Chapter Three: Some Misconceptions about Muhammad’s Prophethood

:Chapter Three

Some Misconceptions about Muhammad’s Prophethood

One of the most dangerous means used by the enemies of Islaam and the Muslims is an attempt to cast doubt on prophethood of Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wasallam. It was the path of the earliest polytheists and the goal of the contemporary orientalists and their followers. They attempt various means to stir up doubts concerning the sources of revelation.

However, the glorious Qur’aan proved that it is capable of dealing with these allegations. It dispelled and exposed all the misconceptions.

The misconceptions raised by the enemies against Islaam fundamentally revolve around one point: That the Qur’aan was an invention of Muhammad. Every other misconception was built upon this, though all are weaker than even the cobweb.

These misconceptions can be summed up as follows:

- He was called ‘magician’.

- That the revelation was a product of Muhammad’s imaginations.

- That the contents of the Qur’aan were copied from past religions such as Judaism, Christianity and paganism.

- That revelation phenomenon was nothing but a result of a nervous disease that the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wasallam was suffering from.

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That Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wasallam was himself doubtful about the revelation.

With help from Allaah, I would attempt to respond to these misconceptions.

Misconception One: That Muhammad was a Magician

The Makkah disbelievers accused Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wasallam of being a magician, and based on this, what he brought was called a magic.

Allaah says,

الٓر‌ۚ تِلۡكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡحَكِيمِ (١) أَكَانَ لِلنَّاسِ عَجَبًا أَنۡ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰ رَجُلٍ۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ أَنۡ أَنذِرِ ٱلنَّاسَ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَنَّ لَهُمۡ قَدَمَ صِدۡقٍ عِندَ رَبِّہِمۡ‌ۗ قَالَ ٱلۡڪَـٰفِرُونَ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَسَـٰحِرٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ (٢)

(Yoonus 10:1-2)

“Alif-Lâm-Râ. (These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur'ân, and none but Allâh (Alone) knows their meanings). These are the Verses of the Book (the Qur'ân) Al-Hakîm. Is it wonder for mankind that We have sent Our Inspiration to a man from among themselves (i.e. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)) (saying): "Warn mankind (of the coming torment in Hell), and give good news to those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh and in His Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)) that they shall have with their Lord the rewards of their good deeds?" (But) the disbelievers say: "This is indeed an evident sorcerer (i.e. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Qur'ân)!” (Yoonus 10:1-2)

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Allaah also says,

وَإِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡہِمۡ ءَايَـٰتُنَا بَيِّنَـٰتٍ۬ قَالُواْ مَا هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا رَجُلٌ۬ يُرِيدُ أَن يَصُدَّكُمۡ عَمَّا كَانَ يَعۡبُدُ ءَابَآؤُكُمۡ وَقَالُواْ مَا هَـٰذَآ إِلَّآ إِفۡكٌ۬ مُّفۡتَرً۬ىۚ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِلۡحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَهُمۡ إِنۡ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحۡرٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ (٤٣)

(Saba’34:43)

“And those who disbelieve say of the truth when it has come to them (i.e. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) when Allâh sent him as a Messenger with proofs, evidences, verses of this Qur’aan, lessons, signs, etc.): "This is nothing but evident magic!” (Saba’34:43)

And He says,

كَذَٲلِكَ مَآ أَتَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِم مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا قَالُواْ سَاحِرٌ أَوۡ مَجۡنُونٌ (٥٢)

(Adh-Dhaariyaat 51:52)

“Likewise, no Messenger came to those before them but they said: "A sorcerer or a madman!"” (Adh-Dhaariyaat 51:52)

The above verses indicate that it had been the habit of the disbelievers to accuse the Prophets sent to them of being magicians.

In order to appropriately refute the allegation of magic or sorcerer, it is pertinent to explain the differences between a Prophet and a sorcerer.
1. Angels came to Prophets and Messengers.

Allaah says,

قُلۡ مَن كَانَ عَدُوًّ۬ا لِّجِبۡرِيلَ فَإِنَّهُ ۥ نَزَّلَهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ قَلۡبِكَ بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِ مُصَدِّقً۬ا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ وَهُدً۬ى وَبُشۡرَىٰ لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ (٩٧)

(Al-Baqarah 2:97)

“Say (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) "Whoever is an enemy to Jibrael (Gabriel) (let him die in his fury), for indeed he has brought it (this Qur'ân) down to your heart by Allâh's Permission.” (Al-Baqarah 2:97)

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He also says,

وَمَا تَنَزَّلَتۡ بِهِ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينُ (٢١٠) وَمَا يَنۢبَغِى لَهُمۡ وَمَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ (٢١١)

(Ash-Shu’araa 26:210-211)

“And it is not the Shayâtin (devils) who have brought it (this Qur'ân) down. Neither would it suit them, nor can they (produce it).” (Ash-Shu’araa 26:210-211)

As for magicians and their ilk, they are only visited by the devils.

