The Qur’anic Rebuke of Muhammad

The Qur’anic Rebuke of Muhammad: A Theological Reflection and Inquiry

By: Max Shimba Ministries Org

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Abstract

This paper explores surprising Qur’anic passages where Allah appears to rebuke, humiliate, or speak disparagingly toward Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam. While Muslim tradition venerates Muhammad as a sinless, elevated figure, the Qur’anic text contains verses in which Allah addresses him with stern language. This article juxtaposes these passages with Qur’anic descriptions of Jesus (Isa) — who is consistently spoken of in honorable terms — and compares this dynamic to the consistent dignity afforded to Jesus Christ within the Christian Scriptures. The reflection raises theological and doctrinal questions about Islamic eschatology, prophetic authority, and divine justice within the Qur’anic worldview.

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Introduction

Muhammad is deeply revered within Islamic tradition as the final prophet and the “Seal of the Prophets.” He is considered a figure of impeccable character and divine appointment. Yet, a critical reading of the Qur’an reveals passages where Allah issues direct reprimands, harsh statements, and even public humiliation of Muhammad. These verses challenge the popular perception of his spiritual status. More so, the Qur’an paradoxically addresses Jesus (Isa) in consistently honorable terms, raising further theological curiosity.

This article examines these specific Qur’anic passages and raises essential questions:

• Why would Allah address his final messenger in such a disparaging manner?

• What do these passages imply about Muhammad’s spiritual standing?

• How do these interactions compare to the way God addresses Jesus in both the Qur’an and the Bible?

• What implications do these revelations hold for Muslim theology regarding heaven, hell, and prophetic authority?

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Textual Evidence and Analysis

A series of Qur’anic verses form the foundation for this inquiry:

1. Mortality of Muhammad

“Indeed, you (Muhammad) will die, and indeed, they too will die.”
(Qur’an, Az-Zumar 39:30)

And again:

“Then on the Day of Resurrection you all will dispute before your Lord.”
(Qur’an, Az-Zumar 39:31)

Here, Allah bluntly declares the mortality of Muhammad, placing him on equal footing with his followers, which disrupts notions of prophetic transcendence.

2. Muhammad as an Ordinary Man

“Say: I am only a man like you…”
(Qur’an, Al-Kahf 18:110)

The Qur’an commands Muhammad to publicly identify himself as merely human, despite Islamic tradition that elevates him far beyond ordinariness.

3. Muhammad's Sinfulness and Need for Forgiveness

“So know that there is no deity except Allah and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women.”
(Qur’an, Muhammad 47:19)

Nowhere does the Qur’an confirm Muhammad’s sins were forgiven — a troubling matter given his prophetic role.

4. Inability to Guide Loved Ones

“Indeed, you (Muhammad) do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills.”
(Qur’an, Al-Qasas 28:56)

This passage portrays Muhammad as powerless in matters of salvation, contrary to the perception of a prophet interceding for his followers.

5. Pointless Intercession for the Damned

“Whether you (Muhammad) ask forgiveness for them seventy times — Allah will never forgive them.”
(Qur’an, At-Tawbah 9:80)

The verse renders Muhammad’s intercession ineffective, even repetitive and futile.

6. Demand for Angels as Proof of Prophethood

“And they say: O you upon whom the message has been sent down, indeed you are mad. Why do you not bring us the angels if you should be among the truthful?”
(Qur’an, Al-Hijr 15:6-7)

The absence of heavenly signs to support Muhammad’s claims undermines his credibility in the eyes of his opponents.

7. Disparagement in Daily Life

“And they say: What is this Messenger who eats food and walks in the markets? Why has an angel not been sent down to be a warner with him?”
(Qur’an, Al-Furqan 25:7-8)

The verse questions Muhammad’s prophetic legitimacy based on his mundane lifestyle.

8. All Souls, Including Believers, Must Enter Hell

“And there is none of you except he will come to it (Hell). This is upon your Lord an inevitability decreed.”
(Qur’an, Maryam 19:71)

And:

“Then We will save those who feared Allah and leave the wrongdoers within it, on their knees.”
(Qur’an, Maryam 19:72)

This raises difficult soteriological questions about the fate of the righteous and whether paradise in Islamic theology is accessible without passing through Hell.

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Theological Questions and Reflections

These passages generate profound theological dilemmas:

1. Who Are ‘We’ Who Will Save the God-Fearing?
   In Maryam 19:72, Allah refers to “We” saving the pious. Islamic theology traditionally asserts Allah alone saves. The plural raises questions about divine agency and authority.

2. Why Must the Pious Enter Hell?
   The assertion that all — including believers — must experience Hell challenges conventional eschatological narratives of immediate paradise for the faithful. It suggests a grim universal judgment before redemption.

3. Why Does Allah Rebuke His Own Messenger?
   It is troubling that Allah would publicly admonish and humiliate Muhammad, labeling him sinful, powerless, and ineffective. By contrast, Jesus in the Qur’an receives consistent honor and affirmation.

In the Bible, God never speaks ill of Jesus Christ. On the contrary, He declares:

“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
(Matthew 3:17)

The Qur’anic tone toward Muhammad stands in stark contrast to the biblical relationship between God and Christ, exposing a unique inconsistency in Islamic prophetic theology.

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Conclusion

This theological reflection challenges the Islamic portrayal of Muhammad’s spiritual perfection and unassailable authority. The Qur’anic text itself introduces narratives of rebuke, limitation, and humiliation that are absent from the divine treatment of Jesus both in the Qur’an and the Bible. It calls for a deeper inquiry into the authenticity of Muhammad’s prophetic claims, the nature of divine justice in Islam, and the ultimate fate of believers within Qur’anic eschatology.

Max Shimba Ministries Org

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Keywords:
Qur’an, Muhammad, Jesus, rebuke, prophecy, Islamic theology, eschatology, divine justice, soteriology, prophetic authority, comparative religion.

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