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Uhod

Ever since their defeat at Badr, the Quraish were seeking revenge. They had lost many of their noble men and had realized that their enemy was not reconciliatory but mortal. They had to restore their credibility and honor and only another war could do that. A year after Badr 3000 strong form Mecca headed to Medina. Many women also accompanied the expedition. The women did not took part in war. Their job was to encourage the men to fight and enkindled the fury of the army by chanting verses to the stirring cadence of the tumbrel.

Muhammad was forewarned of this preparation through a letter that he received from his uncle Abbas. The army of the Quraish stationed in Uhod about five miles to the East of Medina and let lose their camels and horses to graze eating the crops. Having assessed the magnitude of the army through his spies Muhammad hesitated to go out of the city. He claimed to have had a dream in which his loss was foretold. Abdullah ibn Obay one of the chiefs of Medina also advised him not to leave the city as he suggested it would be easier if they confronted the enemy in the city and from the rooftops while the enemy is in the streets.

The younger and more impetuous citizens were displeased of this decision considering it to be cowardly to not face the enemy while they have ravaged their properties. “This is a disgrace”, they said “that will cleave to us irretrievably, and the Arab tribes will be emboldened to repeat the insult. Let us go forth and smite our foes, even as we did at Badr!" [Muir on the authority of Waqidi, 109; Waqidi, 210.]

Finally Muhammad relented and decided to meet the enemy in the battlefield. He put on his mail coat and his helmet, hung a sword to his leathern girdle and slung a shield over his shoulder and with 1000 strong he marched towards Uhod.

Muhammad encamped and spent that night in a place between Uhud and Medina. A sentry guarded his tent all the night. So fearful was he of his life that he awoke several times during the night, and asked whether there was anyone on guard and to make sure that that he has not fallen asleep. Waqidi, 216, and 107.

At dawn, the army advanced towards Uhod. To make a shortcut he passed through the garden of a blind man. The poor man murmured at the injury to his property, and cast dust at Mahomet. One of the Muslims sprang up and beat him and vowed to kill him. He was stopped by a chief of the Bani Kharraj who was related to the blind man. Such was the influence of Muhammad on his followers that they took advantage of every situation to ingratiate themselves with him, a gesture that delighted him and was encouraged.

Finally the two armies confronted each other. Muhammad wore a second coat of mail. Now with two mails he was so heavy that he could hardly stand on his feet, let alone combat the enemy. As usual he kept behind, surrounded by a few personal guards and contenting himself with cheering his followers and assuring them of heavenly assistance and rewards.

But this time heavenly assistance did not come. Later he would say that angles had decided not to help so to put to test the faith of the Muslims. The Muslims’ ranks were broken and they were forced back. Desperately tying to stay their flight he cried aloud. - “Where are you going? Come back! I am the Apostle of God! Return.” But the call was not heeded; the retreat went on unchecked. [Waqidi, 234.]

 

Muhammad was left unattended. A man from Quraish pelted him with stones. One of the stones caught his face. His lower right incisor (the tooth that is between a canine and a front tooth) broke and his lower lip was cleaved. Another Meccan made a gash on his forehead. ‘Abdullah bin Qami’a, jumped on him and struck him on his shoulder with his sword. "Take this stroke from me, I am Ibn Qami’a." He said while striking Muhammad with his sword. Muhammad fell into a ditch and remained motionless. Bin Qami’a thought he had killed him. Two of Muhammad’s companions rushed to their prophet’s succor and chased away his assailant.

But Muhammad had not been killed. He had feigned death so to escape further battering. The blow did not break his two armors but two rings of his iron-ringed helmet penetrated into his cheek.

Aqma’aka Allâh” (I implore Allâh to humiliate you.) He cursed his assailant after he was rescued, while wiping the blood flowing on his face. [Saifur Rahman al-Mubarakpuri Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum on the authority of Fath Al-Bari 7/373, 366]

After Muhammad’s wounds were treated, he grumbled, - “How shall the people prosper, that have treated thus their Prophet, who calls them unto their Lord! Let the wrath of God burn against the men that have besprinkled the face of his Apostle with blood!”

What escaped the logic of Muhammad and his followers is that a true prophet of God does not commit crimes such as assassinations, murder, highway robbery and genocide. Muhammad’s own examples were morally wrong. He was acting like a marauding chieftain and a ruthless despot. He had no right to demand people treat him kindly and accept his baseless claims when his life was full of lust, greed and crimes. Muhammad’s deeds were not those of a holy man. This moral relativist prophet had no qualms raiding innocent unarmed people and massacring them but if he was wounded in a battle, he would curse those who inflicted injury upon him. Muhammad truly believed he is special and hence he deserved preferential treatment. These are clues that show he was not a sane human being but one who suffered from severe narcissist personality disorder (NPD).

