MUHAMMAD VS JESUS: HOW THEIR AUDIENCES REACTED TO THEIR WORDS
Our Muslim friends usually tell us that the Quran is an amazing book. There is no book as melodious as it is. In fact, they say the Quran is in itself a miracle. How can a person come up with such a beautifully written book if he was not divinely inspired? They tell us that the Quran especially comes to life if one is fluent in the Arabic language. They get people with angelic voices to recite this beautiful book for us and our senses ought to be titillated.
What was the reaction of the 7th century Arabs who heard the revelation of Muhammad live and in person?
“And when Our verses are recited to them, they say, “We have heard. If we willed, we could say [something] like this. This is not but legends of the former peoples.”
(Surah 8:31)
“And among them are those who listen to you, but We have placed over their hearts coverings, lest they understand it, and in their ears deafness. And if they should see every sign, they will not believe in it. Even when they come to you arguing with you, those who disbelieve say, “This is not but legends of the former peoples.”
(Surah 6:25)
“And those who disbelieve say, “This [Qur’ān] is not except a falsehood he invented, and another people assisted him in it.” But they have committed an injustice and a lie.
And they say, “Legends of the former peoples which he has written down, and they are dictated to him morning and afternoon.”
(Surah 25:5)
“When Our verses are recited to him, he says, “Legends of the former peoples.”
(Surah 68:15)
Now correct me if I am wrong here and pardon my comprehension of the above passages, but it does not look like Muhammad’s audience were as impressed with his Quranic recitations as our Muslim friends seem to be and expect us to be.
More to the point, the audience seems to believe there is nothing inspirational about these recitations and they are nothing but fairy tales. In fact they accused Muhammad of being “an ear” in one Surah,
“And among them are those who abuse the Prophet and say, “He is an ear.”
(Surah 9:61)
The implication being Muhammad just says whatever anybody tells him. Surah 25:5 above accuse him of getting these fairy tales from a source who was feeding him this information day and night. Our Muslim friends today would tell us this is Allah giving him this information but his original audience believed he was just a plagiarist recycling fictional stories they had heard before.
In summary, like Queen Victoria, they were not amused. They even said they could compose something like this if they wanted to (Surah 8:31).
Compare this to the reaction to Jesus’ teaching,
“And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”
(Matthew 7:28–29)
“And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! ”
(Mark 6:2)
“Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.”
(Luke 4:31–32)
“And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” So all bore witness to Him, and marvelled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”
(Luke 4:21–22)
“Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why have you not brought Him?”
The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!”
(John 7:45–46)
“…so they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people”
(Luke 24:19)
“And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.”
(Mark 2:1–2)
“So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret”
(Luke 5:1)
So spot the difference. The crowds were astonished at the wisdom and authority of the words of Jesus Christ. So much so in fact that crowds were falling over to hear Him speak. He was deemed a man mighty in words and deeds among the children of Israel.
So while Muhammad’s audience accused him of plagiarism and being a recycler of ancient tales, Jesus’ audience said they had never heard anybody speak like Him before. While Muhammad’s audience felt he was bringing nothing unique to the table and there was nothing fantastic or amazing about what he was saying, Jesus audience said His word was with authority and they marvelled at the graciousness of it. While the words of Muhammad were treated with contempt, until he was powerful enough to cut people’s heads off of course, Jesus’ words were craved by the crowds who pressed upon Him to hear them.
It is almost blasphemous to mention Jesus Christ and Muhammad in the same sentence but this goes to show once again that the Quran is an absolute joke. It was laughed at by the 7th century Arabs and should be laughed at today, it was classified as a book of fairy tales by Muhammad’s original audience and it remains a book of fairy tales today.
