In 1978, astrophysicist and historian Michael H. Hart published “The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History.” The book immediately sparked debate, not just for the very idea of ranking historical figures, but particularly for its controversial and often unexpected number one choice: the Prophet Muhammad.
For many in the Western world, expecting perhaps Jesus Christ, Isaac Newton, or Abraham Lincoln at the top, Hart’s ranking required an explanation grounded not in faith or cultural familiarity, but in his specific criteria for “influence.”
Hart’s Definition of “Influence”
It’s crucial to understand what Hart meant by “influential.” His ranking is not a judgement on the goodness or morality of a person, nor is it based on personal admiration. Instead, influence, in Hart’s view, is measured by the magnitude and scope of the changes brought about by that person, and the duration of those changes. It’s about the individual who most profoundly altered the course of human history and the lives of the greatest number of people over the longest period.
Furthermore, Hart prioritised individuals who were the originators of major movements or ideologies that significantly shaped the world.
The Case for Muhammad at Number One
Based on this definition, Hart laid out his reasoning for placing Muhammad at the pinnacle:
Founding a Major Religion: Muhammad is the founder of Islam, one of the world’s largest religions. By Hart’s time of writing, Islam had hundreds of millions of adherents across vast swathes of the globe, a number that has only grown since. Founding a major religion is, by definition, a profoundly influential act, shaping the beliefs, values, and daily lives of countless individuals across centuries.
Combining Religious and Secular Leadership: This was a key point for Hart. Unlike Jesus, who was primarily a religious leader whose followers (like Paul) were instrumental in institutionalising and spreading Christianity after his death, Muhammad was both the founder of Islam and the political and military leader of the early Muslim community. He was the head of state, the commander of armies, and the lawgiver.
Establishing a Vast Empire/Civilisation: Muhammad didn’t just preach a new religion; he established a functioning state in Medina and unified the Arabian Peninsula under a single political and religious authority. The foundations he laid directly led to the rapid expansion of the Islamic Empire immediately after his death. Within a century, this empire stretched from India to the Atlantic Ocean, incorporating diverse cultures and peoples, and creating a vast, new civilisation that had a profound impact on the course of world history, including significant contributions to science, philosophy, and the preservation of classical knowledge.
His Direct Role in the Movement’s Success: Hart argued that Muhammad’s unique position as both the religious and secular head during the critical formative years of Islam was instrumental to its initial success and rapid expansion. His personal leadership, decisions, and actions directly shaped the religion, the state, and the culture in a way that few other historical figures achieved.
Comparing to Others (from Hart’s Perspective)
While figures like Jesus and Newton were undeniably influential, Hart’s criteria led him to rank Muhammad higher.
Jesus vs. Muhammad: Hart acknowledged Jesus’s immense spiritual influence but noted that Christianity’s spread and institutionalisation owed much to figures like Paul the Apostle. Muhammad, in contrast, was the sole, direct originator and leader of both the religious and political movement in its crucial early stages.
Newton vs. Muhammad: Isaac Newton revolutionised science and our understanding of the universe. His influence on intellectual history and technology is immeasurable. However, Hart’s focus was also on direct social, political, and cultural transformation on a mass scale originating from the individual’s actions and ideas during their lifetime and immediately after. The societal structures and daily lives of billions were arguably more directly and broadly impacted by the rise of Islam as a total civilisation than by Newton’s scientific discoveries, important as they were intellectually.
Michael H. Hart’s ranking of Muhammad as the most influential person in history is not about theological belief or personal preference. It is a historical and sociological assessment based on the sheer scale, scope, and duration of the changes initiated by Muhammad’s life and actions. Hart concluded that no other single individual in history was solely responsible for the founding of both a major religion and a major political/cultural empire that shaped the world as profoundly and durably as Muhammad.
From Hart’s analytical, rather than devotional, perspective, Muhammad’s unique combination of religious and secular leadership made his historical influence unparalleled.
–
For more details, visit: Institute Al Islam.
Worldwide Temple of Aurora 