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Muhammad was inspired to follow the religion of Abraham

Introduction

The whole Quran was inspired to place into prophet Muhammad’s soul once as well as revealed it to him from his soul to his heart over 23 years to read it to the people; and he was commanded to practice the religion being forbidden from worshiping what he used to call was inspired to him to worship One god for his own good as well as to preach it to others. In order for him to practice it in a right way he was inspired to follow the religion of Abraham who was not an idol worshiper but a true monotheist. Hence, it is a clear evidence from the Quran that the religion what we practiced today was not introduced at the time of Muhammad eliminating any doubt about it even not to be the subject of debate. However, the religion was powered by the Quran describing it Islam (Submission) and completing it including specific details of its existing practices while there were updates as required as our guidance and mercy being only source of our religious laws and teachings.

But there is a prevalent myth in the western world that prophet Muhammad was the founder of Islam while the critics of the Quran claim that he was a false prophet, Quran is man-made and Islam is a fallacious religion. Even the majorities who call themselves Muslims believe that prophet Muhammad instituted the practices of Islam and they practice what came down through practicing of the people of subsequent generations. Islam has been corrupted with many man-made innovations and traditions over the period of time while they make him their idol without knowing from the Quran.

Religion was inspired to prophet Muhammad

God has decreed religion for all of us what He enjoined for Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus while He inspired it to prophet Muhammad who had no knowledge of the scripture and the faith. What He inspired to him is follow the religion of Abraham being the perfect religion from Him. Thus, what we understand from this that he learned the religious practices existed around him from his contemporaries to start practicing. And while he continued with his practices, he had the opportunity to validate his practices from certain details in the Quran which was being revealed to him and also to reflect to the updates in it to perfect his practices, and also those who believed with him upon completion of the revelation of the Quran. However, he was commanded to follow a religion given to Abraham and also to share it with others. Even he was taught to be thankful to Him for being guided to the perfect religion of Abraham who was not an idol worshiper but a true monotheist:

[16:123] Then we inspired to you (Muhammad) that you shall follow a religion of Abraham – Monotheism, and he has not been with the idol worshippers.
[42:13] He decreed for you (all) the religion what He enjoined for Noah, and what we inspired to you (Muhammad), and what we enjoined for Abraham, Moses, and Jesus that “You shall uphold the religion, and do not divide it.” Hard for the idol worshipers is that to which you call them. God chooses to Himself whomever He wills and He guides to Himself whoever turns (towards Him).
[42:52] And thus, we inspired to you (Muhammad) an inspiration by our command. You did not know what the scripture was, nor was the faith. But we made it (Quran) a light; we guide with it whomever we will of our servants. And indeed, you undoubtedly guide to a straight path.
[3:95] Say, “God has proclaimed the truth, so you shall follow a religion of Abraham – Monotheism, and He has not been with the idol worshippers.”
[6:161] Say, “Indeed me (Muhammad), has guided me my Lord to a straight path – an established religion, a religion of Abraham – Monotheism; and he has not been with the idol worshipers.”

He was inspired to worship One god

History indicates that Muhammad was chosen from a group of people who were idol worshipers and was given a messenger of God and the final scripture of God (33:40). But God inspired him to worship One god forbidding him from worshiping idols. Thus, he was commanded to follow the Quran as well as to worship One god turning away from the idol worshipers otherwise all of his works would be nullified:

[6:56] Say, “Indeed, I have been forbidden that I worship those whom you call other than God.” Say, “I do not follow your desire, certainly, I have gone astray then, and I am not with the guided ones.”
[6:106] You (prophet) shall follow what has been inspired to you from your Lord that there is no other god beside He and you shall turn away from the idolaters.
[17:39] That is from what was revealed to you (Muhammad) from your Lord of the wisdom. And do not make any other god with God, lest you will be cast into Hell, blameworthy, abandoned.
[40:66] Say: “I (Muhammad) am forbidden from worshiping those whom you call upon other than God when the clear proofs have come to me from my Lord, and I am commanded to submit to the Lord of the world.”
[6:19] Say, “Which testimony is the greatest?” Say, “God is a witness between me (Muhammad) and you, and this Quran has been revealed to me that I may warn you with it and whomever it reaches. Do you truly testify that there are other gods with God?” Say, “I do not testify; He is only One god, and certainly, I am free from what you associate.”
[6:164] Say: “Shall I seek other than God as a Lord when He is the Lord of everything?” And every soul earns what is for it, and none will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return and He will inform you of what you disputed in.
[39:65] And certainly, has been inspired to you (Muhammad) and to those before yourself if you have associated partners, surely, He will make worthless your deeds, and surely, you will be with the losers.

