In this series of posts, I will discuss the Standard Islamic Narrative (SIN) and what it teaches, how it goes against the Quran, Hadiths, and the Bible. The SIN is taught to pretty much all Muslims by their leaders (imams and sheiks) even though the leaders know that the SIN is false and there are unfixable problems in the narrative.
The da’i are those who preach da’wah (Muslim missionaries who “invite” to Islam). They have a set script they use to preach and convert people to Islam. I am going to go through this script and show how it fails and why Islam is a false religion. We will mostly be looking at the man (Muhammad) and the book (Quran) of Islam.
Standard Islamic Narrative (SIN)
What is the Standard Islamic Narrative? I will give a brief overview of it here along with a bunch of definitions which are useful to know when discussing Islam. The SIN goes as follows:
Belief in Allah
Allah is eternal, all-powerful, and unknowable, and is one (Tawhid). No one has ever seen Him or heard His voice. Allah is known through His names (99 of them which describe His eternal attributes) and His word, which makes Him known (Tawrat, Zabur, Injil, and Quran) as well as His angels (mala’ika, his heavenly servants) and prophets (nabi/rasul). He has never come into reality as it would be a logical contradiction for an infinite being to enter into a finite realm.
Creation and Humanity
Allah created the world and created man in it. He did not make man in His image but as His servants. He has no children; those who worship and serve Him are His servants, and those who don’t will be punished. Allah created the children of Israel to be His holy people, but they fell away from Him and rejected Him, so Allah has rejected them.
Muhammad: The Final Prophet
Muhammad was born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, around 570 AD. He was a good and righteous man, a traveling merchant known for his honesty, integrity, and strong sense of justice.
Revelation and Prophethood
One night in Mecca, in a cave, Muhammad received a revelation through Jibril (the angel Gabriel) proclaiming him to be a prophet. Muhammad isn’t just a prophet; he is the Seal of the Prophets, the last prophet ever given, and the prophet for all humanity. Jibril would reveal new Surahs (chapters of the Quran) to Muhammad over 23 years for him to recite to the people. These Surahs are considered full of wisdom, advanced scientific knowledge, and miracles. There is nothing else that has been written as amazing, eloquent, or insightful as the Surahs given to Muhammad. The collection of these Surahs is known as the Quran.
Preservation of the Quran
The Quran has been miraculously and perfectly preserved by Allah since Uthman, one of the early leaders and companions of Muhammad, ordered its compilation during his reign as caliph. There isn’t a single dot or line difference between any Arabic versions of the Quran. Allah guarantees the protection of the Quran in the Quran itself. However, the previous revelations (Tawrat, Zabur, Injil) have been corrupted, which is why Muhammad had to come to clarify the true message of Allah to the world.
Character and Example of Muhammad
Muhammad is considered the most moral man who ever lived. All Muslims are encouraged to live like Muhammad and follow his Akhlaq (virtue and way of life). He is seen as just, humble, patient, kind, a protector of women’s rights and slaves. He is loving, cares for animals and nature, merciful to his enemies, and protects the weak. Muhammad was a great statesman, a wonderful leader, a good father, and a devoted husband. Allah chose him to be the Seal of the Prophets so that all men may follow his way. His sayings (Hadith) and actions (Sunnah) are recorded and are valuable sources of guidance and wisdom for all men to follow.
Practices and Pillars of Islam
He is the model for worship, and the Five Pillars of Islam are built on his deeds:
- Shahada (Faith): The declaration of faith: “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger.”
- Salah (Prayer): Performing five daily prayers facing Mecca.
- Zakat (Charity): Giving a portion of one’s wealth (usually 2.5%) to the needy.
- Sawm (Fasting): Fasting during the month of Ramadan from dawn until sunset.
- Hajj (Pilgrimage): Undertaking a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime if financially and physically able.
Additional Practices / Beliefs
Muhammad kept halal, avoided certain foods, and abstained from alcohol. He provided comprehensive guidance on personal conduct, family relations, business ethics, and governance, forming the basis of Islamic law (Sharia). There will also be a last day, the day of judgment in which Allah will have two angels (which have been assigned to each man individually) to weigh the good deeds from the bad and if your good deeds outweigh your bad, you will go to the garden (Jannah) while the wicked will go to hell (Jahannam).
