For over a billion people, he is the final prophet of God. For historians, he is a figure of immense influence, shrouded in layers of legend and tradition. But what does the evidence say? When we strip back the veneration and examine the primary sources—both Islamic and non-Islamic—a stark and often disturbing picture of Muhammad ibn Abdullah emerges. This is not an exploration of faith, but an unflinching look at the historical record. This is the story of a man whose life was defined by trauma, alleged spiritual encounters, political ambition, warfare, and a consolidation of power that left a trail of blood and controversy.

From Orphan to Merchant: The Early Years

Muhammad was born around 570 AD in Mecca, a bustling commercial hub and a center of pagan worship in the Arabian Peninsula. He was a member of the Quraysh tribe, the powerful clan that controlled the city and its religious economy, centered on the Kaaba—a shrine then housing over 300 idols. 🏛️

His early life was marked by profound loss. His father, Abdullah, died before his birth, and his mother, Amina, passed away when he was just six. Left an orphan, he was raised first by his grandfather, Abd al-Muttalib, and then by his uncle, Abu Talib. This early trauma instilled in him a sense of vulnerability but also resilience. As a young man, he worked in the caravan trade, earning the nickname 'Al-Amin' (the Trustworthy) for his integrity.

A pivotal moment came with his marriage to Khadijah, a wealthy and respected widow 15 years his senior. This union provided him with financial security, social status, and a partner who would become his first and most steadfast supporter. For years, he led a relatively comfortable life, yet he was reportedly troubled by the moral decay, social inequity, and rampant idolatry of Meccan society. He sought solitude, often retreating to a cave on Mount Hira to meditate and reflect.

A Terrifying Encounter: The First Revelation

It was during one of these retreats, around the age of 40, that Muhammad's life irrevocably changed. According to Islamic tradition, while in the cave of Hira, he was visited by a spiritual entity. This was not a gentle, divine whisper. The being, later identified as the angel Gabriel, allegedly grabbed him violently and commanded, "Iqra!" (Read!).

Muhammad, who was illiterate, was overcome with terror. He ran home to Khadijah, trembling and fearing he had been possessed by a demon or a jinn. He cried out, "Cover me! Cover me!" It was Khadijah who comforted him and sought an explanation. She consulted her cousin, Waraqa ibn Nawfal, a man described as a Christian heretic or an Ebionite, who interpreted the experience through a biblical lens, declaring that Muhammad must be a prophet in the line of Moses. This external validation was crucial in convincing a terrified and uncertain Muhammad of his own prophetic calling.

From Preacher to Warlord: The Medinan Shift

For 13 years in Mecca, Muhammad preached a message of strict monotheism and social justice, warning of a coming Day of Judgment. His message was largely rejected. He gathered only a small band of followers and faced increasing hostility and persecution from his own tribe, the Quraysh, whose wealth and power were tied to the pagan pilgrimage rites at the Kaaba.

In 622 AD, facing threats to his life, Muhammad orchestrated the Hijra, a migration of his followers from Mecca to the city of Yathrib, over 200 miles to the north. This event was so significant it marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. Yathrib was renamed Medinat al-Nabi, the City of the Prophet—or simply, Medina.

In Medina, Muhammad's role transformed dramatically. He was no longer just a preacher; he became a political leader, a lawgiver, and a military commander. He drafted the Constitution of Medina, a pact uniting the various Muslim, Jewish, and pagan tribes under his authority, creating a nascent theocratic state. Power, however, was not maintained by persuasion alone. A new strategy emerged: raiding Meccan caravans. ⚔️ These raids served to finance his community and weaken his Meccan enemies, initiating a state of war.

The Battle of Badr in 624 AD, where a small Muslim force defeated a larger Meccan army, was a major turning point. Muhammad attributed the victory to divine intervention. The pattern was set: Islam would spread not just by the word, but by the sword. This shift is reflected in the Quran itself. The earlier, Meccan verses often speak of patience and peaceful dialogue. The later, Medinan verses are starkly different, containing commands to fight.

"Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture – [fight] until they pay the jizyah willingly while they are humbled."
– Quran 9:29

Silencing Dissent: A Policy of Assassination

As Muhammad's power grew, so did his intolerance for criticism. Dissent was not debated; it was eliminated. The historical records in the Sira and Hadith detail numerous instances of targeted assassinations ordered against those who mocked or opposed him, particularly poets whose words held significant influence in Arab culture.

