What Others Have Said About Islam
(Mohammad Masood Ahmed (2025), Would You Like To Know Something About Islam, Second Edition, Crescent Books Inc., New York, USA. Pg. 379-386)
Instead of asking my readers to go through many books and check the history themselves about what others have said about Islam, so they may develop a better understanding of it, I have included many quotations from a variety of individuals in this chapter. I hope this will strengthen what I have said throughout the series of articles. (All quotes are in chronological order.)
Simon Ockley (1678 – August 9, 1720) was a British Orientalist who was appointed Sir Thomas Adams's Professor of Arabic at Cambridge University in 1711. He wrote in his book, "History of the Saracens”:
It is not the propagation but the permanency of his religion that deserves our wonder, the same pure and perfect impression which he engraved at Mecca and Medina is preserved after the revolution’s of twelve centuries by the Indian, the African and the Turkish proselytes of the Koran….The Mahometans have uniformly withstood the temptation of reducing the object of their faith and devotion to a level with the senses and imagination of man. ‘I believe in One God and Mahomet the Apostle of God’ is the simple and invariable profession of Islam. The intellectual image of the Deity has never been degraded by any visible idol; the honors of the prophet have never transgressed the measure of human virtue, and his living precepts have restrained the gratitude of his disciples within the bounds of reason and religion. 1
Canon Taylor, a distinguished historian and philologist, stated while reading a paper before the Church Congress at Wolverhampton (UK) on 7 October 1887 that:
It (Islam) replaced monkishness by manliness. It gives hope to the slave, brotherhood to mankind, and recognition of the fundamental facts of human nature.
Edward Montet, in his “La Propaganda Chretienne et ses Adversaries Musulmans” (translated as “Christian Propaganda and its Muslim Adversaries”), stated that:
Islam is a religion that is essentially rationalistic in the widest sense of this term, considered etymologically and historically. The definition of rationalism as a system that bases religious belief on principles furnished by reason applies to it exactly…It cannot be denied that many doctrines and systems of theology, and also many superstitions, from the worship of saints to the use of rosaries and amulets, have become grafted on the main trunk of the Muslim creed. But in spite of the rich development, in every sense of the term, of the teachings of the prophet (), the Quran has invariably kept its place as the fundamental starting point, and the dogma of unity of God has always been proclaimed therein with a grandeur, a majesty, an invariable purity and with a note of sure conviction, which it is hard to find surpassed outside the pale of Islam. This fidelity to the fundamental dogma of the religion, the elemental simplicity of the formula in which it is enunciated, the proof that it gains from the fervid conviction of the missionaries who propagate it, are so many causes to explain the success of Mohammedan missionary efforts. A creed so precise, so stripped of all theological complexities and consequently so accessible to the ordinary understanding might be expected to possess and does indeed possess a marvelous power of winning its way into the consciences of men. 2
S.H. Leeder, a British author best known for his book “Modern Sons of the Pharaohs” (published in English in 1918), wrote in his book “Veiled Mysteries of Egypt and the Religion of Islam”:
How, for instance, can any other appeal stand against that of the Moslem who, in approaching the pagan, says to him, however obscure or degraded he may be “embrace the faith, and you are at once equal and a brother.” Islam knows “no colour line.” 3
Sarojini Naidu, renowned as the Nightingale of India and the first Indian woman to serve as the President of the Indian National Congress in 1925, wrote:
Sense of justice is one of the most wonderful ideals of Islam, because as I read in the Qur’an, I find those dynamic principles of life, not mystic but practical ethics for the daily conduct of life, suited to the whole world. 4
De Lacy O’ Leary, a British clergyman, Arabist, and Semitist, wrote in his book “Islam at the Crossroads”:
History makes it clear, however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated. 5
Sir Hamilton Alexander Rosskeen Gibb (commonly referred to as H.A.R. Gibb), a Scottish Orientalist and distinguished professor at Harvard University, wrote in his book “Whither Islam”:
But Islam has a still further service to render to the cause of humanity. It stands after all nearer to the real East than Europe does, and it possesses a magnificent tradition of inter-racial understanding and cooperation. No other society has such a record of success in uniting in an equality of status, of opportunity, and of endeavors so many and so various races of mankind…Islam still has the power to reconcile apparently irreconcilable elements of race and tradition. If ever the opposition of the great societies of East and West is to be replaced by cooperation, the mediation of Islam is an indispensable condition. In its hands lies very largely the solution of the problem with which Europe is faced in its relation with East. If they unite, the hope of a peaceful issue is immeasurably enhanced. But if Europe, by rejecting the cooperation of Islam, throws it into the arms of its rivals, the issue can only be disastrous for both. 6
