Islam is often portrayed as a peaceful and righteous religion, but beneath this image lie teachings that many critics argue are harmful, unfair to women, and violent. Rather than being a divine message, the Qur’an and Hadith reveal Islam as a human‑made system that promotes oppression, exploitation, and violence. Below are five of these teachings, backed by Islamic sources, that have drawn serious criticism.
The Qur’an openly permits the enslavement of women and their use as sexual property. In Surah An‑Nisa 4:24, it declares: “And [forbidden to you are] all married women except those whom your right hands possess.”
The phrase “whom your right hands possess” refers to female captives taken in war, explicitly allowing Muslim men to keep these women as sex slaves. Surah Al‑Mu’minun 23:5‑6 reinforces this, praising men who “guard their private parts except from their wives or those whom their right hands possess.” Consent is irrelevant; women are reduced to objects for male gratification.
Beyond sexual exploitation, Islam sanctions the buying and selling of women like commodities. In Sahih Muslim 3371, Muhammad himself is depicted trading slaves, including females, thereby normalizing this practice. This is not a marginal historical detail but a foundational teaching that extremist groups such as ISIS have revived to justify mass rape and enslavement.
Why It’s Inhumane: Sexual slavery and human trafficking strip women of their dignity, autonomy, and basic human rights. The fact that Islamic scripture and Hadith permit these practices demonstrates a system that treats women as war prizes rather than respecting them as equals.
Islam’s contempt for women extends even into its rituals. In Sahih al‑Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 9, Hadith 490, Aisha narrates:
“The things which annul the prayers were mentioned before me. They said, ‘Prayer is annulled by a dog, a donkey, and a woman (if they pass in front of the praying people).’ I said, ‘You have made us (i.e., women) dogs.’”
This teaching equates women with animals, implying their presence is so impure that it disrupts a man’s communion with God. Even Aisha, Muhammad’s wife, recoiled at the insult, highlighting the degrading nature of the rule. Yet this misogynistic instruction remains preserved in revered Islamic collections.
Why It’s Inhumane: Comparing women to dogs and donkeys is not only offensive but institutionalizes the idea that women are inherently inferior. It encourages a mindset where women are seen as obstacles to worship rather than equal participants in faith. Such teachings erode dignity, reinforce inequality, and seriously damage Islam’s claim to uphold moral values.
Islam’s founder, Muhammad, is hailed as the “perfect man,” yet his personal life raises grave moral concerns. His marriage to Aisha is the most damning evidence: “The Prophet married her when she was six years old and consummated the marriage when she was nine years old.” (Sahih al‑Bukhari 7:62:64; 5134). This is not love—it is child marriage, a predatory act that no civilized society could excuse.
Muhammad’s appetite did not stop there. He amassed between nine and thirteen wives, far exceeding the Qur’anic limit of four imposed on ordinary Muslims: “…then marry those that please you of [other] women, two or three or four. But if you fear that you will not be just, then [marry only] one…” (Qur’an 4:3). This double standard reveals blatant hypocrisy.
His marriage to Zaynab bint Jahsh, his first cousin and the ex‑wife of his adopted son Zayd ibn Harithah, adds another layer of controversy. The Qur’an itself conveniently justifies this union: “…So when Zayd had no longer any need for her, We married her to you…” (Qur’an 33:37). Islamic sources record that Muhammad encouraged Zayd to divorce her, then claimed divine approval for marrying her himself. This is not prophetic virtue but a troubling use of scripture to sanction personal desire.
Why It’s Inhumane: A man who consummated marriage with a child and legitimized polygamy as a role model is a catastrophe for any religion. Muhammad’s actions have normalized child marriage and polygamy, inflicting untold suffering on women and girls across Muslim societies. His life, preserved in Qur’an and Hadith, undermines Islam’s claim to moral authority.
Islam’s brutality toward women and children is codified in its texts. Surah An‑Nisa 4:34 grants men the right to beat their wives:
“Men are in charge of women… As for those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them, forsake them in beds apart, and beat them.”
