Muhammad and the Splitting of the Moon

Exposing More of Jamal Badawi’s Distortions

In his debate with Dr. Robert Morey that took place on November 9, 1996, Dr. Jamal Badawi accused Morey of basically fabricating a story about Muhammad:

“The sun and moon are created by Allah also… is mentioned in Bukhari – and here I would like to humbly suggest to Dr. Morey to correct himself and be big enough to make that correction, because this is a factual misquotation. Dr. Morey in his book quotes or refers to 11 hadith! 11 hadith in Bukhari to support his statement that prophet Muhammad reached up with his sword and cut the moon into half. Reached up with his sword… and then he mocks at Islam by saying that sword must be either very big, or the moon is the size of the basketball. You have the volumes of Bukhari Dr. Morey – I challenge you to show me in a single hadith, of the 11 hadith you quoted, where does it mention the word sword. It is nowhere to be found in the 11 hadith that you quoted. That requires correction. Nor does any of this [sic] hadith say that the prophet split the moon! It says the moon was split ala ahdi rasulullah – at the time of the prophet – and the prophet said ‘witness’ as a sign. This is a factual correction that is needed.” (Is the Allah of the Quran the true universal God? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppn4EcEQr34)

Badawi then went on to say in the rebuttal period:

“Furthermore, you brushed aside and you never responded, Dr. Morey, of the eleven hadith that you said that the prophet held his sword and cut the moon into half; you brushed it aside, you never addressed it. These are two of the hadiths that you quote in your book. Can anyone tell me where is the word sword? Can anyone tell me where the prophet says ‘I,’ or somebody says, ‘the prophet split the moon’?”

And:

“And I must say that this issue of the moon split is not an eyesight or copying something 2 o’clock in the morning, because you added something simply which is not there; you quoted 11 hadith, none of which mention that. It is not a mistake of an eyesight for sure!”

Badawi was referring to this particular section of Dr. Morey’s book:

1. The Moon Cut in Half

When the Meccans asked Muhammad to do a miracle to prove that he was Allah’s prophet, he supposedly reached up with his sword and cut the moon in half.

vol. 4, nos. 830, 831, 832

vol. 5, nos. 208, 209, 210, 211

vol. 6, nos. 387, 388, 389, 390

How and by whom the two sides of the moon were joined together is not told. That would be an even greater miracle to us!

This so-called miracle means that either Muhammad had a very BIG sword or that the moon was very SMALL.

Historically, the Arabs at that time believed that the sun and the moon were the size they appeared to the human eye. Thus the moon was about the size of a basketball. Muhammad evidently had no problem cutting in half such a small moon. This “miracle” is very doubtful for if the Meccans had seen Muhammad cut the moon in half, why did he have to conquer them by military force? Would not such a glorious miracle convert them? (Morey, Islamic Invasion: Confronting the World’s Fastest Growing Religion [Christian Scholars Press, revised edition 1992], Appendix A. An Analysis of the Hadith, pp. 227-228)

Here is what Dr. Morey said in response to Badawi’s accusation:

“Now the commentators on this point out that the splitting of the moon was in response to the pagans demanding that Muhammad perform a miracle. I read in various Muslim writers where they said there is an ancient tradition that he pulled out his sword and he split the moon. Now it’s not germane to me whether these Muslim traditions are true or false; I’m simply quoting them. That he split the moon in response to a request, I just read you the statement.”

In this article I am going to show that it is Badawi who tried to pull a fast one on the audience, and that Dr. Morey didn’t intentionally lie or make up the story of Muhammad splitting the moon in half with his sword. The sources will confirm that, contrary to Badawi’s blatant distortion, the ahadith attribute the splitting of the moon to Muhammad directly, and that there is a reasonable explanation why Dr Morey thought that Muhammad used his sword to split the moon in two.

With the foregoing in perspective let us consult the Islamic sources to see whether they agree with Badawi or not.

Anas reported that the people of Mecca demanded from Allah’s Messenger that he should show them (some) signs (miracles) and he showed twice the splitting of the moon. This hadlth has been narrated on the authority of Anas through another chain of transmitters. (Sahih Muslim, Book 039, Number 6728 http://sunnah.com/muslim/52/32)

Narrated Anas bin Malik: The people of Mecca asked Allah’s Apostle to show them a miracle. So HE SHOWED THEM the moon split in two halves between which they saw the Hiram’ mountain. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 58, Number 208 http://searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=58&translator=1&start=0&number=208)

This next narration is rather interesting:

Narrated Ibn Masud: During the lifetime of Allah’s Apostle the moon was split into two parts; one part remained over the mountain, and the other part went beyond the mountain. On that, Allah’s Apostle said, “Witness this miracle.”  (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Number 387 http://searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=60&translator=1&start=0&number=387)

Thus far the hadiths state that Muhammad showed the unbelievers the splitting of the moon, without explicitly stating that he was the one who personally caused it to split.

