The deeper study of the Koran, Hadith, and Arab history led me to believe that Islam had been cleverly devised on the principle of divide and rule. And its purpose is to enable the Arabs to dominate the rest of the world. I have no doubt the Prophet wanted to raise himself to the same status as Allah. Muhammad loved Arabia and its culture, and his one desire was to create a strong, conquering Arab nation that believed in him and propagated his name. This could only be achieved by imperial dominance.
- Mohammad Anwar Shaikh
(Author)
The Qur'an exists on a guarded tablet somewhere in the celestial realm (Q.85:22) and therefore cannot be changed. Muslims proud themselves on the facts that there is supposedly no other book like it, it is unchanging and no contradictions can be found between its covers.
If such a tablet did exist in heaven and was revealed to the messenger over a period of many years one would expect a consistent unchanging, logical unfurling of the divine recording. An interesting point to note here though is that God only had the technology to record his message on a media known to the men of those times. God's message was not in any audio media format, or on film or even on a word processing document. God was only capable of producing what man could at the time, and that was stone tablets.
Reading the Qur'an does not give any impression that this message was recorded based on consistent eternal, divine or material laws or concerned with the needs of all mankind. In reality the message of the Qur'an changes as the predicaments of its messenger changed.
The Qur'an itself in 10:64 states There is no changing the Words of Allah. Verses 6:115 and 18:27 convey the same message. However later on, we find that Allah deems it necessary to replace some revelations with others. Verse 16:101 states, When We substitute one revelation for another, and Allah knows best what He reveals, they say, "Thou art but a forger": but most of them understand not. Another verse justifying the need to supercede one verse for another is 2:106 None of Our revelations do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, but We substitute something better or similar. These verses clearly contradict one another, one saying Allah's word cannot change and then the other saying Allah can substitute one message for another as he sees fit.
Verse 16:101 was obviously revealed by Muhammad after being caught out by the sceptics of his religion, pointing out contradictions in so-called revelations from God. He was obviously called a forger and was required to defend his divine message by sanctioning God's approval of substituting one revelation for another. If God's message exists for eternity in heaven why would there be any need for changes to revelations, unless it was required to meet the changing needs of the Prophet?
Why would an eternal tablet in heaven need to sanction the marriage of the prophet to his daughter-in-law or endorse for him unlimited number of wives or eventually give permission to fight the unbelievers after years of unproductive preaching? The only reason is that the message is not anything eternal in heaven but a concoction from the mind of Muhammad that allowed him to pursue his goals with varying strategies that was supported by his God.
As a result, contradictions abound in the Qur'an and this after it was compiled by the scribe Zayed many years after the death of Muhammad and again re-edited years later. In editing the many fragments of verses recorded, both in writing and from the memories of the first disciples, Zayed's work would no doubt have involved a certain degree of sanitisation of the manuscripts ensuring consistency and sense of divinity. However the final product failed on both counts.
The creation of the earth and heavens is discussed in many places in the Qur'an. Muhammad dumfounded his audience with tales from the Old Testament portraying himself as a great cosmologist divining knowledge from Allah. In his description of the event in Qur'an chapter 79 we are told that the heavens are created prior to the earth. However in chapters 2 and 41 we are told the reverse.
Q79:27-30 Are ye the harder to create, or is the heaven that He built? He raised the height thereof and ordered it. And after that He spread the earth.... So here we have the heaven being created then raised like a canopy and then the earth is spread out after. The following two verses tell the story differently.
Q2:29 He it is Who created for you all that is in the earth. Then turned He to the heaven, and fashioned it as seven heavens.
Q41:9-12 Him Who created the earth in two Days. Then turned He to the heaven ... Then He ordained them seven heavens in two Days.
Ignoring the obvious primitive description of the creation of our universe, we see the mistake in Muhammad's accounts which would be a travesty if recorded as such on the eternal tablet in heaven.
