If you look at the traditional teachings of Islam, one must ask “is Muhammed the devils prophet?”
If one is to believe the religious texts that make up the foundation of the three major religions in the world, then one would know who Abraham is.
Abraham is considered one of the patriarchs. He is the son of Terah, the tenth descendent from Noah (of the Noah’s ark). God told Abraham to travel to the promised land, and that Abraham would become the father to a great nation with decedents as numerous as the stars.
Abraham’s wife Sarah was barren, and instead of having faith in God, Abraham decided to have his decedents by having an affair with his servant girl Hagar. This displeased the Lord. When Hagar was pregnant, an angel of the Lord came to her and told her “You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery. He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” (Genesis 16:11,12).
Abraham eventually had a child with his wife Sarah. He named that boy Isaac, and Isaac had a son named Jacob who the Lord would rename Israel.
After the birth of Isaac, Hagar and Ishmael were cast out.
In my opinion, God disliked Ishmael because he was evidence that, once again, man had taken the advice of his spouse over the word of God. Adam ate the fruit at Eve’s urging, showing his lack of faith. Abraham impregnated Hagar at Sarah’s urging, showing his lack of faith. Because of this, God made Abraham prove his faith again by telling him to sacrifice Isaac. When it became clear that Abraham would go through with it, God spared Isaac. In the same way, God spared Ishmael. For God saw that Abraham loved them both, and God loved Abraham.
Islam claims decent from Ishmael. Specifically, the Prophet Muhammad is said to be a direct descendent of Ishmael.
Ishamel, in Islamic tradition, is said to have helped build the Kaaba in Mecca (that big black cube that Muslims walk around). He is also said to be buried at the Hijr near the Kaaba. This brings up another interesting point about Islam.
The Kaaba in Mecca is considered by Islam to be the House of God. Wherever a Muslim is in the world, they are expected to face in the direction of the Kaaba when they pray. One of the 5 pillars of Islam requires every Muslim to travel to Mecca to take part in the Hajj pilgramige. This is the event when Muslims walk around the Kaaba 7 times counter clockwise.
Ibn Kathir, the famous commentator on the Quran states that Islamic belief is that the Kaaba was the first house of worship. It was a place of worship for Angels before the creation of man. Later, Adam and Eve built a temple on the spot. That temple was destroyed in the great flood. Ishmael rebuilt the temple.
I have always found this interesting. The idea that this was a place of worship for Angels before the creation of man has troubled me. Before the creation of man, Angels were all in heaven with God, and had no need to build a temple to worship him on earth. That is, except for the angels that rebelled against God and were cast out. Therefore, If we are to believe Islamic tradition about the origins of the Kaaba, it was created by fallen angels and rebuilt by people God cursed.
I guess it makes sense that Islam is descendent from someone who Gods angel said will live in hostility toward all his brothers. And that would make Muhammed the Devils Prophet. It is just a pity that Muslims don’t see their error and repent.
