Critiquing Islam 2.0

Deuteronomy 18:20 and Muhammad:

Does He Pass the Biblical Test of a Prophet?

Introduction

Deuteronomy 18:20 lays down a strict standard for discerning a true prophet from a false one. According to the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), any individual who claims to speak in God’s name—without being truly commanded by Him—or who speaks in the name of other gods is to be regarded as a false prophet. The penalty: death.

This post will critically and factually examine Muhammad—the founder of Islam—against the biblical test laid out in Deuteronomy 18:20. The analysis will use Islamic sources (Qur’an, Hadith, early biographies), biblical criteria, and no interpretation beyond the texts themselves.

📖 Deuteronomy 18:20 — The False Prophet Clause

“But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.” — Deuteronomy 18:20, ESV

This verse provides two key criteria for identifying a false prophet:

He claims to speak in Yahweh’s name but has not been commanded to do so.
He speaks in the name of other gods (idolatry or polytheism).

🕋 Did Muhammad Claim to Speak for the God of Israel (Yahweh)?

✅ Yes.

Muhammad claimed to speak on behalf of Allah, the Arabic word for “God.”
In Arabic Bibles, “Allah” is used for “Elohim” or “Yahweh”, but the issue is theological identity, not language.
Muhammad identified Allah as the God of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus (Qur’an 2:136; 3:84).
He denied key elements of Yahweh’s self-revelation in the Bible:
- Rejected Jesus as the Son of God (Qur’an 4:171; 5:116).
- Denied the Trinity (Qur’an 5:73).
- Claimed the Bible was altered (Qur’an 2:75, 4:46, 5:13).

Thus, from a biblical viewpoint, Muhammad claimed to speak for Yahweh, but his message directly contradicts Yahweh’s previously revealed nature.

👎 Did Muhammad Ever Speak in the Name of Other Gods?

✅ Yes — According to early Islamic sources.

🔥 The Satanic Verses Incident

One of the most controversial episodes in early Islam:

📚 Sources:

Ibn Ishaq’s Sirat Rasul Allah (8th century biography)
Al-Tabari’s History (Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk) (9th–10th century)
Al-Waqidi and others also referenced it.

✍️ What Happened:

Muhammad, while preaching in Mecca, sought reconciliation with the Quraysh tribe.
He reportedly recited Qur’an 53:19–20, then added:

"These are the exalted gharaniq (cranes), whose intercession is to be hoped for."
The Quraysh were pleased — he had praised three pagan goddesses: al-Lat, al-‘Uzza, and Manat.
Later, Muhammad retracted the verses, claiming:

"Satan put words on my tongue which God had not spoken." (Al-Tabari)

📖 Qur’an 22:52 (possibly referring to this event):

“Never did We send a messenger or a prophet before you but when he desired, Satan threw (some falsehood) in his recitation. But Allah abolishes what Satan throws…”

🛑 Summary:

Muhammad spoke in the name of false gods—even if unintentionally.
The words were presented as revelation, thus violating Deuteronomy 18:20.
Later Islamic scholars tried to dismiss or reinterpret the story, but early Muslim historians included it.

❓ Did Muhammad Speak Words Yahweh Had Not Commanded?

Even if one rejects the Satanic Verses episode, another question arises:

⚠️ Did Muhammad preach a message that Yahweh had not authorized?

Biblically, yes:

He altered the nature of God (monotheism without Son or Spirit).
He contradicted the message of salvation by grace through Christ.
He replaced the crucifixion and resurrection (Qur’an 4:157 denies the cross).
He established new laws and rites, never taught by the Hebrew prophets (e.g., Ramadan, hajj, jihad).

Thus, even without invoking other gods, Muhammad’s revelations contradict Yahweh’s prior commandments and covenants (Hebrews 1:1–3; Galatians 1:8).

🔍 Deuteronomy 18:22 – Failed Prophecies?

"When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come to pass or come true, that is a word the LORD has not spoken..." — Deuteronomy 18:22

There are no direct prophecies in the Qur’an that failed in the clear biblical sense. However, some Islamic traditions present issues:

🔸 End Times Misstatement

Muhammad reportedly said:

"I and the Hour have been sent like these two," and held up his fingers (Sahih Bukhari 8:76:515).
Muslims expected the end imminently, yet 1,400+ years have passed.

🔸 Son Would Have Been Prophet?

“If my son Ibrahim had lived, he would have been a prophet.” (Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal 4:127)

This contradicts the Qur’an’s claim that Muhammad is the “seal of the prophets” (Qur’an 33:40).

📜 Penalty for False Prophecy: Death

Deuteronomy 18:20 is not figurative:

The biblical law explicitly demands death for false prophets.
Israelites were told not to fear or listen to such individuals (Deut. 18:22).

From a biblical legal standpoint, if Muhammad fits the criteria, he would be subject to capital punishment under Mosaic Law.

✅ Final Verdict According to the Bible

Criterion	Muhammad
Claimed to speak for Yahweh	✅ Yes
Spoke in name of other gods	✅ Yes (Satanic Verses)
Preached contrary to prior revelation	✅ Yes
Failed prophecies or contradictions	⚠️ Questionable
Penalty under Deut. 18:20	❌ False prophet; death

❌ Conclusion: Muhammad fails the Deuteronomy 18:20 test.

According to the biblical criteria—not Christian theology, not church tradition, not personal bias—Muhammad is disqualified as a true prophet and classified as a false prophet.

⚠️ Important Note:

Muslims do not accept the authority of the Bible as preserved. They consider the Torah and Gospel to be corrupted (tahrif). Thus, this evaluation only applies within the Judeo-Christian framework.

For Christians and Jews who hold Deuteronomy as divine law, the conclusion is clear. Muhammad is not a prophet of Yahweh.