The Qur’an Proves Muhammad isn’t its Author


  Samaa Mohammad

     Whilst Islam critics have been trying for years to prove Prophet Muhammad was the author of the Qur’an, it is still one of the tough topics that hinder their purposes. However, the Qur’an itself is a piece of clear evidence that proves Muhammad isn’t its author. 

In a previous article, we discussed all the probabilities for the Qur’anic source. In this article, we will focus more on Muhammad’s relation with the Qur’an. I will present some reasons why Prophet Muhammad could not be the author of the Qur’an.

The high moral conduct of Muhammad


     We always see people’s actions and attitudes through their attributes, values, context … etc. There is no doubt the moral conduct is an especial factor to necessarily trust and believe others’ claims. We have to use a similar criterion with Prophet Muhammad who claims to receive revelation from God. Muhammad was known among people as “the honest” and “the trustworthy.” People used to keep their properties with him during their long travels. Many people believed in him due to his elevated moral conduct.

     To imagine to what extent they trusted him, listen to what happened at the beginning of receiving revelation. He ascended Mount Safa in Makkah (a small mountain that one could easily see what’s behind) and said:

 ‘Do you see? If I inform you that cavalrymen are proceeding up the side of this mountain, will you believe me?’ They said, ‘We have never heard you telling a lie.’ Then he said, “I am a plain warner to you of a coming severe punishment.’ “    [Bukhari, Hadith 4971] (1)

     Even his enemies were clear on that issue. For example, when they were asked about his honesty, no one denied it. Ibn Abbas (one of the Prophet’s companions) narrated a testimony of Abu Sufyan (a leading pagan enemy who later embraced Islam after its dominance over Arabia) in front of Heraclius. The latter asked them about the Prophet: “Have you ever accused him of telling lies before his claim (to be a Prophet)? …, Does he break his promises?” and similar questions to which Abu Sufyan replied with “No.”

How would a truthful and righteous person who couldn’t lie against people, lie against the All-Knowing, the All-Powerful?

 The linguistic variance between Muhammad’s speech and the Qur’an 


     Nowadays, scholars are performing modern research to discuss the issue in a way that doesn’t involve human biases and subjectivity. In 2012, a study was held by Literary and Linguistic Computing journal to determine whether the Qur’an was authored by Muhammad or not. The study was based on computational author discrimination. Researchers use this method to identify the authenticity of relating a piece of writing to a certain author.

 For example, they applied this method to the New Testament. They concluded that letters attributed to Paul couldn’t have been written by the same author. The study held 16 experiments comparing similar vocabulary, numbers, citation of animals, special ending bigrams … etc. in the Qur’an and Hadiths (sayings of Muhammad). The Research concluded that the Qur’an and Hadiths are of two different sources due to the pronounced differences between them both.

     “Thus, three series of experiments are done and commented on. The first series of experiments analyses the two books in a global form … It concerns nine different experiments. The second series of experiments analyses the two books in a segmental form (four different segments of text are extracted from every book). It concerns five different experiments. The third series of experiments makes an automatic authorship attribution of the two books in a segmental form by employing several classifiers and several types of features. The sizes of the segments are more or less in the same range (four different text segments …). It concerns two different experiments. … in fact, all the results of this investigation have shown that the two books should have two different authors. The Quran was not written by the Prophet Muhammad and that it belongs to a unique author too.”   [H. Sayoud, Author discrimination between the Holy Quran and Prophet’s statements, in Literary and Linguistic Computing 27(4):427-444 ·(2012) DOI]

The content of the Qur’an


     The content of the Qur’an was further beyond Muhammad’s ability to author. It seems that all impossibilities gathered if he was to author such a comprehensive book. The Qur’an has sophisticated historical, cultural and religious references. That suggests the author should have had a wide knowledge of the previous scriptures, ancient multilingual writings of Rabies and monks, hidden manuscripts only discovered recently and the history of the previous nations. Muhammad was an illiterate man living among illiterate people in Makkah at the heart of the desert away from any civilization. Meccan people were pagan Arabs who didn’t have any knowledge of the previous scriptures. Furthermore, the previous scriptures weren’t completely translated into Arabic (and most of them lasted undiscovered) except in the 20th-21st century.

