“The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History”, a book written in 1978 by Michael H. Hart, an American Christian scholar, provides a detailed account of 100 most influential persons in history of the mankind. It has logically described the biographies of religious and political leaders, inventors, writers, philosophers, scientists and artists, and has ranked them according to their impact and influence on humanity. Surprising to readers, Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) was the first person on Michael Hart’s biographical list.
In his book Michael Hart has asserted that the Prophet was “supremely successful” in both the religious and secular realms. It is also interesting to note that Michael Hart’s book even include one of the Prophet’s “Sahaba Keram” (Great Companions), Hazrat Omar Bin Khattab.
As is obvious, these companions of Prophet Mohammed were the trusted followers whom the Prophet himself guided and trained, who representd and subsequently carried forward the Prophet’s exemplary life and mission.
Prophet’s companions are not stranger to this country. Some are reported to have visited India even during the Prophet’s time. Prophet’s companions have so tremendous influence upon this country that Gandhiji time and again declared to establish the exemplary caliphate of Hazrat Omar in India after it attains freedom.
Like Prophet Mohammed, his companions are too the best models for the humanity. They influenced the then society in Arab world and elsewhere and are still relevant in the present context the world over. The way they loved and followed the Holy Prophet; cultivated a culture based on the Quran (Allah’s Commandments), Hadees (Prophet’s Sayings) and Sunnah (Life as spent by Prophet); and dedicated their lives to the causes of the service to the humanity, promotion of knowledge in every field, including health, environment, culture, architecture, developmental work and human resources. These comapnions of the Prophet sacrificed their lives for the protection of human being, women, children, minority and marginalized people’s rights, animal and other creatures, environment, and health as well as collectivity and pluralism. Their lives are exemplary for the human beings, not only for a particular religious community, Islam, but also for entire humanity.
The companions of the Prophet were harbingers of peace and peaceful co-existence. Therefore, it would be in the fitness of things that their lives, styles, thoughts, views, wisdom and in short, entire teachings come before us time and again. Keeping this aspect in view, the Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadees Hind, the oldest organization of Indian Muslims, is holding a two-day All India Conference on the greatness of the Prophet’s Companions on April 10-11, 2010 at New Delhi’s historic Ram Leela Ground. To be addressed by several eminent Muslim and non-Muslim experts of myriad fields, it would be participated by thousands of delegates from inside and outside the country.
On this occasion, a souvenir as well as books and booklets covering the contribution of the Prophet’s companions in the eradication of illiteracy and promotion of knowledge and education, alleviation of poverty, caring for women, children, minorities and the marginalized sections of the society, and raising an ideal and value-based society would also be brought out. It is expected that this conference would provide a good opportunity to understand the companions of the Prophet in the present context.