The backlash contiunes for The Jewel of Medina [Archive]

Divia

08-29-2008, 07:38 PM

Surfin the web today I found something interesting. It appears that The Langum Charitable Trust will not give an award to any books published by Random House becuase they choose not to publish The Jewel of Media.

I know some won't agree with me, but I like this stance. I mean it shows that censorship will not be tolerated.

Random House and Cowardly Self-Censorship

Random House recently dropped its plans to publish Sherry Jones’s book The Jewel of Medina solely on the grounds that its publication might be offensive to some in the Muslim community and might lead to acts of violence by radical Muslims. While any publisher has the right if not the duty to refuse to publish books that lack literary merit, Random House had previously decided this manuscript was highly publishable. It paid a $100,000 advance, and had arranged for foreign publication, Book of the Month Club selection, and Quality Paperback Book Club selection.

All that triggered Random House’s repudiation of its promise was the receipt of some fairly slight information that there might be violence. Serious ideas, even if offensive to some, flourish in books. Random House has exhibited a degree of cowardly self-censorship that seriously threatens the American public’s access to the free marketplace of ideas.

While this manuscript is not in any of our prize areas, Random House’s actions represent a threat to all literature. We understand that the author’s agent is attempting to find another publisher. Meanwhile, we can not pretend that this type of cowardice will disappear without serious remonstrance. Until The Jewel of Medina is actually published, The Langum Charitable Trust will not consider submissions of any books, for any of our prizes, from Random House or any of its affiliates. We do this reluctantly, since our most recent prize in American historical fiction went to a Random House title. Nevertheless, this issue must be confronted.

It is regrettable that with our national Banned Books Week only one month away, we still must concern ourselves with these issues.

MLE

08-29-2008, 08:40 PM

Actually, I like it that there are consequences to Random House's choice. I think having people debate Muhammad's marital ethics is a good thing, not to mention the issue of a sixty-year-old man in a sexual relationship with a twelve-year-old girl.

I would just prefer not to be in the middle of that particular storm myself, as I have other fish to fry. And you can bet I'm not going to be discussing this one with my Muslim friends! But when it gets published (no doubt by some gutsy small press which will be helped rather than harmed by all the brouhaha) I will certainly buy a copy and read it.

Rowan

08-29-2008, 08:57 PM

The Langum Charitable Trust is not punishing anyone but the authors who chosen to have their books published by Random House. These other authors have no say in what RH publishes or doesn't publish.

Ariadne

08-29-2008, 09:00 PM

I posted about this on my blog yesterday and, while I never agreed with Random House's decision, feel that this stance is totally misdirected. It affects Random House itself hardly at all; the prize isn't very well known, and the fact that one of their novels won last year isn't mentioned on their site. The people that lose out are their other historical novelists, whose eligibility has been affected because of something they had, and have, zero control over. It isn't like they can force another publisher to accept Jewel of Medina for publication, even if they wanted to!

I agree with what Quill and Quire wrote about the situation today: "Surely, condemning an author because of the actions of his or her publisher is also a threat to literary integrity."

Divia

08-29-2008, 09:10 PM

I see where you are coming from and to an extent I agree. But I really think something needs to be done about it. At least Langum is taking a stand and protesting RH's choice to listen to a few radicals.

Rowan

08-30-2008, 02:51 AM

The only logical thing that can be done is to withdraw the manuscript and submit it elsewhere. And that's entirely up to the author.

Divia

08-30-2008, 06:43 AM

Isnt that what she is doing now? I thought she was shopping around.

JaneConsumer

08-30-2008, 11:27 AM

Many may disagree with me, but I think RH's decision was a numbers thing. I imagine they assessed the potential profits of the book and weighed that against the potential liability and decided the risk wasn't financially viable. I can't fault them for that.

princess garnet

08-30-2008, 02:11 PM

There was a story about this in the "Washington Post" earlier this week. I wonder if the same stink would be raised if the author was Muslim.

Divia

08-30-2008, 02:52 PM

There was a story about this in the "Washington Post" earlier this week. I wonder if the same stink would be raised if the author was Muslim.

Of course it wouldnt! However, I do find it interesting that the woman who put up the most stink also has a book coming out. Also there is another book like this called Mother of Believers. I've heard no protest about that one.

If Muslims dont like their history then thats not my problem. It is what it is. He married a 12 year old girl. You cant deny that just like you cant deny the church burned non believers way back when.

