The Belief Is Not In Muhammad But In What Has Descended Upon Muhammad:

Those Who Believe In Muhammad Are Disbelievers: PART I

Published in January 19, 2020

Translated by: Ahmed Fathy

Firstly: the Quranic meaning of (to believe in):

 This verb in the Quranic text means to have faith in and to submit one's heart/soul to the Lord God. This means the verb (to believe in) must never be followed by someone or something as this is sheer polytheism. This means to believe in the messengers means to believe not in persons or deified mortals but in the Divine Messages they have conveyed from the Lord God.

 The Lord God has mentioned the following about the belief in messengers and not to make distinction among them:

1- "The messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, as did the believers. They all have believed in God, and His angels, and His Books, and His messengers: “We make no distinction among any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and we obey. Your forgiveness, our Lord. To you is the destiny.”" (2:285). The verb (to believe in) within this Quranic verse does NOT mean to deify mortals or messengers; it means to believe in the Divine Scriptures granted to them by the Lord God; hence, we should never make any distinction among them because the Divine Message descended upon them by Allah is the same to all of them despite their different tongues, eras, and locations. Hence, we never believe in a messenger in the sense of deifying him, or else, this would be sheer polytheism and making distinction among messengers by deifying one of them as a god alongside with Allah and by making his biography as 'sanctified' history of a deity. This polytheism never pertains to Religion of the Dominant Lord God which descended upon all messengers: Islam/monotheism.

2- "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 Tribes; and in what was given to Moses and Jesus; and in what was given to the prophets - from their Lord. We make no distinction among any of them, and to Him we submit.”" (2:136). Again, in 2:136, one does not believe in mortals whose names are mentioned in this Quranic verse; rather, the belief is in the Divine Message granted to them from Allah. We also find in 2:136 the assertion of the core tenet of faith in Islam/monotheism; namely, never to make any distinction among any of the Lord God's messengers and prophets; all of them must be in the same degree to all monotheists; they are mortal prophets/messengers and never immortal deities. This means monotheism indicates that one's mind/heart/soul and one's religion are dedicated willingly and entirely to the Dominant Lord God in submission. The very next verse shows that those who contradict 2:136 by their deeds, word, and stances are disbelievers who are embroiled in schisms and disputes in religion since they believe in mortals; i.e., they deify some or all prophets/messengers; their polytheism increases as they deify other mortals among non-messengers and non-prophets; namely, the so-called saints/allies, intercessors, and imams; "If they believe in the same as you have believed in, then they have been guided. But if they turn away, then they are in schism. God will protect you against them; for He is the Hearer, the Knower." (2:137). Of course, this context of 2:136-137 has been addressed mainly to the People of the Book in Arabia; it also addresses all Quran-believing people in all eras until the end of days.  

3- "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 Tribes; and in what was given to Moses, and Jesus, and the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction among any of them, and to Him we submit.”" (3:84). This time, the verse 3:84 is addressing Muhammad and all of the Quran-believing monotheists in all eras until the end of days; it is the same message of urging the belief in messengers (i.e., the Divine Scriptures and not persons) and to never make distinction among any of them; again, the very next verse indicates clearly the disbelief of those who reject this monotheism/Islam found in 3:84 and if they die without repentance, they will be among the losers inside Hell in the Afterlife: "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." (3:85). This means that Islam/monotheism (or submission to the Lord God only) is the One Religion revealed in all Divine Scriptures granted to all messengers/prophets of the Lord God despite their different tongues eras, and locations. This is the true meaning of to believe in all messengers and Books of the Lord God.

4- "God received a pledge from the Israelites, and We raised among them twelve chiefs. God said, “I am with you; if you perform prayers and Zakat and believe in My messengers and support them, and lend God a loan of righteousness; I will remit your sins, and admit you into Gardens beneath which rivers flow. But whoever among you disbelieves afterwards has strayed from the right way.”" (5:12). This is Islam/monotheism within the convent made with the Israelites; had they adhered to this covenant and believe in what has been revealed to Muhammad (i.e., the Quran), the deniers among the People of the Book in Arabia would not have sided with the enemies of Muhammad: "Had theybelieved in God and the Prophet, and in what was revealed to him, they would not have allied themselves to them. But many of them are sinful." (5:81). We find in both 5:12 and 5:81 the verb (to believe in) in the sense of the belief in the Divine Message and not in deified mortals, of course.

5- The monotheistic belief (using the verb [to believe in]) is a test in the following Quranic context.

5/1: Moses has said the following to his people: "Moses said, “O my people, if you have believed in God, then put your trust in Him, if you have submitted.”" (10:84).

