Headings
Introduction: Scope of the Article
A discussion of Mohamed’s own personal nature is crucial to an understanding of Islam for the reason that the prime directive to a Muslim is the imitation of his life. This so much so that the predominant denomination of Muslims by far, 85% of the total 1.6 billion take their name not from Mohamed, but from the precept of his life, his Sunnat…they are call “Sunni” Muslims.
Mohammed had two enmities: That against the people of Mecca (the Quraysh), and against the Jews (and possibly some resident Christians) of Medina. All the violent verses we have seen in this article need to be taken as relating to one or the other context for this was the “world of the Qur’an” and the primary context in which it is written.
The following are taken from the Wikiislam website under the title page “killings ordered or supported by Mohammed” from which the data for the pie-chart is extracted. It is essential that this be known, as God says to Abel “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground” (Genesis 4:10). Its been a long time coming, but it would seem that these people deserved to have a voice die. List of Killings Ordered or Supported by Muhammad – WikiIslam.
Banu Quraiza Massacre, and other Killing Conquered Jews
The massacre of captured prisoners of the Banu Quraiza Jewish tribe is probably the worst of Muhammed’s career, and early, even before he had gained control of Mecca. The number of persons killed is given as 600-700 in Ibn Hisham’s Sira and 600-900 by al-Tabari. There is no real controversy about this being a massacre of defenseless prisoners. Muslims in my experience justify this as they believe that those prisoners betrayed the treaty that they had with the Muslims and sided with the Meccan in the battle of the Trench. The massacre is supposedly punishment for the betrayal. The punishment itself, that the men be killed, women and children taken prisoner and the possessions confiscated is decided upon by Sa’d and approved by Muhammed himself. I have not found the narration of this treaty and betrayal.
Irrespective of whether they had sided with the enemy in a war, such a massacre cannot be justified under any terms, since it is akin to the execution of prisoners of war. In war there are always two sides. The Banu Quraiza chose the side which was less threatening to them and would have preferred to have been free of the Muslims, for whatever reasons, it is not hard to imagine, given their belligerent conquests in this early period. There is no mercy shown them for this choice. This “treaty” that they are supposed to have betrayed is not quite alluded to in these traditions, rather we find only reports of it, the earliest being in ibn Hisham’s edited version of the autobiography of Muhammad, the Sira Rasul Allah. As a result, its contents are at best, controversial. I haven’t included any details of this specific document here.
Sam Shamoun has an interesting article on it, discussing if there’s any evidence at all that the tribe were in fact betrayed: https://www.answering-islam.org/Muhammad/Jews/BQurayza/treaty.html
These are the narrations related to the bloody incident:
Narrated Atiyyah al-Qurazi: “I was among the captives of Banu Qurayzah. They (the Companions) examined us, and those who had begun to grow hair (pubes) were killed, and those who had not were not killed. I was among those who had not grown hair.” The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by ‘Abd al- Malik b. ‘Umar through a different chain of narrators. This version has: They uncovered my private parts, and when they found that the hair had not begun to grow they put me among the captives. (Sunan Abu Dawud 4404- 4405)
[Abu ‘Eisa said:] This Hadith is Hasan Sahih. This is acted upon according to some of the people of knowledge. They consider pubic hair an indication of the age of responsibility, if it is not known whether he has had a wet dream, or his age. This is the view of Ahmad and Ishaq. ( Jami`at-Tirmidhi 1584)
“Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri: When the tribe of Bani Quraiza was ready to accept Sa`d’s judgment, Allah’s Messenger sent for Sa`d who was near to him. Sa`d came, riding a donkey and when he came near, Allah’s Messenger said (to the Ansar), “Stand up for your leader.” Then Sa`d came and sat beside Allah’s Messenger who said to him. “These people are ready to accept your judgment.” Sa`d said, “I give the judgment that their warriors should be killed and their children and women should be taken as prisoners.” The Prophet then remarked, “O Sa`d! You have judged amongst them with (or similar to) the judgment of the King Allah.” (Bukhari 3043, repeated in 4121-4122; this judgement of Sa’ad is also repeated in Muslim 1769a)
Here we see the allegation that the Quraizah, having initially been favoured by Muhammed, later fought with him:
Ibn ‘Umar said “The Jews Al Nadir and Quraizah fought with the Apostle of Allaah, so the Apostle of Allaah expelled Banu Al Nadir and allowed the Quraizah to stay and favored them. The Quraizah thereafter fought (with the Prophet).” So he killed their men and divided their women, property and children among Muslims except some of them who associated with the Apostle of Allaah. He gave them protection and later on they embraced Islam. The Apostle of Allaah expelled all the Jews of Madeenah in Toto, Banu Qainuqa, they were the people of ‘Abd Allaah bin Salam, the Jews of Banu Harith and any of Jews who resided in Madeenah. (Sunan Abu Dawud 3005)
The most authoritative biography of Muhammad is titled “The Life of Muhammad (Sirat Rasul Allah)” originally written by Muhammad ibn Ishaq around 760 AD. No copy of that book remains, but around 800 AD, Ibn Hisham, a student of Ibn Ishaq reconstructed the biography from fragments and notes that he had collected. In his own notes, Ibn Hisham made a rather troubling confession — that he had omitted from the biography “things which it is disgraceful to discuss; matters which would distress certain people.” (pg. 691) What we have left is only the more respectable parts. Here is what it says with respect to the Banu Quraiza massacre:
“When Banu Qurayza Jewish tribe was surrendered (627 A.D.) unconditionally, the apostle confined them in Medina in the quarter of al-Harith, a woman of B. al-Najjar. Then the apostle went out to the market of Medina (which is still its market today) and dug trenches in it. Then he sent for them and struck off their heads in those trenches as they were brought out to him in batches tying theirs both hands with their necks. This beheading went on until the apostle made an end of them. There were 600 or 700 in all, though some put the figure as high as 800 or 900. Apparently Muhammad himself worked on the digging of the trench into which the massacred Jews were to be thrown. But he (Muhammad) did not only take part in those preparations, the formulation of the text states but also participated himself in beheading of at least two of the leading Jews.” (Sirat A,Rasul of Ibn Ishaq, pg 464)
Killing of the People of Khaibar
This contains the story of one of the wives of Muhammed:
“The Prophet offered the Fajr Prayer near Khaibar when it was still dark and then said, “Allahu-Akbar! Khaibar is destroyed, for whenever we approach a (hostile) nation (to fight), then evil will be the morning for those who have been warned.” Then the inhabitants of Khaibar came out running on the roads. The Prophet had their warriors killed, their offspring and woman taken as captives. Safiya was amongst the captives, She first came in the share of Dahya Alkali but later on she belonged to the Prophet. The Prophet made her manumission as her ‘Mahr’. (Bukhari 4200)
Killing of a Conquered Jew
(Ibn Sunayna in some traditions). Here bear in mind that a pogrom is declared against all Jews. Only one of the killings is narrated but it is unlikely that the killings would have stopped at that in such a context: “Narrated Muhayyisah: The Messenger of Allah said: If you gain a victory over the men of Jews, kill them. So Muhayyisah jumped over Shubaybah, a man of the Jewish merchants. He had close relations with them. He then killed him. At that time Huwayyisah (brother of Muhayyisah) had not embraced Islam. He was older than Muhayyisah. When he killed him, Huwayyisah beat him and said: O enemy of Allah, I swear by Allah, you have a good deal of fat in your belly from his property.” (Dawud 3002)
Killings at Yemeni Ka’ba
The number killed is put at 100-200 from other traditions:
