Answering Islam - A Christian-Muslim dialog

A Dawagandist Turns Muhammad Into A God Once Again! Pt. 1

Sam Shamoun

It has become obvious that Paul Bilal Williams just doesn’t know when to give up, nor is he interested in learning from his gross mistakes and blunders. Williams is constantly repeating the same points that have not only been refuted over and over again, but which end up backfiring against him by proving that Islam is a false religion and that Muhammad is a false prophet.

Take, for instance, the following post which attempts to prove that Jews and Christians have taken their religious figures as gods whom they worship instead of God:

They (Jews and Christians) have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah, and [also] the Messiah, son of Mary. And they were not commanded except to worship one God; there is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him. [9:31]

Once when Allah's Messenger was reciting this Verse, Adi bin Hatim said, "O Allah's Messenger! They do not worship them (i.e. rabbis and monks)."

Allah's Messenger said: "They certainly do. [They (i.e. rabbis and monks) made lawful things as unlawful and unlawful things as lawful, and they (i.e. Jews and Christians) followed them; and by doing so, they really worshipped them].

The Prophet Muhammad

Islam2001.tumblr.com

Source: Narrated by Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Jarir (Jews and Christians were commanded to worship one God)

According to Muhammad, whenever a person accepts the decisions of rabbis and monks that specifically set aside and/or contradict God’s revealed commands s/he is actually deifying or worshiping them.

As we are about to see, this is precisely what Muslims have done in the case of Muhammad, a fact that Williams indirectly confirms in the following response to a Christian:

Paul Williams March 8, 2013 at 11:41 pm

Moses and Jesus were sent to the Jews only. Jesus did not abolish the Law even though you yourself live in disregard of it madman (do you eat pork?)

According to Islam, the final messenger and prophet was sent to ALL mankind, and the shari’ah abrogates all previous law systems, but the Jewish law and shari’ah are very similar.

Why don’t you follow either Jesus’ teaching or that of Muhammad madman?

Williams’ exhortation to follow the teachings of Jesus and Muhammad who upheld the Mosaic, specifically the command prohibiting pork or pig meat in general, shows that he really isn’t interested in being consistent or honest. If he was truly concerned about consistency and honesty, then he would have no choice but to condemn Muhammad for turning himself into a god who demanded his followers to worship him.     

This lack of concern for the truth explains why Williams conveniently forgot to mention that, even though Moses forbade eating swine, this blessed servant of God also forbade the consumption of camel meat:

"The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Say to the Israelites: "Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat: You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud. There are some that only chew the cud or only have a split hoof, but you must not eat them. The camel, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is ceremonially unclean for you."’" Leviticus 11:1-4

And:

"Do not eat any detestable thing. These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope and the mountain sheep. You may eat any animal that has a split hoof divided in two and that chews the cud. However, of those that chew the cud or that have a split hoof completely divided you may not eat the camel, the rabbit or the coney. Although they chew the cud, they do not have a split hoof; they are ceremonially unclean for you." Deuteronomy 14:3-7

Moses’ Torah also forbade certain types of water creatures, specifically those that do not have fins and scales (Leviticus 11:9-12; Deuteronomy 14:9-10).

It is obvious why Williams chose to ignore these aspects of the Law, and chose to focus on the issue of pork instead. Williams realizes that these specific prohibitions condemn Muhammad as a false prophet since, unlike Moses, he allowed his followers to eat the meat of camels:

"Of the cattle are some for burden and some for meat: eat what Allah hath provided for you, and follow not the footsteps of Satan: for he is to you and avowed enemy. (Take) eight (head of cattle) in (four) pairs: of sheep a pair, and of goats a pair; say, hath He forbidden the two males, or the two females, or (the young) which the wombs of the two females enclose? Tell me with knowledge if ye are truthful: Of camels a pair, and of oxen a pair; say, hath He forbidden the two males, or the two females, or (the young) which the wombs of the two females enclose? - Were ye present when Allah ordered you such a thing? But who doth more wrong than one who invents a lie against Allah, to lead astray men without knowledge? For Allah guideth not people who do wrong. Say: 'I find not in the Message received by me by inspiration any (meat) forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be dead meat, or blood poured forth, or the flesh of swine,- for it is an abomination - or, what is impious, (meat) on which a name has been invoked, other than Allah's'. But (even so), if a person is forced by necessity, without willful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- thy Lord is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. For those who followed the Jewish Law, We forbade every (animal) with undivided hoof, and We forbade them that fat of the ox and the sheep, except what adheres to their backs or their entrails, or is mixed up with a bone: this in recompense for their willful disobedience: for We are True (in Our ordinances). If they accuse thee of falsehood, say: "Your Lord is full of mercy all-embracing; but from people in guilt never will His wrath be turned back." S. 6:142-147

