Apologetic

WHO IS HE CALLED MUHAMMAD?

MUHAMMAD'S BIRTH

Muhammad was born in Bani Hashim lane in Makkah(Mecca) in 570 A.D.  His father was Abdullah bin 'Abdul-Muttalib bin Hashim a descendant of noble Quraish tribe whereas his mother was Amina, daughter of Wahab bin 'Abd Munaf bin Zahra bin Kilab. Most historians state that his father died at the age of 25 years, 2 months before Muhammad was born.

After Muhammad's birth, his mother immediately sent someone to inform his grandfather 'Abdul-Muttalib of the event. He happily came to her, carried him to Al-Ka'bah, prayed to Allâh and thanked him. 'Abdul-Muttalib called the baby Muhammad, a name then uncommon among the Arabs. He circumcised him on his 7th day as was the custom of the Arabs.

CHILDHOOD

Muhammad was taken care by wet nurse Haleemah as it was the general custom of the Arabs living in towns to send their children away to Bedouins so that they might grow up in the free and healthy surroundings of the desert. 

One day the boy's face turned very pale and the wet nurse Haleemah was worried about his health. She quickly persuaded his mother to take back the boy with whom he stayed until he was almost 6 years old. His mother Amina died of severe illness in Abwa on the road to Makkah on her return from Yathrib (Madinah) after the journey made to visit to the grave of her late husband.

His grandfather 'Abdul-Muttalib brought the boy back to Makkah. He had warm passions towards the boy, his orphan grandson, whose recent disaster (his mother's death) added more to the pains of the past. 

When Muhammad  was 8 years old, his grandfather 'Abdul-Muttalib passed away in Makkah. The charge of the Muhammad  was now passed on to his uncle Abu Talib, who was the brother of the Muhammad's father. Abu Talib remained for another 42 years and saw the life of Muhammad till 50 years old. 

Ibn 'Asakir reported on the authority of Jalhamah bin 'Arfuta who said: I came to Makkah when it was a rainless year, so Quraish said 'O Abu Talib, the valley has become leafless and the children hungry, let us go and pray for rain-fall.' Abu Talib went to Al-Ka'bah with a young boy who was as beautiful as the sun, and a black cloud was over his head. Abu Talib and the boy stood by the wall of Al-Ka'bah and prayed for rain. Clouds from all directions gathered and rain fell heavily and caused the flow of springs and growth of plants in the town and the country.  

MUHAMMAD'S EARLY JOB:

Muhammad, had no particular job at his early youth, but it was reported that he worked as a shepherd for Bani Sa'd and in Makkah. At the age of 25, he went to Syria under the employ of Khadijah.

Ibn Ishaq reported that Khadijah, daughter of Khwailid was a business-woman of great honour and fortune. She used to employ men to do her business for a certain percentage of the profits. Quraish people were mostly tradespeople, so when Khadijah was informed of Muhammad, she sent for him. She offered him money to go to Syria as a merchant and do her business. She would give him a higher rate than the others. She would also send her hireling, Maisarah, with him. He agreed and went with her servant to Syria for trade.

HIS MARRIAGE TO KHADIJAH (595 AD)

When he returned to Makkah, Khadijah noticed her profits. Many prominent men had asked for her hand in marriage but she always spurned their advances. But she took the initiative to make a marriage proposal through a middleman, to Muhammad who was then a lad of 25 years old.  He agreed and the marriage contract was witnessed by Bani Hashim and the heads of Mudar. This took place after Muhammad's return from Syria. He gave her 20 camels as dowry. She was, then, 40 years old and was considered as the best woman of her folk in lineage, fortune and wisdom. She was the first woman whom the Muhammad  married. He did not get married to any other until she died.

Khadijah bore him 6 children, except Ibrahim, 2 sons and 4 daughters: Al-Qasim, Zainab, Ruqaiyah, Umm Kulthum, Fatimah and 'Abdullah who was called Taiyib and Tahir. All his sons died in their childhood and all the daughters except Fatimah died during his lifetime. Fatimah died 6 months after his death. 

