Do you think that Mohammad was a historical person that really lived??
What is for you the proof for it??
Are there any independent documents outside islamic literature that refer to him??
Has there been any archaeological evidence??? Did you ever ask this question???
I personally think Muhammad was a good person overall, if we take into account the historical and cultural context of his life. I think this is especially true when we consider his pre-Islamic and early Islamic days (of course, assuming Islamic accounts are reliable), when he was known for his honesty and trustworthiness (الصادق الأمين), when he meditated in a cave all alone for long periods of time to reach some kind of divine essence he honestly wished to worship, and when he formed a religion that prohibited many of the uncivilized practices of the time (particularly infanticide). He forgave his enemies often (when conquering Mecca - though perhaps for religious reasons. When visiting Ta'if -- then again, it is mentioned he saved them because of their future Muslim progeny. The Jews that used to dump rubbish outside his doorstep.) Granted, sometimes he wasn't so forgiving, like when he killed people who insulted him and when he came up with Soorat al Masad.
He was said to live in a very modest home -- even though he took a lot of the war bounty. He sounds somewhat self-deprecatory in parts of the Quran (speaking as Allah, of course). Then again, not so much in others. And there are a few hadeeths which show extensive pride.
However, later on in his prophethood, it seems as though all the power and success got to him -- many of his "atrocities" seem to come from this period.
Anyway, overall, if I'm asked to evaluate Muhammad's life using what I know of it, based on Islamic sources, I would probably say that he was a good man. Not nearly good enough for the ultimate prophet of God, but a decent human being, who had his faults and gave in to temptation occasionally.
What do you guys think?
Poll
Topic: Was Muhammad a bad person?