✦ Christian Missionaries’ Criticism and the Need for Objectivity
Authored by: Hāmid Kamāl al-DīnChristian missionaries often recycle specific objections against the personality of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. However, one must ask — can they ever rise above these criticisms and adopt a realistic perspective? For example, they repeatedly criticize the Prophet ﷺ for engaging in warfare, seemingly forgetting that Biblical prophets like Moses, Samuel, and David also confronted military challenges. Will Christian scholars now disqualify those prophets on the same basis?
❖ Warfare and the Prophets of the Bible
Can the mention of warfare by Biblical prophets simply be erased? If warfare is to be used as a disqualifier, then the Old Testament prophets must be rejected too. Even parts of the New Testament speak of swords and conflict — will those texts now be dismissed as non-divine?✿ Polygamy and the Lives of Prophets
Polygamy is also cited as an objection. Critics target the multiple marriages of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. But do they forget that Prophets Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David — all mentioned in the Bible — had multiple wives? The very scripture these critics promote documents this reality.
◈ The Banu Qurayzah Incident vs. Biblical Actions
The punishment of Banu Qurayzah, who broke their covenant during wartime, is often objected to. Yet, the Bible itself narrates how Moses and David dealt strictly with enemies captured in battle. Have these historical truths also been reconsidered?✔ Were Prophets Truly Sent for Human Guidance?
If these missionaries do not believe that God sent prophets for the guidance of mankind, then what is the purpose of distributing the Bible worldwide? If they do believe, then their hostility towards Prophet Muhammad ﷺ should be replaced by a uniform standard for all prophets. If they revere the words of Jesus, they should evaluate Prophet Muhammad ﷺ using the same principles.❀ Misconceptions and Objections Do Not Define Prophethood
Critics often claim that had Prophet Muhammad ﷺ truly been a prophet, there would have been no objections against him. Will they apply this logic to their own prophets? Prophethood is not defined by the absence of criticism, but by the teachings, character, and impact of the individual.✦ The Criteria of Prophethood and the Modern Mind
If Prophet Muhammad ﷺ’s prophethood is to be assessed, then so should the prophethood of Moses and Jesus — by the same standard. If the modern man is given the right to critique, Christian missionaries may find themselves unable to defend their own prophets. Meanwhile, Muslims possess not only evidence for Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, but also for Moses and Jesus, peace be upon them.◉ Evidences of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ’s Prophethood
If the concept of prophethood is real, then why deny the most well-documented prophet in history? The evidences for Prophet Muhammad ﷺ are the strongest and clearest — from his life, teachings, and impact on humanity. A prominent orientalist once admitted:“Muhammad ﷺ is the only prophet who was born at the peak of recorded history and seen fully in the light of day.”
In contrast, the lives of previous prophets are not preserved with such authenticity.
✔ Islam and Christianity: A Shared Legacy
A Syrian author recently compiled the conversion experiences of several Western intellectuals who embraced Islam. His book is titled:ربحتُ محمداً ﷺ ولم اخسر المسيح
“I Found Muhammad ﷺ and Did Not Lose the Christ”
