My Opinion

It is against Islam to rape Muslim women, but Muhammad actually encourages the rape of the other captured in the battle. The Hadith provides the context for the verse of the Koran 4:24.

The Apostle of Allah sent a military expedition to the Awtas on the occasion of the battle of Hunain. They met their enemy and fought against him. They conquered them and captured them. Some of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah hesitated to have sex with the prisoners in the presence of their disbelieving men. And Allah, the Exalted One, has sent the Koran a new verse of the Koran:

Also (forbidden are) women already married, except those (captives and slaves) whom your right hands possess. Thus has Allah ordained for you. All others are lawful, provided you seek (them in marriage) with Mahr (bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) from your property, desiring chastity, not committing illegal sexual intercourse, so with those of whom you have enjoyed sexual relations, give them their Mahr as prescribed; but if after a Mahr is prescribed, you agree mutually (to give more), there is no sin on you. Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise. (4:24)

"And women already married except those whom you right hands posses" (Abu Dawud 2150 and Muslim 3433)

In fact, as the Hadith remarked, it was not Allah, but "Allah the Exalted", who urged men to rape women before their husbands - which is all the more reason to think of Islam differently from other religions.

Note also that the husbands of these unhappy victims were still alive after the fight. This is important because it is the proponents of Islam who like to claim that the women who had enslaved Muhammad, were not able to defend themselves. Even if these proponents of Islam were right, what kind of moral code is it that forces a widow to choose between rape and starvation?

There are several other episodes in which Muhammad is offered the clear possibility to reject the rape of women - and yet he offers advice on how to proceed. In one case, his men hesitated to degrade their new slaves for later reuse by fattening them. Muhammad was asked above all for Coitus Interruptus:

that while he was sitting with Allah's Apostle he said, "O Allah's Apostle! We get female captives as our share of booty, and we are interested in their prices, what is your opinion about coitus interruptus?"

The Prophet said, "Do you really do that? It is better for you not to do it. No soul that which Allah has destined to exist, but will surely come into existence." (Bukhari 34:432)

As indicated, the Prophet of Islam has no objection to the fact that his husbands rape women as long as they ejaculate in the bodies of their victims.

As you can imagine, the obvious approval of Muhammad for the rape of women captured in the battle and his personal involvement, as held in many places, is very unpleasant for the Muslim advocates of our time. For this reason, some of them try to disclose these many episodes and Koran references to sex with prisoners by pretending that they are cases where women had fled from bad marriages and sought shelter with the Muslims. Some of the supporters of Islam even refer to them as "women," although the Koran makes a clear distinction between "those who have their rights" and true women (33:50):

O Prophet (Muhammad)! Verily, We have made lawful to you your wives, to whom you have paid their Mahr (bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage), and those (captives or slaves) whom your right hand possesses - whom Allah has given to you, and the daughters of your 'Amm (paternal uncles) and the daughters of your 'Ammah (paternal aunts) and the daughters of your Khal (maternal uncles) and the daughters of your Khalah (maternal aunts) who migrated (from Makkah) with you, and a believing woman if she offers herself to the Prophet, and the Prophet wishes to marry her; a privilege for you only, not for the (rest of) the believers. Indeed We know what We have enjoined upon them about their wives and those (captives or slaves) whom their right hands possess, - in order that there should be no difficulty on you. And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Beyond the despair of the proponents of Islam of the 21st century, however, there is nothing in the historical text that supports this rosy revision of Muslim history. The women of Banu Mustaliq were sold to slavery after their rape:

Abu Sirma said to Abu Sa'id al Khadri (Allah he pleased with him): 0 Abu Sa'id, did you hear Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) mentioning al-'azl?
He said: Yes, and added: We went out with Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) on the expedition to the Bi'l-Mustaliq and took captive some excellent Arab women; and we desired them, for we were suffering from the absence of our wives, (but at the same time) we also desired ransom for them. So we decided to have sexual intercourse with them but by observing 'azl (Withdrawing the male sexual organ before emission of semen to avoid-conception). But we said: We are doing an act whereas Allah's Messenger is amongst us;
why not ask him? So we asked Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him), and he said: It does not matter if you do not do it, for every soul that is to be born up to the Day of Resurrection will be born. (Sahih Muslim 3371)

