What Others Say About Islam

Compiled by Dr Ahmed Adam — South Africa

God Exists without any doubt! Evolutionists delude themselves by rejecting God (though I respect their right whether to believe or not to believe).

Dear Reader, this section is comprised mainly of quotes by reputable people about their view on Islam. There are so many wonderful, kind and good people in the World who are being deceived by TV, internet comments and the Media. I am reaching out to all the good people in the world. Please read each quote slowly and ponder over it.

"It is not true that Muslims are filled with a hatred of the West. Muslims want modernity, but not one that has been imposed on them by America, Britain or France. Muslims admire the beautiful technology of the West, but when they look at Western society, they see no light, no heart and no spirituality."

— Karen Armstrong

"The theory of Islam and sword is not heard now in any quarter worth the name. The principle of Islam that 'there is no compulsion in religion' is well known."

— Professor K. S. Ramakrishna Rao, Mohammed: The Prophet of Islam, 1989

"The concept of 'holy war', as jihad is nowadays usually translated, is un-Islamic."

— Professor Annemarie Schimmel

"The Qur'an clearly says 'There shall be no compulsion in Religion' (2:256). Jihad must be the most overused and ill-understood word in contemporary Islam. Literally, the word means 'utmost effort' in promotion and defence of Islam."

— Thomas W. Lippman, Understanding Islam, 1982

"An abhorrence of Arab peoples has become firmly embedded in the American psyche. They are being collectively indicted because of the crimes, or alleged crimes, of a few."

— Professor Jack G. Shaheen

"To begin to resist the impact of falsehood and stereotyping, it is essential to improve one's knowledge of Islam. The word Islam means peace. Advocating brotherhood and understanding, Islam is a religion of Peace."

— Professor Jack G. Shaheen

"One can only wonder how long it will be before people begin to understand that just because someone is different does not mean he is bad, and that it is unbefitting to denigrate people because of their religion, colour, ancestry or country of birth."

— Professor Jack G. Shaheen

"There can be little doubt that the public's perception of Islam has tended to be characterized by ignorance, confusion and misinformation."

— Professor J. L. Esposito

"Centuries of ignorance and widely-spread but false ideas concerning Islam have indeed prevailed in the West, thus poisoning the atmosphere. The time has come for a change."

— Dr Maurice Bucaille, The Bible, The Qur'an & Science, 1976

"Ever since the Crusades, the people of Western Christendom developed a stereotypical and distorted image of Islam. It was Christians who had instigated a series of brutal holy wars against the Muslim world."

— Karen Armstrong, Islam: A Short History

One of the greatest scientists for his contribution to the Law of universal gravitation. He wrote many essays rejecting atheism and defending Creation. He believed the mechanical universe, like a gigantic clock working non-stop, could only be the work of an all-powerful and all-wise Creator.

"He (God) is Eternal and Infinite, Omnipotent and Omniscient… He Governs all things, and knows all things that are or can be done… We reverence and adore Him as His servants."

— From Principia Mathematica

My appeal to you, dear reader: The religion you are currently following has been inherited from your parents or ancestors, whether right or wrong. Very few people question their own Religion. Find the True Path that will lead to your Lord and Creator — not to a man-made illusion. — Dr Ahmed Adam

"I wanted to know the best of the life of one who holds today an undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind… It was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission."

— Mahatma Gandhi, Young India, 1924

"It is impossible for anyone who studies the life and character of the great Prophet of Arabia, who knows how he taught and how he lived, to feel anything but reverence for that mighty Prophet, one of the great messengers of the Supreme."

— Annie Besant, The Life & Teachings of Muhammad, 1932

"He was Caesar and Pope in one; but he was Pope without Pope's pretensions, Caesar without the legions of Caesar: without a standing army, without a bodyguard, without a palace, without a fixed revenue. If ever any man had the right to say that he ruled by the right Divine, it was Mohammed, for he had all the power without its instruments and without its supports."

— Bosworth Smith, Mohammad and Mohammedanism, 1874

"The good sense of Mohammed despised the pomp of royalty. The Messenger of God submitted to the menial offices of the family: he kindled the fire, swept the floor, milked the ewes, and mended with his own hands his shoes and garments."

— Edward Gibbon, Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire, 1823

"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."

"I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness."

— The Genuine Islam, Vol.1, No.8, 1936

"Never has a man set himself a more sublime aim… to restore the rational and sacred idea of divinity. If greatness of purpose, smallness of means and astounding results are the three criteria of human genius, who could dare to compare any great man to Mohamed?"

— Lamartine, Historie de la Turquie, Paris 1854

"This unparalleled combination of secular and religious influence, which I feel, entitles Mohamed to be considered the most influential single figure in human history."

