Differentiation among the Prophets Is the Root of Polytheism:

 The Testimony of Islam Is (There Is No God But Allah) ONLY!

Was published in Arabic in April, 30, 2009

Translated by Ahmed Fathy

Introduction:

 1- In previous articles, we have asserted the divine command concerning NOT to differentiate among God's prophets; this differentiation is deemed unbelief and polytheism in the Quran, punishable in Eternal Hell: "Those who disbelieve in God and His messengers, and want to separate between God and His messengers, and say, "We believe in some, and reject some," and wish to take a path in between. These are the unbelievers, truly. We have prepared for the unbelievers a shameful punishment. As for those who believe in God and His messengers, and make no distinction between any of them, He will give them their rewards. God is Forgiver and Merciful." (4:150-152). Hence, this is a crucial issue of faith tenets in Islam; believers and nonbelievers are known from one another this way. Separating prophets here means to prefer one prophet over the all others (as happened to Jesus and Muhammad after their death), leading to this or that prophet's deification. Regretfully, this is the trap into which all Muhammadans of the earthly man-made, fabricated creeds (the Sunnite, the Shiite, and the Sufi creeds) have fallen. Muhammad has been deified centuries ago; his name is linked forcibly to the name of God, Allah, in the call for prayers, in the glorification/supplication of God, in prayers, in testament/testimony inside prayers, in pilgrimage, and other acts of worship. The worst of all is the fact that the name of Muhammad is linked to then name of God in the testimony of Islam: (in Arabic: La Ilah Ila Allah) There is no God but Allah.

2- The testimony of Islam reflects the basic tenet of Islam: monotheism. It is one testimony; yet, the Muhammadans, past and present, have adamantly insisted on making the testimony two testimonies equal to one another. They equate Muhammad with God; they deify him by insisting that the testimony is as follows: (There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is His Prophet). Such a phrase is NEVER to be found in the Quran, at any rate. This phrase is the epitome of polytheism; why cannot they mention or remember God alone? Why His Holy Name must be associated with Muhammad, or any other prophet for that matter?!

3- Ironically, the Muhammadans have invented the phrase – nonexistent in the Quran – (Allahu Akbar!) Allah is the Greatest! It means that He cannot possibly be associated or equated with one of his creatures. Why do not they apply this motto in the testimony of Islam?! Thus, they insist on insulting the Stature, Sublimity, and Greatness of God!

4- Preferring Muhammad to other prophets and interpolating his name in the testimony of Islam violates 4:150. The same applies when you add any other names of prophets to the testimony: Jesus, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Isaac, etc.

5- No human being has the right to make such associations; to claim that Muhammad is the 'best' or the 'greatest' prophet of all or the master of all human beings, alive and dead, is blasphemous notions of polytheistic nature and content. Such notions have led to the worship, sanctification, and deification of Muhammad. This is utter disbelief in Islam: the Quran. Hence, the Muhammadans, unawares, consider Muhammad as an immortal deity!

6- By associating Muhammad with the testimony of Islam, one makes the third and last Abrahamic religion, Islam, a local creed or cult of worshipping Muhammad. Islam as a religion is not confined to Muhammad alone; it is the religion of all prophets since Adam. Despite their different tongues, all prophets, as per the Quran, preached one message: Islam (i.e. submission to God alone). The last message of Islam is the Quran, revealed in Arabic to the seal of prophets in Arabia.    

7- Deification and sanctification of any prophet, and forgetting that he was mortal and that he died like any human being, opens the devilish scope of sanctifying and worshiping other mortals: the so-called saints. Later on, the scope is widened to worship and deify criminals, unbelievers, tyrant rulers, and clergymen. Moreover, deification of Muhammad by associating his name to God's name in prayers, calls to prayers, and pilgrimage (by insisting to visit Yathreb and the mausoleum they claim to contain Muhammad's tomb) have been the pavement for the worship of saints tombs and visiting them in a pilgrimage-like journeys, and later on for the false belief in their being 'holy' men and women who have miraculous powers to influence life and intercede on behalf of ordinary people in the Afterlife before God to forgive them! The falsehood of intercession is ascribed to Muhammad as well. In the Mameluke era, saints' names used to be added to calls to prayers! Hence, the start of such polytheism is making the monotheistic testimony of Islam a dual one that adds another deity: immortal god named Muhammad that does not exist except in the imaginations of the Muhammadans. The Sunnite creed ancient clergymen & scholars are the ones responsible for such falsehood of the dual testimony in the Umayyad era, in the oral traditions. The Abbasid era wrote all Sunnite falsehoods down for the first time. In the Mameluke era, saints were worshipped alongside with Muhammad. The Shiites, of course, worship other mortal gods besides Muhammad: Ali Ibn Abou Talib, the husband of Muhammad's daughter, Fatima, and his wife, his sons, Al-Hassan and al-Hussein, as well as their progeny.  Later on, Shiite and Sunnite clergymen were worshipped, let alone the countless Sufi saints.

