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12A
629 AD
By
February 629 A.D. it was almost one year since the Hudaibiyah and
Muhammad and his men looked forward to enter that town according to the
stipulated agreement. This year the number of the pilgrims swelled to
two thousands. They each carried their swords, in accordance to the
clauses of the treaty. But Muhammad was a treacherous man and he judged
everyone else based on his own standards. So fearing treachery from the
Meccans he secretly brought along a large
reserve of armor and lances separately by another route. Muhammad ibn
Maslama, with one hundred horsemen marched one stage ahead of the
Pilgrims. The sacrificial animals with their ceremonial red collars were
also driven in front. Muhammad called this Umrat ul Qadha (complementary
pilgrimage or the pilgrim of retaliation) because it was performed “in
lieu” of the previous one that was not fulfilled.
When
they reached Marr al Dhahran, one stage from
Mecca
, Muhammad left behind the caravan carrying the armor in the valley
outside the sacred precinct guarded by two hundred armed soldiers and
the rest of the Pilgrims advanced to Ka’ba.
To
avoid confrontation, the Meccans deserted the town; some of them
climbing on the nearby hills watched the proceeding. The cavalcade of
the Muslims emerged from the northern valley with Muhammad at its head
while one of his men walked in front of him holding the bridle of his
camel al Kaswa and around him were his chief companions. This majestic
and triumphant entry must have been a vindication for a man who escaped
this town seven years ago fearing his life. When they reached Ka’ba
they shouted Labbeik Labbeik
(I am here, I am here, oh God at your service), the customary
words that Arabs used to mutter or cry out loud when they went to
pilgrimage.
The
circumvallation of the Ka’ba started and Muhammad bid his followers to
run faster than usual so not to give the Meccans who were watching the
whole procession, the impression of being fatigued. This point is so
insignificant that really does not merit any mansion, yet the Islamic
traditions have laid so much emphasis on it that seems to have been
important thing. What is important to us is the fact that Muhammad was a
master of manipulations and histrionics. What he lacked in logics and
arguments he made up with theatrics. The primitive minded Arabs of his
time were not also interested in logical arguments and proofs. They too
were an impressionable folk who believed in him simply because others
had done so. In fact I dare say that logics had never entered
Arabian Peninsula
and these people, unlike the Greeks for example, were not familiar with
the whole concept. Therefore it was not Muhammad’s logical arguments
that brought him success; he presented none; but rather it was his
success that brought him more success.
A
cursory look at Islamic da’wah (propaganda) Internet sites makes this
point clear. After 1400 years of history and over a billion followers,
and despite the emergence of innumerable Islamic scholars of high
caliber, there is no logical argument presented in defense of Islam or
as the proof of the claim of Muhammad’s prophethood. There is also no
scriptural proof to support that claim. The adherence to Islam grew and
still keeps growing, only through theatrics and impressionisms. The
arguments presented to prove Islam, are all subjective and they all boil
down to one thing: “If others are converting to Islam, then it must be
true.”
These
theatrics and show of majesty accompanied by the profession of devotion
of the Muslims to their master had its effects on many diehard enemies
of Islam and several of them joined his army and converted to his
religion.
After
circumvallating the Ka’ba and touching the black stone, he sent Bilal
on the top of Ka’ba to chant the call to prayer and he himself entered
the building and stayed there for several hours. The group that had
stayed behind with the arms was replaced and they too performed their
pilgrimage.
After
the pilgrimage he was offered Meimuna as the bride. She was already the
third wife he married in this year. Meimuna was a widow and not very
young. This is one case where Muhammad must have married not just for
lust but to win the heart of his enemies. Meimuna was the sister of the
wife of Abbas and the aunt of Khalid ibn Walid, the warrior of the
Quraish who had turned the tide against the Muslims during the battle of
Uhud.
The
marriage had its desired political effect, for Khalid soon after that
repaired to
Medina
and pledged his adhesion to Islam. Two others also followed suit; one
was Amru ibn al Aas who had often annoyed Muhammad with his poetries and
who was a prominent member of the Quraish, and the other was Othman ibn
Talha. All these men, especially the first two, made valuable conquests
for Islam is subsequent years. Othman was the son of Taha, an important
chief and a custodian of the Ka’ba.
The
reason these men joined Islam was not that they found Islam to be a true
religion. No such proof was ever given nor was asked. They were
attracted to Islam because of its success and its rapid pace of growth.
They were young ambitious men who found Islam to be a perfect vehicle
for their own clime to power. So not being able to defeat the enemy,
they opted to join it and the payoff was immense. If they managed to
stay alive, they were enriched beyond their wildest dreams. This of
course does not discount the zealotry and fanaticism instilled in them
through Muhammad’s promises of afterlife and heavenly rewards. The
fear of pain and the lure of pleasure are two powerful incentives.
These, rather crude methods of persuasion were employed to its full
extend. Those who believed received worldly compensations and were
promised otherworldly recompenses as well; and those who did not believe
were punished brutally, lost their belongings, their wives, their
children as well as their lives and were furthermore condemned to
eternal damnation and a dreadful tortuous Hell.
The
treaty allowed Muhammad three days to complete his pilgrimage. He was
already in his forth day and was planning a sumptuous wedding in
Mecca
when Soheil and Huweitib, the chiefs of Quraish appeared before him and
reminded him that he had overstayed his welcome already by one day and
that he should leave. Muhammad in an attempt to win their affection
responded, “And what harm if you let me to remain and celebrate my
nuptials and make you a feast at which you might all sit down and be
merry?" "No thanks!” Roughly answered the chiefs, “We have
no need of your viands: The time has expired! Depart from us!'!”
Muhammad
gave orders for departure and consummated his marriage with Meimuna on
that very night outside the
Mecca
. Early next morning the cortege resumed the march and returned to
Medina
.
Meimuna
is said to have been fifty one years old when she married to Muhammad.
That is only ten years younger than him. But Muhammad was jealous even
of his elderly wives. There is an anecdote that says: “A young man,
Ziad, nephew to Meimuna, went to see his aunt. Muhammad coming suddenly
into the house was disconcerted at the sight: his visage showed marks of
wrath, and he turned to go away. "It is only my sister's son,"
cried Meimuna after him. So he returned.”
[Munir Ch. XXII p. 89]
The
conversion of Khalid, Amru and Othman was a huge success for Muhammad.
This added to his prestige and strengthened his position in
Mecca
greatly. The rest started wavering and all it was needed, was a little
push for the entire city to come under Islam. Many others of lesser name
also followed these leaders and offered their allegiance to the new
cause. Islam was on the rise and its success was the magnet for more
success.
The
citizens of
Mecca
were weary of constant wars and bloodshed. On the other hand the
followers of the thriving new movement were feisty, aggressive and
relentless.
Mecca
lacked a charismatic leader. The Muslims had a cause while the Meccans
had no cause. They simply wanted to live in peace. The advocates of
peace and compromise were growing in numbers and influence. Many had
already deserted the town and had joined the rank of Islam. Those who
stayed behind were tired and ready to capitulate. A rapid and bold
stroke of policy was all it needed to bring the city down and make it
surrender to Islam. Many citizens were ready for that, if it meant that
the hostilities would end and peace would be restored.
Humans’ tolerance for hardship is not infinite. Under duress we
all relent. We give in, even to evil, to be left alone and to be able to
live in peace. Even though we know that peace may not be long-lived.
Perhaps
in this there is a lesson for us all. 1400 years later, the world is
again facing the same feisty, vicious and unrelenting Islam. Islam has
come back. Islamic terrorism is the same Islam brought by Muhammad. It
is the same belief, the same fanaticism, the same fierceness and the
same mindless savagery. The policies are the same, the only thing that
is changed are the tactics. Today’s Jihadis are far more deadly than
their ancestors, who where merely a bunch of savages wielding their
swords and shouting Allahu-Akbar from their horseback. Our military
might and sophisticated warfare are powerless in front of a handful of
technologically savvy terrorists. Just
imagine how a few terrorists in
Spain
managed to overthrow a government by blowing a few passenger trains and
killing a few hundred people. It did not cost them much to do that.
