Muhammad's revelations and life - why could Muhammad not be God's prophet?

Were the revelations received by Muhammad from God or not? Why can't the fruit of Muhammad's life be considered good, and why can't he be considered a prophet of God?

This article is about the most important person in Islam, the Prophet Muhammad. He is regarded in Islam as the seal of the prophets (33:40) and is valued more than anyone else. Although Muslims recognize other prophets such as Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus, Muhammad is number one on their list. It is also evident in the creed, which states: "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet."

   In the following lines, we will examine the revelations Muhammad received and his life. When the authority of Islam and the Koran rests mainly on the revelations that came through Muhammad and his person, this issue cannot be ignored. Islam is closely related to the person of Muhammad. Without him, the entire faith of Islam in its current form would not even exist, and therefore it is worth getting familiar with the subject. In the study, the Koran and Islam's own early sources are used as help, because Muslims give them great value and because they tell about Muhammad.

Did God's angel Gabriel appear to Muhammad? When it comes to revelations received by Muhammad, the general belief in Islam is that Muhammad received them from God's angel Gabriel (Jibril). At first Muhammad himself was not able to recognize what appeared to him, but only later did he begin to consider the angel Gabriel as the source of the revelations. This notion is well established in the Islamic world.

    However, one Islamic tradition (recorded by Ibn Sa'd) says that an angel named Serafel first appeared to Muhammad, and that Gabriel took his place three years later. Many Muslim scholars have wanted to deny this tradition, and they believe that only the angel Gabriel has appeared to Muhammad throughout. Chapter two of the Qur'an talks about Gabriel:

Say O Muhammad: "Whoever is the enemy of Jibra'el (Gabriel) should know that he revealed this Qur'an to your heart by Allah’s command, which confirms previous scriptures, and is a guidance and good news for the believers. Let them know that whoever is an enemy to Allah, His angels, His Messengers, Jibra'el (Gabriel) and Mika‘el (Michael); Allah is an enemy to such unbelievers. (2:97,98)

Contradiction with the Bible. While Muslims believe Muhammad was in contact with the angel Gabriel, it is interesting that an angel of the same name appears in the Bible.
However, there is a clear difference between the Gabriel of the Bible and the being who appeared to Muhammad. We can see that from how in the Bible the angel Gabriel acknowledges Jesus as the Son of the Most High, that is, the Son of God, but the same thing is forbidden in the Koran.
A good question is why the messages are completely different. Why is the message of the creature that appeared to Muhammad completely different from that of Gabriel in the Bible? If we draw a conclusion from these apparitions, it cannot possibly be the same being. Based on the Bible, it must rather be an angel from the dark side, the spirit of antichrist, because it is written: "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know you the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world" (1 John 4:1-3).
 

Koran

O Prophet tell the Christians: "If the Compassionate (Allah) had a son, I would be the first to worship him. (43:81)

O People of the Book! Do not transgress the limits of your religion. Speak nothing but the Truth about Allah. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary was no more than a Messenger of Allah and His Word "Be" which He bestowed on Mary and a Spirit from Him which took the shape of a child in her womb. So believe in Allah and His Messengers and do not say: "Trinity"." Stop saying that, it is better for you. Allah is only One Deity. He is far above from the need of having a son! To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and in the Earth. Allah Alone is sufficient for protection. (4:171)

Such was Jesus the son of Mary, and this is the True statement about him concerning which they are in doubt. It is not befitting to the majesty of Allah that He Himself should beget a son! He is far above this; for when He decrees a matter He need only say: "Be" and it is. (19:34,35)

Bible

- (Luke 1:26-35) And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

28 And the angel came in to her, and said, Hail, you that are highly favored, the Lord is with you: blessed are you among women.

29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

30 And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary: for you have found favor with God.

31 And, behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS.

32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give to him the throne of his father David:

33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

34 Then said Mary to the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

35 And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Ghost shall come on you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God.

Muhammad doubted his revelations and feared that he was possessed . One reason to be critical of the revelations Muhammad received is that Muhammad himself doubted the revelations and feared he was insane. This is what the Quran talks about in a few places. The creature that appeared to Muhammad had to convince him that this was not the case.

    A good question is, was Muhammad right in his initial suspicions? He sensed that something might be wrong, but suppressed his doubts. He would have had reason to doubt the revelations he received also because the being who appeared to him as Gabriel brought a completely different message than the Gabriel who appeared to Mary in the Bible:

If you are in doubt regarding what We have revealed to you, ask those who have been reading the Book before you. In fact, the truth has indeed come to you from your Lord: therefore, do not be of those who doubt, and do not join those who deny the revelations of Allah; otherwise you will become one of the losers. (10:94,95)

Nun. By the pen and what they write. By the grace of your Lord you are not a Madman, and you shall have a never ending reward. You are of the highest noble character. Soon you will see - as they will see - which of you is afflicted with madness. Surely it is your Lord Who knows those who have strayed from His Way, as He knows best those who are rightly guided. So do not yield to the unbelievers. They desire you to compromise a little, so they too would compromise. (68:1-9)