Assuming that an illiterate man, in a society of illiterate people, living in the desert, 14 centuries ago had all this knowledge is like assuming that a baby living on a distant, remote island wrote a multi-lingual dictionary.

The Qur’anic prophesies


     The Qur’an’s content has plenty of future prophesies that, later on, came true. If Muhammad was the author, how could he dare to predict something that, if it turned out to be false, would destroy his credibility?

 For example:


* God promised His Prophet – at the times of war and hardships where none of Muslims was able to ensure to take a further breath – he will protect his life against murder

O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, … And Allah will protect you from the people.”    [Qur’an 5 – 67] (2)

The Prophet wasn’t murdered, and there’s a strange story narrating an incident when a disbeliever tried to kill him.(3)

* The Qur’an prophesied the defeat of Persia at the time they achieved victory over the Byzantines. And it was nearly impossible to predict that this could happen.

The Byzantines have been defeated in the nearest land. But they, after their defeat, will overcome within three to nine years. To Allah belongs the command before and after. And that day the believers will rejoice.”  [Qur’an 30- 2:4] (4)

* God gave good tidings to the believers that they would safely enter Makkah after long years of suffering:

Certainly has Allah showed to His Messenger the vision in truth. You will surely enter al-Masjid al-Haram, if Allah wills, in safety, with your heads shaved and [hair] shortened, not fearing [anyone]. He knew what you did not know and has arranged before that a near conquest.”  [ Qur’an 48 – 27] (5)

And in 538 Ac. The Prophet and the believers entered Makkah (Al-Masjid al-Haram) without a drop of blood.

* God promises in the Qur’an that He is going to preserve it from any changes. He said:

Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur’an and indeed, We will be its guardian.”   [Qur’an 15 – 9] (6)

The Qur’an was never updated since the death of Muhammad. It has been preserved for over 14 centuries now.

How could someone make all these prophecies other than the All-Knowing?

Muhammad’s inability to understand some of the revelations on his own 


     If Muhammad was himself the author, he would have certainly understood what he was authoring. However, he sometimes waited for the revelation to clarify the meaning of the previous revelations which he couldn’t understand on his own. For example, God revealed: “

Whether you show what is within yourselves or conceal it, Allah will bring you to account for it” [Qur’an 2-284] (7)

The companions of the Prophet said:

How can we be judged for something we did not do?” The Prophet told them “Say, we hear and we obey.”   [Sahih Muslim] (8)

He didn’t know the intended meaning of the verse and waited for the revelation which came afterward with the clarification:

The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and (so have) the believers… (285) Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have (the consequence of) what (good) it has gained, and it will bear (the consequence of) what (evil) it has earned…”   [Qur’an 2-285:286] (9)

If Muhammad was the author, he would easily clarify what he meant. Nevertheless, he did not have any further explanation of the understanding of the verse and had to wait for the new revelation clarifying it to him.

Muhammad misinterpreted some of the revelations


     On one occasion, the Qur’an was revealed preventing the Prophet from praying for the hypocrites nor asking forgiveness for them.

God said:

Ask forgiveness for them, (O Muhammad), or do not ask forgiveness for them. If you should ask forgiveness for them seventy times – never will Allah forgive them. That is because they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger, and Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.”   [Qur’an 9-80] (10)

Muhammad’s kindness led him to understand he was given the two options; either to ask forgiveness for them or not. So, he said:

Allah has given me the choice. …” Then he added, “I will (appeal to Allah for his sake) more than seventy times.”   [Sahih Al-Bukhari] (11)

 Later on, a verse was revealed correcting his understanding of the previous revelation. It said,

And do not pray (the funeral prayer, Muhammad), over any of them who has died – ever – or stand at his grave. Indeed, they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger and died while they were defiantly disobedient.”   [Qur’an 9-84] (12)

Muhammad obeyed God, and never prayed for the hypocrites again. If Muhammad was the author, he would know exactly what he meant, he wouldn’t condemn his own act. It is apparent that he was in the place of a learner.

