Ali Sina - Understanding Muhammad

When Sane People Follow Insane People
Chuck looked up weakly and answered, “Jim, I apologize for what I said. Please
forgive me.”
As we looked at Chuck, we vowed in our hearts that we would never question any of
Jims “miracles,” at least not out loud. Years later, we learned that Jim had put a mild
poison in a piece of cake and given it to Chuck. 325
Now, to perform this “miracle” Jones had to rely on the collaboration of
Eva. The question is why would this woman knowingly participate in such a
scam There are similar miracles attributed to Muhammad.
In one hadith, someone claimed that he saw Muhammad putting his hand
in a pot and water gushed out from it, so that the entire army performed ablution
from one pot.
I saw Allâh's Apostle when the 'Asr (evening) prayer was due and the people
searched for water to perform ablution but they could not find it. Later on (a pot full
of) water for ablution was brought to Allâh's Apostle. He put his hand in that pot and
ordered the people to perform ablution from it. I saw the water springing out from
underneath his fingers till all of them performed the ablution (it was one of the
miracles of the Prophet). 326
In another hadith we are told that Muhammad multiplied the bread; 327 or
that he struck a huge solid rock with his spade and the rock became like sand. 328
Or, he blessed a meal that was barely enough for four or five and with it fed an
army. 329 There are tens of “miracles” that Muslims have attributed to Muhammad.
Most of these so-called miracles were claimed by Muhammad himself. These
were miracles that no one but he could verify and yet no Muslim doubts them.
One such miracle is his claim to have visited the town of the jinns. In another
place he said that a group of jinns in Medina had embraced Islam. 330 In one
fantastic story he claimed to have struggled with a big demon and subdued him.
325 Mills, J. Six years with God. New York: A & W Publishers, 1979
326 Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 4, Number 170
327 Sahih Bukhari Volume 5, Book 59, Number 428
328 Sahih Bukhari Volume 5, Book 59, Number 427
329 Sahih Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 65, Number 293
330 Shih Muslim Book 026, Number 5559
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