It will be stating the obvious that Islam’s numerous followers throughout the world bear testimony to the vast Influence of the life and works of Hazrat Muhammad (SM). But there is more to it. For. he did not beat but softly knead into civilised shape disparate, anarchist tribes and clans steeped in a superstitious set of beliefs that, to make matters worse, was encrusted by hedonic pleasureseeking and ancestral blood-feuding. That achievement could easily earn him a place in the social reformers’ hall of fame but he was far too great, far too gifted a person to account for that limited influence on the course of world's history and civilisation. He left his Indelible Imprints on the otherwise shifting sands of time as a powerful messenger of monotheism, peace, tolerance and inter-communal harmony.

From the amorphous Beduln life-style he laid the foundation of what in modern political science parlance is called a state. His return to Mecca from an excruciating exile in Medina brought into full play his genius for statecraft complete with the ennobling principles of justice and fairplay enunciated on state-citizen, have-have-not, man-woman, and master-aomestic aid relations. He established the norms for good relations with political and religious neighbours and practised equality of treatment to all souls regardless of the colour of skin or racial origin.

Muhammad (SM)’s greatness has a transcendental appeal and authenticity because it spontaneously flowed from the nobility of a human mind and heart and not a superman's. That's where he is an ideal man, not to be idolised which is against the very grain of his teachings. And, all of this happened 600 years after Christ and for all to see and take a close look at. very much as part of a recorded, in fact, well-documented history.

There are so many things to learn from the role he so adroitly and patiently played in resolving intractable crises that came nis way. Our observance of Eid-e-Miladun-Nabi will only befit the auspicious occasion if we can commit ourselves to handing our political and social problems in a spirit of accommodation and tolerance of each other's views which the Prophet of Islam stood all his life for.