"The sacrificial camels we have made for you as among the signs from Allah: in them is (much) good for you: then pronounce the name of Allah over them as they line up (for sacrifice): when they are down on their sides (after slaughter), eat ye thereof, and feed such as (beg not but) live in contentment, and such as beg with due humility: thus have We made animals subject to you, that ye may be grateful." S. 22:36

The ahadith also mention instances where Muhammad sacrificed camels and distributed their meat to people:

Narrated Anas bin Malik:
Allah's Apostle offered four Rakat of Zuhr prayer at Medina and we were in his company, and two Rakat of the Asr prayer at Dhul-Hulaifa and then passed the night there till it was dawn; then he rode, and when he reached Al-Baida', he praised and glorified Allah and said Takbir (i.e. Alhamdu-lillah and Subhanallah(1) and Allahu-Akbar). Then he and the people along with him recited Talbiya with the intention of performing Hajj and Umra. When we reached (Mecca) he ordered us to finish the lhram (after performing the Umra) (only those who had no Hadi (animal for sacrifice) with them were asked to do so) till the day of Tarwiya that is 8th Dhul-Hijja when they assumed Ihram for Hajj. The Prophet sacrificed many camels (slaughtering them) with his own hands while standing. While Allah's Apostle was in Medina he sacrificed two horned rams black and white in color in the Name of Allah." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 26, Number 623)

Narrated 'Ali:
The Prophet sent me to supervise the (slaughtering of) Budn (Hadi camels) and ordered me to distribute their meat, and then he ordered me to distribute their covering sheets and skins. 'Ali added, "The Prophet ordered me to supervise the slaughtering (of the Budn) and not to give anything (of their bodies) to the butcher as wages for slaughtering." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 26, Number 774)

Muhammad even went as far as to make ALL water creatures lawful to eat!

Lawful to you is all water-game, and what the sea brings forth, as a provision for you [who are settled] as well as for travellers, although you are forbidden to hunt on land while you are in the state of pilgrimage. And be conscious of God, unto whom you shall be gathered. S. 5:96 Muhammad Asad

It is He Who has made the sea subject, that ye may eat thereof flesh that is fresh and tender, and that ye may extract therefrom ornaments to wear; and thou seest the ships therein that plough the waves, that ye may seek (thus) of the bounty of Allah and that ye may be grateful. S. 16:14

What makes this rather ironic is that the Jews complained to Muhammad about making lawful some of the foods which God had forbidden, using this as evidence that he wasn’t following the creed of Abraham!

(All food was lawful unto the Children of Israel) all food that is lawful for Muhammad and his community today was lawful for the Children of Israel, the sons of Jacob, (save that which Israel) Jacob (forbade himself) by the way of vows, ((in days) before the Torah was revealed) before the revelation of the Torah to Moses, Jacob forbade himself the meat and milk of camels. When this verse was revealed, the Prophet asked the Jews: "What did Jacob forbid himself of food?" They said: "he did not forbid himself any type of food, and whatever is forbidden for us today, such as the meat of camels and other things, was already forbidden on all prophets, from Adam to Moses. It is only you who make such things lawful." And they claimed those things were also forbidden in the Torah. Hence Allah said to Muhammad: (Say) to them: (Produce the Torah and read it (unto us)) where they are made forbidden (if ye are truthful) in your claim. But they failed to produce the Torah and knew they were liars since there was nothing in the Torah to substantiate their claim. (Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn 'Abbâs, Q. 3:93; bold emphasis ours)

And:

When the Jews said to the Prophet, 'You claim that you follow the creed of Abraham, but Abraham did not eat camel's meat nor drink its milk', the following was revealed: All food was lawful to the Children of Israel save what Israel, Jacob, forbade for himself, namely, camels: when he was afflicted with sciatica ('irq al-nasā), he made a vow that if he were cured he would not eat of it again, and so it was forbidden him; before the Torah was revealed, which was after the time of Abraham, as it was not unlawful in his time, as they claimed. Say, to them, 'Bring the Torah now, and recite it, so that the truth of what you say may become clear, if you are truthful', in what you say; they were stupified and did not bring it [the Torah]. God, exalted be He, then said: (Tafsir Al-Jalalayn; bold emphasis ours)

Unfortunately for Williams, these are not the only injunctions that Muhammad overturned.

