Islam Under Scrutiny by Ex-Muslims
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Muhammad had Violated the Qur'anDecember 9, 2005 But this is
just a fib. When we diligently study the biography Muhammad and
the ahadith we find quite a few examples where Muhammad
had openly transgressed the provisions in the Qur'an. Sex was an
important aspect of Muhammad's life. His unbridled indulgence in
sex had, on many occasions, forced him to violate Allah's rule overtly.
To suppress his breach of the Qur'anic laws on sex and sexuality,
he, as usual, concocted stories of Allah's exemption to His dearest
friend. In this essay I am exposing the hypocrisy of some Islamists
who claim adamantly that Muhammad could have never violated the
Qur'an. Examples of how Muhammad had violated the Qur'an vis-à-vis sex Muhammad broke the rule on sex during fasting What the Holy Qur'an says about sex during fasting time: During fasting, sexual activity is for the night only...2:187 002.187 Here is what Muhammad did while observing fast: Muhammad slept with Umm Salama during her period, kissed her while fasting and used to take bath from the same pot after having sex…(Sahih Bukhari,1.6.319) Sahih Bukhari: Volume 1, Book 6, Number 319: Narrated Zainab bint Abi Salama: Um-Salama said, "I got my menses while I was lying with the Prophet under a woollen sheet. So I slipped away, took the clothes for menses and put them on. Allah's Apostle said, 'Have you got your menses?' I replied, 'Yes.' Then he called me and took me with him under the woollen sheet." Um Salama further said, "The Prophet used to kiss me while he was fasting. The Prophet and I used to take the bath of Janaba from a single pot." While fasting, Muhammad kissed and embraced his wives...(Sahih Bukhari,3.31.149) Sahih Bukhari: Volume 3, Book 31, Number 149: Narrated 'Aisha: The Prophet used to kiss and embrace (his wives) while he was fasting, and he had more power to control his desires than any of you. Said Jabir, "The person who gets discharge after casting a look (on his wife) should complete his fast." Muhammad used to kiss and suck Aisha's tongue while they were fasting...(Sunaan Abu Dawud,13.2380) Sunaan Abu Dawud: Book 13, Number 2380: Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) used to kiss her and suck her tongue when he was fasting. Muhammad violated the Qur'anic rules on dower (mehr) and the time of waiting (idda)) in marrying a divorced/widowed woman When Muhammad captured Khaybar, he took as a captive Safiyyah bt Huyayy, a very pretty teenage-girl and married her without paying her any dowry (mehr). The payment of mehr is compulsory in Islamic law of marriage. First, we shall examine how Muhammad violated the rule of dower. This rule is stipulated in the Qur'an thus:
004.004 To hide his deception, Muhammad claimed that marrying Safiyyah was in itself a good honour for her, her dowry was her manumission from being a sex-slave to Muhammad. Muhammad consummated his marriage with Saffiyah by staying with her for three days on way from Khaybar; he ordered her to wear a veil...(Sahih Bukhari, 5.59.523, 524) Sahih Bukhari: Volume 5, Book 59, Number 523: Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet stayed with Safiya bint Huyai for three days on the way of Khaibar where he consummated his marriage with her. Safiya was amongst those who were ordered to use a veil. Volume 5, Book 59, Number 524: Narrated Anas: The Prophet stayed for three rights between Khaibar and Medina and was married to Safiya. I invited the Muslim to his marriage banquet and there was neither meat nor bread in that banquet but the Prophet ordered Bilal to spread the leather mats on which dates, dried yogurt and butter were put. The Muslims said amongst themselves, "Will she (i.e. Safiya) be one of the mothers of the believers, (i.e. one of the wives of the Prophet) or just (a lady captive) of what his right-hand possesses" Some of them said, "If the Prophet makes her observe the veil, then she will be one of the mothers of the believers (i.e. one of the Prophet's wives), and if he does not make her observe the veil, then she will be his lady slave." So when he departed, he made a place for her behind him (on his and made her observe the veil. Muhammad stayed with Safiyyah for three nights consummating his marriage…(Sunaan Abu Dawud, 2.11.2118) Sunaan Dawud: vol. ii, Book 11, number 2118 Anas b Malik said: When the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) married safiyyah, he stayed with her three nights. The narrator ‘Uthman added: She was non-virgin (previously married). He said: This tradition has been narrated to me by Hushaim, reported by Humaid, and transmitted by Anas. Saffiya's dower for marriage was her manumission…(Sahih Muslim, 8.3326) Sahih Muslim: Book 