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The first declaration in becoming a Muslim is to acknowledge there is no God but Allah and that Mohammad is His prophet.  From the beginning, Allah’s name is next to  “the prophet”.  Mohammad claims he received a revelation from the God of Abraham, through Gabriel. This revelation is contained in the pages of the Quran.  Muslims believe in Heaven there is an identical book to the Quran, written in Arabic.  Over time, and through intervals, Gabriel delivered the Quran to Mohammad over 22-years (A.D. 610-632). This revelation is the literal “Word of God” a copy of the same book in Heaven.

2 This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear Allah; 3 Who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them; 4 And who believe in the Revelation sent to thee, and sent before thy time, and (in their hearts) have the assurance of the Hereafter.  Surah 2 :2-4 

97 Say: whoever is an enemy to Gabriel - for he brings down the (revelation) to they heart by Allah's will, a confirmation of what went before, and guidance and glad tidings for those who believe – Surah 2:97 

                The Quran claims to be a book like the Torah (Books of Moses) reveled to Moses, but to the Quran is for the rest of Mankind. Moses and Jesus came to the Jews, but Mohammad came for everybody else. 

87 We gave Moses the Book and followed him up with asuccession of Messengers;  we gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear (Signs) and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. Is it that whenever there comes to you a Messenger with what ye yourselves desire not, ye are puffed up with pride? Some ye called impostors, and others ye slay!  89 And when there comes to them a Book from Allah, confirming what is with them - although from of old they had prayed for victory against those without Faith - when there comes to them that which they (should) have recognized. They refuse to believe in it but the curse of Allah is on those without Faith. Surah 2:87-89

 

            The Quran claims those who reject the Allah and Mohammad are doomed to eternity in Hell.

 

63 Know they not that for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, is the Fire of Hell?- Wherein they shall dwell. That is the supreme disgrace. Surah 9:63

            The Quran has several claims that need examination by anyone who is a Muslim or considering Islam as “Truth”.

• Is the Quran a revelation from the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses?
• Is Mohammad a Messenger (Prophet) of the God of the Bible?
• Should those who reject Mohammad as a prophet fear Hell?

 

            How can the claims of Mohammad and the Quran be evaluated to answer these questions. Since Islam claims to be a continuation of Abraham’s faith, and identical to what was revealed before, we can compare the revelations of these former prophets with the Quran, the revelation given to Mohammed.

The test of a prophet

 

            Before Moses died, the Lord proclaimed He would reveal His word, through prophets. It was the responsibility of the people to listen to the words of these prophets, because they were His words. God also provided a test, to determine if a prophet was a “true prophet” or a “false prophet”.

            This Test of a Prophet can be applied to the Quran, since it claims to be prophetic utterance, revealed by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

 

21    "And if you say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?'22    when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that isthe thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. Deuteronomy 18:21-22 

            The word of the prophet is to be compared to reality, if what “the prophet” says does not come to pass, then his revelation is not from God. If it can be demonstrated the prophet proclaimed errors, then the prophet is not from God.  Furthermore, we are told to not fear the prophet, or his proclamations.  False prophets operate under the power of fear, the fear of disobeying God, Mohammed proclaimed, those who oppose him, as Allah’s messenger, face the fire of hell.  God through this test wants to free people from the power of false prophets. 

Strategy to Reach Muslims

 

            To reach Muslims with the Gospel, it is important to make a distinction between Christianity and Islam.  Muslims need to understand that both Islam and Christianity cannot be true.  Logically it is impossible, they both have diametrically opposed beliefs.  Therefore, the questions will always come too:

Ø         Is Mohammad a prophet?   

Ø         Is the Quran God’s revelation to Mohammad?

 

             Christians do not accept Mohammad as a prophet nor do we accept the Quran as God’s word, since both Mohammad and the Quran fail the test of a prophet.  However, to create the opportunity to answer the question, “Is Mohammad a prophet?” and “Is the Quran his word?” it is important to draw the distinction between the two.  For example Muslims, will often site their acceptance as Jesus as a prophet of Islam.  Christians can use this as an opportunity to share the Gospel by comparing the Jesus of Islam to the Jesus of the Bible.  This often leads to the discussion of what is “God’s word” and “who is a prophet”?