8- We will give here an example in history that shows how the testimony of Islam was distorted not just to be dual or double; it has once become tripartite, with a holy trinity of its own! This occurred in the Mameluke era, when the Sufi creed was the formal creed of the state. No one was deemed Muslim at the time unless with the acknowledgment and reverence of saints! Islam was reduced to mere mottos and terms; Sufi rituals reigned supreme. Sufism is of course unbelief in Islam. When the son of Hulago converted to Islam, he sent a formal message to the Mameluke Ruler Al-Mansour Qalawun to testify that he "…believes in One God, in His Great Prophet Muhammad, and in the holy saints…," (quoted from the history of the Mameluke Ruler Al-Mansour Qalawun, written in parchments, Cairo Great Library). This poor man, the son of Hulago, never knew that he was converted to Sufism, not Islam at all. He could not be faithful to God alone; Sufism was the prevalent and dominant creed in the Mameluke era after the decline of the Sunnite creed after the fall of the Abbasid caliphate. Accordingly, believing in saints, their stories of hagiology, assumed miracles, intercession, etc. had led to insert their names in greetings. For instance, in a letter of the Mameluke sultan Jaqmaq in 847 A.H. we find the greetings as follows: "May the peace of Allah be with you and His blessings and the blessings of the holy saints…," (quoted from the Book written by Al-Sakhahwi titled History of Formed Gold page 68, printed in Cairo).

8- Of course, the Mameluke era and the Ottoman era ended, and the Sufi influence faded, but the current wave of the Sunnite creed, the violent fanatical Wahabism that started in the late 18^th century, maintained the dual testimony that controls the hearts and minds of millions of Muhammadans, who think they are true Muslims! Worship of saints have faded gradually, but still persists until now, but it was difficult to stop worshipping and deifying Muhammad. The true testimony of Islam was there in the time of Muhammad; it has been made double and triple and then a double again. We hope to witness a return to the monotheistic true testimony. Let us prove and discuss it in the following lines.

Firstly:

The testimony of Islam has no names of moral creatures beside the Holy Name of God the Almighty:

1- The testimony of Islam is a basic tenet of faith and true belief. A believer ought to declare his faith using it. Those who insert Muhammad's name in the testimony of Islam make Muhammad an immortal deity who is a partner with God in the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth, in religion, in the Last Day, etc. as well as other mortal deities/partners: saints, Muhammad's progeny and wives and in-laws, etc. to make the testimony triple not dual. If believers are faithful in a true manner, they should not deify and worship mortal creatures of God as part of their faith. Faith in Islam is in God and in the Quranic revelation, not in Muhammad the prophet. Muhammad himself believes in the Quran, the divine scripture, not in himself: "The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, as did the believers…" (2:285). True believers should believe in the same type of belief in 2:285; i.e., to believe in the Quran not on the mortal person called Muhammad, NOT in his name and in the historical accounts attributed to him after his decease. Because this crucial issue is basic in tenets of faith in the Quran, we find it in the opening of Chapter 47, titled "Muhammad": "Those who disbelieve and repel from the path of God-He nullifies their works. While those who believe, and work righteousness, and believe in what was sent down to Muhammad-and it is the truth from their Lord-He remits their sins, and relieves their concerns." (47:1-2). Hence, we are to believe in what is revealed to Muhammad: the Quran, Not in Muhammad himself. We cannot add an angel's or a mortal's name in the testimony of monotheism in Islam.

2- It is funny to imagine Muhammad saying the dual testimony: "There is no God but Allah, and I am His Prophet"! Of course, he used to adhere to 47:1-2 and the Quran alone. He used to utter the true testimony mentioned in the Quran to have been uttered by the angels and all prophets as part of justice. Likewise, it is funny to imagine Muhammad to have said the famous false hadiths: "paradise lies between my pulpit and tomb," and "whoever performed pilgrimage without visiting me has injured me".  How come that he would urge others to visit his tomb while he was alive! It is funny to imagine Muhammad saying in prayers: "Peace be upon ourselves and our family…"! Such falsehoods make us laugh and shed tears simultaneously. Such falsehoods spread once the testimony had become dual, not monotheistic.

3- The true testimony of Islam is mentioned by God in the Quran and used by Quranists in their daily prayers: "God bears witness that there is no god but He, as do the angels, and those endowed with knowledge-upholding justice. There is no god but He, the Mighty, the Wise. Religion of God is Islam..." (3:18-19). Here, the testimony is repeated twice and asserted by God, His angels, and true believers. This is the testimony advocated by all prophets and the divine messages. As we read in 3:18, the testimony is "There is no God but Allah", with no additions or interpolations.  Upholding justice here means that any error by adding anything to the testimony of Islam is considered injustice toward God: how come others dare to associate a mortal creature's name in this testimony. The Muhammadans do not use 3:18 in their prayers; rather, they use phrases fashioned and changed and forged centuries ago by Middle-Ages clergymen. Such phrases contain the name of Muhammad and mention the word ''saints''. Prayers ought to be for the glorification and remembrance of God alone.  

4- If the dual testimony were to exist in the Quranic text, this would have been a contradiction; in fact, God admonishes us against preferring prophets to one another. Islam, the Quran alone, can never contain contradictions. The Muhammadans, past and present, follow their whims and misguided contradictions.

5- To prove that the testimony is truly monotheistic, let us contemplate the following verses: "God has said: "Do not take two gods; He is only One God; so fear only Me." To Him belongs everything in the heavens and the earth; and to Him alone religion is due always. Do you, then, fear anyone other than God? Whatever blessing you have is from God. And when harm touches you, it is to Him that you groan." (16:51-53). We find here the assertion of monotheism; no mortal human beings can be viewed in the same stature/level as God. This happened to Muhammad and Jesus. God alone is the Owner of the Universe and the sole Owner of religion. God alone is the One we should fear and revere in piety. God alone is Omnipotent and Omnipresent. No true believer would dare to make Muhammad a demi-god and an associate deity alongside with God.

