‘Liberators of the ages’: The Role of Buddha and Muhammad (PBUH) for the Liberation of Humanity

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to highlight and present the role of two charismatic religious and spiritual leaders, Buddha and Muhammad (PBUH). Both emerged as a liberator and reformers of their ages. At the time of Buddha, people were squeezed, enslaved and cruelly treated by the upper class Brahmans. Poor were strictly reduced to be the dependent on the mercy of that class and its so-called tenets. In such conditions, Buddha and his teachings gave a new dimension to the suppressed people for living a dignified life. Thus, he was considered, at that time, as the liberator for humanity from man-mad tenets and injustice. Muhammad (PBUH) too, liberated people from the cruelty and oppression of the upper class of the Meccan society. He conveyed the message of God to the people, with warnings and glad tidings, for the construction of a just society that should be based on the equality as per instruction of God’s revelation. He continued his mission of bringing justice and equality, and always supported the poor and weaker section of the society. So, due to such efforts he is also called the liberator and reformer for the humanity. Both, Buddha and Muhammad had same motivation to liberate people from oppression, subjugation and injustice from the oppressors of their ages.