas Carlyle, Semi-Annual Journal al-Sīrah, Issue 17, March 2007, p. 365)
❖ The Prophet ﷺ’s Popularity and Unmatched Success
One of the greatest proofs of the Prophet’s ﷺ unmatched stature is that no other personality in human history—even those falsely accused or slandered—has ever received such widespread global acceptance.
✔ If, God forbid, he were false, why then has humanity shown lasting interest in his message and teachings?
✔ His success is unprecedented—in his own lifetime and ever since.
✔ Followers of the Prophet ﷺ exist all across the globe, including some of the most brilliant minds of the Western world.
✔ The number of his followers has only ever increased—never diminished—through every era of history.
❖ Commentary by Dr. Muḥammad Ḥamīdullāh
Dr. Muḥammad Ḥamīdullāh observes:
"Thousands of books have been written on the life of the Prophet ﷺ in various languages. Among the authors are also his critics, who deliberately attempt to distort his image. However, even such writings indirectly affirm his greatness. Despite all the resources at the disposal of the modern West, their propaganda against the Prophet ﷺ has yielded no significant results."
(Muḥammad Ḥamīdullāh, Muḥammad ﷺ Rasūlullāh, 2003, pp. 253–254)
❖ The Spread of Islam in the West
✔ Islam is spreading rapidly in Western countries such as England, Germany, and France.
✔ The number of mosques is increasing, and conversion to Islam is rising, despite extensive missionary and ideological opposition.
✔ The more they attempt to defame the Prophet ﷺ, the more hearts are drawn to him.
❖ Failed Attempts to Discredit Islam
Western attacks on the Prophet ﷺ are, in reality, attempts to:
- Weaken Muslim faith, and
- Prevent non-Muslims from accepting Islam.
Yet, these efforts have backfired. People continue to embrace Islam because of its truth and the timeless beauty of the Prophet’s ﷺ teachings.
❖ George Bernard Shaw’s Statement
"Within the next hundred years, especially England will be forced to adopt a religion—either Islam or one very similar to it."
(Monthly Dār al-ʿUlūm, Deoband, Feb. 2001, Vol. 85, Issue 2, pp. 43–44)
❖ The Western Standard of Greatness
Dr. ʿAbd al-Qādir Jīlānī critiques the West's flawed criteria for recognizing greatness:
- A "great man" must be white-skinned,
- He must follow Christianity, preferably Catholicism,
- He must speak Latin.
Such prejudice and artificial standards prevent acknowledgment of the greatness of the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ.
Dr. Jīlānī concludes:
"Until these standards are revised, recognizing truth and justice will remain impossible."
(ʿAbd al-Qādir Jīlānī, Islam, the Prophet ﷺ, and the Western Orientalist Mindset, p. 321)
❖ Conclusion
Despite centuries of criticism, hostility, and misrepresentation, the greatness of the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ continues to shine and win hearts—even among fair-minded Western thinkers.
✔ His life, message, and legacy continue to attract people from every background.
✔ Western objections only reinforce the truth of Islam by drawing more attention to his unmatched example.
