What are the satanic verses? | GotQuestions.org

The Quranic Origin of the Satanic Verses

Hi there! Many others like you have asked, what are the satanic verses? Let's find out, shall we? You can also discover this answer and more on GotQuestions .org. The satanic verses are two lines in the Quran that according to some versions of Muslim history, Muhammad spoke under the direction of Satan rather than Allah.

Some early Muslim sources record that Muhammad admitted that Surah 53 verses 21 through 22 of the Quran, as they originally read, were the result of a satanic trick that he thought was a genuine revelation from Allah.

If this tradition is true, Muhammad's position as a true prophet would be in dispute because he had been deceived by Satan. The background behind the satanic verses is that early on, the number of Muhammad's followers was growing slowly and he was in conflict with Arabs.

The Alleged Revelation and the Interpolated Pagan Deities

In order to ease the conflict, he received the following revelation, So have you considered Allat and Al-Uzza and Manat, the third goddess, the other one. Following Surah 53 -20, the devil interjected his own words onto Muhammad's tongue and the result was Surah 53 -21 -22, the satanic version.

These are the exalted cranes, intermediaries, whose intercession is to be hoped for. According to these verses, the three pagan deities are recognized to be legitimate and Muhammad can seek their intercession on his behalf.

By Muhammad recognizing these Arab deities, he was able to ease tensions with the Arabs. Later, he explained what looked like a lapse into polytheism by saying that Satan had tricked him. He also said that the angel Gabriel told him that occasionally Satan fools even true prophets.

How the Story Was Used to Explain an Error in the Quran

At the time, this explained how an error was introduced into the Quran. Later, this admission was seen to be damaging to Muhammad, so the verses were changed and his confession was squelched. This is documented in early Muslim sources still available today, although Muslim apologists also point out that there are earlier biographies of Muhammad that do not record this story.

This is a passage from one early source, A .D. 1915, that does record it. Feel free to pause and read. In conclusion, a thorough evaluation of the evidence for and against the Satanic Verses is beyond the scope of this article.

Rushdie's Novel and the Fatwa Against Him

However, related in name is The Satanic Verses, a 1988 novel by British-Indian novelist Solomon Rushdie. The title, along with some terms and concepts, were offensive to Muslims. As a result, the Supreme Leader of Iran issued a fatwa ordering the death of Rushdie.

Attempts were made on his life and bookstores were also targeted for violence. Subsequently, Rushdie apologized, but it was rejected. The fatwa has never been rescinded. Alright, that answers your question.

What are the Satanic Verses?