SonjaMarie

09-03-2008, 06:13 PM

I didn't know the author was from my state....

Canceled Muhammad novel finds new publisher
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008155538_webnovel03m.html?syndication=rss

Hope it gets published this time.

SM

TerriPray

09-03-2008, 06:48 PM

From what a friend, who has been in the trade some 30+ years, said the book was withdrawn by RH on the basis of insurance. IE, they couldn't get insurance to cover potentially violent reactions due to the book.

I'm not sure if he mentioned it as speculation, or information he'd had passed onto him. So take this as a 'might be the reason' behind the book being released from the contract by RH, rather than gospel.

Terri

Catherine Delors

09-03-2008, 07:02 PM

Sarah, at Reading the Past, said it had already been picked up by publishers in Denmark, Spain and Brazil. Good for Sherry Jones, and hopefully she will benefit from the huge buzz generated by this story.

Margaret

09-03-2008, 07:48 PM

I'm so glad this has found another publisher. It's appalling that Random House would withdraw it because one non-Muslim American objected. I don't care if they couldn't find an insurer. If the author had the courage to write this novel, publishers should have the courage to publish it. I hope both the author and her new publisher make a bunch of money!

Ariadne

09-03-2008, 07:53 PM

I see it's also found a publisher in Britain, Australia, and New Zealand (http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/sep/03/2). A British independent press called Gibson Square that has apparently published many other controversial novels.

Divia

09-03-2008, 09:08 PM

I'm so glad this book is being published. The fact that it was withdrawn upsets met. Considering the fact that the person who threw the most stink about it also has he rown book coming out. And the fact that another publisher is publishing a book like this one.

The mroe I think about it the less I think its angry muslims RH needed to worry about but a sad little professor who didnt want her spolight stolen.

Catherine Delors

09-03-2008, 10:21 PM

Absolutely, Divia! All started with that professor who, while painting to the publisher an apocalyptic picture of the Muslim response she anticipated, called one of her own Muslim students to fan the flames. She told him is was inflammatory material, to warn everyone on his listserv, etc...
Actually at least one Muslim site, IslamOnLine, took a reasonable approach: the reviewer there didn't like the book, or think it was appropriate or accurate, but she didn't think it was a reason to oppose its publication.

Margaret

09-04-2008, 06:02 PM

I hear the new U.S. publisher is going to be announced on Monday. With all this buzz over the controversy, the author is certainly making lemonade out of lemons!

Ariadne

09-04-2008, 06:49 PM

I'm curious to hear who the US publisher will be, considering the author has said it will be in bookstores in mid-October. That is FAST. I'm guessing it'll be a small press or indie with some muscle behind it, as is the case with the UK.

If this goes through, the Langum Trust will, presumably, stop blacklisting Random House, so relevant 2008 novels can be considered after all. So no permanent harm done to the authors' chances, and in the meanwhile, the Trust will have gotten itself some major free publicity.

MLE

09-04-2008, 07:17 PM

Divia

09-04-2008, 09:03 PM

Well I'm glad they didnt take her money away. Its nice to see she will still get a book published though. As for RH I hope that the Langum Trust contiunes to blacklist them, at least for the year.

Ariadne

09-05-2008, 04:20 PM

The latest news (http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/new_upcoming/beaufort_is_publishing_the_jewel_of_medina_in_us_9 3665.asp) is here.

Hmph. I emailed a friend (and told my husband) on Wednesday night that I bet that the publisher of the OJ book was the one who snagged it, but that I hoped it wasn't.

Link edited because the news is official now.

LCW

09-06-2008, 03:51 PM

I just noticed that Random House let her keep the $100K advance they already paid, even though they cancelled the contract and won't get a penny back. Now I'm not feeling quite so sorry for the lady --

And she'll probably make buckets on a controversial novel that has immediately gone into foreign distribution. Hmm, not a bad strategy.

I agree! I don't feel sorry for the author as she will make tons more money off this book that she would have otherwise....and I'm glad for that. I'll be one of the first people lining up to buy it. I just have no respect for Random House for caving to extremist ideology and fear!

Divia

09-06-2008, 07:50 PM

Well I'm glad its offical and I'm glad its coming out. I have a feeling the amazon reviews will be interesting!