However, the following sources all confirm that it was Muhammad himself who made the moon split in half, and also brought it back together (obviously with the permission of his god):

“… One night the Prophet was walking in Mecca. It was the custom of the Meccans to walk about in the evening; they attend to their business in the evening because the days are very hot. That is why the Prophet was walking about. Abu Jahl, may he be cursed, together with a Jew, met the Prophet. Abu Jahl said: ‘Show me a sign; if not, I will chop off your head’”; that is: ‘Show me a miracle, or else I’ll cut off your head.” The Prophet asked: “What do you want?’ Abu Jahl said: ‘Let me see YOU split the moon.’ He asked for this because sorcery has an effect on earth but not in the sky. When the Prophet made a sign, the moon was split apart. Half of it remained in its place, and the other half moved off at a distance… Abu Jahl said: ‘Oh Muhammad, MAKE the moon join together again.’ When Muhammad TOLD IT TO DO SO, the moon joined together again. Abu Jahl said: ‘Until now you’ve been a magician on earth; now your sorcery has worked its effect in the sky’, and he didn’t embrace the faith. He said: ‘What a great magician you are!’ ‘There is no magician like you.’ But the Jew converted.” (Al-Rabghuzi, The Stories of the Prophets (2 Volumes): Qisas al-Anbiya’: An Eastern Turkish Version, edited by H. E. Boeschoten & J. O’Kane [Brill, Second Edition 2015], p. 537; bold and underline emphasis ours)

And:

“‘They said to the Prophet, “If you are telling the truth, then split the moon for us into two parts, one half over Mt. Abu Qubays, the other over Mt. Qu’ayqu’an.” The Prophet asked them, “IF I DID SO, would you believe?” “Yes, we would,” they replied. It was a night of full moon, and so he asked God the Almighty and Glorious to grant him what they requested. That evening the moon did have one half removed and placed over Mt. Abu Qubays, the other being over Mt. Qu’ayqu’an, while the Messenger of God called out, “O Abu Salama b. ‘Abd al-Asad, and al-Arqam b. al-Arqam, be a witness (to this event).”’”…

These various lines are strong in their links and provide decisive proof for those who consider them and the probity of these men. The version told by some storytellers, that the moon fell down to earth and entered into one sleeve of the Prophet, and came out of the other, has no foundation; it is a lie, an invention and untrue.

When the moon split it did not leave the sky. However, when the Prophet GESTURED TOWARDS IT, IT REACTED by splitting and became two halves. One of these passed over until it was beyond Hira’ and they saw the mountain between that one and the other. This is how Ibn Mas’ud related that he had witnesses it.

What we find in the account of Anas in the compendium of Ahmad to the effect, “The moon split ‘twice’ in Mecca is controversial. Obviously he meant “into two parts”. But God knows best. (Ibn Kathir, The Life of the Prophet Muhammad: Al-Sira al-Nabawiyya, translated by Professor Trevor Le Gassick, reviewed by Dr. Muneer Fareed [Garnet Publishing, First paperback edition, 2000], Volume II (2), pp. 78, 81; bold, capital and italicized emphasis ours)

Pay attention to the fact that the moon supposedly split in two after Muhammad gestured to it, meaning after he had pointed to the moon. This is brought out more clearly in the following citations:

Out of all the evidence of the occurrence of this miracle, we will mention only six, as these six have the strength of a six-fold consensus:

· The Companions of the Prophet, all people of justice and truthfulness, agreed that it took place.

· All exacting Qur’anic interpreters agreed that the moon split upon the gesture of the Prophet Muhammad’s FINGER.

· All truthful narrators and scholars of Hadith narrated this incident through various authentic channels of transmission.

· All people of truth and sainthood, as well as of inspiration and spiritual discovery, testify that this event took place. All foremost theologians and learned scholars confirm this event, despite other differences of opinions.

· Muhammad’s community, which an authentic Prophetic Tradition states can never agree on an error, accepts its occurrence.

These six proofs clearly establish the splitting of the moon (The Letters, “The 19th Letter,” 1: 265-272). (Ali Unal, The Qur’an with Annotated Interpretation in Modern English [Tughra Books, New Jersey 2008], p. 1083; bold, capital and underline emphasis ours)

And:

054:001 Hadith narrators and collectors misunderstood this verse and tried to support their misunderstanding by the fabrication of a hadith reporting that Muhammad split the Moon by pointing at it WITH HIS FINGER. Some narrators did not stop there and claimed that half of the Moon FELL IN THE BACKYARD OF ALI, Muhammad’s son-in-law. The believers of this hadith are silent to the critical questions about the event. Why didn’t populations of other countries witness this incredible event? If there were such an astronomical event, many people from China to Africa would have noticed and recorded it. Besides, this traditional interpretation contradicts the Quran, which specifically limits the signs given to Muhammad to be the signs contained in the Quran alone (29:50-51)… (Quran: A Reformist Translation, translated and annotated by Edip Yuksel, Layth Saleh al-Shaiban & Martha Schulte-Nafeh [Brainbow Press, 2007], p. 337 http://www.studyquran.org/resources/Quran_Reformist_Translation.pdf; capital and underline emphasis ours)

Here we see that Muslims not only claimed that Muhammad split the moon with his finger, but also came up with the absurd nonsense of the moon falling to the earth and entering into and coming out of Muhammad’s sleeves, with a part of it falling into the backyard of Ali!

