Mohammed’s Biography as per Michael Edwards’ translation of Ibn Ishaq’s Sirat Rasul Allah

Summary :

Mohammed’s childhood was tragic. He was an orphan child, raised by a nurse till he was two. His mother abandoned him for first two years and she died when he was six. He was then raised by his grandfather, who too died when he was eight. Later he came under the care of his uncle.

He used to travel to Syria with his uncle for trading purposes. The stories of coming of new judeo-christian prophet were rife in Syria and several people claimed to be that prophesized prophet.

Even during circulation of these stories there was talk of ‘sent to shed the blood, and to capture the children and women, of those who oppose him’(maybe an after thought included by Ibn Ishaq, after seeing the gory rise of mohammed to prophethood).

Christians, travelling across Arabia, carried the prophesy stories with them.  When Mohammed related his first seizure and hearing of voices it was Khadija’s Christian cousin – Waraqa – who convinced her that Mohammed was the prophet, who has been prophesized in new judeo-christian literature.

Females in Arabia were entrepreneurs, employing males for their business. They were liberal and bold as it was Khadija who proposed marriage to her employee – Mohammed.

Mohammed started preaching Islam after 3 years of his initial ‘revelation’ and arabs ignored him till the time he started abusing their gods. Arabs confronted him verbally but he was protected by his uncle Abu Talib, who was proud idolator and refused to convert to Islam.

Still Meccan idolators did not harm Mohammed or his few followers physically, at worst they were boycotted and even this boycott was lifted after 3 years on seeing their sorry state. It was Sad, Mohammed’s follower who injured an idolator, thus shedding first blood in Islam.

While in Mecca, for 12 years of his so called Prophethood, Mohammed used to have kind words for Christians and Jews (as he derived his prophethood story from the ideology of these religions), his main fight was against idolators.

In Medina, whenever quarrel broke between Jews and Khazraj (Medinian local tribe called Ansars), Jews used to threaten them with punishment by their Prophet, who was prophesized to come (as is mentioned in their religious texts). So when Khazraj heard about the claims of Mohammed, they thought of outsmarting Jews and accepting Prophethood of Mohammed before the Jews.

Ansars invited Mohammed to Medina to settle scores with Jews and not for any spiritual reasons. Once Medinian accepted Mohammed as their chieftain – Allah revealed verses to grant permission to Mohammed to wage war till the time only Allah is worshipped.

Mohammed could only muster around 100 followers in Mecca after 12 years of preaching, who migrated to Medina. Mohammed preached brotherhood of muslims to the exclusion of non-muslims to the extent that even the meanest of the muslim is under Allah’s protection. Muslims earlier used to follow the Jew’s practice of facing Jerusalem while praying but after Jews rejected prophethood of Mohammed, he changed the direction to Mecca.

Mohammed revived the Jewish practice of stoning the adulterers, which Jews had abandoned. He threatened people of Allah’s vengeance if Allah’s words were not followed.

After first year of Mohammed in Medina, Allah gave command to Mohammed to wage war against idolators and to loot their caravans. Mohammed took one fith of the looted booty.  Arabs had the tradition of honouring sacred month by not attacking each other during that sacred month. Muslims broke this tradition and Mohammed approved it.

One and half years since migration to Medina, muslims started raiding caravans and collecting booty. During first such raid first person was killed by muslims.

Battle of Badr was fought with Meccan Quraysh and Mohammed emerged victorious.

Later he threatened Jews to convert to Islam as otherwise they will have the same fate as defeated Quraysh. Then started the era of revelation of hateful verses for non-muslims.

Example :

“'I shall throw terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off their fingers, because they have resisted Allah and His apostle and Allah is severe in His punishment ….. Therefore fight them, till there be no more persecution and all belong to Allah alone”

“Allah said, ‘You have sought ransoms and worldly goods, but Allah wants the next world’, meaning that they should kill to spread His religion, which is the path to the next world”

Mohammed urged muslims of Medina and those who emigrated with him to unite against non-muslims (infidels) and do not make them friends.

Battle of Uhud was fought, where muslims were defeated. Mohammed escaped by the sacrifice of his followers. Meccan women also took part in battle encouraging their men to fight bravely.

The victory at Badr was attributed to Allah but defeat was to test the real believers among muslims.

Mohammed signed a peace treaty with Quraysh to end all hostilities.

There were many Jewish tribes (Banu Nadir, Banu Qurayza, in Khyber, etc) living in and around Medina. As Jews were not believing in Mohammed as a prophet, so Mohammed eliminated all Jewish tribes.

Banu Nadir – Mohammed dreamt that Jews of Banu Nadir were conspiring to assassinate him, so he besieged them for 6 days, after which Jews surrendered. Their property was confiscated by Mohammed and they were exiled from their land.

Banu Qurayza – Allah reveled to Mohammed to take up arms against Banu Qurayza. They were besieged and on surrendering, all males (six to nine hundred) were executed, children and females were taken captive and possession looted. Mohammed himself took Rayhana, a Jewish woman, who was initially his sex slave and only converted to Islam later.

Khyber : Mohammed raided all other Jewish forts and exiled the Jews, taking their possession. One such raid was on Jewish tribe at Khyber, where Kiana (the tribe leader) was tortured and Mohammed took his wife Safiya as his bride.

On seeing Mohammed’s brutality towards Jews, the other tribes surrendered their property to him.

Plunder of Jewish tribes made Mohammed rich and powerful.

A captive woman, Zaynab, poisoned Mohammed with the reasoning that in case of Mohammed being a prophet he would know it in advance but in case he is imposter he will eat it. Mohammed ate the poisoned meat (though he did not swallow) and its ill effect remained the end.

Muslims believed in fighting infidels for the sake of Allah as ‘Only one of two things can happen - both good - either victory or martyrdom.'

The tribes allied to Mohammed and Quraysh quarreled and Quraysh’s allies killed one person of Mohammed’s allied tribes. This was the excuse Mohammed used to annul the peace treaty with Quraysh, even though Quraysh tried to pacify Mohammed but to no avail.

Mohammed then decided to attack Mecca. Quraysh were taken by surprise. Abu Sufyan, the commander of Quraysh, met Mohammed, when he had encamped near Mecca, to plead for truce but instead was made to accept Islam on the edge of sword.

