Muhammad’s life at Mecca was model of a peaceful person

[paarsurrey]

Meccans did not allow Muhammad and his followers to practice freely Islam- the Revealed Religion of their choice.

Those who speak for freedom of religion and freedom of speech must take notice of this.

There was absolutely no planning for violence or to use force or sword on the side of Islam/Quran/Muhammad.

Anybody could comment whether belonging to a religion or no religion.

Regards

 

[paarsurrey]

Muhammad’s character was not of a warrior

LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD AN OPEN BOOK

The life of the Holy Founder of Islam is like an open book, to any part of which one may turn and meet with interesting details. The life of no other Teacher or Prophet is as well recorded and as accessible to study as is the life of the Holy Prophet. True, this abundance of recorded fact has given malicious critics their opportunity.

But it is also true that when the criticisms have been examined and disposed of, the faith and devotion which result cannot be inspired by any other life. Obscure lives escape criticism, but they fail to produce conviction and confidence in their devotees. Some disappointments and difficulties are bound to remain.

But a life as rich in recorded detail as the Prophet's inspires reflection and, then, conviction. When criticism and false constructions have been liquidated, such a life is bound to endear itself to us completely and forever.

Page-133
http://www.alislam.org/library/books/Introduction-Study-Holy-Quran.pdf

Regards

 

[gnostic]

Before Muhammad was preaching to people should embrace his new monotheistic religion, which is nothing wrong with that, but to preach people should abandoned their old religion and rid of their idols or others that they hold sacred, and condemning those who do, doesn't strike me as being "peaceful".

Condemning anyone, sounds more like threat, so it is quite understandable if the Meccans felt threatened.

And what did he do, when he came back to Mecca, with army at his beck and call?

Muslims began destroying idols and shrines of other religions, so it is true that he wanted to destroy other religion. Hardly a peaceful act.

 

[Sees]

Sure, a big teddy bear before amassing his followers.

 

[YmirGF]

Before Muhammad was preaching to people should embrace his new monotheistic religion, which is nothing wrong with that, but to preach people should abandoned their old religion and rid of their idols or others that they hold sacred, and condemning those who do, doesn't strike me as being "peaceful".

Condemning anyone, sounds more like threat, so it is quite understandable if the Meccans felt threatened.

And what did he do, when he came back to Mecca, with army at his beck and call?

Muslims began destroying idols and shrines of other religions, so it is true that he wanted to destroy other religion. Hardly a peaceful act.

Well, then again, after he had gained control of Mecca, killed anyone who was against him and destroyed all the idols - then placed his own god in their ancestral home - things did get rather peaceful. Well, sort of...

 

[YmirGF]

True, this abundance of recorded fact has given malicious critics their opportunity.

Likewise, considering that almost all we know about Muhammad was written by his fanatical followers it does make one wonder how much we can really believe as they would have most certainly white-washed his depiction to put it in the best possible light (to their thinking, of course).

It is this last part that gets me thinking, of all the stories, the writers chose to tell us about things they had no issues with. There is NEVER a sense of outrage or "oh my, that is unseemly" in any accounts I have read. It's all just matter of fact type stuff... no biggy... In other words, they don't apologize for, or in most cases, even attempt to justify the actions of Muhammad.

 

[paarsurrey]

Well, then again, after he had gained control of Mecca, killed anyone who was against him and destroyed all the idols - then placed his own god in their ancestral home - things did get rather peaceful. Well, sort of...

