Mohammed, did he really hear from an angel, or did he just make it all up?

Question

I am reading a history book and it says this (It was published BEFORE 9/11 happened, so I believe it's view on islam will be valid):

at the age of 40 mohammed began to claim that he was recieving revelations from the angel gabriel. mohammed at first feared that he had lost his mind or become demon-posessed, but he eventually convinced that he was the specially appointed prophet of allah, his name for the one and only god, allah, said mohammed, is the same as the the one the jews and christians call god, i said mohammed, am allahs choice to bring to men the perfect and complete truth, i said mohammed, am the last in a series of prophets taht includes adam, noah, abraham, moses, and jesus. all who believe in allah and me and do all i teach, preached mohammed, will spend eternity in heaven.

Whereas over 500 people saw the resurected jesus christ, no one witnessed mohammeds supposed encounters with the angel, only mohammed saw the visions and heard the voices.

Brie, I never said christianity was so much better than Islam, so do not say that I did.

I have considered converting Christianity > Islam, but many things stop me (Like this question) before I do.

**************REMEMBER********************


This is just what I read out of a history book, not what I think.

Answer 1

I'm not sure. But his first reation was that Satan was trying to trick him.

It was his wife that convinced him it was Jabril (or the Angel Gabriel) speaking to him.

I have my doubts if his first impression isn't the correct one.

Answer 2

I would first like to say that religion is about faith. Faith is believing without seeing. This means that even if you never see something happen or someone, you know in your heart it exist. You can see it in the things around you.

Were you there to see Jesus on that cross? Nope, you never saw it with your own eyes.

Were you there when Muhammed received his revelation from Angel Gabriel? Nope, you were not there either.

My point is...you did not see anything. Regardless of what ever else thinks, what do you believe to be the truth? 500 people doesn't mean 500 truths. The eyes can be deceiving.

I believe he received a revelation from Gabriel. I believe the words written in the Quran are the truth and have not been altered.

Answer 3

Incorrect. Many people witnessed Muhammad in the throes of his revelation and recorded it on whatever was handy as he spoke. He even fell off his camel at times when the revelation came upon him and overwhelmed him so. Only during the first few revelations was Muhammad alone. As Muhammad was illiterate, he had his amanuenses read back his words so he could make sure they had recorded it correctly. Then many of his followers memorized it to preserve it until the time it could be compiled and preserved the best they could in those days. Arabs of the day were master poets and memorizers as they memorized the entire history of their clans and tribes in poetic form, which grew longer every year.

As to whether Muhammad or Christ made up everything is for each individual to determine for himself by reading the holy words with a sincere truth-seeking, pure mind and heart. The power and influence of the words themselves on the heart and mind will speak for themselves to those with an eye to see, an ear to hear, as is the case with all holy scriptures.

Scriptures of both these faiths are freely available online.

Answer 4

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was known for his truthfulness...There's this incident in which Heraclius was invited to accept Islam. So he asked if anyone was closely related to the Prophet. His uncle came up and at that time his uncle was not a muslim and he had to answer all the questions asked by the emperor of Rome rightfully otherwise people there would correct him. He was asked "Have you ever accused him of telling lies before this claim". His answer was No and so Heracluis said I asked this question because I wondered how a person who does not tell a lie about others , tell a lie about God.
Keep in mind that The Prophet (PBUH) was totally devoted to God...when he received God's message it was during the time of his life in which he had secluded to a cave for the purpose of worshiping God.
When God talked to Moses , no one was present . Yet we all know that this is true. Similarly other Prophets also received revelations from angels etc, without people witnessing it but we know its true....

Answer 5

You say 500 people witnessed the resurrection of Jesus, but this all through hearsay. Who were these people, and can their descendants be found? I would be careful about slinging "facts" around when it comes to religion. History is often not history at all, but popular opinion. It all centers around who has the loudest voice and the most resources to shape the story. So if you are going to question the what the Q'uran says about Prophet Muhammad, then you will have to question the Bible as well.

