Did Muhammad commit idolatry (shirk)?

For this reason, he's condemned to hell for eternity (following Islamic rules)

We will soon show how Muhammad didn’t have any problem in not respecting oaths, how he failed to practice what he preached and how he committed idolatry. 

FIRST point, about not respecting oaths:

Bukhari 7.067.427, “ O Allah's Apostle! We asked you for mounts, but you took an oath that you would not give us any mounts; we think that you have forgotten your oath.' He said, 'It is Allah Who has given you mounts. By Allah, and Allah willing, if I take an oath and later find something else better than that, then I do what is better and expiate my oath”.(Link) 

The Islamic sources concur with the Holy Bible, that it is not allowed to swear and taking oaths in the name of anyone else besides God. Even Muhammad forbade any Muslim from swearing by anyone other than Allah:. Here are some examples:

Narrated 'Umar: The Prophet said, "If anybody has to take an oath, he should swear ONLY by Allah." The people of Quraish used to swear by their fathers, but the Prophet said, "Do not swear by your fathers." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 58, Number 177) 

Muhammad further prohibited his followers from making oaths in the name of one’s fathers, even likening this to idolatry:
 
 [2094. … The Messenger of Allah said: "Allah forbids you from making oaths by your forefathers." …" (Sahih)

It is thus impermissible to swear by anyone other than Allah, regardless of whether it is a father, grandfather, sheikh, saint, religious leader, highly virtuous person or a Prophet. As some people take an oath by ‘Ali or by five pure personalities, it is all prohibited.

2095. It was narrated from ‘Abdur-Rahman bin Samurah that the Messenger of Allah said: "Do not take oaths by idols nor by your forefathers." (Sahih)

Yet Muhammad violated his own instructions by swearing by another man’s father!

2706. It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "A man came to the Prophet and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, tell me, which of the people has most right to my companionship?’ He said: ‘Yes, BY YOUR FATHER, you will certainly be told.’ He said: ‘Your mother.’ He said, ‘Then who?’ He said: ‘Then your mother.’… how should I give in charity?’ He said: ‘Yes, BY ALLAH, you will certainly be told…’" (Sahih)

Comment: In this hadith the oath taken by the father is either before the time when it was prohibited, or just part of Arabian culture, as a habitual custom. It was common in Arabia that during conversation some additional words or phrases without any particular intention were added. [(Sunan Ibn Majah - Compiled by Imam Muhammad Bin Yazeed Ibn Majah Al-Qazwini, From Hadith No. 1783 to 2718, Ahadith edited and referenced by Hafiz Abu Tahir Zubair 'Ali Za'i, translated by Nasiruddin al-Khattab (Canada), final review by Abu Khaliyl (USA) [Darussalam Publications and Distributors, First Edition: June 2007], Volume 3, Chapter 2. Prohibition of Making An Oath By Other Than Allah, pp. 553-554]]

The comments by the translator that Muhammad’s swearing by the person’s father may have occurred before a time when such oath making was prohibited is problematic for at least three reasons.

First, Muslims believe that the Meccans are descendants of Ishmael and that both he and his father Abraham built the Kabah and instituted the rites of pilgrimage. This means that the people would have known and been informed that such oath-making is forbidden by the God of Abraham. At the very least, Muhammad should have known this in light of his association and contact with both Jews and Christians.

Second, Muslims assert that Allah protected Muhammad from all idolatrous practices even before his so-called prophetic career began. If this is the case then, surely, Allah would have prevented his messenger from committing idolatry by making an oath in the name of the fathers.

Third, Muhammad’s slip occurred after his alleged prophetic ministry began, during the time when Muslims believe that their prophet was receiving inspiration. In fact, Muslims believe that Muhammad only spoke by way of revelation. As one Muslim polemicist puts it:

{Wa-ma yantiqu ‘ani-l-huwa, in huwa illa wa’hyum yu’ha (He, Muhammad, does not speak of his own desire, it is only a revelation revealed)} (53:3-4). Prophet Muhammad did not only speak, or ‘Nataqa (in the present tense: Yantiqu)’ the Qur’an, he also spoke the Sunnah. Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr Ibn al-‘Aas used to write everything the Prophet said, meaning, his Hadith or religious statements. Muslims from the tribe of Quraish – the Prophet’s tribe – criticized Abdullah for doing this, claiming that sometimes the Prophet might say things in anger. Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr asked the Prophet about it, and he said, while pointing to his mouth …"Rather, write! For by He (Allah) in Whose Hand is my soul, nothing save the Truth comes out of it." (A Sahih Hadith; Sahih Sunan Abi Dawud [3646]) (Introduction to: Muhammad The Prophet of Mercy – Muhammad’s Role in Islam, by Jalal Abualrub, edited by Alaa Mencke [Madinah Publishers and Distributors, First Edition: June 2007], p. 35)

If the assertion that Allah protected Muhammad from idolatry even before he claimed to be a prophet is correct then wouldn’t Muhammad’s lord have gone out of his way to guard his prophet from committing such a sin after the "revelation" began to descend, during the time where Muhammad was supposedly always speaking by inspiration? Should we therefore assume that Allah inspired Muhammad to make an oath in the name of somebody’s father, thereby causing him to commit idolatry?