Jesus
Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), was a prophet of Allah. He was born of a virgin, was the most miraculous man who ever lived, he was able to heal the blind, cleanse the leper, and raise the dead. He was the only truly sinless man and a light to the people. He is the Messiah and will come back at the last day to bring about judgment day. Isa received a book, the Injil (Gospel), from Allah and preached to the Jews.
Isa preached the oneness of Allah and was a respectable prophet just like all those who came before him.
Isa is not God, however. He never claimed to be, and he said it was evil for anyone to think he did. He also wasn’t crucified or killed, only Allah made it seem like it was so to trick people. He was brought up directly into heaven. He will come back to earth towards the end of times to restore justice, break the cross, kill the false messiah, and lead people to the true faith of Islam. Muslims love Isa more than Christians do.
Just about all of this is false but it is what Muslims typically believe. So, you can see why when people attack Muhammad, they get so offended. They love him so much because of how great of a man they think he was.
In my next series of posts on SIN I will tackle each of these claims and show the real Muhammad of history and the true Quran.
Formal Definitions
Allah: The Arabic word for God. It is used to refer to the one, all-powerful, and merciful deity in Islam.
Tawhid: The concept of monotheism in Islam. It signifies the oneness of Allah and is the foundational belief in Islam.
Mala’ika: Angels in Islam. They are created from light and serve as messengers and servants of Allah.
Nabi/Rasul: Prophet/Messenger in Islam. Prophets (Nabi) are sent by Allah to guide humanity, while Messengers (Rasul) are given a new scripture or law.
Tawrat: The Torah, a holy book given to the prophet Musa (Moses). It is one of the previous scriptures recognized in Islam.
Zabur: The Psalms, a holy book given to the prophet Dawud (David). It is another of the previous scriptures recognized in Islam.
Injil: The Gospel, a holy book given to the prophet Isa (Jesus). It is considered one of the previous scriptures in Islam.
Quran: The holy book of Islam, revealed to the prophet Muhammad. It is considered the literal unchanging eternal word of Allah written on golden tablets in heaven.
Jibril: The angel Gabriel in Islam. He is responsible for conveying revelations from Allah to the prophets.
Shirk: Associating partners with Allah, considered the gravest sin in Islam. It directly opposes the concept of Tawhid.
Akhlaq: Moral character and conduct in Islam. It refers to the virtues and ethics that Muslims are encouraged to embody.
Hadith: Recorded sayings and actions of the prophet Muhammad. It serves as a source of guidance for Muslims alongside the Quran.
Sunnah: The practices and traditions of the prophet Muhammad. It is a model for Muslims to follow in their daily lives.
Shahada: The declaration of faith in Islam (typically done in Arabic). It states, “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger.”
Salah: The five daily prayers performed by Muslims. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and a central act of worship.
Zakat: A form of almsgiving or charity in Islam. It involves giving a portion (usually 2.5%) of one’s wealth to the needy.
Sawm: Fasting during the month of Ramadan. It involves abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs from dawn until sunset.
Hajj: The pilgrimage to Mecca, which Muslims must undertake at least once in their lifetime if they are physically and financially able. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
Halal: Permissible or lawful in Islam. It commonly refers to dietary laws but also applies to other aspects of life.
Ummah: The global community of Muslims. It emphasizes the sense of brotherhood and mutual support among all Muslims.
Ijma: Consensus of Islamic scholars. It is used as a source of Islamic law and guidance.
Qiyas: Analogical reasoning in Islamic jurisprudence. It involves deriving legal rulings for new situations based on established principles.
Jannah: Paradise in Islam. It is the eternal reward for the righteous in the afterlife.
Jahannam: Hell in Islam. It is the place of punishment for the wicked in the afterlife.
Qadar: Divine decree or predestination in Islam. It signifies that everything happens according to Allah’s will and knowledge.
Hijra: The migration of the prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina. It marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
Salawat: Blessings upon the prophet Muhammad. Muslims often recite this as a sign of respect whenever his name is mentioned.
Isa: Jesus in Islam. He is considered one of the major prophets and is highly revered.
Maryam: Mary, the mother of Jesus in Islam. She is regarded as one of the most virtuous and honored women.
Surah: A chapter of the Quran. There are 114 Surahs, each varying in length and theme. The Quran is organized by the longest Surah’s to the shortest. It is not chronological order like the Bible typically is.
Ayah: A verse of the Quran. Each Surah is composed of multiple Ayahs.
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