008, Number 3326: This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters on the authority of Anas that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) emancipated Safiyya, and her emancipation was treated as her wedding gift, and in the hadith transmitted by Mu'adh on the authority of his father (the words are):" He (the Holy Prophet) married Safiyya and bestowed her emancipation as her wedding gift." Further information on this lustful marriage with a 19-year-old Jewish beauty with 60-year-old Muhammad is glimpsed from the narration of Ibn Sa'd. Please note that before falling into the hands of Muhammad, this pretty lass was married to a Jewish man. Muhammad had already killed Safiyaah's husband and her father after subjecting them to brutal torture, and finally beheading them. Having satiated his lust for blood, on the same night he killed her closest relatives, Muhammad took Saffiyah into his tent to have sex with her. We learn from Ibn Sa'd that Muhammad purchased Safiyyah from Dhiyah for seven camels (around US$ 2,100). On the same night that Muhammad took possession of Safiyyah, he hastened to his tent to sleep with her. Here is what Ibn Sa'd writes: “….when it was night, he entered a tent and she entered with him. Abu Ayyub came there and passed the nigh by the tent by the tent with a sword keeping his head at the tent. When it was morning and the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, perceived (some body) moving, he asked: Who is there? He replied: I am Abu Ayub. He asked: Why are you here? He replied: O Apostle of Allah! There is a young lass newly wedded (to you) with whose late husband you have done what you have done. I was not sure of safety, so I wanted to be close to you. Thereupon the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, said twice: O Abu Ayyub! May Allah show you mercy.” (ibn Sa'd vol.ii, p.145) To hide the lascivious character of Muhammad, Muslim biographers often mention that he married Safiyyah before he slept with her. But they forget to state that Muhammad did not follow the rule of waiting period (three monthly periods) to sleep with Safiyyah. We shall now see how Muhammad had violated the rule of idda (waiting period) in marrying a woman. These rules are stipulated in the Qur'an thus: Before marrying another man divorced women must wait three monthly periods...2:228 002.228
002.234 Clearly, when Muhammad wanted to sleep or to have sex with Safiyyah, she was a widow, technically, as Muhammad had already killed her husband. Therefore, as per the Qur'an, Muhammad had to wait at least four months and ten days before he could even touch her. But Muhammad did not at all observe this rule; instead, he took Safiyyah, straight from the battlefield to his bed in the war camp. Having spent the night with her, Muhammad took her to another, safer location, stayed there for three days and consummated his marriage with Safiyyah. Let us read a hadis on this: Muhammad selected Safiyyah because of her beauty, made her his wife and gave a banquet at the wedding; then he had sex with Saffiyah at Sa`d-AsSahba…(Sahih Bukhari 4.52.143) Sahih Bukhari: Volume 4, Book 52, Number 143: Narrated Anas bin Malik: The
Prophet said to Abu Talha, "Choose one of your boy servants to serve
me in my expedition to Khaibar." So, Abu Talha took me letting me
ride behind him while I was a boy nearing the age of puberty. I
used to serve Allah's Apostle when he stopped to rest. I heard him
saying repeatedly, "O Allah! I seek refuge with You from distress
and sorrow, from helplessness and laziness, from miserliness and
cowardice, from being heavily in debt and from being overcome by
men." Then we reached Khaibar; and when Allah enabled him to conquer
the Fort (of Khaibar), the beauty of Safiya bint Huyai bin Akhtab
was described to him. Her husband had been killed while she was
a bride. So Allah's Apostle selected her for himself and took her
along with him till we reached a place called Sad-AsSahba,' where
her menses were over and he took her for his wife. Haris (a kind
of dish) was served on a small leather sheet. Then Allah's Apostle
told me to call those who were around me. So, that was the marriage
banquet of Allah's Apostle and Safiya. Then we left for Medina.
I saw Allah's Apostle folding a cloak round the hump of the camel
so as to make a wide space for Safiya (to sit on behind him) He
sat beside his camel letting his knees for Safiya to put her feet
on so as to mount the camel. Then, we proceeded till we approached
Medina; he looked at Uhud (mountain) and said, "This is a mountain
which loves us and is loved by us." Then he looked at Medina and
said, "O Allah! I make the area between its (i.e. Medina's) two
mountains a sanctuary as Abraham made Mecca a sanctuary. O Allah!