You are simply wrong; I give the account from Wikipedia:

Conquest of Mecca

Muhammad emphasized on refraining from fighting unless Quresh attacked. The Muslim army entered Mecca on Monday, December 11, 630 (18th of Ramadan 8 hijrah).[9] The entry was peaceful and bloodless entry on three sectors except for that of Khalid's column. The hardened anti-Muslims like Ikrimah and Sufwan gathered a band of Quresh fighters and faced Khalid's column. The Quresh attacked the Muslims with swords and bows, and the Muslims charged the Quresh’s positions. After a short skirmish the Quresh gave ground after losing twelve men. Muslim losses were two warriors.[7]

Aftermath[edit]

On the eve of the conquest, Abu Sufyan adopted Islam. When asked by Muhammad, he conceded that the Meccan gods had proved powerless and that there was indeed "no god but Allah", the first part of the Islamic confession of faith. In turn, Muhammad declared Abu Sufyan's house a sanctuary because he was the present chief, and that all the others were gathered over his territory, therefore:

Conquest of Mecca - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Regards

 

[paarsurrey]

Well, then again, after he had gained control of Mecca, killed anyone who was against him and destroyed all the idols - then placed his own god in their ancestral home - things did get rather peaceful. Well, sort of...

You are wrong here. Please read the following:

THE PROPHET FORGIVES HIS ENEMIES

All rites and duties over, the Prophet addressed the Meccans
and said : "You have seen how true the promises of God have
proved. Now tell me what punishment you should have for
the cruelties and enormities you committed against those whose
only fault was that they invited you to the worship of the One
and Only God."

T o this the Meccans replied, "We expect you to treat us as
Joseph treated his erring brothers."

By significant coincidence, the Meccans used in their plea
for forgiveness the very words which God had used in the Sura
Yusuf, revealed ten years before the conquest of Mecca. In
this the Prophet was told that he would treat his Meccan persecutors
as Joseph had treated his brothers. By asking for the
treatment which Joseph had meted out to his brothers, the
Meccans admitted that the Prophet of Islam was the like of
Joseph and as Joseph was granted victory over his brothers the
Prophet had been granted victory over the Meccans. Hearing
the Meccans' plea, the Prophet declared at once : "By God,
you will have no punishment today and no reproof"
(Hisham).

Page-279

http://www.alislam.org/library/books/Introduction-Study-Holy-Quran.pdf

Regards

 

[Sleeppy]

You are simply wrong; I give the account from Wikipedia:

Conquest of Mecca

Muhammad emphasized on refraining from fighting unless Quresh attacked. The Muslim army entered Mecca on Monday, December 11, 630 (18th of Ramadan 8 hijrah).[9] The entry was peaceful and bloodless entry on three sectors except for that of Khalid's column. The hardened anti-Muslims like Ikrimah and Sufwan gathered a band of Quresh fighters and faced Khalid's column. The Quresh attacked the Muslims with swords and bows, and the Muslims charged the Quresh’s positions. After a short skirmish the Quresh gave ground after losing twelve men. Muslim losses were two warriors.[7]

Aftermath[edit]

On the eve of the conquest, Abu Sufyan adopted Islam. When asked by Muhammad, he conceded that the Meccan gods had proved powerless and that there was indeed "no god but Allah", the first part of the Islamic confession of faith. In turn, Muhammad declared Abu Sufyan's house a sanctuary because he was the present chief, and that all the others were gathered over his territory, therefore:

Conquest of Mecca - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Regards

If I came to your front door with an automatic rifle, and commanded that you open the door or I would knock it down- would I be acting peacefully?

 

[outhouse]

If I came to your front door with an automatic rifle, and commanded that you open the door or I would knock it down- would I be acting peacefully?

I think that's peace to him

 

[Matemkar]

If I came to your front door with an automatic rifle, and commanded that you open the door...

Mecca was Prophet's own home. So, actually, he was going back to his hometown. Where he and his followers were deprived of their rights, prosecuted, killed and displaced just because they worshipped God. So, maybe the example you give, instead should start like, "if you are persecuted and forced out of your house, and you come back with a force which can set justice..." And in this case, would you prefer the idolworshippers to have objected the force of justice?

And as for the title of the thread and about what brother gnostic said. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.a) was a model of peace both in Mecca and Madinah. But, he was a just person also. See, Quran, 81:8-9 for instance; "When the child, buried alive, is questioned for what crime she was killed". This verse is threatening to the murderers. I mean, if someone worships idols, and his religion dictates him to bury his daughter alive, or it dictates to be silent about such crimes, but you object him and condemn him, does it make you an unpeaceful person? You want peace and safety of people, but if you apply this "peace and safety" for the criminals, and not for the victim, this would be injustice. So, the Prophet was JUST, and of course the criminals would feel threatened. And that has been what must be done. So, in summary, love and peace for all people should be there. But it shouldn't be hypocrite (i.e. with no justice).