Even the New Encyclopedia Britannica mentions this fable of Muhammad splitting the moon in half with his finger:

“… Muhammad, whose only miracle, according to his own words, was the bringing of the Qur’an, is credited with innumerable miraculous occurrences: HIS FINGER SPLIT THE MOON, the cooked poisoned meat warned him not to touch it, the palm trunk sighed, the gazelle spoke for him; he cast no shadow; from his perspiration the rose was created etc. His ascension to heaven (miraj) is still celebrated: he rode the winged horse Buraq in the company of the angel Gabriel through the seven spheres, meeting the other prophets there, until he reached the divine presence alone, without the angel of inspiration…” (Macropedia: Knowledge in Depth, Volume 22. [15^th edition, 2007], pp. 40-41; bold and capital emphasis ours)

This in itself sufficiently refutes Badawi’s boldfaced assertion that the ahadith do not claim that it was Muhammad that split the moon in half. Being a supposed scholar of Islam, Badawi would have surely known that the Islamic tradition plainly states that it was Muhammad who personally split the moon in two by his finger. As such, it is hard to not accuse Badawi of knowingly and deliberately lying to his audience.

We have saved the best for last:

When he like the ant became sleepless and fasting in devotion to you then without doubt WITH THE SWORD OF THE FINGER HE SPLIT the moon into two parts like a hair.⁴ (Muntakhabu-t-tawarikh, by ‘Abdu-l-Qadir Ibn-i-muluk Shah known as Al-Badaoni, translated from the original Persian, and edited by George S. A. Ranking, M.D. (Cantab.), M.R.A.S. [Baptist Mission Press, Calcutta, 1898], Volume 1, p. 110 https://books.google.com/books?id=RFNOAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false; bold and capital emphasis ours)

⁴… See Qur’an, Surah 54. “The hour draws nigh, and the moon is split asunder.” (Sacred Books of the East Vol. IX). In the… Haiatu-l-qulub a MS. copy of which dated 25th Zul Hijjah 1087 A. H. (1676 A. D.) is before me. I find the following account of the miracle performed by the prophet Muhammad at Mekka. “The tribe of Qoreish sought as a sign from Muhammad the performance of some miracle; THE PROPHET POINTED TO THE MOON and by the power of God Most High split it into two halves. A trustworthy Hadis by Hazrat Imam Ja’far Sidiq has come down to us, relating that fourteen infidels who were desirous of working the prophet’s destruction came to him on the evening of the 14th of Zul Hijjah and said to him, ‘Every prophet has shewn some wonderful miracle, so this evening we desire you to shew us some great miracle.’ The prophet asked what miracle they desired him to shew them. They replied, ‘If you have any power from God order the full moon to divide into two halves.’ Thereupon the angel Gabriel came down from heaven and said to Muhammad, ‘The Lord of heaven and earth sends greeting and has ordered all things to become obedient to you. Then the Prophet raised his eyes to heaven and commanded the moon to divide into two halves, whereupon it split into two parts, and the prophet knelt to shew his gratitude to Almighty God. ………… All authorities relate that this took place in Mekka; and further it is related that when certain travellers arrived they said in answer to questions ‘We too saw on that night that the moon was in two halves.’ Consequently the infidels believed that it was a true miracle and not merely magic.” He also relates that these infidels imposed upon Muhammad the task of restoring the moon to its original condition, and also of turning one-half of the orb of the moon black while the other half was bright. (Ibid., pp. 110-111; bold and capital emphasis ours)

The above reference gives us an idea where Dr. Morey got the idea that the ahadith claim that Muhammad split the moon with his sword. He may have confused the Islamic traditions likening Muhammad’s finger to a sword that he used to split the moon, with an actual sword.

This affirms that this was nothing more than an honest mistake on Dr. Morey’s part and that he wasn’t trying to be deliberately malicious, since he obviously had no intention of making stuff up or fabricating stories about Muhammad.

On the other hand, this does end up exposing Badawi as an unreliable and untrustworthy Muhammadan who has a tendency to misrepresent the facts of a matter. Therefore, a person must always be suspicious of anything that Badawi says and should go back and personally verify his quotations and claims.

Source: https://answeringislamblog.wordpress.com/2016/12/11/muhammad-and-the-splitting-of-the-moon/ 

IHS

Allah – The Greatest Mushrik of them all

In this article we are going to provide additional evidence proving that Allah is guilty of committing shirk, which is the unforgiveable sin of ascribing partners with him in his exclusive divine attributes, roles functions etc.