MUHAMMAD'S WIVES

After the death of his first wife, he took many wives for varied reasons. Some of their husbands could died in the wars and the widows were taken to render them with the daily providence. Some were taken from different tribes to maintain peace with the other tribes. One of the wives Zaynab was taken from his adopted son and another a young virgin Aisha was married to him at the age of 9 years. His many wives had been admired by many as an influential and wealthy man.  The Quran allows a man to have no more than four wives (Sura 4:3). However, it is an exception for Muhammad who had 15 wives at once. While some contest this number, if he had five he would still have had one too many!

Here is a list compiled by the Muslim scholar, Ali Dashti (based on his 23 years of research):

1) Khadijah (died before any others were married)
2) Sawda
3) Aisha (taken marriage when she was only 9 years old)
4) Omm Salama
5) Hafsa
6) Zaynab (from Jahsh, adopted son's wife -- Sura 33:36-38)
7) Jowayriya
8) Omm Habiba
9) Safiya
10) Maymuna
11) Fatema
12) Hend
13) Asma (from Saba)
14) Zaynab (from Khozayma)
15) Habla
16) Asma (from Noman)

Jesus came to fulfil the God's laws which never change. Man who do not obey the law is called the least in the kingdom of heaven.

Adultery is sinful. Who are the adulterers?

This would clearly shows that Muhammad was not practising what was preached by Jesus. He conveniently pronounced a revelation to exempt himself from Sura 4:3 which the prophet is exonerated from reproach (Sura 33:38). Under the law, all who sinned against God shall be subject to penalty and face the consequences.  God's law is not impartial. The teaching of adultery was made over 600 years before Islam and there is no excuse of ignorant neither for tribal reasons. No prophet is above God's law. Sura 25:56 says he was only a bearer of good tidings and a warner. In other words, he was a "spokesman" of Allah while he was not practising of what he preached. He was proclaimed as the seal of the prophets (Sura 33:40). Some Muslims would deny that Muhammad ever sinned, but the Quran clearly indicates such. Muhammad was told to repent of his sin in Sura 40:55. Sura 48:2 speaks of the Muhammad's sins of the past and future! That Muhammad never sinned is beyond reasonable doubt. 

REBUILDING AL-KA'BAH (605 AD)

When Muhammad  was 35, Quraish started rebuilding Al-Ka'bah. That was because it was an old low building of white stones no more than 6.30 metres high. It was also roofless and that gave the thieves easy access to its treasures {idols} inside. Five years before the vision, there was a great flood in Makkah that swept towards Al-Ka'bah and almost demolished it.  

Quraish tribe was obliged to rebuild it to safeguard its prestige and position.  The work went on in harmony till the time came to put the sacred Black Stone in its proper place. Muhammad  received the commission and he asked the representatives of the different clans among them, to lift the stone all together. When it had reached the proper place, Muhammad  laid it in the proper position with his own hands.  

When the building of Al-Ka'bah had finished, it assumed a square form 15 metres high. The side with the Black Stone and the one opposite were 10 metres long each. The Black Stone was 1.50 metre from the circumambulation level ground. The two other sides were 12 metres long each. The door was 2 metres high from the level ground. A building structure of 0.25 metre high and 0.30 metre wide on the average surrounded Al-Ka'bah.  Comments:  The sacred Black stone is believed to be a meteorite from outer space and its worship has paganism origin. Why bow before the Black Stone indirectly when performing Haj and circling around the Al-Ka'bah? This is truly a paganism worship. Is Allah not omnipresent? If Allah is omnipresent and Al-mighty, will He dwell in Al-Ka'bah made by human hands?

ENCOUNTER IN THE CAVE HIRA (610 AD)

When Muhammad  was nearly 40, he had been wont to pass long hours in retirement meditating and speculating over all aspects of creation around him. This meditative temperament aimed to widen the mental gap between him and his compatriots.  One of these in particular was his favourite resort a cave named Hira', in the Mount An-Nour.  