— Michael H. Hart, The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History, 1978

"At the conquest of Mecca, he stood at the zenith of his power. The city which had tortured him and his followers, which had driven him into exile, now lay at his feet. But what treatment did he accord to them? Mohammad's heart flowed with affection and he declared: 'This day, there is no reproof against you and you are all free.'"

— Prof. K. S. R. Rao, Government College for Women, University of Mysore, 1978

"There is an unearthly, timeless magic about the Qur'an. There are verses in it that must have seemed mysterious and indecipherable for centuries, but which suddenly glow with an acute relevance in later ages whose outlook has been changed by scientific discoveries."

— Barnaby Rogerson, The Prophet Muhammad

"The Qur'an deals with many subjects of interest to science, far more in fact than the Bible. There is no comparison between the limited number of Biblical statements and the profusion of subjects raised by the Qur'an that are of a Scientific Nature."

— Dr Maurice Bucaille, The Bible, The Qur'an and Science, 1981

"The Qur'an is undeniably a book of great importance even to non-Muslims. One aspect of Islam that is unexpected and yet appealing to the post-Christian secular mind is the harmonious interplay between Faith and Reason. Islam does not demand unreasoned belief. Rather, it invites intelligent Faith, growing from observation, reflection and contemplation."

— Thomas Cleary, The Essential Qur'an, 1993

"These observations make the hypothesis advanced by those who see Muhammad as the author of the Qur'an untenable. How could a man, from being illiterate, become the most important author in the whole of Arabic literature? How could he then pronounce truths of a scientific nature that no other human being could possibly have developed at that time?"

— Dr Maurice Bucaille, French Academy of Medicine, 1976

"From the 8th-12th Century the European language was Arabic. Arabic was the scientific and progressive language of mankind. Muslims were aroused by enthusiastic curiosity and scientific genius in the fields of mathematics, astronomy, chemistry, physics, medicine, geography, botany and technology."

— Carnegie Research Publication #376

"The emancipation of women was a project dear to the Prophet's heart. The Qur'an gave women rights of inheritance and divorce centuries before Western women were accorded such status. The women of the first Ummah in Medina took part in its full public life. They did not experience Islam as an oppressive religion."

— Karen Armstrong

"Islam came as the defender of the weaker sex and entitled women to share the inheritance of their parents. It gave women, centuries ago, the right of owning property — yet it was only 12 centuries later, in 1881, that England adopted this institution of Islam in the 'Married Woman Act.'"

— Prof. K. S. R. Rao, University of Mysore, 1978

"I have always been particularly attached to the Muslim greeting — I thus greet you in the name of Peace. On behalf of the National Executive Committee of the ANC and its entire membership, I wish you all 'Eid Mubarak and may you have a joyous day."

— Nelson Mandela, 24 March 1993, 'Eid Message to the Muslim Community

"Today is the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed and our thoughts will be with you and the entire Muslim community. He remains a unique religious leader, whose influence continues to spread to practically every part of the world and to every nation."

— Nelson Mandela, 1994, Message on Meelad un Nabi

"Africa has made Islam its own, from the very beginning when the African Christian King Negus in Abyssinia gave protection to the followers of Prophet Muhammad. That example of respect and co-operation points to the role religion can play in contributing to the social renewal on our continent."

— Nelson Mandela, 30 January 1998, Intercultural Eid Celebration

"South Africa's vibrant Islamic heritage is a valued and respected part of our nation."

— Nelson Mandela, Lecture at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, 11 July 1997

"I ask you to temporarily suspend any negative judgements. Simply assume Islam to be among the great wisdom traditions of humanity, all of which are worthy of fundamental respect. This will create an attitude of openness in which the reader can drink from the illuminating fountain of the Holy Koran."

— Lex Hixon, Heart of the Koran

Dear Reader, I hope the above quotes have piqued your curiosity to learn about Islam with an open and unbiased mind. Please suspend any judgement you may have about Islam for 6 months and read as much as you can from reliable sources.

With best regards and sincere wishes for your Journey of Self-Discovery.

— Dr Ahmed Adam, South Africa

About the Author

Dr Ahmed Adam — BSc (Zoology, Botany, Human Genetics); BSc Med (Human Physiology; Comparative Anatomy); BSc Hons (Anthropology, Astronomy & Evolution); MBBCh (Medical Doctor). Strategic Director of a 300-bed Private Hospital; Human Rights activist (Vice Chair: Human Rights Foundation); Life Coach; TV host; Public Speaker; CEO of Alpha Brain Creativity; Author of multiple books including "Islam in the Media", "The Amazing Brain", "Hope & Positive Thinking" and others.

Current life for the past 10 years: Victim of serious double gunshot injuries; Chronic illness; constant bone pain; spinal disability & traumatic brain injury; spends most of his time in deep thought in spiritual meditation in a Cave of Solitude. Pure Sunni Islam, embracing Qur'an and Sunnah. Dedicated student of Religion.

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