Muhammad was only attacking those who first persecuted him and his followers, justifying his raids on Meccan caravans.

The article examines the justification provided by Muslims for Muhammad's actions, specifically his raids on Meccan caravans. It asserts that Muslims claim these actions were a response to persecution by the Meccans. However, the author argues that Islamic historical sources, including the works of al-Tabari and Ibn Ishaq, demonstrate that it was Muhammad's open denunciation of the Meccan gods that sparked the initial conflict. This suggests that the Meccans did not attack Muhammad without provocation, but rather reacted to his attacks on their religious beliefs. The author emphasizes that even within Islamic sources, the narrative does not support the claim that the Meccans were the aggressors, thereby challenging the common Muslim justification for Muhammad's actions. Ultimately, the article contends that understanding the context of these events reveals a different perspective on the origins of the conflict between Muhammad and the Meccans.