Muhammad's Assassinations and the Silencing of Critics

A Pattern of Silencing Dissent

On January 7, 2015, two gunmen entered the offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris and murdered twelve people. Their crime? Publishing cartoons of Muhammad. As they fled, the attackers shouted, "We have avenged the Prophet Muhammad!" and "Allahu Akbar!"

Many Western commentators were shocked that anyone would kill over cartoons. But students of Islamic history were not surprised. The Charlie Hebdo attack was not an aberration but a continuation of a tradition that stretches back to Muhammad himself—a tradition of silencing critics through violence.

During his lifetime, Muhammad ordered or sanctioned the assassination of numerous individuals whose only crime was mocking him, writing poetry against him, or criticizing his claims. These assassinations are recorded in the earliest Islamic sources—the Sira (biographical traditions), the hadith collections, and the writings of classical Muslim scholars. They are not anti-Islamic propaganda but mainstream Islamic history.

Asma bint Marwan: The Mother Who Mocked

Asma bint Marwan was a poetess in Medina who composed verses criticizing Muhammad and mocking the men of Medina for following him. Her poetry has not survived in full, but fragments quoted in the sources suggest she ridiculed the Medinan Arabs for accepting a foreign leader and abandoning their traditional ways.

According to Ibn Ishaq and other early sources, after hearing her poetry, Muhammad asked: "Will no one rid me of this daughter of Marwan?"

The assassin, Umayr ibn Adiy, entered her home at night. She was sleeping with her children, including an infant at her breast. He removed the baby and then killed her with his sword.

When Umayr returned to Muhammad and reported what he had done, he was troubled, wondering if he had sinned. Muhammad's response:

In other words: she was worthless. Her death didn't matter. The man who had just murdered a mother in her bed with her children around her was commended for serving God.

Abu Afak: The Old Poet

Abu Afak was a Jewish man said to be 120 years old—a poet who had lived in Medina since before Muhammad's arrival. He wrote verses criticizing Muhammad and urging the people of Medina to resist him.

One of his poems contained these lines (preserved in Ibn Ishaq):

The poem praised the pre-Islamic Medinan Arabs for their loyalty and honor, implicitly criticizing them for abandoning these traditions to follow Muhammad. In response:

An elderly poet, well over a century old, was murdered in his sleep for the crime of writing critical verses.

Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf: The Jewish Poet

The assassination of Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf is recorded in the most authoritative hadith collections, including Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, leaving no room for dispute about its authenticity.

Ka'b was a wealthy Jewish poet whose mother was from the Banu Nadir tribe. After the Muslim victory at the Battle of Badr (624 AD), Ka'b traveled to Mecca, where he composed elegies for the Meccan dead and poems criticizing Muhammad. Some sources also suggest he wrote love poetry about Muslim women, which was considered deeply offensive.

Deception Authorized

Muhammad bin Maslama asked permission to deceive Ka'b in order to get close enough to kill him:

With Muhammad's explicit permission to lie, the assassins approached Ka'b pretending to be dissatisfied with Muhammad and seeking a loan. They arranged to return at night, ostensibly to bring collateral for the loan. When Ka'b came out to meet them—a wealthy man trusting men who had just dined with him—they grabbed him, held him down, and stabbed him to death.

They cut off Ka'b's head and brought it to Muhammad. He rejoiced at the news.

The Aftermath

When the Jews of Medina protested this murder, Muhammad's response established a terrifying precedent:

Ibn Sunayna had no connection to Ka'b; he was simply a Jewish merchant killed because Muhammad had ordered Jews to be killed. When Muhayyisa's own brother (who had not yet converted to Islam) rebuked him for killing a man who had been his friend and trading partner, Muhayyisa reportedly said he would kill his own brother too if Muhammad commanded it.

Other Documented Assassinations

The pattern extended to numerous other critics of Muhammad:

Abu Rafi (Sallam ibn Abu al-Huqayq)

A Jewish leader who helped organize opposition to Muhammad. He was assassinated in his bed at night by a group of Muslims who infiltrated his fortress in Khaybar. His wife's screams nearly alerted the guards, but the assassins escaped. The account is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari (4039-4040).

Khalid ibn Sufyan

A chief who was allegedly gathering forces against Muhammad. Abdullah ibn Unays was sent to assassinate him. According to the account, Abdullah deceived Khalid, gained his trust, and then struck him dead while he walked beside him at night.

Al-Nadr ibn al-Harith

A Meccan prisoner captured at the Battle of Badr. His crime? He had publicly mocked Muhammad in Mecca, telling Persian tales and claiming his stories were as good as Muhammad's revelations. After Badr, while other prisoners were being ransomed, Muhammad ordered Ali to execute al-Nadr.

Uqba ibn Abu Mu'ayt

Another Badr prisoner who had publicly insulted Muhammad in Mecca. When he was brought forward for execution, he asked, "Who will take care of my children?" Muhammad reportedly replied, "Hellfire," and ordered him killed.