The intermittency of the revelation


    The Qur’an was revealed in portions throughout Prophet Muhammad’s life. It didn’t only narrate valuable stories of the previous nations, but it also commented on occasions that happened during his life so people may learn. Reviewing the pages of history, we find some incidents were used by the hypocrites to spread negative rumors about the Prophet and his family. Obviously, if Muhammad was the author, he would have easily formed a couple of verses to exculpate himself and his close ones. On the contrary, Muhammad waited for tens of days for the revelation to come despite the difficulty of the situation.

For example, the hypocrites accused the Prophet’s wife (Aisha) of adultery, an accusation that profoundly defames his prophet-hood and burdens him. Muhammad knew she was innocent and said,

… By Allah, I know nothing about my family but good. And they have accused a person about whom I know nothing except good. And he never entered my house except in my company. …”   [Sahih Al-Bukhari] (13)

However, he couldn’t make a decision except by revelation, so he said to his wife:

O `Aisha! I have been informed such-and-such about you; if you are innocent, then Allah will soon reveal your innocence. And if you have committed a sin, then repent to Allah and ask Him to forgive you. For when a person confesses his sin and asks Allah for forgiveness, Allah accepts his repentance.”   [Sahih Al-Bukhari] (14)

And finally, the Qur’an revealed her innocence. It said,

Indeed, those who came with falsehood are a group among you. Do not think it bad for you; rather it is good for you. For every person among them is what [punishment] he has earned from the sin, and he who took upon himself the greater portion thereof – for him is a great punishment. (11)


Why, when you heard it, did not the believing men and believing women think good of one another and say, ‘This is an obvious falsehood’? (12)


Why did they [who slandered] not produce for it four witnesses? And when they do not produce the witnesses, then it is they, in the sight of Allah, who are the liars.”   [Qur’an 24-11:13] (15)

 If he was the author, why did not he avoid these false rumors which could destroy his family’s reputation as well as his prophet-hood from day-one?

The logical explanation of this is that he was waiting for God’s revelations.

Qur’an reprimands


The Qur’an reprimanded and severely blamed Muhammad for some actions, and that’s obviously not from himself.

For example, when the Prophet promised his wife he won’t drink the honey given to him by his other wife, God said:

O Prophet, why do you prohibit [yourself from] what Allah has made lawful for you, seeking the approval of your wives?”   [Qur’an 66-1] (16)

When Muhammad permitted the hypocrites to not join the battle, God corrected him saying:

May Allah pardon you, [O Muhammad]; why did you give them permission [to remain behind]? [You should not have] until it was evident to you who were truthful and you knew [who were] the liars.”   [Qur’an 9-43] (17)

Once, Muhammad turned away from a blind man and left him to speak to the leaders seeking their guidance. God severely criticized his action saying:

The Prophet frowned and turned away because there came to him the blind man, (interrupting). But what would make you perceive, (O Muhammad), that perhaps he might be purified or be reminded and the remembrance would benefit him? As for he who thinks himself without need, to him you give attention. And not upon you (is any blame) if he will not be purified. But as for he who came to you striving (for knowledge) and he fears (Allah), from him you are distracted. No! Indeed, these verses are a reminder.”   [Qur’an 80-1:12] (18)

After the battle of Badr, the Prophet had two choices regarding the captives: either to take a ransom or to execute them as they were willing to sweep the Muslims. The Prophet chose the former, but God blamed him:

It is not for a prophet to have captives (of war) until he inflicts a massacre (upon Allah’s enemies) in the land. You desire the commodities of this world, but Allah desires (for you) the Hereafter. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise. If not for a decree from Allah that preceded, you would have been touched for what you took by a great punishment. So consume what you have taken of war booty (as being) lawful and good, and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”   [Qur’an 8-67:69] (19)

How would someone severely blame his own choices and embarrass himself in front of his followers and enemies as well?

