WAS MUHAMMAD A SINNER?

by Silas

In the night’s stillness, far from the crowd and alone with the thoughts of his heart, a man prays confessing the truth he knows within his soul:

"Oh God, I acknowledge and confess before You, all my sins, please forgive them, as no one can forgive sins except You. Forgive my mistakes, those done intentionally, or out of my ignorance, with or without seriousness. Oh God, forgive my sins and my ignorance, forgive my sins of the past and of the future, which I did openly or secretly. Forgive the wrong I have done, jokingly or seriously. I seek Your protection from all the evil I have done. Wash away my sins, and cleanse my heart, from all the sins as a white garment is cleansed from the filth, and let there be long distance between me and my sins, as You made the East and West far from each other."

That prayer expressed a heart that understood the depth of sin in its soul. It acknowledges a nature within that is bent towards sin. And it reflects the desire to cleanse that depth of sin. We hear in that prayer a man’s struggle with sin. He asks forgiveness for his past and future sins, because he knows that as a normal man, he is going to sin. It is inevitable. He asks for forgiveness for things he has done intentionally, and unintentionally. He asks forgiveness for mistakes and sins, those done intentionally or unintentionally. He knows that the sins he committed are "evil", and confesses that to God. He does not make light of his sins. The sins he committed are "filth" in God’s eyes.

Do you think that this man was a sinner?

PART 1: WAS MUHAMMAD A SINNER?

That prayer was prayed by Muhammad. It is a synthesis of his personal prayers found in Sahih Bukhari Volume 8: #s 335, 379, 407, and 408, [1]. Muhammad knew clearly he was a sinner; thus he makes his confession public. Over and over again he stated he was a sinner. The Quran he spoke identifies him as a sinner. Yet many Muslims today say that Muhammad was not a sinner.

QUESTION: Muhammad said he was a sinner, why do many Muslims contradict Muhammad and say he is not a sinner?

Before addressing that question, let us examine the later Muslim’s argument that he was not a sinner. And, let us examine Quranic / Hadith evidence that Muhammad was a sinner.

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A. THE ISLAMIC DOCTRINE OF "PROTECTION FROM SIN"

Many Muslims believe that Allah gives a special protection to his prophets from being "sinners". In his book, "Muhammad and the Religion of Islam", [2], John Gilchrist does an excellent job in addressing and summarizing this invented Islamic doctrine. It is sometimes called the "isma" doctrine. This book can be found on the web at:

http://answering-islam.org/Gilchrist/Vol1/

I will quote several paragraphs from the book.

From page 273:

"Throughout the Muslim world today it is generally believed that all of the prophets enjoyed an "isma", a protection against sin, and that they were accordingly sinless. It is one of the anomalies of Islam that this doctrine has been established and maintained against the plain teaching of the Quran and Hadith to the contrary.

In the early centuries of Islam, however, a doctrine founded on popular sentiment and theological presuppositions arose and developed away from the teaching of the Quran and Hadith. It was first formulated in the creed known as the Fiqh Akbar II and it is there stated:

"All the Prophets are exempt from sins, both light and grave, from unbelief and sordid deeds. Yet stumbling and mistakes may happen on their part. Wensinck, "The Muslim Creed, p. 192."

It was not possible to defy the written sources of Islam entirely, however, and so the records of the sins of the prophets in the Quran and Hadith became watered down into "mistakes". Similar euphemisms, such as "acts of forgetfulness", are constantly used by Muslim writers today to account for these misdemeanors which the Scripture and traditions of Islam record.

There are basically two reasons for the rise of this doctrine in Islam. Firstly, the early Muslims soon discovered that the Bible taught plainly that Jesus was the only sinless man that ever lived and, confronted with this evidence, deemed it necessary to invent the fiction that all the prophets — especially Muhammad — were sinless as well. A superiority of Jesus over Muhammad could not be tolerated and, just as miracles were attributed to the figurehead of Islam to give him a status at least equal to that of Jesus, so he was also held to be sinless for the same purpose. Secondly, the doctrine of revelation in Islam holds that the scriptures were dictated directly to the prophets by the intermediary angel (Gabriel) and it was therefore believed that the prophets must have possessed an impeccable character for, if they could not keep themselves from error in their personal lives, how could they be trusted to communicate God’s revelation without error? This latter presupposition led perforce to the conclusion that the prophets must have been sinless."