A Different Jesus

 

            One of the first questions we can ask about Islam is whether the Jesus of Islam is the same as the Jesus of the Bible.  When we examine the identity of the Jesus of the Bible (Ingil) and the Jesus of the Quran and Islam we find they cannot be the same.  Though there are similarities, the differences between these two individuals do not logically allow them both to be the same Jesus.

 

            The Jesus of Islam and Christianity have some similarities, which could confuse many to assume they are the same person. Both the Jesus of Christianity and Islam share these characteristics.

 

• Their mother is Mary.
• Their birth is miraculous, a virgin who conceived.
• They are both sinless.
• They are both considered prophets.
• They both do miracles, healing blind and raising the dead.
• They both have the ability to create.

 

            However, the difference between them will demonstrate it is impossible for them to share the same identity.  The difference between the Jesus of Christianity and Islam are these.

 

Jesus of Christianity	Jesus of Islam
Son of God	Not Son of God
Died on the Cross	Did not die on the Cross
Rose again on the third day	Will return to earth to die and be resurrected
Born in a manger, because of crowding at the Inn	Born under a Palm tree in deserted place
Will return to the earth to Rule for eternity	Will return to earth to marry, die and be buried next to Mohammad in Medina.
Will return to earth with the Angels to be worshipped as King of the Earth, ruling from Jerusalem over the nation of Israel (The Jews) and the world,	Will return to earth to proclaim Islam and kill Christians, Jews, and those who call him God, Jews will no longer exist.

 

 

We can only logically draw three conclusions from the facts regarding the Jesus of Islam and the Jesus of Christianity (The Bible).  Only three options are available to anyone who is considering the Jesus of Christianity or Islam.

·         Islam is right

·         Christianity is right

·         Both are wrong

 

However, it is impossible for both options be true, because the characteristics are diametrically opposed to each other.   Therefore, we can conclude that both the Bible and the Quran cannot be true. Since their revelation, contradict each other. 

 

 

What is the source of these differences?

 

Most Muslims will answer the reason there are differences between the Jesus of the Bible and the Quran/Islam ibecause Christian corrupted the message given to Jesus and Mohammed was restoring this corrupted message through the Quran.

The Quran was compiled after Mohammad after came into contact with “Gabriel”, in A.D. 610, when Mohammad was forty-years old.  If the Bible was corrupted, there is no mention of its corruption in the Quran.  In fact, there are entire copies of both the Old and New Testaments dating hundreds of years before his birth and  “Revelation”.  TheChester Beatty Papyrus, dated A.D. 200, existed over 400-years before Mohammad’s first meeting with “Gabriel”.  Codex Sinaticus and Codex Vaticanus 2 nearly complete copies of the scriptures, including both the Old and New Testaments, dated A.D. 350, existed 200 years before Mohammad’s birth.

 

The Quran makes an appeal to those who seek confirmation about its scriptural integrity to look at the former revelations. (Surah’s 34:31,35:31, 12:111, 6:154-157, 40:69-70, 46:12, 46:29-30, 2:91, 3:3, 4:162-163, 5:51)

 

37 This Quran is not such as can be produced by other than Allah; on the contrary it is a confirmation of (revelations) that went before it, and a fuller explanation of the book wherein there is no doubt from the Lord of the worlds. Surah 10:37

 

111 Allah hath purchased of the Believers their persons and their goods; for their (in return) is the Garden (of Paradise): they fight in His Cause, and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in Truth, through the Law, the Gospel, and the Quran and who is more faithful to his Covenant than Allah? Then rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded: that is the achievement supreme. Surah 9:111

 

Nowhere, does the Quran claim the Bible (Torah, Ingil, and Zabur[4]) has or was corrupted in Mohammad’s day.  The reason Muslims claim the Bible is corrupted is because of the incredible differences between the books, the Bible and Quran.  Mohammad thought his revelation was truly the same as the Bible, he was in fact “wrong”.  The Bible needs to be corrupted, for the Quran to be true for Muslim apologists. 