LCW

09-07-2008, 12:32 AM

Yeah, I'm half expecting the book to be bad since I'm all psyched to buy it after this hoopla.

Ariadne

09-07-2008, 11:34 PM

Looks like they're keeping the original cover art - there's a press release now at http://www.beaufortbooks.com.

See also the book's new website at http://www.jewelofmedinabook.com, though there isn't much there yet.

Divia

09-08-2008, 01:33 AM

thats interesting that they are keeping the cover art. I didnt know they could do that. hmmm.

Does this mean the author gets paid again? Or is it just royalties from this new publishers?

Ariadne

09-08-2008, 01:51 AM

I'm guessing the new publisher had to pay for the rights to the cover art all over again.

This AP story (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080905/ap_en_ce/books_muslim_novel) implies that she will be getting an advance, but not as much as Random House offered - though the royalties are higher with the new publisher.

Divia

09-08-2008, 02:07 AM

this woman is making out!

She's gonna make a ton off this book!

SonjaMarie

09-08-2008, 02:18 AM

I'm guessing it might be made into a movie as well!

SM

Divia

09-08-2008, 02:23 AM

I'm guessing it might be made into a movie as well!

SM

Really? Hmm, why do you think that?

SonjaMarie

09-08-2008, 02:27 AM

The controversey, makes for good business, usually. I can see movie producers wanting to capitalize on the possibility of making money on this. Just my opinion.

SM

Divia

09-08-2008, 02:38 AM

interesting. You could be right. Hmm we'll have to wait and see.

Catherine Delors

09-08-2008, 06:38 AM

Glad Sherry Jones found a publisher so fast. And look at the pub date: October 2008! They are not wasting any time. As for the cover, very close to the original indeed. I always liked it.

Divia

09-08-2008, 11:05 AM

it is a pretty cover. Hmm. I was hoping they woudl offer this on amazon vine but I think its going to be published too quickly.

MLE

09-08-2008, 12:49 PM

I doubt you'll see any book on Muhammad as a movie any time soon. A written story is not necessarily sacriligeous ti most Muslims, but depicting a prophet is not allowed for all Muslims, period. Think: can you remember any movies with Muhammad even as a bit character? Not even Bollywood, which caters to Hindu/Urdu speaking audiences, has dared to try that one.

It would be worth the actor's life. Or the animator. On this, Muslims are as serious and as united as they get on anything.

boswellbaxter

09-20-2008, 05:51 PM

There's an interesting piece about the controversy here:

http://chronicle.com/temp/reprint.php?id=pbbrh8f3wd9vf5qtpgb1th1q368dtbtj

Divia

09-20-2008, 06:30 PM

I'm glad to see that Professor is feeling some heat for her comments. Good.

diamondlil

09-24-2008, 10:08 AM

I haven't seen any other reviews yet for this book before this one:

The Jewel of Medina review (http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/comments/the-jewel-of-medina-by-sherry-jones/#When:09:33:00Z)

Divia

09-24-2008, 11:13 AM

How sad that even before the reviwer wrote her review she had to do a "I dont believe in this Muslim's don't be offended." :rolleyes: Lame.

As for the review itself. There is so much ridding on this book. So much hype. I can easily see why it won't live up to expectations. I'll still give it a go though.

LCW

09-24-2008, 02:53 PM

You know, I had a feeling that after all the drama and hoopla it was going to end up being a mediocre book. I still plan on reading it, after all, that is one person's opinion and this person reads mainly Historical Romance. I wonder if someone with an interest in HF would have a different POV?

Either way I'm goona buy the book. If nothing else as a protest against bowing to the pressure from religious extremeists! Just for that I hope the author and the new publisher rake in the cash!

Perdita

09-28-2008, 10:56 AM

I just read in the Sunday Times that the house of the British publisher has been firebombed. Luckily no-one hurt and the men have been arrested

Divia

09-28-2008, 01:42 PM

Personally I blame this all on the stupid dumbass professor. If she has kept her mouth shut instead of getting her knickers in a knot none of this would have been an issue. I doubt anyone would have known. But nooo she had an ax to grind and now this is happening.

LCW

09-28-2008, 02:39 PM

Yikes! That is just wrong on so many levels. It was probably done by someone living in England and taking advantages of everything a free democracy offers. What a piece of $%#@$! I hope the Muslim community will be as loud and vocal protesting this senseless act of violence as they were against the publication of this book. We shall see!

