Devotion and boundless loyalty were qualities all followers dsplayed towards the Prophet. The extreme love and affection is illustrated in three cases.

Respected Abu Bakar, who later became the first Caliph, was once beaten up by enemies beyond recognition. On regaining consciousness after a day, he refused any nourishment until he received news about the well-being  of the Prophet and till he actually joined the Prophet.

In one of the battles, Abu Dujana jumped to shield the Prophet when he was exposed to danger and took a volley of arrows that tore his back.

Yet another follower who was dying from 70 wounds had only one last wish, “Pay my respects to the Prophet.”

The life and teachings of the Prophet inspired absolute obedience in his companions who were alert to serve him at all times in every manner. Love of family, friends and clan took second place to their dedication to the Prophet. And this obedience enabled them to root out even the most deep-rooted evils in them. A word from him was enough to enforce total prohibition.

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This is illustrated in the incident where the Prophet proclaimed a social boycott of three Muslims for not responding to a call-up. The entire populace of Medina responded and the whole city became dead for the three recalcitrant Muslims. The people utterly avoided their company. It was almost as if the three had ceased to exist.

And when the Prophet migrated to Medina the entire wealth of the city, men and materials were placed at his disposal.

The Prophet not only inspired enduring virtues in his followers but also unearthed the untapped wealth of human resource in them that had been suppressed by ignorance and superstition.

From mere herdsmen of dumb cattle he moulded them into standard-bearers of culture and civilization. The following are some of the more celebrated.

KHALID BIN WALID was a young Quraish commoner who had no record of any achievement. He was only known in his immediate neighbourhood. His only claim to fame among the tribal warlords was his fighting prowess displayed in local feuds.

But after embracing Islam, his intellectual ability and military strategy reached unprecedented heights. From a mere villager he was transformed into an astute strategist, a quality even veteran-generals rarely display. In no time, the mighty Roman empire was under him.

ABU UBAIDAH was a generous and honest man. Little did he know of soldiering or waging battles. But when given command of small detachments during the early days of

Islamic-struggle he displayed battle skills that took him to the position of supreme commander of the Islamic forces. So widely were his skills feared, that the moment his

appointment to the supreme command was known, Emperor Heraclius abandoned Syria for good.

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Umar was no more than a mere herdsmen, grazing his father’s camels when he came under the influence of the Prophet. Almost magically, Umar displayed prodigious,

administration and organizational talent. In a very brief period he stablilised a vast administration-structure in the Islamic world that spread over the empires of both Caesar and Chrosoes whom he humbled.

SALMAN OF PERSIA was a son of a village priest who underwent untold hardship and served several masters before entering Medina and embracing Islam. Suddenly he showed qualities and manners that earned him the governorship of Persia, the land of his birth. But despite his elevated position, his simple ways and manners never changed. He lived in a

common cottage and often carried loads on his head despite the fact he governed what was once a mighty empire.

SA’DIN ABI WAQQAS was only another unknown soldier until he became a Muslim when he displayed such rare skill that he annexed Iran and Iraq to the expanding Islamic nfluence.

BILAL was no more than a slave. But on embracing Islam he displayed qualities that made him the most venerated. Even the great Caliph Omar addressed him as his master.

The touch of Islam not only made the sons of the desert and other oppressed people great generals and governors but also produced renowned ascetics, and profound scholars.

Sitting at the feet of the Prophet, who was not tutored by any man, a never-ending train of impartial judges, wise administrators, benevolent governors, devoted statesmen,                           pious commanders, and God-fearing scientists trotted out.

 These men of quality and ability cared more for the transmission of truth than the accumulation of personal wealth. They possessed a precise notion of the relationship between religion and the affairs of administration and blended them so effectively and efficiently that a spectacular change was recorded in the history of man.

And it was also one basic reason why Islam spread so fast and so quickly – the unique ability of men who were only sons of the desert but who, under the influence of the Prophet, rose above themselves to set enduring examples of leadership.