Book Reviewed: The Truth About Muhammad: Founder of the World's Most Intolerant Religion by Robert Spencer

The Muslim Prophet Muhammad (c. 570–632 CE) was the founder of Islam and is the final prophet sent by God (Allah) to mankind. The author gives an accurate account of Muhammad ‘s visons and revelations both from Allah (Qur’an) and the Satan (Satanic verses) to preach Islam and win over the followers during his lifetime. Allah is supposed to have revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel in piecemeal over his twenty-three-years of his prophetic career, which started when he was 40. He instructs that Muslim men must keep themselves pure, clean and emulate the life of Muhammad. The fragmentary quality of the Qur'anic narrative is elaborated by Hadith, the commentary, and sayings of Prophet Muhammad, and text of Sira, the biography of Muhammad. These three texts make up the Sunnah. The difficulties to tie the actual documents of the three major texts to modern day Islam is challenging, and to understand from the historical perspectives that existed in Arabian Peninsula with strong Christian and Jewish religions in the Middle East. In addition, the first copy of Qur’an became available thirty years after the death of the prophet, Hadith after 250 years, and the full-length biography (Sura) 200 years after his death. How did this fragmentary faith system become a model for the beliefs and practices of modern-day Muslims. Islam drew heavily on earlier Jewish and Christian texts that were widely prevalent in the Middle East. Many Qur’anic themes resemble apocryphal Jewish and Christian writings circulating in late antiquity. The early Islam began as a movement within the monotheistic community strongly shaped by Jewish ideas. Qur’anic narratives mirror Jewish Midrash, Talmudic legends, Gospels, Christian apocrypha, and misread Syriac Christian phrases and other Syriac Christian liturgy. The Jewish messianic and prophetic messages are found in the Qur’an. Jewish legal traditions like Rabbinic law were also adapted into early Islam. There were significant violence, raiding, and warfare during Muhammad’s time. They include raids against Meccan caravans, the battles of Badr, Uhud, and the Trench. Later campaigns against various Arabian tribes, and Muhammad encouraged this warfare, and the early caliphate expanded militarily. Within 100 years, it took over the Sassanid Empire (Persia), Egypt (Coptic Christianity), much of the Byzantine Empire that included Greece, Türkiye, Balkans, and parts of North Africa. Why and how did it happen? Because it is all found in the teachings of Muhammad; Muslim men must fight until Allah alone is worshipped. No other gods should be worshipped that includes the god of Christianity, Judaism, or the pagans of the Arabian Peninsula. Later Islamic law, based on statements of Muhammad would offer non-Muslims three options: conversion to Islam, subjugate the inferiors under Islamic law, or warfare. He strongly preached the Muslim men must band together as an army and fight for Allah. He considered himself the heir to both Christian and Jewish traditions, and early portions of the Qur'an express a clear hope that the “peoples of the Book” would accept Muhammad as a prophet. Muhammad decreed that Christians (and Jews) were to receive protection under Muslim rule, but must pay Jizya tax ensuring their protection under Islamic rule. It becomes apparent as to why Ummah, the concept of a Commonwealth of the Muslim Believers to protect each other is important. In addition to this political ideology, a military style build up was essential. What makes Muhammad produce a different view than that of Buddha, Jesus, and Moses? Jesus faced similar challenges in his life just like Muhammad, but their views are so different. Jesus focused on spiritual redemption and morality, forgiveness, and personal transformation; pacifism and non-retaliation (love your enemy), and avoid military or political leadership. His ministry was in Roman-occupied Judea; he advised his followers to "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's." Muhammad advocated the establishment of a religious, political, and military order. Sanctioned military action to force others the authority of Islam or be a secondary citizen and pay Jizya tax to practice your faith. But pagans of Arabia were not given this choice. He created an environment that was hostile to Christians and Jews that forced them to convert or be expelled. At the end of the book, the author describes as how non-Islamic countries have to protect themselves. They must stop calling Islam a religion of peace, restricting the Muslim immigration, and the sharia law that contrasts the constitution of a country should be constrained by legislative powers. A religion that focuses on sex, rape, violence, and human right violations cannot be given the first amendment protection commonly afforded to all other religions.