Sheeda, my history teacher reference were for the personalities from the past. Edhi sahab is a current person, so obviously not part of our history.
Mohammed 
might be controversial according to some, but many historians considered him a very impactful person.
Diwana, my criteria of a great Muslim is someone who fought for human rights or serve humans regardless of their religion or nationality. Could your find me one such person from history?
Re: If Islam is such a great religion, why did we fail to produce great muslims
The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[TABLE=“class: wikitable”]
[TH]Rank[/TH]
[TH]Name[/TH]
[TH]Time Frame[/TH]
[TH]Image[/TH]
[TH]Occupation[/TH]
[TH]Influence[/TH]
1
Muhammad
c. 570–632
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Mohammad_SAV.svg/70px-Mohammad_SAV.svg.png
Secular and religious leader
The central human figure of Islam, regarded by Muslims as a prophet of God and the last messenger. Active as a social reformer, diplomat, merchant, philosopher, orator, legislator, military leader, humanitarian, philanthropist.
2
Isaac Newton
1643–1727
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/GodfreyKneller-IsaacNewton-1689.jpg/70px-GodfreyKneller-IsaacNewton-1689.jpg
Scientist
English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian. His law of universal gravitation and three laws of motion laid the groundwork for classical mechanics.
3
Jesus Christ
7–2 BC – 26–36 AD
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/StJohnsAshfield_StainedGlass_GoodShepherd_Face.jpg/70px-StJohnsAshfield_StainedGlass_GoodShepherd_Face.jpg
Spiritual leader
The central figure of Christianity, revered by Christians as the Son of God and the incarnation of God. Also regarded as a major prophet in Islam.
4
Buddha
563–483 BC
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/BuddhaShakyamuni-author-Yaska.png/70px-BuddhaShakyamuni-author-Yaska.png
Spiritual leader
Spiritual teacher and philosopher from ancient India. Founder of Buddhism and is also considered a Gautama Buddha in Hinduism.
5
Confucius
551–479 BC
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Confucius_the_scholar.jpg/70px-Confucius_the_scholar.jpg
Philosopher
Chinese thinker and social philosopher, founder of Confucianism, whose teachings and philosophy have deeply influenced Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese and Indonesian thought and life.
6
Paul of Tarsus
5–67 AD
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/El_Greco_-Saint_Paul_head.jpg/70px-El_Greco-_Saint_Paul_head.jpg
Christian apostle
One of the most notable of early Christian missionaries, credited with proselytizing and spreading Christianity outside of Palestine (mainly to the Romans) and author of numerous letters of the New Testament of the Bible.
7
Cài Lún
50–121 AD
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Cai-lun.jpg/70px-Cai-lun.jpg
Political official in imperial China
Widely regarded as the inventor of paper and the papermaking process.
8
Johannes Gutenberg
1398–1468
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Gutenberg.jpg/70px-Gutenberg.jpg
Inventor
German printer who invented the European mechanical printing press.
9
Christopher Columbus
1451–1506
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Christopher_Columbus.PNG/70px-Christopher_Columbus.PNG
Explorer
Italian navigator, colonizer and explorer whose voyages led to general European awareness of the American continents.
10
Albert Einstein
1879–1955
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Einstein_1921_portrait2.jpg/70px-Einstein_1921_portrait2.jpg
Scientist
German-born theoretical physicist, best known for his theory of relativity and specifically mass–energy equivalence, expressed by the equation E = mc[SUP]2[/SUP]](Mass–energy equivalence - Wikipedia).
Re: If Islam is such a great religion, why did we fail to produce great muslims
The character of muhammad sallal laho alehe wassallam was so strong…muslim today follow islam but our character make us questionable…cant we make our as good as it is supposed to be the character of any Muslim…may Allah make us strong n powerful Muslim..Ameen
Re: If Islam is such a great religion, why did we fail to produce great muslims
Then I am hopeful you would consider every Muslim conqueror, ruler or fighter who fought against previous bad regimen (regardless of which religion they belong to) as the one who fought for human rights…including the Prophet SAW himself.
Re: If Islam is such a great religion, why did we fail to produce great muslims
Tariq bhai say Tariq Bin Zyad story of burning the boats controversial. 
Joke aside:
Even Auragnzeb (After his ancestors had failed) is made controversial and he did try to abolish the ultimate human rights violation acts of Sati in India, long before British forces came in to power.
Re: If Islam is such a great religion, why did we fail to produce great muslims
Aurangazeb treated his father poorly if I recall my history. He also killed his brothers didn’t he? Not the best role model for human rights.
Re: If Islam is such a great religion, why did we fail to produce great muslims
Edhi’s foundation was founded in the 1950s. That’s a long time ago and very much a part of our history and should be in the textbooks, no? But then again, who said textbooks or that even history itself is not biased? As the saying goes, it’s written by those in power. I looked at the list of international awards that Edhi has received and there are many of them. One among them was British, but I didn’t see any from the US or perhaps I overlooked it. So, there you go, TLK. He would be an example of a great Muslim who “fought for human rights or served humans regardless of their religion or nationality” as that is what you’ve listed as your criteria.