Another command that Muhammad violated was Sabbath observance, even though this was specifically ordained by God as the sign of the covenant which he had made with Israel through Moses:

"Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Say to the Israelites, "You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy. Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people. For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed."’" Exodus 31:12-17 – cf. 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Isaiah 56:1-8, 58:13-14

The seriousness of Sabbath observance can be seen from the fact that all who were caught willfully violating it were to be put to death without mercy:

"‘But anyone who sins defiantly, whether native-born or alien, blasphemes the LORD, and that person must be cut off from his people. Because he has despised the LORD's word and broken his commands, that person must surely be cut off; his guilt remains on him.’ While the Israelites were in the desert, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day. Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly, and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him. Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘The man must die. The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp.’ So the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the LORD commanded Moses." Numbers 15:30-36

The Quran itself acknowledges the severity of violating the Sabbath, since it talks about a group of Jews whom Allah transformed into pigs and monkeys for transgressing the Sabbath!

And well you know there were those among you that transgressed the Sabbath, and We said to them, 'Be you apes, miserably slinking!' S. 2:65 - cf. 4:47; 7:163-164

And We raised above them the Mount, taking compact with them; and We said to them, 'Enter in at the gate, prostrating'; and We said to them, 'Transgress not the Sabbath'; and We took from them a solemn compact. S. 4:154

Yet, in spite of these explicit statements and warnings, Muhammad encouraged his followers to dishonor God’s Sabbath by deliberately choosing Friday, which was his way of belittling Jews and Christians:

Narrated Abu Huraira:
I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "We (Muslims) are the last (to come) but (will be) the foremost on the Day of Resurrection though the former nations were given the Holy Scriptures before us. And this was their day (Friday) the celebration of which was made compulsory for them but they differed about it. So Allah gave us the guidance for it (Friday) and all the other people are behind us in this respect: the Jews' (holy day is) tomorrow (i.e. Saturday) and the Christians' (is) the day after tomorrow (i.e. Sunday)." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 13, Number 1; see also Number 21)

Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "We are the last (to come) but we will be the foremost on the Day of Resurrection, nations were given the Book (i.e. Scripture) before us, and we were given the Holy Book after them. This (i.e. Friday) is the day about which they differed. So the next day (i.e. Saturday) was prescribed for the Jews and the day after it (i.e. Sunday) for the Christians. It is incumbent on every Muslim to wash his head and body on a Day (i.e. Friday) (at least) in every seven days." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 56, Number 693)

Muhammad also falsely claimed that the Sabbath was appointed only for people who differed about it:

The Sabbath was ordained only for those who differed about it, and most surely your Lord will judge between them on the resurrection day concerning that about which they differed. S. 16:124 Shakir

This is what the renowned Muslim expositor Ibn Kathir wrote in respect to this specific passage:

The Prescription of the Sabbath for the Jews

There is no doubt that for every nation, Allah prescribed one day of the week for people to gather to worship Him. For this Ummah He prescribed Friday, because it is the sixth day, on which Allah completed and perfected His creation. On this day He gathered and completed His blessings for His servants. It was said that Allah prescribed this day for the Children of Israel through His Prophet Musa, but they changed it and chose Saturday because it was the day on which the Creator did not create anything, as He had completed His creation on Friday. Allah made observance of the Sabbath obligatory for them in the laws of the Tawrah (Torah), telling them to keep the Sabbath. At the same time, He told them to follow Muhammad when he was sent, and took their promises and covenant to that effect. Hence Allah says…

<The Sabbath was only prescribed for those who differed concerning it,>

Mujahid said: "They observed the Sabbath (Saturday) and ignored Friday." Then they continued to observe Saturday until Allah sent `Isa bin Maryam. It was said that he told them to change it to Sunday, and it was also said that he did not forsake the laws of the Tawrah except for a few rulings which were abrogated, and he continued to observe the Sabbath until he was taken up (into heaven). Afterwards, the Christians at the time of Constantine were the ones who changed it to Sunday in order to be different from the Jews, and they started to pray towards the east instead of facing the Dome (i.e., Jerusalem). And Allah knows best. It was reported in the Two Sahihs that Abu Hurayrah heard the Messenger of Allah say…

<We are the last, but we will be the first on the Day of Resurrection, even though they were given the Book before us. This is the day that Allah obligated upon them, but they differed concerning it. Allah guided us to this day, and the people observe their days after us, the Jews on the following day and the Christians on the day after that.>

This version was recorded by Al-Bukhari. It was reported that Abu Hurayrah and Hudhayfah said that the Messenger of Allah said…

<Allah let the people who came before us stray from Friday, so the Jews had Saturday and the Christians had Sunday. Then Allah brought us and guided us to Friday. So now there are Friday, Saturday and Sunday, thus they will follow us on the Day of Resurrection. We are the last of the people of this world, but will be the first on the Day of Resurrection, and will be the first to be judged, before all of creation.>

It was reported by Muslim. (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Thus, Muhammad not only violated the Sabbath, he even went as far as to deliberately choose a day by which he could assert his superiority over the Jews who were keeping to God’s express command to honor the Sabbath!

