Edward Gibbon (1737-1794), is regarded as the greatest historian of the Enlightenment period, and is widely known for his his most important work, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire which was published in six volumes. He was also a member of the Parliament and is often regarded as the first “modern” historian. Gibbon writes about Muhammad:
“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 honour of the prophet has never transgressed the measure of human virtues; and his living precepts have restrained the gratitude of his disciples within the bounds of reason and religion.”
The greatest success of Mohammad’s life was affected by sheer moral force.
“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 Madina is preserved, after the revolution of twelve centuries by the Indian, the African and the Turkish proselytes of the Koran.
The Mahomentans have uniformly withstood the temptation of reducing the object of their faith and devotion to a level with the senses and imagination of man.”1
Comparing the achievements of Muhammad, and Jesus, this great historian has very rightly observed:
“Through Islam, Muhammad banished from the Arab within ten years their hardheartedness, spirit of revenge, anarchy, female degradation, rivalry, lawlessness, usury, drunkenness, infanticide, murderous quarrel and human sacrifice as well as all stupid superstitions and fetishes.
Through that religion he brought down upon this earth the Kingdom of Heaven so fondly coveted by Jesus.”2
Edward Gibbon says further:
“The good sense of Mohammed despised the pomp of royalty. The Apostle 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.
Mohammed was distinguished by the beauty of his person that was an outward gift, which is seldom despised, except by those to whom it has been refused. Before he spoke, the orator engaged on his side the affections whether of a public or a private audience.
They applauded his (Muhammad’s) commanding presence, his majestic aspect, his piercing eye, his gracious smile, his flowing beard, his countenance, which painted every sensation of his soul, and the gestures that enforced each expression of the tongue.
In the familiar offices of life, he scrupulously adhered to the grave and ceremonious politeness of his country; his respectful attention to the rich and powerful was dignified by his condescension and affability to the poorest citizen of Mecca;
His memory was capacious and retentive, his wit easy and social, his imagination sublime, his judgement clear, rapid and decisive. He possessed the courage both of thought and action; bears the stamp of an original and superior genius”.3
1. History of the Saracen Empire, Edward Gibbon and Simon Ockley. London, 1870, page 48.
2. The Glory of Muhammad, published by Seerat International Centre Pakistan, page 70.
3. Edward Gibbon “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”, 1823