Are There Numerical Miracles in the Qur'an? Shabir Ally vs. David Wood

When Muhammad was challenged as to why he couldn't perform miracles, he responded by claiming that the Qur'an itself is a miracle. This claim has led Muslims to try to find something miraculous about the Qur'an. Muslims such as Shabir Ally now insist that the Qur'an is filled with mysterious numerical patterns (e.g. patterns of the number 7). Is this good evidence, or can such patterns be found in any book? In this short video, Shabir Ally and David Wood discuss the evidence. (Clips are taken from "Does Muhammad Give Us the Truth about Jesus?")

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).

Muhammad, Shirk, and the Satanic Verses

Shabir Ally on the Satanic Verses

Most of what Shabir said about the Satanic Verses in this video is correct, and it seems he's better informed than most Muslims on this issue. I have a few comments.

(1) Shabir says that these narratives were put into circulation "much later." If by "much later" he means "very early," then I agree. Islam's earliest scholars and historians supported this event.

(2) The host asks Shabir why someone would fabricate such a story. Shabir could offer no reason. And that's crucial. Muslims had reasons for inventing miracle stories about Muhammad (this helped them in their evangelism efforts). Sunnis and Shias had reasons for inventing stories that helped their positions (e.g. "Here's a story saying that Muhammad liked Abu Bakr best). But why on earth would several Muslims independently invent stories about their prophet delivering a revelation from Satan? We can't even conceive of a reason, which means that the only explanation for the data is that the stories are true.

(3) Shabir claims that, since the event supposedly occurred during the Meccan period, people like Ibn Abbas would have been dealing with second-hand information. Really? Ibn Abbas knew many, many people who would have been present in Mecca when Muhammad delivered the Satanic Verses. Would he really not be able to determine the truth? Moreover, does anyone think that Ibn Abbas was so incredibly sloppy that he wouldn't have investigated this story before passing it on? The same may be asked about the other first-century sources.

(4) Shabir argues that Muhammad couldn't have delivered the Satanic Verse because this would have destroyed his credibility in the eyes of his followers. It would "spell the end of his career." But this is simply false. Muhammad's followers knew that his original interpretation of his revelations was that he was possessed by a jinn. This didn't hurt his credibility. They knew that Muhammad was the victim of black magic. This didn't hurt his credibility. They knew that Muhammad received revelations that tended to satisfy his desires (e.g. extra wives and marrying his adopted son's wife). This didn't hurt his credibility. We also know that many of the early Muslim scholars believed in Muhammad, even though they also believed he had delivered the Satanic Verses. So does this answer succeed? Not at all.

Adnan Rashid vs. David Wood: "The Satanic Verses: Fabricated or Authentic?"

I was quite excited when Muslims agreed to debate this topic. I thought it would never happen. Needless to say, I think the evidence makes it abundantly clear that Muhammad delivered the Satanic Verses. The only way around this is for Muslims (1) to declare that their earliest scholars were a bunch of liars, and (2) to cling to an outdated method of historical investigation, which, though originally designed to arrive at truth, is now being used by Muslims to eliminate embarrassing facts about Muhammad.

ADNAN'S OPENING STATEMENT


DAVID'S OPENING STATEMENT


REBUTTALS


Q&A/CONCLUSIONS


For more on the Satanic Verses, see "Muhammad and the Satanic Verses." For more on the implications of the Satanic Verses, see "The Deuteronomy Deductions."