Col. Donald S. Rockwell was a poet, critic, and author who attained the rank of colonel while serving in World War II, during which the United States fought against Germany and Japan. In one of his books, i.e., “Beyond the Brim and Bazaar of Dreams”, he writes:
The simplicity of Islam, the powerful appeal and the compelling atmosphere of its mosques, the earnestness of its faithful adherents, the confidence-inspiring realization of the millions throughout the world who answer the five daily calls to prayer – these factors attracted me from the first. But after I had determined to become a follower of Islam, I found many deeper reasons for confirming my decision. The mellow concept of life – fruit of the Prophet’s (
The universal brotherhood of Islam, regardless of race, politics, color, or country, has been brought home to me most keenly many times in my life–and this is another feature which drew me towards the Faith. 7
George Bernard Shaw, an Irish playwright, co-founder of the London School of Economics, and the only person to receive both a Nobel Prize for Literature and an Oscar, stated in his book "The Genuine Islam”:
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, which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him – the wonderful man, and in my opinion, far from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Savior of Humanity. 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: I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad (
Arnold J. Toynbee, a British historian who authored a twelve-volume analysis of the rise and fall of civilizations titled "A Study of History," discusses these themes in his book "Civilization on Trial." that:
The extinction of race consciousness as between Muslims is one of the outstanding achievements of Islam and, in the contemporary world, there is, as it happens, a crying need for the propagation of this Islamic virtue. 9
Arthur Stanley Tritton, a British historian and scholar of Islam, who was appointed Professor of Arabic at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London in 1938, and also spent some time teaching at Aligarh University, states in his book Islam:
The picture of the Muslim soldier advancing with a sword in one hand and the Qur’an in the other is quite false. 10
James A. Michener (1907-1997) was an American author of over 40 titles. He was known for the meticulous research he conducted for his work. In an article entitled "Islam: The Misunderstood Religion,” Michener writes:
No other religion in history spread so rapidly as Islam. The West has widely believed that this surge of religion was made possible by the sword. But no modern scholar accepts this idea, and the Quran is explicit in the support of the freedom of conscience. 11
John Alden Williams, an African American author, journalist, and academic, wrote in his book “Islam”;
Islam is much more than a formal religion: it is an integral way of life. In many ways, it is a more determining factor in the experience of its followers than any other world religion. The Muslim (“One who submits”) lives face to face with God at all times and will introduce no separation between his life and his religion, his politics, and his faith. With its strong emphasis on the brotherhood of men cooperating to fulfill the will of God, Islam has become one of the most influential religions in the world today. 12
William Montgomery Watt, a Scottish historian and Emeritus Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Edinburgh, is recognized as one of the foremost non-Muslim interpreters of Islam in the West. He wrote in his book "Islam and Christianity Today”:
I am not a Muslim in the usual sense, though I hope I am a “Muslim” as “one surrendered to God”, but I believe that embedded in the Quran and other expressions of the Islamic vision are vast stores of divine truth from which I and other occidentals have still much to learn, and ‘Islam is certainly a strong contender for the supplying of the basic framework of the one religion of the future.’ 13
Jared Diamond, a world-renowned UCLA sociologist and physiologist, a Pulitzer Prize winner for his book, "Guns, Germs, and Steel," states that:
Medieval Islam was technologically advanced and open to innovation. It achieved far higher literacy rates than in contemporary Europe; it assimilated the legacy of classical Greek civilization to such a degree that many classical books are now known to us only through Arabic copies. It invented windmills, trigonometry, lateen sails and made major advances in metallurgy, mechanical and chemical engineering and irrigation methods. In the Middle Ages, the flow of technology was overwhelmingly from Islam to Europe rather than from Europe to Islam. Only after the 1500s did the net direction of flow begin to reverse. 14
Hillary Rodham Clinton, the 67th U.S. Secretary of State, serving under President Barack Obama, stated:
Islam is the fastest-growing religion in America, a guide and pillar of stability for many of our people… 15
William Jefferson “Bill” Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, spoke in an Iftar Reception at the White House in 1999:
And I thought it was particularly moving that the Imam read the passage from the Koran that said that Allah created nations and tribes that we might know one another, not that we might despise one another.