END OF GILCHRIST QUOTE

In sum, real Islamic writings teach that Muhammad was a sinner. However, later Muslims, ashamed that Muhammad was inferior to Jesus in this regard, made up a doctrine to place Muhammad on equal terms with Christ. This doctrine contradicts what Muhammad taught. And, it should be added, that Muslims believe that God has kept the Quran pure from human corruption through all these centuries, while it was in the hands of sinful humans, then why could he not trust the transmission through sinful human men as well?

B) THE QURANIC EVIDENCE THAT MUHAMMAD WAS A SINNER

The Quran identifies Muhammad as a sinner: 40:55, 48:2, and 47:19:

40:55 Therefore have patience; God’s promise is surely true. Implore forgiveness for your sins, and celebrate the praise of your Lord evening and morning.

48:2 ... so that God may forgive you your past and future sins, and perfect His goodness to you; ...

Below is the Quran 47:19 in five English translations, (NOTE: Muhammad is asking for forgiveness for both himself and his followers).

"Know that there is no deity but God. Implore Him to forgive your sins and to forgive the true believers, men and women. God knows your busy haunts and resting places." Dawood [3]

"So know (O Muhammad) that there is no God save Allah, and ask forgiveness for thy sin and for believing men and believing women. Allah knoweth (both) your place of turmoil and your place of rest." Pickthall [4]

"Know thou therefore that there is no god but God, and ask forgiveness for thy sin, and for the believers, men and women. God knows your going to and fro, and your lodging." Arberry [5]

"Know, then, that there is no god but God; and ask pardon for thy sin, and for believers, both men and women. God knows your busy movements and your final resting places." Rodwell [6]

"Know therefore that there is no god but Allah and ask forgiveness for the fault and for the men and women who believe: for Allah knows how ye move about and how ye dwell in your homes." Ali [7]

END OF QURANIC QUOTES

The Quranic word used in these verses for sin is "dhanb", or "thanb", depending on how one transliterates the word. It is used many times in the Quran. The Hughes Encyclopedic Dictionary of Islam defines the word as "a sin or a crime, or the charge of such", [8].

Clearly the Quran identifies Muhammad as a sinner. It is definitely applied to Muhammad. Since some Muslims argue that Muhammad was not a sinner, they have to resort to re-interpreting the Quranic word, "dhanb". So, what does that word "dhanb" mean in the context of the Quran? We have to address the true meaning of this word — is it "sin", meaning something that God will judge, or is it "fault" defined as meaning something that is very minor and easily excusable by God? To understand the context of the word, we should let the context of how the word is used throughout the Quran speak.

We should let the Quran interpret itself.

I have found the word used about 39 times in the Quran. In some cases it is used without a reference, e.g. 3:31, "Say, "If you love God, follow me. God will love you and forgive your sins…". We have no reference as to what those "sins" consisted.

However, "dhanb" is used many other times with a contextual reference. Here is a significant selection. I present about 22 of them because I want to establish exactly the Quran’s severity of this word. And, I encourage all Muslims to search through their Quran to find an example of Allah lightly treating "dhanb". Study the Quran to find something contrary to the harsh judgment that Allah proscribes to those who commit of "dhanb". I have found none.

SELECTION OF QURANIC VERSES REGARDING "DHANB" OR SIN

3:11 (Their plight will be) no better than that of the people of Pharaoh and their predecessors: they denied Our Signs and Allah called them to account for their sins. For Allah is strict in punishment.

Allah called Pharaoh’s people to account for their sins, and they were punished for their "dhanb".

3:16 (Namely) those who say: "Our Lord! we have indeed believed: forgive us then our sins and save us from the agony of the fire."

Here we see people asking forgiveness for their "dhanb" because without forgiveness of their "dhanb" they will end up in the agony of fire (hell).

