Summary to all and to Richard

Submitted by Lisa (Canada), Apr 4, 2006 at 17:57

What is really puzzling is not whether Muhammad married 9 years old Aysheh, what puzzles me is people who live in this century, who are supposed to be educated, live in the west and must have some sort of intelligence, those are not only accepting and justifying their prophet's actions, but also imitate him and think of him as a prophet from GOD.

I have no doubt that this man was smart, he knew how to lead, he had a charisma and he gained the support of his people by hook or crook. I can understand that people in the year 600 were easy to be deceived but I just can not understand that people in our century still take such a person as a role model and still see wisdom in his actions, also believe that he was honest and delivered messages from GOD.

What kind of ethical standards must a person have in order to see a role model in Muhammad?

What is also confusing is when you ask about Muhammad's actions, you hear all kinds of excuses, but none of them admits that these actions were wrong 1400 years ago and are wrong now. Or maybe it is hard for us to understand how Muslims think because we were taught that there is no justification for sins, killing, adultery, steeling, etc.

2000 Jesus promoted humanity standards to a level that even today with human rights laws are still very challenging to follow. 2000 years ago, someone came in to earth to tell us to love our enemies as much as we love ourselves, compare this with someone who married a girl and used intermarriages to establish what they called blood relationship which permits for exchanged protection and REVENGE duties.

This a plead to muslims, please think, analyze and don't take things for granted, It doesn't matter if you believe Jesus was son of GOD but what matters is that you start questioning your faith, question the standards set by Muhammad. Do not try to justify his actions, just look at is actions isolated from all the wrong doers of today's political leaders or kings lived 3000 years ago.

Peace be with you

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".