It was only two miles from Makkah, a small cave 4 yards long and 1.75 yard wide. He would always go there and invite wayfarers to share him his modest provision. He used to devote most of his time, and Ramadan in particular, to worship and meditation on the universe around him. His heart was restless about the moral evils and idolatry that were rampant among the tribes.

WHO BRINGS DOWN THE REVELATION? 

When he was forty, signs of his high calling started to appear and twinkle on the horizons of life; they were allegedly the true visions he used to experience for 6 months. The period of revelation was 23 years; so the period of these 6 months of true visions constituted an integral part of the 46 parts of revelation. In Ramadan, in his third year of solitude in the cave of Hira', Allâh's Will desired His mercy to flow on earth and Muhammad  was allegedly honoured with revelation, and the light of Revelation burst upon him with some verses of the Noble Qur'ân.

As for the exact date, careful investigation into circumstantial evidence and relevant clues point directly to Au, 10, 610 A.D. with Muhammad  exactly 40 years, 6 months and 12 days of age, i.e. 39 Gregorian years, 3 months and 22 days.  

REFERENCE: HADITH - Translation of Sahih Bukhari
Volume 1, Book 1, Number 2:

Narrated 'Aisha:
(The wife of Muhammad) Al-Harith bin Hisham asked Allah's Apostle "O Allah's Apostle! How is the Divine Inspiration revealed to you?" Allah's Apostle replied, "Sometimes it is (revealed) like the ringing of a bell, this form of Inspiration is the hardest of all and then this state passes ' off after I have grasped what is inspired. Sometimes the Angel comes in the form of a man and talks to me and I grasp whatever he says." 'Aisha added: Verily I saw the Prophet being inspired Divinely on a very cold day and noticed the Sweat dropping from his forehead (as the Inspiration was over).  

Volume 1, Book 1, Number 3:
Narrated 'Aisha:

The commencement of the divine inspiration to Allah's Apostle was in the form of good dreams which came true like bright day light, and then the love of seclusion was bestowed upon him. He used to go in seclusion in the cave of Hira where he used to worship (Allah alone) continuously for many days before his desire to see his family. He used to take with him the journey food for the stay and then come back to (his wife) Khadija to take his food like-wise again till suddenly the Truth descended upon him while he was in the cave of Hira. 

The angel came to him and asked him to read. The Muhammad replied, "I do not know how to read. The Muhammad added, "The angel caught me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read and I replied, 'I do not know how to read.' Thereupon he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me 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 the Most Generous.' (96:1-3)"

Then Allah's Apostle returned with the Inspiration and with his heart beating severely. Then he went to Khadija bint Khuwailid and said, "Cover me! Cover me!" They covered him till his fear was over and after that he told her everything that had happened and said, "I fear that something may happen to me." Khadija replied, "Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your Kith and kin, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guests generously and assist the deserving calamity-afflicted ones."  

Khadija then accompanied him to her cousin Waraqa bin Naufal bin Asad bin 'Abdul 'Uzza, who, during the Pre-Islamic Period became a Christian and used to write the writing with Hebrew letters. He would write from the Gospel in Hebrew as much as Allah wished him to write. He was an old man and had lost his eyesight. Khadija said to Waraqa, "Listen to the story of your nephew, O my cousin!" Waraqa asked, "O my nephew! What have you seen?" Allah's Apostle described whatever he had seen. Waraqa said, "This is the same one who keeps the secrets whom Allah had sent to Moses. I wish I were young and could live up to the time when your people would turn you out." This is clear that Arabian has no history of prophets and such encounter needs to seek advice from a Christian uncle. But his uncle never became a Muslim!

Allah's Apostle asked, "Will they drive me out?" Waraqa replied in the affirmative and said, "Anyone (man) who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility; and if I should remain alive till the day when you will be turned out then I would support you strongly." But after a few days Waraqa died and the Divine Inspiration was also paused for awhile.

INTERRUPION OF REVELATION:

 Ibn Sa'd reported on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that the Revelation paused for a few days. After careful study, this seems to be the most possible that it lasted for about 3 years. Meanwhile, the Muhammad was caught in a sort of depression coupled with astonishment and perplexity. Al-Bukhari reported: The Divine inspiration paused for a while and the Prophet (Peace be upon him) became so sad, as we have heard, that he intended several times to throw himself from the tops of high mountains, to commit suicide.

