Name: Understanding Islam: 115 Questions and Clear Answers
Rating: 4.38 (1 reviews)
ISBN: 9798270663803

26 reviews2 followers

December 30, 2025

Misunderstanding Islam: generic, misleading, and fails to mention a lot

It’s generic writing. Bashar Najim attempts to answer many questions about Islam in this book, but the answers are rather mild, misleading, or incomplete. For example, page 11 says that “Prophet Muhammad .. is the last and final prophet” and “Muhammad is the final prophet, the last messenger of God sent to humanity .. no prophet will come after him” on page 13. But, Bashar doesn’t mention something that you might like to know about: there is also a physical sign that Muhammad is the last of the prophets. Muhammad has the Seal of Prophecy on his body to prove his prophethood. The Islamic holy books in the canonical Hadith (grade: sahih) explain that (translator’s notes in parentheses): “My aunt took me to the Prophet and .. I stood behind him and saw the seal of Prophethood between his shoulders, and it was like the Zirril-Hajala (means the button of a small tent, but some said ‘egg of a partridge.’ etc.)” ( - Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 1, no. 190; 7:5670, 4:3541; 8:6352; published by Darussalam, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 1997; may be numbered differently with other publishers). And, “I saw the Prophet .. I went behind him and looked at the Seal of Prophethood between his shoulders … the shape of a palm with the fingers held together, and on it were spots like moles” ( - Sahih Muslim, Vol. 6, no. 6088/84-7; published by Darussalam, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2007). The New Encyclopedia of Islam explains: “Seal of Prophecy .. the name given to a large lump of flesh ‘the size of a pigeon’s egg’ in the small of the back of the Prophet, which was taken as a physical sign of the ‘Seal of Prophecy’ ” (2001, pages 407-8; by Cyril Glasse). It seems Muhammad was considered a prophet because of a large mole on his back. Holy moley! Do you believe someone is a prophet because of a strange mark on the body? Is that reasonable? If a mole is on your body are you a prophet?

Bashar also maintains the Qur’an is accurate, writing on page 21 that “The Quran’s style combines perfect language, deep meaning, and divine beauty ..” However, Bashar mentions something on page 31 that he may have missed himself; it concerns the Arabic term for Jesus. One may wonder about such “perfect language” since the incorrect term for Jesus is used throughout the Qur’an and Hadith resulting in multiple errors – both texts use the Arabic word Isa (or Eissa/Iessa) for Jesus as noted on page 31, but Isa means Esau and not Jesus (Yesua means Jesus in Arabic). They never use the correct Arabic term for Jesus. Bashar also writes, “The Qur’an .. has been preserved exactly as it was revealed, without change or alteration” (page 9); and “Whenever new verses were revealed, the Prophet recited them to his companions, who memorized them immediately and wrote them down .. ensuring that not a single word or letter has been changed” (page 20); and “.. the Qur’an has been preserved without alteration .. it has been perfectly preserved since its revelation” (pages 23, 25). But, the holy books of Islam point out that a verse for stoning adulterers is missing from the Qur’an, which presently allows adulterers to live at 24:2-3. The canonical Hadith (grade: sahih) says, “.. the Chief of the believers (Umar) .. said .. ‘Allah sent Muhammad with the Truth and revealed the Book (the Qur’an) to him, and among what Allah revealed, was the Verse of the Rajm (the stoning to death) of married person (male and female) who commits illegal sexual intercourse, and we did recite this Verse and understood and memorized it. Allah’s Messenger did carry out the punishment of stoning and so did we after him. I am afraid that after a long time has passed, somebody will say, ‘By Allah we do not find the verse of the Rajm in Allah’s Book,’ and thus they will go astray by leaving an obligation which Allah has revealed’ ” ( - Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 8, no. 6830).

The documentation is deeply lacking and generic in this book, as well. There seems to be a low expectation of the reader’s ability to comprehend or verify. He quotes from the “reliable” Hadith many times throughout the book, but it includes only the name of the collection and no reference number is given for you to check and confirm it (sample pages 82, 57-8). The reference for the Hadith quotation on page 57 is simply, “Bukhari, Muslim.” On page 69, the reference given for a news source is simply “The Washington Post” – can I get an article title /date, please? The “highly” reliable and “highly” academic Wikipedia is relied upon on page 70. Really?