Mohammed entered Mecca with just minor resistance. Mohammed then ordered selectively killing of his enemies - one was Abdullah b. Sad, who had earlier been a muslim and wrote Koranic verse for Mohammed but reverted to his old religion, then two singing women who had insulted Mohammed by their poems and other old foes of his Meccan period. Later Mohammed himself destroyed the idols of Kabba.

Meccan people accepted Islam on being threatened - ‘How do you expect I shall deal with you?’

Having conquered Mecca, Mohammed sent expeditions to surrounding areas inviting people to Islam. His commanders killed those refusing Islam.

Raids were conducted on tribes and booty taken and distributed among muslims. Those vanquished were made to accept Islam on the edge of sword. Some were lured by gifts and threats to Islam.

Arabs loved and respected their Gods but Mohammed was adamant in their destruction.

Now, Mohammed was a powerful chieftain, so he made Allah to annul all treaties that were earlier made with Idolater tribes.

'When four months have elapsed, the instruction to Muhammad continued, 'kill the idolaters wherever you find them; make them prisoners, surround them, and besiege them wherever they may be. But if they repent and pray according to the command of Allah and pay the tax, then set them free, because Allah is forgiving and merciful.'

Allah said, 'Fear no idolaters; rather fear Allah. Attack them! Allah desires to punish them by your hand, to put them to shame and give you the victory over them.’

Pagan arabs who had been making pilgrimage to Mecca for generations were debarred from entering Mecca. Meccan’s main source of income was from the pilgrimage undertaken by several Arabic tribes. They feared loosing their income which Mohammed compensated by imposing taxes on Jews and Christians.

Now Allah exhorted Mohammed to wage war on unbelievers and hypocrites (those muslims whose faith was not as strong), who were destined for hell whereas only believers were could go to heaven.

On seeing the defeat of Quraysh, who were leaders of the Arabic tribes, several Arabic tribes professed Islam out of fear, knowing that they could not wage war against Mohammed.     

But some still stuck to their religion and Mohammed sent armies to ask them to accept Islam or they will be killed - ‘invite the people to Islam, shouting, 'Make profession of Islam and you will be saved!'’ Tribes accepted Islam out of fear and without even knowing the tenets of Islam, so Mohammed sent his people to ‘instruct them in Islam and teach them the doctrine’.

Jews and Christians still had the liberty to practice their religion but had to pay tax.

Mohammed had 13 wives - Ayesha, Mohammed’s child bride, considered Mohammed to be womanizer, Zaynab was his adopted son’s divorced wife (divorced instigated by Mohammed). Mohammed did not consummate his marriage with 2 wives as one had white spots of leprosy and other sought refuge in Allah rather than in Mohammed.

Quraysh, the Mohammed’s tribe, were considered supreme by virtue of heredity and position.

When Mohammed died, his followers were quarrelling over leadership issue and he was buried by few people almost 36 hours after his death.

Excerpts from the Book (comments in the parenthesis are mine):

Abdullah b. Abdul-Muttalib, the father of the apostle, died while the child was yet unborn. Pg 8

The apostle of Allah was born on a Monday, on the thirteenth (lay of the month of

Rabi in the year of the Elephant [c- 570]* - Pg 8

At the time of the apostle’s birth a Jew standing on the flat roof of a house in Medina called forth the Jewish people and when they assembled around him, saying, ‘Woe to you. What is the matter?’ he told them ‘This night the star has risen, under which the apostle is born.’ – Pg 8 (stories borrowed from Christian myths)

Soon he hired for the boy a nurse, whose name was Halima. – Pg 8

we continued to receive from Allah increase benefits for two years; then I weaned the boy and he had become strong as no other boys had. We returned him to his mother, ……We did not cease to importune her until she allowed us to take him back. – pg 9 (mohammed was raised by a nurse for 2 years and mother refused to take him even after 2 years)

“Two men dressed in white garments came to me, who threw me down, opened my abdomen and searched in it for I know not what.” – pg 9 (exaggerated myths)

Then she asked, “Are you afraid that he is possessed by Satan?” and I replied, “Yes.” She said, “No, by Allah! Satan has no access to him, because something great is the matter with my son. Shall I tell you about it? While I was pregnant with him, I saw a light issuing from me and, by Allah, I could not have had a pregnancy which was easier or lighter than this. – pg 9 (If mother thought mohammed to be special then y did she gave him to nurse for initial 2 years?)

Later, the apostle of Allah himself described what had happened. ‘Whilst I and my milk brother were pasturing some animals in the rear of our house, two men came to us dressed in white garments and bearing a golden platter full of snow. They took hold of me, opened my belly, extracted my heart, split it open and took out of it a black lump of blood which they threw away. Then they washed my heart and belly with snow, until they had purified them. Then one of them said to his companion, “Weigh him against one hundred of his people.” And he weighed me with them, but I proved heavier than they. Then he said, “Weigh him with one thousand of his people.” This he also did, and I was again found more heavy. After that he said, “Leave him; for if you were to weigh him against his whole nation, he would outweigh it.” ‘ Later, the apostle of Allah was in the habit of saying that there was not a prophet who had not pastured sheep. – pg 10 (Mohammed inventing stories to convince people about his extraordinary powers and also copying the Christian mythology about shepherds)  

When the apostle had attained his sixth year his mother Amina died in the place called Abwa, ….. The apostle of Allah remained with his grandfather, Abdul-Muttalib. – pg 10

But when the apostle of Allah had attained his eighth year his grandfather died. – pg 10

AbduI-Muttalib had been the acknowledged leader of the Quraysh tribe, guardians of the holy city of Mecca. When he died none of his many sons was influential enough to succeed him and leadership and influence began to pass to the descendants of his cousin, Umayya, who had long been envious of the power wielded by Abdul-Muttalib. – pg 10

After the death of his grandfather, the apostle of Allah lived with his uncle Abu Talib, - pg 11

On another occasion Abu Talib went with a caravan on a trading journey to Syria. When he was about to depart the apostle of Allah clung to him, and it is believed that Abu Talib was so touched by this that he exclaimed, ‘By Allah! I shall take him with me, and we shall never be separated from each other.’ Accordingly he took the boy with him. Now, at Busra, in Syria , there was a monk named Bahira who was of the Christian faith. – pg 11 (travels to Syria – where Christian theology was in dominant)

