المساعد الشخصي الرقمي

مشاهدة النسخة كاملة : William Muir


aammar
16-09-2012, 07:09 AM
William Muir (1819-1905)
He was a British Orientalist of Scottish origin. He learnt law in the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. He was appointed a Secretary of State for the Indian government in 1865-1868 and was chosen as the president of Edinburgh University from 1885-1902.
His writings include A Life of Mahomet and History of Islam to the Era of the Hegira, of four volumes and one of the reliable references in English and Indian universities due to its accuracy and comprehensive nature and dependence on the Islamic sources. A mention may also be made of Annals of the Early Caliphate; The Caliphate: Its rise, decline and fall, an abridgment and continuation of the Annals, which brings the record down to the fall of the caliphate on the onset of the Mongols and, since he relies in his book on the abundance of Arabic sources and old manuscripts, it is considered one of the most important writings in English about that topic; The Qur'an: its Composition and Teaching; The Mohammedan Controversy; The Mameluke or Slave Dynasty of Egypt, 1260-1517 A.D., end of the Caliphate; The Sources of Islam, A Persian Treatise, by Rev. W. St. Clair-Tisdall, translated and abridged by W. M. in 1901, Edinburgh, T & T Clark; and others. He wrote many articles about Arab poets.
From The life of Mahomet:
Beyond description
“His commanding mien inspired the stranger with an undefined and indescribable awe ; but on closer intimacy, apprehension and fear gave place to confidence and love.”[1] (http://islamstory.com/en/node/36650#_ftn1)
He was never covetous
“Mahomet was never covetous of wealth or, at any period of his career, energetic in the pursuit of riches for their own sake. If left to himself, he would probably have preferred the quiet and repose of his present life to the bustle and cares of a mercantile journey.”[2] (http://islamstory.com/en/node/36650#_ftn2)
The morality of the Prophet
“A remarkable feature was the urbanity and consideration with which Mahomet treated even the most insignificant of his followers. Modesty, kindliness, patience, self-denial and generosity pervaded his conduct and riveted the affections of all who were around him. He disliked saying ‘No’. If unable to answer a petitioner in the affirmative, he preferred silence. 'He was more bashful,' says ‘Â’ishah, 'than a veiled virgin. And, if anything displeased him, it was rather from his face, than by his words, that we discovered it. He never smote anyone but in the service of the Lord, not even a woman or a servant.' He was not known ever to refuse an invitation to the house even of the meanest or to decline a proffered present however small. When seated by a friend, 'he did not haughtily advance his knees towards him’.”[3] (http://islamstory.com/en/node/36650#_ftn3)
You are indeed on a high model of moral character
“He possessed the rare faculty of making each individual in a company think that he was the favored guest. If he met anyone rejoicing at success he would seize him eagerly and cordially by the hand. With the bereaved and afflicted he sympathized tenderly. Gentle and unbending towards little children, he would not disdain to accost a group of them at play with the salutation of peace. He shared his food, even in times of scarcity, with others and was sedulously solicitous for the personal comfort of every one about him. A kindly and benevolent disposition pervades all these illustrations of his character.”[4] (http://islamstory.com/en/node/36650#_ftn4)
Even his enemies
“Mahomet … granted a universal pardon and, nobly casting into oblivion the memory of the past, with all its mockery, affronts and persecution, he treated even the foremost of his opponents with a gracious and even friendly consideration. Not less marked was the forbearance shown to ‘Abdullâh and the disaffected citizens of Madînah who, for so many years, persistently thwarted his designs and resisted his authority, nor the clemency with which he received the submissive advances of tribes that before had been the most hostile, even in the hour of victory.”[5] (http://islamstory.com/en/node/36650#_ftn5)
He was endowed with purity
“Our authorities all agree in ascribing to the youth of Mahomet a modesty of deportment and purity of manners rare amongst the people of Makkah. His virtue is said to have been miraculously preserved.”[6] (http://islamstory.com/en/node/36650#_ftn6)


[1] (http://islamstory.com/en/node/36650#_ftnref1) William Muir, the Life of Mahomet, 25.

[2] (http://islamstory.com/en/node/36650#_ftnref2)Ibid. 19.

[3] (http://islamstory.com/en/node/36650#_ftnref3) Ibid. 496.

[4] (http://islamstory.com/en/node/36650#_ftnref4) Ibid. 496.

[5] (http://islamstory.com/en/node/36650#_ftnref5) Ibid. 497.

[6] (http://islamstory.com/en/node/36650#_ftnref6)Ibid. 18.