The Case of Asma bint Marwan

Asma, a poetess and mother of five in Medina, composed verses criticizing Muhammad and the assassinations of other locals. According to the Sira of Ibn Ishaq, Muhammad openly asked, "Who will rid me of Marwan's daughter?" A follower, Umayr ibn Adiy al-Khatmi, went to her house that night, found her sleeping with her children, removed her suckling infant from her breast, and plunged his sword into her. The next morning, Muhammad, upon hearing the news, reportedly remarked, "No two goats will butt their heads about her," signifying her insignificance. 💀

The Killing of Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf

Ka'b, a Jewish leader and poet in Medina, was incensed by the Muslim victory at Badr and wrote poetry mourning the Meccan dead and insulting Muslim women. Again, Muhammad asked, "Who is willing to kill Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf who has hurt Allah and His Apostle?" A group of his followers, led by Muhammad ibn Maslama, volunteered. They were given permission to use deception, luring Ka'b from his fortress at night under false pretenses before brutally assassinating him. These acts were not rogue operations; they were sanctioned killings to enforce political and religious conformity.

A Controversial Personal Life

Muhammad's personal life, particularly his marriages, raises profound moral questions that cannot be dismissed by appealing to 7th-century cultural norms, especially for one claiming to be a universal moral exemplar.

Safiyya bint Huyayy: A War Prize

Another disturbing case is that of Safiyya, a Jewish woman of noble birth from the conquered oasis of Khaybar. Her father, the chief of the Banu Nadir tribe, and her husband were both executed following the battle. That very night, Muhammad, who had been told of her beauty, took the newly widowed and orphaned Safiyya as a bride for himself. The marriage was consummated on the journey back from the campaign, with her family's blood barely dry. Islamic sources frame this as an honor, but from an objective standpoint, it represents the claiming of a woman as a spoil of war.

A Painful End and a Prophetic Warning

After conquering Mecca in 630 AD, Muhammad consolidated his rule over most of Arabia. However, his life did not end in peaceful old age. His death is linked back to the conquest of Khaybar. A Jewish woman named Zaynab bint al-Harith, whose family had been killed in the battle, served him a poisoned lamb. Muhammad tasted the meat, realized it was poisoned, and spat it out, but not before some of the toxin entered his system.

Years later, during his final illness, he suffered from intense fevers, headaches, and pain. He confided in Aisha, saying: "O Aisha! I still feel the pain from the food I ate at Khaybar, and at this moment, I feel as if my aorta is being cut from that poison."

This statement is deeply significant when juxtaposed with a verse in the Quran about the fate of a false prophet:

"And if he [Muhammad] had made up about Us some [false] sayings, We would have seized him by the right hand; Then We would have cut from him the aorta."
– Quran 69:44-46

Muhammad, by his own admission recorded in Islam's most trusted sources, died experiencing the exact sensation described in his own scripture as the punishment for a false prophet. He died in 632 AD, at around 62 years old, in Aisha's house, his final days marked by agony and confusion.

Conclusion: By Their Fruits You Shall Know Them

When examined through the lens of its own foundational texts, the life of Muhammad is not one of a peaceful spiritualist. It is the life of a political and military strategist who used revelation to justify war, assassination, child marriage, and the subjugation of his enemies. He was a man who was terrified by his first spiritual encounter, who took captives as wives, and who died in agony from poison, potentially fulfilling a verse about false prophecy.

The Bible presents a radically different standard for a messenger of God. Jesus Christ's life was marked by perfect holiness, unconditional love, compassion for his enemies, and truth without compromise. He conquered not with a sword, but through sacrificial love on a cross. He said, "By their fruits you will know them." (Matthew 7:16) and "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6).

The question is not whether Muhammad was a powerful and influential leader. He undeniably was. The question is whether he was a prophet of the one true God. The evidence recorded in Islam's own books presents a deeply troubling portrait. We encourage you to open the Gospels, read the life of Jesus, and compare the two. Only one lived a sinless life. Only one conquered death. Only one offers salvation not through submission to law and conquest, but through grace and faith. 🙏