Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Truth About Muhammad
FrontPageMagazine.com ^ | October 30, 2006 | Brigitte Gabriel

Posted on 10/30/2006 10:21:47 AM PST by Free ThinkerNY

The Truth About Muhammad

By Brigitte Gabriel

FrontPageMagazine.com | October 30, 2006

“Freedom of inquiry and speech, the quest for truth, should not be cowed into silence by violent intimidation or the acceptance of half-truths and propaganda meant to appease freedom’s enemies. One thing is certain: if no one is willing to take such risks, freedom of speech will swiftly become a relic of history.”

These are the words of author Robert Spencer, who is risking his life to educate Westerners about the life of the founder of Islam. He has just come out with a new book, The Truth About Muhammad: Founder of the World's Most Intolerant Religion. In this biography, Spencer tells the story of the founder of Islam -- a story that many Muslims themselves apparently either do not know about or do not want non-Muslims to hear.

Yet it's strange that any Muslim would react with anger to Spencer's book, since he bases it strictly on Islamic sources, all written by pious and serious Muslims. No critic can rightly say that anything Spencer has said about Muhammad in this book is inaccurate. But the problem Muslims find with it is that Spencer doesn't treat Muhammad as if he were the highest moral standard.

Within the Islamic world, by contrast, Muhammad is considered untouchable. Spencer demonstrates that the Qur’an and Islamic tradition are clear that the Prophet is the supreme example of behavior for Muslims to follow. And today, no hint of criticism of any of his acts or teachings is tolerated.

This stifling of speech is now beginning to affect the West, within which non-Muslims are becoming increasingly frightened to say anything critical about Islam and its founder. Indeed, at even the mildest criticism, either by the Pope or in lightly satirical newspaper cartoons, Islamic nations erupt in a frenzy of blind anger. Furious Muslims take to the streets, burn churches and temples, kill innocent civilians, and threaten violence against the non-Muslim world.

Spencer warns that for the West to be intimidated into silence by this behavior is dangerous. He writes, “to place Muhammad and Islam beyond criticism and even beyond lampooning would be just as dangerous for a free society as the idea that the “Beloved Leader” of North Korea and dialectical materialism is above criticism. Indeed it would be death for a free society.”

Spencer accordingly presents the truth about Islam’s founder clearly. His story is backed up by solid scholarship and research. So the key question becomes: who is the man whom the Qur’an states is “an excellent model of conduct” (33:21)?

Spencer begins by introducing the historical Muhammad as well as the books and writings that make up the religion of Islam. This is crucial for all to understand, because it is not only the Qur’an that influences Muslim opinion, but also accompanying religious literature, including the hadith (traditions of Muhammad recorded by his followers) and the Sira (the biography of Muhammad).

Spencer goes on to explain how Muhammad became a prophet, and how he tried at first to spread his message by peaceful means -- including attempts to convince Jews and Christians that he was a prophet in the line of the Old Testament prophets and Jesus (whom he considered a prophet, not the Son of God). When his efforts failed to bring them, along with the pagan Arabs of his native tribe, into his new religion, he became a warlord -- killing, slaughtering and beheading in order to convert others or to force them to submit to him and to the religion given to him by Allah.

Spencer shows how the Prophet Muhammad, the perfect model for human behavior according to Islam and any professing Muslim, perfected the arts of assassination, deceit and taking booty. Chapters 7, 8 and 9 detail the warrior Muhammad’s battles with pagans, Jews and Christians. He told them that their lives and property would be safe only if they became Muslims. In many places, we can see clearly how he serves today as an example for Muslim behavior: at one point Spencer writes,

“Muhammad addressed them (the Jews) in terms that have become familiar usage for Islamic Jihadists when speaking of Jews today …. ‘You brothers of monkeys, has God disgraced you and brought His vengeance upon you?’ The Qur'an in three places (2:62-65; 5:59-60; and 7:166) says that Allah transformed the Sabbath-breaking Jews into pigs and monkeys.

Jihadists today routinely refer to Jews as "pigs and monkeys" -- not just a term of abuse, but an imitation of the holy prophet's example.

The author also sheds a light on the Treaty of Hudaybiyya, the ten-year truce (Hudna) Muhammad signed with the pagan Quraysh tribe. By breaking this treaty, Muhammad again set a precedent: Muslims can sign a treaty but can break it at anytime, when doing so is to their advantage. The purpose of Hudna is to allow weakened Muslim forces to gather strength to fight again later more effectively. This is an extremely important principle for the West to understand today, since it shows the difference between what we perceive as a cease-fire and what believing Muslims think it is.

Chapter 10 explores in a carefully balanced and restrained manner the personal life of Muhammad, allowing the reader to make his own informed decision based on the facts. Spencer presents frightening facts that call into serious question the wisdom behind the Islamic tradition that has dubbed Muhammad “al-insan al-kamil,” or the Perfect Man: his marriage to a child (which is widely imitated in the Islamic world today), his polygamy, his calls to subjugate Jews and Christians, and more.

