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Title: Did Muhammad Perform Miracles?
Source:
First Things
URL Source: http://www.firstthings.com/web-excl ... /did-muhammad-perform-miracles
Published: Sep 8, 2015
Author: Ayman S. Ibrahim
Post Date: 2015-09-08 15:02:46 by redleghunter
Ping List: *Religious History and Issues* Subscribe to *Religious History and Issues*
Keywords: None
Views: 2291
Comments: 25
On Thursday, August 27, 2015, the first part of Iran’s most expensive movie trilogy, “Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah,” opened nationwide in Iran. It took more than eighty months for this movie to be completed. Its primary goal, according to its director Majid Majidi, “is to reclaim the rightful image of Islam, which he said extremists have distorted.” The Iranian state has partly funded the film, most likely in an attempt to promote a Shiite understanding of the narrative of Muhammad’s life. This, of course, triggered controversy among Sunni Muslims. Al-Azhar University demanded that “Iran refrain from releasing the movie, so that an undistorted image of the prophet can be preserved in the minds of Muslims.” The movie is packed with miracles performed by Muhammad. This is odd because it goes against the Quran, which clearly rejects the performance of supernatural miracles by Muhammad. His only “miracle” was receiving the revelation of the holy Quran from Allah. In the Quran, Allah, of course, has the power to send down miracles, signs, and wonders, but, it appears, that he did not send any to Muhammad, and thus people wondered: “Why has no sign been sent down upon him from his Lord?” (Q 6:37). Some have even compared him to Moses, questioning “Why has he not been given the like of that Moses was given?” (Q 28:48). Indeed, Allah supports Muhammad in the Quran, but identifies him as only “a warner” without a sign (Q 29:50). This was in response to the unbelieving people who rejected Muhammad’s teaching and wondered: “If only a miracle could come down to him from his Lord (we will then believe)” (Q 13:7; see also 11:12). In truth, the Quran uses Muhammad’s lack of supernatural miracle working as a condemnation of unbelievers, affirming that the Quran is the miracle: “Is it not enough of a miracle that we sent down to you this book [the Quran]?” (Q 29:51). This verse appears in response to Muhammad’s opponents questioning in doubt: “If only miracles could come down to him from his Lord?” (Q 29:50), and seems to establish that, in Quranic terms, metaphysical miracles are not given to the Muslim Prophet. The Quran actually indicates one of the reasons why Allah refrained from supporting Muhammad with miracles: “What stopped us [Allah] from sending the miracles is that the previous generations have rejected them” (Q 17:59). Thus, the Quran clearly and explicitly denies any association of Muhammad with heavenly supernatural miracles, signs, and wonders. If other later religious texts, nonetheless, seem to suggest that Muhammad did perform miracles, they stand in direct opposition to these verses, among many others, in Islam’s scripture. Of course many Muslims, past and present, still assume, claim, insist, or at least wish that Muhammad did actually perform miracles, especially when they debate other faiths. In so doing, they rely on later sayings attributed to Muhammad or works written about him centuries after his death. Not only the reliability of these sources is questionable, but also their emphasis on supernatural miracles goes against the clear Quranic witness. The recent affirmation of Iran’s most expensive movie is not the first, and undoubtedly will not be the last, such advancement of a more supernatural prophet. In the classical Muslim period, for instance, Muslim authors decided to write the Biography of Muhammad, a century or two after his death, and added various miraculous elements, such as him feeding crowds after the multiplication of food, healing sick people, and even manifesting authority over nature. The similarities with pre-Islamic sacred writings are evident. There was a need (as Islam presented itself in a multi-religious context in the conquered lands) of a specific depiction of Muhammad with certain characteristics that appealed to that era. In fact, four centuries after Muhammad’s death, some Muslim writers, like Abu Nu‘aym al-Isfahani and Ahmad al-Bayhaqi, expanded a genre of Muslim writing, Dal’il al-nubuwwa (The Signs of Prophethood), detailing extensive accounts of metaphysical miracles attributed to Muhammad as proofs of his prophethood. This genre in particular aimed at expounding and defending his prophethood by adducing selected incidents and specific references from Biblical (apocryphal and canonical) books. Apparently, the milieu of the writing of these texts involved apologetic and polemic discourses with rival religions that existed long before