Why Jews and Christians Did NOT Accept Muhammad as a Prophet
The rejection of Muhammad by Jews and Christians was NOT personal.
It was doctrinal, prophetic, and biblical.
Both groups had clear criteria for who could be a prophet of God — and Muhammad did not meet any of them.
Let’s break it down systematically.
✅ 1. Jews Rejected Muhammad Because He Did Not Meet Biblical Prophetic Requirements
Jews in the 7th century judged Muhammad according to the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), which taught:
A true prophet must never contradict earlier revelation
(Deuteronomy 13:1–5)
But Muhammad’s teachings directly contradicted:
-
Abraham’s covenant
-
The identity of Isaac vs Ishmael
-
The character of God
-
The nature of sin
-
The temple sacrifices
-
The holiness laws
-
The promises to Israel
They immediately recognized inconsistencies with the Torah.
A prophet must speak in the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel
Muhammad spoke in the name of Allah, not YHWH.
This was a major theological red flag.
A prophet must perform signs or miracles
Muhammad performed none during his lifetime (confirmed in the Qur’an itself — Surah 29:50).
But every prophet of the Old Testament who delivered new revelation performed miracles.
A prophet must be from Israel
(Deuteronomy 18:15–18)
Muhammad was not an Israelite — he was an Arab from Mecca.
The Jews therefore concluded:
❌ Not a descendant of Isaac
❌ Not a teacher of Torah
❌ Not consistent with Scripture
❌ Not performing miracles
❌ Not speaking in Yahweh’s name
So the rabbis concluded:
He was not sent by the God of Israel.
✅ 2. Christians Rejected Muhammad Because His Teachings Contradicted the Gospel
The early church already had:
-
A completed Bible
-
A defined doctrine of Christ
-
A clear understanding of salvation
Muhammad contradicted every core Christian doctrine.
A. Muhammad denied Jesus is the Son of God
Qur’an 4:171
Qur’an 5:116
Qur’an 19:35
This is the foundational claim of Christianity (John 3:16, Matthew 3:17).
So Christians could not accept a prophet who denied the deity of Christ.
B. Muhammad denied the crucifixion
Qur’an 4:157 says Jesus was not crucified.
But the crucifixion is:
-
historically verified
-
prophetically predicted
-
the center of salvation
Paul said:
“If Christ has not been raised, your faith is in vain.”
(1 Corinthians 15:17)
Rejecting the cross = rejecting salvation itself.
C. Muhammad denied the resurrection of Jesus
Another automatic disqualification.
D. Muhammad taught salvation by works
Islam teaches Heaven is earned by:
-
prayers
-
fasting
-
almsgiving
-
confession
-
good deeds outweighing sins
But Christianity teaches salvation by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9).
The gospel is incompatible with Islamic teaching.
E. Muhammad taught a different God
Allah:
-
has no Son
-
does not love unconditionally
-
does not enter covenant
-
does not dwell with His people
This is a different God from the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jesus.
✅ 3. Both Jews and Christians Rejected Him Because His Revelations Came Through Questionable Experiences
Islamic sources describe Muhammad’s early revelations as:
-
fear
-
shaking
-
sweating
-
convulsions
-
foaming
-
hearing ringing bells
-
suicidal thoughts
-
believing he was demon-possessed
Sahih Bukhari and Ibn Ishaq record that Muhammad thought he was:
“Possessed by a jinn.”
Both Jews and Christians interpreted this as spiritual deception, not divine revelation.
Prophets of God in Scripture NEVER received revelation in terror or confusion.
✅ 4. Muhammad’s Message Changed Over Time (Contradictions)
Early Meccan revelations:
-
peaceful
-
affirming Jews and Christians
-
tolerant
Later Medinan revelations:
-
hostile
-
commanding war
-
calling Jews “apes and pigs” (Qur’an 5:60)
-
commanding fighting Christians (Qur’an 9:29)
A true prophet cannot contradict earlier revelation.
This doctrine in Islam is called abrogation — later verses cancel earlier ones.
Jews and Christians saw this as a sign of human invention, not divine revelation.
✅ 5. Muhammad’s Lifestyle Did Not Match Biblical Standards
Biblical prophets lived:
-
morally upright
-
sexually pure
-
free of violence
But Muhammad:
-
married a 6-year-old (Aisha)
-
took concubines
-
approved polygamy
-
permitted beating wives (Qur’an 4:34)
-
carried out executions
-
ordered attacks on caravans
-
enslaved women
-
took war booty
This did not match the life of biblical prophets or Jesus.
⭐ SUMMARY
Why Jews Rejected Muhammad
-
Contradicted Torah
-
Not an Israelite
-
No miracles
-
Not speaking for Yahweh
-
Taught against God’s covenant
-
Revelation experiences resembled demonic influence
Why Christians Rejected Muhammad
-
Denied Jesus is the Son of God
-
Denied the crucifixion
-
Denied the resurrection
-
Taught salvation by works
-
Contradicted the gospel
-
Presented a different God
Why both rejected him
-
His revelations were inconsistent and contradictory
-
His life did not match prophetic holiness
-
His message conflicted with Scripture
-
His spiritual experiences looked dangerous
This is why neither Jews nor Christians accepted him — not because of jealousy, but because he did not meet God’s prophetic standard.
By main contributor - John Brittian - Teresa Morin, Truth News
