'Muhammad, that's that Muslim Prophet innit.' Now what it I told you that Prophet Muhammad (saw), upon him be peace- is the must influential man in history and a perfect role fur us all. You're probably thinking that I should give up the weed and see a specialist. But noooooo!!!! This is not the voice of a fanatic or a madman. It's the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth - mate. Now let me present to you the facts that '11 knock you out.

The first thing you wanna know is why Muhammad and not anybody else? Well my dear chap. you see Alexander the Great. Napoleon, Hitler, churchill etc. were very famous conquerors and generals. They were ideals and role models but only for the generals and military men but not for the only chap like you and me. Bhudda and Swami distinguished themselves in spiritual meditation and various forms of worship. They were ideals and role models but only for the religious and spiritual geezers but not for the common man.

Ahoka was a ruler of high repute and Confucius was a towering social reformer. Again they were ideals and role models but only for the political leaders and head of states and not for every Tom, Dick and Harry. Plato and Aristotle were Philosophers of exceptional merit and Newton and Galileo were scientists of great repute. They were ideals and role models but only for the scientists and philosophers but are of no interest to Mr. Bloggs or to Mr. Smith... I think you get the point.

It is a fact that every man, civilian or family head. husband or father, religious leader, businessman, social worker, political leader, head of state, religious scholar, spiritual guide. Judge, general. philosopher, moralist seeks a model of guidance for his or her specific needs. All these people can find guidance in the life of Prophet Muhammad (saw). How's that then..?

Well. let's see what Prophet Muhammad has given to mankind;

POLITICAL LEADER : HEAD OF STATE

You see, before the Prophet Muhammad there was the divine right of rule. monarchies, empires and dictatorships. . For the first time in history the Prophet Muhammad gave the idea of public representation and consultation. He said: 'There is no rule without public representation and consultation.' (Ihn-e-Majah).

'the concept of Khilafah was created. He said no ruler can be obeyed if he commands falsehood.' (Ibn-e-Majah).

The Prophet highlighted that the government is a public trust and that those people who deserve it should only control it. The ruler is only the representative of the people, not then controller. In a nutshell, the government consisted of chosen representatives of the people. The people make the appointment and removal of a ruler. Before the prophet these constitutional aspects were never offered to the people.

The Prophet Muhammad was the first human in history to give universal suffrage (votes to every adult) and this was only introduced in Britain 13 50 years later. The Prophet Muhammad was the first person to establish a political state. He gave the first written constitution to mankind, consisting of 60 articles.

In the short span of a decade he transformed the Arabian Peninsula, Southern Palestine and Southern Iraq in to the greatest Islamic State of the world. which spanned an area of more than 1 million square miles. He showed us how to establish an economic system, moral system, commercial law's, civil law's, penal laws, executive laws, and international laws all within the faith of Islam.

He also revealed to us the laws of war, the rights of non- Muslim minorities and the rights of Muslim minorities and a system ot taxation. Nothing in the world of law or rights was left unturned or undefined by Prophet Muhammad (saw).

He gave rights to women, children, parents. slaves and workers. No politician, prime minister, president or judge throughout history can boast such achievements.

The Prophet Muhammad pbuh showed us how to establish an economic system., commercial, civil., penal and International laws,.,

M1LITARY LEADER: COMMANDER, GENERAL

Forget Napolean or Julius Ceaser Prophet Muhammad was undoubtedly the greatest military leader ever... and I'll tell you why. Within 10 years he conquered the whole of the Arab world by taking part in 83 battles.

Despite these military and defensive campaigns only a few hundred men of the opposing parties were killed, this is a record that no military leader can match. Prophet Muhammad was the first human in history to give proper rights to prisoners of wars (PoW).

In those days prisoners PoW were executed. After the first battle in Islam- battle of Badr- Prophet Muhammad said no POW will be killed or even harmed and their rights will be protected. If any POW can educate 10 Muslims he will be released and set free. These were revolutionary and mind- blowing rights given by Prophet Muhammad.

