The incident involving Abdullah Ibn Sa’d Ibn Abi Sarh is just as significant as the event known as the “Satanic Verses,” because both reveal that Muhammad was fabricating revelations on his own.
Abdullah Ibn Sa’d embraced Islam during the Meccan period and became a Companion of Muhammad, a highly esteemed status in Islamic tradition. He later advanced to the role of scribe for the Quran (known as the “writer of revelation”), an even more prestigious position than that of a mere Companion.
Under Muhammad’s direction, he transcribed the revelations as they were dictated. However, one day, an event occurred that opened Abdullah Ibn Sa’d’s eyes, making him realize that the revelations were not divine but were being invented by Muhammad himself.
Upon this realization, Abdullah Ibn Sa’d renounced Islam and became an apostate.
First Proof:
From “Asbab al-Nuzul” by Al-Wahidi Al-Naysaburi, page 126, Beirut’s Cultural Library Edition:
From Al-Kalbi, from Abu Salih, from Ibn Abbas: “The verse ‘And who saith: I will reveal the like of that which Allah hath revealed’ (Al-An’am 6:93) was revealed about Abdullah ibn Sa’d ibn Abi Sarh. This man had declared his faith in Islam, and so the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, called him one day to write something for him. When the verse in Al-Mu’minun was revealed: ‘And indeed We created man from an extract of clay’ (23:12-14), he dictated it to him. When he reached ‘Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, then We made the clot into a lump, then We made from the lump bones, then We covered the bones with flesh, then We developed him into another creation,’ Abdullah was amazed at the detail of human creation and said, ‘So blessed be Allah, the Best of Creators!’ The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said, ‘This is how it was revealed to me’ (so write it in the Quran too). At that moment, doubt entered Abdullah’s mind, and he said: ‘If Muhammad is truthful, then I have been inspired just as he has; and if he is lying, then I have said exactly what he said.’ This is the meaning of the verse ‘And who saith: I will reveal the like of that which Allah hath revealed.’ He then apostatized from Islam.”
This is also the opinion of Ibn Abbas according to the report of Al-Kalbi. Abd al-Rahman ibn Abdan informed us > Muhammad ibn Abd Allah ibn Nu’aym > Muhammad ibn Ya’qub al-Umawi > Ahmad ibn Abd al-Jabbar > Yunus ibn Bukayr > Muhammad ibn Ishaq > Shurahbil ibn Sa’d who said:
“This verse was revealed about Abdullah ibn Sa’d ibn Abi Sarh. The latter said: ‘I will reveal the like of that which Allah has revealed,’ and renounced Islam. When the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, entered Mecca, this man fled to Uthman ibn Affan, who was his milk brother. Uthman hid him until the people of Mecca felt safe. He then took him to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and secured an amnesty for him.”
These words of Abdullah Ibn Abi Sarh—”So blessed be Allah, the Best of Creators!”—still exist in the Quran to this day (Verse 23:14).
Did Ibn Abi Sarh falsely accuse Muhammad? Certainly not!
The truth is that Muhammad appropriated his words without regard for any originality, forgetting that he had earlier challenged the pagans of Mecca, claiming they could not produce even a single verse like those in the Quran.
Therefore, Ibn Abi Sarh witnessed firsthand that Muhammad was fabricating revelations himself, which exposed the falsehood. Nevertheless, he decided to test Muhammad further to confirm his suspicions. Muslim historians such as Waqidi, Ibn Athir, and Tabari recorded that when Muhammad dictated the phrase “Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise,” Ibn Abi Sarh wrote it in reverse order (i.e., “All-Wise, All-Knowing”). He then recited it back to Muhammad, who failed to notice the changes.
Second Proof:
Waqidi recorded a statement by Ibn Abi Sarh :
He said, as narrated by Abd al-Hamid ibn Ja’far from Yazid ibn Abi Habib, from Ata ibn Abi Rabah, and others: “Abdullah bin Sa’d bin Abi Sarh used to write down the revelations for the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. Sometimes, the Messenger of Allah would dictate to him, for example, ‘All-Hearing, All-Knowing,’ and he would write ‘All-Knowing, All-Wise.’ The Messenger of Allah would recite it and say, ‘This is also from Allah,’ and approve it. However, Abdullah became confused and said, ‘Muhammad does not know what he is saying. I can write whatever I wish for him. What I have written is revealed to me just as it is revealed to Muhammad.'”