The Conquest of Mecca: The Hit List

When Muhammad conquered Mecca in 630 AD, he declared a general amnesty— with exceptions. Certain people were to be killed "even if they are found beneath the curtains of the Ka'ba." Among them:

• Abdullah ibn Sa'd — A former scribe who had apostasized after claiming Muhammad let him alter the Quran's wording
• Ikrima ibn Abu Jahl — Son of one of Muhammad's greatest enemies (later pardoned)
• Two singing girls — Slaves who had sung satirical songs mocking Muhammad (one was killed, one later pardoned)
• Al-Huwayrith — Killed for having insulted Muhammad
• Miqyas — Killed for apostasy and murder

The presence of singing girls on this death list is particularly striking. Their only offense was singing songs that mocked Muhammad. For this, at least one lost her life.

The Theological Foundation

Why did Muhammad react so violently to criticism? The theological structure of Islam provides the answer.

Muhammad as the Standard

In Islam, Muhammad is not merely a messenger; he is the "seal of the prophets" (Quran 33:40) and the "excellent example" (Quran 33:21) whose words and deeds (the Sunnah) are second only to the Quran as sources of law. To insult Muhammad is to attack the very foundation of Islam.

Quranic Warrant

The Quran itself threatens those who "annoy" or insult Muhammad and the believers:

"Waging war" against Allah and his messenger has been interpreted by classical Islamic scholarship to include verbal opposition—spreading "corruption" through criticism, mockery, or blasphemy.

Classical Legal Consensus

Classical Islamic jurisprudence is unanimous: insulting Muhammad is a capital offense. The major schools of Islamic law all agree on this point, differing only on details like whether the offender should be given a chance to repent.

• Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 1328): "Whoever curses the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, Muslim or non-Muslim, must be killed."
• Qadi Iyad (d. 1149): "All who curse Muhammad, may peace be upon him, or blame him or attribute imperfection to him... is to be killed without demanding repentance."

This is not "extremist" interpretation; it is mainstream classical Islamic scholarship.

The Modern Continuation

The assassinations ordered by Muhammad set a pattern that continues today:

A Partial List of Modern Victims

• 1989: Ayatollah Khomeini issues fatwa calling for the death of Salman Rushdie for his novel The Satanic Verses. Rushdie's translators were attacked (one killed in Japan).
• 2004: Theo van Gogh, Dutch filmmaker, murdered in Amsterdam for his film Submission, which criticized Islam's treatment of women.
• 2005: Danish cartoon crisis begins after Jyllands-Posten publishes cartoons of Muhammad. Worldwide protests result in over 200 deaths.
• 2011: Charlie Hebdo offices firebombed after publishing a Muhammad cartoon.
• 2015: Charlie Hebdo massacre—12 killed.
• 2020: Samuel Paty, French schoolteacher, beheaded for showing Muhammad cartoons in a class on free speech.
• 2022: Salman Rushdie stabbed multiple times in New York, losing an eye—33 years after Khomeini's fatwa.

These are not isolated incidents by "extremists who misunderstand Islam." They are the direct continuation of a tradition established by Muhammad himself and codified in 1,400 years of Islamic jurisprudence.

Blasphemy Laws Today

At least a dozen Muslim-majority countries have blasphemy laws that carry the death penalty or life imprisonment. Pakistan's blasphemy laws have been used to persecute Christians, Ahmadis, and Muslims accused of disrespecting Muhammad or the Quran. Mob violence often targets the accused before any legal process.

The Contrast with Christ

The contrast between Muhammad's response to mockery and Jesus's response could not be more stark:

Jesus Was Mocked

Throughout his ministry and especially during his trial and crucifixion, Jesus endured severe mockery:

Jesus's Response

Jesus did not call for the death of his mockers. Instead:

Jesus's Teaching

Jesus taught his followers to respond to persecution with love:

Muhammad killed those who mocked him. Jesus blessed those who crucified him. This is not a minor difference; it is a fundamental divergence in character, teaching, and example.

The Christian Response

1. We Must Know the History

Christians cannot afford ignorance about these events. When a Muslim tells you that Islam respects free speech, or that violence against critics is un-Islamic, you should be able to respectfully point to the historical record.

2. We Must Not Respond in Kind

Our response to learning about Muhammad's assassinations should never be to advocate violence against Muslims. We follow a different example—one who told Peter to put away his sword (Matthew 26:52).

3. We Must Defend Free Speech

The ability to question, critique, and even satirize religious claims is essential for a free society and for the spread of the Gospel. Christians should defend this freedom, even when it is used against Christianity itself.

4. We Must Share the Gospel

Many Muslims have never examined the historical record of Muhammad's treatment of critics. Sharing this information—gently, respectfully, with documentation—can raise important questions. And the contrast with Christ's response to his enemies opens the door to the Gospel.

Conclusion: Two Responses to Mockery

When Asma bint Marwan wrote poems mocking Muhammad, she was murdered in her bed. When Jesus hung dying on the cross while soldiers mocked him, he prayed for their forgiveness.

When Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf composed elegies for Muhammad's enemies, he was deceived and assassinated. When Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was being stoned to death, he prayed, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them" (Acts 7:60).

When cartoonists in Paris drew images of Muhammad, they were shot dead in their office. When Christians have been mocked, marginalized, and martyred throughout history, they have followed their Lord's example of patient endurance and forgiveness.

The founders of Islam and Christianity left two very different examples of how to respond to criticism and mockery. One leads to death. The other leads to life.