Therefore, O Prophet, keep up your mission of admonition. By the grace of your Lord you are neither a soothsayer nor a madman. Do they say: "He is but a poet! We are waiting for some misfortune to befall him. (52:29,30)

The same doubt that Muhammad himself had, appeared in other people as well. The Koran tells how some people thought Muhammad was crazy, a possessed poet, a lying magician, or claimed that he made it all up himself. These views appeared specifically in the early days of Muhammad's revelations. When Muhammad had become the leader and warlord of the Muslims, people no longer dared to rise up against him in the same way:

They say: "O you to whom the reminder (The Qur'an) is being revealed! You are surely insane. (15:6)

But how can the acceptance of Our Message at that time be beneficial to them? A Messenger (Muhammad), who makes the things clear, has already come to them yet they deny him, saying: "He is a madman, taught by others!" (44:13,14)

The unbelievers would almost trip you up with their eyes when they hear Our revelations (The Qur’an), and say: "He (Muhammad) is surely crazy." (68:51)

O people of Mecca! Your companion has not gone mad; he (Muhammad) indeed saw him (Gabriel) in the clear horizon and he is not stingy to withhold the knowledge of the unseen. This (Qur’an) is not the word of an accursed Satan. (81:22-25)

for when they were told: "There is no god except Allah," they used to puff themselves up with pride and say: "What! Should we give up our gods for the sake of a mad poet?" (37:35,36)

They wonder that a Warner has come to them from among themselves, and the disbelievers say: "He is a sorcerer telling lies! (38:4)

Does it seem strange to the people that We revealed Our will to a man from among themselves, saying: "Warn mankind and give the good news to the Believers that they are on sound footing with their Lord?" The disbelievers say: "This man is indeed an obvious magician!" (10:2)

Do the people say: "He (Muhammad) has forged it?" Nay! It is the Truth from your Lord, so that you may warn a people to whom no Warner has come before you: so that they may receive guidance. (32:3)

We have not heard such a thing from anyone of the people of latter days (Jews and Christians): it is nothing but a fabrication. (38:7)

Early Muslim sources tell more about the revelations Muhammad received, how he doubted them, how he feared losing his mind, and feared that he was possessed by an evil spirit. The following quote tells about these early experiences of Muhammad. These quotes may be embarrassing for Muslims, but what if they are true? Muhammad believed he had seen the devil and spoke of a jinn, or evil spirit. He didn't think that the angel that appeared to him was a good angel:

Khadidzha took Muhammad up into the mountains to live in seclusion so that he would receive a vision from God. One day Muhammad came down from the mountains crying. Something spilled out of his mouth. His eyes were red.

    Khadidzha asked: "What has happened to you?" Muhammad said: "I saw the devil and was possessed by a jinn [evil spirit]."

    Muhammad acknowledged it. This matter is also written in his biography written by Al Halabi (1 volume, page 227).

   But Khadidzha told Muhammad, "Don't say that. When you see again the being you called the devil, tell me and I will test it.”

    When Muhammad saw the creature again, he told his wife: "Hey, there it is." Then Khadidzha exposed her left thigh and asked Muhammad to sit on it. Khadija thought that if the being were an angel, it would be ashamed at seeing a woman's thigh and would fly away. Khadidzha said: “Do you see him?” Muhammad replied, “Yes.”

    The woman exposed her right thigh and asked, "Do you see him?" "Yes," Muhammad replied. Khadidzha took Muhammad in her arms and asked: "Do you see that?" "Yes," Muhammad replied.

    Then Khadidzha revealed her face and asked again if Muhammad could see the creature. Muhammad said, “No, it ran away.” Khadidzha shouted: "Hey, this is an angel and not a devil!"

   Why? Since the creature was ashamed of Khadidzha's face? I ask Muslims on TV: What kind of an angel would be ashamed when looking at the face of a woman but not when looking at her hidden places?

    This is written in Muslim books. The evidence is there. And Muhammad confessed that it was the devil. (1)

More on the same topic. One Islamic tradition seems to refer to how Muhammad was under the influence of an evil spirit. It tells how Muhammad asked for his sins to be forgiven and to be freed from an evil spirit. Such traditions show how Muhammad was imperfect like other people and how he suspected contact with an evil spirit. Was the creature that pretended to be Gabriel like that?

Al Hadis, vol. 3, p. 786 Abu Azer al Anmari tells the following: When the prophet went to bed, he said, In Allah’s name, I lie down in Allah’s name, oh Allah! Forgive my sins and remove my evil spirit.