This is not discipline—it is legalized abuse, a green light for domestic violence that leaves women trapped and battered.
For rape victims, justice is a cruel mirage. While the Qur’an does not directly address rape, Surah An‑Nisa 4:15 demands four male witnesses to prove adultery:
“If any of your women are guilty of lewdness, take the evidence of four witnesses from among you against them…”
This requirement has often been twisted in Islamic law to apply to rape cases. Without four men to testify, victims are silenced or even punished, while perpetrators walk free.
Child marriage, though not explicitly mandated in the Qur’an, is legitimized by Muhammad’s precedent. “The Prophet married her when she was six years old and consummated the marriage when she was nine years old.” (Sahih al‑Bukhari 7:62:64; 5134). This example has condemned countless girls to early wedlock and sexual exploitation, their childhoods stolen by a religion that sanctifies such acts.
Why It’s Inhumane: Beating wives, abandoning rape victims, and marrying children are acts of savagery. Islam’s endorsement of these practices reveals a misogynistic, predatory system that thrives on the suffering of the vulnerable.
Islam’s hostility toward outsiders and dissenters is codified in its texts. Surah At‑Tawbah 9:5, known as the “Verse of the Sword,” commands:
“And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush.”
This is not peace—it is a call to slaughter anyone who rejects Islam.
Similarly, apostasy carries a death sentence. In Sahih al‑Bukhari 9:83:17, Muhammad declared:
“The blood of a Muslim… cannot be shed except in three cases: in retaliation for murder, for adultery, and the one who reverts from Islam (apostate) and leaves the Muslims.”
Leaving Islam thus marks a person for execution, a tyrannical denial of free thought and conscience.
Jihad, often whitewashed as “spiritual struggle,” is repeatedly framed in the Qur’an as violent conquest. Surah Al‑Baqarah 2:216 states:
“Fighting is prescribed for you, and you dislike it. But it is possible that you dislike a thing which is good for you.”
This glorification of war has fueled centuries of bloodshed, from medieval conquests to modern terrorism.
Why It’s Inhumane: Murdering non‑Muslims, executing apostates, and mandating violence breed extremism and division. Islam’s obsession with domination makes it an enemy of peace and humanity.
These five teachings — sexual slavery, the mistreatment of women, Muhammad’s controversial actions, violence against women and children, and the promotion of intolerance and jihad — challenge the image of Islam as a religion of peace. The Qur’an and Hadith reveal a system built on domination, fear, and exploitation, not divine compassion.
Muhammad, presented as a prophet, legitimized child marriage (Sahih al‑Bukhari 7:62:64), polygamy beyond Qur’anic limits (Qur’an 4:3), and even marriages justified by scripture for personal desire (Qur’an 33:37). His example continues to harm millions, trapping women, silencing voices, and praising violence. Islam’s claim of “peace” is contradicted by its own texts — from the “Verse of the Sword” (Qur’an 9:5) to the death penalty for apostasy (Sahih al‑Bukhari 9:83:17). These are not sacred teachings but human constructs that perpetuate cruelty.
Yet humanity is not left without light. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji offers a radically different vision: equality of women and men, rejection of violence, freedom of conscience, and a life of compassion and truth. The Sikh Guru – God revealed on earth in its ten human forms – lived as God‑revealed exemplars, compiling and authenticating their own scripture to ensure its purity. Gurbani uplifts, heals, and unites — it is flawless, preserved, and timeless.
For seekers of truth, the invitation is clear: learn about Sikhi, and learn from Sikhi. Discover the beauty of a faith that honors every human being, rejects oppression, and guides us toward peace and divine wisdom. Where Islam’s texts breed fear and violence, Sikhi shines as the eternal light of love, equality, and liberation.
Vivek Kapil
July 31, 2025I agree,I a Indian hindu Brahmin,bow my head infront of Sikh Gurus and Khalsa for saving India and our religion from muslims ,may the glory of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh restore till Afghanistan once again,may Sikhi dominate over entire Pakistan and Afghanistan.