 

What is the source for the Jesus of Islam?

 

            The sources for the Muslim Jesus can be traced to the influences in Mohammad’s Arabia.  Arabia became the refuge for people escaping the oppression of Byzantium and Persia. Many of the heretical movements fled to Arabia, taking with them their books and teachings. Among these heretical groups, are the Gnostics and Manicheans.

            In the Quran, we see Gnostic influences on Islam, Basilides a Gnostic teacher of the 2^nd century, also believed and taught Jesus did not die on the cross.

 

Gnostic Doctrine

The Qur’an

Wherefore he did not himself suffer death, but Simon, a certain man of Cyrene, being compelled, bore the cross in his stead; so that this latter being transfigured by him, that he might be thought to be Jesus, was crucified, through ignorance and error, while Jesus himself received the form of Simon, and, standing by, laughed at them. For since he was an incorporeal power, and the Nous (mind) of the unborn father, he transfigured himself as he pleased, and thus ascended to him who had sent him, deriding them, inasmuch as he could not be laid hold of, and was invisible to all….. If any one, therefore, he declares, confesses the crucified, that man is still a slave, and under the power of those who formed our bodies; but he who denies him has been freed from these beings, and is acquainted with the dispensation of the unborn father.[5] Basilides

And for their saying, "Verily we have slain the Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, an Apostle of God." Yet they slew him not, and they crucified him not, but they had only his likeness. And they who differed about him were in doubt concerning him: No sure knowledge had they about him, but followed only an opinion, and they did not really slay him, but God took him up to Himself. And God is Mighty, Wise! Surah 4:157

 

Gnostic Jesus	Muslim Jesus
Ø         Gnostic god prevented Jesus from dying Ø         Jesus transformed himself Ø         Simon of Cyrene was made to look like Jesus Ø         Denies the crucifixion	Ø         Allah prevented Jesus from dying Ø         Jesus transformed himself Ø         Judas or another was made to look like Jesus Ø         Denies the crucifixion

 

            As the Gnostics, Nestorians and other heretical Christian groups were forced out the Byzantine Empire they established themselves in the deserts of Arabia.  Their teachings and “Gnostic works” circulated in Arabia, which was not known to have an Arabic translation of the Gospel (Ingil).

 

            We can also see Infancy Gospel of Thomas, another heretical work which made its way into the Quran and was translated into Arabic.   In this “false gospel” account, Jesus is seen creating clay birds and bringing them to life.  In this same work, Jesus turns a child into a “Withered Tree” and calls him an “impious ignoramus”.  Later Jesus kills a child who accidentally bumps him in the shoulder.  This book is a false work written about 150 A.D., claiming to be written by Thomas the Israelite.  The account of the birds creation, has found its way into the Quran.

 

            In addition to these false works we can also the Manichean influence in Islam, Mani (216-270 A.D.) a Persian painter and “Prophet” made many claims similar to Mohammad, but only 400 years earlier.  Mani was an Eastern Gnostic, who combined Christian, Buddhist, Persian and Zoroastrian teachings into a belief system. His followers were persecuted in Persia and like the Nestorians and other heretical Christian groups, they fled into Arabia.   These would then have an influence on Mohammad years later.

 

 

The influences on Mohammad’s formation of Islam is not limited to Gnostics but several areas of influence can be clearly seen in the “Revelations” to Mohammad. These other sources include;

·         Pagan Arab customs

·         Heretical Christian Sources

·         Jewish Sources

·         Zoroastrian Sources

·         Hanefite influces

Sources of the Islam

Pagan Arab Sources

Once a year, during the Muslim month of Ramadan (Last month of the Muslim year), from the 7^th to the 12^th day, millions of Muslims converge on the city of Mecca to fulfill the Muslim requirement of Hajj. Once in their lifetime Muslims are required (If able) to go the city of Mecca, this is one of the “Five Pillars of Islam”.  In Mecca, Muslims perform several rites including circling the Kaaba seven times, kissing the black stone, running between the mountains, throwing stones at Satan, most of these rites were performed before the birth of Mohammed and are pagan in origin.