Secondly:

The Quran and the divine epithets of God:

 Because the Quran is the Holy Word of God, it contains the divine epithets of God. Here is a summary of this point as mentioned in our earlier book titled "The Quran alone Is Enough".

1- It is one monotheist testimony, and likewise, One God, Allah, and one book in Islam: the Quran. "Say, "God knows best how long they stayed." His is the mystery of the heavens and the earth. By Him you see and hear. They have no guardian apart from Him, and He shares His Sovereignty with no one. And recite what was revealed to you from the Book of your Lord. There is no changing His words, and you will find no refuge except in Him." (18:26-27). Hence, we deduct that God never shares His authority with any mortal human being. The Quran can never be altered; it is intact since its revelation. Prophet Muhammad could not have any refuge except in God and in the Quran: "Say, "No one can protect me from God, and I will not find any refuge except with Him." (72:22). The same applies to Muhammad and to all true believers.

2- Hence, the true believers are content with God alone and the Quran alone: "Is God not enough for His servant? …" (39:36). "Does it not suffice them that We revealed to you the Scripture, which is recited to them? In that is mercy and a reminder for people who believe." (29:51). We notice the style of these verses to be interrogative to deny the enormity of the injustice of associating gods and deities alongside with God and those who revere other books beside the Quran.

3- The Quran is the Eternal Truth with no doubt that could be cast on it. God id the Truth as well; this is one of the divine epithets in the Quran. Anything in religion beyond the Quranic Truth is falsehood and misguidance. "Such is God, your Lord-the True. What is there, beyond the truth, except falsehood? How are you turned away?" (10:32). "That is because God is the Reality, and what they worship besides Him is falsehood…" (31:30). Concerning the Quran as the absolute Truth, we find: "With the truth We sent it down, and with the truth it descended…" (17:105). "What We inspired in you, of the Book, is the Truth…" (35:31). "This is the narrative of truth: there is no God but Allah." (3:62). "This is the Absolute Truth." (56:95). "Yet, it is the Absolute Truth." (69:51).

4- The Quran is the only discourse in Islam that we are to believe in, with no other discourses whatsoever: "…Which message, besides this, will they believe in?" (7:185 and 77:50). God links in the divine revelation the belief in the Quran alone to the belief in God alone. God and the Quran suffice to true believers: "These are God's Verses which We recite to you in truth. In which message, after God and His revelations, will they believe? Woe to every sinful liar. Who hears God's revelations being recited to him, yet he persists arrogantly, as though he did not hear them. Announce to him a painful punishment." (45:6-8).

5- The Quran is unique and nothing is like it: "Say, "If mankind and jinn came together to produce the like of this Quran, they could never produce the like of it…" (17:88), and likewise, God is Unique: "…There is nothing like Him…" (42:11).

Thirdly: God's testimony concerning the Quran asserts the testimony of monotheism in Islam:

1- Because the Quran is the divine word of God and contains His divine epithets, God testifies in it that it is the divine revelation descended from God to Muhammad. The angles testify to this fact as well: "But God bears witness to what He revealed to you. He revealed it with His knowledge. And the angels bear witness. Though God is a sufficient witness." (4:166).

2- Hence, the testimony of "There is no God but Allah" is the true faith we find in 2:285, which include all the divine scriptures of other previous prophets: "We never sent a messenger before you without inspiring him that: "There is no god but I, so worship Me."" (21:25). Warning against polytheism and unbelief was revealed to all prophets as well: "It was revealed to you, and to those before you, that if you idolize, your works will be in vain, and you will be of the losers. Rather, worship God, and be of the appreciative." (39:65-66). The Quran asserts that Muhammad is not distinguished or preferred to other prophets: "Say, "I am not different from the other messengers; and I do not know what will be done with me, or with you. I only follow what is inspired in me, and I am only a clear warner."" (46:9). Thus, the testimony of Islam implies the prophets of God with no distinction to one of them. Moreover, those who deny the Quran deny all the divine scriptures and messages: let us cite the example of unbelievers among the people of Noah: "And the people of Noah: when they rejected the messengers, We drowned them…" (25:37). "The people of Noah disbelieved the messengers." (26:105). Thus they denied all prophets and divine revelations before and after Noah.

3- In sum, to testify that the Quran is the divine revelation from God is to assert and declare the testimony of Islam.

Fourthly:

Muhammad, the seal of all prophets, is ordered in the Quran to declare the true testimony:

1- God testifies to the Truth of the Quran and links this fact to the testimony, in several verses that begins with the verb (Say) to make Muhammad refute the notions of the polytheists: "Say, "What thing is more solemn in testimony?" Say, "God is Witness between you and me. This Quran was revealed to me, that I may warn you with it, and whomever it may reach. Do you indeed testify that there are other gods with God?" Say, "I myself do not testify." Say, "He is but One God, and I am innocent of your polytheism."" (6:19). Hence, divinity is God's alone and His discourse in Islam is one: the Quran; Muhammad is forbidden to testify to anything other than these facts.

2- Muhammad is ordered to spread and declare the testimony of Islam in his heart and using his mouth: "Know that there is no God but Allah…" (47:19).  

