In 626 Mohammed lead 3000 troops against the Banu-Kuraiza Jews demanding their submission to Islam or death. They chose death and 600 men were buried in the market place at Medina. The Qur’an claims that Allah caused the Muslims to "inherit their lands, their houses and their riches." The women were sold into slavery. In 628 he plundered the Khaibar Jews north of Medina and took Safiya, a seventeen year old Jew, for one of his wives. Islam was forced upon all the Jews of Khaibar until the expulsion of all Jews from Arabia under the Caliphate of Omar. Such events helped to revive age old tension between the Arabs and the Jews. The Qur’an portrays Jews as "the greediest of mankind for life" and "monkeys (apes), despised and rejected." These verses have often been cited to inflame hatred among Muslim youth against Jews.
Before long Mohammed had gathered quite a number of followers who were intoxicated on their new found power and religion. Mohammed signed the Treaty of Hudaybiya in 628 with the Quraish clan back in Mecca while all along building his alliances with their enemies. The treaty was to prevent any wars between the feuding tribes. However when a squabble occurred causing several deaths of a neighboring Bani Khuza’a tribe Mohammed decided this would be a good time to challenge the ruling powers of Mecca.
In the year 630 Mohammed led an overwhelming army of 10,000 men against Mecca where they took over the sanctuary of Allah and tore down all the images of foreign gods that had been introduced during the "Age of Ignorance" leaving only the Black Stone. The prophet sanctioned a tradition of kissing it which is still practiced to this day. Though Biblical characters at times set up stone altars or monuments for a memorial to historical events nothing compares to the Muslim adoration of the Ka’ba. Muslim tradition has it that it was first built by Adam. Later it was rebuilt by Abraham and his son Ishmael, who supposedly started the pilgrimage tradition. "Lo! the first Santuary appointed for mankind was that at Becca (Mecca), a blessed place, a guidance to the peoples; wherein are plain memorials (of Allah’s guidance); the place where Abraham stood up to pray; and whosoever entereth it is safe. And pilgrimage to the House is a duty unto Allah for mankind, for him who can find a way thither." Mecca became the Holy City where Muslims have their annual gathering (hajj) and circle the Ka’ba seven times. No unbeliever is authorized hereafter to set foot on this sacred bit of earth. The Ka’ba has been rebuilt a number of times. Shortly before Mohammed migrated from Medina, teakwood from a wrecked Byzantine ship at a nearby port was used to build a more elaborate Ka’ba. Today it is draped with a black clothe embroidered with calligraphy in gold thread, which is cut up and distributed to those who make the annual pilgrimage.
Before long Mohammed had gathered quite a number of followers who were intoxicated on their new found power and religion. Mohammed signed the Treaty of Hudaybiya in 628 with the Quraish clan back in Mecca while all along building his alliances with their enemies. The treaty was to prevent any wars between the feuding tribes. However when a squabble occurred causing several deaths of a neighboring Bani Khuza’a tribe Mohammed decided this would be a good time to challenge the ruling powers of Mecca.
In the year 630 Mohammed led an overwhelming army of 10,000 men against Mecca where they took over the sanctuary of Allah and tore down all the images of foreign gods that had been introduced during the "Age of Ignorance" leaving only the Black Stone. The prophet sanctioned a tradition of kissing it which is still practiced to this day. Though Biblical characters at times set up stone altars or monuments for a memorial to historical events nothing compares to the Muslim adoration of the Ka’ba. Muslim tradition has it that it was first built by Adam. Later it was rebuilt by Abraham and his son Ishmael, who supposedly started the pilgrimage tradition. "Lo! the first Santuary appointed for mankind was that at Becca (Mecca), a blessed place, a guidance to the peoples; wherein are plain memorials (of Allah’s guidance); the place where Abraham stood up to pray; and whosoever entereth it is safe. And pilgrimage to the House is a duty unto Allah for mankind, for him who can find a way thither." Mecca became the Holy City where Muslims have their annual gathering (hajj) and circle the Ka’ba seven times. No unbeliever is authorized hereafter to set foot on this sacred bit of earth. The Ka’ba has been rebuilt a number of times. Shortly before Mohammed migrated from Medina, teakwood from a wrecked Byzantine ship at a nearby port was used to build a more elaborate Ka’ba. Today it is draped with a black clothe embroidered with calligraphy in gold thread, which is cut up and distributed to those who make the annual pilgrimage.
Two years after Mohammed had taken control of Mecca, while planning a major expedition against the Byzantines in Syria he fell ill and died. He was buried under the floor of his wife Aisha’s house in Medina. It may strike some as odd that Mohammed, who claimed such close ties with Abraham, would be buried in Medina rather than Hebron, where Abraham and Sarah are buried in the land of Israel.
By this time his army had reached far and wide and tradition has it that he had sent letters to many foreign leaders such as Byzantium, Persia and Abyssinia asking them to adopt his religion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbT-1inFxZY
Yet they keep spinning Islam as the religion of peace as you can see on this billboard in Seattle.
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