Didn't he forgive most of the Pagans who persecuted him though after he conquered Mecca. Granted his destroying idols has given the impression especially in Afghanistan that Muslims now can still destroy statues of Buddha. However I do not see him as all that ruthless although he was very harsh in punishment sometimes. I think Muslims should try to make an argument for interpreting the Qur'an accordng to their time and stituation at least. Many Muslims may leave Islam but many will still be firm in their faith. Islam needs to reform and adopt the peaceful elements in the Qur'an.
Well, for one thing, he didn't forgive many, even if they hid behind the curtains of the kaaba, he found them & killed them
the three sources to learn about Islam are the Quran, hadiths & Ibn Ishaq's sira, these are from the sira:,
"A small number who were to be killed even if they were found beneath the curtains of the Ka'ba"Ibn Ishaq 818". These included his old enemies who had personally mocked and rejected him
He also killed two singing girls who simply used to mock him, not even attack him. Remember the hadiths I gave you of him condoning the murders of a Jewess & a slave woman, who'd simply criticized him, not even attacked him?
It was a similar case with these slave girls, they didn't even attack or persecuted him, he simply couldn't stand being mocked!
"He had two singing girls, Fartana and her friend, who used to sing satirical songs about the apostle, so he ordered that they should be killed" (Ibn Ishaq 819)It was at this point that Mecca, one of the most religiously diverse cities on earth, became one of the most oppressive and intolerant. Muhammad's first order of business was to destroy the idols of the very people who allowed him to preach his religion in their city for thirteen years:
"The Prophet entered Mecca and (at that time) there were three hundred and sixty idols around the Ka'ba. He started stabbing the idols with a stick he had in his hand and reciting: "Truth (Islam) has come and Falsehood (disbelief) has vanished." (Bukhari 43:658)
The prophet of Islam then sent his men out to destroy the temples of other tribes, both around Mecca (Ibn Ishaq 840) and later as far away as Yemen (Bukhari 59:643).
With their own religion violently destroyed, most Meccans had no choice but to outwardly "convert" to the very religion they had adamantly rejected for the twenty-one years prior to having a sword at their throat. To say that this was heartfelt (as some Muslims today actually do) stretches the limits of credulity.
What would say if say the US Army,(or anyone else) marches into Arabia, destroys every mosque & the kaaba, burns all Qurans & then asks Muslims to convert to Xtianity, even if they convert? Would you call it conversion of choice?
This is a Sahih hadith showing Muhammad's men idol smashing & forcibly converting(by threats of chopping off people's necks) as faraay as Yemen.
Sahih Bukhari Volume 5, Book 59, Number 643:
Narrated Qais:
Jarir said
"Allah's Apostle said to me, "Won't you relieve me from Dhul-Khalasa?" I replied, "Yes, (I will relieve you)." So I proceeded along with one-hundred and fifty cavalry from Ahmas tribe who were skillful in riding horses. I used not to sit firm over horses, so I informed the Prophet of that, and he stroke my chest with his hand till I saw the marks of his hand over my chest and he said, O Allah! Make him firm and one who guides others and is guided (on the right path).' Since then I have never fallen from a horse.
Dhul-l--Khulasa was a house in Yemen belonging to the tribe of Khatham and Bajaila, and in it there were idols which were worshipped, and it was called Al-Ka'ba." Jarir went there, burnt it with fire and dismantled it. When Jarir reached Yemen, there was a man who used to foretell and give good omens by casting arrows of divination. Someone said to him. "The messenger of Allah's Apostle is present here and if he should get hold of you, he would chop off your neck." One day while he was using them (i.e. arrows of divination), Jarir stopped there and said to him,
"Break them (i.e. the arrows) and testify that None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, or else I will chop off your neck." So the man broke those arrows and testified that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah. Then Jarir sent a man called Abu Artata from the tribe of Ahmas to the Prophet to convey the good news (of destroying Dhu-l-Khalasa). So when the messenger reached the Prophet, he said, "O Allah's Apostle! By Him Who sent you with the Truth, I did not leave it till it was like a scabby camel." Then the Prophet blessed the horses of Ahmas and their men five times.
Is this kind of forced conversions ruthless enough or not?
Topic: Does Islam encourage violence? The Big Questions