18.

69 mm
26.84 mm
19.92 mm
10 the origin of the koran

Another tradition is equally uncertain: On his death bed Muammad [i/13]

allegedly requested a reed and tablet in order to write down something
that was to protect the Muslims from error.25 But this tradition going back
to Abd Allh IBN ABBS (d. 68/687) 26
110.46 mm
is suspicious when compared with
another tradition, openly betraying its bias, in which isha tells the story
that Muammad thus intended to fix in writing the appointment of Ab
Bakr as his successor.27 It is consequently certain that this entire tradition,
which is not found in Ibn Hishm, was forged to defend Ab Bakrs claim to
succession. But even if this were not the case, also in this instance the words
so that I write can be interpreted as so that I dictate; once again we would
lack a sound argument.
Even the Koran itself does not afford any more certainty, regardless of
how one interprets the frequently occurring verb , particularly the passage
in sra 96:1 and 3. If it simply means to lecture, to preach, it is a priori
irrelevant. If, however, this means to read or to lecture on what has been
read, even this interpretation does not contribute anything towards solving
the problem since it is in the nature of heavenly textswhich are beyond
human speech or writingand is therefore comprehensible only by divine
inspiration.
[i/14] We can see that the evidence for Muammads ability to read and write
is very weak. But what about the evidence generally marshalled to prove
the opposite? The main argument is that in sra 7:156 and 158 Muammad
is called , words that nearly all commentators take to mean the
Prophet who could neither read nor write. However, when we make a
thorough investigation of all the Koranic passages that contain we find
that it is used everywhere to mean the opposite of , namely, not a
person capable of writing but the owner (or expert) of the Holy Scripture;
sra 2:73 even says that there were who have a poor understanding of
the Scriptures. In relation to Muammad, this word must mean that he was
not familiar with ancient divine texts and knew the truth only from divine
inspirationcharacteristics frequently mentioned on other occasions as

25 al-Bukhr, a, Bb mawt al-nab, appendix to , K. al-Ilm, 40; Muslim,

vol. 2, p. 78sq. (al-Qasalln. vol. 7, p. 95 sq., 4); al-Khab al-Tibrz, Mishct-ul-

3.32 mm or, A collection, p. 540 ( 548); cf. G. Weil, Das Leben Mohammeds, p. 329sq.;
mabh;
Caussin de Perceval, Essai sur l histoire des Arabes, vol. 3, p. 321.
26 EI2; G. Juynboll, Encyclopedia, pp. 12; Sezgin, GAS, vol. 8, pp. 2122.
27 Muslim, vol. 2, p. 457 (al-Qasalln, vol. 9, p. 257, ) , and later al-Khab

al-Tibrz, Mishct-ul-mabh; or, A collection, , fal 1, 3. But Ibn Sad, abaqt,

ed. I, IV, [sic] p. , 7, ( i.e. .) [This reference cannot be verified.]
27.36 mm