Bless them (i.e. the people of Medina) in their Mudd and Sa (i.e.
measures)." Muhammad violated Allah's restriction on him on the number of his wives When Muhammad married Zaynab bt Jahsh, the wife of his adopted son, Zayd b. Harith, Allah was a little bit displeased with his audacious crave for young, beautiful, sexy and luscious women—married or single. So, Allah clamped down on Muhammad and sternly warned him that that was enough, that he could not accumulate further, any extra wives. Allah made Zaynab Muhammad's wife number eight or nine—the last wife. Here is the verse where Allah forbade Muhammad to marry further after marrying Zaynab bt, Jahsh: Allah put restriction on Muhammad's marriage; he is not to take any new wife, neither exchange old wives for new…33:52 033.052 Now, let us have a look at the list of women with whom Muhammad had had some kind of connection, including sexual. This list has been prepared from the book of Tabari (vol. ix, pp.120-141). Please note that this list is in chronological order. I have highlighted the name of Zaynab to demonstrate how flagrantly Muhammad had dishonoured Allah's restriction on him!—he had collected at least 13 more wives, a sex-slave and a concubine even when Allah commanded him to restrain his wife collection. Muhammad had married 21 wives:
People used to say that Muhammad was a womaniser (Tabari, vol.ix, p.139). List of women to whom Muhammad proposed but did not marry
Muhammad's concubines were:
Marriage not consummated:
Even the greatest Islamist apologist of all time, Maulana Yusuf Ali admits that Muhammad did indeed transgress the stipulation of the Qur'an. Yusuf
Ali (commentary number 3754, p.1123) writes: “This was revealed
in A.H. 7. After that the Prophet did not marry again, except the
handmaiden Mary the Copt, who was sent as a present by the Christians
Muaqauqas of Egypt. She became the mother of Ibrahim, who died in
his infancy.” Muhammad violated the Qur'anic law on the punishment of sex offenders Fornication and adultery are two most serious offences in Islamic societies. The punitive measures, as enacted in the Qur'an are truly extremely harsh and barbaric. Let us read the verse which deals with such grave crimes: Punishment for adultery or fornication (both man and woman) is one hundred lashes in front of the believers …24:2 024.002 Strangely though, when it came to a friend of Muhammad, who admitted having committed a punishable offence (illegal sex, perhaps), Muhammad did not apply this Qur'anic rule. Here is a hadis from Sahih Bukhari on this violation of the Qur'an: Muhammad did not punish a person for illegal sexual intercourse because the person prayed with him...(Sahih Bukhari, 8.82.812) Sahih Bukhari: Volume 8, Book 82, Number 812: Narrated Anas bin Malik: While
I was with the Prophet a man came and said, "O Allah's Apostle!
I have committed a legally punishable sin; please inflict the legal
punishment on me'.' The Prophet did not ask him what he had done.
Then the time for the prayer became due and the man offered prayer
along with the Prophet , and when the Prophet had finished his prayer,
the man again got up and said, "O Allah's Apostle! I have committed
a legally punishable sin; please inflict the punishment on me according
to Allah's Laws." The Prophet said, "Haven't you prayed with us?'
He said, "Yes." The Prophet said, "Allah has forgiven your sin."
