News of the Past

One of the strongest evidences of Prophet Muhammad’s truth is his knowledge of the Unseen world: his accurate knowledge of previous nations and future prophecies.  No matter how intelligent, a man cannot authoritatively speak of the past based upon mere intelligence.  The information has to be learned.  Muhammad was a human being, who did not live in the midst of the nations he spoke of, did not inherit any knowledge of their civilization, or learn it from a teacher. God says:

“That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you, [O Muhammad].  And you were not with them when they cast their pens as to which of them should be responsible for Mary.  Nor were you with them when they disputed.” (Quran 3:44)

“That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal, [O Muhammad], to you.  And you were not with them when they put together their plan while they conspired.” (Quran 12:102)

Consider the verses:

“And We gave Moses the Scripture, after We had destroyed the former generations, as enlightenment for the people and guidance and mercy that they might be reminded.  And you, [O Muhammad], were not on the western side [of the mount] when We revealed to Moses the command, and you were not among the witnesses [to that] but We produced [many] generations [after Moses], and prolonged was their duration.  And you were not a resident among the people of Madyan, reciting to them Our verses, but We were senders [of this message].  And you were not at the side of the mount when We called [Moses] but [were sent] as a mercy from your Lord to warn a people to whom no Warner had come before you that they might be reminded.  And if not that a disaster should strike them for what their hands put forth [of sins] and they would say, ‘Our Lord, why did You not send us a messenger so we could have followed Your verses and been among the believers?’” (Quran 28:43-47)

These events in the story of Moses were related by Muhammad.  Either he witnessed them and was present there, or learned it from those who knew.  In either case, he would not be God’s prophet.  The only other possibility, rather an inescapable conclusion, is that Muhammad was taught by God Himself.

A few facts must be considered to recognize the full strength of the argument.  Muhammad did not learn from any religious scholar, there were no Jewish or Christian scholars in Mecca at the time, and he did not know any language other than Arabic.  In addition to the previous, he could neither read nor write.  No Meccan, Jew, or Christian ever claimed to be Muhammad’s teacher.  Had Muhammad learned from any source, his own companions who believed in him would have exposed him.

“Say, ‘If God had willed, I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have made it known to you, for I had remained among you a lifetime before it.  Then will you not reason?’” (Quran 10:16)

Despite their strong opposition, the unbelievers could not attribute his knowledge of the past and present to any source.  The failure of his contemporaries is sufficient proof against all later skeptics.