Who made the earth a bed for you, the sky a canopy, and sends forth rain from the skies that fruits may grow — your food and sustenance. So, do not make another the equal of God knowingly. S. 2:22 Ahmed Ali

Lo! Allah forgiveth not that a partner should be ascribed unto Him. He forgiveth (all) save that to whom He will. Whoso ascribeth partners to Allah, he hath indeed invented a tremendous sin. S. 4:48 Pickthall – cf. v. 116

And they set up to Allah equals so that they mislead from His Path. Say, “Enjoy, but indeed, your destination (is) to the Fire.” S. 14:30

And verily it hath been revealed unto thee as unto those before thee (saying): If thou ascribe a partner to Allah thy work will fail and thou indeed wilt be among the losers. S. 39:65 Pickthall

We will further establish that Allah is also responsible for causing Muslims to commit this heinous transgression as well.

Here is a helpful break down of the various ways shirk can be committed, specifically “major shirk” (shirk al-akbar) in contrast to “minor shirk” (shirk al-asghar):

The types of shirk:

The texts of the Qur’aan and Sunnah indicate that shirk and the ascribing of rivals to Allaah sometimes puts a person beyond the pale of Islam and sometimes does not. Hence the scholars divided shirk into two types which they call shirk akbar (major shirk) and shirk asghar (minor shirk). There follows a brief description of each type:

1 – Major shirk

This means ascribing to someone other than Allaah something that belongs only to Allaah, such as Lordship (ruboobiyyah), divinity (uloohiyyah) and the divine names and attributes (al-asma’ wa’l-sifaat).

This kind of shirk may sometimes be outward, such as the shirk of those who worship idols and graves, or the dead or absent.

Or it may sometimes be hidden, such as those who put their trust in other gods besides Allaah, or the shirk and kufr of the hypocrites. For even though their (hypocrites’) shirk puts them beyond the pale of Islam and means that they will abide  forever in Hell, it is a hidden shirk, because they make an outward display of Islam and conceal their kufr and shirk, so they are inwardly mushriks but not outwardly.

Shirk may sometimes take the form of beliefs:

Such as the belief that there is someone else who creates, gives life and death, reigns or controls the affairs of the universe along with Allaah.

Or the belief that there is someone else who must be obeyed absolutely besides Allaah, so they follow him in regarding as permissible or forbidden whatever he wants, even if that goes against the religion of the Messengers.

Or they may associate others with Allaah in love and veneration, by loving a created being as they love Allaah. This is the kind of shirk that Allaah does not forgive, and it is the shirk of which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allaah as rivals (to Allaah). They love them as they love Allaah”

[al-Baqarah 2:165]

Or the belief that there are those who know the Unseen as well as Allaah. This is very common among some of the deviant sects such as the Raafidis (Shi’ah), extreme Sufis, and Baatinis (esoteric sects) in general. The Raafidis believe that their imams have knowledge of the unseen, and the Baatinis and Sufis believe similar things about their awliya’ (“saints”), and so on. It is also shirk to believe that there is someone who bestows mercy in a manner that is befitting only for Allaah, so he shows mercy as Allaah does and forgives sins and overlooks the bad deeds of his worshippers.

Shirk may sometimes take the form of words:

Such as those who make du’aa’ or pray to someone other than Allaah, or seek his help or seek refuge with him with regard to matters over which no one has control except Allaah, whether the person called upon IS A PROPHET, a wali (“saint”), an angel or a jinn, or some other created being. This is a kind of major shirk which puts one beyond the pale of Islam.

Or such as those who make fun of religion or who liken Allaah to His creation, or say that there is another creator, provider or controller besides Allaah. All of these are major shirk and a grave sin that is not forgiven.

Shirk may sometimes take the form of actions:

Such as one who sacrifices, prays or prostrates to something other than Allaah, or who promulgates laws to replace the rulings of Allaah and makes that the law to which people are obliged to refer for judgement; or one who supports the kaafirs and helps them against the believers, and other acts that go against the basic meaning of faith and put the one who does them beyond the pale of Islam. We ask Allaah to keep us safe and sound. (Islam Question and Answer General Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid (Supervisor), 34817: What is the true meaning of shirk and what are its types? https://islamqa.info/en/34817; bold and capital emphasis ours)

We will now document how Allah himself is guilty of shirk al-akbar for permitting beings other than himself to share in his exclusive divine attributes, functions, roles and/or worship.

There is someone else who creates, gives life and death. 

