Muhammad, the prophet of Arabia, has fulfilled for his people a role that combines the functions – of a distinguished prophet, statesman, author, and reformer. He has earned for himself as a consequence the respect and reverence of countless people, Muslim and non-Muslim everywhere.
While our knowledge of men who filled similar roles from Moses to Zoroaster to Jesus is shrouded with legend, often incomplete and frequently colored, and while the accounts of Muhammad’s life and deeds contain their share of incompleteness and coloring, the fact remains that he was the first to live and preach in the full light of history.

Islam: Beliefs and Observances by Caesar E. Farah [1929-2009]