Think of how a few terrorists, have succeeded to make the entire country
of
Philippines
to capitulate and comply with their demand. All they had to do was to
kidnap one of their citizens and threaten to kill him. How much it cost
them to do that? Angelo dela Cruz, the Philippine hostage, even thanks
his captors for his good treatment. He is not to be blamed. We would all
do that under similar situations. This is part of human psyche. We
become grateful to those who have spared our lives once the prospect of
dying comes to haunt us. It is not uncommon for hostages released in
this way to convert to Islam. Only a psychologist can explain this
phenomenon. After 9/11 several people sitting on the edged converted to
Islam at once.
Just
like
Spain
and
Philippines
, the world will capitulate, one country at a time.
The good people of the world will become weary of war and
resistance. They will give in to the demands of the Muslims fighters,
one demand at the time. They will have to; they will have no options;
resistance would be futile; surrender is inevitable.
The
world will comply gradually. Not because they would want to, but because
they would have to. There would be no choice. Unable to defeat the
enemy, more and more people will try to be appeasers and will not
criticize Islam and its associated evil to avoid hurting the
“sensibilities” of the Muslims. They will give up their freedoms,
one political correctness at a time. The politicians will remain silent,
for the fear of provoking the Muslims. To avoid unrest they will pass
laws that will curtail the freedom of their citizens to criticize
“religion” but in reality the intent is to stop the criticism of
Islam. Other religions are accustomed to criticisms and have defended
themselves fairly well. They are not asking for censorship; it is the
Muslims that are asking it. Writers will find themselves facing lawsuits
and even go to Jail for disparaging Islam and violating “the anti
hate” laws. Criticizing Islam, which is but an ideology, will be
equated as bashing its adherents and condemned.
India
is not a Muslim country, but it banned Salman Rushdie’s book, the
Satanic Verses to appease her Muslim citizens. Indians can’t criticize
Islam openly. The writers, the journalists, the publishers in the
civilized world, or what would be left of it, will not dare to speak out
their minds for the fear of being branded as “racists” and
“xenophobes”. Those daredevils who defy the public opinion and
disregard the etiquettes of political correctness will be forced to shut
up for the fear of being assassinated or their children harmed. Women
will be obliged “voluntarily” to cover themselves with Hijab to save
their faces from acids being thrown at them. This kind of violence has
already started in many cities in
Europe
, where European women are molested and harassed if they walk
unaccompanied and without Islamic attire in the neighborhood of the
Muslims. The world will recoil while the enemy will remain completely
hidden and undefeatable. This will embolden the Muslims. They will be
invigorated in their zeal to take over the world.
These
setbacks will only add to the Muslims resolve and they’ll increase the
pressure. With each concession, they will be re-energized and will
demand more power. Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac. It is an
inebriating enticer that will attract many, especially the young and the
inexperienced, not just of Muslim birth, but also of non-Muslim parents.
These youths will be driven to Islam to be part of its success. The
societies in non-Islamic countries will be torn in their loyalties. The
stupidity and irrationality of Islam would be obvious to many, but they
would be under pressure from two other fronts. On one hand many of their
own children and loved ones who have joined Islam, denounce them as
unbelievers and have cut their ties with them; on the other, they would
be weary of the continuous threat of terrorism and violence. Their
economies would be in shamble, their lives in danger, their loyalties
torn asunder, they will be too weak to hold to the truth and stand for
righteousness. They’ll be worn out and crave for peace. But the only
peace available to them is through surrender.
Terrorism
will target their office buildings, their schools, their shopping
centers, their water and power supplies, and will literally bring their
lives to a halt. Their industries will be crippled, their economies will
fall apart. The dark years of depression will cast its shadow over the
horizons. Hope will vanish and fear will take over. And Muhammad’s cry
of “I will
instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers” (8:12)
will resound in their ears.
While,
the Muslim terrorists will continue to wreak havoc, the other wing of
Islamic expansionism, i.e. the Muslim apologists and the so called
Muslim “moderates” will be hard at work. They will inseminate lies
and contaminate the minds of their victims through deception and false
promises. They’ll continue presenting Islam as a religion of peace and
they’ll continue seducing people and bringing them to their camp.
These propagandas will lessen the fear of Islam and make it more
palatable and even appealing. The intent is to weaken the resistance and
create a fifth column within the dar al Harb (the non Islamic world).
This fifth column; partly made of Muslim immigrants and partly of the
converts, will strive to bring chaos, destabilize the governments and
cause their fall.
At
this stage, all it takes is a push and the world will fall under the
sway of Islam and the banner of Allahu Akbar will be hoisted in every
county of the world. Once one country succumbs, it will have a domino
effect and one by one all of them will succumb.
Then
Islam will take over the world; the civilization will die away; science
will be demeaned; arts will be prohibited; women will be subjugated;
dissenters will be executed, and the world will plunge into the 7th
century darkness once again. Woe to humanity, if we do not take these
warnings seriously and dismiss them as mere fear mongering.
♣
April, A.D. 629
After
returning from the pilgrimage, during the spring and summer of the same
year, Muhammad undertook several raids at various tribes of
Arabia
. Some were successful and some ended disastrously.
In
April, about a month after his return Muhammad dispatched an excursion
of fifty men to the Bani Sulaim, apparently for the purpose of demanding
their allegiance to Islam. But the tribe, received the strangers with
shower of arrows. Most of them were killed but their leader managed to
escape to
Medina
. However, a year later the Bani Suleim seeing how other tribes succumb
one after the other sent embassies and offered their submission to the
Muhammad.
A
few months later, a small expedition was sent against the Bani Hawazin
at Al Syya for the sole object of plundering their camels and flocks,
which was accomplished successfully. [K. Waqidi, 125.]
During
the early summer of the same year a marauding party was expedited to
Bani Leith near Kudeid. The population was attacked by surprise; many
were killed and their camels were plundered. The men of Bani Leith
regrouped and chased the Muslims but the thieves did good with their
booty thanks to a flood that intervened between them and their pursuers.
Muslims soon attributed this natural event to supernatural causes,
claiming it to be a divine intervention to save the Muslims. [
K. Waqidi 124, and Hishami p.445.]
The Massacre of Bani
Murra.
The reader may
recall reading that after the conquest of Khaibar, Muhammad sent a few
marauding expedition and one of them was commanded by Bashir with thirty
men to Bani Murra near Fadak. This expedition was defeated and most of
the Muslims were killed. Now a year later, Muhammad thought to teach the
Bani Murra a lesson they would not forget. This time he dispatched a
detachment of two hundred men to inflict upon them the heaviest
chastisement. "If Allah deliver them into
your hands;" he said to the commander of the expedition, "let
not a soul of them escape.” The army fell on their victim by surprise,
and executed the commission with total success. They massacred anyone
they met and, drove their camels triumphantly to
Medina
.
Mishap at Dzat Atlah .
July, A.D. 629.
Immediately
after the raid of Bani Murra, a band of fifteen men was sent to Dhat
Atlah, a place beyond Wadi al Qora, and on the
borders of
Syria
. There they found a big gathering of people under the leadership of Sharhabil
bin Amr al Ghasani, the governor of Baraq and
a friend of Heraclitus and demanded them to embrace Islam. Sharhabil
must have become suspicious of the strangers and taking them for spies,
showered them with arrows killing all but one who escaped to tell the
tale.
Battle
of Muta Sept. A.D. 629
Muhammad
decided to avenge the death of his men and two months later in September
called an army of three thousand fighting men and dispatched them Moab
or Muta on the borders of Syria inside the Roman territory to chastise
them. Muhammad placed a white banner in the hands of Zeid ibn Harith and
said, "Zayd bin Haritha will be commander and if Zayd should be
killed, then it will be Ja'far bin Abu Talib. If Ja’far is killed,
then Abdullah bin Rawahah will be commander. If he should be killed,
then the Muslims should choose one from among themselves to appoint over
them."
Then the army
marched towards
Syria
and Muhammad accompanied them for a few miles
out of town and bade them farewell with this prayer:
"May Allah protect you from every evil, and bring you back
in peace, laden with spoil!"
