C. But, if the Qur'an is not Muhammad's composition but God's, it is not Muhammad but God
who speaks of Muhammad's acts as
crimes (ذنوب
). [Moreover, tradition shows that Muhammad confessed
his own sinfulness, for Muslim and Bukhari relate that when he said to his followers, "Not even
one of you shall enter Paradise except through the mercy of God Most High," and was asked,
"Not even thou, O Apostle of God?" he said, "Not even I, except that God through His
mercy cover me." Abu Hurairah relates that he heard Muhammad saying, "Verily I ask God for
pardon, and I turn to Him in penitence seventy times in the day." In the Mishkatu'l
Masabih (Babu'l Masajid, sect. ii. p. 62) we are told by Tirmadhi and Ahmar and Ibn
Majah, on the authority of Fatimah, Muhammad's granddaughter, that whenever Muhammad entered the
Mosque he used to say, "O my Lord, forgive me my
sins (ذنوب
) and open to me the gates of Thy
mercy," and on going out again he used to say, "O my Lord, forgive me my sins and open to
me the gates of Thy grace."]—My object is merely to show you that in speaking of the sins of
the Prophets the Qur'an does not contradict the Bible, and that your argument against the Bible on
this point falls to the ground, if you accept the teaching of your own Qur'an. Remember too that the
Qur'an agrees with the Bible in never accusing the Lord Jesus Christ of sin.
91. M. When Jesus said, "There is none good