Catherine Delors

09-29-2008, 10:51 AM

There's a review of Jewel at Smart Bitches Trashy Books: D+...
For a full text:
http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/comments/the-jewel-of-medina-by-sherry-jones/

SonjaMarie

09-30-2008, 03:03 AM

US publisher of Muslim book closes office
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080930/ap_en_ot/books_muslim_novel_10

SM

Catherine Delors

09-30-2008, 10:57 AM

Wow! Look at the book's Amazon ranking: 204. That PR campaign launched by an obscure Texas professor sure worked beyond her wildest dreams...
Let's hope no one gets hurt.

Divia

09-30-2008, 11:11 AM

Agreed. And that is super impressive! I wonder if it wilsl contiune to climb

Ariadne

09-30-2008, 03:21 PM

Here's the latest, from The Bookseller (UK):

Jewel in 'suspended animation' (http://www.thebookseller.com/news/67930-jewel-in-suspended-animation.html)

Sheramy

09-30-2008, 04:37 PM

If the professor truly had cared about the safety of the author, she wouldn't have gone to various listservs and raised an alarm about the book in the first place. She would have very quietly raised her concerns to the publisher. The whole thing smacked of academic territoriality to me (and being an academic, I can tell you it definitely exists), and now it's gotten out of control in a very dangerous way. Here's hoping for everyone's safety.

SonjaMarie

10-03-2008, 02:15 AM

3 accused of UK plot to attack Muhammad publisher
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008223534_apeubritainmuslimnovel.html?syndication =rss

SM

Divia

10-03-2008, 11:13 AM

I'll say it again that damn professor shoudl be caned for starting the trouble she did. I blame this on her because there is another book coming out and no ones gotten their knickers in a knot over that one. She's an ******* and thats the truth of the matter.

If anyone dies its HER fault.

LCW

10-03-2008, 03:21 PM

I have this book on preorder set to arrive with my copy of Devil's Brood. I'll be very interested to see how it lives up to the hype!

And I'll say it again, where is the muslim outrage over the violence and the threats of violence? The silence is deafening!

Catherine Delors

10-03-2008, 04:31 PM

I am no academic, but I have heard of this brand of bitterness... As for this particular academic, what I find really unappealing is that she was raising concerns about Muslim anger with the publisher, while at the same time fanning the flames by inciting her graduate student to alert his listservs.

Now if you read the Smart Bitches review, you will see why some Muslims are upset over this depiction of Aisha. That's of course no excuse to (1) censor the book or (2) hurt anyone.

diamondlil

10-03-2008, 08:44 PM

Publisher speeds up release of Muhammad book (http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-10-02-jewel-medina-muslim_N.htm?csp=34)

Divia

10-04-2008, 01:43 AM

Excellent. AndI hope it reaches number one :)

SonjaMarie

10-07-2008, 12:55 AM

Mohammad wife novel released early in U.S. after fire
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081006/en_nm/us_book_mohammad_1

SM

Ariadne

10-07-2008, 01:28 AM

I got a galley in the mail today. I've been skimming through it but won't have time to read it in depth - it's going out for review tomorrow morning. I'll be getting my own copy later.

More from GalleyCat (http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/authors/judge_for_yourself_jewel_of_medina_in_us_bookstore s_96577.asp), who interviewed Jones last Friday. They report it's #1 on the bestseller list in Serbia.

Divia

10-07-2008, 03:22 AM

On Amazon sales rank it is 178.

BTW, this from GalleryCat is spot on

Now that we've read the novel for ourselves, and seen precisely two paragraphs that might be construed as sexually explicit (and that's being extremely generous to one of them), Jones deserves a public apology from Spellberg for her public misrepresentations. (Jones has asked Spellberg to recant; she told us Friday that repeated efforts to contact her detractor have met with silence.)

Divia

10-07-2008, 09:15 PM

Yesterday it was 178 on Amazon and today it is 56. :eek:

I wonder if it will make the New York Times bestseller list!

LCW

10-09-2008, 03:20 PM

I got my copy yesterday and will be starting on it after I finish Devil's Brood. I admit that I'll be going in to it with a lot of preconcieved idea's about the book, esp. about Mohammed. It's difficult to get over the ick factor of him marrying a nine year old and basically raising his own wife! Yuck! But I'll try to have an open mind about the actual story itself and what's written in the book.