In fact, female slaves were traded like any other simple commodity of Muhammad and his gang of devoted followers:

"Then the apostle sent Sa-d b. Zayd al-Ansari, brother of Abdu'l-Ashal with some of the captive women of Banu Qurayza to Najd and he sold them for horses and weapons." (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham/Hisham 693)

Is it Islamic to sell one's wife for horses? Clearly these were not wives!

More importantly, by definition a "captured" woman is not one who fled from her husband. She escapes from the Muslim slavery. This Hadith describes a typical attack in which the women and children are captured as they try to flee from the attacking Muslims:

"... and then we attacked from all sides and reached their watering-place where a battle was fought. Some of the enemies were killed and some were taken prisoners. I saw a group of persons that consisted of women and children. I was afraid lest they should reach the mountain before me, so I shot an arrow between them and the mountain. When they saw the arrow, they stopped. So I brought them, driving them along." (Sahih Muslim 4345)

The Muslim narrator sees the women who are trying to escape (after the massacre of their husbands) and cut their way by shooting an arrow into their way. These are not women who try to seek refuge with the Muslims. They try to avoid the capture by the Muslims.

The same Hadith tells further that Muhammad personally demanded one of the captured women for his own use:

I drove them along until I brought them to Abu Bakr who bestowed that girl upon me as a prize. So we arrived in Medina. I had not yet disrobed her when the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) met me in the street and said: Give me that girl, O Salama. I said: Messenger of Allah, she has fascinated me. I had not yet disrobed her. When on the next day, the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) again met me in the street, he said: O Salama, give me that girl ..." (Sahih Muslim 4345)

The Prophet of Islam and his companions used the war to gather women for personal sexual use and commerce. Unless she was arbitrarily declared as someone's wife, the woman became sex slave. In no case was their fate tied to anything they had done personally, nor had they any choice about their future.

Islamic terrorists take and kill almost daily hostages. While we are often assured that this practice "has nothing to do with Islam," Muhammad has actually murdered even captives of war and other hostages.

After the Battle of Badr, several defenseless Meccans were slaughtered by Muhammad's companions. These included a man named Umayya and his young son, who were captured by a Muslim (a former friend who sought to protect them), but got afterwards to a mob before they could bring themselves into safety:

"I said (would you attack) my prisoners? But... The people formed a ring around us as I was protecting him. Then a man drew his sword and cut off his son’s foot so that he fell down and Umayya [the boy’s father] let out a cry such as I have never heard… They hewed them to pieces with their swords until they were dead." (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 449)

Another heartbreaking depiction of the Islamic chivalry during the same battle concerns Abu Jahl, one of the arch enemies of Muhammad of Mecca. He was killed when he was defenseless. In this case, two Muslims took the opportunity to kill the death toll:

Mu’awwidh passed Abu Jahl as he lay there helpless and smote him until he left him at his last gasp. (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 451)

Another Muslim named Abdullah then came by and put his foot on Abu Jahl’s neck and taunted him before decapitating him:
Then I cut off his head and brought it to the apostle saying, "This is the head of the enemy of Allah, Abu Jahl." … I threw his head before the apostle and he gave thanks to Allah. (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 451).

Apparently, these fellows of Muhammad were not aware that "Islam is against the killing of captives." But who could blame them? Not only the Prophet of Islam praised them for their slaughtering, but he also ordered them to kill another captive.

