Books 2020

An Imaginary CNN Interview with Prophet Muhammad (PART I)

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

1- In this book, we use our imagination to see what would happen if Muhammad would be brought back to life in our modern time and how his being interviewed by a CNN anchor would look like.

2- This book about an imaginary CNN interview with Muhammad has three major aims as follows.

2/1: The first aim is to destroy the deeply rooted deification of Muhammad within the hearts/souls of the polytheistic Muhammadans; sadly, they worship/sanctify an imaginary deity or a demi-god whom they have named as (Muhammad) which has nothing to do with the mortal prophet whose name, Muhammad, and true history are mentioned exclusively in the Holy Quran. This centuries-old deification of Muhammad is the primary cause of making writers shy away from dealing with Muhammad as a mortal human being; most people tend to forget that he was a mortal prophet; they suppose he was a larger-than-life god or a sort of deified, isolated, infallible angel who never suffered from troubles like the rest of human beings. Such a polytheistic assumption contradicts the Quranic assertions that Muhammad was a mortal human being and that he was treated as such by his contemporaries or companions who included, for sure, (dis)believers and hypocrites in Arabia (mainly in Mecca and Yathreb). No one among his contemporaries deified him at all whether they believed in the Quran or not. That Muhammad was a mortal prophet is proved in the Lord God's Word within many Quranic verses; for instance, his troubles with his wives as per the Quranic Chapters 33 and 66. This is not to mention verses containing rebuke and reproach addressed by the Lord God to Muhammad. Of course, true monotheists/Muslims must purify their hearts/souls from deifying or sanctifying any (non)human creatures. Within True Islam (i.e., Quranism), deification and sanctification within one's heart/soul should be dedicated entirely to the Lord God the Creator. The Lord God says the following in the Quran: "If God were to hold the humankind for their injustices, He would not leave upon it a single creature, but He postpones them until an appointed time. Then, when their time arrives, they will not delay it by one hour, nor will they advance it." (16:61); "If God were to punish the people for what they have earned, He would not leave a single living creature on its surface. But He defers them until a stated time. Then, when their time has arrived - God is Observant of His creatures." (35:45). Both verses apply to all humanity, including all prophets for sure. Hence, to debunk the myth of the sanctified/deified Muhammad is a religious duty imposed on all Quranists; deifying Muhammad contradicts the great religion of Islam; i.e., the Quran. We hope that this book about an imaginary CNN interview with Muhammad will perform this mission of destroying the polytheistic notion of deifying mortals – a notion/sickness which might still be latent inside the souls/hearts of some readers.

2/2: The second aim is to provide the question-and-answer format in order to demonstrate what True Islam is. We mean, of course, Quranism which we preach and which has been rejected by the Muhammadans for centuries. Sadly, the Muhammadans still accuse our person (and all other Quranists) of apostasy/heresy because we remind them of Quranic facts and we preach the return to the Quran-only Islam which is the Only True Islam descended upon Muhammad. The Muhammadans hate our person because our Quranist writings prove how their terrestrial/earthly Sufi, Shiite, and Sunnite religions of Satan contradict the Quran. The Muhammadans resent the fact that we, a Quranist thinker, remind them that they have discarded and abandoned the Quran in order to follow their devilish narratives/hadiths and their clergymen (i.e., imams/sheikhs) who are human-devils and jinn-devils. Of course, in our modern time, this book about an imaginary CNN interview with Muhammad proves the modernity of Islam as the Lord God's Great Religion which is fit for all eras and locations and for all humanity. In contrast, the terrestrial religions of the Muhammadans transport them back to the Middle-Ages; they imitate their ancestors who lived in such dark epochs even regarding dress codes! This is very silly! Sadly, the Muhammadans have managed to export their terrestrial religions to the West countries. The people of the Occident are now convinced that 'Islam' consists of deeds/words and of history/heritage of such Muhammadans. This myth is dispelled in this book; we provide the Occident here with a summary of what Islam is as they never know it; we also show True Islam to the Muhammadans who deny it. We envision that in this imaginary CNN interview, Muhammad will speak to defend himself and to disown his enemies; i.e., the Muhammadans.

2/3: The third aim is to prove indirectly and undoubtedly to the Anglophone readers (i.e., after this book would be translated into English) and to the Occident in general that Muhammad was indeed a prophet of the Lord God and the miracle he conveyed is the Quran. Of course, the Quran includes several miraculous features especially within the Quranic stories of prophets which are juxtaposed (as objectively as possible) with the narratives of the Bible's Old Testament. It is enough to quote verses of the Old Testament and then the Quranic verses about prophets so as to give readers the chance to compare and contrast in order to judge for themselves. Most readers in the Occident know little or nothing about how the Quranic stories tackle prophets mentioned in the Old Testament's book of Genesis. We desire that the readers will notice the vast difference between the Quranic stories and the passages of the Old Testament which cover the same topics. This juxtaposition will assert to the readers in the Occident that the Arab prophet of the Gentiles; i.e., Muhammad, who was a descendant of Ishmael the firstborn son of Abraham, was the Last Prophet sent by the Lord God to convey the Lord God's Word and Last Message to humanity: the Holy Quran. This mortal prophet, Muhammad, could never have authored the Quran; we prove in this book that the Quran is the Divine Revealtion.

3- This book, as is the case with most of our books, was serialized in many articles published previously in Arabic on our website. We have compiled these articles in a book form and added the titles of the chapters. This is PART I which contains dialogues about the Quranic stories of prophets from Adam to the era before the birth of Abraham. PART II, which will be written later on, will begin with the dialogues about Abraham and the prophets after him until Muhammad.

4- Our readers should bear in mind that we use the term [prophet] which differs from the term [messenger]. Islam is the Quran only; Muhammad as a mortal prophet had no views/narratives at all ascribed to the religion of Islam. The difference between the terms (prophet) and (messenger) is explained in detail in our book, in English, titled "The Quran: Sufficient as a Source of Islamic Legislation", found on this link:

http://www.ahl-alquran.com/arabic/book_main.php?main_id=92

5- We publish here PART I of this book. Later on, we will author and publish PART II. We supplicate to the Lord God so that He will grant to our person His aid, guidance, mercy, and forgiveness.

An Introductory Chapter: Muhammad between Egypt and the USA

An Introductory Chapter: Muhammad between Egypt and the USA

What would happened if Prophet Muhammad is found walking in the streets of the Egyptian capital Cairo?

The answer: Most probably, he would be put to death by the 'pious' Salafists/Wahabis if not thrown into a prison after being accused of showing 'contempt' towards religion!

Firstly: how would Muhammad look like while walking in the streets of Cairo?:

1- Muhammad will never look like the portrait found only in the hallucinations of the Muhammadans; i.e., he will never walk with a halo around his head or amidst heavenly light; the archangel Gabriel and other angels will not accompany him in a procession of splendor and pomp; no masses would scream his name joyfully and kiss the ground under his feet while seeking to receive his benediction. Such silly portrait is found only in the minds of polytheists who deify Muhammad and deny his being a mere mortal prophet; the Lord God says the following in the Quran: "And they said, “We will not believe in you unless you make a spring burst from the ground for us. Or you have a garden of palms and vines; then cause rivers to gush pouring through them. Or make the sky fall on us in pieces, as you claim, or bring God and the angels before us. Or you possess a house of gold. Or you ascend into the sky. Even then, we will not believe in your ascension, unless you bring down for us a book that we can read.” Say, “Glory be to my Lord. Am I anything but a human messenger?”" (17:90-93).

2- Muhammad will be an ordinary man simply dressed; he will resemble most Egyptians of the middle class; he will consume food and walk through markets; he will consume the Egyptian meals in eateries and in the streets: beans and falafel, Koshary, minced meat sandwiches,...etc.; he will buy vegetables and fruits from the markets himself and will stand with respect in queues to buy some loaves of bread.

3- Muhammad will most probably speak in the Cairene colloquial Arabic if he lives in Cairo, Egypt; this conjecture of ours is based on the following Quranic verse: "We never sent any messenger except in the tongue of his people to make things clear for them..." (14:4). Muhammad will be dressed in a shirt and trousers that are common among today's Egyptians; this is because each prophet wore typically the clothes/garments of his people where he lived. Of course, the Meccan Qorayish tribesmen denied Muhammad and the Quranic Message he conveyed mainly because of his simple appearance; they desired a heavenly angel to be sent to them: "And they say, “Why was an angel not sent down to him.” Had We sent down an angel, the matter would have been settled, and they would not have been reprieved. Had We made him an angel, We would have made him a man, and confused them when they are already confused." (6:8-9); they did not realize that seeing angels means death; i.e., the angels of death. Had the Lord God sent an angel, this angel will take the human form of a man wearing the same clothes of the people around him; this angel will never appear in the original angelic form anyway; sadly, the bad habit of human beings in all eras is to place prophets above human beings as if they were angels; they deny the prophets, as well as the messages they conveyed, because they were mortal human beings. The Lord God says the following in the Quran: "Nothing prevented the people from believing, when guidance has come to them, except that they said, “Did God send a human messenger?” Say, “If there were angels on earth, walking around in peace, We would have sent down to them from heaven an angel messenger.”" (17:94-95).

Secondly: what would be the stance of the Egyptians as they see Muhammad as an ordinary human being like them?:

1- Thus, the simple appearance of Muhammad will drive the Egyptians in Cairo to deny him and to disbelieve in his being a prophet; this is the same stance of the envious Qorayish tribesmen; the Lord God says the following in the Quran: "Is it a wonder to the people that We inspired a man from among them..." (10:2); "Was the message sent down to him, out of all of us?!..." (38:8).

2- Thus, deniers and disbelievers disliked the simple appearance of Muhammad and felt he was not a great man of consequence or importance in terms of stature, wealth, and social class as well as within their criteria of 'greatness' which included haughtiness, arrogance, tyranny, and injustice; they envied him for the bounty of receiving the Quranic Revelation. The Lord God says the following in the Quran: "They also said, “If only this Quran was sent down to a man of importance from the two cities.”" (43:31).

3- The disbelievers in Arabia ridiculed and mocked Muhammad whose simple appearance never prevented his daringly and outspokenly announcing the Truth which includes the fact that sanctified tombs/mausoleums are abominations of Satan's doing. The Lord God says the following in the Quran: "When those who disbelieve see you, they treat you only with ridicule: “Is this the one who mentions your gods?” And they reject the Remembrance of the Dominant Lord." (21:36); "And when they see you, they take you for nothing but mockery: “Is this the one God sent as a messenger?”" (25:41); "And they say, “What sort of messenger is this, who eats food, and walks in the marketplaces? If only an angel was sent down with him, to be alongside him a warner.”Or, “If only a treasure was dropped on him.” Or, “If only he had a garden from which he eats.” The evildoers also say, “You are following but a bewitched man.”" (25:7-8); "We never sent any messengers before you, but they ate food and walked in the marketplaces..." (25:20).

Thirdly: what would Muhammad do as he continues walking in the streets of Cairo?:

1- Muhammad would never be insulted or ridiculed if he would remain silent and indifferent; he will insist, of course, on continuing his ministry as a prophet and he will preach the Quran among the Egyptians in Cairo. This might lead to his being assassinated by the 'pious' Wahabis/Salafists/jihadists of Satan or his being incarcerated after being accused of showing 'contempt' towards religion! Both assassination and incarceration never occurred to him inside Mecca as Qorayish had to respect and honor its relation (and never to provoke the ire of) the Hashemites; i.e., one of the most powerful factions of Qorayish to whom Muhammad belonged. The main reason is the fact that the Lord God Himself has protected Muhammad and preserved his life so that the entire Quranic message is conveyed: "O messenger, convey what was revealed to you from your Lord. But if you do not, then you would not have delivered His message. And God will protect you from the people. God does not guide the disbelieving people." (5:67). In our imaginary hypothesis that Muhammad would be brought back to life in today's Cairo, Egypt, and he would preach the Quran, the people of the military regime (or the police state) which finances and protects Al-Azhar (the main source of polytheism in Egypt) will oppose, harm, insult, and persecute Muhammad.

2- This is plausible when we imagine Muhammad preaching the Quran in the Cairene district which houses the two main symbols of the Sunnite and Shiite polytheism of Satan; namely, the Al-Azhar and the mausoleum of Hussein respectively. Both institutions were built by the Shiite Fatimid caliphs in Egypt during the Middle-Ages; sadly, both institutions continue until now to misguide most Egyptians; the opium of the masses provided in both institutions makes the Egyptians forget the fact that Egypt is filled with thieves, swindlers, and unjust tyrants.

Fourthly: Muhammad's stance against the Cairo-based Hussein mausoleum and Sufi mausoleums:

1- In Cairo, Egypt, Muhammad probably will see some people defending and worshiping the so-called Hussein mausoleum. There are several mausoleums ascribed to the son of Ali, named Hussein, and the Fatimids built a mosque and a mausoleum supposedly over the severed head of Hussein in Cairo, Egypt. How did they know, after all these centuries, that the cranium was his?! Did they perform a DNA test, for instance?! There are five mausoleums/shrines dedicated to Hussein in the Arab world and each claim to house the severed head of Hussein. Did Hussein have five heads, then?! Why if he is so 'holy' that he could not avoid being killed at Karbala, Iraq?! Why a severed head would be made 'holy' in the first place and be worshiped?! Why did not people worship the sword that cut off this head?! The Lord God in the Quran has said the following to Hussein's grandfather (i.e., Prophet Muhammad): "It is not a matter of your concern…" (3:128). We are to believe the Quran, of course, and we have the right to pose the following questions. Would the severed head of Hussein be immortal?! Can it influence matters in this world or the next one?! Supposedly this severed head was buried in this shrine in Cairo, what difference does it make? There is no significance to us in that. What has Hussein to do with faith? His life and death has nothing to do with Islam; besides, there are centuries between his being killed and the event of supposedly finding his severed head by the Fatimids who were infatuated by the Shiite myths they spread among the masses in Egypt. Why would the corpse and/or severed head of Hussein supposed to have magical powers though he had failed to defend himself and his family members in the Karbala massacre?! How would a mere cranium aid thousands of gullible, naïve ones who deify it and seek to draw benediction from it?!

2- It is expected that Muhammad will address a speech to Sufis who worship mausoleums of saints and Shiites, Sunnites, and Sufis who worship the Hussein mausoleum to advise them to avoid such polytheism and paganism; he will quote 3:128 to them and advise them not to mention the name of Hussein inside mosques and within the Azan (i.e., the call to prayers); he will mention this verse to them: "Mosques are dedicated to God. So do not call, besides God, upon anyone else." (72:18). We expect that the angry masses, upon hearing this, would have liked to beat Muhammad up; this was the stance of the Meccan polytheists: "And when the servant of God got up calling on Him, they almost fell on him in a mass." (72:19); Muhammad repeated to them what the Lord God has commanded him to say: "Say, “I pray only to my Lord, and I never associate anyone with Him.” Say, “It is not in my power to harm you nor to guide you.” Say, “No one can protect me from God, and I will not find any refuge except with Him. Except for a proclamation from God and His messages. He who defies God and His Messenger—for him is the Fire of Hell, in which they will dwell forever.”" (72:20-23).

3- The Qorayish tribesmen gave Muhammad the chance to say all this and to take his breath; he survived and they could not attack/beat him. This is linked to the promise of the Lord God to protect him with all His Omnipotence: "...And God will protect you from the people..." (5:67) so that Muhammad would be able to deliver the Quranic message at the time: "O messenger, convey what was revealed to you from your Lord. But if you do not, then you would not have delivered His message..." (5:67). In contrast, within our imagined visit of Muhammad to Cairo, Egypt, in this book of ours, Muhammad is not protected against the harm and persecution inflicted by the Egyptians; they will never allow him to preach against the Sufi mausoleums and the Hussein mausoleum as abominations of Satan's doing which must be avoided by pious monotheists; even if Muhammad is not harmed or beaten by peaceful Sufis, how would he possibly avoid the wrath of Azharites and Salafists/Wahabis since his declarations ruffled many conservative feathers in Egypt?!

Fifthly: when Muhammad would step into Al-Azhar University and meet with the head-sheikh of Al-Azhar:

1- We imagine that once he steps into Al-Azhar, Muhammad will recognize the fact that the Sunnite/Sufi Azharite curricula (with its revered, sanctified books in different branches; for instance, the so-called theology, exegeses, and Sunna hadiths) undermine and cast doubt on Islam (i.e., the Quran) despite the fact that such books are attributed forcibly to the name of Islam. Muhammad will face the Azharite clergymen and address a speech to them.

2- Muhammad will remind them of the Quranic fact that the Quran is the Best Discourse and the Only Source of guidance in Islam; he will quote this verse to them: "God has sent down the Best Discourse: a Book consistent and paired. The skins of those who reverence their Lord shiver from it, then their skins and their hearts soften up to the Remembrance of God. Such is God’s guidance; He guides with it whomever who is willing to be guided. But whomever God leaves astray, for him there is no guide." (39:23).

3- Muhammad will remind them of the Quranic fact that it is only the Quran (i.e., the Lord God's Word) which is the Absolute Truth in which monotheists believe alongside with no other books/discourses at all. The testimony of Islam is as follows (There is no God but Allah); likewise, there is only One Book/Discourse in Islam: the Quran itself. Muhammad will remind them of Hell reserved for those who deny these Quranic facts by their belief in any other discourses/books; he will quote these verses to them: "...And who speaks more truly than God?" (4:87); "...and who is more truthful in speech than God?" (4:122); "In what discourse, beyond this, will they believe?" (77:50); "Have they not observed the government of the heavens and the earth, and all the things that God created, and that their time may have drawn near? Which discourse, besides this, will they believe in?" (7:185); "These are God’s Verses which We read to you in Truth. In which discourse, after God and His Verses, will they believe?" (45:6); "Woe to every sinful liar. Who hears God's Verses being read to him, yet he persists arrogantly, as though he did not hear them. Announce to him a painful torment. And when he learns something of Our Verses, he takes them in mockery. For such there is a shameful torment. Beyond them lies Hell. What they have earned will not benefit them at all, nor will those they adopted as allies instead of God. They will have a terrible torment. This is guidance. Those who blaspheme their Lord’s Verses will have a torment of agonizing pain." (45:7-11).

4- Muhammad will remind them of the Quranic fact that the Divine Revelation; i.e., the Quran, is the only means of warning in Islam and the Only Source of guidance to be followed instead of any books or allies/imams/saints; he will quote these verses to them: "A Book was revealed to you, so let there be no anxiety in your heart because of it. You are to warn with it - and a reminder for the believers. Follow what is revealed to you from your Lord, and do not follow other allies beside Him. Little you remember." (7:2-3); "...Say, “I only follow what is inspired to me from my Lord.” These are insights from your Lord, and guidance, and mercy, for a people who believe." (7:203); "O prophet!...And follow what is revealed to you from your Lord. God is fully aware of what you do." (33:1-2).

5- Muhammad will inform them of the fact that within his lifetime in Arabia, he followed the Quran and he was merely a warner who is never distinguished or placed above the rest of the prophets sent by the Dominant Lord God; he never had knowledge of the future related to this world and in the next one; he will deny all hadiths (which carry wrong ideas of his predicting future events or his being the 'best' or 'greatest' of all prophets) ascribed forcibly to his name; he will quote this verse to them: "Say, “I am not different from the other messengers; and I do not know what will be done with me, or with you. I only follow what is inspired in me, and I am only a clear warner.”" (46:9).

6- Muhammad will inform them of the fact that he followed the Divine Revelation; i.e., the Quran, and nothing else besides it; he never had knowledge of the invisible and the future; Muhammad will quote this verse to them: "Say, “I do not say to you that I possess the treasuries of God, nor do I know the future, nor do I say to you that I am an angel. I only follow what is inspired to me.” Say, “Are the blind and the seeing alike? Do you not think?" (6:50).

7- Muhammad will deny their myths about the so-called intercession; he will deny playing the role of intercessor in the Hereafter; he never had knowledge of the invisible and the future; Muhammad will quote this verse to them: "Say, “I have no control over any benefit or harm to myself, except as God wills. Had I known the future, I would have acquired much good, and no harm would have touched me. I am only a warner, and a herald of good news to a people who believe.”" (7:188).

8- Muhammad will inform them of the fact that he had offspring and parents; he will be never of any use to them on the Resurrection Day; he will quote these verses to them which apply to all human beings including him and other prophets as well: "The Day when a person will flee from his brother. And his mother and his father. And his consort and his children. Every one of them, on that Day, will have enough to preoccupy him." (80:34-37); Muhammad will quote to them this Quranic warning addressed to all human beings including him: "O people! Be conscious of your Lord within piety, and dread a Day when no parent can avail his child, nor can a child avail his parent, in anything. The promise of God is true. Therefore, do not let this life deceive you, nor let illusions deceive you regarding God." (31:33).

9- Muhammad will inform them of the fact that he will be of no use to his contemporaries/companions on the Last Day; likewise, they will be of no use to him; he will quote this verse to them: "And do not drive away those who call upon their Lord, morning and evening, seeking His attention. You are not accountable for them in any way, nor are they accountable for you in any way. If you drive them away, you would be one of the unjust ones." (6:52).

10- Muhammad will inform them of the fact that he is merely a human soul and therefore cannot help any other souls on the Day of Judgment; he will quote this verse to them: "The Day when no soul will avail another soul anything; and the decision on that Day is God’s." (82:19).

11- Muhammad will inform them of the fact that he cannot save anyone or help anybody to get out of Hell in the Hereafter; he will quote this verse to them: "What about someone who has deserved the sentence of torment? Is it you who can save those in the Hell-Fire?" (39:19).

Lastly:

The expected stance of the head-sheikh of Al-Azhar is to issue commands to the Egyptian State Security Apparatus men to arrest Muhammad after leveling against him the accusation of showing 'contempt' towards religion!

When Muhammad is detained by the police in Egypt!

Introduction:

1- To issue a command of committal to custody in police stations is one of the worst items of the Egyptian Law as many innocent people are detained for unlimited periods of time for no reason at all or based on mere suspicion. In our previous writings, we repeat many times that the Sunnite and Shiite polytheism/disbelief in Egypt has two pillars in Cairo: Al-Azhar and the Hussein mausoleum. Both were built by the Fatimids who also built Cairo the Egyptian capital. Literally, the Arabic name for (Cairo) means (the victorious city); ironically, Cairo seldom vanquished its enemies; this city experienced many times of humiliation and oppression by several invaders through the course of history; one of the reasons of this is the existence of Satan's abominations there: Al-Azhar and the Hussein mausoleum.

2- We should imagine that when Muhammad would walk in the streets of Cairo, he will address speeches to people against Al-Azhar and the Hussein mausoleum. This is because he is commanded by the Lord God to be outspoken in declaring the Truth: "So proclaim openly what you are commanded, and then turn away from the polytheists." (15:94); hence, he will tell people that sanctified tombs are abominations of Satan's doing and that Islam has nothing to do with Azharite curricula and with the Sunnite, Shiite, and Sufi religions/books. Such declarations of Muhammad will certainly shock and provoke the ire of the Al-Azhar institution, Sunnite Salafist/Wahabi groups, Sufi orders, and Shiites; all of them will unite against him and conspire against him.

Firstly: the detention of Muhammad by and its consequences:

1- As per the commands issued by the head-sheikh of Al-Azhar and the Saudi embassy in Cairo, Egypt, the Egyptian authorities have arrested and detained Muhammad; his solitary confinement was in a prison cell; the accusations leveled against him include denying Sunna hadiths, showing 'contempt' towards religion, urging others to reject the items known necessarily in religion and to discard the bases of 'Islam' unanimously agreed upon by the 'Islamic' Umma, undermining the national unity, urging sedition, threatening social peace, disturbing the general peace, propagation of lies, urging others to hate the Egyptian regime, spreading hate speech and an ambiance of pessimism which would impede foreign investments in Egypt, distorting the image of Egypt on both the national and international levels, and receiving bribes and foreign funding from the enemies of 'Islam' in order to seek to destroy 'Islam'.

2- The streets of Cairo, Egypt, and other Egyptian major and minor cities and villages were filled with demonstrations to support the detention of Muhammad; the masses accused him of pretending to be a prophet and assumed he is an enemy of Allah and of Prophet Muhammad; many demonstrators demanded that he must be put to death like all apostates and heretics. Similar demonstrations with the same demand spread in Saudi Arabia, Iran, the Gulf monarchies, Pakistan, Yemen, Sudan, Afghanistan, Turkey, Somalia, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco; the same demonstrations were organized by communities of the Muhammadans in Europe, Australia, and the two Americas.

3- A very small minority, mainly Quranists, defended Muhammad; they asserted that his speeches delivered in Egypt were about undeniable Quranic facts; no one would dare to deny the Quran except those who disbelieve in it; Quranists asserted that foes of Muhammad have disputed over almost everything and every topic imaginable within ongoing struggle; yet, these Sunnites, Shiites, and Sufis are now united against him because they hate the Quranic Truth preached by him despite their claim of being Quran-believing 'Muslims'; they hate Muhammad as he has exposed them; this is why in their demonstrations, they demand his being put to death.

4- The international organizations and all human-rights entities of the West have become concerned very much about this case of Muhammad; media leaks have shown that Muhammad was being tortured in his prison cell especially by electric shocks! As a result, many human-rights organizations and several countries of the West have issued angry statements; some have threatened to impose sanctions on Egypt and to stop all sorts of financial aid...etc. The Egyptian President has received a hint about the possibility of his being tried, along with the men of his regime, by the International Criminal Court (if the political will of major countries in the world would include this one day) because of torture routinely committed in prisons and massacres committed on several occasions; this is not to mention people who went missing mysteriously. The Egyptian President heeded this hint and took the threat very seriously; he was keen on never severing any ties with the USA (and the West in general) in order to avoid the fate of Kaddafi of Libya and Saddam Hussein of Iraq. Thus, the Egyptian President has readily issued his commands to end the detention of Muhammad; he was to be released immediately from his prison cell.

Secondly: Muhammad refuses to be released until all innocent people are released from Egyptian prisons:

1- Muhammad has refused to be released until all innocent people (hundreds of thousands of people!) are released from Egyptian prisons especially the secret detention prisons of the Egyptian State Security Apparatus.

2- An explanation of this stance is copied from the words of some of the followers of Muhammad.

2/1: They have said that True Islam is based on justice, equity, religious freedom, and political freedom; Islam is the Lord God's Religion which is against injustice, oppression, corruption, tyranny, and the rule of the corrupt, affluent class members in any given society. This means that detaining innocent people in prisons is a clear sign of rejecting Islam.

2/2: They have said that in the Quran, the Lord God has never commanded the arrest/capture of warriors who joined troops of aggressors (who committed aggression against peaceful people) if they stop their aggression and sought help; they should be protected and delivered to safety: "And if anyone of the polytheists asks you for protection, give him protection so that he may hear the Word of God; then escort him to his place of safety. That is because they are a people who do not know." (9:6). Hence, the regime which detains innocent, peaceful people for merely expressing different opinions or political opposition is a regime that rejects Islam. Regimes which apply Islam must provide for their citizens security, peace, justice, freedom, food, and human dignity.

2/3: They have said that warriors who joined the troops of aggressors (who committed aggression against peaceful people) should never be killed in the battlefield if they pronounce the word of peace: "O you who believe! When you journey in the way of God, investigate, and do not say to him who offers you peace, “You are not a believer,” aspiring for the goods of this world. With God are abundant riches. You yourselves were like this before, and God bestowed favor on you; so investigate. God is well aware of what you do." (4:94). Hence, the regime which detains and frames innocent, peaceful people (within false accusations and investigations) for merely expressing different opinions or for their political opposition is a regime that rejects Islam. Regimes which apply Islam must provide for their citizens security, peace, justice, freedom, food, and human dignity.

2/4: They have said that Muhammad has refused to be released before the release of innocent, peaceful detainees who are framed and unjustly arrested and incarcerated because he opposes corruption and urges the upholding of justice; he applies this verse: "...and let no harm be done to either scribe or witness. If you allow harm to be done to them, it is corruption on your part...." (2:282). Hence, the regime which detains and frames innocent, peaceful people (within false accusations and investigations) for merely expressing different opinions or political opposition is a regime that hates the Quran and rejects Islam. Regimes which apply Islam must provide for their citizens security, peace, justice, freedom, food, and human dignity.

2/5: They have said that the Egyptian regime is a criminal one since it frames thousands of innocent people by virtue of false accusations; this sin is prohibited by the Lord God: "And whoever commits a mistake, or a sin, and then blames it on an innocent person, has taken a slander and an obvious sin." (4:112).

2/6: They have said that the military regime in Egypt has committed many massacres, and yet, the international community has remained silent; no serious investigations were done in such cases; hundreds of people were sentenced to death in Egyptian courts within unfair trials; hundreds of people died of torture in prisons; hundreds of people die because of governmental negligence in all sectors especially public means of transportation; this is premeditated murder; the Lord God says the following about murdering one peaceful person: "Whoever kills a believer deliberately, the penalty for him is Hell, where he will remain forever. And God will be angry with him, and will curse him, and will prepare for him a terrible torment." (4:93); let alone murdering hundreds of innocent, peaceful people annually.

3- Hundreds of human-rights organizations have sympathized with Muhammad and with detained innocent Egyptians; the West media have covered the story of this man, Muhammad, who has refused to be released unless all detained, framed innocent Egyptians would be released first after their unlimited periods of incarceration (without trial) and torture. The newspapers of the West have mentioned that the Egyptian Minister of Interior has opposed the commands of releasing such detainees; later on, they were released momentarily; most of them got re-arrested days later and sent to other prisons.

4- The Egyptian Minister of Interior has protested against their release because he has just widened the current prisons with extra buildings and built new prisons everywhere; if they would remain empty, this means about half a million people who work in the Ministry of Interior would lose their jobs or be forced into early retirement.

5- The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued an official statement to protest against the interference of the West within Egyptian affairs as this poses a threat to the Egyptian sovereignty; he has said that Egypt never interferes in the internal affairs of other countries and expects the same, within mutual respect, from other countries.

6- The Egyptian President has asserted that the human-rights criteria of the West are never fit for Egyptians and cannot be applied in Egypt which is a third-world country; Egyptians are backward and less important than citizens of the West countries. If citizens of the West countries enjoy respect, dignity, and human rights, the Egyptians do not deserve this and they are not yet up to that; they are like animals to be beaten, controlled, and ridden like donkeys and horses; this is based on the experience of military rulers since the 1952 coup d'état. The best way to rule Egyptians is to rely on tyranny, enslavement, exclusion, humiliation, and torture; hence, random detention by framing is intentional to make Egyptians submit to their rulers within force and fear; this is done in order to avoid chaos in Egypt; i.e., so as not to destroy Egypt as is the case with Syria, Libya, Yemen, and Somalia.

7- The Egyptian government has condemned and deplored the foreign interference in national affairs; Muhammad was transported by night, in secret, to a secret prison controlled by the Egyptian State Security Apparatus; all of Muhammad's supporters/followers who have defended him, especially Quranists, were arrested and tortured in the same prison; sadly, this has never drawn the attention of Egyptian media.

8- The masses in Egypt within their pro-government demonstrations have hailed the official statements issued by the Egyptian State; they have accused supporters/followers of Muhammad of being agents of the West powers paid handsomely to seek to destroy Islam. Other demonstrations against Muhammad have been organized in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf monarchies, praising Egypt for not submitting to the will and the dictates of the USA that urged the immediate release of Muhammad; this has marked the national liberation of Egypt from the control of the capitalist West countries especially the USA. Saudi Arabia and the Gulf monarchies have decided to send financial aid (i.e., billions of US$!) to the Egyptian State so that it can face the USA and Israel. Fundraisers have collected money donations to help Egypt; sadly, such money never reached the Egyptian Treasury; rather, it settled in the bank accounts (and bottomless pockets!) of the rulers of Egypt.

9- Egypt, with the help of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf monarchies, has launched a media campaign to criticize and attack the false prophet who denies Sunna hadiths and shows hatred towards 'Islam' because he is the paid agent of the USA. Sunnite Wahabi and Azharite sheikhs/clergymen have made their appearance on TV satellite channels to urge putting the heretic/apostate Muhammad to death. As expected, the Shiites joined this media campaign because Muhammad denies and denounces the Hussein mausoleum in Egypt and this cast doubt on Shiite holy shrines/mausoleums in Najaf and Karbala, in Iraq, and in Qom, in Iran. The Shiite sheikhs have also urged putting the heretic/apostate Muhammad to death. Iran issued an official statement that this false prophet, incarcerated in Egypt, is worse than the disbeliever Salman Rushdie. Ice began to thaw and break between Iran and Saudi Arabia; people are now talking openly about bringing an end to the centuries-old Sunnite-Shiite religious and political struggle and also about the (Umma of Muhammad) in the 'Islamic' world which has to face and refute the (Umma of Christ) in the West and the false prophet, detained in Egypt, who is being defended by the USA under the pretext of defending human rights and absolute religious freedom.

10- This new situation has entailed that the West has to deal with it; yet, what will the West do?

The USA saves Muhammad from detention in Egypt

1- The Muhammadans have become united against Muhammad, detained in Egypt, and they declared him a false prophet; their stance is due to their adhering to sanctifying, deifying, and worshiping an imaginary deity fashioned by their fancy named as (Muhammad); this deity is made immortal by them; he lives forever in his Yathreb mausoleum to salute and bless them and to urge Allah to forgive them! They consider him to be (1) the infallible master and the best of all the Lord God's prophets/messengers; and (2) the grand intercessor who will control the Last Day in the Hereafter. Such myths contradict the true nature of the real Muhammad the mortal prophet mentioned in the Quran. The Muhammadans have rejected the Quranic message descended upon and conveyed by Muhammad because they adhere to myths, lies, and falsehoods of the Sunnite, Shiite, and Sufi religions. When Muhammad appeared in Cairo, Egypt, to preach the Quran to them and to remind them that they have abandoned the Quran; the Muhammadans were infuriated and they imprisoned Muhammad and threatened to put him to death. No one defended Muhammad except the people of the West who believe in absolute religious freedom and in human rights, justice, human dignity, and political freedom.

2- Of course, the West has its own human devils who befriend and deal with devilish enthroned tyrants who monopolize power and wealth in the countries of the Muhammadans. These human devils of the West countries increase their wealth of billions of US$ via gigantic multinational trade corporations and the fabrication and selling of arms and weapons. Hence, it serves their interests to maintain military strife in the Middle-East to sell more arms to warring parties. Some of the sold weapons are outdated and some are never used before and need to be tested and developed by its being used against cities and bodies of the Muhammadans. The human devils of the West countries sell such arms and weapons to the human devils of the countries of the Muhammadans and give them commissions for every completed purchase or transaction. The human devils of the countries of the Muhammadans deposit such commissions in the banks of the West countries. This means that in the West countries, fierce competition continues to steal the wealth of the Middle-East countries and to spread bloodshed there within this slogan: If they desire to massacre one another, why will not we help them do this and make money in the process?!

3- Such has been the situation when Muhammad appeared in Cairo, Egypt, seeking peaceful reform by preaching the Quranic Truth and avoiding the ignorant ones. Yet, the leader of the ignoramuses, the head-sheikh or the 'grand' imam of Al-Azhar, and his Saudi and non-Saudi allies went mad; they had Muhammad imprisoned at once and sought to put him to unfair trial; they sought to hire a hit-man to kill Muhammad inside the prison cell and to smuggle this hit-man abroad (or to declare this killer as innocent [if caught red-handed] who should have left the judiciary authority the chance to put Muhammad to death!); they desired to eliminate the danger which threatens their stature, positions, and wealth. The sympathy expressed in the West in general (and inside the USA in particular) regarding Muhammad made the Muhammadans (despite their differences and disputes) stand united against the West and the USA; they flatly refused any foreign interference in Egyptian internal affairs in the name of human rights as this would undermine the sense of national dignity.

4- This united stance of all types of the Muhammadans made Riyadh (and Wahabi Sunnites) and Tehran (and the Shiites) get closer; this rapprochement had its influence on the regional (i.e., the situation in Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Libya) and international (the West, the USA, and Russia) levels. For sure, the human devils of the West desire to keep the volatile situation in the Middle-East to serve their purposes; yet, the pro-human rights institutions in the West seek to save and liberate the imprisoned Muhammad and they pressurize American and European policy-makers to put an end to human-rights violations in the countries of the Muhammadans. Of course, Muhammad still refuses to be released from detention unless all innocent ones are released first from all Egyptian prisons. This is considered impossible because tyrants will never hear of such a demand; if this would be done, the same demand will be voiced in all Middle-East countries; this will shake the thrones of the tyrannical rulers who maintain their power and rule by ongoing crimes of terrorism, torture, imprisonment, murder, and forced disappearance within their nations. The enthroned tyrants know for sure that if prison cells are confined only to ordinary criminals – after fair trial – this justice will certainly lead to the ouster of tyrants and their followers and henchmen; they will be removed forever from the political map of the Middle-East.

5- As the international community is currently led by the USA, the EU placed the problem of Muhammad in the hands of Washington. Hence, secret meetings were held by the people of the CIA, Pentagon, and the White House to discuss the affair of Muhammad. All people there agreed on the fact that the common interests entail saving Muhammad and setting him free from the Egyptian prison; he must be an immigrant to the USA very soon. This pragmatic decision has not been taken out of love or respect regarding Muhammad or towards Islam; rather, the Americans have realized that they must defuse and foil the imminent unity of all types of the Muhammadans so that they would resume their strife and bloodshed and their purchase of arms and weapons from the West. Thus, a group of experts promptly held a secret meeting to devise a plan which was implemented the very next day.

6- As per this plan, an American envoy met with the Egyptian President in Cairo and threatened him with being held in trial in the ICC, freezing his bank accounts in the USA, or being assassinated if he would disobey the commands of Washington. This envoy managed to convince him that it will serve his interests to get rid of Muhammad by allowing the American Marines to kidnap Muhammad out of prison and smuggle him out of Egypt. The Egyptian President promised to help; he assured the envoy that many red herrings will be prepared by the press to cover up the sudden disappearance of Muhammad and to distract the masses. The Egyptian President insisted that the envoy would promise him never to let this operation of smuggling Muhammad distort the image of the Egyptian President in Egypt and the Arab world as a very wise and inspired leader whose words fascinate experts worldwide! Thus, the envoy obtained the consent of the Egyptian President so easily; the envoy was also promised with every possible help offered to the Marines but in secret so as not to undermine the sovereignty of the Egyptian State whose decisions should appear in the Egyptian media as 'independent'. The Egyptian President thought about the best red herring; namely, to introduce an economic crisis so that the Egyptian masses would scream in pain and get fully distracted; this way, they will hardly have the time or opportunity to pose questions about the sudden disappearance of Muhammad and his reappearance in the USA.

7- Once he left the Egyptian presidential palace, the envoy contacted his boss to begin implementing the plan; his boss contacted a spy serving the CIA; namely, an Egyptian officer who works inside the Egyptian Central Intelligence. Coordinating all efforts, the route was paved for the Marines to reach the secret prison cell of Muhammad.

8- This Egyptian officer who works inside the Egyptian Central Intelligence was summoned by his own Egyptian boss; he shuddered in fear as he was being blindfolded; he supposed that his being an agent serving Washington was revealed and he might be summarily put to death without trial. Still blindfolded, he was led from the office of his boss to a black Limousine; two hours later, he was led into a hall; he heard the familiar sounds typical of military barracks; when he was made to take a seat, he touched the chair and found it to be a luxurious, very soft piece of furniture; he realized he was in a very good place and not in prison. When the blindfold was removed and he was allowed to see his surroundings, he found himself face to face to the calmly smiling Egyptian President.

9- Keen on saving his negative face, the Egyptian President said to the officer that he had a dream last night; the archangel Gabriel told him in a dream that the Americans contacted this officer whose name is (...) to help the Marines kidnap Muhammad from his prison cell; the officer was about to deny receiving any contact from any foreigners, but the Egyptian President told him that Gabriel never tell lies in dreams; he assured him that Gabriel told him in this dream to command this officer to obey the Americans but to consider the whole matter as a top secret. The officer left the place while feeling overjoyed; he was given the green light to begin the operation.

10- In the very next day, this officer/agent led the Marines to the secret prison and to the cell where Muhammad was detained; to their surprise, the Marines found Muhammad blindfolded and in a faint while a prison-ward was beating him severely and verbally abusing him. The prison-ward was terrified to see the officer and the Marines; the officer screamed at the shivering prison-ward to get out of the cell at once. The Marines carried Muhammad, who was still unconscious, and got out of the secret prison easily while being led by the Egyptian officer/agent. The superior bodies in the Egyptian State have issued commands beforehand to the manager of this secret prison to never interfere; he was quite aware of what was going on, but he preferred watching a football match on TV inside his luxuriously furnished office!

11- When Muhammad opened his eyes, he found himself in a clean bed and he saw a doctor checking him and a policeman was standing beside this doctor; he felt a syringe needle attached to one of his arms; before he could ask what was going on, the anesthetic kicked in and Muhammad lost his consciousness again.

12- The helicopter which carried Muhammad, who was still unconscious, appeared suddenly in the skyline of Cairo, and then, it reached the Mediterranean Sea; it landed on a huge ship of the American sixth fleet.

13- When he regained his consciousness, Muhammad found himself in a chamber surrounded by some Americans who spoke in flawless Arabic; they welcomed him and explained to him that they had to interfere to save his life; they briefly told him that his life was in grave danger. They told him that his peaceful call for reform would inevitably fail in the Arab countries as everyone is now united against him and demanded his being put to death; even the few ones who supported him, mainly Quranists, were arrested and might be cold-bloodedly murdered. They told him that his insistence to release all innocent ones before his own release was considered as an act of defiance to the rulers of the Middle-East, especially Egypt, who may imprison thousands of innocent ones later on and take advantage of the situation to get rid of their foes and to arrest and detain the opposition figures. Thus, his insistence may indirectly cause harm to thousands of innocent people and this will never benefit him. They told him that his history includes his immigrating from Mecca to Yathreb to flee the persecution inflicted by the Meccan Qorayish tribesmen; hence, he should welcome immigration from Egypt to the USA since the disbelieving Egyptians are more violent than the disbelievers among the Qorayish tribesmen and they would readily welcome his being put to death.

14- Muhammad listened to them attentively and then asked them about their reasons for rescuing him since they are not Muslims and they do not believe in the Quran. They frankly told that they have two reasons: (1) they heard two different views about Islam: that it is a religion of mercy, justice, peace and religious freedom and that it is a religion responsible for terrorism, tyranny, backwardness, and injustice in the Arab countries; they desire to know the view of Muhammad as the prophet of Islam, and (2) the human-rights and pro-free-speech organizations in the West pressurized them to rescue him and to provide security and safety for him inside the USA.

15- Muhammad asked them about how tolerant they are regarding the higher Quranic values of freedom, justice, mercy, peace, human rights, and human dignity. They happily informed him that they are the same higher values of the American Law and American society. Muhammad told them that anyone can claim this but may act otherwise; he desired to check the veracity of what they have told him; they told him that even when some violations occurred in their open society, transparency measures, free speech, and the free media offer remedies and everyone is liable to be questioned, checked, judged, and penalized. They told him that he can verify what they have said.

16- Muhammad asked them how he can do so; they told him he will be given the chance to see this in theory and in practice; he will be free to move and meet/talk with anyone he liked inside the USA; he can read the Constitution and the Law; he can visit any cities and walk through their streets; he can examine the American style of life himself; furthermore, visits will be arranged for him to the White House, the Congress, the CIA, the Pentagon, prisons, clubs, police stations, museums, and the media.

17- Muhammad has asked them about his right to declare his views and to show the Quranic facts of Islam; he has been told that this is much needed in the West; he should prepare himself to answer all tricky questions about Islam, and this is not to mention other questions about hadiths, biography of him as the Last Prophet, companions who ruled after his death, and the struggles, sects, deeds, and tenets of radical 'Muslims'.

18- Muhammad has remained silent for a moment, and then, he smiled and said that the Quranic verses he will quote represent Islam because the Quran is the Lord God's Word, while his own personal views and comments are not part of Islam. Muhammad said that his Lord God will judge him and judge all humanity on the Last Day; his deeds/words outside the Quran is part of history and NOT Islam. Muhammad asserted that history is never devoid of distortions; true history of each person is found in the Book of Deeds shown only on the Day of Judgment when the Dominant Lord God will fairly judge all human beings, including all prophets, as per their deeds and faiths.

19- Muhammad has been told that he should prepare himself to live in the free world and face all questions about thorny, controversial issues. The big question is as follows: Is Islam fit for all eras and locations? Or is it merely a historical incident fit only for the 7^th century Arabia and it ended and cannot survive in the modern world?

20- Muhammad smiled and quoted this Quranic verse: "...I desire nothing but reform, as far as I can. My success lies only with God. In Him I trust, and to Him I turn." (11:88).

When Muhammad arrives to the USA

Firstly: the American political stance regarding Islam gets complicated:

1- Upon settling in Washington, Muhammad realizes the fact that for years, ongoing debates about Islam continue inside the USA.

2- This ongoing debates have increased since 9/11 and reached an unprecedented level when the danger of the ISIS terrorists has emerged and posed a veritable threat to the West in general and the to the USA in particular. Wahabi terrorism has reached a higher level as some American 'Muslims' are brainwashed and recruited by ISIS to commit terrorist (suicide) operations and crimes inside the USA; this recruitment occurs via the cyberspace and inside most American mosques; the same type of recruitment by ISIS occurs in Europe.

3- The ISIS terrorists (and other terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda) succeeded in committing their heinous crimes mainly because of their being helped/manipulated by the West in general and the USA in particular to achieve minor victories in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Libya within complicated political circumstances involving international, regional, and local factors. Despite the fact that the USA and the EU did their best so that their support of Wahabi terrorists in the Middle-East would never be reflected in (or negatively influence) their own territories, this has been impossible since the world is a global village linked via the cyberspace; terrorist crimes of ISIS terrorists and their likes have been committed inside the USA and the EU. Sadly, ISIS terrorists have managed to recruit (via the internet and mosques of the West) delusional Sunnite youths born inside the USA and the EU, especially Sunnite youths who are impoverished and marginalized and who underwent brainwash in Sunnite mosques of the West controlled by the leaders of Wahabi terrorism. Sadly, the USA allied itself to Al-Qaeda terrorist groups in Syria while fighting and eliminating Al-Qaeda terrorists inside the USA. Sadly, Saudi Arabia helped ISIS in Iraq and Syria (both countries are hated by the Saudi royal family members) though it declares its waging war against the ISIS terrorists so that they would never infiltrate inside Saudi Arabia. Sadly, Russia fought against ISIS in Syria but allied itself to other terrorist groups there which fought ISIS though Russia itself faces the veritable danger of Wahabi/Sunnite terrorism inside both Russia and the countries which ally themselves to Russia in Central Asia. Regrettably, the fall of more victims inside the USA and the West countries never creates pricks of conscience within the policymakers in Washington, Moscow, and the European capitals. The reason: they believe that in such wars, there will be an inevitable number of victims among West citizens; such victims are sacrificed so easily merely because these West capitals gain billions of US$ when they sell arms/weapons.

Secondly: cultural and media polarization inside the USA about Islam:

1- On the level of the West media, ideas are polarized but they result in one viewpoint eventually; namely, 'Islam' is responsible for the crimes committed by ISIS. On very rare occasions in the West media, Wahabism is mentioned as the source of all trends of religious terrorism worldwide. It is rare to find media anchors asserting the fact that among all followers of all religions, there are fanatics, extremists, and terrorists. The erroneous dominant view held in the West media is that 'Islam' is responsible for terrorism committed by the so-called 'Islamists' and 'Islamist' groups of the so-called 'radical Islam' within 'Islamic' jihad.

2- This is not to mention the two extreme points of the pole juxtaposed with each other; namely, (1) Saudi Arabia and its allies among the Sunnite countries who suppose that Wahabism represents 'true' Islam, and (2) extremists among secular people and Christians inside the USA (and the West in general) who hate very much the name of Islam and Muslims; those extremists/fanatics have embraced the culture of the struggle between Arabs and the West that stretched from the eras of the Arab conquests, Crusades, to the era of colonialism. They deem Islam as the greater Satan or the archenemy; they ascribe to its name the Arab and the Ottoman conquests within regions of the European continent. They believe that Crusades and European colonialism of the Arab world were positive things or historic events. Both extreme points of the pole share one element: they claim that Wahabism and Wahabi terrorism are part of Islamic sharia laws and the so-called 'Sunna' of Muhammad. Hence, it is very important that Muhammad has been brought into the USA so that he would explain himself.

Thirdly: polarization and ignorance concerning the level of knowledge of Islam in the USA:

1- Things are not different within all departments of Arabic/Islamic studies or Middle-Eastern studies in American universities and 'independent' research centers; most professors there were Jewish and had a measure of neutrality and objectivity; they saw that Islam is nearer to their Judaism than Christianity; this is because Islam (i.e., the Quran) advocates monotheism and speaks against the idea of trinity and it contains stories of Abraham, Moses, and the Israelites which resemble (to a certain extent) the stories of the Bible's Old Testament. Besides, the Jews in most cases never underwent any racial or religious persecution within the long history of 'Muslims' (or rather the Muhammadans) inside the Arab empire, in contrast to the severe persecution they suffered in the Christian Europe. Jewish professors controlled such departments and centers during the era of the Cold War between the USA and the USSR; Islam at the time did not stir any controversy or cause any debates; Saudi Arabia had no authority or pressurizing role at the time.

2- After the Yom Kippur War (a.k.a. the October 1973 War) to restore Sinai to its original owners, the Egyptians, Saudi Arabia helped Egypt by playing a major role in pressurizing the USA so that it will not offer much help to the defeated Israelis; king Feisal of Saudi Arabia wielded the weapon of oil; the prices of oil barrels soared as a result; the Saudi Treasury was filled to the brim with oil revenues after 1973; years later, Saudi Arabia assumed the role of the leader of Arabs/'Muslims' instead of Egypt whose political and economic collapse began in the era of Sadat (an continued within the eras of other presidents who followed his footsteps). The Saudi oil revenues were employed by king Feisal to spread and propagate Wahabism worldwide (especially inside the West and the USA) as if it were 'Islam' and in the name of the so-called 'Sunna' of Muhammad. Sadly, thousands of Wahabi mosques, groups/societies, centers, and schools mushroomed like cancerous cells inside the USA (and the West in general) and they are the source of Wahabi terrorism and recruiting terrorists as they have abused the atmosphere of democracy and freedom and free speech; they are still funded mainly by Saudi Arabia until now.

3- Regrettably, most American universities rely on receiving donations/funding; Saudi donations (and donations from the other Gulf countries) have avalanched (until now) to these universities of the USA, provided that Wahabism is never criticized or researched. It has become a way of making much money and of growing rich to establish the so-called 'Islamic' research centers inside American campuses and to attract professors to them and to their forums/conferences. Riyadh financed many scholarships there; sadly, many American professors taught in Riyadh as their new mecca though they never knew anything about Islam except few lines and they never studied the Arabic tongue. Many venal ignoramuses among the Jews, Pakistanis, and Arabs make huge profits by establishing the so-called 'Islamic' research centers in the West to receive millions of US$ as donations from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf monarchies!

4- In a post-9/11 world, most people realized that studying 'Islam' is of vital importance in American universities. Sadly, because it is absolutely forbidden inside the USA, especially within circles of academia, to criticize Wahabism or to even objectively research it, all departments of Arabic/Islamic studies or Middle-Eastern studies ignore Wahabism on purpose and never delve deep into the ideological roots of Wahabi terrorism. The alternative is some scientific centers, controlled by security apparatuses inside the USA, which study Wahabism as if it were Islam; for them, Islam is synonymous with Wahabism! Such centers hate 'Islam' as it is accused of producing Al-Qaeda, Bin Laden, ISIS, Boko Haram, and their likes.

5- Typical of political, historical, and sociological studies inside the research centers and universities of the USA, there is no interest in researching the roots of any topic at hand. This grave error occurred even within studying communism which belongs to recent history, let alone phenomena which belong to the Middle-Ages (and authors of that era) such as caliphate, Salafism, hadiths, and fiqh. Salafists venerate the past and seek to restore the caliphate system into today's Arab world. It is of paramount importance that the focus should be on the historical and fundamental roots of the terrorist Wahabi movements. Sadly, the 'independent' research centers never do so; instead, they readily accuse Muhammad (or rather the Sunnite/Wahabi false portrayal of him) of being the root of evil and terrorism; they adopt the Saudi Wahabi erroneous vision of Muhammad and they assume that the so-called Sunna hadiths were really uttered by him! Hence, it is very important that Muhammad has been brought into the USA so that he would explain himself.

Fourthly: between fanaticism and ignorance of Islam among (Sunnite and Christian) experts of 'Islam' and American policymakers:

1- Typically, such 'experts' of 'Islamic' studies emerge from such above-mentioned centers and departments; they work as consults in the Pentagon, the Congress, the White House, and the American security apparatuses. All of these experts share the element of mastering the English tongue but they know very little Arabic; they can hardly read/speak the Arabic tongue; they are also ignoramuses regarding Islam and 'Muslims'; they never establish a clear barrier between Islam, as a religion, and 'Muslims' as human beings.

2- Many of such experts are of Indian or Pakistani origin and they hardly understand Arabic; they never read the Quran in its original Arabic tongue; all of them are conservative Sunnites and were taught Wahabism (by Saudis) as if it were Islam; they read the translations of the Quran in different tongues; such translated editions of the Quran are funded and printed by Saudi Arabia and they contain margins offering Wahabi erroneous misinterpretation/exegeses of the Quranic verses. Hence, these Sunnite experts hardly know anything about True Islam (i.e., the Quran). The other type of experts comprises secular persons and Christians who hate the name of Islam and hate the Quran very much; their information about 'Islam' comes exclusively from the Wahabi vision, their disgust by the Arab and the Saudi corruption, and their suffering from Wahabi terrorism in the West. We name them as the Christian experts as opposed to the Sunnite experts. Of course, both types of 'experts' are ignoramuses who know nothing about Islam (i.e., the Quran).

3- Within closed meetings, both the Christian experts and the Sunnite experts of 'Islam' talked to American policymakers about how to make the best use of the presence of Muhammad inside the USA. As expected, the Saudi lobby inside the USA employed its money and power in American media to attack and undermine Muhammad; he has been described as an inveterate liar, a sorcerer, a soothsayer, a fortuneteller, and an imposter. As per the Quran, they are the same accusations leveled against him by the Quran-hating Qorayish tribesmen in Arabia in the 7^th century A.D. Surely, both the Christian experts and the Sunnite experts of 'Islam' parroted the stance of the Saudi lobby (after being bribed, or paid very handsomely, of course!); they attacked Muhammad as an imposter and disapproved of the idea of inviting him to talk within American media. They proposed his being deported from the USA as his presence will exacerbate the problem and deepen the current crisis; they warned that ISIS terrorists will seek to exact revenge against the USA for its helping such an imposter; the ISIS terrorists may seek to assassinate him to get rid of him and to embarrass the American administration at the same time. They said that Saudi Arabia, the chief ally of the USA in the Middle-East, is very much pained as the USA has interfered to save an imposter who claims to be Muhammad. Since Muhammad has been brought to the USA anyway, the experts advised that his claim of being a prophet must been exposed and debunked. Both the Christian experts and the Sunnite experts of 'Islam' offered their unified Saudi vision of how to manage the discussion with Muhammad since his talking to the American media seemed inevitable. They proposed a program for these debates which will be watched by millions of people worldwide. They said that instead of assassinating such an imposter (which was the cherished wish of both the Egyptian President and the Saudi king), character assassination is much better; he must be exposed and refuted on camera before viewers worldwide. This way, religious and political disputes, strife, and wars will be restored to the Middle-East as desired by the USA and the West.

4- The American policymakers requested from the Christian experts and the Sunnite experts of 'Islam' to prepare a report containing questions to be posed to Muhammad; this was swiftly done in the same meeting; copies of such report were handed out to the American policymakers; in fact, they raised their eyebrows in surprise as they read such a report containing clever and very tricky questions.

Fifthly: Muhammad walking in the streets of Washington:

1- Within unnoticeable surveillance, Muhammad walks in the streets of Washington and he is not followed by media people; he is dressed in simple, ordinary American clothes, and no one recognizes him.

2- In Washington, he visits the White House, the Pentagon, the US Department of State, and the Congress; he visits all museums and enters into markets, parks, libraries, and universities. Muhammad speaks with people in flawless English; this has surprised those who watch him closely; they feel that this is a miracle; how has he learned the American tongue so fast?! Indeed, his American dialect is exactly like white Americans with no accent at all! Muhammad visits later on NYC, LA, Boston, and Houston.

3- Those who watch him closely will notice that Muhammad refuses to enter into Shiite and Sunnite mosques; he performs prayers on his own inside his hotel room; he restrains his looks when he comes across women who wear revealing attire. It is noticed that Muhammad looked angrily in silence at women dressed in niqab and men dressed in Saudi or Pakistani attire.

4- Two months have passed as Muhammad roamed the streets and made several trips. Hot debates continue about him in newspapers, websites, and satellite channels; in most cases, he is virulently attacked; he reads about this while smiling. Everyone is waiting eagerly for meetings which will be held by Muhammad and the questions which will be posed to him by journalists and also by those who assume themselves to be 'specialists' in 'Islam'.

The stance of the Muhammadans regarding the presence of Muhammad inside the USA

Firstly: demonstrations inside the USA organized by the American Muhammadans against Muhammad:

As Muhammad was visiting several locations in the Atlantic coast of the USA, many calls were raised among the Sufi, Shiite, and Sunnite American Muhammadans who live in the USA to stand united against the imposter 'Muhammad' who claims to be a prophet and is employed as the agent of the central intelligence apparatuses of Islam-hating countries in order to destroy Islam. Leaders and clergymen of the American Muhammadans urged the American Sufis, Shiites, and Sunnites to reject their religious, racial, sectarian, and doctrinal disputes and differences in order to face the inveterate liar and imposter who claims to be Prophet Muhammad. Many meetings and conferences were held to discuss how to face such a veritable danger. Decisions were taken promptly; massive demonstrations are to be organized simultaneously in several major American cities in most American states to demand Muhammad's deportation. Yet, such demonstrations brought no results at all; more demonstrations are arranged to be organized once Muhammad would appear in any forum, debate, or conference within the American media. The American Muhammadans were mobilized in such demonstrations as they attended inciting, furious sermons delivered inside mosques of the USA; angry demonstrators chanted anti-Muhammad slogans, demanding his deportation while accusing him to be an imposter, a sorcerer, and an inveterate liar.

Secondly: the CNN debate concerning the presence of Muhammad inside the USA:

1- A CNN anchor hosted the four men representing the high-rank clergymen and religious leaders/sheikhs of the American Sufi, Shiite, Sunnite, and Sunnite Wahabi Muhammadans; each of the four men had a different religious attire but they voiced the same demand in unison; i.e., Muhammad, the inveterate liar and imposter, must be deported as soon as possible.

2- The CNN anchor reproached them; he reminded them that most of them were originally immigrants and political asylees (within true or false claims) and the American Law protects their rights: free speech, religious freedom, and propagating/proselytizing their religion inside the USA. The Wahabi Sunnites have misused this freedom to cause harm to the USA with terrorist crimes and operations. Muhammad, accused by them of being a false prophet, is a man who was detained and tortured in prison because he declared his views and his religion, regardless of the fact that they are true or false views, and he has the right to peacefully express his views; others are to refute him with their own views without persecuting or punishing him. The CNN anchor continued and said to them that the views of Muhammad are thought-provoking and tenable since the grand imam of Al-Azhar and Saudi scholars (i.e. Sunnite Wahabis) and Shiite scholars could not refute him and demanded his being detained and incarcerated in Egypt; the Egyptian government leveled against him accusations which never exist except in countries of tyranny and corruption. The CNN anchor continued and said to them that if it had not been for the interference of the USA to save Muhammad, he would have died of torture. The CNN anchor reproached them indirectly by saying that it is strange that human-rights organizations in the USA and the civilized West countries defend Muhammad though most of their members are non-Muslims and some are atheists, whereas 'Muslims' demand his deportation despite the fact that he quotes the Quran. Why would American 'Muslims' (especially Sunnite/Wahabi extremists and fanatics) enjoy free speech and religious freedom and yet demand that Muhammad would be deprived of such rights?!

3- The four religious leaders of American Muhammadans defended their viewpoint; they said that this false prophet is an imposter and an inveterate liar whose aim is to distort the image of Islam and to deny Sunna hadiths. They said that though he quotes Quranic verses, he will deny the Quran soon enough because, for the sheikhs of the Muhammadans, those who deny Sunna hadiths deny the Quran as well soon enough. The CNN anchor expressed his surprise by their prejudice against Muhammad; how would they guess he might deny the Quran soon enough?! This is a groundless presupposition; no one can be accused of something one may (not) do in the future! No clergymen, or any other mortals, are omniscient beings who may predict future events! Would the American government put to death any persons among American Muslims under the claim that they might perform terrorist crimes in the near future?! No one would approve of this grave injustice, of course. The CNN anchor reminded them that Muhammad relies on the Quran to assert his views and this means he will never deny the Quran in the future; this is simply because if he would do so, he will fail and destroy the basis of his own views.

4- The four sheikhs/leaders of the American Muhammadans had nothing to say to the CNN anchor except that they still believe that this man is an imposter and an inveterate liar. The CNN anchor told them instead of demanding his deportation, they can face him within a TV debate; the CNN is ready to host them alongside with Muhammad anytime. The CNN anchor assured them of his being neutral and objective within such a debate just as the case with debates held among presidential candidates. The four sheikhs refused to participate in such a TV debate; they merely handed the CNN anchor the list of accusations they level against Muhammad. The CNN anchor read this list and said he cannot level these accusations against Muhammad since they must do so themselves; he returned the list to them. The four sheikhs felt perplexed and confused as they looked at one another. The CNN anchor asked them about the reason of their perplexity and confusion; they told him they have not shown up here to demand a debate with the imposter; they merely aim at proving his being an inveterate liar who is a hater of sharia and a Sunna-denier. The CNN anchor tried to convince them to face Muhammad within a CNN debate; he told them Muhammad deserves the right to be given the chance to defend himself and his views; this is democracy and these are the rules of engaging into interfaith dialogue. The four sheikhs postponed their taking a decision about a debate until they consult their respective communities/societies first. The CNN anchor ended the show by asserting that CNN is ready to host Muhammad and the four sheikhs within such a TV debate; if the four sheikhs would refuse to show up, the CNN will host Muhammad in a special interview to defend himself and to refute the accusations leveled against him.

5- The fear of the four sheikhs regarding the suggestion of facing Muhammad within a TV debate has made the public opinion side with Muhammad. Sympathy with Muhammad has increased as the CNN spread the news of what happened to him in Egypt. The CNN hosted many independent experts in politic, human rights, and Islamic studies to discuss the status of Muhammad inside the USA and the reasons behind the unexplained fear of the four sheikhs regarding the suggestion of facing Muhammad within a live CNN debate, this is not to mention the same fear within the ranks of 'Muslim' imams inside the Middle-East countries. Everyone hosted by the CNN anchor readily agreed that Muhammad must have the chance to talk about Islam in which he believes and to answer any questions posed to him about it. It was predicted that his being hosted in a CNN interview or debate will be of vital importance to face 'Islamists'/terrorists.

6- The four religious leaders/sheikhs of the American Muhammadans were very much troubled by the keen interest of the CNN anchor concerning hosting Muhammad, especially that other channels (with Fox News on top of the list) begin to compete with the CNN in trying to host Muhammad in an exclusive interview. The four religious leaders of the American Muhammadans decided to hold a private meeting to discuss what to do regarding facing this danger.

Thirdly: the four religious leaders of the Muhammadans meet and conspire against Muhammad:

1- In a remote, isolated ranch in VA, the USA, a meeting is held and the attendees are only the four American religious leaders/sheikhs who represent leaders of mosques, organizations, and groups of Sunnites, Sunnite Wahabis, Shiites, and Sufis inside the USA. They are discussing how to face the veritable danger posed by the presence of this man who claims to be Prophet Muhammad as he undermines their deities and ridicules their faith tenets. The question is raised: Who would dare to face Muhammad within a TV debate?

2- When it was proposed that the Sunnite sheikh Massood was the one fit for facing the false prophet within a televised debate, he shuddered in fear, saying: "Do not speak to me about such a suggestion! Even the grand imam of Al-Azhar and the Saudi grand mufti have decided not to face him though they are our masters and the imams of Sunna and the Umma and we are merely their disciples! I shall never manage to do what they have refrained to do! In fact, this imposter might quote the hadiths about sex, and about mocking and casting doubt on the Quran, from Al-Bokhary book to embarrass me on air! He might show the discrepancies and contradictions in the hadiths of Al-Bokhary book! I cannot face such a man!"

3- The Sunnite sheikh Massood smiled and said mockingly: "I do believe that the Sufi sheikh Bahlool with his miracles and 'divine' knowledge by which he deceives his gullible, naïve disciples can single-handedly face this imposter!". The Sufi sheikh Bahlool said angrily: "Are you trying to ridicule me, O sheikh Massood?! Did you forget that I am fully aware of your sexual relations with tens of women apart from your twenty wives?! I know quite well that any woman who desires to convert to 'Islam' and comes to you, you have sex with her under the pretext of teaching her directly about 'Islam'!" The Sunnite sheikh Massood stood and shouted angrily: "You have taught me this, O sheikh Bahlool! Do not forget your amorous conquests with your female Sufi disciples! You never stopped "knowing" women until you became impotent as a senile, old man! I know the exact number of women who converted to 'Islam' after spending several nights in your bed! Do not make me too mad at you, or else, I will mention more details about your past sexual life! You only feel quite envious because I am still a strong man and enjoy the best of health!".

4- The Shiite sheikh Mandoor calmed them down and said: "Each of us keep CDs of the videotaped sexual scandals of one another. Besides, the FBI people keep their own copies of these CDs of our amorous conquests in bed and our secret meetings held in houses, mosques,...etc. with many people, plus documents about our bank accounts and the money donations transferred to them. The FBI people decided not to scandalize or expose us, I think, because we are at their mercy and always at their service; all of us are under their surveillance. So please do not expose yourselves by yourselves!". They fell silent for a moment. The Shiite sheikh Mandoor continued: "I spent days till I found this remote ranch for our meeting away from the surveillance of American security apparatuses and the FBI. They cannot spy on our meeting here; they might find out about this meeting in this ranch later; let us seize the chance of complete privacy; we must agree on the best way to ward off the danger of this imposter who is about to be hosted by the CNN. Sadly, the American administration people did not assassinate him as I have ardently wished. In fact, his presence is our biggest problem now because he is protected by the USA and has the right of free speech and freedom of expression like the rest of us. Obviously, we cannot face him in a TV debate. I myself cannot refute him if he would decide to discuss with me the hadiths-book of the Shiite imam Al-Kulayni titled (Al-Kafi)!".

