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 One of
the strongest evidences of Prophet Muhammad’s truth is his knowledge of the
Unseen world: his accurate knowledge of previous nations and future
prophecies. No matter how intelligent, a man cannot authoritatively speak of
the past based upon mere intelligence. The information has to be learned.
Muhammad was a human being, who did not live in the midst of the nations he
spoke of, did not inherit any knowledge of their civilization, or learn it from
a teacher. God says:
“That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal
to you, [O Muhammad]. And you were not with them when they cast their pens as
to which of them should be responsible for Mary. Nor were you with them when
they disputed.” (Quran 3:44)
“That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal,
[O Muhammad], to you. And you were not with them when they put together their
plan while they conspired.” (Quran 12:102)
Consider the verses:
“And We gave Moses the Scripture, after We had
destroyed the former generations, as enlightenment for the people and guidance
and mercy that they might be reminded. And you, [O Muhammad], were not on the
western side [of the mount] when We revealed to Moses the command, and you were
not among the witnesses [to that] but We produced [many] generations [after
Moses], and prolonged was their duration. And you were not a resident among
the people of Madyan, reciting to them Our verses, but We were senders [of this
message]. And you were not at the side of the mount when We called [Moses] but
[were sent] as a mercy from your Lord to warn a people to whom no Warner had
come before you that they might be reminded. And if not that a disaster should
strike them for what their hands put forth [of sins] and they would say, ‘Our
Lord, why did You not send us a messenger so we could have followed Your verses
and been among the believers?’” (Quran 28:43-47)
These events in the story of Moses were related
by Muhammad. Either he witnessed them and was present there, or learned it
from those who knew. In either case, he would not be God’s prophet. The only
other possibility, rather an inescapable conclusion, is that Muhammad was
taught by God Himself.
A few facts must be considered to recognize the
full strength of the argument. Muhammad did not learn from any religious
scholar, there were no Jewish or Christian scholars in Mecca at the time, and he
did not know any language other than Arabic. In addition to the previous, he
could neither read nor write. No Meccan, Jew, or Christian ever claimed to be
Muhammad’s teacher. Had Muhammad learned from any source, his own companions
who believed in him would have exposed him.
“Say, ‘If God had willed, I would not have recited it
to you, nor would He have made it known to you, for I had remained among you a
lifetime before it. Then will you not reason?’” (Quran 10:16)
Despite their strong opposition, the unbelievers
could not attribute his knowledge of the past and present to any source. The
failure of his contemporaries is sufficient proof against all later skeptics.
The Correction of Jewish and Christian
Misunderstandings
Below are two examples of the Quran correcting
what had undergone change in Jewish and Christian beliefs:
(1) The Jews claim Abraham to be a Jew,
the father of the Jewish nation, whereas the Christians consider him to be
their father as well, as the Roman Catholic Church calls Abraham “our father in
Faith” in the Eucharistic prayer called Roman Canon recited during Mass. God
responds to them in the Quran:
“O People of the Scripture, why do you argue about
Abraham while the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed until after him? Then
will you not reason?” (Quran 3:65)
(2) The Quran forcefully denies the
crucifixion of Jesus, an event of immense proportions to both religions:
“And [We cursed them] for their breaking of the
covenant and their disbelief in the signs of God and their killing of the
prophets without right and their saying, ‘Our hearts are wrapped’ [i.e., sealed
against reception]. Rather, God has sealed them because of their disbelief, so
they believe not, except for a few. And [We cursed them] for their disbelief
and their saying against Mary a great slander, And [for] their saying, ‘Indeed,
we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of God.’ And
they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to
resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about
it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they
did not kill him, for certain.” (Quran 4:155-157)
This Quranic denial raises some fundamental
questions.
First, if Islamic doctrine were borrowed from
Judaism and Christianity, why did it deny crucifixion? After all, both
religions agree it took place! For the Jews, it was Jesus the imposter who was
crucified, but for Christians, it was the Son of God. The Prophet Muhammad
could have easily agreed to the crucifixion of Jesus, this giving more credit
to his message. If Islam were a false religion, an imitation of Judaism or
Christianity, or if Muhammad was not true in his claim, Islam would not take an
uncompromising stand on this issue and declare both religions to be outright
wrong in this matter, as there is nothing as such to gain by its denial.
Second, if Islam had borrowed the myth of
crucifixion from these two religions, it would have eliminated a point of major
contention with them, but Islam brought the truth and could not vindicate a
myth just to appease them. It is quite possible the Jews were responsible for
crucifying Jesus, for their historical transgressions against the prophets of
God has been documented in the bible and the Quran alike. But in regards to
Jesus, the Quran states forcefully:
“And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him.”
How is it
possible, then, to say that the Muhammad produced the Quran by information learnt
from Jewish or Christian scholars when he brought ideologies uprooting their
doctrine?
Third, the denial of crucifixion by itself
negates other Christian beliefs:
(i) Jesus’ atonement for sin’s of man.
(ii) Burden of original sin carried by all
men.
(iii) Deconstructs the myth of the cross
and its veneration.
(iv) The last supper and the Eucharist.
Thus we see that the stories the Prophet, may
the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, told of nations of past were not
mere folklore, nor were they learnt from Jewish or Christian learned men. Rather,
they were revealed to him from above the seven heavens by the God of creation.
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