He was commanded to advocate worshiping of One god

He was not only inspired to worship One god but he was also inspired to preach it to those who expect to meet their Lord. They need to do righteous works without associating anyone in the worship of their Lord and shall take a straight path asking His forgiveness while it is regret that the idol worshipers are the losers:

[13:30] Thus, we have sent you to a community from before it (many) communities have passed away, so that you may recite to them what we revealed to you while they disbelieve in the Most Gracious. Say: “He is my Lord; there is no other god besides He. I put trust on Him, and to Him is my return.”
[18:110] Say, “I (Muhammad) am only a human like yourselves; it is inspired to me that your god is One god. So whoever looks forward to meeting his Lord, then let him do righteous works and not associate anyone in the worship of his Lord.”
[21:25] And we did not send any messenger before you (Muhammad) except that we inspire to him that “There is no god except Me, so you shall worship Me.”
[21:108] Say (Muhammad): “It is inspired to me that your god is only One god, so will you submit to Him?”
[41:6] Say (Muhammad), “I am only a human being like yourselves; it is inspired to me that your god is One god. So you shall be straight to Him and shall ask His forgiveness, and woe for the idol worshipers.

He was strengthened to stay in the right path

He was a human being and to make mistakes or to incline to fabricate something was not unusual to be considered a friend of his own people. But God strengthened him to stay in the right path and to recite what he was supposed to recite disregarding his own people to serve as just warner, and if it would not be the case, the revelation what was revealed to him would be taken away from him:

[11:12] So perhaps you may wish to ignore some of what is revealed to you, and you are depressed by it, because they say: “If only a treasure was sent down with him, or an angel had come with him!” You are but a warner, and God has control over all things.
[17:73] And they almost diverted you from which we revealed to you (Muhammad) that you fabricate about us other than it, and then they would surely take you as a friend!
[17:86] And if we willed, we would take away which we revealed to you (Muhammad). Then you would not find for you about it any protector against us.
[18:27] And you (Muhammad) shall recite what has been revealed to you of your Lord’s scripture. None can change His words, and you will not find any refuge other than Him.

What he followed to stay in the straight path

He was told to recite to the people what was revealed to him as guidance and mercy for all, and also to warn them with it. But those who did not expect to meet their Lord asked him to change it while he did not disobey his Lord being afraid of the retribution of a great day. Even, it was prohibited for him to hasten with what was being revealed to him before its completion. Hence, he held fast what was revealed to him informing people that he had no knowledge about the future of his own or others as he was just a warner. In fact, he followed what was revealed to him being patient and asked Him to increase his knowledge to stay in the straight path:

[7:203] And when you do not bring them a sign, they say: “Why have you not got it?” Say: “I (Muhammad) only follow what is revealed to me from my Lord. This is enlightenment from your Lord, and guidance and mercy to a people who believe.”
[10:15] And when our revelations are recited to them as clear proofs, those who do not expect to meet us said: “Bring a Quran other than this, or change it!” Say: “It is not for me that I can change it of my own, I only follow what is revealed to me. Indeed, I fear if I disobey my Lord, the retribution of a great day!”
[10:109] And follow what is revealed to you (Muhammad) and be patient until God gives judgment. And He is the best the Judge.
[20:114] So high above all is God, the King, the True. And you are not to hasten with the Quran before that its revelation is completed to you (prophet), and say, “My Lord, increase me of knowledge.”
[21:45] Say: “I (Muhammad) only warn with the revelation.” And the deaf do not hear the call when they are warned.
[29:45] You shall recite what has been revealed to you (Muhammad) of the scripture, and shall observe the Contact Prayer. Indeed, the Contact Prayer prevents from vice and evil deeds, and surely, the remembrance of God (through it) is the greatest. And God knows what you (all) do.
[33:2] And you shall follow what is inspired to you (Muhammad) from your Lord. Indeed, God is Cognizant of what you do.
[34:50] Say: “If I (Muhammad) have gone astray, then I will go astray for myself. And if I am guided, then it is by what my Lord inspired to me. Indeed, He is Hearer, Near.”
[43:43] So you (Muhammad) shall hold fast to that which is revealed to you; indeed, you are on a straight path.
[46:9] Say: “I (Muhammad) am not different from the messengers, and I do not know what will be done with me or with you. I just follow what is revealed to me, and I am but a clear warner”