 

[paarsurrey]

Mecca was Prophet's own home. So, actually, he was going back to his hometown. Where he and his followers were deprived of their rights, prosecuted, killed and displaced just because they worshipped God. So, maybe the example you give, instead should start like, "if you are persecuted and forced out of your house, and you come back with a force which can set justice..." And in this case, would you prefer the idolworshippers to have objected the force of justice?

And as for the title of the thread and about what brother gnostic said. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.a) was a model of peace both in Mecca and Madinah. But, he was a just person also. See, Quran, 81:8-9 for instance; "When the child, buried alive, is questioned for what crime she was killed". This verse is threatening to the murderers. I mean, if someone worships idols, and his religion dictates him to bury his daughter alive, or it dictates to be silent about such crimes, but you object him and condemn him, does it make you an unpeaceful person? You want peace and safety of people, but if you apply this "peace and safety" for the criminals, and not for the victim, this would be injustice. So, the Prophet was JUST, and of course the criminals would feel threatened. And that has been what must be done. So, in summary, love and peace for all people should be there. But it shouldn't be hypocrite (i.e. with no justice).

You make good points.

Thanks and regards

 

[Sleeppy]

Mecca was Prophet's own home. So, actually, he was going back to his hometown. Where he and his followers were deprived of their rights, prosecuted, killed and displaced just because they worshipped God. So, maybe the example you give, instead should start like, "if you are persecuted and forced out of your house, and you come back with a force which can set justice..." And in this case, would you prefer the idolworshippers to have objected the force of justice?

Even considering it justice, it was not peaceful. There was no peace in that home, before Muhammad. Did Muhammad bring peace to it? Is there peace in that home today? Is there justice?

 

[Sees]

Mecca was Prophet's own home. So, actually, he was going back to his hometown. Where he and his followers were deprived of their rights, prosecuted, killed and displaced just because they worshipped God. So, maybe the example you give, instead should start like, "if you are persecuted and forced out of your house, and you come back with a force which can set justice..." And in this case, would you prefer the idolworshippers to have objected the force of justice?

And as for the title of the thread and about what brother gnostic said. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.a) was a model of peace both in Mecca and Madinah. But, he was a just person also. See, Quran, 81:8-9 for instance; "When the child, buried alive, is questioned for what crime she was killed". This verse is threatening to the murderers. I mean, if someone worships idols, and his religion dictates him to bury his daughter alive, or it dictates to be silent about such crimes, but you object him and condemn him, does it make you an unpeaceful person? You want peace and safety of people, but if you apply this "peace and safety" for the criminals, and not for the victim, this would be injustice. So, the Prophet was JUST, and of course the criminals would feel threatened. And that has been what must be done. So, in summary, love and peace for all people should be there. But it shouldn't be hypocrite (i.e. with no justice).

What does worshipping idols have to do with it?

What right does Muhammad or anybody else have in condemning the idol worship of others?

Freedom of religion/lack of compulsion is key for most of us, right? )(

 

[gnostic]

What does worshipping idols have to do with it?

What right does Muhammad or anybody else have in condemning the idol worship of others?

Freedom of religion/lack of compulsion is key for most of us, right? )(

It is the double standard that most Abrahamic religion like to play, and Islam is no exception.

It expect non-Muslim people not to interfere with their religion or practice, and expect others to respect Muhammad as their "prophet"...and yet, they have the rights to interfere with other people's religions, even destroying churches, synagogues, temples and idols.

Seriously, just how different are they now to Christians of the Middle Ages?

If that's Muslims being peaceful or being religious tolerant, then I am bloodthirsty barbarian.

