Allah – The Greatest Deceiver of them All Sam Shamoun The Quran describes Allah as the best deceiver there is, a liar who is not above using the same evil and wicked schemes of his opponents. For example, the Quran calls Allah a makr, in fact the best makr there is: But they (the Jews) were deceptive, and Allah was deceptive, for Allah is the best of deceivers (Wamakaroo wamakara Allahu waAllahu khayru al-makireena)! S. 3:54; cf. 8:30 Other texts that identify Allah as a makr include: Are they then secure from Allah's deception (makra Allahi)? None deemeth himself secure from Allah's scheme (makra Allahi) save folk that perish. S. 7:99 Pickthall So they schemed a scheme: and We schemed a scheme (Wamakaroo makran wamakarna makran), while they perceived not. S. 27:50 The word for deception/deceiver/scheme is makr. The lexical sources define the term as: Miim-Kaf-Ra = To practice deceit or guile or circumvention, practice evasion or elusion, to plot, to exercise art or craft or cunning, act with policy, practice stratagem. makara vb. (1) perf. act. 3:54, 3:54, 7:123, 13:42, 14:46, 16:26, 16:45, 27:50, 40:45, 71:22 impf. act. 6:123, 6:123, 6:124, 8:30, 8:30, 8:30, 10:21, 12:102, 16:127, 27:70, 35:10 n.vb. 7:99, 7:99, 7:123, 10:21, 10:21, 12:31, 13:33, 13:42, 14:46, 14:46, 14:46, 27:50, 27:50, 27:51, 34:33, 35:10, 35:43, 35:43, 71:22 pcple. act. 3:54, 8:30 1
LL, V7, p: 256 (Source) And: He practised DECEIT, GUILE, or CIRCUMVENTION, desiring to do another a foul, an abominable, or an evil action, clandestinely or without his knowing whence it proceeded. (Lane’s Arabic-English Lexicon; source) Lest Muslims accuse these lexicons of bias or distortion notice what Muslim scholar Dr. Mahmoud M. Ayoub says when he asks, "how the word makr (scheming or plotting), which implies deceitfulness or dishonesty, could be attributed to God." (The Quran and Its Interpreters – The House of Imran [State University of New York Press [SUNY], Albany 1992], Volume II, p. 165; italic emphasis ours) After listing several Muslim sources he quotes a renowned Muslim expositor named ar-Razi who wrote that, "scheming (makr) is actually an act of deception aiming at causing evil. It is not possible to attribute deception to God. Thus the word is one of the muttashabihat [multivalent words of the Quran]." (Ibid., p. 166; italic emphasis ours) Unfortunately for ar-Razi, the Quran attributes deception to Allah since it identifies him as the best makr there is. Ayoub also sources one Muslim who actually boasted of Allah being the best conniver/deceiver/schemer etc., "Qurtubi observes that some scholars have considered the words ‘best of schemers’ to be one of God’s beautiful names. Thus one would pray, ‘O Best of Schemers, scheme for me!’ Qurtubi also reports that the Prophet used to pray, ‘O God, scheme for me, and do not scheme against me!’ (Qurtubi, IV, pp. 98-99; cf. Zamakhshari, I, p. 366)." (Ibid., p. 166) And here, also, is how one of the earliest sources on the life of Muhammad interpreted Q. 8:30: 2
Then he reminds the apostle of His favour towards him when the people plotted against him 'to kill him, or to wound him, or to drive him out; and they plotted and God plotted, and is the best of plotters.' i.e. I DECEIVED them with My firm GUILE so that I delivered you from them. (The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ibn Ishaq's Sirat Rasul Allah, with introduction and notes by Alfred Guillaume [Oxford University Press, Karachi, Tenth impression 1995], p. 323; capital emphasis ours)
The lexicons provide the following definitions:
Thus, the Quran unashamedly calls Muhammad’s god the best liar and deceiver of them all!
kada vb. (1) perf. act. 12:76 impf. act. 12:5, 21:57, 86:15, 86:16 impv. 7:195, 11:55, 77:39 n.vb. 3:120, 4:76, 7:183, 8:18, 12:5, 12:28, 12:28, 12:33, 12:34, 12:50, 12:52, 20:60, 20:64, 20:69, 21:70, 22:15, 37:98, 40:25, 40:37, 52:42, 52:46, 68:45, 77:39, 86:15, 86:16, 105:2 pcple. pass. 52:42
In fact, the Quran states that Allah actually raises wicked individuals to deceive and scheme: Even so have we placed in every city, ringleaders of its wicked ones, to scheme therein (liyamkuroo): but only against themselves shall they scheme (yamkuroona)! and they know it not. S. 6:123 Rodwell
Kaf-Ya-Dal (Kaf-Alif-Dal) = To be about to, be just on the point of, be well nigh, intend, wish, practise an artful device, desire, contrive/plot/devise such a thing, worked or laboured at or upon anything, to do something clandestinely, to deceive/beguile/circumvent, means of evading/eluding, vomited, emitted fire, had menstrual flux, gave up his spirit.
