Muslim Response to
“The Rise of Islam”

On February 28, 2004, we received the following two email messages commenting on two of our articles pertaining to Islam. The text [in brackets] did not appear in his original message, but has been added to aid the reader. Our reply follows his messages.

Hello,

I am a Muslim and I'm not writing to say your wrong or to be angry with you about your web site. No, instead I just want to point out to an error on your page.

Error: “Supposedly one of the jinni appeared to him and identified himself as Al-Ilah (the G-d), or Allah, who appointed Mohammed as his ‘prophet.’ (RiseOfIslam.htm)”

Actually it was the Angel Gabriel that sent the message from G-d. The Qur'an clearly states this and all Muslims understand this. Never, this is the first time, I have ever heard that G-d actually recited the Qur'an to Muhammad (pbuh) or a jinn. The Qur'an states in verse: 002.097: YUSUFALI:

“Say: Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel—for he brings down the (revelation) to thy heart by Allah's will, a confirmation of what went before, and guidance and glad tidings for those who believe.” [Read Sura 2.97 in context — “Yusufali” indicates the English translation by Abdullah Yusufali. The acronym “pbuh” means “peace be unto him”]

Peace, Mustafa

Hello again,

Sorry there is another error I found again.

“2. Angels: The chief angel is Gabriel, who is said to have appeared to Mohammad. There is also a fallen angel named Shaitan (from the Hebrew, Satan), as well as the followers of Shaitan, the djinn (demons).” [SixDoctrines.htm]

Satan in Islam in not an angel, he is a jinn. This is the Qur'an as well and accepted by all Muslims.

YUSUFALI: “Behold! We said to the angels, ‘Bow down to Adam’: They bowed down except Iblis. He was one of the Jinns, and he broke the Command of his Lord. Will ye then take him and his progeny as protectors rather than Me? And they are enemies to you! Evil would be the exchange for the wrong-doers!” [Read Sura 18.50 in context.]

Peace,

Mustafa

Actually I have found a host of errors. I imagine you may not want to change these for your own reasons. The errors and not concerning personal beliefs but facts relating to Islam as people know it - scholastically or as Muslims.

Our reply to Mustafa’s observations:

Mustafa claims that “it was the Angel Gabriel that sent the message from G-d. The Qur’an clearly states this and all Muslims understand this.”

It should be clear to the most casual observer that Islam is not terribly concerned with the truth of history. Islam denies the historical record of Scripture in which the covenants were made by Adonai with Avraham (Abraham), Yitzhak (Isaac), and Ya`akov (Jacob), and “with their descendants forever.” Islam claims instead that the covenants were passed to them through Ishmael. Islam also teaches that it was Ishmael, not Yitzhak, whom Avraham offered as a sacrifice to Adonai. Islam also teaches that the kingdom of Israel never existed and that neither Temple ever existed in Jerusalem.

“Muslim attitudes toward the Koran run the full gamut one finds in Christian approaches to the Bible but tend to be fundamentalistic. According to the strictly orthodox view, the Koran’s every letter was dictated by G-d [Allah]. Its words came to Muhammed in manageable segments over twenty-three years through voices that seemed at first to vary and sometimes sounded like ‘the reverberating of bells’ but gradually focused in a single voice that became identified as Gabriel’s. Some Muslims take the references to this angelic intermediary literally; others say he may have been raised by Muhammed’s mind in the hours if its greatest fervor. In either case no orthodox Muslim doubts the divine origin of the words themselves. Emblazoned on Muhammed’s mind, they were recorded by his followers on bones and bark and leaves and scraps of parchment with G-d [Allah] preserving their literal accuracy throughout.” (Huston Smith. The Religions of Man. New York: Harper and Row, 1958, p. 228)

“The Muslim confession is ‘There is no G-d but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.’ Allah revealed his righteous law to Muhammad who spoke it to the people of the Arabian Peninsula. This law later became codified in the Muslim sacred scriptures, the Qur’an (Koran). … Muhammad … spent long evenings in a desert cave outside the city of Mecca while a young man. In the cave Allah revealed messages to Muhammad and told him to recite them.” (George W. Braswell, Jr. Understanding World Religions. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1983, p. 38)

“By the age of 40, the now religious Muhammad had his first vision. These revelations are what are recorded in the Qur’an (Koran). Muhammad was at first unsure of the source of these visions, whether divine or demonic. His wife, Khadijah, encouraged him to believe they had come from G-d. Later she became his first convert.” (Josh McDowell and Don Stewart. Understanding Non-Christian Religions, San Bernardino: Here’s Life Publishers, 1982, p. 152.)

