yet few seem to know all that much about the true history of Islam and its founder, Muhammad.  As a result, the biggest misconceptions about Islam are often those propagated by Muslims themselves.

Here, we refute the contemporary mythology of Muhammad by referring to the earliest and most reliable Muslim historians, who based their writings on those who actually knew their revered prophet.

The historical compilations of Ibn Ishaq (compiled by Ibn Hisham), al-Tabari, Bukhari and Sahih Muslim are greatly respected in the Muslim academic community as a priceless source of biographical information and the details of Islam's origin and rise to power.  These writings also provide the context for the Quran.

The Hadith (traditions), Sira (biography of Muhammad) and the Quran provide the true Islamic counterpart to the Christian Bible and Jewish Torah.  The Quran is simply the purported words of Allah arranged in no particular order.  It makes little sense outside of the context provided by the other two sources.

Articles posted here will occasionally be revised, and new ones will be added.  Readers not familiar with the life of Muhammad may want to approach these myths through our brief article on the history of his life: The Life of Muhammad: An Inconvenient Truth.  It has been updated to include most of the links found below, and it will help place these debunked myths into historical context - as it was written from the Muslim point of view.


Muhammad in Mecca

MYTH: Muhammad was Persecuted for Preaching Islam

MYTH: Muhammad was Tortured by the Meccans

MYTH: The Muslims Suffered Many Deaths at the Hands of Meccan Persecutors

MYTH: The Meccans were the First to Draw Blood in the Conflict with Muslims

MYTH: Muhammad Traveled to Jerusalem

MYTH: Persecution Forced Muhammad and the Muslims to Flee Mecca for Medina



Muhammad in Medina

MYTH: Muhammad was under Persecution by the Meccans in Medina

MYTH: Muhammad Raided Meccan Caravans to Retrieve Stolen Property

MYTH: Muhammad Fought the Battle of Badr in Self-Defense

MYTH: Muhammad was a Brave Warrior who Trusted Allah to Protect Him (Uhud)

MYTH: Muhammad Lived at Peace with the Jews (Part 1 - the Banu Qaynuqa)

MYTH: Muhammad Lived at Peace with the Jews (Part 2 - the Banu Nadir)

MYTH: Muhammad Lived at Peace with the Jews (Part 3 - the Banu Qurayza)



Muhammad the Conqueror

MYTH: Muhammad Only Waged War in Self-Defense

MYTH: Muhammad Never Approved of Rape

MYTH: Muhammad Never Killed Children

MYTH: The Meccans were the First to Break the Treaty of Hudaibiya

MYTH: Muhammad Always Chose Peace over War

MYTH: Muhammad Would Never Harbor a War Criminal

MYTH: Islam Made Mecca a More Tolerant City

MYTH: Muhammad was Attacked by a Byzantine (Christian) Army



Muhammad the Moralist

MYTH: Muhammad Never Approved of Murder

MYTH: Muhammad Never Killed Captives

MYTH: Muhammad Condemned Pedophilia

MYTH: Muhammad took Multiple Wives as a Favor to Them

MYTH: Muhammad Never Approved of Dishonesty

MYTH: Muhammad Never Killed Women

MYTH: Muhammad was an Abolitionist

MYTH: Islam Did Away with Superstition

MYTH: Muhammad Never Took Revenge

MYTH: Muhammad Never Approved of Torture

MYTH: Muhammad Never Killed the Elderly

MYTH: Muhammad Never Approved of Forcing Conversions to Islam

MYTH: Muhammad was a Forgiving Man