In an article titled The Cult of the Narcissist, 1 May 2004, Dr, Sam Vaknin explains:

“The narcissist is the guru at the center of a cult. Like other gurus, he demands complete obedience from his flock: his spouse, his offspring, other family members, friends, and colleagues. He feels entitled to adulation and special treatment by his followers. He punishes the wayward and the straying lambs. He enforces discipline, adherence to his teachings, and common goals. The less accomplished he is in reality - the more stringent his mastery and the more pervasive the brainwashing..”

Waqidi says that when Muhammad was brought down to his followers he cursed those that inflicted the wounds, saying, - “Let not the year pass over them alive” and in his zest to attribute miracles to his prophet he adds “it came to pass that not one of those that shot at the Prophet survived beyond the year." [Wackidi, 242; K. Wackidi, 107.]

Later Muhammad would remember the words of Jesus Christ on his cross "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34) and to redress the situation and make a show of piety he made his Allah reveal the following:

"Not for you (O Muhammad [pbuh] but for Allâh) is the decision; whether He turns in mercy to (pardons) them or punishes them; verily, they are the Zâlimûn (polytheists, disobedients, and wrong-doers)." 3:128

Verses such as these, where Muhammad makes his Allah rebuke him had their intended effect on his followers for they were perceived as the indication of his honesty. He would often used this tactic to reverse something he had said before.

Certainly Muhammad’s curses had no effect. If they had, he would not wage war on his enemies and encourage his followers to fight for him and his cause.

The biographer Muslim tells us that when 70 of his men were lost in a war, “he invoked curse for full one month upon their murderers.” [Sahih Muslimi Book 004, Number 1438]
'Asim reported - I heard Anas saying: Never did I ace the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) so much grieved (at the loss of a) small army as I saw him grieved at those seventy men who were called" reciters" (and were killed) at Bi'r Ma'una; and he invoked curse for full one month upon their murderers. In another hadith while repeating the same story it says that after one month of cursing he abandoned it. [Sahih Muslim Book 004, Number 1442:
Anas reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) observed Qunut for one month invoking curse upon some tribes of Arabia (those who were responsible for the murders in Bi'r Ma'una and Raji'), but then abandoned it. It is clear that cursing has no effect. But the very fact that Muhammad resorted to cursing is proof that he was a vengeful man who he could not contain his odium.

In another hadith we read a similar tale where he invokes the curse of Allah on his enemies five times everyday after reciting his daily prayers. He said: "Allah listens to him who praises Him". And in the last rak'ah, he invoked a curse on some clans that were not friendly with him.

Book 8, Number 1438:
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:
The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) recited the supplication (Qunut) daily for a month at the noon, afternoon, sunset, night and morning prayers. When he said: "Allah listens to him who praises Him" in the last rak'ah, invoking a curse on some clans of Banu Sulaym, Ri'l, Dhakwan and Usayyah, and those who were standing behind him said: Amen.

He was so convinced that cursing works that in surah Al-e-Imran he makes his god reveal the following

“If any one disputes in this matter with thee, now after (full) knowledge Hath come to thee, say: "Come! let us gather together,- our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves: Then let us earnestly pray, and invoke the curse of Allah on those who lie!" 3.61

Isn’t this curious that God would ask us humans to engage in cursing each other and invoking his wrath on one another? If he wanted to punish his enemies why would he need us begging for it? Does he need our permission or is he forgetful and needs to be reminded? Isn’t this verse alone enough proof that the Quran is not the word of God?

Curiously in one occasion when he had a group of women as the audience, he addresses them saying “O womenfolk, you should give charity and ask much forgiveness for I saw you in bulk amongst the dwellers of Hell. A wise lady among them said: Why is it, Messenger of Allah, that our folk is in bulk in Hell? Upon this the Holy Prophet observed: You curse too much and are ungrateful to your spouses.”