But how long did this creation effort take? Qur'an 7:54 states Your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days. This is repeated in verses 10:3, 11:7, 50:38 and 57:4. However in verses 41:9-12 we are informed that it is eight days, Disbelieve ye verily in Him Who created the earth in two Days ... He placed therein firm hills rising above it, and blessed it and measured therein its sustenance in four Days ... Then He ordained them seven heavens in two Days. So that's earth 2 days, mountains and sustenance 4 days and then heaven 2 days, giving a grand total of 8 days. Muhammad, supposedly illiterate may not have been very good at simple mathematics but one would expect better from a God in heaven, etching this out on his tablet!
It is quite obvious from the above that Muhammad was not aware of the vast extent of the universe. To be under the impression that the earth would take two days to create, the mountains and sustenance four days and the entire rest of the universe (which Muhammad would have considered to be heaven), with it billions of galaxies, only two days, is a clear sign of his seventh century understanding of cosmology.
Muhammad claimed that the day of Allah was like many years to us humans. But how many? Qur'an chapters 22 and 32 tell us A Day with Allah is as a thousand years of what ye reckon. However verse 70:4 has a different figure, The angels ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty thousand years. Here the Lord's Day is fifty times greater than previously stated. An obvious case of the narrator forgetting what he previously stated.
Muhammad seems confused about the original matter used to create man. Depending on his state of mind it can sometimes be clay, mud, dust, water or even mire.
Q25:54 And He it is Who hath created man from water.
Q96:1-2 He created man from a clot.
Q15:26 We created man of potter's clay of black mud altered.
Q32:7 He began the creation of man from clay.
Q38:71 I am about to create a mortal out of mire.
Q30:20 And of His signs is this: He created you of dust.
These are blatant contradictions. Though man could be made from all these elements, Muhammad does not state in one place, man was created from x, y and z. No. Throughout the Qur'an he consistently singles out different single ingredients as the originating component.
The heavens and earth were supposedly created by Allah. However does he recollect how they were formed initially? Were they crafted as a whole and then split apart or vice versa?
Q21:30 Do not the Unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were joined together as one unit of creation, before we parted them?
From the above, clearly they were created as one unit and then 'cloved asunder'. However in the next verse they are created separately and asked to come together!
Q41:11 Then He directed Himself to the heaven when it was smoke, so He said to it and to the earth: Come ye together, willingly or unwillingly. They both said: We come willingly.
Should one follow the behaviour of Muhammad? Well verse 33:21 certainly seems to tell those who seek refuge in Allah on the final day to model their life against the prophet's, Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day. In other words Muhammad is claiming that he is the best role model to be followed should one desire to be a Muslim.
However in Q33:50 where Muhammad realises that four wives would not be sufficient to satiate his yearnings, he gets Allah to make changes to the maximum of four policy, and sanction it only for himself. This verse in essence is saying anyone who wishes to marry the prophet can do so but this clause in the Qur'an is only for him. O Prophet! We have made lawful to thee thy wives to whom thou hast paid their dowers; and those whom thy right hand possesses out of the prisoners of war; and daughters of thy paternal uncles and aunts, and daughters of thy maternal uncles and aunts; and any believing woman who dedicates her soul to the Prophet if the Prophet wishes to wed her; this only for thee, and not for the believers at large; We know what We have appointed for them as to their wives and the captives whom their right hands possess;- in order that there should be no difficulty for thee. From that point on, Allah gave his messenger the rights to wed as many women, believers of course, as he wanted, including his cousins.
This is a clear contradiction because in verse 33:21, Muhammad sets himself up to be the utmost among humans and a role model for all to follow. But when he wanted unlimited wives he realised that that would surpass the acceptance level in any society. Therefore he declares it not for believers at large.