Islam. If Jews had Moses splitting the sea and Christians had Jesus raising the dead, Muslims needed a miraculous Muhammad—never mind that the Quran seems to insist that the only miracle brought by Allah to Muhammad is a religious book. Not only in the Classical Muslim period, but also today, it appears, the political situation and the requirements of contemporary religious discourse dictate a new reality. With the rise of militant and extremist groups claiming to follow clear Islamic tenets supported by Muslim sacred texts, there is a need for an alternate depiction of the early years of Islam and its major figures. The goals of the filmmakers determine their portrayal, even if it goes against Islam’s scripture and “historical” Muslim accounts. It all comes down, as the film director posits, to their insistence of depicting that “Islam is a religion of peace, friendship and love.” While radical Muslim groups like ISIS use ancient religious texts to support their horrific deeds, others violate historical and scriptural witness to promote a more appealing version of Muhammad. Ayman S. Ibrahim is Post-Doctoral Fellow of Middle Eastern History at Haifa University and Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies and Senior Fellow for the Jenkins Center for the Christian Understanding of Islam at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Poster Comment: Sounds like the Mormons helped produce the Muhammad in the movie:)
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#1. To: redleghunter (#0)
(Edited)
Is there a disclaimer at the end of the movie that states "No actual goats or boy children were raped during the making of this movie. P.S.. Not even the pretty ones."? Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
If Jews had Moses splitting the sea and Christians had Jesus raising the dead, Muslims needed a miraculous Muhammad—never mind that the Quran seems to insist that the only miracle brought by Allah to Muhammad is a religious book. Well, there IS the "miracle" of having witnessed Americans re-elect a Muzzie President. He "Praise be....cough...hack....barf..."
Heh... Pretty what? Goats or camels?
P.S.. Not even the pretty ones."? Go ahead and send the mullahs that suggestion. Then let me know how your Fatwah reads:) "The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”"---Isaiah 40:8
Pretty pre-teen boys. Islam,much like Christianity,has a strong bias against sexual relations with females. Unlike Christianity,they don't seem to have the same opposition to sex with pre-teen boys,so it's common for Muslims to hump little boys. Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
I would happily get right up in ones face and tell him about it,nose to nose. All sorts of things are permissible when you are acting in self-defense. Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
LOL... You're on a roll today... The Muslims who oppose the movie are correct in their representation of the Quran. The miracle granted to Mohammed is the revelation of the Quran, for Jesus was "the purest prophet", and the people did not believe him even with miracles. Therefore, Mohammed is the FINAL prophet (not the purest one - the Quran says that it is Jesus who will judge on the judgment day). The Qu'ran parallels Torah and Gospels so closely that Muslims and Christians and Jews would be surprised, if they read each other's book. Where they diverge is not even where all of the tension is (though it lies at the root of the divergence of the religions). Truth is, Judaism and Islam are completely compatible on a Scriptural/religious level. It's the human traditions that move them far apart. Christianity is the odd man out because of the man-god at the heart of it, which Jews deny is true, and which the Qu'ran explicitly states is not true. But the Shroud, Lanciano, Incorrupt and Lourdes healings, all real miracles, are what proves that the Christians are right and the Jews are wrong for not accepting Jesus, and the portion of the Qu'ran that rejects Jesus' divinity is an error.
That is really sicko. Just another reason to dislike them!! Si vis pacem, para bellum
That is really sicko. Just another reason to dislike them!! It's more acceptable to them than having sex with Muslim women they are not married to. "The Prophet forbids sex with women they aren't married to,but evidently has nothing to say about sex with non-Muslim women,including rape,pre-teen boys or farm animals. Or at least that is what I have always heard Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
I would like to watch this trilogy. Is it in english format?
Don't know what planet your on OR from, but Islam's philosophy on life happens to be far more aligned with...Atheists. Both sanction....sexual relations with anything that moves...as well as an Afterlife spent in hell.
Sounds cozy. Make sure you pop in a breath mint.
