Friday, February 7, 2014

The Problem of the Satanic Verses


According to numerous Islamic sources, Muhammad once delivered a revelation promoting polytheism. Later, he claimed that Satan had tricked him into delivering these infamous "Satanic Verses" (as they are now called). Here's the story, according to Ibn Ishaq's Sirat Rasul Allah (our earliest biographical source on Muhammad):

Now the apostle was anxious for the welfare of his people, wishing to attract them as far as he could. . . . When the apostle saw that his people turned their backs on him and he was pained by their estrangement from what he brought them from God he longed that there should come to him from God a message that would reconcile his people to him. Because of his love for his people and his anxiety over them it would delight him if the obstacle that made his task so difficult could be removed. . . . Then God sent down "By the star when it sets your comrade errs not and is not deceived, he speaks not from his own desire," and when he reached His words "Have you thought of al-Lat and al-Uzza and Manat the third, the other", Satan, when he was meditating upon it, and desiring to bring it to his people, put upon his tongue "these are the exalted Gharaniq [Numidian cranes] whose intercession is approved." When the Quraysh heard that, they were delighted and greatly pleased at the way in which he spoke of their gods and they listened to him; while the believers were holding that what their prophet brought them from their Lord was true, not suspecting a mistake or a vain desire or a slip, and when he reached the prostration and the end of the Sura in which he prostrated himself the Muslims prostrated themselves when their prophet prostrated confirming what he brought and obeying his command, and the polytheists of Quraysh and others who were in the mosque prostrated when they heard the mention of their gods, so that everyone in the mosque believer and unbeliever prostrated . . . Then the people dispersed and the Quraysh went out, delighted at what had been said about their gods, saying, "Muhammad has spoken of our gods in splendid fashion. He alleged in what he read that they are the exalted Gharaniq whose intercession is approved."

The news reached the prophet’s companions who were in Abyssinia, it being reported that Quraysh had accepted Islam, so some men started to return while others remained behind. Then Gabriel came to the apostle and said, "What have you done, Muhammad? You have read to these people something I did not bring you from God and you have said what He did not say to you." The apostle was bitterly grieved and was greatly in fear of God. So God sent down (a revelation), for He was merciful to him, comforting him and making light of the affair and telling him that every prophet and apostle before him desired as he desired and wanted what he wanted and Satan interjected something into his desires as he had on his tongue. So God annulled what Satan had suggested and God established His verses, i.e. you are just like the prophets and apostles. Then God sent down: "We have not sent a prophet or apostle before you but when he longed Satan cast suggestions in his longing. But God will annul what Satan has suggested. Then God will establish his verses, God being knowing and wise." (Ibn Ishaq, pp. 165-166)

Hmmm. So Muhammad, according to Muslim sources, couldn't tell the difference between a revelation from God and a revelation from Satan? Nothing to worry about here (unless you like to think).

11 comments:

Robert Laity said...

See: "What Islam is NOT" and "FITNA".

william t said...

Does this episode regarding the satanic verse mean that according to islams own early sources satan was able to meet the quranic challenge of producing a verse as eloquent as the quran as niether mohamed nor his companions could discern a false ayat?

Timothy said...

That it does, William.

punkdramallama said...

So because someone is tricked, this means he is not a prophet? There are times that I myself have been tricked by evil forces. Anyway, what constitutes a prophet in one's eyes? Does one have to never fail in his knowings? How can one judge so absolutely, if he himself has not received prophecies and understanding from God, eh? In Catholicism it is said that "everyone who is baptized, is annointed priest, prophet, and king". We all are capable of receiving messages, and how we discern those messages is a matter of listening to one's own heart. Sometimes we are weak, and when we are, we may forget to measure that weakness in spirit and heart, and can be tricked as a result. So we must always be aware of whether what we are being told meshes with our heart, and if we are strong enough to claim discernment. In point # 1, he was claimed not to be a prophet because he was too skeptical, and feared the power of Gabriel, and feared the knowledge he was to learn. In this point ( #3) it is because he believed TOO deeply, WITHOUT questioning enough the words he was receiving. Both too much skepticism/fear, and too little, are both very human attributes to have, and if no prophet written about in the bible was said to have had such flaws, then they are lying through omission, in trying to show a perfect view of certain men.

punkdramallama said...

and when I say #1 and #3, I am referring to your "Top 50 reasons Muhammad was not a prophet" from this page: http://www.answeringmuslims.com/2014/04/50-reasons-muhammad-was-not-prophet.html

Unknown said...

@punkdramallama - As you said we all have human frailties and that's why there's a test ALL prophets must pass in order to be considered a "real" prophet. Without rules of conduct, anyone could say anything.

Unknown said...

punkdramallama did it occur to you that this is lie.for the sake of god don't be apologist.
find that story in books and also correlate the quran translation of the this writer with authentic source.you will realize the truth.

Michael Price said...

"So because someone is tricked, this means he is not a prophet? There are times that I myself have been tricked by evil forces. Anyway, what constitutes a prophet in one's eyes? Does one have to never fail in his knowings? "
If you're claiming that you receive messages from God, surely that means they would always be right? I mean it's GOD, not UPS, he's able to make sure nobody can falsify his messages. I mean how do we know that ALL the messages weren't Satanic, if he can't tell the difference? I mean what's easier to believe, that Satan fooled God once or that he fooled a man a thousands times?

AIBInDEX said...

How to understand this "We have not sent a prophet or apostle before you but when he longed Satan cast suggestions in his longing." Did Allah sent or not? what about all the prophets and messengers that were sent by allah as their source said? does this not contradict the sayings such Allah sent many prophets and messenger before muhammad? <please help me to understand this one because I am poor in English

Unknown said...

im of the opinion you cant trust anything that is said in the quran.. it specifically says allah is the greatest deciever..so even if this was satan, its the same outcome.. you cant trust allah. how do you know "allah" is not decieving everyone in the quran? you dont. period. only YHSVH says that god is truth.. and by extention he is the truth, the light, and the way. you cannot trust anything that lies. ever. you never know what is the truth and what isnt with them

Unknown said...

I think he realized that he had contradicted himself, in his eager taqiyya,to persua de those people. Satan was the one always talking to him, giving him what he wanted. A six year old, his daughter in law, Mary the Copt,and having people killed who disagreed with him.