What he implored God for his own good

He was told to practice the religion of Abraham to be guided in a straight path dedicating his all praises prayers to God, the Lord of the universe. He was also enjoined to recite the Quran at dawn as well as to reflect with it at night to earn extra to be raised to a higher status at Him and to call on Him for an honorable admittance followed by an honorable departure. God has also let us know that He has left a room for any believer to achieve an honorable position calling on Him to raise his/her position at Him not being jealous on someone who has been chosen to warn us as well as to give us a good news:

[6:161] Say, “My Lord has guided me in a straight path – the perfect religion of Abraham, a true monotheist, and he was never an idol worshiper.”
[6:162] Say, “My Contact Prayers, my worship practices, my life and my death, are devoted absolutely to God, the Lord of the universe.
[6:163] He has no partners. This is what I (Muhammad) am commanded to believe, and I am the first to submit.”
[6:164] Say: “Shall I seek other than God as a Lord when He is the Lord of everything?” And every soul earns what is for it, and none will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return and He will inform you of what you disputed in.
[17:78] You (Muhammad) shall observe the Contact Prayer when the sun declines towards the darkness of the night and the Quran at dawn. Indeed, the (recitation of) Quran at dawn is witnessed.
[17:79] And of the night, you shall meditate with it (Quran) as extra (spiritual gain) for you, that your Lord may raise you to a higher status (maqaaman mahmuudan).
[17:80] And say, “My Lord, admit me an honorable admittance, and let me depart an honorable departure, and grant me from You a powerful support.”
[17:81] And say, “The truth has come and the falsehood has vanished; Indeed, the falsehood is to vanish.”
[10:2] Is it a wonder for the people that we revealed to a man from among them that “You shall warn the mankind and shall give good news to those who believed that they will have an honorable rank at their Lord (qadama sid’qan `inda rabbihim)?” The disbelievers said: “Indeed, this is obviously a magician!”

Conclusion

The religion as well as worshiping of One god was inspired to prophet Muhammad for his own good as well as to preach it to others. In order for him to practice it in a right way he was inspired to follow the religion of Abraham who was not an idol worshiper but a true monotheist. Hence, the religion was not introduced at his time but was powered by the Quran providing the ways and means required for humanity to lead a righteous life. But there is a prevalent myth in the western world that Muhammad was the founder of Islam, even the majorities who call themselves Muslims believed that prophet Muhammad instituted the practices without knowing from the Quran.

God inspired him to follow the religion of Abraham being the perfect religion from Him. Thus, what would be logical to believe that he learned the religious practices that existed around him from his contemporaries to start practicing. And while he continued with his practices, he had corrected his practices with certain details in the Quran and also to reflect to the updates in the Quran including those who believed with him. However, the specific details of the rituals in the Quran not only helped him and his associates to perfect their practices but also are parameters for the people of subsequent generations to find right way to practice the God given rituals avoiding any innovations.

He was not only inspired to worship One god but he was also inspired to preach it to those who expect to meet their Lord. They need to do righteous works without associating anyone in the worship of their Lord and shall take a straight path asking His forgiveness while it is regret for the idol worshipers who are the losers. However, he was a human being and to make mistakes or to incline to fabricate something was not unusual for him to be considered a friend of his own people. But God strengthened him to stay in the right path and to recite what he was supposed to recite disregarding his own people to serve as just warner, and if it would not be the case, the revelation what was revealed to him would be taken away from him.

Now we know from the history as well as from the Quran that Muhammad was an idol worshiper and he was forbidden from idol worshiping when he was chosen as a messenger of God and the final prophet. He was warned to turn away from the idol worshipers otherwise all of his works would be nullified. However, he warned the people with what was being revealed to him but those who did not expect to meet their Lord asked him to change it while he did not disobey his Lord being afraid of the retribution of a great day. Even, he was prohibited to hasten with what was being revealed to him before its completion.

As a warner he recited to the people what was revealed to him informing them that he had no knowledge about the future of his own or others. He also followed it being patient and asked God to increase his knowledge to stay in the straight path while he practiced the religion of Abraham to be guided in a straight path dedicating his all praises and prayers to God, the Lord of the universe. He was enjoined to recite the Quran at dawn and to reflect with it at night to earn extra to be raised to a higher status at Him including calling on Him for an honorable admittance and an honorable exit.

The review is an opportunity for us to confirm that the prophet is innocent of what the so called Muslim scholars attributed to him being his sayings and deeds. But what is a good news for all of us is God has left a room for every believer to be raised to an honorable position at Him leaving no reason for us to be jealous on him who has been chosen to warn as well as to give us a good news.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (8/10/2018).