The Qur’an was Muhammad’s only
Revelation
The following verses of the Qur’an are quoted without reference
to the rest of the Qur’an to imply that everything that the
Prophet said was some form of revelation from Allah:
“Nor does he say (aught) of (his
own) Desire. It is no less than inspiration sent down to him”
(53:3-4)
In the Qur’an it is explained very clearly that the inspired
speech of the Prophet that is the Qur’an and nothing else. Allah
makes a clear distinction between the Prophet’s ordinary speech
and the revelation that he recites.
Consider that we see that Allah admonishes and corrects the Prophet in
the Qur’an in several places. Here are a few examples:
“Allah pardon you! Why did you
give them leave until those who spoke the truth had become manifest to
you and you had known the liars?”
(9:43)
In the above Ayah the messenger of God is admonished as to why he had
given permission to the Hypocrites until the truthful people were made
distinct from the liars. Had everything spoken by him been a revelation
from God, then the above Qur’anic revelation would not have
opposed the speech of the messenger in which he had given the
permission to the Hypocrites for non-participation in Jihad. This is
evidence that NOT everything that the Messenger did or said was by
revelation. This therefore means that 53:3-4 cannot be
interpreted to mean that everything the prophet said was revelation,
and so in the light of what follows we will see, that the only
revelation for guidance to the prophet was the Qur’an.
Another example we see in the Qur’an is when Allah says to the
Prophet:
“O Nabi! Why do you forbid
(yourself) that which Allah has made lawful for you; you seek to please
your wives; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”
(66:1)
Here Allah admonishes the Prophet for forbidding something for himself
that Allah DID NOT forbid. This verse again establishes that the
Prophet often acted on his own initiative as a human being WITHOUT the
revelation of Allah. If everything he did or said was by revelation, he
would NOT be admonished by Allah in the Qur’an for saying
something that Allah did not want him to say.
Another example we see is:
“(The Prophet) frowned and
turned away,
Because there came to him the blind man.
What could inform thee but that he might grow (in grace)?
Or take heed and so the reminder might avail him?
As to one who regards Himself as self-sufficient,
To him do you address yourself.
And no blame is on you if he would not purify himself
And as to him who comes to you striving hard,
And with fear (in his heart),
Of him you were unmindful.”
(80:1-10)
Here we see Allah admonishing the prophet for acting incorrectly by
focusing his attention on a kafir when a sincere Muslims who wanted
guidance was seeking his guidance. So this would be an example of
bad sunnah if we want to look at it in this way.
Now we look at the Qur’anic evidence that the only revelation
that was being sent down to the Messenger was the Qur’an. We read
an objection raised by the kafir that when an Ayah is not revealed to
the Prophet why doesn’t he create one by himself:
“And when you bring not a verse
for them they say: Why have you not contrived it?”
(7:203)
Here we see that it is accepted that what is to brought to them is in
verse form, the Qur’an is in verse form, but not the speech of
the prophet!
Then Allah Challenges people to produce something similar to the
Revelation being sent down on the Messenger. Let us read these
challenges:
“And if you are in doubt
concerning that which We reveal to Our slave (Muhammad), then bring a
Surah similar to it, and call your witnesses beside Allah if you are
truthful.”
(2:23)
“Or, do they say: He has forged it. Say: Then bring ten forged
Surahs like it and call upon whom you can besides Allah, if you are
truthful.”
(11:13)
These clearly tell us that what was being revealed was in surah
form. Did the prophet speak in chapters? Was his speech
composed of verses and chapters? No!
So this is another proof that everything the prophet was NOT revealed.
If we look at this next verse: -
“The hypocrites fear lest a
Surah should be sent down to them telling them plainly of what is in
their hearts. Say: Go on mocking, surely Allah will bring forth what
you fear.”
(9:64)
We see that the hypocrites feared the REVELATION of a SURAH revealing
their intent. If everything the prophet said was by revelation,
then why could he not just say it? Why wait for a surah?
The answer is clear! Because it was only the Qur’an that
was revealed to him! Why would they not fear his other non
Qur'anic revelations?
The believers also used to wait for SURAHS to receive Allah’s
commandment. If we read: -
“And those who believe say: Why
has not a Surah been revealed? But when a decisive Surah is revealed,
and fighting is mentioned therein you see those in whose hearts is a
disease look to you with the look of one fainting because of death. Woe
to them then!”