The superiority of the Qur’an’s language   


 The Qur’an linguistic style suggests there is a superior entity speaking. It orders Muhammad to say he was not more than a man receiving revelation from God. He didn’t hold the benefit or harm for anybody, nor did he know the unseen except through God.

God said in the Qur’an:

Say, ‘I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God.’ ”   [Qur’an 18:110] (20)

 

Say, [O Muhammad], ‘I do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of Allah or that I know the unseen, nor do I tell you that I am an angel. I only follow what is revealed to me.’ ”   [Qur’an 6-50] (21)

 

Say, ‘I hold not for myself [the power of] benefit or harm, except what Allah has willed. And if I knew the unseen, I could have acquired much wealth, and no harm would have touched me. I am not except a warner and a bringer of good tidings to a people who believe.’ ”   [Qur’an 7-188] (22)

 

[It is] a revelation from the Lord of the worlds. And if Muhammad had made up about Us some [false] sayings, We would have seized him by the right hand; Then We would have cut from him the aorta. And there is no one of you who could prevent [Us] from him.”   [Qur’an 69-43:47] (23)

 

O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord. And if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message.”   [Qur’an 5-:67] (24)

The commands were clear to Muhammad through the whole Qur’an indicating his servitude, and the superiority of the Qur’anic source.

Psychological and emotional variances 


Any poetry or any piece of literature is affected by its author’s personal feelings and environment. You can feel the author’s grief and happiness through his words. But was the Qur’an affected by Muhammad’s psychological state?

The Qur’an was revealed in portions throughout the Prophet’s life, so it was contemporaneous with all of the incidents that happened in the 23 years of the message. Yet, none of the Prophet’s major sufferings and sadness were expressed in the Qur’an.

Some major incidents happened during that period. For example, Muhammad lost his uncle who protected and sustained him as well as his beloved wife in one year which he called ‘the year of sadness’. Yet, nothing was mentioned in that concern.

Muhammad lost all his sons and daughters except one. His companions were tortured severely. The leaders of Makkah (the place where he lived) rejected him. Looking through the Qur’an, we don’t find the feelings of Muhammad nor the names of his close one. However, we find a clear message from The All-Knowing giving further plans, teachings, warnings, legislation, … etc.

The challenge of producing a similar book 


God raised a challenge to humanity to prove the Qur’an is his word.

And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our Servant [Muhammad], then produce a surah the like thereof and call upon your witnesses other than Allah, if you should be truthful.”   [Qur’an 2:23] (25)

 If you say this book is formed by Muhammad or any human being, do the following: gather all the human poets and the most eloquent authors and produce a chapter like that of the Qur’an.

Conclusion


The Qur’an amazingly reflects upon its source in several ways. Modern computational author discrimination researches showed the pronounced differences between Muhammad’s speech and the Qur’an. Furthermore, the Qur’an’s comprehensive content, prophecies, unique linguistic style, reprimands, intermittency, as well as Muhammad’s inability to interpret some of it without revelation, all show the Qur’an is from the All-Knowing, the All-Wise who sent the Qur’an as guidance to humanity.

 

  You have probably heard of the Holy Book called the Qur’an. What do you know about it? Is it really divine sourced?  Who is the real author of the Quran “Qur’an“? Muslims believe it is the final revelation from Allah (the Arabic name for God). It was sent to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as a guidance for humanity like the previous revelations. Some critics argue that the Qur’an is human sourced. However, looking through the content of the Qur’an, we find a number of sophisticated historical, religious, and cultural references. If we review the biography of Muhammad (PBUH), the places he visited, and the people he lived with, we’ll come to a conclusion that Muhammad (PBUH), or any human being, couldn’t be the source of the Qur’an.