Another quote tells how Muhammad did not consider his revelations and encounters with the spirit to be a positive experience. He felt that he was possessed by the devil and even contemplated suicide. A good question again is that if it was God's angel Gabriel, why are Muhammad's experiences much more difficult than, for example, Mary, who encountered the angel of the same name? They are quite different in nature:

At first, Muhammad was remarkably uneasy about his supernatural encounter with the spirit. He "suffered much pain and his face turned ashen" (2). He wondered if he was possessed by the devil, and even contemplated suicide:

I will go to the top of the mountain and throw myself down so that I would die and thus get peace. So I went ahead but when I was halfway up the mountain, I heard a voice from heaven saying, “O Muhammad. You are an apostle of God and I am Gabriel.” I raised my head to the skies to see (who was talking) and behold, it was Gabriel in the form of a man – a man whose legs spread beyond the horizon. And he said, ”O Muhammad. You are an apostle of God and I am Gabriel.” (3)

Muhammad returned to Khadidzha in great distress. According to Aisha, “Then the Apostle of Allah returned with it (the revelation). His heart beat fast, (and) the muscles between his shoulders and neck trembled, until he came to Khadidza (his wife) and said: 'O Khadidza, what ails me? I was afraid that something bad would happen to me.' Then he told Khadidza everything that had happened" (4), and told her his original fears: "Woe is me, I am either a poet or possessed." (5) "By poet he meant in this context a person who saw ecstatic and possibly demonic visions.

When Islamic sources tell a lot about Muhammad's life, there are also mentions of his childhood. One of the most respected sources is the biography of the Prophet Muhammad , written by Ibn Hisham. There is a reference to the previous topic, i.e. evil spirits. This time, Muhammad's breastfeeder, Halima, suspected that young Muhammad was possessed. Such mentions show how Muhammad could have been under the same supernatural influence from his childhood.

This continued for two years, and we thanked God for our success. Then I weaned the boy; he had already grown into a brisk boy, like the bigger boys. At the age of two, he was already a strong boy...

    So we brought him back. A couple of months later, he and his foster brother were with our sheep in the backyard. Suddenly his brother came running and shouted to us: “Two men dressed in white have taken my Quraysh brother, made him lie down and opened his stomach! They're looking for something there!”

    Me and my husband started running. We found the boy standing pale. We took him in our arms and asked: "What's wrong with you, baby?" He replied: “Two men dressed in white came and laid me down and opened my stomach. They're looking for something there, but I don't know what." We took him back inside.

    My husband said to me: “Halima, I am afraid that the boy is possessed. Take him back to his family before the disease breaks out.” We took him back to his mother and she asked, “What brings you back, nurse? After all, you wanted the boy to stay with you." I answered: "God has allowed my adopted son to grow up and I have done my duty. Now I fear that some misfortune may befall him, and I will return him to you, as you wished.” (7)

How did Gabriel appear to Muhammad? When Muhammad was in contact with the angel Gabriel, different things are told in Islamic tradition about these encounters. They tell about Gabriel's extraordinary actions and how Muhammad often found them distressing. Such extraordinary mentions lead to the question of whether Muhammad really communicated with God's angel. Everyone can think about it themselves.

• Gabriel used to recite the Qur'an once a year; in the year of his death it happened twice (Muslim, Book 31, no. 6005).

• Gabriel's head was covered with dust after a battle (Bukhari, vol.4, book, 56, no. 2813).

• Gabriel came to the Messenger of God with a silk turban on his head, riding a mule (Ibn Hisham: Biography of the Prophet Muhammad [Sirat Rasul Allah], p. 313)

• During Muhammad's ascension, Gabriel nudged Muhammad on the heel three times (Ibn Hisham: Biography of the Prophet Muhammad [Sirat Rasul Allah], p. 130). Muslims believe that on the same journey, a winged creature, an intermediate of a mule and a donkey, took Muhammad to the Jerusalem Mosque (Al-Aqsa).

   However, the mention of the Jerusalem mosque cannot be true, because this mosque was not built until 710-720. It is about 80 years after Muhammad's death. Therefore, Muhammad must have gone to some other place on his extraordinary journey, or else his transcendental journey did not actually take place.

• When Muhammad first encountered a creature posing as the angel Gabriel, lore tells how the angel strangled him and forced him to read or recite a few sentences that appear in the current Koran. For Muhammad, this experience was distressing because he feared he would die. This type of compulsive activity is often common to those people who repeatedly contact the spirit world. The longer their experiences continue, the more coercion occurs in them. This is very common in experiences with UFOs that many people find distressing.

The messenger of God has told the following himself:

Gabriel came to me when I was sleeping. He carried a silk blanket with writing on it. He said: “Read!” I asked, “What?” Then Gabriel pressed the blanket on me until I thought I was going to die. Then he released me and said again, “Read!”

   I asked, “What?” Then Gabriel pressed the blanket on me until I thought I was going to die. Then he released me and said again, “Read!” I asked, “What?” Then Gabriel pressed the blanket on me until I thought I was going to die. Then he released me and said again, “Read!” I asked, “What should I read?”

   I only said that so that he would not do again the thing he did before. Then Gabriel said [Kor 96:1-5]:
 

Recite! (or read!) In the name of your Lord Who created

- created man from clots of blood.

Recite! Your Lord is the Most Gracious,

Who taught by the pen,

taught man what he knew not.

