THE MISERY OF ISLAM

15"The Muhammadan fanatics of the wars of conquest whose reputation wasfamous among later generations, felt but a very scant interest in religion, andoccasionally, displayed an ignorance of its fundamental tenets which we canhardly exaggerate. The fact is fully consistent with the impulses to which theArab migrations were due. These impulses were economic, and the newreligion was nothing but a party cry of unifying power, though there is noreason to suppose that it was not a real moral force in the life of Muhammadand his immediate contemporaries". (Becker, C.H. : Islam and Christianity (1909),p.29,London)Most of the Arab tribes "simply followed Muhammad either for-economic gains or for fearof death. He preoccupied himself with organizing brigandage and wars, plundering the wealth,capturing women and children of various tribes and nations, distributing the booty to hiswarriors, but made the least righteous efforts to preach his religion. He adopted cheap, unfairmeans to gain converts to his religion. No deep conviction or understanding of Islamicprinciples was necessitated. Mere declaration of the formula:"There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet" served the purpose, The tribeof Thaqif after finding Muhammad would not allow them to keep 'the idol of Goddess Lat at leastfor one month pleaded for exemption from prayer. When their plea was granted their conversionwas over. The tribe Tamimites had converted to Islam when their orator Utard and poet Zibricanlost a contest with Qays and Hasan, poets of Muhammad's party. It was his ultimatum of"Believe or Die", and the destruction of pagan shrines and idols of deities that forced thethousands of Meccans to convert to Islam. It was the "Sword of Islam" that compelled AbuSufyan, the leader of the Meccans, to instantaneously declare belief in the prophet-hood ofMuhammad. (Chapter 13 of this book). Retaining some forms of pagan rituals Muhammadallowed the polytheist Arabs to worship in the Kaba for one year. In 631 CE he suddenly sent aset of Revelations through Abu Bakr cautioning the polytheists to forswear polytheism andprofess Islam within a time limit of four months. The newly revealed passages read;"Freedom from obligation from Allah and His Messenger towards those of theidolaters with whom he made treaty". "Travel (O idolaters) freely in the land forfour months, and know that he cannot escape Allah and Allah will confound thedisbelievers"."And a proclamation from Allah and His Messenger to all men on the day of theGreatest Pilgrimage that Allah is free from obligation to idolaters and (so is) HisMessenger". So, if ye are repent, it will be better for you; but if ye are averse, thenknow that ye cannot escape Allah. Give tidings (O Muhammad) of a painful doomto those who disbelieve". (K 9: 1-3).Further, Allah and his Prophet commanded their Faithful to start the slaughter ofidolaters as soon as the sacred months have passed. Thus: "Slay the idolaters wherever ye findthem, and take them captive, and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush, But if theyrepent and establish worship and pay the poor, due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is