Page 32 - Questionable Teachings ofISLAM

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Questionable Teachings of Islam:

One Billion People Deceived

Muhammad described the archangel, Gabriel, as having six-hundred wings and
whose figure and size covered the entire horizon. (Sahih Muslim Book: Book 001, No.
0330 and Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 4, Book 54, No. 457-458)

Muhammad was meditating inside the cave during this encounter when he heard the voice
of Gabriel instruct him to "Recite!" Muhammad replied that he was unable to read, and
upon the third instruction to recite, the spirit-being began to reveal teachings that would
later be compiled into the Qur'an.

The initial encounter greatly frightened Muhammad, causing him to fall to the ground. He
then went home seeking to hide under a blanket. His account is recorded as follows:
"...as I was walking, I heard a voice in the sky, and when I looked up towards the sky, to
my surprise, I saw the angel who had come to me in the Hira Cave, and he was sitting on
a chair in between the sky and the earth. I was so frightened by him that I fell on the
ground and came to my family and said,...Cover me! Cover me!" (Sahih Bukhari: Vol. 4,
Book 54, No.461)
Muhammad conveyed the frightening experience to his wife, Khadijah, who questioned
him about what he saw and heard. She subsequently assured him that he must have been
receiving messages from God.

As Muhammad began to share his "angelic" encounters with others, many began to
question the authenticity of his claims. It was then during another encounter with the
spirit-being, Jibreel, that Muhammad received the following revelation in response to those
who were doubting him:

“Therefore proclaim thou praises (of thy Lord): for by the Grace of thy Lord, thou art no
(vulgar) soothsayer, nor art thou one possessed.
(Qur'an: 052.029)

Islamic theology teaches that Muhammad's communication from the spirit-being, Jibreel,
was spoken in the Arabic language and continued for approximately twenty-three years
until the death of the Islamic prophet at the age of sixty-three. Various translations of
the Qur'an have since been made, however, the Arabic version is said to be the purest
document and many Islamic prayers are encouraged to be recited in the Arabic language.

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