Sahih Muslim Book 001, Number 0142:
It is narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah b. Umar that the Messenger of Allah observed: O womenfolk, you should give charity and ask much forgiveness for I saw you in bulk amongst the dwellers of Hell. A wise lady among them said: Why is it, Messenger of Allah, that our folk is in bulk in Hell? Upon this the Holy Prophet observed: You curse too much and are ungrateful to your spouses. I have seen none lacking in common sense and failing in religion but (at the same time) robbing the wisdom of the wise, besides you. Upon this the woman remarked: What is wrong with our common sense and with religion? He (the Holy Prophet) observed: Your lack of common sense (can be well judged from the fact) that the evidence of two women is equal to one man, that is a proof of the lack of common sense, and you spend some nights (and days) in which you do not offer prayer and in the month of Ramadan (during the days) you do not observe fast, that is a failing in religion. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Tahir with this chain of transmitters.

Therefore, it is clear that Muhammad was aware that cursing is wrong. However in numerous places in the Quran we see that he is cursing his enemies:

the curse of Allah is on those without Faith 2.89

Allah's curse is on them for their blasphemy 2.88

on them shall be Allah's curse, and the curse of those entitled to curse 2.159

Those who reject Faith, and die rejecting,- on them is Allah's curse, and the curse of angels, and of all mankind; 2.161

Of such the reward is that on them (rests) the curse of Allah, of His angels, and of all mankind;- 3.87

O ye People of the Book! believe in what We have (now) revealed, confirming what was (already) with you, before We change the face and fame of some (of you) beyond all recognition, and turn them hindwards, or curse them as We cursed the Sabbath-breakers,. 4.47

those who incurred the curse of Allah and His wrath, those of whom some He transformed into apes and swine, 5.60

The Jews call 'Uzair a son of Allah, and the Christians call Christ the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. Allah's curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth! 9.30

for them [the Hypocrites] is the curse of Allah, and an enduring punishment 9.68

the Curse of Allah is on those who do wrong!- 11.18

But those who break the Covenant of Allah, …- on them is the curse; for them is the terrible home! 13.25

They are the enemies; so beware of them. The curse of Allah be on them! 63.4

 

Let us go back to the battle of Uhud. Ibn Qami’a after striking Muhammad went back to his comrades, exclaiming he had killed Muhammad. The news soon spread. Muslims were disheartened and wavered. "Where now," they asked, "is the promise of his Lord?" At the same time the rumor dampened the ardor of the Quraish to continue the fight. Their enemy was Muhammad. It was him who was behind all these lootings and murders. Once he was eliminated the reconciliation could begin. They found no more reason for further bloodshed and stopped pursuing the enemy.

Had Muhammad been killed on that occasion, hundreds of millions of lives would have been spared. So many people were killed and so many are still being killed for the lies of one man. This is total insanity. This is the biggest shame and disgrace to mankind.

Muhammad’s friends helped him out of the ditch and carried him down the cliffs to where the greater part of his army had already found a secure retreat. One of his followers met him on the way and upon seeing he was alive exclaimed with joy and began to call aloud giving the glad tiding to his fellow comrades; but Muhammad, fearing that the danger may not have been passed, motioned him to be silent

The Quraish started searched among the deaths and could not find Muhammad. Abu Sofian drew near to the foot of the hill, and, raising his voice, called aloud the names of Muhammad, Abu Bakr, and Omar. The frightened Muhammad put his finger on his lips and rejoined silence. Then he cried out again: - “Then all these are dead, and we got rid of them!" Omar could contain himself no longer;- “You lie!” he exclaimed; “we are all alive. You the enemy of God.” “Then,” continued Abu Sofyan, “this day shall be a return for Badr. Fortune alternates, even as a bucket.” After challenging each other to another encounter next year in Badr, Abu Sofian gathered his troops and they leisurely wended their way through the defiles that lead down the road to Mecca.

The number of the Quraish died in this battle was about twenty. Muslims’ casualties were seventy four.

Neither in this war, nor in any other war Muhammad took direct part in the combats. Not having any use for his sword, at the commencement of the action he held up his sword and said, -"who will take this sword, and give to it its due?" Abu Dujana came forward and Muhammad gave it to him; - "And he clave therewith the heads of the Unbelievers." wrote gloatingly the biographers, as if the sword could perform miracles. [K. Waqidi,288; Waqidi, 255 Hishami, 255; Tabair; 395.]

This time it was the city of Medina that was mourning. Many families had lost their loved ones and the sobbing and wailing could be heard from every house. Muhammad was still fearful. He asked the chief men to keep watch over his door all the night, for fear of a night attack from the Quraish.

The whole city was mourning but Mahomet slept heavily, and did not answer the call of Bilal for the second evening prayer.