5:18 (Both) the Jews and the Christians say: "We are sons of Allah and His beloved." Say: "Why then doth He punish you for your sins? Nay ye are but men,- of the men He hath created: He forgiveth whom He pleaseth and He punisheth whom He pleaseth: and to Allah belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is between: and unto Him is the final goal (of all)."

Here Muhammad is saying that Christians and Jews are being punished by Allah for the "dhanb". Thus their "dhanb" earns punishment from Allah, not a wink of an eye.

5:49 And this (He commands): Judge thou between them by what Allah hath revealed and follow not their vain desires but beware of them lest they beguile thee from any of that (teaching) which Allah hath sent down to thee. And if they turn away be assured that for some of their crimes it is Allah's purpose to punish them. And truly most men are rebellious.

Here "dhanb" is defined as "crimes". Does any sincere person think that a criminal act is more than just a "mistake"? Of course not. How do you think God views "crimes".

6:6 See they not how many of those before them We did destroy? Generations We had established on the earth in strength such as We have not given to you for whom We poured out rain from the skies in abundance and gave (fertile) streams flowing beneath their (feet): yet for their sins We destroyed them and raised in their wake fresh generations (to succeed them).

God is destroying generations of people for their "dhanb".

7:100 To those who inherit the earth in succession to its (previous) possessors is it not a guiding (lesson) that if We so willed We could punish them (too) for their sins and seal up their hearts so that they could not hear?

Here the implication is that people could be punished by God for their "dhanb". "Dhanb" is worthy of punishment.

8:52 "(Deeds) after the manner of the people of Pharaoh and of those before them: they rejected the signs of Allah and Allah punished them for their crimes: for Allah is strong and strict in punishment:

Again, people were punished by God for their "dhanb = crimes". Allah is "strong and strict" in dishing out punishment for people’s "dhanb".

8:54 "(Deeds) after the manner of the people of Pharaoh and those before them": they treated as false the signs of their Lord; so We destroyed them for their crimes and We drowned the people of Pharaoh: for they were all oppressors and wrong-doers.

Again, for their "dhanb = crimes" people were destroyed and drowned by God. These people who committed "dhanb" were "oppressors and wrong-doers".

9:102 Others (there are who) have acknowledged their wrong-doings: they have mixed an act that was good with another that was evil. Perhaps Allah will turn unto them (in mercy): for Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

Ali’s note says: "These were some whose will was weak and succumbed to evil, although there was much good in them ..." Ali calls these "dhanb" evil. Is "evil" the same as a "forgetful mistake"?

12:29 "O Joseph pass this over! (O wife) ask forgiveness for thy sin for truly thou hast been at fault!"

Here we have a women who tried to seduce Joseph, then falsely accused him of trying to sexually molest her, being instructed to ask forgiveness of her "dhanb". Is lying a simple "mistake"? No. It is a sin before man and God.

12:97 They said: "O our father! ask for us forgiveness for our sins for we were truly at fault."

Here we have Joseph’s brothers asking Jacob to ask God to forgive their "dhanb". What was their "dhanb"? They kidnapped Joseph and sold him into slavery. Then they lied about it to their father. Was this a simple "mistake", or a "memory lapse"? No, it was a brutal act, motivated by jealousy.

14:10 Their apostles said: "Is there a doubt about Allah the Creator of the heavens and the earth? It is He Who invites you in order that He may forgive you your sins and give you respite for a term appointed!" They said: "Ah! ye are no more than human like ourselves! Ye wish to turn us away from the (gods) our fathers used to worship: then bring us some clear authority."

Here "dhanb" refers to idolatry. Is idolatry a mere "forgetful" act? And forgiveness of "dhanb" will save them from hellfire. Thus their "dhanb" will send them to hell without forgiveness.

26:14 "And they have a charge of crime against me; and I fear they may slay me."

Here is Moses speaking. He said that he was charged with a "dhanb = crime". What was the crime? Murder. Would any Muslim say that murder is something that God overlooks?

28:78 He said: "This has been given to me because of a certain knowledge which I have." Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him (whole) generations which were superior to him in strength and greater in amount (of riches) they had collected? But the wicked are not called (immediately) to account for their sins.

Here, the reference is to Allah destroying entire generations on account of their "dhanb". Does Allah destroy entire generations because of simple mistakes?

