Re: Muhammad's religion under scrutiny
Originally posted by mahasattva
I have read book entitled "Islam in focus" written by Hammudah Abdalati who lived in canada, a renowned late Islamic scholar in North america. The life story of Muhammad began his peaceful propagation message with the arab tribal groups but later part of his life and revelations he became intolerant to arab tribal groups and the with christians and jews.
He hadn't become 'intolerant' he was literally in the middle of a war with people who were trying to wipe the early Muslims out.
Originally posted by mahasattva
During chaotic times and oppressions between tribal and religious groups in arabia and followers of Muhammad(muslims), He wen to wage war and commaded his muslim followers to kill the infidels until they believed in Allah, the god of Islam.
He was at war with apeople who had broken numerous peace treaties and who would capture, torture and slay the Muslims whenever they could for years. If those people had been kept around they would have been no end of trouble for the growing community of believers.
Originally posted by mahasattva
I happened to read a passage in that book which stated: ".... if there is any religion or constitution to guarantee peaceful freedom of religion and forbid compulsion in religion, it is Islam and islam alone..." as stated in early revelation of sura 2:256, “There is no compulsion in religion”. But for me this is not entirely true.
You are confused.
In the latter revelation of Muhammad's life, this teaching is abrogated by later verses which state that Islam is to be “shown” to people of other faiths who, if they refuse to acknowledge, accept and follow it, are then are to be slain (suras 9:5, 47:5, and 8:39 among others) in which Muhammad became intolerant with others.[/b][/quote]
Again he wasn't being 'intolerant' he was at war. The Jewish tribes had broken a treaty with the Muslim community and had actually sided with the pagans against them in acts of war.
Originally posted by mahasattva
The book is biased...
This post of yours is biased.
Originally posted by mahasattva
[B]...because it does not touched upon the totality of Quran/Islam. Hence, we could see in the contemporary islamic law(shariah) and in many Islamic countries, only the religion of Islam was compelled to believe and any muslims who wish to leave(apostate) islam will be punished or beheaded.
They should not have been. Stuff like that comes from poor understanding combined with political power-tripping.