This book is not the history of rise and fall of the Muslims. It deals only with the effect thereof. The author’s main ambition, however, is to stir the Muslims to an appreciation of Islam’s glorious role in the story of human progress and to promote in them thereby a desire to look into themselves with a view to finding out how far they have been true to their mission and duty to the world. He wishes the Muslims to realise what great harm they have done, not only to themselves, but to the whole of mankind, by shutting their minds to the creative impulse that underlies the teaching of Islam.
Another feature of this book is the wealth of material it contains regarding the religious, social, moral, and political state of the pre-Islamic world, particularly on the eve of the prophethood of Muhammad, peace and blessing of God be upon him, thus facilitating the work of the future biographers of the Prophet, may the peace and blessings of God be upon him.