Hmm I wonder, and I wonder what the Muslim leadership is thinking: Sunni Muslims set great store by the example and practice of Muhammed -sometimes in ways very similar to Christ for Christians. Muhammed's practice is seen as authoritative as a guide too conduct and attitudes. So it is worrying in the present climate to read:
"A.Guillaume's translation (OUP, 1955, p. 464) of the early Islamic historian Ibn Hisham titled 'The Life of Muhammad' where it says in the section on the Raid on the Banu Qurayza:
"Then they surrendered, and the apostle confined them in Medina in the quarter of d. al-Harith, a woman of B. al-Najjar. then the apostle went out to the market of Medina (which is still its market today) and dug trenches in it. Then he sent for them and struck off their heads in those trenches as they were brought out to him in batches....There were 600 or 700 in all, though some put the figure as high as 800 or 900. As they were taken out in batches to the apostle they asked Ka'b what he thought would be done with them. He replied, 'Will you never understand? Don't you see that the summoner never stops and those who are taken away do not return? By Allah it is death!' This went on until the apostle had made an end to them." "
Unfortunately -as this quote shows- it is arguable that the actions of these hostage takers is very Islamic indeed. I would like it to be otherwise and, as I say, I wonder what the reasoning is and how this hadith/sunna is set aside.
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