Divia

10-09-2008, 09:06 PM

OH, tell me how it is. I can't buy it for a while, so I'd be interested to hear your opinions.

Ariadne

10-10-2008, 01:55 AM

If anyone else is on LibraryThing, they're giving 20 copies away to their Early Reviewers program in October. I bet it'll be extremely popular though... all the historical novels they offer are that way.

LCW

10-10-2008, 06:12 AM

OH, tell me how it is. I can't buy it for a while, so I'd be interested to hear your opinions.

I definitely will! It looks like stuff's already hittin' the fan over in the Amazon reviews. This should be interesting!! :D

diamondlil

10-13-2008, 08:51 AM

Apparently the British publisher has now decided to delay the release date, and there is no new release date named either!

Source (http://gawker.com/5062312/yet-another-publisher-wusses-out-to-islam-extremists)

This book seems as though it is going to be dogged by controversy whereever it is published.

Divia

10-13-2008, 02:24 PM

The title is freakin great Yet Another Publisher Wusses Out to Islam Extremists

Agreed on that part and that publishers need to grow a pair. BTW, the book is selling like hotcakes. It has been in the 100 range or lower since it was published. Don't tell me its not selling...

Ariadne

10-13-2008, 03:08 PM

Has anyone seen it in a physical bookstore in the US? I went to Borders and B&N over the weekend and didn't see it anywhere.

Just read this interview (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3135933/Author-Sherry-Jones-defiant-over-controversial-book-about-Prophet-Mohammeds-child-bride.html) Sherry Jones did with the Telegraph (UK) where she talks about the sequel.

boswellbaxter

10-13-2008, 03:23 PM

Divia

10-13-2008, 04:16 PM

B&N rarely has any of the new books. Everytime I go with my laundry list they are like hmmm, dont have it. So thats not surprising to me!

LCW

10-15-2008, 03:38 PM

OK, I have never in my life used the term "Purple Prose" to describe a book but there's a first time for everything! I'm not that far into JOM but so far I'm not impressed. I'm still keeping an open mind though. I've been known to hate books up for the first 100 pages but then I end up liking them. It remains to be seen if that will be the case with this one.

Divia

10-15-2008, 08:25 PM

I dunno what purple Prose is? :confused:

boswellbaxter

10-15-2008, 08:50 PM

I dunno what purple Prose is? :confused:

Really overwrought, overembellished writing. But as with so much else, a lot is in the eye of the beholder--one person's lyrical prose is another's purple prose.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_prose

Divia

10-15-2008, 10:30 PM

Ah! WEll thank you. Personally I thought it was something sexual, cause well it kinda sounde dlike that. :o

LCW

10-19-2008, 05:46 PM

OK, I'm giving up on this book! I just can't take it anymore. Mohammed comes across as a delusional pervert and I so don't buy the portrait of Aisha. Where did she get this incredible strength from? Seems like she was just a perfect freak of nature! What were her role models? Not her Mom, her sister, or any of the other women surrounding her. Ugh, just not a good book! After all the hoopla doesn't it just figure!!

And I know I'm being predjudiced by the times but today if a man got "vision" from a supernatural mythical figure that told him to start rebellions and wars, that he was the chosen one, chose 6 yr olds to be his wife then married them at age nine, we'd lock him up as criminally insane!! The whole premise is just too revolting for me!

Divia

10-19-2008, 07:15 PM

hmmm. This doesnt sound too good. Oh I dunno what to do. I want to support the author and freedom of speech n all that but money is tight. Also if it sucks I dont want to pay for it. Maybe I'll get it from the lib.

Leyland

10-20-2008, 09:05 PM

Check out the Time magazine article. Treacly romance, bodice ripper, villains like Jafar from Aladdin, thoroughly modern Aisha ....

http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1851965,00.html

Divia

10-20-2008, 09:15 PM

Hot steamy and dirty or not, it should have been published. THere are a ton of books that has Jesus shackin up with Mary Mags. You dont see Christians wanting a holy war.

Carla

10-21-2008, 05:13 PM

I haven't read it, and this review (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7676873.stm) isn't very appealing.