Narrated Qais: Jarir bin `Abdullah said to me, “Allah’s Messenger said to me, ‘Won’t you relieve me from Dhul- Khalasa?’ Dhul-Khalasa was a house where the tribe of Khatham used to stay, and it used to be called Ka`bat-ul Yamaniya. So I proceeded with one hundred-and-fifty (men) from the tribe of Ahmas who were good cavalry. I informed the Prophet that I could not sit firm on horses, so he stroke me on the chest with his hand and I noticed his finger marks on my chest. He invoked, ‘O Allah! Make him firm and a guiding and rightly-guided man.” Jarir set out towards that place, dismantled and burnt it, and then sent the good news to Allah’s Messenger. The messenger of Jarir said to Allah’s Messenger. “O Allah’s Apostle! By Him Who has sent you with the Truth, I did not come to you till it (i.e. the house) had been turned (black) like a scabby camel (covered with tar).” So the Prophet invokes Allah to Bless the horses of the men of Ahmas five times.” (Bukhari 3076, repeated in 3020 and 4355 with slight variations)
Killing Rival Prophet Musaylimah
Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas’ud: Harithah ibn Mudarrib said that he came to Abdullah ibn Mas’ud and said (to him): There is no enmity between me and any of the Arabs. I passed a mosque of Banu Hanifah. They (the people) believed in Musaylimah. Abdullah (ibn Mas’ud) sent for them. They were brought, and he asked them to repent, except Ibn an-Nawwahah. He said to him: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: Were it not that you were not a messenger, I would behead you. But today you are not a messenger. He then ordered Qarazah ibn Ka’b (to kill him). He beheaded him in the market. Anyone who wants to see Ibn an-Nawwahah slain in the market (he may see him). (Dawud 2762)
Killed Following the Conquest of Mecca
Of the Six that were not granted amnesty were two women, of whom one was later indeed let off:
“It was narrated from Mus’ab bin Sa’d that his father said: “On the day of the Conquest of Makkah, the Messenger of Allah granted amnesty to the people, except four men and two women. He said: ‘Kill them, even if you find them clinging to the covers of Ka’bah.’ (They were) ‘Ikrimah bin Abi Jahl, ‘Abdullah bin Khatal, Miqyas bin Subabah and ‘Abdullah bin Sa’d bin Abi As-Sarh. ‘Abdullah bin Khatl was caught while he was clinging to the covers of Ka’bah. Sa’eed bin Huraith and ‘Ammar bin Yasir both rushed toward him, but Sa’eed, who was the younger of the two, got there before ‘Ammar, and he killed him. Miqyas bin Subabah was caught by the people in the marketplace, and they killed him. ‘Ikrimah traveled by sea, and he was caught in a storm. The crew of the ship said: ‘Turn sincerely toward Allah, for your (false) gods cannot help you at all in this situation.’ ‘Ikrimah said: ‘By Allah, if nothing came to save me at sea except sincerity toward Allah then nothing else will save me on land. O Allah, I promise You that if You save me from this predicament I will go to Muhammad and put my hand in his, and I am sure that I will find him generous and forgiving.’ So he came, and accepted Islam. ‘Abdullah (bin Sa’d) bin Abi Sarh hid in the house of ‘Uthman bin ‘Affan, and when the Messenger of Allah called the people to give their Oath of Allegiance, he brought him, and made him stand before the Prophet. He (‘Uthman) said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Accept the allegiance of ‘Abdullah.’ He raised his head and looked at him three times, refusing his allegiance each time, then he accepted his allegiance after three times. Then he turned to his Companions and said: ‘Was there not any sensible man among you who would get up when he saw me refusing to give him my hand and kill him?’ They said: ‘We did not know, O Messenger of Allah, what was in your heart. Why did you not gesture to us with your eyes?’ He said: ‘It is not befitting for a Prophet that his eyes be deceitful.'” (Sunan an-Nasa’i 4072)
In Dawud 2683-84 and this narration states that there are four that are condemned, two of which are the “singing girls”. These are named in other traditions Fartana and Quraybah:
“Narrated Sa’d: On the day when Mecca was conquered, the Messenger of Allah gave protection to the People except four men and two women and he named them. Ibn AbuSarh was one of them. He then narrated the tradition. He said: Ibn AbuSarh hid himself with Uthman ibn Affan. When the Messenger of Allah called the people to take the oath of allegiance, he brought him and made him stand before the Messenger of Allah. He said: Messenger of Allah, receive the oath of allegiance from him. He raised his head and looked at him thrice, denying him every time. After the third time he received his oath. He then turned to his Companions and said: Is not there any intelligent man among you who would stand to this (man) when he saw me desisting from receiving the oath of allegiance, and kill him? They replied: We do not know, Messenger of Allah, what lies in your heart; did you not give us an hint with your eye? He said: It is not proper for a Prophet to have a treacherous eye. Abu Dawud said: ‘Abd Allah (b. Abi Sarh) was the foster brother of ‘Uthman, and Walid b. ‘Uqbah was his brother by mother, and ‘Uthman inflicted on him hadd punishment when he drank wine.” “Narrated Sa’id ibn Yarbu’ al-Makhzumi: The Prophet said: on the day of the conquest of Mecca: There are four persons whom I shall not give protection in the sacred and non-sacred territory. He then named them. There were two singing girls of al-Maqis; one of them was killed and the other escaped and embraced Islam. Abu Dawud said: I could not understand its chain of narrators from Ibn al-‘Ala’ as I liked.” (Dawud 2683-2684)
Narrated Anas bin Malik:Allah’s Messenger entered (Makkah) in the year of the Conquest (of Makkah) wearing a helmet over his head. After he took it off, a man came and said, “Ibn Khatal is clinging to the curtains of the Ka’bah.” The Prophet said, “Kill him.” (Bukhari 3044)
The Women killed by Muhammed
Around 5 of the 7 reports involving women being killed by Muhammed are for the allegation of insulting or mocking him. In this section I also add some Sirah sources and commentators:
Blind man’s wife/concubine: “Narrated Abdullah Ibn Abbas: A blind man had a slave-mother who used to abuse the Prophet and disparage him. He forbade her but she did not stop. He rebuked her but she did not give up her habit. One night she began to slander the Prophet and abuse him. So he took a dagger, placed it on her belly, pressed it, and killed her. A child who came between her legs was smeared with the blood that was there. When the morning came, the Prophet was informed about it. He assembled the people and said: I adjure by Allah the man who has done this action and I adjure him by my right to him that he should stand up. Jumping over the necks of the people and trembling the man stood up. He sat before the Prophet and said: Messenger of Allah! I am her master; she used to abuse you and disparage you. I forbade her, but she did not stop, and I rebuked her, but she did not abandon her habit. I have two sons like pearls from her, and she was my companion. Last night she began to abuse and disparage you. So I took a dagger, put it on her belly and pressed it till I killed her. Thereupon the Prophet said: Oh be witness, no retaliation is payable for her blood. (Dawud 4631, Sunan an-Nasai is the same, but ends with “ The Messenger of Allah said: “I bear witness that her blood is permissible.”)
A “Singing Girl: This we already related in Dawud 2684, the narration of the “four who are not protected” is narrative under those that are condemned at the conquest of Mecca.
Woman’s hand cut off for Theft:
“Jaibir reported that a woman from the tribe of Makhzum committed theft. She was brought to Allah’s Apostle and she sought refuge (intercession) from Umm Salama, the wife of Allah’s Apostle. Thereupon Allah’s Apostle said: By Allah, even if she were Fatima, I would have her hand cut off. And thus her hand was cut off.” (Muslim 1689)
Laughing Woman of the Banu Quraiza
“Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu’minin: No woman of Banu Qurayzah was killed except one. She was with me, talking and laughing on her back and belly (extremely), while the Messenger of Allah was killing her people with the swords. Suddenly a man called her name: Where is so-and-so? She said: I I asked: What is the matter with you? She said: I did a new act. She said: The man took her and beheaded her. She said: I will not forget that she was laughing extremely although she knew that she would be killed. (Dawood 2671)
Hind bint Utbah
She was allegedly killed for cutting out the heart of Muhammed’s uncle Hamza after he had died in battle. This is related by al-Tabari (a commentator). Dawud seems to refer to the same incident, but is not specific.