Allaah says,

هَلۡ أُنَبِّئُكُمۡ عَلَىٰ مَن تَنَزَّلُ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينُ (٢٢١) تَنَزَّلُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ أَفَّاكٍ أَثِيمٍ۬ (٢٢٢)

(Ash-Shu’araa 26:221-222)

“Shall I inform you (O people!) upon whom the Shayâtin (devils) descend? They descend on every lying, sinful person.” (Ash-Shu’araa 26 :221-222)

2. Magic is based upon injustice, polytheism and lie. It is therefore regarded as one of the evils things that Allaah detests and prohibits. The Prophets came with the call to Monotheism, justice and truth which are antitheses of injustice, lie and polytheism.

3. Supernatural things performed by a magician can be contradicted by another magician. As for the miracles performed by the Prophets, no one is able to contradict them. That is why Pharaoh’s magicians believed in Moses when they realized with certainty that what Moses brought was not magic.

4. Miracles with which Allaah honor the followers of the Prophets are a proof of truthfulness of these Prophets, as opposed to

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supernatural things performed by a magician, which indicate nothing but the magician’s dexterity in magic.

5. The goal of a magician is to cause destruction and corruption in the earth while the goal of the Prophets is to spread justice, reform and worshiping of Allaah alone without associating any partner with Him.

6. Magic and fortunetelling are skills earned by learning, as opposed to prophethood which is Allaah’s favor that He bestows on whoever He wills.

7. Supernatural things performed by magicians can also be performed any man or jinn – even birds, as opposed to the miracles of the Prophets. No creature is able to do anything of such miracles.

8. Prophets attest to the truthfulness of one another. As for magicians, they contradict one another and condemn one another.

9. If prophethood could be earned, the means to it would be through dedicating acts of worship to Allaah alone without associating any partner with Him, and through truthfulness, justice and purification of the soul. As for sorcery, magic and soothsaying, they cannot be earned except through polytheism, lie and deceit. So, there is a wide difference between the two. Misconception Two: That the revelation was a product of Muhammad’s imagination

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This is also age-old as well as contemporary misconception. The polytheists held tenaciously unto it.

Allaah refuted it with His following saying:
وَإِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَاتُنَا بَيِّنَـٰتٍ۬‌ۙ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَرۡجُونَ لِقَآءَنَا ٱئۡتِ بِقُرۡءَانٍ غَيۡرِ هَـٰذَآ أَوۡ بَدِّلۡهُ‌ۚ قُلۡ مَا يَكُونُ لِىٓ أَنۡ أُبَدِّلَهُ ۥ مِن تِلۡقَآىِٕ نَفۡسِىٓ‌ۖ إِنۡ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ‌ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ إِنۡ عَصَيۡتُ رَبِّى عَذَابَ يَوۡمٍ عَظِيمٍ۬ (١٥) قُل لَّوۡ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا تَلَوۡتُهُ ۥ عَلَيۡڪُمۡ وَلَآ أَدۡرَٮٰكُم بِهِۦ‌ۖ فَقَدۡ لَبِثۡتُ فِيڪُمۡ عُمُرً۬ا مِّن قَبۡلِهِۦۤ‌ۚ أَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُونَ (١٦)
(Yoonus 10:15-16)

“And when Our Clear Verses are recited unto them, those who hope not for their meeting with Us, say: "Bring us a Qur'ân other than this, or change it." Say (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) "It is not for me to change it on my own accord; I only follow that which is revealed unto me. Verily, I fear the torment of the Great Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) if I were to disobey my Lord. Say (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) "If Allâh had so willed, I should not have recited it to you nor would He have made it known to you.

Verily, I have stayed amongst you a life time before this. Have you then no sense?"” (Yoonus 10:15-16)
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Allaah also says,
أَمۡ يَقُولُونَ تَقَوَّلَهُ ۥ‌ۚ بَل لَّا يُؤۡمِنُونَ (٣٣) فَلۡيَأۡتُواْ بِحَدِيثٍ۬ مِّثۡلِهِۦۤ إِن كَانُواْ صَـٰدِقِينَ (٣٤)
(At-Toor 52:33-34)

“Or do they say: "He (Muhammad (peace be upon him)) has forged it (this Qur'ân)?" Nay! They believe not! Let them then produce a recital like unto it (the Qur'ân) if they are truthful.” (At-Toor 52:33-34)

The orientalists have followed the same path taken by the earlier polytheists. They claimed that the Qur’aan was an invention of Muhammad and ignored the reality. They turned away from the truth which they know.

