Author Topic: The Islamic World  (Read 2960 times)

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Offline SirJohn

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Re: The Islamic World
« Reply #15 on: February 27, 2017, 02:54:17 pm »
It is said that during the Crusades Salidin's men started out as perfect gentlemen, even in battle.  That changed as the Crusades went on.  It's never changed since, apparently.

It is said? By whom? Recall that Muhammed himself was a conqueror in the name of Islam and that he took the wives and daughters of his enemies as slaves, including, in one notorious case, a nine year old girl. He also made rules regarding how slaves were to be taken and kept, and of course, his followers beheaded many enemies who refused to bow before them. Saladin was merciless with enemies in the Muslim world, as he was with those who were not Muslims. Islam expanded by the Sword into previously Christian and Hindu areas, slaughtering tens of millions who resisted or would not convert.

That Saladin did not slaughter the entire non-Muslim population of Jerusalem was not due to mercy but realpolitik getting in the way of what he wanted to do. The only way he could get the surrender of Jerusalem was to negotiate. Otherwise it would have been fight to the death, and the rulers of Jerusalem threatened to slaughter all the Muslims then in the city and destroy all Muslim holy relics and buildings, including the dome of the rock.



« Last Edit: February 27, 2017, 02:59:59 pm by SirJohn »
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