was Mohammed deceived by the devil?

[Indifferently]

Seeing how much evil Islam has wrought in our world, could it be not merely that Mohammed was making it up, but was actually deceived by Satan or one of his henchmen? I ask, because Islamic teaching is that Jesus did not die on the cross for our sins and was not the Son of God, and their god deceived people by putting someone else up there instead.

 

[dronald]

Galatians 1:8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!

2 corin 11:13For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

Perhaps. Let’s just say that there was prior warning that such was bound to happen.

 

[po18guy]

There is little doubt that a spirit appeared to Muhammad, Joseph Smith, Emanuel Swedenborg, and many others. However, I know of no evidence that any of them tested that spirit, as the Apostle John cautioned us in 1 John 4:1. We live in a physical realm, but spirits are extremely active within it. Spirits cause all division in the Body of Christ, and they have been fantastically effective.

The Holy Spirit unites.
The demon divides.

 

[KrazyKat]

There is little doubt that a spirit appeared to Muhammad, Joseph Smith, Emanuel Swedenborg, and many others. However, I know of no evidence that any of them tested that spirit, as the Apostle John cautioned us in 1 John 4:1. We live in a physical realm, but spirits are extremely active within it. Spirits cause all division in the Body of Christ, and they have been fantastically effective.

The Holy Spirit unites.
The demon divides.

Amen

 

[Linusthe2nd]

Seeing how much evil Islam has wrought in our world, could it be not merely that Mohammed was making it up, but was actually deceived by Satan or one of his henchmen? I ask, because Islamic teaching is that Jesus did not die on the cross for our sins and was not the Son of God, and their god deceived people by putting someone else up there instead.

Here is what the Catholic Encyclopedia says about Mohammed:

newadvent.org/cathen/10424a.htm

Basically we have no reliable sources about his biography. We cannot even say that he was a genuine historical figure. All we know is that the phenomenon of Islam has its roots in a violent upheval in early 7th century Arabia. And all violence is ultimately attributable to Demonic influences. All we can do is deal with this phenomenon as we see it today.

Prior to the end of the 7th century, we know nothing for certain about the causes or personalities which inspired it.

Linus2nd

 

[CarolNoel]

Here is what the Catholic Encyclopedia says about Mohammed:

newadvent.org/cathen/10424a.htm

Basically we have no reliable sources about his biography. We cannot even say that he was a genuine historical figure. All we know is that the phenomenon of Islam has its roots in a violent upheval in early 7th century Arabia. And all violence is ultimately attributable to Demonic influences. All we can do is deal with this phenomenon as we see it today.

Prior to the end of the 7th century, we know nothing for certain about the causes or personalities which inspired it.

Linus2nd

Appreciate the explanation Linus2nd:thumbsup:

 

[CELVIDRAV]

“Seeing how much evil Islam has wrought to our world…”(Indifferently)
~ Actually, Islam did not… Islamists did(do).

“Muhammad being deceived by the Devil” is somehow accurate if rephrased to sound less offensive.

Christian conclude that Islam is a false religion while Muslims think Christians are infidels (most likely, unbelievers) believing in something like a worldly deception from where they are supposed to distance themselves away from(or end in everlasting torment). I am confused, to be honest. Comparing one religious belief to another is not a helpful way of building one’s faith, I say. (For one will never find an exact answer) And God actually told us to respect our fellow men regardless of race, gender, RELIGION, etc…

 

[TexanKnight]

maybe the same “angel” that deceived JS…assuming he saw anything in one of his versions…

 

[CaptFun]

I know it’s a simplistic and gutless answer that probably sidesteps this question’s more
relevant applications but …

Yes. Why should he be any different.

Some call him a prophet. Yet*** his claims about himself*** do not come close to:

the claims of Jesus:

“I am the bread of life” (John 6:35,48,51).

“I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).

“I am the door of the sheep”(John 10:7,9).

“I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11,14).

“I am the resurrection, and the life” (John 11:25).

“I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

“I am the true vine” (John 15:1,5).

How anyone could hear or see these claims and then still deny that they were claims to deity is a great mystery. For example, how could anyone except God Himself claim to be the way, the truth, and the life?

Well, maybe a madman might make such a claim, or maybe a gross scam artist of some kind. But no honest, sane person could ever do so—unless the claim were true!

That is the choice. Either Jesus Christ was mad or wicked—or else He truly is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the one way to reach God, the incarnate truth about God, and the only real giver of eternal life with God. One will come to the same conclusion as he examines each of these seven great “I Am” claims.

---

icr.org/article/500/* < excerpted from this article ^ that I agreed with and seems consistent with Catholic teaching. There’s no Imprimatur or Nihil Obstat - but the author is a PhD. **

Mohammed didn’t (as far as I know) claim to be that Messiah. And whatever he may have taught about Jesus in his day … it seems that Muslims do not believe that Jesus died on the cross at all (correct me if anyone here should belong to a sect of Islam that does believe Jesus is the Messiah and died on the cross … I’ve never heard of such).