 

The next day after he woke up, Muhammad commanded Bilal to proclaim through the city that he was about to start in pursuit of the Quraish, and asked those who fought in Uhod to accompany him. This was to lift their spirit and remove the impression of defeat. It was but a mere gesture of bravado and a face saving ploy, often evinced in the behavior of animals such as barking of a dog after the danger is removed.

Once the warriors assemble at the Mosque in their armors, putting on a brave face, - "What do you think"- he inquired Talha, one of the chiefs, "how far have the Quraish by this time reached on their journey?" - "To the valley of Sayyala," he said, which is one long march from Medina 73. "So I was thinking also," rejoined Mahomet ;-"

Stiff and disfigured as he was from the wounds of previous day, he mounted his horse and led his army in the chase of the Quriash to Meccan road. Meanwhile two of his spies whom he had sent in advance fell in the hands of the Quraish and were killed. He found their bodies in Hamra al Asad. He decided to end the chase there and rested with his men for three days regaling himself and his army with fresh dates, a plentiful harvest of fresh fruits. He ordered five hundred fires to be kindled on the adjoining heights, to make the Quraish believe that the pursuing force was very large. Contenting himself with this show of strength, he returned to Medina, after an absence of five or six days. [K. Waqidi, 108; Waqidi, 325; Hishami, 270; Tabari, 305.]

At Hamra al Asad Muhammad’s men caught a Meccan who had loitered and was left behind by the Quraish. Muhammad ordered that he be executed ignoring his pleading for mercy. In Medina he found another Meccan who had lost his way and because of his friendship with Osman had sought refuge at his home. Muhammad gave him three days truce. He became overconfident and did not leave until the third day. When he left town, Muhammad sent his men after him, who caught him and killed him after the three days were lapsed. Thus the prophet took his revenge and kept his word too.

This defeat and humiliation made his critics including the Jews ask what happened to the angels. If as Muhammad claimed the victory of the Badr was because the angels were waging war to help the Muslims, why this time they did not come to help? Murmurs of the humiliating defeat were rife throughout the Medina. This overturn emboldened Muhammad’s opponents and made his adherents to stagger. If the success at Badr was the proof of divine support, by the same token the defeat at Ohud should be the proof of nullity of Muhammad’s prophetic claim.

“How can Muhammad pretend now," asked the Jews and other critics sneeringly, "to be anything more than an aspirant to the kingly office? No true claimant of the prophetic dignity both ever been beaten in the field, or suffered loss in his own person, and that of his followers, as he hath." Waqidi, 309.

However, Muhammad was an able manipulator. He made his Allah reveal verses to show that this defeat has been brought upon the Muslims on purpose so he [Allah] could test the strength of their faith and to sift the true believers from those who were infidels at heart.

In these verses he reassured the steadfast that they will inherit the paradise and that the martyrs have a blast in the bosom of God.

The last 80 verses of the Surah Imran (Surah 3) are all written after the Battle of Uhod. In these verses Muhammad shifts the blame on the Muslims for their lack of faith and for disobeying him when he told a group of them not to leave a strategic place in the battle but they did to chase the women of the Quraish and steal their jewelry. He also gives them a lot of pep talk about the rewards that they are gong to receive if they remain steadfast and also gives them assurance that those who fell in Uhud are martyrs and


Think not of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead. Nay, they live, finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord;
They rejoice in the bounty provided by Allah: And with regard to those left behind, who have not yet joined them (in their bliss), the (Martyrs) glory in the fact that on them is no fear, nor have they (cause to) grieve. 3.169-170

Muhammad gathered his followers in the Mosque and after going through the ritual of prayer he read them the verses that he had allegedly received from God. The feeling of awe, once again overwhelms the foolhardy believers and the disaffection and thoughts of treason vanish away.

Thus, with nothing but sweet talk Muhammad adroitly averted a potential dissension and won back the confidence of his gullible followers. Muhammad ability to manipulate and win the hearts of his followers was remarkable.

s of Paradise. The faithful had coveted the happy state of the martyrs at Badr, and longed for the same blessed fortune; now when death presented itself they fled before its terrors! The slaughter, anywise, could not have been averted by following the counsels of those who stayed at home; for the hour of death is fixed for every one, and is inevitable. Future success is largely promised, if the believers will but remain stedfast and be courageous. The Lord had already at Ohod placed victory within their reach, when by cowardice and disobedience they drew defeat upon themselves. Even if Mahomet had been killed in battle, what then? he is but the Messenger of God like other Apostles that have died before him. The cause itself is immortal and divine. Such was his line of argument, mingled with comfort, reproof, and exhortation. It had its full effect in reassuring the true adherents of the Prophet; and so long as these were heart and soul upon Mahomet's side, his position at Medina was secure.

