Jamal Badawi – Muhammad 27 – Methodology Of Studying Seerah 4 Problems With Haykals Approach 1

			AsSalamu Alaikum and welcome you once again to Islam in focus, today's programming shala who the
27th in our series Muhammad peace be upon him, glass messenger of Allah and our thoughts on
methodology of studying Sierra. I'm your host in Shawnee Mission here once again from St. Mary's
University in Tustin, gentlemen. Also Welcome back to
		

			the assembly on last week's program. Sure, we continued last week to discuss the problems involved
in what some called the materialistic approach in interpreting the Sierra or the biography of
Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him which tended to ignore his role, above all, as a prophet and
messenger of God. We also refer to some of the mythological errors in understanding Syrah, which
applies even to the writings of some Muslims themselves.
		

			We mentioned that some later writers have added anecdotes or reports, which contain exaggerations
about the person, Americans of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him
		

			that some of these reports were unauthentic and have valid origin or doubtful origin,
		

			but have been used uncritically by some to misrepresent Islam and in good teaching. On the other
extreme, we are noted that there are there are some some people who try to reject any American or
extra or deny any event,
		

			regardless of how reliable and authentic these supports might have been. And we indicated that this
kind of rejection was based on what they claim to be a scientific approach, and exactitude of
scholarship. But in fact, that was not the case. And we indicated that the pioneers in that
direction, as well as the biographies of the Prophet was Muhammad Hussain Hakan, in his book, life
of Muhammad
		

			Ali, what are the grounds for hotel's rejection of the first about the quotation mark miracles in
the life of Muhammad peace be upon us? Let me try first to summarize some of the reasons I could
discern from his writing, without making co-sponsored the time being, but I think there seem to be
three major reasons I could see, which he indicated in the introduction to the first and second
edition of his book.
		

			For example, on pages 1676 and 77, are the introduction to the second edition. He emphasizes that
the Knights of Columbus, Muhammad, peace be upon him as a human quote, has realized the highest
ideals possible command. And then he continues, Muhammad may God's peace and blessings be upon him,
was very careful that Muslims should think of him as a human to whom revelation came.
		

			And he can goes on to indicate that Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him did not claim himself any
miracle are attributed to himself, except that his claim that his greatest miracle or his miracle
products, and as you might say, is there are on itself.
		

			A second reason that he seems to be given can be discerned from what he writes on the same page
also, when he says, quote, that denial of miracles is in perfect accord with the Korans condemnation
of the association is by association, it's referred to mushrikeen, or those who associate others
with God in His divine attributes referring to unbelievers, as men who do not reason.
		

			And then thirdly, on pages 80 and 81. He says, that there are variations in the reporting of some of
those events in the life of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him that miracle miraculous events and
that some of the early historians omitted some of those stories. And some of them mentioned those
stories with a notation or warning to the reader, that they are not authentic. It appears that he
concludes from this, that the report
		

			words which relate to any American or any extraordinary event in the life of Prophet Muhammad peace
be upon him must be rejected.
		

			Do you?
		

			Do you agree with her call and why? And in general, how would you respond to his comments? First of
all, I disagree. I mean, I respectfully disagree. And there are at least four reasons for that.
		

			First of all, it is quite true that the life of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. Even if we do
not examine any miracle other than the Quran is as Hakan states, the perfect and most comprehensive
type of ideal for mankind is no question about that.
		

			What he achieved was not possible for any other person or even profit to achieve that much as
Prophet Mohammed did. And even if we look at it only from the standpoint of being a human, nothing
but which is he was there's no question about that. If we disregard any American even that itself is
sufficient, and this would become clearer as the series unfolds.
		

			But that in itself, is not a reason to deny that God owners Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him with
other miracles other than the Quran to express his love and courage that applies to Prophet Muhammad
peace be upon him and applies also as well to many other great prophets like Abraham, Moses, and
Jesus, peace and blessings be upon them on because they combined also
		

			being a good example for humans, the perfection that any human can achieve. And also, there were
miracles also are extraordinary events in their lives. These are not mutually exclusive things. In
other words, the human perfection of any profit is not a reason to reject miracles that happened in
their lifetimes. The second reason for not agreeing with Dr. heiken
		

			is that it is true that Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. And for that matters, all other prophets
were awarded, and Leary ness, some of the people may think of them as something more than human
simply because of the miracles that God has made available to them, that they wanted to make sure
that they are no more than servants and creatures of God and let people know of this. But that
again, does not mean that the lives of these prophets, including Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him
were devoid of any American or extra ordinary events.
		

