Blogging the Qur’an: Sura 21, “The Prophets”
posted at 8:00 am on April 13, 2008 by Robert Spencer
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After several suras have recounted the message and reception of various prophets in strikingly similar terms, this sura, “The Prophets,” discusses the phenomenon of prophecy and the way it is received in general (usually with scoffing). It also touches on several prophets specifically, including Abraham, David, Solomon, Job, and Zechariah. Sura 21 is a late Meccan sura, and was revealed against the backdrop of the ongoing strife between Muhammad and the leaders of the pagan Quraysh tribe of Mecca – a tribe of which Muhammad was a member, but which had rejected his prophetic claim. This sura is full of both direct and implied references to their skepticism, as well as replies to their objections.
Verses 1-47 speak generally of how the unbelievers always scorn the signs of Allah’s creative power, and the messages of the prophets. We hear their dismissals of Muhammad’s prophetic pretensions, and in vv. 4, 24, 42 and 45 Allah tells Muhammad what to say to them. The unbelievers claim that Muhammad is bringing witchcraft, and assume that to be a prophet he would have to be “more than a man like yourselves” (v. 3). But the earlier prophets were just ordinary men, as the unbelievers can discover by asking the Jews and Christians (“those who possess the Message”) (vv. 7-8). The unbelievers say that Muhammad is a poet who has invented the Qur’an, and that if he were really a prophet he would work a miracle (v. 5). But Allah has destroyed entire populations in the past (v. 6) and has done what he promised to do, and saved “those whom We pleased, but We destroyed those who transgressed beyond bounds” (v. 9).
Now Allah has revealed a book with a message for mankind – that is, the Qur’an (v. 10). And this is no game: Allah didn’t create everything just to play (v. 16). If he had wanted to do find a pastime, he “could have found it in Our presence” (v. 17). That is, according to the Tafsir al-Jalalayn, “Had We desired to find some diversion, that which provides diversion, in the way of a partner or a child, We would have found it with Ourselves, from among the beautiful-eyed houris or angels…” The “beautiful-eyed houris” are the fabled virgins of Paradise.
But instead, in a jarringly violent image, “We hurl the Truth against falsehood, and it knocks out its brain, and behold, falsehood doth perish!” (v. 18). Even the beings that stand in Allah’s presence aren’t too proud to serve him (vv. 19-20). The unbelievers can’t be right that their objects of worship are really gods besides Allah, because this multiplicity would create confusion not only in heaven, but also on earth (v. 22) – a verse that may reveal why Islamic societies have always tended toward authoritarianism and never been hospitable to democracy. Allah, meanwhile, the absolute ruler, “cannot be questioned for His acts” (v. 23). Says Ibn Kathir: “He is the Ruler Whose rule cannot be overturned and none can object to it, because of His might, majesty, pride, knowledge, wisdom, justice and subtlety.” Those who say “Allah has begotten offspring” (v. 26) are not just the Christians, but the pagan Arabs who worshipped the daughters of Allah – whom we shall hear more about later, notably in sura 53. Allah’s servants – that is, the prophets — intercede only for those who are acceptable to him (v. 28), and if any of those servants claimed to be a god, he would be go to hell (v. 29).
Haven’t the unbelievers realized the signs of Allah’s creating hand in the things of this earth (vv. 30-33)? Yet they dare to ridicule Muhammad (v. 36), heedless of the fact that the Day of Judgment will inevitably come (vv. 37-44). Everyone will be dealt with justly on that Day, and his smallest good deed, even the size of a mustard seed, will not go unnoticed (v. 47).
Then verses 48-93 cite some of the significant events in the lives of some of the prophets, again with numerous parallels to Muhammad’s own situation with the Quraysh. Allah gave Moses and Aaron the criterion (al-furqan, الْفُرْقَانَ) (v. 48) – that is, the true guidance. Al-furqan is in Islamic tradition identified with the Qur’an itself, but here it applies to the earlier prophetic message – the Torah that was delivered to Moses. In Islamic tradition both the Torah and the Gospel were identical in substance with the Qur’an before they was corrupted by the perverse and unbelieving followers of Moses and Jesus.