Divia

10-21-2008, 08:41 PM

I thought the review was well written. hmm sex sex and more sex. Well, maybe I'd like it. ;)

Rowan

12-08-2008, 03:58 PM

Well just to add more meat to the stew, I was doing a search on Facebook for HF related books and found one called Against Sherry Jones' "The Jewel of Medina". This is the description for the group of 2,200+ members:

This group is for all people of various backgrounds in opposition to Sherry Jones' novel "The Jewel of Medina."

ALL PEOPLE of this world, from all walks of life, who value fact, historical accuracy and who respect others religious beliefs, will be opposed to the inaccuracies of the novel just as the American Scholar of Islamic History Denise Spellberg.

To the Muslims I would say that the prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) returned acts of abuse with acts of kindness. What will you do? How will you act?

WHAT IS THE BOOK ABOUT?

It is a filthy fiction, pornographic in nature, based on one of the most beloved wives of the prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) Aisha (R)

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

SUPPORT Denise Spellberg, a scholar of Islamic history at the University of Texas-Austin and the author of Politics, Gender and the Islamic Past: The Legacy of A'isha Bint Abi Bakr. Buy her book and recommend it to others.

BOYCOTT all stores selling the book.
Stores Include:

BARNES & NOBLE
BORDERS
WATERSTONES
POWELL'S BOOKS
(Including their online stores)

Send emails to the publishing house and tell them you do not want this book. Ask them to take the book off the shelves.

Engage and talk with people, Muslims and Non Muslim alike about the topic. If you are asked about the book, tell them your views. Peacefully Protest, show your opposition, not your anger!

REMEMBER...

Things like this have happened in the past. Your response could earn this novel more money, so respond wisely. The novel only wishes to earn at the expense of Islam and Muslims, so...DO NOT, by all means work to her advantage.

PLEASE HELP in spreading the message and send invites to AS MANY people as you can.

ALL ARE WELCOME to Join, but troublemakers will not be tolerated, no matter who you are ;)

Please keep comments clean, thank you.

Peace and Salam

LCW

12-08-2008, 04:27 PM

Well at least they're advocating peaceful protest for a change! I'd love to see them speak out against the violence and hate speech that has already occurred from the Muslim community in response to this book. But I do have to say it's much ado about nothing! If they hadn't gotten their knickers in a knot in the first place and responded so ridiculously this awful book, awful because of the writing not the content, would've been a flop but instead is generating enourmous press that should've gone to a much more deserving book.

LCW

12-08-2008, 04:34 PM

I found this in the Q&A on the book's site. Pretty convenient "revelation" from God, if you ask me!!

Muhammad’s initial support of women’s equality was undermined by his male followers, who resisted sharing power with their wives. In fact, in giving women rights they’d never had before, such as the right to testify in court and to inherit property -- rights that women didn’t possess in western culture until many centuries later -- Muhammad created a monster in the eyes of Islamic men. Soon their wives were asserting their rights, including the right to say “no” to sex! So many men complained that Muhammad, forseeing the loss of followers, received a compromise revelation from God allowing men to beat their wives “lightly” for refusing sex -- but only after first trying other, nonviolent measures.

MLE

12-08-2008, 05:25 PM

I would dispute her comment 'rights that women didn't possess in Western culture until many centuries later.' Which western cultures? There were plenty of them, all with differing customs on the topics mentioned.

Comments lose their credibility with me when I sniff 'culture-baiting' attitudes where two things are compared by taking the worst possible example of one side and comparing it to a much more favorable example of the other. Bad statistical methodology, bad history, and basically just another way of mis-representing the truth.

Muhammad's revelations were convenient on a lot of levels: when he ws in Mecca, a minority with few followers, all his revelations were about peace and harmony-- they sounded as though he had lifted it from the Nestorian Christian priest who was an uncle to his first wife, Kadijah. That's where you get the Qur'anic verse "There shall be no compulsion in religion."

Later, after Kadijah died and he had more followers, (and wives) his visions became militant. From that point onwards, most of the revelations involved rationales as to why it was a good thing to kill and dominate whoever didn't agree with him.

Qur'anic scholars deal with this by the principle of 'abrogation' -- meaning if he said "Christians good, make the friends" in one surah, and "Christians bad, you are rewarded for killing them" (there aren't any surahs which say nice things about Jews) then they say whichever revelation came last overrides the one that came first.

The problem with this is that, since the sayings in the Qur'an were collected years after Muhammad's death, and there is no agreed on timeline for the sayings, everybody gets to argue about which came first: love or hate.