When the pilgrim is about 6 miles (10 km) from Mecca, he enters the state of holiness and purity known as ihram (q.v.) and dons the ihram garments, consisting of two white seamless sheets that are wrapped around the body. The pilgrim cuts neither his hair nor his nails until the pilgrimage rite is over. He enters Mecca and walks seven times around the sacred shrine called the Kabah, in the Great Mosque, kisses or touches the Black Stone (Ḥajar al-Aswad) in the Kaʿbah, prays twice in the direction of the Maqām Ibrāhīm and the Kabah, and runs seven times between the minor prominences of Mount Ṣafā and Mount Marwah. On the 7th of Dhū al-Ḥijjah the pilgrim is reminded of his duties. At the second stage of the ritual, which takes place between the 8th and the 12th days of the month, the pilgrim visits the holy places outside Mecca—Jabal ar-Raḥmah, Muzdalifah, Minā—and sacrifices an animal in commemoration of Abraham's sacrifice. The pilgrim's head is then usually shaved, and, after throwing seven stones at each of the three pillars at Minā on three successive days (the pillars exemplify various devils), he returns to Mecca to perform the farewell ṭawāf, or circling, of the Kabah before leaving the city.[6]

 

These rites pagan rites were incorporated within the Islamic faith, this allowed the pagan Arab to keep much of the traditions they had but new meaning was attached to the rites. 

 

Quranic Source: Arab Customs	Source	Response
The Kaba: Dates from pre-Islamic times and housed 360 idols before Mohammad day.  The earliest record of th Kaba is dated to 60 BC and is recorded by Diodorus Siculus (Book iii)	97. Allah hath appointed the Ka'bah, the Sacred House, a standard for mankind, and the Sacred Month and the offerings and the garlands. That is so that ye may know that Allah knoweth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, and that Allah is Knower of all things. Surah 5:97	The Muslims claim Adam first built the Kaba, and Abraham and Ishmael rebuilt it.                         The Bible tells us Ishmael was sent away and there is has no record of Abraham going to Mecca.  According to the Bible, God established his Covenant with Isaac “son of Sarah” at Mt. Moriah (Jerusalem), not Mecca. Isaac is referred to as “Your only son” 15Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—17blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.  Genesis 22:15-17
Kissing the Black Stone The kissing of the Black stone pre-dates Islam.  The black stone is meteorite that was worshipped in the days prior to Islam.  This practice has continued to this day and is incorporated within Islam. People either Kiss or wave at the stone. The animistic nature of the stone is revealed in the Hadith by Ibn Abbas.	'Umar bin Al-Khattab's Hadith, may Allah be pleased with him. It is reported: 'Umar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, kissed the (Black) Stone and then said: By Allah, I know that you are a stone and if I had not seen Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) kissing you, I would not have kissed you. Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 2228 Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) further related that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “By Allah, Allah will bring it forth on the Day of Judgment, and it will have two eyes with which it will see and a tongue with which it will speak, and it will testify in favor of those who touched it in sincerity.” (At-Tirmidhi,Sunan)	The Muslim claim the Black stone came down from paradise and was white but became black from sins. The worship of meteorites was a common practice by pagans.  This was the practice of pre-Islamic Arabia; the custom of the Black stone was incorporated within Islam. A similar event is recorded in the book of Acts. 35And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great goddess Diana, and of theimage which fell down from Zeus?Acts 19:35

Jewish Sources of Islam

            When Mohammed fled from Mecca, in September of 622 A.D., he arrived in Yathrob (Medina) 280 miles to the north.  The city was founded by three Jewish tribes and had a significant Jewish influence on the formation of Islam.  Mohammad claimed to be the person the Arab tribesman of Medina were looking for fulfilling the expectation created by the Jewish tribes of the coming of the Messiah.   Muslims will often cite Deuteronomy 18:18-19 as referring to Mohammad.

18	'I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.
19	'And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. Deuteronomy 18:18-19

            The fact that this verse clearly states the prophet will be from “among their brethren” meaning an Israelite, since the children of Israel were gathered and about ready to enter the promised land, and Moses was giving them final instruction in the book of Deuteronomy. 