Answer 6

well!Ty ,yes prophet muhammed is the only prophet who saw angels on their angelic form, many prophets saw angels and talked to them but they were in the form of men ,
here is the part u are talking about from a Muslim source and that what is written and narrated about the prophet in all his biography books

Muhammad would seclude himself in the cave of Mount Hira and worship three days and nights. He would, whenever he wished, return to his family at Mecca and then go back again, taking wihim the necessities of life. Thus he continued to return to Khadijah from time to time until one day the revelation came down to him and the Angel Gabriel (Jibreel) appeared to him and said: "Read!" But as Muhammad was illiterate, having never received any instruction in reading or writing, he said to the angel: "I am not a reader." The angel took a hold of him and squeezed him as much as he could bear, and then said again: "Read!" Then Prophet said: "I am not a reader." The Angel again seized the Prophet and squeezed him and said: "Read! In the Name of Your Lord, Who has created (all that exists), has created a man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood). Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, Who has taught (the writing) by the pen, has taught man that which he knew not." (96:1-4 Quran).(THE FIRST SURAH IN THE qURAN)

Then the Prophet repeated the words with a trembling heart. He returned to Khadijah from Mount Hira and said: "Wrap me up! Wrap me up!" She wrapped him in a garment until his fear was dispelled. He told Khadijah what had occurred and that he was becoming either a soothsayer or one smitten with madness. She replied: "Allah forbid! He will surely not let such a thing happen, for you speak the truth, you are faithful in trust, you bear the afflictions of the people, you spend in good works what you gain in trade, you are hospitable and you assist your fellow men. Have you seen anything terrible?" Muhammad replied: "Yes," and told her what he had seen. Whereupon, Khadijah said: "Rejoice, O dear husband and be cheerful. He is Whose hands stands Khadijah's life bears witness to the truth of this fact, that you will be the prophet to this people." Then she arose and went to her cousin Waraqa Ibn Naufal, who was old and blind and who knew the Scriptures of the Jews and Christians, and is stated to have translated them into Arabic. When she told him of what she had heard, he cried out: "Holy! Holy! Verily, this is the Namus (The Holy Spirit) who came to Moses. He will be the prophet of his people. Tell him this and bid him to be brave at heart." When the two men met subsequently in the street, the blind old student of the Jewish and Christian Scriptures spoke of his faith and trust: "I swear by Him in Who hand Waraqa's life is, Allah has chosen you to be the prophet of this people. They will call you a liar, they will persecute you, they will banish you, and they will fight against you. Oh, that I could live to those days. I would fight for these." And he kissed him on the forehead.

ps: sincere advice , plz read from islamic source , cuz they are the ones whocare to give true reliable information.

wish that helped.
good luck

peace.

Answer 7

unless you have had a one to one conversation with Mohamed you will never know for certain will you ?
its an unanswerable question as any answer can only be a version of the event .if it happened.

recorded in written form is in no way proof for those who may profess it to be so.

Answer 8

Hellooooooooooooo! As if islamophobia got started only after 9-11.

Many books were written just to disparge the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) dating hundreds of years back. So why would your source be exempted? And reading your qoutes from your source, did that book undergo proof reading? I just can't stomach the bad grammar and spellings...

Answer 9

Nobody saw Moses talking to the burning bush, And I question how 500 people knew they were looking at Jesus, who was definately dead prior to him showing himself.

I guess you're question is the million dollar question, what's made up and what isn't?

Answer 10

There's a possibility he may have been schizophrenic and actually heard voices, but I doubt it. I believe it was his way of convincing people to follow him.

Over 500 people saw the resurrected Jesus? Well, over 2,000 people witnessed Gandalf defending Minas Tirith against the forces of Mordor. It says so right in the book. Top that.

Answer 11

IMHO, you really need to research Mohammed's history. The man was an out and out criminal, serial rapist, misogynist who self appointed himself a prophet and sowed the seeds for the violence in Islam "the so called religion of peace". Check it out online or at the library, there are many facets of his teachings that are not in unison with the love or word of God, but actually promote Satan's agenda.

Christians & Jewish martyrs say; "I will die for what I believe".
A Muslim martyr says; "you will die for what I believe"....