‘I swear by al-.Lat and by al-Uzza … - pg 11 (Goddess of the Arabs)

Then Bahira looked on his back and discovered the seal of prophecy between his shoulders. – pg 12

Return with your nephew to his country, and guard him from the Jews; for, by Allah, if they see him and know about him what I know, they will try to injure him, because something very great will happen to this nephew of yours. – pg 12 (stories concocted to justify prophethood of mohammed and hatred for jews)

The Quraysh, after the sacred month, went to the aid of their allies, the Kinana. – pg 12 (Arabs did not fight during sacred month)

When the apostle of Allah was twenty-five years old he married Khadija, a rich and noble merchant-woman who engaged men to sell her merchandise and allowed them part of the profits – pg 14 (females were entrepreneurs and employed men to their service)

sent for him to propose that he take some of her goods to Syria as a trader. – pg 14 (Mohammed travelling to Syria often)

'O son of my uncle! I have taken a liking to you on account of our relationship, your respectability among the people, your honesty, character and veracity.' Then she offered herself to him for a wife. – pg 14 (females proposing to males – signifying the liberal atmosphere in Arabia)

She was the first wife he married, and he never married another until she died. – pg 14

Khadija bore to the apostle of Allah all his children except Ibrahim. She gave birth to

al-Qasim, and to al-Tayyib, to alTahir, to Ruqayya, to Zaynab, to Umm Kulthum and

to Fatima – pg 14

Khadija told her cousin, Waraqa, who was a Christian well versed in sacred and profane literature, ….Waraqa replied, 'If this be true, o Khadija, then Muhammad is the prophet of his people. I know that a prophet is expected at this time.' – pg 14 (Christian influence and expectation of prophet by the people of that time)

Waraqa had been one of the men of the Quraysh known as the 'four inquirers', who had gone in search of the true religion of Abraham. – pg 14

abandoned idols, blood, and sacrifices slain for idols, and condemned the burying alive of female infants. – pg 15 (Arabs used to worship idols, sacrifice animals and burry female infants)

He set forth in search of the religion of Abraham and made inquiries from monks and Jewish priests. He passed through Mesopotamia, and then wandered through the whole of Syria until he found a monk in whom the knowledge of Christianity was concentrated. Him he asked about the orthodox religion of Abraham, and the monk replied, 'You are in search of a religion to which no one can guide you at present; but the time is at hand when a prophet will arise in your country; he will be sent with the religion of Abraham. Adopt it, for he comes now, and this is the time.' – pg 16 (influence of Christianity and talk of prophet to arise at that time)

As the time approached for the revelation of the apostle, Jewish priests and Christian monks discussed prophecies concerning the event contained in their sacred books and inherited from their own prophets – pg 18 (the environment for prophethood was  building up and some persons were claiming to be the true prophets)

for he will be sent to shed the blood, and to capture the children and women, of those who oppose him; but let not this hinder you from following him – pg 18 (in prophesy too the prophet is depicted as a killer, who would capture women and children)

Like the Jews and Christians, the Arab soothsayers also spoke coming of the coming of an apostle, - pg 19

She also said that Allah made him love solitude, so that he loved nothing more than to be alone ….. Muhammad went out on some business at such a distance that he left human habitation behind and came to deep valleys –pg 20 (Mohammed loved solitude)

He did not pass by a stone or a tree but it said 'Salutation to thee, o apostle of Allah!” The apostle turned to his right, to his left, and looked behind, but  saw nothing except trees and stones – pg 20 (mohammed started hearing voices)

The apostle of Allah later said, 'He came while I was asleep, with a cloth of brocade whereon there was writing, and he said, "Read." I replied, "I cannot read it." Then he pressed the cloth on me till I thought I was dying; he released his hold and said, "Read." I replied, "I cannot read it." And he pressed me again with it, till I thought I was dying. Then he loosed his hold of me and said, "Read." I replied, "I cannot read it." Once more he pressed me and said, "Read." Then I asked, "What shall I read?" And I said this because I feared he would press me again. Then he said, "Read in the name of the Lord thy creator; who created man from a drop of blood. Read, thy Lord is the most bountiful, who taught by means of the pen, taught man what he knew not." Accordingly I read these words, and he had finished his task and departed from me. I awoke from my sleep, and felt as if words had been graven on my heart.' – pg 20 (first revelation)

I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "O Muhammad! Thou art the prophet of Allah, and I am Gabriel." – pg 21 (hearing voices)

When I came to Khadija I narrated to her what I had seen, and she said, "Be of good cheer and comfort thyself ! I swear by him whose hand the life of Khadija is, that I hope thou wilt be the prophet of this nation!" Then she rose, collected her garments around her and departed to Waraqa.' She described to him what the apostle of Allah had seen and heard, and Waraqa exclaimed, 'Holy! Holy! I swear to Him in whose hands the life of Waraqa is that the law of Moses has been bestowed on him and he is the prophet of this nation! Tell him to stand firm.' Khadija then returned to the apostle of Allah and informed him of what Waraqa had said. – pg 21 (Role of Khadija and Waraqa in anointing mohammed to prophethood)

Waraqa, who said, 'Thou wilt be accused of falsehood, thou wilt be persecuted, exiled, and attacked.' Then Waraqa bent his head towards the apostle and kissed him on the crown of the head, and the apostle of Allah departed to his house. – pg 21 (Role of Waraqa)

The first man to believe in the apostle of Allah, to pray with him to his prophetic mission, was Ali, who at that time was ten years old. –pg 22

Abu Talib said, 'I cannot abandon the religion of my forefathers and what they believed in; but no harm shall be done to you as long as I live.' – pg 22 (Abu Talib – mohammed’s uncle refusing invitation to islam)

Zayd, the manumitted slave of the apostle of Allah, made his profession of Islam, being the second man who did so…..apostle of Allah gave him his liberty and adopted him as his son. – pg 23

Next Abu Bakr, called Assidiq ('The True'), made his profession of Islam,….. At his invitation Uthman made profession of Islam, as well as al-Zubayr, Abdul-Rahman, Sad b. Abu Waqqas, and Talha - pg 23

Then Allah commanded his apostle to make public the revelation and to invite the people to accept it; hitherto, for the three years since his first revelation, it had been kept secret by the apostle. – pg 23