5- The Sunnite sheikh Massood retorted to the Shiite sheikh Mandoor: "That is because (Al-Kafi) is a book filled with lies, myths and falsehoods!". The Shiite sheikh Mandoor told him: "(Al-Kafi) does not differ at all from Al-Bokhary book in relation to lies, myths, falsehoods, and made-up series of narrators! Both books cannot be discussed or understood using the reasonable mind! One either to believe in one or both of these books or to reject them; that is all!". The Sufi sheikh Bahlool said: "The same applies to the book of the Sufi grandmaster Al-Ghazaly titled (Ehiaa Olom Eddine) [revival of religious sciences].". The Shiite sheikh Mandoor said: "Exactly! And hence our big problem with this imposter protected by the Americans! When he and any other persons would decide to discuss or to put to question our holy books while they disbelieve in them, they will undermine and expose us!". The Shiite sheikh Mandoor sighed and continued: "The problem is not whether this man is actually Prophet Muhammad or merely an imposter; the main problem is that any persons who might discuss our faith tenets using the reasonable mind and the Quran as criteria to judge them, they will easily realize that we, clergymen of all doctrines, repeat the stances and deeds of the Meccan polytheists of the Qorayish tribe. In fact, any persons who disbelieve in our faith tenets and our hadiths can debunk them and undermine and expose all sheikhs once they read the ideas and hadiths found in (Ehiaa), (Al-Kafi), and (Al-Bokhary). The problem will aggravate when anyone would read the Sunnite fiqh and sharia books which urge terrorism such as the ones authored by Ibn Taymiyya and M. Ibn Abdul-Wahab! Am I right, O sheikh Massood?!". The Sunnite sheikh Massood remained silent in despair as he could not refute the words of the Shiite sheikh Mandoor.

6- The three sheikhs directed their looks towards the fourth silent sheikh; they asked him in unison: "What is your own view, O sheikh Al-Ghamadany?!". The Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany sighed and said to them calmly: "There is no way out but to resort to the fatwa of sheikh Ibn Taymiyya quoted by the Algerian sheikh Abou Bakr Al-Jazaeiry in his book titled (Minhaj Al-Moslem) and the Egyptian sheikh Sayed Sabek in his book titled (Fiqh Al-Sunna)." The Sufi sheikh Bahlool said: "What is this fatwa?". The Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany said: "To put heretics and apostates to death, without trial, once they are caught and even if they declare their repentance!". The other three sheikhs shouted in unison: "Great! This is a brilliant idea, O sheikh Al-Ghamadany!".

Lastly:

Within a closed room which contains several screens and boasts the American flag, some FBI men are watching, from different angles, the closed meeting of the four religious leaders of the American Muhammadans; they saw them embracing one another in mirth and then sitting down. The Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany said: "Prepare a young man who will volunteer to blow himself up along with Muhammad and those around him at the CNN; speak with this chosen young man a lot about martyrdom and the number of houris in Paradise waiting for each of the martyred jihadists!". In an exuberant manner, the Sunnite sheikh Massood told him: "I have under my command lots of jackasses desiring to participate in suicide-operations!".

CHAPTER I: The CNN Interview about Islam and Muhammad

CHAPTER I: The CNN Interview about Islam and Muhammad

Muhammad in his first CNN interview about tolerance within Islam

Firstly: the four sheikhs are put under control by the FBI:

1- The Sufi sheikh Bahlool, the Sunnite sheikh Massood, the Shiite sheikh Mandoor, and the Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany sat down and consumed their food plates with their capital appetites while feeling overjoyed. Suddenly, the gate of their room was crushed and the armed FBI men surrounded the four sheikhs; they commanded the four sheikhs to lie down on the floor. The four sheikhs did so while shivering and food bits fell out of their mouths; they submissively let the FBI men handcuff them one by one.

2- In another room in the same ranch, the four handcuffed sheikhs were made to be seated at one table; feeling disgraced, they were forced to watch a large TV screen showing CDs of their sexual scandals and their bank accounts. An FBI investigator was looking at them closely while hardly being able to conceal his sentiments of contempt and anger. Once the show was over, the FBI investigator told them that they are accused of planning to assassinate Muhammad; this accusation will enable him to incarcerate them for a long time and he can expose and scandalize them with these CDs; he said he can kill them and bury them in this ranch anytime he liked; he told them they were wrong in supposing that in this ranch, they are out of the reach of the FBI. The four sheikhs looked at one another with fright in their eyes. After pausing for a moment, the FBI investigator told them that instead of this, he can make a deal with them; the four sheikhs mumbled their promise to accept any deal unconditionally. The FBI investigator demanded their giving him any pieces of information he would demand from them; if they would tell any lies, they will never leave this ranch alive. Instead of being incarcerated in prison, they will remain for the rest of their lives in this ranch under the FBI surveillance; no one will see them and they will not see anyone. They readily agreed; the FBI investigator ordered his soldiers to remove their handcuffs; he smiled at the four sheikhs and welcomed them as new agents serving the FBI.

Secondly: the CNN announces hosting Muhammad in a special interview:

1- Many statements by centers and communities of the American Muhammadans were issued to attack and level accusations against Muhammad and to express their objection to the imminent CNN interview with him; the American Muhammadans accused Muhammad of being an apostate and a heretic; the American media, especially the CNN, took great interest in spreading such statements; this resulted in more fame and money gained by such 'Islamic' centers! The CNN seized the chance to achieve this scoop of interviewing Muhammad exclusively, at an appointed time, to give him the chance to defend himself and explain his views.

2- As such CNN interview seems inevitable now, the statements of the American Muhammadans stopped; millions of viewers inside the USA and worldwide are looking forward to watching Muhammad on TV.

Thirdly: Muhammad in his exclusive CNN interview:

Muhammad appeared in an elegant American outfit; he sat while retaining his calmness and wearing a smile; the CNN anchor welcomed him warmly; Muhammad thanked him in a very polite manner, and the CNN anchor asked him about his opinion regarding the statements issued to attack and level accusations against him. Muhammad began to talk.

Muhammad: Let me begin with the basic rule: Islam is only the Quranic verses I quote; Islam is only the Holy Quran. My personal views, inferred from the Quranic verses, are not part of Islam. As for the statements issued to attack and insult me, the Quran has the best response; I am commanded in the Quran to be outspoken about preaching the Quranic Truth and then to move away from the ignorant, polytheistic ones. My Lord God has told me the following: "So proclaim openly what you are commanded, and then turn away from the polytheists." (15:94). Of course, turning away from them is linked to pardoning them; my Lord God has told me the following: "...and avoid the ignorant." (7:199). This is also linked to my following the Quranic Revelation as per the commands of my Lord God: "Follow what was revealed to you from your Lord. There is no God but He. And turn away from the polytheists. Had God willed, they would not have adhered to polytheism. We did not appoint you as a guardian over them, and you are not a manager over them." (6:106-107). Thus, regardless of their insults addressed to me, I turn away from them and pardon them as per my Lord God's Quranic commands which I obey.

The CNN anchor: What if you meet the ignorant ones who hate you in a street and they insult you face-to-face? What will be your reaction?

Muhammad: I am one of the servants of the Dominant Lord whose descriptions include the following: "The servants of the Dominant Lord are those who walk the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, “Peace.”" (25:63). This means my response would be the word of peace; this is because Islam is the religion of peace. True monotheistic believers apply the divine commands of my Lord God found here: "And when they hear vain talk, they avoid it, and say, “We have our deeds, and you have your deeds; peace be upon you; we do not desire the ignorant ones.”" (28:55). Thus, avoiding the ignorant ones means they are responsible for their deeds; believers are also responsible for their own deeds. Religious freedom means each individual is responsible for one's religious choices.

The CNN anchor: What if any of your enemies try to commit any sort of aggression against you?

Muhammad: Islam has the response for this in my Lord God's words here: "And who is better in speech than someone who calls to God, and acts with integrity, and says, “I am among the submitters”? Good and evil are not equal. Repel evil with good, and the person who was your enemy becomes like an intimate friend." (41:33-34); this means when I repel their evil acts with my good deeds, the aggressors will feel ashamed of themselves and become friends with me.

The CNN anchor: This stance entails a great deal of patience!

Muhammad: Of course, patience is one of the higher Quranic values of Islam; it is a positive type of patience and never a negative one.

The CNN anchor: What are the features of this positive patience in Islam?

Muhammad: It is not isolation from the outside world; rather, it is to avoid aggressors and to nobly keep away from them; this positive patience is linked to obeying the Quranic Revelation, glorifying the Holy Name of my Lord God, and imploring Him for pardon and forgiveness. My Lord God has told me the following: "And endure patiently what they say, and withdraw from them politely." (73:10); "And follow what is revealed to you, and be patient until God issues His judgment, for He is the Best of judges." (10:109); "So endure what they say, and proclaim the praises of your Lord before the rising of the sun, and before sunset." (50:39); "So bear patiently what they say, and celebrate the praises of your Lord before the rising of the sun, and before its setting. And during the hours of the night glorify Him, and at the borders of the day, that you may be satisfied." (20:130); "So be patient. The promise of God is true. And ask forgiveness for your sin, and proclaim the praise of your Lord evening and morning." (40:55).

The CNN anchor: Do not you feel annoyed because of their insults addressed to you and their accusations leveled against you?

Muhammad: I am a mortal human being; for sure, I used to get very much annoyed because of their unjust accusations and false claims about me; my Lord God has told me the following: "We are aware that your heart is strained by what they say. So glorify the praise of your Lord, and be among those who prostrate. And worship your Lord in order to attain certainty." (15:97-99). My Lord God knows that I got very much annoyed and He has given me remedy; namely, glorification and other acts of worship. Since the Lord God sides with the patient ones, He has told me to stop being distressed because of the schemes of my foes and to adhere to piety and charity: "So be patient. Your patience is solely from God. And do not grieve over them, and do not be stressed by their schemes. God is with those who are righteous and those who are charitable." (16:127-128).

The CNN anchor: This reminds me of those who ridiculed you in caricatures; this caused many angry demonstrations in several countries years ago. Will you adopt the same stance of positive patience and forgiveness regarding such caricaturists who mocked you?

Muhammad: Yes. This is because Islam is the religion of peace and charity.

The CNN anchor: What is the bases of such noble sentiments and charity regarding those who insulted you?

Muhammad: Religious freedom and the belief in the Day of Judgment.

The CNN anchor: What do you mean?!

Muhammad: My Lord God has set this Islamic rule: "Whoever is guided - is guided for his own good. And whoever goes astray - goes astray to his detriment. No burdened soul carries the burdens of another, nor do We ever torment until We have sent a messenger." (17:15). This means being guided or misguided is a personal responsibility and an individual choice; by their deeds, the guided ones choose Paradise and the misguided ones choose Hell in the Hereafter; one is responsible for one's faith and deeds and never responsible for those of other people.

The CNN anchor: And what does this mean to you?

Muhammad: My own responsibility or mission is confined to conveying the Quranic Message; one bears the responsibility for the fate of one's soul. My Lord God says the following in the Quran: "...The sole mission of the messenger is to deliver the Clarifying Message." (24:54).

The CNN anchor: This means you have no control over those who reject your call of following the Quran, right?

Muhammad: Exactly; my Lord God has told me the following: "So remind. You are only a reminder. You have no control over them. But whoever turns away and disbelieves. God will torment him with the greatest torment. To Us is their return. Then upon Us rests their judgment." (88:21-26). This means I have nothing to do with those who misguide their souls; I am not responsible for them. This meaning comes in the context of the command of turning away from those who reject the Quranic Truth; I am not a guardian over them; they have nothing to do with me; they choose freely for themselves. I cannot guide anyone; religious guidance is a personal responsibility for each individual; my Lord God increases the guidance of those who choose guidance; He is the Omniscient Lord Who knows who are the guided ones; I, myself, have no measure of omniscience at all and I am not a mind-reader. My Lord God has told me the following: "Follow what was revealed to you from your Lord. There is no God but He. And turn away from the polytheists. Had God willed, they would not have adhered to polytheism. We did not appoint you as a guardian over them, and you are not a manager over them." (6:106-107); "And when they hear vain talk, they avoid it, and say, “We have our deeds, and you have your deeds; peace be upon you; we do not desire the ignorant ones.” You cannot guide whom you love, but God guides whoever is willing to be guided, and He knows best those who are guided." (28:55-56).

The CNN anchor: This means when you bear patiently with their insults, you wait for the Last Day, right?

Muhammad: Exactly; turning away from them patiently is linked to waiting until the Resurrection Day when the pious, charitable ones will be rewarded immensely by Allah. My Lord God has said the following to me: "So turn away from them, and wait. They too are waiting." (32:30); "...So be patient. The outcome belongs to the pious ones." (11:49); "And be patient. God will not waste the reward of the charitable ones." (11:115).

The CNN anchor: What will happen to the misguided disbelievers on the Resurrection Day?

Muhammad: Human beings on earth are free agents who choose to believe or to disbelieve and to be guided or misguided; their responsibility for their fate in the Hereafter is based on this absolute religious freedom; all human beings will be made to stand before the Dominant Lord God for judgment in the Hereafter; those who have chosen disbelief and misguidance will be tormented in Hell forever; my Lord God says the following in the Quran: "And say, “The Truth is from your Lord. Whoever wills - let him believe. And whoever wills - let him disbelieve”. We have prepared for the unjust a Fire, whose curtains will hem them in. And when they cry for relief, they will be relieved with water like molten brass, which scalds the faces. What a miserable drink, and what a horrible place." (18:29).

The CNN anchor: This is terrible!

Muhammad: The Hell torment never abates and it has no end, and no one among the Hell dwellers will ever get out of it.

The CNN anchor: Do not you feel sorry, in advance, for their sake?

Muhammad: I do feel sorry for them; this is why I have preached the Quranic Truth while hoping that they will listen and guide themselves so that they are saved; when I felt saddened because of the fate of disbelievers, my Lord God has told me the following: "And do not be saddened by those who rush into disbelief..." (3:176); "O messenger! Do not let those who are quick to disbelief grieve you..." (5:41). Thus, I pardoned those rejecters of the Holy Quran who insulted me; it is enough that they died as disbelievers and they will be tormented Hell forever in the Hereafter.

The CNN anchor: Is pardoning them linked further to the Hereafter?

Muhammad: Yes; it is linked to waiting for the Hour of the destruction of the universe before the Last Day as per the Lord God's commands addressed to me: "We did not create the heavens and the earth, and what lies between them, except with the Truth. The Hour is coming, so forgive with gracious forgiveness." (15:85); "As for his statement: “My Lord, these are a people who do not believe.” Pardon them, and say, “Peace.” They will come to know." (43:88-89); thus, I pardoned those who insulted me and greeted them with peace because Islam is the religion of peace.

The CNN anchor fell silent and felt unable to say anything; the interview was interrupted by some ads.

Fourthly: about the four sheikhs of the American Muhammadans:

The four sheikhs in the ranch in VA, the USA, were watching in silence the CNN interview with Muhammad.

The Sufi sheikh Bahlool (surprisingly): I never knew before that the Quran contains these facts!

The Sunnite sheikh Massood (angrily): Because you are such an idiot!

The Sufi sheikh Bahlool (perplexedly): I never studied the Quran before, you know!

The Shiite sheikh Mandoor (mockingly): You are excused; you were only a guy drudging in the kitchen of a Lebanese restaurant in the USA; when you were given the sack, you worked in a Sufi mosque as an imam!

The Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany (mockingly): But sheikh Bahlool have memorized few short Quranic Chapters!

The Sufi sheikh Bahlool (angrily): OK! I admit I am an ignoramus! What about the three of you who have memorized the entire Quranic text?! Why do not you preach such Quranic facts to your respective congregations, then?!

The Shiite sheikh Mandoor: You idiot! We must complicate matters of religion, and never show how simple religion is, in order to justify our existence and wealth and to emphasize our importance!

The CNN interview with Muhammad about his love for his enemies:

Firstly: continuing the interview after the ads:

The CNN anchor (barely hiding his amazement): I cannot understand! Your response for their insulting you is to pardon them while waiting for the Last Day, and yet, at the same time, you feel sorry for their rushing into disbelief; does this mean that you love them?!

Muhammad: Yes, of course.

The CNN anchor: Is that so?! Please tell me about this kind of love; it differs, of course, from the romantic love between men and women, brotherly love, loving one's relatives, friends, and offspring; it differs from the loving fame, money, carnal lusts, stature, precious possessions,...etc.

Muhammad: It is a very special kind of love; it is the strongest kind of love; namely, to love people means to care about them; this means to be keen on their guiding themselves in order to avoid an eternity in Hell and to enjoy Paradise forever.

The CNN anchor: To what extent were you keen on guiding your contemporaries in Arabia who rejected the Quran?!

Muhammad: To the extent that my Lord God has said the following to me: "Even though you may be concerned about their guidance, God does not guide those who misguide their souls. And they will have no supporters." (16:37).

The CNN anchor: This reminds me of the unconditional love, care, giving, and interest of parents towards their offspring; the parents wait for nothing in return. It is a greater kind of love when you love your enemies who have insulted you, right?

Muhammad: Yes.

The CNN anchor: Did your love towards them have any signs in your holding dialogs with them?

Muhammad: Every messenger and prophet of the Lord God feared for his people; this is exemplified by Noah when he addressed his people: "...“O my people! Worship God; you have no God other than Him. I fear for you the torment of a Tremendous Day.”" (7:59); and by Hud when he addressed his people of Aad: "I fear for you the torment of a Tremendous Day." (26:135).

The CNN anchor: Who are Hud and Aad?!

Muhammad: Some Quranic stories of prophets are not mentioned in the Book which was revealed to Moses.

The CNN anchor: They include stories about a prophet named Hud and his people of Aad, right?

Muhammad: Yes; the Quranic stories of this type include the ones about Saleh and his people of Thamood and Shuaib and his people of Madian.

The CNN anchor: The names Hud, Saleh, and Shuaib show that they were among the ancient Arabs, I think.

Muhammad: Yes; Shuaib feared for his people and wished they would avoid the Hell torment by believing within monotheism: "...“O my people, worship Allah; you have no God other than Him...I see you in good circumstances, but I fear for you the torment of an Encompassing Day.”" (11:84).

The CNN anchor: What about the fate of the people of Madian? I know that the disbelievers among Noah's people were drowned in the deluge.

Muhammad: When the Lord God has smitten and destroyed the disbelievers of Thamood, Saleh who loved them dearly was saddened and expressed his sorrow for their fate: "...“O my people, I have delivered to you the message of my Lord, and I have advised you, but you do not like those who give advice.”" (7:79); likewise, Shuaib said the following after the destruction of the people of Madian: "...“O my people, I have delivered to you the messages of my Lord, and I have advised you, so why should I grieve over a disbelieving people?”" (7:93).

The CNN anchor: I know the story of Abraham from the Bible's Old Testament; is the story of Abraham mentioned in the Quran?

Muhammad: Yes; within several Quranic verses.

The CNN anchor: Did Abraham love his disbelieving people as well?

Muhammad: Abraham was lenient as he tried to convince his disbelieving father to believe within monotheism; he addressed his father with peace though his father threatened to stone him to death. My Lord says the following in the Holy Quran: "O my father, I fear that a torment from the Dominant Lord will afflict you, and you become an ally of the Devil.” He said, “Are you renouncing my gods, O Abraham? If you do not desist, I will stone you. So leave me alone for a while.” He said, “Peace be upon you. I will ask my Lord to forgive you; He has been Kind to me. And I will withdraw from you, and from what you pray to instead of God. And I will pray to my Lord, and I hope I will not be disappointed in my prayers to my Lord.”" (19:45-48). Abraham continued to implore the Lord God to forgive his father until he realized that his father is an enemy of the Lord God who will never repent: "Abraham asked forgiveness for his father only because of a promise he had made to him. But when it became clear to him that he was an enemy of God, he disowned him. Abraham was kind and clement." (9:114); the Lord God has reproached Abraham when he protested against the angels (after they brought him the glad tidings of the birth of Isaac) who were sent to destroy the disbelievers among the people of Lot: "When Abraham's fear subsided, and the good news had reached him, he started pleading with Us concerning the people of Lot. Abraham was gentle, kind, penitent. “O Abraham, refrain from this. The command of your Lord has come; they have incurred an irreversible torment.”" (11:74-76).

The CNN anchor: What about you? Did your love for your people, in Arabia, have any signs when you engaged into dialogs with them?

Muhammad: Yes; I repeated to them the same word and I expressed my fear for them: "“And ask your Lord for forgiveness, and repent to Him. He will provide you with good sustenance until a stated term, and will bestow His grace on every possessor of virtue. But if you turn away, then I fear for you the torment of a Tremendous Day.”" (11:3).

The CNN anchor: What was their reaction?

Muhammad: They hated seeing the sentiments of love in my face and hearing them in my words: "They wrap their chests to hide from Him. But even as they cover themselves with their clothes, He knows what they conceal and what they reveal. He knows what lies within the hearts." (11:5).

The CNN anchor: What else?!

Muhammad: When I read Quranic verses to them, their faces showed deep hatred towards me and towards the Holy Quran: "Those who disbelieve almost stab you with their glances when they hear the message, and say, “He is crazy!”" (68:51).

The CNN anchor: How did you overcome this?!

Muhammad: By showing more love and compassion towards them in my speech; I, Muhammad Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abdul-Mutalib, reminded them of my past life with them; they knew how honest and truthful I am; I was neither a liar nor an insane man before and after my conveying the Quranic Message to them; my Lord God has commanded me to tell them the following: "Say, “I offer you a single advice: devote yourselves to God, in pairs, or individually; and reflect. There is no madness in your friend. He is just a warner to you, before the advent of a severe torment.”" (34:46).

The CNN anchor: Your keenness on guiding them made you fall in troubles, I suppose!

Muhammad: Of course.

The CNN anchor: Would you exemplify this to me?

Muhammad: I was saddened very much by their insistence on seeing tangible miracles like the ones granted to Moses and Jesus. The Lord God has denied the people of Arabia such miracles because the only miracle in Islam is the Quran itself until the end of days. My Lord God has said the following to me: "We know that what they say grieves you. It is not you they reject, but it is God's Verses that the unjust ones deny. Other messengers before you were rejected, but they endured rejection and persecution until Our help came to them. There can be no change to God’s words. News of the messengers has already reached you. If you find their rejection hard to bear, then if you can, seek a tunnel into the earth, or a stairway into the heaven, and bring them a miracle. Had God willed, He could have gathered them to guidance. So do not be among the ignorant ones." (6:33-35)

The CNN anchor: Is there another example?

Muhammad: Yes. I kept imploring the Lord God to forgive my disbelieving relatives and the Lord God has reproached me: "It is not for the prophet and those who believe to ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they are near relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are people of Hell-Fire." (9:113).

The CNN anchor: Is there another example?

Muhammad: The Lord God has forbidden me to obey the deniers of the Quran or to follow their suggestions of compromises since I was keen on convincing them to accept the Quranic Message: "So do not obey the deniers. They would like you to compromise, so they would compromise. And do not obey any vile swearer. Backbiter, spreader of slander. Preventer of good, transgressor, sinner. Rude and fake besides. Just because he has money and children. When Our Verses are read to him, he says, “Myths of the ancients!”" (68:8-15).

Secondly:

Before the TV screen to which they were glued, the Sufi sheikh Bahlool, the Sunnite sheikh Massood, the Shiite sheikh Mandoor, and the Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany remained silent; what they heard in the CNN interview with Muhammad set their minds a-thinking. They have not – yet – touched the scrumptious food items placed on the table before them.

The Sufi sheikh Bahlool: We either repeat these words in our sermons and thus lose everything and everyone or to disbelieve in these words and thus never lose anything or anyone!

The Shiite sheikh Mandoor: (after a sigh) We are already losers. We are prisoners, idiot!

The CNN interview with Muhammad about never making compromises regarding the Quranic Truth

Firstly:

The CNN anchor: The popes, ayatollahs, imams, and sheikhs as well as other types of clergy are threatened by your preaching the Quran; you pose a veritable danger to their wealth, stature, position, and fame; you simply tell them that they are the arch-enemies of the Lord God despite the fact that they established themselves as His representatives on earth; you plainly tell them that they are liars who deceive the naïve masses by pretending to be pious and virtuous; you frankly tell them that they are both misguided and misguiding though they claim they monopolize religious guidance.

Muhammad: The criterion here is the Truth.

The CNN anchor: This is your own viewpoint; you say you adhere to the Quranic Truth since the Quran is, for you, the Lord God's Word. Some clergymen might admit inwardly that you side with the Truth. Yet, the Truth is never enough; it must have power and might to side with it and support it; of course, you lack both might and power right now.

Muhammad: This has been my ordeal with my people: the Meccan tribe of Qorayish.

The CNN anchor: How?!

Muhammad: My Lord God has commanded me to be outspoken in delivering the Truth and, at the same time, to keep away from the polytheistic aggressors: "So proclaim openly what you are commanded, and then turn away from the polytheists." (15:94).

The CNN anchor: Meaning?

Muhammad: There are no possible compromises to be made regarding the Quranic Truth; patience is linked to the Truth within the souls of true monotheists who will be the winners in the Hereafter; the Lord God urges true believers to remind one another of patience and the Truth: "By Time. The human being is in loss. Except those who believe, and do good works, and recommend Truth, and recommend patience." (103:1-3).

The CNN anchor: What was the stance of your people against the early believers?

Muhammad: Qorayish controlled the trade-caravans and desert routes through Arabia which connected the Levant and the Byzantines with Yemen and India. Qorayish grew as the wealthiest tribe and it controlled trade all over Arabia at the time; the Qorayish tribesmen were the shrewdest and most cunning and scheming people in Arabia; my Lord God says the following about this: "They made their schemes, but their schemes are known to God, even if their schemes can eliminate mountains." (14:46). The Qorayish tribesmen used their evil scheming against me; each of them played certain roles; i.e., some were violent persecutors and some resorted to flattery and compromises; all of them were cunning schemers; the ones who sided with me in Mecca at the time were the peaceful, weak, poor people who found Islam as the fulfillment of their dreams of justice, equality, and mercy.

The CNN anchor: You never made compromises regarding the Quranic Truth you outspokenly pronounced; you refused to accept their flattery; you preached the Truth and moved away from those who insulted you.

Muhammad: Yes. But I tried to stop the persecution and aggression committed against the poor, weak, oppressed ones on earth who believed in the Quran by trying to get nearer to those disbelievers who sought compromise and they flattered me; yet, my Lord God has told me the following: "So do not obey the deniers. They would like you to compromise, so they would compromise." (68:8-9).

The CNN anchor: What have you done, then?!

Muhammad: The Qorayish tribe at the time included the arrogant, affluent ones and the weak, poor ones; most of those who believed in the Quran with me belonged to the weak and the poor who were despised, persecuted, and tortured by the arrogant Meccans whose stance is mentioned here: "...“Are these the ones whom God has favored from among us?”..." (6:53). This means they envied the poor, weak ones for being guided and they hated being equals – within Islam – to such poor, weak people. I felt that if some of the arrogant ones embraced Islam, this would help alleviate the persecution and suffering of the weak ones; this would help spread the Quranic Message; this is why I tried to get closers to arrogant, affluent compromisers who flattered me.

The CNN anchor: I see.

Muhammad: The screams of tortured ones pained me so much; I sought to save them; this was my greatest hope; yet, the cunning, scheming Qorayish disbelievers, within their schemes, knew this and pressured me to compromise regarding the Quranic verses and to disregard the commands of my Lord God.

The CNN anchor: What have you done, then?!

Muhammad: I drove away from my presence the weak, oppressed believers so that I would please the arrogant ones, but my Lord God has forbidden me from doing this: "And do not drive away those who call upon their Lord, morning and evening, seeking to gratify Him. You are not accountable for them in any way, nor are they accountable for you in any way. If you drive them away, you would be one of the unjust ones." (6:52).

The CNN anchor: If you allow me, I have to tell you that this was a big mistake; it is very wrong of you to drive away the weak ones from your presence in order to gratify the arrogant ones.

Muhammad: I did so because I loved them and I feared for them; I wished to deliver them from being tortured; the arrogant ones would have readily persecuted them before my eyes; the weak, oppressed ones were in danger and I pitied them.

The CNN anchor: If your stance were OK, why has the Lord God rebuked you in the Quran?!

Muhammad: Allah is the Omniscient Lord. I did this as per my own thinking at the time; I have no measure of omniscience at all; these are the commands of my Lord God addressed to me: "And content yourself with those who pray to their Lord morning and evening, desiring to gratify Him. And do not turn your eyes away from them, desiring the glitter of this world. And do not obey him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance so he follows his own desires..." (18:28).

The CNN anchor: Did you attend gatherings of the arrogant ones away from the weak ones? You belong to the prominent faction of Qorayish known as the Hashemites; this means your family members led the entire tribe!

Muhammad: I went to them and sought to offer them guidance; they hated seeing my poor, weak, oppressed friends who were the early believers; I tried hard to convince the arrogant ones to embrace Islam. At one time, a blind believer tried to talk to me about Islam, but I frowned and disregarded him in order to gratify the arrogant, affluent disbelievers of Qorayish; the Lord God has rebuked me: "He frowned and turned away. When the blind man approached him. But how do you know? Perhaps he was seeking to purify himself. Or be reminded, and the message would benefit him. But as for him who was indifferent. You gave him your attention. Though you are not liable if he does not purify himself. But as for him who came to you seeking. In awe. To him you were inattentive." (80:1-10).

The CNN anchor: This is indeed a great lesson to be drawn by the reasonable ones!

Muhammad: Sadly, I repeated the same mistake of attending the gatherings of the arrogant ones but I stopped when the divine command came to me twice to avoid them: "So leave them to blunder and play, until they meet their Day which they are promised." (70:42 + 43:83).

The CNN anchor: You obeyed the divine commands belatedly, then!

Muhammad: Yes; this was wrong, but I felt I had to convey the Quranic Message repeatedly; I attended some of their gatherings when they ridiculed the Quranic verses, but my Lord God has told me the following: "When you encounter those who seek to undermine Our Verses, turn away from them, until they engage in another topic. But should Satan make you forget, do not sit after the recollection with the unjust people." (6:68).

The CNN anchor: Meaning?

Muhammad: This means it is OK to convey the Quranic Message in their presence, but once they began to ridicule the Quranic verses, I should avoid them until they change this topic, and even if I forgot this divine command because of Satan, once I remember it, I should move away; this divine command is repeated in the same context: "The righteous are in no way accountable for them; it is only a reminder, that they may be attain piety. So leave alone those who take their religion for play and pastime, and whom the worldly life has deceived. But remind with it, lest a soul becomes damned on account of what it has earned. It has no helper or intercessor besides God. Even if it offers every equivalent, none will be accepted from it. These are the ones who are delivered to perdition by their actions. They will have a drink of scalding water, and a painful torment, because they used to disbelieve." (6:69-70).

The CNN anchor: This means the arrogant, affluent class members in Mecca had their unchanged stance against the Quran, and this is why they ridiculed its verses, right?

Muhammad: In fact, they held gatherings specially to ridicule the Quranic verses; they have been warned against torment on the Last Day for this grave sin: "Until, when We seize the affluent ones among them with torment, they begin to scream. Do not scream today. You will receive no help from Us. My Verses were read to you, but you turned back on your heels. Arrogant towards it - talked nonsense about it in gatherings - disregarded it." (23:64-67).

The CNN anchor: Did the Quran-hating, scheming, compromising men who got nearer to you and flattered you succeeded in negatively influencing you?

Muhammad: They were about to manage to do that if it had not been for the protection by the Dominant Lord God; my Lord God has told me the following: "They almost lured you away from what We have revealed to you, so that you would invent something else in Our name. In that case, they would have taken you for a friend. Had We not given you stability, you might have inclined towards them a little. Then We would have made you taste double in life, and double at death; then you would have found for yourself no helper against Us." (17:73-75).

The CNN anchor: What does this mean?!

Muhammad: They tried to convince me to add to the Quranic verses and to ascribe these additions to the Lord God; yet, He saved me from their schemes; they were about to manage to convince me to commit this sin; had I obeyed them, my punishment by Allah would have been very severe.

The CNN anchor: This means in the Quran, the Lord God bears witness to the fact that you are a mortal human being who is never infallible. Allah protects the Quran Himself.

Muhammad: Yes; this Quranic context is about me and the Holy Quran itself: "And it is not the speech of a poet - little do you believe. Nor is it the speech of a soothsayer - little do you take heed. It is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds. Had he falsely attributed some statements to Us. We would have seized him by the right arm. Then slashed his lifeline. And none of you could have restrained Us from him." (69:41-47).

The CNN anchor: This means in the Quran, the Lord God bears witness to the fact that you never added a single word to the Quranic text since such a severe punishment did not befall you. Why have the Qorayish polytheists insisted on disbelieving in the Quran?!

Muhammad: Because their wealth, stature, authority, and power were based on the unjust religion of polytheism dominant at the time; their polytheism justified their injustice for centuries; they forced everyone in Arabia to submit to the deep-rooted religious ways inherited from their forefathers or Salaf; to reject these ways means apostasy; thus, any new religious call for reform, justice, and equality posed a threat to the few affluent, arrogant ones who monopolized wealth authority in Mecca at the expense of the impoverished majority.

The CNN anchor: This is part of sociology.

Muhammad: This is a Quranic rule mentioned by my Lord God.

The CNN anchor: Really?!

Muhammad: Allah mentions that the Qorayish polytheists rejected the Quran because they adhered to the religious ways of their ancestors: "But they say, “We found our forefathers following a course of an Umma, and we are guided by following their footsteps.”" (43:22). This is a Quranic general rule about all eras: "Likewise, We sent no warner before you to any town, but the affluent ones among them said, “We found our forefathers following a course of an Umma, and we are following their footsteps.”" (43:23).

The CNN anchor: We will stop briefly here to have some rest; our dear viewers, we will return on air after the ads; please stay tuned!

Secondly:

As they watched the CNN interview with Muhammad, the Sufi sheikh Bahlool, the Sunnite sheikh Massood, the Shiite sheikh Mandoor, and the Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany were consuming the delicious food items which filled the table before them. All of a sudden, the Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany stood up and screamed in hysteria: "Kill him! Kill him!"; when the rest of the frightened sheikhs tried to calm him down, he ran away from their clammy hands which tried to catch him, and he kept knocking his head against the wall, slapping his own face, while screaming: "Kill him! Kill him!". The Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany stopped suddenly and clutched his buttocks; he screamed that his bowels are about to explode;his inflamed hemorrhoids bled and he fainted. A minute later, the FBI men carried him on a stretcher. Hospitalized, the hemorrhoids of the Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany needed 32 surgical operations. Days later, he was brought back to the same ranch in VA along with the other three sheikhs. Once he saw them, he shouted: "Kill him! Kill him!"; with fury in their eyes, the three of them motioned their fingers at their lips, silently commanding him to shut the f**k up. The Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany remained silent after saying: "OK! Enough is enough!".

The CNN interview with Muhammad about making distinction among prophets and messengers of the Lord God

Firstly:

The CNN anchor: Each nation or Umma is divided into sects or parties; for instance, the nation of Christ is divided into several doctrines and churches; the Israelites are divided into doctrines; the so-called Umma of Muhammad is divided into doctrines which are, in their turn, subdivided into sects; this goes on until now; this state of affairs is very clear and needs no proofs at all; I would like to ask you about the origin of such divisions and subdivisions.

Muhammad: Their primary cause is making distinction among prophets and messengers of the Lord God; this leads to deifying this or that prophet and placing him above the rest; this later on leads to deifying those who accompanied this or that prophet and then other authors or imams; with every new view of deifying more mortals, more divisions are bound to occur and to continue until now. Every community of each party or sect is happy with its gods and holy books and hates others who follow other doctrines.

The CNN anchor: Indeed, we see the strife and ongoing wars or struggle between Sunnites and Shiites, Sufis and Wahabi Sunnites, and Catholics and Protestants. History tells us of many painful examples of bloody wars among sects and doctrines in Europe and elsewhere; even the Byzantines persecuted the Egyptian Orthodox Copts. This is not to mention the wars between the Crusaders, or nation of Christ, and the nation of Muhammad in the Holy Land which shaped world history in the Middle-Ages and in the early modern era. What is your opinion about this religious strife which causes wars, religious persecution, inquisition, and accusations of heresy?

Muhammad: Being divided in matters of religion is the cause of such strife; the solution is found in the Quran in which my Lord God commands the truly faithful, monotheistic believers to believe in the Celestial Books revealed by Him to all prophets and messengers and to devote their souls, worship, and religion only to Him; we are to follow the divine command of never to make distinction among prophets and messengers of the Lord God; all of them must be equal in our minds; we must never prefer one of them to the rest. Deifying prophets and messengers is the root of polytheism leading to religious strife. This is why one finds in the Quran a warning addressed to the People of the Book about this.

The CNN anchor: Has God said so to the People of the Book, or Israelites and Christians of Arabia, in the Quran?!

Muhammad: Yes; this is directly addressed to them: "Say, “We believe in God; and in what was revealed to us; and in what was revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Tribes; and in what was given to Moses and Jesus; and in what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we submit.” If they believe in the same as you have believed in, then they have been guided. But if they turn away, then they are in schism..." (2:136-137).

The CNN anchor: This divine command is very clear about to believe in all Scripture revealed to all prophets and messengers without making distinction among them; or else, schism is bound to occur. Of course, within doctrines of the Israelites, there are many differences; this is not to mention the insurmountable differences among the Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants about the nature and message of Jesus Christ. In fact, I admire the Quranic solution you have just mentioned about avoiding schisms in religion.

Muhammad: Of course, my Lord God has commanded me to believe in all Books revealed by Him: "...and say, “I believe in whatever Book God has sent down..." (42:15).

The CNN anchor: I see that the term (Umma of Muhammad) is never mentioned in the Quran; otherwise, the Quran would have commented on it or refuted it; I understand that at the time when the Quran was being revealed gradually to you, there were no Shiites, Sufis, Sunnites, Salafists, and so on; no one among the Arabs, or Gentiles of Arabia, made distinction among prophets and messengers; making such distinction is a sign of disbelief which spread only among the People of the Book at the time, right?

Muhammad: Yes, and the Quran mentions a lot the People of the Book, the Israelites, believers, disbelievers, and hypocrites. The sects you have just mentioned are never mentioned in the Quran and they never existed in Arabia during the years when the Quran was being revealed to me.

The CNN anchor: Do you mean to tell me that the divine commands in 2:136-137 have been addressed only to the People of the Book in Arabia?

Muhammad: The same divine commands in 2:136-137 have been addressed elsewhere to me and to the believers as part of the monotheistic faith within the religion of Islam: "Say, “We believe in God, and in what was revealed to us; and in what was revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Tribes; and in what was given to Moses, and Jesus, and the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we submit.”" (3:84).

The CNN anchor: Why such divine commands are found in 3:84 though your contemporaries, also known as "companions", did not prefer you to the previous prophets and messengers of God?

Muhammad: Because this is part and parcel of the monotheistic faith within Islam: the universal religion revealed by the Lord God within Celestial Books to all prophets and messengers, each in his tongue, and they along with their followers in all eras until the end of days are one nation, or Umma, of monotheists in Paradise as per the Holy Quran.

The CNN anchor: We will discuss later on the idea of the universality of Islam within all celestial messages; let us focus now on the fact that all prophets and messengers of God must be equal in the minds of all monotheistic believers. Since your contemporaries did not deify you, can we say that 3:84 is a warning beforehand to the next generations?

Muhammad: Yes. This is proven in this Quranic verse about features of the monotheistic faith within Islam; my Lord God says the following in the Quran: "The messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, as did the believers. They all have believed in God, and His angels, and His Books, and His messengers: “We make no distinction among any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and we obey. Your forgiveness, our Lord. To you is the destiny.”" (2:285).

The CNN anchor: This means if some people refuse to obey 2:285 and insist on making you above the rest of prophets and messengers, they are polytheistic disbelievers who deify you.

Muhammad: Exactly.

The CNN anchor: What Quranic proofs have you to support this view?

Muhammad: My Lord God says the following in the Quran: "Those who disbelieve in God and His messengers, and want to separate between God and His messengers, and say, “We believe in some, and reject some,” and wish to take a path in between. These are the disbelievers, truly. We have prepared for the disbelievers a shameful torment. As for those who believe in God and His messengers, and make no distinction between any of them - He will give them their rewards. God is Forgiver and Merciful. The People of the Book challenge you to bring down to them a book from heaven. They had asked Moses for something even greater. They said, “Show us God plainly.” The thunderbolt struck them for their injustice. Then they took the calf for worship, even after the clear proofs had come to them. Yet We pardoned that, and We gave Moses a clear authority." (4:150-153).

The CNN anchor: I do not understand the phrase (“We believe in some, and reject some”).

Muhammad: It is explained by the contrast here: "As for those who believe in God and His messengers, and make no distinction between any of them - He will give them their rewards. God is Forgiver and Merciful." (4:152). All Celestial Messages of the Lord God are one and the same; namely, (There is no God but Allah). This is true monotheism and it entails never to deify messengers and prophets of Allah. Polytheistic disbelievers insist on deifying some of them and rejecting some others as insignificant, mortal prophets; this is the meaning of separating between them and their Lord God while ascribing to Him that He commands their deifying mortals! Such disbelievers will enter into Hell in the Hereafter in case they die without repentance.

The CNN anchor: This is part of the unity of the divine religion, right?

Muhammad: Yes; the prophets and messengers of Allah received but one revelation; my Lord God has told me the following: "We have inspired you, as We had inspired Noah and the prophets after him. And We inspired Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Tribes, and Jesus, and Job, and Jonah, and Aaron, and Solomon. And We gave David the Zabur. Some messengers We have already told you about, while some messengers We have not told you about. And God spoke to Moses directly. Messengers delivering good news, and bringing warnings; so that people may have no excuse before God after the coming of the messengers. God is Powerful and Wise." (4:163-165).

The CNN anchor: Do you mean to tell me the content of the divine messages was one?

Muhammad: Mainly in essentials.

The CNN anchor: Meaning?

Muhammad: The essentials include obeying the divine commands and never to be divided in religion as per this verse which directly addresses all believers in all eras: "He prescribed for you the same religion He enjoined upon Noah, and what We inspired to you, and what We enjoined upon Abraham, and Moses, and Jesus: “You shall uphold the religion, and be not divided therein.”..." (42:13).

The CNN anchor: This means the command about not to be divided in religion is repeated in the Quran.

Muhammad: Yes. This division will not take place when people stop deifying mortals; I mean they must stop deifying prophets and messengers of the Lord God. Monotheism, or Islam in which I believe, is summarized lucidly in 2:285. Monotheists sanctify and deify only their Lord God.

The CNN anchor: Why do not today's Muslims read 2:285?! They intentionally disobey the divine commands in it! The Sunnites insist on deifying Muhammad by adding his name to the testimony of monotheism (There is no God but Allah); the Shiites add the names of Ali and Muhammad to it. This is not to mention their glorifying Muhammad's name in prayers and pilgrimage, and in sermons inside mosques, and they assume that you are a deified legislator, alongside with God, in issuing sharia legislations!

Muhammad: I am innocent of what they do!

Secondly:

The Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany: So, they have detained us here to listen to such blasphemies and words of disbelief for the rest of our lives! This is the worst form of torture!

The Sunnite sheikh Massood: This insane imposter is insulting us on purpose! This disbelieving ignoramus is a Sunna denier!

The Shiite sheikh Mandoor: No! This imposter is among disbelieving Nawasib; the enemies of the Holy Imam Ali's Household Members!

The Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany (screaming): No! He is a disbeliever and a Sunna denier!

The Shiite sheikh Mandoor (screaming): No! He is among disbelieving Nawasib; the enemies of the Holy Imam Ali's Household Members!

The Sufi sheikh Bahlool: Let us agree on one thing; he is an enemy of our holy saints; Allah would wage a war against the enemies of saints as per the hadith in Al-Bokhary book. Am I right, O sheikh Al-Ghamadany?!

The rest of them address the Sufi sheikh Bahlool in unison: Shut the f**k up, idiot!

The CNN interview with Muhammad about his disowning those who testify that (There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah)

The CNN anchor: The term (Umma of Muhammad) with which today's Muslims describe themselves does not exist in the Quran; at the same time, they hate being described as (Muhammadans). Christians are more truthful to themselves when they call themselves as ''Christians'' and they take pride in such appellation which does not differ from (the nation of Christ or Umma of Christ). Likewise, the Buddhists love being called as "Buddhists". Why would not those who belong to the so-called Umma of Muhammad like being labeled as "Muhammadans", then?! They reject the fact that the testimony of monotheism in the Quran is (There is no God but Allah); they insist on adding the names of Muhammad to it by adding the phrase (and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah). What do you think of that?

Muhammad: I am innocent of what they do! There is no dual testimony in Islam; its only testimony of monotheism is (There is no God but Allah) without any names of mortals added to it. Making it a dual testimony by adding my name or a triple testimony by adding both my name and the name of Ali is an act disbelief by those who reject Islam. I disown those polytheists who do so!

The CNN anchor: Why?

Muhammad: Because by adding my name to the testimony of (There is no God but Allah), these polytheists commit the grave sin of making distinction among prophets and messengers of the Lord God; in the Holy Quran, the Lord God has warned against this sin which results in deifying mortals.

The CNN anchor: They might say they do not mean to deify Muhammad or Ali.

Muhammad: The professed claims of polytheists do not matter at all; when I see a spade, I call it a spade; their polytheism is very clear to all true monotheists who believe in the Holy Quran. On the Last Day, the polytheists will swear by the Lord God's Holy Name that they are not polytheists.

The CNN anchor: But you said you could not predict the future.

Muhammad: This future in the Hereafter is predicted in the Quran: "On the Day when We gather them all together, then say to the polytheists, “Where are your partners, those you used to claim?”Then their only argument will be to say, “By God, our Lord, we were not polytheists.” Look how they lied to themselves. And what they invented deserted them." (6:22-24). Thus, the claims of polytheists, which they use to 'justify' their sins, are of minor importance; what matters most is using the Quran as the Criterion to judge their faith and deeds as pertaining to features of belief/monotheism or disbelief/polytheism. In other words, do they obey the divine commands in the Holy Quran or disobey them?

The CNN anchor: I wholeheartedly agree with you. To make distinction among prophets and messengers by adding the name of Muhammad to the testimony of (There is no God but Allah) is a grave sin of polytheism; the polytheists never add to this testimony of monotheism any other names like Adam, Jesus, or Abraham. This means they prefer and deify Muhammad in defiance to the Quranic command of never to make distinction among God's prophets and messengers; no mortals have this right of preferring someone among them to the others; otherwise, this is self-deification even when done unawares. Islam is not a religion which pertains to Muhammad only; it is the religion preached by all prophets and messengers as per the Quran itself. God, in the Quran, reserves to Himself the right to prefer some prophets and messengers to the others.

Muhammad: This means adding my name to the testimony of monotheism contradicts the Holy Quran; Islam, of course, is the Divine Religion of the Lord God revealed in all Celestial Messages in the tongues of each of the Lord God's prophets and messengers. The Last Message, the Quran, was revealed in Arabic.

The CNN anchor: So, you disapprove of adding your name to (There is no God but Allah) as those who do so deify you.

Muhammad: I am innocent of this sign of polytheism; I am the Lord God's servant and messenger; I never deified myself and I refuse to deify any mortals or creatures.

The CNN anchor: Is it not possible that any of the prophets or messengers might have deified himself and urged his people to worship him?!

Muhammad: No; this is not plausible since the Divine Messages conveyed by all prophets or messengers sent by the Lord God in all eras is the same; namely, (There is no God but Allah). My Lord God says the following in the Quran: "No person to whom God has given the Book, and wisdom, and prophethood would ever say to the people, “Be my worshipers rather than God’s.” Rather, “Be people of the Lord, according to the Book you teach, and the teachings you learn.” Nor would he command you to take the angels and the prophets as gods. Would he command you to adhere to disbelief after you have submitted?" (3:79-80).

The CNN anchor: What about you?

Muhammad: Within the entire duration of my ministry as a prophet, my life has been directly linked to (There is no God but Allah) for which I strove and because of which I was insulted, harmed, and persecuted and made to suffer in Arabia; this is why I immigrated to Yathreb. Hence, the testimony of (There is no God but Allah) is the axis of my life; I never betrayed this monotheism by urging others to deify and worship me; I never declared being a deity alongside with my Lord God! My Lord God has addressed me in the following verses: "Know that there is no God but Allah..." (47:19); "It was revealed to you, and to those before you, that if you adhere to polytheism, your works will be in vain, and you will be of the losers." (39:65); "Say, “I was commanded to worship God, devoting my religion exclusively to Him. And I was commanded to be the first among the submitters.” Say, “I fear, if I disobeyed my Lord, the torment of a Horrendous Day.” Say, “It is God I worship, devoting my religion exclusively to Him.” “But you can worship whatever you wish besides Him.” Say, “The losers are those who lose their souls and their people on the Day of Resurrection.” That is indeed the obvious loss." (39:11-15); "And do not let them divert you from God’s Verses after they have been revealed to you. And call for your Lord, and never be of the polytheists. And do not invoke with God any other god...." (28:87-88); "And dedicate yourself to the True Religion – as a monotheist – and never be of the polytheists. And do not call, apart from God, on what neither benefits you nor harms you. If you do, you are then one of the unjust ones." (10:105-106).

The CNN anchor: Some people would say that such verses were revealed in Mecca; things might have changed in Yathreb when you became a leader there.

Muhammad: On the contrary, because of my adherence to (There is no God but Allah) and the adherence to it by the early believers who immigrated to Yathreb, the Qorayish military troops attacked us here and committed aggression against us and we had to engage into military self-defense; our suffering went on for a long while. Yet, during my lifetime in Arabia, my adherence to (There is no God but Allah) brought me glad tidings of Paradise for me and for the sincere monotheists: "But the messenger and those who believe with him strive with their possessions and their lives. These have deserved the good things. These are the successful. God has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great victory." (9:88-89).

The CNN anchor: Many people now deify you; they seldom remember and glorify the Holy Name of God unless they do the same with your name; this contradicts their uttering, before prayers, the phrase (Allah is the Greatest!); how come they would add the name of any mortals to the Holy Name of God?! In fact, many people now deify and sanctify you more than their deification and sanctification of God; when His Holy Name is mentioned, they remain silent; yet, once your name is mentioned, they readily glorify and praise it! This is the polytheistic religion practiced by them.

Muhammad: I am innocent of what they do! Their deeds are like those of Qorayish; my Lord God says the following in the Quran: "When God alone is mentioned, the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter shrink with resentment. But when those other than Him are mentioned, they become filled with joy." (39:45).

The CNN anchor: Is the testimony of Islam mentioned in the Quran?

Muhammad: Yes; my Lord God says the following in the Quran: "God bears witness that there is no God but He, as do the angels, and those endowed with knowledge - upholding justice. There is no God but He, the Mighty, the Wise. Religion with God is Islam..." (3:18-19).

The CNN anchor: Would please explain this further to me?!

Muhammad: You have noticed, no doubt, that in 3:18, the testimony of monotheism (There is no God but Allah) is asserted twice; in 3:19, Islam (or submission to the Lord God within monotheism) is asserted as the Divine Religion revealed by Him to all prophets and messengers within the Celestial Messages they delivered; this means that (There is no God but Allah) never includes the names of any mortals at all; by the way, mentioning justice in 3:18 means any changes or additions to (There is no God but Allah) pertain to injustice; namely, it is a grave injustice committed against the Lord God when names of any human beings are added to the testimony of monotheism. Mentioning those endowed with knowledge in 3:18 means those who add my name, or that of Ali, to (There is no God but Allah) are polytheistic ignoramuses. My Lord God has commanded me to address ignorant polytheists in Arabia that way: "Say, “Is it other than God you instruct me to worship, you ignorant ones?”" (39:64). Thus, polytheists are ignoramuses, whereas monotheists are endowed with knowledge.

The CNN anchor: Let us suppose that the Quran were to contain the phrase (There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah), what would be the case?!

Muhammad: If this were the case, this would have meant that the Quran contradicts itself; this is because the Lord God in the Quran prohibits making distinction among His prophets and messengers. My Lord God has commanded me to declare the fact that I am no different from the previous prophets and messengers: "Say, “I am not different from the other messengers..." (46:9); hence, the phrase (Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah) is never mentioned in the Quran preceded by the testimony of (There is no God but Allah). The Quran contains no discrepancies or contradictions: "An Arabic Quran, without any defect, so they may become righteous." (39:28); "Praise be to God, who revealed the Book to His servant, and allowed in it no distortion. Valuable..." (18:1-2).

The CNN anchor: Every religion has its phrase or testimony of faith; this is found in Christianity; Sunnites have their dual testimony of (There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah); Shiites have their triple testimony as they add the names of both Muhammad and Ali to (There is no God but Allah); they say: (There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and Ali is the Ally of Allah). Both the dual and triple testimonies contradict the Quran and its testimony of monotheism: (There is no God but Allah), right?

Muhammad: Exactly. Monotheists do not believe in persons, even prophets and messengers, but believe in the Divine Message revealed to those prophets and messengers; they never deify mortals: "The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, as did the believers..." (2:285). To believe in someone means to deify him or her. Monotheists believe in the Quran revealed to me and not in me: "While those who believe, and work righteousness, and believe in what was sent down to Muhammad - and it is the Truth from their Lord - He remits their sins, and relieves their concerns." (47:2). Thus, no one is to add any names of mortals or even angels to (There is no God but Allah).

The CNN anchor: This means the testimony of any religion reflects the nature of its faith tenets if they are monotheistic or polytheistic, right?

Muhammad: Exactly; monotheism has but one testimony: (There is no God but Allah). The dual and triple testimonies have nothing to do with Islam; I disown those who deify me and deify my progeny and/or my contemporaries, and I disown those who deify and take up allies/saints as the Lord God is the Only Saintly Ally in Islam. True monotheists never deify human beings or any other creatures.

The CNN anchor: Thus, it is a laugher-inducing scene to imagine you in Arabia pronouncing these words (There is no God but Allah, and I am Muhammad the Messenger of Allah)!

Muhammad: Of course, I adhere to all Quranic commands of my Lord God, including the true testimony of (There is no God but Allah) mentioned in 3:18 and in many other Quranic verses. My Lord God says the following in the Quran: "God has said: “Do not take two gods; He is only One God; so fear only Me.” To Him belongs everything in the heavens and the earth; and to Him sincere religion is due exclusively. Do you, then, fear anyone other than God? Whatever blessing you have is from God. And when harm touches you, it is to Him that you groan." (16:51-53). I am the first Muslim/submitter in Arabia at the time: "Say, “My prayers and my acts of worship, and my life and my death, are devoted to God, the Lord of the worlds. No associate has He. Thus I am commanded, and I am the first among the submitters. Say, “Am I to seek a Lord other than God, when He is the Lord of all things?” No soul gets except what it is due, and no soul bears the burdens of another. Then to your Lord is your return, then He will inform you regarding your disputes." (6:162-164). This means I never deified any mortals or added their names to the monotheistic testimony of (There is no God but Allah).

The CNN anchor: I see.

Muhammad: By faithfully and sincerely pronouncing the testimony of (There is no God but Allah), one adheres to monotheism within the true faith mentioned here: "The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, as did the believers..." (2:285). This means one believes in all Celestial Books and Messages granted to all prophets and messengers of the Lord God: "We never sent a messenger before you without inspiring him that: “There is no God but I, so worship Me.”" (21:25).

The CNN anchor: Accordingly, the so-called nation of Muhammad or Umma of Muhammad are not Muslims since they believe in an imaginary deity named by them as (Muhammad) who lives immortally in a tomb and has millions of hadiths or narratives as a legislator; this is why the members of the so-called Umma of Muhammad follow their desires and whims in their religions which have nothing to do with the Quran.

Muhammad: Exactly; I have nothing to do with this (Muhammad) or the god fashioned by these polytheists, and I have nothing to do with the so-called hadiths and fiqh. I declare to those polytheists that I am innocent of what they do!

The CNN interview with Muhammad about his love for all people and his never taking any wages from anyone

Introduction:

Within the duration of ads between the CNN interview segments with Muhammad, dialogs were held by the four sheikhs of the Muhammadans within their isolated ranch, in VA, the USA, in which they are detained by the FBI men.

The Sunnite sheikh Massood (sighing in despair): What a loss!

The Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany: What is it, O sheikh Massood?! Is there a greater loss than ours?!

The Sunnite sheikh Massood: We are losers! We are detained here to be interminably questioned by the FBI men who insist on getting all information they need and they offer us huge quantities of food which we consume like animals in a barn! I feel enraged when I think of the Pakistani loser, sheikh Ahmad Khan, who helped me in my mosque; he managed to fool some Indians and they took him to a small city in Idaho and built him a mosque there; he runs a very lucrative business! I am detained here while he is free!

The Sufi sheikh Bahlool: You mean his business is this mosque in Idaho?!

The Sunnite sheikh Massood: Yes; his business there flourished as many women who desire to convert to 'Islam' fill his mosque; he receives from them large sums of money; he bought a mansion and a ranch in Idaho! This Pakistani son of a bitch pretends being a 'moderate' Sunnite sheikh!

The Shiite sheikh Mandoor: Stop envying successful sheikhs! You have countless money and followers in the USA, O sheikh Massood!

The Sunnite sheikh Massood: What money and followers are you talking about?! I am detained here while this Pakistani son of a bitch is free to enjoy his wealth and his women and he has many followers who blindly obey him and kiss his hand!

The CNN interview continues after the duration of the ads:

The CNN anchor: So, you love your foes who persecuted and insulted you; this is strange because the dominant idea about you – conveyed by Arabs – that you are a fierce, merciless warrior. I never knew before how noble you are as you pardoned your aggressive enemies. This kind of love is akin to that of a good father to his offspring; the greatest kind of love is the unconditional one which demands nothing in return. Most human beings keep their relations with one another only to draw benefits from one another; no one loves anyone without wages or benefits. The unconditional love which demands nothing in return is very rare. (A short pause, and then, with a twinkle in his eyes, the anchor continues to talk). You know, this makes me think of a new topic; in our modern era, religion is very influential; it is a big market which influences politics and economy. Sadly, religion is the basis for a very big business; the owners or deities of such religions, or high-rank clergymen of all types, are the richest men on earth. They earn millions of US$ though they never work or offer anything substantial to the people who believe in them! Such high-rank clergymen offer nothing but delusions and falsehoods to the masses while claim they love such miserable masses; they assume they can make them enter into the Kingdom of Heaven or Paradise! Sadly, in politics, manipulating religions to reach power is very common, apart from manipulating religions to get wealthy. (A short pause). I understand how you love your enemies and cared and feared for them; you strove to guide them so that they are spared from Hell for eternity and to be made to enter into Paradise for eternity. You never demanded any wages or rewards in return for such noble love.

Muhammad: This difference between me and the so-called clergy is the same difference between True Islam found only in the Quran and the false religions fashioned by those swindlers and thieves who deceive people and take their money.

The CNN anchor: What is the basis of this difference?

Muhammad: The belief in the Last Day. It entails the belief in the eternal life after death; one will be living for eternity in Paradise or suffering for eternity within the Hell-Fire torment. True monotheists implore and supplicate to their Lord God to spare them from Hell and to allow them into Paradise as the supreme victory. Those who do not believe in the Hereafter and are heedless of it will be among the losers mentioned here: "Losers are those who deny the encounter with God. Then, when the Hour comes upon them suddenly, they will say, “Alas for us, how we have neglected it.” And they will carry their burdens on their backs - evil is what they carry." (6:31). Of course, this is about ordinary misguided ones deceived by the misguiding clergy. The misguiding clergy convince their followers to reject the Truth and to believe in falsehoods pertaining to polytheism ascribed falsely to the Lord God and to His Religion; such deceitful people may amass wealth and treasures, but this will be very little when compared to losing Paradise in the Hereafter; they will lose everything upon dying; they will enter into Hell if they die without sincere repentance. Such sinners are mentioned here: "So let them carry their loads complete on the Day of Resurrection, and some of the loads of those they misguided without knowledge. Evil is what they carry." (16:25).

The CNN anchor: So, prophets and messengers of God never demand rewards or wages and they love their people.

Muhammad: Exactly; they know that the Lord God will reward them in the Hereafter in Paradise and they will be spared from Hell.

The CNN anchor: Would you please exemplify this from the Quran?

Muhammad: This is about Noah: "“But if you turn away, I have not asked you for any wage. My wage falls only on God, and I was commanded to be among the submitters.”" (10:72); "I ask of you no payment for this. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds." (26:109); "“O my people! I ask of you no money for it. My reward lies only with God..." (11:29). This is about Hud and his people of Aad: "“O my people, I ask you no wage for it; my wage lies with Him who originated me. Do you not understand?”" (11:51); "I ask of you no payment for this. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds." (26:127). This is about Saleh and his people of Thamood: "I ask of you no payment for it. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds." (26:145). This is about Lot: "I ask of you no payment for it. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds." (26:164). This is about Shuaib and his people of Madian: "I ask of you no payment for it. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds." (26:180).

The CNN anchor: Their words are almost identical despite their different tongues, eras, locations, and peoples.

Muhammad: Exactly.

The CNN anchor: What about you since you are the Last Prophet of Allah?

Muhammad: My Lord God has commanded me to say the following to my people in Arabia: "Say, “I ask of you no payment for this - only that whoever wills may take a path to his Lord.”" (25:57).

The CNN anchor: What does this mean?

Muhammad: I never received or demanded rewards from any people; prophets and messengers are rewarded in Paradise by the Lord God. Those monotheists who guide themselves by true faith are also rewarded in Paradise in the Hereafter. When believers are guided, they are kind and charitable to their own relatives and families; this is a sign of their belief: "...Say, “I ask of you no wage for it, except affection among the near of kin.”..." (42:23); "Say, “Whatever compensation I have asked of you, is yours. My compensation comes only from God, and He is Witness over all things.”" (34:47).

The CNN anchor: This is very clear.

Muhammad: Clarity is asserted by repetitions in the Quranic text: "Say, “I ask of you no wage for this, and I am not a pretender." (38:86); "...Say, “I ask of you no compensation for it; it is just a reminder for all humankind.”" (6:90).

The CNN anchor: You have obeyed such commands and said this to your people in Arabia, right?

Muhammad: Of course; I follow what has been revealed to me by my Lord God.

The CNN anchor: What proofs can you offer to show you never demanded any rewards from anyone?

Muhammad: The Lord God has told me the following in the Quran: "You ask them no wages for it. It is only a reminder for all humankind." (12:104). This means the Lord God bears witness to the fact that I never demanded any rewards or remuneration from anyone.

The CNN anchor (in amazement): You have obeyed the divine commands of Allah; yet, most of your people rejected the Quran despite your love for them and your demanding no rewards at all; they even insulted and persecuted you! This is unbelievable!

Muhammad: My Lord God says the following in the Quran: "Or do you demand a payment from them, and they are burdened by debt?" (52:40); "Or do you ask them for a fee, so they are burdened with debt?" (68:46); "Or are you asking them for a payment? The reward from your Lord is better, and He is the Best of providers." (23:72).

The CNN anchor: This is strange; I cannot imagine a human being with such noble nature and a high moralistic level; you love your foes and enemies while waiting for nothing in return from them and you fear for them as you strive to reform and to guide them to the Quranic Truth.

Muhammad: This is not strange at all; this is possible within human abilities; my Lord God never burdens any soul beyond its capacity: "God does not burden any soul beyond its capacity. To its credit is what it earns, and against it is what it commits..." (2:286). I am a human being like all human beings; what I did was possible within human capacity; hence, this is possible for all preachers of the Quranic Truth in all eras; they love people and fear for them lest they might be tormented in Hell and they ask for no rewards from them at all.

The CNN anchor: Do you mean to tell me that there are monotheists who applied this though they are not prophets or messengers?

Muhammad: Yes; this is exemplified in the story of the believing man who preached the people of the town which rejected three messengers; he advised them to follow those who never demand any wages from them: "Then a man came running from the remotest part of the town. He said, “O my people, follow the messengers. Follow those who ask you of no wage, and are themselves guided." (36:20-21).

The CNN anchor: Meaning?

Muhammad: We see here the description of the three messengers; this description applies to all the guided preachers of the Truth in all eras; namely, they never demand any rewards or remuneration from people.

The CNN anchor: Guided? How?

Muhammad: They are guided if they practice what they preach within piety; they are role-models; since they are monotheists, they never deify creatures at all, never demand wages from anyone, and never fall into the grave sin of self-deification: "No person to whom God has given the Book, and wisdom, and prophethood would ever say to the people, “Be my worshipers rather than God’s.” Rather, “Be people of the Lord, according to the Book you teach, and the teachings you learn.” Nor would he command you to take the angels and the prophets as gods. Would he command you to adhere to disbelief after you have submitted?" (3:79-80).

The CNN anchor: What about an example from among ordinary people who are neither prophets nor messengers of God?

Muhammad: Within the Quranic story of Moses, Pharaoh brought magicians to defeat Moses, but they believed with Moses in the Lord God and never feared the punishment exacted by the self-deified Pharaoh despite their requesting a reward from him earlier before they met with Moses: "The magicians came to Pharaoh, and said, “Surely there is a reward for us, if we are the victors.” He said, “Yes, and you will be among my favorites.”" (7:113-114); "And the magicians fell to their knees. They said, “We have believed in the Lord of the worlds.” “The Lord of Moses and Aaron.” Pharaoh said, “Did you believe in Him before I have given you permission? This is surely a conspiracy you schemed in the city, in order to expel its people from it. You will surely know.” “I will cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides; then I will crucify you all.” They said, “It is to our Lord that we will return.” “You are taking vengeance on us only because we have believed in the signs of our Lord when they have come to us.” “Our Lord! Pour out patience upon us, and receive our souls in submission.”" (7:120-126).

The CNN anchor: This is an excellent example offered by some of the ancient Egyptians; yet, seldom people heed this great example within the Quranic story of Moses.

The CNN interview with Muhammad about his relation with believing companions among his contemporaries

Firstly:

The CNN anchor: We now know about your relation with the arrogant, disbelieving ones in Mecca and how you were very keen on guiding them; you drew nearer to them in order to urge them to lessen the persecution they inflicted on your weak, believing companions at the time. Let us talk now about your relation with the weak, believing companions among your contemporaries in Mecca. I understand that the Qorayish society had its strata of classes; there were the affluent class members or the masters and then the weak poor; this is not to mention slaves. I understand also that most of your followers in Mecca were among the weak, poor ones; how did you treat them during your meetings with them?

Muhammad: I have applied the divine commands in these Meccan Quranic verses: "And lower your wing to those of the believers who follow you. And if they disobey you, say, “I am innocent of what you do.”" (26:215-216). I treated all believers in the same way whether they were ordinary people or among the weak, oppressed ones on earth; this is not about me as a leader and they as followers of a leader; rather, I, as well as them, have followed the Quran; this means all of us followed the Quran only; as for those who disobeyed the Lord God's commands in the Quran, I am commanded to disown their disobedience and not to disown them as individuals.

The CNN anchor: This requires an explanation.

Muhammad: This means I am innocent of the believers' mistakes, sins, or disobedience; I never approve of them; yet, my relations and ties with all persons were not severed at all; all human beings, including prophets and messengers, tend to err. Since I kept my close and good relations with all believers, this helped them to repent.

The CNN anchor: Really?! Strangely, the leaders of the so-called Islamist extremist groups treat their followers harshly and urge violence all the time; those who oppose them are considered as infidels! They are murdered or – at least – beaten with iron chains!

