Al-An‘ām 6:19

The issue

Historic sources cite that the leaders of the Quraysh tribe told Muhammad they did

not believe in his prophetic calling. They informed him of their attempts to verify his

claims to prophethood with the Jews and the Christians. However, both the Jews and

the Christians told the Quraysh leaders they did not have anything in their religious

books that validated Muhammad’s claim to prophethood.

Having found no proof of Muhammad’s prophethood with the People of the

Book, the Quraysh asked Muhammad to provide a miracle as proof, something that

would testify to his truthfulness. Muhammad then answered them with this verse:

“‘Say, [O Muhammad!]‘What is the greatest witness?’” and “Say, ‘God is witness’ for my

prophethood because he inspired me with this Qur’ān which is miraculous.”

Another source reads that the phrase, “Say, ‘What is the greatest witness?’” came down

from Allah because the polytheists said to Muhammad, “Who testifies on your behalf

that you are Allah’s messenger?”

Muhammad combined the following meanings in this verse:

• It is Allah who testifies to his prophethood and to the veracity of his claims.

• The Qur’ān itself is tangible evidence of his prophethood.

The following discussion focuses on whether or not the above points were enough to

satisfy the leaders of the Quraysh.

The verse states that Allah testified on behalf of Muhammad, but this cannot act as

evidence because that claim could be made by anyone who wanted to be recognized as

a prophet.

Additionally, this verse presents the Qur’ān as the ultimate proof of Muhammad’s

truthfulness, authenticity, and Allah’s bestowed approval upon Muh. ammad as a prophet.

But this claim cannot be substantiated because there is no physically verifiable witness

that the text came from Allah, except the prophet himself. So Muhammad is trying

to prove his own prophethood by claiming that a verse he supplied came from Allah.

If this claim is valid proof of his prophethood, then once again, any self-proclaimed

prophet could use this method to confirm his or her authenticity.

It has been noted also that Muhammad had borrowed ideas and legislation from

both pagans and non-pagans and added them to the Qur’ān. Therefore, the claim that

the Qur’ān has a heavenly source that has no practical basis, because copying other people’s ideas and legislation into the Qur’ānic text testifies against its authenticity.

There are stories that were copied into the Qur’ān and presented in a distorted form.

(For an example, see the comments on Q 2.125-129, and Q 2.247-251).

There were also rituals that were adopted from other religions. The inclusion of the pagan hajj ritual in Islām is such an example. (See the comment on Q 2.158 and Q 2.196).