After Ibn Abi Sarh renounced Islam, he told the people of Mecca, “Your religion is better than his.”
Upon learning of this, Muhammad became furious, realizing it would be nearly impossible to identify where Ibn Abi Sarh had introduced alterations into the Quran.
In an attempt to discredit Ibn Abi Sarh, Muhammad accused him of being a liar and claimed the revelation of the following verse:
Quran 6:93: “And who is more unjust than one who invents a lie about Allah or says, ‘It has been inspired to me,’ while nothing has been inspired to him, and one who says, ‘I will reveal [something] like what Allah revealed.'”
Muhammad tried to defend himself against Ibn Abi Sarh’s accusations. However, all his excuses were ineffective, and this verse now serves as undeniable evidence against him, particularly for those with critical thinking skills. We should be grateful for this verse, as without it, Islamic apologists might dismiss the existence of Abdullah Ibn Abi Sarh by labeling all related traditions as “weak.”
Third Proof:
Ibn Jarir al-Tabari recorded the following tradition from Ikrimah in his :
Al-Qasim told us: Al-Husayn narrated: Al-Hajjaj narrated, from Ibn Jurayj, from Ikrimah: Regarding the verse ‘And who is more unjust than one who invents a lie about Allah or says, “It has been inspired to me,” while nothing has been inspired to him, and one who says, “I will reveal [something] like what Allah revealed”‘ (6:93). He [Ikrimah] said: This verse was revealed about Musaylimah, the brother of Bani Uday bin Hanifah, for what he was reciting in poetry and prophesying. And ‘I will reveal like what Allah hath revealed’ was revealed about Abdullah bin Sa’d bin Abi Sarh, the brother of Bani Amir bin Lu’ay. He used to write for the Prophet, peace be upon him, and while he [Muhammad] was dictating ‘Exalted in power, full of Wisdom,’ he [Abdullah] would write ‘Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful,’ thus changing it. Then he would read the changed version to him, and he [Muhammad] would say, ‘Yes, it’s like that.’ So, he reverted from Islam and joined the Quraysh, telling them, ‘He used to recite to me “Exalted in power, full of Wisdom,” and I would change it when writing, and he would tell me, “Yes, it’s the same.”‘
Fourth Proof:
Imam Tabari recorded the following tradition in his Tafsir from Al-Suddi :
Muhammad bin Al-Husayn told me: Ahmad bin Al-Mufaddal narrated: Asbat narrated, from Al-Suddi: Regarding the verse ‘And who is more unjust than one who invents a lie about Allah or says, “It has been inspired to me,” while nothing has been inspired to him…’ up to ‘you receive your reward, a penalty of shame’ (6:93). He [Al-Suddi] said: This verse was revealed about Abdullah bin Sa’d bin Abi Sarh. He embraced Islam and used to write for the Prophet, peace be upon him. When the Prophet dictated ‘All-Hearing, All-Knowing,’ he would write ‘All-Knowing, All-Wise,’ and if he said ‘All-Knowing, All-Wise,’ he would write ‘All-Hearing, All-Knowing.’ So, he doubted and disbelieved, saying: ‘If Muhammad is inspired, then I am inspired too, and if Allah sends it down, then I have sent down like what Allah sent down. Muhammad said “All-Hearing, All-Knowing,” and I said “All-Knowing, All-Wise.”‘ He joined the polytheists and informed on Ammar and Jubayr to Ibn Al-Hadrami or Bani Abd Al-Dar, so they captured and tortured them until they disbelieved. Ammar’s ear was mutilated that day. Ammar went to the Prophet, peace be upon him, and told him what happened and what he had given them in disbelief, but the Prophet refused to accept him. Then Allah revealed about Ibn Abi Sarh, Ammar, and his companions: ‘Whoever disbelieves in Allah after his belief… except for one who is forced [to renounce his religion] while his heart is secure in faith. But those who [willingly] open their breasts to disbelief…’ (16:106). The one forced was Ammar and his companions, and the one who opened his breast to disbelief was Ibn Abi Sarh.