LL, V7, p: 166, 167 (Source; underline emphasis ours) And further commands people to do evil so that he can then have a reason to destroy them! And when We would destroy a township We send commandment to its folk who live at ease, AND AFTERWARD they commit abomination therein, and so the Word (of doom) hath effect for it, and we annihilate it with complete annihilation. S. 17:16 Pickthall
The Quran uses another word to denote that Allah is a liar, a schemer who has no problems using guile, namely kayd: And those who cry lies to Our signs We will draw them on little by little whence they know not; and I respite them -- assuredly My guile (kaydee) is sure. S. 7:182-183 Arberry and I shall respite them -- assuredly My guile (kaydee) is sure. S. 68:45 Arberry 3
The Quran furnishes plenty of examples that exemplify the negative aspect and nature of this term, e.g. those who use kayd are deliberately intending something evil which results in their judgement for employing such wicked schemes: What, have they feet wherewith they walk, or have they hands wherewith they lay hold, or have they eyes wherewith they see, or have they ears wherewith they give ear? Say: 'Call you then to your associates; then try your guile (keedooni) on me, and give me no respite. S. 7:195 Arberry He [Jacob] said, 'O my son [Joseph], relate not thy vision to thy brothers, lest they devise against thee some guile (fa yakeedoo laka kayda). Surely Satan is to man a manifest enemy. S. 12:5 Arberry So when he [Potiphar] saw his [Joseph] shirt torn from behind, he said: Lo! this is of the guile of you (kaydikunna) women. Lo! the guile of you (kaydakunna) is very great. S. 12:28 Pickthall 4
So gather your guile (kaydakum); then come in battle-line. Whoever today gains the upper hand shall surely prosper. S. 20:64 Arberry the day when their guile (kayduhum) shall avail them naught, and they shall not be helped. S. 52:46 Arberry if you have a trick, try you now to trick Me (kaydun fa keedooni)!' S. 77:39 Arberry Allah is even portrayed as stooping down to the level of the deceivers and liars by acting like them in his use of guile: They are devising guile (ya keedoona kaydan), and I am devising guile (Wa akeedu kaydan). S. 86:15-16
LL, V2, p: 344, 345, 346, 347 (Source) Lest there be any confusion concerning the fact that this word means that Allah is a deceiver notice how this term is used in the following references: They (think to) deceive Allah (Yukhadiaaoona) and those who believe, while they only deceive (yakhdaaoona) themselves, and perceive (it) not! S. 2:9 Hilali-Khan And if they would deceive thee (yakhdaaooka), then lo! Allah is Sufficient for thee. He it is Who supporteth thee with His help and with the believers, S. 8:6 Pickthall Is there any doubt that the unbelievers were using deception as they tried to deceive Muhammad and his companions? Just as there is no doubt that Allah also uses deception in deceiving them!
There is more to the story. The Quran uses yet another word in describing the deception of Allah, that word being khida/khuda/khada: Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them (Inna al-munafiqeena yukhadiaaoona Allaha wahuwa khadiaauhum). And when they stand up for As-Salat (the prayer), they stand with laziness and to be seen of men, and they do not remember Allah but little. S. 4:142 Hilali-Khan Here, once again, is the lexical meaning of this specific word: Kh-Dal-Ayn = To hide/conceal, double or fold, deceive or outwit, pretend, to enter, vary in state/condition, refrain or refuse, relinquish, to be in little demand of, deviate from the right course, resist/unyield/incompliant, turn away and behave proudly. khada'a vb. (1) impf. act. 2:9, 8:62 pcple. act. 4:142
It gets worse. Satan accused Allah of misleading or deceiving him: He said: Now, because Thou hast sent me astray (aghwaytanee), verily I shall lurk in ambush for them on Thy Right Path. S. 7:16 Pickthall [Iblis (Satan)] said: "O my Lord! Because you misled me (aghwaytanee), I shall indeed adorn the path of error for them (mankind) on the earth, and I shall mislead (walaoghwiyannahum) them all. S. 15:39 Hilali-Khan What makes this last reference rather interesting is that Satan promises to do to mankind what Allah did to him, namely, pervert/deceive/mislead people from the path! Lest a Muslim say that these are the lies of Satan, that the enemy was merely slandering Allah, here is a text where the Quran acknowledges that the Devil was right since Allah does pervert/deceive/mislead people from the way:
khada'a vb. (3) impf. act. 2:9, 4:142 5
6
And my sincere counsel will not profit you, if I desire to counsel you sincerely, if God desires to pervert you (yughwiyakum); He is your Lord, and unto Him you shall be returned.' S. 11:34 Arberry To say that this is amazing would be a wild understatement.
Concluding Remarks Our analysis has shown that Muhammad’s deity is a deceiver who cannot be trusted since he lies without hesitation. A Muslim may contend that Allah only deceives unbelievers who deserve it. The problem with this assertion is that the Muslim scripture teaches that Allah doesn’t merely deceive unbelievers but also his followers.
announce now to the people, "Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead."’ So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. But the LORD said to Gideon, ‘There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, "This one shall go with you," he shall go; but if I say, "This one shall not go with you," he shall not go.’ So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, ‘Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink.’ Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. The LORD said to Gideon, ‘With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place.’ So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others. Now the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley." Judges 7:1-8 NIV
For example, Allah deceived Muhammad into thinking that the fighting men at Badr were fewer in number than they actually were:
If this weren’t bad enough, one of the greatest lies and deceptions that Allah pulled over the world is the crucifixion of Christ. According to the Quran Jesus wasn’t crucified but Allah made it seem that way, thereby foisting Biblical Christianity on the masses!