“It seems, however, that Muhammed himself was at first doubtful of the source of these revelations, fearing that he was possessed by one of the Jinn, or sprites, as was commonly believed to be the case with Arab poets and soothsayers. But Khadijah and others reassured him, and he soon began to propound divine revelations with increasing frequency.” (Sir Norman Anderson, ed. The World’s Religions, Grand Rapids: Wm B. Eerdmans, 1975, p. 55)

“Either in the course of the visions or shortly afterwards, Muhammad began to receive ‘messages’ or ‘revelations’ from G-d. Sometimes he may have heard the words being spoken to him, but for the most part he seems simply to have ‘found them in his heart.’ Whatever the precise ‘manner of revelation’—and several different ‘manners’ were listed by Muslim scholars—the important part is that the message was not the product of Muhammad’s conscious mind.” (P.M. Holt, ed. The Cambridge History of Islam, Vol. II, London: Cambridge University Press, 1970, pp. 31, 32)

It is very interesting that Mustafa believes that “all Muslims understand” that “it was the Angel Gabriel that sent the message from” Allah when, according to these sources, Mohammed didn’t know for sure himself whether the source of his alleged “revelation” was divine or demonic.

We have only two possible options: (1) either the Qur’an was given by the angel Gabriel, or (2) it was given by a demonic spirit who claimed to be named Allah, and who may actually be HaSatan himself. As we accept the Bible as the only valid source of divine revelation, by comparing Islamic legends against what the Bible teaches we can very quickly arrive at Truth.

Is it at all possible that Gabriel could have given the Qur’an to Mohammed?

Gabriel (“warrior of G-d” or “man of G-d”—cf. Daniel 8:16; 9:21; Luke 1:19; 1:26) is one of only three angelic beings named in Scripture [though several others are named in the Apocrypha]; the other two are Michael (“who is like G-d”—cf. Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 1:9; Revelation 12:7), apparently the Archangel who is responsible for the protection of Israel,  and Lucifer (“light-bearer” or “morning star”), who fell (Isaiah 14:12-14; Revelation 12:1-11) and became HaSatan (Satan, “the Adversary”).

We find Gabriel active in announcing the birth of Messiah (Luke 1:19; 1:26), and possibly active as “the Archangel” in Messiah’s return in glory (1 Thess. 4:16), so it is very evident that he was not one of the angels who fell with Lucifer (Luke 10:18; Revelation 12:1-11). He therefore cannot possibly be responsible for leading men to follow after other gods or for proclaiming a false (or another) gospel.

“But the prophet [literally, ‘one who speaks for another’—which would include any human or any angel who claims to speaks for G-d] who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods [Allah], that prophet shall die.” [Deut 18:20 - Show Context]

“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!” [Galatians 1:8-9 - Show Context]

According to the Bible, then, Mohammed is therefore “accursed,” and if Gabriel had been responsible for delivering “another gospel” to Mohammed, Gabriel would also be “accursed.”

Whether Allah is Satan himself or only one of his lesser demons, the Bible then leaves us with only one possible ultimate source of the Qur’an.

“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” [John 8:44 - Show Context]

“No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.” [2 Corinthians 11:14-15 - Show Context]

Mustafa also says, “Satan in Islam in not an angel, he is a jinn. This is the Qur’an as well and accepted by all Muslims.”

We have already, I believe, adequately demonstrated that the Bible declares exactly who Satan is, regardless of what either the Qur’an teaches or what is “accepted by all Muslims.” The Bible only discusses two kind of created spirit beings, holy angels and fallen angels. Thus any created spirit being who is not a holy angel is by default a fallen angel, or demon.

“For this reason G-d will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.” [2 Thess. 2:11-12]

Although the above passage is actually speaking of those who will be deceived by the Anti-Messiah  [“that lawless one” who “will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan” Show Context], it is probably appropriately also applied to all of Islam, who are the declared mortal enemies of G-d’s Chosen People, Israel.

Another Muslim speaks out

----- Original Message -----
From: AdnanHK@*******.com
To: *******@familybible.org
Sent: Friday, April 23, 2004 5:59 PM
Subject: Corrections..

