Why Did Allah Send Down Surah Al-Hijr 15:6 Calling the Prophet of Islam Insane?

Why Did Allah Send Down Surah Al-Hijr 15:6 Calling the Prophet of Islam Insane?

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba | Shimba Theological Institute

Dear brothers and sisters,

The Bible teaches us that “you will know them by their fruits” — words directly from the Gospel of Matthew 7:16-17:

“By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.”

Today, I invite you to critically reflect with me: what fruit did Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, bear during his lifetime?

His conduct raised serious questions. One of the most troubling acts was his marriage to a six-year-old girl — an act no prophet before him ever committed. This, along with other actions, led his contemporaries to openly call him “insane” (MuwendaWazimu in Swahili).

And here’s the astonishing part: even the Quran itself records this accusation.

Surah Al-Hijr 15:6 says:

“And they say, ‘O you upon whom the message has been sent down, indeed you are mad (possessed/insane).’”

[Source: http://www.quranitukufu.net/015.html]

Notice — Muhammad did not deny this claim. He remained silent, which in itself speaks volumes.

---

Did Muhammad Himself Admit to Madness?

Historical Islamic sources further confirm these concerns. In Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir by Ibn Sa’d, translated by S. Moinal Haq (vol. 1, p. 225), Muhammad is recorded confessing to his wife Khadija:

“O Khadija, I see lights and I hear voices, and I fear that I am mad.”

This is Muhammad’s own admission — raising a critical debate:

• If Muhammad feared he was mad, what assurance do we have that his revelations were divine and not delusions?

• Why would Allah send down a verse publicizing that his own prophet was being called insane?

• Does God mock his prophets? Or is this evidence of an underlying problem with Muhammad’s claim to prophethood?

---

A Debate for Every Honest Seeker

If we’re to compare the fruits of true prophets — like Moses, David, and Jesus — none were ever accused of madness, nor did they fear for their own sanity. None married children. None doubted the origin of their revelations.

So, the debate stands:

• Is Muhammad’s own confession and public accusations of madness consistent with genuine prophethood?

• Why does the Quran preserve such a damaging claim, rather than refuting it outright?

• Can a man fearing madness be trusted as the sole conveyor of God’s final message?

---

Conclusion

As people of faith and reason, we must question these matters openly. As Jesus taught, “you will know them by their fruits.” And by the fruit of Muhammad’s life — and by the words of his own book — troubling questions arise.

This is not to insult, but to invite honest debate, inquiry, and a search for truth.

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is not a God of confusion.

Stay tuned for more theological reflections and debates from Shimba Theological Institute.

Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Founder & Director, Shimba Theological Institute

---