Muhammad and illiteracy: Difference between revisions

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Some Islamic apologists claim that Muhammad could not be the author of the Quran, because he was illiterate and it's somehow impossible to give made-up speeches if you're illiterate.
'''Muhammad's literacy''' is a commonly mentioned topic in regards to the historicity, revelation, and compiling of the Quran. Many Muslim scholars claim that Muhammad's illiteracy is evidence that the Quran is a divine miracle. However, skeptics disagree that this is enough to constitute a miracle and challenge the claim altogether.


==Is reading the only way to get information?==
==Transfer of Information==
Humans have 5 senses for getting information from the outside world:
Humans have 5 senses for getting information from the outside world:


*'''Hearing ''' (!!!)
*Hearing
*Sight
*Sight
*Touch
*Touch
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During Muhammad's time, his critics called him "an ear" (أذن, ''udhun''), which is confirmed in the Quran:
During Muhammad's time, his critics called him "an ear" (أذن, ''udhun''), which is confirmed in the Quran:
{{Quote|{{Quran|9|61}}|
{{Quote-text|{{Quran|9|61}}|
And among them are those who abuse the Prophet and say, "He is '''an ear''' (أذن, ''udhun'')."
And among them are those who abuse the Prophet and say, "He is '''an ear''' (أذن, ''udhun'')."
}}
}}


We also know that during Muhammad's time there was a man named Waraqa b. Naufal who studied the Bible and he wrote books in Arabic and he was close to Muhammad's first wife Khadija. He also became blind so we can expect he continued to teach the Bible verbally, when he could no longer write.
We also know that during Muhammad's time there was a man named Waraqa b. Naufal who studied the Bible and he wrote books in Arabic and he was close to Muhammad's first wife Khadija. He also became blind so we can expect he continued to teach the Bible verbally, when he could no longer write.
{{Quote|{{Muslim|1|301}}|
{{Quote-text|{{Muslim|1|301}}|
Khadija then took him to Waraqa b. Naufal b. Asad b. 'Abd al-'Uzza, and he was the son of Khadija's uncle, i. e., the brother of her father. And he was the man who had embraced Christianity in the Days of Ignorance (i. e. before Islam) and he used to write books in Arabic and, therefore, wrote Injil in Arabic as God willed that he should write. He was very old and had become blind Khadija said to him: O uncle! listen to the son of your brother.
Khadija then took him to Waraqa b. Naufal b. Asad b. 'Abd al-'Uzza, and he was the son of Khadija's uncle, i. e., the brother of her father. And he was the man who had embraced Christianity in the Days of Ignorance (i. e. before Islam) and he used to write books in Arabic and, therefore, wrote Injil in Arabic as God willed that he should write. He was very old and had become blind Khadija said to him: O uncle! listen to the son of your brother.
}}
}}
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So Muhammad '''could''' get information without being able to read and he '''could''' give speeches which contain these information. And besides that, he could also be inspired by himself, by his wishes and he could use his imagination.
So Muhammad '''could''' get information without being able to read and he '''could''' give speeches which contain these information. And besides that, he could also be inspired by himself, by his wishes and he could use his imagination.