When Allah showed them to you in your dream as few; and if He had shown them to you as many you would certainly have become weakhearted and you would have disputed about the matter, but Allah saved (you); surely He is the Knower of what is in the breasts. And when He showed them to you, when you met, as few in your eyes and He made you to appear little in their eyes, in order that Allah might bring about a matter which was to be done, and to Allah are all affairs returned. S. 8:43-44 Shakir
And because of their saying (in boast), "We killed Messiah 'Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), the Messenger of Allah," - but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but the resemblance of 'Iesa (Jesus) was put over another man (and they killed that man), and those who differ therein are full of doubts. They have no (certain) knowledge, they follow nothing but conjecture. For surely; they killed him not [i.e. 'Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)]: S. 4:157 Hilali-Khan
Hence, Allah lies and deceives both believers and unbelievers without discrimination. Now contrast this with how the true God Yahweh operates: "Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. The LORD said to Gideon, ‘You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, 7
That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Apostle of God"; - but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:- Y. Ali Thus, Allah duped the followers of Christ into believing that Jesus died by crucifixion and further deceived them into thinking that he was then 8
raised back to life on the third day. They then went out preaching this message boldly, with some of them dying as martyrs as a result of it!
rather uncertain about his status in the hereafter because of how unreliable and fickle his god is:
Interestingly, Allah’s schemes or deceptions are so troublesome that they even scared Muhammad. Islam’s prophet was so afraid of the schemes of his god that he prayed that Allah would not deceive him but deceive on his behalf:
"Although he had such a faith, which was too great to suffice all the inhabitants of the earth, he was afraid that his heart might go astray. So, he used to utter, while weeping: ‘Would that I have been a bitten tree!’ Whenever he was reminded of his position in Allah’s sight, he would say: ‘By Allah! I would not rest assured and feel safe from the deception of Allah (la amanu limakr Allah), even if I had one foot in paradise.’" (Khalid Muhammad Khalid, Successors of the Messenger, translated by Muhammad Mahdi al-Sharif [Dar al-Kotob al-Ilmiyah, Beirut Lebanon, 2005], Book One: Abu Bakr Has Come, p. 99; bold and italic emphasis ours)(1)
3551. Ibn Abbas said: "The Prophet used to supplicate, saying: ‘My Lord, aid me and do not aid against me, and grant me victory and do not grant victory over me, plot (scheme/connive/deceive) for me and do not plot (scheme/connive, deceive) against me, guide me and facilitate guidance for me, grant me victory over those who transgress against me. My Lord, make me ever-grateful to You, ever-remembering of You, ever-fearful of You, ever-obedient to You, ever-humble to You, oftturning and returning to You. My Lord, accept my repentance, wash my sin, answer my call, make firm my proof, make firm my tongue, guide my heart, and remove the treachery of my chest (Rabbi A‘inni Wa La Tu‘in ‘Alayya, Wansurni Wa La Tansur ‘Alayya, WAMKUR Li Wa La TAMKUR ‘Alayya, Wahdini Wa Yassir Lil-Huda, Wansurni ‘Ala Man Bagha ‘Alayya. Rabbij‘alni Laka Shakkaran, Laka Dhak-karan, Laka Rahhaban, Laka Mitwa‘an, Laka Mukhbitan, Ilaika Awwahan Muniba. Rabbi Taqabbal Tawabati, Waghsil Hawbati, Wa Ajib Da‘wati, Wa Thab-bit Hujjati, Wa Saddid Lisani Wahdi Qalbi, Waslu Sakhimata Sadri).’" (Sahih) … [Abu ‘Eisa said:] This Hadith is Hasan Sahih. (English Translation of Jami‘ At-Tirmidhi, Compiled by Imam Hafiz Abu ‘Eisa Mohammad Ibn ‘Eisa At-Tirmidhi, translated by Abu Khaliyl (USA), ahadith edited and referenced by Hafiz Tahir Zubair ‘Ali Za’i [Darussalam Publishers & Distributors, First Edition: November 2007], Volume 6, From Hadith No. 3291 to 3956, Chapter 45. The Book Of Supplications From The Messenger Of Allah, pp. 258-259; capital and underline emphasis ours) Muhammad wasn’t the only person troubled by Allah’s lies since his closest companion was deftly afraid of his lord’s schemes. If one is still in doubt as to the meaning of the term makr consider Abu Bakr’s testimony who, despite being promised paradise by Muhammad, was 9
Now if both Muhammad and Abu Bakr were afraid of Allah’s schemes shouldn’t Muslims also be fearful of their god’s lies and deception? This very unflattering picture of God is quite embarrassing to say the least. After all, which person would be proud of a god who is described as the best deceiver, a beguiler who schemes and deliberately plots evil in order to accomplish his purposes? Such a depiction of the Deity is unbefitting the majesty and glory of the One who called Himself the Truth and who does not lie or change his mind since it is impossible for him to do so: "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" Numbers 23:19 "He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind." 1 Samuel 15:29 "Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth." Psalm 31:5 "Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’" John 14:6 10
"a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time," Titus 1:2 "Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged." Hebrews 6:17-18 The Quran’s description of Allah best fits the one whom the Lord Jesus identified as the father of all lies: "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8:44 In light of the foregoing it seems rather hard to deny that the spirit who spoke to Muhammad, the entity who is revealed in the Muslim scripture, is none other than Satan, the enemy of our souls, masquerading as God in order to deceive people away from the truth of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ: "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough… For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve." 2 Corinthians 11:2-4, 13-15 "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we 11
have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!" Galatians 1:8-9