Uqba bin Abu Mu'ayt pleaded for his life:

When the apostle ordered him to be killed, Uqba said, “But who will look after my children, O Muhammad?”
[Muhammad’s reply] “Hell.”
The man was put to death. (Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 458)

Other prisoners were ransomed, but Uqba received special treatment because he had mocked Muhammad in Mecca. His crime was that, for the pleasure of other Meccans, he had thrown the guts of a dead animal upon Muhammad's back when he prayed (Muslim 4422, Ibn Ishaq / Hisham 277). The Prophet of Islam noted that this fraternity stroke was worth killing. He was the first of several other occasions in which people were killed on Muhammad's order that mocked him.

Interestingly, it seems that Muhammad did not regret to kill all his prisoners, instead of demanding ransom. Verse 8:67 of the Quran was "revealed" in the succession of Badr:

It is not for a Prophet that he should have prisoners of war (and free them with ransom) until he had made a great slaughter (among his enemies) in the land. You desire the good of this world (i.e. the money of ransom for freeing the captives), but Allah desires (for you) the Hereafter. And Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

The Prophet of Islam continued his bloodshed with the execution of many other captives. Infamous is the execution of 800 captured in Qurayza men and boys. His men also brutally murdered an elderly woman named Umm Qirfa who got captured from the Banu Fazara tribe. According to al-Tabari, she was killed by placing a rope on each leg and the other end to a camel, then driving the two camels apart until the woman was torn to pieces." The daughter of the women got afterwards distributed to one of the Muslim murderers if her mother.

While it is common to hear from the Muslims that their religion is "against" killing of captives and hostages, the actual history of Islam proves that nothing could be more far away from the truth.

Christianity teaches that God loves all people, but hates sin. The Koran never says that. Instead, it explicitly states that Allah does not love those who do not believe in Him:

That He may reward those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism), and do righteous good deeds, out of His Bounty. Verily, He likes not the disbelievers. (30:45)

Allah loves only those who obey Muhammad (at least according to the "narrative" of Muhammad):

Say (O Muhammad): "Obey Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad)." But if they turn away, then Allah does not like the disbelievers. (3:32)

Instead of a god who loves the sinner even if he hates sin, the wrath of Allah is laid upon the individual:

Truly, Allah defends those who believe. Verily! Allah likes not any treacherous ingrate to Allah [those who disobey Allah but obey Shaitan (Satan)]. (22:38)

Some verses say that Allah does not give grace to everyone. For this reason he gives some people no guidance:

And upon Allah is the responsibility to explain the Straight Path (i.e. Islamic Monotheism for mankind i.e. to show them legal and illegal, good and evil things, etc. so, whosoever accepts the guidance, it will be for his own benefit and whosoever goes astray, it will be for his own destruction), but there are ways that turn aside (such as Paganism, Judaism, Christianity, etc.). And had He willed, He would have guided you all (mankind). (16:9)

In fact, he instructs Satan to lead the unbelievers into the destruction:

"And Istafziz [literally means: befool them gradually] those whom you can among them with your voice (i.e. songs, music, and any other call for Allah's disobedience), make assaults on them with your cavalry and your infantry, mutually share with them wealth and children (by tempting them to earn money by illegal ways usury, etc., or by committing illegal sexual intercourse, etc.), and make promises to them." But Satan promises them nothing but deceit. (17:64)

For those who do not love Allah, there will be the most terrible eternal torments, including eternal roasting:

Surely! Those who disbelieved in Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) We shall burn them in Fire. As often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for other skins that they may taste the punishment. Truly, Allah is Ever Most Powerful, All-Wise. (4:56)

"Allah is the enemy of the unbelievers" (2:98), and as we shall see, he hates them so much that he even leads them into sin and then actively prevents them from believing in him and thus facilitating their fate .