Umm Qirfa, the wife of Malik Ripped by Camel
Muhammad sent Zayd b. Haritha to avenge the loss of some Muslims’ lives during a previous raid on Wadi’l- Qura. After killing several villagers, they took Umm Qirfa, the wife of Malik, prisoner. They killed her “by putting a rope to her two legs and to two camels and driving them until they rent her in two.” (Ibn Ishaq pg. 665)
Asma bint Marwan, and Sara both also killed for insulting Muhammed as narrated in the Sira literature.
Women and Children as Permitted “Collateral Damage” in Night Raids
It is reported on the authority of Sa’b b. Jaththama that the Prophet of Allah, when asked about the women and children of the polytheists being killed during the night raid, said:
They are from them” (Muslim 1745)
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: “I was informed by As-Sa’b bin Jaththamah who said: ” I said: “O Messenger of Allah our horses trampled over women and children of the idolaters.” He said: “They are from their fathers.'” [Abu ‘Eisa said:] This Hadith is Hasan Sahih. Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3:19:1570
Narrated As-Sab bin Jaththama: The Prophet passed by me at a place called Al-Abwa or Waddan, and was asked whether it was permissible to attack the pagan warriors at night with the probability of exposing their women and children to danger. The Prophet replied, “They (i.e. women and children) are from them (i.e. pagans).” I also heard the Prophet saying, “The institution of Hima is invalid except for Allah and His Apostle.” Sahih Bukhari 4:52:256
Those Killed for Poetic and other Insults
Of the 19 killed for insults, 13 were poetry-related killings, of which 6 had no associated allegations, and 3 of which 3 were poetesses. The remaining 7 had other conflict related allegations levelled against them in addition to poetic insults, like provoking to attack, one each for injuring camels, helping the enemy materially, killing a slave. Of the women, One was pardoned, one of them thought he would find mercy with Allah’s Messenger” but did not. 6 of the 19 are killed for non-poetic insults, like “slandering”, “pouring animal entrails upon”, “spreading false rumours about wife of”, “mock”, “insult”, “hostile toward”. Most of the sahih narrations relate to only three of the killings, there is a fourth narrated by Ibn Kathir:
Ka`b bin Al-Ashraf
A follower called Mohammed B Maslama carries out the killing on his prophet’s advice: Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah: Allah’s Messenger said, “Who is willing to kill Ka`b bin Al-Ashraf who has hurt Allah and His Apostle?” Thereupon Muhammad bin Maslama got up saying, “O Allah’s Messenger! Would you like that I kill him?” The Prophet said, “Yes,” Muhammad bin Maslama (this is a follower of Muhammed- my addition) said, “Then allow me to say a (false) thing (i.e. to deceive Ka`b). “The Prophet said, “You may say it.” Then Muhammad bin Maslama went to Ka`b and said, “That man (i.e. Muhammad demands Sadaqa (i.e. Zakat) from us, and he has troubled us, and I have come to borrow something from you.” On that, Ka`b said, “By Allah, you will get tired of him!” Muhammad bin Maslama said, “Now as we have followed him, we do not want to leave him unless and until we see how his end is going to be. Now we want you to lend us a camel load or two of food.” (Some difference between narrators about a camel load or two.) Ka`b said, “Yes, (I will lend you), but you should mortgage something to me.” Muhammad bin Mas-lama and his companion said, “What do you want?” Ka`b replied, “Mortgage your women to me.” They said, “How can we mortgage our women to you and you are the most handsome of the ‘Arabs?” Ka`b said, “Then mortgage your sons to me.” They said, “How can we mortgage our sons to you? Later they would be abused by the people’s saying that so-and-so has been mortgaged for a camel load of food. That would cause us great disgrace, but we will mortgage our arms to you.” Muhammad bin Maslama and his companion promised Ka`b that Muhammad would return to him. He came to Ka`b at night along with Ka`b’s foster brother, Abu Na’ila. Ka`b invited them to come into his fort, and then he went down to them. His wife asked him, “Where are you going at this time?” Ka`b replied, “None but Muhammad bin Maslama and my (foster) brother Abu Na’ila have come.” His wife said, “I hear a voice as if dropping blood is