The Qur’an’s contents


     The Qur’an was revealed 14 centuries ago. It contains many stories of the past nations and their Prophets, such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Lut, Moses, Jesus, and others. It also doesn’t only contain details on the beliefs of the Jews, and Christians, but it also evaluates, corrects and comments on them.

The source of such references was one of the major debates of Orientalism for centuries. They don’t believe in a supernatural intervention, so they had to hypothesize the natural source of such accumulated knowledge.

For example, in 2018 Gabriel Reynolds, a Christian Professor of Islamic Studies and Theology at the University of Notre Dame (USA), wrote a book called “The Qur’an and the Bible”. He tried to argue how the Qur’an discussed, evaluated and even quoted texts in the Bible, the Talmud and other ancient writings. Whilst the Bible was first accessible to Arab speaking people when translated to Arabic, even partially, decades after the Prophet (PBUH) passed away and the Talmud was first translated in the 21st century let alone the other writings (such as apocrypha, manuscripts and hidden books) that were only discovered tens of years ago, orientalists still arbitrarily stick to the humanity of the source of the Qur’an.

In this article, I am going to review orientalists’ suggestions. I argue these sophisticated historical and religious references could not be attributed to any other than one of three sources: Giving the accumulative nature of the references, it must be either Muhammad (PBUH) dictated himself studying historical literature, or a well-informed scholar taught him, or God Almighty taught him. And there is no other possibility.

Muhammad (PBUH) & Mecca


     If we contextualize the Prophet (PBUH) and his environment, we would have more insights on the matter and draw a valid and solid conclusion.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was born at the beginning of the 7th century in Mecca. He was illiterate as the vast majority of Mecca community. The local tribes called him “the most truth-teller and trustworthy person” (al-Sadiq al-Ameen). He was raised up with Meccan people who were pagans and didn’t have (and did not care of) any knowledge of the previous scriptures or scholarly discussions. This is because they were thousands of miles away from any civilization.

Muhammad’s (PBUH) statement


     Muhammad (PBUH) said:

What I have been given, is Divine Inspiration which Allah has revealed to me (the Qur’an).“

It is less probable that someone deny the ownership of a book that even the masters of the Arabic language -who could fluently extemporize and form thousands of poetry verses in minutes- couldn’t meet the challenge to get anything similar.

We could doubt the opposite if he claimed to be the author of the Qur’an. In addition, we would be asking for the evidence this illiterate man could do this work.

In front of any court today this would be accepted as a statement from the one who said it, that this book is not written by him.

Muhammad’s (PBUH) elevated morals


     Muhammad’s (PBUH) good character and great morals were obvious to everybody, whether friends or enemies.

For example, it was narrated by Ibn `Abbas, when Allah ordered him to deliver the Message, he went out, and when he had ascended Safa mountain, he shouted,

O Sabahah! (a local alert)” The people said, “Who is that?”… Then they gathered around him, whereupon he said, “Do you see? If I inform you that cavalrymen are proceeding up the side of this mountain, will you believe me?” They said, “We have never heard you telling a lie.” Then he said, “I am a plain warner to you of a coming severe punishment.”

Ibn Abbas also narrated a later similar testimony of Abu Sufyan (a leading pagan enemy) in front of Heraclius who asked them about the Prophet (PBUH): ‘Have you ever accused him of telling lies before his claim (to be a Prophet)? … Does he break his promises?‘ and similar questions to which Abu Sufyan replied with No.

