PROPHET OF PEACE, OR OF VIOLENCE — An Objective Analysis

biographers of the Prophet as battles can be better classified as minor skirmishes instead. Prophet Muhammad was born in the year 570 in Makkah and attained prophet-hood at the age of 40 in the year 610. He began his mission of conveying God’s guidance to mankind in a peaceful manner. There was never any act of violence by the Prophet against those who objected to his teachings or oppressed him and his followers during the entire thirteen years of his life as a prophet in Makkah. While he was in Makkah, his teachings were always those of patience, tolerance and avoidance. One of his companions, Ammar, of the family of Yasir, was tortured by the Prophet’s enemies, but the Prophet said, “O Yasir's family, forbear with patience, surely your compensation is Paradise.’’ (Seerath ibn Kasir) Another of his companions, Khabbab-bin-Arth, complained to the Prophet about the oppression by the Quraysh. When the Prophet heard this, he said, “This is nothing; messengers before us have suffered much more for having upheld the message of tawheed (oneness of God).” (Al-Bukhari) If individuals calling themselves Muslims adopt terrorism or violence, then the responsibility for their actions lies with them, not with the religion they profess. The Prophet and his followers had to face the hardships of a threeyear social boycott by the tribe, and they spent this time in tolerating and patiently enduring their difficulties. His enemies plotted to kill him, so he quietly escaped from Makkah with a few of his companions to Medina. He gave the same advice to his followers. Even in Medina his enemies did not leave the Prophet and his followers in peace. They did everything possible to make life miserable for them. The Quran says: Will you not fight against those who have broken their oaths and conspired to banish the Messenger? They were the first to attack you. Do you fear them? Surely God is more deserving of your fear, if you are true believers. THE QURAN 9: 13