Thomas Arnold
 

“Muhammad took leadership for an interval that could have been available for any other independent http://islamstory.com/uploads/Image/thomas%20arnold.jpgleader. Only the difference was that the religious tie between the Muslims was like a blood-tie. At that same time he established a political system that was entirely distinguished from any other.”
“The purpose from imposing head-taxes on the Christians was not, as many researchers thought, to impose any form of punishment for not accepting Islam. They used to pay these taxes along with all the other non-Muslims whose faiths did not permit them to join the army. So it was in exchange for the protection the Muslim swords provided them with.”