It happened that Quraish (Muhammad’s tribe) offered Muhammad (PBUH) money, leadership, women … etc. to leave the mission hoping he will surrender to his human desire when accomplished as they are mainly the human purposes. On the contrary, Muhammad (PBUH) rejected the offer saying

If they put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left hand to leave it, I won’t.”

when an eclipse happened occasionally on the day of the death of Muhammad’s son, some of his followers thought it happened for the death of their Prophet’s son and they spread rumours that this proves his prophethood. Muhammad (PBUH) severely objected and angrily shouted in the discourse

The sun and the moon are not eclipsed on account of anyone’s death or on account of anyone’s birth. So when you see that, supplicate Allah, declare His greatness, and give alms.“

Umar also narrated, another example of such events for a person who does not want the worldly purposes and majesty,

Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians praised the son of Mary, for I am only a slave of Allah. So, call me the slave of Allah and His Apostle.” [Al-Bukhari 3445]

Claiming to be a prophet sent by God is either the best man on Earth if his claim is true, or the worst man on Earth if he is a liar. People know he is a truth-teller by his honesty among them. If he doesn’t lie to people, will he be able to lie to God?

A liar’s aim is mainly to gain leadership, money, prosperity… etc. If that’s the case, he will leave away his claim if he could achieve his goals without it. What is his benefit in telling people to worship one God, and to not associate with Him any partners even if it was him? Why did he suffer for years when he had these offers delivered to him on condition that he leaves the painful mission? Why did he continue?

To whom does Muhammad (PBUH) belong?

Who exactly was the author?


     We could agree by now, but I want to elaborate more on who the author was. It is important to consider two things when dealing with this point. Firstly, Muhammad (PBUH) lived in or visited four places; Bani Sa’idah where his wet nurse lived till the age of four, Mecca where he was raised and lived till the age of 53, and two trade journeys to Syria that took few months. The first one with his uncle at the age of 12, the other at the age of 25, and finally, in Medina where he lived the last ten years of his life, from the age of 53 till 63.

And the second thing to consider, is that The Qur’an was revealed in portions over the course of the Prophet’s life. From the beginning of revelation at the age of 40 till his death at the age of 63.

Given the Prophet (PBUH) was illiterate and his elevated morals, the notion of dedicated study of the non-Arabic books the Hebrew Bible, New Testaments, the Talmud and other sources that were not yet discovered can’t be a solid argument for the source of the Qur’an. So, Islam critics don’t depend on this argument. Hence, we are still faced with the other two possibilities i.e. he learnt from a well-informed, international and multi-tongue scholar who accompanied him throughout his life, or the All-Knowing and All-Powerful taught him.

A Meccan source


     Firstly, let’s see where is Mecca. Mecca lies in the Arabian Peninsula. At the time of the Qur’anic revelation (more than 1400 years ago) It was far away from any civilization by thousands of kilometres. Its people were -as previously mentioned- pagans and illiterate.

For example, Tom Holland, a radical skeptic orientalist, elaborates on the importance of this issue saying: “The key factor about the traditional account is that Muhammad receives his first revelation in Mecca. And Mecca stands at a fabulous remove from the World of the Roman Empire. … There were no Jews and no Christian in Mecca. … Muhammad was illiterate …if that is the case, … so how to explain this text which full of those sophisticated cultural references except by a miracle. It seems if we are to rely on the Muslim account of how the Qur’an came into being that The Divine must indeed have penetrated this Miracle.” [The Origin of Islam, a YouTube video at Rancho Mirage]

When the Meccans searched for someone who could teach Muhammad (PBUH) in Mecca, there were two possible men; Waraqah Ibn Nawfal and a blacksmith Roman slave. Waraqah was a monotheistic Christian scholar who believed in one God and Jesus (AS) as his Messenger. It is impossible for him to be the author as he firstly met Muhammad (PBUH) after he had already received the revelation. He told him he would follow him. However, he died a few days after this incident and the revelation continued for 23 years after his death. (so one of the above considerations are not accomplished)

The blacksmith Roman slave couldn’t also be the author as he was unqualified, non-Arabic speaker. Moreover, there is no evidence that he had such sophisticated knowledge like that mentioned in the Qur’an. Being a Roman (let alone being a slave and a blacksmith), does not make you a dictated multi-tongue scholar of Christianity, Judaism, ancient history …etc.