Recommended Reading http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/allah_deceiver.htm http://answering-islam.org/Authors/Wood/deceptive_god.htm http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/does_god_deceive.htm http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/preserved-crucifixion.htm http://answering-islam.org/Responses/Osama/zawadi_paul_deceiver.htm http://answering-islam.org/Quran/Contra/command_evil.htm
Endnotes (1) It needs to be pointed out that the Muslim translator has deliberately distorted the original text of Muhammad Khalid’s book. Instead of translating the Arabic words limakr Allah as "the deception of Allah" he has decided to render it as, "from Allah’s punishment," in order to obscure the real meaning. It seems that the Muslim translator was rather embarrassed by Abu Bakr’s statement that Allah is a deceiver whose promises of granting eternal bliss to the faithful cannot be trusted. If the reader is interested in seeing what the original text really says we suggest that they turn to page 66 of the Arabic version of Muhammad Khalid’s book. Moreover, the author conveniently forgot to mention that the reason why Abu Bakr was afraid that his heart might turn away from the faith is because this close companion of Muhammad knew what the Quran says about Allah misleading and turning people away from the guidance: Then what is the matter with you that you are divided into two parties about the hypocrites? Allah has cast them back (to disbelief) because of what they have earned. Do you want to guide him whom Allah has made to go astray? And he whom Allah has made to go astray, you will never find for him any way (of guidance). S. 4:88 12
And We sent not a Messenger except with the language of his people, in order that he might make (the Message) clear for them. Then Allah misleads whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And He is the AllMighty, the All-Wise. S. 14:4 Abu Bakr was therefore fearful of Allah turning his heart away and thereby condemning him to hell since he knew that his god was a deceiver who couldn’t be trusted to do as he says. This is despite the fact that Muhammad had personally guaranteed his salvation!
for he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure); He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe in him, honour him, help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him, - it is they who will prosper." Say: "O men! I am sent unto you all, as the Apostle of God, to Whom belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth: there is no god but He: it is He That giveth both life and death. So believe in God and His Apostle, the Unlettered Prophet (al-nabiyyi alummiyyi), who believeth in God and His words: follow him that (so) ye may be guided." S. 7:155-158 Y. Ali
http://www.answering-islam.org/Shamoun/allah_best_deceiver.htm
The Quran and the Unlettered Prophet: Jesus or Muhammad? Sam Shamoun & Jochen Katz The Quran contains a speech of the prophet Moses where he prophesied the coming of an Ummi Prophet: And Moses chose seventy of his people for Our place of meeting: when they were seized with violent quaking, he prayed: "O my Lord! if it had been Thy will Thou couldst have destroyed, long before, both them and me: wouldst Thou destroy us for the deeds of the foolish ones among us? this is no more than Thy trial: by it Thou causest whom Thou wilt to stray, and Thou leadest whom Thou wilt into the right path. Thou art our Protector: so forgive us and give us Thy mercy; for Thou art the best of those who forgive. And ordain for us that which is good, in this life and in the Hereafter: for we have turned unto Thee." He said: "With My punishment I visit whom I will; but My mercy extendeth to all things. That (mercy) I shall ordain for those who do right, and practise regular charity, and those who believe in Our signs; - Those who follow the apostle, the unlettered Prophet (al-nabiyya al-ummiyya), whom they find mentioned in their own (scriptures), - in the law and the Gospel; 13
Muslims have traditionally understood the word ummi to refer to somebody who is illiterate, i.e. someone who can neither read nor write. Muhammad, according to Islamic tradition, was such a person, and the above passage is usually applied to him. There are two main problems with this assertion. In the first place, the Quran never says that Muhammad was incapable of reading or writing. It merely says that Muhammad hadn’t recited or written any inspired Book besides the Quran: Not before this didst thou recite any Book, or inscribe it with thy right hand, for then those who follow falsehood would have doubted. S. 29:48 Arberry Secondly, an examination of how the Quran uses the term ummi shows that it doesn’t mean illiterate or, at least, is not employed in this meaning in the Quran. Rather, the Quran uses the word in reference to people who, unlike the Jews and Christians, had not received or been instructed in the inspired Scriptures: "And if they argue with thee, (O Muhammad), say: I have surrendered my purpose to Allah and (so have) those who follow me. And say unto those who have received the Scripture and those who read not (alummiyyeena). Have ye (too) surrendered? If they surrender, then truly they are rightly guided, and if they turn away, then it is thy duty only to convey the message (unto them). Allah is Seer of (His) bondmen." S. 3:20 Pickthall 14
According to the Muslim expositors this next verse is speaking of how the Jews treated those labeled as ummi: Among the People of the Scripture there is he who, if thou trust him with a weight of treasure, will return it to thee. And among them there is he who, if thou trust him with a piece of gold, will not return it to thee unless thou keep standing over him. That is because they say: We have no duty to the Gentiles (al-ummiyyeena). They speak a lie concerning Allah knowingly. S. 3:75 Pickthall As the above translation shows, this distinction made by the Jews has led some scholars to assume that the term refers primarily to Gentiles. But this needs to be qualified since the majority of Christians during the time of Muhammad were Gentiles who were obviously not ignorant about the contents of their Scriptures. This means that if the word does refer to Gentiles then it is referring to specific Gentiles who had received no special revelation, especially in the form of Scriptures, an understanding that is confirmed by the following texts:
And this is a blessed Book (the Qur'an) which We have sent down, so follow it and fear Allah (i.e. do not disobey His Orders), that you may receive mercy (i.e. saved from the torment of Hell). Lest you (pagan Arabs) should say: "The Book was only sent down to two sects before us (the Jews and the Christians), and for our part, we were in fact unaware of what they studied." S. 6:155-156 Hilali-Khan The footnote 14 to Tafsir al-Jalalayn on Q. 7:157 makes the same point: Muslim tradition generally understands the expression ummi as ‘illiterate’, or ‘who cannot read or write’, or ‘unlettered’. Some modern scholarship is critical of this meaning, suggesting that it actually referred to the Prophet’s status with regard to the Abrahamic tradition, namely, that ‘one not of those who read the Scriptures’, or ‘gentile’. (Source; underline emphasis ours) There could even be a group called ummi among those who had been given revelation such as the Jews: Among them are unlettered folk (ummiyyoona) who know the Scripture not except from hearsay. They but guess. S. 2:78 Pickthall
It is He Who has sent amongst the Unlettered (al-ummiyyeena) an apostle from among themselves, to rehearse to them His Signs, to sanctify them, and to instruct them in Scripture and Wisdom, - although they had been, before, in manifest error; - S. 62:2 Y. Ali
Clearly, this group among the Jews was not illiterate but uneducated about what the Holy Scriptures really taught, and were receiving information about their contents from secondhand sources.
The unnamed apostle, whom Muslims take to be Muhammad, was sent to an unlettered folk in order to recite the scriptures to them. It is obvious from this that these people were unlettered in the sense of not having known or received inspired Scriptures.
The preceding data helps us come to a proper understanding of the meaning of the term ummi. An ummi is not an illiterate, at least as far as the Quran is concerned, but a person who has not read the Holy Scriptures and/or received any formal instructions about their contents.
Moreover, the Muslim sources report about a good number of people among the pagan Arabs who could read and write, some of whom later became scribes of Muhammad. Again, the point in the above passages is not that none of these people knew how to read or write, i.e. that they were an illiterate nation, but that they were uneducated about the Holy Scriptures.
The ummi Prophet would therefore be someone who hadn’t been taught the Holy Scriptures by learned scholars or teachers, but received his knowledge about them by direct revelation or inspiration. The Quran makes a similar claim regarding Muhammad, that he wasn’t taught by a human being but by one mighty in power:
This conclusion is also supported by this next passage: 15
Say: 'The Holy Spirit sent it down from thy Lord in truth, and to confirm those who believe, and to be a guidance and good tidings to those who 16
surrender.' And We know very well that they say, 'Only a mortal is teaching him.' The speech of him at whom they hint is barbarous; and this is speech Arabic, manifest. S. 16:102-103 Arberry By the Star when it plunges, your comrade is not astray, neither errs, nor speaks he out of caprice. This is naught but a revelation revealed, taught him by one terrible in power, S. 53:1-5 Arberry With the foregoing in perspective we now propose what is in our opinion a more accurate rendering and understanding of the verses in question: Those who follow the apostle, the Prophet who hasn’t received any formal instruction in the inspired Scriptures (but has been taught by God directly), whom they find written down with them in the Taurat and the Injeel (who)… therefore believe in God and his apostle, the Prophet who hasn’t received any formal instruction in the inspired Scriptures (but has been taught by God directly) who believes in God and his words, and follow him so that you may walk in the right way. S. 7:157-158 After having gone through the linguistic groundwork of clarifying the meaning of the word ummi, it remains to answer the question whether this passage really refers to Muhammad, as Muslims claim, or if it refers to someone else, specifically to the Lord Jesus. This leads us to the next section.
The Lord Jesus: The Unlettered Apostle from God There are major problems with claiming that Muhammad is this ummi Prophet, not the least of which is that neither the Law of Moses nor the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ contains any predictions of his coming. According to the New Testament, the Lord Jesus is the main theme of the Holy Scriptures: "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." John 5:39-40
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"For Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.’ Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days." Acts 3:22-25 "All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." Acts 10:43 Secondly, the context of Q. 7:157 is addressing the Israelites during the time of Moses and claims that even during this time they had the Gospel with them. This, again, only makes sense in light of the teaching of the NT that God had already proclaimed the Gospel, the Good News, of the Lord Jesus in advance to the OT prophets and saints: "The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith." Galatians 3:8-9 "Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, ‘So I declared on oath in my anger, "They shall never enter my rest."’ And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: ‘And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.’ And again in the passage above he says, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience." Hebrews 4:1-6 "Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not 18
serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things." 1 Peter 1:10-12
Muslims that their own scripture supports our thesis that Q. 7:157 speaks of Jesus, not Muhammad.
Thus, the Gospel that was with them would be the prophecies they received by prophets like Moses about the Christ to come.