According to the Quran, Jesus creates and breathes life into inanimate clay objects, and also raises the dead,

“to be a Messenger to the Children of Israel saying, ‘I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. I WILL CREATE for you out of clay as the likeness of a bird; then I WILL BREATHE into it, and it will be a bird, by the leave of God. I will also heal the blind and the leper, and bring to life the dead, by the leave of God…’” S. 3:49 Arberry

“When God said, ‘Jesus Son of Mary, remember My blessing upon thee and upon thy mother, when I confirmed thee with the Holy Spirit, to speak to men in the cradle, and of age; and when I taught thee the Book, the Wisdom, the Torah, the Gospel; and when THOU CREATEST out of clay, by My leave, as the likeness of a bird, and THOU BREATHEST into it, and it is a bird, by My leave; and thou healest the blind and the leper by My leave, and thou bringest the dead forth by My leave; and when restrained from thee the Children of Israel when thou camest unto them with the clear signs, and the unbelievers among them said, “This is nothing but sorcery manifest.”” S. 5:110 Arberry

In the exact same manner that Allah does:

And when you slew a soul and cast the blame upon one another regarding it–and God is the discloser of what you were concealing–We said, “Strike him with part of it.” Thus does God give life to the dead and show you His signs, that haply you may understand. S. 2:72-73 The Study Quran

And when thy Lord said to the angels, ‘See, I am CREATING a mortal of a clay of mud moulded. When I have shaped him, and BREATHED My spirit in him, fall you down, bowing before him!’ S. 15:28-29 Arberry

There are those who know the Unseen as well as Allah.

Jesus is even described as having knowledge of the unseen,

“… I will inform you too of what things you eat, and what you treasure up in your houses. Surely in that is a sign for you, if you are believers.” S. 3:49 Arberry

Even though this is a unique divine ability which belongs to Allah alone:

They say: “Why is not a sign sent down to him from his Lord?” Say: “The Unseen is only for God (to know), then wait ye: I too will wait with you.” S. 10:20 Y. Ali

This being the case Jesus must therefore be divine and one with Allah; otherwise the Muslims are faced with a contradiction. Note how this works out logically:

1. Allah alone knows the unseen.

2. Jesus knew the unseen.

3. Therefore, Jesus is Allah incarnate or at the very least one with Allah in his essence and attributes.

There is someone else who must be obeyed absolutely besides Allah, so they follow him in regarding as permissible or forbidden whatever he wants, even if that goes against the religion of the Messengers. 

The Quran states that Muhammad must be absolutely obeyed in everything he permits or forbids:

Say, “If you love God then follow me so God will love you and forgive your sins.” God is Forgiver, Compassionate.” Say, “Obey God and the messenger.” But if they turn away, then God does not like the ingrates. S. 3:31-32 Quran: A Reformist Translation (QRT)

Here is another English rendering of v. 32:

Say to them: “Be obedient to Allah and to His Messenger, but if they turn a deaf ear then they must realize that Allah detests the infidels who deny Him“. Al-Muntakhab http://www.islamawakened.com/quran/3/st1.htm

The Islamic scripture also stresses the need for perfectly submitting to Muhammad’s desires and judgments:

No, by your Lord, they are not muminun until they make you their judge in the disputes that break out between them, and then find no resistance within themselves to what YOU decide and submit themselves completely. S. 4:65 Aisha Bewley http://www.islamawakened.com/quran/4/st6.htm

Compare the above translation with the following rendering:

But no! By your Lord, they do not (truly) believe unless they make you the judge regarding any dispute between them, and then find not the least vexation within themselves over what YOU have decided, and surrender in full submission. Ali Unal http://www.islamawakened.com/quran/4/st7.htm

To make matters worse, Muhammad caused his followers to go against the religion of God’s true prophets and messengers by having them do and believe things that contradicted what these inspired emissaries of God brought to mankind.

For instance, God told Moses that a man who divorces his wife couldn’t return to her if she marries another since that would be an abomination:

“When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a bill of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, and she departs out of his house, and if she goes and becomes another man’s wife, and the latter husband dislikes her and writes her a bill of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies, who took her to be his wife then her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before the Lord, and you shall not bring guilt upon the land which the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance.” Deuteronomy 24:1-4 Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Muhammad’s deity, on the other hand, told his followers that the only way a man could return to his former wife is if s/he has married and had sex with another man!

And if he has divorced her (the third time), then she is not lawful unto him thereafter until she has married another husband. Then, if the other husband divorces her, it is no sin on both of them that they reunite, provided they feel that they can keep the limits ordained by Allah. These are the limits of Allah, which He makes plain for the people who have knowledge. S. 2:230 Hilali-Khan

Thus, what Yahweh God calls an abomination Muhammad’s deity calls halal (permissible)!

Therefore, Muhammad is guilty of causing his followers to commit an abomination in the sight of the one true God revealed in the Holy Bible.

Associating others with Allah in love and veneration, by loving a created being as they love Allah.