When the apostle began to spread Islam among his people as Allah had commanded him, they did not gainsay him until he began to abuse their idols; but when he had done this, they accused him of seeking power, denied his revelation, and united to injure him. – pg 23 ( Mohammed was free to preach Islam without any opposition and even when he started abusing Arab’s Gods – he was only accused of trying to gain power)

they were discovered by idolaters who heaped insults upon them, condemned their deeds, and provoked them to fight. Then Sad struck an idolater with the jawbone of a camel, and wounded him; and this was the first blood shed in Islam. – pg 23 (first blood)

But Abu Talib, uncle of the apostle, defended him. Several nobles of the Quraysh, including Utba and Abu Sufyan, went to Abu Talib and said, 'Your nephew has insulted our gods and condemned our religion. He considers our young men to be fools, and our fathers to have erred. You must either restrain him or allow us free action against him, since your religion is the same as ours, opposed to his.' – pg 23 (Mohammed kept insulting Arab’s Gods and Abu Talib kept defending him)

When the apostle of Allah saw the distress which his companions suffered, while he himself enjoyed comparative immunity under the protection of Allah and of his uncle Abu Talib, and that he was unable to save them, he said, 'If you were to go to the country of the Abyssinians, you would do well; there is a king there under whom no one is persecuted; it is a country of truth where you can remain until Allah grants you deliverance from the miseries of the present.' So the companions of the apostle of Allah emigrated for fear of temptation, flying for refuge, and those who emigrated were eighty-three in number. Among them was Ubaydullah, one of the 'four inquirers'. – pg 28 ( Mohammed was not persecuted – but his followers were)

The apostle himself had too much moral protection from such elders as Abu Talib to suffer more than unpleasantness at their hands: there was little physical violence, and his attackers confined themselves mainly to slander and sneers. – pg 28 (persecution was more verbal and not physical)

Another valuable convert at this time was Umar, hitherto a vociferous enemy of the apostle. – pg 29

When the deputation of Quraysh returned disappointed from Abyssinia , the tribe decided to counteract Muhammad's influence by forming a league against him and his followers. They applied economic and social sanctions, forbade trade with him, and banned the Believers from marrying Quraysh women. This boycott had some success and the apostle lived almost in a state of siege for close on three years, except during the period of pilgrimage. All he could do was consolidate the faith of those who were

with him. At last, however, the ban was lifted through the influence of several Quraysh who, though not Believers, sympathized with their plight. The apostle was now fifty years of age. – pg 29 (persecution only economic and not physical)

Khadija, the wife of the apostle, and Abu Talib, his uncle and protector died in the same year, and after that calamities followed in losing his wife the apostle of Allah lost his faithful supporter in Islam, and in losing his uncle he lost his defender against the people. This happened three years before the emigration to Medina . After the death of Abu Talib the Quraysh insults upon the apostle of Allah which they would

not attempted during his life, and one of the fools among the Quraysh even went so far as to strew dust on his head. The apostle went with the dust on his head to his own house, and one of his daughters washed it off and wept; but the apostle of Allah said, “Do not weep daughter Allah will protect thy father.' And he added, 'The Quraysh would do nothing disagreeable to me until Abu Talib died.'– pg 29-30 (Even after Abu Talib’s death – there was no physical violence)

should always say whenever a quarrel broke out between them (Jews) and the Khazraj, 'A prophet will soon be sent and we shall become his followers and kill you with his aid.” So when the apostle of Allah spoke to these men of the Khazraj and invited them to believe in Allah they said to one another, 'This is the prophet with whom the Jews have threatened us. We must forestall them and join him before they do.' – pg 32 (coming of Prophet is prophesied in the jewish literature – first converts outside of mecca were because they wanted to out smart Jews in following the prophesied prophet)

even in the twelfth year of his mission, remained associated in his mind with Jewish and Christian doctrine: he still regarded the Jews and Christians as possible allies against the idolaters. – pg 34 (while in mecca preaching for 12 years – mohammed had kind words for Jews and Christians and his main fight was against idolators)

The apostle of Allah said, 'While I was asleep within the northern enclosure of the

Kaba, Gabriel came and kicked me with his foot. I sat up, but perceived nothing;

therefore I again laid myself down. He came again and the same thing happened

again, but when he kicked me the third time he took hold of my arm, so that I rose and

went with him to the gate of the mosque. And lo! There I saw a beast, white in colour,

resembling part mule and part donkey, with two wings covering its hind legs, and

with its forelegs placed as far as its sight could reach. [This was Buraq, the animal on

which all prophets before Muhammad had been conveyed.] When I approached the

beast to mount, it became restive, but Gabriel placed his hand on its mane and said,

"Art thou not ashamed, o Buraq? No servant of Allah has yet ridden thee who is more

favoured than Muhammad!" Then the beast became steady, and I mounted it.' – pg 35 (Mohammed hallucinating)

The apostle of Allah gave his companions a description of Abraham, Moses and Jesus, as he saw them during that night. 'As to Abraham, I have never seen a man more resembling your companion [Muhammad] than he, nor your companion [Muhammad] resembling any other more than he. But as for Moses, he is a tall, dark, lively man with curled hair and a long nose; the son of Mary, is neither tall nor short, with flowing hair, and a countenance shining as if he had just come out of a bath, and you would imagine that water is dripping from his head although there is none on it. – pg 35 (mohammed influenced by the Abrahmic stories and its prophets)

Al-Abbas asked the people, "Are you aware of the conditions on which you pledge

allegiance to this man? You pledge yourselves to him, to wage war against all and

sundry. If your possessions should be ruined by misfortune and your nobles slain, and

you should give him up, then you will reap shame in this world and the next. – pg 39 (Ansars of medina invite mohammad to wage war and not for any spiritual reasons)

Some of the followers of the apostle had therefore been forced to flee from persecution into the countryside, some to Abyssinia, others to Medina and elsewhere. When the

Quraysh rejected the mercy of Allah and spurned His prophet, they tormented or drove away men who proclaimed the One-ness of Allah, believed in His prophet, and adhered to His religion. – pg 40 (mohammed’s followers were persecuted at the worst and not killed – this despite these followers insulting the gods of the arabs)

