Muhammad: A Torturer 

(From: Understanding Muhammad) 

Ibn Ishaq (pronounced Isaac), the first biographer of Muhammad narrates the story of the conquest of Kheibar. He reports that Muhammad, without warning, raided this fortress town, inhabited by Jews and killed many unarmed people as they were fleeing. Among those captured was Kinana. He writes:  

Kinana al-Rabi, who had the custody of the treasure of Banu Nadir, was brought to the apostle who asked him about it.  He denied that he knew where it was.  A Jew came (Tabari says �was brought�) to the apostle and said that he had seen Kinana going to a certain ruin every morning early. When the apostle said to Kinana, �Do you know that if we find you have it (the treasure) I shall kill you?�  He said, �Yes.�  The apostle gave orders that the ruin was to be excavated and some of the treasure was found. When he asked him about the rest (of the treasure?) he refused to produce it, so the apostle gave orders to al-Zubayr Al-Awwam, �Torture him until you extract what he has.�  So he kindled a fire with flint and steel on his chest until he was nearly dead.  Then the apostle delivered him to Muhammad b. Maslama and he struck off his head, in revenge for his brother Mahmud.[1]  

On the same day that Muhammad tortured to death the youthful Kinana, he took his seventeen year old wife Safiya to a tent for sexual intercourse.   

In another story Bukhari reports:

Anas said, "Some people of 'Ukl or 'Uraina tribe came to Medina and its climate did not suit them. So the Prophet ordered them to go to the herd of (Milch) camels and to drink their milk and urine (as a medicine). So they went as directed and after they became healthy, they killed the shepherd of the Prophet and drove away all the camels. The news reached the Prophet early in the morning and he sent (men) in their pursuit and they were captured and brought at noon. He then ordered to cut their hands and feet (and it was done), and their eyes were branded with heated pieces of iron, They were put in 'Al-Harra' and when they asked for water, no water was given to them." Abu Qilaba said, "Those people committed theft and murder, became infidels after embracing Islam and fought against Allah and His Apostle."  Bukhari 1.4.234

Another hadith says, �He [Muhammad] had their hands and feet cut off, ordered nails which were heated and passed over their eyes, and they were left in a rocky land to die slowly.  Anas said that they asked for water, and nobody provided them with water till they died. Bukhari 4.02.261

These Arabs had committed murder and theft and had to be punished, but why this much torture?  Wasn�t Muhammad doing exactly the same things? Where did Muhammad get his camels?  Weren�t they stolen?  Didn�t he raid and kill people to loot them?

This double standard is what has characterized the Muslim world since its inception.  The concept of the Golden Rule and fairness is absent in the psyche of the Muslims.  They demand all privileges in non-Muslim countries, while they deny the basic human rights to non-Muslims in countries where they are the majority.  They sincerely believe this is how things should be.

<  Back to Sina's Challenge