islamic-jihad-legacy-of-forced-conversion-imperialism-slavery

Life of Prophet Muhammad and the Birth of Jihadcaught him by the collar of his robe and insisted, ‘‘By God, I will not let you go until you deal kindly with myclients.’’ He further cautioned, ‘‘I am a man, circumstances may change!’’ 73Abdullah was an influential leader and Muhammad prudently relented from slaughtering theprisoners. Instead, he exiled them to Syria. They were given three days to leave and were forbidden to takeany implements of their trade. Once the Jews left, Muhammad quickly took possession of their homes andproperties, which he distributed amongst his disciples as sacred booty obtained through Jihad in the cause ofAllah.About this time, he ordered assassinations of those who criticized his creed and actions. The victimsincluded a 120-year-old poet, named Abu Afaq, who had composed verses condemning Muhammad’s violentacts. Another victim was poetess Asma bte Marwan, a mother of five, who had composed verses condemningMuhammad for killing Abu Afak and his other violent activities. A third victim was the Jewish poet Kaab ibnAshraf, who composed verses condemning Muhammad’s brutality at Badr and inspiring the Quraysh toavenge the defeat. 74According to Ibn Ishaq, Muhammad gave general approval of slaying the Jews at this time, saying,‘‘Kill the Jew that falls into your power.’’ Thereafter, Muhayyisa, a Jewish convert to Islam, happened tocome across a Jewish merchant, named Sunayna. Muhayyisa fell upon the unfortunate merchant and killedhim. Muhayyisa’s family had social and business relations with Sunayna and benefited from him. His elderbrother Huwayyisa confronted him for murdering the valuable man, saying, ‘‘You enemy of God, did you killhim when much of the fat on your belly comes from his wealth.’’ The younger brother ominously responded,‘‘Had the one who ordered me to kill him ordered me to kill you, I would have cut your head off.’’ Impressedby the barbaric attitude and commitment that Muhammad’s creed had instilled in the younger brother,Huwayyisa exclaimed, ‘‘By God, a religion which can bring you to this is marvellous!’ and he became aMuslim,’ records Ibn Ishaq. 75Attack on Banu Nadir: Muhammad’s next atrocity against the Jews of Medina came in August 625.A few months after the disastrous battle of Ohud, Muhammad, along with companions Abu Bakr, Omar andAli et al., went to the house of Banu Nadir leader for the mediation of a dispute in which a disciple ofMuhammad had killed a man from a tribe allied to Banu Nadir. In the midst of the meeting, Muhammadsuddenly ‘got up (saying to his companions, ‘Don’t go away until I come to you’) and he went back toMedina.’ 76 His companions waited for a long while and when Muhammad did not return, they also left.According to Ibn Ishaq, Muhammad later accused Banu Nadir of conspiring to kill him by throwing stonesfrom the roof of the house (interestingly, none of his companions who waited there for so long saw anyone onthe roof). He then charged the Jewish tribe with treason and ordered them to evacuate their settlements on thepain of death. Some commentators also cite Banu Nadir’s commercial dealings with Abu Sufyan of Meccaprior to the disastrous battle of Ohud as a reason for Muhammad’s hostility against them. However, the Quranexplains the reason as follows: ‘Allah had decreed banishment for them… because, they resisted Allah andHis Messenger: and if any one resists Allah, verily Allah is severe in Punishment’ [Quran 59:3–4]. In otherwords, Banu Nadir’s rejection of Islam was the reason for Muhammad’s attack on them.Abdullah ibn Obayi—repeatedly condemned as a hypocrite in the Quran—again denouncedMuhammad’s charge of treason against Banu Nadir as baseless and even threatened to fight on their side.Allah cites this in the Quran: ‘the Hypocrites say (to Banu Nadir)… ‘If ye are expelled, we too will go outwith you, and we will never hearken to any one in your affair; and if ye are attacked (in fight) we will helpyou’. But Allah is witness that they are indeed liars’ [Quran 59:11]. When the Jews, emboldened by73. Ibn Ishaq, p. 545–46; Walker, p. 18474. Ibn Ishaq, p. 675–76,36775. Ibn Ishaq, p. 36976. Ibid, p. 43734