Misquoting Muhammad: The Challenge and Choices of Interpreting the Prophet's Legacy

by Jonathan A.C. Brown

The Qur’an had encouraged Muhammad and his followers to use their reason, to scan the heavens and appreciate the ordered infinity of God’s creation. But the Qur’an also cautioned against trusting too much in reason when pondering matters of the unseen, for the Devil is forever urging man to ‘say about God that which you do not know’ (2:169). Reason and rationalization offered a deceptive and alluring window for indulging one’s own fancies and desires. This had been the bane of earlier peoples gifted with prophecy by God. Overconfident in their own speculations about the nature of God and His law, they ignored the revealed books sent down to them. The Qur’an warned Muslims, ‘If you heed most of those in the world, they will lead you astray from God’s path. They do but follow supposition, they do but conjecture’ (6:116). Belief, prayer and practice must be built on firm instructions revealed by God. All else is too subject to abiding human whims and interests.