Muhammad: I never know anything them; they have nothing to do with Islam; I am innocent of what they do!

The CNN anchor: When any sinners visited you at home, did you rebuke them for their sins or mistakes?

Muhammad: No; visitors or guests greet their hosts by uttering the word of peace and the hosts return their greetings of peace; I did the same with believers among my visitors and, as per the Quranic commands, I brought them glad tidings of the Lord God's pardon and forgiveness if they repent and reform themselves; my Lord God has told me the following: "When those who believe in Our Verses come to you, say, “Peace be upon you, your Lord has prescribed mercy for Himself. Whoever among you does wrong out of ignorance, and then repents afterwards and reforms - He is Forgiving and Merciful.”" (6:54).

The CNN anchor: Did your stance towards the believers change as you became the leader of the Yathreb city-state?

Muhammad: In Mecca, I was a prophet and a messenger of the Lord God; in Yathreb, apart from this role, I had to assume the role of a leader of a State surrounded by fearful enemies and I had to face many challenges and threats inside and outside Yathreb; at its borders, there were conspiring Jewish tribes and Arab tribes who allied themselves to the aggressive Meccans of Qorayish who launched several military attacks against Yathreb before the Lord God has granted us the permission to engage into military self-defense fighting. Inside Yathreb, there were some immigrants who yearned for their families and relatives among the Qorayish tribesmen in Mecca and allied themselves to them, the original Yathreb dwellers who supported the immigrants, many frank hypocrites who opposed the presence of believers and conspired against Islam and their words and deeds exposed them, and some hypocrites who were adamant in hypocrisy and concealed their true stance very well. This is not to mention believers who had various degrees of faith; there were Forerunners with good faith and many good deeds, some faithful ones who mixed good deeds with bad ones, and some whose faith was weak; some of the believers harmed me; some people in Yathreb declared their belief and then their disbelief.

The CNN anchor: Let us talk first about the believers among your followers; did some of them, after settling in Yathreb, rejected Islam after embracing it?

Muhammad: Yes. Their disbelief saddened me very much to the extent that my Lord God has told me the following: "And do not be saddened by those who rush into disbelief. They will not harm God in the least. God desires to give them no share in the Hereafter. A terrible torment awaits them." (3:176); "O messenger! Do not let those who are quick to disbelief grieve you - from among those who say with their mouths, “We believe,” but their hearts do not believe; and from among the Jews - listeners to lies, listeners to other people who did not come to you. They distort words from their places, and they say, “If you are given this, accept it; but if you are not given it, beware.” Whomever God has willed to divert, you have nothing for him from God. Those are they whose hearts God does not intend to purify. For them is disgrace in this world, and for them is a great torment in the Hereafter." (5:41).

The CNN anchor: You were grieved about them and never took any punitive measures or retaliatory actions against them, right?

Muhammad: What do you mean?

The CNN anchor: Instead of sorrow, you would have put them to death after their rejection of Islam.

Muhammad: Islam does not contain murdering or putting to death any peaceful, innocent human beings who never committed murder.

The CNN anchor: There is no penalty for apostates, renegades, and heretics in Islam, right?

Muhammad: The Quran does not contain any punishments exacted in this world on disbelievers who have rejected Islam.

The CNN anchor: This is understood; you have mentioned those believers who harmed you; you never retaliated; if there were a penalty for apostasy, you would have put them to death very easily!

Muhammad: My Lord God has made me gentle with the Yathreb dwellers; if I were harsh with them, they would have deserted me: "It is by of grace from God that you were gentle with them. Had you been harsh, hardhearted, they would have dispersed from around you..." (3:159).

The CNN anchor: This means you are commanded to forgive them even if they insulted you, right?

Muhammad: Yes.

The CNN anchor: Did they insult you more often?

Muhammad: Yes. My Lord God has warned them here: "O you who believe! Do not be like those who verbally abused Moses; but God cleared him of what they said. He was distinguished with God." (33:69).

The CNN anchor: This means they leveled false accusations against you and slandered you in the same manner of the Israelites with Moses; would you please tell me about a certain case when others harmed you?

Muhammad: My generosity, shyness, and tolerance encouraged some of them to offend me and to trespass against me, but my Lord God has warned them here: "O you who believe! Do not enter the homes of the prophet, unless you are given permission to come for a meal; and do not wait for its preparation. And when you are invited, go in. And when you have eaten, disperse, without lingering for conversation. This offended the prophet, and he shies away from you, but God does not shy away from the truth. And when you ask his wives for something, ask them from behind a screen; that is purer for your hearts and their hearts. You must never offend the messenger of God, nor must you ever marry his wives after him, for that would be an enormity with God." (33:53).

The CNN anchor: Rulers of today's world cannot tolerate such boldness from those around them; how come that you bore patiently with this while you are their leader and also a prophet of the Lord God?!

Muhammad: There were no guards at the doors of my chambers; some visitors entered into them without taking prior permission; some even screamed to me so that I get out and meet with them: "O you who believe! Do not place your opinions above that of God and His messenger, and fear God. God is Hearing and Knowing. O you who believe! Do not raise your voices above the voice of the prophet, and do not speak loudly to him, as you speak loudly to one another, lest your works be in vain without you realizing. Those who lower their voices before God’s messenger - those are they whose hearts God has tested for piety. They will have forgiveness and a great reward. Those who call you from behind the chambers - most of them do not understand. Had they remained patient until you came out to them, it would have been better for them. But God is Forgiving and Merciful." (49:1-5).

The CNN anchor: Among all rulers and leaders, you are peerless; this is not strange since you are a prophet and a messenger of the Lord God; I could not help but notice that this Quranic phrase is talking about you: "...God knows best where to place His message..." (6:124).

Muhammad: My Lord God addresses believers here about me: "There has come to you a messenger from among yourselves, concerned over your suffering, anxious over you. Towards the believers, he is compassionate and merciful." (9:128).

The CNN anchor: This is a great praise of you by the Lord God Himself; I wonder why today's Muslims ignore and disregard this Quranic verse!

Secondly:

In the VA ranch, watched by the FBI men, the four sheikhs of the Muhammadans talked while consuming huge amounts of food items on the table before them after they have watched the previous segment of the CNN interview with Muhammad.

The Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany (loudly): I assure you that this imposter does not pose a threat only to us but he poses a veritable threat to the whole world!

The Sufi sheikh Bahlool (stammering): How?! I cannot understand!

The Sunnite sheikh Massood (angrily): An ignorant, rotten Sufi sheikh like you has thousands of disciples who kiss his hands and feet! This imposter claims that the companions treated the Prophet as an ordinary man! Why?! Would a filthy Sufi sheikh like you be considered better than the Prophet?! What about those who deify rulers?! The words of this insane imposter are very dangerous; he incites seditions, rebellions, and revolts worldwide against rulers and masters!

The Shiite sheikh Mandoor (loudly): This imposter will make us lose our money and our stature and authority among the masses!

The Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany (smiling): This is why I assure you that he poses a veritable threat to the whole world; this is why he will meet his end sooner than we think, believe me!

The CNN interview with Muhammad about his mistakes

The CNN anchor: I read in the Quran that the Lord God has commanded you to follow the guidance of previous prophets and to follow the monotheistic religion of Abraham. To what degree was your applying these Quranic commands of the Lord God? 100% or less?

Muhammad: There are no infallible human beings – including prophets. All human beings tend to err.

The CNN anchor: Yet, some people assume that you were infallible.

Muhammad: This is not true; this is among the features of the deification of a false deity whom they named as (Muhammad) and it has nothing to do with me. I am innocent of what they say!

The CNN anchor: You are not infallible, then?!

Muhammad: This is proved in the words of my Lord God addressed to me here: "Whatever good happens to you is from God, and whatever bad happens to you is from your own soul..." (4:79).

The CNN anchor: This means you made mistakes and errors, right?

Muhammad: Yes; my Lord God has commanded me to implore Him for pardoning and forgiving my mistakes and sins: "Know that there is no God but God, and ask forgiveness for your sin..." (47:19); "Then celebrate the praise of your Lord, and seek His forgiveness..." (110:3).

The CNN anchor: After doing so, has the Lord God forgiven and pardoned you?

Muhammad: Yes. This is proven in my Lord God's words here: "That God may forgive you your sin, past and to come..." (48:2); "God has redeemed the prophet, and the immigrants, and the supporters - those who followed him in the hour of difficulty - after the hearts of some of them almost swerved. Then He pardoned them. He is Kind towards them, Compassionate." (9:117).

The CNN anchor: That you tend to make mistakes did not influence your conveying the Quranic Message, right?

Muhammad: Of course, my Lord God protects and preserves the Quranic text in all stages of revelation/descent and of my conveying it; "Surely We revealed the Message, and We will surely preserve it." (15:9).

The CNN anchor: This requires an explanation.

Muhammad: The first stage of the revelation of the Quran is transmitting it from the Upper Realm (where Gabriel and the other arch-angels exist) to Earth through Barsakh, ethereal levels in which jinn and devils exist; my Lord God has prevented jinn and devils from passing through the Upper Realm; this protected the descent of the Quran against their interference; my Lord God says the following in the Quran: "We probed the heaven, and found it filled with stern guards and projectiles. We used to take up positions to listen in; but whoever listens now finds a projectile in wait for him." (72:8-9).

The CNN anchor: What about protecting the Quranic text as it reached you through revelation?

Muhammad: This divine protection of the Quranic revelation prevented my human weakness from making mistakes in conveying the Quranic verses.

The CNN anchor: How?!

Muhammad: My Lord God's Omnipotence intervened to prevent me from adding any words to the Quranic text.

The CNN anchor: Would you prove this to me through the Quran itself?

Muhammad: To refute the claims of Quran-hating disbelievers and polytheists that I might be the author of the Quranic verses, my Lord God has said the following about the Quran and about me: "Or do they say, “He forged a lie about God.” If God so willed, He could have sealed your heart. But God obliterates the false, and confirm the true by His Words. He knows what is in the hearts." (42:24); "It is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds. Had he falsely attributed some statements to Us. We would have seized him by the right arm. Then slashed his lifeline. And none of you could have restrained Us from him." (69:43-47). This proves the fact that I have conveyed to the people of Arabia the entirety of the Quranic text without any missing parts or additional ones.

The CNN anchor: Did any of the Qorayish disbelievers try to negatively influence you so that you may add anything to the Quranic text?

Muhammad: Yes; they tried to do so as they took advantage of my human weakness; I am a mortal human being, you know; "...the human being was created weak." (4:28). Yet, my Lord God's protection of the Quran defeats any evil schemes aiming at distorting the Quranic text; my Lord God has said the following in the Quran: "They almost lured you away from what We have revealed to you, so that you would invent something else in Our name. In that case, they would have taken you for a friend. Had We not given you stability, you might have inclined towards them a little. Then We would have made you taste double in life, and double at death; then you would have found for yourself no helper against Us." (17:73-75).

The CNN anchor: Did any of the Qorayish disbelievers try to murder you?

Muhammad: My Lord God guaranteed my protection against any schemes of any people so that nothing would hinder my mission of conveying the Quranic Message: "O messenger, convey what was revealed to you from your Lord. But if you do not, then you would not have delivered His message. And God will protect you from the people. God does not guide the disbelieving people." (5:67).

The CNN anchor: So, you never made mistakes as far as conveying the Quranic Message is concerned; the Lord God controlled this process in ways which surpass your human weakness; yet, were you infallible otherwise in your life?!

Muhammad: No. Like all human beings, I tended to make mistakes; the Quranic revelation contains verses to reform and guide me; my Lord God has commanded me to declare this fact: "Say, “If I err, I err only by my own soul; but if I am guided, it is by what my Lord inspires me. He is Hearing and Near.”" (34:50).

The CNN anchor: What does this mean?

Muhammad: Each human soul (including souls of prophets) are inspired with the tendency to sin and the tendency to adhere to piety; one must choose for oneself one's course: "And the soul and He who proportioned it. And inspired it with its wickedness and its righteousness. Successful is he who purifies it. Failing is he who corrupts it." (91:7-10). These Quranic facts apply to all humanity including prophets and messengers of the Lord God: "On the Day when every soul finds all the good it has done presented. And as for the evil it has done, it will wish there were a great distance between them. God cautions you of Himself. God is Kind towards the servants." (3:30); "On the Day when every soul will come pleading for itself, and every soul will be paid in full for what it has done, and they will not be wronged." (16:111).

The CNN anchor: What is your view of your own mistakes?

Muhammad: They were due to the environment where I lived in Arabia.

The CNN anchor: Meaning?

Muhammad: Any prophets were influenced by the environment where they lived; I am a man from the Qorayish tribe: "Is it a wonder to the people that We inspired a man from among them..." (10:2). Hence, my upbringing differed from that of, for instance, Jesus.

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: Jesus was brought up in a pious environment; in contrast, I was born in an environment of polytheism; my people of Qorayish distorted the religion of Abraham and manipulated the Sacred House, the Kaaba, to make money within lucrative business; this means during my childhood and adolescence, I was misguided until I received guidance from my Lord God Who has reminded me of this bounty here: "And found you misguided and guided you." (93:7). My Lord God has made me the Last Prophet or the seal of all prophets; many Quranic verses command me to adhere to the monotheism of (There is no God but Allah) and to never fall into the trap of polytheism so as not to be among the losers and the unjust ones: "And dedicate yourself to the True Religion - a monotheist - and never be of the polytheists. And do not call, apart from God, on what neither benefits you nor harms you. If you do, you are then one of the unjust ones." (10:105-106); "You did not expect the Book to be transmitted to you, except as mercy from your Lord. Therefore, do not be a supporter of the disbelievers. And do not let them divert you from God’s Verses after they have been revealed to you. And pray to your Lord, and never be of the polytheists. And do not invoke with Allah any other god. There is no God but He. All things perish, except His presence. His is the Judgment, and to Him you will be returned." (28:86-88).

The CNN anchor: What was the stance of your people as they saw you reject polytheism and the worship of pagan idols?

Muhammad: They commanded me to return to their polytheistic religion; my Lord God has commanded me to respond to them that way: "Say, “Is it other than God you command me to worship, you ignorant ones?” It was revealed to you, and to those before you, that if you adhere to polytheism, your works will be in vain, and you will be of the losers. Rather, worship God, and be of the thankful ones." (39:64-66); thus, He has warned me against falling into the trap of polytheism. He has commanded me to say the following to polytheists: "Say, “I was commanded to serve God, devoting my religion exclusively to Him. And I was commanded to be the first among the submitters.” Say, “I fear, if I disobeyed my Lord, the torment of a Horrendous Day.” Say, “It is God I worship, sincere in dedicating my religion to Him.” “But you can worship whatever you wish besides Him.” Say, “The losers are those who lose their souls and their people on the Day of Resurrection.” That is indeed the obvious loss." (39:11-15).

The CNN anchor: Did the polytheists of Qorayish let you be or did they hope to see you return to polytheism one day?

Muhammad: They never lost hope in this respect; this is why my Lord God has commanded me to inform them of the following: "Say, “I was prohibited from worshiping those you invoke besides God, now that clear verses have come to me from my Lord; and I was commanded to submit to the Lord of the worlds.”" (40:66); "Say, “I am forbidden from worshiping those you pray to besides God.” Say, “I will not follow your desires; else I would be lost and not be of those guided.”" (6:56).

The CNN anchor: I think I now understand the Quranic verse 34:50. You are not the author of the Quranic text; you never concealed any of its verses, even the verses about your being misguided before the Lord God has guided you; in contrast, Mary's mother dedicated her daughter to the Lord God within a pious environment and Zachariah cared for her; angels talked to her; she conceived Jesus miraculously without being mated. You never knew such events before the Quranic revelation.

Muhammad: My Lord God says the following in the Quran: "These are accounts from the Unseen, which We reveal to you. You were not with them when they cast their lots as to which of them would take charge of Mary; nor were you with them as they quarreled." (3:44).

The CNN anchor: You never concealed Quranic verses containing reproach addressed to you by the Lord God such as the following ones: "When you said to him whom God had blessed, and you had favored, “Keep your wife to yourself, and fear God.” But you hid within yourself what God was to reveal. And you feared the people, but it was God you were supposed to fear. Then, when Zayd ended his marriage with her, We gave her to you in marriage, that there may be no restriction for believers regarding the wives of their adopted sons, when their marriage has ended. The command of God was fulfilled." (33:37); "O prophet! Why do you prohibit what God has permitted for you, seeking to please your wives? God is Forgiving and Merciful." (66:1); "It is not for a prophet to take captives before he has subdued the land. You desire the materials of this world, but God desires the Hereafter. God is Strong and Wise. Were it not for a predetermined decree from God, an awful torment would have afflicted you for what you have taken." (8:67-68).

Muhammad: My Lord God says nothing but the Absolute Truth.

The CNN interview with Muhammad about his disowning those who claim his being the 'best' messenger among all of the messengers of Allah

The CNN anchor: Some people say you are the 'best' messenger; is that true or not?

Muhammad: I am innocent of what they say; I never described myself as such. The Quran never mentions such description about me. This means such people tell lies about me and ascribe their falsehoods to the religion of my Lord God. They have the presumption to claim knowing about the metaphysical realm of the past, known fully only to the Omniscient Lord God. These people never know the exact number of prophets and messengers of the Lord God, let alone knowing their deeds, faiths, and history. Did such people evaluate all deeds of all messengers and prophets and choose the 'best' among them?! This presumption is very insulting to the Lord God. "...God knows best where to place His message..." (6:124). Of course, all prophets and messengers of the Lord God are the best people when compared to other human beings; yet, as per the Quranic commands, we are never to make distinction among them; this is left to the Lord God to decide; this is never the business of mortals.

The CNN anchor: Some people ascribe such a hadith to you: (... I am the Master of all human beings, the descendants of Adam. I am the very first human being to get out of the tomb on the Day of the Resurrection; I am the first intercessor on the Last Day...I am the Master of all Adam's progeny, without bragging. I am the first soul to be resurrected on the Last Day, without bragging. I am the first soul to enter into Paradise and to open its gate, without bragging. I will carry the banner of praise on the Last Day, without bragging ...).

Muhammad: I am innocent of what they say; I never uttered such falsehoods; I never pronounced any narratives known as hadiths. Pious monotheists (let alone the Lord God's prophets and messengers) never recommend themselves or praise themselves that way; they never brag; it is silly that such a narrative contains the phrase (without bragging) though it contains nothing but bragging! I never knew or predicted anything about the future. This narrative you have quoted, which I never uttered, is refuted by this Quranic verse: "Say, “I am not different from the other messengers; and I do not know what will be done with me, or with you. I only follow what is inspired in me, and I am only a clear warner.”" (46:9).

The CNN anchor: Some people ascribe such a hadith to you: (... I was granted five gifts from Allah never given to any of the previous prophets: a month's terror lends me victory in all battles; the whole earth is made as my purified mosque; any men can pray anywhere; spoils are made permissible for me, and never for anyone before me; I am the intercessor on the Last Day; I am sent for all humanity and not only for my people ...).

Muhammad: I am innocent of what they say; I never uttered such falsehoods; I never pronounced any hadiths at all. I never knew the number of previous prophets and messengers and how their lives looked like; I know only about those mentioned in the Quran. Besides, the Quran asserts that no soul will act as an intercessor on behalf of any other souls on the Day of Judgment; I cannot save Hell dwellers or make them get out of it; I will be the foe of those who abandoned the Quran and I will disown them on the Last Day; by the way, no terror lent me victory; I remember that Yathreb, where I lived, was sieged by the military troops of the confederates for a long while. Such Quranic facts are mentioned here: "Some messengers We have already told you about, while some messengers We have not told you about..." (4:164); "And the messenger will say, “My Lord, my people have abandoned this Quran.”" (25:30); "The Day when no soul will avail another soul anything; and the decision on that Day is God’s." (82:19); "What about someone who has deserved the sentence of torment? Is it you who can save those in the Hell-Fire?" (39:19); "When they came upon you, from above you, and from beneath you; and the eyes became dazed, and the hearts reached the throats, and you harbored doubts about God. There and then the believers were tested, and were shaken most severely." (33:10-11).

The CNN anchor: But you are the Last Prophet or the seal of all prophets; you are a warner for all people until the end of days as per the Quran.

Muhammad: Yes, but such descriptions do not imply that I would be the 'best' among my Lord God's messengers and prophets. I am a mortal human being; no human beings are made immortal in this world. The Quran, preserved by my Lord God Himself, is the warner and the source of mercy addressing all humanity until the advent of the Hour.

The CNN anchor: Another hadith ascribed to you is about prohibiting to prefer any prophets to other prophets: (... A Jew came to complain to the Prophet Muhammad, may the peace and blessings of Allah descend upon him, that a man slapped him in the marketplace; when the man who slapped him was brought to defend himself, he said he slapped the Jew because he said Moses is the best prophet chosen by Allah. The man slapped him while saying angrily that Muhammad is the best prophet. When the Prophet Muhammad, may the peace and blessings of Allah descend upon him, heard this, he told his companions never to prefer any prophets to the others; on the Last Day, the Prophet Muhammad, may the peace and blessings of Allah descend upon him, is the first soul to be resurrected from the tomb, only to find Moses underneath the Throne of Allah ...).

Muhammad: I am innocent of what they say; I never uttered such lies and falsehoods; I never predicted the future about this world or the next one.

The CNN anchor: I guess that a debate among Sunnite scholars about preferring you as the 'best' prophet or not drove some authors to invent such a hadith to support their stance of not preferring you as the 'best' prophet; yet, in another hadith, such words are ascribed to you: (... I bear witness for the sake of each one of my Umma; I control the Grand Basin of water in Paradise; I was given the keys of Paradise and the keys to the treasures of the whole earth ...). This means preferring you to other prophets. Did you say so?!

Muhammad: No! I am innocent of what they say; I never uttered such lies and falsehoods; I will bear witness only against my contemporaries whom I saw during my lifetime in Arabia. I never had keys of any treasures and I never control Paradise! The fabricators of such narratives disbelieved in the Quran; my Lord God has commanded me to declare the following: "Say, “I do not say to you that I possess the treasuries of God, nor do I know the future, nor do I say to you that I am an angel. I only follow what is inspired to me.” Say, “Are the blind and the seeing alike? Do you not think?”" (6:50). The liars who invented the so-called hadiths never heard of bounties granted by my Lord God to David and Solomon and not to me: "We bestowed upon David favor from Us: “O mountains, and birds: echo with him.” And We softened iron for him. “Make coats of armor, and measure the links well; and work righteousness. I am Observant of everything you do.” And for Solomon the wind - its outward journey was one month, and its return journey was one month. And We made a spring of tar flow for him. And there were sprites that worked under him, by the leave of his Lord. But whoever of them swerved from Our command, We make him taste of the torment of the Inferno. They made for him whatever he wished: sanctuaries, statues, bowls like pools, and heavy cauldrons. “O House of David, work with appreciation,” but a few of My servants are appreciative." (34:10-13); "And We gave David and Solomon knowledge. They said, “Praise God, who has favored us over many of His believing servants.” And Solomon succeeded David. He said, “O people, we were taught the language of birds, and we were given from everything. This is indeed a real blessing.” the service of Solomon were mobilized his troops of sprites, and men, and birds - all held in strict order." (27:15-17); "Be patient in the face of what they say, and mention Our servant David, the resourceful. He was obedient. We committed the mountains to glorify with him, in the evening and at daybreak. And the birds, gathered together. All obedient to him. And We strengthened his kingdom, and gave him wisdom and decisive speech." (38:17-20); "We tested Solomon, and placed a body on his throne; then he repented. He said, “My Lord, forgive me, and grant me a kingdom never to be attained by anyone after me. You are the Giver.” So We placed the wind at his service, blowing gently by his command, wherever he directed. And the demons - every builder and diver. And others fettered in chains. “This is Our gift; so give generously, or withhold; without limits.” For him is nearness to Us, and a beautiful resort." (38:34-40).

The CNN anchor: But I have to tell you that those who prefer you to the rest of prophets or call you the 'best' among them quote some Quranic verses to prove their point!

Muhammad: Please exemplify this to me.

The CNN anchor: They quote the Lord God's words addressed to you here: "By your life, they were blundering in their drunkenness." (15:72); they say since the Lord God has sworn by your life, this means you are preferred to the previous prophets as the 'best' one among them.

Muhammad: This is absurd; how did they know that my Lord God has not said the same to previous prophets and messengers?! Did they read all His Scriptures granted to previous prophets and messengers?! Besides, that my Lord God has sworn by my life does not signify my being the 'best' among His prophets and messengers. In the Holy Quran, He swears by the sun, the moon, the night, the olives, and the figs.

The CNN anchor: Some people say that the Lord God in the Quran never addressed you by your name but by being a prophet and a messenger in contrast to addressing other prophets by their names in the Quranic text. They assume this is a proof of considering you as the 'best' one among all prophets and messengers.

Muhammad: Again, how did they know that my Lord God has not said the same to previous prophets and messengers?! Did they read all His Scriptures granted to previous prophets and messengers?! Did they know how they were addressed by Him?! Besides, my Lord God addressed me in some verses to rebuke me and not to praise me: "O prophet! Why do you prohibit what God has permitted for you, seeking to please your wives?..." (66:1); "O prophet! Fear God within piety, and do not obey the disbelievers and the hypocrites..." (33:1). Addressing someone and some people in the Quran does not mean praising them; let me exemplify this; the disbelievers who addressed me insulted me this way: "And they said, “O you who received the message, you are insane.”" (15:6); believers who are addressed here are rebuked by my Lord God: "O you who believe! Why do you say what you do not do? It is most hateful to God that you say what you do not do." (61:2-3); this is addressed by my Lord God to disbelievers: "O you who disbelieved! Make no excuses today. You are being repaid for what you used to do." (66:7).

The CNN anchor: Those who consider you as the 'best' prophet quote this Quranic verse to 'prove' their point: "These messengers: We have preferred some to the others..." (2:253). What do you think?

Muhammad: This is about some of the prophets and messengers of the Israelites in ancient times; this has nothing to do with me; here is the entire Quranic context: "These are God’s Verses, which We read to you in Truth. You are one of the messengers. These messengers: We have preferred some to the others. To some of them God spoke directly, and some He raised in rank. We gave Jesus son of Mary the clear miracles, and We strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. Had God willed, those who succeeded them would not have fought one another, after the clear signs had come to them; but they disputed; some of them believed, and some of them disbelieved. Had God willed, they would not have fought one another; but God does whatever He desires." (2:252-253).

The CNN anchor: Yet, what about this Quranic verse about all messengers and prophets including you: "Your Lord knows well everyone in the heavens and the earth. We have preferred some of them to the others..." (17:55)?

Muhammad: Let me ask you: Would any mortals have the ability to prefer some prophets and messengers to others?! This is possible only for the Omniscient Lord God; He knows all about His prophets and messengers; He will judge them on the Last Day. The liars who claim that they prefer some over the others are deifying themselves; how come that mortals would judge messengers and prophets?! Such mortals never saw or lived with all messengers and prophets of the Lord God in all eras! As per the Holy Quran, to make distinction among them is a sign of disbelief.

The CNN anchor: But the Lord God in the Quran praises some of His prophets and messengers, right?

Muhammad: Yes, but this does not signify urging people to prefer some to the others. If you have sons and you praise some of them, this does not mean describing any of them as the 'best'.

The CNN anchor: Would you please exemplify this praise by the Lord God of some of His messengers and prophets?

Muhammad: This is about Abraham whose monotheistic religion I am commanded to follow: "Abraham was an exemplary leader, devoted to God, a monotheist, and was not of the polytheists. Thankful for His bounties. He chose him, and guided him to a Straight Path. And We gave him goodness in this world, and in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous ones. Then We inspired you: “Follow the religion of Abraham, the monotheist. He was not a polytheist.”" (16:120-123); "Who would forsake the religion of Abraham, except he who fools himself? We chose him in this world, and in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous ones." (2:130); "And who is better in religion than he who submits himself wholly to God, and is a doer of good, and follows the faith of Abraham the Monotheist? God has chosen Abraham for a friend." (4:125).

The CNN anchor: What about you?

Muhammad: These prophets and messengers died and their Books of Deeds are closed; their ranks are settled by my Lord God; the Quran descended centuries after their death and it contains verses talking about them; my Lord God commands me here to follow their guidance: "Those are they whom God has guided, so follow their guidance. Say, “I ask of you no reward for it; it is just a Reminder for the worlds.”" (6:90). My Lord God commands me to avoid repeating their mistakes, such as in the case of Jonah: "So wait patiently for the Decree of your Lord, and do not be like the Fellow of the Whale who cried out in despair. Were it not for his Lord’s favor that reached him, he would have been thrown into the wilderness, fully despised. But his Lord chose him, and made him one of the righteous." (68:48-50).

The CNN anchor: Again, what about you? How are you praised in the Quran?

Muhammad: The Holy Quran was being revealed to me while I was alive in Arabia; my Book of Deeds was still open; the entire Quranic text descended and it does not contain my rank among messengers and prophets of the Lord God. My rank will be known only on the Day of the Resurrection.

CHAPTER II: The CNN Interview about the Enemies of Islam and Muhammad

CHAPTER II: The CNN Interview about the Enemies of Islam and Muhammad

The CNN interview with Muhammad about his disowning all clergymen, sheikhs, and imams of the Muhammadans

Firstly:

The CNN anchor: When you were in Egypt and preached the Quran to the Azharite sheikhs and Sufi sheikhs at the Hussein mausoleum in Cairo, what was your impression of their rejection?

Muhammad: I realized that they follow the same devilish religion sponsored and propagated by the tribe of Qorayish in Mecca.

The CNN anchor: Meaning?

Muhammad: The polytheistic religion of deifying tombs and imams buried in such tombs, ascribing lies and falsehoods to my Lord God in the form of narratives, and worshiping names they have fashioned, they and their ancestors, for which God has sent down no authority.

The CNN anchor: What do you mean exactly by worshiping names?!

Muhammad: Polytheistic disbelievers invent names of deified saints/allies and of deities; with the passage of years, such names are considered as sacred; this is the deep-rooted polytheistic notion of worshiping names since the era of Noah and his people until now.

The CNN anchor: Would you please illustrate this to me?

Muhammad: This is what Hud said to his people of Aad: "He said, “Condemnation and wrath have befallen you from your Lord. Are you arguing with me over names, which you and your ancestors invented, for which God sent down no authority? Just wait; I am waiting with you.”" (7:71); this is what Joseph mentioned about the Egyptians of his era: "You do not worship, besides Him, except names you have named, you and your ancestors, for which God has sent down no authority. Judgment belongs to none but God. He has commanded that you worship none but Him. This is the right religion, but most people do not know." (12:40). My Lord God has said the following about Qorayish in particular and Arabs in general during the era when the Quran was being revealed: "These are nothing but names, which you have devised, you and your ancestors, for which God sent down no authority. They follow nothing but assumptions, and what the souls desire, even though guidance has come to them from their Lord." (53:23).

The CNN anchor: Do the sacred names remain the same in all eras?

Muhammad: Of course not; such names of deities change from one era to the other; the names of the gods of Aad differ from those of the ancient Egyptians, those of Noah's people, and those of Arabs and Qorayish. The names of the gods of Noah's people are mentioned here: "And they said, “Do not give up your gods; do not give up Wadd, nor Souwa, nor Yaghoos, and Yaooq, and Nassr." (71:23); the names of the three goddesses of Qorayish are mentioned here: "Have you considered Al-Lat and Al-Uzza? And Manat, the third one, the other?" (53:19-20). Baal is the name of the god of the people of Elijah: "Do you call on Baal, and forsake the Best of creators?" (37:125).

The CNN anchor: Baal reminds me of the city of Baalbek in Lebanon and the historian figure Hannibal in Carthage, known now as Tunisia. You are right; the Sunnites worship the name of Al-Bokhary; the Wahabis worship the names of Ibn Abdul-Wahab, Ibn Taymiyya, and Ibn Al-Qayyim; the Sufis worship the names of their saints such as Al-Ghazaly, Al-Jilani, and Al-Badawi; the Shiites worship so many different names such as Ali, Hussein, and Hassan.

Muhammad: Deified names differ within all eras, tongues, and geographical locations; yet, one finds the same polytheistic pattern of deifying mortals and tombs.

The CNN anchor: So, it is the same religion of polytheism; yet, are there any differences between what you have seen in Egypt and in Mecca when the Quran was being revealed to you?

Muhammad: The oppression and tyranny of today's Egypt's pharaoh surpass the savagery of Qorayish!

The CNN anchor: Let us focus on names deified today by some Muslims; in Egypt, for instance, the grand imam or head-sheikh of Al-Azhar is considered as the sheikh of Islam; the Wahabis consider Ibn Taymiyya as the sheikh of Islam. Is this OK or not?

Muhammad: This is never OK; this has nothing to do with Islam. Islam does not include any clergymen of any type; the only religious rank is being a prophet or a messenger. I am the Last Prophet; no one else dares to claim he receives divine revelation.

The CNN anchor: This means Islam has no sheikhs; yet, what about the honorific title (the sheikh of Islam)?

Muhammad: The Quranic and Arabic word (sheikh) does not refer to any clergymen of any rank; rather; it literally means (an old man); this word is related to the senile, old age; my Lord God says the following about the stages of human life: "God is He Who created you weak, then after weakness gave you strength, then after strength gave you weakness and gray hair. He creates whatever He wills. He is the Omniscient, the Omnipotent." (30:54). Being a sheikh means being an old man like Zachariah, Abraham, and Jacob, respectively mentioned here: "He said, “My Lord, my bones have become feeble, and my hair is aflame with gray, and never, Lord, have I been disappointed in my prayer to you." (19:4); "She said, “Alas for me. Shall I give birth, when I am an old woman, and this, my husband, is an old man? This is truly a strange thing.”" (11:72); "...he has a father, a very old man, so take one of us in his place..." (12:78). This is about the old man or sheikh who became the father-in-law of Moses: "...“We cannot draw water until the shepherds depart, and our father is a very old man.”" (28:23). Hence, the Quranic term (sheikh) means an old man.

The CNN anchor: And they say about the head-sheikh of Al-Azhar, in Egypt, that he is the Grand Imam!

Muhammad: Does this mean that I am a small imam?! Is he greater than I am?! Is he my imam?! Those who use such honorifics are never monotheistic believers!

The CNN anchor: Is it OK in Islam that someone would call himself an imam?!

Muhammad: No. The Quranic and Arabic word (imam) means the Celestial Book here: "before it the Book of Moses, an imam and a mercy..." (11:17); "And before it was the Book of Moses, an imam and a mercy..." (46:12). It also means the Book of Deeds which has recorded our actions; this book will be read on the Last Day: "It is We who revive the dead; and We write down what they have forwarded, and their traces. We have tallied all things in a clear imam." (36:12); "On the Day when We call every people with their imam. Whoever is given his record in his right hand - these will read their record, and they will not be wronged one bit." (17:71).

The CNN anchor: But what about the term (imam) describing persons? Is there imams in Islam or not?!

Muhammad: Some messengers and prophets are made by my Lord God as imams or leaders after passing several tests and ordeals: this is about Abraham: "And when his Lord tested Abraham with certain words, and he fulfilled them. He said, “I am making you an imam of all people.” He said, “And my descendants?” He said, “My pledge does not include the unjust ones.”" (2:124); this is about some prophets within the descendants of Abraham: "And We made them imams, guiding by Our command; and We inspired them to do good works, and to observe prayers and Zakat. They were devotedly worshiped Us." (21:73).

The CNN anchor: Does the same apply to human beings among non-prophets?

Muhammad: Only if they believe within monotheism and patience; my Lord God says the following about the patient monotheists among the Israelites: "And We appointed imams from among them, guiding by Our command, as long as they persevered and were certain of Our Verses." (32:24). This is about the servants of the Dominant Lord who implore Him to make them imams for the pious ones: "And those who say, “Our Lord, grant us delight in our spouses and our offspring, and make us imams for the pious ones.”" (25:74); if they prove their worthiness, they deserve being imams or leaders of the pious people; this pertains to the Lord God's Omniscience; this will not be made known to mortals until the Day of the Resurrection.

The CNN anchor: This is about imams or leaders of the monotheistic believers. Are there any imams for the disbelievers, then?

Muhammad: Yes; for instance, the disbelieving aggressors during my lifetime in Arabia are mentioned here: "But if they violate their oaths after their pledge, and attack your religion, then fight the imams of disbelief..." (9:12).

The CNN anchor: How can we identify the imams of guidance?

Muhammad: Mortals cannot judge or identify them; piety is something judged only by the Omniscient Lord God; the pious ones will be known only on the Last Day; they will enter into Paradise. Paradise, as per the Holy Quran, is for pious monotheists only. The imams of piety will be among the two ranks of Paradise mentioned in the Quranic Chapter 56; namely, the Forerunners and those on the Right.

The CNN anchor: How can we identify the imams of disbelief and misguidance, then?!

Muhammad: This is easily done as one notices their deeds, claims, and crimes. At first, they recommend themselves to the masses with banners and fake appearances of piety, and they claim being chosen by the Lord God to control or rule over the masses. Their lies and falsehoods make them leaders or imams to the deceived masses.

The CNN anchor: Would you please exemplify to me the imams of piety and guidance and the imams of disbelief and misguidance?

Muhammad: The imams of criminals and tyrants are exemplified in the Quran by Moses' Pharaoh and his family and people; tyrants who manipulate religion and assume being inspired by the Lord God follow the footsteps of Moses' Pharaoh: "In the manner of the people of Pharaoh, and those before them. They rejected the signs of God, so God seized them for their sins..." (8:52); "In the manner of the people of Pharaoh, and those before them. They denied the signs of their Lord, so We annihilated them for their sins, and We drowned the people of Pharaoh - they were all unjust ones." (8:54). This is about Moses' Pharaoh and his people and State: "So We seized him, and his troops, and We threw them into the sea. Observe, therefore, what was the end of the unjust ones. And We made them imams calling to the Fire. And on Resurrection Day, they will not be saved." (28:40-41); "He will precede his people on the Day of Resurrection, and will lead them into the Fire. Miserable is the place he placed them in." (11:98). In contrast, the victims of Moses' Pharaoh, or the Israelites during the era of Moses, became imams of guidance: "But We desired to favor those who were oppressed in the land, and to make them imams, and to make them the inheritors." (28:5); "Among the people of Moses is a community that guides by the Truth and thereby uphold justice." (7:159). Of course, some of the Israelites disobeyed the Lord God and worshiped the golden calf.

The CNN anchor: Some people in Egypt claim that Al-Azhar is the 'lighthouse' of Islam; what do you think of that?

Muhammad: This is absurd; did Islam remain in the darkness until Al-Azhar was built?! I am innocent of what they say!

The CNN anchor: In the Azan, or call to prayers, in Egypt, they describe you as (the Light of the Throne of Allah); what do you think of that?

Muhammad: Did the Throne of the Dominant Lord God remain in the darkness until I was born to bring light to it?! This is very insulting to the Lord God. Of course, I am innocent of what they say!

The CNN anchor: What is the Quranic definition of (Light) then?!

Muhammad: The Light is the Celestial Book itself; my Lord God says the following about the Torah: "We have revealed the Torah, wherein is guidance and Light..." (5:44); this is about the Gospel: "In their footsteps, We sent Jesus son of Mary, fulfilling the Torah that preceded him; and We gave him the Gospel, wherein is guidance and Light, and confirming the Torah that preceded him, and guidance and counsel for the pious ones." (5:46); this is about the Holy Quran itself: "O people! A proof has come to you from your Lord, and We sent down to you a Clear Light." (4:174); " So believe in God and His messenger, and the Light which We sent down. God is Aware of everything you do." (64:8); "O People of the Book! Our messenger has come to you, clarifying for you much of what you kept hidden of the Book, and overlooking much. A Light from God has come to you, and a Clear Book." (5:15).

The CNN anchor: Within drawing marriage contracts in Egypt, there is this utterance pronounced by marriage registrars: (This marriage is as per the Sunna of Allah and of His Messenger as per the doctrine of the Grandest Imam Abou Hanifa). What do you think of that?

Muhammad: This is utter nonsense. Are the marriages contracts drawn before the birth of Abou Hanifa rendered null and void?! Before his birth, who was considered as the 'grandest' imam?! Was he greater than the messengers and prophets chosen by my Lord God?!

The CNN anchor: The Sufis use the honorific title (the Authority of Islam) to refer to Al-Ghazaly the author of the many-volume book titled (Ehiaa Olom Eddine) or 'the revival of religious sciences'.

Muhammad: The only knowledge within Islam is found exclusively in the Holy Quran preserved by my Lord God until the end of days. Islam needs no authority by any authors at all. "Say, “To God belongs the conclusive argument. Had He willed, He would have guided you all.”" (6:149). Has Islam remained without a conclusive argument or authority until Al-Ghazaly was born?!

The CNN anchor: The Shiites deify your daughter Fatima, her husband, and her two sons. What do you think of that?

Muhammad: On the Day of the Resurrection, one's relatives and the nearest of kin will never be of any use: "But when the Deafening Noise comes to pass. The Day when a person will flee from his brother. And his mother and his father. And his consort and his children. Every one of them, on that Day, will have enough to preoccupy him." (80:33-37); "O people! Be conscious of your Lord within piety, and dread a Day when no parent can avail his child, nor can a child avail his parent, in anything. The promise of God is true. Therefore, do not let this life deceive you, nor let illusions deceive you regarding God." (31:33); "When the Trumpet is blown, no relations between them will exist on that Day, and they will not ask after one another." (23:101).

The CNN anchor: Are your daughter Fatima and her offspring your (people of the household) or not? The Shiites use this term a lot, as you know!

Muhammad: The Quranic term (people of the household) refer only to a man's wife or wives. This is addressed directly to my wives: "And settle in your homes; and do not display yourselves, as in the former days of ignorance. And perform prayers and Zakat, and obey God and His Messenger. God desires to remove all impurity from you, O people of the household, and to purify you thoroughly." (33:33).

The CNN anchor: Any man's wife or wives deserve the same description (people of the household), right?

Muhammad: Yes; this is about Abraham's wife when the angels brought to her the glad tidings of her giving birth to Isaac: "They said, “Do you marvel at the decree of God? The mercy and blessings of God are upon you, O people of the house..." (11:73).

The CNN anchor: The Twelver Shiites in Iran employ honorifics to their clergymen such as Ayatollah and Rohollah. what do you think of that?

Muhammad: There are no clergymen whatsoever in Islam. The Quranic term (Roh Allah) refers only to the Holy Spirit of God; namely, the arch-angel Gabriel.

The CNN anchor: What is the mission of Gabriel in relation to human beings?

Muhammad: The descent of Celestial Messages including the Holy Quran: "He sends down the angels with the Spirit by His command, upon whom He wills of His servants: “Give warning that there is no God but Me, and fear Me within piety.”" (16:2); "...He conveys the Spirit, by His command, upon whomever He wills of His servants, to warn of the Day of Encounter." (40:15); "The Honest Spirit came down with it. Upon your heart, that you may be one of the warners. In a clear Arabic tongue." (26:193-195);. Besides, Gabriel breathes the souls into human bodies; this is exemplified within the story of Adam: "Your Lord said to the angels, “I am creating a human being from clay, from molded mud.”“When I have formed him, and breathed into him of My Spirit, fall down prostrating before him.”" (15:28-29). This is also exemplified within the story of Jesus; Gabriel descended with the divine command (Be!) to Mary and she got pregnant: "She screened herself away from them, and We sent to her Our spirit, and He appeared to her as a perfect human. She said, “I take refuge from you in the Dominant Lord, should you be righteous.” He said, “I am only the messenger of your Lord, to give you the gift of a pure son.”" (19:17-19). Another mission of Gabriel was to support prophets and messengers of my Lord God; again, this is exemplified within the story of Jesus: "When God will say, “O Jesus son of Mary, recall My favor upon you and upon your mother, how I supported you with the Holy Spirit..." (5:110).

The CNN anchor: What about the missions of the Holy Spirit or Gabriel in relation to people of today?

Muhammad: The Holy Spirit, Gabriel, supports the monotheistic believers who adhere to the Truth: "...He has inscribed faith in their hearts, and has supported them with a Spirit from Him..." (58:22). Besides, his annual mission is to descend with preordained fates, carried along by a host of angels, on the annual Night of Decree: "The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. In it descend the angels and the Spirit, by the leave of their Lord, with every command." (97:3-4).

The CNN anchor: Hence, the name (Rohollah Khomeini) of the Twelver Shiites has nothing to do with Islam, right?

Muhammad: Exactly.

The CNN anchor: What about the Shiite honorific title (ayatollah)?

Muhammad: The Quranic term (ayah), as well as its plural form (ayat), has several meanings: a Quranic verse, a miracle/sign, a lesson to be drawn, and wondrous creations of the Lord God; this verse is about the miracles granted to Moses: "Put your hand inside your pocket, and it will come out white, without blemish among nine miracles to Pharaoh and his people, for they are sinful people.”" (27:12). This is about the Holy Quran itself which is a miracle that will last until the end of days juxtaposed with tangible, temporary miracles granted to previous prophets and messengers: "When We substitute a verse in place of another verse - and God knows best what He reveals - they say, “You are an impostor.” But most of them do not know. Say, “The Holy Spirit has brought it down from your Lord, in Truth, in order to stabilize those who believe, and as guidance and good news for the submitters.”" (16:101-102). This is about the Quranic verses themselves: "...These are the Verses of the Book; a Quran that makes things clear." (15:1). This about signs and lessons: "Surely in this is a sign, but most of them are not believers." (26:8). This is about (ayah) in the sense of the wondrous creations of the Lord God the Creator: "How many a sign in the heavens and the earth do they pass by, paying no attention to them?" (12:105).

The CNN anchor: Do you mean to tell me that Sunnites and Shiites who describe their imams and clergymen by such honorifics are ascribing lies and falsehoods to God and to His religion?

Muhammad: Exactly.

Secondly:

While watching this segment of the CNN interview with Muhammad, the four sheikhs in the VA ranch consumed the food items of their scrumptious meal with their capital appetites while feeling insatiable. Suddenly, the Sunnite sheikh Massood stood up and addressed the other sheikhs.

The Sunnite sheikh Massood (loudly): Let us pray together and invoke the wrath of Allah against this insane imposter! Let us implore Allah to strike him dead!

The Shiite sheikh Mandoor (enthusiastically): The very thing! Let's pray and invoke Allah against this infidel the leader of Nawasib!

The Sunnite sheikh Massood (inviting them): I will be your imam in these prayers; please stand behind me in a row.

The Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany stood behind the Sunnite sheikh Massood and waited for the other two sheikhs to stand beside him in a row; this does not happen.

The Shiite sheikh Mandoor (angrily): I am supposed to be your imam in these prayers because I am the oldest sheikh among you!

The Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany (yelling at him): Impossible! You do not fit to be an imam of prayers! You are an infidel!

The Sunnite sheikh Massood (loudly): I represent the Sunnites! I refuse to pray behind one of the Rawafid, the Shiite enemies of the purified Sunna, who encourage temporary marriages to satisfy their carnal lusts!

The Shiite sheikh Mandoor (angrily): Sunnite sheikhs are not only Nawasib but also leaders of terrorists worldwide, you son of a bitch!

The Sufi sheikh Bahlool (calmly and hesitantly): Calm down, everybody; do not quarrel; let me be the imam of these prayers.

The rest of them address the Sufi sheikh Bahlool in unison: Shut the f**k up, idiot!

The CNN interview with Muhammad about his disowning the rulers of the Muhammadans

Firstly:

The CNN anchor: Let us talk now about your relation with the hypocrites in Yathreb; the hypocrites are mentioned several times in the Quranic verses revealed in Yathreb; they are not mentioned in the Quranic verses revealed in Mecca; why is that?

Muhammad: Of course, haters of Islam and those who opposed it were the majority and they controlled everything in Mecca; they never needed to be hypocrites when they dealt with a minority of weak, poor believers persecuted by them; as persecution grew severer, the early believers had to immigrate and settle in Yathreb.

The CNN anchor: I know that in the Yathreb city-state, the believers were a majority combining most original inhabitants of Yathreb plus the immigrants; the opposition people were a minority this time; they were not persecuted by you, right?

Muhammad: Of course, they never suffered persecution; they enjoyed absolute political and religious freedom as long as they are peaceful; they expressed their religious and political opposition peacefully.

The CNN anchor: Why did they resort to hypocrisy, then? Only a weak, defeated, frightened party would resort to hypocrisy to escape persecution!

Muhammad: They were never persecuted, and yet, they were a minority of very much afraid persons; they would have escaped and left if they could, but they did not; their state of hypocrisy and denial drove them to swear falsely by the Lord God's Name: "They swear by God that they are of you. But they are not of you. They are divisive people. Were they to find a shelter, or a cave, or a hideout, they would go to it, rushing." (9:56-57).

The CNN anchor: Why did the hypocrites swear in the Holy Name of God falsely and take it in vain?

Muhammad: They conspired against the early believers and when their plots were discovered, they swore they were innocent; the Quran has exposed their lies and hypocrisy.

The CNN anchor: Would you please exemplify this to me?

Muhammad: Those liars and hypocrites established a harmful mosque which was a center of conspiring; my Lord God has exposed their conspiracies and plots, their mosque, and their swearing in His Holy Name falsely: "Then there are those who establish a mosque to cause harm, and disbelief, and disunity among the believers, and as an outpost for those who fight God and His Messenger. They will swear: “Our intentions are nothing but good.” But God bears witness that they are liars." (9:107).

The CNN anchor: This harmful mosque, I am told, was a center for spies and hatching plots against you and the early believers –considered as enemies who undertook the control of Yathreb overnight. The Lord God in the Quran bears witness against such conspiring hypocrites who feigned being believers; this behavior of theirs is akin to the crime known as high treason; a crime entailing either the capital punishment or imprisonment for life in many countries now. Yet, what measures have you taken against them?

Muhammad: None. Before their conspiring has been exposed by my Lord God in the Quran, I never knew the true nature of their harm-causing mosque; I never had any measure of omniscience; I performed prayers inside it and never knew what occurred behind my back; eventually, my Lord God has commanded me never to enter into such a harmful mosque: "Do not stand in it, ever. A mosque founded upon piety from the first day is worthier of your standing in it..." (9:108).

The CNN anchor: That is all! You are prevented from entering it; what about punishing the conspiring traitors among the hypocrites? Why did not you demolish their harmful mosque? Why did not you arrest, imprison, and kill them?! Why did not you hold them in trial and put them to death after they would be found guilty of high treason in a time of war since the Meccan troops of Qorayish attacked Yathreb several times?!

Muhammad: What you suggest is never part of Islamic sharia.

The CNN anchor: Yet, Arab and Muslim rulers do so and claim otherwise.

Muhammad: I am innocent of what they do; their deeds never pertain to the Islamic sharia.

The CNN anchor: Where is this Islamic sharia?

Muhammad: It is found exclusively in the Quran. It entails that peaceful political opposition figures are to move freely – as long as they never raise arms or resort to violence. I mean they never commit murder. The peaceful hypocrites hatched plots and conspired inside their mosque and their plans were aborted and exposed; when they were interrogated, they denied and swore they never conspired.

The CNN anchor: But they are liars; the Lord God asserts this fact in the Quran. Muslims always say – after reading Quranic verses – that the Lord God says nothing but the Absolute Truth.

Muhammad: Their telling lies and taking the Lord God's Holy Name in vain will be judged on the Last Day; this is none of our concern; we can judge only if such hypocrites would commit acts of violence or the crime of murder or not; we can judge and punish them only if they violated human rights. This did not happen; they adhered to peace all the time within their religious and political opposition.

The CNN anchor: When you interrogated them, did you employ torture as is the case of Muslim rulers of today whose police officers routinely torture suspects?

Muhammad: Never. I am innocent of what they do! Torture is a crime and a grave sin as per the Quranic sharia of Islam.

The CNN anchor: This means you did not punish or imprison them after or during interrogating them.

Muhammad: Yes. And their harmful mosque remained; it was a sign of treachery and doubt inside their hearts; they frequented it and no one stopped them. My Lord God says the following in the Quran: "The structure which they built will remain questionable in their hearts, until their hearts are stopped. God is Knowing and Wise." (9:110).

The CNN anchor: Your stance towards such conspiring hypocrites is rare to be found in the Middle-Ages of darkness, backwardness, and tyranny. It is strange that the rulers of the countries of the so-called (Umma of Muhammad) torture their nations to maintain their rule, power, and authority.

Muhammad: I said I am innocent of what they do!

The CNN anchor: Is there another example related to the conspiring hypocrites inside Yathreb at the time?

Muhammad: They tried to create troubles between me and the early believers; my Lord God says the following in the Quran: "They tried to cause conflict before, and they hatched plots against you, until the truth prevailed, and the command of God became evident - in spite of their dislike." (9:48).

The CNN anchor: What was their reaction when the truth prevailed?

Muhammad: The typically swore in the Holy Name of God falsely; they took His Holy Name in vain; they denied any conspiracies and continued to conspire and hatch plots; they continued their repelling others from the Path of the Lord God; my Lord God says the following in the Quran about them: "They treat their oaths as a cover, and so they repel others from God’s Path. Evil is what they do." (63:2).

The CNN anchor: What else?

Muhammad: Those hypocrites tried all the time to deceive the believers; the believers have been warned by my Lord God here: "They swear to you by God to please you. But it is more proper for them to please God and His Messenger, if they are believers." (9:62); "They will swear to you that you may accept them. But even if you accept them, God does not accept the sinful people." (9:96).

The CNN anchor: Let us return to my previous question; why did the hypocrites fear you and the early believers? Why did they desire to escape? They hated Islam and Muslim immigrants so much and they also hated the new political status quo. Why did not they leave Yathreb, then?!

Muhammad: They were very wealthy; they had their assets in Yathreb; besides, they had authority and power but lost them because of the Quranic sharia of equality and justice. They became a minority and had to submit to the majority under a new rule. They were left with two options: either to leave Yathreb after taking away their money and selling their assets to live under the protection of any Arabian tribe whose men will eventually steal their money, or to remain in Yathreb to protect their wealth and investments while enjoying religious freedom as well as their political freedom of expressing opposition peacefully. They chose the latter; they practiced their freedoms fully; when the Quran has exposed their conspiring, they had no option but to deny it and to swear in the Holy Name of the Lord God falsely.

The CNN anchor: Despite all this, you never resorted to torture while interrogating them; this means you have applied the Quranic sharia which is against the crime of torture.

Muhammad: I requested from them to confess their guilt, in public, in return for my imploring my Lord God, in public, to forgive them, but they arrogantly refused: "And when it is said to them, “Come, the Messenger of God will ask forgiveness for you,” they bend their heads, and you see them turning away arrogantly.It is the same for them, whether you ask forgiveness for them, or do not ask forgiveness for them; God will not forgive them. God does not guide the sinful people." (63:5-6).

The CNN anchor: And you let them go afterwards and avoided them.

Muhammad: Yes, turning away from disbelievers after preaching them is the Islamic sharia way of dealing with them.

The CNN anchor: This is made clear by never demolishing their harmful mosque; you took no measures against them. This is not typical of Muslim rulers of today and of the past.

Muhammad: I am innocent of what they do! Of course, I applied the Quranic sharia of Islam when I avoided and turned away from the hypocrites.

The CNN anchor: How?!

Muhammad: I turned away from them, as per the Quranic commands of my Lord God addressed to me, despite their conspiring against me and after I warned and preached them in the hope of guiding them: "They profess obedience, but when they leave your presence, some of them conspire something contrary to what you said. But God writes down what they conspire. So avoid them, and put your trust in God. God is Guardian enough." (4:81); "They are those whom God knows what is in their hearts. So turn away from them, and admonish them, and say to them concerning themselves penetrating words." (4:63).

The CNN anchor: Your stance is hardly the thing expected from Muslim rulers of today.

Muhammad: I said I am innocent of what they do!

The CNN anchor: Does the Quranic command of turning away from them is addressed to you specially as a leader of the Yathreb city-state or to all believers in general.

Muhammad: To all believers as this is part of the Quranic sharia of Islam. "They will swear to you by God, when you return to them, that you may leave them alone. So leave them alone. They are a disgrace, and their destiny is Hell; a reward for what they used to earn." (9:95).

The CNN anchor: This means to let them be and to avoid them; it is enough for them the Hell torment waiting for them on the Last Day, right?

Muhammad: Exactly.

The CNN anchor: Strangely, such hypocrites feared that the majority of believers would turn against them and yet they never feared the Lord God!

Muhammad: Yes; this is asserted by my Lord God in this Quranic verse addressed to believers: "Fear of you is more intense in their hearts than fear of God. That is because they are a people who do not understand." (59:13).

The CNN anchor: Did you avoid or turn away from them all the time?

Muhammad: Only if they did sin, tell lies, or commit mistakes; otherwise, they enjoyed full citizenship rights like everyone else inside Yathreb. When I approved of their views and obeyed them in the Shura consultation councils, my Lord God has warned me because they contacted in secret the disbelieving, aggressive enemies as their allies: "And do not obey the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and ignore their insults, and rely on God. God is a Sufficient Guardian." (33:48).

The CNN anchor: This is yet another command of avoiding and turning away from them even if they insulted you.

Muhammad: Exactly.

The CNN anchor: This means they verbally abused you, right?

Muhammad: Yes.

The CNN anchor: The 'subjects' of the Middle-East enthroned tyrants would never dare insult their rulers as these rulers will never ignore this and will not let them be! Please provide me with examples from the Quran about how the hypocrites insulted you.

Muhammad: They were rich yet coveted some shares of charity-money contributions distributed among the poor and the Zakat recipients; when I refused their request of having shares from the charity money, they insulted me and grew angry with me: "And among them are those who criticize you in regard to charities. If they are given some of it, they become pleased; but if they are not given any, they grow resentful." (9:58); some of them ridiculed the Quran itself along with their mocking me: "If you ask them, they will say, “We were just joking and playing.” Say, “Were you making jokes about God, His Verses, and His messenger?”" (9:65). A leader of hypocrites insulted me and threatened to evict me and the early believers out of Yathreb: "They say, “If we return to the town, the more powerful therein will evict the weak.” But power belongs to God, and His messenger, and the believers; but the hypocrites do not know." (63:8). In the Shura consultation councils, the hypocrites, who were leaders before I led the Yathreb community, hated my treating all people within equality and listening to them attentively; they ridiculed me, but my Lord God has defended me here: "And among them are those who insult the Prophet, and say, “He is all ears.” Say, “He listens for your own good. He believes in God, and trusts the believers, and is mercy for those of you who believe.” Those who insult the messenger of God will have a painful torment." (9:61).

The CNN anchor: I see that in 9:61, the Lord God praises you in a great manner; you are described as a mercy for believers. This is in contrast to the portrayal of you in the hadiths they have fabricated.

Muhammad: I am innocent of what they say and do! I have nothing to do with the so-called hadiths!

The CNN anchor: After being insulted and ridiculed, you had the right to exact revenge, right?

Muhammad: I never took revenge against anyone; on the contrary, I beseeched and implored my Lord God to pardon and to forgive them and I prayed for the dead ones among hypocritical disbelievers when their corpses were being buried; yet, my Lord God has commanded me never to do so again: "Whether you ask forgiveness for them, or do not ask forgiveness for them - even if you ask forgiveness for them seventy times, God will not forgive them. That is because they disbelieved in God and His Messenger. God does not guide the sinful people." (9:80); "You are never to pray over anyone of them who dies, nor are you to stand at his graveside. They rejected God and His Messenger, and died while they were sinners." (9:84).

The CNN anchor (deeply moved): I would never have believed this if I have not found it in the Quran itself. I wonder why Muslims never read, ponder, and apply the Quran!

Muhammad: I never know anything about your contemporaries; I have nothing to do with them; I am innocent of what they say and do!

Secondly:

While watching this segment of the CNN interview with Muhammad, the four sheikhs, watched by the FBI men, were still consuming huge amounts of delicious food; they talked while waiting for the ads to end.

The Sufi sheikh Bahlool (while scratching his head): Unbelievable! Does the Quran contain all that? I never knew this before!

The Sunnite sheikh Massood (with hatred): All these are Quranic verses, you thick-headed moron!

The Sufi sheikh Bahlool (calmly): Since all these Quranic verses are never quoted by sheikhs,...

The Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany (interrupting him angrily): This imposter intentionally contradicts the fatwas of the Grand Sheikh of Islam Ibn Taymiyya! This insane infidel is a heretic and must be put to death once he is found, and without trial, even if he declared his repentance! This is the major fatwa by Ibn Taymiyya!

The Shiite sheikh Mandoor (enthusiastically): Yes! Putting him to death is the proper punishment for his being an enemy of the household members of our Grand Imam Ali and his two sons!

The Sufi sheikh Bahlool (calmly): I do not understand anything you are saying.

The rest of them address the Sufi sheikh Bahlool in unison: Shut the f**k up, idiot!

The CNN interview with Muhammad about his disowning the so-called (Umma of Muhammad)

Firstly:

The CNN anchor: The ones you have disowned in this interview call themselves as the Umma of Muhammad; this means they ascribe themselves to you!

Muhammad: There is nothing in Islam known as the Umma of Muhammad; this expression is never mentioned in the Holy Quran. Besides, the meaning of this expression contradicts Islam.

The CNN anchor: So, the term (Umma) which means a nation or a community is never linked to the name (Muhammad) in the Quran.

Muhammad: Exactly.

The CNN anchor: I know that the Lord God has addressed you a lot in the Quran; He has addressed you directly about your contemporaries: believers, disbelievers, and hypocrites. Yet, the Quran never describes them as your (Umma).

Muhammad: That is true. They are described as my (people).

The CNN anchor: Would you please exemplify this to me?

Muhammad: The following verse is about the Quran itself: "It is a message for you, and for your people; and you will be questioned." (43:44); this verse about how my people – or my contemporaries in Arabia – denied and disbelieved in the Quran: "But your people rejected it, though it is the truth. Say, “I am not responsible for you.”" (6:66). This is about my people's arguing against the Quran: "And when the son of Mary was cited as an example, your people opposed." (43:57). This is about the Quranic stories of the past: "These are some stories from the past that we reveal to you. Neither you, nor your people knew them before this. So be patient. The outcome belongs to the pious ones." (11:49). You see, the term (people) is employed and not the term (Umma).

The CNN anchor: Does this apply to the previous prophets? I mean each had his people and not his Umma.

Muhammad: Exactly.

The CNN anchor: Would you please exemplify this to me in the Quranic stories of ancient prophets?

Muhammad: This is about Noah: "And it was revealed to Noah: “None of your people will believe, except those who have already believed, so do not grieve over what they do.”" (11:36); this is about Moses and Aaron: "And We inspired Moses and his brother, “Settle your people in Egypt, and make your homes places of worship, and perform prayers, and give good news to the believers.”" (10:87). There are many other Quranic verses which assert what I am telling you.

The CNN anchor: So, the term (Umma) is never linked to you in the Quranic text.

Muhammad: Yes.

The CNN anchor: Why?

Muhammad: I do not have an Umma of my own or one which pertains to me.

The CNN anchor: I do not follow; what do you mean?!

Muhammad: The Quranic term (Umma) is mentioned in the Quran to describe all prophets and messengers, including myself as the Last Prophet; they and all monotheists of all eras are one nation, community, or Umma of the Lord God.

The CNN anchor: Would you please exemplify this to me?

Muhammad: After some Quranic stories of some prophets, one reads the following: "This Umma of yours is one Umma, and I am your Lord, so worship Me. But they splintered themselves into factions. They will all return to Us." (21:92-93); "O messengers, eat of the good things and perform good deeds. I am aware of what you do. This Umma of yours is one Umma, and I am your Lord, so fear Me within piety. But they tore their religion into books; each party happy with what they have." (23:51-53). This revelation reached all prophets and it is found also in the Holy Quran.

The CNN anchor: Would you explain this further to me?

Muhammad: This means all monotheists in all eras and areas (including the Lord God's prophets and messengers) are one Umma of the Lord God Whom they worship within piety; yet, most people later on, after the death of each prophet and messenger, would divide themselves into sects, doctrines,...etc. of polytheism and invent 'holy' books for themselves instead of the Divine Revelation.

The CNN anchor: Do you mean to tell me that this happened in all Quranic stories of previous prophets and messengers?

Muhammad: Exactly. They are divided within misguidance and polytheism once a prophet or a messenger died; my Lord God sent new prophets and messengers to guide them; yet, the misguidance would dominate once more after their death.

The CNN anchor: How?!

Muhammad: In each case, the message conveyed by a prophet or a messenger is believed by a minority of people and rejected and opposed by a majority of people who demanded miracles; when they saw miracles which occurred by the permission of my Lord God, they disbelieved still and this brought about their destruction by Him. After the destruction of such stubborn disbelievers, the believers remained with the prophet or messenger; the next generations would deify the dead prophet or messenger and his followers; this deification of mortals, which begins typically by raising a prophet above all previous prophets, is in contrast to the one, clear message of monotheism conveyed by all of the Lord God's prophets and messengers: (There is no God but Allah). After deifying the dead prophet, the polytheists make themselves the Umma or nation of that deified prophet; yet, they dispute regarding the deification of some of the followers and contemporaries of the deified prophet. Later on, the Lord God would send a new prophet to introduce reform. The same story is repeated after the death of this prophet or messenger. For sure, each one of the Lord God's messengers and prophets teaches his people the monotheism of (There is no God but Allah). This is asserted here: "We never sent a messenger before you without inspiring him that: “There is no God but I, so worship Me.”" (21:25). Generations later, the dead prophet or messenger would be deified; he becomes to the polytheists another deity alongside with Allah; some of the contemporaries of the deified prophet would be deified, in their turn, as saints or allies and imams or authors. This deification occurred to Jesus after his death; I mean that centuries after his death, he was deified as a 'son' of God; may the Lord God be exalted high above such a blasphemous, polytheistic claim. We should bear in mind that Jesus, as a baby, said the following to his people: "He said, “I am the servant of God. He has given me the Book and made me a prophet." (19:30); he said the following to his people during his ministry as a prophet: "“God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a Straight Path.”" (19:36). The so-called Christians have nothing to do with Jesus Christ the son of Mary; yet, after deifying him, they consider themselves as the (Umma of Christ). Sadly, the same deification occurred to me decades after my death in Arabia; those polytheists who made me a deity besides Allah call themselves now as the (Umma of Muhammad). Those polytheists forget that my Lord God has told me the following in the Holy Quran: "Know that there is no God but Allah, and ask forgiveness for your sin..." (47:19).

The CNN anchor: What does this have to do with the Quranic context 21:92-93?

Muhammad: The Quranic verse 21:92 is what should be, whereas 21:93 is what happened each time after the death of this or that prophet.

The CNN anchor: What is meant by this phrase: "...They will all return to Us." (21:93)?

Muhammad: The meaning is clear enough; the Lord God will settle the religious disputes and differences of all human beings on the Day of Judgment; my Lord God has commanded me to announce the following: "Say, “Our God, Initiator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of all secrets and declarations. You will judge between your servants regarding what they had differed about.”" (39:46). Thus, on the Last Day, the monotheists, who adhered to (There is no God but Allah), and the polytheists, who deified mortals and other creatures, will be made to stand before the Lord God and He will settle their religious disputes.