29:40 Each one of them We seized for his crime: of them against some We sent a violent tornado (with showers of stones); some were caught by a (mighty) Blast; some We caused the earth to swallow up; and some We drowned (in the waters): it was not Allah Who injured (or oppressed) them: they injured (and oppressed) their own souls.

Allah says he seized people for their "dhanb = crime". Look at how he punished them: violent tornado, showers of stones, mighty blast, swallowed by the earth, drowned in the water. Aren’t these "dhanb" bad? Does "dhanb" sound like it is something that God ignores? No. Rather, God sternly punishes "dhanb".

40:11, 12 They will say:" Our Lord! twice hast Thou made us without life and twice hast Thou given us Life! Now have we recognized our sins: is there any way out (of this)?" (The answer will be:) "This is because when Allah was invoked as the only (object of worship) ye did reject Faith but when partners were joined to Him ye believed! The command is with Allah Most High Most Great!"

Here people admit their "dhanb = sins". How did allah define their sins? Their "dhanb" was that they joined partners to Allah. This type of sin is called shirk. It is considered by many Muslims to be unforgivable.

40:21 Do they not travel through the earth and see what was the End of those before them? They were even superior to them in strength and in the traces (they have left) in the land: but Allah did call them to account for their sins and none had they to defend them against Allah.

Allah is judging people for their "dhanb = sins". Look, their "dhanb" was severe enough that they needed defense against Allah, but they had none.

46:31 "O our people hearken to the one who invites (you) to Allah and believe in him: He will forgive you your faults and deliver you from a Penalty Grievous.

Here, Allah may forgive "dhanb = faults" and deliver people from a grievous penalty. So, these "dhanb" warrant a grievous penalty in Allah’s eyes.

61:12 He will forgive you your sins and admit you to Gardens beneath which rivers flow and to beautiful mansions in Gardens of Eternity: that is indeed the supreme achievement.

Here, Allah is going to forgive "dhanb = sins". Afterwards they will be admitted into paradise. The people’s "dhanb" is going to keep them out of paradise unless they are forgiven.

67:11 They will then confess their sins: but far will be (Forgiveness) from the Companions of the Blazing Fire!

People will be confessing their "dhanb = sins" but they will receive no forgiveness for them. Instead, these people are in hell on account of their sins.

91:14 Then they rejected him (as a false prophet) and they hamstrung her. So their Lord on account of their crime obliterated their traces and made them equal (in destruction High and low)!

Here people rejected a prophet as a false prophet and killed a special camel. What did Allah do on account of their "dhanb = crime"? He "obliterated their traces", i.e., Allah totally destroyed them! This was on account of their "dhanb".

*****

Let’s review. "Dhanb" is translated as sin, crime, & fault. How does Allah deal with people who have committed dhanb? Allah -

Allah does all this to people who commit "dhanb". Does this sound like something Allah passes over as a minor "stumbling", "mistake", or "act of forgetfulness"?

Of course not! It sounds like Allah is severely punishing people for their "dhanb". It sounds like Allah is really serious about it. Don’t you agree?

And remember, Muhammad committed "dhanb". Muhammad was told to ask forgiveness for his "dhanb". And Muhammad taught in the Quran that forgiveness of "dhanb" was required to get into Paradise. Otherwise, a person with unforgiven "dhanb" ends up in hell.

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EVIDENCE FROM THE HADITH

Earlier I synthesized portions from Muhammad’s prayers, recorded in Bukhari’s Hadith. Here are the four Hadith in full.

8.335: Narrated Shaddad bin 'Aus:The Prophet said, "The most superior way of asking for forgiveness from Allah is:

'Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta. Khalaqtani wa ana 'abduka, wa ana 'ala 'ahdika wa Wa'dika mastata'tu abu'u Laka bi ni 'matika wa abu'u Laka bidhanbi; faghfirli fa'innahu la yaghfiru-dh-dhunuba ill a ant a. A'uidhu bika min sharri ma sana'tu.' If somebody recites this invocation during the night, and if he should die then, he will go to Paradise (or he will be from the people of Paradise). And if he recites it in the morning, and if he should die on the same day, he will have the same fate."