==Was Muhammad really illiterate?==
==Was Muhammad illiterate?==
===The word ''ummiy'' in the Quran===
===The word ''ummiy'' in the Quran===
The word ''ummiy'' (أمي) appears 6 times in the Quran. Two times in the singular (verses 7:157-158) and four times in the plural form (verses 2:78, 3:20, 3:75 and 62:2). <ref>http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=Amm</ref> From the verses we will see that the word doesn't have to necessarily mean "illiterate", but can also mean "ignorant" or "pagan" or "gentile".
The word ''ummiy'' (أمي) appears 6 times in the Quran. Two times in the singular (verses 7:157-158) and four times in the plural form (verses 2:78, 3:20, 3:75 and 62:2). <ref>http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=Amm</ref> From the verses we will see that the word doesn't have to necessarily mean "illiterate", but can also mean "ignorant" or "pagan" or "gentile".
====Verses 7:157-158====
====Verses 7:157-158====
The two singular forms are in the verses 7:157 and 7:158 in the context of talking about Moses:
The two singular forms are in the verses 7:157 and 7:158 in the context of talking about Moses:
{{Quote|{{Quran|7|155}}|
{{Quote-text|{{Quran|7|155-159}}|
7:155 "And Moses chose from his people seventy men for Our appointment. And when the earthquake seized them, he said, "My Lord, if You had willed, You could have destroyed them before and me [as well]. Would You destroy us for what the foolish among us have done? This is not but Your trial by which You send astray whom You will and guide whom You will. You are our Protector, so forgive us and have mercy upon us; and You are the best of forgivers."
7:155 "And Moses chose from his people seventy men for Our appointment. And when the earthquake seized them, he said, "My Lord, if You had willed, You could have destroyed them before and me [as well]. Would You destroy us for what the foolish among us have done? This is not but Your trial by which You send astray whom You will and guide whom You will. You are our Protector, so forgive us and have mercy upon us; and You are the best of forgivers."


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According to tafsir Ibn Kathir, it is a description of Muhammad in Jewish and Christian scripture and that rabbis and priests "well know" it:
According to tafsir Ibn Kathir, it is a description of Muhammad in Jewish and Christian scripture and that rabbis and priests "well know" it:
{{Quote|Tafsir Ibn Kathir on 7:157|
{{Quote-text|Tafsir Ibn Kathir on 7:157|
(Those who follow the Messenger, '''the Prophet who can neither read nor write whom they find written with them in the Tawrah and the Injil,) This is the description of the Prophet Muhammad in the Books of the Prophets'''. They delivered the good news of his advent to their nations and commanded them to follow him. His descriptions were still apparent in their Books, as '''the rabbis and the priests well know'''.  
(Those who follow the Messenger, '''the Prophet who can neither read nor write whom they find written with them in the Tawrah and the Injil,) This is the description of the Prophet Muhammad in the Books of the Prophets'''. They delivered the good news of his advent to their nations and commanded them to follow him. His descriptions were still apparent in their Books, as '''the rabbis and the priests well know'''.  
}}
}}
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====="Prediction" of an illiterate prophet in the Bible=====
====="Prediction" of an illiterate prophet in the Bible=====
A popular Islamic preacher Zakir Naik proposed that an illiterate prophet is predicted in Isaiah 29:12 <ref>http://www.unchangingword.com/illiterate-prophet/</ref>. According to Zakir Naik, the verse says:
A popular Islamic preacher Zakir Naik proposed that an illiterate prophet is predicted in Isaiah 29:12 <ref>http://www.unchangingword.com/illiterate-prophet/</ref>. According to Zakir Naik, the verse says:
{{Quote|"Isaiah 29:12" in Zakir Naik's imagination <ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=14&v=onKXQlyFwU8</ref>|
{{Quote-text|Non-existant (Isaiah 29:12 according to Zakir Naik)|
"The book shall be given to a person who is not learned. And when will be asked "Read this!", he will say "I am not learned".
"The book shall be given to a person who is not learned. And when will be asked "Read this!", he will say "I am not learned".}}
}}
This could be a prediction of what Aisha described:
This could be a prediction of what Aisha described:
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|1|1|3}}|...suddenly the Truth descended upon him while he was in the cave of Hira. The angel came to him and asked him to read. The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "I do not know how to read."...}}
{{Quote-text|{{Bukhari|1|1|3}}|...suddenly the Truth descended upon him while he was in the cave of Hira. The angel came to him and asked him to read. The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "I do not know how to read."...}}
But this is what Isaiah 29:12 actually says:
But this is what Isaiah 29:12 actually says:
{{Quote|Isaiah 29:11-13|
{{Quote-text|Isaiah 29:11-13|
29:11 "For you this whole vision is nothing but words sealed in a scroll. And if you give the scroll to someone who can read, and say, “Read this, please,” they will answer, “I can’t; it is sealed.”"
29:11 "For you this whole vision is nothing but words sealed in a scroll. And if you give the scroll to someone who can read, and say, “Read this, please,” they will answer, “I can’t; it is sealed.”"


