The Greatest Reformers of Asia:Confucius and Muhammad
There are startling aspects of similarity between Confucius and Muhammad.Both of them descended from aristocratic families that had lost their wealth;at birth both of them were poor orphans.They grew up largely without support and were self-reliant.They were respected by those around them;both were known for being honest and sincere in their relations.Muhammad was known as the Truthful and Trustworthy.Confucius enjoyed a similar reputation.Both appealed to new principles and met fierce opposition in their native cities.Their families and neighbors failed to embrace their teachings, and they went in search of a city whose inhabitants would accept their ideas.Muhammad was driven from his native city and pelted with stones;he and his supporters were rejected.Likewise, Confucius met fierce opposition which extended after his death for centuries.Both called for human beings to be self-reliant and to struggle to achieve their mission and goals;in spite of the hostility they faced both were respected by their people.The teachings of both men were based on love.Muhammad says, ”Love others as you love yourself,” the same saying repeated by Confucius.Muham mad counseled, as did Confucius, love and proper treatment of others, sensitivity in dealing with them, civility in discourse, and cleanliness of hands and tongue.Both advised respect for elders and those of high rank and reverence for the family.Both taught obedience of children to adults and women to their husbands.Muhammad counseled love of one”s parents and care for them as well as obedi ence.Both of them hated tyranny, oppression, and despotism;both believed that government was established to serve the people and not the opposite.They believed that the ruler should base his rule on moral values.Both believed in the old saying that holds, ”Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”
Mahmoud Saeed
DePaul University (retired) United States
国内会议
北京
英文
146-169
2016-07-01（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）