“For even Satan disguises himself as an angel.” (2 Corinthians 11:14a)
The founding of the religion of Islam goes something like this. At the age of 40, as was his practice, Muhammad was meditating in a cave and the angel Gabriel appeared to him. (It is interesting to note that after this experience, Muhammad himself thought he’d been possessed by demons.)
Now meditating is okay as long as one’s focus is the Holy Bible. Just because one “meditates” doesn’t necessarily guarantee that he or she is in the presence of God. And if you add to that you’re not even a believer in the first place, well, it’s a disaster in the making.
Muhammad was not a Christian. (Christianity had been founded some 5 centuries prior to his birth.) Therefore, when he meditated, he was an easy target for deception.
Yes, there is a devil. (John 10:10a) Yes, he seeks to deceive. (Revelation 12:9) And yes, if you are susceptible to believing a lie and available to promote that lie to others, Satan will come knocking at your door. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
That’s basically what happened in the cave.
Gabriel (who was in the form of a man) would strongly “embrace” Muhammad and instruct him to “recite.” Muhammad’s response was that he was not a “reciter.” And so Gabriel would “embrace” (hug, squeeze) Muhammad three more times until he complied. Ultimately, he “recited.”
And the Koran (Quran) was born.
In the end Muhammad fled the cave, but Gabriel wasn’t through with him yet. He appeared again in the sky (in angelic form this time), declaring, “Thou art the messenger of God and I am Gabriel,” as Muhammad ran down the mountain.
Family members (including his wife, Khadījah) would later confirm (agree) that Muhammad’s revelations were true and that he was a prophet of God like Gabriel had said.
And Islam came into being.
Muhammad would have a second significant vision (spiritual experience) about 9 years later. In it the angel Gabriel appeared again and with a winged horse (steed) no less on which Muhammad would ride. They would “fly” to the site where Abraham offered Isaac and from there, they would continue higher and higher to the very presence of God Himself. There Muhammad would meet Moses and Jesus among other things.
And so what might Jesus say to Muhammad (Islam’s founder)?
I believe Jesus might answer with a Bible verse found in the New Testament book of Galatians…
But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8)
How could Jesus say such a thing? I thought Jesus was a nice guy. I thought Jesus was tolerant. I thought Jesus loved everybody.
Well, He does love everybody, but not with the kind of “love” that most often the world portrays. Jesus’ love speaks the truth. Jesus’ love is not politically correct. In the end the masses will not accept it. (John 1:11; Matthew 7:13b)
(The cave Hira in the mountain Jabal al-Nour where, according to Muslim belief, Muhammad received his first revelation picture file above is in the public domain: click here.)
(Reference links: Encyclopaedia Britannica: Muhammad and Encyclopaedia Britannica: The Advent of the Revelation and the Meccan Period)
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