The Arabic is translated as:

"Oh Allah! You are my Lord. None has the right to be worshiped but You. You created me, and I am your slave, and I am faithful to my covenant and my promise as much as I can. I acknowledge before You , all the blessings You have bestowed upon me and confess to You all my sins, so please forgive them, as no one can forgive sins except You. And I seek refuge in You from all the evil I have done."

8.379: Narrated 'Aisha:

The Prophet used to say, "O Allah! I seek refuge with You from laziness and geriatric old age, from all kinds of sins and from being in debt; from the affliction of the Fire and from the punishment of the Fire and from the evil of the affliction of wealth; and I seek refuge with You from the affliction of poverty, and I seek refuge with You from the affliction of Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal. O Allah! Wash away my sins with the water of snow and hail, and cleanse my heart from all the sins as a white garment is cleansed from the filth, and let there be a long distance between me and my sins, as You made East and West far from each other."

8.407: Narrated Abu Musa: The Prophet used to invoke Allah with the following invocation: 'Rabbi-ghfir-li Khati 'ati wa jahli wa israfi fi amri kullihi, wa ma anta a'lamu bihi minni. Allahumma ighfirli khatayaya wa 'amdi, wa jahli wa jiddi, wa kullu dhalika'indi. Allahumma ighrifli ma qaddamtu wa ma akhartu wa ma asrartu wa ma a'lantu. Anta-l-muqaddimu wa anta-l-mu'akh-khiru, wa anta 'ala kulli shai'in qadir.'

The Arabic is translated as:

"O my Lord! Forgive my sins and my ignorance and my exceeding the limits of righteousness in all my deeds and what you know better than I. O Allah. Forgive my mistakes, those done intentionally or out of my ignorance or without or with seriousness, and I confess that all such mistakes are done by me. O Allah! Forgive my sins of the past and of the future with I did openly or secretly. You are the One Who makes the things go before and You are the One Who delays them, and You are the Omnipotent."

8.408: Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari: The Prophet used to invoke Allah, saying, "Allahumma ighfirli khati'ati wa jahli wa israfi fi amri, wa ma anta a-'lamu bihi minni. Allahumma ighfirli hazali wa jiddi wa khata'i wa amdi, wa kullu dhalika 'indi."

The Arabic is translated as:

"O Allah! Forgive my mistakes and my ignorance and my exceeding the limit (boundaries) of righteousness in my deeds; and forgive whatever You know better than I. O Allah! Forgive the wrong I have done jokingly or seriously, and forgive my accidental and intentional errors, all that is present in me."

In these prayers, Muhammad uses a different word for sin. Instead of using "dhanb", he uses the root word "khati’a".

The Encyclopedia of Islam [9] defines Khati’a as:

"Moral lapse, sin, a synonym of dhanb. The root means "to fail, stumble", "make a mistake", "of an archer whose arrow misses the target".

In his prayers, Muhammad acknowledges a whole spectrum of sin: evil, mistakes, ignorance, wrong, accidental errors, intentional errors, past and future sins, and filth. These are not simple "mistakes", these are offensive sins in the context of his prayers.

Muhammad acknowledged he was a sinner. Don’t Muhammad’s prayers for forgiveness establish the fact that he knew how severe his sins were? He knew Allah punishes sin, and that is why he was always pleading for forgiveness from Allah. Muhammad didn’t want to burn in hell for his crimes.

And, Muhammad did believe and fear he was going to suffer:

Sahih Muslim, [10], Book 4, Number 1212:

Narrated Aisha:

"The Prophet entered my house when a Jewess was with me and she was saying: Do you know that you would be put to trial in the grave? The Messenger of Allah trembled (on hearing this) and said: It is the Jews only who would be put to trial. Aisha said: We passed some nights and then the Messenger of Allah said: Do you know that it has been revealed to me: "You would be put to trial in the grave"? Aisha said: I heard the Messenger of Allah seeking refuge from the torment of the grave after this."

