Opinion of Muhammad

[The Mikado]

A skilled and charismatic leader with the ability to win over wealthy (Abu Bakr) and extremely talented (Omar, and eventually Khalid) to his cause.  Shrewd (his diplomatic dance with Abu Sufyan about Mecca is truly something), and with the prophet's gift of turning friend against friend and brother against brother with a frightening new revelation.  Utterly disrupted Arabic social structure (you mean men from every tribe are welcome in your umma?  And our brothers in the Quraysh are now our enemies?), political structure, economic and religious structure.  Successfully changed the world forever in truly dramatic fashion.  Did it all by 62 and by twenty years after his death Muslim troops were in Alexandria and Damascus and Mesopotamia.

You have to give Muhammad credit for his status as one of history's great disrupters.  His movement changed everything.  It's a truly impressive track record.