When
the news of the approach of this formidable army reached Sharahbil he
summoned the tribes of the vicinity to meet them. The tidings of
Muhammad’s marauding activities and his ruthless treatment of the
conquered, along with his repetitive attacks on Duma and the destruction
of Khaibar had put the inhabitants of this northern territory on the
alert and quickly a large number of “coalition of willing” rallied
round Sharahbil to repulse the aggression. Muslim historians say the
number of Arabs gathered was one hundred thousand strong and a
Roman regiment of a similar number also joined the army. These numbers
seem to be grossly inflated. The actual number might have been only a
fraction of what has been reported. It makes no sense to array an army
of two hundred thousand soldiers to ward off an army of three thousand.
The reason for this obvious exaggeration is for Muslims to save
face and justify their defeat. Were the number of the Romans and the
coalition any close to what Ibn Ishaq and Waqidi reported, the Muslims
would not have had any chance to escape.
When
the Muslims encamped in Ma’an, they
were taken aback by the glittering array of the army of the enemy. Apprehension
increased by the rumor that the Emperor himself was commanding the army.
It is likely however that this army was brought together by Theodorus,
brother of Heraclius the Emperor.
Zeid called the
chiefs to discuss about the situation. Many advised to send a letter to
Muhammad asking him for advice. They had come to chastise a tribe for
killing of their emissaries and take home some spoils, hoping to take
their enemies by surprise and for a swift and decisive raid. Facing a
mighty Roman army was not part of the plan. While they were discussing
about informing Muhammad and asking for either reinforcement of
instructions, Abuallah Ibn Rawaha encouraged the crowd and said,
"Folks, I swear by Allah that what you fear is the same thing you
went out seeking, which is martyrdom. Is it in our number or in the help
of Allah that we trust? So let us set forward. We will have one of the
two blessings, either triumph or martyrdom. We do not fight others by
numbers or force or multitudes. We only fight them with our faith."
People said, "By God Ibn Rawaha is telling the truth," and
they set out.
Here we can see
the degree of fanaticism that Muhammad had instilled in his followers.
Many of them had joined Islam because they coveted the booty but
fanaticism is a contagious disease and soon everyone was affected. The
Arabs are known for their chauvinism and bravado. The pre Islamic
poetries provide us a glimpse into the Arab mind and there we can see
his blusterous and bombastic nature. It was not unusual for a warrior to
launch into the camp of the enemy and in defiance of death and as a
token of his resolve to fight until death, maim his horse. In the battle
of Khandaq, Amr ibn Abd Wudd the warrior of the Quraish did that and
fought until he was slain by Ali and in this battle Ja’far did the
same. Muhammad took full advantage of this Arab trait and capitalized on
their haughtiness and pomposity encouraging their zealotry and adding to
it an element of faith.
However there is
more to fanaticism than cultural traits. We will discuss this point in
detail when we are going to talk about the subject of religious
fanaticism in its own chapter.
Muhammad was a
man bereft of conscious. He would goad his followers to be valiant and
face death with courage but he himself would never put his own precious
life in danger. Muhammad never took active part in any battle. He would
stay behind stirring his followers to be valiant and embrace death with
valor.
Inspired by the
fanatical fervor instilled in them by Abdullah’s speech the army of
Muslims resolved to offer battle. The solid phalanxes of the Roman army
along with throngs of Arabs on their flank moved steadily upon the
Muslims. Zeid carrying the white flag fought valiantly but this time the
angels were nowhere to be found to help the Muslims when they really
needed their help. Zeid body was pierced by lances and he fell to the
ground. Ja’far then picked up the banner, hamstrung his horse and
urged forward the attack, like Zeid he too succumbed to various wounds
that he received. His hands were cut off and his body was cut in two by
the Romans. Tradition says that during the last moments of his life he
was heard reciting the following line:
"Hail to paradise approaching, its waters fine and cool. The
punishment of the Romans is near, unbelievers of doubtful decent. It is
up to me to strike them when we clash" Ibn Hisham, p. 350.
Although these
tales of bravery are most likely apocryphal, they are indicative of
Muslims’ desire to be fanatical and their disregard for life,
including their own.
After
Ja’far’s fall, Abdullah seized the banner only to suffer the same
fate in no time. The chiefs of the army gathered in a hastily council
and chose Khalid bin Walid, the new convert, as
their leader. Khalid was an astute warrior. He realized the But all he
could do was to regroup the scattered army and astutely elude to avert
its total destruction.
Muslims
suffered great casualties in this war and when they drew near
Medina
, the citizens came out to meet them and reprimanded them for fleeing
before the enemy. But Muhammad, who had also come out riding on his mule
and carrying the little son of Ja’far in front of him, put a stop to
their reproaches and reassured the defeated troop saying:
"Nay,
they are not runaways; but they are men who will yet again return unto
the battle, if the Lord will."
There
are reports that Muhammad informed his followers of the martyrdom of his
men even before the army returned. Muhammad made it sound as if the
information was given to him through divine intervention. For one day
Muhammad was grieved and after saying the prayers in the Mosque he did
not speak with others as it was his custom. But next morning, he entered
smiling into the Mosque, and when people enquired he said: “"That
which you saw in me yesterday was because I learned about the slaughter
of my companions and I sorrow for their death, until I saw them in
Paradise
, seated as brethren, one opposite to the other, upon couches. And in
some I perceived marks, as it were wounds of the sword. And I saw
Ja’far, an angel with two wings, covered with blood, - his limbs
stained therewith." Thence- forward Ja’far is known as "the
winged Martyr." K.Wackidi 126. 126
But
what Muhammad did not say to his audience was the fact that the report
of the battle of Muta was brought to his expeditiously by Abu Aamir whom
Muhammad sent to
Syria
and on his way back; he passed the battle-field, and watched the fate of
the Moslems. He saw their leaders fall, and the army was pursued and
scattered. He said: - "Then I went to Mahomet and gave him
tidings of the event, and it grieved him sore, so that after the
mid-day prayer, instead or conversing (as was his wont) with the people,
he returned straightway to his house; and so he did at the other prayers
that day.” K.Waqidi 126. 126
Through
these deceits Muhammad managed to fool his followers making them believe
that he had supernatural information of the events. [Sira,
p.350]
Martyrdom of Farwa
Muhammad’s
fame was on the rise. His rapid clime to power was interpreted by many
as the proof of the truth of his mission.
Obviously this is a logical fallacy. Genghis Khan’s rise to
power was also swift. But this was not the proof that he was divinely
assisted. Nevertheless there is no want to people who still regard
Muhammad’s success as the proof of his truth. One such person might
have been Farwa, an Arab of Bani Judhyam, and the Governor of Amman. He
is said to have become impressed by the zealotry and suicidal bravery of
the Muslims and the rapid expansion of Islam taking this as the proof
that Muhammad must be a messenger of God.
This
is a post hoc fallacy. The success of Muhammad had nothing to do with
divine assistance but rather with his cunning ability to manipulate the
gullible and incite them to do murder, break the rules of ethics, raid,
loot and plunder. Muhammad’s rise to power was aided by the fanatical
zealotry of his sycophant followers and their absolute devotion to him
to the extent that they were ready to kill even their own kith and kin
to please him. Muhammad was a successful cult leader.
Islam
owes it growth to numerous logical fallacies. The above is the fallacy
that is brought up by Muslims even today. One of the reasons they
present as the truth of Islam is the claim that “it is the fastest
growing religion”. Muslims grow in number through rapid procreation,
but more Muslims leave Islam than those who convert to it. Furthermore
Falun Gong, with over 100 million fresh converts in just 10 years is
actually the world’s fastest growing religion. But even if this claim
was true, it still is not the proof of the truth of Islam.
Many people converted to Islam being fooled by this logical
fallacy. Farwa was one such person.
