Jewish influences on Muhammed

I dismiss all tradition relating to Muhammad because I strongly believe it to be fictitious and created to fill a huge historical gap. But aside from that, I would agree that there are many similarities between Judaism and Islam. You can look at it as one religion influencing the other or a continuation of much older teachings reformed in another mould.

The Quran does not prescribe circumcision nor growing long beards. These were traditions that later Muslims adopted along the way. But either way, as I just said, there are many similarities.

I would discard the theory that he was born to a Jewish or Christian family mainly on the grounds of the Quran itself. The Quran clearly says that the people to whom Muhammad was sent were the ''Ummiyin'' which has been misconstrued by traditional scholars as meaning ''The illiterate (people)'' but which in the context of the scripture itself means illiterate in regards to books of divine origin. The reason for this title is well-expounded upon in the Quran where it says that his people never had any books (revelations) to study. So from that we can easily discard that he was born into a Jewish or Christian family.

What is clear though is that the place in which he lived was slightly influenced by Jewish and Syriac culture. I infer this from the fact that the Quran itself uses many words that are of Hebrew or Syriac origin. The Quran says that prophets are only sent to speak in the language of their people so one must rule out that the Quran is using words that might sound cryptic to the people who were addressed by it. Also, the name Muhammad is the Arabic counterpart of Yehuda (Judas), which was a very common name in Jewish culture and still is.

Originally posted by Nick1986 Not every Christian had access to books. In ancient Rome, many were slaves and peasants: the lowest rank in society

Then I guess it is a possibility. But what I meant is that the majority of Jews and Christians in his community would not have had a book to study. They probably just converted through the influence of their neighbours and kept many of their pagan practices such as worship of female godesses as angels and daughters of God...etc

Originally posted by Nick1986 Originally posted by Baal Melqart Originally posted by Nick1986 Not every Christian had access to books. In ancient Rome, many were slaves and peasants: the lowest rank in society Then I guess it is a possibility. But what I meant is that the majority of Jews and Christians in his community would not have had a book to study. They probably just converted through the influence of their neighbours and kept many of their pagan practices such as worship of female godesses as angels and daughters of God...etc Very similar to Christians during the Middle Ages. In some places Catholics worshipped saints as demigods and believed they had magical powers to intercede in the mortal world

You don't have to go that far. Even in early Christianity people used to call upon angels for intercession.

Originally posted by Nick1986 One of the first Christian kingdoms was in Ethiopia. Before Muhammed's birth, the Arabs and Ethiopians went to war

South Arabians of Yemen, yes. But the Northern Arabs played no part in this war.

On the other hand he may have been a prophet. I generally leave those types alone and give them a healthy respect.

No wonder they hate each other. Nothing like a argument over religion and interps of dogma that will get a good fatwa pronounced resulting in a jihad against enemies eh.


The counter of course is a good Catholic Papal Bull and a Crusade or two.

Whole f*cking region's as crazy as a Branch Davidians.


Whole planet needs an enema.

Yup...like I said: Whole planet needs an enema.

Originally posted by TITAN_ Originally posted by Centrix Vigilis Yup...like I said: Whole planet needs an enema. Or maybe the whole planet needs to re-think the role of religion in society...

Not the whole planet, just the extremists. Islamists and fundamentalist Christians should sort their own lives out and leave it to God to judge the sinners.