Montana Motor Stables: Islam's Most Sacred History Refutes Popular Misconceptions about the Prophet of Islam

Friday, February 17, 2012

Islam's Most Sacred History Refutes Popular Misconceptions about the Prophet of Islam

Muslims often complain of the "misconceptions" about their religion in the West, yet very few seem to know all that much about the true history of Islam and its founder, Muhammad. As a result, the biggest misconceptions about Islam are often those originating from (and sincerely believed by) Muslims themselves.

As a service to Muslims and infidels alike, we hope to refute the contemporary mythology of Muhammad (popular in the West) by referring to the earliest and most reliable Muslim historians, who based their writings on the narrations of those who actually knew their revered prophet. The historical compilations of Ibn Ishaq (compiled by Ibn Hisham), al-Tabari, Bukhari and Sahih Muslim are greatly respected in the Muslim academic community as a priceless source of biographical information and the details of Islam's origin and rise to power. These writings also provide the context for the Qur'an.

Understand that it is the Hadith (traditions), Sira (biography of Muhammad) and the Qur'an together that provide the true Islamic counterpart to the Christian Bible and Jewish Torah. The Qur'an is simply the purported words of Allah arranged in no particular order. It makes little sense outside of the context provided by the other two sources, and it even explicitly refers devout Muslims to them.

Articles posted here will occasionally be revised and improved, and new ones added. Readers not familiar with the life of Muhammad may want to consider approaching these myths through our brief article on the history of his life: The Life of Muhammad: An Inconvenient Truth. It has been updated to include most of the same links found below, and it will help place these debunked myths into historical context - even though it is written from the Muslim point of view.

Muhammad in Mecca

MYTH: Muhammad was Persecuted for Preaching Islam

MYTH: Muhammad was Tortured by the Meccans

MYTH: The Muslims Suffered Many Deaths at the Hands of Meccan Persecutors

MYTH: The Meccans were the First to Draw Blood in the Conflict with Muslims

MYTH: Muhammad Traveled to Jerusalem

MYTH: Persecution Forced Muhammad and the Muslims to Flee Mecca for Medina

Muhammad in Medina

MYTH: Muhammad was under Persecution by the Meccans in Medina

MYTH: Muhammad Raided Meccan Caravans to Retrieve Stolen Property

MYTH: Muhammad Fought the Battle of Badr in Self-Defense

MYTH: Muhammad was a Brave Warrior who Trusted Allah to Protect Him (Uhud)