			In addition to this, the Muslim understanding of the American as clearly stipulated in the Koran is
that it is not something that comes because of the inner power of the Prophet himself. But it is all
by the power of God. So they are more like a sign not an evidence of divinity. It's a sign from God,
nothing to do with the humanity of the prophets.
		

			As far as the emphasis on of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him that his American part excellence
is the Quran itself. That again, does not necessarily mean rejection of other Americans, it is yours
the most important but it doesn't preclude other Americans is running. It simply means that this is
the main one, the American which is perpetual, which is accessible to all people at all times. But
it's not the only one. The third reason is that it is also true that the Quran condemned people who
do not reason and follow things blindly or follow their ancestors without realizing whether this is
the truth or not. There is no question about that. But that does not mean that the Americans should
		

			be
		

			rejected all of them. It simply it gives them additional support this miracles to the prophets, it
jolts, those who are skeptic After all, it is the same or on also that mentioned that miracles did
take place in the lives of many other great prophets and messengers of God in the fast. My first and
final reason why I don't think that Titan is, is quite right on this assumption
		

			is that
		

			it is true that careful Muslim historians did not accept any story critically, especially about
Americans in the lifetime of the Prophet and in fact, some of them admitted What they discovered to
be unauthentic after verification, and some of them caution the reading the readers after they have
even mentioned some of those stories, and said that they cannot confirm that this particular story
is
		

			is trustworthy one. But that, again, does not mean that this kind of variations is sufficient ground
to reject all reports or finish, just like throwing everything together because of the fact that
some people try to fabricate stories. In fact,
		

			when we speak here about those authors, we speak about their meticulous care that they used
		

			in order to verify these reports. So it does not mean that you should reject what they even
verified. Indeed, what hi Kelvin mentioned in this respect, it's an argument against his basic
position, really, the big one, he says that ancient methods are unscientific and should be, you
know, rejected a prize, you know that it's a priority. Some people pronounce it, but that's not
necessarily a true position or correct one to say, in fact, that shows that they were very
scientific and very meticulous in the verification of the reports. That were the sources then that
Hakan used for, for his parts, comments, writings,
		

			in his writing, particularly about the Syrah or the biography of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him.
Hakan, in fact, claims that he is using the Koran as the standard reference, the first and most
important reference. But that in itself is nothing negative, which is quite good. But the difficulty
with Hakan in fact, is that the Quran, while regarded by Muslims, as the Word of God revealed to the
Prophet, the ultimate of accuracy and of you know, in terms of authority and authenticity.
		

			But the Quran is not a detailed biography about the life of Prophet Mohammed or any other prophet
for that matter, and every event that took place in his life.
		

			And even when Hakan makes reference to the Quran, he makes also some major errors of interpretation,
in trying to seek any evidence to support his view, that the life of Prophet Muhammad was devoid of
any other physical or tangible miracle other than the Quran itself. In addition to this, when haikal
also refers to Hades, and, you know, that's the Prophet saying and affirmations and what happened to
him, and others, earlier biographies about the Prophet
		

			he seemed to have a basic problem, because he reject some reports, not because that, because these
reports are authentic, but simply because they are not in accord with his personal opinion, or his
own perception of what a scientific approach of analysis should be. In other words, he puts his own
ideas and perceptions above reports,
		

			whether it be supports appears in hobbyists or in the biographies about the profit, regardless of
how reliable and authentic this reports might be. In other words, what I'm saying basically is that
Dr. heighten seem to refer to the primary sources of biography about the Prophet, but he seemed to
misunderstand misinterpret some of them. And in some cases, he makes mistakes concerning the
criticism of this type of reports and as such, in a way he might have even diverted unknowingly from
the very scientific approach that he committed himself to in the beginning of his writing.
		

			Well, let's first examine his misinterpretation of the Quran. Now, how would you explain this? Well,
to begin with the doctor Hakan, for example, refers to some verses in the Quran in order to support
his view,
		

			by dejection that the Prophet Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him had any medical other than the
Quran itself.
		

			And this is not just a sort of
		

			an approach which is limited to him. It's not a novel approach really, that I can use because it has
been used by some non Muslim orientalist as well.
		