I read this and he released me and left. I woke up from the dream; it was like the words had been written in my heart! (8)

Another quote tells how Muhammad was so afraid of the appearance of the angel Gabriel that he wanted others to cover him with a blanket. Many such mentions of Gabriel make one question whether it can really be an angel sent by God. Muhammad himself explained.
 

The Divine Inspiration was absent for a short time, but suddenly as I was walking I heard a voice from heaven, and when I looked up towards heaven, to my surprise I saw the same angel who had appeared to me in the cave of Hira, and he was sitting on a chair between heaven and earth. I was so afraid of his appearance that I fell on the ground, and I came to my family and said (to them): “Cover me! (with blanket) Cover me! ” (9)

How did Muhammad receive his revelations? In Islamic sources there are several mentions on how Muhammad received his revelations. The biography by Ibn Hisham describes how Muhammad was wrapped in a cloth and a pillow was placed under his head when a revelation came. It took some time for Muhammad to recuperate from this state. Furthermore, drops of perspiration were running on his forehead even though it was cold. One can note that the experience was not physically very pleasant:

Through God, God's messenger did not have time to leave his place when he was taken over by the one from God who used to take over him. He was wrapped in a garment and a leather pillow was put under his head. When I saw this, I did not, through God, fear or worry, for I knew I was innocent, and I knew that God would not do wrong with me, but through Him, in whose hand Aisha's spirit is, my parents almost died before God's Messenger recovered, for they feared that God would give a revelation confirming what the people were saying. Then God's Messenger recovered. Beads of sweat spilled from his forehead, even though it was a cold day. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Rejoice, Aisha, for God has revealed your innocence!" "Glory to God!" I replied. Then he went out, talked to the people, and read the passage from the Qur'an that had been announced about me. (10)

Other sources describe the revelations given to Muhammad in more detail. One of them describes how “a divine revelation came to him (...) the prophet’s face was red and he breathed heavily for a while and then he felt better” (Bukhari, vol. 6, book 66, no. 4985.0).

   Below is some more information about this. What is important about these examples, as those examples above, is that Muhammad felt anxious. He was restless and confused and his face distorted. He nodded his head and his followers did the same. Such examples – of which there are many – suggest that the revelations have been difficult to Muhammad.

Aisha once asked Muhammad what kind of an experience receiving a revelation is, and he replied, “Sometimes it is like a bell ringing, this form of inspiration is the most difficult of all, and then this state passes after I understand what has been revealed. Sometimes an angel comes in the form of a man and talks to me, and I understand whatever he says.” (11) Another time he explained: “The revelation dawns on me in two ways – Gabriel brings it and conveys it to me as a man conveys information to another, and it makes me uneasy. And it dawns on me like the sound of a bell, until it penetrates into my heart, and this does not make me restless.” (12) Aisha noted: "When the revelation descended on the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), even on cold days his forehead would sweat." (13) Similarly, when inspiration came to him “he felt a burden weighing on him because of it, and his face changed color” and “he lowered his head, and so his companions lowered their heads, and when (this condition) was over, he raised head up.” (14)

Al Hadis, vol 4. pg 360 Obadab-b-Swamet narrated that when the revelation came to the Prophet, he became extremely confused and his face changed. When he announced the revelation, he nodded his head and his followers did the same.

Why did Muhammad start receiving revelations? When it comes to why Muhammad began to receive revelations, many Muslims sincerely believe that it was because God had chosen Muhammad for this task. They think that he was a prophet specially authorized by God, and there is no need for any other explanation. They do not consider it possible that Muhammad could have received his revelations from anyone other than God's angel Gabriel.

   However, there has been one common characteristic in Muhammad's life and in the lives of many mediums: passive contemplation, or meditation. They have practiced some form of passive meditation regularly until an angel or spirit has appeared to them. To Muhammad it was an angel appearing as Gabriel, but to other persons a being may have appeared under another name. So, for example, most Japanese religions often have the same feature: they started when a spiritual being appeared to a person after a long period of meditation. Man has begun to listen to the speech of this spirit being or angel, and thus a new religious movement has been born. Mormons, a Christian sect, also began when an angel named Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith.

   The following quotes bring out the same point. In the first of them (the quote is from a book defending the Islamic faith) it is stated how Muhammad was in a deep state of meditation when the angel appeared to him. Another quote, on the other hand, shows how Kenneth R. Wade found that almost every psychic he met first got in touch with the spirit world or a spirit guide while practicing some form of Eastern meditation. There are quite obvious similarities in these quotes. Muhammad's experience is not much different from the experiences of mediums:

At this point, Muhammad was already almost 40 years old. All around him he saw conflict and lawlessness, desire for pleasure, cruelty and moral decay, and it horrified him more and more. He began to meditate regularly in the Hira mountain’s cave a few kilometers from Mecca. Usually he went there alone, but sometimes Khadija and also Zaid came with him. In the cave, he sat motionless all night in a deep state of meditation.