Here are several more instances I noticed for you to consider. Bashar agrees that pictures of humans and animals are prohibited in Islam, but he limits it to religious imagery. He writes: “images of God and prophets are avoided” (page 72), and “showing pictures or drawings of the Prophet Muhammad is generally prohibited … The Prophet himself warned against making images of living beings in religious contexts … Muslims avoid portraying any prophet visually, especially Muhammad ..” (page 83). So, only religious pictures are prohibited (strangely, page 40 and the back cover appear to have images of humans at a religious event at the Kaaba). Yet, in the Islamic holy books all images of humans and animals are prohibited and not just religious imagery. The canonical Hadith states (grade: sahih): “Allah’s Messenger .. said, ‘.. whoever makes a picture will be punished on the Day of Resurrection and will be asked to give life to what he has created’ ..” ( - Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 4, no. 3224). “Narrated Aishah .. ‘I bought a cushion with pictures on it .. for you to sit and recline on.’ Allah’s Messenger said, ‘The painters (i.e., owners) of these pictures will be punished on the Day ..” ( - Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 3, no. 2105). “Narrated Aishah .. The Prophet entered .. while there was a curtain having pictures in the house. His face became red with anger, and then he got hold of the curtain and tore it into pieces” ( - Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 8, no. 6109). “Ibn Abbas said to him, ‘.. If you insist on making pictures I advise you to make pictures of trees and any other inanimated objects having no souls’ ” ( - Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 3, no. 2225). “I heard Allah’s Messenger saying, ‘Angels do not enter a house wherein there is .. some images (or pictures etc.) of living creatures’ (a human being or an animal etc.)” ( - Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 4, no. 3225). “.. Allah’s Messenger said, ‘Angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or a picture.’ He meant the images of creatures that have souls” ( - Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 5, no. 4002). “.. Aishah said: ‘We had a curtain on which there were images of birds … The Messenger of Allah said: Change this .. it reminds me of worldly adornments’ ” ( - Sahih Muslim, Vol. 5, no. 5521). “I entered the house of Marwan .. and saw images therein … I heard the Messenger of Allah say: ‘Allah .. said: Who does more wrong than the one who tries to imitate My creation? Let them create an ant, or let them create a grain of wheat, or let them create a grain of barley’ ” ( - Sahih Muslim, Vol. 5, no. 5543). “.. Aishah said: ‘The Messenger of Allah came from a journey, and I had hung over my door a curtain on which there were images of winged horses, and he told me to take it down’ ” ( - Sahih Muslim, Vol. 5, no. 5523). Strangely, Muslims in general will make pictures of humans or animals with their camera phones, on YouTube videos, or social media.

Astronomy in the Qur’an is presented on pages 51-53. But, it doesn’t point out the Qur’an describes the sun moving on a course like the moon: “The sun and moon pursue their ordered course … each in its own orbit runs” (Qur’an 55:5 with 36:38, 40; 21:33; 31:29). Also, “It is not permitted to the Sun to catch up to the Moon” (Qur’an 36:40; translated by N.J. Dawood). Considering that the moon (with earth) goes around the sun, why would the sun catch up to the moon? Answer: as viewed from earth, it looks like they move into earth’s sky, but never “catch up” to each other. Also notice the “catch up” and “each orbit” are explanations for night and day (36:40). Night and day are caused by their movement, instead of earth’s movement. Qur’an 36:37-9: “We withdraw therefrom the Day .. the sun runs its course for a period determined for it … And the moon .. it returns ..” Back then, it seems people explained the sun and moon as it appeared to the eye – about the size of a baseball, one following behind the other going in and out of earth’s sky. There would also not be a great distance between them and the earth; similar to a bird flying. The moon is described as being near a mountain in the canonical Hadith (grade: sahih) – the size of the moon was not an issue: “.. the moon was split into two parts; one part remained over the mountain, and the other part went beyond the mountain ..” ( - Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 6, no. 4864). And, the sun moves to cause the sunset, instead of earth’s movement: “The Prophet asked me at sunset, ‘Do you know where the sun goes (at the time of sunset)?’ .. He said, ‘It goes (i.e., travels) till it prostrates itself underneath the Throne, and takes the permission to rise again, and it is permitted ..” ( - Sahih Al-Bukhari 4:3199; 6:4802; translator’s notes in parentheses; Sahih Muslim, Vol. 1, no. 399). In addition, the Qur’an says the pagan Zodiac is from Allah: “It is We Who have set out the Zodiacal Signs in the heavens … Blessed is He Who made constellations in the skies ..” ( - Qur’an 15:16; 25:61; translated by A. Yusuf Ali). But, the constellations are projections invented by polytheists for astrology/pagan divination; the images portrayed don’t even match that well to the stars.