He
sent gifts to Muhammad and pledged his allegiance. And Muhammad wrote
him a letter instructing him of his duties. Then he rebelled against the
Roman Emperor, stopped sending the collected taxes to the central
government and organized an attack on Ghaza from Sinai. He was caught
and put to death. Muslims claim that he was martyred for his faith. They
have even fabricated traditions saying the Emperor offered to promote
Farwa should he leave Islam and reconvert to Christianity, to which
Farwa responded “I will not quit my faith to Muhammad. You yourself
know that Jesus prophesied before of him. But it is the fear of losing
your kingdom that deters you from confessing the new faith." And
because of that he was crucified.” [Sirat, 429]
The
story reported by Theophanes is different. He writes that about this
period there was a secession of Arabs employed in guarding the Syrian
frontier, as occasioned by the insolent refusal of a Roman officer to
pay them their perquisites. The rebellious governor was subdued and put
to death. [Theophanes, 278-9]
History
is the mirror of the future. Studying
history is necessary to avoid repeating past mistakes. George
Santayana, a Spanish-born American author in the late nineteenth and
early twentieth centuries said: “Those who cannot remember the past
are condemned to repeat it”. The
lesson from Farwa is that Muslim’s allegiance is not to their own
government but to Islam. Muslims who are employed in the sensitive
positions in non-Islamic countries should not be trusted. Muslims are
the fifth column in every non-Muslim country that they reside,
irrespective of their nationality. This is not a politically correct
statement, but failing to heed to it will only make the non-Muslims more
vulnerable to Islam.
The
defeat of the Muslims in Muta had affected the prestige of Muhammad. In
the eyes of the primitive Arabs might was right and as long as Muhammad
kept winning his faith kept gaining new converts. But the reverse also
meant loss of credibility and status. There were rumors that Bani Qodhaa
had assembled in great force and were even threatening to descent on
Medina
. To offset this defeat, on October, A.D. 629 Muhammad sent an
army of three hundred men commanded by Amru ibn al Aas, with instruction
to subjugate the hostile tribe and harass the Syrian border. After
asking for reinforcement of another two hundred Amru passed through the
territories of the Bani Odhra and Bali, receiving their allegiance and
by the time he reached their farther limits, the enemy which had
assembled to oppose upon seeing the superiority of the Muslims army over
their own him fled in alarm. This
was the first battle Amru fought for Islam, which proved his abilities
as a general and there were many more. Thus the influence of Muhammad on
the frontiers of
Syria
was re-established.
On
the following month of November 629 AD Muhammad sent Abu Obeida at the
head of three hundred men to chastise a refractory branch of the Bani
Joliena on the sea-coast.
In
December he sent another petty expedition against Bani Khudhra a
tribe of the Ghatafan, in
Najd
, which yielded large plunder in camels, flocks, and prisoners. A
fair woman was among the prisoners, she was given to Muhammad who
offered her to one of his followers. [K.Waqidi,
126]
These
conquests alarmed the Arabs and many of the Beduin tribes in the
direction of
Syria
tendered their submission and started paying tributes. Among these were
the Bani Abs, Murra, and Dhobian; and the Bani Fezara with their chief
Uyeina, who had so long caused concern and alarm at
Medina
. The Bani Sulaim that like the Fezara, had taken part in the siege of
Medina
, also offered their adherence to Islam. The marauding chief was rapidly
gaining influence and tribe after tribe, the Arabs went to him offering
their allegiance. The choices were few. They either had to submit or
perish.
The
Bani Ashja, who had joined in the siege of
Medina
, gave in their adhesion shortly after the massacre of the Coreitza;
they told Mahomet that they were so pressed by his warring against them,
that they could stand out no longer. [K. Wackidi, p.60] After
defeating the Kheibar other tribes sent deputation to Muhammad tendering
their allegiance. These were the Bani Ashar from Jedda, the Bani
Khushain, and the Bani Dous. [Ibid. 67, 68]. Many other tribes followed
suit. Most of them were pagan Arabs but some also were Christians. The
chief of Bani Judham visited Muhammad to offer the adherence of his
tribe to Islam and carried back a letter from Mahomet to his allied
tribes, of this tenor: "Whoever accepts the call to Islam, he is
amongst the allies of the Allah. Whoever refuses the same, a truce of
two months is allowed him for consideration." All the tribes of the
vicinity accepted the invitation. [Ibid. 68]
Most
of the tribes in the vicinity of
Medina
, as the Bani Aslam and Ghifar, the Mozeina, Ashja, and Joheina, also
recognized the supremacy of Muhammad. The courteous treatment which the
deputations of these various clans experienced from the Prophet, his
ready attention to their grievances, the wisdom with which he composed
their disputes, and the politic assignments of territory by which he
rewarded an early declaration
This
is how Islam rapidly expanded through
Arabia
. Islam’s success is owed to terror and the threat of terror. These
were instruments that made Islam a world religion. Today the same
instruments are at play again. Will they succeed to subdue the entire
world? “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat
it”.
The Conquest of
Mecca
. January, A.D. 630.
Pretext
arises for attacking Mecca
Two years had passed form the truce signed in Hudaibiah between
Muhammad and the Meccans. During these two years Muhammad had destroyed
the Khaibar and had subdued many tribes. His influence had grown and now
he felt it was time to face his arch enemies and conquer
Mecca
which was the grand object of his ambition. In order to attack
Mecca
he had to find pretext to declare null the treaty.
Those two Arab tribes used to be
hostile to each other, and Quraish used to be supportive to Bani
Bakr. So, Bani Khoza’a sought the protection of The Prophet
(PBUH) . Accordingly, the two tribes had to abide by the item that said
that fights were to stop for ten years. In the meantime both Quraish
and The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), also according to the treaty, were
responsible for observing the tribes under their protection.
Nevertheless, Bani Bakr initiated fights against Bani
Khoza’a. Quraish supplied Bani Bakr with weapons,
and some of its members shared secretly in the fight. That was a direct
violation of the Hudaibya treaty. When the news reached The
Prophet (PBUH) , he was sure that Quraish defiled the truce. He
took the decision of invading Quraish in its homeland making it
clear for his companions and followers that he did not aim for war and
blood shedding but for putting an end to fights that were taking place
in the holy Macca.
In the vicinity of
Mecca
there were two tribes with a long standing feud between them. One was
Bani Bakr and they were the allies of the Meccans and the other was Bani
Khoza’a. They sought the protection of Muhammad when he stationed in
Hudaibiah. Several men of the Bani Bakr, in their traditional custom of
hostility, effected a petty raid on their enemies, the Bani Khoza’a
and killed a few of them. The victims took their complaints to Muhammad
to punish the aggressors. Entreaty was hardly necessary. The opportunity
that Muhammad had been waiting for had finally arrived. He immediately
gave his word to avenge their blood:
"If I assist you not with the same aid as if the cause were
mine own, then let me never more be assisted by the Lord!" But it
was the invasion of
Mecca
that Muhammad was really coveting.
Muhammad started making preparation to attack
Mecca
. Now this was a continuing war between to unrelated tribes. The treaty
of Hudaibiha was signed between Muhammad and the Quraish. In no logical
terms one can find an excuse for Muhammad declare the treaty null and
attack
Mecca
. To justify this war Muslims accused the Meccans of furnishing the
weapons to Bani Bakr. The history is written by the Muslims and we have
no way to verify their claims against their enemies, but even if this
accusation was true, still one can find no justification for Muhammad
invading
Mecca
.
Unsuccessful
mission of Abu Sofian to Medina
Ibn Ishan reports: "Arrived at
Medina
; Abu Sofian entered the house of his daughter Omm Habiba, Mahomet's
wife. He was about to seat himself on the carpet or rug spread upon the
floor, when she hastily drew it away and folded it up. "My
daughter!" he said, "whether is it that thou thinkest the
carpet is too good for me, or that I am too good for the carpet?"
"Nay, but it is the carpet of the Prophet," she replied;
"and I choose not that thou, an impure idolater, shouldst sit upon
the Prophet's carpet." "Truly, my daughter, thou art changed
for the worse since thou leftest
me.
", So saying, he went straight to Mahomet, but could get no reply
from his lips.” Sirat, p.354
The story goes on to say how each person he met and pleaded to
intercede mocked him and turned him away. In the chapter called
Religions Fanaticism we will explore what makes the followers of cult
behave in such fanatical way to disown even their own family and
friends.