    …After experiencing his first revelation, according to biographies and commentaries, Muhammad suffered great anxiety. However, he still frequented Hira's cave, and in a deep state of meditation and melancholy he experienced another revelation. (15)

"Of the channels and mediums I've researched, almost everyone first got in touch with their spirit guide while practicing some form of Eastern meditation. Shamans also usually use some sort of spell or mantra to enter a trance where they can connect with the spirit world." (16)

Why couldn't Muhammad be a prophet of God? As for Muhammad's status as a prophet, Muslims of course believe in it. Otherwise they would not be Muslims.
Instead, as far as the prophet is concerned from a Christian perspective, Muhammad could not be a prophet. He may have been a prophet of Islam, but he cannot be considered a prophet from the point of view of the Bible. There are several reasons for this, which we will explore next.

• He denied the most essential things of the identity of Jesus Christ, that is, he denied the divinity of Jesus, that he was the Son of God, that he bore our sins on the cross and that eternal life can be obtained through him. In the light of the Bible, Muhammad is indeed a false prophet influenced by the spirit of the antichrist:

• When Muhammad denied Jesus' death on the cross for our sins, he could not even be among the saved. It is worth remembering that these verses were written hundreds of years before Muhammad lived on earth:
 

• In the light of the Bible, Muhammad cannot be considered a prophet of God, because he did not utter prophecies that came true and miracles did not happen through him. In many areas, the teaching he received was also the opposite of that of Jesus and the apostles, because his messages called for violence against the opponents of Islam (5:33, 7:4, 8:12-13, 9:5,73). In addition, Muhammad persecuted the followers of Jesus - something that Jesus himself had predicted:

Bad fruit of Muhammad's life. One criterion that can be used to distinguish a false prophet from a true one is the spirituality of his life, or lack thereof. Jesus taught that false prophets can be known by their fruits. If you are a Muslim, surely you cannot disagree with this teaching of Jesus. Moreover, the same criterion should also apply to Muhammad, whom Muslims consider the most important of the prophets. He should be the most spiritual, humble, loving and best example of the prophets if he is the seal of the prophets and the most important of them. The meaning of the fruit is discussed e.g. in the following Bible verses:

He killed many of his opponents and those who mocked him.

    It is against the words of Jesus, because Jesus taught to love even enemies. Jesus also taught that if we love only those who love us, there is nothing miraculous about it. Muhammad did the opposite. (Matt 5:44-48): But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which spitefully use you, and persecute you; That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love them which love you, what reward have you? do not even the publicans the same? And if you salute your brothers only, what do you more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

The Messenger of God also ordered to kill Abdallah ibn Khatali, who had also been a Muslim. The Messenger of God had sent him to collect the alms tax with an Ansar...

    Ibn Khatal had two slave girls, Fartana and one other. They used to sing mocking songs about the Messenger of God. God's messenger ordered to kill them too.

  Likewise, he ordered to kill al-Huwairith ibn Nuqaidh, who had harassed him in Makkah... The Messenger of God also ordered to kill Miquas ibn Subaba, because he had killed an Ansar in revenge for his accidentally died brother and because he returned as a polytheist to the Quraysh tribe.

    He also ordered the killing of Sara, a female maula of Abdalmuttalib's clan, and Ikrima ibn Abi Jahl. Sara had been one of those who had teased the Messenger of God in Mecca. (Ibn Hisham: Profeetta Muhammadin elämäkerta, p. 390)

Ibn Habanm Sahih vol.14 p. 529 Muhammad said: I swear by him in whose hand is my soul that I have not come to you except to slaughter.

Ikrima narrated: Ali burned some, and the news of this reached Ibn Abbas, who said: If I had been in this place, I would not have burned them, as the Prophet said: "Do not punish anyone with the punishment of Allah", without doubt I would have killed them, for the Prophet said: If anyone changes his religion of Islam, kill him" (Sahit Bukhari 9:84:57)

I have been sent with me the shortest turns of phrase with the broadest meanings and I have been made victorious through terror, and while I slept, the keys to the treasures of the world were brought to me and put in my hand. (Bukhari 4:52:220).

Musnad. vol. 2 p. 50 The Prophet said: I have been sent towards the Day of Judgment with a sword, and my livelihood is in the shadow of my spear, humiliation and subjugation be the portion of those who disobey me.

He urged his followers to lie so they could kill their opponents.

   Revelation tells us, however, that liars and murderers will not get into the kingdom of God: Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and fornicators, and murderers, and idolaters, and whoever loves and makes a lie. (Rev 22:14,15).

Eventually he returned to Medina and harassed the Muslim women there with his love poems. The Messenger of God asked: "Who will take care of Ibn al-Ashraf for me?" Muhammad ibn Maslama replied: "I will do it, Messenger of God, I will kill him." "Do so if you can," said the Messenger of God.