Allah therefore permitted Muhammad to fight and to aid his against those who tyrannized over them. The first verse which came down permitting him to wage war and to shed began, 'Permission is granted unto those who fight they have been oppressed, and Allah may aid those who have been driven from their homes merely for saying “Our Lord is Allah”. The verse continued by explaining that they had committed no crime against the people except that they worshipped Allah, and when they made Islam universal they would observe the appointed times of prayer, give alms, and enjoin all men to do good and to abstain from evil. Then a further verse was recorded: ‘Fight

against them until there be no more temptation’ - until Believers shall no more

be tempted to abandon their religion - ‘and until the religion be Allah’s’, that

is, until Allah alone shall be worshipped and none else besides Him. – pg 40 (Once Medinian accepted Mohammed as their chieftain – Allah granted permission to mohammed to wage war – till the time only Allah is worshipped)

These were afterwards known as the Emigrants, and were then over one hundred in number. – pg 41 (mohammed could only muster around 100 followers in mecca after preaching ‘peaceful part of islam’ for 12 years)

Since much of the apostle’s authority claimed to be derived from the Jewish scriptures, he attempted to win the Jews over to his cause, as allies if not as Believers. – pg 47 (Islam based on Jewish scriptures and initially mohammed wanted to win over jews)

No Believer shall kill another for the sake of an infidel nor aid an infidel against a Believer. Verily, the protection of Allah is indivisible and extends to the meanest Believer of all; and each must befriend other Believers above all men. – pg 48 (philosophy of us (muslims) against others (infidels) – even the worst of the muslim has allah’sblessings)

Seventeen months after the apostle arrived in Medina the qibla [the direction in which

Muhammad and his followers faced during prayers] was changed from Jerusalem to

Mecca . – pg 54 (change of direction from Jerusalem to mecca)

Then the apostle went out and ordered the culprits to be stoned in front of the mosque. When the man felt the first stone he bent over his mistress to protect her from the stones, until they were killed. This is what Allah did for His apostle, to exact the penalty for adultery from these two persons.

The apostle asked the Jews what had induced them to abandon of stoning for adultery,

when it was prescribed in the Torah. They said the penalty had been observed until a

man of royal blood committed adultery, and 'the king would not allow him to be stoned. When, after this, another man committed adultery and the king desired that he be stoned, they said, "Not unless you also permit the first man to be stoned." Then all

agreed to resort to scourging, and both the memory and practice of stoning died out.'

Then the apostle of Allah said, 'I was the first to revive the command of Allah, His

scripture, and obedience to it.  – pg 56 ( mohammed revived the practice of stoning of adulterers – which was abandoned by the jews)

Those who disbelieve the directions of Allah will suffer grievous punishment; for Allah is mighty and avenging – pg 57 (threatening verse and vengeful allah)

A year after his arrival in Medina , and thirteen years after his ‘call’, the apostle of

Allah prepared himself for war in obedience to the command of Allah that he should

attack the idolaters. He was then fifty-three years old. ………- pg 60 (beginning of mohammed’s reign as a looter)

This took place on the last day of the sacred month Rajab [October]. Abdullah and his

companions conferred among themselves: ‘If we allow these people to continue and

reach sacred territory tonight, they will be safe from us; but if we attack them now, we

profane the sacred month.’ – pg 61 (arabs had a tradition to not attack each other in the sacred month)

When Allah made plunder permissible He allowed four parts to those who had won it,

and one part to Himself and to His apostle, exactly as Abdullah had done with the

captured caravan. – pg 62 (allah then sent a verse to mohammed to justify breaking the rule of not attacking during sacred month)

This was the occasion when the first booty was taken by the Muslims, when the first

prisoners were taken by the Muslims and when the first man was slain by the

Muslims. It was eighteen months since the Emigrants had arrived in Medina . –pg 62 (start of Islamic terrorism on innocents)

Amir, the man whose brother had been killed at Nakhla, the first man killed in Islam – pg 65 (first man killed by mohammed’s raiding team)

Soon after his return the apostle assembled the Jews in the market-place and

addressed them: 'Make profession of Islam before Allah punishes you as He has punished the Quraysh – pg 67-68 (mohammed got bold after battle of badr and threatened jew to convert to islam)

Then Allah sent down the verse, 'Say to those who disbelieve, "You will be conquered and gathered together in hell. It was a miracle when the two armies met at Badr. One army fought in the name of Allah; the other was thrice their number but thought the Believers as numerous as themselves. But Allah gives strength by His aid to those whom He will." ……. 'I shall throw terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off their fingers, because they have resisted Allah and His apostle and Allah is severe in His punishment ….. Therefore fight them, till there be no more persecution and all belong to Allah alone.– pg 68 (hate against non-believers)

Allah said, ‘You have sought ransoms and worldly goods, but Allah wants the next

world’, meaning that they should kill to spread His religion, which is the path to the

next world – pg 69 ( kill to spread Islam)

Then He called the Muslims to unite and made the Helpers and the Emigrants friends

in religion, and declared infidels of all creeds to be alike excluded from the friendship

of Muslims. ‘Unless you do this, there will be doubt on earth and great corruption.’ – pg 69 (hate for non-muslims)

‘His face being wounded, blood trickled down it; and wiping it, he exclaimed: “How

can a nation prosper which dyes the face of its prophet with blood, though he invites

them to the worship of Allah?” ‘ Ali took the apostle by the hand, and Talha lifted

him up until he stood upright; Malik licked the blood from the face of the apostle and

swallowed it, and the apostle said, ‘He whose blood has touched mine will be

exempted from the threat of hell-fire.’ When the foe pressed close on the apostle, he

asked, ‘Who will save my life?’ and six men of his followers arose and fought by his

side. One by one they were martyred – pg 71 (Narcissism of mohammed)  

The infidel woman, Hind, and her companions mutilated the bodies of the Muslims

slain that day; they cut off the ears and noses, and Hind made necklaces, bracelets and

earrings from them. Also she cut off a piece of Hamza’s liver and chewed it but could

not swallow it, so she spat it out again. Then she climbed a high rock and shouted the

Quraysh victory from it. – pg 72 (women taking part in battle)

When a misfortune befalls you [at Uhud] after you have won a battle twice as great, do not say “Whence cometh this?” Say “This is from ourselves, because Allah is omnipotent.” And what happened to you on the day when the two armies met was by the permission of Allah, in order that He might know the Believers, and also the Hypocrites among you – pg 74 (common reaction, even to this day, among muslims towards failure – blame failure on oneself or on lack of faith in allah)