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====Verse 2:78====
====Verse 2:78====
One of the plural forms is in sura 2:
One of the plural forms is in sura 2:
{{Quote|{{Quran|2|78}}|
{{Quote-text|{{Quran|2|78}}|
And among them are '''unlettered ones''' (أُمِّيُّونَ, ''ummeeoona'') who do not know the Scripture except in wishful thinking, but they are only assuming.
And among them are '''unlettered ones''' (أُمِّيُّونَ, ''ummeeoona'') who do not know the Scripture except in wishful thinking, but they are only assuming.
}}
}}
Tafsir Al-Jalalayn says about the verse:
Tafsir Al-Jalalayn says about the verse:
{{Quote|Tafsir Al-Jalalayn on 2:78|
{{Quote-text|Tafsir Al-Jalalayn on 2:78|
And there are some of them the Jews that are '''illiterate unlettered not knowing the Scripture''' the Torah but only desires lies which were handed down to them by their leaders and which they relied upon; and in their rejection of the prophethood of the Prophet and fabrications of other matters they have mere conjectures and no firm knowledge.
And there are some of them the Jews that are '''illiterate unlettered not knowing the Scripture''' the Torah but only desires lies which were handed down to them by their leaders and which they relied upon; and in their rejection of the prophethood of the Prophet and fabrications of other matters they have mere conjectures and no firm knowledge.
}}
}}
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It is estimated that around 40% of the Muslim population today is illiterate <ref>http://www.iinanews.com/page/public/report.aspx?id=10377#.WsC4q6iWaUk</ref>. The word ''ummah'' (أمة) itself is derived from the same root as ''ummi'' (أمي).
It is estimated that around 40% of the Muslim population today is illiterate <ref>http://www.iinanews.com/page/public/report.aspx?id=10377#.WsC4q6iWaUk</ref>. The word ''ummah'' (أمة) itself is derived from the same root as ''ummi'' (أمي).


==Conclusions==
==Relevant Quotations==
{{Quote|{{Quran|9|61}}|
And among them are those who abuse the Prophet and say, "He is '''an ear''' (أذن, ''udhun'')."
}}{{Quote|{{Quran|7|155-159}}|
7:155 "And Moses chose from his people seventy men for Our appointment. And when the earthquake seized them, he said, "My Lord, if You had willed, You could have destroyed them before and me [as well]. Would You destroy us for what the foolish among us have done? This is not but Your trial by which You send astray whom You will and guide whom You will. You are our Protector, so forgive us and have mercy upon us; and You are the best of forgivers."
 
7:156 "And decree for us in this world [that which is] good and [also] in the Hereafter; indeed, we have turned back to You." [ Allah ] said, "My punishment - I afflict with it whom I will, but My mercy encompasses all things." So I will decree it [especially] for those who fear Me and give zakah and those who believe in Our verses -"
 
7:157 "Those who follow the Messenger, '''the unlettered''' (الْأُمِّيَّ, ''al-ummiy'') prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them. So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him - it is those who will be the successful."


*According to the hadiths, Muhammad could write.
7:158 "Say, [O Muhammad], "O mankind, indeed I am the Messenger of Allah to you all, [from Him] to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death." So believe in Allah and His Messenger, '''the unlettered''' (الْأُمِّيِّ, ''al-ummiy'') prophet, who believes in Allah and His words, and follow him that you may be guided."
*The meaning of the word ''ummiy'' in the Quran is not clear, but if it means "illiterate", then the Quran is in contradiction with the sahih hadiths.
*Muslims believe Muhammad was illiterate and they consider him their perfect role model for all times.
*Muhammad could be the author of the Quran regardless if he could or couldn't read and write.


7:159 "And among the people of Moses is a community which guides by truth and by it establishes justice."
}}
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|1|1|3}}|...suddenly the Truth descended upon him while he was in the cave of Hira. The angel came to him and asked him to read. The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "I do not know how to read."...}}<br />
==See also==
==See also==


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