The Prophet Muhammad is a very controversial, polarizing figure. Among many who call themselves Muslims, he is considered the greatest prophet, infallible, and next to the Creator Himself. Most who call themselves Muslims believe Muhammad was given a new law that superseded all previous revelations. For many who call themselves Christians however, Muhammad is seen as a villain bent on violence and perversion. Because many prophets in the Bible were great warriors, had multiple wives, and made mistakes, it would be unfair to vilify Muhammad based on any of these things. Instead, the more important question is whether Muhammad actually taught a new law, or if he pursued following the Creator’s eternal law as first written down by Moses in the Torah.

The following will give historical references that Muhammad both held an authentic Torah in his hands and honored it. Then, additional historical references will show how he pursued keeping the requirements of Torah throughout his life. Lastly, verses from the Quran itself will be provided that promote the keeping of the Torah.

Honoring Torah

In the Quran, in Surah Al Maidah 41-44, the Messenger, Muhammad, is warned that certain Jews would come to him for judgement. The Quran however, does not mention what the judgement was about, but rather the Quran is focused on an even greater sin, that of twisting or ignoring the Torah. The preservation of this passage is clearly a warning for us to not repeat this sin. 

Messenger, do not be grieved by those who rush into disbelief—those who say with their mouths, ‘We believe,’ but have no faith in their hearts, and the Jews who listen eagerly to lies and to those who have not even met you, who distort the meanings of words and say, ‘If you given this ruling, accept it, but if you are not, then beware!’—if God intends some people to be so misguided, you will be powerless against God on their behalf. These are the ones whose hearts God does not intend to cleanse—a disgrace for them in this world, and then a heavy punishment in the hereafter—they listen eagerly to lies and consume what is unlawful. If they come to you for judgement, you can either judge between them, or decline—if you decline, they will not harm you in any way, but if you do judge between them, judge justly: God loves the just—but why do they come to you for judgement when they have the Torah with God’s judgement, and even then still turn away? These are not believers.

The story surrounding this judgement, is actually very similar to how Jewish Pharisees came to Yeshua to test him with a case of adultery as recorded in the gospel of John 7:52-8:11. The context for why the previous verses in the Quran were revealed are preserved in the Tafsir, or commentary, of Ibn Kathir. However, rather than focus on the story of why this judgement was given, just like the Quran, I want to focus on the more important lesson that is what Muhammad did as an example of what should be done to honor the Torah.

Abu Dawud recorded that Ibn Umar said, “Some Jews came to the Messenger of God and invited him to go to the Quff area. So he went to the house of Al-Midras and they said, “O Abu Al-Qasim! A man from us committed adultery with a woman, so decide on their matter.” They arranged a pillow for the Messenger of God and he sat on it and said, “Bring the Torah to me.” He was brought the Torah and he removed the pillow from under him and placed the Torah on it, saying, “I trust in you and He Who revealed it to you.”

The example of Muhammad of first honoring the Torah by placing it on a pillow instead of on the floor, is something that is still followed by Muslims today in how they respect the Quran. Obviously for Muhammad to have placed the Torah on a pillow, he would have had to also hold it. This is confirmed by the Quran in Surah Ali Imran 3 which states that he held the Torah between his hands. The Quran confirms that the Torah is true and sent down from heaven. Most modern translations of the Quran into English twist the meaning of these words away from the original Arabic which confirms he held the Torah in his hands.

He has sent down upon you the book in truth, confirming what is between your hands, even as he revealed the Torah and the Gospel.

Over a dozen references to this story are recorded in the works of Al-Bukhari, Imam Muslim, Abu Dawud, and others. Many of these are considered reliable and authentic narrations by the majority of those who call themselves Muslims today. The witnesses who first transmitted these accounts include Abdullah ibn Umar, a companion of Muhammad and son of the second Caliph, and Abu Hurayrah, a companion considered the most prolific transmitter of these sayings. Because there are so many accounts of this event, it would be very illogical to not conclude that this was indeed a historical event. In order to question the historicity of this event, one must question the validity of all other such sayings in their entirety, and even the historicity of Muhammad himself. 

Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar: The Jews brought to the prophet a man and a woman from among them who had committed illegal sexual intercourse. The prophet said to them, "How do you usually punish the one amongst you who has committed illegal sexual intercourse?" They replied, "We blacken their faces with coal and beat them," He said, "Don't you find the order of Ar-Rajm in the Torah?" They replied, "We do not find anything in it." Abdullah bin Salam, after hearing this conversation, said to them. "You have told a lie! Bring here the Torah and recite it if you are truthful." So the Jews brought the Torah. And the religious teacher who was teaching it to them, put his hand over the verse of Ar-Rajm and started reading what was written above and below the place hidden with his hand, but he did not read the verse of Ar-Rajm. Abdullah bin Salam removed his hand from the verse of Ar-Rajm and said, "What is this?" So when the Jews saw that verse, they said, "This is the verse of Ar-Rajm." So the prophet ordered the two adulterers to be stoned to death, and they were stoned to death near the place where biers used to be placed near the Mosque. I saw her companion, the adulterer, bowing over her so as to protect her from the stones. Sahih Al-Bukhari Book 65, Hadith 78

The same Torah that Muhammad held is the same Torah that Yeshua had. Archeological evidence from the Dead Sea scrolls, which were discovered by Arab shepherds, show the consistent preservation of the Torah over the at least the last two millennia. Muhammad, by his example, confirmed that the Torah was in fact preserved. It defies logic to believe that the Torah, which was commonly memorized, widely distributed from Spain to India 2000 years ago, and honored by Muhammad has been altered and not preserved. The Quran confirms that this Torah was the one written by Moses in Surah Al Baqarah 53.

