What were Muhammad's thoughts about Christians and Jews?

Answer 1

AnswerIn Muhammad's time, Christians and Jews were already significant minorities on the Arabian peninsula. In the mountainous south, the dominant religion was actually Christianity. The pagans, Christians and Jews joined together on the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, to worship at the Kabah, originally at the autumn equinox.

Muhammad knew a little about Judaism and Christianity, even in his youth. He had hoped to be recognised by the Jews as a prophet, but was disappointed to be rebuffed. He then began to think of a new religion for Arabia, free from the constraints of Judaism. He sought to learn as much as he could about Judaism and Christianity, which he had thought of as essentially the same faith, living in complete harmony to worship the same God. As he became familiar with the two faiths, he was surprised to find the disharmony and antagonism that really existed.

After his retreat from Mecca to Medina, he became the dominant leader of the city's tribes, cementing alliances by marriage. However, the two main Jewish tribes rebelled against him, resulting in a local civil war in which Muhammad was successful. The rebellion may have caused a degree of personal bitterness towards the Jews.