"The crowds answered, ‘This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.’" Matthew 21:11
This doesn’t make sense from an Islamic perspective since the Quran views the Gospel as a revelation given to Jesus Christ that came after Abraham and later than the Torah:
"… ‘About Jesus of Nazareth,’ they replied. ‘He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.’" Luke 24:19
O People of the Scripture! Why will ye argue about Abraham, when the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed till after him? Have ye then no sense? S. 3:65 Pickthall Hence, the assertion that the Israelites during Moses’ time had the Gospel is a contradiction within the Quran (http://answeringislam.org/Quran/Contra/qbhc03.html) but fits in perfectly with the NT teaching that God had proclaimed the Gospel of his Son during the OT period. More importantly, the Holy Bible as Muhammad knew it and as we have it in our possession today exposes him as a false prophet. Muhammad contradicted the core, essential doctrines of both the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Greek Scriptures. See the following articles for the details (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). Clearly then, Muhammad cannot be the one mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel. With this in mind we now provide the Biblical data, along with specific Quranic references, to support the view that the Lord Jesus, not Muhammad, is the Apostle and Prophet who wasn’t taught the Holy Scriptures by men, but by God himself.
1. Those who follow the apostle, the Prophet
"After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, ‘Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.’" John 6:14 "Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess." Hebrews 3:1 And (appoint him) an apostle to the Children of Israel, (with this message): "I have come to you, with a Sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by God's leave: And I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, by God's leave; and I declare to you what ye eat, and what ye store in your houses. Surely therein is a Sign for you if ye did believe;" S. 3:49 Y. Ali He said, ‘Lo, I am God's servant; God has given me the Book, and made me a Prophet.’ S. 19:30 Arberry 2. who hasn’t received any formal instruction in the inspired Scriptures (but has been taught by God directly),
Note: The reason we are quoting the Quran is not because we believe it is God’s word or authoritative. Rather, we cite from it simply to prove to
"The LORD said to me: ‘What they say is good. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.’" Deuteronomy 18:17-19
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"The Jews therefore marveled, saying, ‘How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?’ So Jesus answered them, ‘My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.’" John 7:15-17 "So Jesus said, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.’" John 8:28 "Jesus answered: ‘Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father"? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.’" John 14:9-11 "Jesus replied, ‘If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.’" John 14:23-24 Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! God giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to God; He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous." She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?" He said: "Even so: God createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a plan, He but saith to it, ‘Be,’ and it is! "And God will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel," S. 3:45-48 Y. Ali When God said, ‘Jesus Son of Mary, remember My blessing upon thee and upon thy mother, when I confirmed thee with the Holy Spirit, to speak to men in the cradle, and of age; and when I taught thee the Book, the Wisdom, the Torah, the Gospel; and when thou createst out of 21
clay, by My leave, as the likeness of a bird, and thou breathest into it, and it is a bird, by My leave; and thou healest the blind and the leper by My leave, and thou bringest the dead forth by My leave; and when restrained from thee the Children of Israel when thou camest unto them with the clear signs, and the unbelievers among them said, "This is nothing but sorcery manifest."’ S. 5:110 Arberry At length she brought the (babe) to her people, carrying him (in her arms). They said: "O Mary! truly an amazing thing hast thou brought! O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a man of evil, nor thy mother a woman unchaste!" But she pointed to the babe. They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?" He said… "And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live; (He) hath made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable; So peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)"! S. 19:2734 Y. Ali 3. whom they find mentioned in their own (scriptures), - in the Law and the Gospel; "He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself." Luke 24:25-27 "He said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.’" Luke 24:44-47 "Philip found Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’" John 1:45 22
"But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?" John 5:45-47 4. for he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure); "Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:1-12 "You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:43-48 "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth… For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." John 1:14, 17 23
"By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me." John 5:30 "The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood." John 7:18 "Jesus answered, ‘Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.’" John 8:14-16 "‘Just what I have been claiming all along,’ Jesus replied. ‘I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.’" John 8:26 "‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’" John 18:37 Such is Jesus the son of Mary, a statement of truth, about which they dispute. S. 19:34 5. He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. "Jesus replied, ‘And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.’" Luke 11:46 "Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ‘The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them… You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape 24
being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town." Matthew 23:1-4, 33-34
"Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him." John 5:22-23
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’" John 8:12
"He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." Acts 15:9-11 "This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome," 1 John 5:3 "(I have come to you), to attest the Law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was (Before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear God, and obey me." S. 3:50 Y. Ali 6. So it is those who believe in him, honour him, help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him, - it is they who will prosper. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." John 3:16-21 25