Vv. 51-73 return to the story of Abraham, once again recounting his refusal to worship his father’s idols. He confronts the idolaters of his own people, who scoff at him in just the way that the Quraysh have scoffed at Muhammad. They even go so far as to try to burn him to death, but Allah makes the fire cool and saves his prophet (vv. 68-69). Then follow in quick succession brief references to Lot (vv. 74-75); Noah (vv. 76-77); David and Solomon (vv. 78-82); Job (vv. 83-84); Ishmael, Idris (Enoch), and Dhul-Kifl (Ezekiel) (v. 85); Dhu’n-Nun (Jonah) (vv. 87-88); Zechariah (vv. 89-90); and Mary and Jesus (v. 91), all of whom, we are reminded here, remained faithful to Allah through various kinds of difficulty and distress (and, often, scorn from unbelievers). All shared a single religion, Islam (v. 92), although those who followed after these prophets “have broken their religion (into fragments)” (v. 93). The original religion of all the prophets was Islam, and when someone claims to follow one of those prophets – Abraham, Moses, Jesus – but rejects Islam, he is rejecting the true message of those prophets in favor of a later corrupted version.
Verses 94-112 warn of the Judgment Day. When Gog and Magog are let loose (see sura 18:94), then the unbelievers will realize that all this was true (v. 97). As they enter hell they will see that their false gods are useless to keep them out of it (vv. 98-100). But the believers will not suffer any of this, or even hear the damned screaming in hell; instead, the angels will greet them (vv. 101-103). Allah will produce a new creation in the same way that he produced the first one (v. 104). The righteous – i.e., the Muslims – will inherit the earth (v. 105). The Qur’an is a message for those who want to worship Allah (v. 106), and Muhammad is sent “as a mercy for all creatures” (v. 107). Muhammad should tell the people that he has delivered the warning he was commanded to deliver, but he doesn’t know when the promised Judgment will come (v. 109).
Next week:, Sura 22, “The Pilgrimage”: More about the dreadful Day when “thou shalt see mankind as in a drunken riot, yet not drunk.”
(Here you can find links to all the earlier “Blogging the Qur’an” segments. Here is a good Arabic/English Qur’an, here are two popular Muslim translations, those of Abdullah Yusuf Ali and Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall, along with a third by M. H. Shakir. Here is another popular translation, that of Muhammad Asad. And here is an omnibus of ten Qur’an translations.)
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Even from the early days of robbing and attacking caravans on holy days, the new faith invented by Mohammad the malcontent tripped upon the doctrine of sheer violence and brutality against those who are not stupid enough to buy into your two-bit theology.
Joseph Smith seemed to miss that solution when he invented his parallel theology.
Hening on April 13, 2008 at 8:42 AM
The original religion of all the prophets was Islam, and when someone claims to follow one of those prophets – Abraham, Moses, Jesus – but rejects Islam, he is rejecting the true message of those prophets in favor of a later corrupted version.
This retroactive prophocide is gettin’ old. It seems to be the main theme running through much of the quran. But this time they claim it was the OTHER believers who retroactively changed THEIR beliefs! No wonder they don’t teach their kids rational thinking, ‘just shut up and believe it, because, just because’.
Tony737 on April 13, 2008 at 9:21 AM
“… a verse that may reveal why Islamic societies have always tended toward authoritarianism and never been hospitable to democracy. “
We are living in historically fascinating times. We are witnessing a youth backlash against islam in muslim
countries and it’s thanks to the U.S. Military and her Allies for defeating the jihadis on the battlefield. Also, the heavy hand of a.q. has tipped the balance in our favor. We’re going to see millions of muslims quit islam and/or convert to Christ because they always go to the ’stronger horse’. Thank you Service Men and Women, you’re doing God’s work and changing the world for the better!
Tony737 on April 13, 2008 at 9:35 AM
But wasn’t one of the “earlier prophets” Jesus (Isa), according to the Muslims? So are they now claiming that Jesus was just an “ordinary” man? I know they acknowledge Jesus was born to a virgin mother and that he was faultless (features that certainly don’t apply to “ordinary men”), but do Muslims acknowledge the many miracles that the Bible attributes to Jesus (e.g., that he walked on water, fed thousands with a few loaves and fishes, turned water into wine, healed lepers, restored sight to the blind, raised Lazarus from the dead, etc.). If so, that certainly seems to further contradict the notion that “the earlier prophet” Jesus was just an “ordinary” man.