    Muhammad ibn Maslama went away. For three days he neither ate nor drank anything but what he needed. When the emissary of God heard about this, he asked Muhammad ibn Maslama: "Why have you given up eating and drinking?" Muhammad ibn Maslama replied: "Messenger of God, I Promised something to you and I do not know whether I can do it!" The Messenger of God replied: "At least you must try!" Muhammad ibn Maslama further said: "Messenger of God, we must at least lie!" "Say what you want," replied God's messenger, "you are given the permission to do so!"

    Then Muhammad ibn Maslama agreed to kill Ka'bi with a few men. These were Abu Na'ila Silkan ibn Salama, Abbad ibn Bishr, al-Harith ibn Aus and Abu Abs ibn Jabr. (Ibn Hisham: Profeetta Muhammadin elämäkerta, p. 250)

He cursed people and prayed for God to turn against them.

   This goes against what Paul taught and how he lived, for example. He wrote: … being reviled, we bless…(1 Cor 4:12) and: Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.… Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good (Rom 12:14,21).

   Peter also taught the same as Paul: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that you are thereunto called, that you should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it (1 Peter 3:9-11).

The Messenger of God stayed in Tabuk for twenty days and then returned to Medina.

    Along the way, there was a place in the Mushaqqaq riverbed where water seeped from a rock for the needs of a couple of horsemen. Before the Muslims came there, the Messenger of God said: "If anyone reaches that riverbed before us, he must not drink a drop until we have come."

    A group of pretenders got there before him. They drank all the water, and when the Messenger of God came there, there was no more water in the rock. The Messenger of God said: "Did I not forbid them to drink from it until I came!" He cursed them and prayed to God against them. (Ibn Hisham: Profeetta Muhammadin elämäkerta, p. 425)

He pillaged caravans and sold people. He used the money he got to buy horses and weapons.

   Paul wrote: Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs (Eph 4:28).

   The Bible also teaches that thieves will not inherit the kingdom of God: Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?  Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists, shall inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor 6:9.10).

After this, the Messenger of God heard that Abu Sufya ibn Harb was coming from Syria with a large caravan of Quraysh. The caravan had a lot of Quraysh property and their merchandise with it and could be accompanied by three or forty Quraysh.

    The Messenger of God called the Muslims to him and said: “The caravan of Quraish is prosperous. Let's go against it; perhaps God will give it to us as a prey.” The Muslims responded to his call, some eagerly, others reluctantly, for they did not believe that the Messenger of God would go to war.

 …The Messenger of God shared the loot from the Quraysh- tribe, and their women and children with the Muslims. On that day he declared the shares of the cavalrymen and set aside a fifth of the booty… Then the Messenger of God, led by Sa'd ibn Zaid, sent the prisoners of Quraiza to Najd to be sold. Sa'd bought horses and weapons with the money he received. (Ibn Hisham: Profeetta Muhammadin elämäkerta, p. 209, 324)

He bribed people to convert to Muslims. 9:60 of the Koran refers to this: In fact the sadaqat (Zakah) collection is for the poor, the helpless, those employed to administer the funds, those whose hearts need to be won over to the truth…

The emissary of God gave a share of the loot to people whose hearts needed to be bent to Islam. He made them and through them their peoples favourable. He gave up to a hundred camels to some people of Mecca, such as Abu Sufyan, and to others he gave less. (Ibn Hisham: Profeetta Muhammadin elämäkerta, p. 413)

He married 9-year-old Aisha. Muhammad himself was about 52 years old at the time. In general, such a relationship is considered pedophilia in Western countries.

Ursa said: The Prophet asked Abu Bakr for Aisha's hand to marry her. Abu Bakr said: "But I am your brother." The Prophet said, “You are my brother in the religion of Allah and in His Book, but Aisha is legal to me for marriage.” (Bukhari Part 7, Book 62, No. 18.)

Aisha said the Prophet married her when she was six years old, and when she was nine years old, the Prophet carried out his marriage and she [Aisha] stayed with him for nine years [until the death of Muhammad]. (Bukhari Part 7, Book 62, No. 64.) [Aisha was thus eighteen years old when Muhammad died. He lived to be sixty-five years old.]

The Hadith also tells how Muhammad taught women to breastfeed adult men. Sahih Muslim talks about a couple of such cases. The same things can be found elsewhere (Salim Muslim 8: 3427, 3428 / Imam Malik's Muwattai, Book 30, No. 30.1.8; Book 30, No. 30.2.12; Book 30, No. 30.2.13; Book 30, No. 30.2. 14):

Aisha narrated that Sahla bint Suhail came to the Apostle of Allah and said, “Messenger of Allah, I see in the face of Abu Hudhaifa [signs of disgust] when Salim [ally] arrives at our house,” to which the Apostle of Allah replied, “Breastfeed him.” She said, "How can I breastfeed him when she is an adult man?" The Apostle of Allah smiled and said, “I know that he is a young man.” (Sahih Muslim 8: 3424)

Aisha said that Salim, Abu Hudhaifan’s free slave, lived with him and his family in their house. She [Suhail's daughter] came to the Apostle of Allah and said, "Salim has attained the age of a man as men reach, and he understands what they understand, and he enters the house freely." However, I find that something is biting the heart of Abu Hudhaifa, which is why the Apostle of Allah said to him, “Breastfeed him and you will not be illegal to him, and what Abu Hudhaifa feels in his heart will disappear.” She went away and said, “I breastfed him and what was in the heart of Abu Hadhaifa was gone.” (Sahih Muslim 8: 3425).