Hi, I was on ur webiste and i'd just like to point out that the idea that Muahammad was visited by a jinni as god, is completely false. He was actually visited by an angel, that revealed gods word to him to abolish the evils in society. Prophet Muhammad S did not wish to be head of a tribe that worshipped gods other than the One, he wanted to bring Islam and wipe out paganism. I'm sure you were only mistaken and hope you can do a little more reserach and make a few corrections on your website.

Thank you very much.

Our Response

“The reason you go astray is that you are ignorant both of the Tanakh and of the power of G-d.” (Matthew 22:29, CJB)

“If a prophet [Mohammed] or someone who gets messages while dreaming arises among you and he gives you a sign or wonder, and the sign or wonder comes about as he predicted when he said, ‘Let’s follow other gods [Allah], which you have not known; and let us serve them,’ you are not to listen to what that prophet or dreamer says. For ADONAI your G-d is testing you, in order to find out whether you really do love ADONAI your G-d with all your heart and being. You are to follow ADONAI your G-d, fear him, obey his mitzvot [instruction], listen to what he says, serve him and cling to him; and that prophet or dreamer [Mohammed] is to be put to death; because he urged rebellion against ADONAI your G-d, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from a life of slavery; in order to seduce you away from the path ADONAI your G-d ordered you to follow. This is how you are to rid your community of this wickedness.

“If your brother the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or your wife whom you love, or your friend who means as much to you as yourself, secretly tries to entice you to go and serve other gods [Allah], which you haven't known, neither you nor your ancestors—gods of the peoples surrounding you [the Ishmaelites], whether near or far away from you, anywhere in the world—you are not to consent, and you are not to listen to him; and you must not pity him or spare him; and you may not conceal him. Rather, you must kill him! Your own hand must be the first one on him in putting him to death, and afterwards the hands of all the people. You are to stone him to death; because he has tried to draw you away from ADONAI your G-d, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of a life of slavery. Then all Isra'el will hear about it and be afraid, so that they will stop doing such wickedness as this among themselves.

“If you hear it told that in one of your cities which ADONAI your G-d is giving you to live in, certain scoundrels have sprung up among you and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city by saying, ‘Let’s go and serve other gods [Allah], which you haven't known,’ then you are to investigate the matter, inquiring and searching diligently. If the rumor is true, if it is confirmed that such detestable things are being done among you, you must put the inhabitants of that city to death with the sword, destroying it completely with the sword, everything in it, including its livestock. Heap all its spoils in an open space, and burn the city with its spoils to the ground for ADONAI your G-d; it will remain a tel forever and not be built again—none of what has been set apart for destruction is to stay in your hands. Then ADONAI will turn from his fierce anger and show you mercy, have compassion on you and increase your numbers, as he swore to your ancestors—provided you listen to what ADONAI says and obey all his mitzvot [instruction] that I am giving you today, thus doing what ADONAI your G-d sees as right.” [Deuteronomy 13, CJB]

“But even if we—or, for that matter, an angel from heaven!—were to announce to you some so-called ‘Good News’ contrary to the Good News we did announce to you, let him be under a curse forever! We said it before, and I say it again: if anyone announces ‘Good News’ contrary to what you received, let him be under a curse forever!”  (Galatians 1:8-9, CJB)

I’m quite sure that what you say in your message is what you were taught to believe. However, the only “Truth” that I can accept on the matter is the Truth that is contained in the Bible.

If you will read the entire article, you will see that I have demonstrated that if the Bible is Truth then it is not possible for the being who appeared to Mohammed to be either the G-d of Avraham, Yitzhak, and Ya`akov (the G-d of the Bible and the only true G-d) or one of G-d’s holy angels, because the message that was delivered to Mohammed is not in agreement with the revealed word of the Bible.

The only remaining alternative is that whoever appeared to Mohammed was either a false G-d or an evil spirit being. The Bible teaches that any spirit being that pretends to be a G-d is a demon, and any messenger who claims to be from G-d who brings any message other than the message that is revealed in the Bible is a false, or lying, messenger.

Since the Bible contains all the truth that has ever been—or ever will be—revealed about the one true G-d, and since neither G-d nor His holy angels can lie, there is no possible alternative other than that Mohammed was visited by a lying spirit, which the Bible calls a demon, and that Mohammed was a false prophet who called people to follow a G-d other than ADONAI.