As per the suffering servant aspect of the Messiah’s mission we note:

Then, there are 21 (i.e., 3x7) "I am"s in the Book of Exodus, including the divine answer to Moses, already mentioned, “I AM THAT I AM” (Exodus 3:14).

The wonderful Book of Psalms contains seven "I am"s that speak prophetically and sadly of the future sufferings of the incarnate Christ. These are:

“I am a worm, and no man” (Psalm 22:6).

“I am poor and needy” (Psalm 40:17).

“I am . . . a stranger unto my brethren” (Psalm 69:8).

“I am full of heaviness” (Psalm 69:20).

“I am poor and sorrowful” (Psalm 69:29).

“I . . . am as a sparrow alone upon the house top” (Psalm 102:7).

“I am withered like grass” (Psalm 102:11).

These all occur in psalms that are specifically known to be Messianic psalms (thus referring to Christ) because they are quoted as such in the New Testament.

Jesus was never deceived by the devil. But even He was tempted.

Per Mohammed: He got God’s number right. ONE. In a world around him that was
polytheistic. He did not teach nor understand that God is ONE as a Trinity. One Trinity.

" … and Mohammed was God’s prophet" < is a phrase that often (always?) follows Islamic proclamation that God is one.

A person who* teaches true things about God to those who have not known those truths *might be considered a “prophet” of sorts to those people. Yet people like St. Peter and the apostles are not referred to as prophets … in Christianity this term means pre-Christ or pointing toward Him in some sense (though OT holy men who corrected the people of their time and did not so much prophesy the future might be considered here).

And Pope Benedict, though he upset people for saying so, correctly remarked that by the time Mohammed was putting his (true part) of his teachings out there some 600 years post-Christ, there was " … nothing new in them."

Deceived by the devil? If so how? - St. John warns us not to trust every spirit but to test them to see if they come from God. Many apostles in their writings warn of false teachers and “prophets” to come (who should not believed). And some are “anti-Christ”.

1 John 2:21 I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth.

22 Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist.

23 No one who denies the Son has the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.

24 Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father.

25 And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life.

26 I write you these things about those who would deceive you.

Whether Mohammed denied Christ … or understood Him only partially … and shared just that partial understanding … are things I don’t know and can’t judge.

Islam as it exists in our time does not teach the one God as a Trinity. Nor Jesus as the Son, nor God as a Father, or of the person of the Holy Spirit. John was writing of supposed “Christians” of his time that denied basic aspects of the faith and taught falsely.

The devil would contradict Jesus’ “I am” claims (in deceiving humans – he knows well the truth of it). He would have worship himself that belongs to God. Short of that he would try to deceive us all to deny authentic and true worship to God … and deny Jesus as the Christ, the son of God, etc.etc.

So my YES in line two stands. But it is not a dismissive yes without scrutiny.

More pertinent to me is – "Am I deceived by the devil?" Which is a good question to ask oneself, rather like having one’s health checked even when one feels healthy.

 

[CaptFun]

Galatians 1:8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!

2 corin 11:13For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

Perhaps. Let’s just say that there was prior warning that such was bound to happen.

The Apostle John’s testing the spirits counsel, (some 500+ years prior to Mohammed, - so not specifically about him) … stated:

1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2 This is how you can know the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh belongs to God,

3 and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus does not belong to God. This is the spirit of the antichrist that, as you heard, is to come, but in fact is already in the world.

Mohammed seems to have acknowledged “Jesus Christ come in the flesh …” per the*** fact that he existed*** … and someone Mohammed had a favorable opinion of …

but he did not acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God (or divine) …

… was he on the way to (doing) that? Did he specifically deny that (in the spirit of antichrist)?

I don’t know the answer to either question. But Mohammed was not the Christ and not divine did not claim to be either. The Church does not call him a prophet nor a saint – nor does it pronounce him in Hell (indeed it has not pronounced anyone thus, even though it teaches of hell and that some go there).

The technicalities of whether he was deceived by the devil … as most all humans are at sometime should they live beyond the age of reason and be tempted … or got things wrong on his own steam when he made a mistake … would be just a guess on my part … but that guess would be … yes.

 

[CaptFun]

saif_w.tripod.com/interesting_articles/nonmuslims/the_pope_abt_islam.htm < Pope John Paul II’s chapter titled “Muhammed?” from his book (in interview form) titled “Threshold of Hope.”

Going beyond the person and to the relationship of the Church toward those who now call themselves Muslim etc. JPII first cites the fact that monotheistic religions (including Islam and Judaism) who “as a result of their monotheism … are particularly close to us.”

saif_w.tripod.com/interesting_articles/nonmuslims/the_pope_abt_islam.htm

A very different discussion, obviously, is the one that leads us to the synagogues and mosques, where those who worship the One God assemble. Yes, certainly it is a different case when we come to these great monotheistic religions, beginning with Islam. In the Declaration Nostra Aetate we read: “The Church also has a high regard for the Muslims, who worship one God, living and subsistent, merciful and omnipotent, the Creator of heaven and earth” (Nostra Aetate 3). As a result of their monotheism, believers in Allah are particularly close to us.

