Apostle Paul vs. Muhammad: Who Stands as the True Messenger?

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba | Shimba Theological Institute

Introduction
Muslims often accuse the Apostle Paul of being a false apostle, a corrupter of Scripture, and even claim he was the one who first called Jesus “God” and established Christianity as we know it today. These are serious allegations that warrant a careful, scriptural response. In this study, we shall weigh the lives, callings, teachings, and spiritual fruit of both Paul and Muhammad by the standards of divine revelation. Who truly stands as a legitimate apostle of God?

1. The Birth and Heritage of Paul and Muhammad

Paul’s Birth and Heritage

Paul declares in Acts 22:3, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia…” Tarsus was a significant city under Roman rule, famous for its intellectual culture and skilled artisans. As such, Paul was born not only into Jewish nobility but was also a Roman citizen by birth (Acts 22:25-28). Paul traces his lineage to the noble tribe of Benjamin, making him a true descendant of Abraham—the patriarch through whom all nations were to be blessed (Genesis 12:1-4; 22:15-18, Romans 11:1). Paul himself describes his credentials:

“…circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee.” (Philippians 3:4-5)

Muhammad’s Birth and Heritage

Muhammad was born in 570 AD in Mecca, in the Arabian Peninsula. The Qur’an (41:44) acknowledges his Arab descent. According to Qur’an 34:44, no scripture or prophetic warning had ever been given to his people before him, meaning both Muhammad and his Arab contemporaries were born into spiritual ignorance, with no revealed book or knowledge of the true God. Islamic tradition records that pre-Islamic Arabs worshipped many idols and even objects such as attractive loaves of bread.

Theological Reflection:
Paul was born into a lineage of God’s covenant people, trained in the knowledge and worship of the one true God. In contrast, Muhammad emerged from a people who had neither knowledge of God nor His revelation.

2. The Education of Paul and Muhammad

Paul’s Education

Paul testifies,

“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city [Jerusalem]. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors.” (Acts 22:3)

Gamaliel was one of the most respected teachers of Jewish law (Acts 5:34). Paul excelled above his peers in zeal and knowledge (Galatians 1:14) and went on to author thirteen epistles by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 6:11; 2 Peter 3:15-17).

Muhammad’s Education

The Qur’an itself acknowledges that Muhammad was “unlettered” (Qur’an 7:157, 62:2), unable to read or write. Islamic sources confirm that neither Muhammad nor his tribe, the Quraysh, were educated in reading or writing.
His lack of formal knowledge led to teachings that diverge from common sense and sound doctrine, such as the recommendation to use dust for ritual purification (Qur’an 5:6) or the infamous hadith instructing followers to fully submerge a fly in a drink, asserting that one wing carries disease and the other cure (Mishkat al-Masabih, vol. 2, p. 152).

Theological Reflection:
Whereas Paul was equipped with both spiritual and academic formation, Muhammad’s lack of knowledge is not presented in the Qur’an as a sign of humility, but as a limitation—contrary to biblical standards for prophetic leadership (Ezekiel 13:3).

3. The Faith of Paul and Muhammad

Paul’s Faith

Paul was raised as a devout Jew, strictly adhering to the Law and the prophets before his conversion (Galatians 1:13; Acts 26:4-5). Even after his encounter with Christ, he continued teaching from the Law and the Prophets to prove Jesus is the Messiah (Acts 28:23).

Muhammad’s Faith

Before Islam, Muhammad was a pagan among the Quraysh, worshipping the 360 idols of the Kaaba, including the black stone and deities like al-Lat, al-Uzza, and Manat (Qur’an 53:16-23).

Theological Reflection:
Paul’s faith was rooted in the progressive revelation of the one true God; Muhammad’s was rooted in polytheistic traditions before claiming prophetic status.

4. The Calling to Apostleship

Paul’s Calling

Paul was directly commissioned by the risen Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-8). Christ’s command was later confirmed to Ananias in a vision (Acts 9:11-15), and Paul’s apostleship was validated by his preaching before nations and kings (Galatians 1:17; Acts 9:19-20, 17:16-22, 18:19, 28:16-30; Romans 15:24-28).

Muhammad’s Calling

According to early Islamic biographies, Muhammad received his calling through a mysterious encounter in a cave, where an unknown being (later identified as Gabriel) commanded him to “read.” Terrified, Muhammad returned home trembling and feared he was possessed or bewitched. His wife Khadijah and her cousin Waraqa bin Nawfal reassured him that he was a prophet, essentially bestowing the prophetic title upon him. There is no direct divine commissioning as seen with biblical prophets, and Muhammad himself doubted the nature of his experience.

Theological Reflection:
True prophetic calls in Scripture are direct, clear, and bring assurance, not confusion or terror. God forbids divination and fortune-telling (Deuteronomy 18:10-12), practices that surround Muhammad’s alleged calling.

5. Signs and Miracles

Paul’s Miracles

“God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.” (Acts 19:11-12)

Muhammad and Miracles

The Qur’an explicitly denies that Muhammad performed miracles, instead claiming that miracles belong to Allah alone and are given at His discretion (Qur’an 29:50). Islamic sources further report that Muhammad was himself afflicted by sorcery (Bukhari, Sahih Muslim).

Theological Reflection:
Biblical prophets are validated by signs and wonders; Muhammad performed none, and even suffered affliction by sorcery—contrary to the pattern of God’s messengers.

6. Reception of Revelations (Visions/Wahy)

Paul

Paul received clear visions and direct messages from the Lord (Acts 16:9-10, 18:9, 26:19).

Muhammad

Muhammad described his experiences of “wahy” (revelation) as physically distressing, often likening them to the ringing of bells, leaving him disoriented (see Islamic sources).

7. The Danger of Rejecting the Apostle Paul

Peter warns,

“Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters… His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction…” (2 Peter 3:15-18).

Rejecting Paul’s apostleship and gospel is tantamount to rejecting the very foundation of salvation in Christ, bringing condemnation (Romans 2:16).

Conclusion
Those who deny the apostleship of Paul and the gospel he preached are described by Scripture as ignorant, unstable, and doomed to judgment. In every measure—heritage, education, faith, divine calling, miracles, revelation—Paul stands as a true apostle, whereas Muhammad’s claim is undermined by history and theology alike.

Come to Jesus, the true Savior!

Muhammad is found wanting before Paul.
It is all bluster—nothing more.

Shalom.

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For further studies, visit Shimba Theological Institute or contact Dr. Maxwell Shimba.

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