What Did Lamartine Say About Islâm?

The following paraghraps are the selections from the statements made by Lamartine, non-Muslims, who believed in Allâhu ta’âlâ and admired Islam; these statements reflect his views of Islam. Now let us read with attention to what he said:

One of France’s universally known poets and statesmen, Alphonse Marie Louis de Lamartine (1204 [C.E. 1790]-1285 [C.E. 1869]) made official journeys through Europe and America, which gave him the opportunity to have been to Turkey, in the time of Sultan Abd-ul-majîd Khân. He was admitted in an utterly friendly manner by the Pâdishâh (Ottoman Emperor), and was also presented with a farm within the state of Aydın, (which is in the western part of Turkey). See what he says about Muhammad ‘alaihis-salâm’ in his book Histoire de Turquie (History of Turkey):

“Was Muhammad ‘sall-Allâhu ta’âlâ alaihi wa sallam’ a false prophet? We cannot think so after studying his works and history. For false prophethood means hypocrisy. As falsehood does not have the power of trueness, likewise hypocrisy does not have convincing capacity.

“In mechanics the range of something thrown depends on the power of the thrust. By the same token, the power of a certain source of spiritual inspiration is assessed with the work it accomplishes. A religion, (i.e. Islam), which has carried so heavy a burden, which has spread to such distances, and which has maintained its full power for such a long time, cannot be a lie. It has to be genuine and convincing. Muhammad’s ‘alaihis-salâm’ life; his efforts; his courage in attacking and destroying the superstitions and idols in his country; his bravery and valor in standing against the fury of a fire-worshipping nation; his thirteen year endurance to the various attacks, insults and persecutions inflicted on him in Mekka, among his own citizens; his migration to Medina; his incessant encouragements, preaches and admonitions; the holy wars he fought against overwhelmingly superior enemy forces; his spirit for victory; the superhuman confidence he felt at times of greatest afflictions; the patience and trust he displayed even in victory; the determination he showed in convincing others; his endless devotion in worships; his sacred communings with Allâhu ta’âlâ; his death, and the continuation of his fame, honour and victories after his death; all these factual events (and many others untold) indicate that he was by no means a liar, but, on the contrary, an owner of great belief ‘sall-Allâhu ta’âlâ alaihi wa sallam’.

“It was this belief and this trust in his Creator that made him put forward a two-staged credo: The first stage consisted of the belief that ‘there is one eternal being, who is Allah;’ and the second stage inculcated that ‘idols are not gods.’ In the first stage he informed the Arabs about the existence of Allâhu ta’âlâ, who is one and whom they had not known until that time; and in the second stage he shook from their hands the idols which they had looked on as gods until that time. In short, at a single stroke with the sword he broke the false gods and idols and replaced them with the belief in ‘One Allah’.

“This is Muhammad ‘alaihis-salâm’, the philosopher, the orator, the Prophet, the law-giver, the warrior, the enchanter of human thoughts, the maker of new principles of belief, the great man who established twenty gigantic world empires and one great Islamic empire and civilization ‘sall-Allâhu ta’âlâ alaihi wa sallam’.

“Let all the criteria used by humanity for the judgement and evaluation of greatness be applied. Will anyone be found superior to him? Impossible.” ‘sall-Allâhu ta’âlâ alaihi wa sallam’.