The Qur'an is littered with statements on how merciful Allah is. The very first verse attests to that fact, Q1:1 In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. However, for every merciful declaration we can find there would be many more rather brutal recommendtions against those not on agreeable terms with the Prophet. For instance Q4:56 Those who disbelieve Our revelations, We shall expose them to the Fire. As often as their skins are consumed We shall exchange them for fresh skins that they may taste the torment. To claim to be merciful with one hand yet relish the burning of humans continually over and over again with the other, is a gross contradiction of character. No loving, merciful parent could possibly contemplate the savagery of burning their child repeatedly for not accepting their view, rules or restrictions. A God who could possibly dream up a fiery hellish abode could not possibly lay claim to being merciful.
Although Allah makes distinction between believers and non believers, does he differentiate between the various prophets? Qur'an 2:285 tells us,We make no distinction between any of His messengers. However in 2:253 we are told, Of those messengers, some of whom We have caused to excel others, and of whom there are some unto whom Allah spake, while some of them He exalted above others in degree. So here we have a contradiction in terms; messengers are made without distinction amongst them in one breath yet in the next, some are a degree above others.
Muhammad was eager to show a familiarity with the Bible and Torah and related many a well known tale from those scriptures to convince the Jews and Christians of his apostleship. But did he consistently narrate these stories? In chapter eleven Muhammad says one of Noah's sons died in the flood, Q11:42-43 Noah cried unto his son and he was standing aloof - O my son! Come ride with us, and be not with the disbelievers. He said: I shall betake me to some mountain that will save me from the water. Noah said: This day there is none that saveth from the commandment of Allah save him on whom He hath had mercy. And the wave came in between them, so he was among the drowned. Therefore according to Muhammad every person on earth, other than Noah and his family were disbelievers and Allah (Jehovah) had no mercy on any of those who did not believe and were therefore mercilessly drowned. Hence Allah's mercy is plainly very selective and selfishly directed solely to believers. Allah did not even show mercy to the countless animals, plants and fish most of which would not have made it unto the ark and could not be considered as disbelievers, yet they were ruthlessly destroyed. (Note that even water dwelling creatures, in a flood of such proportions, taller than the highest mountain, would be out of their natural elements and would not survive; their habitats such as barrier reefs destroyed or now too deep and the mixing of fresh and salt water creating a mixture not suitable to sustain many life forms.)
Verses 11:42-43 tell us that one of Noah's sons did not believe and was not willing to get onto the ark, but preferred to go to a high mountain and was subsequently drowned. Verse 21:76 however informs us that Noah's household which would obviously include his family were saved from the affliction, And Noah, when he cried of old, We heard his prayer and saved him and his household from the great affliction. This is also repeated in verses 37:76-77 And We saved him (Noah) and his household from the great distress, And made his seed the survivors. This clearly states his seed, which would be his children, were made the survivors. Muhammad obviously got his revelations in a twist as he expounded on stories to get across the need to fear Allah or be destroyed.
Muhammad also gave an account in the Qur'an of Mary and the conception of Jesus. In chapter 19 he speaks of one angel appearing before Mary, 19:17-19 We sent her our angel, and he appeared before her as a man. She said: "I seek refuge from thee to (Allah) Most Gracious." He said: "Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord, (to announce) to thee the gift of a holy son.
However, in other verses of the Qur'an Muhammad repeats the story but with more than one angel appearing. 3:42 The angels said: "O Mary! Allah hath chosen thee... And this is further confirmed a few verses later, 3:45 The angels said: "O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus.
Muslim apologists counter this contradiction by stating that the Qur'an is referring to two separate visits to Mary; the first by a group of angels to prepare her for the news and the second by an angel, Gabriel, to fulfil the command. This argument however does not hold water because on the first instance she is surprised and asks, "How can I have a child when no mortal hath touched me?" (3:47) and somehow on the second instance she is still surprised and asks exactly the same question, "How can I have a son when no mortal hath touched me..." (19:20). Also, after the so-called first visit, verses 3:50 onwards, the Qur’an speaks of Jesus being around without mention that there was a second visit before he came to be. The Qur'an often repeats the same stories, rules, punishments, etc throughout, hence based on the identical responses from Mary and the fact that the Qur'an does not in anyway state that Allah sent a one group and thereafter another angel, there is no grounds to assume these were two separate visits.