 

[gnostic]

Mecca was Prophet's own home. So, actually, he was going back to his hometown. Where he and his followers were deprived of their rights, prosecuted, killed and displaced just because they worshipped God. So, maybe the example you give, instead should start like, "if you are persecuted and forced out of your house, and you come back with a force which can set justice..." And in this case, would you prefer the idolworshippers to have objected the force of justice?

If I was polytheist pagan, like the pre-Islamic Arabs were at that time, and Muhammad began condemning me as idol-worshipper, and demand that I destroy sacred idols, I would feel as threaten and as angry they would too.

If Muhammad was seriously peaceful, then he should not have been preaching destroying other religion's idols, shrines or temples. This is why he had to leave Mecca. He pushed the Meccans, and they pushed back.

What do you expect?

Doesn't the Qur'an tell Muslims that they can defend themselves, against any party that threaten them? Well, in Mecca, Muhammad was the one doing the preaching and threatening.

Muhammad was partly responsible for his own exile.

One thing for certain, Muhammad was no Jesus or the Buddha. Neither of these ask their followers to physically hurt others. Of course, Jesus did use the threat of hellfire in the afterlife, but one of his teachings was not to judge or persecute others. Jesus never raided caravans, or raised an army to fight another army.

Just because Mecca surrendered when he returned, he also did so with an army. That's a threat of violence. It is compulsion, no matter how you look at it.

When Julius Caesar was involved in the civil war against Pompey and other senators, he had marched into Rome with an army. Those that stayed and surrendered, the Roman magistrates and Senate, were spared.

What Muhammad did was hardly new or original.

 

[paarsurrey]

ARABIA AT THE TIME OF THE PROPHET'S BIRTH

The Prophet was born in Mecca in August 570 A.D. He was
given the name Muhammad which means, the Praised One.
To understand his life and character we must have some idea
of the conditions which obtained in Arabia at the time of his
birth.
When he was born the whole of Arabia, with exceptions here
and there, believed in a polytheistic form of religion. The
Arabs traced their descent to Abraham. They knew that
Abraham was a monotheistic Teacher. In spite of this, they
entertained polytheistic beliefs and were given to polytheistic
practices. In defence, they said that some human beings are
outstanding in their contact with God. Their intercession on
behalf of others is accepted by God. God is High and Exalted.
To reach Him is difficult for ordinary human beings. Only
perfect human beings can reach Him. Ordinary human beings,
therefore, must have others to intercede on their behalf before
they can reach God and attain to His pleasure and His help.
With this attitude they were able to combine their reverence for
Abraham, the monotheist, with their own polytheistic beliefs.
Abraham, they said, was a holy man. He was able to reach
God without intercession. But ordinary Meccans were not
able to reach God without the intercession of other holy and
righteous persons. To seek this intercession, the people of
Mecca had made idols of many holy and righteous persons, and
these they worshipped and to these they made offerings in
order to please God through them.
Page-135
http://www.alislam.org/library/books/Introduction-Study-Holy-Quran.pdf

Muhammad was peaceful; he expressed only his own sincere beliefs and used no sword or force.

Regards

 

[Sees]

ARABIA AT THE TIME OF THE PROPHET'S BIRTH

The Prophet was born in Mecca in August 570 A.D. He was
given the name Muhammad which means, the Praised One.
To understand his life and character we must have some idea
of the conditions which obtained in Arabia at the time of his
birth.
When he was born the whole of Arabia, with exceptions here
and there, believed in a polytheistic form of religion. The
Arabs traced their descent to Abraham. They knew that
Abraham was a monotheistic Teacher. In spite of this, they
entertained polytheistic beliefs and were given to polytheistic
practices. In defence, they said that some human beings are
outstanding in their contact with God. Their intercession on
behalf of others is accepted by God. God is High and Exalted.
To reach Him is difficult for ordinary human beings. Only
perfect human beings can reach Him. Ordinary human beings,
therefore, must have others to intercede on their behalf before
they can reach God and attain to His pleasure and His help.
With this attitude they were able to combine their reverence for
Abraham, the monotheist, with their own polytheistic beliefs.
Abraham, they said, was a holy man. He was able to reach
God without intercession. But ordinary Meccans were not
able to reach God without the intercession of other holy and
righteous persons. To seek this intercession, the people of
Mecca had made idols of many holy and righteous persons, and
these they worshipped and to these they made offerings in
order to please God through them.
Page-135
http://www.alislam.org/library/books/Introduction-Study-Holy-Quran.pdf

Muhammad was peaceful; he expressed only his own sincere beliefs and used no sword or force.

