I know several people that are Muslims (one atheist who doesn't follow Islam anymore as well) and they are all good people. That doesn't mean Muhammed was a great guy. There were a few societies back then that weren't into polygamy at all, nevermind the practice of having 20 wives and such. He explicity advocates beating your wife if she does not obey you, I don't see how that is good for women's rights. Muhammed is just as bad as the other Abrahamic religions in that he makes women out to be objects owned by their husbands with very little rights beyond those given to a pet.
http://www.answering-islam.org/Silas/wife-beating.htm
The man made conquests and was successful militarily in causing many deaths. He is known to have slept with girls as young as 9 years old (married her at 6 or 7 and consumated the marriage at age 9 lol)..... Him talking to an angel is delusion and laughable at best. Muhammed also makes Polygamy legal and women out to be objects that are pretty much owned by their husbands. Secular law in western countries do not recognize polygamous marriages, but it is legal in all but 2 Muslim nations for polgamy to exist. While it limits polygamy, it explicitly states that it should exist as well. I do like the fact that is says the husband should pay equal attention to each wife though.
Of course there were a few societes back then that weren't into polygamy, but must of them where. There is no real evidence of him having sex with her when she was 9 since many say that they didn't consumate til' she was 18 (my personal belief is that they consumated after she had her first period in accordance to the Qu'ran), and marriage/being promised to marriage in that young age was very common (and is still common in some countries), it doesn't really prove a thing except him following the customs at that time. He did a lot for women BACK THEN, of course that is not how you can see it nowadays. Polygamy was legal before Muhammed even was born! And the whole thing with muslim countries... Well I don't think it's relevant to Muhammed. The Qu'ran states that women and men should decide together, and it also says this:
O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should you treat them with harshness, that you may take away part of the dowry you have given them - except when they have become guilty of open lewdness. On the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity. If you take a dislike to them, it may be that you dislike something and Allah will bring about through it a great deal of good. (4:19)
O mankind! Reverence your Guardian-Lord, who created you from a single person, created, of like nature, his mate, and from this pair scattered (like seeds) countless men and women. Reverence Allah, through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and reverence the wombs (that bore you); for Allah ever watches over you. (4:1)
Do not prevent them from marrying their husbands when they agree between themselves in a lawful manner. (2:232)
Muhammed revoked the marriage of him and a women because she said that her father forced her into it saying: “The widow and the divorced woman shall not be married until she has consented and the virgin shall not be married until her consent is obtained.â€.
Islam was the first to let married women have their own property, as stated before the money the female earns is entirely hers to spend and she has no obligations for her family in that matter. In Britain, perhaps the first country to give women some property rights, laws were passed in the 1860’s known as “Married Women Property Act.†In Germany i.e. this conception has been responsible for denying the wife any control over her property until 1922 by civil law.
Women shall, in all fairness, enjoy rights equal to those exercised against them. 2:228
About the whole honour murders, it's kinda hard to find 4 witnessess and death penalties isn't talked about;
Those who accuse married women of adultery, then fail to produce four witnesses, you shall whip them eighty lashes, and do not accept any testimony from them; they are wicked. 24:2-4:
And as for those who are guilty of an indecency from among your women, call to witnesses against them four (witnesses) from among you; then if they bear witness confine them to the houses until death comes close to them or God opens some way for them. 4:15
“Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great.â€
In another translation:
“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband’s) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part you fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next) do not share their beds, (and last) beat (tap) them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance): for Allah is Most High, Great (above you all). 4:34-35
But still the wife has the right to leave him. Muhammed didn't beat his wives and in fact he discouraged people from doing so, he even advised girls not to marry men that had a reputation of beating their wives.
The whole vision things, it might be possible that he had schizofrenia, I don't know. Probably not possible that it was a real angel, but still something even I could get visions of and believe in.
And him being a militaristic leader; many men (and women!) in history has been brilliant strategists and such, but they all fight for something they believe in and think is right. Like Boudiccas fight for freedom but she isn't less of a person for killing people.