Muslims are further commanded to love Muhammad just as much as they love Allah, and more than anything and anyone else: 

Say, “If are your fathers, and your sons, and your brothers, and your spouses, and your relatives, and wealth that you have acquired and the commerce, you fear a decline (in) it and the dwellings you delight (in) it(are) more beloved to you than Allah, AND His Messenger and striving in His way, then wait until Allah brings His Command. And Allah (does) not guide the people – the defiantly disobedient.” S. 9:24

This is why they are further told to never love anyone who opposes Muhammad and his god:

Thou wilt not find folk who believe in Allah and the Last Day loving those who oppose Allah AND His messenger, even though they be their fathers or their sons or their brethren or their clan. As for such, He hath written faith upon their hearts and hath strengthened them with a Spirit from Him, and He will bring them into Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide. Allah is well pleased with them, and they are well pleased with Him. They are Allah’s party. Lo! is it not Allah’s party who are the successful? S. 58:22 Pickthall

Muhammad himself is reported to have said that one will not have complete faith until s/he loves Muhammad and his deity more than everything:

Narrated Anas:
The Prophet said, “Whoever possesses the following three qualities will have the sweetness (delight) of faith:
1. The one to whom Allah AND His Apostle becomes dearer than anything else.
2. Who loves a person and he loves him only for Allah’s sake.
3. Who hates to revert to Atheism (disbelief) as he hates to be thrown into the fire.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 15http://searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=2&translator=1&start=0&number=15)

And: 

Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Hisham: We were with the Prophet and he was holding the hand of ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab. ‘Umar said to Him, “O Allah’s Apostle! You are dearer to me than everything except my own self.” The Prophet said, “No, by Him in Whose Hand my soul is, (you will not have complete faith) till I am dearer to you than your own self.” Then ‘Umar said to him, “However, now, by Allah, you are dearer to me than my own self.” The Prophet said, “Now, O ‘Umar, (now you are a believer).” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 78, Number 628http://searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=78&translator=1&start=0&number=628)

Those who worship idols and graves, or the dead or absent.

Making du’a or praying to someone other than Allah. 

Muslim scholars have used Quran 4:64, which makes it mandatory to seek Muhammad’s intercession in order to obtain forgiveness from Allah,

We sent no messenger save that he should be obeyed by Allah’s leave. And if, when they had wronged themselves, they had but come unto thee and asked forgiveness of Allah, and asked forgiveness of the messenger, they would have found Allah Forgiving, Merciful. Pickthall

To exhort “believers” to visit Muhammad’s grave so as to invoke a dead corpse to pray for them!

Although, this verse (64) was revealed in the background of a particular incident relating to hypocrites, yet its words yield A GENERAL RULING which stipulates that anyone who presents himself before the Holy Prophet and he prays for his forgiveness, he will be definitely forgiven. And ‘the presence before the Prophet,’ as it would have been during his blessed life in this mortal world, HOLDS THE SAME EFFECT EVEN TODAY as the visit to the sacred precincts of the Mosque of the Prophet and the act of ‘presenting’ oneself BEFORE THE BLESSED RESIDENT OF THE SANCTIFIED MAUSOLEUM FALLS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THIS RULE.

Sayyidna ‘Ali has said: “Three days after we all had finished with the burial of the Messenger of Allah a villager came and fell down close to the blessed grave. Weeping bitterly, he referred to this particular verse of the Qur’an AND ADDRESSING HIMSELF TO THE BLESSED GRAVE, he said: ‘Allah Almighty has promised in this verse that a sinner, if he presented himself before the Rasul of Allah, and the Rasul elects to pray for his forgiveness, then he will forgive him. Therefore, here I am, presenting myself BEFORE YOU so that I may be blessed with YOUR prayer for my forgiveness.’ People personally present there at that time say that, in response to the pleading of the villager, a voice coming out from the sanctified mausoleum rang around with the words… You have been forgiven.” (al-Bahr al-Muhit) (Mufti Shafi Usmani, Maariful Quran, Volume 2, p. 486 https://ia802707.us.archive.org/2/items/maarifulquran-english-pdf/MaarifulquranEnglishPdf-Vol2-Page451-505ByMuftiShafiUsmaniRah.pdf; bold and capital emphasis ours) 

The very fact that this practice of going to the tomb of Muhammad to seek his intercession is said to be a general ruling for all Muslims means that Islam actually condones grave worship and encourages its adherents to consult the dead, something expressly condemned in God’s true revelation:

“When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the Lord your God. The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so.” Deuteronomy 18:9-14 (NIV)

“When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? Consult God’s instructionand the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.” Isaiah 8:19-20 NIV

Ibn Kathir mentions another instance where a person came to Muhammad’s grave and prayed to him to intercede with Allah: 

“… A group of the scholars amongst whom is Shaikh Abu-Mansour As-Sabagh said in his book named Ash-Shamel this well-known narration on the authority of Al-Utby who said: ‘While I was sitting by the grave of the Prophet, a nomad came and said: “Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah! I heard that Allah says: <If they (hypocrites), when they had been unjust…> and that I there came to you in repentance TAKING YOU AN INTERCESSOR FOR ME TO MY LORD (Allah).’ Then the nomad chanted: 

O you whose body is the best that is entombed.

