What Muhammad did to Khaibar

Submitted by Ted (United States), May 7, 2011 at 16:42

Can an expert in Islamic history answer how the deeds of Muhammad in the battle of Khaibar can support his credentials as a religious leader. Most religions that I know about, do not approve of deceit, breaking of promise, politial negotiations, and wars as particularly religious things. To me it appears that Muhammad not only involved in all these things in this war but also he acquired a Jewish girl (17 years old) as a wife for himself in this war. Apparently, she was given the choice to either become a slave or convert to Islam and become a wife. She chose the latter.

A lot is written about this war and to justify Muhammad's action but even at its best it was a war between a business community and a religious army. They each followed a different sets of standards and methods with one side doing what businessman usually do and the other compromising every good principle of religion while hiding under the religious umbrella. The example that Muhammad set is gong on even today. In Islam, every war is a religious war, politics, religion and economy are deeply intertwined, ethical standards are easily compromisable for sectarian gains, and the true goal of each war is material gain. Batya dagan very correctly refers to the battle of Khaibar and quotes from Mushsharraf's speech to illustrate how Islamic politics works.

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