However, in doing so, Muhammad stands condemned for willfully defying God by intentionally breaking a commandment which was given to Moses.

We now come to the final example which proves that Muhammad turned himself into an object of worship.

God warned the Israelites against remarrying their divorced women who have gotten married to someone else:

"If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another man, and her second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, or if he dies, then her first husband, who divorced her, is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled. That would be detestable in the eyes of the LORD. Do not bring sin upon the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance." Deuteronomy 24:1-4

"God says, 'If a husband divorces his wife And she goes from him And belongs to another man, Will he still return to her? Will not that land be completely polluted? But you are a harlot with many lovers; Yet you turn to Me,' declares the LORD. Lift up your eyes to the bare heights and see; Where have you not been violated? By the roads you have sat for them Like an Arab in the desert, And you have polluted a land With your harlotry and with your wickedness." Jeremiah 3:1-2

Once again, Muhammad willfully set himself against God. He not only allowed a man to marry his former spouse that has gone on to remarry someone else, he also made it a law for the wife to have sex with her current husband before she could return to her previous spouse!

In Islam the man who makes the former wife lawful for her previous husband is called muhallil, i.e. the one who makes a woman halal (permissible)!  

"A divorce is only permissible twice: after that, the parties should either hold together on equitable terms, or separate with kindness. It is not lawful for you, (men), to take back any of your gifts (from your wives), except when both parties fear that they would be unable to keep the limits ordained by Allah. If ye (judges) do indeed fear that they would be unable to keep the limits ordained by Allah, there is no blame on either of them if she give something for her freedom. These are the limits ordained by Allah. So do not transgress them if any do transgress the limits ordained by Allah, such persons wrong (themselves as well as others). So if a husband divorces his wife (irrevocably), he cannot, after that, re-marry her until after she has married another husband and he has divorced her. In that case there is no blame on either of them if they re-unite, provided they feel that they can keep the limits ordained by Allah. Such are the limits ordained by Allah, which He makes plain to those who understand." S. 2:229-230

The following hadiths clarify how this injunction was to be implemented:

Narrated 'Aisha:
Rifa'a Al-Qurazi divorced his wife irrevocably (i.e. that divorce was the final). Later on 'Abdur-Rahman bin Az-Zubair married her after him. She came to the Prophet and said, "O Allah's Apostle! I was Rifa'a's wife and he divorced me thrice, and then I was married to 'Abdur-Rahman bin AzZubair, who, by Allah has nothing with him except something like this fringe, O Allah's Apostle," showing a fringe she had taken from her covering sheet. Abu Bakr was sitting with the Prophet while Khalid Ibn Said bin Al-As was sitting at the gate of the room waiting for admission. Khalid started calling Abu Bakr, "O Abu Bakr! Why don't you reprove this lady from what she is openly saying before Allah's Apostle?" Allah's Apostle did nothing except smiling, and then said (to the lady), "Perhaps you want to go back to Rifa'a? No, (it is not possible), unless and until you enjoy the sexual relation with him ('Abdur Rahman), and he enjoys the sexual relation with you." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 73, Number 107)

Yahya related to me from Malik from al-Miswar ibn Rifaa al-Quradhi from az-Zubayr ibn Abd ar-Rahman ibn az-Zubayr that Rifaa ibn Simwal divorced his wife, Tamima bint Wahb, in the time of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, three times. Then she married Abd ar-Rahman ibn az-Zubayr and he turned from her and could not consummate the marriage and so he parted from her. Rifaa wanted to marry her again and it was mentioned to the Messenger of Allah and he forbade him to marry her. He said, "She is not halal for you until she has tasted the sweetness of intercourse." (Malik's Muwatta, Book 28, Number 28.7.17)

Hence, Muhammad makes permissible what Yahweh condemns as shameful and detestable!

In light of the foregoing, Williams’ has no choice but to admit that Muhammad made himself into a god besides Allah. Williams has to now accept the fact that, according to Muhammad’s own claims, his prophet has become an object of worship, and therefore an idol, since he made lawful that which God said was unlawful, and made unlawful that which God had decreed was lawful to do.

Therefore, Williams must come clean with his readers and acknowledge that he is the slave of Muhammad whom he worships as another deity alongside Allah.

The problems are just starting for Williams, as we shall see in the second part of our reply.