That with his blessing the grave and mounts are surely endued.

Sacrificed is my soul for a grave you are therein placed.

Therein are chastity, generosity and munificence treasured. 

“Then the nomad left. When I fell asleep, I saw the Prophet saying to me: ‘O Utby! Reach the nomad and give him the glad tiding THAT ALLAH HAS FORGIVEN HIM.’” (Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged), translated by Muhammad Anis Gad Khalil [Dar Al-Manarah 2007], Volume 1, p. 339; capital emphasis ours)

Here we have two cases where Muslims went to the very grave of Muhammad in order to ask a dead man to pray that Allah would grant them forgiveness!

That’s not all. Muhammad is reported to have taught his companions to make du’a to him, e.g. to seek his help with Allah by invoking Muhammad by name:

3578. ‘Uthman bin Hunaif narrated that a blind man came to the Prophet and said to him: “Supplicate to Allah to heal me.” He said: “If you wish, I will supplicate for you, and if you wish, you can be patient, for that is better for you.” He said: “Then supplicate to him.” He said: “So he ordered him to perform Wudu’ and to make his Wudu’ complete, and to supplicate with this supplication: ‘O Allah, I ask You and turn towards You by Your Prophet Muhammad, the Prophet of Mercy. Indeed, I have turned to my Lord, BY MEANS OF YOU, concerning this need of mine, so that it can be resolved, So Allah so accept HIS INTERCESSION for me (Allahumma Inni As’aluka WA MUHAMMADIN Nabi-Ir-Rahmati Tawajjahtu Bika Ila Rabbi Fi Hajati Hadhihi Lituqda Li, Allahumma FASHAFFI‘HU Fiya).’” (SAHIH)

[He said]: This Hadith is Hasan SAHIH Gharib, we do not know of it except through this route, as a narration of Abu Ja‘far, and he is someone other than Al-Khatmi, [and Uthman bin Hunaif is the brother of Sahl bin Hunaif] (English Translation of Jami‘ At-Tirmidhi: Compiled by Imam Hafiz Abu ‘Eisa Mohammad Ibn ‘Eisa At-Tirmidhi, translated by Abu Khaliyl (USA), ahadith edited and referenced by Hafiz Tahir Zubair ‘Ali Za’i [Darussalam Publishers & Distributors, First Edition: November 2007], Volume 6, From Hadith No. 3291 to 3956, Various Narrations On The Chapters Of Supplications, Chapter 118, p. 283; capital and underline emphasis ours)

Here is a different version of this same hadith:

1385. It was narrated from ‘Uthman bin Hunaif that a blind man came to the Prophet and said to him: “Pray to Allah to heal me.” He said: “If you wish to store your reward for the Hereafter, that is better, or if you wish, I will supplicate for you.” He said: “Supplicate.” He said: “So he told him to perform ablution and do it well, and to pray two Rak’ah, and to say this supplication: “Allahumma inni as’aluka wa atawajjahu ilaika BI-MUHAMMADIN NABIYYIR-RAHMA.YA MUHAMMADU inni qad tawajjahtu bika ila rabbi fi hajati hadhihi Lituqda. Allahumma FASHAFFI‘HU fiya (O Allah, I ask of You and I turn my face towards You BY VIRTUE OF THE INTERCESSION OF MUHAMMAD THE PROPHET OF MERCY. O MUHAMMAD, I have turned to my Lord BY VIRTUE OF YOUR INTERCESSION concerning this need of mine, so that it may be met. O Allah, accept HIS INTERCESSION concerning me)”. (SAHIH) (English Translation of Sunan Ibn Majah, Compiled by Imam Muhammad Bin Yazeed Ibn Majah Al-Qazwini, Ahadith edited and referenced by Hafiz Abu Tahir Zubair ‘Ali Za’i, translated by Nasiruddin al-Khattab (Canada), final review by Abu Khaliyl (USA) [Darussalam Publications and Distributors, First Edition: June 2007], Volume 2, From Hadith no. 803 to 1782, 5. The Chapters Of Establishing The Prayer And The Sunnah Regarding Them, Chapter 189. What Was Narrated Concerning Prayer At Times Of Need, pp. 329-330; capital and underline emphasis ours)

What makes this invocation rather troubling is that Muslims continued to use this same prayer long after Muhammad’s death!