Concerning predestination, Bashar writes, “.. everything happens by God’s knowledge and will, whether good or bad, though humans are still responsible for their choices” (page 28); and “.. everything happens by the knowledge, will, and plan of Allah … but we still have free will to act, and we are judged accordingly” (page 33). So, he says you make decisions by your choice. You are held responsible for your decisions. But, the holy books state “what has been written for him decides his behavior and he starts doing.” It doesn’t sound like you make your decisions. How can you be held responsible for decisions you don’t make? What is the point in doing good things if it is already decided before that you are sentenced to heaven or hell? How can your evil actions be punished if you did not choose to make them? The canonical Hadith (grade: sahih) says, “Allah’s Messenger .. said .. ‘an angel .. is ordered to write down his (i.e., the new creature’s) deeds, his livelihood, his (date of) death, and whether he will be blessed or wretched (in the Hereafter). Then the soul is breathed into him. So, a man amongst you may do (good) deeds till there is only a cubit between him and Paradise and then what has been written for him decides his behavior and he starts doing (evil) deeds’ ..” ( - Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 4, no. 3208; translator’s notes in parentheses). And, “I am a young man and I am afraid that I may commit illegal sexual intercourse and I cannot afford to marry … the Prophet said .. ‘The pen has dried after writing what you are going to confront. So (it does not matter whether you) get yourself castrated or not’ ” ( - Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 7, 5076; footnotes read- “Your fate has been destined for you … You cannot change your destined fate by getting castrated ..”).

He maintains there are predictions yet to be fulfilled, writing that “Jesus .. will return near the end of time to defeat the false messiah and restore justice” (page 31), and “Islam teaches that before the Day of Judgment, certain signs will appear … Major signs include the coming of the false messiah (Dajjal), the return of Jesus, .. and natural upheavals” (page 44). Unfortunately, he does not include the source of this teaching. It appears to be prophecy made by Muhammad in the Hadith. But, there is more to this prophecy that Bashar doesn’t tell you – the Hadith seems to be referring to the time of Muhammad for these predictions. The canonical Hadith (grade: sahih) says Muhammad’s predictions for the End concern a result for the immediate; the End would be experienced by those present with him: “.. ‘When will the Hour come?’ The Messenger of Allah remained silent for a while, then he looked at a boy who was in front of him .. The Prophet said: ‘If he lives long, he will not grow old before the Hour comes’ ” (Sahih Muslim 7:7411 with 7412). And, “.. the Messenger of Allah said: ‘The Hour will not begin until the Euphrates uncovers a mountain of gold, and the people fight for it … Soon the Euphrates will uncover a mountain of gold ..” ( - Sahih Muslim 7:7272, 7276).

More specifically, key events for the End are connected with the Byzantine Empire. The Hadith seems to be referring to the conquest of Constantinople around Muhammad’s time, or 7th century Heraclius was to be conquered, and following the conquest the End or Day of Resurrection / Judgment Day was to occur. The canonical Hadith (grade: sahih) states Muhammad predicts the end of the reign of Byzantine Emperor Heraclius (or “Caesar”) and the Byzantine Empire with him: “The Prophet said, ‘.. Caesar will surely be ruined, and there will be no Caesar after him’ ..” (Sahih Al-Bukhari 4:3027). The Hadith explains that “Caesar” means the Byzantine ruler: “Caesar then asked for the letter of Allah’s Messenger and it was read. Its contents were: … ‘to Heraclius, the ruler of the Byzantines’ ..” (Sahih Al-Bukhari 4:2941; also at 2936, 2938-40; 1:7; Sahih Muslim 5:4607-9). Thus, Heraclius is “Caesar.” Then, the End is tied to this conquest, which suggests Heraclius is the Caesar to be conquered (not by the Ottoman army 800 years later). The End is tied to the conquest of the Byzantine Empire: “.. the Messenger of Allah said: ‘The Hour will not begin until the Byzantines camp [in Syria] .. and they [Muslims] will conquer Constantinople” (Sahih Muslim 7:7278). After that battle, the Antichrist will appear and Jesus will descend from above: “.. you will fight in Byzantium and Allah will enable you to prevail over it, then you will fight Ad-Dajjal [Antichrist] .., and Eisa bin Mariam [Jesus son of Mary] will descend, and will lead them” (Sahih Muslim 7:7284, 7278/81). “The Messenger of Allah said: ‘The Dajjal will appear among my Ummah [community], and he will stay for forty.’ I do not know if it is forty days, or forty months, or forty years. ‘Then Allah will send Eisa bin Mariam [Jesus son of Mary] .. and he will pursue him and kill him. Then the people will remain for seven years, .. Then Allah will send a cool wind .. and there will be no one left on the face of the earth in whose heart there is a speck of goodness or faith, but it will grab him ..” (Sahih Muslim, Vol. 7, no. 7381). So, the Muslims will conquer 7th century Emperor Heraclius and that will be the end of the Byzantine Empire since Heraclius will have no successors, as Muhammad declares, and then the End happens based on those events. The problem is that Heraclius reigned in the 7th century AD, and there were many “Caesars” after him, as the Byzantine Empire continued until the 15th century AD.