Preparations
for an advance upon Mecca
Muhammad started preparing for the attack, but he kept the
destination a secret. He was the man who coined the phrase “war is a
game of deception”. He knew that success depends on taking the enemy
by surprise and not allowing him to prepare for an adequate defense.
Ibn Ishaq reports that even Even
Abu Bakr was kept in the dark. One day when he entered in Aisha’s
house, he found her busy preparing the accoutrements of Muhammad; and
inquiring the cause, she told him about the prophet had resolved for an
expedition, but she did not know in what direction. [Sirat, 355]
To divert attention, Muhammad sent a small group of
men under the command of Abu Qotada to the
valley
of
Idham
, three marches from
Medina
. The population surrendered and embraced Islam. On their return they
learned that Muhammad had already left for
Mecca
and they hastened to reach him. Meanwhile, he summoned all the allied
Bedouin tribes surrounding
Medina
to prepare for war and join him at a certain place as soon as possible.
Once the army was ready to march he announced his intention and enjoined
the army to not let any spy inform the Quraish of their plan and prayed:
“O God! Let not any spy draw near with tidings unto the Quraish:
take away their sight, that they see me not until I come suddenly upon
them and seize them unawares! [K.
Waqidi, 126]
Notwithstanding this injunction, Hatib, one of Muhammad’s
confidants who had acted as his ambassador to
Egypt
, dispatched a woman with a letter to his friends and relatives in
Mecca
informing them of the imminent assault. The information that a woman
hastily leaves
Medina
came to the ears of Muhammad. Not willing to take any chance he sent Ali
and Zobair to track down the messenger. They soon found her and upon
inspecting her they found the letter carefully hidden in her locks.
Hatib was called and he excused himself by the natural desire to save
his family at
Mecca
. In recognition of his previous services to Muhammad, he was not
chastised and his apologies were accepted. To further impress his
followers, Muhammad credited himself by claiming that the information of
this perfidy was given to him “from the Heavens”. [Sirat 355]
The Surah sixtieth is about this incident. The title of the Surah is Al-mumtahina
(she that is to be examined, examining her) referring to the woman mentioned above and it starts by admonishing the
believers not to take the enemies as friends, offering them love because
they have rejected the truth.
“O ye who believe! Take not my enemies and
yours as friends (or protectors),- offering them (your) love, even
though they have rejected the Truth that has come to you, and have (on
the contrary) driven out the Prophet and yourselves (from your homes),
(simply) because ye believe in Allah your Lord! If ye have come out to
strive in My Way and to seek My Good Pleasure, (take them not as
friends), holding secret converse of love (and friendship) with them:
for I know full well all that ye conceal and all that ye reveal. And any
of you that does this has strayed from the Straight Path.”
If they were to get the
better of you, they would behave to you as enemies, and stretch forth
their hands and their tongues against you for evil: and they desire that
ye should reject the Truth.
Of no profit to you will
be your relatives and your children on the Day of Judgment: He will
judge between you: for Allah sees well all that ye do.
[60:1-3]
Despite these admonitions, nothing was farther from the truth. The
Meccans had no enmity with the Muslims. It was Muhammad who was
instilling in his followers the fear of the non-believers instructing
them to dislike them, not take them as friends, do not trust them and
kill them wherever they find them. Muhammad was a narcissist cult leader
and like all cult leaders he was paranoid. He had divided the world
between those who believed in him and obeyed him and those how were his
enemies.
1400 years later, Muslims view the world with the same jaundiced
visions of their prophet. You are either a Muslim or an enemy. If you
are not a Muslim and a “brother” then Muslims are instructed to not
take you ad friend or protector, do not offer you their love and do not
trust you. But rather hold you as the enemy, dislike you kill you. It
makes no difference whether this Muslim is your brother, son or friend.
He is instructed to hate you and he will, as long as he believes in
Islam.
On the 1st of January, A.D. 630, eight to ten thousand men had
gathered in or near
Medina
. It was the largest army
Medina
had ever seen. The black tents of the Bedouins could be seen pitched on
the plain as far as the eye could see. Two of the tribes, formerly
inimical to Muhammad joined the army. Mozeina and Sulaim; each
contributed a thousand men. The massive army was set on motion advancing
rapidly towards
Mecca
.
Power is a magnet for the weak; they are dawned to it like mosquito
to rotten meat. Once Muhammad gained the upper hand, his enemies; one
after the other came to him on their own and tendered their allegiance.
Abbas waited till the supremacy of Muhammad was beyond a doubt and at
the last moment he abandoned his people to join the conqueror. Abbas was
an opportunist who sailed with wind and tide. After the treaty of
Hudaibiah, and despite remaining in
Mecca
pretending to be with the Quriash, he secretly was in touch with his
nephew, acting as his eyes and ears in
Mecca
.
In later years, during the Caliphate of Umar, we find him fighting
with his other nephew Ali over booty and both of them go to Omar asking
him to judge between them.
“Abbas said [to Umar]: Commander of the
Faithful, decide (the dispute) between me and this sinful,
treacherous, dishonest liar.[Ali] The people (who were present) also
said: Yes. Commander of the Faithful, do decide (the dispute) and have
mercy on them. ... [Sahih
Muslim 3. 4349]
This was the quality of the men who flocked around Muhammad and now
are seen as holy men by the Muslims.
Muhammad and his army reach Marr al Zahran ten miles north-west of
Mecca
by dusk. During all this time he had kept a vigil of the traffic between
Medina
and
Mecca
to make sure the news of this invasion does not reach the Meccans. Now
it was the time to give the intimation of his presence at their door
stepped with alarming grandeur and fill their hearts with terror and
prove the hopelessness of their position. He ordered every man kindle a
fire that night on the heights above the camp. Ten thousand fires blazed
the
mountain
of
Marr al Zahran
.
On this very night Abu Sofian accompanied by couple of others goes
out of town to reconnoiter the situation and Abbas riding on
Muhammad’s white Mule and with his leave also parts from the camp
wandering in the direction of Mecca ostensibly with the intention of
meeting "some hewer of wood or seller of milk," to send as
emissary to Mecca and announce the arrival of the army, in the hope that
they may realize the futility of resistance and surrender.
Muhammad’s hope was to conquer
Mecca
with no fight. This was after all his own city and its inhabitants were
the relatives of his followers. The verses that that related to this
episode make it clear that he ordered his men not to kill people
indiscriminately as they were accustomed to, like what they did in
Khaibar and elsewhere but rather let those who surrender unscathed and
murder only those who resist conversion.
Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight
you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors.
And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they
have Turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter;
but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you
there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who
suppress faith.
But if they cease, Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
And fight them on until there is no more Tumult or oppression, and there
prevail justice and faith in Allah; but if they cease, Let there be no
hostility except to those who practise oppression. [Q. 2:190-193]
The above verses are frequently used by Muslim apologists to claim
that the wars waged and prescribed in Islam are only of defensive nature
and that Muslims are given permission to fight only against those who
fight against them. Nothing can be farther from the truth. As we can
see, Muhammad and his army were on top of
Mecca
, demanding surrender or face destruction. Those verses make it clear
that resisting Islamic aggression is interpreted as fighting against
Islam and then killing those who defend themselves becomes mandatory.
The men meet on the dark, Abu Sofian after
recognizing Abbas enquires about the fires “Yonder, is Muhammad
encamped with ten thousand followers” responds Abbas. “Don’t you
see the myriad fires which they have kindled in their camp? Believe and
cast in your lot with us, else your mother and your house shall weep for
you!" Abbas invites Abu Sofian to the camp to visit Muhammad.
"Seat upon the mule behind me; I will take you to the Prophet, so
you can seek protection from him."
Abu Sufyan mounted the mule behind Abbas and, so
mounted, they rode to the Muslim camp, arriving there after nightfall.
Umar who was walking around the camp and inspecting the guards, upon
recognizing Abu Sofian exclaimed: "Ah! Abu Sufyan, enemy of Allah!