The CNN anchor: What would be the result as per the Quran?

Muhammad: The polytheists, disbelievers, and sinners will enter into Hell, and pious monotheists will enter into Paradise. My Lord God says the following in the Quran: "Here are two adversaries feuding regarding their Lord. As for those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be tailored for them, and scalding water will be poured over their heads. Melting their insides and their skins. And they will have maces of iron. Whenever they try to escape the gloom, they will be driven back to it: “Taste the torment of burning.” But God will admit those who believe and do good deeds into Gardens beneath which rivers flow. They will be decorated therein with bracelets of gold and pearls, and their garments therein will be of silk." (22:19-23).

The CNN anchor: How is this related to our topic here?

Muhammad: All humanity, on the Last Day, will be divided into an Umma of losers inside Hell forever and an Umma of winners inside Paradise for eternity; the Paradise dwellers will be prophets and messengers and the pious monotheists who followed them: "Whoever obeys God and the Messenger - these are with those whom God has blessed - among the prophets, and the sincere, and the witnesses, and the righteous. Excellent are those as companions." (4:69); "Those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in throngs..." (39:71); "And those who feared their Lord within piety will be led to Paradise in throngs..." (39:73).

The CNN anchor: This means there is nothing called the Umma of Muhammad; there is nothing called the Umma of Christ. Both groups claim falsely that they monopolize the Truth. Each nation or Umma deifies mortals as intercessors leading them into the Kingdom of Heaven or into Paradise.

Muhammad: You should bear in mind that from the Quranic contexts 23:51-53 and 21:92-93, we know that polytheists of all eras are divided into sects and doctrines and they invented their own holy books and narratives with which they are happy after they have rejected the Divine Truth and the monotheism of (There is no God but Allah).

The CNN anchor: Indeed, the so-called Umma of Christ has been divided into many churches and doctrines; likewise, the so-called Umma of Muhammad is divided into Shiites, Sunnites, Sufis, and other sub-groups!

Muhammad: Within directly addressing them, my Lord God has commanded believers to adhere to the Quran and to never get divided in religion: "And hold fast to the rope of God, altogether, and do not become divided. And remember God's bounties upon you; how you were enemies, and He reconciled your hearts, and by His grace you became brethren. And you were on the brink of a pit of fire, and He saved you from it. God thus clarifies His Verses for you, so that you may be guided." (3:103). This is repeated in the tenth commandment of the Quranic Ten Commandments: "This is My Path, straight, so follow it. And do not follow the other paths, lest they divert you from His Path. All this He has enjoined upon you that you may attain piety." (6:153).

The CNN anchor: What proof have you that the Straight Path is the Quran itself?

Muhammad: Many Quranic verses describe the Quran as the Straight Path and the only source of guidance for those who seek it: "This is the Straight Path of your Lord. We have explained the Verses in detail for people who recollect." (6:126); this means rejecting the Quran means to fall into the trap of divisions and misguidance as per 6:153.

The CNN anchor: What about those who followed other paths of misguidance?

Muhammad: The believers are warned directly by my Lord God against falling into the trap of divisions in the following Quranic verse: "And do not be like those who got divided and disputed after the clear proofs came to them; for them is an enormous torment." (3:105). The misguided polytheists who in the previous eras followed paths of divisions will be tormented in Hell.

The CNN anchor: This means getting divided in religion is a sign of falling into the trap of polytheism, right?

Muhammad: Exactly. Again, these Quranic verses are directly addressing all monotheistic believers: "...and do not be of the polytheists. Of those who divided their religion, and became sects; each faction pleased with what they have." (30:31-32).

The CNN anchor: What is your stance of the so-called Umma of Muhammad and its people who are divided into sects, doctrines,...etc.?

Muhammad: My Lord says the following in the Quran: "As for those who divided their religion and became sects - you have nothing to do with them. Their case rests with God; then He will inform them of what they used to do." (6:159). This means I have nothing to do with them; they never pertain to me and I never belong to them!

The CNN anchor: This means you disown the Sunnites who deify you and ascribe their hadiths, laws, and fiqh to you!

The CNN anchor: This means you disown the Shiites who deify you and your daughter, Fatima, and her husband, Ali, and ascribe their hadiths, laws, and fiqh to you!

The CNN anchor: This means you disown the Sufis who deify you and deify their saints and ascribe their hadiths and Sufi orders to you!

Secondly:

Before the TV screen, in the VA ranch, the four sheikhs go on with consuming their scrumptious, multiple-course meal, while being watched by the FBI men. Once the ads begin, they stood up and screamed their words at the TV screen to vent their bent-up anger.

The Sufi sheikh Bahlool: This insane imposter protests against the Holy Saints! He is an infidel! He will never receive the intercession of any of our holy saints on the Day of the Resurrection!

The Sunnite sheikh Massood: Since he denies the Umma of Muhammad, the pure Umma of Muhammad likewise denies such an infidel!

The Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany: What a madman! What an ignorant imposter! He sits calmly in a chair while denying all Sunna hadiths of our Holy Prophet! Surely his fate is Hell in the Hereafter! Amen to this!

The Shiite sheikh Mandoor: This is a cursed leader of Nawasib! He willfully showing hatred towards the Pure People of the Household of Ali and Fatima! He will never enter into Paradise!

The CNN interview with Muhammad about his denying and disowning clergymen of the Qorayish tribe and the Arabs in general

Firstly:

The CNN anchor: Since in Islam there is no such a thing as receiving remuneration for the preaching or the call, it is prohibited to manipulate religion to reach power or to make money. Sadly, it is typical that the masses trust clergymen who make themselves as mediators between people and God; it is as if such clergymen would offer them indulgences typical of the Middle-Ages or unbroken promises of entering into Paradise. In return for such deception, clergymen receive money from the masses and gain authority, influence, and stature. Of course, clergymen represent religious institutions; for instance, churches, which compete for more authority and money; sometimes, they compete with enthroned tyrants for power instead of obsequiously serving such tyrants who, in many cases, control such religious institutions. In other cases, wealth- and power-seeking clergymen may organize massive revolts against enthroned tyrants to cause their ouster and rule instead of them. The masses are deceived, controlled, and brainwashed in all such cases.

Muhammad: Islam consists of prohibitions and commands of my Lord God in the Quran; He is the Owner of the Religion of Islam. He has created human beings as free agents; they can choose to obey or to disobey the Quran; they can choose to believe or to disbelieve in the Quran. This constitutes what True Islam is. The people's obedience or disobedience within religion will be judged only by my Lord God on the Last Day; this refutes the idea of clergymen and the notion of using religion to make money or to reach power. Sadly, many people are deceived by false religions. All clergymen on earth pertain to false religions. Islam has no clergymen or religious institutions at all. I never instituted any clergymen in Arabia; I never built any institutions there.

The CNN anchor: Yet, there are those who claim that they are mediators between the humankind and God.

Muhammad: This is a flagrant falsehood; there are no mediators between human beings and my Lord God the Creator.

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: My Lord God is the Creator; He describes Himself here: "To God belongs what is in the heavens and what is on earth, and God encompasses everything." (4:126); "...God, my Lord and your Lord. There is not a creature but He holds it by the forelock..." (11:65); "Do you not realize that God knows everything in the heavens and everything on earth? There is no secret counsel between three, but He is their fourth; nor between five, but He is their sixth; nor less than that, nor more, but He is with them wherever they may be. Then, on the Day of Resurrection, He will inform them of what they did. God has knowledge of everything." (58:7); "It is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then settled over the Throne. He knows what penetrates into the earth, and what comes out of it, and what descends from the sky, and what ascends to it. And He is with you wherever you may be. God is Seeing of everything you do." (57:4); "...God is Witness over all things." (4:33); "With Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except He. And He knows everything on land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but He knows it; and there is not a single grain in the darkness of earth, nor is there anything wet or dry, but is in a clear book." (6:59). These Quranic verses assert the fact that there are no mediators between the Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient Lord God and human beings.

The CNN anchor: Yet, most people who suffer ordeals or hardships resort to mausoleums of saints or to clergymen who are allegedly nearer to God as intercessors who address Him on behalf of the masses to solve their problems and relieve their suffering!

Muhammad: This sin is very insulting to my Lord God; it is as if He were heedless of His human creatures; such accusation is refuted by my Lord God here: "We created above you seven pathways, and We are never heedless of the creation." (23:17).

The CNN anchor: This means God is never heedless of the wronged human beings, right?

Muhammad: Of course. This verse is addressed to all human beings: "Do not ever think that God is unaware of what the unjust ones do. He only defers them until a Day when the sights stare." (14:42). This means that the unjust ones who wronged others and then died without repentance will abide in Hell for eternity.

The CNN anchor: What about those who suffer ordeals and hardships? What are they supposed to do?

Muhammad: They are to implore and to pray and supplicate to their Lord God: "Or, who answers the one in need when he prays to Him, and relieves adversity, and makes you successors on earth? Is there another god with Allah? How hardly you remember." (27:62).

The CNN anchor: This means that God is Near to people, and He is not far from them!

Muhammad: Exactly; my Lord God says the following in the Quran: "We created the human being, and We know what his soul whispers to him. We are nearer to him than his jugular vein." (50:16); He is Nearer to dying persons than their family members who surround their death-beds: "So when it has reached the throat. As you are looking on. We are nearer to it than you are, but you do not see." (56:83-85).

The CNN anchor: What is the moment when one's soul is nearest to God?

Muhammad: When one supplicates to the Lord God fervently and sincerely during prayers and when one prostrates reverently, within fear and piety, also during prayers. My Lord God says the following in the Quran about disobeying Satan and drawing nearer to the Lord God by prostration within prayers: "No, do not obey him; but prostrate, and come near." (96:19).

The CNN anchor: What about those who make you as their mediator and intercessor? They claim you have authority or eminency with God; they swear by it and seek aid through it; they even supplicate to God to answer their prayers for the sake of Muhammad or the eminency of Muhammad, God's supposedly 'favorite' prophet!

Muhammad: I am innocent of what they say! I have no authority or eminency with my Lord God; I have always feared that my Lord God would inflict torment on me, in the Hereafter, if I would dare to disobey Him; He has told me to declare the following: "Say, “I fear, if I disobeyed my Lord, the torment of a horrendous Day.”" (39:13); "Say, “I fear, should I disobey my Lord, the torment of a Tremendous Day.”" (6:15); "...I only follow what is revealed to me. I fear, if I disobeyed my Lord, the torment of a Terrible Day." (10:15).

The CNN anchor: Have your contemporaries asked you if you have authority or eminency with God?

Muhammad: Yes, they did. The Lord God says the following in the Quran to answer them: "And when My servants ask you about Me, I am Near; I answer the call of the caller when he calls on Me. So let them answer Me, and have faith in Me, that they may be rightly guided." (2:186). My Lord God did not tell me to inform them that He is Near; rather, He has said it Himself directly. This proves I am no mediator or intercessor at all; monotheists maintain their direct relation with the Lord God without any interference by anyone or mediation of any person at all.

The CNN anchor: Why did your people in Arabia seek mediators and intercessors, then?

Muhammad: At the time, supplicating to the pagan idols and entombed allies dominated Arabia; maybe some people thought of me as an intercessor because I am the last one of my Lord God's prophets.

The CNN anchor: You say that such polytheism dominated Arabia?

Muhammad: Yes; I am a man of the Qorayish tribe which controlled the Sacred House and pilgrimage inside Mecca; in fact, Qorayish took advantage of such a situation to make enormous wealth; it controlled other belligerent Arabian tribes and forced them to protect, instead of raiding, the Qorayish winter and summer trade caravans that headed to Yemen and the Levant; this is because Qorayish allowed such tribes to place copies of their stone pagan idols around and inside the Kaaba itself. This is why the Qorayish merchants prospered and lived in security whereas other tribes fought one another: "Do they not see that We established a Secure Sanctuary, while all around them the people are being carried away? Do they believe in falsehood, and reject the Bounty of God?" (29:67). This state of affairs went on until the Quran was revealed to me with the clear message of rejecting the worship of pagan idols; the Qorayish disbelievers knew that the Quran is the Source of Guidance but they feared that their stature, authority, power, and wealth would be lost: "And they say, “If we follow the guidance with you, we will be snatched from our land.” Did We not establish for them a Safe Sanctuary, to which are brought all kinds of fruits, as provision from Ourselves? But most of them do not know." (28:57); they rejected the Quran because they worshiped money: "Is it this Discourse that you take so lightly? And you make it your livelihood to deny it?" (56:81-82).

The CNN anchor: This is making money by misusing religion; they rejected the Quran and adhered to polytheism despite their realizing the fact that the Quran is the source of guidance from God. How did they justify their disbelief? What was their alternative to the Quran? In which narrative did they believe at the time?

Muhammad: They demanded from me to bring them a new Quran which would match their whims and desires; my Lord God has rejected their blasphemous demand by telling me here what to say to those disbelievers: "And when Our Clear Verses are read to them, those who do not hope to meet Us say, “Bring a Quran other than this, or change it.” Say, “It is not for me to change it of my own accord. I only follow what is revealed to me. I fear, if I disobeyed my Lord, the torment of a Terrible Day.” Say, “Had God willed, I would not have read it to you, and He would not have made it known to you. I have lived among you for a lifetime before it. Do you not understand?” Who commits graver injustice than someone who fabricates lies about God, or denies His Verses? The criminals will never prosper." (10:15-17). The alternative they procured was to ascribe lies and falsehoods to the Lord God and to deny His Quranic Verses; this is why my Lord God has described such sinners as criminals who will never prosper.

The CNN anchor: Who did author the lies or fabrications as an alternative for them?

Muhammad: Those misguided disbelievers among them who specialized in misguiding others; they are mentioned here: "They traded away God's Verses for a cheap price, so they barred others from His Path. How evil is what they did." (9:9).

The CNN anchor: What have such specialists done exactly?!

Muhammad: They bought fabricated narratives and discourses attributed falsely and unjustly to the Name of my Lord God; this means they considered them as if they were part of the divine revelation; their aim was to repel others from the True Divine Revelation, which is the Quran, and to ridicule and cast doubt on the Quran at the same time: "Among the people is he who trades in distracting tales; intending, without knowledge, to lead away from God’s Path, and to make a mockery of it. These will have a humiliating torment. And when Our Verses are read to him, he turns away in pride, as though he did not hear them, as though there is deafness in his ears. So inform him of a painful torment." (31:6-7).

The CNN anchor: It is a trade in religion, then! These are deals of purchasing and selling within false religions; the disbelievers did buy and sell narratives and tales which are distributed among the masses; this was done for the sake of wealth and authority.

Muhammad: Yes; this was also part of the Qorayish trade; the wealthy tribesmen feared they might lose their financial profits because of the Quranic Message; the disbelievers in all eras spend money on distracting people away from the Lord God's Path, or the Quran, and their grave sin and its outcome are mentioned here: "Those who disbelieve spend their wealth to repel from God’s Path. They will spend it, then it will become a source of sorrow for them, and then they will be defeated. Those who disbelieve will be herded into Hell." (8:36).

The CNN anchor: I understand then that there are two types of religious discourses: the Quranic Discourse or the divine revelation of guidance and the fabricated discourses or devilish revelations made up by misguided and misguiding people who specialize in repelling others from the Quran.

Muhammad: Exactly.

The CNN anchor: Has God mentioned in the Quran that disbelievers in all eras believe in other discourses since they have rejected the Quran itself?

Muhammad: Of course; my Lord God repeats that monotheists must believe in One Discourse: the Quran which is His Word. My Lord God has addressed and warned my disbelieving contemporaries here: "Do they not think? There is no madness in their companion. He is but an obvious warner. Have they not observed the realm of the heavens and the earth, and all the things that God created, and that their time may have drawn near? Which discourse, besides this, will they believe in?" (7:184-185); "Woe on that Day to the deniers. In what discourse, beyond this, will they believe?" (77:49-50). This, of course, applies to the deniers of the Quran in all eras.

The CNN anchor: So, to believe in the One and Only Lord God means also to believe in One and Only Discourse in Islam which is the Quran, His Word, right?

Muhammad: Exactly. This fact is repeated here: "These are God’s Verses which We read to you in Truth. In which discourse, after God and His Verses, will they believe?" (45:6).

The CNN anchor: Does this mean to disbelieve in previous divine scriptures granted to ancient prophets and messengers?!

Muhammad: No. Of course, to believe in the Quran which endorses the previous Divine Books means to believe in all of them as part of the Divine Revelation.

The CNN anchor: We have talked about many topics and your words, Muhammad, have compelled me to read a lot about Islam and also about Muslims; besides, I have received many questions which viewers have posed to you; I will pose these questions to you in the coming segments of this interview.

Secondly:

The four sheikhs stopped eating, despite the fact that food items are not finished yet, and they felt depressed and remained silent until this segment of the CNN interview ended followed by ads. They began to talk.

The Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany: (standing up suddenly, screaming): This is the Zindeeq, or heretic, described by the Grand Imam Ibn Taymiyya!

The Shiite sheikh Mandoor (calmly): The term for heretic, Zindeeq, is an Arabic word of Persian origin; what does it mean in the books of your sheikh Ibn Taymiyya?

The Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany: He defines Zindeeq as the one who believes in the Quran and the Sunna hadiths but denies or questions some hadiths and some exegeses or interpretation of the Quranic verses such as the ones about God's establishing Himself on the Throne.

The Shiite sheikh Mandoor: What is the fatwa of Ibn Taymiyya regarding heretics?

The Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany: The grand sheikh of Islam, Ibn Taymiyya, wrote that heretics must be put to death once found, without a trial, and even if they declared their repentance!

The Sufi sheikh Bahlool (screaming): This mercilessness is prohibited in Islam! Heretics must be given the chance to repent or, at least, to voice their ideas and defend their stances!

The Sunnite sheikh Massood (angrily): You imbecile! If they are given the chance to do so, heretics will be winners and we, sheikhs, will be losers! Of course, heretics must be put to death once found, without a trial, and even if they declared their repentance!

The Shiite sheikh Mandoor (calmly): So, Ibn Taymiyya is the solution to deal with such insane imposter since we cannot face him in a debate!

The Sufi sheikh Bahlool (calmly): You must be right; we must have him killed as soon as possible; this sorcerer has bewitched the CNN anchor who seems about to reject his Christian faith in order to believe in the Quran!

The CNN interview with Muhammad about repelling people from the Path of the Lord God

The CNN anchor: What is meant by repelling others from the Path of God?

Muhammad: The Holy Quran is the Straight Path of the Lord God which has no distortions at all. By applying the divine legislations found in the Quran, human beings will enjoy freedom, peace, mercy, and charity in this world and then Paradise in the Hereafter.

The CNN anchor: You are right; in fact, the citizens who are dominated by clergymen live in utter misery; in contrast, in any society which frees itself from the dominance of clergymen, we find its citizens happier. Clergymen do their best to distract people from the Truth in order to maintain their own stature, authority, and wealth. With the spread of the Truth, people know that there is no need for clergymen or mediators since God is Near to all people. In fact, clergymen usurp the power from God and they deify themselves when they presume as if they were controllers of the 'keys' to the Kingdom of Heaven. Evil, self-deifying clergymen assume they have 'rights' more than those of God when they control the lives of people. God in the Quran grants people absolute religious freedom and postpones Judgment to the Last Day; in contrast, clergymen punish, excommunicate, try in inquisition-like courts, and sometimes kill those who violate the rules of their terrestrial, devilish religions. This ghastly state of affairs dominated Europe during the Middle-Ages when the Roman Catholic Church controlled the masses and interfered in the political life of the countries ruled by tyrannical monarchs. All of us know about the Inquisition and autos-da-fé imposed on heretics. Sadly, among the Muhammadans, or the so-called Umma of Muhammad, 'infidels' and those who held different religious views were killed, persecuted, or banished as per the Sunnite doctrine laws. Of course, in the past, the Church allied itself to enthroned tyrants in Europe; likewise, in the past and in the present, Sufi, Shiite, and Sunnite clergymen of the Muhammadans have allied themselves to enthroned tyrants. Europe and the West experienced the Renaissance and made progress only when people freed themselves from the control of popes and imposed a curfew on the Church by never allowing its clergymen to interfere in politics; the role of clergymen is now confined to the church walls and their performing acts of charity and holding social ceremonies. In contrast, the Muhammadans are still like a herd of cattle ruled by evil clergymen who are either theocrats, as the case in the Shiite Iran, or obsequious servants to tyrants who rule Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and other countries of the Muhammadans. Such evil clergymen have caused civil wars, sectarian strife, corruption, and ruin in the countries of the Muhammadans who are now the laughingstock of the whole world. Had Arabs paid attention to the Quran, they would have avoided their sinking down into the lowest depths of ruin, failure, and humiliation.

Muhammad: I am innocent of what they do!

The CNN anchor: But clergymen of the Muhammadans claim they talk in your name; they attribute their sharia laws to you!

Muhammad: I am innocent of what they say! On the Last Day, I will disown my people, the Arabs, who have abandoned the Quran: "And the messenger will say, “My Lord, my people have abandoned this Quran.” Likewise, to every prophet We assign enemies from among the criminals. But your Lord suffices as a Guide and Supporter." (25:30-31). They are my arch-enemies; they made me a symbol of terrorizing the humankind though my Lord God sent me with the Holy Quran as a mercy for the humankind: "We did not send you except as mercy to the humankind." (21:107).

The CNN anchor: This Quranic verse I quote applies to those evil clergymen in the countries of the Muhammadans who repel others away from the Quran: "Those who conceal what God revealed in the Book, and exchange it for a small price - those swallow nothing but fire into their bellies. And God will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them, and they will have a painful torment." (2:174). Even if they have earned ill-gotten wealth of US$ millions or billions, this is a small price since they will die eventually and leave everything behind, and they will enter into Hell for eternity. No one dares to pose questions about the assets and wealth amassed by Orthodox Coptic popes and clergymen in Egypt from donations paid by the poor and rich Copts inside and outside Egypt; the same applies to the wealth of other Catholic and Protestant churches inside and outside Egypt. No one dares to pose questions about the assets and wealth hoarded by Shiite clergymen like Al-Sistani and Khomeini in Iran, the Azharite high-rank clergymen and imams in Egypt, the Wahabi clergymen in Saudi Arabia, the Wahabi terrorist MB members and Salafists in Egypt and worldwide, and the Shiite Hassan Nasrallah leader of the terrorist Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon. All such blood-sucking corrupters consume ill-gotten money and serve enthroned tyrants by deceiving the ignorant, impoverished masses; no one dares to hold them accountable for anything; yet, anti-riot forces in Egypt may chase street vendors and confiscate or crush their merchandise. I read a piece of news about a garbage truck running over a poor street vendor in Morocco; this poor man died, and yet, no one among the Moroccans would dare to question the Moroccan monarch about the source of his ill-gotten wealth stolen from the Moroccan national income.

Muhammad: You can imagine the Hell torment waiting for them; my Lord God says the following in the Quran: "It is they who exchange guidance for misguidance and forgiveness for torment. But how would they imagine their bearing patiently inside the Hell-Fire?!" (2:175).

The CNN interview with Muhammad about the Arabian clergymen and repelling people from the Path of the Lord God

The CNN anchor: Let us get back to talking about the clergymen of your era in the 7^th century Arabia.

Muhammad: There were clergymen of Qorayish and those of the People of the Book in Arabia; both committed the grave sin of repelling people from the Path of the Lord God.

The CNN anchor: Their motive, no doubt, was to maintain their power, influence, and wealth.

Muhammad: Exactly.

The CNN anchor: I understood this from the previous segment of this interview. I would like you to focus more specifically on how Arabians, and the Qorayish tribesmen in particular, committed the sin of repelling people from the Path of God.

Muhammad: There were two types of repelling people from the Path of my Lord God: with or without raising arms and resorting to aggression.

The CNN anchor: Would you explain this further to me?

Muhammad: Those who never raised arms or committed aggression had their other various means to misguide others.

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: They invented and spread among people narratives and falsehoods while attributing them to the Divine Revelation. Their aim was to distract people from the Quranic verses and to ridicule the Quran itself; my Lord God says the following about such sinners: "Among the people is he who trades in distracting tales; intending, without knowledge, to lead away from God’s Path, and to make a mockery of it. These will have a humiliating torment." (31:6).

The CNN anchor: What does God mean by (distracting tales) in 31:6?

Muhammad: Any narratives or discourses which ridicule and contradict the Quran with the aim of repelling people from it; the Quranic Discourse is the Absolute Truth grasped only by the pious monotheists: "...who speaks more truly than God?" (4:87); "...and who is more truthful in speech than God?" (4:122); "God has sent down the Best Discourse: A Book consistent and paired. The skins of those who reverence their Lord shiver from it, then their skins and their hearts soften up to the remembrance of God. Such is God’s guidance..." (39:23).

The CNN anchor: I remember reading in the Quran the description of their false religions as jesting and playing.

Muhammad: Yes; this is found here along with the divine command addressed to me to avoid such sinners who disbelieve in the Truthful Quranic Discourse and believe in false discourses of jesting and playing: "So leave alone those who take their religion for play and pastime, and whom the worldly life has deceived..." (6:70).

The CNN anchor: Yet, Sunnites, Shiites, and Sufis combine between their belief in the Quran and their belief in the hadiths found in their own books!

Muhammad: This is quite impossible; one cannot combine between the belief in the Divine Discourse in the Quran and the belief in false, distracting discourses of jesting and playing.

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: The only Discourse to believe in within Islam is the Quran as my Lord God's Word; to believe in any other discourses means to disbelieve in the Quran itself: "In what discourse, beyond this, will they believe?" (7:185 + 77:50).

The CNN anchor: So, the belief in the Only One God as the Saintly Ally is equal to the belief in One Divine Discourse which is the Quran; this is monotheism as you see it. Otherwise, it is sheer polytheism to believe in other discourses and in other allies or saints.

Muhammad: Exactly, and the link between the belief in the One God and the belief in One Divine Discourse is made clear here: "These are God’s Verses which We read to you in Truth. In which discourse, after God and His Verses, will they believe?" (45:6).

The CNN anchor: This means that those who believe in the Quran and in Sunnite, Shiite, and/or Sufi hadiths at the same time are polytheists and disbelievers, right?

Muhammad: Yes; this is made clear in 31:6 and 45:6. Let me quote the context of 45:6 here which describes further the sinners mentioned in 31:6 as well: "Woe to every sinful liar. Who hears God's Verses being read to him, yet he persists arrogantly, as though he did not hear them. Announce to him a painful torment. And when he learns something of Our Verses, he takes them in mockery. For such there is a shameful torment." (45:7-9).

The CNN anchor: What about those who sanctify and believe in the so-called allies or saints and in hadiths, and yet, they also believe in the Quran simultaneously, but they are heedless as their focus is in this world and they never participate in repelling others from the Path of God?

Muhammad: The torment of these ordinary disbelievers in Hell is less than those disbelieving sinners who have repelled people from the Quran: the Straight Path of the Lord God; both groups differ from each other in this world and inside Hell: "Those who disbelieve and repel from God’s Path - We will add torment to their torment, on account of the corruption they used to commit." (16:88); "So let them carry their loads complete on the Day of Resurrection, and some of the loads of those they misguided without knowledge. Evil is what they carry." (16:25); "Losers are those who deny the encounter with God. Then, when the Hour comes upon them suddenly, they will say, “Alas for us, how we have neglected it.” And they will carry their burdens on their backs - evil is what they carry." (6:31); "Those who disbelieve and repel from God’s Path have gone far astray." (4:167).

The CNN anchor: This pertains to justice; the deceitful ones must not be made equal to the deceived, heedless parties. In our modern era, deluded, brainwashed religious youths are deceived by sheikhs who tell them about houris of Paradise waiting for jihadists who commit suicide operations; such sinful, evil sheikhs ascribe hadiths with such content to you!

Muhammad: I am innocent of what they say and do!

The CNN anchor: We will discuss that later; let us focus on the evil clergymen who repel others from the Path of God; the worst type of Hell torment waits for them; yet, what if they repented before they die?

Muhammad: The Hell torment is for those who died without repentance after repelling people from the Path of the Lord God; they will never be forgiven in the Hereafter: "Those who disbelieve, and hinder from God’s Path, and then die as disbelievers - God will not forgive them." (47:34).

The CNN anchor: This means those among them who repent before they die are forgiven, right?

Muhammad: Only in case their repentance is sincere and it includes declaring their being formerly in the wrong; they must outspokenly announce the Quranic Truth to the people deceived formerly by them. You told me you have read the entire Quran; surely you remember these Quranic verses: "Those who suppress the proofs and the guidance We have revealed, after We have clarified them to humanity in the Book - those - God curses them, and the cursers curse them. Except those who repent, and reform, and proclaim. Those - I will accept their repentance. I am the Acceptor of Repentance, the Merciful. But as for those who disbelieved, and die as such - those - upon them is the curse of God, and of the angels, and of all humanity. They will remain under it forever, and the torment will not be lightened for them, and they will not be reprieved." (2:159-162).

The CNN anchor: Yes. But what if such sinners who repelled others from the Path of God performed many good deeds and acts of charity: building mosque, paying Zakat, caring for orphans, and so on, would they be spared from Hell?

Muhammad: No. Those who die as polytheistic disbelievers will never enter into Paradise; consequently, their fate is Hell as per this Quranic verse: "They disbelieve those who say, “God is the Messiah the son of Mary.” But the Messiah himself said, “O Israelites, worship God, my Lord and your Lord. Whoever associates others with God, God has forbidden him Paradise, and his dwelling is the Fire. The unjust ones will have no saviors.”" (5:72).

The CNN anchor: What about their good deeds?

Muhammad: They will be nullified and rendered void; I have been warned, and so have been previous messengers and prophets, against polytheism which nullifies good deeds. My Lord Says the following in the Quran: "We will proceed to the works they did, and will turn them into scattered dust." (25:23); "It was revealed to you, and to those before you, that if you adhere to polytheism, your works will be in vain, and you will be of the losers." (39:65); "Those who disbelieve and repel from the Path of God - He nullifies their works." (47:1); "Those who disbelieve, and hinder from the Path of God, and oppose the Messenger after guidance has become clear to them - they will not hurt God in the least, but He will nullify their deeds." (47:32).

The CNN anchor: This pertains to justice; the sinful clergymen amass wealth and build Sufi, Shiite, and Sufi mosques of polytheism as well as churches, temples, and sanctified mausoleums of the so-called saints or allies; such edifices do not pertain to good deeds; rather, they are centers of misguiding and deceiving the masses through polytheism.

Muhammad: Yes. This took place in Mecca by the polytheists as well: "Do those who disbelieve think that they can take My servants for allies instead of Me? We have prepared Hell for the hospitality of the disbelievers. Say, “Shall We inform you of the biggest losers in their works?” “Those whose efforts in this world are misguided, while they assume that they are doing well.” It is they who rejected the Verses of their Lord, and the encounter with Him. So their works are in vain. And on the Day of Resurrection, We will consider them of no weight. That is their requital - Hell - on account of their disbelief, and their taking My Verses and My messengers in mockery." (18:102-106).

The CNN anchor: This is marvelous; these verses apply exactly to Sunnites, Shiites, and Sufis of our modern era. This means the context of 18:102-106 speaks about the era when the Quran was being revealed and also about other later eras including ours.

Muhammad: The Holy Quran is the call for reform in all eras and areas from the time it was revealed until the end of days when the Hour takes place. This is why we find the Quranic text talking about descriptions of believers and disbelievers in all human societies in all eras and regions. Wherever there are people, there will be among them those who repel others from the Path of my Lord God; I suppose you remember this verse I have quoted before: "Among the people is he who trades in distracting tales; intending, without knowledge, to lead away from God’s Path, and to make a mockery of it. These will have a humiliating torment." (31:6).

The CNN anchor: In fact, clergymen continue to commit this sin until now. What are the other various means to misguide others apart from false discourses, tales, hadiths, or narratives?

Muhammad: Arguing against the Quranic verses in order to ridicule and cast doubt on them with the aim of repelling people from the Quran: "And among the people is he who argues about God without knowledge, or guidance, or an enlightening scripture. Turning aside in contempt, to lead away from the path of God. He will have humiliation in this world, and on the Day of Resurrection We will make him taste the torment of burning." (22:8-9).

The CNN anchor: This means their arguing aims at misguiding others not gaining knowledge; there is a difference between constructive argument and sophistry.

Muhammad: Exactly. Such arguing against the Quranic verses aims to repel people from the Path of my Lord God.

The CNN anchor: Are there any other various means to misguide others?

Muhammad: Yes; plotting and scheming typical of the hypocrites in Yathreb who told lies which were believed by some people at the time: "Had they mobilized with you, they would have added only to your difficulties, and they would have spread rumors in your midst, trying to sow discord among you. Some of you are avid listeners to them. God is Aware of the unjust ones." (9:47); "They treat their oaths as a cover, and so they repel others from God’s Path. Evil is what they do." (63:2).

The CNN anchor: Again, are there any other various means to misguide others and repel them from the Path of God?

Muhammad: Committing aggression within wars and religious persecution; in fact, Qorayish employed all methods: raising arms while mobilizing military troops, religious persecution, inventing hadiths, arguing against the Quran, and plotting and scheming.

The CNN anchor: Would you explain this to me?

Muhammad: The weak believers in Mecca were tortured to be forced to reject Islam and to return to the polytheistic religion of Qorayish; the early believers had to immigrate and settle in Yathreb, leaving behind their homes and money. Yet, the Meccan military troops of Qorayish continued to attack Yathreb; this aggression continued without the Yathreb dwellers being allowed to engage into self-defense fighting until the permission to do so has been granted by my Lord God: "Permission is given to those who are fought against, and God is Able to give them victory. Those who were unjustly evicted from their homes, merely for saying, “Our Lord is God.”..." (22:39-40). When the military troops of self-defense tried to retrieve the money of the immigrants by attacking a Qorayish trade caravan, which avoided being attacked by marching in other routes once informed by spies of the intended attack, the Qorayish troops came to fight the self-defense troops of Yathreb; this is part of repelling people from the Lord God's Path: "And do not be like those who left their homes boastfully, showing off before the people, and barring others from the Path of God. God comprehends what they do." (8:47).

The CNN anchor: We will talk later about the topic of self-defense fighting within Islam, with a focus on the battle of Badr among other battles. Let us now focus on how the Qorayish tribe repelled others from the Path of God.

Muhammad: Qorayish controlled pilgrimage to the Kaaba and they prevented its foes from entering into Mecca as pilgrims; this means repelling people from the Lord God's Path is linked to their preventing pilgrims from entering into Mecca; they prevented me and the early believers from entering into Mecca when we came from Yathreb as peaceful pilgrims: "As for those who disbelieve and repel from God’s Path and from the Sacred Mosque - which We have designated for all humankind equally, whether residing therein or passing through - and whoever seeks to commit sacrilege and injustices therein - We will make him taste of a painful torment." (22:25).

The CNN anchor: This verse does not mention Qorayish; it mentions disbelievers in general.

Muhammad: This is an indication about disbelievers in all eras who control the Kaaba, manipulating it to serve their own interests, repel others from my Lord God's Path, and bar others from performing pilgrimage though the Kaaba is made for all people equally.

The CNN anchor: This applies to the Al-Saud royal family members in our modern era; they follow the footsteps Qorayish in preventing some people from performing pilgrimage to Mecca and in repelling others from the Quran; they spend much money in spreading hadiths attributed to you.

Muhammad: I am innocent of what they say and do!

The CNN anchor: What about the Qorayish tribesmen's repelling the believers from God's Path through persecution and aggressive fighting while hoping to force them to reject Islam?

Muhammad: Their troops attacked the Yathreb dwellers during the sacred months of pilgrimage; the Yathreb dwellers had to engage into self-defense military efforts: "They ask you about fighting during the sacred month. Say, “Fighting during it is deplorable; but to bar others from God’s Path, and to disbelieve in Him, and to prevent access to the Sacred Mosque, and to expel its people from it, are more deplorable with God. And persecution is more serious than killing. They will not cease to fight you until they turn you back from your religion, if they can. Whoever among you turns back from his religion, and dies a disbeliever - those are they whose works will come to nothing, in this life, and in the Hereafter. Those are the dwellers of the Hell-Fire, abiding in it forever." (2:217).

The CNN anchor: This means Qorayish employed both types of repelling others from God's Path: war of aggression and the spread of false narratives within scheming.

Muhammad: Exactly; their combining aggression, plotting, and breaching of peace treaties is mentioned here: "They traded away God's Verses for a cheap price, so they barred others from His Path. How evil is what they did. Towards a believer they respect neither kinship nor treaty. These are the transgressors." (9:9-10).

The CNN interview with Muhammad about the clergymen of the modern era in churches, temples, and mosques

Firstly:

The CNN anchor: The Islamic stance in the Quran against clergymen applies also to our era, right?

Muhammad: Of course. Islam is the Religion granted to all human beings, by the Lord God, in all eras and regions.

The CNN anchor: We will talk later about proving the universality of Islam; let us focus now on the Quranic stance against clergymen and the reason behind it.

Muhammad: I am the Last Prophet of the Lord God's prophets and the Quran is the Last Message from my Lord God; there are no prophets after me and there is no Divine Revelation after the Quran.

The CNN anchor: We will talk about this later; I desire to know why the Quran is against clergymen of any type.

Muhammad: You will find an answer to your question if you reread the Quranic verses I have quoted previously during this interview.

The CNN anchor: I do not understand; what do you mean?!

Muhammad: The Quranic verses I have quoted do not apply exclusively to Qorayish, Arabs, or the people of the Book in Arabia at the time; rather, they apply also to polytheistic disbelievers of all eras after the descent of the Quran.

The CNN anchor: Please, I would like you to repeat these Quranic verses to clarify this point to our viewers .

Muhammad: These Quranic verses are about the belief in Allah as the One Lord God and in His Only Discourse in Islam: the Quran itself: "These are God’s Verses which We read to you in Truth. In which discourse, after God and His Verses, will they believe? Woe to every sinful liar. Who hears God's Verses being read to him, yet he persists arrogantly, as though he did not hear them. Announce to him a painful torment. And when he learns something of Our Verses, he takes them in mockery. For such there is a shameful torment. Beyond them lies Hell. What they have earned will not benefit them at all, nor will those they adopted as allies instead of God. They will have a terrible torment. This is guidance. Those who disbelieve in their Lord’s Verses will have a torment of agonizing pain." (45:6-11). I pose this question to you: Do these Quranic verses apply to clergymen in all eras or only to those during my lifetime in Arabia?

The CNN anchor: In all eras, for sure. This means the Quranic verses of God describe all eras; their meanings are not confined to the 7^th century Arabia; yet, no doubt that there are those who refuse to believe in the Quranic verses you quote; you have noticed the demonstrations organized against you because of this; in fact, it is miraculous to find that Quranic verses, revealed 14 centuries ago, apply to those deniers of the Quran.

Muhammad: I ask you what do you infer from this Quranic context: "Among the people is he who trades in distracting tales; intending, without knowledge, to lead away from God’s Path, and to make a mockery of it. These will have a humiliating torment. And when Our Verses are read to him, he turns away in pride, as though he did not hear them, as though there is deafness in his ears. So inform him of a painful torment." (31:6-7)?

The CNN anchor: This Quranic context of 31:6-7 resembles that of 45:6-11.

Muhammad: But I would like you to notice the expression (Among the people) in 31:6-7?

The CNN anchor: What does it mean, anyway?

Muhammad: It indicates the fact that these Quranic facts apply to any society or community; those arrogant ones who ridicule the Quran and repel others from the Path of my Lord God will continue to exist anywhere in all eras until the end of days.

The CNN anchor: Do you mean to tell me that clergymen who do so exist, and will continue to exist, in all human societies?

Muhammad: Exactly; wherever people are found, there are among them those misguided and misguiding ones, whom you name as clergymen, who spread falsehoods and earn wealth, authority, influence, and stature by committing this grave sin.

The CNN anchor: What is meant by (distracting tales) in 31:6-7?

Muhammad: The ones intended to attract people's attention away from the Quranic Truth; the misguiding and misguided clergymen will enter into Hell in case they die without repentance: "Those who took their religion lightly, and in jest, and whom the worldly life deceived. Today We will ignore them, as they ignored the meeting on this Day of theirs, and they used to deny Our Verses." (7:51).

The CNN anchor: God has commanded you to warn them against Hell torment as per 31:6-7, right?

Muhammad: Yes, but the Quranic warnings, addressed to all humanity and not to certain individuals in particular, are about avoiding certain qualities, descriptions, and deeds.

The CNN anchor: Excuse me, I do not follow!

Muhammad: Any sinners can repent; in order to urge them to repent, they must take heed of the Quranic warnings about entering into Hell for eternity; my Lord God says the following in the Quran: "...A Book whose Verses were perfected, then elaborated, from One who is Wise and Informed. That you shall worship none but God. “I am a warner to you from Him, and a bearer of good news.”" (11:1-2); "A revelation from the Dominant Lord, the Most Merciful. A Book whose Verses are detailed, a Quran in Arabic for people who know. Bringing good news, and giving warnings. But most of them turn away, so they do not listen." (41:2-4).

The CNN anchor: What about the clergymen, who stopped being so, who repented after years of concealing and distorting the Truth?

Muhammad: My Lord God says the following in the Quran: "Those who suppress the proofs and the guidance We have revealed, after We have clarified them to humanity in the Book - those - God curses them, and the cursers curse them. Except those who repent, and reform, and proclaim. Those - I will accept their repentance. I am the Acceptor of Repentance, the Merciful. But as for those who disbelieved, and die as such - those - upon them is the curse of God, and of the angels, and of all humanity. They will remain under it forever, and the torment will not be lightened for them, and they will not be reprieved." (2:159-162).

The CNN anchor: I am convinced now of what you have been trying to tell me: the descriptions in 2:159-162 and in other Quranic contexts you have quoted can apply to any people in any eras and regions.

Muhammad: This pertains to the Quranic style; instead of specifying certain peoples or names, it uses descriptions that can apply to anyone in all times and climes: the guided, the misguided, the misguiding, the criminals, the sinners, the immoral, the polytheists, the monotheists, the believers, the disbelievers, the pious, the righteous, and so on. Every individual is free to choose, by one's deeds, words, and stances, to belong to a certain description; this free will and freedom of choice are the basis of the fate of one's soul in the Hereafter either in Hell or in Paradise.

The CNN anchor: Of course, the deceitful, misguiding ones who distort and manipulate religion are worse than the deceived, misguided ones.

Muhammad: Yes; my Lord God says the following in the Quran: "Those who conceal what God revealed in the Book, and exchange it for a small price - those swallow nothing but fire into their bellies. And God will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them, and they will have a painful torment." (2:174); "Those who exchange the covenant of God, and their vows, for a small price, will have no share in the Hereafter, and God will not speak to them, nor will He look at them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them. They will have a painful torment." (3:77).

The CNN anchor: Would you explain this further to me?

Muhammad: My Lord God has sent down Celestial Books to guide human beings; the misguided misguiding ones conceal the Truth in the Divine Books in return for money; they are the arch-enemies of the Lord God Who is the Supreme Judge on the Last Day; He will torment them in Hell as per 2:174 and 3:77; the present tense employed in both Quranic verses indicates clearly the existence of such sinners in all eras until the end of days.

The CNN anchor: No doubt the Hell torment for the deceitful, misguiding ones exceeds the one for the deceived, misguided ones, right?

Muhammad: Of course. You can imagine the Hell torment waiting for them; my Lord God says the following in the Quran: "Those who conceal what God revealed in the Book, and exchange it for a small price - those swallow nothing but fire into their bellies. And God will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them, and they will have a painful torment. It is they who exchange guidance for misguidance and forgiveness for torment. But how would they imagine their bearing patiently inside the Hell-Fire?!" (2:174-175).

The CNN anchor: I need you to provide me with another Quranic proof about the fact that the Hell torment for the deceitful, misguiding ones exceeds the one for the deceived, misguided ones.

Muhammad: "Those who disbelieve and repel from God’s Path - We will add torment to their torment, on account of the corruption they used to commit." (16:88).

The CNN anchor: Do you think that this is the fate of clergymen of our modern era?

Muhammad: Yes, if they die without repentance and insist on misguiding people.

The CNN anchor: Do you think that this is the fate of clergymen of the Sunnites, Shiites, Sufism, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, and other clergy of other denominations?

Muhammad: Yes, if they die without repentance and insist on misguiding people.

The CNN anchor: Does this apply to all imams, ayatollahs, popes,...etc.?

Muhammad: Yes, if they die without repentance and insist on misguiding people.

The CNN anchor: This Quranic warning is very dangerous, then!

Muhammad: What is more dangerous is their fate in Hell on the Last Day if they die without repentance; this is why they are warned in advance in the Quran so that they might take heed.

Secondly:

In the VA ranch, the four sheikhs seized the chance of the ads to continue consuming their large, seven-course meal and they began to talk.

The Sunnite sheikh Massood (striking the table with his fist angrily): Who can tell me the number of shoes worldwide?!

The Sufi sheikh Bahlool (perplexedly): Shoes? What on earth do you mean?

The Sunnite sheikh Massood (angrily): I mean shoes literally, you imbecile!

The Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany: There are about 6 billion people on earth; most of them have several pairs of shoes, plus the production of shoes in factories worldwide; we can say there are more than 20 billion pairs of shoes now! Why are you posing this silly question now?!

The Sunnite sheikh Massood (angrily): I bet this insane imposter will never get out of the CNN studio alive! He will surely get killed! Otherwise, I never understand anything and I deserve to be beaten to death with the 20 billion pairs of shoes! The CNN people will make much money with the headlines about his murder! They have already made much money by hosting him! Such people worship nothing but money, I assure you!

The three other sheikhs fell silent, pondering his words and seemed to agree with him

The Sunnite sheikh Massood (screaming): This insane imposter has made himself an enemy of all churches, temples, and mosques! His words pose a veritable threat to the Umma of Muhammad, the Umma of Christ, and even Buddhists! His presence threatens the wealth of the Catholic Pope in Rome, the Orthodox Pope in Alexandria, Egypt, and the protestant churches! This is why I assure you he will get killed today!

The other three sheikhs in unison: Amen to this!

The CNN interview with Muhammad about clergymen and terrorism

The CNN anchor: Could any society be 100% clergymen-free?

Muhammad: This is quite impossible.

The CNN anchor: Why?!

Muhammad: The vast majority of human beings within any society do not believe in the Lord God unless within polytheism; they worship other mortal creatures as deities besides Him; this general Quranic fact is mentioned here and it applies to all eras until the end of days: "And most of them do not believe in God unless within polytheism." (12:106). Of course, such polytheists ascribe to their false gods and deities miracles, narratives, laws, and so on. They erect for them mausoleums, idols, temples, or holy sites; they deify and worship what they carve!

The CNN anchor: Did you fight against such polytheism in Arabia?

Muhammad: Yes, as much as I can, only by preaching the Quran Message; I was very keen on guiding the polytheistic people; my Lord God has told me the following: "But most people, for all your eagerness, are not believers." (12:103); "If you were to obey most of those on earth, they would divert you from God’s Path. They follow nothing but assumptions, and they only conjecture." (6:116). Hence, if I would obey the vast majority of the inhabitants of the earth, they would misguide me; I could not guide those whom I love; no one can guide anyone else; only those people willing to be guided will be guided by my Lord God through the Holy Quran: "You cannot guide whom you love, but God guides those who are willing to be guided, and He knows best those who are guided." (28:56).

The CNN anchor: I wholeheartedly agree with you; the vast majority of human beings on Planet Earth are both misguided and misguiding; yet, what does this fact have to do with the existence of clergymen?

Muhammad: Those who deify and sanctify items, such as idols, relics, buildings, and tombs, and deify and worship mortals require those who would be guardians or protectors of such things; such guardians form groups or institutions which maintain myths like attributing to my Lord God other deities, saints or allies, a wife, or even a son. Such groups or institutions make huge profits which enter into the pockets and bank accounts of the so-called clergymen.

The CNN anchor: Again, I must say I wholeheartedly agree with you; clergymen exist in all societies since religion is the basic component of the culture of any given society, East and West, from Sweden to the Red Indians and from the African tribes to the Amazon region. Even in primitive tribes, there are quack-doctors who are sorcerers and clergymen at the same time. They are assumed to be able to contact the Divine or the gods. In modern societies, there are high-rank clergymen who have much wealth, power, and authority: popes, ayatollahs, grand imams, and so on. All of them pronounce basically and essentially the same falsehoods and lies despite their apparent differences in some minor details. We can say, then, the existence of clergymen is a major problem in all societies.

Muhammad: It will be a bigger problem on the Last Day; the misguided and misguiding clergymen, who will enter into Hell forever in case of never repenting before their death, will cause their followers to enter into Hell forever also in case such followers never repented before their death.

The CNN anchor: What about the results of the existence of clergy in this temporary world?

Muhammad: If clergymen would dominate any given society, they cause its destruction.

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: They spread wars, strife, and terrorism; they support unjust, enthroned tyrants; they encourage acceptance of all types of injustices and sins especially compulsion in religion. Of course, when absolute religious freedom is established in any given society for everyone on equal footing, this means all individuals have the right to preach, criticize, proselytize, worship, and build houses of worship freely within laws which ban compulsion in religion and religious persecution. In such a case, clergymen of all types will vie for getting more followers, not by violence, terrorism, and compulsion in religion, but by enticing others, proselytization, and through charity works. Citizens are free to study all religions, including atheism, and to choose for themselves; clergymen will be in their service and will never enslave or control them. Individuals will be held accountable for their religious choices, made in this world, on the Day of Judgment.

The CNN anchor: This occurs now in the West, mainly in the USA, the EU, and Canada.

Muhammad: This is the meaning of absolute religious freedom in Islam. One of the Quranic principles of Islam is that there is no compulsion in religion: "There shall be no compulsion in religion..." (2:256); this negates the authority or power of any clergymen of any type and this protects any society from the negative influence of all clergymen. Of course, my Lord God has told me the following when He has observed my eagerness to guide others: "Had your Lord willed, everyone on earth would have believed. Will you compel people to become believers?" (10:99).

The CNN anchor: How would Islam profit from this Quranic principle of absolute religious freedom since the vast majority of people will declare their disbelief in the monotheism of (There is no God but Allah)?

Muhammad: Islam will profit very much indeed.

The CNN anchor: How?!

Muhammad: As I have said before, proselytizing any religion within freedom will be available for all people equally. Within such freedom, Islam will emerge as a winner because the Islamic call of the Quran is based on logical reasoning.

The CNN anchor: Would you please explain this further to me?

Muhammad: When you use the faculty of reasoning and resort to logic, you will realize the fact that it is illogical to deify and sanctify mortals like you, any non-human creatures, any carved items like buildings, mausoleums, and pagan idols and statues. The reasoning mind will reject all myths of polytheism. In that case, it will be easy to believe in God as the Only Lord and Creator Who deserves deification and sanctification which are due to Him only. In that case, one cannot convince even a child that a deity was born out of a womb and was tortured, crucified, murdered, and resurrected.

The CNN anchor: But what if most people refuse to listen to their reasoning minds?

Muhammad: They are free to choose for themselves and hence their responsibility for their choices on the Last Day, whether they believe in it or not, of course. Polytheists and disbelievers will have no excuses to offer since they enjoyed absolute religious freedom and had the chance – during their lifetime on earth – to examine all religions and to choose for themselves; they cannot claim never hearing about the Quranic Truth.

The CNN anchor: Would Islam be a winner in some other ways?

Muhammad: Yes; it will be realized in terms of peaceful behavior.

The CNN anchor: I beg your pardon?

Muhammad: Islam in terms of demeanor is peace; I mean peaceful outward, overt behavior; of course, (Peace) is one of the Holy Names of my Lord Allah. By the way, violence, compulsion in religion, religious persecution, and military aggression against innocent, peaceful people are considered in the Quran as disbelief/polytheism in terms of demeanor.

The CNN anchor: These topics will be discussed in other segments of this interview.

Muhammad: Peace and security are the Lord God's religion when people deal with one another.

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: You know that Arabian tribes were belligerent and raided one another for various reasons: for food/money or under religious banners. Upon their conversion to Islam, which means adhering to peace, such Arabian tribes stopped their raids, wars, and military aggression: they entered into the Religion of God, or peace, in multitudes; my Lord God has told me the following in the Quran: "When there comes God’s victory and triumph. And you see the people entering God’s religion in multitudes. Then celebrate the praise of your Lord, and seek His forgiveness. He is the Accepter of Repentance." (110:1-3).

The CNN anchor: Maybe such multitudes entered into the monotheistic religion of Abraham of (There is no God but Allah), right?

Muhammad: No; you misunderstand the Quranic Chapter 110; my Lord God has told me "And you see the people entering God’s religion in multitudes." (110:2).

The CNN anchor: I am not sure if I follow!

Muhammad: I can see what is outward; I mean overt behavior, of course; I saw the multitudes in Arabia adhering to peace; this is Islam in terms of demeanor. They rejected wars and belligerence. I was not a mind-reader; I never had any measure of omniscience. I never knew those who were adamant in hypocrisy, who concealed their sentiments against me and against Islam very well, and lived close to me inside Yathreb mentioned in this Quranic verse: "Among the Desert-Arabs around you there are some hypocrites, and among the inhabitants of the city too. They have become adamant in hypocrisy. You do not know them, but We know them. We will torment them twice; then they will be returned to a severe torment." (9:101). I never knew the invisible regarding the future or the past; I never read what is in minds or hearts of others around me during my lifetime in Arabia.

The CNN anchor: What about their belief or lack thereof?

Muhammad: The Quranic terms (believers) and (those who believe) do not refer to monotheists who adhere to (There is no God but Allah). Such terms indicate adherents to peace.

The CNN anchor: Such a bold claim requires Quranic proofs!

Muhammad: These Quranic verses address believers in Yathreb shortly before the completion of the descent of the entire Quranic text: "O you who believe! Wine, gambling, mausoleums, and divination are abominations of Satan’s doing. Avoid them, so that you may prosper. Satan wants to provoke strife and hatred among you through wine and gambling, and to prevent you from the remembrance of God, and from prayers. Will you not desist? Obey God and obey the Messenger, and be cautious. If you turn away - know that the mission of Our Messenger is confined to clear communication." (5:90-92).

The CNN anchor: So, some people adhered to peace inside Yathreb but they disobeyed the Quranic commands!

Muhammad: They will bear responsibility for their disobedience in the Hereafter. I advised them, using the Quran, several times and I never punished them.

The CNN anchor: I see now that the phrase (O you who believe!) in 5:90 means those who adhered to peaceful behavior, in multitudes, regardless of the fact that they were polytheists or monotheists. One can judge and evaluate demeanors as violent or peaceful; yet, what about the role of clergymen in Arabia at the time?

Muhammad: When clergymen dominated the Arabian people and the People of the Book who lived in Arabia, wars continued to be waged. This is the grave sin of clergymen when they dominate within any given society. Of course, adherence to peace as per 110:2 means that the role of clergymen diminished; victory became the Lord God's only as per 110:1.

The CNN anchor: It is a historical fact that the existence of dominant clergymen is linked to bloodshed, violence, wars, grave injustices, and terrorism. We know the outcome when church popes and clergy allied themselves to feudal lords and tyrannical monarchs in Europe during the Middle-Ages. Even obsequious clergymen of the Muhammadans allied themselves to tyrannical caliphs. Wars between (the Umma of Muhammad) and (the Umma of the Cross) or the Crusaders went on for centuries. The worldview of Arabs at the time was to divide the ancient world into two camps: the Home of Peace (or the Arab empire) and the Home of war (or all regions where non-Arabs lived and ruled). Sadly, religious divisions, enmity, and inquisition reigned for centuries. Many religions splintered into factions, sects, doctrines, and so on. History provides us with many painful examples of what I refer to. Sadly, this goes on within the countries of the Muhammadans; Shiites and Sunnites persecute minorities which contradict their religions; both Sunnites and Shiites believe in the so-called penalty for apostasy or putting heretics and infidels to death. The Shiite Iran persecutes its Sunnite minority; the Wahabi countries persecute their Shiite minorities. These are undeniable facts. The Sunnites and the Shiites never use logical reasoning to convince others to convert!

Muhammad: My Lord God addresses human beings in the Quran using logical reasoning; He calls them to ponder, reflect, contemplate, understand, think, discern, and consider. Believers use their mental faculties to do so; the Quran was revealed in Arabic for that reason: "We have revealed it an Arabic Quran, so that you may understand." (12:2); "We made it an Arabic Quran, so that you may understand." (43:3); "In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, are signs for people of understanding. Those who remember God while standing, and sitting, and on their sides; and they reflect upon the creation of the heavens and the earth: “Our Lord, You did not create this in vain, glory to You, so protect us from the torment of the Fire.”" (3:190-191). As for the so-called clergymen, their claims have no basis in reasoning at all; they desire that the temporal authority of rulers would impose their religious myths on all people.

The CNN anchor: The Shiite Twelver religion in Iran is imposed by tyrants in power; the same applies to Sunnite Wahabism elsewhere, of course.

Muhammad: If such political power is lacking, clergymen do their best to entice and attract followers; their religions can be criticized and undermined; people will stop sanctifying clergymen in that case. They will pick and choose for themselves. Criticism will be directed to all religions and clergymen of all types; clergymen themselves will criticize other rival religions in their attempts to win to their side more followers. In such a case, clergymen and their religions will lose their credibility and people will examine such religions thoroughly; Islam, which addresses the reasoning minds as we see in the Quranic text, will emerge victorious. Of course, other religions will continue to win some followers; yet, the vast majority of human beings will remain disbelievers or atheists; sadly, the vast majority of the believers in the Lord God, and also in the Last Day, will remain polytheists. Yet, within absolute religious freedom, no one would deify clergymen anymore; their harmful influence on society will be lessened.

The CNN anchor: This occurs now in the West; for instance, scandals of the Catholic clergy regarding homosexuality, rape, pedophilia, and money laundering make headlines now in the media. What is worse is silence regarding the smuggling and stealing money in churches of the Middle-East; this is rarely mentioned in the Arab world media where clergymen are deified. Of course, clergymen of all types in the Arab world among Sunnites, Shiites, and Sufis commit the same crimes of promiscuity, immorality, and stealing and smuggling money. No one dares to protest against such crimes!

Muhammad: To preserve human life is more important than to stop stealing any money; when dominant clergymen convince others that murdering the innocent ones, who hold different religious views, is a form of religious war or jihad, this is the gravest sin.

The CNN anchor: Ordinary criminals and murderers might repent inside prisons; murderers may be put to death in countries where capital punishment is not abolished. Yet, those brainwashed criminals who massacre thousands of innocent people in terrorist operations and suicide attacks assume themselves to be jihadists who serve God! They assume they would enter into Paradise to enjoy houris! They are brainwashed to the extent that they will never repent; I wish Arabs would wake up one day and get rid of the clergymen which continue to destroy them with the culture of death, humiliation, enslavement, and terrorism as well as with endless myths, lies, and falsehoods of polytheism leading their followers to Hell for eternity in the Hereafter. The clergymen of the Muhammadans help create such monsters known as suicide terrorists who, allegedly in the name of Islam, threaten all societies in the West and in the East.

Muhammad: I am innocent of what they say and do!

The CNN interview with Muhammad about Saudi Arabia and repelling others from the Path of the Lord God

The CNN anchor: The Muhammadans, or the so-called Umma of Muhammad, refuse what you say in this interview!

Muhammad: They, in fact, refuse the Quranic verses I have quoted; my Lord God will never accept their excuses or apologies on the Last Day.

The CNN anchor: They accuse you of denying Sunna hadiths!

Muhammad: The Quranic term (Sunna) refers to Quranic sharia legislations and to the ways with which my Lord God deals with polytheistic, disbelieving aggressors.

The CNN anchor: Sunnites do not mean to refer to any Quranic term; they mean hadiths ascribed to you which contain extra religious legislations; of course, they are fabricated by fiqh scholars who contradicted and refuted one another in all eras.

Muhammad: I have never uttered or heard of the so-called hadiths. I am innocent of anything which contradicts the Quran. I deny their narratives and hadiths because they contradict the Quran.

The CNN anchor: The powers in the countries of the Muhammadans worldwide, and in the communities of the Muhammadans in the West, stand against you as their arch-enemy; such powers own billions of US$, millions of followers, and thousands of mosques, centers, societies, groups, and institutes. Of course, Shiites, Sufis, and Sunnite are fierce rivals; yet, they are now united in their stance against you. I would like to inform you that Saudi Arabia has spent more than 100 billion US$ within 50 years only to spread and impose its Sunnite Wahabi religion worldwide. The tribe of Qorayish in Mecca never spent such a huge sum, I suppose.

Muhammad: Of course, the Qorayish leaders spent money to repel others from the Path of the Lord God, which is the Quran, as per this Quranic verse: "Those who disbelieve spend their wealth to repel from God’s Path. They will spend it, then it will become a source of sorrow for them, and then they will be defeated. Those who disbelieve will be herded into Hell." (8:36).

The CNN anchor: But Qorayish is not mentioned in 8:36. Why is that?!

Muhammad: The Quranic verses mention descriptions of the deeds of the types of people that will continue to exist in all eras and regions until the end of days: disbelievers/believers, polytheists/monotheists, hypocrites, criminals, pious ones, unjust ones, and so on. Human beings are free to choose, by their deeds, being included under whatever descriptions.

The CNN anchor: This means 8:36 applied to Qorayish and it applies now to leaders of the Muhammadans especially the Al-Saud royal family members.

Muhammad: Exactly.

The CNN anchor: The Al-Saud royal family members spread bloodbaths since their emergence, along with their extremist Hanbali Sunnite Wahabi religion, in the 18^th century Arabia until now. Their victims are millions of people in Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, Syria, the Gulf monarchies, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and recently in the EU and the USA. When they spread their evil Wahabism, posing as if it were Islam, they spread destruction, wars, bloodshed, and terrorism. The Wahabis have distorted the Quranic notion of Islamic jihad; they have turned it into terrorism, indiscriminate killings, and massacring the innocent people though such heinous crimes are against Islam itself. This means Saudi Wahabis distract others away from the Path of God, which is the Quran, by their spreading Sunna hadiths attributed to you. By the way, did you say that you earned your money through the spear and the sword? Did you say that you were commanded to fight all people on earth until they admit that there is no God but Allah and that you are the Messenger of Allah?

Muhammad: No, I never said that! I am innocent of what they say and of the crimes they commit!

The CNN anchor: I could not help but notice that in 8:36, the present tense and he future tense are employed; this means it applies to all eras; it predicts the existence of such disbelievers who use money to hinder others from the Quran in all generations until the end of days.

Muhammad: Exactly. The Omniscient Lord God knows all about the present, past, and the future.

The CNN anchor: This means 8:36 predicts the defeat of the Al-Saud royal family members, and their likes, who distract others away from the Path of God, right?

Muhammad: Exactly. This gradual sorrow and defeat has begun now.

The CNN anchor: Saudi Arabia has spent billions of US$ to propagate Wahabism; yet, many of its enemies who wage wars against it are power-seeking Wahabis it helped create; I mean the opposition movements inside Saudi Arabia itself which include very extremist Wahabis. Other Wahabi enemies created by Saudi Arabia include the terrorist MB organization, Al-Qaeda and Bin Laden, and ISIS. Saudi Arabia is defeated in Yemen, and it had to cooperate with some of its Wahabi enemies like Al-Qaeda terrorists in Syria. The outcome is sorrow for Saudi Arabia after spending so much money to repel others from the Quran.

Muhammad: My Lord God says noting but the Absolute Truth in the Holy Quran. This means 8:36 applies to some disbelievers of today. Their fate is Hell in the Hereafter.

The CNN anchor: Does this means they would not repent?

Muhammad: This chance is still there for the living ones among them and not the dead ones who never repented.

The CNN anchor: Is it possible that those disbelievers who repelled others from the Quran would repent one day?! How?!

Muhammad: This possibility is mentioned here: "Say to those who disbelieve: if they desist, their past will be forgiven..." (8:38).

The CNN anchor: This means Quranic descriptions of disbelievers, believers, and so on are not permanent; they do not stick with people; they change as per their deeds and stances. If they repent sincerely, stop sinning, and reform themselves by performing many good deeds, they are no longer considered as disbelievers and their fate is not Hell but in Paradise. In contrast, those disbelievers who continued repelling others from the Quran until they died, they will never be forgiven and their fate is Hell.

Muhammad: Exactly.

The CNN anchor: This means the chance of repentance is still available for living sinners and disbelievers when they stop their spending money to repel others from the Quran.

Muhammad: Of course. The following Quranic context is about acceptable repentance: "Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves: do not despair of God’s mercy, for God forgives all sins. He is indeed the Forgiver, the Clement.” And turn to your Lord, and submit to Him, before the torment comes upon you. Then you will not be helped. And follow the best of what was revealed to you from your Lord, before the torment comes upon you suddenly, while you are unaware." (39:53-55). This means they must regret their evil deeds; such remorse will drive them to introduce reform, advocate the Quranic Truth, and perform many good deeds to cover and remove the evil deeds; this includes to submit to my Lord God within monotheism and to follow only the Quran, especially regarding descriptions and deeds of the pious, righteous ones. The Lord God accepts sincere repentance of sinners and forgives them by remitting their all their sins however many or enormous they are.

The CNN anchor: This is great! Will God accept the repentance of the Al-Saud royal family members if they would repent one day?

Muhammad: Yes; my Lord God says the following in the Quran: "“And inscribe for us goodness in this world, and in the Hereafter. We have turned to You.” He said, “My torment - I inflict it upon whomever I will, but My mercy encompasses all things. I will specify it for the righteous ones who perform Zakat and who believe in Our Verses.” Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet of the Gentiles, whom they find mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel in their possession. He directs them to righteousness, and advises them against evil, and allows for them all good things, and prohibits for them illegal things, and unloads the burdens and the shackles that are upon them. Those who believe in him, and respect him, and support him, and follow the Light that came down with him - these are the successful." (7:156-157).

The CNN anchor: But in the Quranic context of 7:156-157, God talks to Moses about you and the Quran and the monotheists who believe in the Quran as Light, right?

Muhammad: Yes.

The CNN anchor: You are described as the prophet of the Gentiles whose name is mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel!

Muhammad: Yes. My name is mentioned in the True Torah and the True Gospel.

CHAPTER III: The CNN Interview about Clergymen and the People of the Book

CHAPTER III: The CNN Interview about Clergymen and the People of the Book

The CNN interview with Muhammad about how clergymen repel people away the Path of the Lord God

The CNN anchor: The monotheistic religion of Abraham prevents the existence of clergymen and those who manipulate religion to gain money; both types of people are now adopting a stance against you; did you begin attacking them?

Muhammad: I never attacked persons; I only register and assert long-forgotten facts which negate any types of mediators between the Lord God and people; hence, there is no need for clergymen and for worshiping entombed saints or allies

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: My Lord God has commanded me to announce the following: "Say, “What thing is more solemn in testimony?” Say, “God is Witness between you and me. This Quran was revealed to me, that I may warn you with it, and whomever it may reach. Do you indeed testify that there are other gods with Allah?” Say, “I myself do not testify.” Say, “He is but One God, and I am innocent of your polytheism.”" (6:19).