There’s a wonderful passage in the Hebrew Torah, which warns people never to turn aside the stranger, for it is like turning aside the most high God. And the Christian Bible says that people should love their neighbors as themselves. But it’s quite wonderful to say that Allāh created the nations and tribes that they might know one another better, recognizing that people have to organize their thoughts and categorize their ideas, but that does not mean we should be divided one from another….
Let me say, also, that there is much that the world can learn from Islam. It is now practiced by one of every four people on Earth. Americans are learning more in our schools and universities. Indeed, I remember that our daughter took a course on Islamic history in high school and read large portions of the Koran, and came home at night and educated her parents about it, and later asked us questions about it….
I ask all of you to help with that, to share the wellsprings of your faith with those who are different, to help people understand the values and the humanity that we share in common, and the texture and fabric and fiber and core of the beliefs and practices of Islam….
The Koran also teaches, in addition to the fact that we should do unto others as we wish to have done to us, and reject for others what we would reject for ourselves, but we should also make a commitment to live in peace…
George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States, hosted an Iftar, the evening meal that marks the end of the Ramadan fast. The event was attended by ambassadors from various Muslim countries and leaders of Muslim organizations. In his speech, the president praised Islam and advocated for dialogue and understanding among diverse faiths:
Ramadan is a time of fasting and prayer for the Muslim faithful. So tonight we are reminded of God’s greatness and His commandments to live in peace and to help neighbors in need…All the world continues to benefit from this faith and its achievements. Ramadan and the upcoming holiday season are a good time for people of different faiths to learn more about each other. And the more we learn, the more we find that many commitments are broadly shared. We share a commitment to family, to protect and love our children. We share a belief in God’s justice and man’s moral responsibility. And we share the same hope for a future of peace. We have much in common and much to learn from one another.
Barack H. Obama II, the 44th President of the United States, stated when he spoke to the Muslim world from Cairo University in Cairo, Egypt, on June 4th, 2009:
America and Islam are not exclusive and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap and share common principles of justice and progress, tolerance, and the dignity of all human beings.
- 1 Simon Ocklay (1870), History of the Saracen Empire, London, Uk. Pg. 54
- 2 Sir Thomas Walker Arnold (1913), The Preaching of Islam, Second Edition, publisher, London, UK. Pg. 413-414
- 3 Simon Henry Leeder (1913), Veiled Mysteries of Egypt and the Religion of Islam, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, USA.
- 4 Sarojini Naidu (1918), The Ideals of Islam; Speeches and Writings, Presidency College, Madras, Pg. 167
- 5 De Lacy O’Leary (1923), Islam at the Crossroads, George Allen & Unwin Ltd., London, UK. Pg. 8
- 6 Sir Hamilton Alexander Rosskeen Gibb (1932), Whither Islam, Victor Gollancz Ltd, London, UK. Pg. 397
- 7 Colonel Donald S. Rockwell (1935), Beyond the Brim and Bazaar of Dreams, The Islamic Review
- 8 Sir George Bernard Shaw (1936), The Genuine Islam, The Islamic Information Bureau, London, Vol. 1, Pg. 8
- 9 Arnold J. Toynbee (1948), Civilization on Trial, Oxford University Press, New York, USA. Pg. 205
- 10 Arthur Stanley Tritton (1951), A Survey of the Muslim Faith, George Allen & Unwin Ltd., London, UK. Pg. 21
- 11 Michener, J. A. (May, 1955). Islam: The misunderstood religion. Reader’s Digest, New York, USA. Pg. 68-70
- 12 John Alden Williams (1962). Islam, George Braziller, New York, USA.
- 13 William Montgomery Watt (1983). Islam and Christianity Today, SCM Press, London, UK. Pg. ix
- 14 Jared Diamond (1997). Guns, Germs, and Steel, W. W. Norton & Company, New York, USA. Pg. 253
- 15 Hillary Rodham Clinton (May 13, 1996). Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, USA. Pg. 3