Throughout the book, we learn how Muhammad treated women and how his words and actions have inspired generation after generation of Muslim men to look at women as nothing more than property. As Spencer notes,

“The Qur’an likens a woman to a field (tilth), to be used by a man as he wills: ‘Your women are a tilth for you (to cultivate) so go to your tilth as ye will’ ” (2:223).

That's bad enough, but there is much more. Spencer’s work details example after example of Muhammad’s teaching about women and how to treat them: beat them if they are disobedient, deny them the right to testify in cases involving sexual crimes, deny their inheritance rights, and deny their rights in numerous ways. And as the historical record has shown, his teachings have sentenced millions of women into a life of oppression, misery and depression.

Readers will learn a great deal from this book, as I did. Spencer also offers constructive suggestions and solutions if we ever want to win this war on Islamofascism. Some of them include:

* Stop insisting that Islam is a religion of peace.

* Initiate a full-scale Manhattan Project to find new energy sources.

* Make Western aid contingent upon renunciation of the Jihad ideology.

* Call upon American Muslim advocacy groups to work against the Jihad ideology.

* Revise immigration policies with the Jihad ideology in view.

This book is a must read for all to understand the roots of radical Islam. It arms non-Muslims and Muslims alike by illuminating what needs to be targeted in order to weaken Islamic extremism and the oxygen which they need to breathe.


TOPICS: Editorial
KEYWORDS: butchers; islam; mohamad; mohamed; mohammad; mohammed; muhamad; muhamed; muhammad; muhammed; pedophiles; robertspencer; rop; spencer
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-36 next last

We could use a new Paul Revere to spread the warning of the threat that Islam represents to our freedom and way of life.

1 posted on 10/30/2006 10:21:49 AM PST by Free ThinkerNY
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Free ThinkerNY

I'd like to see some monitoring of mosques that are known to preach violence in the US.


2 posted on 10/30/2006 10:25:28 AM PST by The Worthless Miracle (I think Jamie Dupree is annoying.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: The Worthless Miracle
I'd like to see some monitoring CLOSING of mosques that are known to preach violence in the US.

There, that's better.

3 posted on 10/30/2006 10:27:47 AM PST by Hildy (Some are born to sweet delight; some are born to endless night.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Hildy

Somewhere, someplace in this old world are numbers of old manuscripts written from 700-1600 AD by Catholic and Jewish historians that chronical the events and doings of the prophet and his religion of peace.Dust them off and do a little of light reading.


4 posted on 10/30/2006 10:33:27 AM PST by edzuk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: TexasGreg; GarySpFc

Ping


5 posted on 10/30/2006 10:34:38 AM PST by GarySpFc (Jesus on Immigration, John 10:1)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Free ThinkerNY
Already, Mohammed is one of the most popular new baby names in the U.K.

mohammed

6 posted on 10/30/2006 10:35:12 AM PST by APRPEH (id theft info available on my profile page)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: edzuk

I do want to read a book about Islam. I'm not joking when I tell you there's a book called ISLAM for DUMMIES. I might read it. My sister in law took a course at her Church about Muslims and she was terrified at what she learned. It is terrifying.


7 posted on 10/30/2006 10:36:41 AM PST by Hildy (Some are born to sweet delight; some are born to endless night.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Free ThinkerNY; jan in Colorado; Dark Skies; Fred Nerks; Cornpone; Former Dodger; ...
Robert Spencer PING.

As for the "truth about mohamMAD'... before we even get onto the subject of his history of theft, lies, misogyny, rape, pedophilia, murder, genocide, slavery, subjugation, and wars for territorial conquest, I wish we could get the spelling of his name straight (see keywords)!

He's almost as bad as the guy in Libya, wasshisname... Gadhafi or Gaddafi, Kadhafi, Qaddafi, Khadafi, Qadhafi, Gadaffi, Gadafi, Khadafy, Qadafi, Khadaffi, Ghadafi, Kaddafi, Khadaffy, Gadafy, Qadaffi, Khaddafi, Kadaffi, Ghadaffi, Khaddafy, Khaddafy, Quadaffi, Quadafi, Kadafi, Qaddaffi, Ghadhafi, Gadhaffi, Kadafy, Quadhafi, Kadaffy, Kadhaffi, Khadhafi, Quadafy, Gaddafy, Qaddafy, Kadaafi, Qadafy, Quadhaffi, Khadhaffi, Ghadhaffi, Qudaffi, Qadhaffi, Gadaffy, Ghadafy, Qadaafi, Quddafi, Qadhafy, Quadhafy, ...or is it Quddaffi?