Fifthly:

 Real love toward Muhammad is to follow the Quran and to declare the true testimony of Islam:

1- If believers love Muhammad, they are to adhere to what he used to adhere to during his lifetime: the Quran alone as the divine guidance he performed jihad for its sake: "So adhere to what is revealed to you. You are upon a straight path." (43:43). Love in Islam is to follow the Quran alone: "Say, "If you love God, then follow me, and God will love you, and will forgive you your sins." God is Forgiving and Merciful. Say, "Obey God and the Messenger." But if they turn away-God does not love the faithless." (3:31-32). Muhammad is commanded to follow the Quran alone with no other things; see 7:203ظˆ :ne with no other things; see :203 jihad for its sake his lifetime: the quran )., 6:50, 6:106, 46:9, 10,15, 33:1, 45:18,  and 75:18, and he is commanded to follow the religion of Abraham, restored in the Quran: see 16:123, 6:161, 53:37, and 87:19.  All believers in the Quran, including Muhammad, are ordered to follow the Quranic guidance that includes the restored Abrahamic religion; see 7:3, 7157, 3:95, 4:125, 6:153, and 22:78.

2- With the devilish works of Satan and his followers, human beings have become enemies of God unawares; love toward Prophet Muhammad exceeds beyond reasonable limits and is turned into deification and sanctification of him. This is contrary to the essence of Islam in the Quran. The Quran is the message that Muhammad made jihad for it and got harmed by others during his lifetime. The worst act to exemplify this deification of Muhammad is inserting his name in the testimony of monotheism in Islam we find in the Quran. The Muhammadans not only insert the prophet's name in the testimony, prayers and call to prayers, but also have invented prayers directed to Muhammad and performed after the five daily prayers! Other faces of such deification is engraving his name alongside with the Holy Name of God, Allah, in walls of most mosques as well as paying a visit to the tomb ascribed to Muhammad during pilgrimage, not to mention the glorification phrases and songs directed to Muhammad! This has turned religion from monotheism to ditheism. Corrupt religiosity in Egypt has turned the dual testimony into a way of seeing others off instead of saying farewell! They assume they do themselves good by uttering such phrases! If they are truly believers they ought to utter the true testimony found in the Quran reverently, not in jest and farewell situations! They make themselves, unawares, the enemies of Muhammad and the enemies of God. God has sent all the messengers to assert the testimony; most of them suffered and endeavored faithfully to spread it. They were the first ones to adhere to it. Satan turned ordinary people's love to prophets into deification and worship of them! They have become deities alongside with God after their death and despite of themselves! God will ask the prophet about those who worshipped them after their death; in a flash-forward scene of the Last Day, God says in the Quran: "On the Day when He gathers them, and what they worshiped besides God, He will say, "Was it you who misled these servants of Mine, or was it they who lost the way?" They will say, "Glory be to You. It was not for us to take any lords besides You. But you gave them enjoyments, and their ancestors, until they forgot the Message, and became ruined people."" (25:17-18).

Sixthly:

Within the Quran, we know all facts about Muhammad:

1- Muhammad is the seal of prophets, and as a prophet, he is a mercy to humankind:

 As a mortal, we know about him the following: "Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of God and the seal of the prophets..." (33:40). We know then for certain that no male progeny of his reached manhood. Otherwise, people would have deified his sons as happened with the Shiites who worship his progeny and grandchildren via the lineage of his daughter Fatima. There is a major difference between the Quranic terms (messenger) and (prophet), as explained in details in our book "The Quran Is Enough". The prophet is dead and was a mortal whose body turned into dust. The messenger after his death is the message: the Quran itself. The term (messenger) describes Muhammad when he read the Quran: the last divine message from God. After the decease of Muhammad, the message remains preserved by God until the end of this world. Hence, Muhammad the prophet is Not a mercy to humankind; rather, it is the message remaining after his death: the Quran itself. Hence, the following verse asserts this fact: "Blessed is He who sent down the Criterion upon His servant, to be a warning to humanity." (25:1). The Criterion is the Quran to be a warning for all of us until the end of times. If people heed this message of the Quran, they will deserve mercy in Doomsday. This meaning is reiterated in the following verse: "We did not send you except as mercy to mankind." (21:107). This verse means that Muhammad has been sent with the message of mercy of God to humankind; i.e., the Quran. Muhammad is dead; he cannot be a mercy after his decease. The mercy is via the Quran alone that will go on until the end of times. This mercy is not for all gratuitously; it is for those who believe in the Quran alone and perform good deeds and obey Quranic commands in their behavior and die in faith. Those will be saved from Eternal Hell. Hence, the focus of Islam is the Quran, not any mortal prophet. The Quran includes the commands in other previous scriptures. This is the reason why we should NOT prefer one prophet above all the others. The Muhammadans use 21:107 to justify their worship of Muhammad! They have turned Islam into a cult specifically made for such worship.

2- Morality and humanity of Muhammad:

 Since Muhammad was a human being, he was mortal. He died like anyone else. The fact that he received divine revelation does not make him more than a human being or larger than life. He is commanded in the Quran to declare his being a human being: "Say, "I am only a human being like you, being inspired that your Lord is One God…" (18:110). "Is it a wonder to the people that We inspired a man from among them…" (10:2). Hence, Muhammad the mortal human being and the prophet cannot be possibly added to the testimony of Islam; this is a deification act toward him and an act against the message of the Quran.