from him, Ka`b said. “They are none but my brother Muhammad bin Maslama and my foster brother Abu Naila. A generous man should respond to a call at night even if invited to be killed.” Muhammad bin Maslama went with two men. (Some narrators mention the men as ‘Abu bin Jabr. Al Harith bin Aus and `Abbad bin Bishr). So Muhammad bin Maslama went in together with two men, and sail to them, “When Ka`b comes, I will touch his hair and smell it, and when you see that I have got hold of his head, strip him. I will let you smell his head.” Ka`b bin Al-Ashraf came down to them wrapped in his clothes, and diffusing perfume. Muhammad bin Maslama said. ” have never smelt a better scent than this. Ka`b replied. “I have got the best ‘Arab women who know how to use the high class of perfume.” Muhammad bin Maslama requested Ka`b “Will you allow me to smell your head?” Ka`b said, “Yes.” Muhammad smelt it and made his companions smell it as well. Then he requested Ka`b again, “Will you let me (smell your head)?” Ka`b said, “Yes.” When Muhammad got a strong hold of him, he said (to his companions), “Get at him!” So they killed him and went to the Prophet and informed him. (Abu Rafi`) was killed after Ka`b bin Al-Ashraf.” (Bukhari 4037, Muslim 1801)
The Jew, Abu Rafi’ ibn Abi Al-Huqaiq:
“Narrated Al-Bara bin Azib: Allah’s Messenger sent some men from the Ansar to (kill) Abu Rafi`, the Jew, and appointed `Abdullah bin Atik as their leader. Abu Rafi` used to hurt Allah’s Messenger and help his enemies against him. He lived in his castle in the land of Hijaz. When those men approached (the castle) after the sun had set and the people had brought back their livestock to their homes. `Abdullah (bin Atik) said to his companions, “Sit down at your places. I am going, and I will try to play a trick on the gate-keeper so that I may enter (the castle).” So `Abdullah proceeded towards the castle, and when he approached the gate, he covered himself with his clothes, pretending to answer the call of nature. The people had gone in, and the gate-keeper (considered `Abdullah as one of the castle’s servants) addressing him saying, “O Allah’s Servant! Enter if you wish, for I want to close the gate.” `Abdullah added in his story, “So I went in (the castle) and hid myself. When the people got inside, the gate-keeper closed the gate and hung the keys on a fixed wooden peg. I got up and took the keys and opened the gate. Some people were staying late at night with Abu Rafi` for a pleasant night chat in a room of his. When his companions of nightly entertainment went away, I ascended to him, and whenever I opened a door, I closed it from inside. I said to myself, ‘Should these people discover my presence, they will not be able to catch me till I have killed him.’ So I reached him and found him sleeping in a dark house amidst his family, I could not recognize his location in the house. So I shouted, ‘O Abu Rafi`!’ Abu Rafi` said, ‘Who is it?’ I proceeded towards the source of the voice and hit him with the sword, and because of my perplexity, I could not kill him. He cried loudly, and I came out of the house and waited for a while, and then went to him again and said, ‘What is this voice, O Abu Rafi`?’ He said, ‘Woe to your mother! A man in my house has hit me with a sword! I again hit him severely but I did not kill him. Then I drove the point of the sword into his belly (and pressed it through) till it touched his back, and I realized that I have killed him. I then opened the doors one by one till I reached the staircase, and thinking that I had reached the ground, I stepped out and fell down and got my leg broken in a moonlit night. I tied my leg with a turban and proceeded on till I sat at the gate, and said, ‘I will not go out tonight till I know that I have killed him.’ So, when (early in the morning) the cock crowed, the announcer of the casualty stood on the wall saying, ‘I announce the death of Abu Rafi`, the merchant of Hijaz. Thereupon I went to my companions and said, ‘Let us save ourselves, for Allah has killed Abu Rafi`,’ So I (along with my companions proceeded and) went to the Prophet and described the whole story to him. “He said, ‘Stretch out your (broken) leg. I stretched it out and he rubbed it and it became All right as if I had never had any ailment whatsoever.” (Bukhari 4038, 4039. Bukhari 4040, 3022 are the same narration, same narrator.)