The CNN anchor: This is announced to all people so that they believe in the Quran and in the monotheism of (There is no God but Allah). Yet, what about the People of the Book in Arabia?

Muhammad: They recognized the Quran but most of them rejected it: "Those to whom We have given the Book recognize it as they recognize their own children; but those who have lost their souls do not believe." (6:20).

The CNN anchor: Has 6:20 been revealed in Mecca or in Yathreb?

Muhammad: In Mecca.

The CNN anchor: What about the People of the Book after you settled in Yathreb?

Muhammad: Of course, the Quranic Message is addressed to all people in Arabia and elsewhere at the time and in later eras until the end of days; yet, at the time, repelling others from the Quran began mainly by the Qorayish tribe inside Mecca; the People of the Book there who rejected the Quran remained silent at the time; some of the People of the Book there believed in the Quran. After I settled in Yathreb, monotheists among the People of the Book there welcomed the Quran; those among the People of the Book who hated the Quran joined the polytheists among the Arabian people in the endeavors to distract others away from the Quran.

The CNN anchor: This means some of the disbelievers among the People of the Book began repelling others from the Quran inside Yathreb and this did not occur in Mecca, right?

Muhammad: Yes; 6:20 is about their stance of rejecting the Quran in silence inside Mecca; in Yathreb, the People of the Book, who repelled others from the Quran and concealed the Truth, are mentioned here: "We have seen your face turned towards the heaven. So We will turn you towards a direction that will satisfy you. So turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque. And wherever you may be, turn your faces towards it. Those who were given the Book know that it is the Truth from their Lord; and God is not unaware of what they do. Even if you were to bring to those who were given the Book every proof, they would not follow your direction, nor are you to follow their direction, nor do they follow the direction of one another. And if you were to follow their desires, after the knowledge that has come to you, you would be in that case one of the unjust ones. Those to whom We have given the Book recognize it as they recognize their own children. But some of them conceal the Truth while they know." (2:144-146). No doubt you have notice the similarity between 6:20 revealed in Mecca and 2:146 revealed in Yathreb.

The CNN anchor: What about this sin of concealing the Truth?

Muhammad: It is explained here: "Those who suppress the proofs and the guidance We have revealed, after We have clarified them to humanity in the Book - those - God curses them, and the cursers curse them. Except those who repent, and reform, and proclaim. Those - I will accept their repentance. I am the Acceptor of Repentance, the Merciful." (2:159-160). This context applies to all those who conceal the Truth found in the Divine Books, including the Quran, in all eras, whether they are among the People of the Book, in Arabia at the time or in all eras, or the so-called clergymen, past and present.

The CNN anchor: At the time in Arabia when the Quran was being revealed, your call for introducing reform to the religion of Abraham, after its being distorted, clearly posed a threat to the stature of the clergymen of the People of the Book, I am sure.

Muhammad: The clergymen who manipulate religion, and their likes in all eras, are warned by my Lord God here: "Those who conceal what God revealed in the Book, and exchange it for a small price - those swallow nothing but fire into their bellies. And God will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them, and they will have a painful torment. It is they who exchange guidance for misguidance and forgiveness for torment. But how would they imagine their bearing patiently inside the Hell-Fire?!" (2:174-175).

The CNN anchor: It is very dangerous that clergymen conceal any facts or truths. In modern, civilized countries, this is banned by the law, as the public opinion has the right to know the truth and any specific facts about any topic.

Muhammad: I am glad that this is banned by the law regarding matters and topics of this temporary world. It is prohibited in Islam to conceal the religious truth; it is a grave sin because it results in misguiding others who will enter into Hell in case they do not repent and make amends before their death.

The CNN anchor: Does the Quran contain a rebuke for the clergymen of the People of the Book for concealing the Truth in the Divine Scriptures or the Celestial Books?

Muhammad: Yes; it is found here: "O People of the Book! Our Messenger has come to you, clarifying for you much of what you kept hidden of the Book, and overlooking much. A Light from God has come to you, and a Clear Book." (5:15).

The CNN anchor: What is meant by (Messenger) in 5:15? You?

Muhammad: The Quranic term (Messenger) has several meanings; its meaning differ as per the Quranic context at hand; in 5:15, the term (Messenger) refers to the Quran itself and not to me or to any person.

The CNN anchor: What about disputes among the People of the Book in matters of religion?

Muhammad: My Lord God says the following in the Quran: "This Quran relates to the Israelites most of what they differ about. And it is guidance and mercy for the believers." (27:76-77).

The CNN anchor: Yet, the clergymen of the People of the Book in Yathreb repelled others from the Quran!

Muhammad: My Lord God has commanded me to tell them the following: "Say, “O People of the Book, why do you hinder from God’s Path those who believe, seeking to distort it, even though you are witnesses? God is not unaware of what you do.”" (3:99).

The CNN interview with Muhammad about his denouncing the clergymen of the People of the Book

Firstly:

The CNN anchor: I conclude that you have denounced the clergymen of the People of the Book in Arabia and the clergymen of Qorayish, your own tribe. You have proved to me that Islam is against clergymen and any people who manipulate religion to gain money. This is why Qorayish persecuted you and the early believers; the affluent Meccan tribesmen feared losing their wealth, power, and stature which came from their manipulating pilgrimage to Mecca and religion in general.

Muhammad: Exactly.

The CNN anchor: What about the People of the Book in Arabia and their clergymen? How did you denounce such clergymen? I need some details about this.

Muhammad: The Quran mentions details within the stories of the Israelites and the other types of the People of the Book. The vast majority of the People of the Book disobeyed the Lord God's commands by concealing the Truth found in their Celestial Books and compromising religion for the sake of money: "God received a pledge from those who were given the Book: “You shall proclaim it to the people, and not conceal it.” But they disregarded it behind their backs, and exchanged it for a small price. What a miserable exchange they made." (3:187).

The CNN anchor: This is a general statement about the People of the Book; what about the Israelites and their Torah?

Muhammad: My Lord God says the following in the Quran: "We have revealed the Torah, wherein is guidance and light. The monotheistic prophets judged among the Jews according to it, so did the rabbis and the scholars, as they were required to protect God’s Book, and were witnesses to it. So do not fear people, but fear Me. And do not sell My Verses for a cheap price. Those who do not judge according to what God revealed are the disbelievers." (5:44).

The CNN anchor: This was before the era when the Quran was revealed; what about the Israelites in Arabia during your lifetime there?

Muhammad: Many Quranic verses have addressed them directly; this is exemplified here: "O Israelites! Remember My Bounty which I bestowed upon you, and fulfill your pledge to Me, and I will fulfill My pledge to you, and fear Me. And believe in what I revealed, confirming what is with you; and do not be the first to deny it; and do not exchange My Verses for a small price; and be conscious of Me within piety." (2:40-41).

The CNN anchor: Did the Israelites obey God's Quranic commands?

Muhammad: Most of them disobeyed: "So woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say, “This is from God,” that they may exchange it for a little price. Woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn." (2:79).

The CNN anchor: They dared to ascribe the books they authored to the Lord God's Revelation! They sought money by spreading such falsehoods! Would you exemplify to me some of their falsehoods?

Muhammad: This is one of their false notions about Hell refuted by my Lord God in the Quran: "And they say, “The Fire will not touch us except for a number of days.”..." (2:80).

The CNN anchor: It is the same myth of getting out of Hell through intercession, I suppose. How does God refute them in the Quran?

Muhammad: He has commanded me to say the following to them: "...Say, “Have you received a promise from God - God never breaks His promise - or are you saying about God what you do not know?”" (2:80).

The CNN anchor: Thus, the clergymen of the Israelites lied to their followers by claiming that God promised to get them out of Hell after few days! God never made any promise of the kind; they ascribe lies and falsehoods to God and to His Religion!

Muhammad: Further explanation is found here: "Indeed, whoever commits misdeeds, and becomes besieged by his sins - these are the inmates of the Fire, wherein they will dwell forever. As for those who believe and do righteous deeds - these are the inhabitants of Paradise, wherein they will dwell forever." (2:81-82).

The CNN anchor: What other facts have you said to the Israelites of Arabia?

Muhammad: When I urged them to use my Lord God's Book as the Criterion, many of them refused as they adhered to the myth of Hell dwellers getting out of it: "Have you not considered those who were given a share of the Book, as they were called to the Book of God to arbitrate between them; then some of them turned back, and declined? That is because they said, “The Fire will not touch us except for a limited number of days.” They have been misled in their religion by the lies they fabricated." (3:23-24).

The CNN anchor: Those disbelievers among the Israelites are warned in the Quran, right?

Muhammad: Yes; here: "How about when We gather them for a Day in which there is no doubt, and each soul will be paid in full for what it has earned, and they will not be wronged?" (3:25).

The CNN anchor: It is a dominant myth believed by so many misguided people that clergymen and/or 'saints' will act as intercessors so that sinners enter into Paradise after spending few days inside Hell. Such myth dominated Arabia to the extent that God refutes it in the Quran.

Muhammad: The vast majority of the People of the Book deified mortals, especially prophets and clergymen: "The Jews said, “Osir is the son of God,” and the Christians said, “The Messiah is the son of God.” These are their statements, out of their mouths. They emulate the statements of those who disbelieved before. May God assail them! How deceived they are! They have taken their rabbis and their priests as gods instead of Allah, as well as the Messiah son of Mary. Although they were commanded to worship none but The One God. There is no God except He. Glory be to Him; High above what they associate with Him." (9:30-31).

The CNN anchor: This means you called the People of the Book in Arabia to believe in the Quran and to reject their clergymen?

Muhammad: Exactly; my Lord God has commanded me to tell them the following: "Say, “O People of the Book, come to terms common between us and you: that we worship none but God, and that we associate nothing with Him, and that none of us takes others as gods besides Allah.” And if they turn away, say, “Bear witness that we have submitted [to God].”" (3:64).

The CNN anchor: What happened after that?

Muhammad: Most of them refused to do so; clergymen who amassed and consumed ill-gotten money deceived them by several myths and repelled them from the Quranic Truth; the polytheistic, avaricious clergymen are warned here against Hell torment: "O you who believe! Many of the rabbis and priests consume people's wealth illicitly, and hinder from God’s Path. Those who hoard gold and silver, and do not spend them in God’s cause, inform them of a painful torment. On the Day when they will be heated in the Fire of Hell, then their foreheads, and their sides, and their backs will be branded with them: “This is what you hoarded for yourselves; so taste what you used to hoard.”" (9:34-35).

The CNN anchor: Was everyone among the People of the Book in Arabia at the time misguided and misguiding?

Muhammad: No; this applied to the vast majority among them; some of them were truly pious monotheists who believed in the Quran. My Lord God has commanded me to say the following: "Say, “O People of the Book, why do you hinder from God’s Path those who believe, seeking to distort it, even though you are witnesses? God is not unaware of what you do.”" (3:99); "They are not alike. Among the People of the Book is a community that is upright; they read God’s Verses throughout the night, and they prostrate themselves. They believe in God and the Last Day, and advocate righteousness and advise against evil, and are quick to do good deeds. These are among the righteous ones. Whatever good they do, they will not be denied it. God knows the pious ones." (3:113-115).

The CNN anchor: This is great!

Secondly:

The Sunnite sheikh Massood, the Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany, and the Sufi sheikh Bahlool were jubilantly eating, as usual, but the Shiite sheikh Mandoor was not eating; he was depressed and seemed to be engrossed in thought.

The Shiite sheikh Mandoor (screaming): How dare you feel happy on that day?! Do not you know that this is the Ashura day commemorating the martyrdom of Al-Hussein?!

The Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany (defiantly): Ashura is a feast for jubilation as per the Sunna hadiths!

The Shiite sheikh Mandoor slapped himself several times while weeping and chanting: (O Hussein! O Hussein!), and then he fell on the floor suddenly; he fainted as if in a trance. The three other sheikhs managed to awake him from his swoon; once he opened his eyes, he demanded Tatbir, and the three other sheikhs looked at him in amazement as he stripped naked except for his loincloth and he shouted at them to wound him with knives and to flog him with whips so that blood trickle down his body; he said he desired to imitate what happened to the martyred Hussein; the three other sheikhs remained motionless and looked quizzically at him.

The Sufi sheikh Bahlool (calmly): There are no whips or knives here; even the knives on the table are made of plastic as you know; the FBI men removed from this room anything that can be used as a weapon.

The Shiite sheikh Mandoor (weeping): Quick, all of you! Scratch my body with the plastic knives until I bleed! Now!

They remained motionless and the Shiite sheikh Mandoor repeated his demand angrily several times.

The Shiite sheikh Mandoor (defiantly in a loud voice): If you do not obey me, I will kill myself at once and you will be accused, by the FBI men, of killing me!

The Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany (frightened): This madman would certainly commit suicide if he would have the chance! Let's obey him so as not to get into more trouble!

The three sheikhs kept beating and scratching the frail semi-naked body of the Shiite sheikh Mandoor with the plastic knives, forks, and spoons, while he chanted: (O Hussein! O Hussein!). The door of their room was forced open and armed FBI men screamed at the four sheikhs to freeze, to lie down on the floor, and to submit while raising their hands. The four sheikhs obeyed these commands at once and remained silent.

The leader of the FBI men (addressing Mandoor): Why have you demanded from them to torture you?!

The Shiite sheikh Mandoor: I beg you! Please allow them to continue until blood trickles down my body!

The leader of the FBI men: Why?!

The Shiite sheikh Mandoor: I am mourning the loss of the martyred Al-Hussein!

The leader of the FBI men: When was he murdered?!

The Shiite sheikh Mandoor wept and cried in agony; the Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany, still lying down on the floor while raising his hands, requested to provide an answer and he was granted permission to speak

The Wahabi sheikh Al-Ghamadany: Hussein was murdered by the Umayyads 14 centuries ago. Shiites mourn him by Tatbir or wounding themselves in a state of frenzy.

The leader of the FBI men (surprised): Why the hell would they perform such a savage practice since he was murdered 14 centuries ago?! Even if they desire to mourn him, there are more civilized ways to mourn the dead! Why such savagery would be required, anyway?!

The Sunnite sheikh Massood: Shiites do so because they punish themselves as their ancestors did not support Hussein; they let him down; they did not defend him; they left him to the Umayyads who murdered him mercilessly along with his family members.

The leader of the FBI men (surprised): Since such a murder occurred 14 centuries ago, the Shiites of today are guiltless; they never murdered him or let him down. It is not your fault, sheikh Mandoor that he got killed; why would you torture yourself that way since you are not to blame?!

The Shiite sheikh Mandoor (weeping and crying): An American infidel like you will never understand my religion!

The leader of the FBI men (looking at him with despise): F**k you!

The CNN interview with Muhammad about the People of the Book during his era in Arabia

The CNN anchor: Before we go on talking about how the People of the Book in Arabia repelled others from the Quran, I would like you to define the People of the Book who lived in the 7^th century Arabia.

Muhammad: They were the descendants of the Israelites; they included monotheists, Jews, and Nazarenes.

The CNN anchor: What about Christians?

Muhammad: They were called the Nazarenes at the time, and they were among the People of the Book in Arabia.

The CNN anchor: This means that the Israelites are sometimes addressed by God in the Quran as the People of the Book, right?

Muhammad: Yes; this is exemplified in this Quranic verse about some of their sins: "The People of the Book challenge you to bring down to them a book from the sky. They had asked Moses for something even greater. They said, “Show us God plainly.” The thunderbolt struck them for their injustice. Then they took the calf for worship, even after the clear proofs had come to them. Yet We pardoned that, and We gave Moses a clear authority." (4:153).

The CNN anchor: Are the Nazarenes or Christians addressed in the Quran also as the People of the Book?

Muhammad: Yes; this is exemplified in this Quranic verse about their grave sin of deifying Jesus within the so-called trinity: "O People of the Book! Do not exaggerate in your religion, and do not say about God except the Truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, is the Messenger of God, and His Word that He conveyed to Mary, and a Spirit from Him. So believe in God and His messengers, and do not say, “Three.” Refrain - it is better for you. God is only one God. Glory be to Him - that He should have a son. To Him belongs everything in the heavens and the earth, and God is a Sufficient Protector." (4:171).

The CNN anchor: Does this mean that all of the People of the Book in Arabia were disbelievers?

Muhammad: No; the verses I have quote serve as general preaching and warning; they are the People of the Book whether they applied the Torah and the Gospel or not.

The CNN anchor: You are implying that the true texts of the Torah and the Gospel existed in Arabia at the time, right?

Muhammad: This is a Quranic fact.

The CNN anchor: How?!

Muhammad: My Lord God, within a dispute among the Israelites over prohibited food items, has challenged the Israelites to read the Torah to see if it contains their falsehoods; this means the true text of the Torah was with them: "All food was permissible to the Israelites, except what Israel forbade for himself before the Torah was revealed. Say, “Bring the Torah, and read it, if you are truthful.”" (3:93).

The CNN anchor: What about the true Gospel in Arabia?

Muhammad: My Lord God mentions it in this Quranic context: "We have revealed the Torah, wherein is guidance and light...Those who do not judge according to what God revealed are the disbelievers...We sent Jesus son of Mary, fulfilling the Torah that preceded him; and We gave him the Gospel, wherein is guidance and light, and confirming the Torah that preceded him, and guidance and counsel for the righteous. So let the people of the Gospel judge according to what God revealed in it. Those who do not judge according to what God revealed are the sinners." (5:44-47).

The CNN anchor: The true Gospel revealed by God is missing now; as per history, the Church banned many gospels or biographies of Christ. Their numbers are not known; some of them are ascribed to his disciples. Yet, the true Gospel seems to have existed in Arabia in the 7^th century, away from the authority and interference of the Church.

Muhammad: This is about the Gospel granted to Jesus: "In their footsteps, We sent Jesus son of Mary, fulfilling the Torah that preceded him; and We gave him the Gospel, wherein is guidance and light, and confirming the Torah that preceded him, and guidance and counsel for the righteous." (5:46).

The CNN anchor: So, God in the Quran says that the Gospel is a source of light and guidance.

Muhammad: Yes; the same description is about the Torah as well: "But why do they come to you for judgment, when they have the Torah, in which is God’s Law? Yet they turn away after that. These are not believers. We have revealed the Torah, wherein is guidance and light..." (5:43-44); this is about the Book granted to Moses: "Then We gave Moses the Book, perfect for the righteous, and explaining everything clearly, and a source of guidance and mercy, that they may believe in the encounter with their Lord." (6:154)

The CNN anchor: Why did not the People of the Book use their own Scriptures as Criterion for judgment?

Muhammad: The Lord God has called them to apply the sharia laws found in their Divine Books: "Had the People of the Book believed and been righteous, We would have remitted their sins, and admitted them into the Gardens of Bliss. Had they observed the Torah, and the Gospel, and what was revealed to them from their Lord, they would have consumed amply from above them, and from beneath their feet. Among them is a moderate community, but evil is what many of them are doing." (5:65-66).

The CNN anchor: What is meant by this phrase (Among them is a moderate community, but evil is what many of them are doing)?

Muhammad: Like the rest of human beings, their deeds and faith made them divided into three categories: sinful disbelievers, moderate ones who mixed good deeds with bad ones and then repented, and pious Forerunners.

The CNN anchor: What about the disbelieving sinners among them?

Muhammad: The People of the Book in Arabia included a majority of sinners and a minority of believers: "...Had the People of the Book believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are the believers, but most of them are sinners." (3:110).

The CNN anchor: What about the pious Forerunners among them?

Muhammad: They are mentioned here: "They are not alike. Among the People of the Book is a community that is upright; they read God’s Verses throughout the night, and they prostrate themselves. They believe in God and the Last Day, and advocate righteousness and advise against evil, and are quick to do good deeds. These are among the righteous ones. Whatever good they do, they will not be denied it. God knows the pious ones." (3:113-115).

The CNN anchor: I do believe that the Quran mentions a lot the sinners among the People of the Book.

Muhammad: It also mentions a lot the pious believers among them.

The CNN anchor: Really?!

Muhammad: This is exemplified here: "Among the People of the Book are those who believe in God, and in what was revealed to you, and in what was revealed to them. They are humble before God, and they do not sell God’s Verses for a cheap price. These will have their reward with their Lord. God is swift in Judgment." (3:199).

The CNN anchor: The pious believers among them believed in the Quran, I suppose.

Muhammad: Yes; this fact is mentioned here: "Those to whom We gave the Book before it believe in it. When it is read to them, they say, “We have believed in it; it is the Truth from our Lord; we were submitters [to God] prior to it.” These will be given their reward twice, because they persevered; and they counter evil with good; and from Our provisions to them, they give." (28:52-54).

The CNN anchor: This Quranic context includes the monotheists among the Israelites in Arabia, right?

Muhammad: Yes; their belief is in contrast to the disbelief of Arabian people especially Qorayish: "Say, “Believe in it, or do not believe.” Those who were given knowledge before it, when it is read to them, they fall to their chins, prostrating. And they say, “Glory to our Lord. The promise of our Lord is fulfilled.”" (17:107-108).

The CNN anchor: How can we be sure that the context 28:52-54 includes the monotheists among the Israelites?

Muhammad: This is proven here as scholars of the Israelites, who believed in the Quran when they heard its verses in Arabia, are mentioned within this context about the Qorayish disbelievers: "Is it not a sign for them that the scholars of the Israelites recognized it?" (26:197).

The CNN anchor: What about the Nazarenes or Christians in Arabia at the time? Did some of them or of their scholars or clergy believe in the Quran in their turn?

Muhammad: Yes; my Lord God mentions this fact here: "...And you will find that the nearest in affection towards the believers are those who say, “We are Christians.” That is because among them are priests and monks, and they are not arrogant. And when they hear what was revealed to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears, as they recognize the Truth in it. They say, “Our Lord, we have believed, so count us among the witnesses.” “And why should we not believe in God, and in the truth that has come to us, and hope that our Lord will include us among the righteous people?” God will reward them for what they say - Gardens beneath which rivers flow, where they will stay forever. Such is the reward of the righteous." (5:82-85).

The CNN anchor: What about others among the People of the Book in Arabia? Did they declare their belief in the Quran?

Muhammad: They knew about it beforehand; yet, some of them denied it and concealed the Truth: "Those to whom We have given the Book recognize it as they recognize their own children. But some of them conceal the Truth while they know." (2:146).

The CNN anchor: What about their fate?

Muhammad: They are losers in the Hereafter; they will lose their souls within eternal damnation in Hell: "Those to whom We have given the Book recognize it as they recognize their own children; but those who have lost their souls do not believe." (6:20).

The CNN anchor: I understand the three divisions of the People of the Book, but do the same divisions apply to Quran-believing people?

Muhammad: Certainly; this fact is proven here: "Then We passed the Book to those of Our servants whom We chose. Some of them wrong their souls, and some follow a middle course, and some are in the foremost in good deeds by God’s leave; that is the greatest blessing." (35:32).

The CNN anchor: What about your own contemporaries (or the so-called companions) in Arabia?

Muhammad: The same divisions apply to them: "The Forerunners - The first of the Migrants and the Supporters, and those who followed them in righteousness. God is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens beneath which rivers flow, where they will abide forever. That is the sublime triumph. Among the Desert-Arabs around you there are some hypocrites, and among the inhabitants of the city too. They have become adamant in hypocrisy. You do not know them, but We know them. We will torment them twice; then they will be returned to a severe torment. Others have confessed their sins, having mixed good deeds with bad deeds. Perhaps God will redeem them. God is Forgiving and Merciful." (9:100-102).

The CNN anchor: What about the rest of human beings?

Muhammad: The same divisions apply to them as per the Quranic Chapter 56; I mean the Forerunners, those on the Right, and those on the Left. The angels of death informs a dying soul about its rank.

The CNN anchor: What about the Last Day?

Muhammad: The same divisions of humanity will be there: "And you become three classes. Those on the Right - what of those on the Right? And those on the Left - what of those on the Left? And the Forerunners, the Forerunners. Those are the nearest." (56:7-11).

The CNN anchor: Yet, the Muhammadans, when they read the Quranic Chapter One, assume that the People of the Book are the ones intended by this verse: "...those against whom there is anger, nor of those who are misguided." (1:7).

Muhammad: This is a wrong assumption; the vast majority of human beings in all eras are both misguided and misguiding; they would have misguided me, the Last Prophet of the Lord God, if I would obey them, let alone others. You remember this verse addressed to me, I am sure: "If you were to obey most of those on earth, they would divert you from God’s Path. They follow nothing but assumptions, and they only conjecture." (6:116).

The CNN anchor: This means misguidance can apply to anyone and is never confined to Jews and Christians; the claims of the Muhammadans against them are wrong, then!

Muhammad: The misguided and misguiding ones are found in all eras and regions within all communities.

The CNN anchor: What about this Quranic verse: "...those against whom there is anger, nor of those who are misguided." (1:7)? What does it mean?

Muhammad: it refers to one category of human beings: everyone among the misguided ones in all eras who incur God's wrath upon their souls. In sum, they are all male and female polytheists, disbelievers, and hypocrites in all eras. They are exemplified here: "Whoever kills a believer deliberately, the penalty for him is Hell, where he will remain forever. And God will be angry with him, and will curse him, and will prepare for him a terrible torment." (4:93); "Whoever renounces faith in God after having believed - except for someone who is compelled, while his heart rests securely in faith - but whoever willingly opens up his heart to disbelief - upon them falls wrath from God, and for them is a tremendous torment." (16:106); "As for those who dispute about God after having answered His call, their argument is invalid with their Lord; and upon them falls wrath; and a grievous torment awaits them." (42:16); "And He will torment the hypocrites, male and female, and the polytheists, male and female, those who harbor evil thoughts about God. They are surrounded by evil; and God is angry with them, and has cursed them, and has prepared for them Hell - a miserable destination." (48:6).

The CNN interview with Muhammad about how the Israelites reached Arabia

The CNN anchor: How did the Quran-hating People of the Book in the 7^th century Arabia begin to repel others from the Quran?

Muhammad: This has its historical roots before the descent of the Quran; such roots can be traced in the Quran itself.

The CNN anchor: Please go on.

Muhammad: The story of the Israelites with Moses and Moses' Pharaoh is repeated in the Quran; I will quote from it the verses linked to the topic at hand; after the destruction, by drowning, of Pharaoh and his people, courtiers, and soldiers, the Israelites inherited the rule of Egypt, for a while, and owned the possessions of the drowned sinners: "So We took vengeance on them, and drowned them in the sea - because they rejected Our signs, and paid no heed to them. And We made the oppressed people inherit the eastern and western parts of the earth, which We had blessed. Thus the fair promise of your Lord to the Israelites was fulfilled, because of their endurance. And We destroyed what Pharaoh and his people had built, and what they had harvested." (7:136-137); "So We drove them out of gardens and springs. And treasures and noble dwellings.So it was. And We made the Israelites inherit them." (26:57-59).

The CNN anchor: What?! Did the Israelites rule Egypt for a while after the death of Moses' Pharaoh?! This is never mentioned in the Bible's Old Testament! Anyway, we never know everything about the history of Ancient Egypt; we know very little as per random excavations; even some pharaohs removed the names of dead pharaohs from temples; the ancient Egyptians never recorded history of their phases of weakness and defeat. This means many details of the history of the Israelites and Pharaoh mentioned in the Quran by the Omniscient Lord God is never told elsewhere. In sum, you are telling me about the Quranic fact that the Israelites inherited and ruled the Egyptian State for a while, before their exodus, right?

Muhammad: Exactly; after enjoying such luxury and bounty for a while, they received the Lord God's command to move to the Promised Land. Moses reminded them of the Bounty of God bestowed on them: "When Moses said to his people, “O my people, remember God’s Bounty upon you, when He placed prophets among you, and made you kings, and gave you what He never gave any other people.” “O my people, enter the Holy Land which God has assigned for you, and do not turn back, lest you return as losers.”" (5:20-21).

The CNN anchor: I guess that in the context 5:20-21, the word (kings) refers to their ruling Egypt temporarily and the word (prophets) refers to both Moses and Aaron. Have the Israelites been thankful to God for such bounty?

Muhammad: Within the exodus, after passing the Red Sea, the Israelites saw a Pharaonic temple and demanded from Moses to carve a pagan god for them: "And We delivered the Israelites across the sea. And when they came upon a people who were devoted to some statues of theirs, they said, “O Moses, make for us a god, as they have gods.” He said, “You are truly an ignorant people.” “What these people are concerned with is perdition, and their deeds are based on falsehoods.” He said, “Shall I seek for you a god other than Allah, while He has favored you over all other people?”" (7:138-140).

The CNN anchor: What?! They became ungrateful disbelievers despite witnessing the drowning of Pharaoh and his people and how the Red Sea was divided miraculously by the staff of Moses?! What happened next?

Muhammad: Moses left them and went to Mount Al-Tur, in Sinai, Egypt, in order to receive the words of my Lord God Who talked to him. During the absence of Moses, most of the Israelites worshiped a Pharaonic god in the shape of a calf made of gold: "In his absence, the people of Moses adopted a calf made from their ornaments - a body which lowed. Did they not see that it could not speak to them, nor guide them in any way? They took it for worship. They were unjust ones." (7:148). In another Quranic context, my Lord God has reminded the Israelites of Arabia of this grave sin of their ancestors: "And recall that We appointed for Moses forty nights. Then you took to worshiping the calf after him, and you turned unjust ones." (2:51).

The CNN anchor: But the Israelites of Arabia never worshiped a calf statue, right?

Muhammad: Yes; the verse 2:51 serves as warning and preaching addressed to them so as not to fall into the trap of polytheism like their ancestors in Sinai; of course, the verse 2:51 comes in the context of addressing the Israelites in the Quran; my Lord God has called them to believe in the Quran and reminded them of His Bounty granted to them and to their ancestors.

The CNN anchor: We will discuss later how God has addressed the Israelites in the Quran; I would like you to trace the historical roots in the Quran about the Israelites.

Muhammad: They repented after worshiping the calf of gold; Moses chose seventy men for the appointment with my Lord God: "And Moses chose from his people seventy men for Our appointment. When the tremor shook them, he said, “My Lord, had You willed, You could have destroyed them before, and me too. Will you destroy us for what the fools among us have done? This is but Your test - with it You misguide whomever You will, and guide whomever You will. You are our Protector, so forgive us, and have mercy on us. You are the Best of Forgivers.”" (7:155).

The CNN anchor: Why was this appointment made?

Muhammad: For the covenant: "And recall when We received a pledge from you, and raised the Mount above you: “Take what We have given you earnestly, and remember what is in it, that you may attain righteousness.”" (2:63).

The CNN anchor: Why has God made Mount Al-Tur suspend above their heads?!

Muhammad: To make them feel the awe of the situation: "And when We suspended the Mount over them, as if it was an umbrella, and they thought it would fall on them: “Hold fast to what We have given you, and remember what it contains, so that you may be saved.”" (7:171).

The CNN anchor: This is very frightening; what happened next to the Israelites?

Muhammad: You know that in 7:155, Moses implored and supplicated to my Lord God for their sake.

The CNN anchor: Has God answered his prayers?

Muhammad: Yes; my Lord God has said the following to Moses: "..My torment - I inflict it upon whomever I will, but My mercy encompasses all things..." (7:156)

The CNN anchor: I know, of course, that God is never unjust to anyone; this is His Divine Will; He inflicts torment on those who deserve it and bestows mercy on those who deserve it.

Muhammad: Exactly.

The CNN anchor: Who are the ones who deserve His mercy? If it is for everyone indiscriminately, what would be the use of Hell, then?

Muhammad: My Lord God says the following about His mercy: "...I will specify it for those who act righteously and perform Zakat, and those who believe in Our Verses.”" (7:156).

The CNN anchor: This is about Paradise in the Hereafter as their reward, right?

Muhammad: Yes; this is about the People of the Book who believe in the Quran: "Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet of the Gentiles, whom they find mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel in their possession..." (7:157)

The CNN anchor: This prophet of the Gentiles is you?

Muhammad: Yes.

The CNN anchor: You are mentioned in the true Torah and the true Gospel?

Muhammad: Yes; in both of them, my name and description are found as a prophet who will emerge from among the Arabs who are part of the Gentiles.

The CNN anchor: But in the Quranic verses you have quoted, God has addressed the Israelites in Sinai; the Gospel has not revealed yet at this point in time!

Muhammad: This was a prediction by my Lord God; the Gospel will be revealed later on and it will contain my name and description and the glad tidings about me.

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: My names, (Muhammad) and (Ahmad), are mentioned in both the Torah and the Gospel; for instance, Jesus said the following to the Israelites: "And when Jesus son of Mary said, “O Israelites, I am God’s messenger to you, confirming what preceded me of the Torah, and announcing good news of a messenger who will come after me, whose name is Ahmad.” But when he showed them the miracles, they said, “This is obvious sorcery.”" (61:6).

The CNN anchor: Your names are mentioned in Arabic in the Torah?!

Muhammad: Not in Arabic; I mean the meanings of (Muhammad) and (Ahmad) in the tongue of the Israelites, of course.

The CNN anchor: How are you described in the Torah?

Muhammad: By the same description found here: "Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet of the Gentiles, whom they find mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel in their possession. He directs them to righteousness, and advises them against evil, and allows for them all good things, and prohibits for them illegal things, and unloads the burdens and the shackles that are upon them. Those who believe in him, and respect him, and support him, and follow the Light that came down with him - these are the successful." (7:157).

The CNN anchor: So, the successful ones among the People of the Book are the ones who believe in the Quran.

Muhammad: This means they are not to follow me as a human being; they are to follow the Quranic Light.

The CNN anchor: This means you are a messenger to all human beings: Arabs, Gentiles, and Israelites.

Muhammad: Of course; the Quranic message is for all humanity, urging them to worship my Lord God within monotheism: "Say, “O people, I am the Messenger of God to you all - He to whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. There is no God but He. He gives life and causes death.” So believe in God and His Messenger, the Prophet of the Gentiles, who believes in God and His words. And follow him, that you may be guided." (7:158).

The CNN anchor: Did the people of Moses at the time in Sinai believe in the advent of the Last Prophet?

Muhammad: Some of them: "Among the people of Moses is a community that guides by Truth, and thereby does justice." (7:159).

The CNN anchor: But the belief in the idea of the advent of the Last Prophet remained until you emerged in Arabia at the time, right?

Muhammad: Yes; my Lord God has said the following to Arabs, who are among the Gentiles, who rejected the Quran but some of the People of the Book believed in it: "Say, “Believe in it, or do not believe.” Those who were given knowledge before it, when it is read to them, they fall to their chins, prostrating. And they say, “Glory to our Lord. The promise of our Lord is fulfilled.” And they fall to their chins, weeping, and it adds to their humility." (17:107-109).

The CNN anchor: The believing monotheists among the Israelites in Arabia prostrated when they heard the Quran, right?

Muhammad: Yes.

The CNN anchor: Why did they prostrate by falling to their chins? I know that prostration in Islam means to place one's forehead on the ground.

Muhammad: They imitated their ancestors; the seventy men in Sinai prostrated in the same way as Mount Al-Tur was made to suspend above their heads during the covenant made with my Lord God and when they heard glad tidings of the advent of the Prophet of the Gentiles.

The CNN anchor: They felt glad that the prophecy came true, right?

Muhammad: Yes; this is why they said: "...“Glory to our Lord. The promise of our Lord is fulfilled.”" (17:108).

The CNN anchor: Why prostration to the chins is repeated in the two verses 17:108-109?

Muhammad: The first prostration was to signal their surprise and their glorification of my Lord God Who fulfilled His promise; the second one was to signal their humility, reverence, and piety.

The CNN anchor: The context of 17:107-109 is about some Israelites who lived in Arabia, especially in Mecca and Yathreb; how did they reach there; what are the historical roots you would provide to me?

Muhammad: During their forty years of wandering, their ancestors reached Arabia at one time.

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: When Moses informed them of my Lord God's command to enter into the Promised Land, they arrogantly refused; their punishment was to wander the earth for forty years: "When Moses said to his people, “O my people, remember God’s Bounty upon you, when He placed prophets among you, and made you kings, and gave you what He never gave any other people.” “O my people, enter the Holy Land which God has assigned for you, and do not turn back, lest you return as losers.” They said, “O Moses, there are tyrannical people in it; we will not enter it until they leave it. If they leave it, we will be entering.” Two men of those who feared, but whom God had blessed, said, “Go at them by the gate; and when you have entered it, you will prevail. And put your trust in God, if you are believers.” They said, “O Moses, we will not enter it, ever, as long as they are in it. So go ahead, you and your Lord, and fight. We are staying right here.” He said, “My Lord! I have control only over myself and my brother, so separate between us and between the unjust people.” He said, “It is forbidden for them for forty years. They will wander on earth. So do not grieve over the sinful people.”" (5:20-26).

The CNN anchor: What is the Quranic proof about their roaming and living in Arabia for forty years?!

Muhammad: My Lord God says the following about the tribe of Qorayish in Mecca: "But when the Truth came to them from Us, they said, “If only he was given the like of what was given to Moses.” Did they not disbelieve in what was given to Moses in the past? They said, “Two works of magic backing one another.” And they said, “We are disbelieving in both.”" (28:48).

The CNN anchor: Meaning?

Muhammad: This means Moses and Aaron reached Mecca along with the Israelites; this means they roamed Arabia at one time; Qorayish refused to believe in Islam advocated by Moses and Aaron and accused both of them of being sorcerers.

The CNN anchor: In fact, excavations in Arabia show writings in Hebrew and names of cities mentioned in the Old Testament; some researchers assume that the Israelites during the era of Moses lived for a long while in Arabia and not elsewhere.

Muhammad: The prophecy about the advent of the Last Prophet made some Israelite tribes settle in Yathreb and near it; they knew I will settle there at some point in time; they coexisted with other Arab tribes; they told them about the prophecy of the emergence of the Prophet of the Gentiles in Arabia; this is how some Arabs knew about me before my ministry as a prophet, and even before I was born, and believed in the Quran before its descent. This is why many of the dwellers of Yathreb converted to Islam and believed in the Quran before any other people including the immigrants who came from Mecca; those monotheists among the Yathreb dwellers are the Supporters.

The CNN anchor: Is there a Quranic proof about what you have just said?

Muhammad: My Lord God says the following in the Quran: "To the poor immigrants who were driven out of their homes and their possessions, as they sought the favor of God and His approval, and came to the aid of God and His Messenger. These are the sincere. And those who, before them, had settled in the homeland, and had accepted faith. They love those who emigrated to them, and find no hesitation in their hearts in helping them. They give them priority over themselves, even if they themselves are needy. Whoever is protected from his natural greed - it is they who are the successful." (59:8-9).

The CNN anchor: What was the stance of the Israelites in Arabia regarding you and the Quranic revelation after you settled in Yathreb?

Muhammad: Many Arabs in Yathreb believed in the Quran and many Israelites disbelieved out of envy; this is mentioned here: "And when a Book came to them from God, confirming what they have - although previously they were seeking victory over those who disbelieved - but when there came to them what they recognized, they disbelieved in it. So God’s curse is upon the disbelievers. Miserable is what they sold their souls for - rejecting what God has revealed, out of resentment that God would send down His grace upon whomever He chooses from among His servants. Thus they incurred wrath upon wrath. And there is a demeaning torment for the disbelievers." (2:89-90).

The CNN anchor: They knew from their Scriptures about the Quran and about you as the Prophet of the Gentiles and the Last Prophet and yet they disbelieved!

Muhammad: My Lord God says the following about these disbelievers among the Israelites: "And when there came to them a messenger from God, confirming what they had, a faction of those who were given the Book threw the Book of God behind their backs, as if they do not know." (2:101).

The CNN interview with Muhammad about the People of the Book, the Arabs, and the monotheistic religion of Abraham

The CNN anchor: This means there were among the Israelites, or the People of the Book in general, in Arabia those monotheists who believed in the Quran and those disbelievers who were repulsed by it and repelled others from it, right?

Muhammad: Exactly. My Lord God says the following about them: "Among them are those who believed in it, and among them are those who held back from it..." (4:55).

The CNN anchor: Was this in Mecca or Yathreb?

Muhammad: In both cities, with some differences and some similar points.

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: The news about the Quranic revelation in Mecca reached outside it; the disbelieving polytheistic Meccans derided and attacked those who read the Quran; meanwhile, news came from all over Arabia that scholars and monotheists among the People of the Book declared their belief in the Quran.

The CNN anchor: Would you please exemplify this to me?

Muhammad: The Qorayish tribesmen felt antagonistic towards Islam and hated hearing Quranic verses; they almost physically attacked readers of the Quran; my Lord God has commanded me to warn them against Hell: "And when Our Clear Verses are read to them, you will recognize disgust on the faces of those who disbelieve. They nearly assault those who read to them Our Verses. Say, “Shall I inform you of something worse than that? The Fire! God has promised it to those who disbelieve. And what a wretched outcome!”" (22:72).

The CNN anchor: What about the stance of the Quran-hating Meccans when you read the Quran to them?

Muhammad: They desired that I would fabricate another Quran as per their whims: "And when Our Clear Verses are read to them, those who do not hope to meet Us say, “Bring a Quran other than this, or change it.”..." (10:15)

The CNN anchor: What was your reply to them?

Muhammad: Of course, my Lord God has commanded me to say the following to them: "...Say, “It is not for me to change it of my own accord. I only follow what is revealed to me. I fear, if I disobeyed my Lord, the torment of a Tremendous Day.” Say, “Had God willed, I would not have read it to you, and He would not have made it known to you. I have lived among you for a lifetime before it. Do you not understand?” Who commits graver injustice than someone who fabricates lies about God, or denies His Verses? The criminals will never prosper." (10:15-17).

The CNN anchor: At the time, what was the stance of the monotheists among the People of the Book?

Muhammad: The belief of the monotheists among the People of the Book in the Quran was a refutation of the claims of the Quran-hating Gentiles among the Arabs: "Say, “Believe in it, or do not believe.” Those who were given knowledge before it, when it is read to them, they fall to their chins, prostrating. And they say, “Glory to our Lord. The promise of our Lord is fulfilled.” And they fall to their chins, weeping, and it adds to their humility." (17:107-109); "Is it not a sign for them that the scholars of the Israelites recognized it?" (26:197).

The CNN anchor: I see that the People of the Book have a special position in the Quran; why is that?

Muhammad: Because most Arabs are the descendants of the progeny of Abraham's first-born son, Ishmael, and the Israelites are the descendants of Abraham's second son, Isaac, as his son, Jacob, also known as Israel, had twelve sons who formed the Israelite tribes. Besides, the People of the Book had more knowledge than Arabs as they had many prophets and messengers and Scriptures; the Arabs had no prophets after the death of Ishmael. The term (Gentiles) means those who never received any Scriptures before. That I emerged as the Last Prophet and the Prophet of the Gentiles from among the descendants of Ishmael is how my Lord God answered the prayers of Abraham when he, along with Ishmael, rebuilt the Kaaba: "Our Lord, and raise up among them a messenger, of themselves, who will read to them Your Verses, and teach them the Book and Wisdom, and purify them. You are the Almighty, the Wise.”" (2:129).

The CNN anchor: What is the proof of this?

Muhammad: My Lord God has commanded me to call both the Gentiles (or Arabs) and the People of the Book in Arabia to convert to Islam and to believe in the Quran: "If they argue with you, say, “I have submitted myself to God, and those who follow me.” And say to those who were given the Book, and to the Gentiles, “Have you submitted [to God]?” If they have submitted, then they are guided; but if they turn away, then your duty is to convey. God is Seeing of the servants." (3:20).

The CNN anchor: Did the People of the Book in Arabia at the time call the Arabs as (Gentiles)?

Muhammad: Certainly; this is inferred from here: "Among the People of the Book is he, who, if you entrust him with a heap of gold, he will give it back to you. And among them is he, who, if you entrust him with a single coin, he will not give it back to you, unless you keep after him. That is because they say, “We are under no obligation towards the Gentiles.” They tell lies about God, and they know it." (3:75). The Lord God has reminded the Arabs, or the Gentiles, of His Bounty of sending them a messenger from among them: "It is He who sent among the Gentiles a messenger from themselves; reading His verses to them, and purifying them, and teaching them the Book and Wisdom although they were in obvious misguidance before that." (62:2).

The CNN anchor: This is why you are called the Prophet of the Gentiles, right?

Muhammad: Yes; this is because my people, the Arabs, are among the Gentiles; this fact is mentioned here in this Quranic context about the covenant of the Israelites with my Lord God at Mount Al-Tur, in Sinai, in Egypt: "Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet of the Gentiles, whom they find mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel in their possession. He directs them to righteousness, and advises them against evil, and allows for them all good things, and prohibits for them illegal things, and unloads the burdens and the shackles that are upon them. Those who believe in him, and respect him, and support him, and follow the Light that came down with him - these are the successful. Say, “O people, I am the Messenger of God to you all - He to whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. There is no God but He. He gives life and causes death.” So believe in God and His Messenger, the Prophet of the Gentiles, who believes in God and His words. And follow him, that you may be guided." (7:157-158).

The CNN anchor: Did the Arabs, or the Gentiles of Arabia, wished to receive a messenger and a Divine Book like the Israelites who received the Torah and the Gospel among other Scriptures?

Muhammad: Yes; my Lord God has said the following to them: "This too is a Blessed Book that We revealed; so follow it, and be righteous, that you may receive mercy. Lest you say, “The Scripture was revealed to two parties before us, and we were unaware of their teachings.”Or lest you say, “Had the Scripture been revealed to us, we would have been better guided than they.” Clarification has come to you from your Lord, and guidance, and mercy. Who then commits a grave injustice than he who denies God's Verses and turns away from them? We will repay those who turn away from Our Verses with the worst kind of torment, because of their turning away." (6:155-157). The (two parties) here are the Jews and the Christians.

The CNN anchor: The Arabs might have expressed this wish, in 6:157, jestingly, right?

Muhammad: No; they were in earnest; yet, they felt animosity towards me and regarding the Quran itself: "And they swore by God with their solemn oaths, that if a warner came to them, they would be more guided than any other people. Yet when a warner came to them, it only increased them in aversion." (35:42).

The CNN anchor: This means Arabs who disbelieved in the Quran at the time concurred with some of the People of the Book who denied the Quran, right?

Muhammad: Exactly. Of course, there were also believers in the Quran among both Arabs and the People of the Book. Of course, both coexisted and interacted in Arabia; both knew about the religion of Abraham and both distorted it. The Lord God commands them, in the Quran, to believe in the monotheistic religion of Abraham.

The CNN anchor: Really?! Was this command addressed to the People of the Book in the Quran?!

Muhammad: Yes; my Lord God says the following in the Quran: "Say, “God has spoken the Truth, so follow the religion of Abraham the monotheist; he was not a polytheist.”" (3:95); "And they say, “Be Jews or Christians, and you will be guided.” Say, “Rather, the religion of Abraham, the monotheist; he was not a polytheist.”" (2:135).

The CNN anchor: This means they are told to introduce reform to their faith by adhering to the true monotheistic religion of Abraham.

Muhammad: There is more here: "Say, “We believe in God; and in what was revealed to us; and in what was revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Tribes; and in what was given to Moses and Jesus; and in what was given to the prophets - from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we submit.” If they believe in the same as you have believed in, then they have been guided. But if they turn away, then they are in schism. God will protect you against them; for He is the Hearer, the Knower." (2:136-137).

The CNN anchor: The same command of following the monotheistic religion of Abraham is addressed to the Gentiles or Arabs, right?

Muhammad: Yes; you can find it here: "And strive for God, with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you, and has not burdened you in religion - the faith of your father Abraham. It is he who named you Muslims before, and in this. So that the messenger may be a witness over you, and you may be witnesses over the people. So perform prayers and Zakat and adhere to God. He is your Protector. What an excellent Protector, and what an excellent Helper." (22:78).

The CNN anchor: What is meant exactly by the monotheistic religion of Abraham?

Muhammad: It includes inherited acts of worship: Zakat, prayers, fasting, and pilgrimage. In Arabia, Arabs and the People of the Book performed these acts of worship but within distortions; they also fell into the trap of polytheism especially by deifying allies/saints, edifices, and tombs; they distorted the monotheistic religion of Abraham and they were commanded to return to it.

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: The monotheistic religion of Abraham means dedicating one's acts of worship to the Creator Allah within deep faith devoted to Him without deifying or sanctifying any creatures alongside with Him: "We sent down to you the Book with the Truth, so serve God, devoting your religion to Him. Is not to God that sincere faith is due? As for those who take allies besides Him, “We only worship them that they may bring us nearer to God.” God will judge between them regarding their differences. God does not guide the disbelieving liars." (39:2-3); "Say, “I was commanded to serve God, devoting my religion exclusively to Him. And I was commanded to be the first among the submitters.” Say, “I fear, if I disobeyed my Lord, the torment of a Tremendous Day.” Say, “It is God I worship, sincere in dedicating my religion to Him.” “But you can worship whatever you wish besides Him.” Say, “The losers are those who lose their souls and their people on the Day of Resurrection.” That is indeed the obvious loss." (39:11-15)

The CNN anchor: What about those who rejected the monotheistic religion of Abraham?

Muhammad: My Lord God says the following about them: "Who would forsake the religion of Abraham, except he who fools himself? We chose him in this world, and in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous ones." (2:130); "And who is better in religion than he who submits himself wholly to God, and is a doer of good, and follows the faith of Abraham the monotheist? God has chosen Abraham for a friend." (4:125).

The CNN anchor: It is a common idea that you conveyed a new religion; yet, you say that you are a follower of the monotheistic religion of Abraham; have you received a divine command to follow it?

Muhammad: Yes. "Say, “My Lord has guided me to a Straight Path, an upright religion, the creed of Abraham the monotheist, who was not a polytheist.” Say, “My prayers and my worship, and my life and my death, are devoted to God, the Lord of the worlds. No associate has He. Thus I am commanded, and I am the first among the submitters.Say, “Am I to seek a Lord other than God, when He is the Lord of all things?” No soul gets except what it is due, and no soul bears the burdens of another. Then to your Lord is your return, then He will inform you regarding your disputes." (6:161-164); "Then We inspired you: “Follow the religion of Abraham, the monotheist. He was not a polytheist.”" (16:123).

The CNN anchor: I see now that following the monotheistic religion of Abraham means adhering to (There is no God but Allah) and devoting and dedicating one's faith and acts of worship 100% to God only by never deifying or sanctifying anything or anyone besides Him; this also includes never to make distinction among messengers of God. I see now why the disbelievers in Arabia, among both Arabs and the People of the Book, stood against the religious reform you advocated when you urged them, through the Quran, to return to the monotheistic religion of Abraham.

The CNN interview with Muhammad about how some of the People of the Book in Arabia repelled others from the Path of the Lord God

The CNN anchor: Let us talk now about how the People of the Book in Arabia repelled others from the Quran.

Muhammad: This is what my Lord God says about the disbelievers of Qorayish: "They keep others from it, and avoid it themselves; but they ruin only their own souls, and they do not realize." (6:26); likewise, many among the People of the Book did the same whether they believed in their own Divine, Celestial Scriptures or not.

The CNN anchor: Does the Quranic verses about the People of the Book in Arabia apply to the People of the Book in all eras and in our modern era?

Muhammad: This depends on the Quranic context; some contexts pertain only to those who lived in Arabia at the time and some others are very general and apply to all eras.

The CNN anchor: Would you please exemplify this to me?

Muhammad: The Lord God says the following in the Quran: "The Jews said, “Osir is the son of God,” and the Christians said, “The Messiah is the son of God.” These are their statements, out of their mouths. They emulate the statements of those who disbelieved before. May God assail them! How deceived they are!" (9:30). Those Jews who deified Osir do not exist now; yet, Christians still deify Jesus until now. Deifying clergymen still persists today: "They have taken their rabbis and their priests as gods instead of Allah, as well as the Messiah son of Mary. Although they were commanded to worship none but The One God. There is no God except He. Glory be to Him; High above what they associate with Him." (9:31).

The CNN anchor: How did the People of the Book repelled others from the Quran or the Path?

Muhammad: This sin committed by them is explained here: "They want to extinguish God’s Light with their mouths, but God refuses except to complete His Light, even though the disbelievers dislike it." (9:32); "They want to extinguish God’s Light with their mouths; but God will complete His Light, even though the disbelievers dislike it." (61:8). Of course, this also indicates that my Lord God preserves the Quranic text until the end of days despite the existence, in all eras, of those who repel people from the Quran.

The CNN anchor: I notice that the verb (want) is repeated in 9:32 and 61:8; why is that?

Muhammad: This shows the Omniscience of my Lord God; He knows what is inside souls and minds of all human beings; He knows all their intentions: "And your Lord knows what their hearts conceal, and what they reveal." (27:74 + 28:69).

The CNN anchor: This is about all human beings; yet, what about the People of the Book in particular? What about their desire or intention to repel others from the Quran?

Muhammad: My Lord God has exposed their grudges and envy towards the early believers in Arabia here: "Many of the People of the Book wish to turn you back into disbelievers after you have believed, out of envy on their part, after the Truth has become clear to them. But pardon and overlook, until God brings His command. God has power over all things." (2:109); "Or do they envy the people for what God has given them of His Grace?..." (4:54).

The CNN anchor: This envy made the People of the Book in Arabia want to misguide Arabs, or the Gentiles, and to distract them away from the Quran, right?

Muhammad: Exactly; "It is never the wish of the disbelievers from among the People of the Book, nor of the polytheists, that any good should be sent down to you from your Lord. But God chooses for His mercy whomever He wills. God is Possessor of Sublime Grace." (2:105); "A party of the People of the Book would love to lead you astray, but they only lead themselves astray, and they do not realize it." (3:69).

The CNN anchor: Does this apply to all People of the Book in Arabia at the time?

Muhammad: No; only some of them.

The CNN anchor: What was their relation with Arabs at the time especially the early believers?

Muhammad: Some were honest and some were deceitful: "Among the People of the Book is he, who, if you entrust him with a heap of gold, he will give it back to you. And among them is he, who, if you entrust him with a single coin, he will not give it back to you, unless you keep after him. That is because they say, “We are under no obligation towards the Gentiles.” They tell lies about God, and they know it." (3:75).

The CNN anchor: This means some of them consumed ill-gotten money!

Muhammad: Some of them were pious and honest as per 3:75 and this is asserted further here: "Indeed, whoever fulfills his commitments and maintains piety - God loves the pious." (3:76). The deceitful ones among all human beings are cursed here: "Those who exchange the covenant of God, and their vows, for a small price, will have no share in the Hereafter, and God will not speak to them, nor will He look at them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them. They will have a painful torment." (3:77).

The CNN anchor: Sadly, some 'Muslims' in the West consume ill-gotten money by stealing from others and justifying their theft using fiqh rules; they imitate the deceitful ones mentioned in 3:77.

Muhammad: I am innocent of what they do!

The CNN anchor: Thus, some misguided ones among the People of the Book deceived the Gentiles in Arabia; what about the stance of the early believers towards the People of the Book?

Muhammad: Some of them admired and obeyed the misguided ones among the People of the Book; they have been warned by my Lord God here: "O you who believe! If you obey a party of those who were given the Book, they will turn you, after your belief, into disbelievers." (3:100).

The CNN anchor: This means the misguided ones among the People of the Book at the time repelled others from God's Path or the Quran, right?

Muhammad: Exactly; my Lord God has commanded me to preach them that way: "Say, “O People of the Book, why do you reject the Verses of God, when God witnesses what you do?” Say, “O People of the Book, why do you hinder from God’s Path those who believe, seeking to distort it, even though you are witnesses? God is not unaware of what you do.” O you who believe! If you obey a party of those who were given the Book, they will turn you, after your belief, into disbelievers." (3:98-100).

The CNN anchor: The warning in 3:100 indicates clearly that some of your companions were negatively influenced by the misguided ones among the People of the Book in Arabia, right?

Muhammad: Yes.

The CNN anchor: Would you please exemplify this to me?

Muhammad: The polytheists of Qorayish demanded miracles or signs like the ones granted to Moses and Jesus; my Lord God refused because miracles seldom guided anyone in ancient times; besides, the Holy Quran is the only miracle of Islam; the Arab polytheists stubbornly insisted on seeing a miracle; this insistence was witnessed by the early believers in Mecca; after settling in Yathreb, some of the People of the Book demanded miracles and some believers imitated them in this demand: "The People of the Book challenge you to bring down to them a book from the sky. They had asked Moses for something even greater. They said, “Show us God plainly.” The thunderbolt struck them for their injustice. Then they took the calf for worship, even after the clear proofs had come to them. Yet We pardoned that, and We gave Moses a clear authority." (4:153); "Or do you want to question your messenger as Moses was questioned before? Whoever exchanges faith for disbelief has strayed from the right path." (2:108).

The CNN anchor: I am astonished!

Muhammad: Some People of the Book distorted the religion of the Lord God; they repeated the blasphemous phrase (the Lord is the shepherd) and the word (Hosanna) or "observe/save us" as if they were cattle in need of protection all the time; one should never utter blasphemies by ascribing to the Lord God false names and descriptions. My Lord God warns them here: "Among the Jews are some who take words out of context, and say, “We hear and we disobey”, and “Hear without listening”, and “Observe us,” twisting with their tongues and slandering the religion. Had they said, “We hear and we obey”, and “Listen”, and “Give us Your attention,” it would have been better for them, and more upright. But God has cursed them for their disbelief; they do not believe except a little." (4:46).

The CNN anchor: The phrase (the Lord is my shepherd) is still heard in churches today!

Muhammad: When some of the early believers in Arabia were negatively influenced by some of the disbelievers among the People of the Book, my Lord God has warned them here: "O you who believe! Do not say "Observe us", but say “Give us Your attention,” and listen. The disbelievers will have a painful torment." (2:104).

The CNN anchor: This means 4:46 indicates how some of the People of the Book in Arabia repelled others from the Quran or the Path, right?

Muhammad: Yes.

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: My Lord God says the following in the Quran: "And among them are uneducated who know the Scripture only through hearsay, and they only speculate. So woe to those who write the Scripture with their own hands, and then say, “This is from God,” that they may exchange it for a little price. Woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn." (2:78-79).

The CNN anchor: Are there other examples?

Muhammad: Yes; some were hypocrites who feigned being believers in the Quran and then declared their rejection of it later on; their schemes are exposed by my Lord God here: "When they come to you, they say, “We believe,” though they have entered with disbelief, and they have departed with it. But God is well aware of what they hide. You see many of them competing with one another in sin and aggression, and their consuming illicit money. What they have been doing is truly evil. Why do the rabbis and the priests not prevent them from speaking sinfully and from consuming forbidden wealth? Evil is what they have been doing." (5:61-63); "Some of the People of the Book say, “Believe in what was revealed to the believers at the beginning of the day, and reject it at its end, so that they may return.” And trust none except those who follow your religion.” Say, “Guidance is God’s guidance. If someone is given the like of what you were given, or they argue with you before your Lord, say, “All grace is in God’s hand; He gives it to whomever He wills.” God is Bounteous and Knowing." (3:72-73). Their aim was to make others cast doubt on Islam; this saddened me at the time: "O messenger! Do not let those who are quick to disbelief grieve you - from among those who say with their mouths, “We believe,” but their hearts do not believe; and from among the Jews - listeners to lies, listeners to other people who did not come to you. They distort words from their places, and they say, “If you are given this, accept it; but if you are not given it, beware.” Whomever God has willed to divert, you have nothing for him from God. Those are they whose hearts God does not intend to purify. For them is disgrace in this world, and for them is a great torment in the Hereafter." (5:41).

The CNN anchor: What else?

Muhammad: They slandered and insulted the early believers; this ordeal was a test; my Lord God has directly addressed the believers by commanding them to adhere to patience and piety: "You will be tested through your possessions and your persons; and you will hear from those who received the Book before you, and from the polytheists, much verbal abuse. But if you persevere and lead a righteous life - that indeed is a mark of great determination." (3:186).

The CNN anchor: This is the great Islamic tolerance I find in the Quran. What else apart from insults?

Muhammad: Scheming, conspiring, and plotting.

The CNN anchor: Would you please exemplify this to me?

Muhammad: They held secret meetings described here: "And when they come across those who believe, they say, “We believe,” but when they come together privately, they say, “Will you inform them of what God has disclosed to you, so that they might dispute with you concerning it before your Lord?” Do you not understand? Do they not know that God knows what they conceal and what they reveal?" (2:76-77).

The CNN anchor: What else?

Muhammad: Some of the People of the Book in Arabia who hated the Quran sided with the polytheistic Arabs despite the fact that they knew that the Quran is the Truth from the Lord God Who has cursed them: "Have you not considered those who were given a share of the Book? They believe in Gypt and Taghut, and say of those who disbelieve, “These are better guided on the way than the believers.” Those are they whom God has cursed. Whomever God curses, you will find no supporter for him." (4:51-52).

The CNN anchor: What else?

Muhammad: Some of the People of the Book in Arabia committed military aggression against me and the early believers and we had to engage into military self-defense by fighting them.

The CNN anchor: This entails some explanation.

The CNN interview with Muhammad about fighting the People of the Book in Arabia

The CNN anchor: Before I ask you about fighting the People of the Book in Arabia, I must say I understand from the previous segment of this interview that God has commanded the believers to pardon, within patience and piety, the People of the Book who envied and insulted them; this means committing military aggression against them was unconceivable; it was not an option. It is more logical that some of the Quran-hating ones among the People of the Book in Arabia would initiate military aggression and raise arms against the believers in Yathreb who had to defend themselves, right?

Muhammad: Exactly. My Lord God says the following about the People of the Book in Arabia: "...Had the People of the Book believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are the believers, but most of them are sinners. They will do you no harm, beyond insulting you. And if they fight you, they will turn around and flee, then they will not be helped." (3:110-111).

The CNN anchor: This means sinners among them were the ones who insulted you and the early believers and fought against you and were defeated.

Muhammad: Yes. In 3:111, you see that they began military aggression and we had to fight back in self-defense while trusting the divine promise that the aggressors will be defeated.

The CNN anchor: This promise or prediction is in 3:111, right?

Muhammad: Yes, but this promise has its conditions.

The CNN anchor: What are they?!

Muhammad: To support the Lord God; this is a repeated rule in the Quran: "O you who believe! If you support God, He will support you, and will strengthen your foothold." (47:7); "...God supports whoever supports Him. God is Strong and Mighty." (22:40); "Most surely We will support Our messengers and those who believe, in this life, and on the Day the witnesses arise." (40:51).

The CNN anchor: What is meant by supporting God?! Does He need support by mortals?!

Muhammad: My Lord God has granted all human beings full freedom to believe or to disbelieve, to obey or to disobey, while bearing full responsibility for one's choice in the Hereafter within Judgment and then the outcome either in Hell or in Paradise. This means absolute religious freedom is essential; people are to choose freely for themselves; guidance is found only in the Divine Books revealed by the Lord God to His messengers and prophets; yet, clergymen repel others from the Truth and ascribe lies, falsehoods, narratives, and hadiths to the Religion of God; such hadiths 'justify' all types of injustices including religious persecution and committing military aggression against peaceful believers to force them to forsake their faith; to support the Lord God means to refute and reject such lies and hadiths and to engage into military self-defense in case of being attacked first by military aggressors.

The CNN anchor: I see. This peaceful jihad by refuting false claims means to support God; when military aggressors attack peaceful believers who have the right to defend themselves, God will lend the believers victory because they support Him.

Muhammad: Exactly: "God defends those who believe..." (22:38).

The CNN anchor: This is a general Quranic rule which applies to believers who fulfill these conditions in all eras, right?

Muhammad: Yes; by the way, from this Quranic verse: "Most surely We will support Our messengers and those who believe, in this life, and on the Day the witnesses arise." (40:51), we infer that the pious monotheists will be witnesses who will testify against clergymen and the followers of clergymen on the Last Day.

The CNN anchor: Yet, those authors of your biographies have distorted your history and tarnished your reputation; they have portrayed you as a fierce, heartless warrior who committed military aggression, enslaved women and children, robbed possessions of others, and murdered POWs.

Muhammad: I am innocent of such fabrications; my Lord God sent me with the Quran as a mercy to the humankind and not to fight and murder the humankind: "We did not send you except as mercy to the humankind." (21:107).

The CNN anchor: We will discuss Quranic legislations of self-defense fighting some other time; let us focus now on your fighting the aggressors among the People of the Book in Arabia.

Muhammad: In Islam, fighting is only for the purpose of self-defense when peaceful ones are attacked first by unjust aggressors.

The CNN anchor: I see. Yet, your biographies mention you fought some Jewish tribes near Yathreb and drove them out of Arabia!

Muhammad: This is not true. My only true history is found exclusively in the Holy Quran; my Lord God sometimes rebukes me in the Quran for my mistakes; this is exemplified here: "O prophet! Why do you prohibit what God has permitted for you, seeking to please your wives? God is Forgiving and Merciful." (66:1). Hence, all instances of self-defense fighting are mentioned in the Quran with comments from my Lord God. It would be impossible that I might have committed military aggression, or else, this would have been mentioned, along with the severest rebuke, in the Quran.

The CNN anchor: This means any battles in your biographies never mentioned in the Quran are fictional, right?

Muhammad: Of course.

The CNN anchor: What about your fighting aggressors among the People of the Book in Arabia?

Muhammad: This is mentioned in the Quran, of course.

The CNN anchor: But without much details; we can find too much details only in your biographies!

Muhammad: I have nothing to do with such biographies; they are never mine; even those who wrote them never lived during my era; they never saw anything during my lifetime in Arabia!

The CNN anchor: The first author of a biography of you is named Mohamed Ibn Ishaq who died in 151 A.H.

Muhammad: I am innocent of lies and falsehoods written about me!

The CNN anchor: Let us talk about what is mentioned in the Quran about your fighting aggressors among the People of the Book in Arabia.

Muhammad: This is about some Jews near Yathreb: "It is He who evicted those who disbelieved among the People of the Book from their homes at the first mobilization. You did not think they would leave, and they thought their fortresses would protect them from God. But God came at them from where they never expected, and threw terror into their hearts. They wrecked their homes with their own hands, and by the hands of the believers. Therefore, take a lesson, O you who have insight. Had God not decreed banishment for them, He would have tormented them in this life. But in the Hereafter they will have the torment of the Fire. That is because they opposed God and His Messenger. Whoever opposes God - God is stern in retribution." (59:2-4).

The CNN anchor: Would you please explain this further to me?

Muhammad: This means the early believers and I did not fight them; my Lord God caused their leaving their homes out of fear which seized their hearts; I and the early believers did not do anything. This victory is God's alone.

The CNN anchor: Why did they deserve this?

Muhammad: They initiated military aggression against the early believers in Yathreb, and when the early believers mobilized their troops to begin their legitimate military self-defense fighting, fear seized the hearts of the aggressors and they fled after destroying their own homes.

The CNN anchor: What is meant by this phrase (They wrecked their homes with their own hands, and by the hands of the believers)?

Muhammad: When some believers saw them destroy their own homes, they did the same.

The CNN anchor: What about aggressors among the Jews of Arabia at the time?

Muhammad: My Lord God says the following about them: "God repelled the disbelievers in their rage; they gained no advantage. God thus spared the believers combat. God is Strong and Mighty. And He brought down from their strongholds those of the People of the Book who backed them, and He threw terror into their hearts. Some of them you killed, and others you took captive. And He made you inherit their land, and their homes, and their possessions, and a region you have never stepped on. God has power over all things." (33:25-27).