			He gives an example of this of surah number 17. In the Quran, especially, I would defer to verses 89
through 94.
		

			Now for the sake of fairness and objectivity, let me just give a summary at least rather than spend
all the time reciting the full section in full that could be of course, checked by viewers
		

			but
		

			This passage in the Quran and sort of 17 describes the attitudes of unbelievers towards Prophet
Muhammad peace be upon him, and the intransigence and refusing to follow Him and accept the truth
that you brought forth to them.
		

			And basically, the passage describes how God has given all kinds of examples and similitudes in this
for an so that they may take heed of that. But it's only increase them in diversion and departures,
that is getting away from the Prophet and his teaching.
		

			And then he described in the passage alone describes their arguments with the Prophet peace be upon
him, they came to the prophet and said, We will not believe in you until you make the water gush
from the earth for us. Or you would have an orchard or garden with palm cheese and wine yards.
		

			Or that you make the sky fall on us, since you have been threatening us of the punishment to God let
the sky fall on us. Or that you should have a house of gold.
		

			Or that you should go up in front of us to the skies to the heavens, but even then, we will not
believe in you, until you bring forth with you a book from heaven so that you can read it. And then
of course, the passage says, say that the sale of Mohammed the glory be to my Lord, I was I'm only a
human messenger.
		

			Now, this message, notice here does not in itself negate that Prophet Muhammad had or could have any
other miracle other than the Quran, it simply describes the attitude of unbelief. The
unreasonableness in the kind of demands they made to the profits, you go to the heavens, you bring a
book, and all of this, you actually the same section also say, we will not believe in you until you
bring God and the angels for us to see.
		

			So the lack of compliance on the part of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him to this kind of
unreasonable request, was eloquent and direct him to say, I am only a messenger, to remind us that
the basic rule of the prophet or messenger of God is to guide people not just to impress them with
miracles to guide them. And that one cannot object as the verses continue,
		

			cannot object on the grounds that how come God in a human to carry his message to mankind,
		

			microwaves
		

			hightail also and others refer to another section in the Quran, you know, which they use to support
the view that the Prophet did not have any miracle other than the Quran. And that appears in Surah,
six surah number six, in passages 109 through 111. Again, the translation of which goes like this,
they swear that a strong are the strongest oath by God, that's an unbeliever, that is especially and
sign came to them. by it, they would believe thing that men say or Mohammed, certainly all signs are
in the power of God. But what will make you means will make you all Muslims realize that even if
special science came, they will not believe we're okay once more. This area or this passage in the
		

			Quran is not an evidence at all of the negation of any American in the life of the Prophet. But it
simply indicates two basic things. One is that all Americans are in the power of God, number one,
number two, that even if this Americans took place that they are asking for the unbelievers asking
for, they may not even believe and they continue because they are bent on disbelieve, regardless of
whatever sign are given to them. So I think it's useful to remember here that there is no prophet
who acted as a push button, American producers, just on the basis of the request or demand by any
person around him.
		

			I think the viewers are familiar with the Bible might recall the story in the gospels, about the
completion of Jesus Peace be happening. When Satan told him, you know, if you truly the Son of God,
throw yourself from the top of this mountain, nothing will happen to you because God would send the
engine of course to carry or if you're truly the Son of God, why don't you turn those rocks into
bread? And there is no report that Jesus complied. After all, the prophet is not just at the whims
of anyone who's asking for Americans, even though there's no question in the mind of the Muslim and
in the minds of the Christian for that matter, that Jesus peace be upon him. Did have
		

			A number of miracles in his life. So this are not necessarily contradictory matters. The same thing
applies to Prophet Muhammad as well. In brief, then what we're seeing is basically is that this kind
of references to the Quran that Dr. Hagen and other orientalist refer to, with the view of denying
that Prophet Mohammed has ever had any miracle other than the Quran is not strictly right, it is
perhaps misinterpretation because the references they use does not really save what they're trying
to
		

			impart. Now, a related question to the one just asked, was there any reference within the Quran
itself to any extra ordinary event or miracle in the life of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon it?
Briefly speaking, the answer is yes.
		

			But let me again, correct first wrong impression that some of the readers of Dr. Hagen's book life
of Muhammad may get.
		

			For example, on page 87, of his introduction to the second edition, E Series codes.
		

			There is no mention in the whole Koran of any American intended to support the prophethood of
Muhammad, except the Quran.
		