We also have contradictory retellings of the worshipping of the golden calf story when Moses ventures up the mountain to meet the burning bush and collect the Ten Commandments. In verses 7:148-150 Muhammad states that the people repented for worshiping the golden calf before Moses returned. Conversely in 20:88-91 we are told that the repenting takes place after Moses' return.
Do Christians and Jews go to Hell in the hereafter? Practically all verses dealing with this subject indicate that all who do not accept Allah and his messenger are destined for the fire:
Q3:85 And whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and in the hereafter he shall be one of the losers.
Q5:72 Certainly they disbelieve who say: Allah is Christ, son of Mary; and Jesus said: O Children of Israel! serve Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Surely whoever associates others with Allah, then Allah has forbidden to him Paradise, and his abode is the fire; and there shall be no helpers for the wrong-doers.
However Qur’an 2:62 seems to contradict these verses by claiming that certain religious groups other than Muslims, once they are righteous shall attain the heavenly abode:
2:62 Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the Last day and does good, they shall have their reward from their Lord, and there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve.
This contradiction is counteracted by apologists utilising two possible interpretations not obvious from a cursory reading. Firstly the phrase "whoever believes in Allah and the Last day" is suppose to imply that only Jews, Christians and Sabians who also believed in Allah and the Day of Judgment will avoid hell fire. However, how could a Jew, Christian still be considered such if they were to believe in Allah? Another interpretation of this verse implies that Jews before Jesus, and Christians before Muhammad would have their reward in Paradise, but those who refrain from following the last prophet will not have the paradise option open to them.
Allah in the Qur'an repeatedly refers to himself as the merciful and the benevolent. So does Allah forgive us for any transgressions we may commit?
Q4:48 Allah forgiveth not that partners should be set up with Him; but He forgiveth anything else, to whom He pleaseth; to set up partners with Allah is to devise a sin Most heinous indeed" (repeated for good measure in 4:116).
However in Q4:153 we are told that Allah did forgive those who worshipped the calf during the time of Moses. 4:153 "... Yet they worshipped the calf even after clear signs had come to them; even so we forgave them; and gave Moses manifest proofs of authority"
Narrating the story of Pharaoh as he pursued the Israelites across the parted sea gets slightly different treatments in the two accounts provided by Allah in the Qur'an. In one account, in keeping with the bible, Pharaoh is killed by drowning:
Q17:102-103 Moses said, "Truly you know that none but the Lord of the heavens and the earth has sent down these as clear proof and most surely I believe you, O Firon, to be given over to perdition. So he desired to destroy them out of the earth, but We drowned him and those with him all together"
However in another account Allah tells us that he saves Pharaoh as a sign to others:
Q10:90-92 And We made the children of Israel to pass through the sea, then Firon and his hosts followed them for oppression and tyranny, until when drowning overtook him, he said: I believe that there is no Allah but He in Whom the children of Israel believe and I am of those who submit. ...This day shall We save thee in the body, that thou mayest be a sign to those who come after thee!
As Pharaoh was drowning he submits to Allah who saves him as a sign to others. Muhammad changes the tale in this retelling probably as a threat to his followers that unless they submit to Allah they will not be saved in times of calamity.
How many days did Allah need to destroy the people of Aad? Allah tells us in chapter 54 that he destroys them, essentially for not accepting Islam, with a violent wind in one day. However in chapter 41 we are informed it was days of disaster and in chapter 69 Allah is more specific in mentioning seven nights and eight days of exceedingly violent wind.