When the Prophet lay on his deathbed he had the loyalty of 120.000 people. Even after he passed away. Islam's empire spread to become the largest empire in the world. This is confirmed by Michael H Hart in 'The I00' who states:

'..On the field of battle, the inspired Arabs rapidly conquered all of Mesopotamia, Syria and Palestine. By 642 Egypt had been wrested from the Byzantine Empire while the Persian armies had been crushed at the key battles of Qadisiya in 637 and Nona vend in 642...By 7 if, the Arab armies had swept completely across North Africa to the Atlantic ocean. There they turned north and crossing the strait of Gibraltar overwhelmed the kingdom of Spain.

...In a century of lighting, these Bedouin tribesmen, inspired by the word of the prophet Muhammad (saw), had carved out an empire stretching from the borders of India to the Atlantic Ocean- the largest empire that the world had yet seen.' No military leader, general or commander throughout history can match these achievements.

Prophet: Religious & Spiritual Leader

Prophet Muhammad is without doubt the greatest Prophet and religious personality that has influenced mankind the most. So what exactly has Prophet Muhammad gave to mankind: TAVVHEED (Oneness of God) The Prophet told mankind there is no God but Allah, the creator and sustainer of the universe. After Prophet Jesus, the concept of tawheed was altered and false ideas were taught. Prophet Muhammad came to remind the people who had forgotten the concept of worship of one God alone, Allah.

Everlasting Prophethood

The Prophet Muhammad is the last and final messenger of God and no new messenger will come after him. His Prophethood will last till the end of time.

Life after Death

The Prophet Muhammad reminded people of the hereafter i.e. that people would be answerable to their Lord. Due to the fear and consciousness that arose from this idea, people led pious lives, because before the Prophet people had forgotten about the life after death.

Qur'an

The Prophet Muhammad gave the source of eternal guidance- the Quran- to mankind. Anywhere and at anytime if people want guidance they will not need to look at any oilier book or turn to any one but simply turn to the Quran. It will suffice them for their every need and necessity of life.

All Embracing Deen (Way Of Life)

The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) gave mankind the idea of an all-embracing Deen (way of life). The Prophet did not give mankind a religion but the Deen of Islam. If he had given a religion then there would have been spiritual guidance from the religion of Islam and secular guidance from other sources.

The Prophet managed to combine both secularism and politics in all embracing Deen. In the West. the church deals with religion and the secular guidelines come from the state.

Religion only deals with the life hereafter, acts of faith, spiritual rituals, worship and morality. Deen deals with religion, law, culture, civilisation, politics, economics, international affairs, war and peace; individual to international- these are all dealt with in the field of Islam.

No other Prophet, religious or spiritual leader gave such a complete code and system of life.

MORAL AND HUMAN

He wasn't only the teacher, preacher and propagator of moral values but he practised them in his own life as well. The Prophet provided us with moral values, moral behaviour, human values and etiquette that are still practiced.

He was a perfect role model as a husband, father, teacher, neighbour, ruler, reformer, judge, civilian or family head, husband or father, religious leader. businessman, social worker, political leader, head of state, religious scholar, spiritual guide, judge, general, philosopher, moralist and as a human being. No other human in history can match such a personality and great life.

So what you saying to me now, lad? Still think I'm a madman or do you admit now that Prophet Muhammad is the most influential man in history. OK, lets sec what a couple of the western authorities havetosay:

Michael H Hart in The 100- A Ranking of the most influentialPersons in History states:

'.. my choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential persons may surprise some readers and may he questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious' and level secular level.'

To wrap it up a buzzing quote from Laniartine, the French historian writes in History of Turkey. p276

'...philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational beliefs, of a cult without images, the founder of terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire- that is Muhammad. As regards all standards by which greatness may be measured, we may well ask IS THERE ANY MAN GREATER THAN HE?'.

Now there you have it. You see the most famous men created arms. laws and empires only. They founded, if anything at all, no more than material powers which often crumbled away before their eyes.

Prophet Muhammad moved armies, legislations, empires. peoples and dynasties, but also millions of men; and more than that he moved the altars, the gods, the religions, the ideas, the beliefs and the souls.

This is why around 1.5 billion people- today are following the example, lifestyle and complete code of life that Prophet Muhammad gave to the world. So study his life and find out for yourself what an amazing man he was. He can be a perfect role model for you because he is the most influential man in history and the best of mankind.

First published, The Revival, April 2002