And if he doesn’t cut it then maybe it is because you have attached two shartain/conditions to “greatness.” A Muslim figure cannot be “great” if they are not recognized and respected by the West and if they don’t have a squeaky clean image. The latter is tough because humans that are lesser than the prophets are very, very, fallible. As for the former, why is validation from the West so important…or why is it so important that its absence makes one question the validity/greatness of their religion? Perhaps the people in power or the forces pulling the strings do not want Islam and Muslims to be recognized globally for humanitarian efforts and want the faith and its followers to be seen as barbaric.
Re: If Islam is such a great religion, why did we fail to produce great muslims
To do apples to apples comparison, it may be best to do an analysis post industrial revolution. The names mentioned Jesus et al - are way too much in the past. Difficult to be objective wrt those personalities.
Even better would be to restrict to last 200 years.
While I don’t have stats to back this, it is a good bet that the vast majority of pioneers in the modern era are far from religious. They focussed more on Science and disccovery.
Neil degrasse Tydon is not a believer. But he is full of wisdom.
Reality is you wont find lot of innovators among religious scholars - be they Hindu Muslim Sikh Christian etc.
Re: If Islam is such a great religion, why did we fail to produce great muslims
^Doesn’t seem that OP is looking for innovators.
Re: If Islam is such a great religion, why did we fail to produce great muslims
You are correct.
in post1 except for Theresa, the others were civil rights people. Mandela Gandhi King ( who was a Gandhian). Though King was a reverend, his emphasis is on civil rights. ( I hear Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan also known as Frontier Gandhi was on par with Gandhi. I would include him. Not Jinnah who was Nehrus equivalent).
Other than such leaders the ones who make impact are innovators.
Both civil rights leaders and innovators are not typically driven by religion. There aren’t confined to bounds of ONE specific religion. They don’t say my religion and my book is perfect. And other books are flawed They are bigger than that. They constantly keep learning. From ALL sources. And it shows in their output.
Re: If Islam is such a great religion, why did we fail to produce great muslims
When and where you think muslims suffered in such conditions where they would need mendela or king ?
just curious.
If muslims did not suffer like that, then why is that ?
just curious.
Re: If Islam is such a great religion, why did we fail to produce great muslims
^ if we are talking about the modern age, look no further than Saudi Arabia.
Re: If Islam is such a great religion, why did we fail to produce great muslims
hmm
how? who?
Re: If Islam is such a great religion, why did we fail to produce great muslims
Afghanistan from about 1994 to 2001.
Re: If Islam is such a great religion, why did we fail to produce great muslims
what do you mean.
who are the rich minority in afghanistan exploiting masses ? going about their normal life.
isnt it a war torn contry?
Re: If Islam is such a great religion, why did we fail to produce great muslims
^Are you implying that people living in Afghanistan (the majority of which did not support the Taliban) did not suffer during that era and that suffering is limited to exploitation of the masses by the rich?
Re: If Islam is such a great religion, why did we fail to produce great muslims
i am saying afghanistan never came out of war hysteria, since soviets set foot there.
Not a good example for discussion at hand.
Re: If Islam is such a great religion, why did we fail to produce great muslims
ok Boss here is your answer, muslims society is some what self tuning. Even at their lowest point. Things never get too out of control. All that is done through non-super-hero common people.
So we are like birds or ants working towards some thing, not even knowing it on rational level.
some what when God promise israel that he would give the message in the hands of gentiles.
Re: If Islam is such a great religion, why did we fail to produce great muslims
^Fair enough but it does sound rather odd (ie. insensitive) to hear that Muslims have never suffered.
Re: If Islam is such a great religion, why did we fail to produce great muslims
Muslims in the modern world are selfish as far as the powerful ones are concerned … Islam is demonised by the media … The majority of the Muslims are self-absorbed and do not have the himma of helping whole societies … Many active Muslims today are better known for their political stance or religious stance and that is never going to accrue a universal crowd … The accrual of a universal crowd in the world today is no longer possible … Unless it fits a personality who does not sell his/her religion. There are many active Muslims who are helping impartially but they will not be given any limelight … The Mandela story can be found many times over in Guantanamo … But since they represent an ideology which is unlike the ideology of neutral morals such as race … Then they will not be raised on a pedestal … Especially if they do so they would have to demonise themselves … Mother T … Is the last of a previous era too … She had a following … Her own Christian devotees made her famous … Muslims prefer to operate under the fame radar … And truly Islam was so great that such people were everywhere and are still around … And they have no need to be famous or recognised … Because their drivers and motivation lie not in impressing the world of humans … And even if they are seen and given limelight like Edhi Sahib … No way will they be given the attention they deserve … By the West.