Allah "revealed" to Muhammad he would be put to trial in the grave. Muhammad constantly prayed for refuge from his upcoming torment. Why? If Muhammad were so pure and innocent, why would Allah be tormenting him in the grave? Muhammad was aware of his sins, and thus, he prayed for forgiveness.

What were some of Muhammad’s sins? Examine his actions and judge accordingly. As I’ve read the Islamic source material, i.e., the Quran, Hadith, and Sira, I have come across some shocking deeds. Few Muslims know about these actions. However, they are all recorded in the source materials. These materials were all written by devout Muslims, who wanted to tell to the truth to the best of their ability.

LIST OF SOME OF MUHAMMAD’S SINS

Here is a listing of some of Muhammad’s sins:

1) The torturing and killing of a man just to get money:

2) Allowing female slaves to be raped:

3) Ordering the murder of a women who opposed him:

4) Ordering the murder of slave girls who had mocked him:

5) Speaking Satan’s words as God’s words:

All of these sins were committed by Muhammad. No wonder he prayed for forgiveness. The truth was deep in his heart.

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PART 1 CONCLUSION: MUHAMMAD WAS A SINNER

Muhammad admitted he was a sinner. He called his sins "filth" and "evil". However, later Muslims invented an un-Islamic teaching that Muhammad was not a sinner. They did this primarily to elevate Muhammad to a level near equal to Jesus. Muhammad wa a sinner in the truest sense of the word. Even in his own theology his sins warranted God’s punishment unless they were forgiven.

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PART 2: JESUS, CHRISTIANITY, AND SIN

JESUS WAS NOT A SINNER

Both Islam and Christianity teach that Jesus was not a sinner. In the Bible, it is explicitly stated that Jesus had no sin.

FROM THE BIBLE

Heb 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.

2 Cor 5:20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

1 Peter 2:22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."

1John 3:4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.

FROM THE QURAN AND HADITH

The Quran teaches that when Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce Christ’s birth, Gabriel said in Chapter 19:19:

"He said: "Nay I am only a messenger from thy Lord (to announce) to thee the gift of a holy son."

The word in Arabic for "holy" is zakiyya, a word with the root meaning "purity". This form of the word principally means "innocent, pure, clean, faultless".

The Sahih Hadith also state that Jesus does not admit sin:

Bukhari Vol. 6, #236

... 'So they will go to Jesus and say, 'O Jesus! You are Allah's Apostle and His Word which He sent to Mary, and a superior soul created by Him, and you talked to the people while still young in the cradle. Please intercede for us with your Lord. Don't you see in what state we are?' Jesus will say. 'My Lord has today become angry as He has never become before nor will ever become thereafter.' Jesus will not mention any sin ...

Therefore, original Islam taught that Jesus had no sin. However, as stated earlier, later Muslims could not tolerate Muhammad’s inferiority and thus made up a doctrine that put Muhammad on par with Christ.

In "Muslim Studies", Vol. 2, p. 346, I. Goldziher wrote:

"An unconscious tendency prevailed to draw a picture of Muhammad that should not be inferior to the Christian picture of Jesus."

This doctrine is actually contrary to Muhammad’s words in the Quran.

THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF SIN AND SINNER

Another quote from Gilchrist’s book sheds a deeper light on the issue:

It is important to note, before proceeding, that the "sinlessness" of the prophets in Islam implies only a protection from errors of judgement in action and character. It is to be distinguished from the Biblical doctrine which holds that true sinlessness not only means a freedom from wrong doing but an actual state of heart, soul and mind that reflects all the goodness of God’s holiness, love and righteousness. Those who have "sinned" are also those who have "fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) and who have not attained to his righteousness.

"The impeccability of Muhammad has a different basis than the sinlessness of Jesus. Muhammad’s impeccability is asserted for the purpose of establishing the validity of his revelation. Jesus’ sinlessness is the corollary of the affirmation of his divinity and also of the Christian conception of the true nature of man. Prophetic protection, or, "impeccability" (‘ismah), is a postulate of the reason in respect of revelation rather than a definition of the quality of Muhammad’s person. (Thomson, "Muhammad: His Life and Person", "The Muslim World", Vol. 34, p. 115."