Ayatollah Khomeini, who studied Islam all his life, said that non-Muslims are somewhere between "faeces" and the "sweat of a camel that has consumed impure food". Little wonder: The Koran dehumanizes non-Muslims, describes them as "animals" and beasts:

Verily, those who disbelieve (in the religion of Islam, the Qur'an and Prophet Muhammad) from among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and Al-Mushrikun will abide in the Fire of Hell. They are the worst of creatures. (98:6)

Verily, The worst of moving (living) creatures before Allah are those who disbelieve , - so they shall not believe. (8:55)

Verse 7:176 compares unbelievers with "panting dogs" with regard to their idiocy and worthlessness.

Verse 7:179 says that they are much worse than "cattle".

Verse 9:28 says that the unbelievers are unclean.

Verse 6:111 says they are ignorant.

Verse 23:55 says they are helper of the devil.

Verse 5:60 even says that Allah has turned Jews into monkeys and pigs in the past. This gets repeated by verses 7:166 and 2:65.

A Hadith (Bukhari 54:524) says that Mohammed held rats for "mutated Jews" (also confirmed by Sahih Muslim 7135 and 7136).

Verses 46:29-35 even say that unbelieving humans are worse than the demons who believe in Mohammed.

According to Islamic law, non-Muslims may be owned by Muslims, but - in accordance with the Islamic message - a Muslim should never be the property of another Muslim (unless they convert to Islam under enslavement). Even Christians and Jews are not considered completely human because the punishment for the killing of one of them is limited to one-third of the compensation due for the unintentional killing of a Muslim.

All the great religions of the world preach that all people are equal. Only Islam differs according to the status of the humans.

Thus, the power of the Koran makes clear that Islam is not a universal brotherhood. It is merely a brotherhood of believers:

The believers are nothing else than brothers (in Islamic religion). So make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear Allah, that you may receive mercy. (49:10)

Not all people are equal in Islam. Slaves and disabled are not equal to healthy and free men (16:75-76). The Koran introduces the "Law of Equality", which sets different values of human life when looking at specific facts, such as the reimbursement of murder (2:178).

Muslim believers are never equal to non-Muslims:

Is one who is obedient to Allah, prostrating himself or standing (in prayer) during the hours of the night, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the Mercy of his Lord (like one who disbelieves)?
Say: "Are those who know equal to those who know not?" It is only men of understanding who will remember (i.e. get a lesson from Allah's Signs and Verses). (39:9)

Say (O Muhammad): "Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?" Say: "(It is) Allah."
Say: "Have you then taken (for worship) Auliya' (protectors, etc.) other than Him, such as have no power either for benefit or for harm to themselves?"
Say: "Is the blind equal to the one who sees? Or darkness equal to light? Or do they assign to Allah partners who created the like of His creation, so that the creation (which they made and His creation) seemed alike to them."
Say: "Allah is the Creator of all things, He is the One, the Irresistible." (13:16)

And do not marry Al-Mushrikat (idolatresses, etc.) till they believe (worship Allah Alone). And indeed a slave woman who believes is better than a (free) Mushrikah (idolatress, etc.), even though she pleases you. And give not (your daughters) in marriage to Al-Mushrikun till they believe (in Allah Alone) and verily, a believing slave is better than a (free) Mushrik (idolater, etc.), even though he pleases you. Those (Al-Mushrikun) invite you to the Fire, but Allah invites (you) to Paradise and Forgiveness by His Leave, and makes His Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to mankind that they may remember. (2:221)

The Koran clearly tells the Muslims that they are a preferred race, while those of other religions are "wicked"

You [true believers in Islamic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad and his Sunnah (legal ways, etc.)] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma'ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden), and you believe in Allah. And had the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) believed, it would have been better for them; among them are some who have faith, but most of them are Al-Fasiqun (disobedient to Allah - and rebellious against Allah's Command). (3:110)

As we shall see later, Allah condemns non-Muslims to hell, based only on their unbelief, while the faithful are rewarded with the best earthly comforts in the hereafter, including never-ending food, wine, and sex.