Praise be to Allah that you have come into our camp without a safe
conduct." He then ran to the tent of the Prophet, and Abbas,
guessing Umar's purpose, urged his mule forward. The three of them
arrived at the tent simultaneously. Umar asked the permission to cut off
the head of Enemy Number One, while Abbas was insisting that he had
given protection to Abu Sufyan, and so he could not be harmed until he
had been heard. Muhammad dismissed all three of them, “Take him to
your tent” said Muhammad to Abbas; "and in the morning come to me
with him again." [Sirat 359]
In the morning they went to see Muhammad, “Woe to
you, Abu Sofian” cried out Muhammad as the great chief of Quraish
entered his tent. "Have you not discovered yet that there is no
god but Allah?"
“If other gods in whom I believed had existed,
they would certainly have helped me." Responded Abu Sofian!
"And do you not know that I am the Messenger of Allah?"
Abbas now turned fiercely on Abu Sufyan.
"Woe to you, O Abu Sufyan!" he hissed.
“it is no time for hesitancy, Submit and testify at
once, or your head will be cut off!"
It was, indeed, no time for idle pride or scruple. Abu Sofian had
either to pronounce the shahada formula of Islamic faith or die.
"I
bear witness", said Abu Sufyan hastily, "that Muhammad
is the Messenger of Allah!"
This must have been the moment of exultation for Muhammad. After so
many years finally his archenemy was a suppliant believer at his feet
and submitting to his absolute authority! "
It was time to make a show of his magnanimity, “Haste to Mecca!"
said the Prophet; "Whoever enters
the house of Abu Sufyan shall be safe. And whoever stays at his home or
at the grand mosque shall also be safe.”
Abu Sofian hastened to retire to
Mecca
. Before he could leave the camp, the forces were already under arms,
and were being marshaled in their respective columns.
Standing by Abbas, Abu Sofian watched in amazement the mighty army
that Muhammad had assembled with each tribe defiling into its proper
place. One by one, the different clans were pointed out by name, and
recognized. "And what is that?" asked Abu Sofian pointing to a
cavalry with dark mail and shining lances" "It is the elite
cavalry," replied Abbas,- "that guards the person of the
Prophet." "Truly;' exclaimed the overwhelmed chief, "this
kingdom of you nephew is a mighty kingdom." "No, Abu Sofian!”
responded Abbas! “He is more than a king,- he is a mighty
Prophet!"
Abu Sofian hurried back to
Mecca
, and once he entered the city, he cried out at the pitch of his voice:
"O Quraish! Muhammad has come with power that you cannot match.
Submit to him and be safe. Whoever enters my house shall be safe.Whoever
stays in his house and locks his door shall be safe. Whoever remains in
the mosque shall be safe."
Upon making his proclamation, Ibn Ishaq says that Hind, Abu
Sofian’s wife grabbed his mustache and shouted, “Kill the fat old
fool!” she screamed at the crowd." He has turned away from
us." He shook her off and pointed to the futility of resistance and
walked away to his house. [Sirat p.360]
The
army moves forward upon Mecca
At the same time the army of Muhammad was on the march towards
Mecca
.
Mecca
lies in a Valley and is surrounded by black, rugged hills which rise in
places to over 1,000 feet above the valley floor. The town was then
approached over four routes, each one going through a pass in the hills.
Muhammad divided his army into four columns, one to advance on each
route. The main column was commanded by Abu Ubaidah behind which he
himself traveled, was to enter
Mecca
along the main
Medina
route, from the north-west, via Azakhir. The second column, under Zubair,
would enter from the south-west, through a pass west of the Hill of Kuda.
The third column, under Ali, would enter from the south, via Kudai; and
the fourth, under Khalid, would enter from the north-east, via Lait and
Khandama.
Muhammad already knew that the Meccans would surrender, however these
measured were taken as precaution. If opposition were offered to any
column, one of the other divisions could take the enemy in the rear.
It is said that on approaching Medina Abu Ubaidah started singing:
"Today is the day of slaughter; there is no security this day for
Mecca
!" On hearing this Muhammad took the
Medina
banner from his hands, and gave it to Kays, his son.
The aged and blinded father of Abu Bakr, climbed with the help of his
daughter one of the taller houses and anxiously observed the advance of
the army as his daughter would describe what she could see. When the
army approached the town they descended and as she was guiding her
father’s tottering steps towards their home, the soldiers burst into
the city and one of them snatched her silver necklace.
Muslims entered the city with no resistance excepting column lead by
Kahlid who were faced with an opposition led by by Safwan, Suheil, anid
Ikrima son of Abu Jahl. As the battalion of Khalid approached it was
greeted by a shower of arrows. But the improvised resistance was no
match to the army of Muhammad and the resistance was quickly subdued.
Fired with their victory the Bedouins ran into the streets killing more
than tow dozens of the citizens.
When Muhammad saw this he cried out. "Did I
not strictly command that there should not be any fighting?" He was
told that some of the Meccans had put on some resistance, to which he
said: "That which the
Allah decrees is the best."
Muhammad entered the town triumphantly and at as
spot not far from the tombs of Abu Talib and Khadija he directed his
tent of leather to be pitched in the open space to the north of the city
without entering his own house. He entered his tend to repose and savor
his victory. The rejected and outcast refugee, once derided, humiliated
and called a lunatic, now saw the city at his feet. He was now the lord
of
Mecca
.
Destroying
the idols
Soon he emerged out of his tent, mounted his mule and proceeded
towards Ka’ba. He saluted and kissed the sacred stone and
circumvallated the edifice seven times. Then with his staff pointing at
the idols arrayed around the temple, he ordered them to be hewn down.
Pushing the great image of Hobal, the tutelary image of
Mecca
to the ground he exclaimed: “Truth hath come and falsehood hath
vanished; for falsehood is evanescent."
[Q.17.81]And so three sixty idols were smashed as
Muhammad repeated the above verse. Then he sent Bilal to fetch Othman
ibn Talha, the son of the key holder of Ka’ba who had converted to
Islam and opening the door of Ka’ba he entered and again performed
prostration and stayed there for a while. Then he emerged and facing the
throng of his followers told them that every one who believes in Allah
must destroy every image in his house. He gave assurances to the Meccans
that he respected their temple and even ordered the boundary pillars
that were landmarks approaching the town to be repaired. In this way he
won the hearts of the Meccans and eased their alarms.
When Muhammad retired to his tend Abu Bakr brought his father who was
bowed with age to visit his prophet. Muhammad was most courteous with
Abu Quhafa, sat his next to himself and affectionately pressing his hand
upon the old man's breast, invited him to accept Islam, which he readily
did.
Muhammad had promised general amnesty to the inhabitants when Abu
Sofian visited him on the night before. But there were ten or twelve
that he excluded. These were men and women who had composed poetries,
sang mocking songs.
Among them was Abdullah Sa'd Abi Sarh, who was the secretary of
Muhammad and had apostatized on the account that he had believed
Muhammad was not receiving any revelations but making them up. This he
had to believe because on occasions he would suggest better wording of a
verse and Muhammad would readily agree. If the verses were from God,
then how could he change them? His story had embarrassed Muhammad and
that is the reason he was excluded from the amnesty. He was spared
thanks to Othman’s intervention.
Another was Abdullah ibn
Khatal. He had become a Muslim and had apostatized. He had two
singing-girls Fartana and her friend who used to sing satirical songs
about the apostle. All the three were ordered to be put to death. ibn
Khatal had also killed his own slave for disobeying him, but he was not
to be put to death for that. He was to be killed for apostatizing and
for ridiculing Muhammad with his satirical verses. [Sirat, p. 550]
Alarmed of Muhammad’s
decision, Ibn Khatal clung to the curtains of Ka’ba hoping the
sacredness of the temple would dissuade him from his evil design.
Bukahri narrates:
Allah's Apostle entered
Mecca
in the year of its Conquest wearing an Arabian helmet on his head and
when the Prophet took it off, a person came and said, "Ibn Khatal
is holding the covering of the Ka'ba (taking refuge in the Ka'ba)."
