July 2011: Page 1, 2, 3, 4

Submitters Perspective

Page 3

Prophet Muhammad was not illiterate

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your hand. In that case, the rejectors would have had reason to harbor doubts.

[73:4] Or a little more. And read the Quran from cover to cover.

[73:20] Your Lord knows that you meditate during two-thirds of the night, or half of it, or one-third of it, and so do some of those who believed with you. GOD has designed the night and the day, and He knows that you cannot always do this. He has pardoned you. Instead, you shall read what you can of the Quran….

Muhammad's contemporaries knew that Muhammad could write.  

[25:4] Those who disbelieved said, "This is a fabrication that he produced, with the help of some other people." They have uttered a blasphemy and a falsehood.

[25:5] They also said, "Tales from the past that he wrote down; they were dictated to him day and night."

[25:6] Say, "This was revealed by the One who knows the Secret in the heavens and the earth. He is Forgiving, Most Merciful."

Obviously, we cannot dictate to an illiterate person!

The Quran is the final testament of God with an extraordinary literary work.  The Quran is the only miracle that was sent down to the prophet Muhammad.

[29:50] They said, "If only miracles could come down to him from his Lord!" Say, "All miracles come only from GOD; I am no more than a manifest Warner."

[29:51] Is it not enough of a miracle that we sent down to you this book, being recited to them? This is indeed a mercy and a reminder for people who believe.

[10:20] They say, "How come no miracle came down to him from his Lord?" Say, "The future belongs to GOD; so wait, and I am waiting along with you."

Muslim scholars could not understand the following Quran's challenge to produce "sura like these."

[2:23] If you have any doubt regarding what we revealed to our servant, then produce one sura like these, and call upon your own witnesses against GOD, if you are truthful.

[2:24] If you cannot do this - and you can never do this - then beware of the Hellfire, whose fuel is people and rocks; it awaits the disbelievers.

Some literary giants, including Al-Mutanabby and Taha Hussein, have answered the above  challenge, but they had no awareness of the Quran's extraordinary literary work that is built onto an intricate mathematical system. 

The Quran has 29 chapters that are prefixed with 14 different sets of Quranic initials—ALM, ALR, ALMR, ALMS, Q, KHYAS, S, YS, TH, TSM, TS, HM, ASQ AND N. The significance of these Quranic initials remained a divinely guarded secret for 14 centuries!

[26:1] T. S. M. 

[26:2] These (letters) constitute proofs of this clarifying scripture.

[26:3] You may blame yourself that they are not believers.

[26:4] If we will, we can send from the sky a sign that forces their necks to bow.

[26:5] Whenever a reminder from the Most Gracious comes to them, that is new, they turn away in aversion.

[26:6] Since they disbelieved, they have incurred the consequences of their heedlessness.

The  Muslim scholars were not aware of the Quran's built-in mathematical system and decided to proclaim Muhammad an "illiterate" man!  They figured that this would make the Quran's extraordinary literary excellence truly miraculous for an illiterate person!  The Arabic word they relied on to bestow "illiteracy" upon the Prophet was  "ummy".

[7:157] "(4) follow the messenger, the "ummy" prophet (Muhammad), whom they find written in their Torah and Gospel. He exhorts them to be righteous, enjoins them from evil, allows for them all good food, and prohibits that which is bad, and unloads the burdens and the shackles imposed upon them. Those who believe in him, respect him, support him, and follow the light that came with him are the successful ones."

[7:158] Say, "O people, I am GOD's messenger to all of you. To Him belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. There is no god except He. He controls life and death." Therefore, you shall believe in GOD and His messenger, the "ummy" prophet, who believes in GOD and His words. Follow him, that you may be guided.

It is true that in today's standard Arabic, "illiterate" is one of the meanings of "ummy."  But this is not a compelling evidence, since "gentile" is also another meaning of "ummy."  The Quranic definition of "ummy," which is "gentile" is given in the following verse 2:78.

[2:78] Among them are gentiles who do not know the scripture, except through hearsay, then assume that they know it.

If we study the Quran carefully where the Arabic word "ummiyeen", plural form of "ummy",  is found, its usage has always been in the context of "the people of the scripture" against "the gentiles"!

[3:20] If they argue with you, then say, "I have simply submitted myself to GOD; I and those who follow me." You shall proclaim to those who received the scripture, as well as those who did not, "Would you submit?" If they submit, then they have been guided, but if they turn away, your sole mission is to deliver this message. GOD is Seer of all people.

[3:75] Some followers of the scripture can be trusted with a whole lot, and they will give it back to you. Others among them cannot be trusted with a single dinar; they will not repay you unless you keep after them. That is because they say, "We do not have to be honest when dealing with "ummiyyeen!" Thus, they attribute lies to GOD, knowingly.

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