The CNN anchor: Would you please explain this further to me?

Muhammad: This is when the polytheistic military troops of the confederates sieged Yathreb and aimed to annihilate all believers; some Jewish tribes who lived near Yathreb sided with those aggressors and posed a threat to the early believers; yet, my Lord God has caused fear to seize the hearts of the soldiers of the confederates and they withdrew and ended the siege: "O you who believe! Remember God's bounties upon you, when forces came against you, and We sent against them a wind, and forces you did not see. God is Observant of what you do." (33:9).

The CNN anchor: This means God defeated them and no fighting occurred because of this divine intervention; they retreated and left behind their Jewish allies.

Muhammad: Exactly; when the troops of the believers fought them and achieved victory, some were killed and some were captured, and the rest of them fled to their fortresses; we sieged them; fear seized their hearts and they fled Arabia. The early believers inherited their possessions, lands, and homes.

The CNN anchor: Did you put to death any Jewish captives?

Muhammad: No. Putting captured soldiers to death has nothing to do with Islam; they are to be released by grace or in exchange of other captives: "...Then, either release them by grace, or in exchange for others, until war lays down its burdens..." (47:4).

The CNN anchor: This is about Jewish aggressors in Arabia; what about Christian aggressors in Arabia?

Muhammad: Some tribes among Jews and Christians allied themselves to Arab polytheists who attacked Yathreb and initiated military aggression; my Lord God has commanded self-defense fighting in that case: "Fight those who do not believe in God, nor in the Last Day, nor forbid what God and His Messenger have forbidden, nor abide by the Religion of Truth - from among those who received the Book - until they pay the due tribute, willingly or unwillingly." (9:29).

The CNN anchor: What justification can be found in the Quran?

Muhammad: They never adhered to peace which is the True Religion of God as per 9:29; they were aggressors who fought against the early believers who had to engage into self-defense fighting.

The CNN anchor: What about those among them who did not believe in the Quran and did not fight against the early believers?

Muhammad: One dealt peacefully with them as per the Quranic legislations here: "As for those who have not fought against you for your religion, nor expelled you from your homes, God does not prohibit you from dealing with them kindly and equitably. God loves the equitable." (60:8); "And fight in the cause of God those who fight you, but do not commit aggression; God does not love the aggressors." (2:190). Thus, self-defense military endeavors are exerted only in case of being attacked by aggressors.

The CNN anchor: What about the (tribute) mentioned in 9:29?

Muhammad: In all eras, defeated parties in any wars who initiated aggression typically pay financial compensations because of the sabotage, robbing, and killings they have committed. This pertains to justice. They are not killed and their land is not invaded.

The CNN anchor: I see. But the tribute is not mentioned in the Quranic context 59:2-4, right?

Muhammad: They left their lands and homes to us; why would they pay tributes or compensations, then? As for the Quranic context of the verse 9:29, it is about some Jews and Christians of Arabia who fought against us and remained in their regions; after we defeated them, peace treaties included their paying tributes or compensations for the damages they caused. We never conquered or invaded their regions because this pertains to injustice.

The CNN anchor: During such wars, what was the stance of the hypocrites inside Yathreb?

Muhammad: Some of them allied themselves to the aggressors among the People of the Book and among the Arabs or Gentiles; my Lord God has warned the believers against committing this sin: "O you who believe! Do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies; some of them are allies of one another. Whoever of you allies himself with them is one of them. God does not guide the unjust people.You will see those in whose hearts is sickness racing towards them. They say, “We fear the wheel of fate may turn against us.” But perhaps God will bring about victory, or some event of His making; thereupon they will regret what they concealed within themselves." (5:51-52).

The CNN anchor: These events occurred during your lifetime in Arabia, right?

Muhammad: Yes.

The CNN anchor: This means these legislations pertains to that era only, right?

Muhammad: No. When the same conditions are repeated in any case, no believers should ally themselves to the aggressors who attack their homeland. The believers should participate in self-defense endeavors, of course.

The CNN anchor: Some terrorists quote 5:51-52 to incite violence, aggression, or terrorism against the peaceful ones among the People of the Book such as Orthodox Christian Copts in Egypt.

Muhammad: I am innocent of what they do! The Quranic verses 5:51-52 are about the military aggressors only among the People of the Book who attacked peaceful people; one should not ally oneself to aggressors against one's country in times of war. This has nothing to do with peaceful people of any religious denominations who never commit acts of violence and aggression.

The CNN anchor: I see.

Muhammad: There is more about this issue of allying oneself to anyone: "O you who believe! Do not ally yourselves to those who take your religion in mockery and as a jest, be they from among those who were given the Book before you, or the disbelievers. And obey God, if you are believers." (5:57).

The CNN anchor: Did such a war between the aggressors among the People of the Book and defenders among the early believers go on?

Muhammad: No. Eventually, the aggressors stopped their aggression and this entails that self-defense fighting would stop when peace reigns supreme: "But if they cease, then God is Forgiving and Merciful. And fight them until there is no persecution, and religion is judged only by God. But if they cease, then let there be no fighting except against the oppressors." (2:192-193); everyone's adherence to peace in Arabia is the victory mentioned here: "When there comes God’s victory and triumph. And you see the people entering God’s religion in multitudes. Then celebrate the praise of your Lord, and seek His forgiveness. He is the Accepter of Repentance." (110:1-3).

The CNN anchor: Did the People of the Book adhered to peace in multitudes like the rest of the Arabs as per 110:2?

Muhammad: Yes. This verse is among the ones revealed shortly before the completion of the descent of the entire Quranic text: "Today all good things are made lawful for you. And the food of those given the Book is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them. So are chaste believing women, and chaste women from the people who were given the Book before you, provided you give them their dowries, and take them in marriage, not in adultery, nor as mistresses..." (5:5).

The CNN anchor: What does this mean?

Muhammad: Everyone became brethren in peace. Peaceful men among the People of the Book can marry peaceful Muslim women and peaceful Muslim men can marry peaceful women among the People of the Book. No Quran-believing people can marry aggressors/polytheists or fornicators who never repent: "Do not marry polytheistic women, unless they have believed. A believing maid is better than a polytheistic one, even if you like her. And do not marry polytheistic men, unless they have believed. A believing servant is better than a polytheistic one, even if you like him. These call to the Hell-Fire, but God calls to Paradise and to forgiveness, by His leave. He makes clear His Verses to the people, that they may be mindful." (2:221); "The adulterer shall marry none but an adulteress or a polytheistic woman; and the adulteress shall marry none but an adulterer or a polytheistic man. That has been prohibited for the believers." (24:3). Of course, polytheism here means committing unjust aggression and rejection of peace.

The CNN anchor: I see.

CHAPTER IV: The CNN Interview about Creation between the Quran and the Old Testament

CHAPTER IV: The CNN Interview about Creation between the Quran and the Old Testament

The CNN interview with Muhammad about the Bible's Old Testament

The CNN anchor: I wonder why the Quran does mention the Israelites a great deal!

Muhammad: This is one of the miraculous features of the Quran; the Bible's Old Testament which includes a history of the Israelites and their sharia laws is still one of the most important religious books worldwide despite the fact that the Israelites are, and were, a minority in this world.

The CNN anchor: I am surprised to see that most Israelites and Christians of today never pay attention at all to the detailed and rich Quranic stories about the Israelites!

Muhammad: The Quranic stories begin with the creation of Adam and his descent unto the earth, then how one of Adam's sons murdered his brother. The Quranic stories, then, mention the stories of Noah, and some Arab prophets, Hud, Saleh, and Shuaib, and then of Abraham, Lot, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob or Israel, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, then the exodus of the Israelites who left Egypt, and then David, Solomon, Zachariah, John, and Jesus.

The CNN anchor: Yet, there are radical differences between the Quranic stories of the Israelites and their stories in the Old Testament. Of course, non-Muslims believe in the veracity and credibility of the Old Testament stories and never pay attention at all to the Quranic stories; this is because the Bible is their history and religion.

Muhammad: Let me ask you: Does the Old Testament have the same text of the Torah mentioned by my Lord God in the Quran?

The CNN anchor: I do not think so; the Old Testament as we know it was written by many unknown men during the eras after the death of Moses. Of course, there are those who accuse you of having authored the Quran yourself and that it is not a Celestial Scripture. Yet, how could you have reached that information about prophets in general and about the Israelites in particular?!

Muhammad: It is impossible that an Arab man in the 7^th century Arabia would invent such historical information about ancient nations and previous prophets and messengers; of course, some of such information agree with the Old Testament stories and some do not. The Quranic stories are repeated sometimes briefly and sometimes in detail without any discrepancies, inconsistencies, or differences. This means authoring the Quran is beyond my capacity; it is beyond human capacity. Before the Old Testament was written, the true Torah existed in Arabia with the Israelites who were my contemporaries.

The CNN anchor: I guessed as much from these two Quranic verses: "...Say, “Bring the Torah, and read it, if you are truthful.”" (3:93); "But why do they come to you for judgment, when they have the Torah, in which is God’s Law?..." (5:43).

Muhammad: Furthermore, the divine dialogue addressed to the Israelites in the Quran reminds them of what was written in the Torah and other Celestial Books they have received; the Israelites in Arabia could never deny what is found in the Quran about them.

The CNN anchor: Like what?!

Muhammad: This Quranic verse is directly addressing them by reminding them of what has occurred to their ancestors: "O Israelites! Remember My bounties which I bestowed upon you, and fulfill your pledge to Me, and I will fulfill My pledge to you, and fear Me within piety." (2:40).

The CNN anchor: Please give me another example.

Muhammad: My Lord God has demanded from me to ask them about a story they have concealed from their own history: "Ask them about the town by the sea, when they violated the Sabbath. When they observed the Sabbath, their fish would come to them abundantly. But when they violated the Sabbath, their fish would not come to them. Thus We tried them because they disobeyed." (7:163).

The CNN anchor: This is about their history or stories; what about legislations? Did the Israelites in Arabia argue with you about any religious laws?

Muhammad: Yes; some sinners among them prohibited food items made permissible by my Lord God: "For the Jews We forbade everything with claws. As of cattle and sheep: We forbade them their fat, except what adheres to their backs, or the entrails, or what is mixed with bone. This is how We penalized them for their inequity. We are indeed truthful. If they accuse you of lying, say, “Your Lord is Possessor of infinite mercy, but His wrath cannot be averted from the criminal people.”" (6:146-147).

The CNN anchor: This means they denied the Quranic laws about food items when you conveyed the Quranic verses about this topic, right?

Muhammad: Yes; when the disobedient sinners among them prohibited legal food items, my Lord God punished them by making such food items prohibited: "The polytheists will say, “Had God willed, we would not have practiced polytheism, nor would have our forefathers, nor would we have prohibited anything.” Likewise those before them lied, until they tasted Our might. Say, “Do you have any knowledge that you can produce for us? You follow nothing but conjecture, and you only guess.” Say, “To God belongs the conclusive argument. Had He willed, He would have guided you all.”" (6:148-149).

The CNN anchor: What is meant by (knowledge) in the challenge posed to them in 6:148?

Muhammad: The Quranic term (knowledge) refers to Celestial, Divine Books of my Lord God; this term in 6:148 refers to the Torah in particular; this means the Israelites in Arabia at the time possessed the true Torah and it contains no evidence to support their false argument.

The CNN anchor: What about their rabbis and scholars at the time?

Muhammad: If they bear witness against the Torah, I should not bear witness with them as per my Lord God's command: "Say, “Produce your witnesses who would testify that God has prohibited this.” If they testify, do not testify with them. And do not follow the whims of those who deny Our Verses, and those who do not believe in the Hereafter, and those who equate others with their Lord." (6:150). In the same Quranic context, we find the true Ten Commandments here: "Say, “Come, let me tell you what your Lord has forbidden you: that you associate nothing with Him; that you honor your parents; that you do not kill your children because of poverty - We provide for you and for them; that you do not come near indecencies, whether outward or inward; and that you do not kill the soul which God has sanctified - except in the course of justice. All this He has enjoined upon you, so that you may understand.” And do not come near the property of the orphan, except with the best intentions, until he reaches maturity. And give full weight and full measure, equitably. We do not burden any soul beyond its capacity. And when you speak, be fair, even if it concerns a close relative. And fulfill your covenant with God. All this He has enjoined upon you, so that you may take heed. This is My Path, straight, so follow it. And do not follow the other paths, lest they divert you from His Path. All this He has enjoined upon you that you may attain piety." (6:151-153).

The CNN anchor: Why are the Ten Commandments mentioned here?

Muhammad: Because the sinners among the Israelites created a long list of prohibitions which has nothing to do with the true Torah; the Quranic Ten Commandments clearly show the prohibitions.

The CNN anchor: What is mentioned after the Quranic Ten Commandments?

Muhammad: This is about the Scripture granted to Moses: "Then We gave Moses the Book, perfect for the righteous, and explaining everything clearly, and a beacon, and mercy, that they may believe in the encounter with their Lord." (6:154); this is about the Quran itself: "This too is a Blessed Book that We revealed; so follow it, and be righteous, that you may receive mercy." (6:155).

The CNN anchor: You can consider me a scholar specializing in the Bible's Old Testament; its laws can be found in the Book of Leviticus, the Book of Numbers, and the Book of Deuteronomy. These laws are repeated and contains many discrepancies, inconsistencies, and differences; these laws tend to prohibit many items and to suggest severe penalties. I will use the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible. Let me quote from the entire Chapter 11 in the Book of Leviticus: (.1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.

3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is cloven-footed, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.

4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

5 And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

6 And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be cloven-footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.

8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.

9 These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.

10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:

11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.

12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

13 And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,

14 And the vulture, and the kite after his kind;

15 Every raven after his kind;

16 And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckoo, and the hawk after his kind,

17 And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl,

18 And the swan, and the pelican, and the eagle,

19 And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.

20 All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.

21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;

22 Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.

23 But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.

24 And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even.

25 And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.

26 The carcases of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not cloven-footed, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean.

27 And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even.

28 And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening: they are unclean unto you.

29 These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind,

30 And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole.

31 These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even.

32 And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel it be, wherein any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed.

33 And every earthen vessel, whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean; and ye shall break it.

34 Of all meat which may be eaten, that on which such water cometh shall be unclean: and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean.

35 And everything whereupon any part of their carcase falleth shall be unclean; whether it be oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down: for they are unclean and shall be unclean unto you.

36 Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcase shall be unclean.

37 And if any part of their carcase fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it shall be clean.

38 But if any water be put upon the seed, and any part of their carcase fall thereon, it shall be unclean unto you.

39 And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcase thereof shall be unclean until the even.

40 And he that eateth of the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening: he also that beareth the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.

41 And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten.

42 Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.

43 Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.

44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

45 For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

46 This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth:

47 To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.). Were such details found in the Torah owned by the Israelites of Arabia during your lifetime there?

Muhammad: No.

The CNN anchor: But you said that the disobedient sinners among the Israelites prohibited legal food items and God made it prohibited to punish them.

Muhammad: Until my lifetime in Arabia, the Torah was not distorted and it refuted their claims; some sinners among them had their own laws which contradicted the Torah and they argued about such laws; the Quran settles some of these disputes and exposes how some sinners concealed some verses of the Torah: "This Quran relates to the Israelites most of what they differ about." (27:76); "O People of the Book! Our Messenger has come to you, clarifying for you much of what you kept hidden of the Book, and overlooking much. A Light from God has come to you, and a Clear Book." (5:15).

The CNN anchor: This means during your era in Arabia, some sinful Israelites concealed some verses from the undistorted Torah when God challenged them to show and use its knowledge. Yet, later on, the true Torah disappeared mysteriously. The Old Testament was written as its alternative, I think. Strangely, Chapter 31 in the Book of Deuteronomy mentions that towards the end of his life, Moses wrote the Torah, and yet, the unknown author of the Old Testament mentions in Chapter 34 in the Book of Deuteronomy that Moses died after the Lord God made him see the Promised Land. Many researchers now prove that the unknown authors of the Old Testament were heavily influenced by the laws of Hammurabi.

The CNN interview with Muhammad about the Quranic stories in contrast to the stories of the Bible's Old Testament

The CNN anchor: You know from the Quran that the true Torah existed in Arabia in the 7^th century during your lifetime there, but you never heard of the Bible's Old Testament and its books, right?

Muhammad: Yes.

The CNN anchor: The first book in the Old Testament is the Book of Genesis which contains 50 Chapters; it is like a history book; it tells us about the creation of the heavens and the earth and then about the creation of Adam and Eve and their descent unto the earth; it tells us, in a chronological order, the stories of Noah to those of Jacob and Joseph; the Book of Exodus tells us about the story of Moses and the Israelites and how they left Egypt forever. I do not think that such chronological order exists in the Quran.

Muhammad: There is a chronological order in the Quranic stories of prophets and messengers.

The CNN anchor: How?!

Muhammad: The order is as follows: the creation of Adam; the two sons of Adam, Noah, Hud, Saleh, Shuaib, Jonah, Abraham, Lot, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Zachariah, John, and Jesus.

The CNN anchor: The Old Testament's stories are arranged chronologically despite the laws found in the Book of Leviticus, the Book of Numbers, and the Book of Deuteronomy, among other books, which are interpolated in the historical narration. In contrast, I find no chronological arrangement in the Quran regarding stories of prophets; for instance, the story of Adam is repeated in the Quranic Chapters 2, 7, 15, 17, 18, 20, and 38. The stories of Noah, Hud, Saleh, Shuaib, and Lot are repeated in the Quranic Chapters 7, 11, 23, 26, 37, and 54.

Muhammad: This is true. The chronological order is found but there are entire Quranic Chapters dedicated to certain prophets such as the story of Joseph in the Quranic Chapter 12 and the story of Noah in the Quranic Chapter 71. The story of Moses and Pharaoh are repeated in the Quranic Chapters 7, 10, 20, 26, and 28 revealed in Mecca and in the Quranic Chapters 2, 5, 33, and 61 revealed in Yathreb. There are details of the stories of Noah, Hud, Saleh, and Shuaib repeated in different Quranic Chapters.

The CNN anchor: Why is that? Why do not we find a chronological arrangement in the Quran regarding the stories of prophets in the manner we find in the Old Testament?

Muhammad: You have told me that the so-called Old Testament was written by several unknown authors; ancient historians often follow the chronological order in their methodology: from the most ancient to the newest.

The CNN anchor: Why cannot I find this in the Quran?

Muhammad: Because the Quran is not a history textbook; it is the Book of guidance, preaching, and warning; its central call is the monotheism of (There is no God but Allah). The methodology of Quranic stories serves this purpose only.

The CNN anchor: How is this purpose or call served by scattering stories of prophets and messengers in different Quranic Chapters?

Muhammad: The verb (scatter) is not suitable here; you would better employ the verb (repeat); the Quranic text repeats some stories with long and short events and with brevity or in detail in some contexts.

The CNN anchor: What is the purpose of this repetition regarding the call for guidance and monotheism, then?

Muhammad: Human beings tend to forget and are liable to fall into the trap of misguidance; this is why repetition is part and parcel of the call methodology in the Quran; do not forget the Quranic fact that most human beings, in all eras, are both misguided and misguiding; the repetition of the Quranic warnings and reminders offers no excuse for them.

The CNN anchor: The stories of the Old Testament mention proper names especially those of the Israelite tribes and link many events to certain people, times, and locations. This is not the case with the Quranic stories; why is that?

Muhammad: Again, the Quran is not a book in history; the Quranic stories aim at drawing useful lessons and at guiding the readers. The Quranic stories are freed from the restraints of names, locations, and eras so that lessons are drawn from the events themselves by everyone who seeks guidance in all regions and eras. The events of any Quranic stories can happen and apply to all societies and regions. For instance, stances, deeds, and words of the disbelievers among the people of Noah apply to disbelievers of today and in all eras within any society; the same applies to the Quranic descriptions of criminals, pious ones, weak ones, believers, hypocrites...etc. In contrast, the historical narratives mentioned in the Old Testament represent only the ancient times, and ancient nations, and it is never related to the present time or to today's people.

The CNN anchor: There are details of the Quranic stories which match those of the Old Testament stories and there are details which differ; this is an excellent feature which characterizes the Quranic stories; the Quran is supposed to have descended centuries after the death of Jesus Christ and after the descent of the Torah. Yet, instead of copying stories of the Torah or the Old Testament verbatim, one notices a great deal of differences between the Quranic stories and those of the Old Testament, right?

Muhammad: Yes; the methodology is different and so are the main themes and details.

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: The Old Testament stories do not include the stories of Hud with the tribe of Aad, Saleh with the tribe of Thamood, and Shuaib with the tribe of Madian.

The CNN anchor: That is true.

Muhammad: Likewise, the Quranic stories do not mention all prophets and messengers of the Israelites; details in the Quranic stories differ a lot from the details of the so-called Old Testament stories about the same events and persons.

The CNN anchor: By the way, why do both the Quran and the Old Testament focus on the Middle-East, Abraham's descendants, and the Israelites? What about other continents and their peoples as well as their prophets and messengers?

Muhammad: There are universal stories shared by all humanity like those of Adam, the two sons of Adam, and Noah. My Lord God does not mention all prophets and messengers in the Quranic text: "We have inspired you, as We had inspired Noah and the prophets after him..." (4:163). One does not know all the names of all prophets who were sent by my Lord God after Noah; by the way, all humanity after the deluge are the descendants of Noah: "And We made his descendants the survivors." (37:77). "We have inspired you, as We had inspired Noah and the prophets after him. And We inspired Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Tribes, and Jesus, and Job, and Jonah, and Aaron, and Solomon. And We gave David the Zabur. Some messengers We have already told you about, while some messengers We have not told you about. And God spoke to Moses directly." (4:163-164); "We sent you with the Truth; a bearer of good news, and a warner. There is no community but a warner has passed through it." (35:24).

The CNN anchor: But as per 35:24, stories of messengers, warners, and prophets of the two Americas, China, India, Australia, and Africa should have been mentioned, right?

Muhammad: No. let us be reminded of the fact that the Quran is not a history book; it is the Book of guidance; its aim is never to trace all stories of prophets and messengers worldwide in all eras within thousands of pages. You should remember that my Lord God in the Quran mentions descriptions mainly and not characters and persons. Hence, the details mentioned by Him in the Quranic stories apply to the past, the present, and the future events which are not told in the Quran: "Nothing is said to you but was said to the Messengers before you..." (41:43). This means the Quranic Revelation is similar to the previous divine revelation and the words and stances of the disbelievers and deniers are the same in all eras and locations within stories of prophets, messengers, and warners never mentioned in the Quran. There is another Quranic fact that you should bear in mind.

The CNN anchor: What is it?

Muhammad: The Lord God sent prophets and messengers who employ the same tongues of their people: "We never sent any messenger except in the tongue of his people, to make things clear for them..." (14:4). The Quran was revealed in Arabic so that the Arabs would understand: "We have revealed it an Arabic Quran, so that you may understand." (12:2); "We made it an Arabic Quran, so that you may understand." (43:3); "We made the Quran easy to learn. Is there anyone who would learn?" (54:17). Hence, it is not expected that the Quran would include thousands of pages to cover all stories of all warners, prophets, and messengers with their different names as per the different human tongues. There is yet another Quranic fact that you should bear in mind.

The CNN anchor: What is it?

Muhammad: Messengers and prophets whose names are mentioned in the Holy Quran and in the so-called Old Testament are known worldwide now and in the past. Most human beings today on earth know about the Bible and the Quran.

The CNN anchor: Is there another major difference between the Old Testament stories and the Quranic stories?

Muhammad: Those of the so-called Old Testament belong to the past tense only; they are mere history. As for the Quranic stories, they have different levels of tenses; they include (1) stories of the past about the ancient nations and previous prophets and messengers, (2) contemporary, present stories about what happened in Arabia during the revelation of the Quran, and (3) stories about future predictions; for instance, predicting the victory of the Byzantines after their defeat: "The Byzantines have been defeated. In a nearby territory. But following their defeat, they will be victorious. In a few years. The matter is up to God, in the past, and in the future. On that day, the believers will rejoice. In God’s support. He supports whomever He wills. He is the Almighty, the Merciful." (30:2-5). This prediction was fulfilled years later. Other predictions are about the Hour, the Hereafter, and the Last-Day events.

The CNN anchor: Those who do not believe in the fact that the Quran is God's Word wonder, as they read the Quranic stories, that how an Arabian man of the 7^th century like you would know all such details about history of ancient nations we never heard of except in the Quran itself.

Muhammad: This proves that I am not the author of the Quran; no mortals have authored it; the Holy Quran is my Lord God's Word; the Quranic stories miraculously contain details and information about the unseen past known only to the Omniscient Lord God; this is exemplified here: this is about the events within the story of Noah: "These are some stories from the past that we reveal to you. Neither you, nor your people knew them before this. So be patient. The outcome belongs to the pious." (11:49); this is about the events within the story of Joseph: "This is news from the past that We reveal to you. You were not present with them when they plotted and schemed." (12:102); this is about the childhood of Mary: "These are accounts from the Unseen, which We reveal to you. You were not with them when they cast their lots as to which of them would take charge of Mary; nor were you with them as they quarreled." (3:44); this is about the unseen past in general: "You were not on the Western Side when We decreed the command to Moses, nor were you among the witnesses. But We established many generations, and time took its toll on them. Nor were you among the people of Madian, reading Our Verses to them. But We kept sending messengers. Nor were you by the side of Mount Al-Tur when We proclaimed. Rather, it was a mercy from your Lord, that you may warn people who received no warner before you, so that they may take heed." (28:44-46).

The CNN anchor: This is really great.

The CNN interview with Muhammad about the creation of the universe in the Quran and in the Bible's Old Testament

The CNN anchor: Beginning from this segment of this interview, we will compare between the Quranic stories and the Old Testament stories.

Muhammad: OK.

The CNN anchor: The Book of Genesis is said to be the first among the five books of the Torah or the Pentateuch; it begins with the story of the creation of the universe: (1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided between the light and the darkness. 5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening was, and the morning was. And the evening and the morning were the first day.). What does the Quran mention about the same topic?

Muhammad: "Praise be to God, Who created the heavens and the earth, and made the darkness and the light..." (6:1). This means the universe, or the heavens and the earth in the Quranic terms, was created first and then darkness and light whose existence followed the creation of the universe; darkness was created before light; one can infer this from here: "And He dimmed its night, and brought out its daylight." (79:29).

The CNN anchor: (after a short pause) Let me read further: (6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. 9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters he called Seas: and God saw that it was good.). Water is mentioned here though I think it should have been mentioned along with the creation of the heavens and the earth. What does the Quran mention about the same topic?

Muhammad: Water is mentioned as the basis of the creation of the heavens and the earth; the Throne here is the universe itself and my Dominant Lord God's control and dominance over it: "It is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and His Throne was upon the waters..." (11:7).

The CNN anchor: Is it the same water we know today?

Muhammad: Water is the basis of all living creatures: "Do the disbelievers not see that the heavens and the earth were one mass, and We tore them apart? And We made from water every living thing. Will they not believe?" (21:30). This means all seen and unseen living creatures of the earth and of Barsakh (such as angels, jinn, and devils) are created from different types of water. Even the water of Paradise differ from that of Hell; jinn was created, before humanity, from a water consisting of fire; humanity was created from mud or clay which contains ordinary water: "We created the human being from clay, from molded mud. And the jinn We created before, from piercing fire." (15:26-27). Water is the origin of visible and invisible creatures and the origin of the Throne or the whole universe.

The CNN anchor: (after a short pause) This differs a lot from what I am going to quote here: (11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.). What does the Quran mention about the same topic?

Muhammad: The soul of brevity and a miraculous scientific indication are found here: "...and scatters in it all kinds of creatures..." (2:164); this is part of this verse about creating the universe: "In the creation of the heavens and the earth; in the alternation of night and day; in the ships that sail the oceans for the benefit of humankind; in the water that God sends down from the sky, and revives the earth with it after it had died, and scatters in it all kinds of creatures; in the changing of the winds, and the clouds disposed between the sky and the earth; are signs for people who understand." (2:164). This is explained further here: "He created the heavens without pillars that you can see, and placed stabilizers on earth lest it shifts with you, and scattered throughout it all kinds of creatures. And from the sky We sent down water, and caused to grow therein of every noble pair." (31:10); this applies to the humankind which have multiplied from the progeny of Adam and his wife: "O people! Fear your Lord within piety, who created you from a single soul, and created from it its mate, and propagated from them many men and women..." (4:1).

The CNN anchor: In contrast to the Quranic brevity, we find details here in the Old Testament's Chapter 1 in the Book of Genesis: (13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide between the day and between the night. the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. 19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. 20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and let fowl fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. 21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. 23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. 24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and everything that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good....).

Muhammad: I notice here indications of time.

The CNN anchor: Yes; God created the universe, or the heavens and the earth, in six days or stages; this means the element of time is the framework of creation.

Muhammad: Time has been created alongside with the creation of the heavens and the earth: "The number of months, according to God, is twelve months - in the decree of God - since the Day He created the heavens and the earth, of which four are sacred. This is the correct religion. So do not wrong yourselves during them..." (9:36).

The CNN anchor: This is not mentioned in the Old Testament; let me quote further from it: (26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.).

Muhammad: I quite disapprove of such blasphemy; the human creature was never created in the image of God; my Lord God describes Himself here: "...There is nothing like Him..." (42:11).

The CNN anchor: Yet, there is a hadith ascribed to you in Al-Bokhary book of hadiths about Adam's being created in the image of God!

Muhammad: I never uttered such blasphemous phrase! I am innocent of the so-called hadiths! I am innocent of what the polytheists say and write about me!

The CNN anchor: Yet, the creation of Adam in the image of God is a basic notion of Judaism, Christianity, Sufism, and the Sunnite and Shiite religions!

Muhammad: These religions have nothing to do with the Holy Quran! I am innocent of what the polytheists say! Such a blasphemous notion contradicts the Quranic monotheism of (There is no God but Allah). My Lord God does not resemble any of His human or nonhuman creatures. Allah describes Himself here: "Say, “He is God, the One. God, the Absolute. He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is none comparable to Him.”" (112:1-4). When some sinful Jews and Christians assumed that they are the children of God, my Lord God has refuted their claim here: "The Jews and the Christians say, “We are the children of God, and His beloved.” Say, “Why then does He punish you for your sins?” In fact, you are human beings from among those He created. He forgives whom He wills, and He punishes whom He wills. To God belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and what lies between them, and to Him is the return." (5:18).

The CNN anchor: But the authors of the books of Sufis, Shiites, and Sunnites assume that Adam, as well as his progeny or all human beings, was created from a breath of the Spirit of God as per their own interpretation of this Quranic verse about the creation of Adam: "When I have formed him, and breathed into him of My Spirit, fall down prostrating before him.”" (15:29).

Muhammad: They have misunderstood 15:29; the Quranic term (Spirit) refers only to archangel Gabriel who carried the soul of Adam and breathed it into his body; the missions of Gabriel include to deliver my Lord God's Revelation to prophets and messengers and to breathe souls into human bodies. Gabriel carried the soul of Jesus by the divine command (Be) and this is how Mary conceived her son: "And mention in the Book Mary, when she withdrew from her people to an eastern location. She screened herself away from them, and We sent to her Our Spirit, and he appeared to her as a full human being. She said, “I take refuge from you in the Dominant Lord, should you be righteous.” He said, “I am only the messenger of your Lord, to give you the gift of a pure son.” She said, “How can I have a son, when no man has touched me, and I was never unchaste?” He said, “Thus said your Lord, 'It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign for humanity, and a mercy from Us. It is a matter already decided.'”" (19:16-21). The Spirit here is Gabriel; the same meaning is found here: "And she who guarded her virginity. We breathed into her of Our Spirit, and made her and her son a sign to the world." (21:91). Again, the Spirit here is Gabriel. This is why the creation of Adam and that of Jesus are the same: "The likeness of Jesus in God’s sight is that of Adam: He created him from dust, then said to him, “Be,” and he was." (3:59).

The CNN anchor: This is clear for those monotheists who believe in the fact that the Creator never resembles any of His creatures; let me quote the rest of Chapter 1 in the Book of Genesis: (28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, Ihave given every green herb for meat: and it was so. 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.). What does the Quran mention about the same topic?

Muhammad: Everything in the heavens and the earth is at the service of the humankind; my Lord God addresses all humanity here: "It is God who placed the sea at your service, so that ships may run through it by His command, and that you may seek of His bounty, and that you may give thanks. And He placed at your service whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth - all is from Him. In that are signs for a people who think." (45:12-13).

The CNN anchor: It entails rational and scientific thinking to believe in the One Lord God and to make the best of everything in the universe created by God to serve the humankind. After mentioning the six days of creation, the Old Testament story in Chapter 2 in the Book of Genesis mentions that God rested on the seventh day: (1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. 4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.). What does the Quran mention about the same topic?

Muhammad: The creation of the heavens and the earth in six days is linked to my Lord God's control and dominance over the universe symbolized by the notion of the Throne: "Your Lord is God, who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then settled over the Throne, governing all things..." (10:3); "It is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then settled over the Throne. He knows what penetrates into the earth, and what comes out of it, and what descends from the sky, and what ascends to it. And He is with you wherever you may be. God is Seeing of everything you do." (57:4); "He who created the heavens and the earth and what is between them in six days, then settled on the Throne. The Dominant Lord..." (25:59); "God is He who created the heavens and the earth and everything between them in six days, and then established Himself on the Throne...He regulates all affairs, from the heavens, to the earth. Then it ascends to Him on a Day the length of which is a thousand years by your count." (32:4-5).

The CNN anchor: what is meant by the phrase (what is between them) in 25:59?

Muhammad: Stars, galaxies, and so on in what you call the universe.

The CNN anchor: What about God's rest in the seventh day as per the Old Testament?

Muhammad: This is blasphemy; my Lord God never feels tired or fatigued and never needs to rest; creation and Resurrection are easy things for Him: "We created the heavens and the earth and what is between them in six days, and no fatigue touched Us." (50:38); "It is He who initiates creation, and then repeats it, something easy for Him..." (30:27).

The CNN anchor: What about details of the six days of creation in the Old Testament's Book of Genesis?

Muhammad: They have nothing to do with the Quran; my Lord God says here something different: "Say, “Do you reject the One who created the earth in two days? And you attribute equals to Him? That is the Lord of the worlds.” He placed stabilizers over it; and blessed it; and planned its provisions in four days, equally to the seekers. Then He turned to the heaven, and it was smoke, and said to it and to the earth, “Come, willingly or unwillingly.” They said, “We come willingly.” So He completed them as seven heavens in two days, and He assigned to each heaven its laws. And We decorated the lower heaven with lamps, and for protection. That is the design of the Almighty, the All-Knowing." (41:9-12).

The CNN anchor: These are seven days of creation and not six! Why?!

Muhammad: The sense of stages of time in this context differs from our own sense of time on earth.

The CNN anchor: I am not sure if I follow!

Muhammad: Days in the Quranic context 41:9-12 are stages of time and not days in the sense of 24 hours. Time calculations change in the observable universe and in the metaphysical Barsakh realms; across such different time frameworks, the decrees and commands of my Lord God, Who controls and governs the physical and the metaphysical realms, pass and get realized.

The CNN anchor: How?!

Muhammad: My Omniscient Lord God knows everything that occurs in the realms of the heavens and the earth; for instance, inside the galaxies and also inside the atoms. "...Not even the weight of an atom, on earth or in the heaven, escapes your Lord, nor is there anything smaller or larger, but is in a clear book." (10:61); "He knows what penetrates into the earth, and what comes out of it, and what descends from the heaven, and what ascends to it...Those who disbelieve say, “The Hour will not come upon us.” Say, “Yes indeed, by my Lord, it will come upon you. He is the Knower of the unseen.” Not an atom's weight in the heavens and the earth, or anything smaller or larger, escapes His knowledge..." (34:2-3); "He regulates all affairs, from the heavens, to the earth. Then it ascends to Him on a Day the length of which is a thousand years by your count." (32:5). The time framework for each realm differs. Preordained fates of births, deaths, provisions, and adversity and prosperity descend annually, by Gabriel leading other angels, within the Night of Decree every Ramadan, although a day in the Upper Realm of Allah is like one thousand years as per the time count on earth. This is about the Hour and how it is an inevitable torment for disbelievers: "A questioner questioned the imminent torment. For the disbelievers; none can repel it. From God, Lord of the Ways of Ascent. Unto Him the angels and the Spirit ascend on a Day the duration of which is fifty thousand years. So be patient, with sweet patience. They see it distant. But We see it near. On the Day when the sky will be like molten brass. And the mountains will be like tufted wool." (70:1-9). The fifty thousand years are not as per time count on earth but as per the time frameworks in the metaphysical realm.

The CNN anchor: Is this related to the Quranic assertion that the Hour of the destruction of the universe is drawing near?

Muhammad: The Quran is the Last Message from my Lord God to humanity until the end of days; this means the Quran ushers in the last phase of humanity on earth before the destruction of the universe when the Hour takes place. The present perfect tense is employed on the following Quranic verses to indicate the future because the sense of time regarding my Lord God's inevitable decrees and commands differs from the time count on earth; there is a gap between the issued divine commands and their realization: "The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has split." (54:1); "The humankind’s Judgment has drawn near, but they turn away heedlessly." (21:1); "The command of God has come, so do not rush it..." (16:1). Of course, 16:1 is about the divine command of the advent of the Hour; 16:1 is addressing all human beings from the time of the Quranic revelation to the end of days.

The CNN anchor: Please tell me more about the creation story in the Quran.

Muhammad: This is about the fact that the earth is a ball or a sphere: "And the earth after that He spread." (79:31). The only shape spread without an edge is the ball or the sphere; this comes in the context of creation: "Are you more difficult to create, or the heaven? He constructed it. He raised its masses, and proportioned it. And He dimmed its night, and brought out its daylight. And the earth after that He spread. And from it, He produced its water and its pasture. And the mountains, He anchored." (79:27-33).

The CNN anchor: What is your view of the details in the Book of Genesis about separating day and night and light and darkness.

Muhammad: This cannot be so; both overlap because the earth is a sphere that orbits the sun disk: "Your Lord is God; He who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then established Himself on the Throne. The night overtakes the day, as it pursues it persistently; and the sun, and the moon, and the stars are subservient by His command. His is the creation, and His is the command. Blessed is God, Lord of all beings." (7:54); "He merges the night into the day, and He merges the day into the night..." (57:6); "He created the heavens and the earth with the Truth. He wraps the night around the day, and He wraps the day around the night..." (39:5).

The CNN anchor: I see that the words of the unknown authors of the Old Testament's Book of Genesis reflect the dominant culture of their era; they may be repeating old traditions that influenced them; to believe in the creation story of the Old Testament means to never use one's reasoning mind. What about the Quranic verses about creation? Do they pertain to belief or to the rational, reasoning mind? What do you think?

Muhammad: They belong to both belief and the rational, reasoning mind. One does not have to mute one's rational, reasoning mind in order to believe in the Quran. The Quran contains scientific indications which prove that it has no mortal author; it is the Divine Revelation by my Lord God. No Arabians knew such scientific facts during the 7^th century Arabia.

The CNN anchor: I see. Would you tell me something that I have not known yet?

Muhammad: The Quran has its own methodology which differs from that of the narrative in the so-called Old Testament. The Quran is not a history book with chronological order of events and details of names, time, regions,...etc. The Quran is the Book of guidance. Likewise, the Quran is not a book of science; the scientific miraculous indications serve the purpose of guidance and to prove that the Quran is my Lord God's Word. The Author of the Quran is the Creator of the universe who created countless realms from the galaxies to the atoms. This is why the Quranic scientific indications are not arranged even about the topic of the creation of the universe; the same applies to Quranic stories. The Quranic scientific indications are repeated briefly in some verses and in detail in some others because repetition aims to make the heedless, sinful, ignorant, and disobedient people remember their Lord God and repent before they die.

The CNN anchor: I see that the Quranic scientific indications address Arabs in an indirect way so that they are not shocked; mentioning scientific facts plainly in the Quran would have shocked them to the core and driven them to ridicule and reject its verses.

Muhammad: This is why the Quranic scientific indications are miraculous, indirect, and simple, and they address all people in all eras despite their different amounts of knowledge. The sun moves in its orbit and this is indicated here in a way that never shocked Arabs at the time: "And the sun runs towards its destination. Such is the design of the Almighty, the All-Knowing. " (36:38).

The CNN anchor: Please give me more examples about the Quranic scientific indications phrased in simple ways that did not shock people in the Middle-Ages.

Muhammad: The fact that the earth as a ball, an egg, or a sphere is revolving around its axis and orbits the sun disk is indicted in simple terms: "Another sign for them is the night: We strip the day out of it..." (36:37); "He created the heavens and the earth with the Truth. He wraps the night around the day, and He wraps the day around the night..." (39:5).

The CNN anchor: What is the purpose of these Quranic scientific indications?

Muhammad: To urge human beings to seek guidance and repentance within piety and within the monotheism of (There is no God but Allah); the Lord God is the Creator of the universe and He has no partners or associates.

The CNN anchor: Let us focus on the creation of the heavens and the earth as per the Quran after we have talked about the creation story in the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament.

Muhammad: I briefly assert to you that the creation of the heavens and the earth is directly linked to the destruction of the universe by the advent of the Hour; the creation is the result of an explosion or the so-called Big Bang; the Hour is another explosion of total destruction of the universe as per the inevitable divine decree of the Lord God and His estimation and calculations.

The CNN anchor: I am not sure if I follow!

Muhammad: My Lord God is the Originator of the universe, or the heavens and the earth as per the Quranic terms, and this means He created the universe out of nothing, or ex nihilo, and this means that at point zero, an enormous explosion, or what is called now as the Big Bang, caused the existence of the universe by the Will of my Lord God.

The CNN anchor: What about the explosion of the Hour of destruction of the universe and the Resurrection Day?

Muhammad: These are two explosions: one of the Hour followed by another one of the Resurrection.

The CNN anchor: I do not understand the idea of creation out of nothing!

Muhammad: My own personal view is that the Big Bang consisted of a piece of time which was made to explode by my Lord God's Will; this explosion turned this piece of time into matter. This means there is special time for each level of the physical and metaphysical realms of the universe.

The CNN anchor: How did you infer this?!

Muhammad: Time envelopes and engulfs everything; we live in it though we cannot see it; its terms are found in the Quran in relation to the phases of the universe's creation and destruction: (Hour, Day, the Resurrection Day, the Last Day, the Judgment Day, the Gathering Day...etc.).

The CNN anchor: So, the first explosion resulted in the creation of the universe; the second one will cause its destruction; the third one will cause Resurrection. I would like you to tell me about the link between the explosion of the creation and that of the total destruction.

Muhammad: When the Big Bang occurred, two universes were created: the universe and its counter-universe.

The CNN anchor: Like (+) and (-), right?

Muhammad: Exactly; the universe and the counter-universe moveelliptically in opposite directions because when they will collide, the explosion of total destruction, or the Hour, will take place as per the Divine Will. A third explosion will follow to cause the Resurrection and the beginning of the Last Day.

The CNN anchor: I see; but you have inferred this only from the Quran, have not you?

Muhammad: Yes, but...

The CNN anchor: What?!

Muhammad: This is when one reads the Quran according to its own terminology and not as per the sets of terminology of any era. Each era has its sets of terminology in each branch of knowledge. Modern science has its new sets of terminology.

The CNN anchor: I see.

Muhammad: Let me examine with you this Quranic context which contains a miraculous scientific indication: "Do the disbelievers not see that the heavens and the earth were one mass, and We tore them apart? And We made from water every living thing. Will they not believe? And We placed on earth stabilizers, lest it sways with them, and We placed therein signposts and passages, that they may be guided. And We made the sky a protected ceiling; yet they turn away from its wonders." (21:30-32).

The CNN anchor: What does this mean?

Muhammad: The verse 21:30 has given me the idea that a piece of time might have been made to explode to prompt the creation of the universe. This means the universe was one, nonporous mass made to explode by the Divine Command of the Lord God; this is what you call the Big Bang. This caused the creation of galaxies, stars, planets,...etc. or all that exists between the earth and the heavens.

The CNN anchor: And then what?

Muhammad: And then comes the law of pairs on earth and in the universe; everything and its opposite, or (+) and (-) as you have said. These are called (pairs) in the Holy Quran. This is why there are the universe and the counter-universe.

The CNN anchor: This applies also to human beings and living creatures; there are males and females.

Muhammad: This is about human pairs: "And that it is He who created the pair - the male and the female. From a sperm drop, when emitted." (53:45-46).

The CNN anchor: Pairs of (+) and (-) are found in nature; in electricity, for instance.

Muhammad: This includes everything we know or we do not know on earth and in the universe: "He Who created all the pairs..." (43:12); "We created all things in pairs, so that you may reflect and ponder." (51:49); "Glory be to Him who created all the pairs; of what the earth produces, and of their own selves, and of what they do not know." (36:36).

The CNN anchor: This is why you told me about the universe and the counter-universe.

Muhammad: When both will collide, an enormous explosion will result in the destruction of both of them.

The CNN anchor: What does prevent such collision from happening now?!

Muhammad: They move in opposite directions and the universe is being expanded all the time. The collision which will cause the Hour will occur in a certain point in time never known to anyone except the Dominant Lord God.

The CNN anchor: This expansion of the universe is mentioned in the Quran, right?

Muhammad: Yes, here; "We constructed the heaven with power, and We are expanding it." (51:47). Of course, (the heaven) in 51:47 is the universe itself. This expansion has begun since the moment of creation of the universe and it goes on until the Hour comes.

The CNN anchor: It might go on forever; a collision may not occur between the universe and the counter-universe!

Muhammad: No. The collision will occur as per the Lord God's Will; both the universe and the counter-universe move in elliptical trajectories in opposite directions and they will collide and destroy each other when the Hour comes. This is described here: "On the Day when We fold the heaven, like the folding of a book. Just as We began the first creation, We will reverse it - a promise binding on Us..." (21:104). The (heaven) in 21:104 is the universe itself, of course. Thus, as you open and close a book, this is like the creation and the destruction of the universe.

The CNN anchor: This is great! (A short pause). I wonder why Muslims within the past centuries until now never heeded such Quranic scientific indications such as the one in the Quranic context 21:30-32 which addresses disbelievers in your era in Arabia and in all eras; it addresses Muslims of today as well. Scientists of today assert that when an atom of matter and an atom of anti-matter collide, this will cause an explosion; this means the collision of the universe and the counter-universe is beyond our imagination; we cannot envision it with the limited human mind. Shame on Muslims for never pondering on these great Quranic scientific indications.

Muhammad: They have abandoned the Quran; I am innocent of what they say and do!

The CNN interview with Muhammad about the creation of Adam and Eve in the Quran and in the Bible's Old Testament

The CNN anchor: This is the only passage about the creation of Adam in Chapter 2 in the Book of Genesis: (7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.). What does the Quran say about the creation of Adam?

Muhammad: My Lord God says the following in the Quran: "He created man from hard clay, like bricks." (55:14); "We created the human being from clay, from molded mud...Your Lord said to the angels, “I am creating a human being from clay, from molded mud.”“When I have formed him, and breathed into him by My Spirit, fall down prostrating before him.”" (15:26-29); "Your Lord said to the angels, “I am creating a human being from clay. When I have formed him, and breathed into him by My Spirit, fall prostrate before him." (38:71-72). One understands from these Quranic verses that my Lord God created the body of Adam first and sent the Spirit, or the archangel Gabriel, with the soul of Adam to breathe it into his body by the divine command (Be). Once his soul entered his body, Adam became alive. The angels were commanded to prostrate to Adam.

The CNN anchor: I see; but is there a difference between mud and clay?

Muhammad: The dust and water formed mud which turned into clay from which Adam's body was created and made alive when his human soul was breathed into his body by Gabriel as per the command of my Lord God.

The CNN anchor: I remember that death is the reversed process of creation: the soul leaves the body forever in death; the lifeless body decompose with a very foul smell, and water and minerals...etc. get out of it until the corpse turns into dust.

Muhammad: Exactly. "To Him is your return, altogether. The promise of God is true. He originates creation, and then He reverses it..." (10:4); "...Just as We began the first creation, We will reverse it - a promise binding on Us..." (21:104).

The CNN anchor: What about the creation of human beings who are the descendants of Adam? We are not created of clay like our father Adam, I suppose.

Muhammad: This is about the creation of human beings: "O people! Fear your Lord within piety, Who created you from a single soul, and created from it its mate, and propagated from them many men and women..." (4:1). The creation of the progeny of Adam and his wife began with mud, or water and dust, which causes plants to grow; human beings and animals consume plants; human beings consume animals; food helps make ova and semen; when an ovum is inseminated as a man and a woman copulate, the fetus is formed; when souls are breathed into fetuses by Gabriel, with God's permission, these fetuses are made into human beings; human mothers give birth to male and female babies; such babies are breastfed, and as they grow up, they consume food items grown of the earth. Human beings die and their souls return to Barsakh while their bodies turn into dust eventually after the process of decomposition. The elements resulted from the decomposition of corpses feed the soil, the plants, and then the animals and human beings. This means that dust and water are the basis of life for all human beings, plants, and animals.

The CNN anchor: Is this mentioned in the Quran?

Muhammad: This is about the creation of Adam: "He who perfected everything He created, and originated the creation of man from clay." (32:7); this is about the creation of the progeny of Adam: "Then made his reproduction from an extract of an insignificant fluid.Then He proportioned him, and breathed into him of His Spirit. Then He gave you the hearing, and the eyesight, and the brains - but rarely do you give thanks." (32:8-9).

The CNN anchor: So, Gabriel breathes the souls into all fetuses.

Muhammad: Gabriel heads the group of angels who descend unto the earth every Night of Decree, each Ramadan, to carry the preordained fates, for one year until the next Night of Decree, which include births, deaths, provisions, and adversity/prosperity which will occur to people. The execution of fates, including breathing souls into fetuses, might be done by other angels under the command of Gabriel. There is another angel, with other angels under his command, whose mission is to take souls of the dead as per the predetermined time for the death of each human being.

The CNN anchor: What about Jesus?

Muhammad: This is a special case as he had no biological father; the miracle of his birth consists of my Lord God's sending Gabriel, who took a human form of a man, to Mary with the divine command (Be); she became pregnant and gave birth to Jesus at once: "She screened herself away from them, and We sent to her Our spirit, and He appeared to her as a perfect human. She said, “I take refuge from you in the Dominant Lord, should you be righteous.” He said, “I am only the messenger of your Lord, to give you the gift of a pure son.” She said, “How can I have a son, when no man has touched me, and I was never unchaste?” He said, “Thus said your Lord, 'It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign for humanity, and a mercy from Us. It is a matter already decided.'”" (19:17-21); "The likeness of Jesus in God’s sight is that of Adam: He created him from dust, then said to him, “Be,” and he was." (3:59).

The CNN anchor: What about the creation of human souls? They were created before human bodies, I suppose.

Muhammad: Exactly; my Lord God created all souls of all humanity in Barsakh; when the time comes for the test of a certain soul, it is breathed into its body and live in earth for a predetermined duration and it leaves the body forever, in death, in a preordained time as well.

The CNN anchor: Do souls carry the images and features of bodies which will clothe these souls in earth? Do the souls and bodies match in appearance somehow despite their different natures?

Muhammad: Yes; this is done as per the Divine Will of my Lord God: "We created you, then We shaped you..." (7:11); "It is He who forms you in the wombs as He wills. There is no God except He, the Almighty, the Wise." (3:6); "O man! What deluded you concerning your Lord, the Most Generous? He Who created you, and formed you, and proportioned you? In whatever shape He willed, He assembled you." (82:6-8).

The CNN anchor: What is the Quranic proof that souls and bodies look alike despite their different natures?

Muhammad: On the Resurrection Day, people who knew one another on earth will recognize one another and flee from one another; this means their resurrected souls carry the facial features of their annihilated bodies: "The Day when a person will flee from his brother. And his mother and his father. And his consort and his children. Every one of them, on that Day, will have enough to preoccupy him." (80:34-37).

The CNN anchor: I quote now this about Eve from Chapter 2 in the Book of Genesis: (21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.). What about the Quranic description of the creation of Eve?

Muhammad: The name (Eve) is not mentioned in the Quran; the Quran mentions (the wife/mate/spouse of Adam). "O people! Fear your Lord within piety, who created you from a single soul, and created from it its mate, and propagated from them many men and women..." (4:1); "He created you from one soul, then made from it its mate..." (39:6); "It is He who created you from a single soul, and made from it its mate, that he may find tranquility with her. Then, when he has covered her, she conceives a light load, and she carries it around. But when she has grown heavy, they pray to God their Lord, “if You give us a good child, we will be among the thankful.”" (7:189).

The CNN anchor: All human beings are created from a single soul! This means Eve was also created from this single soul and when she and Adam knew each other, the human beings were born and then their descendants begot children and so on.

Muhammad: This also means all souls of all human beings were created in the metaphysical realm of Barsakh before their bodies are created; the single soul in the Quranic verses I have quoted is that of Adam from which all these souls were created. Each soul carry its predetermined time to descend unto earth inside a human body and the preordained time for its departure, forever, to return to Barsakh when its human body dies. My Lord God says the following in the Quran: "And it is He who produced you from a single soul, then a repository, then a depository. We have detailed the Verses for people who understand." (6:98).

The CNN anchor: So, Eve was not created from a rib of Adam?

Muhammad: This myth is never part of the Holy Quran.

The CNN anchor: This is a myth, then, in your view.

Muhammad: My Lord God created the universe out of nothing; He needs no ribs to create another human being; why would Adam live with a missing rib?! This does not agree with the perfected creation proportioned by my Lord God. "Has there come upon man a period of time when he was nothing to be mentioned?" (76:1); "...and I created you before, when you were nothing." (19:9); ""He who perfected everything He created, and originated the creation of man from clay. Then made his reproduction from an extract of an insignificant fluid. Then He proportioned him, and breathed into him of His Spirit. Then He gave you the hearing, and the eyesight, and the brains - but rarely do you give thanks."" (32:7-9); "We created man in the best design." (95:4); "O man! What deluded you concerning your Lord, the Most Generous? He Who created you, and formed you, and proportioned you? In whatever shape He willed, He assembled you." (82:6-8).

The CNN anchor: One of the hadiths ascribed to you assert the creation of Eve from a rib of Adam.

Muhammad: I told you before I have never heard of such hadiths before; I never uttered them; I am innocent of the fabrications the polytheists attribute to me!

The CNN anchor: How souls were breathed into the bodies of Adam and Eve?

Muhammad: No one can describe this process; no human beings witnessed it; we only try to ponder the Quran, as much as we can, to infer certain information. "I did not call them to witness the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor their own creation..." (18:51).

The CNN anchor: I think I read in the Quran that all souls will be resurrected at once.

Muhammad: Yes; they are created from a single soul and will be resurrected on the Last Day as if they were a single soul: "Your creation and your Resurrection are only as a single soul. God is Hearing and Seeing." (31:28).

The CNN anchor: Would science one day help us understand how this resurrection of souls will happen?

Muhammad: I do not know; this is known only to the Omniscient Lord God; the metaphysical realm of Barsakh is beyond our senses; no human languages can express it fully; all we have to do is to ponder the Quranic verses about it; the limitations of the human mind will never allow a full grasp of Barsakh. This is exemplified in this Quranic verse about all human souls in Barsakh: "How can you deny God, when you were dead and He gave you life, then He will put you to death, then He will bring you to life, then to Him you will be returned?" (2:28). This means souls of those who are yet to be born are dead souls in Barsakh; they are brought to life on earth while wearing human bodies; they return to Barsakh upon death; they live for eternity in the Last Day.

The CNN anchor: So, human souls have two deaths and two lives. I am now living my first life.

Muhammad: Yes. The Barsakh level contains souls of your dead ancestors and souls of your grandchildren and descendants who are yet to be born.

The CNN anchor: Do the souls of the dead meet and talk with souls of those who are yet to be born on earth?

Muhammad: No. This is impossible.

The CNN anchor: Why?

Muhammad: Souls inside Barsakh are in a state of timelessness, immobility, and senselessness. They move and sense only when they are clothed in human bodies and live within the framework of time on earth.

The CNN anchor: But when will my ancestors and descendants meet?

Muhammad: On the Resurrection Day. This is when each of the human souls will wear bodies woven of their good or evil deeds as per its fate in Paradise or Hell. This is the Gathering Day: "In that is a sign for whoever fears the punishment of the Hereafter. That is a Day for which humanity will be gathered together - that is a Day to be witnessed." (11:103).

The CNN anchor: Would people recognize one another on the Last Day?

Muhammad: Only those who were contemporaries of one another: "On the Day when He gathers them - as if they had tarried only one hour of a day - they will recognize one another..." (10:45).

The CNN anchor: I see.

Muhammad: My Lord God created all souls of all humanity at one time; when He created the body of Adam, He made the Holy Spirit, Gabriel, breathe Adam's soul into Adam's body. Likewise, when He created the body of Eve, He made the Holy Spirit, Gabriel, breathe Eve's soul into Eve's body. This is clear enough. No ribs were stolen from Adam; this story of Eve's creation from a rib is a laughter-inducing myth. Adam and his wife had children after their descent unto the earth; a soul was breathed into each fetus inside her womb so that the fetus was turned into a human being who did not exist before: "Has there come upon man a period of time when he was nothing to be mentioned? We created man from a liquid mixture, to test him; and We made him hearing and seeing." (76:1-2).

The CNN anchor: Do you mean to tell me that the reason for creating human beings is to test them?

Muhammad: Yes. Therefore, the universe is created only to test human beings.

The CNN anchor: What?! The universe is created only to test human beings!

Muhammad: Yes; my Lord God says the following in the Quran: "It is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and His Throne was upon the waters - in order to test you - which of you is best in conduct...." (11:7)

The CNN anchor: This is unbelievable! The universe is created only to test human beings!

Muhammad: Yes; and this is why my Lord God created life and death: "He who created death and life - to test you - as to which of you is best in conduct..." (67:2). Each soul is tested when it wears its human body for a preordained duration; it leaves it forever in death to return to Barsakh; the Hour will occur so that the universe (with its galaxies, stars, planets,...etc.) is destroyed. A New, Eternal Realm will be created with an everlasting earth and everlasting heavens: "On the Day when the earth is changed into another earth, and the heavens, and they will emerge before God, the One, the Dominant." (14:48). The human souls will be resurrected from their Barsakh tombs to be judged by the Dominant Lord God; their deeds and faiths will be judged. The winners will enter into Paradise bliss where they will abide forever; the losers will enter into Hell to suffer its torment forever.

The CNN anchor: This is unbelievable! The universe is created only to test human beings!

Muhammad: Yes. Sadly, most people never appreciate the value of freedom granted to them by my Lord God; they are free agents who can believe or disbelieve and obey or disobey, and they have absolute religious freedom; yet, they hate the idea of bearing responsibility for their choices and deeds which will be judged by the Lord God in the Hereafter. Most people are heedless of the fact that freedom is linked to responsibility and to the test of life.

The CNN anchor: This freedom is linked to the creation of souls, right?

Muhammad: Of course. One can choose to adhere to piety or to sin and hence to join the winners or the losers in the Hereafter after the Judgment: "And the soul and He who proportioned it. And inspired it with its wickedness and its righteousness. Successful is he who purifies it. Failing is he who corrupts it." (91:7-10).

The CNN anchor: Yet, God creates some people who live in abject poverty or within environments of criminals; some people are born cripples or handicapped; in contrast, some people are born and raised within the lap of luxury and they have no problems or chronic diseases.

Muhammad: Both adversity and prosperity are part of the test of life; there are losers and winners of the test of life among the rich and the poor, the healthy and the ill, and so on. "Every soul will taste death. We burden you with adversity and prosperity - a test. And to Us you will be returned." (21:35). To pass the test of life, one must adhere to patience and thankfulness; some people chose misguidance despite their being relatives of prophets; for instance, many of my own paternal uncles, Noah's son, and the father of Abraham. Some others chose guidance despite their living within an environment of evil, corruption, and injustice such as the wife of Moses' Pharaoh and the believing man inside the palace of Moses' Pharaoh.

The CNN anchor: Yet, some people assume there is a contradiction between the fact that God proportioned the creation and the fact that there are some ugly-looking people, some people who look plain, some people who look very pretty...etc.

Muhammad: That my Lord God proportioned the creation means mastering the creation to perfection and within design, as we see in atoms and cells and even in galaxies, and this has nothing to do with being ugly or beautiful: "He who perfected everything He created, and originated the creation of man from clay." (32:7); "It is God who made the earth a habitat for you, and the sky a structure. And He designed you, and designed you well; and He provided you with the good things. Such is God, your Lord; so Blessed is God, Lord of the worlds." (40:64); "He created the heavens and the earth with the Truth, and He designed you, and designed you well, and to Him is the final return." (64:3); "And you see the mountains, and imagine them fixed, yet they pass, as the passing of the clouds - the making of God, who has perfected everything..." (27:88). Of course, we cannot imagine the proportion and design in the metaphysical Barsakh levels.

The CNN anchor: Yet, some people feel it is unjust that they are ugly and not as good-looking as others around them; some people envy others who have more beauty, wealth, and health.

Muhammad: This is part of the test of life; features of one's body and face and one's family or lineage are part of the preordained fate of births; being rich or poor is part of the preordained fate of provisions; the preordained fate of adversity and prosperity includes accidents, poor or good health, happy occurrences, and chances. The winners who pass the test of life are those who adhere to patience and piety and are thankful to their Lord God in all cases. The Lord God will not judge us based on the preordained fates but will judge our stances regarding them. I mean if one will choose to be thankful, pious, and patient within monotheism and performing good deeds, or if one will choose disbelief, injustice, disobedience, and tyranny. Those who seek bliss and rich rewards for themselves should seek Paradise in the Hereafter within monotheism and good deeds by dedicating one's religion and soul to the Lord God. Their reward is Paradise forever after a short suffering in this transient world. The preordained fates are inevitable in this world, and apart from them, one chooses for oneself one's actions, deeds, stances, beliefs,...etc. This is why human beings are free agents who choose, by their own free will and within their deeds, their fate either in Hell or in Paradise, by choosing to disbelieve or to believe in the Lord God, and in His world: the Quran, and to disobey or to obey the Lord God's Quranic commands.

The CNN anchor: This means if a poor, black, handicapped not-very-pretty young woman chooses monotheism and good deeds dedicated to God will enter into Paradise, whereas if a wealthy, healthy, white young woman chooses injustice, tyranny, oppression, and corruption, her fate is Hell.

Muhammad: In this world, colors of people differ and this is part of inevitable preordained fate of births: "And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the diversity of your tongues and colors. In this are signs for those who know." (30:22). Yet one's good deeds and monotheistic faith will bring one a bright, radiant face in the Hereafter; one's sins and polytheism will bring one a blackened, ugly face in the Hereafter: "On the Day when some faces will be whitened, and some faces will be blackened. As for those whose faces are blackened: “Did you disbelieve after your belief?” Then taste the torment for having disbelieved. But as for those whose faces are whitened: they are in God’s mercy, remaining in it forever." (3:106-107); "For those who have done good is goodness, and more. Neither gloom nor shame will come over their faces. These are the inhabitants of Paradise, abiding therein forever. As for those who have earned evil deeds: a reward of similar evil, and shame will cover them. They will have no defense against God - as if their faces are covered with dark patches of night. These are the inmates of the Fire, abiding therein forever." (10:26-27); "Faces on that Day will be radiant. Laughing and rejoicing. And Faces on that Day will be covered with misery. Overwhelmed by remorse. These are the disbelieving sinners." (80:38-42); "On the Day of Resurrection, you will see those who told lies about God with their faces blackened. Is there not a place in Hell for the arrogant?" (39:60).

CHAPTER V: The CNN Interview about Adam, Eve, and Satan between the Quran and the Old Testament

CHAPTER V: The CNN Interview about Adam, Eve, and Satan between the Quran and the Old Testament

The CNN interview with Muhammad about the story of Adam and Eve and Gog and Magog and how the human beings are the successors to Gog and Magog on earth

The CNN anchor: What does the Quran say about the descent of Adam and Eve unto the earth after being expelled from Paradise?

Muhammad: There is the beginning before Adam was created, and then, when my Lord God created Adam and commanded the angels to prostrate to Adam. Then we have Iblis, the disobedient angel transformed later on to Satan the Devil, expelled from the Upper Realm. Then we have Adam and his wife living inside the Barsakh Paradise but Satan managed to deceive them to disobey my Lord God's command. Then we have their descent unto the earth and, finally, the useful lessons drawn from this Quranic story.

The CNN anchor: What about the beginning before Adam was created?

Muhammad: Before the creation of Adam, my Lord God informs the angels of the Upper Realm of His Decree to place a new creature as a successor on earth: "When your Lord said to the angels, “I am placing a successor on earth.” They said, “Will You place in it someone who will cause corruption in it and shed blood, while we declare Your praises and sanctify You?” He said, “I know what you do not know.”" (2:30).

The CNN anchor: God does not consult the angels here, right?

Muhammad: This is not consulting anyone; this is about informing the angels of a Divine Decree.

The CNN anchor: What is meant by (successor) here? Would Adam succeed God by controlling the earth as the deputy of God?

Muhammad: No. Successors succeed dead or absent persons. Moses said the following to Aaron before his appointment with the Lord God at Mount Al-Tur in Sinai, Egypt: "...Take my place among my people..." (7:142). As for the Lord God, He is the Omnipresent Lord; no one can succeed or replace Him at all: "...He is with you wherever you may be. God is Seeing of everything you do." (57:4).

The CNN anchor: Adam was a successor to whom, then?!

Muhammad: Adam and his progeny are successors to non-human creatures who lived on earth and controlled it before the creation of Adam.

The CNN anchor: This means the term (successor) in 2:30 is not about Adam only; this idea of succession includes his descendants or all human beings, right?

Muhammad: Exactly.

The CNN anchor: From the very beginning, God knew before the creation of Adam and Eve that both will descend unto the earth after Satan manages to deceive them so that they disobey God's command by consuming the fruit of the Forbidden Tree. This means that Adam and his progeny will rule the earth as successors to non-human creatures.

Muhammad: Yes; and angels did not know this as they never predicted the future; this is why my Lord God has told them the following: "...“I know what you do not know.”" (2:30).

The CNN anchor: This means the Omniscience of God includes His knowledge that the angel Iblis, who will be turned later on into Satan the Devil, will disobey the divine command addressed to angels to prostrate to Adam, right?

Muhammad: Yes. When my Lord God has told the angels: "...“I know what you do not know.”" (2:30), this includes He knew that the angel Iblis harbored arrogance and pride and his disobeying the divine command to prostrate to Adam will expose what he concealed.

The CNN anchor: This is fate imposed by God since His Decree was to make Adam a successor on earth; yet, in light of this, were Adam and Eve guilty or not for being deceived by Satan?

