Michael H. Hart, Author of “The 100A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History”
Conversation with Faisal
(Michael Hart spoke to Faisal)

 

Michael H. Hart, author of “The 100 A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History,” in the book ranked #1 Muhammad (prophet of Islam, peace be upon him) and #52 Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, (2 nd Caliph of Islam). Michael Hart conversed with Faisal and shared how he conceived the idea and labor involved in writing this book. This book has been translated into fifteen (15) languages and has sold over 1 million copies, and is still selling, around the world.

Michael, an astrophysicist, while in graduate school at Princeton University, was curious on who are the greatest astronomers in the world. This research progressed to become into who are the greatest physicists, and then led to who are the greatest chemists, and after that, who are the greatest scientists in the world. This curiosity evolved into the list, that he finally compiled and published, who are the 100 People who influenced the world.

Before publishing, he discussed the idea of compiling this list into a book with his father who was a publisher. His father said to Michael that if Michael compiles the list of who Michael thinks are the 100 most influential people in history, then his father would publish the book, hence Michael started investigating. From there onward, Michael started reading everything he could get his hands on. Initially, it was three (3) years of extensive research, including interviewing experts in their fields, and then it took one (1) additional year researching to make sure he is not missing anything. After the exhaustive research, he compiled the list which is now published in the book titled “The 100 A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History” Michael’s family assisted him immensely with his sister editing the book and his father adding the illustrations in addition to publishing the book.

Michael said he ranked 100 people based on who he personally felt had the greatest effect on the history of all mankind and the resulting course of the world, to the total amount of influence that each of them had on human history and everyday lives of other human beings.

Michael states in the book that [Prophet] Muhammad [Peace be upon him] “was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels…In fact, the driving force behind the Arab conquests, he may well rank as the most influential political leader of all time”. Michael said he really enjoyed being honored by the then President Hosni Mubarak, of Egypt, who invited Michael to Cairo in 1988, for naming Mohammad (peace be upon him) as the most influential person in history.

Muslims around the world believe that Muhammad was a prophet of God, Allah. Allah sent [Prophet] Mohammad for mankind to follow so people conduct themselves, live, in this world according to Allah’s teachings in the book, the Qur’an. [Prophet] Muhammad exhibited how one can live his whole life according to Allah’s teachings. Qur’an is the word of Allah, and [Prophet] Muhammad applied the teachings for Muslims to follow. It is the manual for living, per Muslim belief, for a successful life and the hereafter. Allah’s teachings comprise of the broadest possible range of topics including ritualism, religion, rational theology, general philosophy, morality, ethics, humanitarian principles, principles of business and finance, principles of courtesy, principles of hygiene and good health, theories of government, behavioral, civic and political admonitions, and law.

Michael ranked Umar #52 in the book. Michael writes “It may occasion some surprise that Umar - a figure virtually unknown in the West - has been ranked higher than such famous men as Charlemagne and Julius Caesar. However, the conquests made by the Arabs under Umar, taking into account both their size and their duration, are substantially more important than those of either Caesar or Charlemagne.”

Muslims believe that Umar, while being the 2 nd Caliph of Islam, used Ijtihad, the process of deriving the laws from the Qur’an and sayings of the [Prophet] Muhammad, and introduced systems which are still used today. Few of the concepts introduced during Umar’s time are: i) Social Security - retirement income and disability income, ii) Alimony for divorcee, iii) Market regulation - regulator and inspector, iv) Eminent Domain - buying land, compensating the landowner, for use of public good.

 

I thank Michael for giving me time and speaking to me about this book.