The “Lion of God”, Commander
of the Faithful, Vice-gerent and “Self” (at Mubahila) of the Chief of Prophets,
husband of the Lady of Paradise, father of the “Youths of Paradise”, the
“Maula” of Ghadeer-e-Khumm , Imam Ali (a.s.) is well-known on this earth and the Heavens. However, let us
know what the renowned Non-Muslims, say about the Imam.
Reproduced below are the sayings of some of the famous
personalities of the Western World:
Edward Gibbon
(1737-1794) is considered as the greatest British historian of his time. He
writes in “Decline and fall of the Roman Empire”-“The zeal and virtues
of (Imam) Ali were never outstripped by any recent proselyte. He united the
qualifications of a poet, soldier and a saint; his wisdom still breathes in a
collection of moral and religious sayings; and every antagonist, in the combats
of the tongue or of the sword, was subdued by his eloquence and valor. From the
first hour of his mission to the last rites of his funeral, the apostle was
never forsaken by a generous friend, whom he delighted to name his brother, his
vicegerent, and a faithful Aaron of the second Moses.”
Sir William Muir
(1819-1905) a Scottish scholar and Statesman-Foreign Secretary to the Indian Government
as well as the Lieutenant Governor
of the Frontier Province said in “Life
of Mahomet, London 1877” “Endowed with a clear intellect, warm in
affection, and confiding in friendship, he was from the boyhood devoted in
heart and soul to the Prophet. Simple, quiet, and unambitious, when in after
days he obtained the rule of half of the Muslim world, it was rather thrust upon
him than sought!”
Thomas Carlyle
(1795-1881) a Scottish historian, critic, and sociological writer writes in
“Heroes, Hero worship and the Heroic history” 1841: “As for this young Ali,
one cannot but like him. A noble-minded creature, as he shows himself, now and
always afterwards; full of affection, of fiery daring. Something chivalrous in
him; brave as a lion; yet with a
grace, a truth and affection worthy of Christian Knighthood.”
Philip Khuri Hitti
(1886-1978) a Professor of Semitic Languages in Princeton University wrote in “History of Arabs”, London, 1964:
“Valiant in battle, wise in counsel, eloquent in speech, true to his
friends, magnanimous to his foes, he became both paragon of Muslim nobility and
chivalry and the Solomon of Arabic tradition, around whose name poems,
proverbs, sermonettes and anecdotes innumerable have clustered.”
Dr. Henry Stubbe
(1631-1676) a Polemicist, classicist, Physician and philosopher had written in
“An Account of Rise and Progress of the Mahometansim” 1705 “He had a
contempt of the world, its glory and pomp, he feared God much, gave many alms, was just in all his actions,
humble and affable; of an exceeding quick wit of an ingenuity that was not
common, he was exceedingly learned, not in those sciences that terminate in
speculations but those which extend to practice.”
Gerald de Gaury
(1897-1984) was a distinguished soldier and diplomat wrote in “Rulers in Mecca”
London 1951
“He had been wise in counsel and brave in battle, true to
his friends and magnanimous to his foes. He was to be forever the Paragon of
Muslim nobility and chivalry.
Wilfred Madelung,
a professor of Arabic at Oxford University wrote in “The Succession to Muhammad:
A study of the early caliphate, Cambridge, 1997 “In the face of the fake
Umayad claim to legitimate sovereingnty in Islam as God’s vicegerents on earth,
and in view of Omayyad’s treachery, arbitrary and divisive government, and
vindictive retribution , they came to appreciate his honesty, his unbending
devotion to the reign of Islam, his deep personal loyalties, his equal
treatment of all his supporters, and his generosity in forgiving his defeated
enemies.”
Charles Mills
(1788-1826) a Leading historical writer of his time, wrote in “An history of
Muhammedanism, London 1818 “As the chief of the family of Hashim and as a
cousin and son-in-law of Him the Arabians respected. It is apparently wonderful
that Ali was not raised to the caliphate immediately on the death of Prophet
Muhammed. To the advantages of his birth and marriage was added the friendship
of the Prophet. The son of Abu Talib was one of the first converts to Islamism
and Muhammad’s favorite appellation of his was the Aaron of the second Moses.
His talent as an orator, and his intrepidity as a warrior, was grateful to a
nation in whose judgment courage was a virtue and eloquence was wisdom.”
Washington
Irving (1783-1859) was well known as the
“first American man of letters) had written in “Lives of the Successors of
Mahomet “ London, 1850
“He was of the
noblest branch of the noble race of Koresh. He possessed the three qualities
most prized by Arabs: courage, eloquence and munificence. His intrepid spirit had gained him from the
Prophet the appellation of “Lion of God”,
specimens of his eloquence remain in some verses and sayings preserved
among the Arabs; and munificence was manifested in sharing with others, every
Friday, what remain in the Treasury. Of his magnanimity we have given repeated
instances, his noble scorn of everything false and mean, and the absence in his
conduct of everything like selfish intrigue. He was one of the last and
worthiest of primitive Muslims, who imbibed his religious enthusiasm from the
companionship of Prophet himself, and followed to the last the simplicity of
his example. He is honorably spoken of as the First Caliph who accorded some
protection to Belles-Letters. He indulged in the poetic vein himself, and many
of his maxims and proverbs are preserved, and have been translated in various
languages. His signet bore this inscription,
‘The Kingdom belongs to God’. One of sayings show his
little values he set upon the transitory glories of this world,’Life is but the
shadow of a cloud-the dream of a sleeper.
Simon Ockley
(1678-1720) Professor of Arabic at the University of Cambridge had said in “The
History of Saracens” London 1894 “One thing particularly deserving to be
noticed is that his mother delivered of him at Mecca, in the very temple
itself,; which never happened to anyone else.”
Robert Durey
Osborn (1835-1889) was Major of the Bengal Staff Corps. Had written in “Islam
under the Arabs”1876
“With him perished the truest hearted and best Muslim of
whom Mohammadan history had preserved the remembrance.”
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