Response to this allegation will be in the light of the following command of Allaah to His Messenger:
وَإِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَاتُنَا بَيِّنَـٰتٍ۬‌ۙ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَرۡجُونَ لِقَآءَنَا ٱئۡتِ بِقُرۡءَانٍ غَيۡرِ هَـٰذَآ أَوۡ بَدِّلۡهُ‌ۚ قُلۡ مَا يَكُونُ لِىٓ أَنۡ أُبَدِّلَهُ ۥ مِن تِلۡقَآىِٕ نَفۡسِىٓ‌ۖ إِنۡ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ‌ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ إِنۡ عَصَيۡتُ رَبِّى عَذَابَ يَوۡمٍ عَظِيمٍ۬ (١٥)
(Yoonus 10:15)

“Say (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) "It is not for me to change it on my own accord; I only follow that which is revealed unto me. Verily, I fear the torment of the Great Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) if I were to disobey my Lord."” (Yoonus 10:15)

The above verse is a clear-cut proof that the revelation was never the Prophet’s invention nor had he had any hand in it. The truth of this can be seen in the following points:
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1. Inability of the polytheists to produce the like thereof. If the Qur’aan had been a product of a human being, it would have been easy to produce the like thereof. Since Muhammad was just a human being, how could he have produced something that the rest of mankind could not produce?!

2. If the Qur’aan had been an invention of Muhammad, he would have claimed credit for it since it is the greatest book the humanity had ever seen. Certainly, he had no hand in the Qur’aan, for he events would occur and days and even months would pass while he would be expecting revelation that would address such events. Examples of this could be seen during when Aaishah, his wife was slandered and when Jews asked him about the people of the cave.

3. Purity of the Qur’aan from discrepancies and contradictions in spite of the fact that it contains kinds of knowledge and different topics. Yet, you will a perfect correlation between these different topics. This is indeed a sign of its being from Allaah.

Allaah says,
أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ‌ۚ وَلَوۡ كَانَ مِنۡ عِندِ غَيۡرِ ٱللَّهِ لَوَجَدُواْ فِيهِ ٱخۡتِلَـٰفً۬ا ڪَثِيرً۬ا (٨٢)
(An-Nisaa 4:82)
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“Do they not then consider the Qur'ân carefully? Had it been from other than Allâh, they would surely have found therein many a contradiction.” (An-Nisaa 4:82)

4. The reader of the Qur’aan never gets bored however much he recites it. Also, mysteries always amaze the reader. This cannot be found in words of humans.1

5. In the Qur’aan, we find that the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wasallam is sometimes, scolded such as in Allaah’s saying,
عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَنكَ لِمَ أَذِنتَ لَهُمۡ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُواْ وَتَعۡلَمَ ٱلۡكَـٰذِبِينَ (٤٣)
(At-Tawbah 9:43)

“May Allâh forgive you (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) Why did you grant them leave (for remaining behind; you should have persisted as regards your order to them to proceed on Jihâd), until those who told the truth were seen by you in a clear light, and you had known the liars?” (At-Tawbah 9:43)

And in His saying,
وَإِذۡ تَقُولُ لِلَّذِىٓ أَنۡعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡهِ وَأَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيۡهِ أَمۡسِكۡ عَلَيۡكَ زَوۡجَكَ وَٱتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ وَتُخۡفِى فِى نَفۡسِكَ مَا ٱللَّهُ مُبۡدِيهِ وَتَخۡشَى ٱلنَّاسَ وَٱللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَن تَخۡشَٮٰهُۖ فَلَمَّا قَضَىٰ زَيۡدٌ۬ مِّنۡہَا وَطَرً۬ا زَوَّجۡنَـٰكَهَا لِكَىۡ لَا يَكُونَ عَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ حَرَجٌ۬ فِىٓ أَزۡوَٲجِ أَدۡعِيَآٮِٕهِمۡ إِذَا قَضَوۡاْ مِنۡہُنَّ وَطَرً۬اۚ وَكَانَ أَمۡرُ ٱللَّهِ مَفۡعُولاً۬ (٣٧)
(Al-Ahzaab 33:37)
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1 See: Izhaarul-Haqq 3/819-823
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“And (remember) when you said to him (Zaid bin Hârithah (may Allah be pleased with him) - the freed-slave of the Prophet (peace be upon him)) on whom Allâh has bestowed Grace (by guiding him to Islâm) and you (O Muhammad (peace be upon him) too) have done favor (by manumitting him): "Keep your wife to yourself, and fear Allâh." But you did hide in yourself (i.e. what Allâh has already made known to you that He will give her to you in marriage) that which Allâh will make manifest, you did fear the people (i.e., their saying that Muhammad (peace be upon him) married the divorced wife of his manumitted slave) whereas Allâh had a better right that you should fear Him.” (Al-Ahzaab 33:37)

6. There is absolute no report, authentic or weak, that Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wasallam ever desired to be a prophet.

7. The authentic hadeeth on the revelation clearly stated that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu alayhi wasallam feared for his own self when the first revelation came to him. This is an indication that this revelation came to him unexpectedly.1

One of the evidences that support the authenticity of the revelation is Allaah’s saying,
قُل لَّوۡ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا تَلَوۡتُهُ ۥ عَلَيۡڪُمۡ وَلَآ أَدۡرَٮٰكُم بِهِۦ‌ۖ فَقَدۡ لَبِثۡتُ فِيڪُمۡ عُمُرً۬ا مِّن قَبۡلِهِۦۤ‌ۚ أَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُونَ (١٦)
(Yoonus 10:16)
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1 See: Al-Wahy Al-Muhammadi, by Muhammad Rasheed Rida p123-124
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