Shortly after this the Jews of the Banu al-Nadir plotted to murder the apostle of Allah

himself, but Allah sent down a warning to the apostle. He issued orders to prepare an

expedition against the Jews, and marched out and besieged them for six nights, ……Then the Jewish tribe asked that the apostle of Allah should not shed their blood, but permit them to carry away as much of their property as their camels could bear. He consented and they loaded as many of their possessions as they could on their camels, even demolishing their houses that they might take away the thresholds. Then they left, with their wives, children, and household goods, and accompanied by their drums, flutes and singers. The rest they left to the apostle of Allah. – pg 76 (mohammed hallucinates imaginary threats to himself and attacks innocents)

His personal life at this time was not without incident. Since the death of Khadija, he

had acquired seven wives, foremost among whom was the daughter of Abu Bakr,

Aisha. She had been married to the apostle at the age of ten, and was still only sixteen

years old when, quite innocently, she provoked a scandal at Medina . – pg 76 (child marriage)

‘And the apostle of Allah had not yet left us when he lost consciousness, as always

happened before a revelation; then I neither feared nor cared, for I knew that I was

innocent, and that Allah would do no injustice to me. But my parents seemed about to

die for fear, lest Allah might send a revelation confirming the words of the slanderers.

‘The apostle of Allah came back to consciousness and sat up, and the perspiration

trickled like pearls from his forehead, although it was a winter day. Then he wiped it

away, and said, “Allah has revealed thy innocence”, and I replied, “Allah be praised!”

After that, he went out to the people and recited to them verses of the Koran revealed

to him by Allah, and he ordered the slanderers to be scourged.’ – pg 78 ( mohammed was suffering from some mental disease – as he used to lose consciousness when supposedly revelation came to him) 

At noon of the same day Gabriel came to the apostle, wearing a silken turban and

riding on a mule saddled with brocade. He said, 'Hast thou put away thy arms, apostle

of Allah?' He replied, 'Yes', and Gabriel said, 'But the angels have not yet put away

theirs. I have come here to call the people to follow the command of Allah and march

against the Banu Qurayza. I go myself to make them tremble.'  - pg 83 (mohammed’s hallucination to eliminate jews)

The apostle of Allah imprisoned the Qurayza in Medina while trenches were dug in

the market-place. Then he sent for the men and had their heads struck off so that they

fell in the trenches. They were brought out in groups, and among them was Kab, the

chief of the tribe. In number, they amounted to six or seven hundred, although some

state it to have been eight or nine hundred. All were executed. – pg 84 (mohammed’s treatment of innocent captives)

The apostle of Allah selected one of the Jewish women, Rayhana, for himself, and she

remained with him as his slave until she died. He had suggested marriage to her, that

she should wear the veil (to separate her from all other persons, as his wives did), but

she replied, 'Rather allow me to remain thy slave; it will be more easy for me, and for

thee.' At the time of her capture she was an enemy of Islam, and desired to remain a

Jewess; so the apostle was sad and stayed aloof from her. Then one day, while he was

sitting with his companions, he heard the sound of sandals behind him, and said, 'This

is one who comes to inform me that Rayhana has made profession of Islam.' It was

indeed so, which pleased him greatly. – pg 85

The apostle occupied the Jewish forts one after the other, taking prisoners as he went.

Among these were Safiya, the wife of Kinana, the Khaybar chief, and two female

cousins; the apostle chose Safiya for himself. The other prisoners were distributed

among the Muslims. Bilal brought Safiya to the apostle, and they passed the bodies of

several Jews on the way. Safiya's female companions lamented and strewed dust on

their heads. When the apostle of Allah observed this scene, he said, 'Remove these

she-devils from me’ But he ordered Safiya to remain, and threw his reda [cloak] over

her. So the Muslims knew he had reserved her for his own. The apostle reprimanded

Bilal, saying, 'Hast thou lost all feelings of mercy, to make women pass by the

corpses of their husbands?'

The Muslims were in the habit of eating the flesh of their own donkeys, but on this

day the apostle made various prohibitions for the future; no Believer was to eat the

flesh of tame donkeys. Although the apostle of Allah forbade this flesh, he permitted

consumption of horse flesh. He also declared, 'It is not lawful for a Believer to irrigate

another man's harvest [to have intercourse with pregnant captives]; nor shall any

Believer have intercourse with a captive woman until she has been purified; neither

shall a Believer ride a captured animal which has not been assigned to him and return

it, emaciated, to the joint stock of plunder; neither shall he wear a captured garment

and return it, worn out, to the stock of plunder.' – pg 90 (raping of Safiya – allah allowed rape of captive women )

Kinana, the husband of Safiya, had been guardian of the tribe's treasures, and he was

brought before the apostle, who asked where they were hidden. But Kinana refused to

disclose the place. Then a Jew came who said, 'I have seen Kinana walk around a

certain ruin every morning.' The apostle asked Kinana, 'Art thou prepared to die if we

find thou knewest where the treasure was?' And he replied, 'Yes.' So the apostle

ordered the ruin to be dug up, and some of the treasure was found. After that Kinana

was asked again about the remainder, but he still refused to tell. The apostle of Allah

handed him over to al-Zubayr, saying, 'Torture him until he tells what he knows', and

al-Zubayr kindled a fire on his chest so that he almost expired; then the apostle gave

him to Muhammad b. Maslama, who struck off his head. – pg 91 (torture of Kinana – Safiya’s husband; allah could not help mohammed find treasure)

When the people of Fadak, a Jewish town nearby, heard what was taking place they

sent emissaries to the apostle to ask him to spare them and they would abandon to him

all their property. He agreed. After he had reached an understanding with the people

of Khaybar, they asked to be allowed to cultivate their own lands, and to retain

one-half of the produce, saying, 'We know the estates better than thou, and how to

cultivate them.' The apostle concluded peace with them on this basis, but added, 'If we

should find it convenient to expel you, we shall do so.' The people of Fadak made

peace with him on the same terms; the property of Khaybar was thus common to all

the Muslims, but that of Fadak belonged to the apostle of Allah, because he had

conquered it without the aid of cavalry or camels. – pg 91 (conquest of innocent people – mohammed showing his war mongering characteristics )

After the apostle of Allah had rested, the captive woman Zaynab brought him a

roasted sheep. She had asked what portion of the sheep the apostle of Allah most

enjoyed and, having been told that it was the leg, she put much poison into it,

although she also poisoned the whole sheep. When she placed it before the apostle he

took a bite, but did not swallow; Bishr likewise took a piece, but he did swallow.

