"I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.”
This is the proclamation of a devout Muslim, announced multiple times a day from every minaret before the daily prayers and recited in the heart of every Muslim during the prayers. The proclamation that “there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger” is enough to welcome a person into the fold of Islam.
Most Muslims present three arguments: that [1] Muhammad’s life and character testified that he was a prophet; that [2] Muhammad was prophesied in the Bible; and that [3] Muhammad had God-given insight into science.
[1] When we read about the life of Muhammad, there is no doubt that Muhammad taught many good things. This goes beyond the simple proclamation of monotheism and submission to God.
Muhammad taught people to feed the poor; to love others for God’s sake; to abstain from theft, fornication, and infanticide; to release slaves, help the weak, and serve those who cannot work for themselves; and much more.
When considering the historical record of Muhammad’s life, one has to conclude that he taught many things that were very moral and noble. But before concluding that he is a prophet of God, one has to consider the counterevidence, and we will consider only that evidence which is found in the sources most Muslims consider most trustworthy: the Quran and the hadith of Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
The best place to start is at the beginning. When he received his very first revelation, Muhammad reacted very strangely: He became suicidal.
(The Prophet added), “The angel caught me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it anymore. He then released me and again asked me to read, and I replied, ‘I do not know how to read,’ whereupon he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it anymore. He then released me and asked me again to read, but again I replied, ‘I do not know how to read (or, what shall I read?).’ Thereupon he caught me for the third time and pressed me and then released me and said, ‘Read: In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists). Has created man from a clot. Read and Your Lord is Most Generous… up to… that which he knew not.’” (96:1–5)
Then Allah’s Apostle returned with the Inspiration, his neck muscles twitching with terror till he entered upon Khadija and said, “Cover me! Cover me!”
The relevant suicide passage appears in Sahih al-Bukhari (in the long hadith on the beginning of revelation, often numbered around 6982 in some editions). After describing the pause in revelation, the text includes this addition from al-Zuhri:
“The Divine Inspiration was also paused for a while and the Prophet became so sad, as we have heard, that he intended several times to throw himself from the tops of high mountains. Every time he went up the top of a mountain in order to throw himself down, Gabriel would appear before him and say, ‘O Muhammad! You are indeed Allah’s Messenger in truth,’ whereupon his heart would become quiet and he would calm down and would return home. And whenever the period of the coming of the inspiration used to become long, he would do as before, but when he used to reach the top of a mountain, Gabriel would appear before him and say to him what he had said before.”
As a Christian, does this sound like any prophet we've heard of? Does this sound like the actions of a messenger from God, one of his angels? It appears to be quite a violent encounter... one that was terrifying enough to cause depression and suicidal thoughts. At first glance, I would assume this was not an angel from God... an angel perhaps - but not one of Yahweh's angels.
[2Co 11:13-15 LSB] For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. [14] And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. [15] Therefore it is not surprising if his ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.
Muhammad enthusiastically embraced warfare. He said that fighting is literally the best thing in the world.
Sahih Bukhari 4.52.50 [Volume 4, Book 52, Number 50] The Prophet said, “A single endeavor (of fighting) in Allah’s Cause in the forenoon or in the afternoon is better than the world and whatever is in it.”
Nothing earns a Muslim more reward than fighting in jihad, and it is better than praying without ceasing and fasting perpetually.
Sahih Bukhari 4.52.44 [Volume 4, Book 52, Number 44] A man came to Allah’s Apostle and said, “Instruct me as to such a deed as equals Jihad (in reward).”
He replied, “I do not find such a deed.”
Then he added, “Can you, while the Muslim fighter is in the battle-field, enter your mosque to perform prayers without cease and fast and never break your fast?”
The man said, “But who can do that?”
Abu Huraira added, “The Mujahid (i.e. Muslim fighter) is rewarded even for the footsteps of his horse while it wanders about (for grazing) tied in a long rope.”
Sahih Bukhari 4.52.72 [Volume 4, Book 52, Number 72] The Prophet said, “Nobody who enters Paradise likes to go back to the world even if he got everything on the earth, except a Mujahid who wishes to return to the world so that he may be martyred ten times because of the dignity he receives (from Allah).”
He punished some enemies by cutting off their hands and feet, branding their eyes with a heated iron, and causing them to lick the dust until they died [Sahih Bukhari 7.71.589].
He led battles against unarmed cities [Sahih Bukhari 1.11.584].
He allowed even women and children to be killed during nighttime raids [Sahih Bukhari 4.52.256].
On more than one occasion, Muhammad decimated tribes by killing all their men and teenage boys while distributing their women and children as slaves [E.g., Sahih Bukhari 5.59.362 with Banu Quraiza; Sahih Bukhari 5.59.512 with the inhabitants of Khaibar].
Muhammad taught that dying in battle is so great that it is the only thing that would make a man want to leave heaven.
Sahih Bukhari 4.52.72 [Volume 4, Book 52, Number 72] The Prophet said, “Nobody who enters Paradise likes to go back to the world even if he got everything on the earth, except a Mujahid who wishes to return to the world so that he may be martyred ten times because of the dignity he receives (from Allah).”
