Petri Paavola
Member
http://koti.phnet.fi/elohim/Islam_and_Jesus2
It has so been presented that alternative, that Muhammad received in his time the Koran directly from heaven and from angel Gabriel. For example so said the night of (creation-) power (lailat al qadr), which is during the Muslims’ holy month, Ramada, is spent just for its memento, that God is believed then to have dropped the Koran down from heaven. Then, that night, the Muslims around the world pronounce passages of the Koran or follow its repeating for instance on the television or on the radio.
But has the Koran really been got in one go and ready from heaven and as a whole book? We look at this matter in the light of the next points:
The revelations lasted over 20 years. Firstly it is good to notice, that when Muhammad received his revelations, of which the Koran is composed, so it took place about during 20 years and until his death (610 - 632), and by no means in one moment. So the Koran is only a collection of these separate revelations, which the prophet then verbally mediated in different situations - it is the sum of these revelations – but it is wrong to think, that it would have been received in one moment and ready from heaven, because 20 years can not be the same as the one night.
Were collected after death. Also that point, that these revelations were collected together for a book, in other words for the Koran 20 years after the death of the prophet, besides from different versions, (for example in the book Islam / Fadhlalla Haeri is told, that there were at least seven different kinds of versions in the most important dialects of tribes or territories. Of these the third caliph, Uthman, chose then one official version and ordered others to be burnt. However, different versions have been preserved as a proof of the original situation.) indicates to us, that there is not a question of any whole book, sent from the heaven, but by degrees received revelations, which then were collected together. To this matter, which perhaps doesn’t bother at all most of Muslims, is referred also by a few passages of the Koran. In those is indicated, that already during Muhammad, some doubted, that if the Koran is from heaven, why Muhammad didn't receive it in one go, but by degrees:
The unbelievers ask: ‘Why was the Koran not revealed to him entire in a single revelation?’ We have revealed it thus so that We may strengthen your faith. We have imparted it to you by gradual revelation. (25:32)
We have revealed the Koran with the Truth, and with the Truth it has come down. We have sent you forth only to proclaim good news and to give warning. We have divided the Koran into sections so that you may recite it to the people with deliberation. We have imparted it by gradual revelation. Say: ‘It is for you to believe in it or to deny it… (17:105-107)
The changes. If we still stay in that thought, that the Koran is a perfect copy in heaven being model and directly sent to Muhammad, so against this thought are also the own verses of the Koran, which refer to changes in this book. Of these we can mention at least the next passages - passages which indicate, how some passages of the Koran must have later been changed for another, or to wipe away. How can we therefore account for that point, that the Koran would have been sent at one time and it has always been in the same form:
If We abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten, We will replace it by a better one or one similar. Did you not know that God has power over all things. (2:106)
God abrogates and confirms what He pleases. His is the Decree Eternal. (13:39)
When We change one verse for another (God knows best what He reveals), they say: ‘You are an impostor.’ Indeed most of them have no knowledge. (16:101)
Also one passage, to which especially in the traditional knowledge is referred, is the Koran 53:19,20, which is called "the satanic verse". We look at this matter quite separately:
53:19,20. The Koran 53:19,20 is so a such passage, which is believed to have changed. For according to the traditional knowledge these verses, in which is spoken about three goddesses, worshipped by Arabs, - Allat, al-Uzza and Manat - included originally a reference to that fact, that these goddesses could be some kinds of mediators. (In other words in these verses, which Muhammad received, was given support to turning to idols.) So these verses, as a result of which the residents of Mecca were ready to confess Muhammad for the prophet, because he too confessed the station of their goddesses, are believed to have been in the following form. The omitted passage has been marked with the bold text:
Have you thought on Allat and al-Uzza and on Manat, the third other? "These are high beings and their intercession can be hoped."
This same matter is described also by the next quotation, in which is referred to the commentary of a certain Imam. From it we can see, how the passage of the Koran in question was changed (It is remarkable, that the former disciples couldn’t accept the first revelation of Muhammad and so they started to boycott him.), because Muhammad got from the angel soon opposite revelation, in which was told, that the first revelation came from the devil. It also indicates to us that fact, how the Koran totally is based on the revelations and words of Muhammad:
Imam El-Syouty explains the Sura 17:74 of the Koran in his commentary as follows: "According to Muhammad, the Son of Kaab, the kinsman of Karz, the prophet Muhammad read Sura 53 until he came to the passage, in which is said: 'Have you seen Allat and Al-Uzza ( idols)... 'Just right in this passage the devil himself got Muhammad to say, that the Muslims can worship these idols and ask them intercession. â€ÂAnd so from the words of Muhammad were made a verse to the Koran.
The prophet Muhammad was because of his words very sad, until God encouraged him with a new verse: "Also as always before, when we have sent messenger or prophet, has Satan got put his own wishes along them, but God wipes away it, what Satan has got mixed for them, and then he confirms his own mark. God is knowing, wise.†(Sura 22:52.)
