Prophet Muhammad: The Prophet of God?

by

Mahathir

Prophet Muhammad has led a controversial life with some of the contentious points being a) his apparent predilection towards paedophilia, b) his lust for his adopted sons' wife, c) his treatment and slaughter of the Jewish tribes in Medina and d) his ownership of slaves.

a) Prophet Muhammad was married to Aisha, who was six or seven when betrothed, and nine when the marriage was consummated.

Baptist Pastor Jerry Vines and Netherlands Party of Freedom leader Geert Wilders have both cited the age of Aisha when Prophet Muhammad had sex with her as a reason to denounce him as a paedophile.

Muslim apologists frequently defend Prophet Muhammad by claiming that it was common practice at the point in time for men to marry under aged women. However, it becomes a point of contention whether a Prophet of God would be subject to the norms of society and not know any better.

b) With regard to his lust for the divorced wife of ex-slave, Zayd ibn Harithah, whom Muhammad had adopted as his son, it is said that:

“One day Muhammad went out looking for Zayd. There was a     covering of haircloth over the doorway, but the wind had lifted the covering so that the doorway was uncovered. Zaynab was in her chamber, undressed, and admiration for her entered the heart of the Prophet. After that Allah made her unattractive to Zayd.”

The question that arises when one examines Prophet Muhammad’s life is whether such conduct is becoming for a man of God, let alone a Prophet.

c) As for the slaughter of Jewish tribes in Medina, according to a collection of narration by Ibn Ishaq, Prophet Muhammad approved the beheading of some 600-900 Jews from Banu Qurayza, who had surrendered unconditionally following a siege.

Apart from this Muhammad has frequently been criticized for his treatment of the Jewish tribes of Medina. He not only expelled the Jews and slaughtered them but also robbed them, taking their women as wives.

d) And with regard to ownership of slaves, Prophet Muhammad not only owned slaves but also fathered a child, whom he named Ibrahim by a slave girl called Maria (or Mariyah), one of the Prophet's concubines.

After all that is said and done, can one really consider the conduct of someone who behaves in such a fashion a Man of God, let alone a Prophet?