On pages 38-39, it says the qibla (prayer direction) is towards Mecca. That’s the holy city in modern Islam, so when one prays you are to face Mecca. The canonical Hadith (grade: sahih) says Mecca since Creation has always been the holy city: “On the day of the conquest of Makkah, the Prophet said, ‘.. No doubt, Allah has made this place (Makkah) a sanctuary since the creation of the heavens and the earth, and will remain a sanctuary till the Day of Resurrection as Allah has ordained its sanctity” ( - Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 3, no. 1834; 5:4313; Sahih Muslim 3:3302). However, there is a rather enormous enigma about this: the earlier Muslims under Muhammad used a different city for the direction. The Qur’an reports that the qibla (or prayer direction) was changed (Qur’an 2:142, 144). The Hadith reports that it was originally towards Jerusalem, and it changed to Mecca under Muhammad (Bukhari 1:403; 6:4486; 1997 Darussalam Publishers). But, why was the qibla in another direction besides Mecca? Shouldn’t the qibla always have been towards the holy city? This raises concern about where the holy city really was.

In addition, page 76 says the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem is the third holiest site in Islam, but there’s something rather curious about this mosque that Bashar does not tell you. For the prayer direction the Al-Aqsa mosque is built facing the city of Petra as noted in the book Early Islamic Qiblas by historian Dan Gibson (2017, page 47). The Al-Aqsa front still faces Petra today. Early on before the wall niche was introduced, the front of the mosque was built pointing to the holy city for prayer direction. It has been discovered the earliest mosques were built facing the city of Petra in Jordan for the prayer direction (qibla), none are towards Mecca until much later after Muhammad. The foundation markers of many early mosques are still visible in the ground so the direction can be measured. “The text of the Qur’an itself does not give the name of the place to which prayer was originally made, nor to which it was switched … According to Al Tabari, (Volume VI, 1218, page 132) .. Muhammad directed them to pray towards Syria .. until February 624 when Islamic sources note that Muhammad changed the qibla towards Mecca” ( - Qur’anic Geography, 2011, page 244; by Dan Gibson, historian). “As I studied early mosques I was shocked to discover that for over a hundred years after Muhammad’s death, many new mosques pointed to Syria. Using these mosques I was able to draw lines on a map to discover where they intersected … From the archeological evidence left by early mosques, it would seem that the ancient qiblas all converged on the central court area of the ancient city of Petra” ( - Qur’anic Geography, 2011, pages 245, 332; by Dan Gibson, historian). “.. the traditional story of the Qibla being changed from Jerusalem to Mecca in February 624 CE … The Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem .. It is generally agreed that ’Abd al-Malik, (685-705) the Umayyad Caliph .., started the construction of al-Aqsa mosque at the end of the 7th century .. This mosque in Jerusalem does not point to Mecca but rather points 169.23° which is towards Petra ..” ( - Early Islamic Qiblas, 2017, pages 5, 48; by Dan Gibson, historian). Also, see Gibson’s more recent book about this – Let the Stones Speak, published in 2023.

Shortened review due to space limit.

Understanding Islam: 115 Questions and Clear Answers

Bashar Abu Najim

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