ALLAH'S REVELATION

Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah Al-Ansari while talking about the period of pause in revelation reporting the speech of the Prophet "While I was walking, all of a sudden I heard a voice from the sky. I looked up and saw the same angel who had visited me at the cave of Hira' sitting on a chair between the sky and the earth. I got afraid of him and came back home and said, 'Wrap me (in blankets).' And then Allah revealed the following Holy Verses (of Quran): 'O you (i.e. Muhammad)! wrapped up in garments!' Arise and warn! And your Lord (Allâh) magnify! And your garments purify! And keep away from Ar-Rujz (the idols)!' (74.1-5) After this the revelation started coming strongly, frequently and regularly."  

THE PERIOD OF WARS (625-628 AD)

The Meccans were not pleased with Muhammad's leadership in Medina as the caravans traders from Mecca were often robbed by his men. Early grudges led to 3 major battles in the next three years. Of these the Muslims won the first (the Battle of Badr, March, 624), lost the second (the Battle of Uhud, March, 625), and outlasted the third, (The Battle of the Trench and the Siege of Medina, April, 627). In March, 628, a treaty was signed between the two sides, which recognized the Muslims as a new force in Arabia and gave them freedom to move freely throughout Arabia. Meccan allies breached the treaty a year later.

THE CONQUEST OF MECCA (630AD)

Muhammad and the Muslims in Medina had grown in military powers. By now, they wanted to conquer Mecca his home-town and get rid of all 360 idols sitting in Ka'abah except the Black Stone. In January, 630, they marched on Mecca with over 10,000 warriors. The Meccans were filled with fears and surrendered to Muhammad's army. All were forced to convert to Islam. 

DEATH OF MUHAMMAD (632 AD):

He died at age of 63 years after a short illness. Some suspect he was poisoned. The great (loss) news was soon known by everybody in Madinah. Dark grief spread on all areas and horizons of Madinah.

When he died, Fatimah said: "O Father, whom his Lord responded to his supplication! O Father, whose abode is Paradise. O Father, whom I announce his death to Gabriel."

ABU BAKR'S ATTITUDE:

Abu Bakr left his house at As-Sunh and came forth to the Mosque on a mare-back. At the Mosque, he dismounted and entered. He talked to nobody but went on till he entered 'Aishah's abode, and went directly to where the Messenger of Allâh  was. The Prophet  was covered with a Yemeni mantle. He uncovered his face and tended down, kissed him and cried. Then he said: "I sacrifice my father and mother for your sake. Allâh, verily, will not cause you to die twice. You have just experienced the death that Allâh had ordained."  

Then he went out and found 'Umar talking to people. He said: "'Umar, be seated." 'Umar refused to do so. People parted 'Umar and came towards Abu Bakr, who started a speech saying:

"And now, he who worships Muhammad . Muhammad is dead now. But he who worships Allâh, He is Ever Living and He never dies. Allâh says:

'Muhammad  is no more than a Messenger, and indeed (many) Messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels (as disbelievers)? And he who turns back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allâh, and Allâh will give reward to those who are grateful.'" [Sura 3:1] Comment: How can Allah be All-knowing when he is not sure the manner Muhammad will die naturally or is killed???

Ibn 'Abbas said: "By Allâh, it sounded as if people had never heard such a Qur'ânic verse till Abu Bakr recited it as a reminder. So people started reciting it till there was no man who did not recite it."

Ibn Al-Musaiyab said that 'Umar had said: "By Allâh, as soon as I heard Abu Bakr say it, I fell down to the ground. I felt as if my legs had been unable to carry me so I collapsed when I heard him say it. Only then did I realize that Muhammad  had really died."

Abu Bakr said: "I heard the Messenger of Allâh  say: 'A dead Prophet is buried where he dies.' So Abu Talhah lifted the bed on which he died, dug underneath and cut the ground to make the tomb.

