[Constitutionalist Conservative]

Mohammed started by urging peace and tolerance, but as his worldly power grew, he urged war and intolerance. It appears yet another example of the saying "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

I think it's more an example of saying "Nice doggie" while reaching for a stick. Not a decent man corrupted by power, but a shrewd man holding back until he was powerful enough.

[FreeTally]

I think it's more an example of saying "Nice doggie" while reaching for a stick. Not a decent man corrupted by power, but a shrewd man holding back until he was powerful enough.

Sounds like most leaders and politicians today, and throughout history. Most seem like nice guys until they aquire the power to crush the opposition.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Re Mohammed's increasing belligerence with age, you wrote:
Not a decent man corrupted by power, but a shrewd man holding back until he was powerful enough.

I was trying to be nice. At a distance of 1400 or so years, no one will ever know. Maybe (probably) its as you said. On the other hand, he may have been insane and weak, but nicer, at the beginning. There's no doubt he became insane and nasty at the end, though.