"As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." John 9:4-5 "Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ she told him, ‘I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.’" John 11:25-27 "Then Jesus told them, ‘You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.’ When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.’" John 12:35-36 "Then Jesus cried out, ‘When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.’" John 12:44-50
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"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’" John 14:16 And We caused Jesus, son of Mary, to follow in their footsteps, confirming that which was (revealed) before him in the Torah, and We bestowed on him the Gospel wherein is guidance and a light, confirming that which was (revealed) before I in the Torah - a guidance and an admonition unto those who ward off (evil). S. 5:46 Pickthall And when Jesus perceived their unbelief, he said, 'Who will be my helpers unto God?' The Apostles said, 'We will be helpers of God; we believe in God; witness thou our submission.' S. 3:52 Arberry O ye who believe! Be ye helpers of God: As said Jesus the son of Mary to the Disciples, "Who will be my helpers to (the work of) God?" Said the disciples, "We are God's helpers!" then a portion of the Children of Israel believed, and a portion disbelieved: But We gave power to those who believed, against their enemies, and they became the ones that prevailed. S. 61:14 Y. Ali
Further analysis The Muslim consensus is that Muhammad is speaking in Q. 7:158, implying that this is a parenthetical break within the context that is referring to the story of the Exodus. The evidence, however, makes it more reasonable to view this text as addressing Moses. After all, the immediate context (7:152-160) and the wider context (7:103-171) are clearly about the story of Moses, i.e. his conflict with Pharaoh and the subsequent Exodus of the people of Israel. It is more natural to see v. 158 as being part of this story line than being 27
one verse in the middle of it that commands Muhammad to address all of mankind. This is simply against the flow of the story. Such an interpretation is counter-intuitive and would only provide further evidence for the chaotic structure of the Quran. It is more natural that this verse addresses Moses and commands him to speak to his people, reinforcing what has already been said in verse 157. To be specific, in verses 156-157 we see Allah’s direct response to Moses’ prayer, in which Moses is given certain information, and in verse 158 he is then given the words of exhortation that he should speak to his people based on the information that was given in the preceding verses. In the last section we have seen that the most reasonable interpretation of verse 157 is that it speaks of Jesus. And in context, it is most natural that verse 158 also refers to Jesus. It would hardly be coherent to have statements about two different unlettered prophets embedded side by side in the Moses story. Nevertheless, the traditional Muslim interpretation that Muhammad is commanded here to speak would actually support the view that he is not that Prophet. Notice what this verse says: Say (O Muhammad): O mankind! Lo! I am the messenger of Allah to you all - (the messenger of) Him unto Whom belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. There is no God save Him. He quickeneth and He giveth death. So believe in Allah and His messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, who believeth in Allah and in His Words, and follow him that haply ye may be led aright. Pickthall The speaker identifies himself as Allah’s messenger but then refers to the unlettered Prophet in the third person. He doesn’t say, "Believe in Allah and in me his messenger, the unlettered Prophet." Even though the use of third person doesn’t conclusively prove that the speaker is someone other than the unlettered Prophet, it does provide additional support for the case we have already made showing that they are not one and the same person.
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Moreover, the hadith literature provides further evidence for the plausibility that this text has two messengers in view, the one who is speaking and the unlettered Prophet that the people must believe in. Notice what Muhammad is reported to have said:
Assuming the traditional interpretation of Q. 62:2, Muhammad is called in that verse a prophet from among unlettered people and as such he would qualify to be called an unlettered prophet, yet not necessarily THE unlettered prophet who is spoken about in Q. 7:157-158.
Narrated 'Ubada: The Prophet said, "If anyone TESTIFIES that None has the right to be worshipped but Allah Alone Who has no partners, and that Muhammad is His Slave and His Apostle, and that Jesus is Allah's Slave and His Apostle and His Word which He bestowed on Mary and a Spirit from Him, and that Paradise is true, and Hell is true, Allah will admit him into Paradise with the deeds which he had done even if those deeds were few." (Junada, the sub-narrator said, " 'Ubada added, 'Such a person can enter Paradise through any of its eight gates he likes.") (Sahih AlBukhari, Volume 4, Book 55, Number 644)
The traditional identification would also fit well with the observations and conclusion made in the paper "I am all the prophets" in the sense that "the Quran is always about Muhammad". It is not at all surprising that Muhammad would put words in the mouth of Moses that speak about Muhammad as an important prophet who would come later and whom the people should follow and obey. In this sense, the traditional identification cannot simply be discarded and remains a possible understanding, but this traditional understanding also results in a clear historical error and contradiction in the Quran. Moreover, this text is then one more example of a rather chaotic structure in the Quran.
Here, Muhammad personally singles out Jesus Christ from all the other prophets that a person must mention by name in his/her confession of faith. Thus, it is not enough for believers to confess their faith in Muhammad since they must also confess faith in Jesus Christ as well!
However, as we have carefully argued here, the specific description of this prophet that is given in Q. 7:157 fits Jesus much better, not on only on the basis of the Biblical data about him, but on the basis of the Quranic data as well. Moreover, this new identification also provides a solution to the apparent contradiction in this passage.
Should it, therefore, surprise us that Muhammad may be doing the same in Q. 7:158? Specifically, why could he not be called on in this verse to command people to believe in Jesus as the One who wasn’t taught by men but by God even from infancy according to the Quran itself, which is unlike Muhammad who had to wait until he was forty before receiving the so-called revelations?
Conclusion In this paper we have presented a rather unusual[1] interpretation of Q. 7:155-158. Our interpretation is in sharp disagreement with the common and cherished Muslim understanding of this passage. In particular, we have proposed a new identification of "the unlettered prophet" as being a title for Jesus instead of Muhammad. We are convinced that we have made a strong argument, but want to put this into a wider perspective.