Fifth Proof:
Imam Ibn Abi Hatim recorded the following tradition in his Tafsir :
7624: My father narrated to us: Ibn Nufayl Al-Harrani narrated: Maskin bin Bukayr narrated, from Ma’an Rifa’ah, who said: I heard Abu Khalf Al-A’ma say: Ibn Abi Sarh used to write the revelation for the Prophet, peace be upon him. Then the people of Mecca came to him and said: ‘O Ibn Abi Sarh, how did you write the Quran for Ibn Abi Kabshah?’ He said: ‘I wrote it however I wished.’ Upon that, Allah revealed: ‘And who is more unjust than one who invents a lie about Allah’ (6:93). The verse continues: ‘or says, “It has been inspired to me,” while nothing has been inspired to him.’
Sixth Proof:
Imam Al-Hakim recorded the following tradition in his book Al-Mustadrak ala Al-Sahihayn :
4419: Abu Al-Abbas Muhammad bin Ya’qub narrated to us: Ahmad bin Abd Al-Jabbar narrated: Yunus bin Bukayr narrated, from Ibn Ishaq, who said: Shurahbil bin Sa’d narrated: ‘This verse was revealed about Abdullah Ibn Sa’d Ibn Abi Sarh: “And who is more unjust than one who invents a lie about Allah or says, ‘It has been inspired to me,’ while nothing has been inspired to him, and one who says, ‘I will reveal [something] like what Allah revealed.”‘ When the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, entered Mecca, he fled to Uthman bin Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, who was his foster brother. He hid him until the people of Mecca were secure, then brought him to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and sought amnesty for him.’
Undoubtedly, Abdullah Ibn Sa’d inflicted a significant insult on Muhammad, and Muhammad was unwilling to spare his life. However, through Uthman’s intercession, Muhammad eventually granted him amnesty. Afterward, Abdullah bin Sa’d joined the army and participated in plundering during wars. The spoils, including enslaved women and war booty, became more important to him than Muhammad’s claim to prophethood.
Seventh Proof:
Sunan Abi Dawud 4358:
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: Abdullah ibn Abu Sarh used to write (the revelation) for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). Satan made him slip, and he joined the infidels. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) commanded to kill him on the day of the Conquest (of Mecca). Uthman ibn Affan sought protection for him. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) gave him protection.
Grade: Sahih
Muhammad wanted to kill Ibn Abi Sarh even through deception.
Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith 2683:
Narrated Sa’d: On the day when Mecca was conquered, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) gave protection to the people except four men and two women, and he named them. Ibn Abu Sarh was one of them.
He then narrated the tradition. He said: Ibn Abu Sarh hid himself with Uthman ibn Affan. When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) called the people to take the oath of allegiance, he brought him and made him stand before the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). He said: Messenger of Allah, receive the oath of allegiance from him. He raised his head and looked at him thrice, denying him every time. After the third time, he received his oath. He then turned to his Companions and said: Is there not any intelligent man among you who would stand to this (man) when he saw me desisting from receiving the oath of allegiance, and kill him? They replied: We do not know, Messenger of Allah, what lies in your heart; did you not give us a hint with your eye? He said: It is not proper for a Prophet to have a treacherous eye.
Abu Dawud said: Abdullah (b. Abi Sarh) was the foster brother of Uthman, and Walid b. Uqbah was his brother by mother, and Uthman inflicted on him the hadd punishment when he drank wine.
Grade: Sahih
Let’s read one comment on this tradition:
It shows the true nature of Muhammad. We have to admit that he was a very shrewd leader. He knew how to secure his alliances. Uthman was too important an ally for Muhammad to upset. He inwardly still wanted the scribe to be killed even though it was politically expedient for him to spare him. This was Muhammad’s inner struggle that he wanted his followers to solve for him by killing the scribe without any trial. This would save face in front of Uthman as he could claim that he didn’t want to kill him but some hothead follower did it anyway. His followers had the decency to not rush to judgment before their leader had made a clear call. Muhammad, after accepting the scribe’s pledge, still bore enough enmity for him to ask his followers why they didn’t kill him? They said they didn’t get a sign. Muhammad told them that prophets can’t make a treacherous signal with their eye.
This excuse from Muhammad is ridiculous. It means only that prophets can be treacherous in their heart but making an outward sign is what he considers treachery. An outward sign of treachery would have alerted Uthman and that is what Muhammad couldn’t risk. He wanted his followers to read his mind and the treacherous intentions of his heart.
This is the man that 1.8 billion Muslims follow. It shows how gullible they are. Then again, they are never shown these hadiths or even if they are shown these hadiths, they read them with the blindfolds of devotion on.