In the Gardens of delight (Paradise). (56:12)

A multitude of those (foremost) will be from the first generations (who embraced Islam). (56:13)

And a few of those (foremost) will be from the later time (generations). (56:14)

(They will be) on thrones woven with gold and precious stones, (56:15)

Reclining thereon, face to face. (56:16)

They will be served by immortal boys, (56:17)

With cups, and jugs, and a glass from the flowing wine, (56:18)

Wherefrom they will get neither any aching of the head, nor any intoxication. (56:19)

And fruit; that they may choose. (56:20)

And the flesh of fowls that they desire. (56:21)

And (there will be) Houris (fair females) with wide, lovely eyes (as wives for the pious), (56:22)

Like unto preserved pearls. (56:23)

A reward for what they used to do. (56:24)

No Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk) will they hear therein, nor any sinful speech (like backbiting, etc.) (56:25)

But only the saying of: Salam!, Salam! (greetings with peace) ! (56:26)

And those on the Right Hand, - Who will be those on the Right Hand? (56:27)

(They will be) among thornless lote-trees, (56:28)

Among Talh (banana-trees) with fruits piled one above another, (56:29)

In shade long-extended, (56:30)

By water flowing constantly, (56:31)

And fruit in plenty, (56:32)

Whose season is not limited, and their supply will not be cut off, (56:33)

And on couches or thrones, raised high. (56:34)

Verily, We have created them (maidens) of special creation. (56:35)

And made them virgins. (56:36)

Loving (their husbands only), equal in age. (56:37)

For those on the Right Hand. (56:38)

A multitude of those (on the Right Hand) will be from the first generation (who embraced Islam). (56:39)

And a multitude of those (on the Right Hand) will be from the later times (generations). (56:40)

A large part of the Koran is focused on distinguishing Muslims from non-Muslims and fighting non-Muslims. Among other things, non-Muslims are described as ill (2:10), liars (2:99), stupid (2:171) and deceptive (3:73).

The first Sura of the Koran is a short prayer, repeated by devout Muslims every day, ending with these words:

Guide us to the Straight Way (1:6)

The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians). (1:7)

Muhammad was once asked whether these were Jews and Christians. His answer was, "Who else?" (Bukhari 56:662).

Since Allah makes such a strong distinction between Muslims and those outside of faith, it is only natural that Muslims should incorporate unequal treatment standards into their everyday lives. The Koran tells Muslims to be compassionate, but reckless for the unbelievers:

Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and falling down prostrate (in prayer), seeking Bounty from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure. The mark of them (i.e. of their Faith) is on their faces (foreheads) from the traces of (their) prostration (during prayers). This is their description in the Taurat (Torah). But their description in the Injeel (Gospel) is like a (sown) seed which sends forth its shoot, then makes it strong, it then becomes thick, and it stands straight on its stem, delighting the sowers that He may enrage the disbelievers with them. Allah has promised those among them who believe (i.e. all those who follow Islamic Monotheism, the religion of Prophet Muhammad till the Day of Resurrection) and do righteous good deeds, forgiveness and a mighty reward (i.e. Paradise).
(48:29)

The Arabic word used to describe the ideal treatment of non-Muslims (shin-dal-dal) is the same word used in over 25 passages in the Koran to describe how painfully Allah made the hell.

Islamic law forbids formal Muslim charity (in the form of Zakat payment) to meet the needs of non-believers.

Allah intends that Muslims triumph over the unbelievers:

Those (hyprocrites) who wait and watch about you; if you gain a victory from Allah, they say: "Were we not with you," but if the disbelievers gain a success, they say (to them): "Did we not gain mastery over you and did we not protect you from the believers?" Allah will judge between you (all) on the Day of Resurrection. And never will Allah grant to the disbelievers a way (to triumph) over the believers. (4:141)

The only acceptable position of non-Muslims against Muslims is submission to Islamic rule:

Fight against those who (1) believe not in Allah, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger (4) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islam) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued. (9:29)

A common critique of many Muslims is that they often behave arrogantly towards others. Now you know why.