Muhammad: A Terrorist
The dictionary
definition of terrorism is �the calculated use of violence (or the
threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that
are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done
through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear." Sadly, we
are living in an age that we do not need to consult a dictionary to
learn the meaning of terrorism. Even our children know about it and
are affected by it.
Islamic terrorism,
however, did not start in 9/11 of 2001, nor did it start with the
Iranian Islamic Revolution in 1979. Islamic terrorism has its origin
in the sayings and examples set by Muhammad.
In the last ten years of
his life, after Muhammad migrated to
Medina
, he launched no less than 78 raids called qazwa (raid, ambush, sudden
attack). Some of these qazwas involved the assassination of one
opponent by one or a group of volunteers, and others were carried out
by hundreds or thousands of warriors. Nonetheless a common
characteristic of all Muhammad�s incursions was that they were done
without notice. The enemy was caught off guard without being given the
chance to prepare himself or be armed. As such all Muhammad�s
victims were civilians.
The historian
Abul Husain Muslim Nisapuri writes:
Ibn 'Aun reported: I wrote to Nafi' inquiring from him whether it was
necessary to extend (to the disbelievers) an invitation to accept
(Islam) before meeting them in fight. He wrote (in reply) to me that
it was necessary in the early days of Islam. The Messenger of Allah
(may peace be upon him) made a raid upon Banu Mustaliq while they were
unaware and their cattle were having a drink at the water. He killed
those who fought and imprisoned others. On that very day, he captured
Juwairiya bint al-Harith. Nafi' said that this tradition was related
to him by Abdullah b. Umar who (himself) was among the raiding
troops.�
Muslim
19: 4292
Muhammad used the same element of surprise in virtually all
his raids. Bukhari writes:
Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) offered the Fajr
prayer when it was still dark, then he rode and said, 'Allah Akbar! Khaibar is ruined. When we approach near to a nation, the
most unfortunate is the morning of those who have been warned."
The people came out into the streets saying, "Muhammad and his
army." Allah's Apostle vanquished them by force and their
warriors were killed; the children and women were taken as captives.
Safiya was taken by Dihya Al-Kalbi and later she belonged to Allah's
Apostle go who married her and her Mahr was her manumission. Bukhari 2.14.068
Here we read that Muhammad said: �the
most unfortunate is the morning of those who have been warned.� This
should not be interpreted as announcing his plans for war. Actually
not even his men knew which town they are going to attack until they
reached at the gates of that town. He
sent spies to the cities that he wanted to attack and ambushed them
when they were least prepared. This �warning� should be
interpreted with the understanding of the Muslim mind. As far as
Muslims are concerned we are all warned. They have called us to
convert or prepare to die. This is the warning. There will be no other
warning. Now that they have issued the warning, we are all fair game.
All the non-Muslims are legitimate targets of Islamic terrorism.
Muslim warriors today, do what their prophet did and follow his
examples. The pattern and the modus operandi, is already set.
All Muslims� wars and conquests have been through raid.
This has been always the case and the secret of their success.
In one hadith Muhammad boasted, �I
have been made victorious through terror�. Bukhari 4:52.220
About four years after Hijra, an ambulant vendor
came to
Medina
reporting that the tribes of Anmar and Tha�laba, (sun clans of
Ghatfan) have gathered in Dhatal Riqa�. Upon hearing this news
Muhammad left his loyal companion Utham in charge of the city and with
a group of four hundred men (or seven hundred) warriors immediately
headed to the place of the gathering of these Arab tribes. He found no
one there but a few women, between them there was a beautiful girl.
They captured the women. The men of the tribe took refuge in the
mountains. (Ibn Sa�d Tabaqat V.
2 P. 59)
When the prayer time came, the Muslims were
afraid that the Ghatafan men might descend from their mountain hideout
and make a sudden attack on them while they were praying. Apprehending
this fear, Muhammad introduced the �prayer of fear,� where a party
of faithful stands guard while the other party prays. Then they take
turns. A revelation came from Allah on this provision regarding
shortening of a prayer. (4:100-102)
And when you journey in
the earth, there is no blame on you if you shorten the prayer, if you
fear that those who disbelieve will cause you distress, surely the
unbelievers are your open enemy. (4:101)
Two months after the raid of Dhatal Riqa� Muhammad received the
news that a large group of Ghatfan has gathered in the oasis of
Dumatal Jandal, between Hijaz and al-Sham to barter goods. This place
was five nights journey from
Medina
. Muhammad immediately gathered one thousand of his followers. They
rode during the night and hid during the day. Muhammad
also took the informer who was from the tribe of Bani udhrah as the
guide. He reached this group at night time and the footprints of their
herds of goats and camels could were still on the ground. The Muslims
raided the herds of the animals, some of the shepherds were killed and
some escaped. Muslims collected a large spoil. When
the news reached the people of Domat, they scattered and the Prophet
found no one in their place. He stayed a few days and sent various
groups to the neighborhood to investigate but they returned having
found no one, except one man whom they took as captive. Muhammad
asked him about the tribe, the man said when the people heard about
the raid they escaped. The Prophet then called upon him to accept
Islam, which he did and then the Muslims returned to
Medina
. (Ibn Sa�d Tabaqat V. 2
P. 60)
Muslim historian claim that Muhammad the Qatfan were planning to
attack Muslims. This is typical Islamic mindset, that always blames
their victims. As the their own tale makes it clear, these people were
a bunch of nomads and herdsmen and not warriors. Today Muslims use the
same excuses and blame their victims to justify thier crimes against
humanity. As an Arab proverb says: Darabani,
wa baka; Sabaqani, wa'shtaka � He struck me, and started
crying; then he went ahead of me and charged me with beating
him!� This has been Muhammad�s and his followers modus
operandi.
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