The Prophet said, "Kill him." [Bukhari Volume 3, Book 29,
Number 72]
"As for Ibn Khatal's
two singing-girls, one was killed and the other ran away until the
apostle, asked for immunity, gave it her.” [Sirat p. 551]
"Another
[ordered to be killed] was Miqyas Hubaba. This man’s brother was
murdered by an Ansari. He traveled to
Medina
to revenge and pretended to be a Muslim seeking the bloodwit, but when
he met the killer, he slew him and escaped to
Mecca
. He was killed mainly for apostatizing.
[Sirat, p. 492]
Some of the condemned by
Muhammad to be killed escaped execution after a friend pleaded that they
be spared.
Safwan,
Ikrima, Hind, and Sarah escape
Safwan and Ikrima the son of Aba Hakam, after
eluding the pursuit of Khalid, fled to sea-shore tying to escape to
Yemen, the wife of Ikrima converted to Islam and pleaded protection for
her husband. The protection was granted to both of them and they were on
the point of embarking, when the assurance of forgiveness reached them
and they returned. Hind, the wife of Abu Sofian, and Sarah, a singing
girl also escaped the sentence of death after professing their faith to
Islam. “Sara, who lived until in the time of `Umar a mounted soldier
trod her down in the
valley
of
Mecca
and killed her." [Sirat p. 551]
Another was Abdullah ibn Zibara, a poet who used to
write satirical verses against Muhammad. He fled to Najran. Later he was
forgiven and went to
Medina
.
Wahshi, the Abyssinian slave, who slew Hamza, was
one of the condemned. He fled to Tayif, and eventually obtained pardon.
Apart from these few cases, Muhammad’s treatment
of the Meccans was singularly magnanimous. Unlike other towns he did not
plunder
Mecca
and kept the bloodshed to a minimum. This was after all his own town and
these were his own people. Apart from the fact that a general killing
and looting would have strained the loyalty of his companions many of
whom had families and friends in
Mecca
, he was also aware that blood is ticker than water and needed the
Meccans to stand by him and support his cause.
His generosity was rewarded. The whole population
of
Mecca
gave their adherence to his cause and espoused the new faith with
alacrity and devotion. In just a few weeks, a few thousand Meccans heed
to his call and prepare themselves to fight by his side.
In the following days he sent various armed parties
to different directions around
Mecca
to demolish the images and idols of the deities. Generally, asking the
former worshippers to demolish their own idols. The destruction of the
status of Buddha in
Bamian
,
Afghanistan
by the Taliban was inspired by these injunctions.
The Fall of
Mecca
One question worth analyzing is what really made a
powerful city like
Mecca
coil before Muhammad without putting any fight? Sir William Muir offers
a theory that if true becomes poignant in our times. Is it possible that
the non-Islamic countries suffer the same fate of
Mecca
? The idea seems outlandish and even improbable. But that was how secure
the Quraish felt about
Mecca
. The problem is that the world does not know Islam and this lack of
knowledge contributes complacency and complacency is what brought the
strong and mighty tribes of
Arabia
to their knees. Muhammad conquered his enemies one by one and all of
them were stronger than him. What made that possible was their
complacency and Muhammad reliance on deceit and surprise attacks. On
September 11, 2004 it took only 19 Muslims to kill three thousand people
cause billions of dollars in damages and expose the vulnerability of the
mightiest country in the world. Since then billions of dollars have been
expended on securities and fighting terrorism. These are all costs that
could have been put to better uses.
Muir believes that the reason
Mecca
fell had to do with treachery of the Meccans who had become sympathizers
of Muslims and worked to lull the alarm from inside. As we saw
Muhammad’s influence in
Mecca
was growing and several youth including ambitious and opportunistic men
such as Khalid ibn Walid and Sa’d ibn Aas left
Mecca
to join Muhammad, but there were many more who stayed behind and
treacherously called the fear of Islam in the population. One such
person, was Abass, the uncle of Muhammad, who despite being part of the
council of the elders in
Mecca
, used to furnish his nephew with the insiders information and acted as
his spy.
What is most surprising is the fact
that the Meccans did not prepare for the war after Abu Sofian brought
the dire news of Muhammad resolution to invade
Mecca
. Muir is of the opinion that after He visited Muhammad in Mecca and it
became clear to him that if Mecca resist the Muslims there would be a
blood bath and many would die, he, perhaps spurred by his patriotic zest
and his desire to avoid further bloodshed agreed to hand over Mecca to
Muhammad under the condition that the Meccans be spared. So the
agreement of the surrender of
Mecca
was reached in
Medina
. This must have been a very secret agreement of which not even Omar and
other close companions of Muhammad were privy.
So when Abu Sofian returned, he also kept the information secret
from the Meccans. Muir finds it too much of serendipity for Abu Sofian
going out in the direction of Mecca miles away from his town just to
reconnoiter and see whether the Muslims are coming and then Abbas. What
seems odd is why this mission was carried out by the chief when it would
have been wiser to send a younger and more agile man mounted on a horse.
Abbas’ departure from the camp going towards the Mecca to find
"some hewer of wood or seller of milk," to carry the message
of the arrival of the army of Muslims that up until now was kept in
total secret does not seem also a good alibi. Muhammad had taken every
city by surprise and he had kept the invasion of
Mecca
also a top secret, why would he want to give the Meccans a chance to
prepare themselves in the last hours and even send messengers to their
neighboring allies asking for re-enforcements. That is highly
uncharacteristic of Muhammad. Then the next surprising thing is that
Sofian after learning of the presence of the enemy instead of rushing
back to Mecca and telling them to prepare for the war, he mounts the
mule behind Abbas and spends the night in the camp of the enemy.
Katib al Waqidi writes that the
Meccans deputed Abu Sofian, that if he meets Muhammad to “take from
him a pledge for our security." [K. Waqidi, 127]. So obviously even
though the whole population was not aware of the invasion, the chiefs
already knew.
According to Muir: “unless Abu
Sofian, and one or two other influential men, had so acted as to quiet
suspicion, the city would have bristled with arms, as it did two years
before, when Muhammad came with peaceful, and not as now with hostile,
intentions. Where were the Bani Bakr and the numerous citizens who had
good reason to dread the vengeance of Muhammad?”
All this suggest that there was some
sort of collusion between Muhammad and Abu Sofian, were Abu Sofian got
assurances of the safety of the people and their property and Muhammad
the assurances of taking the city off guard and with no resistance.
The question that should concern the
non-Muslim counties today is whether there are not people of influence
among them that lull them, lie to them and calm their concerns about the
dangers of Islam. Unfortunately the answer is yes. Whether because of
ignorance, the desire to be politically correct or through misplaced
loyalties, there are many people of influence, writers, historians, or
politicians who present Islam in the best light, claim it to be a
religion of peace, are apologetic of its dark history of violence lull
the concerns of the people of the dangers that Islam represents to their
society.
There is no question that the
civilized world is waging a war against Islamic terrorism. But to be
able to fight this enemy, the first thing we must do is to understand
him. Who is the enemy? What are his values? What are his beliefs? What
he wants from us?
When you do not know and cannot see
your enemy; and all you can do is to shoot in the dark your
technological and military superiority is not going to avail you,
especially when your enemy can see you perfectly and can stab you from
the back.
The apologists of Islam, many of them
of them westerners and non-Muslims, have been writing books and creating
documentaries that are based on nothing but lies.
Dr. Maurice Bucaille, who was the
chief of the surgical clinic of the
University
of
Paris In
1976 published a book entitled "The Bible, The Qur’an and
science”. In this book he claimed that the Quran is “scientific”.
That book is an insult to science and human intelligence. Yet the lies
concocted by this so called scientist have fooled many into thinking
that Quran is indeed a book containing scientific miracles. What few
knew is the fact that Dr. Bucaille, despite making these absurd claims
about the Quran and its miraculous nature never converted to Islam which
makes one question his sincerity. Shouldn’t he be the first to embrace
Islam after realizing how miraculous is the Quran? So why would he write
such an absurd book? The answer is that Dr. Bucaille was appointed the
family physician of the late King Faisal of
Saudi Arabia
. He was aware of the de-humanized image of Islam outside the Islamic
world. He wrote that book and presents it to the King who lavished him
riches that he could not have made by practicing his profession alone.