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This alternative interpretation also supports and would in turn be supported by the theories of Christoph Luxenberg (*) and GĂźnter LĂźling (1, 2) who have made the case that substantial portions of the Quran are originally Christian texts whose true meaning was twisted by later Muslim interpretation, and/or which were corrupted by more or less editorial activity.[2] Whatever may have been the original and intended identification of "the unlettered prophet", Q. 7:157-158 in its immediate context as well as its wider context of the entire Quran is formulated in a way that allows both interpretations, and as such it is another passage that exposes the chaotic and often incoherent nature of the Quran (*). The observations and results arrived at in this paper may support either of these two main theories:
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1. Muhammad wanted to create an impressive prophecy about himself, using the somewhat mysterious title "the unlettered prophet". He placed this prophecy into the time and story of Moses and immediately provided the fulfillment of it in the next verse. However, he messed up. He not only created a historical error of placing the Injil into the time of Moses, but also formulated the prophecy in such a way that it ended up fitting the person of Jesus much better than his own. 2. Despite the later Muslim misinterpretation of this text, it is a text about Jesus, a Christian text which became twisted and abused during the "formation of Islam". This text may well be further evidence in support of the thesis of L端ling, Luxenberg and others that much of the Quran consists of originally Christian texts. However, our observations do certainly not support the orthodox Muslim understanding that the Quran is of divine origin and of unmatchable clarity and eloquence, a book about which there can be no doubt.
Notes: 1. As far as we know, this interpretation is new. At least we have never seen it proposed before, though we have not specifically searched the academic literature in this regard. 2. We do not endorse or agree with the theories of L端ling and Luxenberg in every detail, but they present observations and provide insights that are certainly worth pursuing and which need to be studied further. The orthodox theory regarding the origin and formation of Islam has severe problems and alternative explanations regarding the origin and nature of the Quran have to be considered.
Muhammad God instructs us in his Word to test the prophets and we find in scripture 31
not only clear criteria for this testing but also reports of many true and many false prophets so that we have examples that help us in this evaluation. To test whether a prophet is from God or a false prophet we have to look at both, his message and his life. Muslim theology itself acknowledges the importance of the lives of the prophets as an essential part of the criteria to evaluate the legitimacy of a prophetic claim so much so that it has created the doctrine of the sinlessness of the prophets which goes much further than the Biblical criteria. There have been many people claiming prophethood both before and after Muhammad. Muslims easily reject the prophetic claims of Joseph Smith (founder of the Mormons, no relation to Islam), Baha'ullah (Bahais, acknowledging Muhammad as true, but moving on to further revelation) and the Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (Ahmadiyya, understanding himself to be a reformer of Islam, not with new revelation) based on the "easy" criterion that Muhammad said there will be no prophet after him. Even though Muslims will certainly not be pleased by the material linked from this page, nor might they agree with us on the criteria for this test, we hopefully can agree that claims to prophethoood need to be tested whether the claimant's message truly comes from God or not, and this includes theclaims of Muhammad about himself and his message. We will provide references to Muslim sites and their view about Muhammad and why he is a true prophet. But in those presentations a number of issues are regularly left out. A true evaluation has to deal with all the facts and cannot be satisfied with a selective presentation. These articles are not written to aggravate Muslims, even though this is probably the section on the "Answering Islam" site which will produce the strongest (emotional) reactions. Our sincere hope is that the material will help both Muslims and Christians come to a more realistic evaluation and view about Muhammad based on a fuller presentation of evidences from the sources. In that respect, I hope that even Muslims will find the material helpful for themselves to not be ignorant regarding parts of their history.
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The first and most important of each evaluation of a claim to prophethood is the testing of the message. The testing of the prophet based on his life is secondary. Therefore we urge our readers to first study the section on the Evaluation of the Qur'an before proceeding with the below material. A lot of biographical and background information on life and person of Muhammad can be found via the Index to Islam. For Christians the most important issue is whether Muhammad is a legitimate / true prophet in the tradition of the Biblical revelation. In particular, the issue whether he is announced in the scriptures: Are there Biblical Prophecies about Muhammad? Testing Muhammad's Prophecy Muhammad the prophet versus the prophets Muhammad's Prophethood A Quranic Criterion for a True Prophet Muhammad, Satan, and Muhammad’s Prophetic Call Reexamining Satan's Influence and Control over Muhammad Muhammad's False Prophecies (in Qur'an and Hadith) Jesus or Muhammad: Who is God's True Seal of Prophethood? Silas presents thorough investigations on various issues touching on Muhammad's Prophethood Muhammad's Inconsistency (in making laws binding upon the Muslim community but granting exceptions to himself) The Deification of Muhammad
Muhammad and Miracles Muhammad and Sauda and Muhammad's Treatment of Sauda Bint Zamah Why Did Mohammed Get So Many Wives? Was Muhammad a Superman of Sex? Muhammad's Low Opinion of Women Treaties An Examination of Muhammad's Marriage to a Prepubescent Girl and its Moral Implications What is the Seal of Prophethood? Muslim tradition on Heraclius' response to Muhammad's invitation The Satanic Verses God's Last Messenger (?) Muhammad's Love for the Fantastically Fictional Are Pictures of Muhammad Really Forbidden In Islam? A short biographical overview is found in the entry on Muhammad in our Index to Islam The Life of Mahomet by Sir William Muir is a major biography of Muhammad The Quest of the Historical Muhammad and Was Muhammad a Prophet From His Infancy? by Arthur Jeffery
Further Miscellanea:
Mohammed without Camouflage: Ecce Homo ... Arabicus Muhammad and his personal enemies Muhammad's excessive cruelty Islam and Beheading Muhammad's letter to the Julanda Brothers of Oman Muhammad and Idolatry Muhammad and Poison 33
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