TEST AUTHENTICITY:
In an attempt to secure people's confidence in the authenticity of his revelations, the speaker in the QUR'AN IS HEARD SWEARING BY PEN, RECORD, SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC, THE SUN, THE MOON ETC,'
How is this linked with the common superstitions of pagan Arabians?
What link has that with idolatry?
Some Muslims say there is no link. We understand that because of their love for their religion. We need sincerity with ourselves if we really desire the truth. We all agree that when a man swears, he does so by a power higher than himself. Islam teaches that there is no deity other than Allah, and that even the idols of Meccans, including Allat, al-Manat and al-Uzzah were mere fictitious names given by men, and that there are no powers or beings behind those idols.
Sura 69:38-47 says:
"
I swear by all that you can see, and all that is hidden from your view, that this (recitation of the Qur'an) is the utterance of a noble messenger... It is no soothsayer's divination; how little you reflect! It is a revelation of the Lord of the universe. Had he (Muhammad) invented lies about Us (Allah), we would have seized him by the right hand and severed his heart's vein: not one of you could have protected him"2
"I swear by all that you can see..." What does this mean? We believe it means "I swear by all the physical objects around you here."
First, we know that when a man swears by God, he is calling upon "God" as a witness. When one swears by a physical image, it is the being behind that image that one is invoking to bear witness to one's words.
In Sura 90:1, we read, "I swear by this town (Mecca)."
In Sura 2-91:1, he swore by the sun and the moon. Our Muslim friends say it is Allah, not Muhammad speaking in the Qur'an. Is Allah then swearing?
If Muhammad swears by Qalam (pen), is the pen an idol? The Muslim may say no, but what is an idol? It is a physical or mental image to which a man attaches importance or ascribes power. The image is believed to have powers behind it, which come from living spiritual beings.
The power behind an idol is always greater than its patron. Swearing is done in its name because the worshipper believes that he is bound by the power of the idol, and that the idol is capable of harming him if he swears falsely.
In the Qur'an, Muhammad swears by Allah. But he also swears by other things. That means he accorded power and deity to these other beings. That destroys the basic Islamic confession "There is no god beside Allah..."
Moreover, if Muhammad was a prophet, a spokesman of the Almighty God, why did he have to swear to convince his people of the divine origin of his words?
Since a man has to swear by a power higher than himself or at least by himself,' why was the swearing done by Qalam (pen), Dbuha (the rising sun), the moon, the signs of the Zodiac and the city of Mecca?
If Allah is speaking, then he is the one swearing.
If Allah swears (that is, binds himself by oaths to other powers), does he remain the almighty as Muslims claim? Jesus Christ taught His disciples:
"But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King... But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."
The Lord Jesus received much opposition, especially from religious people; but He never swore in an attempt to prove anything.
He said:
"
If I do not do the works of My Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him."
Jesus Christ proved and validated His claims of Lordship by demonstrating His power over nature.
The early Christians, too, did not have to swear to prove they were speaking the very words of God as taught by Christ.
The evidence was readily available and could not be denied by their enemies.'
The writer of Hebrews also says:
.
"For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?"'
They received the Word of the Lord directly from the disciples of Christ who were with Him and heard Him speak. The Lord Himself confirmed their words, "bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost" that followed. NO NEED OF SWEARING.
That is also why Jesus and His disciples did not have to fight any Jihad (Holy War) to spread their faith. the Apostle James wrote:
"But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation."'