or said, "....your legally punishable sin." Muhammad violated the Qur'anic code of conduct between marriageable couples Please note that a man and a woman who are not close relatives (that is, those men and women who could be married to each other, those who are not in the prohibited class for marriage purposes) cannot, under any circumstances, be alone together. This moral guardianship is endorsed in these verses of the Qur'an:
024.030 Now, let us see what Muhammad did with some single women, who could be married to him. The first such woman was none but his first cousin-sister, Umm Hani bt Abu Talib. Muhammad passionately fell in love with her, but for some unknown reason his beloved uncle, Abu Talib did not give her hand to Muhammad when Muhammad requested. Instead, she was married to a pagan, Hibayrah. But Muhammad's adulterous relation with Umm Hani (real name Fakitah, also known as Hind) continued. He used to sleep in her house, when no one was around. Such an incidence took place when Muhammad returned from his failed mission at Taif, after the deaths of his first wife, Khadijah and his uncle Abu Talib. Returning from Taif, he took shelter in Ka'ba. But at nightfall, when all were asleep, he stealthily went to Umm Hani's house and spent the night with her. When the people did not find him at Ka'ba, they went looking for him and when he was discovered in the house of Umm Hani, he was embarrassed, so was Umm Hani. To hide the truth, he concocted the story of his night journey to Jerusalem and Paradise from Umm Hani's house (more precisely, from her bed), which many converted Muslims found too incredible to believe and left Islam. This made him sad and withdrawn. Soon, after such an adulterous affair was leaked out, he left Mecca and settled in Medina. But his undying love for Umm Hani remained aflame. Later, when Muhammad became militarily strong and conquered Mecca, he went to Umm Hani's house and stayed there overnight, praying and chit-chatting with her. Hubayrah, Umm Hani's husband had foreseen the fall of Mecca and had fled to Najran. So, Umm Hani was living in her house, separated from her pagan husband, and Muhammad was there comforting her, in open transgression of the Qur'anic code. (Please consult: Martin Lings, p.33, 101, 103-104, 299; Ibn Ishaq, p.184, Tabari, vol.viii, p.186) Here is a hadis from Sahih Bukhari which demonstrates Muhammad's way with single women, divorced or widowed, rich or poor, for sex, which clearly violates the Qur'an. A
dignified woman, Jauniyaa (a princess) was brought to Muhammad to
have sex with him but she was reluctant to give herself to him;
Muhammad was angry and raised his hand to beat her...(Sahih Bukhari,
7.63.182) Sahih Bukhari: Volume 7, Book 63, Number 182: Narrated Abu Usaid: We
went out with the Prophet to a garden called Ash-Shaut till we reached
two walls between which we sat down. The Prophet said, "Sit here,"
and went in (the garden). The Jauniyya (a lady from Bani Jaun) had
been brought and lodged in a house in a date-palm garden in the
home of Umaima bint An-Nu'man bin Sharahil, and her wet nurse was
with her. When the Prophet entered upon her, he said to her, "Give
me yourself (in marriage) as a gift." She said, "Can a princess
give herself in marriage to an ordinary man?" The Prophet raised
his hand to pat her so that she might become tranquil. She said,
"I seek refuge with Allah from you." He said, "You have sought refuge
with One Who gives refuge. Then the Prophet came out to us and said,
"O Abu Usaid! Give her two white linen dresses to wear and let her
go back to her family." Narrated Sahl and Abu Usaid: The Prophet
married Umaima bint Sharahil, and when she was brought to him, he
stretched his hand towards her. It seemed that she disliked that,
whereupon the Prophet ordered Abu Usaid to prepare her and to provide
her with two white linen dresses. (See Hadith No. 541). Muhammad violated the Qur'anic rule on sex with menstruating women The Holy Qur'an, on menstruating women says: Menstruation is a disease; can't have sex during a woman's period; after the period is over have sex in any manner, at any time and at any place...2:222 002.222 Let us examine what Muhammad did to his wives when they were in heavy menstruation: During her period Muhammad used to fondle Aisha in bath…(Sahih Bukhari, 1.6.298) Sahih Bukhari: Volume 1, Book 6, Number 298: Narrated 'Aisha: The Prophet and I used to take a bath from a single pot while we were Junub. During the menses, he used to order me to put on an Izar (dress worn below the waist) and used to fondle me. While in Itikaf, he used to bring his head near me and I would wash it while I used to be in my periods (menses). Muhammad put his cheek and chest in between the naked thighs of a menstruating Aisha...