External Interference in the Revelation

Has there been any external interference in the Revelation?

The very basic foundations of the heavenly religions are the Revelations and the Prophethood. Messengers have a degree of sublimity; to them are sent Revelations and they are made examples in trustworthiness, virtues, and good deeds. They are far removed from any accusation. God Almighty provided full support and protection to the Messengers so that they would be able to fully commit the Revelations to memory, without forgetting any part and thus convey them accurately to human beings:

We will establish the Qur’an in your heart and have you recite (it to others), so you will not forget (anything of it). (A’la 87:6) (O Prophet!) Move not your tongue to hasten it (for safekeeping in your heart). Surely it is for Us to collect it (in your heart) and enable you to recite it (by heart). So when We recite it, follow its recitation; thereafter, it is for Us to explain it. (Qiyama 75:16-19)

Those who disbelieve say (by way of yet another false argument for unbelief): “Why has the Qur’an not been sent down on him all at once?” (We send it down in parts) so that We may (impress it on your mind and) establish your heart with it, and We are conveying it distinctly and gradually, (one part supporting the other, and providing guidance and instruction for emerging occasions). (Furqan 25:32)

These verses assure the Prophet that God will enable him to memorize the Revelations and understand their meaning. Thus, with such a divine assurance, it is unthinkable that any external interference in the Revelation by others would be possible. Never did We send a Messenger or a Prophet before you but that when he recited (God’s Revelations to the people) Satan would make insinuations (about these Revelations, prompting people to misconstrue them in many wrong senses, rather than the right one). But God abrogates whatever insinuations Satan may make, and then He confirms and establishes His Revelations. God is All-Knowing, All-Wise. (Hajj 22:52)

The above verse may also be interpreted as follows: “O Muhammad! Whenever We raised a Prophet or Messenger from a nation, with clear commands and proofs of the truth to guide their people, some wicked persons opposed the Prophets and tried to prevent people from listening to the Revelations. These wicked persons also claimed that the Messengers and Prophets said things that they had never even considered, so that people would be alienated against them and so that they would be deviated from the right path along which the Messengers and Prophets trod. However, God has established the truth and has totally eliminated falsehood. The Prophets did not abandon their efforts but were patient until truth defeated falsehood, despite all such refusals and hardships. God clearly eliminates any suspicions and firmly establishes His signs and verses.”

On the other hand, each and every Messenger is, in a way, concerned with how they are to perform their duty. Every Prophet has conveyed God’s Message to their respective communities so that the community will accept the Message they have brought, follow the admonitions and abandon sins. All Prophets are keen that their communities accept the Revelation and that they are obedient. Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was the most desirous of all in this respect. These verses clearly indicate that he was very concerned with the guidance of the people and physically pained by unbelief, tormented by the fear that they might not believe:

Yet it may be that you (O Muhammad) will torment yourself to death with grief, following after them, if they do not believe in this Message. (Kahf 18:6)

Yet, be you ever so eager, most people will not believe. (Yusuf 12:103)

If your Lord had so willed (and, denying them free will, compelled humankind to believe), all who are on the earth would surely have believed, all of them. Would you, then, force people until they become believers? (Yunus 10:99)

Therefore, as every Prophet had such strong feelings for their communities, it would be easy for Satan to erect barriers, throw secret fears into the hearts of people and cause them to fight against their Prophet. But indeed, God certainly does whatever He will, erasing all unfounded suspicions and misgivings that Satan can place in the heart of human beings, clearing all the barriers between them and the Message, thus firmly establishing His Message. God can secure and preserve His Message from Satan’s tricks in the same way that He secures and preserves His Message against lies and from obstacles. Prophets are exempted by God from all sorts of satanic temptations. God communicates the Divine Message to His Prophets while eliminating Satan’s tricks. He firmly establishes His verses and signs and removes all forms of suspicion or worry. Thus, there is no chance for Satan to interfere with the Revelation coming to the Prophet or of him misleading the Prophet in this respect. The Prophet never fell into any sort of confusion or suspicion about the Revelations; he never fell under the influence of either Satan or any persons of evil character, nor did he succumb to any temptations. The following verse is similar in context and it clearly indicates that such wicked and ill-willed persons have no chance to mislead the Prophet as he was completely protected against such attempts:

But for God’s grace and favor upon you and His mercy, one party of them determined to mislead you, yet they mislead none but themselves, and cannot harm you in any way. (How could they do so, seeing that) God has sent down on you the Book and the Wisdom, and taught you what you did not know. God’s grace and favor upon you is tremendous indeed. (Nisa 4:113) Human beings are essentially prone to desires, whims and fancies. But Prophets are pure personalities and are exempt from any such weaknesses that are apparent in other humans. The strongest desire in their hearts is to invite humanity to the Ultimate Truth. They eagerly desire that people instantly take to the path of faith; they display no behavior that is contrary to this, as this would be against the divine purpose. Thus, God has completely eliminated all sorts of false desires from their hearts that might exist in other humans. As a matter of fact, God’s Messenger, who was rewarded and supported with both the Prophethood and Messengership and who was to be universally recognized by all of humanity never suffered any satanic attacks during his mission. As he was under Divine supervision, no one could cause him to doubt or make him utter incorrect things as part of the Revelation. The Prophet suffered much from his community. His heart experienced a great deal of pain due to their frivolous demands. But, he never abandoned his mission and he never altered the divine commands,

even when they persistently demanded that he do so; it was his obligation to convey these commands in full to the people. The following verse makes clear the oppressive and tyrannical demands that the Prophet was subjected to by the unbelievers:

Now it may be that you (O Messenger) are drawn to abandon some part of what is revealed to you (such as the verses concerning your Messengership), and your breast is constricted thereby, on account of their saying: “Why has a treasure not been sent down upon him, or an angel accompanying him (visible to us)?” But you are only a warner. It is God Who has everything in His care and under His control. (Hud 11:12)

Here, the proclamation of “Will you then abandon as you feel pain in your heart, some of what we have revealed to you?” means that, despite all such serious hardships the Prophet faced, he was able to convey the Revelation to them without wearying or feeling any doubts. The communication of the Divine Message is the most essential characteristic of Prophethood; the Prophet was ordered to continue conveying the Divine Message without paying any attention to the conceit or mocking of the unbelievers. He never abandoned this duty nor did he become weary of conveying all the Revelations; in this way he proved that he was pure and free from sin.

 

Akgul, Muhittin (2009). The Quran in 99 Questions (Abdullah Erdemli Trans.). New Jersey: Tughra Books. (Originally published in Turkish as Kur’an İklimine Seyahat)