Ex- Chief Justice Kerala High Court
Ex High Commissioner, Kashmir
Ex- Pro Vice Chancellor Osmania University
Ex Chairman Minorities Commission (A.P.)
It is not denied that the social, moral and intellectual conditions in Arabia before the advent of Prophet were to put it, widely miserable. It is equally correct, that he began with no support from his own tribe or relations and with citation of passages of unparallel excellence, with no precedent in prose and poetry. The struggle continued for twenty three years and at the end, Arabia was morally, intellectually and religiously transformed. Those who criticized the preacher who began against such odds and achieved the marvellous change, must concede the enormous efficacy of the passages he cited and his own moral and religious efforts to establish what the passages contain.
The period of the Islamic outpour into the adjoining territories is equally illustrative of the benefits arising from the new faith. Unlike the Romans or the Crusadors destruction of Jerusalem, no city or population was ruthlessly destroyed by the Arab invaders. The non-Muslim subjects, particularly Jews and Christians even played important part in the administrative services of the states. During the continuance of the Arab domains over the area, translation of scientific words in medicine, mathematics, astronomy, optics by other nations were made which rendered science for the first time international and Arabic its vehicle of expression. Within the Muslim family women enjoyed the right of succession and the rule about the marriage, divorce, and custody became uniform and of equal application. It is therefore correct to state that the new belief did not preclude the pursuit of learning or confine the benefit to a limited few of a particular race.
Ofcourse there were periods of set back & anxiousness even for the Muslims, when they had to face crusades in Fifth Century of Hijra and Mongole onslaughter in Seventh Century Hijra. Yet when the calamity was over the Turks who had become the dominent power in the Islamic world of those days pursued with vigour and fresh splendors the domain of Islamic culture. The mosques in Constantinople and their other administrative achievements bear testimony to their claims of being the true successors of Islamic Civilization.
It would be wrong to say that Persia then and afterwards did not have equally high positions in the Islamic civilization for the architectural beauties of Isfahan and the sublime. Persian poetic literature amply establish the Safivid's claim of being worthy successors. In making true assessment of what Muslims have achieved during their period of existence, it should not be overlooked that everything contained in a book of paramount conduct of Muslims would cover all forms of his life. The direction therefore to the Muslim that " Allah enjoin the justice and kindness" in Surath 6 of the Quran, evidently controls all the acts of kindness and mercy of the rulers wherever they be. Such passages elsewhere should not be overlooked by any person anxious to reach correct conclusions what is now described as Islamic Culture.
The learned author of the book "The Universal Message of Islam" has correctly brought out important pillars of Islamic teachings. Begining with the Chief characteristics of Universal Religion, he proceeds to explain the unity of religions, uniformity in the teachings of all the Messengers of God, The Quranic concept of the unity of God and the universal brotherhood of mankind. He then describes the necessity of Prophethood, its aims and objects. The last chapter of the book relates to the advent of the last Prophet, his illustrative personality, the comprehensive nature of his virtues, his all embracing teachings, his success in bringing revolution in all spheres of human life and the effect and influence of this revolution over other countries and nations. The learned author being an scholar, deeply interested in Islamic literature and conversant with English, Urdu, Persian and Arabic languages had full advantage of making use of books in these languages about Islam. It is therefore not strange that every subject touched by him has been adorned with enormous quotations from the Holy Books, the Traditions and acknowledged writings of the eminent writers. I hope, it will satisfy the need of those who seek authentic information about Islam and the Prophet of Islam and find its true position in the voluminous contents of Islamic literature.