(Sunaan Abu Dawud, 1.0270) Sunaan Abu Dawud: Book 1, Number 0270: Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: Umarah ibn Ghurab said that his paternal aunt narrated to him that she asked Aisha: What if one of us menstruates and she and her husband have no bed except one? She replied: I relate to you what the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) had done. One night he entered (upon me) while I was menstruating. He went to the place of his prayer, that is, to the place of prayer reserved (for this purpose) in his house. He did not return until I felt asleep heavily, and he felt pain from cold. And he said: Come near me. I said: I am menstruating. He said: Uncover your thighs. I, therefore, uncovered both of my thighs. Then he put his cheek and chest on my thighs and I lent upon he until he became warm and slept. It could be that caressing and foreplay do not necessarily constitute actual coition. But bear in mind that these lustful activities are just prelude to other form of sexual gratification Muhammad violated the Qura'nic rule of not to have sex with women when in ihram (purity state spent inside a mosque) or when performing Hajj Here is the Qur'anic verse on the purity state in a mosque: Observe Hajj in the prescribed month; no sexual intercourse, misconduct and argument during the Hajj session…2:197 002.197 You can have sex with wives only at nights of fasting time; wives are garments; do not approach wife while in retreat (ihram) in a mosque...2:187 002.187
Even a hadis in Sunaan Abu Dawud confirms the stipulation of the Qur'an. This hadis says: A pilgrim must not marry and give someone in marriage in the sacred state (while wearing ihram)…(Sunaan Abu Dawud, 2.10.1837) Sunaan Abu Dawud: vol.ii, Book 10, Number 1837 Nubaih b. Wahb, brother of Banu ‘Abd al-Dar said: ‘Umar b. ‘Ubaid Allah sent someone to Aban b. ‘Uthman b. ‘Affan, asking him (to participate in the marriage ceremony). Aban in those days was the chief of pilgrims, and both were in the sacred state (wearing ihram). I want to give the daughter of Shaibah b. Jubair to Talhah b. ‘Umar in marriage. I wish that you may attend it. Aban refused and said: I heard my father ‘Uthman b. ‘Affan narrating a tradition from the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) as saying: A pilgrim may not marry and give someone in marriage in the sacred state (while wearing ihram). But Muhammad did not have much regard for the Qur'an or even to his own words when it came to marrying women and having sex with them. So, when he went to Mecca, to perform the Hajj, and a proposal of marriage was offered to him, he quickly accepted the offer and married the woman even though he was in sacred state wearing irham. Here is the hadis from Sunaan Abu Dawud: Muhammad married Maimunah while he was in the sacred state wearing ihram…(Sunaan Abu Dawud, 2.10.1840) Sunaan Abu Dawud: vol.ii, Book 10, Number 1840: Ibn ‘Abbas said: The Prophet (may peace be upon him) married Maimunah while he was in the sacred state (wearing ihram). Conclusion: I am certain the Islamist apologists will employ many twisted tricks, convoluted logic and strange reasoning to disprove all those historical records which I enumerated above. The fact is, no matter what they say, the truth remains—the intelligent readers will have no difficulty in separating the corn from the chaff. Muhammad, had on many occasions did violate the Qur'an. ------------------------------------------------------- Bibliography The Holy Qur'an. The internet version of three English translations can be read at: http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/reference/reference.html Ali, Abdullah, Yusuf, The Holy Qur'an: Translation and Commentary. Amana Corp., Brentwood, Maryland, 1983. Abu Dawud, Sulayman b. al-Ash'ath. Al-Sunaan, a collection of Hadith Translated in English by Prof. Ahmad Hasan: http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/abudawud/ Abu Dawud, Sulayman b. al-Ash'ath, Al-Sunaan, a collection of Hadith,vol.ii. Translated in English by Prof. Ahmad Hasan, Kitab Bhavan, 1784 Kalan Mahal, Daraya Ganj, New Delhi-110002 (India), 2001 al-Bukhari, Muhammad b. Ismail. Sahi Bukhari. Ttranslated in English by Dr Muhammad Muhsin Khan: [http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/ ] Ibn Ishaq, Muhammad b. Yasr, Sirat Rasul Allah. Translated in English by A. Guillaume. First published by Oxford University Press, London in 1955. Fifteenth reprint by Oxford University Press, Karachi, Pakistan, 2001. Lings, Martin, Muhammad his life based on the earliest sources. Inner Traditions International, One Park Street, Rochester, Vermont 05767, USA, 1983. Ibn Sa'd, Abu Abd Allah Muhammad, Kitab al-Tabaqat, vol ii. Translated in English by S. Moinul Haq, Kitab Bhavan, 1784, Kalam Mahal, Daraya Ganj, New Delhi, India, 1972. al-Tabari, Abu Ja'far Muhammad b. Jarir, The Victory of Islam, vol. viii. Translated by Michael Fishbein, State University of New York Press, Albany, 1997. ISBN 0-7914-3150-9 al-Tabari, Abu Ja'far Muhammad b. Jarir, The Last Years of the Prophet, vol. ix. Translated by Ismail K. Poonwala, State University of New York Press, Albany, 1990. ISBN 0-88706-692-5 Abul Kasem writes from Sydney, Australia. His e-mail address is humanist882004@yahoo.com |