5/2: The Lord God has said the following to the contemporaries/companions of Muhammad after the victory achieved within the battle of Badr: "And know that whatever spoils you gain, to God belongs its fifth, and to the Messenger, and the nearest of kin, and the orphans, and the poor, and to the wayfarers, provided you believe in God and in what We revealed to Our servant on the Day of Distinction, the day when the two armies met. God is Capable of everything." (8:41).

5/3: The verb (to believe in) is thus employed in contexts of the true belief within monotheism and the polytheistic belief in falsehoods; for instance, the tribe/people of Thamood choose to disbelieve in the Truth and to believe in falsehoods, as per this Quranic verse: "Those who were arrogant said, “We reject what you believe in.”" (7:76).

Secondly: to believe with means peaceful behavior or Islam/belief in terms of peaceful demeanor (i.e., adherence to peace in general):

1- There is the belief in the Lord God within Islam/monotheism in terms of one's heart/soul, without ascribing partners/associates to Him, and with the belief in the Divine Message granted to the messengers/prophets of the Lord God. This is Islam in terms of monotheistic faith.

2- The other meaning of Islam is outward peaceful behavior. Islam means adhering to peace within one's demeanor and one's life. This is the meaning of Islam to which Arabs in groups adhered and this victory was witnessed by Muhammad shortly before his death: "When there comes God’s victory and triumph. And you see the people entering God’s religion in multitudes." (110:1-2). Muhammad was never a mind-reader and he had not any measure of omniscience; what he saw as per 110:2 was groups and throngs of Arabs adhering to peace (i.e., Islam in term of demeanor) after centuries of raids and wars among the Arab tribes in Arabia; of course, peace is the Lord God's Religion. This means that the Quranic verse 110:2 is NOT about Islam in terms of monotheistic faith or to believe in God, His Books, His angels, and His prophets/messengers. The vast majority of those Arabs got used to deifying/sanctifying allies/saints and gods and among them were the hypocrites. This means that what Muhammad saw as per 110:2 was their adhering to peace which is Islam in terms of behavior. It means to adhere to peace, safety, and security; the three word are synonymous in the Quranic text. This meaning is reflected in the Quranic verb (to believe with) which means to trust someone and also to be assured of someone's peaceful and non-violent behavior.

3- This sense of the verb (to believe with) is mentioned several times in the Quranic stories of messengers/prophets of the Lord God.

3/1: The affluent disbelievers among the people of Noah said the following to him: "They said, “Shall we believe with you, when it is the lowliest who follow you?”" (26:111). This means they felt that Noah was not to be trusted since the poorest classes followed him; they refused to believe with him in the Divine Message of monotheism he conveyed from Allah.

3/2: The same meaning was expressed by the tribe/people of Aad to their prophet Hud: "They said, “O Hud, you did not bring us any evidence, and we are not about to abandon our gods at your word, and we will not believe with you.”" (11:53); "He is nothing but a man, making up lies about God. We will not believe with him.”" (23:38).

3/3: This is within the context of the Quranic story of Abraham; his relative Lot believed with or trusted, him: "Then Lot believed with him..." (29:26).

3/4: The sons of Jacob/Israel, after they got rid of Joseph, said the following to their father as they felt he never trusted them: "They said, “O father, we went off racing one another, and left Joseph by our belongings; and the wolf ate him. But you will not believe with us, even though we are being truthful.” " (12:17).

3/5: The same meaning of the Quranic verb (to believe with) is repeated within the Quranic story of Moses.

3/5/1: The following was said by the disbelieving people of Pharaoh.

3/5/1/1: "They said, “Are we to believe with two mortals like us, and their people are our worshipers?”" (23:47).

3/5/1/2: "And they said, “No matter what sign you bring us, to bewitch us with, we will not believe with you.”" (7:132).

3/5/1/3: "They said, “Did you come to us to divert us from what we found our ancestors following, and so that you become prominent on earth? We will never believe with you.”" (10:78).

3/5/2: Moses said the following to Pharaoh and to Pharaoh's people: "But if you do not believe with me, keep away from me.”" (44:21).

3/5/3: Moses' Pharaoh, while addressing the Egyptian magicians, employed the verb (to believe in) within the sense of deifying someone (i.e., deifying Moses): "Pharaoh said, “Did you believe in him before I have given you permission?..." (7:123); in contrast, in another Quranic context, Moses' Pharaoh, also while addressing the Egyptian magicians, employed the verb (to believe with) within the sense of trusting someone (i.e., trusting Moses): "He said, “Did you believe with him before I have given you permission?..." (20:71 + 26:49). Of course, Moses' Pharaoh employed both verbs because he deified himself and wanted to make sure that everyone deified him and was loyal to him as a ruler and a deity.

3/5/4: The Israelites, who were the people of Moses, told Moses the following during the exodus while leaving Egypt: "...“O Moses, we will not believe with you unless we see God plainly.” ..." (2:55). This means they did not trust Moses at the time.