Mohammed appealed to the Jews of Medina of his prophet hood and felt confident the words he was proclaiming was the same as the Torah.  The Jews rejected him and his claims of prophet hood, this angered Mohammad as can be seen in the Quran. 

64. The Jews say: Allah's hand is fettered. Their hands are fettered and they are accursed for saying so. Nay, but both His hands are spread out wide in bounty. He bestoweth as He will. That which bath been revealed unto thee from thy Lord is certain to increase the contumacy and disbelief of many of them, and We have cast among them enmity and hatred till the Day of Resurrection. As often as they light a fire for war, Allah extinguisheth it. Their effort is for corruption in the land, and Allah loveth not corrupters.. Surah 5:64

The stories and sources of much of what Mohammad cited and felt were in the Torah (5 books of Moses) were 2^nd-5^th Century A.D. writings[7] of rabbinical Judaism[8].  The sources would have been available in Medina, or people familiar with these stories would have been able to rehearse the words to Mohammad who incorporated them into the Quran.

 

 

Heretical Christian Sects

   The Christians in the Arabia were a collection of groups that had sought refuge from Byzantine persecution because of heretical beliefs.  These included the Gnostics and Nestorians whose writings found their way into the Quran. Very little of the Quran contains anything from the New Testament. However, the Quran does contain stories of heretical Christian sects that were in the Arabian peninsula.

Story	Quran
The Story of the Seven Sleepers. This story from Gergory of Tours was merely to illustrate the point of the rapidity which the Gospel spread by the grace of the Holy Spirit and the Martyrs blood.  Christians did not believe the story was true.	9 Or dost thou reflect that the companions of the cave and of the inscription were wonders among our Signs? 10 Behold, the youths betook themselves to the cave: they said, our Lord bestow on us mercy from thyself, and dispose of our affair for us in the right way 11 Then we draw (a veil) over their ears, for a number of years, in the cave, (so that they heard not): 12 Then we roused them, in order to test which of the two parties was best at calculating the term of years they had tarried 13 We relate to thee their story in truth: they were youths who believed in their Lord, and we advanced them in guidance:  14 We gave strength to their hearts: behold, they stood up and said; our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and of the earth: never shall we call upon any god other than him: if we did, we should indeed have uttered an enormity 15 These our people have taken for worship gods other than him: why do they not bring forward an authority clear (and convincing) for what they do? who doth more wrong than such as invent a falsehood against Allah? 16 When ye turn away from them and the things they worship other than Allah, betake yourself to the cave: your Lord will shower his mercies on you and dispose of your affair towards comfort and ease. 17 Thou wouldst have seen the sun, when it rose, declining to the right from their cave, and when it set, turning away from them to the left, while they lay in the open space in the midst of the cave. Such are among the Signs of Allah: he whom Allah guides is rightly guided; but he whom Allah leaves to stray, for him wilt thou find no protector to lead him to the right way.  18 Thou wouldst have deemed them awake, whilst they were asleep, and we turned them on their right and on their left sides: their dog stretching forth his two fore legs on the threshold: if thou hadst come up on to them, thou wouldst have certainly turned back from them in flight, and wouldst certainly have been filled with terror of them. 19 Such (being their state), we raised them up (from sleep), that they might question each other. Said one of them, how long have ye stayed (here)? they said, we have stayed (perhaps) a day, or part of a day. (at length) they (all) said, Allah (alone) knows best how long ye have stayed here. Now send ye then one of you with this money of yours to the town: let him find out which is the best food (to be had) and bring some to you, that (ye may) satisfy your hunger therewith: and let him behave with care and courtesy, and let him not inform any one about you. 20 For if they should come upon you, they would stone you or force you to return to their cult, and in that case ye would never attain prosperity.  21 Thus did we make their case known to the people, that they might know that the promise of Allah is true, and that there can be no doubt about the hour of judgment. Behold, they dispute among themselves as to their affair. (some) said, construct a building over them: their Lord knows best about them: those who prevailed over their affair said, let us surely build a place of worship over them. 22 (Some) say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; (others) say they were five, the dog being the sixth, doubtfully guessing at the unknown; (yet others) say they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say thou: my Lord knoweth best their number; it is but few that know their (real case). Enter not, therefore, into controversies concerning them, except on a matter that is clear, nor consult any of them about (the affair of) the sleepers. 23 Nor say of anything, I shall be sure to do so and so to morrow 24 Without adding, so please Allah and call thy Lord to mind when thou forgettest, and say, I hope that my Lord will guide me ever closer (even) than this to the right road.25 So they stayed in their cave three hundred years, and (some) add nine (more) Surah 18: 8-250	Latin work of Gregory of Tours The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus[11] This story refers to the time during the reign of Emperor Decius (249-251 A.D.), when Christians were terribly persecuted, and every effort was made to destroy the faith.  To escape with their lives, seven men of Ephesus took refuge in a Cave near their city, and fell asleep for 200 years, till the reign of Theodorus II. (447 A.D.). On awaking, one of them ventured into and was overcome with amazement to find the Christians fiath triumphant over all other religions. The Cross once the sighn of shame and disgrace, now the crown of the Emperor, and the mark of the Empire; and nearly the whole people of the land turned Christians.