The next interview tells us more about the life of Muhammad:

Hadith advises women to breastfeed men. What do Muslim scholars say about this?

- This is a good example of what I just said. When I publicized the Islamic notion that women must "breastfeed" strange men in order to be with them, which contradicts their other scriptures, the clergy attacked me. Why? Because they don't have an answer. It is much easier for them to turn the matter around and slander me, instead of looking at their own texts.

Why should women do this?

- Because Muhammad said so. Who created such a practice? Mohammed. Why? Who knows. The texts say that he laughed after telling the women to breastfeed the men. Perhaps he was joking, trying to find out how far people considered him a prophet. Upon hearing it, the writers of the Hadith wrote it down, preserving it for later generations. What purpose does this serve? It can be asked about many things that Muhammad said. What is the purpose of drinking camel urine? What is the meaning of banning music? What is the reason for cursing dogs? What is the purpose of the commandment that people should only eat with their right hand and never with their left? What is the purpose of the command to lick all the fingers after eating? Simply put: the totalitarian way of Sharia law seeks to brainwash Muslims and turn them into automatons that never question their religion. That is, in the words of the Qur'an: "Do not ask questions that may turn out to be harmful."

According to the original Islamic documents, what kind of person was Muhammad?

- This is a very embarrassing topic for me to talk about. I do it only out of love for Muslims - even though I know it's painful for them to hear. But healing begins with pain and suffering. In short, according to Islamic scriptures, Muhammad was a pervert. He used to suck the tongues of young boys and girls. He dressed in women's clothes and had "visions" in that state. He had at least 66 "wives". Allah apparently gave him "special visions" allowing him to have sex with his daughter-in-law Zainab and allowing him more wives than for other Muslims. He kept talking about sex and was possessed by it - his first question to the "talking donkey" was whether it liked sex. Muhammad had sex with a dead woman. I stress again that I myself did not invent these notions, but they appear in Islam's own books. Many people who do not know Arabic do not know about these things because they have never been translated. According to the Koran (33:37), Allah gave Muhammad the right to marry his daughter-in-law, whom he lusted after. A few verses later (33:50) Allah gave Muhammad permission to make love with any woman who "offered" herself to him. This privilege was only allowed to Muhammad. These "visions" that gave him these sexual desires were often repeated. (17) 

He received revelations that guaranteed the fulfillment of his desires. Chapter 33 of the Koran deals with a couple of such cases. In one of them, Allah gave him permission to marry his adopted son's wife, Zainab. He had met his daughter-in-law almost naked and it aroused his desire. Even in the Arab culture of that time, such an act, marrying a daughter-in-law, was generally considered wrong.

    Another passage in the same chapter tells how Allah gave Muhammad permission to take more wives than other Muslim men, who were only allowed to have four wives. As a result, Muhammad had more wives than other Muslim men. According to traditions Muhammad's young wife Aisha once said in a bitterly sarcastic tone: "God is in a hurry to fulfill your wishes!" The statement is considered to be related to when Muhammad was given a revelation and a permission to take more wives. Aisha felt that Muhammad received suitable revelations to justify his actions.

O Prophet, remember when you said to the one (Zaid, Prophet's adopted son) whom Allah as well as you had favored: "Keep your wife in wedlock and fear Allah." You sought to hide in your heart what Allah intended to reveal; you were afraid of the people whereas it would have been more appropriate to fear Allah. So when Zaid divorced his wife, We gave her to you in marriage, so that there remains no hindrance for the believers to wed the wives of their adopted sons if they divorced them. And Allah’s Command had to be carried out. There can be no blame attached to the Prophet for doing what is sanctioned for him by Allah. Such has been the way of Allah with those who have gone before; and the decrees of Allah are preordained. Those who are charged with the mission of conveying the message of Allah are to fear Him, they are supposed to fear none but Allah; for Allah is sufficient to settle their account. Muhammad is not the father of any of your men (he is not going to leave any male heirs). He is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets. Allah has the knowledge of all things. (33:37-40)

O Prophet! We have made lawful to you the wives to whom you have given their dowers; and those ladies whom your right hands possess (from the prisoners of war) whom Allah has assigned to you; and the daughters of your paternal uncles and aunts, and the daughters of your maternal uncles and aunts, who have migrated with you; and the believing woman who gave herself to the Prophet if the Prophet desires to marry her - this permission is only for you and not for the other believers; We know what restrictions We have imposed on the other believers concerning their wives and those whom their right hands possess. We have granted you this privilege as an exception so that no blame may be attached to you. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (33:50)

He praised himself and was proud.

