Exploring the True Story of Muhammad

Muhammad is the most important human figure to the more than 1.8 billion Muslims around the world. For them, he is not merely a religious leader but the final prophet of Allah, bringing the definitive and unalterable revelation in the form of the Quran. According to Islamic doctrine, Muhammad’s life was the perfect interpretation of the Quran, making him a model for all Muslims to emulate. Yet despite his significance, the true Muhammad remains a subject of mystery, not only to many Muslims but especially to non-Muslims. Who was he really?

In understanding this pivotal figure, it helps to distinguish between three representations of Muhammad: the traditional Muhammad, the legendary Muhammad, and the historical Muhammad. These perspectives provide a fuller picture of how he has been perceived across cultures and centuries, and they offer a foundational path for meaningful conversations between Christians and Muslims.

The Muhammad of Tradition

Muslim tradition tells us Muhammad was born in Mecca in 570 CE and died in Medina in 632. Raised as an orphan and known for his honesty, he worked as a trader and later married a wealthy widow named Khadija. At age 40, tradition says, he received his first revelation from the angel Gabriel while meditating in a cave near Mecca. He would continue to receive revelations over 23 years, eventually compiled into the Quran.

Traditional accounts also depict Muhammad as a man of both spiritual and political power. After facing persecution in Mecca, he migrated to Medina, where he assumed leadership over a growing Muslim community and led military campaigns against pagans, Jews, and Christians. These narratives, compiled in texts such as the Hadith and early Islamic biographies, emerged two to three centuries after Muhammad’s death, during the Abbasid caliphate, a time when the Islamic empire was already vast and powerful.

Muslim traditions also ascribe miracles to Muhammad’s birth, echoing biblical narratives about other prophets. Yet, interestingly, the Quran itself denies that Muhammad performed miracles apart from the Quran (Quran 6:37, 11:12, 13:7). This contradiction raises critical questions about the authenticity of traditional portrayals.

The Muhammad of Legend

Among cultural or nominal Muslims, Muhammad often takes on mythical proportions. He is viewed as the ultimate human being: perfect in every virtue, capable of divine-like acts, and even seen by some as possessing supernatural powers. This legendary Muhammad, built on folklore, mysticism, and emotional reverence, diverges significantly from traditional texts.

Many Muslims who revere this legendary figure may not study the Quran or Hadith in depth. Their beliefs are shaped more by cultural narratives than doctrinal study. As a result, this Muhammad is often worshipped in a way that borders on deification he is believed to appear in dreams, heal the sick, and hear prayers. While this devotion expresses deep reverence, it introduces theological tensions, especially given the Islamic insistence on strict monotheism.

The Muhammad of History

Is there any way to know what the historical Muhammad was really like? While traditional Islamic sources are chronologically distant from Muhammad’s time, several early non-Muslim sources give us a glimpse into the man and his movement.

One of the earliest references comes from the Doctrina Jacobi, written in 634, just two years after Muhammad’s traditionally accepted death date. It describes an Arab prophet leading military raids yet questions his legitimacy because he came wielding a sword. Another contemporary source, a Syriac chronicle by Thomas the Presbyter, records a battle between Arab forces "of Muhammad" and the Romans, again dating to 634. This document portrays Muhammad not as a peaceful preacher but as a warlord leading a militant movement.

Other sources, like the writings of Sophronius, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, decry the atrocities committed by Muhammad’s followers razed villages, plundered churches, and murdered civilians. From their perspectives, Muhammad led a violent religious conquest. While these accounts are biased, their chronological proximity lends them historical significance, especially compared to later Muslim sources written centuries after the fact.

What emerges is a picture of a seventh-century Arab religious leader who unified tribes under a monotheistic banner and led military campaigns to expand his influence. While this doesn’t confirm every detail of the traditional account, it affirms Muhammad’s historical existence and the militaristic nature of his movement.

How Should Christians Respond?

For Christians engaging with Muslims, these distinctions matter not just for academic clarity, but for meaningful conversations. Islam holds both the Quran and Muhammad as untouchable and infallible. This makes critical inquiry difficult, especially when the emotional and spiritual stakes are high. But that doesn’t mean conversations about Muhammad are off-limits.

Today, more Muslims are accessing information that was once difficult to find. The Internet, translated texts, and increased religious freedom in some areas have opened doors for deeper investigation. Christians can take this opportunity to speak both lovingly and truthfully.

Here are three wise ways to approach the topic:

1. Study Before You Speak. Learn about Muhammad from reputable sources especially from Christian scholars who understand both the Quran and biblical theology. This equips you to speak with respect and clarity, avoiding unnecessary conflict while maintaining conviction.

2. Love the Person, Not the Ideology. Christians are called to love people, not to affirm every belief they hold. You can respect your Muslim neighbor without honoring Muhammad. Remember, disagreeing with someone’s religion isn’t the same as disrespecting them. The apostle Paul demonstrated this in Acts 17, affirming the Athenians’ spiritual hunger while presenting the truth about Christ.

3. Stay Focused on Christ. If the subject of Muhammad arises, it’s wise to pivot the conversation back to Jesus. For instance, you might say, “You believe Muhammad brought truth from God. I believe Jesus is the truth.” This not only maintains the peace but directs attention to the gospel. As the apostle Peter encouraged, we should always be ready to give a reason for the hope within us but with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).

A Gospel Opportunity

At the heart of our engagement is this truth: we want Muslims to encounter Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who offers forgiveness, peace, and eternal life. Unlike Muhammad, Jesus didn’t come to conquer by force but to lay down His life. The message of the cross foolishness to some and offensive to others is the power of God for salvation (1 Corinthians 1:18).

As you consider how to share your faith with Muslim neighbors, coworkers, or friends, remember this: the truth of Christ shines even more brilliantly when set against the backdrop of competing claims. Muslims don’t need to become scholars to know Jesus. They need to see His love through you.

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