Abdullah bin Khatal:
The reason is not stated here: “Narrated Anas bin Malik: On the day of the Conquest, the Prophet entered Mecca, wearing a helmet on his head. When he took it off, a man came and said, “Ibn Khatal is clinging to the curtain of the Ka`ba.” The Prophet said, “Kill him.” (Malik a sub-narrator said, “On that day the Prophet was not in a state of Ihram as it appeared to us, and Allah knows better.”) (Bukhari 4286, 1846)
Killed for Apostasy
Of these there is a group of 8 who kill a Muslim, steal Mohammed’s camels and escape. They are tortured to death on capture (this is given in three hadiths from Bukhari). One may have been accidentally pardoned because Mohamed’s instruction was misunderstood (ibn Sa’ad), one was the famous secretary whistle-blower who realised Mohammed was including his own quotes into the Quran who probably got also killed, and one assassination is possibly called off.
Kill Abdallah ibn Sa‘ad, because he became and apostate (left Islam) and fled to Mecca (this is not obvious in the Hadith): “Narrated Sa’d ibn AbuWaqqas: On the day of the conquest of Mecca, Abdullah ibn Sa’d ibn AbuSarh hid himself with Uthman ibn Affan. He brought him and made him stand before the Prophet, and said: Accept the allegiance of Abdullah, Messenger of Allah! He raised his head and looked at him three times, refusing him each time, but accepted his allegiance after the third time. Then turning to his companions, he said: Was not there a wise man among you who would stand up to him when he saw that I had withheld my hand from accepting his allegiance, and kill him? They said: We did not know what you had in your heart, Messenger of Allah! Why did you not give us a signal with your eye? He said: It is not advisable for a Prophet to play deceptive tricks with the eyes” (Dawud 4359)
This is the same narration as above, but in it there are two others who are killed: “It was narrated from Mus’ab bin Sa’d that his father said: “On the day of the Conquest of Makkah, the Messenger of Allah granted amnesty to the people, except four men and two women. He said: ‘Kill them, even if you find them clinging to the covers of Ka’bah.’ (They were) ‘Ikrimah bin Abi Jahl, ‘Abdullah bin Khatal, Miqyas bin Subabah and ‘Abdullah bin Sa’d bin Abi As-Sarh. ‘Abdullah bin Khatl was caught while he was clinging to the covers of Ka’bah. Sa’eed bin Huraith and ‘Ammar bin Yasir both rushed toward him, but Sa’eed, who was the younger of the two, got there before ‘Ammar, and he killed him. Miqyas bin Subabah was caught by the people in the marketplace, and they killed him. ‘Ikrimah traveled by sea, and he was caught in a storm. The crew of the ship said: ‘Turn sincerely toward Allah, for your (false) gods cannot help you at all in this situation.’ ‘Ikrimah said: ‘By Allah, if nothing came to save me at sea except sincerity toward Allah then nothing else will save me on land. O Allah, I promise You that if You save me from this predicament I will go to Muhammad and put my hand in his, and I am sure that I will find him generous and forgiving.’ So he came, and accepted Islam. ‘Abdullah (bin Sa’d) bin Abi Sarh hid in the house of ‘Uthman bin ‘Affan, and when the Messenger of Allah called the people to give their Oath of Allegiance, he brought him, and made him stand before the Prophet. He (‘Uthman) said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Accept the allegiance of ‘Abdullah.’ He raised his head and looked at him three times, refusing his allegiance each time, then he accepted his allegiance after three times. Then he turned to his Companions and said: ‘Was there not any sensible man among you who would get up when he saw me refusing to give him my hand and kill him?’ They said: ‘We did not know, O Messenger of Allah, what was in your heart. Why did you not gesture to us with your eyes?’ He said: ‘It is not befitting for a Prophet that his eyes be deceitful.'”