Dr. Bucaille was a scientist but a charlatan at that.
Another great charlatan who sold his professional integrity
to forge miracles for Islam was Dr. Keith Moore. He was the former
President of the Canadian Association of Anatomists and professor
Emeritus, Department of anatomy and cell biology,
University
of
Toronto
. When he was offered a
faculty position in
King
Abdul
Aziz
University
, right away he smelled the sweet scent of petro-dollars. He worked with
the embryology committee of the
King
Abdul
Aziz
University
in Jeddah. His job was to interpret the many statements in the Qur’an
and Sunnah referring to the human reproduction and prenatal development.
Moore
, like Bucaille never converted to Islam, but complied with the
Saudi’s demands and wrote at a conference in
Cairo
, he presented a research paper and stated:
"It has been a great pleasure for me to help clarify
statements in the Qur’an about human development. It is clear to me
that these statements must have come to Muhammad from God, or Allah,
because most of this knowledge was not discovered until many centuries
later. This proves to me
that Muhammad must have been a messenger of God or Allah".
Moore
was handsomely rewarded for making the mockery of science and these
bogus claims.
There are more western “intellectuals” and writers that
although are not Muslims are more defensive of Islam than most Muslims.
Prof. John Esposito is an avowed apologist of Islam that even goes as
far as to defy the Muslims and say Islam is compatible with democracy.
Of course Islam is not compatible with democracy, no true Islamic
scholar would every say that or even would tolerate such insolence.
Democracy is the rule of the people over the people, i.e. people must
devise their own law. Islam means submission to the rule of Allah. The
laws governing the lives of the people are giving by Allah through his
revelation. Islam and democracy contradict each other even in the names.
Then why Esposito is so adamant to present Islam for what it is not? It
is because this sounds more pleasing to the ears of the Westerners and
it lulls their alarm vis-à-vis Islamic expansionism in their countries.
Another academician who clearly tries to portray Islam in the
best light is Prof. Michael Sells of the University
of North Carolina who wrote a book titled, "Approaching the Qur'an:
The Early Revelations", thus hiding completely the real violent
verses of the Quran that belong to the later “revelations” that
Muhammad wrote after he went to Medina. Writing a book that focuses only
on the early verses written during a period that Muhammad was weak and
his words were benign is deceptive to day the least. Most of the
early “revelation” is abrogated by the more violent and sanguinary
alter writings of Muhammad. So why Prof. Sells would try to deceive his
students with a book that portrays only the goody verses of the Quran?
His response was: “in a college course on Western civilization,
students are more likely to read Biblical passages from Exodus than the
gruesome accounts of slaughter in Joshua.” So Prof. Sells is
completely aware of the gruesome verses of the Quran but deliberately
chose to present only the “nicer” part.
I wrote to both these gentlemen inviting them to debate and
defend their views of Islam. Needless to say that neither one responded.
Then we have Karen Armstrong, the self proclaimed scholar of
Islam that talk about Islam in the most glorifying way which makes one
wonder why she has not embraced Islam yet. I asked a young man who had
left Islam after converting to as to why he became a Muslim in the first
place. He said: “The answer to your question is two words – Karen
Armstrong.” His experience with Islam was traumatic but he eventually
managed to see the light and untangle himself from this web of lies.
Unfortunately many are not as lucky as him. Many
Americans have converted to Islam, thanks to the intellectual dishonesty
of the Islamic apologists such as those mentioned above falling prey to
their deceptions and lies. They were attracted to Islam lulled by the
Islamic apologists into believing that Islam is a religion of peace and
gradually, when indoctrinated they sided with the terrorists and have
risen to kill their fellow citizens.
John Walker Lindh, the so called
American Taleban; Adam Gadahn, the interpreter and collaborator of Al
Qaida; Richard Reid, the shoe bomber; Jose Padilla the dirty bomber; Spc.
Ryan G. Anderson the U.S.
Guardsman who tried to reach al-Qaida operatives through the Internet,
offering them information on U.S. military capabilities, Capt. James
Yee, a former Fort Lewis chaplain, accused of mishandling classified
information from the U.S. prison for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo
Bay; Sgt. Asan Akbar, an
American soldier, who killed and injured more than a dozen of sleeping
fellow American soldiers and officers while shouting:
"You guys are coming into our countries, and you're going to
rape our women and kill our children"; are just few examples that
shows Muslims do not have loyalty to their own country. The loyalty of a
Muslim is with Islam.
Only two months after
the 9/11 disaster, the Italian embassy in
Saudi Arabia
announced that Torquato Cardeilli the Italian ambassador to that country
converted to Islam. Italians may consider this as a non-issue as the
choice of the religion is personal and no one’s business. I
wholeheartedly agree with the concept. Had the ambassador converted to
Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, or any other religion it would have been no
one’s business. But he converted to Islam and that is the source of
concern.
We saw how Farwa the Governor
of Amman, rebelled against the
Roman Empire
, and attacked Ghaza. Once he became a Muslim, he turned against the
Empire that he was representing and became an agent of Islam.
Re-establishing the Khalifah
Let there be no doubts as what Muslims want. They want
to topple the present governments and establish the rule of Khalifah in
the world. To know what they want, all we have to do is listen to them.
The following is an extract from islamic-state.org/west/
“What can Muslims
in
Britain
and other non-Muslim countries do to re-establish the Khilafah?
The Prophet said: “The Muslims are
one Ummah, their land is one land and their war is one war."
O Muslims in
Britain
and Muslims in the West, we must take heed from these words of
Rasuululah [the Prophet]. We
must realise that we are part of the global Muslim Ummah and not British
Muslims or Western Muslims. We should not localise our vision and forget
the problems of the Muslims worldwide whether they are in
Palestine
,
Chechnya
or
Pakistan
. We should not become integrated into the corrupt Western society and
accept their diseased notions of democracy, freedom and Capitalism.
Allah (swt) warned us in the Quran, "The
Jews and the Christans will never be pleased with you until you follow
their Millah (their way or their religion)"
So what can the Muslims of Britain and
the West do to aid the work for the re-establishment of the Khilafah and
the resumption of the Islamic way of life? No-one is seriously
attempting to re-establish the Khilafah in the
UK
. The role of the Muslims in
Britain
and other Western countries is to support the work of the Muslims in the
Muslim lands. There are a number of things we can do to facilitate the
dawah.”
After explaining the methods that Muslims could employ
to establish the Khalifah this article ends with the following
exhortation:
“Dear brothers and sisters we invite
you to work with Hizb ut-Tahrir and participate in achieving its noble
aim of liberating the Ummah from the shackles of colonialism and
implementing Islam. I hope you can see that there is a lot we can do to
support the work to re-establish the Khilafah and that being here is not
life in the slow lane or a marginal role in the dawah”
Let us recall the words of Omar Ahmad, the Co-founder
of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
"Islam
isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become
dominant...The Koran, the Muslim book of scripture, should be the
highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on
Earth,"
And Ibrahim Hooper, CAIR’s spokesperson:
"I wouldn't want
to create the impression that I wouldn't like the government of the
United States
to be Islamic sometime in the future...But I'm not going to do anything
violent to promote that. I'm going to do it through education."
The question we have to ask ourselves is how to balance
the respect for human rights of the Muslims living among us with our own
security. There is no easy answer to this question. Inevitably, giving
emphasis to one undermines the other. These two choices are mutually
exclusive.
Unfortunately the options are few. We either, bite the
bullet and discriminate against the Muslims, barring them from occupying
sensitive jobs, thus violating everything we stand for, our values and
standards of liberty and democracy or live with constant fear and the
prospect of potential enemies infiltrating into our society and
government institutions attacking us from within.
Imagine how wise it would have been for the
U.S.A.
to recruit a declared Nazi as the National Guard during the height of
the WWII or employ a KGB operative in the Department of Defense. The
loyalty of Muslims to
America
or any other country that is not Islamic is just about that much.
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