Al-Ḥajj 22:52

The issue

The verse states that a particular trial would come upon all the messengers and prophets. The trial is that Satan would sneak something into their scriptures, but then Allah would intervene to remove the satanic text: “We have not sent before thee any apostle or prophet, but that when he wished, Satan threw not something into his wish; but God annuls what Satan throws….”

This verse does not cite any prior biblical occurrences for support. There is no record of Satan being able to interfere with the holy scriptures of the Old Testament or speak through the tongues of messengers. The only case reported in Islamic sources concerns Muhammad desiring to find a compromise between him and the Quraysh. He talked to himself about that and wished for it. This wish was accompanied by a statement from the Quraysh declaring their desire for Muhammad to praise their gods. The Quraysh also brought to Muhammad’s attention that a good relationship with them would help him gain favor with the Arab tribes.

Undoubtedly, his desires and those of the Quraysh must have been bubbling together in Muhammad’s mind as he mulled possible ways to compromise. It is possible that meetings took place between Muhammad and several Quraysh tribesmen to negotiate a solution that would be acceptable to all the parties in Mecca. There is no certainty concerning such meetings. All that is known is that Muhammad suddenly went to a gathering of the Quraysh (where the people of Mecca would sit, pagan and Muslim) and recited, “These are the idols of superior status; their intercession is expected”.

As soon as Muhammad made this declaration, joy spread to all those who were present and they participated in a united ritual of thanksgiving: “[W]hen he [ Muhammad] ended at the bowing part of it and finished the sura, he bowed therein, and the Muslims bowed at the bowing of their prophet, in confirmation to what he just brought [of revelation] and in obedience to his command”. The pagan people of Quraysh were repeating the words of Muhammad, “These are the idols of superior status; their intercession is expected”.

After Muhammad left the gathering, he went into seclusion at his home. It is not reported his contemplations there, but his subsequent action indicates that he regretted his recognition of the idols. He withdrew his declaration regarding the intercession of the idols. The Quraysh said to one another, “ Muhammad regretted what he had stated of the status of our idols with Allah. He changed it [what he said] and brought something different”.

Questions: (1) How is Satan able to interfere with the divine process of inspiration? (2) Why did not Allah better protect Muhammad against the insertion of satanic words into the Qur’ān?

(For discussion on the two phenomena, abrogation and forgetfulness, see the critical analysis of Q 2.106)