(47:20)
Then we see that if everything that the Messenger was saying was
revelation, then they would not have to wait for a SURAH. Once
again proving that Allah is making a distinction between what was
revealed (The Qur’an) and what was the normal speech of the
prophet.
Next we see explicit reference to exactly what was revealed to the
prophet: -
“And We have not taught him
poetry, nor is it meet for him; it is nothing but a reminder and a
plain Qur’an, that it may warn him who would have life, and
(that) the word may prove true against the unbelievers”.
(36:69-70)
“And thus have We revealed to you an Arabic Qur’an, that
you may warn the mother city and those around it, and that you may give
warning of the day of gathering together wherein is no doubt; a party
shall be in the garden and (another) party in the burning fire.”
(42:7)
Muhammad was revealed an Arabic Qur’an, this is what Allah tells
us, and this is all we can say was revealed to Muhammad, no more and no
less.
In the next verses we see that the prophet is made to proclaim that he
warns by the Qur’an only, if all his speech was revealed, then he
need not say this: -
“And this Qur’an has been
revealed to me that with it I may warn you and whomsoever it
reaches”
(6:19)
“Say: I follow only that which is inspired in me from my
Sustainer. This (Qur'an) is insight from your Sustainer, and a guidance
and a mercy for a people that believe. And when the Qur'an is recited,
give ear to it and pay heed, that you may obtain mercy.”
(7:203-204)
Then Allah tells the Prophet that he is to warn only by the
Qur’an. If his other speech was also revelation, then this would
be unnecessary:
“We know best what they say, and
you are not one to compel them; therefore remind him by means of the
Qur’an who fears My promise.”
(50:45)
“And to rehearse the Qur’an: and if any accept Guidance,
they do it for the good of their own souls; and if any astray, say:
‘I am only a warner”.
(27:92).
So it now very clear that the only revelation received by the prophet
for our guidance was the Qur’an.
The above evidence contradicts all claims of the people that the
Prophet received other revelations besides the Qur’an.
Therefore, let us now consider the following statements of the
Qur’an: -
“… If any do fail to
judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better
than) Unbelievers (Kaafiroon).”
(5:44)
“… If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah
hath revealed, they are (no better than) Wrong Doers (Zalimoon).”
(5:45)
“… If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah
hath revealed, they are (no better than) those who rebel.”
(5:47)
“And We have revealed to you the Book (Qur’an) with the
truth, verifying what is before it of the Book and a guardian over it,
therefore judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and do not
follow their low desires (to turn away) from the truth that has come to
you; …”
(5:48)
“So judge between them by that which Allah hath revealed, and
follow not their desires, but beware of them lest they seduce thee from
some part of that which Allah hath revealed unto thee. And if they turn
away, then know that Allah's Will is to smite them for some sin of
theirs. Indeed many of mankind are defiantly disobedient.”
(5:49)
“Is it a judgment of the time of (pagan) ignorance that they are
seeking? Who is better than Allah for judgment to a people who have
certainty (in their belief)?”
(5:50)
With reference to the Jews then the Christians then to Muslims, Allah
repeatedly tells us that we must ONLY follow that which is revealed and
not the words and opinions of men, which is the judgement of the times
of ignorance.
So as Muslims, we must derive religious knowledge and guidance only
from the Qur’an and not from the normal speech of the prophet.
Another easy method of coming of seeing that the prophet’s speech
was not revelation is as follows: -
When Allah said:
“This day are those who
disbelieve in despair of (ever harming) your religion; so fear them
not, fear Me! This day have I perfected your religion for you and
completed My favour unto you, and have chosen for you as religion
al-Islam. Whoso is forced by hunger, not by will, to sin: (for him) lo!
Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”
(5:3)
It means, that is it!! everything you need, Allah has given you!! No
arguments.
But the fact is, Muhammad did not die immediately after he recited that
verse, which means for the proponents of Hadith, more Hadith and more
Sunnah, right.
To push the point further, if Hadith and Sunnah were revelation, then
Muhammad should have died immediately after the revelation of 5:3 to
the people. Because if he was alive, then immediately it means there is
Sunnah if he does something, and Hadith if he says something. NO WAY
AROUND IT.
Now how can a Hadith proponent reconcile the fact that on the one hand
Allah (swt) tells us he has completed the religion, and on the other
hand have Muhammad still receiving "revelations" which he spreads in
the form of Hadith and Sunnah even AFTER this verse was revealed!
Insha Allah in the next lesson from the Qur’an we will see an
analysis of the Obey Allah and Obey the Messenger verses.