   Paul wrote (Phil 2:3): Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. The Bible also says (James 4:6) that "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble".

Al Hadis, vol 4. pg 323 Narrated by Abbas. “The holy prophet rose to the pulpit and asked his hearers: Who am I? They replied: You are the Messenger of Allah. To which Muhammad replied: I am Muhammad, son of Abdullah, son of Abdullah Muttalib. Allah created his creation and made me the best of them. He divided them into two groups and put me in the best of the two. Then he divided them into tribes and made my tribe the best. Then he divided them into families and put me in the best family. As a family member, I am the best of them and my family is the best family.

Sahih Muslim. Book 004, No. 1062,1063,1066 and 1067. As reported by Abu Huraira: The Messenger of Allah said: I have been given superiority over other prophets in six venerable things (respect): I have been given the words, though they are short, so understandable and versatile; I have been helped with terror in the hearts of adversaries, loot has been made legal to me, the earth has been made clean and a place of worship for me, I have been sent to all people, and the chain of prophets has been locked in me.

Finally, Let's look at an extremist Muslim's study of Muhammad's life. He tells that Muhammad’s life was lacking and that Muhammad was far from perfect. Such things do not fit into the picture that Muhammad has been considered the most important prophet of all.

   In addition, we will compare this quote with Paul’s life: a person who was an apostle to heathens. If we study the fruit of Paul's life and compare it to the fruit produced by Muhammad, it must be said that Paul was ahead of Muhammad, especially in love:

I then started to study the infallibility of Muhammad. There are such biographies as Al-Seera AI-Halabija, AI-Tabakaat AI-Kubra, and Seraat Ibn Hisham that talk about this, and also commentaries from where you can read the comments on Sura 16:67, “Likewise in the fruits of the date-palm and the grapes, from which you derive intoxicants and wholesome food.” Many reliable traditions clearly state that Muhammad drank wine and advised his friends to dilute the wine with water if it was too strong. He used to eat the meat that the Quraish tribe had sacrificed to the idols on the stone of the Kaaba. He accepted the things God forbade and forbade the things God permitted. He flirted with the wives of his friends and would not hesitate to take them as wives if someone pleased him. On the day of Kheibar (a bloody battle near Mecca), Safiya, daughter of Yehia Ibn Akhtab, was presented to Abdallah Ibn Umar as a wife, but Muhammad nevertheless took her as his own wife. Similarly, Muhammad married Gahshi's daughter Zainab, who was the wife of Muhammad's foster son named Zaid.

All these events dishonored the holy image given to Muhammad and destroyed the sacred status that I had attached in my mind to the Prophet Muhammad. To be honest, every such discovery was very painful for me.

Although I learned many things about Muhammad, I still hoped to find virtues in the religion of Islam that I could cling to in order to remain a Muslim. It was hard for me to give up the religion of my childhood. Strange feelings of fear, confusion and confusion filled my mind as I toyed with the idea of abandoning Islam. (18)

References to the life of Apostle Paul

- (2 Cor 12:14-15) Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

- (2 Cor 2:3-4) And I wrote this same to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have more abundantly to you.

- (Rom 9:1-3) I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh

- (2 Tim 3:10-11) But you have fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience,

11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

- (Phil 3:17) Brothers, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as you have us for an ensample.

REFERENCES:

1. The interview of Father Zakarias

2. Ibn Sa’d, vol. l. 489

3. Ibn Ishaq, 106

4. Bukhari, vol. 6, book 65, no. 4953

5. Ibn Ishaq, 106

6. Robert Spencer: Totuus Muhammedista (The Truth About Muhammad), p. 56,57

7. Ibn Hisham: Profeetta Muhammadin elämäkerta (Sirat Rasul Allah), p. 39

8. Ibn Hisham: Profeetta Muhammadin elämäkerta (Sirat Rasul Allah), p. 70,71

9. Bukhari, vol. 4, book 59, no. 3238

10. Ibn Hisham: Profeetta Muhammadin elämäkerta (Sirat Rasul Allah), p. 343

11. Bukhari, vol. 1, book 1, no. 2

12. Ibn Sa’d, vol. l, 228

13. Imam Muslim, Sahih Muslim, Abdul Hamid Siddiqi, trans., Kitab Bhavan, revised edition 2000, book 30, no. 5764.

14. Muslim, book 30, nos. 5766 and 5767.

15. Ziauddin Sardar: Mihin uskovat muslimit? (What Do Muslims Believe?), p. 34,36

16. Kenneth R. Wade: "Uuden aikakauden salaisuudet: new age", p. 137

17. The interview of Father Zakarias

18. Ismaelin lapset, p.  93,94

SOURCES:

Koraani

Ibn Hisham: Profeetta Muhammadin elämäkerta (Sirat Rasul Allah)

Ismaelin lapset (THE CHILDREN OF ISMAEL)

Pekka Sartola: Islam, ystävä vai vihollinen?

Robert Spencer: Totuus Muhammedista (The Truth About Muhammad)

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