Muhammad: Within preordained fates, there is a measure of interference by human beings who precipitate the realization of fates by their obedience or disobedience chosen as per their own free will. Hence, Iblis interfered by his disobedience when he arrogantly refused to prostrate to Adam and decided to deceive Adam and his wife; Adam and his wife interfered by consuming the fruit of the Forbidden Tree. Such interferences or choices were known beforehand to my Omniscient Lord God Who knows the past, the present, and the future because He is the Creator of time and He is above time. My Lord God does not force angels or human beings into doing anything or into never doing something; they are free agents but they never know the future or the invisible; their deeds chosen freely by them will be judged by my Lord God.

The CNN anchor: What did the angels mean by this: "...“Will You place in it someone who will cause corruption in it and shed blood, while we declare Your praises and sanctify You?”..." (2:30)?

Muhammad: They knew that the non-human creatures on earth who preceded Adam's creation committed bloodshed and corruption on earth; they feared that the new creature might be a disobedient corrupter since they – the angels – praise and sanctify the Lord God. What they did not know is the arrogance and disobedience of Iblis.

The CNN anchor: So, in 2:30, the angels did not predict the future; rather, they saw the crimes committed by these non-human creatures on earth before Adam was created.

Muhammad: And they feared the successor would commit the same corruption and bloodshed.

The CNN anchor: Who were such non-human creatures on earth, then?!

Muhammad: Gog and Magog.

The CNN anchor: Sorry?! I beg your pardon!

Muhammad: Adam and his descendants are successors to the non-human Gog and Magog who controlled the earth and spread corruption and bloodshed; my Lord God deprived them from such succession on earth by creation Adam as the new successor to Gog and Magog on earth. My Lord God's will is to hide Gog and Magog beneath the crust of the earth so that Adam and his progeny will be their successors on earth. This will remain until shortly before the Hour takes place; this is because as per the Quran, Gog and Magog will resurface on the crust of the earth and mingle with human beings shortly before the Hour when the universe will be destroyed.

The CNN anchor: So, before the descent of Adam and Eve unto the earth, Gog and Magog controlled the earth, right?

Muhammad: Exactly. Within an unidentified spot on earth, the descendants of Adam multiplied; they were a weak minority on earth; what impeded their spread and their controlling the earth was the presence of the tyrannical, powerful, and dominant Gog and Magog

The CNN anchor: What was the solution to this problem?

Muhammad: This entailed divine intervention to imprison Gog and Magog beneath the earth's crust and to leave the surface of the earth to the descendants of Adam. This is mentioned in the Quranic story of Zu Al-Qarnayn in the Quranic Chapter 18.

The CNN anchor: Who is Zu Al-Qarnayn?

Muhammad: Many narratives and myths about this historical figure spread and I was asked in Arabia about him; typically, when I was asked about anything, I waited for the Quranic answer to be revealed to me: "And they ask you about Zu Al-Qarnayn. Say, “I will tell you something about him.”" (18:83). There are few Quranic indications about Zu Al-Qarnayn with many gaps; we should never guess such gaps or things never mentioned in the Quran about the metaphysical realm of the past or the invisible, or else, we will fall into the trap of believing in myths. The Omniscient Lord God is the Only One Who knows all about the past events.

The CNN anchor: How did Zu Al-Qarnayn manage to defeat the powerful Gog and Magog?

Muhammad: Apart from his own power, my Lord God has granted him greater power to defeat the dominance of Gog and Magog and to imprison them beneath the crust of the earth and to build some sort of a dam, a wall, or a barrier to prevent their resurfacing again so that Adam's descendants in their first phase of life on earth can multiply and live in peace; this is about Zu Al-Qarnayn: "We established him on earth, and gave him all kinds of means. He pursued a certain course." (18:84-85).

The CNN anchor: How the existence of Gog and Magog is linked to the words of the angels in 2:30?

Muhammad: Let me quote the dialogue between human beings, or the progeny of Adam, and Zu Al-Qarnayn: "They said, “O Zu Al-Qarnayn, the Gog and Magog are spreading corruption on earth. Can we pay you, to build between us and them a wall?” He said, “What my Lord has empowered me with is better. But assist me with strength, and I will build between you and them a dam.”" (18:94-95).

The CNN anchor: How is this linked to the words of the angels in 2:30?

Muhammad: The angels saw how Gog and Magog spread corruption and bloodshed on earth; they feared that the new successor to Gog and Magog on earth would follow their footsteps of committing corruption and bloodshed.

The CNN anchor: I see; would you explain to me the Quranic context 18:94-95?

Muhammad: The descendants of Adam offered a reward to the powerful Zu Al-Qarnayn in return for separating Gog and Magog from the human beings; Zu Al-Qarnayn knew that my Lord God has empowered him; the impenetrable barrier he built prevents Gog and Magog from mingling with human beings until shortly before the advent of the Hour.

The CNN anchor: Was this barrier a wall or a dam?

Muhammad: Both; this barrier imprisoned them beneath the crust of the earth: "“Bring me the essence of iron.” So that, when he had leveled up between the two cliffs, he said, “Blow.” And having turned it into a fire, he said, “Bring me tar to pour over it.” So they were unable to climb it, and they could not penetrate it." (18:96-97).

The CNN anchor: So, Gog and Magog live beneath the curst of earth until shortly before the advent of the Hour; this means one day, they will manage to break loose and spread on the surface of the earth and mingle with human beings.

Muhammad: Exactly.

The CNN anchor: What will happen, then?!

Muhammad: Their reemergence is one of the signs preceding the advent of the Hour; let me quote the words of Zu Al-Qarnayn after he built the barrier: "He said, “This is a mercy from my Lord. But when the promise of my Lord comes true, He will turn it into rubble, and the promise of my Lord is always true.” On that Day, We will leave them surging upon one another. And the Trumpet will be blown, and We will gather them together. " (18:98-99). This (surge) means Gog and Magog will mingle with human beings and thus will cause general panic and the explosion of the Hour will take place soon afterwards; the universe will be destroyed before the creation of the New, Eternal Realm in the Hereafter.

The CNN anchor: Where will Gog and Magog emerge?

Muhammad: Do not forget their being technologically advanced before the descent of Adam and his wife unto the earth; defeating them entailed sending the powerful Zu Al-Qarnayn within the divine intervention; we never know if he was a human being or a jinn. We imagine that Gog and Magog got used to living beneath the crust of the earth, their number multiplied there, and they continued their technological advancement. When they will feel the advent of the Hour, they will resurface from countless points on earth; the planet will look like an orange with worms getting out of it from everywhere. Their reemergence is a sign of the advent of the Hour: "Until, when Gog and Magog are let loose, and they swarm down from every mound." (21:96).

The CNN anchor: Modern science will not approve of this unless there is a tangible proof indicating the existence of the civilization of Gog and Magog.

Muhammad: There are remnants showing their presence on earth before their being imprisoned beneath its crust. Many remnants of a great civilization, with its advanced technology, which predates the existence of humanity on earth are being discovered now.

The CNN anchor: Some theorists assume that such remnants and monuments were made by aliens from outer space.

Muhammad: This theory lacks scientific proofs; why would not aliens return to go on establishing their civilization on earth?! Is it reasonable that remnants of such civilization exist in many locations on earth and the so-called aliens would leave them for centuries to return to outer space forever?!

The CNN anchor: Some people assume the aliens visit the earth; many videos and photos are taken of UFOs in websites and TV channels; some ships and planes, and people, go missing in regions like the Bermuda Triangle and the Devil's Sea near Japan. Such mysterious regions are located within similar distances among one another. Of course, I agree with you that remnants of a pre-humanity civilization on earth, with its advanced technology, are being discovered.

Muhammad: Is there any other explanation apart from aliens and UFOs?

The CNN anchor: Some theorists propagate a dominant idea that the owners of this non-human, superior civilization live inside the core of the earth; such mysterious species send spaceships to outer space and they kidnap some people, and some planes and ships, to examine them and perform some experiments on them, and then, they let such people leave while their minds are blank or in a state of confusion.

Muhammad: What do you understand from this?

The CNN anchor: I guess that such non-human, superior species who live beneath the crust of the earth desire to know what happens above the crust of the earth and what human beings do, especially during times of big troubles which might influence those who live beneath the earth's crust; for instance, Columbus in his journey to the New World saw what can be described now as UFOs or flying saucers; they are spotted by some people who claim that UFOs hover above military bases, major explosions, and major wars. By the way, do these Quranic verses indicate the existence of aliens in outer space or in heavens: "To God bows down everything in the heavens and everything on earth - every living creature, and the angels, and without being proud." (16:49); "And of His signs are the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the creatures He has spread throughout them..." (42:29)?

Muhammad: This is not about aliens or extraterrestrial living creatures; rather, this is about human beings, jinn, devils, and angels. Of course, the ethereal creatures jinn, devils, and angels live in different metaphysical Barsakh levels and no jinn and devils which live in a lower level can ascend into a higher level; angels can descend and ascend among such levels as per their speeds and, of course, as per my Lord God's permission.

The CNN anchor: So, there are no advanced civilizations in other galaxies.

Muhammad: There are no aliens or civilizations at all in the outer space. The phrase (between the heavens and the earth) is repeated here to indicate things we can or cannot see among the inanimate things, bodies, or objects in the universe, undiscovered creatures on earth, and also creatures we cannot see such as jinn, angels, and devils: "Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, if you know for sure." (44:7); "And blessed is He Who has sovereignty over the heavens and the earth and what is between them. He alone has knowledge of the Hour, and to Him you will be returned." (43:85).

The CNN interview with Muhammad about the command addressed to the angels to prostrate to Adam and about the metaphysical Barsakh realms

The CNN anchor: I find some difficulty in arranging these events in a chronological order; the creation of Adam took place while Gog and Magog controlled the earth; Iblis was turned into Satan and was expelled from the Upper Realm. Yet, were the corrupters Gog and Magog deceived and tempted by Satan or not?! If not, who tempted them to spread corruption and bloodshed on earth?

Muhammad: The events in the Upper Realm took place in a timeless Barsakh metaphysical realm which has not future, present, or past; this cannot be grasped or imagined fully by the limited human mind. Do not forget that the Lord God is the Creator of time and He is above time and place. By the way, Iblis or Satan who argued with my Lord God spoke about tempting the descendants of Adam and not Gog and Magog.

The CNN anchor: Let us continue talking about the creation of Adam, the divine command addressed to angels to prostrate to Adam, the expulsion of Iblis from the Upper Realm, Adam and Eve in Paradise, how Satan deceived and tempted them, their descent unto the earth, and the lesson drawn from this Quranic story.

Muhammad: We have covered the creation of Adam's body from clay or mud and the creation of his soul: the single soul from which all souls of human beings, including Eve's soul, were created; we talked about how the archangel Gabriel, or the Holy Spirit breathed Adam's soul into his body. "We created the human being from clay, from molded mud." (15:26); "He created man from hard clay, like bricks." (55:14); "We created you, then We shaped you..." (7:11).

The CNN anchor: What happened to Adam after his creation?

Muhammad: My Lord God says the following in the Quran: "And He taught Adam the names, all of them; then he presented them to the angels, and said, “Tell Me the names of these, if you are truthful.” They said, “Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. It is you who are the Knowledgeable, the Wise.” He said, “O Adam, tell them their names.” And when he told them their names, He said, “Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of the heavens and the earth, and that I know what you reveal and what you conceal?”" (2:31-33).

The CNN anchor: What has made Adam outsmart the angels regarding names? What about these names, anyway?!

Muhammad: This means my Lord God has created in the mind of Adam the instinct or ability to give name to things (in nature or in body parts,...etc. and also to descriptions like courage, cowardice, strength, weakness, betrayal, justice,...etc.) or to know their names; of course, names now change as per the different human tongues.

The CNN anchor: This instinct is instilled in Adam's descendants, who inherited this from their father Adam, and never in angels.

Muhammad: Exactly; this is why angels never knew the names like Adam as per 2:32; Adam had to teach them about the names.

The CNN anchor: I find the divine command addressed to angels to prostrate to Adam somehow strange; prostration is made to God the Creator and not to any of His creatures, right?

Muhammad: It was a test of obedience; my Lord God tested the angels to see who among them will obey and who will disobey; believers must obey without asking for a reason or a wisdom behind the divine commands; this is the test of life; this applies to applying the Quranic sharia legislations; human beings are tested to see if they will obey or disobey the divine commands. This is the essence of the test of life: Will human beings imitate the obedient angels or the disobedient rebel angel Iblis?

The CNN anchor: You mean to tell me there are legislations in Islam which are obeyed without understanding the reason or wisdom behind them, right? Like what?

Muhammad: Like circling the Kaaba seven times, performing the five daily prayers, never to marry a woman and her sister simultaneously, fasting during Ramadan, and never to eat certain food items which are prohibited. Pious, believing monotheists obey the divine commands of my Lord God the Legislator and never question or protest against them; disbelievers disobey the divine commands and justify such disobedience like Iblis.

The CNN anchor: So, that angels prostrated to Adam does not signify preferring Adam to angels.

Muhammad: Exactly; the grave error of the arrogant Iblis was that he thought my Lord God prefers Adam to the angels; Iblis became among the disbelievers since he refused to obey the divine command to prostrate to Adam; he is no longer among the angels of the Upper Realm nearer to my Lord God; he was transformed into Satan the Devil: "And We said to the angels, “prostrate to Adam.” They prostrated, except for Iblis. He refused, was arrogant, and became one of the disbelievers." (2:34).

The CNN anchor: What was the justification offered by Iblis for disobeying the divine command of prostrating to Adam?

Muhammad: Iblis thought of himself as better than Adam.

The CNN anchor: Why?!

Muhammad: Because Iblis was created from fire whereas Adam was created from mud: "He said, “What prevented you from prostrating when I have commanded you?” He said, “I am better than he; You created me from fire, and You created him from mud.”" (7:12); "He said, “I am better than he; You created me from fire, and You created him from clay.”" (38:76); "He said, “I am not about to prostrate myself before a human being, whom You created from clay, from molded mud.”" (15:33).

The CNN anchor: Iblis despised Adam merely because he was created from mud, right?

Muhammad: Yes; he arrogantly said the following to my Lord God: "...“Shall I prostrate before someone You created from mud?”" (17:61).

The CNN anchor: This means Iblis hated and envied Adam in advance, right?

Muhammad: Yes; Iblis thought that the divine command to prostrate to Adam means that Adam is better than Iblis and the rest of the angels; this is why Iblis vowed to take revenge on Adam and his descendants: "He said, “Do You see this one whom You have honored more than me? If You reprieve me until the Day of Resurrection, I will bring his descendants under my sway, except for a few.”" (17:62).

The CNN anchor: Would you tell me more details about the arrogance and haughtiness of Iblis, created from fire, who thought he was better than Adam who was created from mud?

Muhammad: The metaphysical Barsakh realms and their ethereal creatures were created from fire and not from mud; this applies to jinn: "We created the human being from clay, from molded mud. And the jinn We created before, from piercing fire." (15:26-27).

The CNN anchor: This means jinn were created, from fire, before Adam, right?

Muhammad: Exactly. This is asserted here: "He created man from hard clay, like bricks. And created the jinn from a fusion of fire." (55:14-15).

The CNN anchor: What is the difference between piercing fire and a fusion of fire?

Muhammad: I do not know; human beings cannot know the nature of such fire and the nature of jinn.

The CNN anchor: But Iblis was created from fire, right?

Muhammad: This is mentioned in the Quranic verses 7:12 and 38:76 which I have quoted before.

The CNN anchor: But you told me all creatures are created of water: "...And We made from water every living thing..." (21:30); "God created every living creature from water..." (24:45).

Muhammad: There are many physical and metaphysical levels of water types; there is the fire-water from which jinn, devils, and angels are created.

The CNN anchor: How come fire and water can be combined?!

Muhammad: Many types of water exist on earth; for instance,aqua fortisand heavy water.

The CNN anchor: What type of fire-water from which angels, devils, and jinn were created?

Muhammad: It is what you call now as (energy); yet, it is a Barsakh, metaphysical energy which differs from the types of energy within the physical realm on earth. Energy on earth is a form of matter. The Barsakh, metaphysical energy is not a form of matter; rather, it is pure energy and it has unique features we cannot imagine, especially regarding their atoms, vibrations, and speeds which have nothing to do with the physical realm of the universe.

The CNN anchor: Is it the same energy within all levels of the metaphysical Barsakh realm?

Muhammad: No. Each level of the seven levels of Barsakh of the heavens, as well as the levels of the earth's Barsakh, has its type of energy, ethereal creatures, and also their different speeds of motion; there are angels with different speeds who ascend and descend through the Barsakh levels. The rebel angel Iblis was expelled from the Upper Realm and descended into a Barsakh level of the earth like the jinn and devils; he became the Devil, and he and other jinn and devils cannot ascend into higher Barsakh levels above the first Barsakh level of the lower heaven: "We have adorned the lower heaven with the beauty of the planets. And guarded it against every defiant devil. They cannot eavesdrop on the Upper Realm, for they get bombarded from every side. Repelled - they will have a lingering torment. Except for him who snatches a fragment - he gets pursued by a piercing projectile." (37:6-10).

The CNN anchor: What about the archangels who are nearer to God in the Upper Realm?

Muhammad: They are the nearest angels to my Lord God; they are mentioned here: "The Messiah does not disdain to be a servant of God, nor do the favored angels. Whoever disdains His worship, and is too arrogant - He will round them up to Himself altogether." (4:172). They manage the universe of the Dominant Lord God, symbolized by the idea of the Throne: "Those who carry the Throne, and those around it, glorify their Lord with praise, and believe in Him, and ask for forgiveness for those who believe..." (40:7); this is what the Dominant Lord God says about them as they manage the Eternal Universe on the Last Day: "And the angels will be ranged around its borders, while eight will be carrying the Throne of your Lord above them that Day." (69:17).

The CNN anchor: So, the Throne is not a chair; the Wahabi Salafists assume it is a real chair for God! This is absurd!

Muhammad: The idea of the Throne in the Quran stands for the dominance of the Lord God over the whole universe through His angels who carry out His commands.

The CNN anchor: How do these angels manage the Throne of the Dominant Lord God?

Muhammad: This universe, realm, or Throne is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth along with all creatures created by my Lord God. The angels move in different speeds, which we cannot imagine, to carry out the divine commands of the Dominant Lord; these different speeds of angels are symbolized by the idea of wings here: "Praise be to God, Originator of the heavens and the earth, Maker of the angels messengers with wings - double, triple, and quadruple. He adds to creation as He wills. God is Able to do all things." (35:1).

The CNN interview with Muhammad about Iblis the angel whose disobedience made him turn into a jinn devil

The CNN anchor: So, was Iblis originally an angel of the Upper Realm?

Muhammad: Yes; this is why the divine command to prostrate to Adam includes Iblis; otherwise, he would not have been expelled, cursed, and punished. Iblis was transformed into jinn; he became Satan the Devil: "We said to the angels, “Prostrate to Adam.” So they prostrated, except for Iblis. He became of the jinn, and he defied the command of his Lord..." (18:50); "And We said to the angels, “prostrate to Adam.” They prostrated, except for Iblis. He refused, was arrogant, and became one of the disbelievers." (2:34); "So the angels fell prostrate, all of them. Except for Iblis who was arrogant and became among the disbelievers." (38:73-74).

The CNN anchor: This contradicts the Sunnite notion that angels never disobey God since Iblis the angel disobeyed Him.

Muhammad: The angels are not infallible; this is why Iblis chose to commit the sin of disobedience.

The CNN anchor: This means angels will be judged on the Last Day, right?

Muhammad: Yes. The angels, jinn, and human beings will be brought to be judged on the Day of Judgment: "There is none in the heavens and the earth but will come to the Dominant Lord as a servant. He has enumerated them, and counted them one by one. And each one of them will come to Him on the Day of Resurrection alone." (19:93-95). This applies to the Upper Realm angels including the Holy Spirit Gabriel: "On the Day when the Spirit and the angels stand in row. They will not speak, unless it be one permitted by the Dominant Lord, and he will say what is right. That is the Day of the Truth. So whoever wills, let him take a way back to his Lord." (78:38-39); "On the Day when We set the mountains in motion; and you see the earth emerging; and We gather them together, and leave none of them behind. They will be presented before your Lord in a row. “You have come to Us as We created you the first time. Although you claimed We would not set a meeting for you.”" (18:47-48). This arrangement of Judgment is mentioned in the Quran: the prophets and witnesses will be judged first, and then the rest of humanity, and eventually the Judgment of angels after sinful disbelieving human beings are made to enter into Hell and the pious, monotheistic human beings are made to enter into Paradise: "And the earth will shine with the Light of its Lord; and the Book will be put in place; and the prophets and the witnesses will be brought in; and Judgment will be passed among them equitably, and they will not be wronged. And every soul will be fully compensated for what it had done. He is well aware of what they do." (39:69-70); "And you will see the angels hovering around the Throne, glorifying their Lord with praise. And it will be judged between them equitably, and it will be said, “Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds.”" (39:75).

The CNN anchor: But I remember reading a Quranic verse about angels who never disobey God's commands!

Muhammad: This Quranic verse is about angels who are guardians or wardens of Hell: "O you who believe! Protect yourselves and your families from a Fire, whose fuel is people and stones. Over it are angels, fierce and powerful. They never disobey God in anything He commands them, and they carry out whatever they are commanded." (66:6). Hell has not been created yet since its fuel is people and stones and since the Last Day is yet to come; therefore, such angels mentioned in 66:6 have not been created yet.

The CNN anchor: Let us return to the topic of Iblis and his refusal to prostrate to Adam.

Muhammad: Iblis disobeyed defiantly and out of arrogance; Iblis who hated and envied Adam argued with my Lord God to 'justify' this disobedience. "He said, “What prevented you from prostrating when I have commanded you?” He said, “I am better than he; You created me from fire, and You created him from mud.”" (7:12); "He said, “I am better than he; You created me from fire, and You created him from clay.”" (38:76); "He said, “O Iblis, what kept you from being among those who prostrated themselves?” He said, “I am not about to prostrate myself before a human being, whom You created from clay, from molded mud.”" (15:32-33). "When We said to the angels, “Prostrate before Adam,” they prostrated, except for Iblis. He said, “Shall I prostrate before someone You created from mud?”" (17:61).

The CNN anchor: So, this disobedience drove God to expel Iblis from Paradise.

Muhammad: Not from Paradise but from the Upper Realm; he was turned into Satan the Devil and forced to descend into the lower Barsakh levels of the earth; he can no longer ascend or pass through the Barsakh levels of the heavens.

The CNN anchor: This is his only punishment? Being expelled?

Muhammad: No; Iblis was turned into Satan and was expelled within being cursed and despised. This is mentioned here: "He said, “Get down from it! It is not for you to act arrogantly in it. Get out! You are one of the lowly!”" (7:13); "He said, “Then get out of here! You are an outcast! And My curse will be upon you until the Day of Judgment.”" (38:77-78); "He said, “Then get out of here, for you are an outcast!”. “And the curse will be upon you until the Day of Judgment.”" (15:34-35).

The CNN anchor: Adam and Eve were expelled from Paradise by God; was it the same expulsion like Iblis who became Satan?

Muhammad: Of course not; their descent unto the earth was without being despised or cursed.

The CNN anchor: Why?

Muhammad: Iblis disobeyed and argued out of pride and arrogance; in contrast, Adam and his wife felt remorse and repented when they disobeyed the divine command about not to consume the fruit of the Forbidden Tree.

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: My Lord God says the following in the Quran: "And so they ate from it; whereupon their bodies became visible to them, and they started covering themselves with the leaves of Paradise. Thus Adam disobeyed his Lord, and fell. But then his Lord recalled him, and pardoned him, and guided him." (20:121-122).

The CNN anchor: But Adam and Eve were punished by being expelled from Paradise!

Muhammad: Their descent unto the earth was with dignity and my Lord God forgave and pardoned them and accepted their repentance: "...We said, “Descend, some of you enemies of one another. And you will have residence on earth, and enjoyment for a while.”" (2:36); "He said, “Descend, some of you enemies to one another. On earth you will have residence and livelihood for a while.” He said, “In it you will live, and in it you will die, and from it you will be brought out.”" (7:24-25). This means that the preordained fate of making human beings, or Adam and his descendants, successors on earth was realized; this is how each soul is tested in this transient world.

The CNN anchor: So, this descent of Adam includes his descendants.

Muhammad: Exactly; this is addressed to all humanity: "He said, “Descend from it, altogether; some of you enemies of some others. But whenever guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance, will not go astray, nor suffer. But whoever turns away from My Reminder, for him is a confined life. And We will raise him on the Day of Resurrection blind.”" (20:123-124).

The CNN anchor: What about Iblis?

Muhammad: My Lord God says the following in the Quran about how Iblis vowed to tempt and misguide Adam's descendants: "Your Lord said to the angels, “I am creating a human being from clay. When I have formed him, and breathed into him with My Spirit, fall prostrate before him. So the angels fell prostrate, all of them. Except for Iblis. He was too proud, and one of the disbelievers. He said, “O Iblis, what prevented you from prostrating before what I created with My Own hands? Are you too proud, or were you one of the exalted?” He said, “I am better than he; You created me from fire, and You created him from clay.” He said, “Then get out of here! You are an outcast! And My curse will be upon you until the Day of Judgment.” He said, “Lord, defer me until the Day they are resurrected.” He said, “You are one of those deferred. Until the Day of the Time Appointed.” He said, “By Your majesty, I will seduce them all. Except for your devout servants among them.” He said, “The Truth is, and I say the Truth. I will fill Hell with you, and with every one of them who follows you.”" (38:71-85); "He said, “My Lord, reprieve me until the Day they are resurrected.” He said, “You are of those reprieved.” “Until the Day of the Time Appointed.” He said, “My Lord, since You have lured me away, I will glamorize for them on earth, and I will lure them all away.” “Except for Your sincere servants among them.” He said, “This is a right way with Me.” “Over My servants you have no authority, except for the sinners who follow you.”" (15:36-42); " When We said to the angels, “Prostrate before Adam,” they bowed down, except for Satan. He said, “Shall I prostrate before someone You created from mud?” He said, “Do You see this one whom You have honored more than me? If You reprieve me until the Day of Resurrection, I will bring his descendants under my sway, except for a few.” He said, “Be gone! Whoever of them follows you - Hell is your reward, an ample reward.” “And entice whomever of them you can with your voice, and rally against them your cavalry and your infantry, and share with them in wealth and children, and make promises to them.” But Satan promises them nothing but delusion. “As for My servants, you have no authority over them.” Your Lord is Enough as a Guardian." (17:61-65).

The CNN interview with Muhammad about how Satan deceived Adam and his wife and how they left the Barsakh Paradise

The CNN anchor: I am surprised as Iblis accused God of luring him as per this Quranic context: "...“My Lord, since You have lured me away, I will glamorize for them on earth, and I will lure them all away.” “Except for Your sincere servants among them.”" (15:39-40). Has God lured, deceived, or tempted Iblis?!

Muhammad: Of course not. May the Lord God be glorified and exalted above such accusation by a disbeliever like Iblis. My Lord God does not deceive, lure, or tempt anyone. All the angels obeyed the divine command to prostrate to Adam except the angel Iblis who disobeyed and argued against this command with my Lord God; this way, Iblis unwittingly realized the prediction hinted by my Omniscient Lord God when He, after informing the angels about placing a human being as a successor on earth, has told the angels the following: "...“I know what you do not know.”" (2:30).

The CNN anchor: Meaning?

Muhammad: The angels feared that the new successor would be disobedient sinner who may spread corruption and bloodshed like Gog and Magog: "When your Lord said to the angels, “I am placing a successor on earth.” They said, “Will You place in it someone who will cause corruption in it and shed blood, while we declare Your praises and sanctify You?” He said, “I know what you do not know.”" (2:30); the angels never knew that one of them; namely, Iblis, harbors pride and arrogance; what was concealed by Iblis was exposed by my Lord God when He commanded the angels to prostrate to Adam; my Omniscient Lord God knew that the proud Iblis will disobey this divine command; Iblis was exposed again when he accused my Lord God of luring him; there is no luring, tempting, or deception here.

The CNN anchor: Maybe Iblis felt that the divine command was a test to lure or tempt him to show his arrogance.

Muhammad: The other angels never felt this was a test for them at all; they willingly obeyed the divine command of their Lord God without questioning it. The sinful, disbelieving angel Iblis disobeyed the divine command within haughtiness and arrogance.

The CNN anchor: This means the proud Iblis felt superior and he hated being obedient like the other angels!

Muhammad: The sinful Iblis, who became Satan, is now playing the role of the tempter of the descendants of Adam; he vowed to misguide most human beings: "...“My Lord, since You have lured me away, I will glamorize for them on earth, and I will lure them all away.” “Except for Your sincere servants among them.”" (15:39-40).

The CNN anchor: The sinful, disobedient Iblis contradicted himself; he wrongfully and very impolitely accused God of luring him, and yet, he declared his intention to lure the vast majority of human beings though they never harmed him! They were not yet born at the time!

Muhammad: My Lord God warns humanity against Iblis, who became Satan, here: "Satan promises you poverty, and urges you to immorality; but God promises you forgiveness from Himself, and grace. God is Embracing and Knowing." (2:268); "He said, “Because you have lured me, I will distract them from Your Straight Path. Then I will come at them from before them, and from behind them, and from their right, and from their left; and you will not find most of them thankful.” He said, “Get out of it, despised and vanquished. Whoever among them follows you - I will fill up Hell with you all. " (7:16-18).

The CNN anchor: Iblis hated Adam and his wife and progeny for no reason! They never harmed him at all! The stance of Iblis is never justified!

Muhammad: The divine response has been to honor and dignify Adam and his wife but while testing them at the same time.

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: They were allowed to live inside the Barsakh Paradise in bliss and enjoyment; their test was not to consume the fruit of the Forbidden Tree: "We said, “O Adam, inhabit Paradise, you and your spouse, and eat from it freely as you please, but do not approach this tree, lest you become among the unjust ones.”" (2:35); "And you, Adam, inhabit Paradise, you and your wife, and eat whatever you wish; but do not approach this tree, lest you become among the unjust ones.”" (7:19).

The CNN anchor: They became among the unjust ones for eating the fruit of one tree!

Muhammad: This was a test; the pious believers obey the divine commands even if these commands are unfamiliar, strange, or without justification. This applies to the divine command addressed to angels to prostrate to Adam once his soul is breathed to his body by the Holy Spirit Gabriel. Iblis committed the sin of disobedience by deciding never to prostrate to Adam; Iblis who became Satan the Devil was bent on deceiving Adam and his wife; my Lord God has warned them beforehand against the temptation of Satan who will urge them to disobey the divine command by consuming the fruit of the Forbidden Tree: "And when We said to the angels, “Prostrate to Adam.” They prostrated, except for Iblis; he refused. We said, “O Adam, this is an enemy to you and to your wife. So do not let him make you leave Paradise, for then you will suffer. In it you will never go hungry, nor be naked. Nor will you be thirsty in it, nor will you swelter.”" (20:116-119).

The CNN anchor: When did Adam and Eve receive this warning?

Muhammad: Directly once Iblis was expelled from the Upper Realm and he became among the jinn and was renamed as Satan. Satan was forced to settle in the Barsakh levels of the earth; the Barsakh Paradise of Adam and his wife was inside one of these Barsakh levels of the earth.

The CNN anchor: The warning against Satan is also addressed to the descendants of Adam, right?

Muhammad: Certainly. Human beings should consider Satan an enemy because he has made all human beings as his enemies: "Satan is an enemy to you, so treat him as an enemy. He only invites his gang to be among the dwellers of Hell." (35:6). The story of Adam's descent unto the earth is repeated in the Quran so that human beings may take heed and draw a useful lesson.

The CNN anchor: What happened after this warning addressed to Adam and Eve?

Muhammad: Satan managed to tempt both Adam and his wife by convincing them to consume the fruit of the Forbidden Tree despite the existence of all other permissible fruits of the other trees which could be consumed. Adam and his wife forgot the divine warning addressed to them by the Dominant Lord God against Satan.

The CNN anchor: This is very strange; how come they disobeyed God despite all this?! How did Satan manage to tempt and misguide both of them?!

Muhammad: Satan tempted them by his repeated and insistent whispers to them inside the Barsakh Paradise and by swearing by the name of God that he sought to advise them; Satan made use of the fact that Adam and his wife coveted ownership and attaining immortality: "But Satan whispered to him. He said, “O Adam, shall I show you the Tree of Immortality, and a kingdom that never decays?” And so they ate from it; whereupon their naked bodies became visible to them, and they started covering themselves with the leaves of Paradise. Thus Adam disobeyed his Lord, and fell." (20:120-121); "But Satan whispered to them, to reveal to them their nakedness, which was invisible to them. He said, “Your Lord has only forbidden you this tree, lest you become angels, or become immortals.” And he swore to them, “I am a sincere advisor to you.” So he lured them with deceit. And when they tasted the tree, their nakedness became evident to them, and they began covering themselves with the leaves of Paradise. And their Lord called out to them, “Did I not forbid you from this tree, and say to you that Satan is a sworn enemy to you?”" (7:20-22).

The CNN anchor: This means Adam and Eve knew they were mortals; they knew they will die and leave this Paradise, right?

Muhammad: Exactly. This is proven by their coveting to own this Paradise forever.

The CNN anchor: And Satan knew about this wish of theirs, right?

Muhammad: Yes; Satan made use of this weakness in order to tempt them; Satan managed to make them disobey the Lord God by consuming the fruit of the Forbidden Tree.

The CNN anchor: Adam and Eve could see Satan inside this Paradise, right?

Muhammad: Of course. Satan talked to them and they heard and saw him; this means that in this Barsakh Paradise, Adam and his wife could see the ethereal creatures (devils, jinn, and angels) of the Barsakh levels of the earth.

The CNN anchor: And what happened next?

Muhammad: Once Adam and his wife consumed the fruit of the Forbidden Tree, everything changed.

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: You remember that both Adam and his wife were created from water and dust; namely, mud. These are material elements from the earth. The same applies to bodies of all human beings who are the descendants of Adam. The fact that Adam and his wife were in this Barsakh Paradise within a certain Barsakh level made their bodies covered with a coat of Barsakh light as is the case with the plants and the ethereal creatures inside this Barsakh level. Once Adam and his wife consumed the fruit of the Forbidden Tree, the Barsakh light was removed from their bodies; they realized and saw their exposed nakedness. Mud is a base material when compared to the Barsakh light which envelopes the Barsakh plants or trees and the Barsakh ethereal creatures.

The CNN anchor: What was the reaction of Adam and Eve as they saw their naked bodies for the very first time?

Muhammad: They were surprised and shocked; they took leaves of the Barsakh-Paradise trees, which have the Barsakh light, to cover their nakedness.

The CNN anchor: And Satan witnessed this, right?

Muhammad: Certainly.

The CNN anchor: What did Satan do after he managed to seduce Adam and Eve?

Muhammad: Satan taunted them and gloated over them while they felt ashamed and panicked because of their seeing their nakedness for the first time.

The CNN anchor: What did Satan do exactly?

Muhammad: Satan removed the tree leaves of Barsakh light from their bodies; he desired that they know their nakedness and see their body parts: "O children of Adam! Do not let Satan seduce you, as he drove your parents out of the Garden, stripping them of their garments, to show them their nakedness...." (7:27).

The CNN anchor: What happened next?

Muhammad: My Lord God says the following in the Quran: "So he lured them with deceit. And when they tasted the tree, their nakedness became evident to them, and they began covering themselves with the leaves of Paradise. And their Lord called out to them, “Did I not forbid you from this tree, and say to you that Satan is a sworn enemy to you?”" (7:22).

The CNN anchor: This means God accepted the repentance of Adam and Eve, right?

Muhammad: Exactly; and my Lord God made them descend unto the earth.

The CNN interview with Muhammad about the Adam and eve Paradise in the Bible's Old Testament

The CNN anchor: Let me quote from the Old Testament's Chapter 2 in the Book of Genesis about Adam and Eve in Paradise: (8 And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. 10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. 11 The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; 12 And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone. 13 And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. 14 And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.) (After a short pause) I see that the unknown authors of the Old Testament are influenced by the dominant culture of their era especially geographical details of an unspecified region which do not match today's knowledge except for few details.

Muhammad remains silent

The CNN anchor: (after a short pause) Some Muslim authors ascribe to you the story, first mentioned by Al-Bokhary, about your alleged ascendance into the heavens; they wrote that you saw in the seventh heaven the River Nile and the Euphrates. Let me quote this narrative from Al-Bokhary book of hadiths: (... Upon reaching the seventh heaven, its dwellers asked who were coming; they were told that Gabriel came along with Muhammad; the dwellers of the seventh heaven felt rejoiced because the Last Prophet has been sent by God; I met with Abraham ... Abraham shook hands with me; he greeted me as a prophet and as his descendant; Gabriel took me to the Frequented House where seven thousand angels pray and they circumambulate it for eternity ... Gabriel took me to the Tree of the Extremity; its leaves were like ears of elephants; I saw four rivers; two higher ones and two lower ones; I asked Gabriel about them: the higher two rivers are those of Paradise water and the two lower rivers are the Nile and the Euphrates ... Fifty prayers per day were imposed at first until they became five daily prayers ...).

Muhammad: I am innocent of such lies and fabrications!

The CNN anchor: By the way, the author named Al-Bokhary contradicts himself; he mentions the Nile and the Euphrates here in the seventh heaven though he mentions them in another hadith in the first heaven. Let me quote this narrative from Al-Bokhary book of hadiths: (... Upon reaching the first heaven, Gabriel knocked at one of its gates; the dwellers of the first heaven asked who were coming; they were told that Gabriel came along with Muhammad; the dwellers of the first heaven felt rejoiced because the Last Prophet has been sent by God; they welcomed me and Gabriel; I met and shook hands with Adam the father of all human beings; Adam told me he takes pride in a son like me; I saw four rivers in the first heaven; two higher ones and two lower ones; I asked Gabriel about them: the higher two rivers are those of Paradise water and the two lower rivers are the Nile and the Euphrates ... I saw a palace made of pearls, emeralds, and rubies, and beneath this palace is the river called Al-Kawthar; Gabriel told me this is God's special gift to me ... Gabriel and I ascended to the second heaven ...).

Muhammad: I am innocent of such lies and fabrications! I never ascended into the heavens at all! This is a myth!

The CNN anchor: What about the lines I have quoted from the Old Testament? What is your own view? Do they match the Quran?

Muhammad: Describing Adam's Barsakh Paradise as (Eden) contradicts the Quran. In the Quran, the term (Eden) is one of the names of the Eternal Paradise in the Hereafter for the pious ones who will be the winners on the Day of Judgment. This Paradise has not been created yet. The term (Eden) describes this Paradise of the Hereafter in many Quranic verses: 9:72, 13:23-24, 16:30-31, 18:30-31, 19:61, 20:75-76, 35:33, 38:49-50, 40:8, 61:12, and 98:7-8.

The CNN anchor: But many hadiths are ascribed to you about Garden of Eden or Paradise as if it exists now; for instance, Al-Bokhary book contains this hadith: (... Two angels visited me last night; they led my soul into a city whose houses are made of gold and silver bricks; good-looking men were seated in one side; ugly-looking men were seated in the other side; they bathed in a river and their ugliness vanished and both groups of men looked alike; they were fit for becoming the dwellers of this city of the Garden of Eden of Paradise ... Ugliness of the second group was because they mixed good deeds and bad ones, but God pardons them and remits their sins before they entered into Paradise ...).

Muhammad: I am innocent of such lies and fabrications! I never uttered any of the so-called hadiths! My Lord God's Quranic description of Paradise employs metaphoric, figurative style to make our souls and minds grasp it; Paradise has not been created yet; we cannot fully imagine how it will look like; no one, including myself, saw this Paradise of the winners: "No soul knows what eye’s delight awaits them - a reward for what they used to do." (32:17).

The CNN anchor: Let me quote this verse from Chapter 2 in the Book of Genesis about Adam and Eve inside Paradise: (15 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.). What do you think of that?

Muhammad: This is not true; Adam never worked or toiled inside the Barsakh Paradise; he lived there in bliss and pleasure; Adam was told the following, by my Lord God, about Paradise: "In it you will never go hungry, nor be naked. Nor will you be thirsty in it, nor will you swelter.”" (20:118-119); "We said, “O Adam, inhabit Paradise, you and your spouse, and eat from it freely as you please..." (2:35).

The CNN anchor: (16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. 18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.) Do you find details similar to these in the Quran?

Muhammad: The type of the Forbidden Tree is not specified in the Quran: "We said, “O Adam, inhabit Paradise, you and your spouse, and eat from it freely as you please, but do not approach this tree, lest you become among the unjust ones.”" (2:35).

The CNN anchor: (19 And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. 20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.). What do you think of that?

Muhammad: The idea of teaching Adam names is mentioned in the Quran directly after the creation of Adam: "When your Lord said to the angels, “I am placing a successor on earth.” They said, “Will You place in it someone who will cause corruption in it and shed blood, while we declare Your praises and sanctify You?” He said, “I know what you do not know.” And He taught Adam the names, all of them; then he presented them to the angels, and said, “Tell Me the names of these, if you are truthful.” They said, “Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. It is you who are the Knowledgeable, the Wise.” He said, “O Adam, tell them their names.” And when he told them their names, He said, “Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of the heavens and the earth, and that I know what you reveal and what you conceal?”" (2:30-33).

The CNN anchor: What is meant by (names) here?

Muhammad: The instinct to give names to things and items to differentiate among them and the ability to learn languages or tongues. This instinct and this ability are inherited from Adam by his descendants; i.e., all human beings.

The CNN anchor: The Old Testament's story different as giving names to things is linked to the creation of Eve: (18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. 19 And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. 20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. 21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.).

Muhammad: There are some different details and some similar ones in relation to the Holy Quran.

The CNN anchor: Yes, but how?

Muhammad: The Quranic story of the creation of Adam is certainly mentioned in the previous Celestial Scriptures revealed by my Lord God. The Arab Gentiles themselves, who never received any Divine Book before the Quran, knew about Adam and his story.

The CNN anchor: I remember your telling me that in the 7^th century Arabia, the People of the Book or the Israelites possessed the true Torah.

Muhammad: Moreover, the Arabs in Arabia read the Scriptures of Abraham and Moses in Arabic.

The CNN anchor: I would like a Quranic proof to support your claim.

Muhammad: When some disbelieving Arabs demanded to witness a miracle, my Lord God has told them it is enough that the Quran explained to them what they already knew from the previous Scriptures: "And they say, “Why does he not bring us a miracle from his Lord?” Were they not given enough explanation of the former Scriptures?" (20:133). These Scriptures were the ones conveyed by Abraham and Moses.

The CNN anchor: The names of Abraham and Moses are not mentioned at all in 20:133!

Muhammad: They are mentioned here about refuting the stance of a disbelieving Arabian man: "Or was he not informed of what is in the Scriptures of Moses? And of Abraham, who fulfilled?" (53:36-37).

The CNN anchor: What was this information in these Scriptures, anyway?

Muhammad: Some verses from them are copied in the Quranic context 53:33-56.

The CNN anchor: This means God quotes in the Quranic text some verses from the Scriptures of Abraham and Moses since the Arabs knew them at the time.

Muhammad: The Quranic Chapter 87 also copies some verses from the Scriptures of Abraham and Moses in the Quranic context 87:1-17. These are the last two verses of this Quranic Chapter: "This is in the former Scriptures. The Scriptures of Abraham and Moses." (87:18-19).

The CNN anchor: I see. The dominant culture at the time when some unknown authors wrote the Old Testament was a mixture of some facts of the Celestial Books and some myths of old civilizations; this fact is acknowledged by many researchers specializing in the Jewish theology and Christian theology. This does not apply to the Quran. The Quran does not copy myths or falsehoods in the culture of the 7^th century Arabia, I suppose.

Muhammad: The Holy Quran is the Book of guidance and reform; it contains refutations of many myths and falsehoods. The Quranic story of Adam is enough proof of this.

The CNN interview with Muhammad about the Quranic description of the Barsakh Paradise of Adam and his wife

The CNN anchor: The Old Testament's Book of Genesis tells us that the Paradise of Adam and Eve was on earth; is this asserted in the Quran or not?

Muhammad: Let's examine first the meanings of the Quranic and Arabic term (Jannah), namely, Paradise and garden; its meanings change as per the Quranic context at hand.

The CNN anchor: OK.

Muhammad: The meaning of (Jannah) as "garden" is exemplified in these Quranic verses about the Quran-hating Meccan Qorayish polytheists who wondered why I had no garden or orchard or ask my Lord God to provide one miraculously for me: "And they say, “What sort of messenger is this, who eats food, and walks in the marketplaces? If only an angel was sent down with him, to be alongside him a warner.” Or, “If only a treasure was dropped on him.” Or, “If only he had a garden from which he eats.” The unjust ones also say, “You are following but a man under spell.”" (25:7-8); "And they said, “We will not believe in you unless you make a spring burst from the ground for us. Or you have a garden of palms and vines; then cause rivers to gush pouring through them." (17:90-91).

The CNN anchor: The Paradise in the Old Testament seems to be a garden or an orchard on earth.

Muhammad: The meaning of (Jannah) as "Eternal Paradise" of the Hereafter for the pious ones is mentioned here: "As for those who believe and do righteous deeds - these are the inhabitants of Paradise, wherein they will dwell forever." (2:82).

The CNN anchor: This does not apply to the Paradise of Adam and Eve since the Last Day has not come yet.

Muhammad: The meaning of (Jannah) here is the Barsakh Paradise of Adam and his wife: "We said, “O Adam, inhabit Paradise, you and your spouse, and eat from it freely as you please, but do not approach this tree, lest you become among the unjust ones.”" (2:35); "Near which is the Paradise of Repose." (53:15).

The CNN anchor: I see. But what is meant by 53:15?

Muhammad: This Barsakh Paradise of Adam and his wife is the same place where souls of those killed for God's sake, while serving His cause, repose and reside within blissful pleasures until the Day of the Resurrection.

The CNN anchor: This Barsakh Paradise exists now!

Muhammad: Yes; I saw it.

The CNN anchor: When?! Where?!

Muhammad: In the first Barsakh level of the earth when I encountered the Holy Spirit Gabriel.

The CNN anchor: Please tell me more!

Muhammad: I saw Gabriel twice; Gabriel descended from his higher metaphysical Barsakh level so that I see him, and within this encounter, he delivered the entirety of the Quranic text into my soul or my heart.

The CNN anchor: Please wait! This topic of the Quranic revelation will be covered later on, but I need a brief explanation.

Muhammad: This encounter with Gabriel is mentioned in the Holy Quran: "By the star as it goes down. Your companion has not gone astray, nor has he erred. Nor does he speak out of desire. It is but a revelation revealed. Taught to him by the Extremely Powerful. The one of vigor. He settled. While he was at the highest horizon. Then he descended, and hovered around. He was within two bows’ length, or closer. Then He revealed to His servant what He revealed. The heart did not lie about what it saw. Will you dispute with him concerning what he saw? He saw him on another descent. At the Tree of the Extremity. Near which is the Paradise of Repose. As there covered the Tree of the Extremity what covered it. The sight did not waver, nor did it exceed. He saw some of the Great Signs of his Lord." (53:1-18).

The CNN anchor: I see. You did not ascend to Gabriel; rather, he descended to you.

Muhammad: The archangel Gabriel of the Upper Realm is an ethereal Barsakh creature. My soul, and not my physical eyes, saw him, in his angelic form, descending to meet me; this encounter resulted in printing the Quranic text into my heart or my soul. Thus, Gabriel, the Extremely Powerful, taught me the Quran.

The CNN anchor: You mention your heart and your soul as if they are exact synonyms; why?

Muhammad: They are synonymous in the Quranic text.

The CNN anchor: I see; this is why you told me one has to understand the Quran according to its own unique terminology.

Muhammad: This is how my Lord God revealed the Quran to me via Gabriel; I saw Gabriel a second time when he descended from his higher Barsakh level to a lower Barsakh level of the earth at the Tree of the Extremity which is located at the Barsakh Paradise.

The CNN anchor: How did you see all that?

Muhammad: With my soul and not with my physical eyes as I have told you; this is why my eyes never moved throughout this vision which was a great sign granted to me by my Lord God: "The sight did not waver, nor did it exceed. He saw some of the Great Signs of his Lord." (53:17-18)

The CNN anchor: I see.

Muhammad: This means my eyes never moved, and during this great vision of Barsakh witnessed by my heart or my soul, my body felt as if nearer to death. "The heart did not lie about what it saw." (53:11)

The CNN anchor: But you can describe what you saw with your soul, right?

Muhammad: I cannot. No mortals created of clay can see angels in their true, angelic form. Souls of dying persons see the angels of death; all human souls will see angels on the Last Day. As per the Quranic stories, Abraham, his wife, and Lot and his people saw angels who took the human form of men; Mary saw Gabriel when he took the human form of a man. This is why my soul's encounter with Gabriel was a great sign granted to me by my Lord God since my soul saw Gabriel in his angelic form.

The CNN anchor: Why cannot you describe Gabriel, the Tree of the Extremity, and the Barsakh Paradise as you saw them with your soul?!

Muhammad: No words in any human tongues can express the great sign I witnessed; no one can understand this unique experience that occurred to me. This is a test for believers: "Will you dispute with him concerning what he saw?" (53:12); "Glory to Him who journeyed His servant by night, from the Sacred Mosque, to the Farthest Mosque, whose areas We have blessed, in order to show him of Our Signs. He is the Listener, the Beholder." (17:1); "We said to you that your Lord encompasses humanity. We did not make the vision We showed you, except as a test for the people..." (17:60).

The CNN anchor: This is very strange!

Muhammad: During deep slumber, souls of sleepers leave their bodies and fly to their original place in Barsakh momentarily and return to the confines of their prisons, or the human bodies, upon waking up. This is why the temporary visits of souls to Barsakh sometimes bring dreams and visions.

The CNN anchor: But science does not acknowledge the existence of the metaphysical realm; yet, some scientists began to admit its existence since there are dimensions we cannot see despite proofs of their presence as per the superstring theory. Such theory and its likes might be referring to thresholds of the Barsakh metaphysical realm, I suppose.

Muhammad: The Holy Quran contains miraculous scientific indications and some of them are about the Barsakh metaphysical realm.

The CNN anchor: Please tell me more about Barsakh.

Muhammad: It is noteworthy that the Quran links the heavens to the earth despite the fact that the Planet Earth is merely like a speck of sand among the vast desert known as the universe (or "the heavens and the earth" as per the Quranic expression) with its galaxies, stars, black holes,...etc. which are merely what is (between the heavens and the earth) as per the Quranic expression; this means the heavens are so vast and we cannot imagine how they look like; what we see in the realm of galaxies is nothing when compared to the different realms of the heavens.

The CNN anchor: Why, then, does God in the Quran link the earth to the seven heavens?

Muhammad: Because the seven Barsakh levels of the earth overlap with the seven Barsakh levels of the heavens, and both types of levels overlap with the physical level of the Planet Earth; the divine commands of my Lord God pass through these levels: "God is He Who created seven heavens, and their like of earth. The command descends through them, so that you may know that God is Capable of everything, and that God Encompasses everything in knowledge." (65:12).

The CNN anchor: I am not sure if I follow!

Muhammad: Each heaven or earth Barsakh level overlaps with the one below it and the one above it; this is how the earth and the heavens are linked and angels pass through such levels as per their different speeds while carrying the commands of my Lord God from the Upper Realm to our physical earth.

The CNN anchor: This means angels exist in such Barsakh metaphysical levels and jinn and devils exist within lower levels, right?

Muhammad: Exactly. The jinn are quoted here in the Holy Quran: "We realized that we cannot defeat God on earth, and that we cannot escape Him by fleeing." (72:12). This means they cannot escape the lower Barsakh levels of the earth; the jinn and devils cannot pass through the Barsakh levels of the heavens; when the arrogant disobedient angel Iblis was expelled from the Upper Realm, he became a jinn, or Satan the Devil, and he descended into the earth's lowest Barsakh level of jinn.

The CNN anchor: Where is the Barsakh Paradise of Adam, then?

Muhammad: It exists in the first Barsakh level of the earth; I saw it at the Tree of the Extremity; this Barsakh Paradise is the abode of the souls of those who got killed for my Lord God's sake while serving the cause of my Lord God; they live inside it in pleasure and bliss: "And do not say of those who are killed in the cause of God, “Dead.” Rather, they are alive, but you do not perceive." (2:154).

The CNN anchor: So, we cannot feel or sense their presence, right?

Muhammad: Yes; but they feel and sense their contemporaries on earth: "Do not consider those killed in the cause of God as dead. In fact, they are alive, at their Lord, well provided for. Delighting in what God has given them out of His grace, and happy for those who have not yet joined them; that they have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve. They rejoice in grace from God, and bounty, and that God will not waste the reward of the believers." (3:169-171).

The CNN anchor: After what you have told me about Barsakh realms, how could we know the features of the Barsakh Paradise where Adam and his wife lived and where those killed in the cause of God live now?

Muhammad: Let us repeat what my Lord God mentions about the Paradise of Adam.

The CNN anchor: OK

Muhammad: At first, the rebel angel Iblis refused to prostrate to Adam...

The CNN anchor (interrupting): This is not mentioned in the Old Testament.

Muhammad: I am talking about the Quran now; after the creation of Adam and his wife and the expulsion of Iblis and transforming him into Satan, Adam and his wife were allowed by my Lord God to live in this Barsakh Paradise, but my Lord God has warned them against Satan and the Forbidden Tree: "And when We said to the angels, “Prostrate to Adam.” They prostrated, except for Iblis; he refused. We said, “O Adam, this is an enemy to you and to your wife. So do not let him make you leave Paradise, for then you will suffer. In it you will never go hungry, nor be naked. Nor will you be thirsty in it, nor will you swelter.”" (20:116-119).

The CNN anchor: This means Adam and his wife enjoyed in this Barsakh Paradise and never suffered any hunger or exerted any efforts.

Muhammad: The rebel angel Iblis was transformed into Satan the Devil; he is now among the jinn, in the first Barsakh level of the earth, after his being expelled from the Upper Realm; he can no longer pass through the Barsakh levels of the heavens. The Barsakh Paradise of Adam and his wife exists in the first Barsakh level of the earth; this is why it was accessible by Satan who managed to deceive Adam and his wife; they consumed the fruit of the Forbidden Tree and saw their nakedness for the first time; their physical bodies appeared to them after they were previously covered with Barsakh-light garments; they had to cover their nudity with leaves of the Barsakh trees which have Barsakh light; Satan gloated, sneered, and jeered at them; Adam and his wife descended unto the earth: "But Satan whispered to him. He said, “O Adam, shall I show you the Tree of Immortality, and a kingdom that never decays?” And so they ate from it; whereupon their bodies became visible to them, and they started covering themselves with the leaves of Paradise. Thus Adam disobeyed his Lord, and fell. But then his Lord recalled him, and pardoned him, and guided him. He said, “Descend from it, altogether; some of you enemies of some others. But whenever guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance, will not go astray, nor suffer." (20:120-123); "We said, “O Adam, inhabit Paradise, you and your spouse, and eat from it freely as you please, but do not approach this tree, lest you become among the unjust ones.” But Satan caused them to slip from it, and caused them to depart the state they were in. We said, “Descend, some of you enemies of one another. And you will have residence on earth, and enjoyment for a while.” Then Adam received words from his Lord, so He relented towards him. He is the Relenting, the Merciful. We said, “Descend from it, all of you. Yet whenever guidance comes to you from Me, then whoever follows My guidance - they have nothing to fear, nor shall they grieve. But as for those who disbelieve and reject Our Verses - these are the inmates of the Fire - wherein they will remain forever.”" (2:35-39).

The CNN anchor: A radical change occurred to Adam and his wife after their descent unto the earth, right?

Muhammad: They descended while carrying their progeny inside them with the enmity among them as they will vie for amassing and owning the transient possessions of the earth.

The CNN anchor: Satan also descended unto the earth, right?

Muhammad: Yes, but the difference is that Adam and his wife could see the ethereal creatures of Barsakh like Satan, jinn, and angels when they lived in the Barsakh Paradise; they could no longer see such creatures on earth and this applies to all human beings who can never see angels, jinn, and devils. This is why human beings, the descendants of Adam, are warned in a direct address here by my Lord God: "O children of Adam! Do not let Satan seduce you, as he drove your parents out of Paradise, stripping them of their garments, to show them their nakedness. He sees you, him and his clan, from where you cannot see them. We have made the devils allies of those who do not believe." (7:27).

The CNN anchor: I see now how this Barsakh Paradise of Adam and his wife looks like.

The CNN interview with Muhammad about the descent of Adam and Eve unto the earth in the Bible's Old Testament

The CNN anchor: Let me quote the Old Testament's story of the descent of Adam and Eve unto the earth in Chapter 2 in the Book of Genesis (16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.). The command here about the Forbidden Tree is similar to the command found in the Quran I suppose.

Muhammad: But the Quran mentions different words pronounced by my Lord God.

The CNN anchor: Please tell me more.

Muhammad: The divine command about never to come near the Forbidden Tree is addressed to both Adam and his wife; besides, the Quran never mentions the type of fruit of this Forbidden Tree. It is nonsensical to describe this tree as(the tree of the knowledge of good and evil), as this means it was good to consume its fruit; besides, in the Quran, Adam is never told that he would die as a result of this disobedience; Adam and his wife knew they were mortal creatures even inside the Barsakh Paradise.

The CNN anchor: (after a short pause) I agree with what you have said; let me quote further: (18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. 19 And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. 20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. 21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.). I know we talked about this Biblical context before; have you anything further to say?

Muhammad: Yes; the order of events differ from that found in the Quran.

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: The Quranic arrangement of events is as follows: the creation of Adam, teaching him names, my Lord God's divine command to the angels to prostrate to Adam, the disobedience of the arrogant angel Iblis, his expulsion from the Upper Realm and the Barsakh levels of the heavens, the creation of Adam's wife, my Lord God's divine command to Adam and his wife to inhabit the Barsakh Paradise and to never get near the Forbidden Tree. My Lord God says the following in the Holy Quran: "When your Lord said to the angels, “I am placing a successor on earth.” They said, “Will You place in it someone who will cause corruption in it and shed blood, while we declare Your praises and sanctify You?” He said, “I know what you do not know.” And He taught Adam the names, all of them; then he presented them to the angels, and said, “Tell Me the names of these, if you are truthful.” They said, “Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. It is you who are the Knowledgeable, the Wise.” He said, “O Adam, tell them their names.” And when he told them their names, He said, “Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of the heavens and the earth, and that I know what you reveal and what you conceal?” And We said to the angels, “Prostrate to Adam.” They prostrated, except for Satan. He refused, was arrogant, and became one of the disbelievers. We said, “O Adam, inhabit Paradise, you and your spouse, and eat from it freely as you please, but do not approach this tree, lest you become among the unjust ones.”" (2:30-35).

The CNN anchor: I see that Adam's wife, or Eve, is not mentioned in 2:30-34; it is mentioned only in 2:35; why is that?

Muhammad: This indication shows that she was there besides her husband, Adam, all the time; this means she was created immediately after the creation of Adam. You remember 4:1 about the creation of all human souls from one soul; i.e., that of Adam, and this includes the soul of Adam's wife which was created from the soul of Adam as well. You remember my telling you that the Quranic methodology within the stories is repetition within certain details so as to warn and remind readers and make them draw useful lessons. This is why the Quranic story of Adam is repeated, with new and added details each time, in the Quranic text in order to preach all human beings, who are the descendants of Adam, so that they draw lessons from what happened to their father Adam. As for the so-called the Bible's Old Testament, one finds in it a chronological order of events typical of historical narratives, and yet, it contains many contradictions.

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: You have quoted from it that the command was addressed to Adam and then his wife was created; this gives the impression that the command was not addressed to her at all and she could consume the fruit of the Forbidden Tree without any sense of guilt since she did not know that this was a sin; yet, the authors of the Old Testament accuse her unjustly of causing the fall of Adam! This is not the case in the Quranic story; the command about avoiding the Forbidden Tree was addressed by my Lord God to both Adam and his wife.

The CNN anchor: You criticism is logical; let me quote these verses from Chapter 3 in the Book of Genesis: (1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.). We see here the contradiction that Eve said to the serpent that she knew about the command of never to consume the fruit of the Forbidden Tree though she seems not to have been created yet when this command came to Adam as per earlier verses of the Old Testament's Book of Genesis.

Muhammad: Regardless of the silliness of the idea of a talking serpent and how it could find its way to Paradise – while other beasts could not – we see the huge difference between the false, Biblical story and the true, Quranic story. The Quran tells us that the divine command of the Lord God about never to get near the Forbidden Tree was addressed to both Adam and his wife; both saw Satan himself – not Satan disguised as a serpent – and both were tempted and deceived by him; both Adam and his wife were sinners who violated the divine command; yet, the Old Testament story makes Adam's wife bear the full responsibility as if she deceived Adam! This is not true!

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: Adam is the one responsible for his descent unto the earth and leaving the Barsakh Paradise after violating the divine command which was directly addressed to him; but Adam repented and my Lord God accepted his repentance: "We said, “O Adam, inhabit Paradise, you and your spouse, and eat from it freely as you please, but do not approach this tree, lest you become among the unjust ones.” But Satan caused them to slip from it, and caused them to depart the state they were in. We said, “Descend, some of you enemies of one another. And you will have residence on earth, and enjoyment for a while.” Then Adam received words from his Lord, so He relented towards him. He is the Relenting, the Merciful." (2:35-37).

The CNN anchor: The Quran is fair towards Adam's wife; indeed, the unknown authors of the Old Testament accuse her of being fully responsible for driving Adam out of Paradise! By the way, Al-Bokhary hadith (mentioned again by Moslem in his book of hadiths) ascribed to you assume that you have said that: (if it had not been for Eve, no woman would have cheated her husband and if it had not been for the Israelites, no meat chunks would have gone rotten); this means all women or wives cheat on their men or husbands as they follow the footsteps of Eve! Did you pronounce such hadith?

Muhammad: Never! I am innocent of such lies and fabrications; I never heard of the authors Al-Bokhary and Moslem and I never read their books!

The CNN anchor: Let me quote further: (7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. 9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13 And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. 14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.). (Smiling after a short pause) This is insulting to the Omniscient and Omnipresent Lord God; it is as if He could not see Adam; it is as if Adam played hide-and-seek! Besides, no reptiles have legs in the past or in the present and they never consume dust as food; this is like fairy tales invented by the unknown authors of the Old Testament!

Muhammad: My Lord God says the following in the Quran: "God created every living creature from water. Some of them crawl on their bellies, and some walk on two feet, and others walk on four. God creates whatever He wills. God is Capable of everything." (24:45). The unknown authors of the Old Testament may be influenced by the dominant culture at the time especially regarding sanctifying reptiles as sacred and/or cursed gods of evil.

The CNN anchor: Let me quote further: (16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. 20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. 21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.). What do you think of that?

Muhammad: That Adam's wife and all women bear children and give birth to them is never a punishment; this is done as per the Divine Will of my Lord God Who created the sentiments of motherhood inside women in general. "God knows what every female bears, and every increase and decrease of the wombs. With Him, everything is by measure." (13:8). Besides, no wife leaves her husband rule over her except by her own consent; some wives control and rule over their husbands and these husbands are OK with that and they are happy and content that way. Both the husband and the wife desire each other; the Quran puts it in a better way here: "And of His signs is that He created for you mates from among yourselves, so that you may find tranquility in them; and He planted love and compassion between you. In this are signs for people who reflect." (30:21). Adam knew beforehand that he had to toil and suffer if he would descend unto the earth: "And when We said to the angels, “Prostrate to Adam.” They prostrated, except for Iblis; he refused. We said, “O Adam, this is an enemy to you and to your wife. So do not let him make you leave Paradise, for then you will suffer. In it you will never go hungry, nor be naked. Nor will you be thirsty in it, nor will you swelter.”" (20:116-119).

The CNN anchor: This is great; the Quran is a great text. Let me quote further: (22 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever: 23 Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.). (A short pause followed by a sigh). What do you think of that?

Muhammad: What is your own view?

The CNN anchor: The authors of this passage in the Old Testament accuse God of claiming that Adam became an immortal god! This is blasphemous polytheism! Adam was no deity and he died like all mortals; besides, this contradicts the earlier passage about death as the penalty of consuming the fruit of the Forbidden Tree!

Muhammad: Let us return to the Quran which heals the souls of people.

The CNN interview with Muhammad about drawing lessons from the story of Adam and Eve

The CNN anchor: What is the reason, in your own view, for repeating the story of our father Adam in the Quranic text?

Muhammad: Because it is the story of all humankind; it is related to all descendants of Adam; they should ponder it deeply and draw useful lessons from it.

The CNN anchor: What lessons?

Muhammad: I will state my own personal view here.

The CNN anchor: What do you mean?

Muhammad: I mean my personal view as a human being; my views do not represent Islam; views of any mortals do not represent Islam; Islam is the Quran only.

The CNN anchor: But does the Quran quote any of your views or words?

Muhammad: Yes; this is exemplified here: "When you said to the believers, “Is it not enough for you that your Lord has reinforced you with three thousand angels, sent down?”" (3:124); "There is no blame on the weak, nor on the sick, nor on those who have nothing to give, provided they are true to God and His messenger...Nor on those who approach you, wishing to ride with you, and you said, “I have nothing to carry you on.” So they went away, with their eyes overflowing with tears, sorrowing for not finding the means to spend." (9:91-92).

The CNN anchor: But some of your words brought reproach to you in the Quranic text, right?

Muhammad: Yes; this is exemplified in this rebuke when I was reluctant and shied away from the divine command to marry my adoptive son's ex-wife; adoption by making adopted children have the name of the adopter is forbidden in Islam; before the descent of the Quran, Zaid was my adoptive son and carried my name: "When you said to him whom God had blessed, and you had favored, “Keep your wife to yourself, and fear God within piety.” But you hid within yourself what God was to reveal. And you feared the people, but it was God you were supposed to fear. Then, when Zaid ended his relationship with her, We gave her to you in marriage, that there may be no restriction for believers regarding the wives of their adopted sons, when their relationship has ended. The command of God was fulfilled." (33:37).

The CNN anchor: This means your views and words included faulty ones and good ones even in the Quranic story of you, right?

Muhammad: Exactly; I am a human being; my words and views, which might be wrong or right, outside the Quran can be expressed by any person; the only source of Islam is the Quranic verses I pronounced and conveyed.

The CNN anchor: What about your biographies written by some Abbasid authors?

Muhammad: I never authorized anyone to write my biography; how come some people who were never my contemporaries would dare to write any biographies of me? Anyway, my active life within the call for Islam and within self-defense jihad fighting as a leader in Yathreb was filled with stances, actions, and words linked to certain situations, circumstances, and times which can never be repeated; they are never part of Islam because Islam is the Quran only.

The CNN anchor: What is the percentage of truth in such biographies?

Muhammad: What matches with my story in the Quran is true; yet, such biographies are never part of Islam because Islam is the Quran only. Any biographies may contain lies, falsehoods, exaggerations, and some truths. Such relative truths are never part of Islam; anyway, what contradicts the Quran in such biographies is never true; most of such biographies are mere fabrications, I assure you.

The CNN anchor: What about the views expressed by you now?

Muhammad: They are my own personal views, which might be wrong or right, and they can be expressed by anyone; they are not part of Islam; Islam is the Quran only as I have told you.