Because of this Sura 17:73-74 says: "And surely they had purposed to turn you away from that which We have revealed to you, that you should forge against Us other than that, and then they would certainly have taken you for a friend. And had it not been that We had already established you, you would certainly have been near to incline to them a little;" (5)
It has so been presented that alternative, that Muhammad received in his time the Koran directly from heaven and from angel Gabriel. For example so said the night of (creation-) power (lailat al qadr), which is during the Muslims’ holy month, Ramada, is spent just for its memento, that God is believed then to have dropped the Koran down from heaven. Then, that night, the Muslims around the world pronounce passages of the Koran or follow its repeating for instance on the television or on the radio.
But has the Koran really been got in one go and ready from heaven and as a whole book? We look at this matter in the light of the next points:
The revelations lasted over 20 years. Firstly it is good to notice, that when Muhammad received his revelations, of which the Koran is composed, so it took place about during 20 years and until his death (610 - 632), and by no means in one moment. So the Koran is only a collection of these separate revelations, which the prophet then verbally mediated in different situations - it is the sum of these revelations – but it is wrong to think, that it would have been received in one moment and ready from heaven, because 20 years can not be the same as the one night.
Were collected after death. Also that point, that these revelations were collected together for a book, in other words for the Koran 20 years after the death of the prophet, besides from different versions, (for example in the book Islam / Fadhlalla Haeri is told, that there were at least seven different kinds of versions in the most important dialects of tribes or territories. Of these the third caliph, Uthman, chose then one official version and ordered others to be burnt. However, different versions have been preserved as a proof of the original situation.) indicates to us, that there is not a question of any whole book, sent from the heaven, but by degrees received revelations, which then were collected together. To this matter, which perhaps doesn’t bother at all most of Muslims, is referred also by a few passages of the Koran. In those is indicated, that already during Muhammad, some doubted, that if the Koran is from heaven, why Muhammad didn't receive it in one go, but by degrees:
The unbelievers ask: ‘Why was the Koran not revealed to him entire in a single revelation?’ We have revealed it thus so that We may strengthen your faith. We have imparted it to you by gradual revelation. (25:32)
We have revealed the Koran with the Truth, and with the Truth it has come down. We have sent you forth only to proclaim good news and to give warning. We have divided the Koran into sections so that you may recite it to the people with deliberation. We have imparted it by gradual revelation. Say: ‘It is for you to believe in it or to deny it… (17:105-107)
The changes. If we still stay in that thought, that the Koran is a perfect copy in heaven being model and directly sent to Muhammad, so against this thought are also the own verses of the Koran, which refer to changes in this book. Of these we can mention at least the next passages - passages which indicate, how some passages of the Koran must have later been changed for another, or to wipe away. How can we therefore account for that point, that the Koran would have been sent at one time and it has always been in the same form:
If We abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten, We will replace it by a better one or one similar. Did you not know that God has power over all things. (2:106)
God abrogates and confirms what He pleases. His is the Decree Eternal. (13:39)
When We change one verse for another (God knows best what He reveals), they say: ‘You are an impostor.’ Indeed most of them have no knowledge. (16:101)
Also one passage, to which especially in the traditional knowledge is referred, is the Koran 53:19,20, which is called "the satanic verse". We look at this matter quite separately:
53:19,20. The Koran 53:19,20 is so a such passage, which is believed to have changed. For according to the traditional knowledge these verses, in which is spoken about three goddesses, worshipped by Arabs, - Allat, al-Uzza and Manat - included originally a reference to that fact, that these goddesses could be some kinds of mediators. (In other words in these verses, which Muhammad received, was given support to turning to idols.) So these verses, as a result of which the residents of Mecca were ready to confess Muhammad for the prophet, because he too confessed the station of their goddesses, are believed to have been in the following form. The omitted passage has been marked with the bold text:
Have you thought on Allat and al-Uzza and on Manat, the third other? "These are high beings and their intercession can be hoped."
This same matter is described also by the next quotation, in which is referred to the commentary of a certain Imam. From it we can see, how the passage of the Koran in question was changed (It is remarkable, that the former disciples couldn’t accept the first revelation of Muhammad and so they started to boycott him.), because Muhammad got from the angel soon opposite revelation, in which was told, that the first revelation came from the devil. It also indicates to us that fact, how the Koran totally is based on the revelations and words of Muhammad:
Imam El-Syouty explains the Sura 17:74 of the Koran in his commentary as follows: "According to Muhammad, the Son of Kaab, the kinsman of Karz, the prophet Muhammad read Sura 53 until he came to the passage, in which is said: 'Have you seen Allat and Al-Uzza ( idols)... 'Just right in this passage the devil himself got Muhammad to say, that the Muslims can worship these idols and ask them intercession. â€ÂAnd so from the words of Muhammad were made a verse to the Koran.
The prophet Muhammad was because of his words very sad, until God encouraged him with a new verse: "Also as always before, when we have sent messenger or prophet, has Satan got put his own wishes along them, but God wipes away it, what Satan has got mixed for them, and then he confirms his own mark. God is knowing, wise.†(Sura 22:52.)
Because of this Sura 17:73-74 says: "And surely they had purposed to turn you away from that which We have revealed to you, that you should forge against Us other than that, and then they would certainly have taken you for a friend. And had it not been that We had already established you, you would certainly have been near to incline to them a little;" (5)