With the foregoing in perspective it is rather apparent that Muhammad failed to practice what he preached and even ended up committing idolatry because of it.

Source: http://answering-islam.org/Muhammad/Inconsistent/oath_making.htm

SECOND point: on how Muhammad committed idolatry:

According to the following narrative swearing by anything besides Allah is a clear act of Shirk (i.e. the sin of associating partners with Allah).

What Has Been Related About ‘Whoever Swears By Other Than A, He Has Committed Shirk’
 
 [1535…I heard the Messenger of Allah say: ‘Whoever swears by other than Allah, he has committed disbelief or Shirk.’" (Sahih). (English Translation of Jami‘ At-Tirmidhi, Compiled by Imam Hafiz ‘Eisa Mohammad Ibn ‘Eisa At-Tirmidhi, From Hadith no. 1205 to 1896, translated by Abu Khaliyl (USA), ahadith edited and referenced by Hafiz Abu Tahir Zubair ‘Ali Za’i, final review by Islamic Research Darussalam [Darussalam Publishers & Distributors, First Edition: November 2007], Volume 3, 18. The Chapters On Vows And Oaths From The Messenger Of Allah, p. 309

The Qur’an expressly says that Allah will never forgive the sin of Shirk (Surah 4:48 & 4:116), even if the person happens to be a prophet:
 
 “…and We chose them and guided them into the right way. This is Allah's guidance, He guides thereby whom He pleases of His servants; …and if they had set up others (with Him), certainly what they did would have become ineffectual for them… Surah 6:83-90”.  (see as well Surah 39:65)

Since they had been warned concerning the gravity of committing such a transgression: “… and verily it hath been revealed unto thee as unto those before thee (saying): If thou ascribe a partner to Allah thy work will fail and thou indeed wilt be among the losers…” Surah 39:65.

With the foregoing in perspective Muhammad’s swearing by the father of one of his companions shows that he apostatized and committed the sin of shirk.

And since he was already a believer when he carried out this heinous crime there was no possibility of Muhammad’s repentance being accepted by his deity since Shirk is unpardonable per Surah 4:48 and 4:116. In fact, Muhammad was expressly warned that he would be condemned to hell if he did commit such a sin.

This isn’t the only time Muhammad committed idolatry… he did so on another occasion when he praised the pagan goddesses of the Meccans, claiming that they were exalted beings whose intercession was acceptable to God:

"….( Muhammad): Have you thought of al-Lat and al-`Uzza and Manat the third, the others", Satan, when he was meditating upon it, and desiring to bring it (sc. reconciliation) to his people, put upon his tongue "these are the exalted Gharaniq whose intercession is approved". When the Quraysh heard that, they were delighted and greatly pleased at the way in which he spoke of their gods and they listened to him… ".

… and Satan interjected something into his desires as he had on his tongue. So God annulled what Satan had suggested and God established His verses i.e. you are just like the prophets and apostles. …. Thus God relieved his prophet's grief, and made him feel safe from his fears and annulled what Satan had suggested in the words used above about their gods by his revelation " (Ibn Ishaq, Sirat Rasulullah (The Life of Muhammad), translated by Alfred Guillaume [Oxford University Press, Karachi, tenth impression 1995], pp. 165-167)

This event became known as the "Satanic verses" since Muhammad later stated that Satan made him utter these verses that praised these female idols.

For more on this topic please consult the following materials.
http://www.answering-islam.org/Green/satanic.htm
http://www.answering-islam.org/Hahn/satanicverses.htm
http://www.answering-islam.org/Shamoun/satanic_verses.htm
http://www.answering-islam.org/Responses/Saifullah/sverses.htm
http://www.answering-islam.org/Authors/Wood/deuteronomy_deductions.htm

Thus, if the above narratives are true (and since they are classified as sahih or sound they must be accepted as true by Sunni Muslims) Muhammad died an apostate and an idolater with no hope of salvation

Source: http://www.answering-islam.org/Shamoun/mhd_shirk.htm

IHS