 

 

 

 

 

Vaknin in the Cult of the Narcissist, continues:

“The Often involuntary - members of the narcissist's mini-cult inhabit a twilight zone of his own construction. He imposes on them a shared psychosis, replete with persecutory delusions, "enemies", mythical narratives, and apocalyptic scenarios if he is flouted.

The narcissist's control is based on ambiguity, unpredictability, fuzziness, and ambient abuse. His ever-shifting whims exclusively define right versus wrong, desirable and unwanted, what is to be pursued and what to be avoided. He alone determines the rights and obligations of his disciples and alters them at will.

The narcissist is a micro-manager. He exerts control over the minutest details and behaviors. He punishes severely and abuses withholders of information and those who fail to conform to his wishes and goals.

The narcissist does not respect the boundaries and privacy of his reluctant adherents. He ignores their wishes and treats them as objects or instruments of gratification. He seeks to control both situations and people compulsively.

He strongly disapproves of others' personal autonomy and independence. Even innocuous activities, such as meeting a friend or visiting one's family require his permission. Gradually, he isolates his nearest and dearest until they are fully dependent on him emotionally, sexually, financially, and socially.

He acts in a patronizing and condescending manner and criticizes often. He alternates between emphasizing the minutest faults (devalues) and exaggerating the talents, traits, and skills (idealizes) of the members of his cult. He is wildly unrealistic in his expectations - which legitimizes his subsequent abusive conduct.

The narcissist claims to be infallible, superior, talented, skillful, omnipotent, and omniscient. He often lies and confabulates to support these unfounded claims. Within his cult, he expects awe, admiration, adulation, and constant attention commensurate with his outlandish stories and assertions. He reinterprets reality to fit his fantasies.

His thinking is dogmatic, rigid, and doctrinaire. He does not countenance free thought, pluralism, or free speech and doesn't brook criticism and disagreement. He demands - and often gets - complete trust and the relegation to his capable hands of all decision-making.

He forces the participants in his cult to be hostile to critics, the authorities, institutions, his personal enemies, or the media - if they try to uncover his actions and reveal the truth. He closely monitors and censors information from the outside, exposing his captive audience only to selective data and analyses.

The narcissist's cult is "missionary" and "imperialistic". He is always on the lookout for new recruits - his spouse's friends, his daughter's girlfriends, his neighbors, new colleagues at work. He immediately attempts to "convert" them to his "creed" - to convince them how wonderful and admirable he is. In other words, he tries to render them sources of narcissistic supply.

Often, his behavior on these "recruiting missions" is different to his conduct within the "cult". In the first phases of wooing new admirers and proselytizing to potential "conscripts" - the narcissist is attentive, compassionate, empathic, flexible, self-effacing, and helpful. At home, among the "veterans" he is tyrannical, demanding, willful, opinionated, aggressive, and exploitative.

As the leader of his congregation, the narcissist feels entitled to special amenities and benefits not accorded the "rank and file". He expects to be waited on hand and foot, to make free use of everyone's money and dispose of their assets liberally, and to be cynically exempt from the rules that he himself established (if such violation is pleasurable or gainful).

In extreme cases, the narcissist feels above the law - any kind of law. This grandiose and haughty conviction leads to criminal acts, incestuous or polygamous relationships, and recurrent friction with the authorities.

Hence the narcissist's panicky and sometimes violent reactions to "dropouts" from his cult. There's a lot going on that the narcissist wants kept under wraps. Moreover, the narcissist stabilizes his fluctuating sense of self-worth by deriving narcissistic supply from his victims. Abandonment threatens the narcissist's precariously balanced personality.

Add to that the narcissist's paranoid and schizoid tendencies, his lack of introspective self-awareness, and his stunted sense of humor (lack of self-deprecation) and the risks to the grudging members of his cult are clear.

The narcissist sees enemies and conspiracies everywhere. He often casts himself as the heroic victim (martyr) of dark and stupendous forces. In every deviation from his tenets he espies malevolent and ominous subversion. He, therefore, is bent on disempowering his devotees. By any and all means.

The narcissist is dangerous.

 

 

 

 

 

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