Seventhly:

Witnesses and testifiers are many of the only true phrasing of the testimony. Let us give examples from the Quran:

In matters for tenets of faith:

1- In the following verses, "God bears witness that there is no god but He, as do the angels, and those endowed with knowledge-upholding justice. There is no god but He, the Mighty, the Wise. Religion with God is Islam. Those to whom the Scripture was given differed only after knowledge came to them, out of envy among themselves. Whoever rejects the signs of God-God is quick to take account." (3:18-19), the testimony revolves around God alone.

2- In the following verse, "But God bears witness to what He revealed to you. He revealed it with His knowledge. And the angels bear witness. Though God is a sufficient witness." (4:166), the testimony revolves about one fact: the Quran as the divine revelation from God.  

3- In the following verse, "Say, "What thing is more solemn in testimony?" Say, "God is Witness between you and me. This Quran was revealed to me, that I may warn you with it, and whomever it may reach. Do you indeed testify that there are other gods with God?" Say, "I myself do not testify." Say, "He is but One God, and I am innocent of your polytheism."" (6:19), there are two testimonies: one about the Quran as the divine revelation given to Muhammad, and the other about the testimony of monotheism in Islam.

4- In the following verses, "Say, "We believe in God, and in what was revealed to us; and in what was revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Patriarchs; and in what was given to Moses, and Jesus, and the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we submit." Whoever seeks other than Islam as a religion, it will not be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers. How will God guide a people who disbelieved after having believed, and had witnessed that the Messenger is true, and the clear proofs had come to them? God does not guide the unjust people." (3:84-86), the testimony revolves around the veracity of the Quran as the last divine message; God will not accept any belief from the human beings except Islam revealed to all prophets: there is no God but Allah. All faithfulness and reverence are due to Him with no other partners. This is the essence of Islam: submission to God alone. Hence, those who declare the true testimony follow all prophets justly; the testimony is NOT concerned with Muhammad as a person and a prophet but with God and His message: the Quran.

5- In the following verses, "When Jesus sensed disbelief on their part, he said, "Who are my allies towards God?" The disciples said, "We are God's allies; we have believed in God, and bear witness that we submit." "Our Lord, we have believed in what You have revealed, and we have followed the Messenger, so count us among the witnesses."" (3:52-53), the testimony revolves around the disciples of Jesus who assert their submission to the Lord Almighty God.

6- In the following verse, "Say, "O People of the Book, come to terms common between us and you: that we worship none but God, and that we associate nothing with Him, and that none of us takes others as lords besides God." And if they turn away, say, "Bear witness that we have submitted."" (3:64), the testimony revolves around the command to make the loyal and faithful testimony and declaration of faith is submission to God alone.

In matters of the Afterlife:

1- In the following verse, "On the Day when God will gather the messengers, then say, "What response were you given?" They will say, "We have no knowledge; it is you who are the Knower of the unseen."" (5:109), the testimony revolves around the prophets concerning the response of their peoples; they will say they do not know it, and God is Omniscient.

2- In the following verse, ""O assembly of jinn and humans, did there not come to you messengers from among you, relating to you My revelations, and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?" They will say, "We testify against ourselves." The life of the world seduced them. They will testify against themselves that they were disbelievers." (6:130), the testimony revolves around the disbelievers who will admit that they are unbelievers.

3- In the following verse, "Who does greater wrong than he who invents lies about God, or denies His revelations? These-their share of the decree will reach them. Until, when Our envoys come to them, to take their souls away, they will say, "Where are they whom you used to pray to besides God?" They will say, "They have abandoned us," and they will testify against themselves that they were faithless." (7:37), the testimony revolves around the disbelievers who will admit that they are unbelievers.

4- In the following verse, "Then there are those who establish a mosque to cause harm, and disbelief, and disunity among the believers, and as an outpost for those who fight God and His Messenger. They will swear: "Our intentions are nothing but good." But God bears witness that they are liars." (9:107), the testimony revolves around the fact that God bears witness that they are liars.

5- In the following verse, "Have you not considered those who act hypocritically? They say to their brethren who disbelieved among the People of the Book, "If you are evicted, we will leave with you, and will not obey anyone against you; and should anyone fight you, we will certainly support you." But God bears witness that they are liars.'' (59:11), the testimony revolves around the fact that God bears witness that they are liars.

6- In the following verse, "When the hypocrites come to you, they say, "We bear witness that you are God's Messenger." God knows that you are His Messenger, and God bears witness that the hypocrites are liars." (63:1), the testimony of God revolves around the fact that He bears witness that they are liars. The testimony of the hypocrites is that Muhammad is a prophet sent by God.

In matters of sharia laws and dealing justly with people:

1- God prohibits humans to declare unlawful what God allows as lawful and permissible: "Say, "Produce your witnesses who would testify that God has prohibited this." If they testify, do not testify with them. And do not follow the whims of those who deny Our revelation, and those who do not believe in the Hereafter, and those who equate others with their Lord." (6:150), and the testimony here revolves around liars who testify to falsehoods.

2- Testimony revolves around those four witnesses who testify that a woman has committed adultery: "Those of your women, who commit lewdness, you must have four witnesses against them, from among you. If they testify, confine them to the homes until death claims them, or God makes a way for them." (4:15).

3- Concerning giving orphans their money when they come of age, the caretaker ought to testify the fact before witnesses: "Test the orphans until they reach the age of marriage. If you find them to be mature enough, hand over their properties to them. And do not consume it extravagantly or hastily before they grow up. The rich shall not charge any wage, but the poor may charge fairly. When you hand over their properties to them, have it witnessed for them. God suffices as a Reckoner." (4:6).

