Muhammad The Killer?

John 16: 2b

Peace be with those who seek peace, who look to God as the originator of love and peace.

Blessings be upon those who deny their fleshly urges for revenge, to cause harm for harm done, and who depend on God for His judgment, His justice and His will over all things.

Did Muhammad, the believed-to-be prophet of Arabia, commit murder or violence against another human being?

Did Muhammad teach his followers to kill, or to lie, or to perform assassinations?

In Islam, "Hadith" are compilations of eye-witness accounts of events at the time of Muhammad and testimonials of what Muhammad said and did.

It has been my experience that many who claim to believe in Islam as a religion are somewhat ignorant of what is highlighted in this article regarding the nature and character of Muhammad.

Many Hadith exist, and not all Hadith are considered 'authentic' or reliable by all Muslims.

However, the most popular and widely recognized Hadith are Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

These two Hadith are considered authentic and reliable to the Sunni branch of Islam.

Sunni Islam is the most popular and populated branch of the Islamic religion... and the one followed by some influential Islamic political states and religious organizations.

Taking a look at what has been recorded in the Hadith is quite insightful and revealing of the nature of the Islamic religion at that time, and what may still linger in regards to perceptions of the legend of Muhammad.

As for the man considered a prophet, the Hadith also explains why some people who identify as "Muslim" may still consider violence as an act of worship and a means to a spiritual end, while other self-identifying Muslims may deny such a claim and blame western media as portraying a false picture of Islam.

In Islamic theology, Yeshua / Jesus Christ is called al-Masih (the Messiah), but is considered as simply another prophet, and the prophet preceding Muhammad.

In Sunni Islam, Yeshua (or "Isa" as is the Arabic name) has a very low Christology (theological thoughts on 'who' Yeshua is).

In the following excerpts taken from the al-Bukhari Hadith where it is speaking of "Allah's Apostle", it is speaking of none other than Muhammad, the claimant of final prophecy in a long line of Jewish prophets.

Let us take a look at what authentic reports regarding Muhammad's attributes show:

Allah's Apostle said, "Who is willing to kill Ka'b bin Al-Ashraf who has hurt Allah and His Apostle?" 

Thereupon Muhammad bin Maslama got up saying, "O Allah's Apostle! Would you like that I kill him?" 

The Prophet said, "Yes." 

Muhammad bin Maslama said, "Then allow me to say a (false) thing (i.e. to deceive Kab)."

The Prophet said, "You may say it."

- al-Bukhari, volume 5, book 59, number 369, narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah

This report shows Muhammad supporting the killing of someone and also supporting the giving of false testimony (lying) in order to kill someone.

In the following reports Muhammad is witnessed, again by Islamic / Muslim sources, to have ordered an assassination, with some reports showing the assassination being done out of retribution (revenge).

Allah's Apostle sent a group of persons to Abu Rafi. Abdullah bin Atik entered his house at night, while he was sleeping, and killed him.

- al-Bukhari, volume 5, book 59, number 370, narrated by Al-Bara bin Azib

Allah's Apostle sent some men from the Ansar to (kill) Abu Rafi, the Jew, and appointed 'Abdullah bin Atik as their leader. Abu Rafi used to hurt Allah's Apostle and help his enemies against him. He lived in his castle in the land of Hijaz.

- al-Bukhari, volume 5, book 59, number 371, narrated by Al-Bara bin Azib

Allah's Apostle sent 'Abdullah bin 'Atik and 'Abdullah bin 'Utba with a group of men to Abu Rafi (to kill him).

- al-Bukhari, volume 5, book 59, number 372, narrated by Al-Bara bin Azib

I shortened some of the above entries, but if you visit the provided links they go into detail as to how the assassination played out.

In Islamic theology, the idea of peace is furthered unless someone causes you harm, or there is a 'just' cause to go to war, or justified response of violence, or other logically argued justifications.

Here are several accounts by different narrators regarding confession of murder / declaration of retribution Muhammad made (or evidence that Muhammad murdered / killed others):

Allah's Apostle (pointing to his broken canine tooth) said, "Allah's Wrath has become severe on the people who harmed His Prophet. Allah's Wrath has become severe on the man who is killed by the Apostle of Allah in Allah's Cause."

- al-Bukhari, volume 5, book 59, number 400, narrated by Abu Huraira

Allah's Wrath became severe on him whom the Prophet had killed in Allah's Cause. Allah's Wrath became severe on the people who caused the face of Allah's Prophet to bleed.

- al-Bukhari, volume 5, book 59, number 401, narrated by Ibn 'Abbas

Allah's Wrath gets severe on a person killed by a prophet, and Allah's Wrath became severe on him who had caused the face of Allah's Apostle to bleed.

- al-Bukhari, volume 5, book 59, number 403, narrated by Ibn 'Abbas

When Mecca surrendered to Muhammad and his warriors, the belief was that no blood was shed that day.

However, as these authentic and accepted Islamic reports states, some men died that day though they did not resist Muhammad... which is a contradiction of the popular legend that Muhammad entered Mecca peacefully.

On the day of the Conquest, the Prophet entered Mecca, wearing a helmet on his head. When he took it off, a man came and said, "Ibn Khatal is clinging to the curtain of the Ka'ba." The Prophet said, "Kill him." (Malik a sub-narrator said, "On that day the Prophet was not in a state of Ihram as it appeared to us, and Allah knows better.")

- al-Bukhari, volume 5, book 59, number 582, narrated by Anas bin Malik

Here is a report from Aisha, Muhammad's wife whom he married, by some accounts, at age six or seven, or perhaps nine or ten years of age, when the marriage was consummated (or so the Islamic reports state).

Regarding the Holy Verse: "Those who responded (To the call) of Allah And the Apostle (Muhammad), After being wounded, For those of them Who did good deeds And refrained from wrong, there is a great reward." (3.172)

She said to 'Urwa, "O my nephew! Your father, Az-Zubair and Abu Bakr were amongst them (i.e. those who responded to the call of Allah and the Apostle on the day (of the battle of Uhud). When Allah's Apostle, suffered what he suffered on the day of Uhud and the pagans left, the Prophet was afraid that they might return. So he said, 'Who will go on their (i.e. pagans') track?' He then selected seventy men from amongst them (for this purpose)." (The sub-narrator added, "Abu Bakr and Az-Zubair were amongst them.")

- al-Bukhari, volume 5, book 59, number 404, narrated by 'Aisha

If Muhammad was a prophet of the God who knows all things past, present and future, why would he be afraid of his enemies returning to cause harm?

Typically, a prophet of God is protected by God and is warned of danger or something that may cause the prophet to worry... but not in Muhammad's case it seems.

So just to be sure (or revealing Muhammad was not sure), here we see Muhammad sending out a raiding party to pursue those running away from him.

There is much more to reveal about the nature, character and man of Muhammad.

What has been shared in this article is from a single book, from a single Hadith.

If these reports are not considered authentic, or if there is an issue, please respond with the correction or with what, if anything, has been misrepresented herein.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
- Matthew 5: 9

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