Then the apostle of Allah spat his out, saying, 'This bone informs me that it is poisoned.' He summoned the woman, who confessed what she had done, and asked,

'What made thee do this?' She replied, 'It is no secret to thee, what my people feel

towards thee. I said to myself, "If he be only a king, we shall be delivered of him; but

if he be a prophet, he will know of the poison and guard himself."' The apostle

released her, but Bishr died of the piece he had eaten. – pg 91-92 ( allah could not warn mohammed of poison in his food – as intelligently argued by the jewish woman)

The plunder of Khaybar, the richest part of the Hijaz, was greater than any before.

There were dates, oil, honey and barley, as well as sheep and camels and jewels. – pg 92 (plunder / looting was the revenue source of mohammed and muslims)

Then he embraced the stone and went out and his companions followed him. He leapt to embrace the Yemeni stone and the Black Stone and ran thrice round the Kaba before slowing his pace. – pg 93 (honouring stone)

'What you now recoil from is just what you came in search of, martyrdom. We do not go to fight these people with numbers, strength, or multitudes, but with the religion of Allah! Therefore press on. Only one of two things can happen - both good - either victory or martyrdom.' The people exclaimed, 'By Allah! The son of Rawaha has spoken the truth! – pg 93 -94 ( muslims fight infidels with the same logic till today)

When the apostle announced the expedition, however, Hatib - one of his trusted

companions - wrote a warning letter to the Quraysh and gave it to Sara, a

freedwoman, to carry to Mecca – pg 95 (Mohammed decision to attack Mecca)

The Quraysh knew nothing of the apostle's approach, although Abu Sufyan and Budayl constantly sent out in search of news. – pg 96 (Quraysh taken by surprise)

"Is it not yet clear to thee that I am the apostle of Allah?" Abu Sufyan replied, "I still have

doubts in my mind as to that." Then I said to him, "Woe betide thee! Make profession

of Islam and say, ‘I testify that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the

apostle of Allah,' before he strikes off thy head!" So Abu Sufyan testified to the truth,

and made profession of Islam. – pg 97 (this is how Islam spread – on the edge of sword)

There were, however, some enemies of Allah whom he ordered to be slain even if they were hidden in the curtains of the Kaba itself. One of these was Abdullah b. Sad; the apostle of Allah ordered him to be killed because, after having made a profession of Islam and assisted the apostle in writing the revelations, he had relapsed into idolatry, returned to his home, and taken refuge with his milk-brother – pg 98 (the man who wrote Koran verses knew the it was fake – so he left Islam)

singing-women, both of whom sang songs insulting the apostle of Allah, who ordered

them to be killed with their master. Another who had insulted two daughters of the apostle was also killed, and some who had persecuted the apostle himself were put to death. – pg 99 (critics of mohammed were slain)

When peace reigned once more the apostle went to the Kaba and rode seven times

round it on his camel, touching the sacred stone with a stick which he held in his

hand. After this, he called Uthman b. Talha and took from him the key of the Kaba.

This was opened to him, and he entered. There he found a pigeon made of aloe-wood,

and he broke this idol with his own hand and threw it outside. The other idols stood

fixed with lead, and the prophet made a sign with his stick in the direction of the

idols, saying, 'Truth has arrived and falsehood has gone, because falsehood was

perishable.' Nor did he point to the front of any idol, but it fell down on its back; nor

did he point to its back, but it fell down on its face. Not one idol remained standing.

The apostle remained at the door of the Kaba and the people from the mosque

surrounded him. – pg 99 (mohammed himself destroyed idols of arabs)

People of the Quraysh! Allah has freed you from the arrogance of idolatry. All men

are from Adam, and Adam is from earth! . . How do you expect I shall deal with you?'

They said, Well. Thou art our noble brother’, and he replied, ‘You may go free.’ – pg 99 (Meccan people accepted Islam on the edge of sword)

The apostle sent out expeditions to the surrounding territory to invite the people to

Allah, but not to kill. Khalid, however, used violence on one expedition, against the

Jadhima, and killed some of them. – pg 100 (it was violence that spread Islam)

A deputation came from the Hawazin to discuss the six thousand children and women captives whom the apostle held, and the camels and sheep beyond number. The men of the deputation professed Islam, then said, 'We are of the same root and race as thou’ Be gracious to us, and Allah will be gracious to thee’ Then a man of the Banu Sad clan of Hawazin rose and said, 'You were fostered among the Banu Sad and the nurses who suckled you are now your captives. Be kind and merciful to us; you are the best of all who have been nursed.' – pg 102 (the way Islam spread – with threats)

the apostle said, 'Whoever still insists on his right to the prisoners, shall (if he now yields

the right) receive for every captive six camels taken from the next booty Allah permits

us to win. – pg 103 (mohammed was leading a raiding party – attacking whosoever did not believe in him)

The apostle asked the deputation from the Hawazin what had become of Malik and

they replied, 'He is in al-Taif.' The apostle said, 'Tell him that if he comes to me as a

Muslim I shall restore his family and his property to him and shall present him with a

hundred camels.' Malik accepted this offer and made profession of Islam; he became a

valuable Believer, and the apostle appointed him to lead three tribes who had

embraced Islam. – pg 103 (threats and allurements worked for mohammed)

The apostle made gifts to those whose hearts he desired to win, nobles whom he

wished to please. To Abu Sufyan he gave one hundred camels, and to Malik, and to

Safwan and others. To some, he gave fewer than one hundred. To one man he gave

only male camels, and the man was displeased instead of grateful, so the apostle said,

'Take him away, and silence him.' So they gave him camels till he was satisfied. This

is what the apostle meant by 'silence him'…….The gifts were given to make these men become good Muslims;  – pg 103 (allurements)

One of the emissaries' stipulations was that the apostle should permit them to keep their goddess al-Lat for three years; but he refused. Then they insisted upon one year, but he again refused. Then they pleaded for a single month, but he refused. They said that they merely wished to spare the feelings of the weaklings, the women and the children

among them, and that they were nervous of frightening their people by destroying the

goddess before Islam was fully established in al-Taif. But the apostle still refused, and

insisted on sending Abu Sufyan and al-Mughira back with them to destroy her – pg 109 (Arabs loved and respected their own gods – but were forced to abandon them due to the threat to their lives)