Errors

The Quran is claimed to be a copy of an identical book that is being revealed in Heaven. If this were the case, there should not be any errors in the book.  This is not the case, there are some very significant errors, these errors are clear to those familiar with Christianity or Judaism.

Error	Quran Verse
Ezra Son of God	30 The Jews call Uzair (Ezra) a son of Allah, and the Christians call Christ the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the Unbelievers of old used to say. Allah's curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the truth Surah 9:30	The Jews never worshipped Ezra as the Son the God.  This is a clear Error in the Quran
Abrogation changing one verse for another verse	. None of Our revelations do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten but We substitute something better or similar; knowest thou not that Allah hath power over all things? Surah: 2:106 101 When we substitute one revelation for another, and Allah knows best what he reveals (in stages), they say, thou art but a forger: but most of them understand not. Surah 16:101	The doctrine of Abrogation Is the doctrine that Allah gave to Mohammad alternate verses in place of other verses.  This doctrine was needed to calm concerns.  The Satanic Verse and the Direction of Prayer caused concerns that needed to be addressed.  Abrogation which allowed verses to changed answered this fear.  In other words, Allah changed his mind.  This justified Mohammad changing his revelation
Satanic Verses In order to get the people of Mecca to accept his Prophet-hood Mohammad he allowed the prayer to the daughters of Allah. Al Lat, Uzza, and Manat. Pagan Arabs welcomed this but Muslims were upset.	19 Have ye seen Lat, and Uzza, 20 And another, the third (goddess), Manat? 21 What! For you the male sex, and for Him, the female? 22 Behold, such would be indeed a division most unfair! 23 These are nothing but names which ye have devised, ye and your fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority (whatever). They follow nothing but conjecture and what their own souls desire! though there has already come to them Guidance form their Lord!  Surah 53:19-23105 The Muslim answer to this is that every Prophet faced this demonic deception, which later needed to be addressed: 52 Never did We send a messenger or a prophet before thee, but, when he framed a desire, Satan threw some (vanity) into his desire: but Allah will cancel anything (vain) that Satan throws in, (and establish) His Signs: For Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom: Surah 22:52	The original rendering of this verse By Al-lat and Al-Uzzah and Manat, the third, the other. They are exalted beings. Their intercession is to be sought after and their kind should not be neglected Mohammad explained the reason he made this mistake, because Satan gave him some bad verses.  He felt this happened to all the prophets at one time or another. This violates the “Test of a Prophet” this alone would label Mohammad as a false prophet.
Mary worshipped as God Mohammad had a misunderstanding of Christianity believing Mary was worshipped as part of the “Trinity”	116 And behold! Allah will say: "O Jesus the son of Mary! didst thou say unto men, "Worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of Allah?" He will say: "Glory to Thee! never could I say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, Thou wouldst indeed have known it. Thou knowest what is in my heart, though I know not what is in Thine. For Thou knowest in full all that is hidden.      Surah 5:116	Mohammad and the Quran, “The Revelation” are in error about the doctrine of Mary in Christianity.
Direction of Prayer toward Jerusalem Mohammad changed the direction of Prayer from Mecca to Jerusalem when arrived at Medina. Later it was changed back to Medina after the Jews rejected his Prophethood.	142 The fools among the people will say: "What hath turned them from the Qiblah to which they were used?" Say: "To Allah belong both East and West: He guideth whom He will to a Way that is straight." 143 Thus have We made of you an Ummah justly balanced, that ye might be witnesses over the nations, and the Messenger a witness over yourselves; and We appointed the Qiblah to which thou wast used, only to test those who followed the Messenger from those who would turn on their heels (from the Faith). Indeed it was (a change) momentous, except to those guided by Allah. And never would Allah make your faith of no effect. For Allah is to all people most surely full of kindness, Most Merciful. 144 We see the turning of thy face (for guidance) to the heavens: now shall We turn thee to a Qiblah that shall please thee. Turn then thy face in the direction of the Sacred Mosque: wherever ye are, turn your faces in that direction. The People of the Book know well that is the truth from their Lord, nor is Allah unmindful of what they do.Surah 2:142:144	When Mohammed at first arrived in Medina, he hoped the Jews would accept him as a prophet. To help them see him as a prophet he had the Muslims pray toward Jerusalem.  Later when the y rejected him the direction changed back toward Mecca. Here Mohammad answered and says Allah was testing his people to see who was his followers. This demonstrates convenient prophecies.