You must be on drugs. Muslims publicly execute women for having affairs,and beat women on the street for showing faces,hair,or even ankles. Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
Not really. What you are commenting on are the traditions added by men. Jesus Christ was all for a man and woman joining in marriage and having children. quotquot autem receperunt eum dedit eis potestatem filios Dei fieri his qui credunt in nomine eius
So what Mohammed. Both he and Jesus were against men having sex with women they aren't married to,though. Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
Well of course. Sexual relations between one man and one woman is within marriage. That is what Jesus Christ commanded. Anything outside of marriage is sexual sin.
quotquot autem receperunt eum dedit eis potestatem filios Dei fieri his qui credunt in nomine eius
Unlike Mohammed,I do not believe Jesus called for adulteresses or single women who had sex outside of marriage to be put to death. In fact,I believe he took the opposite approach and told his followers to forgive and show love. Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
Yes, Jesus Christ as truly man knew our human weaknesses; as Truly God, He could forgive. Jesus never refused a repentant sinner coming to Him for forgiveness; just as He never refused someone who believed He would heal them of their sickness, disease or malady. quotquot autem receperunt eum dedit eis potestatem filios Dei fieri his qui credunt in nomine eius
So what happened to the Muslim outrage at any image of Mohammed, either sacred or profane? Apparently Iran doesn't follow that restriction or they are making an exception.
But they do often allow temporary marriages, even a weekend marriage. We'd call it legal prostitution.
I did not know that. We'd call it legal prostitution. The words that spring to my mind are "loophole" and "hypocrisy". Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
Sex-in-Islam.com: Mutah: Temporary Islamic Marriage amongst Muslims The mullahs, the pimps, the old guys marrying up to four girls at a time for a week or so.
On Thursday, August 27, 2015, the first part of Iran’s most expensive movie trilogy, “Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah,” opened nationwide in Iran. It took more than eighty months for this movie to be completed.
#2. To: redleghunter (#0)
(Edited)
Apparently, the milieu of the writing of these texts involved apologetic and polemic discourses with rival religions that existed long before Islam.
healed murdered a nation and miraculously split it into a 325 million pieces...
#3. To: sneakypete (#1)
#4. To: sneakypete (#1)
Is there a disclaimer at the end of the movie that states "No actual goats or boy children were raped during the making of this movie.
#5. To: Liberator (#3)
Pretty what? Goats or camels?
#6. To: redleghunter (#4)
Go ahead and send the mullahs that suggestion.
#7. To: redleghunter (#4)
Go ahead and send the mullahs that suggestion. Then let me know how your Fatwah reads:)
#8. To: redleghunter (#0)
#9. To: sneakypete (#5)
" it's common for Muslims to hump little boys "
#10. To: Stoner (#9)
" it's common for Muslims to hump little boys "
#11. To: redleghunter (#0)
#12. To: buckeroo (#11)
#13. To: buckeroo (#11)
#14. To: sneakypete (#5)
Islam,much like Christianity,has a strong bias against sexual relations with females.
#15. To: sneakypete (#6)
I would happily get right up in ones face and tell him about it,nose to nose.
#16. To: Liberator (#14)
Don't know what planet your on OR from, but Islam's philosophy on life happens to be far more aligned with...Atheists. Both sanction....sexual relations with anything that moves...as well as an Afterlife spent in hell.
#17. To: sneakypete (#5)
Islam,much like Christianity,has a strong bias against sexual relations with females.
#18. To: redleghunter (#17)
Jesus Christ was all for a man and woman joining in marriage and having children.
#19. To: sneakypete (#18)
#20. To: redleghunter (#19)
That is what Jesus Christ commanded. Anything outside of marriage is sexual sin.
#21. To: sneakypete (#20)
In fact,I believe he took the opposite approach and told his followers to forgive and show love.
#22. To: A K A Stone, buckeroo (#13)
#23. To: sneakypete (#16)
You must be on drugs. Muslims publicly execute women for having affairs,and beat women on the street for showing faces,hair,or even ankles.
#24. To: TooConservative (#23)
But they do often allow temporary marriages, even a weekend marriage.
#25. To: sneakypete (#24)
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