4- Written wills ought to have two witnesses, when a man is traveling away. Witnesses ought not to hide their testimony: "O you who believe! When death approaches one of you, let two reliable persons from among you act as witnesses to the making of a bequest, or two persons from another people if you are travelling in the land and the event of death approaches you. Engage them after the prayer. If you have doubts, let them swear by God: "We will not sell our testimony for any price, even if he was a near relative, and we will not conceal God's testimony, for then we would be sinners." If it is discovered that they are guilty of perjury: let two others take their place, two from among those responsible for the claim, and have them swear by God, "Our testimony is more truthful than their testimony, and we will not be biased, for then we would be wrongdoers." That makes it more likely that they will give true testimony, fearing that their oaths might be contradicted by subsequent oaths. So fear God, and listen. God does not guide the disobedient people. " (5:106-108).

5- Let us be reminded of the testimony and the witness in the story of Joseph: "He said, "It was she who tried to seduce me." A witness from her household suggested: "If his shirt is torn from the front: then she has told the truth, and he is the liar. But if his shirt is torn from the back: then she has lied, and he is the truthful."" (12:26-27).

6- Bearing witness by the husband against his wife in cases of adultery: "As for those who accuse their own spouses, but have no witnesses except themselves, the testimony of one of them is equivalent to four testimonies, if he swears by God that he is truthful. And the fifth time, that God's curse be upon him, if he is a liar. But punishment shall be averted from her, if she swears four times by God, that he is a liar." (24:6-9).

7- Two eligible witnesses should bear their testimony that both a husband and a wife have agreed to separate by divorce within mutual consent after the waiting period: "Once they have reached their term, either retain them honorably, or separate from them honorably. And call to witness two just people from among you, and give upright testimony for God. By that is exhorted whoever believes in God and the Last Day. And whoever fears God-He will make a way out for him." (65:2).

  From all of the above, all phrasings of testimonies and witnesses, however varied, ought to have the content that keeps justice and truth. Accordingly, it is untruthful and unjust to claim that the monotheistic testimony of Islam is the phrase: "There is no God but Allah, and so-and-so is His Prophet".

Fifthly: Did Muhammad call his people to believe in him or in the Quran?!

1- Muhammad used to engage in peaceful jihad using the Quran all his lifetime in dealing with the polytheists: "So do not obey the disbelievers, but strive against them with it, a mighty struggle." (25:52). He used the Quran alone to warn and remind everyone: "And warn with it those who fear to be gathered before their Lord-they have no protector or intercessor apart from Him, perhaps they will grow in piety." (6:51). "Thus We inspired you with an Arabic Quran, that you may warn the Central City and whoever is around it, and to warn of the Day of Assembly, of which there is no doubt; a group in the Garden, and a group in the Furnace." (42:7). "We are fully aware of what they say, and you are not a dictator over them. So remind by the Quran whoever fears My warning." (50:45).

2- Hence, Muhammad never asked those around him to believe in him; rather, to believe in the Quran he was reciting. This meaning is repeated throughout the Quranic text. Those around him had different stances when they listened to the Quran.

1- Some of them used to describe the Quran as myths of the ancients and advised others to deny and shun it: "Among them are those who listen to you; but We place covers over their hearts, to prevent them from understanding it, and heaviness in their ears. Even if they see every sign, they will not believe in it. Until, when they come to you, to argue with you, those who disbelieve will say, "These are nothing but myths of the ancients." They keep others from it, and avoid it themselves; but they ruin only their own souls, and they do not realize." (6:25-26).

2- Some felt like ignoring it and falsely claiming to discuss it, aiming to refute it: "Those who disbelieve say, "Do not listen to this Quran, and talk over it, so that you may prevail."" (41:26).

3- Some others claimed they could write their own Quran to counter the Quran of God: "And when Our revelations are recited to them, they say, "We have heard. Had we wanted, we could have said the like of this; these are nothing but myths of the ancients." And they said, "Our God, if this is the truth from You, then rain down on us stones from the sky, or visit us with a painful affliction."" (8:31-32).

4- Others disliked the Quran and asked Muhammad to change it: "And when Our clear revelations are recited to them, those who do not hope to meet Us say, "Bring a Quran other than this, or change it." Say, "It is not for me to change it of my own accord. I only follow what is revealed to me. I fear, if I disobeyed my Lord, the torment of a terrible Day."  Say, "Had God willed, I would not have recited it to you, and He would not have made it known to you. I have lived among you for a lifetime before it. Do you not understand?" Who does greater wrong than someone who fabricates lies about God, or denies His revelations? The guilty will never prosper." (10:15-17).

5- Some of them felt furious when listening to the Quran and looked hatefully at Muhammad: "Those who disbelieve almost stab you with their glances when they hear the message, and say, "He is crazy!"" (68:51).

6- Some of the earliest believers used to participate in the call for Islam by reciting the Quran like Muhammad, and this was sometimes dangerous: "And when Our Clear Verses are recited to them, you will recognize disgust on the faces of those who disbelieve. They nearly assault those who recite to them Our Verses…" (22:72).

7- Some used to mock the Quran and distort its recitation by narration of myths: "Woe to every sinful liar. Who hears God's revelations being recited to him, yet he persists arrogantly, as though he did not hear them. Announce to him a painful punishment. And when he learns something of Our revelations, he takes them in mockery. For such there is a shameful punishment." (45:7-9). "Among the people is he who trades in distracting tales; intending, without knowledge, to lead away from God's way, and to make a mockery of it. These will have a humiliating punishment. And when Our Verses are recited to him, he turns away in pride, as though he did not hear them, as though there is deafness in his ears. So inform him of a painful punishment." (31:6-7).