THE HADITH OF THE MAN IN NEED

Moreover, Tabarani, in his “al-Mu’jam al saghir,” reports a hadith from ‘Uthman ibn Hunayf that a man repeatedly visited Uthman ibn Affan concerning something he needed, but Uthman paid no attention to him or his need. The man met Ibn Hunayf and complained to him about the matter – this being after the death (wisal) of the Prophet and after the caliphates of Abu Bakr and Umar – so Uthman ibn Hunayf, who was one of the Companions who collected hadiths and was learned in the religion of Allah, said: “Go to the place of ablution and perform ablution (wudu), then come to the mosque, perform two rak’as of prayer therein, and say:

‘O Allah, I ask You and turn to You through our Prophet Muhammad, the Prophet of mercy; O MUHAMMAD (Ya Muhammad), I turn through you to my Lord, that He may fulfill my need,’ and mention your need. Then come so that I can go with you [to the caliph Uthman].” So the man left and did as he had been told, then went to the door of Uthman ibn Affan, and the doorman came, took him by the hand, brought him to Uthman ibn Affan, and seated him next to him on a cushion. ‘Uthman asked, “What do you need?” and the man mentioned what he wanted, and Uthman accomplished it for him, then he said, “I hadn’t remembered your need until just now,” adding, “Whenever you need something, just mention it.” Then, the man departed, met Uthman ibn Hunayf, and said to him, “May Allah reward you! He didn’t see to my need or pay any attention to me until you spoke with him.” Uthman ibn Hunayf replied, “By Allah, I didn’t speak to him, but I have seen a blind man come to the Messenger of Allah and complain to him of the loss of his eyesight. The Prophet said, “Can you not bear it?’ and the man replied, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I do not have anyone to lead me around, and it is a great hardship for me.’ The Prophet told him, ‘Go to the place of ablution and perform ablution (wudu), then pray two rak’as of prayer and make the supplications.'” Ibn Hunayf went on, “By Allah, we didn’t part company or speak long before the man returned to us as if nothing had ever been wrong with him.” This is an explicit, unequivocal text from a prophetic Companion proving the legal validity of tawassul through the dead. The account has been classified as rigously authenticated (SAHIH) by Baihaqi, Mundhiri, and Haythami. (Nuh Ha Mim Keller, Tawassul: Supplicating Allah through an Intermediary (From Reliance of the Traveller); bold and capital emphasis ours)

Here we have an individual at the time of the caliphate of Uthman ibn Affan who offers up the same prayer that the blind man did, praying and asking Muhammad in the same way that he asks Allah!

Since dua’ or invocations are said to be the very essence of worship,

296. The excellence of supplication

712. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet said, “Nothing is dearer to Allah than supplication.”

713. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet said, “The noblest act of worship IS SUPPLICATION.”

714. An-Nu’man ibn Bashir reported that the Prophet said, “Supplication IS WORSHIP.” Then he recited, “Call on Me and I will answer you.” (Al-Adab al-Mufrad al-Bukhari, translated by Aisha Bewley, XXX. Supplication http://bewley.virtualave.net/adab4.html#supplicate; capital and underline emphasis ours)

3828. It was narrated from Nu‘man bin Bashir that the Messenger of Allah said: “Indeed the supplication IS THE WORSHIP.” Then he recited: “And your Lord said: Invoke Me, I will respond to you.”[1] (SAHIH) (English Translation of Sunan Ibn Majah, Compiled by Imam Muhammad Bin Yazeed Ibn Majah Al-Qazwini, From Hadith No. 3657 to 4341, Ahadith edited and referenced by Hafiz Abu Tahir Zubair ‘Ali Za’i, translated by Nasiruddin al-Khattab (Canada), final review by Abu Khaliyl (USA) [Darussalam Publications and Distributors, First Edition: June 2007], Volume 5, 34. The Chapter On Supplication, chapter 1. The Virtue of Supplication, p. 95; capital and underline emphasis ours)

[1] Ghafir 40:60. (Ibid.)

And should therefore be directed only to Allah,

You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything). S. 1:5 Hilali-Khan Say. Surely my prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are (all) for Allah, the Lord of the worlds; S. 6:162 Shakir

Say (O Muhammad): “I invoke only my Lord (Allah Alone), and I associate none as partners along with Him.” S. 72:20 Hilali-Khan

This means that Muhammad commanded his followers to worship him along with Allah.

So much for the assertion that Islam is the purest form of monotheism, which is free of all forms of idolatry.

Further Reading 

Allah as the best Mushrik of them all [Part 1 http://answeringislam.net/authors/shamoun/allah_mushrik1.html], [Part 2 http://answeringislam.net/authors/shamoun/allah_mushrik2.html]

Christ – The Life-giver http://www.reformedapologeticsministries.com/2015/11/christ-life-giver.html

Muhammad is not equal to Jesus but Jesus is equal to Allah! http://www.reformedapologeticsministries.com/2015/11/the-quran-testifies.html

Is Jesus God or not? http://answeringislam.net/Quran/Contra/jesus_creator.htm

Jesus as Creator in the Quran http://answeringislam.net/Shamoun/sura3_7.htm#2B

Source: https://answeringislamblog.wordpress.com/2016/12/04/allah-the-greatest-mushrik-of-them-all/

IHS