3/6: The verb (to believe with) is mentioned in the Quranic story of Muhammad.

3/6/1: The misguided ones among the People of the Book in Arabia said the following: "And believe with none except those who follow your religion.”..." (3:73).

3/6/2: The Lord God has said the following about them: "Do you hope that they will believe with you, when some of them used to hear the Word of God, and then deliberately distort it, even after understanding it? " (2:75).

Thirdly: who are the dwellers of Paradise?:

 They are the ones who have combined, in this world, both (1) Islam/belief in terms of monotheistic faith or submitting one's heart/soul and one's religion entirely to the Lord God, and (2) Islam in term of demeanor; i.e., peaceful behavior with all people.

1- Islam in term of faith inside one's heart/soul is to submit totally to the Dominant Lord God within piety, monotheism, and obedience. "Say, “My prayers and my worship, and my life and my death, are devoted to God, the Lord of the Worlds. No associate has He. Thus I am commanded, and I am the first of those who submit." (6:162-163).

2- Those true monotheists who apply 6:162-163 apply Islam also in terms of peaceful demeanor; they adhere to peace when they deal with all people; i.e., they never commit violence, aggression, or injustices against anyone. To combine both meanings of Islam in terms of behavior (i.e., peace) and faith (i.e., monotheism + piety) results in entering into Paradise in the Hereafter; this applies to Muhammad here: "...hebelieves in God and believes with the believers..." (9:61). This means he worshiped and deified/sanctified Allah only and trusted peaceful believers and dealt with them peacefully.

Fourthly: the dwellers of Paradise are linked to word of peace and security in the Quranic text:

 In the Holy Quran, Paradise is described as the Home of Peace.

1- "For them is the Home of Peace with their Lord..." (6:127).

2- "God invites to the Home of Peace..." (10:25).

 The greetings of the Paradise dwellers is peace.

1- "Their call therein is, “Glory be to You, our God.” And their greeting therein is, “Peace.” And the last of their call is, “Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds.”" (10:10).

2- "Everlasting Gardens, which they will enter, along with the righteous among their parents, and their spouses, and their descendants. And the angels will enter upon them from every gate. “Peace be upon you, because you endured patiently. How excellent is the Final Home.”" (13:23-24).

3- "But those who believed and did good deeds will be admitted into Gardens beneath which rivers flow, to remain therein forever, by leave of their Lord. Their greeting therein will be: “Peace.”" (14:23).

4- "Those who are in a wholesome state when the angels take them - will say, “Peace be upon you; enter Paradise, for what you used to do.”" (16:32).

5- "They will hear no nonsense therein, but only peace..." (19:62).

6- "Those will be awarded the Chamber for their patience, and will be greeted therein with greetings and peace." (25:75).

7- "Their greeting on the Day they meet Him is, “Peace,”..." (33:44).

8- "Peace - a saying from a Most Merciful Lord." (36:58).

9- "...“Peace be upon you, you have been good, so enter it, to abide therein eternally.”" (39:73).

10- "Enter it in peace. This is the Day of Eternity." (50:34).

 The following is about security and safety inside Paradise.

1- "They will call therein for every kind of fruit, in peace and security." (44:55).

2- " Whoever brings a good deed will receive better than it - and they will be safe from the horrors of that Day." (27:89).

3- "...and they will reside in the Chambers, in peace and security." (34:37).

4- Of course, peace and security are combined here: "“Enter it in peace and security.”" (15:46).

Fifthly: we find the following, in this world, within the practice and application of the above:

1- The unjust ones, the aggressors, and the criminals are a minority in this transient world on earth; the vast majority of human beings are peaceful people and many of them are oppressed. Their adherence of peace is Islam in terms of behavior; their outward, overt demeanor can be judged as such in this world by onlookers and observers; the verb (to believe with) applies to them.

2- Sadly, the vast majority of human beings (peaceful ones + aggressors/criminals and unjust ones) are polytheists the verb (to believe in) applies to them since they believe in (i.e., to deify) mortals and creatures and things/items; they sanctify saints/allies, tombs/mausoleums, and clergymen of all types. Judging polytheists will be only by the Lord God (and not any mortals) on the Judgment Day in the Hereafter. 

3- This vast majority of human beings in all eras differ and are divided into many earthly/terrestrial religions, sects, doctrines, and denominations. 

4- The terrestrial religions of Satan urge followers to deify mortals; hence, the Christians/Jesuits are the Umma/community of Christ who deify Jesus; the Muhammadans are the Umma/community of Muhammad who deify him; Buddhists deify Buddha,...etc. Inside such terrestrial religions, there are (sub)divisions of sects and doctrines; e.g., Shiites, Sunnites, Sufis, Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants. In most cases, dead and living clergymen/imams/sheikhs of all types are being deified by polytheists who believe in mortals; i.e., they deify and sanctify human beings.