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Encyclopedia of Religion entry forCruelty
A striking example of the cruelty of Muhammad ‘s character occurs in a tradition given in the Sahihu ‘l Bukhari (p. 1019). Anas relates, "Some of the people of the tribe of Ukl came the Prophet and embrace Islam; but the air of a1-Medinah did not agree with them, and they wanted to leave the place. And the Prophet ordered them to go where the camels given in alms were assembled and to drink their milk which they did, and recovered from their sickness. But after this they became apostates, and renounced Islam, and stole the camels. The the Prophet sent some people after them, and the were seized and brought back to al-Madinah. Then the Prophet ordered their hands and their feet to be cut off as a punishment for theft, and their eyes to be pulled out.
But the Prophet did not stop the bleeding, and they died." And in another it reads, "The Prophet ordered hot irons to be drawn across their eyes, and then to be cast on the plain of al-Madinah; and when they asked for water it was not given them, and they died." Sir William Muir (vol. iv. p 307) says:
Magnanimity or moderation are nowhere discernible as features in the conduct of Muhammad towards such of his enemies as failed to tender a timely allegiance. Over the bodies of the Quraish who fell at Badr he exulted with savage satisfaction; and several prisoners accused of no crime but of scepticism and political opposition, were deliberately executed at his command. The Prince of Kheibar, after being subjected to inhumane torture for the purpose of discovering the treasures of his tribe, was, with his cousin, put to death of the pretext of having treacherously concealed them and his wife was led away to the tent of the conqueror. Sentence of exile was enforced by Muhammad with rigorous severity on two whole Jewish tribes at al-Madinah; and of a third, likewise his neighbours, the women and children were sold into distant captivity, while the men, amounting to several hundreds, were butchered in cold blood before his eyes." citations: Dictionary of Islam, Hughes
article created 0000-00-00 , last updated 2006-04-27 |
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