Rushdie Haunted by his unholy Ghosts — Page 43
Rushdie: Haunted By His Unholy Ghosts 43 Rodinson writes that before prophethood Muhammad(sa) ‘prac- ticed the religion of his fathers. . and we are told that he sacrificed a sheep to the goddess al-’Uzza. ’ (p. 48). The Hadith are regarded as ‘fictitious’, and he also uses the word ‘forged’ about them. A LLEGAT IONS AGA I NST T H E P ROP H E T Muhammad(sa) is called mad, a mystic, a kahin (soothsayer), a revolutionary, and one having fits and being epileptic. (pp. 53-57). Rodinson also mentions that ‘18th century rationalist philoso- phers for instance, like Christian apologists and theologians, looked on Muhammad as the example of a perfect fraud. ’ (p. 76). The state of Arabia at the inception of Islam is, without doubt, regarded as one of the worst in the history of the world and what the critics have tried to convey is that some of the evil influences must have rubbed off on Muhammad(sa) and his Companions for them to survive. As Rodinson mentions further : ‘The times he (Muhammad) lived in, and the rough nature of the Arabs he had to lead obliged him to resort to fraud if he was to make any impression on such people. ’ (p. 76). With reference to the battles in the early years of Islam, Muhammad(sa) is made out to be the aggressor and one who showed no mercy for his captives, and one who would resort to anything to achieve his goal. Rodinson states : ‘The volunteer who undertook his assassination explained to the Prophet that it would be necessary to resort to cunning, trickery and lies. Muhammad saw no objection. ’ (p. 176). Muhammad(sa) is made out to be a man who had no patience and was always susceptible to anger and consequent barbaric ac- tions against his enemies: ‘We have seen that Muhammad had at his disposal a number of fanatical young henchmen, who were virtually prepared to strike down any opposition whenever necessary. ’ (pp. 223-224).