Nature of Mohammed

   Mohammad was born in the year 570 A.D., He married Khadija at twenty-five in the year 595 A.D. In the year 610 when Mohammad was  40 years old he claimed to have his first revelation from the Angel Gabriel.  In examining the claims of the Quran and Islam it is only right to also look at the life of Mohammad.

Demonic possession

   Mohammad clearly feels his first encounter with “Gabriel” is demonic and the question that need to be addressed whether the Quran is from God, Mohammed or Satan?  Clearly Mohammad’s life helps us answer this question.

"Ibn Ishaq says that, before the Revelation first began to descend upon him,  Mohammed's friends feared that he was suffering from the evil eye: and that, when it came upon him, almost the same illness attacked him again. In tradition it is stated that he ( Mohammed) said: 'I fear lest I should become a magician, lest one should proclaim me a follower of the Jinn (spirit)', and again: 'I fear lest there should be madness' (or demonic possession) 'in me.' After an accession of shivering and shutting his eyes, there used to come over him what resembled a swoon, his face would foam and he would roar like a young camel." (mizanul MizanuŸl Haqq, page 345).

"The Apostle of Allah said (to Aisha Ayshah) 'Sometimes it comes to me like the ringing of a bell and that is the most troublesome to me....sometimes the angel assumes the form of a man for me and talks with me and I retain in memory what he says! Aisha Ayshah reported 'And indeed I saw him while the revelation descended upon him on an intensely cold day; then it left him while his brow steamed with sweat.' "(Mishkat IV, page 360).

After Khadija died in 619 A.D., Mohammed proceeded to marry other wives and concubines.  Two wives in particular are note and shed light on the nature and character of Mohammad. 

Zainab wife of Mohammed, wife of Zaid Mohammad’s adopted son

Zainab was the wife of Zaid, Mohammad adopted son.  One day Mohammad saw her beauty and desired her for his wife.  Zaid divorced her so his adopted “Father”, Mohammad could marry her.

" Mohammed beheld her, (Zainab, Zaid's wife) after he ( Mohammed) had wedded her (Zainab) to him (Zaid), and she fell into his soul; therefore he said: 'Praise to Allah who turneth hearts upsidedown.' Zaid heard it and there occured to his soul an aversion from her society (nearness). Therefore he came to the Prophet and said: 'I desire to put away my wife!' After having been persuaded to keep her on, Zaid tried a while, but then divorced her. After the time prescribed following a divorce, (a waiting period of 90 days), another "revelation" came to muhammad Mohammed: " 'We wedded her to thee' (Sura 33:37)... the meaning is that He (Allah) made her his ( Mohammed's) wife without the interposition of a marriage contract. And what confirms it (i.e. this explanation) is that she used to say to the rest of the Prophet's wives, 'Verily Allah acted the part of a relative in my being given in marriage, and as for you, your relatives gave you in marriage.' And it is said that Zaid was the go-between in her betrothal, and that was a great trial, and an evident witness to the strength of his faith". (Commentary of baizawi Al-Baizåwi Volume II, page 129), (mizanul MizanuŸl Haqq, pages 331-332).

