Like much in the New Testament the information we have about Muhammad in the Qu’ran and other sources is scanty and often contradictory.  I have just finished reading Robert Spencer’s book, The Truth about Muhammad (sub-titled – Founder of the World’s Most Intolerant Religion).  I found it interesting although it was difficult to follow at times for there were a great many citations of other writers along with the purported words of Muhammad, himself.

Rather than repeat all the points raised in a book about “the World’s Most Intolerant Religion” I would like to write about a couple of words that caught my eye in Spenser’s book. I will not comment on his subtitle because that will precipitate protests that there ARE many tolerant passages in the histories and the Suras in the Qu’ran itself.

In Chapter 8, “Casting Terror in Their Hearts” on p. 127, Muhammad is quoted as attempting to solidify support of Arab Poly-theists while dealing with Jewish tribes who lived among them. Muhammad tells Nu’aym bin Mas’ud, a new convert, to go among his enemies and …”go and awake distrust among the enemy to draw them off us if you can, for war is deceit.”  I think this is a revealing insight into the human, Muhammad, who had a special relationship with Allah, among all the other gods of his people and who frequently received revelations telling Muhammad that what he did was good and proper.

Some of us in the west think that war should be outlawed but while it occurs it should be conducted by internationally recognized laws.  You shall not kill prisoners but treat them decently.  You shall not kill the men and enslave the women and children.  You shall not do a great many other things and there are things that you should to in order not to fail at war and peace.  If you use deceit, as Muhammad does, and the result is in your favor, then it is appropriate because he had many enemies who rejected his “message”. There is no distinction between “soldiers” and civilians in the Qu’ran.  All non-Muslims are fair game.

Think about this - the whole of the Arab Muslim world reads the Qu’ran and accepts everything in it as truth.  That is why I have used the title in this essay – The Truth AND Muhammad – as a way of explaining why the parts of the world inhabited by those who read the Qu’ran and listen to the Mullahs in their mosques - they separate themselves from Jews, Christians and Pagans of old and approve using deceit in the ongoing war against them.  I think this is what divides us. I think that this is the root and failure of trying to sell Democracy to them because the West has not accepted Muhammad’s message from Allah. Until they do, war will continue and deceit will be the method of choice of Islam.