Allah comments on this claim and says:

And We certainly know that they say, ‘It is only a human being who teaches the Prophet.’ The tongue of the one they refer to is foreign, and this Qur’an is [in] a clear Arabic language.” [Qur’an 16-103](1)

A source during his travels


     Muhammad (PBUH) travelled two times in trade journeys. The first time was in the company of his uncle at the age of 12. The importance of this journey for Islam critics is that he met a Jewish monk called “Buhayra”. This monk hosted the caravan because he saw signs of prophethood written in their scriptures on this group that he later recognized on the young future Prophet (PBUH). He advised his uncle to take him back to Mecca because if the Jews saw him, they would kill him as they did to previous prophets. So, his uncle took his advice and sent Muhammad (PBUH) back.

Some critics may argue that Buhayra was the teacher of Muhammad (PBUH) and that’s not possible for many reasons; the meeting didn’t exceed few hours which isn’t enough for anyone to receive the Qur’an with its detailed references; all the people of the caravan attended the meeting and no one accused Muhammad (PBUH) of learning from Buhayra although later on some of them turned to be his enemies as well as they would have learned the same knowledge he gained. Muhammad (PBUH) was so young (12 years old) and the revelation started at the age of 40. Also, whoever reads the narration of this incident will find that the monk was the questioner and Muhammad (PBUH) was the answerer not the opposite.

The second time was at the age of 25 when he went out as a leader of a commercial caravan. This journey lasted for a few months that they mostly consumed on the way. History does not contain any reference of him learning anything from anyone. Most of the Meccans were traders (for longer periods) who were also not scholars (being a trader doesn’t equal scholar i.e. and arguing the contrary would contain bias behind). For that reason, Islam critics don’t put this journey into consideration while searching for possible sources of the Qur’an because it doesn’t prove anything.

Jews and Christians in Medina


     Muhammad (PBUH) migrated to Medina 13 years after the initiation of revelation. There he met Jewish and Christian people. Some critics argue that Muhammad (PBUH) may have learnt from them. Before taking a decision, we have to know the following:

Most of the historical events were revealed in Mecca before migration to Medina. How could they teach him before even seeing him?


They sometimes misunderstood the revelation, so how come they teach something they cannot understand. For example, it was narrated on the authority of Udai Ibn Hatim (RA), who is an ex-Christian Muslim: 


I went to the Prophet when he was reciting Surat Bara’ah (chapter no.9). He then recited the ‘They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah‘. I told him after he finished ‘We did not worship them’. He replied, ‘Didn’t they make some unlawful things -which Allah had prescribed- as lawful and then you followed them? And they made lawful things -which Allah had prescribed- as unlawful and then you followed them?‘. I (Udai) answered, ‘yes’. The Prophet (PBUH) said ‘This is the kind of worship they receive.’”   [Tirmidhi 3095, Tabarani 218 and as-Sunan al-Kubra of Bayhaqi 20137]


They used to sit to the Prophet (PBUH) and listen from him. There were people among them who accepted Islam, and others who rejected it despite knowing he was a true Prophet. For example, Safiyya the daughter of Hoyay ibn  Akhtab (a Jewish leader) narrated: When the Prophet (PBUH) came to Medina and he stayed in Qiba’, my father and my uncle went to him. They didn’t return till it was sunset. I went to them as I used to do but none of them turned to me out of the grief they had. I heard my uncle asking my father “Is it he (the Messenger we are waiting for)??”, my father answered “Yes, by Allah”, my uncle said “Did you know him?”, he answered “yes”, he asked “What’s inside you towards him?”, he replied “His Enmity, by Allah, as long as I live.”


The prophet (PBUH) corrected their mistakes. In addition, the Qur’an contains many verses that condemn wrong beliefs and acts of the Jews and the Christians. For example:


They have certainly disbelieved who say, ‘Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary’ while the Messiah has said, ‘O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.’ Indeed, he who associates others with Allah – Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.”   [Qur’an 5-72](2)

 

And the Jews say, ‘The hand of Allah is chained.’ Chained are their hands, and cursed are they for what they say. Rather, both His hands are extended; He spends however He wills.”   [Qur’an 5-64](3)

 

No historical narration that mentions such thing.


