The original Kaaba was at some point dedicated to Hubal, a Nabatean deity, and contained 360 idols. According to Ibn Ishaq, an early biographer of Muhammad, the Ka'aba was itself previously addressed as a female deity.[18]Circumambulation was often performed naked by male pilgrims,[19] and linked to ancient fertility rites.[20]
When the prophet Muhammad was born, the people of Saudi Arabia were a mixture of Jews, Christians and idol-worshippers.
Muhammad, as a merchant, came into contact with many Jewish merchants and landowners.
Muhammad decided to reject idol-worship and adopt the Jewish religion.
Safiyah, one of Muhammad's Jewish wives.
Two of Prophet Muhammad's wives were Jewish.
"Muhammad clearly saw himself as part of the Jewish tradition. …
"Islam was a radical call back to the basic values of the Torah and even talmudic stories."
Muhammad only fell out with the Jews when they refused to accept him as their prophet.
Joseph Smith
Muhammad said that God had spoken to him through the angel Gabriel. Muhammad is a bit like Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon branch of Christianity.
Joseph Smith claimed that he was spoken to by an angel who directed him to a buried book of golden plates inscribed with a Judeo-Christian history of an ancient American civilization.
Ali, one of the members of Mohammed's family reportedly had an affair with Mohammed.
Mohamed's closest friend was Zaid, his male slave.
Mohamed's first wife was Khadija. She was was aged forty at the time of their marriage and 'well past her youth'. Mohamed was about fifteen years younger.
Handsome fifteen year old Zaid was the wedding gift given by Khadija to Mohamed.
Mohamed and Zaid became very close friends.
Zaid's family found their son and tried to rescue him.
Zaid told his family that he wanted to stay with Mohamed. Zaid said: "I would not choose any man in preference to Mohamed. He is to me both a father and a mother."
Mohamed said: "Zaid is my heir and I am his."
Muhammad's youngest wife Aisha believed that if Zaid had not died, Mohamed would have made Zaid his successor.
Later in his life, Mohamed spent a lot of time with Zaid's son, Usama ibn Zaid.
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A group of people from Mecca plotted to kill Mohamed. When the murderers burst into Mohamed's room they found Mohamed's 23 year old cousin, Ali, lying on Mohamed's bed. Mohamed had escaped.
Ali was a handsome youth. Mohamed said that "Looking upon Ali is worship," and that "Ali would appear (even) to the dwellers of paradise as a morning star."
Reportedly, one historian wrote of Mohamed: "He often made (Ali) sleep by his side, and Ali enjoyed the warmth of Muhammad's body and inhaled the holy fragrance of his breath."
Mohamed, reportedly, said: 'Ali and I, fourteen thousand years before the creation of mankind, were one light. When Allah created Adam, he split this light into two, one of which I am and the other is Ali." (Salman)
We have read the Koran and we have lived in a Moslem country.
Under the reign of the Arab Emperor Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, Mecca may have been erroneously portrayed as Muhammad's home, in order to provide Islam with Arabian origins.
Abd al Malik ibn Marwan, the Arab Emperor from 685 - 705AD, may have been the inventor of the warlike form of Islam.
1. Early Christian chronicles in the seventh century elaborate on the origins of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and some of the laws practised by the early Muslims.
In the documentary Holland admits the existence of these Christian narratives, but seems to dismiss their validity without justification.
Below are some examples of these chronicles:
Doctrina Jacobi written in 635 CE
A document called Doctrina Jacobi written only two years after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) clearly mentions that a prophet had appeared amongst the Arabs:
"I, Abraham, went off to Sykamina and referred the matter to an old man very well-versed in the Scriptures. I asked him: 'What is your view, master and teacher, of the prophet who has appeared among the Saracens'.
The questions is: who was this prophet among Arabs?
Note:
1. Doctrina Jacobi was apparently writtensometime between 634 and 640.[1][2]
2.A record of the Arab conquest of Syria written in 637 CE, just 5 years after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), clearly mentions him by name.
"…and in January, they took the word for their lives did the sons of Emesa, and many villages were ruined with killing by the Arabs of Mụhammad and a great number of people were killed and captives were taken from Galilee as far as Bēth."
Note:
1. The text above is a much faded note added to a manuscript.
This note appears to have been written soon after the battle of Gabitha (636 CE).
The actual date is not known.
The fragmentary nature of this note has resulted in scholars advising caution.
3. Sebeos, Bishop of the Bagratunis (Writing c.660 AD)
An early seventh century account of Islam comes from Sebeos who was a bishop of the House of Bagratunis. From this chronicle, there are indications that he lived through many of the events he relates. As for Muhammad (upon whom be peace), he had the following to say:
"At that time a certain man from along those same sons of Ismael, whose name was Mahmet [i.e., Mụhammad], a merchant, as if by God's command appeared to them as a preacher [and] the path of truth."
Note:
1. There are doubts about whether or not the above was actually written by Sebeos.
2. It is only assumed that Sebeos wrote the account and that it is only assumed that it was written in the 660s AD.