(2 paragraphs down)

Some of the most beautiful names in the human language are given to the God of the Koran, but He is ultimately a God outside of the world, a God who is only Majesty, never Emmanuel, God-with-us. Islam is not a religion of redemption. There is no room for the Cross and the Resurrection. Jesus is mentioned, but only as a prophet who prepares for the last prophet, Muhammad. There is also mention of Mary, His Virgin Mother, but the tragedy of redemption is completely absent. For this reason not only the theology but also the anthropology of Islam is very distant from Christianity. – JPII

In the course of going to “Teach all nations …” as Jesus commanded. We see St. Paul engaged in learning something of the peoples he was evangelizing (without straying from the faith or Christ’s message one whit). On the hill of Mars he began by complimenting the Athenians for being religious and for their “shrine to the unknown god …” whence he proceeded to tell them about the Lord as someone they dimly knew about already!

The New Testament also records the that the Church rejects nothing that is good or holy or true in the world. JPII continues his outreach, praising such things as such:

Nevertheless, the religiosity of Muslims deserves respect. It is impossible not to admire, for example, their fidelity to prayer. The image of believers in Allah who, without caring about time or place, fall to their knees and immerse themselves in prayer remains a model for all those who invoke the true God, in particular for those Christians who, having deserted their magnificent cathedrals, pray only a little or not at all.

The Council has also called for the Church to have a dialogue with followers of the “Prophet,” and the Church has proceeded to do so. We read in Nostra Aetate: “Even if over the course of centuries Christians and Muslims have had more than a few dissensions and quarrels, this sacred Council now urges all to forget the past and to work toward mutual understanding as well as toward the preservation and promotion of social justice, moral welfare, peace, and freedom for the benefit of all mankind” (Nostra Aetate 3).

The things of this world notwithstanding we do not do charitably if we should never share Christ, or hoard His benefits to ourselves, or otherwise not share the good news with all who need it. Which is everyone.

Careful reading of “Threshold of Hope” reveals it is not a reduction of faith to the lowest possible common denominator(s) to keep a worldly peace – but rather loving one’s neighbor enough to call them (and much more ourselves) to the highest things of all.

Whatever earthly labels man may fashion for himself or philosophies he subscribes to per diem, Jesus Christ has died so that " … so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life." John 3:16

Because the ONE Lord **2 Peter 3:9 ** "… does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,” but he is patient with you, ***not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
***

 

[IgnatianPhilo]

Possibly, or perhaps he was a man who sought to deceive or was deluded.

 

[Servant19]

The Holy Spirit unites.
The demon divides.

One may ask the question if this thread is in itself uniting?

If God were to look at this thread what would He think?

Is it a source of unabounding love and grace, seeing no prejudice, or of hatred?

Important questions…worthy of reflection…

 

[KrazyKat]

“The truth is the truth even if no one believes it. A lie is a lie even if everyone believes it.”

AB. Fulton Sheen

If you are not with Chrst then you are anti-Christ.

 

[Kanuckistani]

Why so much negativity towards Islam? Islam, deep down, is quite beautiful. The Islam that you see is the extremists (i.e: the Taliban, Al-Qaeda…), and I think it would be wise not to be offensive… Muslims have feelings to.

 

[dronald]

Why so much negativity towards Islam? Islam, deep down, is quite beautiful. The Islam that you see is the extremists (i.e: the Taliban, Al-Qaeda…), and I think it would be wise not to be offensive… Muslims have feelings to.

I don’t simply be harsh myself, I simply quote Scripture.

Perhaps the Apostles were a bit tough on false prophets?

 

[Servant19]

“The truth is the truth even if no one believes it. A lie is a lie even if everyone believes it.”

AB. Fulton Sheen

If you are not with Chrst then you are anti-Christ.

This post is not from Christ…

 

[Servant19]

Why so much negativity towards Islam? Islam, deep down, is quite beautiful. The Islam that you see is the extremists (i.e: the Taliban, Al-Qaeda…), and I think it would be wise not to be offensive… Muslims have feelings to.

This post IS from Christ…

The difference between the two is as clear as daylight, and that is the key…

Can you feel the spirit enshrined in both?

 

[MartinJordan]

Perhaps the Apostles were a bit tough on false prophets?

MJ

 

[Avdima]

Why so much negativity towards Islam? Islam, deep down, is quite beautiful. The Islam that you see is the extremists (i.e: the Taliban, Al-Qaeda…), and I think it would be wise not to be offensive… Muslims have feelings to.

Quite a lot of harmful and evil things are beautiful as well, does that mean Christians are not to warn and call out the lies and harmfulness when they see it?

Islam is beautiful when compared to some religions and beliefs around it. However Islam is death, lies, evil and hatefulness when compared to the light of Lord Jesus Christ.

It is not anti Muslim to tell the truth about Islam.