The latter statement of baizawi Baizåwi is, also reflected in the "Sahih Muslim" (page 724):

"Allah's Messenger said to Zaid to make a mention to her (Zainab) about him. Zaid went--and said: 'Zainab, Allah's Messenger has sent (me) with a message to you!' She said: I do not do anything until I consult the will of my Lord.' So she stood at her place of worship and the (verse of) the Quran (pertaining to her marriage) was revealed, and Allah's Messenger came to her without permission."

To justify this marriage to his adopted son’s wife the following Sura was revealed to Mohammad.

50 O Prophet We have made lawful to thee thy wives to whom thou hast paid their dowers; and those whom thy right hand possesses out of the prisoners of war whom Allah has assigned to thee and daughters of thy paternal uncles and aunts, and daughters of thy maternal uncles and aunts, who migrated (From Mecca) with thee; and any believing woman who dedicates her soul to the Prophet if the Prophet wishes to wed her; this only for thee, and not for the Believers (at large); We know what We have appointed for them as to their wives and The captives whom their right hands possess; in order that there should be no difficulty for thee. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.  … 51 Thou mayest defer (the turn of) any of them that thou pleasest, and thou mayest receive any thou pleasest: and there is no blame on thee if thou invite one whose (turn) thou hadst set aside. This were nigher to the cooling of their eyes, The prevention of their grief, and their satisfaction that of all of them with that which thou hast to give them and Allah knows (all) that is in your hearts: and Allah is All knowing, Most Forbearing.  Surah 33:50-51

Allah gave to Mohammad any women he choose, the limits of his wives knew little bounds and included his best friend’s (Abu Bakr) daughter Aisha.

Aisha

Mohammad was 52 years of age when he engaged Aisha, three years later they were married when she was age nine.

The tenth year of the Master’s mission was year of the Master’s mission was a yare of unusal gloom.  He suffered two severe blows, one on the heels of the other…..One night the Master lay in bed.  Presently an angel came down, carrying something wrapped in silken cloth. He presented it to the Master.  “What is this?” the Master demanded.  “This is your wife”, was the reply.  The Maser removed the cloth and found Aisha inside……The meaning of the vision was too evident to miss.  The Master needed a companion to  carry on his difficult mission….It chose Aisha to fill the gap created by Khadija death…..When the angel told the Master that Aisha had been tipped to be his wife, she was only a girl of six…… When Khaula took up the matter with Abu Bakr his first reaction was of surprise and he said, “The Master and I have always looked upon each other as brothers. Aisha is his niece.  How can she be married to him?”……Khaula conveyed the reply to the Master.  “But Abu Bakr in not my real brother”  observed the Maser.  “he is only my brother in faith.  Islam does not forbid marriage with the daughter of such a brother”[12]

Caravan Raiding

   The Islam doctrine of Jihad came out of the raiding of Caravan leaving and heading toward Mecca.  The theft and murder was justified because Mohammad was at war with “Holy City”.  Mohammad claimed a 20% share in all good taken in Jihad.

41 And know that out of all the booty that ye may acquire (in war), a fifth share is assigned to Allah- and to the Messenger, and to near relatives, orphans, the needy, and the wayfarer- if ye do believe in Allah and in the revelation We sent down to our Servant on the Day of Testing, the Day of the meeting of the tow forces. For Allah hath power over all things. Surah 8:41

Conclusion

   If we examine the life of Mohammad and the book of his “revelation” we can come to the conclusion that Mohammad might have been the prophet of Allah of Mecca, but he was not the prophet of the God of the Bible.  Much of Islam is an attempt to copy and subvert the religions of the Christians and the Jews as Mohammad perceived their religion.

            For this reason, we are reminded in Deuteronomy 18 that we are not to fear “False Prophets” because they operate out of fear.