And remember We gave Moses the scripture and the criterion that you might be rightly guided.

Fasting Yom Kippur

Muhammad certainly held the Torah in honor and yet, it would be an even more powerful witness to the validity of the Torah if he actually followed it and commanded his followers to do so as well. In the following authentic sayings transmitted by his followers, the prophet Muhammad clearly learns of a requirement of the Torah, keeps it, and commands his follows to do the same. In addition to these witnesses, Aisha, one of Muhammad’s wives, and Abu Bakr, the first Caliph, also confirm the authenticity of these commands.

Narrated Abu Musa: when the Prophet arrived at Medina, he noticed that some people among the Jews used to respect the tenth and fast on it. The Prophet then said, “We have more right to observe the fast on this day.” And ordered that fasting should be observed on it. Sahih Bukhari, Book 43, Hadith 166

Abu Musa reported: the tenth day was one which the Jews respected and they treated it as a holy day. The Messenger of God said: “You also observe the fast on this day.” Sahih Muslim, Book 13, Hadith 166

Ibn Abbas reported that when the Messenger of God fasted on the tenth day and commanded that it should be observed as a fast, they, his companions, said to him, “Messenger of God, it is a day which the Jews and Christians hold in high esteem.” Thereupon the Messenger of God said: “When the next year comes, God willing, we would observe the fast on the ninth.” But the Messenger of God died before the advent of the next year. The narration transmitted by Abu Bakr is “He meant the tenth day.” Sahih Muslim, Book 13, Hadith 172-173

In Arabia at that time it was not just the Jews who observed this fast according to the Torah. Christians also kept this fast, following the example of Yeshua in keeping the Torah, 600 years after the Messiah walked the earth. The Messiah’s true followers today, those who are faithful people of the book, also continue to observe this fast. When Muhammad observed this fast being kept, he immediately recognized it as part of the eternal law of the Creator and so should be kept by any following the faith of Abraham. He immediately began to fast for the rest of that day and expressed his wish to observe the full fast beginning on the ninth the following year, but died before then. In the Torah, the command is to begin the fast on the ninth at evening and keep it until the next evening, thus to fast the entire tenth day and so guard the edges of this most holy day.

It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your sabbath. Leviticus 23:32

In the ancient calendars, the year began with the first new moon after the solar equinox, a luni-solar calendar in which the seventh month occurred in the fall, generally late September. The modern name of this month still reflects the Latin number 7. By the time of Muhammad, the Romans had changed the beginning of the year to right after the winter solstice as it is today. Originally, the month of Ramadan, always fell in the fall when the first rains after summer fell in the land of the prophets. The Arabic meaning of this month shows this link to the season. Ramadan is also considered the ninth month, just as September is also considered the ninth month today. In truth, Ramadan should be associated with the seventh Biblical month of Ethanim and the fast associated with the tenth of the month. In Arabic, the tenth is called Ashura, and in Hebrew, this day is called Kippur, which means covering because was the day on which the sins of the previous year were covered, or forgiven. 

This shall be a statute forever for you: in the seventh month, on the tenth of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you. For on that day the priest shall make covering for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before Yahweh. Leviticus 16:29-30

Abu Qatadah narrated that the Prophet said: "Fast the tenth day, for indeed I anticipate that God will forgive the sins of the year before it." Sahih, Jami at-Tirmidhi, Book 8, Hadith 71

It was narrated from Abu Qatadah that the Messenger of God said: “Fasting the tenth day, I hope, will expiate for the sins of the previous year.” Sahih, Sunan Ibn Majah, Book 7, Hadith 101

When the Messiah came, he fulfilled the symbology of the spring holy days that were described in the Torah to their exact day. We may have certainty that the symbology of the fall holy days will also be fulfilled to their very day. The symbology of the Fast of Covering points to the final Day of Judgement. It is a most holy day where God decides to forgive the sins of those who obey and afflict their souls in repentance, the fast just being an outward manifestation of this inner struggle. At evening, at the end of the tenth day of this seventh month, the decision is made, the judgement is given. In Arabic, this is called Laylatul Qadr, the Night of Powerful Decision and Decree. The true followers of the prophets, the true submitters, have the shame of all of their sins covered and they are decreed forgiven forever by the God who is most merciful and most forgiving.