The CNN anchor: Even when your views are comments on some Quranic verses, right?

Muhammad: Exactly.

The CNN anchor: Many viewers of Arab origin hate and condemn your words expressed in this CNN interview; in our opinion, why is that?

Muhammad: Their hearts and souls still cling to the polytheistic notion of deifying and sanctifying prophets as if such prophets were larger than life or above the level of human beings; they forget the fact that prophets are not deities. I am a mortal prophet and a human being who consume food and walk through marketplaces. In fact, I hope very much that this interview with me would remove all remnants of deifying and sanctifying prophets from the minds of viewers. Islam, as a religion, is only my Lord God's Word: the Quranic Discourse itself; other discourses pertain to human beings and never represent Islam.

The CNN anchor: Some people told me they are afraid lest your views expressed in this CNN interview should be written down as your Sunna hadiths!

Muhammad: Those who may do so forget my assertions that my views are my own personal ones which may be wrong or right. My views are not Islam because Islam is the Quran only. Anyway, one cannot prevent others from guiding or misguiding themselves.

The CNN anchor: Would we remain silent? What are we to do with those who protest against this CNN interview with you?

Muhammad: The Quran must be preached to them; if they question or reject it, we distance ourselves from them and let them be: "And say to those who do not believe, “Act according to your ability; and so will we.” “And wait; we too are waiting.”" (11:121-122).

The CNN anchor: What about those who reject your views and comments, about the Quranic verses, expressed here? Are they to be considered as disbelievers?

Muhammad: Not at all; my own personal views may be wrong or right; they are not Islam; Islam is the Quran only and nothing more, as I have told you.

The CNN anchor: What is in your view, then, the lessons to be drawn from the Quranic story of Adam?

Muhammad: I see that the main issue in it is obeying or disobeying divine commands and our stance towards them.

The CNN anchor: Meaning?

Muhammad: To prostrate to Adam is a strange divine command addressed to the angels of the Upper Realm; yet, all angels obeyed my Lord God except the arrogant angel Iblis. Thus, there are two stances here: (A) immediate obedience without questioning the divine command or asking for its reasons, and (B) disobeying the divine command and arguing against it.

The CNN anchor: I see.

Muhammad: Similarly, the divine command addressed to Adam and his wife about never to get near to the Forbidden Tree was without mentioning any reasons at all. Adam and his wife sinned and disobeyed this divine command; yet, they repented and my Lord God accepted their repentance. This is a third stance: repentance after disobedience and sinning.

The CNN anchor: I see there are three stances: obedience, disobedience without repentance, and disobedience followed by repentance.

Muhammad: Iblis never repented since he arrogantly and wrongfully justified for himself his disobedience; Adam and his wife knew they were sinners when they disobeyed the divine command; they felt deep remorse and repented sincerely.

The CNN anchor: The three stances are found in our modern life and culture now. Some people perform acts of charity as they obey God the Creator like the angels. Some people commit sins and mistakes and then have pangs of conscience driving them to repent like Adam and Eve. Some people try to justify their crimes and sins within false claims and thus they never repent like Iblis.

Muhammad: But there is a worse type of criminals and sinners.

The CNN anchor: What is this type?

Muhammad: Those who justify their sins and crimes by making them part of the divine legislations ascribed to my Lord God though He warns against this grave sin within the story of how Satan managed to deceive and tempt Adam.

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: My Lord God says the following in the Holy Quran: "O children of Adam! We have provided you with clothing to cover your bodies, and for luxury. But the clothing of piety - that is best. These are some of God’s Verses, so that they may take heed. O children of Adam! Do not let Satan seduce you, as he drove your parents out of Paradise, stripping them of their garments, to show them their nakedness. He sees you, him and his clan, from where you cannot see them. We have made the devils allies of those who do not believe. And when they commit an indecency, they say, “We found our parents doing this, and God has commanded us to do it.” Say, “God does not command indecencies. Are you attributing to God what you do not know?”" (7:26-28).

The CNN anchor: How is this linked to Adam and Eve?

Muhammad: When Adam and his wife disobeyed my Lord God by consuming the fruit of the Forbidden Tree inside the Barsakh Paradise, they garments of Barsakh light which covered their bodies disappeared; their nakedness appeared to them for the first time. The Lord God provided garments for human beings in this life; such garments are man-made; the souls should have their best garments which are woven of piety; this is better for the souls in the Hereafter.

The CNN anchor: If garments or clothes are man-made in this world, how come that God provided them for us?!

Muhammad: They are woven of material created by my Lord God.

The CNN anchor: I see that in the Quranic context 7:26-28, human beings are warned against temptation and deceit of Satan since he managed to deceive Adam and Eve; yet, what is intended by reminding readers that Satan removed the garments of Barsakh light from their bodies so that they see their nakedness?

Muhammad: When Iblis arrogantly refused to prostrate to Adam, his reason was that Adam was created of mud and clay; these are base material when compared to the power of fire from which angels like Iblis were created; Satan removed the garments of Barsakh light from their bodies so that they realize they did not belong to the Barsakh realm but to the lower, physical realm of the earth since they are created from the dust and water of this earth.

The CNN anchor: What is meant by this Quranic phrase: "...He sees you, him and his clan, from where you cannot see them..." (7:27)?

Muhammad: This is very important to all human beings; Adam and his wife could see Satan and other ethereal Barsakh-realm creatures (devils, jinn, and angels) inside the Barsakh Paradise. Yet, in this physical realm of the earth, no human beings can see such ethereal creatures; in contrast, these ethereal creatures can see human beings since they exist in a Barsakh level above human beings which overlaps with the physical earth. While seen by Adam and his wife, Satan managed to tempt and deceive both of them; this means he and other devils can deceive and tempt human beings in an easier manner now since human beings can never see Satan and devils. Human souls who reside in bodies created of mud belong to the Barsakh realm; Satan and devils can misguide and whisper evil to the souls which drive and control the human bodies. This is how disobedience and sins are committed. This is how allying oneself to devils occurs; this is why one reads this phrase by the end of the same verse: "...We have made the devils allies of those who do not believe." (7:27).

The CNN anchor: This is proved by the crimes and bloodshed committed by human beings, past and present. History provides us with many painful examples and so is today's media. There are thousands of individual crimes, group crimes, and international crimes. Sadly, the most lucrative business on earth now is the selling and purchasing weapons; such weapons are used by the descendants of Adam to massacre one another though they are brethren and have one father and one mother: Adam and Eve.

Muhammad: As per 7:28, it is a grave sin to ascribe one's sins or crimes to the Lord God's religion and divine commands; this grave sin is committed by allies of Satan and his devils.

The CNN anchor: I see. This is exemplified by the Wahabi ISIS terrorists who ascribe their sex jihad and their heinous terrorist crimes, such as massacres, bloodshed, enslaving women, sabotage, and looting, to the name of Islam; it is a shame that the media labels them as (Islamists); such terrorists justify their heinous crimes using hadiths ascribed to your name.

Muhammad: I am innocent of what they do!

The CNN anchor: How can you refute such Wahabi terrorists?

Muhammad: My Lord God refutes them beforehand here: "And when they commit an indecency, they say, “We found our parents doing this, and God has commanded us to do it.” Say, “God does not command indecencies. Are you attributing to God what you do not know?” Say, “My Lord commands justice, and to stand devoted at every place of worship. So call upon Him, and dedicate your religion to Him alone. Just as He originated you, so you will return.” Some He has guided, and some have deserved misguidance. They have adopted the devils for allies rather than God, and they assume that they are guided." (7:28-30).

The CNN anchor: This is why the story of Adam is repeated in the Quranic text; human beings should take heed and be careful so as to avoid being deceived and tempted by Satan and his devils; they should not lured by Satan to disobey God so as not to repeat the sin of disobedience committed by their father Adam who was tempted by Satan.

Muhammad: You are absolutely right. This is in addition to draw their attention to the fact that the only guidance is from the Lord God conveyed by His messengers: "We said, “Descend from it, all of you. Yet whenever guidance comes to you from Me, then whoever follows My guidance - they have nothing to fear, nor shall they grieve. But as for those who disbelieve and reject Our Verses - these are the inmates of the Fire - wherein they will remain forever.”" (2:38-39); "He said, “Descend from it, altogether; some of you enemies of some others. But whenever guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance, will not go astray, nor suffer. But whoever turns away from My Reminder, for him is a confined life. And We will raise him on the Day of Resurrection blind.”" (20:123-124).

The CNN anchor: This is a warning and glad tidings at the same time.

Muhammad: This Quranic verse contains my Lord God's address to the emotional and rational sides of human beings who are the descendants of Adam: "We said to the angels, “Prostrate to Adam.” So they prostrated, except for Iblis who became of the jinn, and he defied the command of his Lord. Will you take him and his offspring as allies instead of Me, when they are an enemy to you? Evil is the exchange for the unjust ones." (18:50).

The CNN anchor: Such richness in the Quranic story of Adam is never found in the Old Testament's story of Adam.

Muhammad: This is because the Quranic Message is the source of guidance from my Lord God and not a history book.

The CNN interview with Muhammad about the existence of Satan

The CNN anchor: The Old Testament does not mention Satan the Devil within the story of Adam or elsewhere; it is noteworthy that some thinkers of the cultural elite deny the existence of Satan. Let us discuss this topic of Satan's existence; you can provide me with your own view and then with the Quranic proofs.

Muhammad: Of course, the Quran is a call for pondering, reflecting, contemplating, reasoning, and understanding. Using one's rational mind, before quoting the Quran, can prove Satan's existence and his control over the souls of his human followers. Let me pose some questions to you and you will kindly answer me.

The CNN anchor: OK.

Muhammad: There is a storehouse filled with building material like sand, cement, wood, glass, iron, bricks,...etc. Two men came and bought some of such items; one of them built a nightclub, and the other built a mausoleum and convinced the gullible, naïve masses that under it, there is a buried saint or ally who works miracles for his worshipers. The items of building material in both cases are the same, right?

The CNN anchor: Of course they are.

Muhammad: Why, then, the masses would venerate, sanctify, and worship the bricks, iron, curtains, and glass of the mausoleum and never those of the nightclub?

The CNN anchor: Because they believe that such 'holy' and deified mausoleum may bring benefit to them and ward off evil or harm from them.

Muhammad: The items of building material of the nightclub are the same and yet no one says that the bricks, iron, curtains, and glass of the nightclub may bring benefit and ward off harm or evil, right?

The CNN anchor: Yes and this is because the masses believe in the saints buried beneath mausoleums.

Muhammad: Would this alleged sanctity or benediction of any saints be transmitted into the bricks, iron, curtains, and glass of any mausoleums?!

The CNN anchor (hesitant): I do not know! Yet, many people believe in saints buried under mausoleums. This is the core of many of today's religions.

Muhammad: If so, why would not they dig into these tombs to draw the benediction directly from the corpses of such sanctified saints?!

The CNN anchor (hesitant): I do not know!

Muhammad: What if such a saint would get out of the tomb and greeted his worshipers with open arms?

The CNN anchor: They will scream and run away in panic, for sure!

Muhammad: It is never rational to worship stones and building material on which one can tread with one's feet; likewise, it is never rational to worship corpses of the dead.

The CNN anchor: Of course, you are right.

Muhammad: Who have managed to convince polytheists to worship tombs?

The CNN anchor: Do you mean Satan?

Muhammad: Exactly; my Lord God warns all people here: "O you who believe! Wine, gambling, mausoleums, and divination are abominations of Satan’s doing. Avoid them, so that you may prosper. Satan wants to provoke strife and hatred among you through wine and gambling, and to prevent you from the remembrance of God, and from prayers. Will you not desist?" (5:90-91).

The CNN anchor: But Satan never built any mausoleums himself, right?

Muhammad: But Satan has managed to convince many people to worship and deify stones, icons, tombs, statues,...etc. This means Satan is the real fashioner of such abominations and fabrications never accepted by the rational mind; Satan is like a director of a movie who controls the scene but never appears on camera.

The CNN anchor: I wholeheartedly agree with you; I know a banker who demands too many guarantees when giving a loan to someone and he examines his own expenditures and purchases carefully; yet, he donates much money without thinking to a mausoleum of a saint! This man never thinks for one minute to verify if such a saint is found or not beneath such a tomb!

Muhammad: My Lord God says the following in the Quran: "And they allocate, to something they do not know, a share of what We have provided for them. By God, you will be questioned about what you have been inventing." (16:56).

The CNN anchor: If such polytheists were rational human beings, they would not have worshiped stones on which they can treat by their feet; Satan has managed to blind them and to brainwash them!

Muhammad: As for the so-called hadiths ascribed to me by some authors....

The CNN anchor (interrupting): They are Malik, Al-Shafei, Al-Bokhary, Moslem, Ibn Hanbal,...etc.

Muhammad: I never knew them in Arabia; they were not my contemporaries. How come they would write words I might have uttered?! I never authorized my contemporaries to write anything I say except the Quranic verses. It is very silly to consider such hadiths, which have nothing to do with me, as divine revelation; could I have left parts of Islam without conveying them so that such authors would 'complete' and 'find' any 'missing' parts of Islam?! This is absurd!

The CNN anchor: Such authors ascribe their hadiths to Isnad or series of narrators whose last narrator would be a man who was among your contemporaries in Arabia.

Muhammad: Why would anyone believe in such a myth?! Any oral traditions by any person or groups are changed and distorted by generations of people who hear and repeat it; I never pronounced any of the hundreds of thousands of hadiths. I never read them or heard about them. They are never part of Islam. They are never part of the divine revelation at all; the only divine revelation I received is the Quran itself.

The CNN anchor: Yet, over one billion Muslims worldwide believe in hadiths!

Muhammad: It is never rational to believe in such texts and Isnad of such hadiths; who has managed to deceive people so that they believe in these hadiths in the past centuries until now and so that they refuse to question them?

The CNN anchor: Do you mean Satan?

Muhammad: Of course. The devilish revelations are inspired to allies of Satan to misguide people; yet, monotheists take heed of the warning here: "Likewise, We have assigned for every prophet an enemy - human and jinn devils - inspiring one another with fancy words in order to deceive. But had your Lord willed, they would not have done it. So leave them to their fabrications. So that the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter may incline to it, and be content with it, and that they may perpetrate whatever they perpetrate. “Shall I seek a judge other than God, when He is the One who revealed to you the Book, explained in detail?” Those to whom We gave the Book know that it is the Truth revealed from your Lord. So do not be of those who doubt. The Word of your Lord has been completed, in Truth and justice. There is no changing to His words. He is the Hearer, the Knower." (6:112-115).

The CNN anchor: This means you consider Satan as the basis of misguiding human beings as far as religion is concerned. I see that this is why most religions worldwide cause much troubles. I know that the Divine, Celestial Religion aims at upholding justice; yet, the other religions fabricated by men cause people to engage into religious wars and strife; extremists among any coreligionists hate those who do not follow their way and this drives them to commit violence and bloodshed; this has occurred in the past and in the present. If they were really religious people, they would have adhered to a higher moralistic level and to higher values like peace and tolerance.

Muhammad: What you say asserts the existence of Satan and that he is behind the fabrication of man-made religions of polytheism which have hundreds of 'holy' books and mausoleums and incite violence and bloodshed.

The CNN anchor: Aside from corrupting religion, has Satan any other role?

Muhammad: Yes; Satan tempts people to commit crimes, evil deeds, and sins; for instance, people or rulers may commit murders and launch wars to steal precious stones and gems though they are never edible items; yet, who has managed to convince such people to lose their minds and also lives for the sake of mere stones?!

The CNN anchor: I know the answer: Satan. This means Satan makes most people worship stones of several types whether they are precious stones or gems, pagan idols, or mausoleums. Satan makes some people die for keeping or gaining mere stones!

Muhammad: By the way, is your own father alive or dead?

The CNN anchor: He died when I was a kid.

Muhammad: And your ancestors died like our father Adam, right?

The CNN anchor: Of course. Why are you asking me about them?!

Muhammad: And you will die one day, right?

The CNN anchor: Of course.

Muhammad: Have you arranged your life on the basis of your inevitable death?

The CNN anchor: I am not sure if I follow!

Muhammad: Have you ever said to yourself that it is useless to struggle against any enemies since all of us will die and will unwillingly leave the possessions of this transient world?

The CNN anchor: I never thought of that! In fact, most people spend their lives in endless disputes, wars, and struggles with other people in vain.

Muhammad: Most of them forget about their own inevitable death, right?

The CNN anchor: Yes.

Muhammad: Who is behind this forgetfulness?

The CNN anchor: Do you mean Satan?

Muhammad: Of course, Satan is behind this. Sadly, Satan has managed to deceive most of the descendants of Adam in the same method he employed to deceive Adam: the promise of immortality and kingdom or ownership. Most people struggle and vie for ownership of as many assets and possessions as possible while assuming they would never die. I mean they tend to forget that they are mortals who are bound to die and leave their assets and possessions to others. If they were rational beings, they would have divided the resources of Planet Earth equally among them and adhered to peace within settling all disputes so that they enjoy their lives in peace of mind and serenity.

The CNN anchor: I see.

Muhammad: This gap between rational thinking and the sins and folly of most people indicates that Satan controls the souls of misguided people to lead them to Hell in the Hereafter because of their disobeying the Lord God and their sins and crimes. No human beings can see their arch-enemies: Satan and devils.

The CNN anchor: I see. This means Satan controls clergymen, politicians, rulers, kings, presidents, billionaires, media owners, businesspersons, and warlords; all of them are allies of Satan and yet they deny the existence of Satan!

CHAPTER VII: The CNN Interview about the Ancient Arabs

CHAPTER VII: The CNN Interview about the Ancient Arabs

The CNN interview with Muhammad about the Arab prophet Hud and his people of Aad

The CNN anchor (reading from a piece of paper): The people of Hud, named the Aad tribe, lived in the region known as Al-Ahqaf, or literally "large sand dunes", in the desert known as the Empty Quarter in the south of Arabia between Oman and Yemen; the term Al-Ahqaf is mentioned in the Quran: "And mention the brother of Aad, as he warned his people at the dunes. Warnings have passed away before him, and after him: “Worship none but God; I fear for you the torment of a Tremendous Day.”" (46:21). In 1990, excavations there showed the ruins of Erum, the ancient city mentioned in the Quran as linked to the people of Aad: "Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with Aad? Erum of the pillars. The like of which was never created in the land." (89:6-8). Erum is located in present-day Oman, about 170 km from the north of the Omani city of Salalah. Erum is now part of world heritage due to its importance; many columns and fine examples of advanced architecture are discovered in Erum; this means an ancient civilization existed there, but it ended because the region was covered by sand after a severe sand storm that turned it into an arid desert. Excavations and studies prove that Erum had its agricultural project and fertile fields. Now please allow me to ask you about Aad who are mentioned in the Quran; they emerged after the people of Noah, right?

Muhammad: Yes; after the deliverance of the believers among the people of Noah along with Noah in the Ark, by the mercy of the Lord God, their descendants begot many generations which multiplied until the Aad tribe emerged and its people were polytheists who worshiped mortals and things; the Lord God sent them Hud as a prophet.

The CNN anchor: The name (Hud) shows his Arab origin.

Muhammad: In fact, Hud was among the ancient Arabs (before the era of Ishmael) whose tribes, like Aad, Thamood, and Madian, were destroyed by the Lord God, and in each time, the Arab prophets, Hud, Saleh, and Shuaib, respectively, and the believers with them were delivered; their descendants begot many generations which multiplied and then polytheism would emerge once more. My Lord God has sent prophets to them but the vast majority would deny them and destruction or torment occurred. This cycle ended by the destruction of Moses' Pharaoh and his people.

The CNN anchor: You have told me before that the message conveyed by all prophets was the same and that their peoples, especially the affluent and powerful class members, would deny and disbelieve in the same manner.

Muhammad: The Quranic story of Hud and Aad is no exception to this rule.

The CNN anchor: Hud and Aad are never mentioned in the Old Testament.

Muhammad: Hud, Saleh, and Shuaib were Arab prophets; the unknown authors of the Old Testament maybe never heard of them. The Quran mentions the story of Hud and Aad several times in many verses about the call of Hud to monotheism, the arguments between Hud and Aad, and the annihilation of the disbelievers.

The CNN anchor: The arguments by Aad show the features of such people even if their words resemble those of all disbelievers who denied God's prophets.

Muhammad: Hud conveyed the same message of monotheism of (There is no God but Allah) and the vast majority of Aad refused to follow him and adhered to their polytheism: "And to Aad, their brother Hud. He said, “O my people! Worship Allah; you have no God other than Him. Will you not take heed?”" (7:65).

The CNN anchor: What was their exact response to Hud?

Muhammad: "The elite of his people who disbelieved said, “We see foolishness in you, and we think that you are a liar.”" (7:66).

The CNN anchor: What was the response of Hud to them?

Muhammad: "He said, “O my people! There is no foolishness in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds. “I convey to you the messages of my Lord, and I am a trustworthy adviser to you.” “Are you surprised that a reminder has come to you from your Lord, through a man from among you, to warn you? Remember how He made you successors after the people of Noah, and increased you greatly in stature. And remember God’s bounties, so that you may prosper.”" (7:67-69). This is a quiet and reasonable response which tries to advise and convince them of monotheism; they knew about their ancestors the people of Noah; they knew that the Lord God granted them strong bodies of giants and physical strength among other bounties.

The CNN anchor: What was the response of the people of Aad to this preaching by Hud?

Muhammad: They denied and disbelieved him and they also challenged him: "They said, “Did you come to us to make us worship God alone, and abandon what our ancestors used to worship? Then bring us what you threaten us with, if you are truthful.”" (7:70).

The CNN anchor: What was the response of Hud?

Muhammad: His angry response, as well as warning, is mentioned here: "He said, “Condemnation and wrath have befallen you from your Lord. Are you arguing with me over names, which you and your ancestors invented, for which God sent down no authority? Just wait; I am waiting with you.”" (7:71).

The CNN anchor: What else?

Muhammad: I have quoted verses from the Quranic Chapter Seven. There are other details in the Quranic Chapter Eleven: "And to Aad, their brother Hud. He said, “O my people, worship Allah, you have no other God besides Him. You do nothing but invent lies.” “O my people, I ask you no wage for it; my wage lies with Him who originated me. Do you not understand?” O my people, ask forgiveness from your Lord, and repent to Him. He will release the sky pouring down upon you, and will add strength to your strength. And do not turn away and be among the criminals.”" (11:50-52)

The CNN anchor: What was the response of the people of Aad to Hud?

Muhammad: They accused him of madness: "They said, “O Hud, you did not bring us any proof, and we are not about to abandon our gods at your word, and we are not believers with you.” “We only say that some of our gods have possessed you with harm.”..." (11:53-54).

The CNN anchor: This is a strange accusation; what was the response of Hud?

Muhammad: "...He said, “I call God to witness, and you to witness, that I am innocent of what you associate. Besides Him. So scheme against me, all of you, and do not hesitate. I have placed my trust in God, my Lord and your Lord. There is not a creature but He holds it by the forelock. My Lord is on a Straight Path. If you turn away, I have conveyed to you what I was sent to you with; and my Lord will replace you with another people, and you will not cause Him any harm. My Lord is Guardian over all things.”" (11:54-57).

The CNN anchor: In the context of such arguments between Hud and Aad, the Quran mentions facts about Aad which were never known before the revelation of the Quran. They were successors of Noah's people and had extraordinary physical strength with bodies of giants, and they lived in a region with heavy rainfall. What else would you tell me from the Quran about historical facts in relation to Aad?

Muhammad: My Lord God says the following in the Quran: "Aad denied the messengers. When their brother Hud said to them, “Do you not fear? I am to you a faithful messenger. So fear God, and obey me. I ask of you no payment for this. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds. Do you build a monument on every height for vanity's sake? And you set up fortresses, hoping to live forever? And when you strike, you strike mercilessly? So fear God, and obey me. And reverence Him, who supplied you with everything you know. He supplied you with livestock and children. And gardens and springs. I fear for you the torment of a Tremendous Day.”" (26:123-135).

The CNN anchor: What can we infer from this Quranic context you have quoted?

Muhammad: The Aad people had advanced knowledge of architecture, industry, agriculture, and raising poultry and cattle; they had a great civilization and a fearsome military power at the time; this means other tribes and peoples in the same region were never as strong as Aad; such tribes were victims of the oppression and tyranny of the military power of Aad.

The CNN anchor: These are strange and new facts about the ancient tribe of Aad. What was their response to Hud when he told them he feared for them?

Muhammad: "They said, “It is the same for us, whether you preach us, or do not preach. This is nothing but ways of the ancients. And we will not be tormented.”" (26:136-138). This means it was no use since they would never listen to Hud; they were (Salafists) or arrogant worshipers of the old, erroneous ways of their forefathers or (Salaf).

The CNN anchor: What else?

Muhammad: "As for Aad, they turned arrogant on earth, and opposed justice, and said, “Who is more powerful than us?” Have they not considered that God, who created them, is more powerful than they? And they went on denying Our Verses." (41:15); "That was Aad; they denied the Verses of their Lord, and disobeyed His messengers, and followed the lead of every stubborn tyrant. And they were pursued by a curse in this world, and on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed, Aad disbelieved in their Lord - so away with Aad, the people of Hud." (11:59-60).

The CNN anchor: This means the arrogant Aad were the only superpower on earth at the time; what does the Quran mention about their exact location in the region named Al-Ahqaf or "sand dunes"?

Muhammad: "And mention the brother of Aad, as he warned his people at the dunes. Warnings have passed away before him, and after him: “Worship none but God; I fear for you the torment of a Tremendous Day.” They said, “Did you come to us to divert us from our gods? Then bring us what you threaten us with, if you are being truthful.” He said, “The knowledge is only with God, and I inform you of what I was sent with; but I see you are an ignorant people.”" (46:21-23).

The CNN anchor: How were the people of Aad annihilated by God?

Muhammad: With a roaring, destructive wind. Their arrogance resulted from their might and power, and their destruction by the wind was the torment inflicted on them by the Lord God in order to disgrace them and to make them see their civilization crumble before they died; the roaring wind carried such arrogant giants of Aad in the air and threw them several times until they died.

The CNN anchor: Would you inform me of more details about this?

Muhammad: My Lord says the following in the Quran: "So We unleashed upon them a screaming wind, for a few miserable days, to make them taste the torment of shame in this life; but the torment of the Hereafter is more shameful; and they will not be saved." (41:16); "And as for Aad; they were annihilated by a furious, roaring wind. He unleashed it upon them for seven nights and eight days, in succession. You could see the people tossed around, as though they were stumps of hollow palm-trees. Can you see any remnant of them?" (69:6-8). This means the death of such arrogant disbelievers was slow and within disgrace; for a week, they were carried and thrown several times by a wind like thunderbolts; the believers and others oppressed by Aad saw them shamed and tormented. This served as a warning mentioned by other prophets in later eras; for instance, I told the following to the disbelievers of Arabia: "But if they turn away, say, “I have warned you of a thunderbolt, like the thunderbolt of Aad and Thamood.”" (41:13).

The CNN anchor: I see. Of course, palm-trees were grown a lot in Arabia, where Aad lived near today's Oman, and this indicates an agricultural environment and also the industrial and military activities since the wood of such palm-trees was used for manufacturing many things especially weapons.

Muhammad: The torment of Aad is mentioned again here: "Aad denied the Truth. So how were My torment and My warnings? We unleashed upon them a screaming wind, on a day of unrelenting misery. Plucking the people away, as though they were trunks of uprooted palm-trees." (54:18-20).

The CNN anchor: What? One day? But the Quranic verse 69:7 mentions seven nights and eight days?! How come?!

Muhammad: This one-week torment seemed like one, long day for the annihilated disbelievers of Aad; they saw neither day or night; they felt thunderbolts and roaring wind throwing them everywhere. The believers who were saved, and who witnessed this destruction, could count the days of this one-week torment inflicted on such arrogant tyrants.

The CNN anchor: How did this torment of Aad begin?

Muhammad: They always enjoyed heavy rainfall preceded by a wind carrying clouds coming to their region; they never knew that the roaring wind came to destroy them; they hastened the torment in mockery as they ridiculed Hud; instead of the wind carrying rain to their farms, orchard, and fields, they were surprised by the torment inflicted upon them: "Then, when they saw a cloud approaching their valley, they said, “This is a cloud that will bring us rain.” “In fact, it is what you were impatient for: a wind in which is a painful torment.”" (46:24).

The CNN anchor: This was a special type of wind, then.

Muhammad: Yes; it is inflicted on them specially. "It will destroy everything by the command of its Lord. And when the morning came upon them, there was nothing to be seen except their dwellings. Thus We requite the criminal people." (46:25); "And in Aad. We unleashed against them the devastating wind. It spared nothing it came upon, but rendered it like decayed ruins." (51:41-42).

The CNN anchor: We talked about historical facts about Aad in the Quranic verses containing arguments between them and Hud; what about other historical facts about Aad in the Quranic verses about their destruction?

Muhammad: The severe, painful torment inflicted on Aad destroyed them, and typically, the believers among them were delivered by their Lord God: "And when Our decree came, We saved Hud and those who believed with him, by a mercy from Us, and We delivered them from a harsh torment." (11:58); I infer that there was a second tribe of Aad as the believers survived and multiplied and carried the same name of the tribe of Aad; there are two tribes named Aad: the first one of the arrogant, powerful disbelievers annihilated by the Dominant Lord God and the second one of the believing descendants of the believers who survived as they were delivered with Hud by the Lord God's mercy; I have inferred this from this Quranic verse about the first, annihilated Aad: "And that it is He who destroyed the first Aad." (53:50).

The CNN anchor: What else?

Muhammad: The architectural genius of Aad is inferred from here: "Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with Aad? Erum of the pillars. The like of which was never created in the land." (89:6-8). The Aad people had deep knowledge and insight in worldly matters and civilization but Satan misguided them and they fell into the traps of polytheism, tyranny, and aggression: "And Aad and Thamood. It has become clear to you from their dwellings. Satan embellished for them their deeds, barring them from the Path, even though they had insight." (29:38).

The CNN anchor: I see.

The CNN interview with Muhammad about the Arab prophet Saleh and his people of Thamood

The CNN anchor: Let us discuss now the Quranic story of the tribe of Thamood and their Arab prophet Saleh.

Muhammad: They were among the ancient Arab people who succeeded Aad; they emerged after Aad and they adhered to polytheism. When Saleh was sent by the Lord God as a prophet to them, he repeated the words of Noah and Hud: "And to Thamood, their brother Saleh. He said, “O my people! Worship Allah; you have no God other than Him. Clarification has come to you from your Lord. This she-camel of God is a sign for you. So leave her to graze on God’s earth, and do her no harm, lest a painful torment seizes you.”" (7:73); "And to Thamood, their brother Saleh. He said, “O my people, worship Allah, you have no God other than Him. He initiated you from the earth, and settled you in it. So seek His forgiveness, and repent to Him. My Lord is Near and Responsive.”" (11:61); "Thamood denied the messengers. When their brother Saleh said to them, “Would you not adhere to piety? I am to you a faithful messenger. So fear God within piety, and obey me. I ask of you no payment for it. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds." (26:141-145).

The CNN anchor: You have quoted these Quranic verses in a previous segment of this interview. What about inferred pieces of information about the features of the people of Thamood within the arguments between them and Saleh?

Muhammad: But I must be allowed to emphasize the fact that the people of Thamood knew about the Lord God and they worshiped Him but within polytheism; they worshiped, alongside with Him, other deities and allies/saints.

The CNN anchor: OK; but what have you inferred from the Quranic verses about the arguments between the Thamood tribe and Saleh?

Muhammad: The stubborn polytheists demanded, in mockery, the infliction of torment and Hud urged them to seek the Lord God's forgiveness and to repent by rejecting polytheism: "He said, “O my people, why are you quick to do evil rather than good? If only you would seek God’s forgiveness, so that you may be shown mercy.”" (27:46); "And to Thamood, their brother Saleh. He said, “O my people, worship God, you have no god other than Him. He initiated you from the earth, and settled you in it. So seek His forgiveness, and repent to Him. My Lord is Near and Responsive.”" (11:61).

The CNN anchor: I see, but what is meant by the phrase (settled you in it)?

Muhammad: This is explained here: "“And remember how He made you successors after Aad, and settled you in the land. You make for yourselves mansions on its plains, and carve out dwellings in the mountains. So remember God’s benefits, and do not roam the earth while committing corruption.”" (7:74); this means they knew about the story of Aad; they were the successors of Aad, and they should have been grateful for the bounties bestowed upon them by the Lord God; they should have worshiped Him within monotheism.

The CNN anchor: I see. What else?

Muhammad: Saleh warned them here: "Will you be left secure in what is here? In gardens and springs? And fields, and palm-trees whose fruits are delicious? And you skillfully carve houses in the mountains? So fear God, and obey me. And do not obey the command of the extravagant. Who spread corruption on earth and do not reform.”" (26:146-152). This means they had mansions, castles, and palaces in a mountainous region and they felt safe and secure; they had their agricultural activities; yet, they followed the affluent, corrupt class members and disbelieved in the Divine Message and the sign or miracle given to them; this is why my Lord God destroyed them by a torment inflicted on them.

The CNN anchor: I see now that typically, few ones are affluent, corrupt, and powerful people who monopolized wealth and authority in a given community and opposed the reform advocated in the Celestial Message conveyed by prophets and messengers.

Muhammad: Exactly. They are the arrogant elite; they hated and envied Saleh and desired angels be sent to them instead of him: "...“Do not worship anyone but God.” They said, “Had our Lord willed, He would have sent down angels. Therefore, we disbelieve in what you are sent with.”" (41:14); "Thamood rejected the warnings. They said, “Are we to follow one of us, a human being? We would then go astray, and end up in Hell. Was the message given to him, out of all of us? In fact, he is a wicked liar.” They will know tomorrow who the wicked liar is." (54:23-26).

The CNN anchor: I see. The elite who monopolized wealth, authority, and power spread corruption and hated the Divine Message that undermined their stances and threatened their position; they schemed and plotted until they are destroyed. This applies to Thamood as the case with other tribes and nations in the Quranic stories.

Muhammad: Exactly. This applies to Thamood: "And thus We set up in every city its big criminals to scheme in it, but they scheme only against themselves, and they do not realize it. When a sign comes to them, they say, “We will not believe unless we are given the like of what was given to God’s messengers.” God knows best where to place His message. Humiliation from God and severe torment will afflict the criminals for their scheming." (6:123-124).

The CNN anchor: Saleh seemed to have had a special position among Thamood, right?

Muhammad: Yes; he apparently was from its upper classes, and they prepared him for some sort of a leadership, but once he was sent to them as a messenger, they were disappointed in him.

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: I have inferred this from the following words they addressed by them to Saleh: "They said, “O Saleh, we had hopes in you before this. Are you trying to prevent us from worshiping what our forefathers worship? We are in serious doubt regarding what you are calling us to.”" (11:62).

The CNN anchor: What are the special features of Thamood you have inferred from the Quran?

Muhammad: They believed in good and bad omens; they felt that the call of Saleh would bring them bad omen: "They said, “We consider you an ill omen, and those with you.” He said, “Your omen is with God. In fact, you are a people being tested.”" (27:47).

The CNN anchor: What else?

Muhammad: There was a sort of polarization between the arrogant, affluent, and wealthy minority in Thamood and the vast majority of weak, oppressed ones there.

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: The call of Saleh resulted in dividing Thamood into two groups who disputed: the haughty, powerful, disbelieving faction and the faction of weak, oppressed disbelievers: "And We sent to Thamood their brother Saleh: “Worship God.” But they became two disputing factions." (27:45); "The elite of his people, who were arrogant, said to the common people who had believed, “Do you know that Saleh is sent from his Lord?” They said, “We are believers in what he was sent with.” Those who were arrogant said, “We reject what you believe in.”" (7:75-76)

The CNN anchor: What happened next?

Muhammad: A plot was hatched to assassinate Saleh as he posed a threat to the power and authority of the wealthy elite; his call for monotheism made the weak, oppressed ones announce their monotheistic faith in public before their masters. The scheme was to hire nine corrupt murderers to kill off Saleh and his family by night, but the attempt failed: "In the city was a gang of nine who spread corruption in the land and did no good. They said, “Swear by God to one another that we will attack him and his family by night, and then tell his guardian, 'We did not witness the murder of his family, and we are being truthful.'“ They planned a plan, and We planned a plan, but they did not notice. So note the outcome of their planning; We destroyed them and their people, altogether." (27:48-51). They swore by the Lord God's Holy Name but they were corrupt, aggressive polytheists who sanctified and worshiped deities and allies/saints alongside with Him.

The CNN anchor: Their attempt to assassinate Saleh was not the only reason for their being destroyed by a torment inflicted by God, right?

Muhammad: The other reason apart from their aggression, corruption, and polytheism was their killing the sign or miracle granted to them by the Lord God; I mean slaughtering the she-camel.

The CNN anchor: What is the story of this she-camel? How was it a miracle or a sign from God?

Muhammad: The people of Thamood demanded a miracle from Saleh to prove his truthfulness and prophethood after accusing him of being bewitched: "They said, “You are surely one of the bewitched. You are nothing but a human being like us. So bring us a sign, if you are truthful." (26:153-154). It was a test for them; the she-camel was created of the rocks before their eyes: "Nothing prevents Us from sending miraculous signs, except that the ancients called them lies. We gave Thamood the she-camel, a visible sign, but they mistreated her. We do not send the signs except to instill reverence." (17:59); "We are sending the she-camel as a test for them; so watch them and be patient. And inform them that the water is to be shared between them; each share of drink made available." (54:27-28). Their water would be divided between them and the she-camel.

The CNN anchor: Why?

Muhammad: So that they would experience this miracle on a daily basis; they alternatingly drank water for a day, and in the next day, the drank the milk of the she-camel while leaving their water to it. They should have shown respect and reverence to the miracle sent to them by the Lord God by guaranteeing water for this she-camel every other day and to provide its food and security lest torment would be inflicted on them in case of disobedience and disrespect: "The messenger of God said to them, “This is the she-camel of God, so let her drink.”" (91:13); "He said, “This is a she-camel; she has her turn of drinking, and you have your turn of drinking - on a specified day. And do not touch her with harm, lest the torment of a great day seizes you.”" (26:155-156); "O my people, this is the she-camel of God, a sign for you. Let her graze on God’s land, and do not harm her, lest an imminent torment overtakes you.”" (11:64); "And to Thamood, their brother Saleh. He said, “O my people! Worship Allah; you have no God other than Him. Clarification has come to you from your Lord. This she-camel of God is a sign for you. So leave her to graze on God’s earth, and do her no harm, lest a painful torment seizes you.”" (7:73).

The CNN anchor: So, the Thamood people schemed to slaughter the she-camel, right?

Muhammad: Yes. they hired an evil man to do so: "But they called their companion, and he dared, and he slaughtered." (54:29); "Thamood denied in its arrogance. When it followed its most wicked man." (91:11-12).

The CNN anchor: This was their showing disrespect towards God as if they challenged Him.

Muhammad: Exactly. And they mockingly demanded from Saleh to bring upon them the torment: "So they slaughtered the she-camel, and defied the command of their Lord, and said, “O Saleh, bring upon us what you threaten us with, if you are one of the messengers.”" (7:77); "But they slaughtered her, and so He said, “Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days. This is a prophecy that is infallible.”" (11:65).

The CNN anchor: Why was their torment delayed for three days?

Muhammad: This was a psychological torment before their annihilation; since they saw a miracle but never heeded the warning, they arrogantly and defiantly slaughtered the she-camel; they lived in deep remorse for three days before the torment was inflicted on them by my Lord God. "But they slaughtered her, and became full of remorse." (26:157).

The CNN anchor: This means the miracle failed to convince them to guide themselves to the monotheistic belief.

Muhammad: My Lord God has told me that miracles or signs never convinced any disbelievers.

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: The defiant, disbelieving polytheists of Qorayish demanded miracles from me as a challenge; they never heeded the fact that the only miracle granted to me: the Holy Quran itself. They never pondered on the Quranic verses. It is as if the Quran were not enough for them. I was saddened as my Lord God never granted me a miracle or sign to convince them, but my Lord God has told me the following: "Nothing prevents Us from sending miraculous signs, except that the ancients called them lies. We gave Thamood the she-camel, a visible sign, but they mistreated her. We do not send the signs except to instill reverence." (17:59).

The CNN anchor: How the people of Thamood were destroyed?

Muhammad: Let us remember that they lived in safety and security in palaces, castles, and mansions carved into mountains and in some others built with rocks amidst the plains and valleys: "And Thamood - those who carved the rocks in the valley." (89:9). Thus, unlike Aad who were tormented and annihilated by a roaring wind that lasted for a week, the torment of Thamood annihilated them inside their homes after three days of waiting in remorse and anxiety.

The CNN anchor: What was that torment exactly?

Muhammad: The Dominant Lord God describes is in several Quranic verses; it was like a thunderbolt or an explosion of special bomb that killed off all disbelievers and left the buildings intact: "As for Thamood, they were annihilated by the Overwhelming." (69:5); " And in Thamood. They were told, “Enjoy yourselves for a while.” But they defied the command of their Lord, so the lightning struck them as they looked on. They could not rise up, nor could they find help." (51:43-45); "And as for Thamood, We guided them, but they preferred blindness over guidance. So the thunderbolt of the humiliating torment seized them, because of what they used to earn." (41:17); "...“Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days. This is a prophecy that is infallible.” Then, when Our command came, We saved Saleh and those who believed with him, by a mercy from Us, from the disgrace of that day. Your Lord is the Strong, the Mighty. And the Scream struck those who transgressed, and they became motionless bodies in their homes." (11:65-67); "We sent against them a single Scream, and they became like crushed hay." (54:31); "Whereupon the quake overtook them, and they became lifeless bodies in their homes." (7:78).

The CNN anchor: This special bomb never hurt anyone else or any non-human creatures, right?

Muhammad: Yes. This is part of the miracles of the Lord God; only the disbelievers of Thamood were annihilated whereas Saleh and the believers with him survived and were saved though they remained in the same time and place. This is about the disbelievers of Thamood: "So note the outcome of their scheming; We destroyed them and their people, altogether." (27:51). The Lord God has delivered Saleh and the believers with him: "And We saved those who believed and were pious." (27:53 + 41:18); "Then, when Our command came, We saved Saleh and those who believed with him, by a mercy from Us, from the disgrace of that day. Your Lord is the Strong, the Mighty." (11:66).

The CNN anchor: What about their mansions, palaces, and castles?

Muhammad: They remained intact so that the pious monotheists take heed and draw a lesson: "Here are their homes, empty, on account of their iniquities. Surely in this is a sign for people who know." (27:52).

The CNN anchor: What happened after the destruction of the disbelievers and the deliverance of the believers of Thamood?

Muhammad: Saleh felt sorry as he looked at their corpses and he addressed them: "Then he turned away from them, and said, “O my people, I have delivered to you the message of my Lord, and I have advised you, but you do not like those who give advice.”" (7:79).

The CNN anchor: In fact, in all eras and regions, all tyrants, corrupters, and clergymen never like those who give advice and preach them.

The CNN interview with Muhammad about the Arab prophet Shuaib and his people of Madian

The CNN anchor: Let us discuss now the Quranic story of the tribe of Madian and their Arab prophet Shuaib; they are never mentioned in the Old Testament as you know.

Muhammad: My Lord God has sent Shuaib to the people of Madian with the message of monotheism of (There is no God but Allah) and he repeated to them the same words of previous prophets and messengers of the Lord God: "And to Madian, their brother Shuaib. He said, “O my people, worship Allah; you have no God other than Him. A clear proof has come to you from your Lord. Give full measure and weight, and do not cheat people out of their rights, and do not spread corruption in the land once it has been set right. This is better for you, if you are believers.”" (7:85); "The People of the Woods denied the messengers. When Shuaib said to them, “Do you not fear? I am to you a faithful messenger. So fear God, and obey me. I ask of you no payment for it. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds." (26:176-180).

The CNN anchor: What are the special features of the people of Madian or the pieces of information that you have inferred about them from the Quran?

Muhammad: Apart from their polytheism, they committed the sin of spreading corruption.

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: They were merchants and a main trade route passed by their city; this increased their profits but their prosperous trade was linked to corruption; this is why the call of Shuaib focused on both monotheism and ending this corruption.

The CNN anchor: What was his call methodology?

Muhammad: Of course, he knew that they knew about the Lord God and that they worshiped him, but within polytheism; he urged them to adhere to piety; he tried to convince them and to draw nearer to them; he feared for them: "Give full measure, and do not cheat. And weigh with accurate scales. And do not defraud people of their belongings, and do not spread corruption in the land. And fear Him who created you and the generations of old.”" (26:181-184); "And to Madian, their brother Shuaib. He said, “O my people, worship Allah; you have no God other than Him. And do not short measure or short weight. I see you in good circumstances, but I fear for you the torment of an Encompassing Day.” “O my people! Give full measure and full weight, in all fairness, and do not cheat the people out of their rights, and do not spread corruption in the land. What is left by God is best for you, if you are believers. And I am not a guardian over you.”" (11:84-86).

The CNN anchor: So, this shows to us that they were merchants in a city which was a center of trade and goods. What else?

Muhammad: In this context: "The People of the Woods denied the messengers. When Shuaib said to them..." (26:176-177), the people of Madian are significantly called (the People of the Woods).

The CNN anchor: Meaning?

Muhammad: Their city was situated in the midst of woods; this means it was a prosperous city of commercial and agricultural activities located near a main trade route. Yet, the people of Madian were ungrateful regarding such bounties granted to them by the Lord God; they were polytheists who committed injustices and spread corruption; the Lord God eventually annihilated them by a torment He inflicted upon them: "The People of the Woods were also unjust. So We took revenge upon them..." (15:78-79).

The CNN anchor: What else?

Muhammad: Such prosperity did not prevent them from coveting ill-gotten money by means of cheating, deception, and corruption; they controlled trade routes and committed many injustices; they were polytheists who repelled others from the Path of the Lord God despite their knowing about the stories and the fate of Thamood, Aad, and the people of Noah.

The CNN anchor: How have you inferred that they had knowledge of the ancient tribes and their fate?

Muhammad: From the words of Shuaib when he addressed them here: "“And do not lurk on every path, making threats and turning away from the Path of God those who believe in Him, seeking to distort it. And remember how you were few, and how He made you numerous. So note the consequences for the corrupters.”" (7:86); "“O my people, let not your hostility towards me cause you to suffer what was suffered by the people of Noah, or the people of Hud, or the people of Saleh. The people of Lot are not far away from you.” “And ask your Lord for forgiveness, and repent to Him. My Lord is Merciful and Loving.”" (11:89-90).

The CNN anchor: What was the response of the tribe of Madian?

Muhammad: They ridiculed him; this is typically expected from cunning, deceitful, dishonest merchants who were clever in the art of talking.

The CNN anchor: How did they ridicule Shuaib?

Muhammad: "They said, “O Shuaib, do your prayers command you that we abandon what our ancestors worshiped, or doing with our wealth what we want? You are the one who is intelligent and wise.”" (11:87).

The CNN anchor: They knew about prayers?! I thought prayers were known only starting from the era of Abraham!

Muhammad: No; prayers are found in the Celestial Message granted to all prophets and messengers of the Lord God, but prayers are asserted and emphasized in the monotheistic religion of Abraham along with other acts of worship: pilgrimage, Zakat, and fasting during Ramadan.

The CNN anchor: What was the response of Shuaib when they ridiculed him?

Muhammad: Shuaib addressed them calmly and in a polite manner: "He said, “O my people, have you considered? What if I have clear evidence from my Lord, and He has given me good livelihood from Himself? I have no desire to do what I forbid you from doing. I desire nothing but reform, as far as I can. My success lies only with God. In Him I trust, and to Him I turn.”" (11:88).

The CNN anchor: Did the people of Madian felt ashamed of themselves upon hearing this response from Shuaib?

Muhammad: No; on the contrary, their response was rather harsh: "They said, “O Shuaib, we do not understand much of what you say, and we see that you are weak among us. Were it not for your family, we would have stoned you. You are of no value to us.”" (11:91). This means Shuaib came from a powerful family or faction inside the tribe of Madian; this is why they did not dare to stone him right away though they hated and despised him because of his preaching them.

The CNN anchor: What was the response of Shuaib?

Muhammad: Shuaib reminded them of the Lord God Whom they forgot and Whom they should have feared: "He said, “O my people, is my family more important to you than God? And you have turned your backs on Him? My Lord comprehends everything you do.”" (11:92).

The CNN anchor: What was their response to him?

Muhammad: They accused him of being bewitched and said they would not follow a human being like them; they accused him of being a liar: "They said, “You are one of those bewitched. And you are nothing but a man like us; and we think that you are a liar." (26:185-186).

The CNN anchor: This means there was no hope they would be guided!

Muhammad: The call of Shuaib resulted in the emergence of some believers with him who adhered to monotheism, but the vast majority especially the arrogant affluent elite who had power and authority were disbelievers. Shuaib realized there was no hope in them: "“O my people, do as you may, and so will I. You will know to whom will come a torment that will shame him, and who is a liar. So look out; I am on the lookout with you.”" (11:93); "Since some of you believed in what I was sent with, and some did not believe, be patient until God judges between us; for He is the Best of Judges.”" (7:87).

The CNN anchor: This is despite the fact that they knew about the fate of the ancient disbelievers destroyed by God!

Muhammad: They defiantly challenged Shuaib to cause torment to annihilate them: "So bring down on us pieces from the sky, if you are truthful.”" (26:187). When they no longer feared his powerful family or faction, they boldly told Shuaib that he and the believers with him must choose between being forced to leave Madian for good or to return to the polytheistic religion of Madian: "The arrogant elite among his people said, “O Shuaib, We will evict you from our town, along with those who believe with you, unless you return to our religion.” He said, “Even if we are unwilling?”" (7:88).

The CNN anchor: What was the response of Shuaib?

Muhammad: Shuaib refused and invoked the wrath of the Lord God so that He would destroy them: "“We would be fabricating falsehood against God, if we were to return to your religion, after God has saved us from it. It is not for us to return to it, unless God, our Lord, wills. Our Lord embraces all things in knowledge. In God we place our trust. Our Lord, decide between us and our people in truth, for You are the Best of Deciders.”" (7:89). The polytheistic disbelievers of Madian tried, in vain, to convince the believers to recant and to join them once more: "The elite of his people who disbelieved said, “If you follow Shuaib, you will be losers.”" (7:90).

The CNN anchor: What was the torment that destroyed the disbelievers among the people of Madian?

Muhammad: A tremendous explosion or scream that came to them by night and all of them shivered until they died; their corpses filled their homes which were not destroyed. "But they denied him. So the torment of the day of gloom gripped them. It was the torment of a tremendous day." (26:189); "And when Our command came, We saved Shuaib and those who believed with him, by mercy from Us, and the Scream struck the unjust ones, and they became motionless bodies in their homes." (11:94); "Thereupon, the quake struck them; and they became lifeless bodies in their homes. Those who rejected Shuaib - as if they never prospered therein. Those who rejected Shuaib - it was they who were the losers." (7:91-92); "But they rejected him, so the tremor overtook them, and they were left motionless in their homes." (29:37).

The CNN anchor: This torment is like the one inflicted on the people of Thamood, right?

Muhammad: Exactly. This is about the disbelievers of the tribe of Madian: "As though they never flourished therein. Away with Madian, as was done away with Thamood." (11:95).

The CNN anchor: What are the similarities among the Quranic stories of Hud, Saleh, and Shuaib and their respective tribes?

Muhammad: The arrogant, wealthy, powerful elite in Thamood and Madian argued with the weak, oppressed believers; Saleh and Shuaib came from powerful factions in their respective tribes; Saleh sorrowfully addressed the corpses of his disbelieving people: "Then he turned away from them, and said, “O my people, I have delivered to you the message of my Lord, and I have advised you, but you do not like those who give advice.”" (7:79); the same was done by Shuaib: "So he turned away from them, and said, “O my people, I have delivered to you the messages of my Lord, and I have advised you, so why should I grieve over a disbelieving people?”" (7:93).

The CNN anchor: Madian is mentioned in the Quranic story of Moses and he married a woman there who was the daughter of a good man. Was Shuaib Moses' father-in-law? Was it the same tribe of Madian but this time monotheists populated it? What do you think?

Muhammad: Your surmise is wrong.

The CNN anchor: Why?

Muhammad: The disbelievers of Madian were annihilated by a torment before the Israelites even existed. Isaac was not even born yet when the polytheists of Madian were destroyed.

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: The Quranic story of Madian and Shuaib is mentioned after the story of Lot and his people; this means their era was directly after that of Lot and Abraham. The destruction of the people of Lot, by a torment inflicted on them by the Lord God, occurred during the lifetime of Abraham; the angels sent to Abraham to bring him glad tidings of the birth of Isaac are the same angels which brought about the destruction of the people of Lot. After their annihilation, Isaac was born. Isaac begot a son: Jacob or Israel. Israel begot twelve sons including Joseph who brought his family to Egypt where they multiplied for centuries until Moses was sent to them as a prophet. One concludes, then, that there are several centuries between Shuaib and Moses. Since Shuaib warned his people of Madian against the fate of the people of Lot here: "“O my people, let not your hostility towards me cause you to suffer what was suffered by the people of Noah, or the people of Hud, or the people of Saleh. The people of Lot are not far away from you.”" (11:89), this indicates clearly that the tribe of Madian of Shuaib existed shortly after the annihilation of the people of Lot.

The CNN anchor: This means Shuaib and his Madian people have nothing to do with this Quranic context about Moses: "As he headed towards Madian, he said, “Perhaps my Lord will guide me to the right way.” And when he arrived at the waters of Madian, he found there a crowd of people drawing water, and he noticed two women waiting on the side. He said, “What is the matter with you?” They said, “We cannot draw water until the shepherds depart, and our father is a very old man.”" (28:22-23).

Muhammad: This also means the Madian people who existed during the era of Moses are not the Madian people of Shuaib. The Madian tribe of Shuaib lived in an agricultural environment as they were called the People of the Woods. In contrast, the region of the Madian tribe where Moses lived for some years, and got married, was a desert area and its people were shepherds who drew their water from wells.

The CNN anchor: I see.

The CNN interview with Muhammad about the prophets after Noah in the Quranic stories

The CNN anchor: What about the Quranic stories about the centuries between Noah and Abraham?

Muhammad: These Quranic stories contain details about some prophets and their peoples.

The CNN anchor: I would like you to provide a summary as we will talk about the story of each prophet later on.

Muhammad: I have already mentioned the main features of the Quranic stories: [1] my Lord God has not inflicted torment or destruction unless after sending a messenger or a prophet: "Whoever is guided - is guided for his own good. And whoever goes astray - goes astray to his detriment. No burdened soul carries the burdens of another, nor do We ever torment until We have sent a messenger." (17:15), [2] each of the human communities had its warner: "...There is no community but a warner has passed through it." (35:24), and [3] my Lord God does not mention all stories of all messengers and prophets in the Holy Quran: "We sent messengers before you. Some of them We told you about, and some We did not tell you about..." (40:78); "Some messengers We have already told you about, while some messengers We have not told you about..." (4:164).

The CNN anchor: Does the Quran mention some general features about prophets and messengers whose stories are not mentioned? If so, would you exemplify this to me?

Muhammad: After the Quranic story of the drowning of Moses' Pharaoh and his people, one reads this Quranic verse about the nations which emerged later: "Then, after him, We sent messengers to their people. They came to them with the clear proofs, but they would not believe in anything they had already rejected. Thus We set a seal on the hearts of the transgressors." (10:74). This generality applies to all messengers and prophets worldwide who are the descendants of Noah since all human beings, after the deluge, are the descendants of Noah.

The CNN anchor: What about the people who emerged after the destruction of the people of Noah within the deluge?

Muhammad: They are the people of Aad who are mentioned in the Quran; they were more powerful and mightier than the people of Noah; their prophet Hud told them the following: “Are you surprised that a reminder has come to you from your Lord, through a man from among you, to warn you? Remember how He made you successors after the people of Noah, and increased you greatly in stature. And remember God's bounties, so that you may prosper.” (7:69). After the Quranic stories of the destruction of Aad and Thamood, one reads the following: "Then, after them, We raised other generations. No nation can advance its time, nor can they postpone it. Then We sent Our messengers in succession. Every time a messenger came to his community, they called him a liar. So We made them follow one another, and made them history. So away with a people who do not believe. Then We sent Moses and his brother Aaron, with Our signs and a clear authority." (23:42-45). This Quranic context is about all prophets and messengers worldwide in the eras between (Aad and Thamood) and (Moses and Aaron). Of course, Moses' Pharaoh and his people were the last ones to be smitten and annihilated by a torment inflicted by my Lord God. They were destroyed by drowning like the fate of the disbelieving people of Noah. Of course, some names of some prophets are mentioned in the Quran but their stories are not mentioned.

The CNN anchor: Would you exemplify this to me?

Muhammad: "And mention Ishmael, Elyassa', and Za Al-Kifl; all are among the chosen ones." (38:48); "And Ishmael, and Idrees, and Za Al-Kifl; each was one of the steadfast." (21:85).

The CNN anchor: Are there other examples?

Muhammad: The name of Isaac is mentioned several times regarding the bringing of glad tidings of his birth and of his being a prophet; yet, no details are mentioned in the Quran about his life and his ministry as a prophet.

The CNN anchor: Are there other examples?

Muhammad: Some stories of some prophets are mentioned very briefly in the Holy Quran: "Also Elyas was one of the messengers. He said to his people, “Do you not fear? Do you call on Baal, and forsake the Best of creators? God is your Lord, and the Lord of your ancestors.” But they called him a liar, and thus they will be brought forward. Except for God’s sincere servants. And We left with him for later generations. Peace be upon the House of Elyas. Thus We reward the virtuous. He was one of Our believing servants." (37:123-131); "And mention in the Book Idrees. He was a man of truth, a prophet. And We raised him to a high position." (19:56-57).

The CNN anchor: Are there other examples?

Muhammad: There are few details mentioned in the Quran about Ishmael, Zachariah, and John.

The CNN anchor: Are there other examples?

Muhammad: Some nations or peoples are mentioned without mentioning the names of their prophets; for instance, the people of Tubba', who seemed to have lived in Yemen, and the people of Al-Ras. My Lord God says the following in the Holy Quran: "Before them the people of Noah denied the Truth, and so did the people of Ras, and Thamood. And Aad, and Pharaoh, and the brethren of Lot. And the People of the Woods, and the people of Tubba'. They all rejected the messengers, so My threat came true." (50:12-14); "Are they better, or the people of Tubba' and those before them? We annihilated them. They were unjust ones." (44:37).

The CNN anchor: Are there other examples?

Muhammad: The story of the people of Sheba is mentioned briefly in the Quran. My Lord God says the following in the Holy Quran: "In Sheba’s homeland there used to be a wonder: two gardens, on the right, and on the left. “Eat of your Lord’s provision, and give thanks to Him.” A good land, and a forgiving Lord. But they turned away, so We unleashed against them the flood of the dam; and We substituted their two gardens with two gardens of bitter fruits, thorny shrubs, and meager harvest. We thus penalized them for their disbelief. Would We penalize any but the disbeliever? Between them and the towns We had blessed, We placed prominent towns, and We made the travel between them easy. “Travel between them by night and day, in safety.” But they said, “Our Lord, lengthen the distances of our journeys.” They wronged themselves; so We made them history, and We scattered them in every direction. In this are lessons for every steadfast and appreciative person. Satan was correct in his assessment of them. They followed him, except for a group of believers. He had no authority over them; except that We willed to distinguish him who believes in the Hereafter, from him who is doubtful about it. Your Lord is Guardian over all things." (34:15-21).

The CNN anchor: Are there other examples?

Muhammad: Though the Israelites had many prophets sent to them by my Lord God, the Quranic stories do not include the prophets murdered by the some of the sinners among the Israelites. They are only indicated briefly here without mentioning their names: "But for their violation of their covenant, and their denial of God’s Verses, and their killing of the prophets unjustly, and their saying, “Our minds are closed.” In fact, God has sealed them for their disbelief, so they do not believe, except for a few." (4:155); "We made a covenant with the Israelites, and We sent to them messengers. Whenever a messenger came to them with what their souls did not desire, some of them they accused of lying, and others they murdered." (5:70); " As for those who deny God’s Verses, and kill the prophets unjustly, and kill those who advocate justice among the people - promise them a painful torment." (3:21); "God has heard the statement of those who said, “God is poor, and we are rich.” We will write down what they said, and their wrongful murder of the prophets; and We will say, “Taste the torment of the burning.”" (3:181).

The CNN anchor: Are there other examples?

Muhammad: The Quran does not mention the name of the town (i.e., community) and the names of the three messengers sent to it in the following Quranic story about them: "And narrate to them the parable of the landlords of the town - when the messengers came to it. We sent them two messengers, but they denied them both, so We reinforced them with a third. They said, “We are messengers to you.” They said, “You are nothing but humans like us, and the Dominant Lord did not send down anything; you are only liars.” They said, “Our Lord knows that we are messengers to you. And our only duty is clear communication.” They said, “We see an evil omen in you; if you do not give up, we will stone you, and a painful torment from us will befall you.” They said, “Your evil omen is upon you. Is it because you were reminded? But you are an extravagant people.” Then a man came running from the remotest part of the city. He said, “O my people, follow the messengers." (36:13-20).

The CNN anchor: Where was the location of that town?

Muhammad: It could be anywhere: in India, China, or the New World. Let us not forget that in the Quranic story of the People of the Cave, mentioned in the Quranic Chapter 18, we never know the location of such people or even the name of the prophet sent to them.

The CNN anchor: Are there other examples?

Muhammad: There were messengers alongside a main messenger; for instance, Aaron was a messenger alongside with his bother Moses. There is an indication about the existence of some messengers who accompanied Hud when he preached Aad and those who accompanied Saleh when he preached Thamood; this is inferred from this Quranic context: "But if they turn away, say, “I have warned you of a thunderbolt, like the thunderbolt of Aad and Thamood.” Their messengers came to them, from before them and from behind them, saying, “Do not worship anyone but God.” They said, “Had our Lord willed, He would have sent down angels. Therefore, we disbelieve in what you are sent with.”" (41:13-14).

The CNN anchor: Why is there much emphasis placed on certain messengers and prophets in the Quranic text?

Muhammad: Maybe because each of them represents an important stage within the stages of the history of prophets and messengers.

The CNN anchor: How?

Muhammad: After Adam, Noah marks the beginning of the stage of sending the Divine Message to prophets and messengers. Abraham ushered in a new stage because all of the prophets and messengers of the Israelites came from his second son Isaac's descendants. The only messenger who came from the descendants of Ishmael, the firstborn son of Abraham, was me; I am the last prophet and the seal of all prophets. The focus here is on Noah, within the international level, and on Abraham within the regional level of the Middle-East: "These are some of the prophets God has blessed, from the descendants of Adam, and from those We carried with Noah, and from the descendants of Abraham and Israel, and from those We guided and selected. Whenever the Verses of the Dominant Lord are recited to them, they would fall down, prostrating and weeping. But they were succeeded by generations who lost the prayers and followed their appetites. They will meet perdition. Except for those who repent, and believe, and act righteously. These will enter Paradise, and will not be wronged in the least." (19:58-60); "We sent Noah and Abraham, and established in their line prophethood and the Book. Some of them are guided, but many of them are sinners." (57:26). This is about the descendants of Abraham who are also the descendants of Noah: "And We gave him Isaac and Jacob - each of them We guided. And We guided Noah previously; and from his descendants David, and Solomon, and Job, and Joseph, and Moses, and Aaron. Thus We reward the righteous. And Zachariah, and John, and Jesus, and Elyas - every one of them was of the upright. And Ishmael, and Elyassa', and Jonah, and Lot - We favored each one of them over all other people. And of their ancestors, and their descendants, and their siblings - We chose them, and guided them to a Straight Path." (6:84-87). This is about the descendants of Abraham only: "Or do they envy the people for what God has given them of His Grace? We have given the family of Abraham the Book and Wisdom, and We have given them a great kingdom." (4:54); "And We granted him Isaac and Jacob, and conferred on his descendants the prophethood and the Book, and gave him his reward in this life; and in the Hereafter he will be among the upright." (29:27).

The CNN anchor: What about the post-Abraham era?

Muhammad: The Moses' Pharaoh's people were the last people tormented and annihilated by the Lord God. This is why Moses marks the beginning of a new stage in the history of prophets and messengers: "He and his troops acted arrogantly in the land, with no justification. They thought they would not be returned to Us. So We seized him, and his troops, and We threw them into the sea. Observe, therefore, what was the end of the unjust ones. And We made them leaders/imams calling to the Fire. And on Resurrection Day, they will not be saved. And We pursued them in this world with a curse. And on Resurrection Day, they will be among the despised. We gave Moses the Book after We had annihilated the previous generations; as an illumination for the humankind, and guidance, and mercy, so that they may remember." (28:39-43).

The CNN anchor: This new stage ushered in by Moses ended with the emergence of Jesus. This is why the descendants of Abraham had the Book or Scripture, Wisdom, prophethood, and kingdom.

Muhammad: Yes. Many messengers and prophets were sent by my Lord God between the era of Moses and that of Jesus. This is about Noah and Abraham: "We sent Noah and Abraham, and established in their line prophethood and the Book. Some of them are guided, but many of them are sinners." (57:26); this is about messengers and prophets who emerged between the eras of Moses and Jesus: "Then We sent in their footsteps Our messengers, and followed up with Jesus son of Mary, and We gave him the Gospel, and instilled in the hearts of those who followed him compassion and mercy. But as for the monasticism which they invented - We did not ordain it for them - only to seek God’s approval. But they did not observe it with its due observance. So We gave those of them who believed their reward, but many of them are sinners." (57:27); this is about Moses as he ushered in a new stage in the history of messengers and prophets: "We gave Moses the Book, and sent a succession of messengers after him. And We gave Jesus son of Mary the clear proofs, and We supported him with the Holy Spirit. Is it that whenever a messenger comes to you with anything your souls do not desire, you grew arrogant, calling some impostors, and killing others?" (2:87); this is about Jesus the last messenger and prophet sent to the Israelites: "In their footsteps, We sent Jesus son of Mary, fulfilling the Torah that preceded him; and We gave him the Gospel, wherein is guidance and Light, and confirming the Torah that preceded him, and guidance and counsel for the righteous." (5:46).

The CNN anchor: And then you came along, Muhammad Ibn Abdullah, as the seal of prophets and the last messenger of God to all human beings; when God sent you as a messenger and a prophet, the history of messengers and prophets ended.

CONTENTS:

INTRODUCTION

An Introductory Chapter: Muhammad between Egypt and the USA

CHAPTER I: The CNN Interview about Islam and Muhammad

CHAPTER II: The CNN Interview about the Enemies of Islam and Muhammad

CHAPTER III: The CNN Interview about Clergymen and the People of the Book

CHAPTER IV: The CNN Interview about Creation between the Quran and the Old Testament

CHAPTER V: The CNN Interview about Adam, Eve, and Satan between the Quran and the Old Testament

CHAPTER VII: The CNN Interview about the Ancient Arabs