 Hence, many people around Muhammad used to ignore and reject the Quran when he asked them to believe in it.

3- In our endeavor to call the Muhammadans to return to the Quran, we have noticed that especially the Sunnites have acted in the same manner described above in the Quranic verses toward us when we have reminded them with Quranic facts. It is a general case in all eras, not just confined to the polytheists of Mecca in the 7^th century. This is a miraculous prediction in the Quran. Hence, 45:7-9 refer to our age as well; if we contemplate it deeply along with the above-mentioned verses. Verses 31:6-7 use the present tense to show that as long as there are people, denying the Quran will go on by many of them in all times.

Sixthly: Testimony in action at the time of Muhammad: prostrating to show belief in the Quran:

1- In contrast to polytheists in Mecca, some former Jews who believed in the Quran used to prostrate once they felt the truth of the Quran inside their hearts: "A Quran which We unfolded gradually, that you may recite to the people over time. And We revealed it in stages. Say, "Believe in it, or do not believe." Those who were given knowledge before it, when it is recited to them, they fall to their chins, prostrating. And they say, "Glory to our Lord. The promise of our Lord is fulfilled."" (17:106-108). We notice here that they remembered the promises given to their ancestors via Moses from God. Their ancestors used to prostrate while declaring their faith: "And when We suspended the mountain over them, as if it was an umbrella, and they thought it would fall on them: "Hold fast to what We have given you, and remember what it contains, so that you may be saved."" (7:171). Former Christians who believed in the Quran did the same act of prostration: "Whenever the revelations of the Most Gracious are recited to them, they would fall down, prostrating and weeping" (19:58). Prostration went on every time one heard the Quran at the time, and certainly in all times, prostration goes on by true believers: "They believe in Our communications, those who, when reminded of them, fall down prostrate, and glorify their Lord with praise, and are not proud." (32:15). Even the magicians of Moses' Pharaoh prostrated when they saw the miracle of God via Moses: "And the magicians fell to their knees. They said, "We have believed in the Lord of the Worlds."" (7:120-121).

2- Prostration upon hearing the Quran was the act of testimony and bearing witness to convert to Islam, in contrast to the stance of the polytheists: "What is the matter with them that they do not believe? And when the Quran is read to them, they do not bow down? In fact, those who disbelieve are in denial." (84:20-22). The divine epithet (the Most Gracious) is linked to the divine books of God before the Quran and linked to the Quran as well: "…Whenever the revelations of the Most Gracious are recited to them, they would fall down, prostrating and weeping." (19:58), "The Most Gracious has taught the Quran." (55:1-2). That is why the refusal of the polytheists to prostrate to the Most Gracious when they heard the Quran  recited is linked to the same divine epithet in the Quran: "And when it is said to them, "Bow down to the Most Gracious," they say, "And what is the Most Gracious? Are we to bow down to whatever you command us?" And it increases their aversion." (25:60). Let us quote other verses in the same vein from the earlier revealed chapters 53 & 68. Chapter 68 begins with refuting the polytheists' claim that Muhammad was a madman, and then the divine command to Muhammad not to obey unbelievers: "Noon. By the pen, and by what they inscribe. By the grace of your Lord, you are not insane." (68:1-2). "So do not obey the deniers. They would like you to compromise, so they would compromise. And do not obey any vile swearer." (68:8-10). "When Our Verses are recited to him, he says, "Myths of the ancients!"" (68:15). All deniers of the Quran refused to kneel and prostrate; they will try and fail in Doomsday, for it is too late to repent then. They insisted in their lives on denying the Quran: "On the Day when the Shin will be exposed, and they will be called to bow down, but they will be unable. Their eyes subdued, shame will cover them. They were invited to bow down when they were sound. So leave Me to those who reject this discourse; We will proceed against them gradually, from where they do not know." (68:42-44). Polytheistic deniers used to look in a hostile manner toward Muhammad, accusing him of insanity, because they hated the Quran: "Those who disbelieve almost stab you with their glances when they hear the message, and say, "He is crazy!" But it is no less than a reminder to all the Worlds." (68:51-52). Likewise, Chapter 58 confirms in its opening verses that Muhammad is NOT misguided or misled when he recited the Quran to his people: "By the star as it goes down.  Your friend has not gone astray, nor has he erred. Nor does he speak out of desire. It is but a revelation revealed. Taught to him by the Extremely Powerful." (53:1-5). This chapter ends with the stance of polytheists toward the Quran and calls them to believe in it and show this by kneeling and prostration: "Do you marvel at this discourse? And laugh, and do not weep? Lost in your frivolity? So bow down to God, and worship!" (5:59-62).

3- In general, the Quran is the basis of rejection or acceptance of faith. Believers increase their faith by it, whereas the disbelievers augment their tyranny and unbelief when they listen or read it. these stances are not confined to the 7^th century; they go on until now and in all times. "Whomever God desires to guide, He spreads open his heart to Islam; and whomever He desires to misguide, He makes his heart narrow, constricted, as though he were climbing up the sky. God thus lays defilement upon those who do not believe. This is the straight path of your Lord. We have explained the revelations in detail for people who recollect." (6:125-126). "The believers are those whose hearts tremble when God is mentioned, and when His revelations are recited to them, they strengthen them in faith, and upon their Lord they rely." (8:2). "…Certainly, what was revealed to you from your Lord will increase many of them in defiance and blasphemy…" (5:64). "But as for those in whose hearts is sickness: it adds disgrace to their disgrace, and they die as unbelievers. Do they not see that they are tested once or twice every year? Yet they do not repent, and they do not learn." (9:125-126).