The Hawazin further asked to be excused from prayers and from destroying their idols

with their own hands. The apostle replied, 'We shall excuse you from breaking your

idols with your own hands. But as for prayers! What is there good in a religion which

has no prayers!' They said, 'We shall comply even though it be a humiliation!' – pg 109 (forceful imposition of Islam)

Declaration of immunity was sent down by Allah. It proclaimed that Allah and His

apostle, after this pilgrimage, were absolved from observance of all treaties which

they had previously made with idolaters. – pg 109 (now that mohammed was powerful – he makes allah send him revelation to dissolve all previous agreements)

'When four months have elapsed, the instruction to Muhammad continued, 'kill the

idolaters wherever you find them; make them prisoners, surround them, and besiege

them wherever they may be. But if they repent and pray according to the command of

Allah and pay the tax, then set them free, because Allah is forgiving and merciful.' – pg 109 (allah’s command for elimination of idolaters)

"No infidel can enter paradise, and after this year no idolater will be allowed to make the pilgrimage, or walk around the Kaba naked; he who has a treaty with the apostle of Allah may depend on it, until its appointed span!" – pg 110 (Arabs rituals were followed by muslims and mohammed now imposed restrictions on arabs who did not believe him)

Allah said, 'Fear no idolaters; rather fear Allah. Attack them! Allah desires to punish

them by your hand, to put them to shame and give you the victory over them. – pg 110

Then Allah promised to recompense the Believers for the trade they would lose

through pursuing this course, and assigned to them tax and tributes levied from the

Jews and Christians. – pg 110 ( since idolators were forbidden to undertake pilgrimage – hence loss of revenue to the people of mecca – mohammed compensated them through taxes on jews and Christians)

'0, prophet! Wage war against the Unbelievers and against the Hypocrites who utter

belief but have none, and be severe unto them, for their abode shall be in hell. The

apostle and those who truly believe went to the holy war [the Tabuk expedition] with their wealth and their lives; they will enjoy good fortune and be happy. . . .' – pg 110 (allah exhorting war against those who do not believe in mohammed)

The Arabs had delayed professing Islam until they saw how the affair between the apostle and the Quraysh would end, because the Quraysh were the leaders of men, the people of the Kaba and of the sacred territory……. But when Mecca was conquered and the Quraysh submitted to Islam, the Arabs knew that they themselves were not strong enough to wage war or to show enmity to the apostle of Allah. So they entered into the religion of Allah in droves, arriving from all directions. – pg 110-111 (arabs accepted islam out of fear)

Certain tribes still remained who had not accepted Islam, so the apostle sent Khalid to

the Banu al-Harith in Najran, with orders to give them three days to embrace Islam,

and thereafter to subdue them if they refused. Khalid sent out mounted parties in

every direction to invite the people to Islam, shouting, 'Make profession of Islam and

you will be saved!' The people responded to the call and entered the religion, - pg 111 (Islam spreading through sword)

Then they stood before him and saluted him, and said, 'We testify that thou art apostle of Allah, and that there is no God but Allah!' Then they returned to their people and the apostle appointed Qays to be their leader, and sent Amr to instruct them in Islam and teach them the doctrine and collect alms from them. Amr was given detailed orders concerning what the al-Harith should be taught. – pg 111 -112 (arabs were accepting Islam – out of fear – before even knowing what islam was all about)

they should invoke the aid of Allah alone; and those who fail to call upon Allah, but

call instead upon their tribes, must be visited by the sword until they call upon Allah. – pg 112 (role of sword in Islam)

Any Jew or Christian who persists in his religion is not to be turned away from it, but must pay one golden dinar or its equivalent in cloth. – pg 112 (Jews and Christians still had scope to survive in lieu of Tax – as opposed to idolators)

A man named Musaylima, who claimed he, too, was an apostle of Allah, wrote to the apostle the following letter. 'From Musaylima, the apostle of Allah, to Muhammad the apostle of Allah! Greetings! I am thy partner in authority. – pg 112 (there were competing prophets in Arabia at that time and mohammed was one of them)

Know that every Muslim is brother to every Muslim – pg 113 (seed of muslim ummah)

Then he said, "Wouldst thou be distressed to die before me, that I might stand

over thee and enshroud thee, and pray for thee, and bury thee?" But I exclaimed, "If

that were to happen, I can see thee no sooner bury me than return to my house, to

celebrate thy wedding with some other woman!" – pg 115 (Ayesha’s impression of mohammed as a womanizer)

The total-number of the apostle's wives was thirteen. After Khadija' and Aisha, he

married Sauda; then Zaynab, who had been the wife of his freed slave, Zayd, who

divorced her that she might wed the apostle; and Umm. Salama, to whom he gave as

dowry a mattress stuffed with palm fibres, a cup, a dish, and a handmill. Then he wed

Hafsa; and Umm Habiba, as a compliment to Abyssinia; and Juwayriya from among

the captives of the Banu Mustaliq; and Safiya from among the captives at Khaybar;

and Maymuna, and Zaynab b. Khuzayma, who was called 'Mother of the Poor'

because of her compassion and kindliness. – pg 115 (mohammed’s wives)

With two others he did not consummate marriage: with Asma, who had the white spots of leprosy and whom he sent back to her family; and with Amra, who had lately been an Unbeliever and who fled to Allah for refuge from the apostle of Allah. He said, 'Who flees for refuge to Allah is well protected', and sent her back to her family. – pg 115 ( Allah could not cure mohammed’s wife – and instead of caring for her mohammed sent her back; another wife fled mohammed)

But the Arabs concede supremacy only to us of the Quraysh, who are the centre of the Arab world by heredity and position – pg 118 (caste system in Islam)

On the Monday on which Allah took His apostle –pg116 ……..The apostle of Allah was buried in the middle of the night on Wednesday – pg 119 (mohammed was not buried for 36 hours in the heat of Arabia – as his followers were quarreling over his succession)

For complete book visit the link : https://archive.org/stream/Sirat-lifeOfMuhammadBy-ibnIshaq/SiratIbnIahaqInEnglish#page/n0/mode/2up