It is undeniable that Western orientalists will continue to level commonplace accusations against the Prophet Muhammad, the Quran, and Islam. This has been the case for a long time. Indeed, orientalists have consistently and scientifically responded to and refuted the Quran's claims. This is because they are based on Western presumptions.
This means that the basic principle that the Prophet Muhammad is the messenger of God and the Qur'an is the word of God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) verbatim is not a basis for their studies. This is understandable, because by acknowledging the Prophet Muhammad's apostleship, they acknowledge Islam as the final religion.[1]
Robert Spencer further wrote; "Many observers throughout history have noted the numerous and obvious similarities between Islam and Judaism, including the "Pure" monotheism, the line of prophets, the proliferation of laws, the facing toward the holy city for prayer, and more. Muhammad no doubt had extensive contact as a young merchant, as well as later as a fledgling prophet, with the powerful Jewish tribes in and around Mecca. Muhammad respected them and sought their approval of his prophetic mission"
English translation: Many observers throughout history have noted numerous similarities between Islam and Judaism, including “pure” monotheism, the order of the prophets, the proliferation of laws, the direction of the Qibla toward the holy city during prayer, and much more. Muhammad undoubtedly had extensive contact as a young merchant, as well as during his prophethood, with the powerful Jewish tribes living in and around Mecca. Muhammad respected them and sought their approval for his prophetic mission.
In this paragraph, Spencer explains the similarities between Muslims and Jews monotheist. If you look at the history of the Jewish teachings conveyed by the prophet Moses, many Jews have abandoned them. If this monotheistic attitude is the same as that of Jews, why do Jews reject the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad? In fact, Jewish descendants and descendants of the Prophet Muhammad are described as being from among their own relatives.
However, in reality Jews refuse to worship the one God as brought by the Prophet Muhammad. The meaning between their own brothers is according to Ahmad Deedad's explanation in his lecture entitled "What does the Bible say about Muhammad?" Ahmad Deedad explained that Prophet Ibrahim had two wives, namely Siti Sarah and Siti Hajar. Sarah gave birth to the prophet Ishaq and Siti Hajar gave birth to the prophet Ismail. The prophet Isaac gave birth to Jewish descendants and the prophet Ismail gave birth to Arab descendants.[2]
If the Prophet Muhammad followed the monotheistic Judaism, then why didn't the Jews follow their holy book, which predicted Muhammad's coming? Oddly, the Jews refused to accept Muhammad as a prophet and carry his monotheistic message. Robert Spencer's odd explanation is evident in his sporadic and chaotic thinking.
Next, an explanation of direction of worship or the same Qibla as the Jews, indeed initially the direction of the Muslim Qibla was to Baitul Maqdis in Jerusalem. However, the Jews always mocked and made fun of the Muslims who came to worship in Jerusalem. That's because Jews have an arrogant attitude and nature, always considering themselves to be children of God.
We can see the common ground that Jews are more arrogant and do not want to obey their creator. So this is what made the prophet Muhammad reflect and ask Allah in his heart to move to the direction of the Qibla which is now known as the Kaaba. This is explained in Surah Al-Baqarah verse 144.
قَدْ نَرَى تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِي السَّمَاء فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةً تَرْضَاهَا فَوَلِّوَجْهَكَ God willing الْحَرَامِ
“Indeed, We (often) see your face turned toward the sky, so We will surely turn you toward the Qibla that you desire. Turn your face toward the Grand Mosque.”[3]
In the last paragraph about Spencer saying; Muhammad no doubt had extensive contact as a young merchant, as well as later as a fledgling prophet, with the powerful Jewish tribes in and around Mecca. Muhammad respected them and sought their approval of his prophetic mission" Spencer mentions that the Prophet Muhammad respected the Jewish tribes living outside and inside Mecca.
As well as trying to get approval for his prophetic mission. This sentence is an unfounded idea. The Prophet Muhammad never before his prophetic period or after his prophetic period asked for blessings in his prophetic mission. Spencer just made a superficial and nonsensical statement.
If indeed the Prophet Muhammad tried to ask for approval for his prophetic mission, then this cannot be said to be a prophet because in principle a prophet never hopes to ask for approval from
man. In fact, the prophet Muhammad never asked for blessings from the Jews.
Spencer's accusation echoes that of Peter, a priest in Maimuma, who in 743 called Muhammad a false prophet. Yahya Al-Dimasyqiy, better known as John of Damascus (d. 740), also wrote in ancient Greek to orthodox Christians that Islam teaches the antichrist.
He also argued that Muhammad was a deceptive prophet to the ignorant Arabs.[4] And several other orientalists such as Pastor Bade[5] from England also wrote the same thing about the same evil.
Closing
After seeing some of the context of the discussion put forward by Robert Spencer, in his book The Truth about Muhammad, It can be concluded that orientalists never stop defending their ideas, which are actually more dangerous if not challenged and corrected by Muslim scholars. Some of the arguments put forward in this book have had a negative impact, especially on Muslims, and it is time for Muslims to begin writing and correcting some of the historical facts surrounding these orientalist accusations.
And Allah knows best
[1] Dr. Hamid Fahmy Zarkasyi in the foreword to the book translation “The Islamic Invasion”
By Robert A. Morey. Translated by Sadu Suud published by Focus Muslim Media.
[2] Ahmad Deedad's lecture on What the Bible Says about Muhammad? Please access the full text on YouTube.
[3] https://www.kisahislam.net/2013/12/16/kisah-perubahan-arah-kiblat-dari-baitul-maqdis-ke-kabah-2/
[4] Dr. Hamid Fahmy Zarkasyi in the foreword to the book translation “The Islamic Invasion” By Robert A. Morey. Translated by Sadu Suud published by Focus Muslim Media.
[5] Father Bade, who lived in 673-735 AD, was of the opinion that the Prophet Muhammad SAW was a wild desert man. (A wild man of the desert). Bade describes the Prophet Muhammad as a rude person, war-loving and barbaric, illiterate, of low social status, ignorant of Christian dogma, greedy for power, so he was a ruler and claimed to be a prophet. Likewise, in the era of Western enlightenment, Voltaire considered Muhammad a fanatic, extremist and the most sophisticated liar.
Not only that, the Prophet Muhammad and the Quran continue to be targeted. Snouck Hurgronje said that in our current skeptical age, very little is free from criticism, and one day we might expect to hear that Muhammad never existed. Hurgronje's hope was later realized in the thoughts of Klimovich, who wrote an article published in 1930 entitled “Did Muhammad exist?”In the article, Klimovich concludes that all sources of information about Muhammad's life are fabricated. Muhammad is a necessary fiction, as it is always assumed that every religion must have a founder. See the foreword by Hamid Fahmy Zarkasyi, pp. 41-43 in the book. “The Islamic Invasion” translation by Sadu Suud by Hamid Fahmy Zarkasyi, pp. 41-43
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