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.

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✅ 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.

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✅ 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.

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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.

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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.

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C. Muhammad denied the resurrection of Jesus

Another automatic disqualification.

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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.

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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.

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✅ 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.

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✅ 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.

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✅ 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.

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⭐ 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