Book Review: The Truth About Muhammad

By: Ibn Kammuna

This is Robert Spencer’s book about Muhammad. This is actually a very good book for westerners who do not know much about Islam, its founder, and its origins. The beginning of the book contains a chronology of the major events in Muhammad’s life, and consequently Islam’s important events. It also has a glossary of important persons and places in early Islamic times. I believe this is very useful for any reader of Islam, and especially for a person in the west.

The contents of the book are divided into 10 chapters starting with a chapter explaining why a biography of Muhammad is relevant for us today. For us westerners , so called, “kafirs”, it is important to understand the relation between Islam proper and our freedom and Democracy. While the first chapter is not detailed, which is understandable considering the undertaking of the book, it is very useful for the non specialist. Chapter two explains to the reader the important sources of information and authority to the Muslim; The Qur’an, the Hadith, and the Sira. Chapter three gives the reader a glimpse of “early Muhammad”. Khadija, first revelations and Muhammad’s suicidal psyche are discussed. Chapter four discusses Muhammad’s prophetic career and talks about his borrowings from previous sources (Judaism, Christianity, Pagans..). Revelations of convenience and the scandalous episodes of Muhammad regarding Aisha and Zainab bint Jahsh are discussed courageously in this chapter.

This is one great attribute of Mr. Spencer. He tells the facts. There is no sugarcoating. There is no “make nice” political talk. He just tells the truth from credible historical sources. Chapter five discusses the earlier problems that the prophet encountered with the Meccans. The scandalous issue of “Satanic verses” is discussed in this chapter. Chapter six follows Muhammad’s transformation to a leader of a gang of thieves (Spencer was nicer and used the word “warlord”). The chapter also discusses Muhammad’s earlier problems with the Jews of Medina. Chapters seven and eight discuss Muhammad’s earlier battles, his elimination of the Jewish tribes one by one, up to his invading Khayber. Those chapters also shed a light on Muhammad’s deceptive nature by not honoring treaties. The Massacre of Banu Qurayza is also discussed. Chapter nine discusses the last years of the prophet. It is in this chapter that Mr. Spencer discusses controversial Islamic issues, as pertains to Muhammad’s teachings and conduct, like the killing of apostates, believe in Islam or else we will kill you, or you pay us some money (Jizya), just for allowing you to stay a Jew or a Christian!.

It is evident that some Islamic teachings are out of date. No one, in his sane mind, would think that humans of modern day society should pay specific taxes because they have different religious beliefs that do not conform to some teachings of a Bedouin who lived in primitive Arabia fourteen hundred years ago. But again, modern day Muslims will surprise you of what they can believe in.

The final chapter of the book discusses Muhammad’s legacy. Issues of Jihad, Marrying a child (Muhammad was a pedophile if you didn’t know!), polygamy, barbaric laws of punishment are all discussed in this chapter, and more. In this last chapter, Mr. Spencer introduces live issues like imitating the prophet with examples from our own time (the last few years). Those examples, for us, Humans, show how Islam transforms people to wild beasts, in my opinion. Pages 192 to194 in the book offer practical ways for western governments to deal with Muslims and Islamic states. If anything I strongly recommend that all political leaderships in western countries to read those last few pages in Mr. Spencer’s book, and find ways to implement his suggestions. There is no better way to combat evil than being ready for it before it even shows up on our doorsteps.

My recommendation: Great book. Buy it and read it, and apply his recommendations in the last chapter if you can.