4- Such prostration is not necessarily done before Muhammad; this is a special relation between a believer and His God. The concept of ecclesiasticism (clergymen) is foreign to Islam and nonexistent in it. Muslims submit to God, not to Muhammad or any other mortals. God mentions in the Quran the believers whom were not known to Muhammad in Mecca who prostrated to God after accepting the message of the Quran; God commanded Muslims from assaulting Mecca yet at the time so as not to hurt these Meccan believers: "It is they who disbelieved, and barred you from the Sacred Mosque, and prevented the offering from reaching its destination. Were it not for faithful men and faithful women, whom you did not know, you were about to hurt them, and became guilty of an unintentional crime …" (48:25). When the Quran was accepted by most people in Mecca, having realized the futility of worshipping idols and tombs, Muhammad saw these Meccan believers when he performed pilgrimage: "When there comes God's victory, and conquest. And you see the people entering God's religion in multitudes…" (110:1-2).

5- Entering into the Islamic community at the time was different from converting to Islam. Islam is a special relation between a believer and His God with no human interference of clergymen, institutions, symbols, rituals, money-making events to empty the pockets of the gullible people, etc. As for the Islamic community at the time, one had to preserve values of justice and peace and freedom of religion in accordance to the Quranic motto "No coercion in religion…" (2:256) and this freedom included men and women; see 5:7 and 60:12. One had to defend the state in times of danger; see 48:10-18 and 33:15-24. Details of this issue are found in previous articles on our website.

Lastly: Hypocrites at the time used to testify before Muhammad that he was the messenger of God:

1- Polytheists at the time used to focus their attention on the person of Muhammad; they rejected the Quran out of their envy and hostility towards him: "And thus We set up in every city its leading wicked sinners, to conspire in it, but they conspire only against themselves, and they do not realize it. When a sign comes to them, they say, "We will not believe unless we are given the like of what was given to God's messengers." God knows best where to place His message. Humiliation from God and severe torment will afflict the criminals for their scheming. Whomever God desires to guide, He spreads open his heart to Islam; and whomever He desires to misguide, He makes his heart narrow, constricted, as though he were climbing up the sky. God thus lays defilement upon those who do not believe." (6:123-125).

2- Hypocrites used to declare deceitfully that they were believers in the Quran. They used to testify this feigned faith before Muhammad and true believers, but the Quran exposes them all: "When they come to you, they say, "We believe," though they have entered with disbelief, and they have departed with it. But God is well aware of what they hide." (5:61). Such hypocrites used to mock the true believers behind their back. The Quran asserts that such hypocrites deceived only themselves: "Among the people are those who say, "We believe in God and in the Last Day," but they are not believers. They seek to deceive God and those who believe, but they deceive none but themselves, though they are not aware." (2:8-9). "And when they come across those who believe, they say, "We believe"; but when they are alone with their devils, they say, "We are with you; we were only ridiculing."" (2:14). Some of such hypocrites were exposed b their bad deeds and hostile behavior: "Those who believe will say, "Are these the ones who swore by God with their strongest oaths that they are with you?" Their works have failed, so they became losers." (5:53). Some of such hypocrites used to assure Muhammad of their total submission to God, and then conspire against Islam and ascribe to Muhammad things he never uttered, but the Quran exposes them and orders Muhammad to shun and avoid them, exclaiming how they do not reflect on the Quran: "They profess obedience, but when they leave your presence, some of them conspire something contrary to what you said. But God writes down what they conspire. So avoid them, and put your trust in God. God is Guardian enough. Do they not ponder the Quran? Had it been from any other than God, they would have found in it much discrepancy." (4:81-82). If they were to contemplate the Word of God, they would not had to resort to any hypocrisy; they used to hate the Quran and feign belief, and  later on mock Muhammad and Islam behind the believers back: see 47:16-24. Hence, all of the above shed light on the following verses: "When the hypocrites come to you, they say, "We bear witness that you are God's Messenger." God knows that you are His Messenger, and God bears witness that the hypocrites are liars. They treat their oaths as a cover, and so they repel others from God's path. Evil is what they do." (63:1-2). Hypocrites needed to declare their sham belief in the Quran due to their fear that their hatred, hostility, and aversion might be exposed to those around them.

3- The Quranic revelation has been completed 14 centuries ago, and Muhammad died eventually. Polytheistic notions and creeds emerged once more after his death among the Muhammadans who think themselves Muslims. Hence, the earthly man-made creeds replaced Islam. The sign of such polytheism is inserting the name of Muhammad in prayers, call to prayers, and the testimony of Islam. This has led later on to deify countless other mortals. Due to deep-seated myths and falsehoods of the Sunnite creed, some readers now might feel this article strange to the extent that it provokes their fury. Such readers among the Sunnite Muhammadans cannot possibly deny the Quranic verses and their clarity. They have nothing left but to verbally abuse the writer of this article.

4- It is OK to do so. May the Lord Our God forgive us all and guide us all before our inevitable death hour.