(an-Nasa’i 4072)
Accused of Spying/ “Inciting Violence”: most of these are in the context of ongoing conflict, some might be accused of being spies, or for inciting violence against Mohammed etc. Many of these are purely pre-emptory strikes, people killed for “inciting violence”, 2 are suspected of being spies, 2 instances merely inciting violence, “Planning to attack” in one
Stoned for adultery: Mohammed is said to have stoned a man himself. There are many traditions of the companions stating after Muhammed’s death that he “used to stone” adulterers.
Stoned to Death for Adultery/Homosexuality
Sahih Bukhari
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: `Umar said, “I am afraid that after a long time has passed, people may say, “We do not find the Verses of the Rajam (stoning to death) in the Holy Book,” and consequently they may go astray by leaving an obligation that Allah has revealed. Lo! I confirm that the penalty of Rajam be inflicted on him who commits illegal sexual intercourse, if he is already married and the crime is proved by witnesses or pregnancy or confession.” Sufyan added, “I have memorized this narration in this way.” `Umar added, “Surely Allah’s Messenger carried out the penalty of Rajam, and so did we after him.”
(Bukhari 6829 above. This formula (surely Prophet stoned and we stoned after him) is repeated in Jami` at-Tirmidhi Book 17 Hadith 1431, Jami` at-Tirmidhi Book 17 Hadith 1432, Sunan Ibn Majah 2553 Graded Sahih, Muwatta Imam Malik Book 41 Hadith 10)
Narrated Ash-Shaibani: I asked `Abdullah bin Abi `Aufa about the Rajam (stoning somebody to death for committing illegal sexual intercourse). He replied, “The Prophet carried out the penalty of Rajam,” I asked, “Was that before or after the revelation of Surat-an-Nur?” He replied, “I do not know.” (Bukhari 6840, repeated 6813)
Narrated Ash-Sha’bi: from ‘Ali when the latter stoned a lady to death on a Friday. ‘Ali said, “I have stoned her according to the tradition of Allah’s Apostle.” (Sahih al-Bukhari Book 82 Hadith 803)
In Bukhari 6841, 4556 and 6819, Mohammed orders the stoning of Jewish couples allegedly caught in adultery based on the teaching found in the Torah.
Abdullah bin Amr narrated: “A man asked the Messenger of Allah: ‘I shaved before slaughtering.’ So he said: ‘Slaughter, and there is no harm.’ Another man asked him: ‘I performed the sacrifice before stoning.’ He said: ‘Stone, and there is no harm.'” (ami` at-Tirmidhi 916, Graded Sahih)
The Messenger of Allah had people stoned to death and we have done it also since his death…. Stoning is a duty laid down (by Allah) for married men and women who commit fornication when proof is established, or if there is pregnancy, or a confession. (Sunan Abu Dawood Book 40 Hadith 4404).
Musnad Ahmed
It was narrated from Mujalid that ‘Amir said: Sharahah had a husband who was absent in Syria. She became pregnant and her former master brought her to `Ali bin Abi Talib and said: This one has committed zina, She admitted it, so he gave her one hundred lashes on Thursday and stoned her on Friday; he dug a hole for her to her navel, and I was present. Then he said: Stoning is a Sunnah established by the Messenger of Allah. If anyone saw her do it, the first one to throw a stone should be the one who witnessed it; he should give his testimony and follow his testimony with his stone. But she admitted it, so I will be the first one to stone her. He threw a stone at her, then the people stoned her and I was among them. By Allah, I was among those who killed her. (Musnad Ahmed 978)