'Aishah said: "We did not know that the Prophet  was being buried till we heard the sound of tools digging the ground at the depth of Wednesday night."  

What is the root of the religion of Islam?

Islam is a religion of life-time imprisonment - there is no way out !  Once a person enters the prison of that religion, they cannot leave it alive!

Quote from the Qur'an :
"But if they turn back (from Islam), take (hold of) them and kill them wherever you find them and take neither Aouliya (protectors or friends) nor helpers from them."  Sura 4:89

Thought-provoking Questions

1) Based on historical record, the grand parents and parents of Muhammad were worshipping Allah at Al-Ka’bah in Makka. Allah is an idol (black stone) housed at Al-Ka’bah where his mother brought baby Muhammad for prayer. Some researchers believe Allah is a high god or sun-god at Arabia which originates from Towel of Babel in Babylon. Are not his parents already worshipping Allah before the revelation from an angel?

2) Al-Ka’bah has a Black Stone in the sacred Square Building. Till today, Muslims are seemingly worshipping the Black Stone when performing Haj. Why spending hard earned-money to perform Haj in order to fulfil the 5 pillars of Islam which was taught by an angel? What did Al-Messiah say about true worship superseding the tradition?  

Jesus (Al-Messiah) saith unto her (Samaritan woman), Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am He.  (John 4: 21-26)

3) Allah is a pre-Islamic high god and not the God of the Bible. The first revelation given by so-called angel is a contradiction (not confirming the truth) of the Holy Bible. "Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists), has created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood). Read!  and your Lord is the Most Generous.” [Suras 96:1-3] The Holy Bible says “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7). If anyone claimed that Allah and Jehovah of the Bible is the same God, then he have to prove that a “blood clot” and “dust” is the same in substance in scientific and medical term. Where is the origin of coagulated blood??? So is man created from a clot or from dust of the ground? Man's origin from the "dust of the ground" is more reasonable because "All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust" (Job 34:15)

4) God is love and perfect love cast out all fears. What Muhammad encountered in the cave Hira brought him extreme fears and he was forcibly squeezed to near death and released when he obeyed the commandment. Angel Gabriel is believed to bring good news from God and never commissioned to force people to obey the commandments. Look at Matthew 1:20-21 “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” The angel did not force Mary to obey by squeezing her to near death, did he? Holy Ghost is not an Angel Gabriel. Angel Gabriel’s mission is to speak and show the good news. Protect people from dangers but never to torment people. “And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.” (Luke 1:19) Where in the Bible did it ever says angel Gabriel comes to earth to force a man to recite the Scriptures? Gabriel came to Daniel to give him skill and understanding of the vision (Daniel 9:22-23) or to bring God's message to mankind (Luke 1:26).

5) God spoke to Moses although an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a burning bush. Moses in Exodus 3:2-6 recorded: “And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. “Did angel squeeze Moses to near death?” (I am not saying God cannot work in different ways and through different circumstances; the emphasis here is knowing the roles of the true Archangel Gabriel.)

6) Muhammad’s uncle Waraqa was a Christian. He proclaimed Muhammad as a prophet but he believed in Yahweh (Jehovah)? Christian is follower of Jesus Christ and believes in Trinity God and not Allah. Quran declares there is no God but Allah. Christians believe there is no Allah save one Trinity God. Does this proclamation validate him to be true prophet of God? 

7) Revelation is revealing something totally new and not what have already been revealed earlier in the Holy Bible. We notice that the revelation in Quran claimed to confirming the truth, are in fact contradicting the Holy Bible and historical records especially as regard to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Al-Messiah). Do you call it a revelation from God when there are so much discrepancies found in the Quran? God is consistent with His words from the books of Genesis all the way through Revelation. Quran is not a continuation of the Bible because Jesus Christ said that after He leaves, He will send the Holy Ghost in His name and not in any other name.

8) Muslims apologists say Bible is corrupted and there is no original manuscripts to validate the truth. Does it means when there is no original manuscript, then it is not the truth? How about the Quran? Where is the original manuscripts of Quran?

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