The only sinlessness known to Christianity is sinless perfection and it decrees that all who do not possess the righteousness of God are automatically counted as sinners. On the contrary Islam knows only a human nature which by instinct is prone to error. It knows nothing of fallen human nature which needs to be redeemed and made regenerate. Its concept of sinlessness is therefore confined purely to a preservation from deliberate error and wrongdoing — it does not require a corresponding positive possession of the image of the holy character of God in the soul. Thus it allows for so called "mistakes" and "acts of forgetfulness". (Gilchrist, op cit, page 275).

END OF GILCHRIST QUOTE

REFLECTION — WHAT KIND OF SINNER WAS MUHAMMAD?

Islam teaches that men do not have a fallen nature, but a nature that leans toward sin. Christians believe that man has a fallen nature. Jesus even stated that men were intrinsically evil:

Matthew 7:9 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Paul later added more detail on the fallen nature within at war with God’s will:

"For the good I want to do, I do not, but the evil I do not want to do, I do" ... "But I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members." Romans 7:19, 23.

Christians believe that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God - Romans 3:23. We have experienced a battle within our souls, the flesh versus the spirit, this sinful bent fighting against submitting to God’s will.

Now, examine Muhammad’s prayer:

Do his requests for forgiveness indicate that he had a fallen, corrupted nature? Here he was, praying as often as he could for forgiveness — why? His prayer is not the prayer of a man who had a few marginal "lapses". His prayer was one of a fearful, concerned man — a man who identified his sins as "filth" and "evil". He eventually believed that he would suffer in the grave to pay for his sins. He prayed because he was conscious of the sinful nature operating within him. Even if he did not articulate having a "sinful nature", we see the evidence of his sinful nature existing in his prayer. It was operating within him, and he wanted to deal with it. It was a nature that was with him all his years of self appointed prophethood. He knew that even in his future, he was going to sin - he asks God to forgive his future sins, and makes up a verse that God was going to do so - (48:1, 2). Deep down, he intuitively knew he was a sinner at heart, and he wanted forgiveness.

PART 2 CONCLUSION: MUHAMMAD HAD A SINFUL NATURE AS ALL MEN HAVE SINFUL NATURES

According to Christian and Islamic teachings, Jesus was pure and sinless. Although the religions' teachings on the sinful nature of man differ, a close examination of Muhammad’s actions and personal prayers, show that he fits precisely the Christian definition of "sinner".

Salvation is only through Jesus Christ. Muhammad did not know this. Instead of finding true forgiveness, deep in his heart, Muhammad lived in fear of his upcoming torment in the grave. Left on his own, with outside spiritual forces driving him, Muhammad concocted a bizarre religion, filled with various rituals, superstitions, and violence, all in an attempt to please a God he did not know.

Pray this prayer:

"Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner. I know there is a depth of sin in my soul. Please forgive my sins. I know they are evil in Your sight. I believe that You died for my sins. I believe that You were raised from the dead. I ask You to come into my heart, to cleanse me from my sins, to receive me. I receive Your love for me, You are God’s unique Son, and I choose to put my faith in You, and obey You."

BIBLIOGRAPHY

[1] "Sahih Bukhari", translated into English by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan, at the Islamic University in Medina, published by Kitab Bhavan, New Delhi, India.

[2] "Muhammad and the Religion of Islam", by John Gilchrist, page 273, published by Jesus to the Muslims, Durban, South Africa. It can be found on the web at:

http://answering-islam.org/Gilchrist/Vol1/

[3] "The Koran", by N. J. Dawood, published by Penguin, London England

[4] "The Meaning of the Glorious Koran", by M. Pickthall. published by Mentor, NY, NY.

[5] "The Koran", by A. J. Arberry, published by Oxford University Press, Oxford, England.

[6] "The Koran", by J. M. Rodwell, published by Everyman, London, England.

[7] "The Holy Quran", by Yusef Ali, published by Amana, Beltsville, Maryland.

[8] The Hughes Encyclopedic Dictionary of Islam"

[9] "Ency. of Islam", pub. by Brill, Netherlands.

[10] "Sahih Muslim", translated by A. Siddiqi, published by International Islamic Publishing House, Riyadh, KSA.

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