INTRODUCTION

~  j f greatness of purpose, smallness of means It and astounding results are criteria of human

genius, who could dare to compare any great man in modem history with Muhammad?”

“Philosophers, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of dogmas, of a cult without images; the founder of twenty terristorial empires and of one spiritual empire, that is Muhammad. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he?”

— Lamartine Histoire de Ia Turquine Paris 1854