AZCoyote on April 13, 2008 at 9:43 AM
Am I to understand, from Verse 17, that Allah could create for himself, a son had he so chosen? The phrase ‘in Our presence’ is ambiguous but poses the question as to whether the omniscient Allah could clone himself. Or, perhaps, Allah could get bored with the whole thing and commit suicide, and then what would happen to his creation.
The Islamic philosopher Avicenna refused to believe that Allah created the universe ex-nihilo so if Allah were gone would we live in Spinoza’s pantheist paradise?
Annar on April 13, 2008 at 10:30 AM
A very clever ploy. Never mind that it may be little man Mo who has corrupted earlier teachings.
Another great lesson Robert. Thanks.
Zorro on April 13, 2008 at 10:49 AM
(from this post and past posts)
If Muslims believe in Christ, the virgin birth and the prophets of the OT, how can they believe Mo was greater than Christ or any of the OT prophets? What did Mo do that was so god like or even great?
.
This is not really a question, it’s more of a statement!
abinitioadinfinitum on April 13, 2008 at 11:40 AM
To understand any teachings of the Avatars and Prophets that have taken their birth to say God is One, we have to go within the heart. Because God could dwell only in a place that is above the mind, that makes it all the more difficult for us humans to rise above our ego and conditioning.
To be in any religion does not give us a free ticket to salvation…only, it is there to make us more aware of who we are.
Monas on April 13, 2008 at 12:21 PM
Gee, what a peaceful image, eh?
Vntnrse on April 13, 2008 at 1:20 PM
Wow. I certainly have not heard about this backlash in the msm or the blogs. I pray it’s happening. Robert, do you see any signs of an uprising against the Islamic faith?
Rod on April 13, 2008 at 2:32 PM
Regular readers of this lesson have heard that assessment before; ie: cut no slack for the dupes of other religions.
But, a question for you, R.S. If ’shirk’ is such a great sin and not tolerated, who is this ‘We’ that is mentioned repeatedly in V. 6-9. Are there other examples in the koran of allah being plural?
Thanks again for another good lesson.
locomotivebreath1901 on April 13, 2008 at 2:57 PM
I have now. Good read on Muslims Leaving Islam in Droves
Rod on April 13, 2008 at 3:08 PM
Is Mohammed speaking of himself in this book? He did not regard himself a prophet as I understand it, but others assigned that title to him later? And is the rejection of a multiplicity in a god a rejection of the Trinity in Christianity? Or did they simply not understand it?
CrimsonFisted on April 13, 2008 at 3:40 PM
AZCoyote:
Muslims generally don’t read the Bible, as they believe it to be corrupted. But they wouldn’t have any problem with Jesus working miracles. The Qur’an is clear that Jesus worked miracles, as we shall see. But this was a privilege given him by Allah, in their view, and not a sign that he was anything but an ordinary man. Likewise also the Virgin Birth and sinlessness — privileges from Allah, but no indication that he was anything more than a human being.
Robert Spencer on April 13, 2008 at 4:11 PM
Annar:
That does seem to be the implication here, although elsewhere, as we have seen, the Qur’an states emphatically that to have a son would offend Allah’s transcendent majesty. The assumption seems to be that if he had a son, it would be because he needed a helper, and that would mean he wasn’t all-powerful.
I don’t see why we would.
Robert Spencer on April 13, 2008 at 4:13 PM
abinitioadinfinitum:
From the Muslim perspective, Muhammad did one thing that makes him greater: he was the one chosen to bring the Qur’an to the world.
Robert Spencer on April 13, 2008 at 4:15 PM
locomotivebreath1901:
Allah refers to himself as “We” all through the Qur’an, in many, many places. Never “I,” always “We.” But Muslim commentators unanimously insist that this is just a royal “We,” and does not in any sense imply a multiplicity. Allah is an absolute unity.
