Muhammad ﷺ Through The Eyes of Others - Part 1

We have entered Rabīʿ al-Awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar and the month in which the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was born over 1,400 years ago in Makkah.

For Muslims across the world, this is a time of renewed focus on his life, his character, compassion, leadership, teachings and the extraordinary legacy he left behind.

Yet today, Muhammad ﷺ is also one of the most discussed and often misunderstood figures in history. At a time when negative portrayals and misconceptions can spread rapidly, particularly through social media, it is worth asking a different question:

How was Muhammad ﷺ viewed by non-Muslims who actually took the time to study his life?

During Rabīʿ al-Awwal, I hope to share some fascinating reflections from prominent non-Muslim writers, thinkers and historians who encountered Muhammad ﷺ through his life story and came to their own conclusions about the man and his legacy.

We begin with George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), the renowned Irish playwright, social critic and winner of the 1925 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Shaw said:

“I have studied him, the wonderful man, and in my opinion, far from being an Anti-Christ, he must be called the Saviour of Humanity.”

He went on to suggest that, "if a man like Muhammad ﷺ were given authority over the modern world, he would succeed in addressing its problems in a way that could bring much-needed peace and happiness.”

Extraordinary words for an extraordinary man.

And perhaps even more striking when viewed through the lens of today's social-media world, where portrayals of Muhammad ﷺ can so often be dominated by controversy, misunderstanding and negative narratives.

Reading these words, you might never imagine that such praise for Muhammad ﷺ came from George Bernard Shaw, a Nobel Laureate in Literature.

Maybe that in itself is an invitation: before forming an opinion about Muhammad ﷺ, take the time to read his life.

Over the coming days, I will share more reflections on Muhammad ﷺ through the eyes of others.