Q54:18-19 The 'Ad (people) also rejected the Truth: then how terrible was My Penalty and My Warning? For We sent against them a furious wind, on a day of violent Disaster
Q41:15-16 Now the 'Ad behaved arrogantly... What! did they not see that Allah, Who created them, was superior to them in strength? But they continued to reject Our Signs! So We sent against them a furious Wind through days of disaster, that We might give them a taste of a Penalty of humiliation in this life; but the Penalty of the Hereafter will be more humiliating still: and they will find no help.
Q69:6-7 And the 'Ad, they were destroyed by a furious wind, exceedingly violent; He made it rage against them seven nights and eight days in succession.
During the battle of Badr Muhammad needed help to defeat the Quraish army. The merciful Allah reveals in the Qur'an that he provided assistance to his messenger in the form of fighting angels. However the number of these angels varies depending on the verse Allah reveals. In 3:124 Allah states the number was 3,000. However in 8:9 Allah needlessly repeats the story, this time only being able to muster 1,000 fighting angels.
Q3:124 Remember thou saidst to the Faithful: "Is it not enough for you that Allah should help you with three thousand angels specially sent down?"
Q8:9 Remember ye implored the assistance of your Lord, and He answered you: "I will assist you with a thousand of the angels, ranks on ranks."
Allah provides vital information to mankind concerning who takes our soul at the time of death. Verse 32:11 states that it is the 'Angel of Death'. In essence, a specific angel tasked with that job to return the soul to Allah.
Q32:11 Say: "The Angel of Death, put in charge of you, will (duly) take your souls: then shall ye be brought back to your Lord."
Later on we are informed that angels (plural) in general take the souls. However, on this occasion the poor souls, the disbelievers, are beaten on their faces and backs.
Q47:27 But how will it be when the angels take their souls at death, and smite their faces and their backs?
Allah however seems confused about his job specification when he claims in chapter 39 that he himself is the reaper of souls.
Q39:42 Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep; then He withholds those on whom He has passed the decree of death and sends the others back till an appointed term; most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect.
Allah often refers to the one garden that comprises paradise. For example, Q57:21 Hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and to a garden the extensiveness of which is as the extensiveness of the heaven and the earth; it is prepared for those who believe in Allah and His messengers. However in many other places we are told about the many gardens that await the believers, such as Q22:23 Allah will admit those who believe, to Gardens beneath which rivers flow.
Many more contradictions exist in the Qur'an. But let us end with trying to ascertain who the first Muslim was. Was it Muhammad? He does say so in Qur'an 39:12 And I am commanded to be the first of those who bow to Allah in Islam. Alternatively though we have Qur'an 7:143 telling us, When Moses came, and his Lord addressed him, he said: "O my Lord! show (Thyself) to me." Allah said: "Look upon the mount then shalt thou see Me." When his Lord manifested His glory on the Mount, Moses fell down in a swoon. When he recovered his senses he said: "Glory be to Thee! To Thee I turn in repentance, and I am the first to believe." So here we have Moses being the first to believe in Allah. But was he? Maybe not, because in verse 2:132 we have Abraham and his grandson Jacob having faith in Allah. And this was the legacy that Abraham left to his sons, and so did Jacob; "Oh my sons! Allah hath chosen the Faith for you; then die not except in the Faith of Islam." Since Abraham and Jacob preceded Moses then they both would have worshipped Allah before Moses and Muhammad. Therefore all these verses contradict one another.
From the time of its inception, the Qur'an has been mired in reports of errors and inconsistencies. It was not fully compiled into one document until twenty years after Muhammad's death. Then it was subsequently revised years later with the earlier versions being recalled and burnt.
One of Muhammad's early scribes, Abdullah bin Sa'd, was weary of the many contradictions and errors as Muhammad revealed his messages from Allah. After years of corrections and improvements he realised the folly of the work and the apparent nature of Muhammad and consequently returned to Mecca where he re-adopted his previous religion. Not surprisingly though, he was on the list of those to be executed when Muhammad conquered Mecca.