All of the below are also documented...
As far as Muhammad's conduct with enemies, at times Muhammad would invoke curses upon them [Sahih Bukhari 5.59.297], and encourage his men to compose insults and abusive poetry [Sahih Bukhari 5.59.449].
On one occasion, he asked Allah to fill peoples’ homes with flames simply because they delayed the Muslims in their daily prayers [Sahih Bukhari 4.52.182].
At other times, Muhammad sent assassins to kill his enemies in their sleep [Sahih Bukhari 5.59.370], and even to deceive and abuse trust in order to assassinate [Sahih Bukhari 5.59.369].
At other times, Muhammad sent assassins to kill his enemies in their sleep [Sahih Bukhari 5.59.370], and even to deceive and abuse trust in order to assassinate [Sahih Bukhari 5.59.369].
He punished some enemies by cutting off their hands and feet, branding their eyes with a heated iron, and causing them to lick the dust until they died [Sahih Bukhari 7.71.589].
He led battles against unarmed cities [Sahih Bukhari 1.11.584].
He allowed even women and children to be killed during nighttime raids [Sahih Bukhari 4.52.256].
On more than one occasion, Muhammad decimated tribes by killing all their men and teenage boys while distributing their women and children as slaves [E.g., Sahih Bukhari 5.59.362 with Banu Quraiza; Sahih Bukhari 5.59.512 with the inhabitants of Khaibar].
This is Islam's perfect, peaceful prophet? A prophet for a "Religion of Peace".
How often have we heard that Islam is a religion of peace? This is quite contrary to the image of a Muhammad who "reluctantly fought only defensive battles".
It also does not appear that Muhammad fought only those who were attacking him. Muhammad said:
Sahih Bukhari 1.2.25 [Volume 1, Book 2, Number 25] Allah’s Apostle said: “I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah’s Apostle, and offer the prayers perfectly and give the obligatory charity, so if they perform that, then they save their lives and property from me except for Islamic laws and then their reckoning (accounts) will be done by Allah.”
Sahih Bukhari 1.2.25 [Volume 1, Book 2, Number 25] Allah’s Apostle said: “I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah’s Apostle, and offer the prayers perfectly and give the obligatory charity, so if they perform that, then they save their lives and property from me except for Islamic laws and then their reckoning (accounts) will be done by Allah.”
Muhammad clarifies:
Sahih Muslim 1767 [also cited as 1767a] I heard the Messenger of Allah say: “I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and will not leave any but Muslim.”
Sahih Muslim 1767 [also cited as 1767a] I heard the Messenger of Allah say: “I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and will not leave any but Muslim.”
These alone are enough to question Muhammad’s character and prophethood, but in case more is needed, there is much, much more that skeptics commonly bring to the table, such as concerns about his spiritual aptitude, his teachings about women, his troubling theological teachings, his incorrect understandings of Judaism and Christianity, his unfulfilled prophecies, his commands to perform idolatrous rites, and his special allowances for himself. We will briefly touch on just the first two.
As far as his spiritual aptitude and authority, apart from considering suicide on several occasions, Muhammad said that he had been a victim of black magic [Sahih Bukhari 7.71.661]; he had delusional thoughts of doing things he had not done [Sahih Bukhari 4.53.400]; and he confused demonic inspiration with divine inspiration, saying Satan had put Quran verses into his heart which he then used in prayer.
There is a passing reference to the satanic verses in Sahih Bukhari 2.19.177, in which Muhammad recites Sura Najm, causing jinn (demons) and pagans to prostrate with him. This is part of a much larger account, found in thirty-seven early Islamic records. Shahab Ahmed, a Muslim scholar who graduated from Princeton University and taught at Harvard University, submitted his 1999 doctoral dissertation on this topic, arguing that Muhammad actually did proclaim the satanic verses.
Regarding his estimation and treatment of women: Muhammad allowed for prostitution through the institution of temporary marriage [Sahih Bukhari 6.60.139; Sahih Muslim 3248]; when fifty-two years old he consummated his marriage with his nine-year-old bride Aisha, who was still playing with dolls - he actually married her when she was but six-years-old [Sahih Muslim 3481; see also Sahih Bukhari 7.62.64]; Muhammad allowed his men to have sex with female captives and slaves, unconcerned if they became pregnant or were to be sold [Quran 23.1–6; Sahih Bukhari 5.59.459; Sahih Muslim 3371 and 3384]; Muhammad declared women to be mentally deficient compared to men; and Muhammad said women will be the majority of hell’s inhabitants because they are ungrateful to their husbands [Sahih Bukhari 3.48.826].
This is Islam's "prophet"...
Though Muhammad may have taught many good things and been a man of mercy at times, given the extensive counterevidence, we cannot conclude that his character is excellent enough to prove he is a prophet of God.
"I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.”
If Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, I can't say I'm too crazy about Allah's message...
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