Prof. Dirazz concluded on his research on this issue. He said: “whoever appreciate the sanctity of history and believed in its events know Prophet Muhammad had no human teacher. For those who claim a Human taught Muhammad (PBUH), please tell us his name, who saw or narrate this reference? What kind of knowledge did he hear? When did it happen and where? Was Muhammad born in Mars? Or was he raised in a world other than ours?” [Dirazz, an-Naba’ al-‘Adhim, p. 63]

The Devil (Satan)


     Some radical skeptics suggested the devil as the source of the accumulative knowledge of the Qur’an, when failed to prove the above. It is enough to read the following verses to know whether it is plausible or not:

So when you recite the Qur’an, [first] seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the expelled [from His mercy].”   [Qur’an 16-98](4)

 

O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of Satan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Satan – indeed, he enjoins immorality and wrongdoing.”   [Qur’an 24-21](5)

 

O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. (168) Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy. He only orders you to evil and immorality and to say about Allah what you do not know.”   [Qur’an 2- 168:169)](6)

 

And Satan will say when the matter has been concluded, ‘Indeed, Allah had promised you the promise of truth. And I promised you, but I betrayed you. But I had no authority over you except that I invited you, and you responded to me.’ ”   [Qur’an 14-22](7)

 

Satan promises them and arouses desire in them. But Satan does not promise them except delusion.”   [Qur’an 4-120](8)

 

[The hypocrites are] like the example of Satan when he says to man, ‘Disbelieve.’ But when he disbelieves, he says, ‘Indeed, I am disassociated from you. Indeed, I fear Allah , Lord of the worlds.’ ” [Qur’an 59-16](9)

A devil who tells people to be just, give charity, be good to parents, and never follow the devil is not a devil.

Did the Western scholars solve ‘the author’ problem?


     Professor David Thomas, an emeritus Professor of Christianity and Islam at the University of Birmingham said:

“Precisely what Muḥammad knew about Christianity and its teachings remains unclear. A Christian presence in the Ḥijāz and his native Mecca is less easy to identify. It is the same with the Qurʾān. The fact that it has within it a great deal of detailed information about Christians, including monks and priests, and their beliefs about the Trinity, Incarnation and person of Jesus is undeniable. And it seems just as clear that it assumes an advanced degree of knowledge of Abraham, Moses and other biblical figures, about whom it tends to comment rather than narrate, as though contributing to an ongoing conversation concerning the meaning and importance of their deeds and words. But exactly how this relates to contemporary Christian beliefs, doctrines and teachings has long been the object of investigations that have so far not yielded much that lies beyond dispute.“ [David Thomas et al (eds), Christian-Muslim Relations: A Bibliographical History, Volume 1 (600-900), LEIDEN, BOSTON (2009), pp. 2-3]

Part of the text of the Qur'an, Arabic calligraphy.


Some verses of the Qur’an

The real author of the Quran “Qur’an”


     It is obvious that the Qur’an’s content wasn’t authored by Muhammad (PBUH) who was morally elevated and illiterate. And by studying the Quranic verses we would find that it directed its speech to Muhammad (PBUH) as a learner not an author. Also, by reviewing history we find that he wasn’t taught by any human being.

The whole article showed the historical content of the Qur’an must be from God, and that’s not the only aspect.

The Qur’an’s language is so beautiful and affecting. Its linguistic style is of a high level of eloquence that no one could get anything similar. Try listening.

The Qur’an’s teaching is the strongest evidence it is from God. It says it is a confirmation of the revelations before, and orders us to believe in all Messengers and revelations Allah has sent. It has teachings for purifying oneself, learning about our Creator, the purpose of our life, the Hereafter and has flexible rules for organizing our lives starting from the small details concerning the small family till the whole society and the whole world. 

When are you going to start reading it?