Robert Spencer on April 13, 2008 at 4:17 PM
CrimsonFisted:
The entire Qur’an is Allah speaking to Muhammad. If you look at verses 4, 24, 42 and 45 of this sura, and many other similar verses in other chapters, you’ll see Allah telling Muhammad to say various things to his detractors or to the unbelievers in general. Of course, all this comes from the testimony of Muhammad that Allah was indeed speaking to him, so in a sense, yes, it is Muhammad speaking of himself.
He most certainly did understand himself as a prophet. This entire sura is a defense of his prophetic role, as it tells the stories of the prophets in ways that Muhammad’s hearers would understand as analogous to his own situation.
Islam rejects the Christian Trinity, and does not understand it. In Qur’an 5:116 Allah asks Jesus if he told his followers to worship his mother and himself as gods along with Allah. This strongly suggests that Muhammad thought the Trinity consisted of Allah, Jesus, and Mary.
Robert Spencer on April 13, 2008 at 4:23 PM
Did Muhammad ever claim to be a greater prophet than Jesus?
Is there any reason given in the Qur’an for why God/Allah chose Jesus to triumph over Satan at the end times, as opposed to another prophet, such as Muhammad?
AZCoyote on April 13, 2008 at 5:14 PM
Another question (and by the way, thank you very much for answering our questions, Mr. Spencer):
Why would an all-knowing God/Allah be asking questions of Jesus (or anyone else, for that matter)? Wouldn’t God/Allah already know exactly what Jesus had done?
AZCoyote on April 13, 2008 at 5:18 PM
AZCoyote:
Not that I can recall, but he didn’t claim to be a lesser one either. The idea that he is greater comes from his connection to the final and perfect revelation, the Qur’an, and from his connection to the best of people, the Muslims, a la Qur’an 3:110.
No. From a historical standpoint, as opposed to a pious Muslim standpoint, this is probably attributable to Muhammad’s being aware of Christian traditions about the Second Coming of Christ, which he attempted to work into his schema.
Robert Spencer on April 13, 2008 at 5:44 PM
AZCoyote:
Yes, he would. The fact that Allah asks Jesus a question about what Jesus did poses no difficulty for Muslims in believing in Allah’s omniscience. It’s just like Genesis 3:9 and 3:13, in which the Lord questions Adam and Eve about what they have done — and this poses no difficulty for Jews and Christians who believe in the divine omniscience. In both cases, the deity is understood as asking what he already knows in order to elicit a particular response from the one he is questioning, or to illustrate a particular point.
Robert Spencer on April 13, 2008 at 5:47 PM
Thank you so much. This is not what I had understood previously, that he thought of himself as a prophet. And that answers my question, this sura is a defense of what he believed was his role.
CrimsonFisted on April 13, 2008 at 6:39 PM
Mr. Spencer, I too, would like to express my appreciation for all you have taught, and will teach us about the Koran and the religion of Islam.
Thank you sir!
Vntnrse on April 13, 2008 at 7:19 PM
As you have written:
Is democracy, with its emphasis on freedom and individual choice, consistent in any way, shape or form, with any shade of Islam? Is it possible for an Islamic society to accept and implement Western-style democracy?
BNCurtis on April 14, 2008 at 9:35 AM
So,
Mo is greater than Abraham, Moses and Jesus because he was successful where they all failed?
BNCurtis on April 14, 2008 at 10:02 AM
Okay, for the first time since I started reading this series I am a bit confused. If this is true, that what makes Mohammad greatest is his delivery of the Quran to the world, but:
Then, wouldn’t that mean that both Moses and Jesus delivered the equally perfect book from Allah to their followers and only their followers corrupted it? If so, wouldn’t that place Moses and Jesus on at least equal footing with Mohammad? Wouldn’t the fact that Moses was the FIRST man chosen by Allah to deliver his book to the people of the world argue for Moses being the “greatest” since he was the first chosen and Mohammad was only a last resort?
I think Mohammad has created the least perfect knot in all of history, unravel a single thread and the whole thing just falls apart.
Fatal on April 14, 2008 at 7:05 PM
Oh we can but hope!!
Auralae on April 16, 2008 at 10:53 PM