8 posted on 10/30/2006 10:37:46 AM PST by USF (I see your Jihad and raise you a Crusade ™ © ®)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nightshift

ping...


9 posted on 10/30/2006 10:41:24 AM PST by tutstar (Baptist ping list-freepmail to get on or off)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Free ThinkerNY
No mention that Muhammad was what we now call a pedophile?

The age of Aisha at marriage is an unsettled issue, and the subject of increasing attention in recent years. Critics of Muhammad accept the Muslim tradition that she was as young as nine years old when her marriage was consummated and believe this reflects negatively on his character. Others claim these are presentist critiques, anachronistically judging Muhammad by modern standards of morality rather than by those of his contemporaries. There are several hadiths (said to have been narrated by Aisha herself) which state she was six or seven years old when betrothed and nine years old when married or when the marriage was consummated. Other traditional material (hadith, sira, etc.) suggests that Aisha may have been anywhere from twelve to nineteen years old when she married.
10 posted on 10/30/2006 10:44:18 AM PST by zek157
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hildy

I bought The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam -- it's by the same Robert Spencer. I haven't read it yet, but plan to do so shortly.


11 posted on 10/30/2006 10:56:07 AM PST by kellynch ("Our only freedom is the freedom to discipline ourselves." -- Bernard Baruch)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Hildy

12 posted on 10/30/2006 11:00:26 AM PST by Free ThinkerNY ((((Truth shall set you free))))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: kellynch

That sounds good...will definitely go on my winter reading list.


13 posted on 10/30/2006 11:01:40 AM PST by Hildy (Some are born to sweet delight; some are born to endless night.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Free ThinkerNY
Spencer goes on to explain how Muhammad became a prophet, and how he tried at first to spread his message by peaceful means -- including attempts to convince Jews and Christians that he was a prophet in the line of the Old Testament prophets and Jesus (whom he considered a prophet, not the Son of God). When his efforts failed to bring them, along with the pagan Arabs of his native tribe, into his new religion, he became a warlord -- killing, slaughtering and beheading in order to convert others or to force them to submit to him and to the religion given to him by Allah.

But that's so intolerant. =(

14 posted on 10/30/2006 11:08:20 AM PST by pbear8 (Which senators were recruited by the KGB in the 1970's???)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kellynch

Trying to deal directly with the Islamic fascists is something like transferring sulfuric acid by taking up a handful and pouring it into a beaker.

It is just the wrong way to handle sulfuric acid.

ALWAYS, at arms length and with great respect for the potential for harm, wearing proper protective gear at all times.


15 posted on 10/30/2006 11:11:37 AM PST by alloysteel (Facts do not cease to exist, just because they are ignored. - Aldous Huxley)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Free ThinkerNY

Yeah I get ticked off when people call it one of the 'Great Religions'.


16 posted on 10/30/2006 11:24:03 AM PST by ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton (To those who believe the world was safer with Saddam, get treatment for that!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hildy
I recommend the 'Life and Religion of Muhammad' by J.L. Menezes.
The author was a Roman Catholic priest based in India, who wrote this book in the early 1900s. A very frank assessment of Muhammed and Islam sourced from the writings of Islam (the koran and the ~haddith). Lays out Muhammed's positive attributes and his faults. Obviously he was charismatic, and I'd also say that he was sincere. But after reviewing what he said, and what his followers said about him, you can't help but conclude that he was influenced by demonic forces (or was just crazy).
Gets to the heart of the matter - we love the muslims, but how can we reach people who follow the teachings of this rogue (again, not based on outside slander -- but based on the words from the koran and haddith)? I admit it was this last point that left me with a hollow feeling after the read. ~1 billion people on this planet pledge allegiance to someone who in his own words was a thug, liar, murderer, and - at least once - spoke the words of satan... How do we reach them?
17 posted on 10/30/2006 11:27:11 AM PST by El Cid
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: USF

It's Onemar Cupacoffee


18 posted on 10/30/2006 11:34:23 AM PST by Minnesoootan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: zek157
Others claim these are presentist critiques, anachronistically judging Muhammad by modern standards of morality rather than by those of his contemporaries.

Ah, yes, judgmental Westeners, condemning Mohammed because of our modern standards. It would be intolerant to judge a man, just because he had a sexual relationship with a little girl.

Well, I do judge that. I consider it evil and perverse, and Mohammed was evil and perverse in doing it. I don't know if Mohammed's contemporaries thought it was all right for old men to sleep with little girls, and I don't really care. If they did, then they were messed up, too.

It's a possibility that they weren't, because Mohammed did violate the mores of his people. As one English writer said, before political correctness set in, the problem with Mohammed was not that he was a Bedouin, but that he was a morally degenerate Bedouin.

19 posted on 10/30/2006 11:38:32 AM PST by Irish Rose (Will work for chocolate.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

Comment #20 Removed by Moderator


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-36 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson