Statement
Muhammad's conflict with the Jews of Medina is sometimes called the first anti-Jewish persecution of Islamic history, but the authors prefer to see it as a collision of political and economic interests. As he consolidated his authority and took Mecca in 630, Muhammad also faced Jewish critics who rejected his mission and were accused, rightly or wrongly, of disloyalty and of threatening his rule.
References
p. 156
reports disagreement · main text · ch. 6
Efron, Lehmann and Weitzman. The Jews: A History. 3rd edition. New York and Abingdon: Routledge, 2019.
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p. 156
supports · main text · ch. 6
Efron, Lehmann and Weitzman. The Jews: A History. 3rd edition. New York and Abingdon: Routledge, 2019.
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Scholarly debate
How should the conflict between Muhammad and the Jews of Medina be understood?
2 positions · no single answer · take a seat →
- A
Islam's first anti-Jewish persecution
A reading the authors report without naming its proponents
The episode is sometimes described as the earliest persecution of Jews in Islamic history.
- B
A clash of political and economic interests
Efron, Lehmann and Weitzman
The authors see the conflict mainly as a political and economic clash: Muhammad was consolidating his power and faced Jewish critics who rejected his mission and were accused of disloyalty.