This was the scribe’s forced conversion back into the fold of Islam, and to the credit of the scribe, he was very grateful to his foster brother Uthman for saving his life. He remained a loyal ally of his foster brother. (Credit: curiousjack6)
Islamic Apologists: The Tradition About Verses 23:12-14 Is Not Correct
We have previously presented the tradition regarding verses 23:12-14 (see Proof Number 1 above), which includes Abdullah Ibn Sa’d’s words as part of the Quran.
However, some Islamic apologists argue that this tradition cannot be accurate because Surah Al-Mu’minun (where verses 23:12-14 appear) was revealed during the Meccan period, while Abdullah Ibn Abi Sarh embraced Islam later in the Medinan period. As evidence, they cite the following tradition from “Asad al-Ghaba” by Ibn Athir :
“He (Abdullah Ibn Sa’d Ibn Abi Sarh) accepted Islam before the Victory of Mecca. He migrated to the Prophet (when he was already in Medina). He was a scribe of revelation, but later he apostatized and went back to Quraysh in Mecca.”
Answer:
During the early period of Islam, there was widespread awareness of the truth behind various incidents during Muhammad’s time and the corresponding Quranic revelations. Consequently, many people accurately narrated traditions about these events.
However, some traditions portrayed Islam and Muhammad negatively, and later Muslims sought to preserve their religion’s honor by discrediting them. Thus, later Muslims used two strategies:
- They fabricated numerous ahadith (narrations) to counter the traditions revealing the truth.
- They developed the field of Ilm al-Hadith (Science of Hadith) and labeled certain traditions as “weak” if they contradicted Islam’s honor.
Despite their efforts, these Muslim scholars and fabricators often erred and failed to fabricate enough falsehoods to hide the truth.
One case exemplifying this is Ibn Abi Sarh:
- Ibn Athir’s tradition claiming Ibn Abi Sarh accepted Islam in Medina is a solitary report without a chain of narration.
- Moreover, Surah Al-Mu’minun (verses 23:12-14) was revealed in Mecca, contradicting Ibn Athir’s claim.
- Similarly, Surah Al-An’am (verse 6:93) was revealed in Mecca, where Allah testifies to someone claiming to fabricate revelation. This is irrefutable evidence that Abdullah Ibn Abi Sarh accepted Islam in the Meccan period, and his apostasy occurred in Mecca.
- The traditions in proofs 3, 4, 5, and 6 also relate to Surah Al-An’am (verse 6:93) and confirm the incident happened in the Meccan period.
- Lastly, proof 4 mentions the torture of Ammar Yasir and his companions, a well-known event from the Meccan period, further supporting that Ibn Abi Sarh’s incident occurred then.
Therefore, these arguments expose the “double standards” of Islamic apologists, who dismiss all this evidence while accepting Ibn Athir’s solitary report, which contradicts other traditions and the Quran itself.
Islamic Apologists: It Was Not Ibn Abi Sarh, But a Christian Man Who Claimed to Add to the Quran
Islamic apologists cite the following tradition to deny Ibn Abi Sarh’s role:
Sahih al-Bukhari 3617:
Narrated Anas: There was a Christian who embraced Islam and read Surahs Al-Baqarah and Al-Imran, and he used to write (the revelations) for the Prophet. Later on, he returned to Christianity again and used to say: “Muhammad knows nothing but what I have written for him.” Then Allah caused him to die, and the people buried him, but in the morning they saw that the earth had thrown his body out. They said, “This is the act of Muhammad and his companions. They dug the grave of our companion and took his body out of it because he had run away from them.” They again dug the grave deeply for him, but in the morning they again saw that the earth had thrown his body out. They said, “This is an act of Muhammad and his companions. They dug the grave of our companion and threw his body outside it, for he had run away from them.” They dug the grave for him as deep as they could, but in the morning they again saw that the earth had thrown his body out. So they believed that what had befallen him was not done by human beings and had to leave him thrown (on the ground).
Firstly, this is a “singular” tradition with no other chain of narration. We know later Muslim generations were masters at fabricating false ahadith to safeguard their religion. Please read our article:
- The Hadith Fabrication Factory of Muslims: 131 Traditions claimed it was Ishaq who was slaughtered, while 133 Traditions were fabricated claiming it was Ismail who was slaughtered.
Secondly, even this hadith proves that a Companion of Muhammad, who was also a “scribe of the Quran,” left Islam and reverted to Christianity. This in itself questions the so-called linguistic miracle of the Quran.