Regards

What is your take on Muhammad's smashing of the idols in relation to being peaceful and not forcing religion?

Do you think anybody has the right to destroy the religious icons, images, statues, or sanctuaries that other people with different beliefs choose to create and utilize?

Is there any moral superiority when comparing Muhammad's smashing of religious items to the Taliban and Islamic State doing the same?

 

[Estro Felino]

I understand your Muslim perspective and I deeply respect it.
Obviously a true Christian cannot empathize with this vision. Because Jesus has never killed anyone. Jesus has always turned the other cheek.

We Christians (the true Christians) refuse to fight people back.
Because it's all based upon the victim's centrality. Better to be victims than perpetrators.
Because, if you fight your perpetrator back, this perpetrator can become a victim.
and we Christians want perpetrators to remain perpetrators.
Because only God can judge perpetrators.

 

[paarsurrey]

What is your take on Muhammad's smashing of the idols in relation to being peaceful and not forcing religion?

Do you think anybody has the right to destroy the religious icons, images, statues, or sanctuaries that other people with different beliefs choose to create and utilize?

Is there any moral superiority when comparing Muhammad's smashing of religious items to the Taliban and Islamic State doing the same?

The House of Worship in Mecca was founded by Abraham and Ishmael; both were Monotheists :

The Holy Quran : Chapter 2: Al-Baqarah


[2:125] And remember when his Lord tried Abraham with certain commands which he fulfilled. He said, ‘I will make thee a Leader of men.’ Abraham asked, ‘And from among my offspring?’ He said, ‘My covenant does not embrace the transgressors.’
[2:126] And remember the time when We made the House a resort for mankind and a place of security; and take ye the station of Abraham as a place of Prayer. And We commanded Abraham and Ishmael, saying, ‘Purify My House for those who perform the circuit and those who remain therein for devotion and those who bow down and fall prostrate in Prayer.’
[2:127] And remember when Abraham said, ‘My Lord, make this a town of peace and provide with fruits such of its dwellers as believe in Allah and the Last Day,’ He said, ‘And on him too who believes not will I bestow benefits for a little while; then will I drive him to the punishment of the Fire, and an evil destination it is.’
[2:128] And remember the time when Abraham and Ishmael raised the foundations of the House, praying, ‘Our Lord, accept this from us; for Thou art All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
[2:129] ‘Our Lord, make us submissive to Thee and make of our offspring a people submissive to Thee. And show us our ways of worship, and turn to us with mercy; for Thou art Oft-Returning with compassion and Merciful.
[2:130] ‘And, our Lord, raise up among them a Messenger from among themselves, who may recite to them Thy Signs and teach them the Book and Wisdom and may purify them; surely, Thou art the Mighty, the Wise.’
[2:131] And who will turn away from the religion of Abraham but he who is foolish of mind? Him did We choose in this world, and in the next he will surely be among the righteous.
[2:132] When his Lord said to him, ‘Submit,’ he said, ‘I have submitted to the Lord of the worlds.’
[2:133] The same did Abraham enjoin upon his sons — and so did Jacob — saying: ‘O my sons, truly Allah has chosen this religion for you; so let not death overtake you except when you are in a state of submission.’
[2:134] Were you present when death came to Jacob, when he said to his sons, ‘What will you worship after me?’ They answered, ‘We will worship thy God, the God of thy fathers, Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac, the One God; and to Him we submit ourselves.’

The Holy Quran Arabic text with Translation in English text and Search Engine - Al Islam Online

Muhammad only restored for what the House of Worship at Mecca was founded by the common ancestors and then returned to Medina.

Regards