The Prophet of Islam who had taught his followers lessons of equality, fraternity and justice, soon attracted alien forces to the fold of Islam. The Mongols who over ran the Muslim lands during the thirteenth century were later attracted towards Islam and produced such great Muslim Conquerors as Taimur and Babar. The historic words of the Holy prophet of Islam, "Seek knowledge even upto distant China", awakened a love for learning and the spirit of enquiry among the Muslims which soon made them pioneers in different branches of science and the arts. this book gives examples of great muslims from the whole spectrum of human activity.
The light of learning which illuminated the Universities of Baghdad, Cordova and Cairo, at last dispelled the gloom that had enveloped mediaeval europe and gave birth to the western renaissance. The Muslim civilisation during the mediaeval times provided the necessary link between the ancient and mediaeval civilisation. Muslims produced some of the world's greatest figures in different walks of life. These include philosophers, thinkers, scientists and artists like Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik, Imam Shafi, Imam Ahmed Bin Hanbal, Imam Ibn Taimiya, Imam Ghazali, Ibn Sina, Ibn Rushd (Averroes), Ibn Khaldun, Imam Razi. Jabir Bin Hayyan, Abu Ishaq Ali Kindi, Abul Hasan, Abu Riahan Al Biruni, Nasir-ud-Din Toosi, Shah Waliullah, Ibn Baitar and Iqbal.
We produced conquerors and generals like Khalid Bin Waleed, Tariq bin Ziyad, Muhammad Bin Qasim, Salahuddin Ayubi, Timur and Muhammad the conqueror. Monarchs like Haroon-ar-Rasheed, Mamoon-ar-Rasheed, Sulaiman the Magnificent and Abdul Rahman Al Dakhil; historian and explorers like Tabari, Masudi, Ibn Batuta Ibn Majid and Sulaiman Al Mahiri; revolutionaries and reformers like Mujaddad Alif Sani, Jamaluddin Afghani, Mustafa Kamal, Maulana Muhammad Ali, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and the Quaid-I-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah; poets and writers like Hafiz, Sadi, Firdausi, Rumi, Ghalib, Umar Khayyam, and Shibli Nomani; artists and musicians like Ameer Khusroe, Tan Sen and Behzad. Each of these great lives and many more are featured in this book.