			Now, the reader who is not totally familiar with the Quran, may understand this statement with the
way he put it.
		

			That there is no miracle to Prophet Muhammad or extra ordinary event at all other than the Quran
itself, which is not true.
		

			I can give at least three proofs right from the Quran on this issue. To begin with, in Surah, Number
eight, in passage number nine,
		

			we find a clear description of divine intervention in an extra ordinary way, call it a miracle if
you like
		

			when it refers to the the plight of Muslims in the Battle of budget.
		

			And it says the transmission of meaning study sooner, but remember you that you Muslims implored the
assistance of your Lord.
		

			And he answered you, I will assist you with 1000 of engine's ranks on grants. Notice here that the
text of the Quran
		

			did not say, I supported you by increasing your morale
		

			by inspiring Carnage, and you know, as some people try to interpret and in fact, Yusuf Ali himself,
the famous translator of the minimal Docker and has fallen in the same error like Hakan. And he
translated the additional Arabic,
		

			the original text, and interpreted in the sense of just a source of increase of morale, are
encouraged to know, the text of the Quran speaks about engines. So that's like a far off type of
interpretation. So that's an extraordinary thing, it is a miracle.
		

			Now,
		

			the
		

			the other aspects Also, if you really look into the translation given by use of how do you save this
to cynefin,
		

			to strengthen to assure and to assist the few believers in the face of an army which we know in the
bathroom, but whether was three times as big as the number of Muslims and far superior in both
armament and training. The second evidence
		

			in Surah number nine, in passage number 26. Again, it's so obvious to man's Allahu Sakina Harada
Rasool E. mininova. Angela, Judah Nam Tara, that's the religion and text translation reads like
this, but God did for his calm on the apostle, or in his apostle, that's Prophet Muhammad, peace be
upon him and on the believers and sent down forces, you said it translated as forces, forces, which
you saw not. I must observe here first of all, that this
		

			this translation, by use of it uses the word forces in English in new or to translate the Arabic
term juden. And anyone who knows Arabic knows that Junu then does not mean forces that this is an
interpretive translation. Junu then literally means soldiers, soldiers, which has been always
understood by the interpreters of the Quran to refer to soldiers of angels because God sent soldiers
down. We know of course, that this would be the angels, not human soldiers. There was no reports of
additional human soldiers.
		

			Joining Muslims in this particular occasion or better.
		

			Now, the third evidence that you find in the Quran of this extraordinary things by the text of the
Quran itself
		

			is the mentioned in the Quran about what happened to Muslims receiving the support and help of
angels specified agents in the Battle of her name. And that appears in the Quran in surah. Number
three, in verses 124 and 125.
		

			All of these proofs right from the Quran, I believe, are clear enough conclusive enough that they
were indeed Americans, or extraordinary events in the life of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him
beyond the greatest American, which is the Quran, as far as the statement by Dr. Hakan that there is
no miracles
		

			in the Quran to prove the prostitute of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. That's the way he put
it. The question here are all the Americans, which are mentioned in the Quran has no objective, are
they all intended for no reason, other than to prove the, or to prove the the profit, truth or
genuineness of a given profit? The answer again can be found in the Quran. There are certain
Americans that God has given to certain prophets in the past according to the Quran, not for the
purpose of proving that this prophet is genuine. But as a warning from even warning for people to
shock them. We find that clearly in Surah 17, in verse 59,
		

			there are also according to the Quran, mericans, which were given to the Prophet, to support them to
give them strength and deeper faith as the story of Prophet Abraham with the four birds that appears
in the Quran in surah. Number two verses 259 and 260. And there are also Americans which are
basically to honor a given profits to confess to him, as we find in the my journey and ascension of
Prophet Mohammed referred to in Surah, number 17, especially in verse one.
		

			In brief, then what we're seeing here basically that the difference made by Hakan and others to the
Quran as an evidence to deny that Prophet Muhammad did not have any extraordinary event or miracle
other than the Quran
		

			is not true and an ample evidence has already been given from the Quran. In fact, if Dr. Hakan
followed the Quran fully, he would have not made this kind of denial. Eros documentary since time
will pick up on this topic next week. inshallah.
		

			From all of us here in Assam focus. We thank you very much for joining us and as always, we would
appreciate your comments or any questions you may have our phone number and address will be
appearing on your screen
		

			inshallah