⚔️ The Jews of Medina: Did Muhammad Flip or Flop?

Thesis:
Islam sells Muhammad as God’s grand unifier, stitching Jews, Christians, and Arabs into one holy quilt (3:64). But Medina’s a bloody mess—he woos the Jews, gets snubbed, flips the Qibla, then picks a fight with the Quraysh, raiding their caravans from safety. He wasn’t cornered; he was clear of danger. Early sources scream it: this wasn’t divine duty—it was revenge with a revelation sticker, shredding the “perfect messenger” myth (33:21).

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1. The Opening Play: Jews as Allies

• Hijra (622 CE)—Muhammad hits Medina, Jewish tribes (Qaynuqa, Nadir, Qurayza) hold clout. He’s got a pitch: “People of the Book” (Quran 3:64)—prays to Jerusalem, courts their favor. Ibn Hisham (Sirat, p. 233)—“wanted their backing”. “Prophet or power grab?”—he’s eyeing Jewish support to flex on Mecca.

2. The Brush-Off: Jews Ain’t Buying

• Jews dodge. Quran 2:120—“They won’t accept you ‘til you join them”. Bukhari 4.56.662—they jab: “Show us a sign”—no miracles, just chatter. “Not their guy”—they tag him a fraud, not a prophet. “Rejection burns”—Muhammad’s charm fails, and he’s seething.

3. Qibla Flip: Spite in Motion

• Quran 2:142-144—prayer swings to Mecca, 16 months deep (Bukhari 1.8.387). Jews scoff—“What’s his deal?”. Tafsir al-Jalalayn—“a test”—yeah, right, post-snub timing’s too neat. “Holy shift or hissy fit?”—dumping Jerusalem’s a middle finger, not a miracle.

4. Revenge Trigger: Green Light to Raid

• Quran 22:39—“Fight’s allowed, they wronged you”. Bukhari 4.52.252—revelation drops, and Muhammad’s off. Medina’s safe—Quraysh are 450 km away, no threat. “No danger, just spite”—he’s not cornered, he’s comfy. Ibn Ishaq (Sirat, p. 281)—raids roll: Hamza’s hit, Badr’s carnage (624 CE). “Divine or driven by grudge?”—Mecca’s old scars fuel it.

5. Caravan Smacks: Payback, Not Protection

• Bukhari 4.52.137—Quraysh caravans cop it, trade lines bleed. Badr? 70 killed, 70 snagged (Ibn Hisham, p. 308)—“no self-defense here”. Quraysh mocked him for years (68:51—“madman”)—now he’s hitting where it hurts. “Revenge, not revelation”—safe in Medina, he didn’t need to strike. Jews see it—“this ain’t peace”.

6. Jews Get It Too: Banu Qurayza Wiped

• Banu Qurayza sit out the Trench (627 CE)—Muhammad cries foul. Bukhari 4.52.68—“men slaughtered”—700+ heads, trenches dug (Ibn Ishaq, p. 464). Quran 33:26—“terror cast”. Qaynuqa, Nadir already gone (5.59.362, 59:2)—“tribes torched”. “Mercy or malice?”—33:21’s “best” drowns in blood.

7. Temper Tantrum, Not Theology

• Quran 5:82—“Jews most hostile”—post-Medina bile. Early “come together” (3:64) flips to “cursed” (5:13). Quraysh raids? “Wronged” turns wrath—Bukhari 4.56.660, they laughed, he lashed. “Personal, not prophetic”—rejection stings, revenge swings. 15:9’s “guarded” bends to a bloke’s beef.

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🔍 Verdict: Flipped and Fired Up

Lay it bare: Muhammad pitches to Jews, gets blanked, flips the Qibla. Safe in Medina—no Quraysh threat—he grabs a “fight back” verse and smashes their caravans. Jews? Slaughtered—Qurayza’s proof. “Prophet scorned”—33:21’s “example” flops when it’s payback, not purpose. 15:9’s “perfect”? Nah—a man’s revenge, not God’s road.

• Evidence: Bukhari 4.52.137, Quran 22:39, Ibn Ishaq—“their own ink”—spills the spite.
• Logic: Peace vs. payback—“self-sunk”—Quran’s unity chokes on raids and graves.
• Vibe: “Wrecking ball”—this ain’t divine, it’s a grudge with a halo.

Islam’s “final messenger”? More like a bloke who flipped on Jews and flopped the Quraysh for kicks—not need. Foundation’s bleeding—another fatal stab.