Safa & Marwa:-
All Muhammadans agree that the practice of pilgrimage existed before the rise of Muhammad by hundreds of years. The people of Quraysh (and other pagan Arabs) were accustomed to celebrating the pilgrimage. Even Muhammad himself did so before he claimed to be a prophet.
Even after he installed himself as the apostle of Allah, he and his followers continued to perform the pilgrimage’s rites with the polytheistic pagans. He only changed a few things from the pagan traditions.
( Jawami’ al-Sira al-Nabawiyya "Prophet’s Biography" by ibn Hazm, page 14. Also "Islam: A Creed and A Law" by the Imam Mahmud Shaltut, pp. 113-115).
Almost every major 'Islamic' history book documents these facts. After the conquest of Mecca, the pilgrimage was turned by Muhammad into one of the FIVE pillars of Muhammadan Islam.
Muhammad banned the Arab polytheists from the Hajj after the year of the conquest. They were given four months either to embrace his
Cult of Islam or be killed.
After that, Muhammad made very slight changes in the ceremonial rituals of the pilgrimage although he destroyed all the idols of the Ka’ba. Yet Muhammad himself continued to practice many paganistic rituals. He did not abolish them nor reject them. That created some consternation among his followers who expected him to uproot these idolatrous rudiments.
Some Pagan Rituals
Muhammadans continued - and continue - to practice many of the pre-Islamic, pagan rituals such as running between the two hills of Safa and Marwa or kissing the Black Stone.
In the first case, Arab polytheists were accustomed to running between the two hills to glorify the idols that they erected and called them Isaf and Na’ila. When Muhammad destroyed the idols, his followers were ashamed to continue this practice, and asked Muhammad about it. Soon, he claimed that a Quranic verse was 'revealed' to him in which this practice was re-ordained.
On page 33, of his commentary, al Baydawi says this in the course of his interpretation of chapter 2:158. 'Muslim' scholars generally agree with al Baydawi
( Jalalan, page 22, Zamakh-shari in his "Kash-shaf", part 1).
Bukhari volume 2, page 195 for instance, remarks:
"One of the companions said to Anas ibn Malik, ‘Did you use to hate running between the Safa and Marwa?’ He said, ‘Yes, because it was part of the pre-Islamic rituals until Allah gave Muhammad this verse and proclaimed that it was also one of Allah’s ceremonial rites"’
We also read in the Sahih of Muslim volume 3, page 411
"Adherents of the prophet, (when) they were still in the pre-Islamic period, used to come up to visit two idols, Isaf and Na’ila, then they would go and run between Safa and Marwa, then they would have their hair cut. When Islam was established, they hated to run between them, but Allah sent down this verse (2:158), thus they ran (between them)"
In Asbab al-Nuzul by Suyuti, page 27
Ibn ’Abbas himself said "The demons in the Jahiliyya used to circumnavigate all night around these two mountains. The idols (were erected) between them. When Islam came, they (Muslims) said, ‘O, apostle of Allah, we would never run between the Safa and Marwa because this is an unfavorable matter which we were accustomed to do in the Jahiliyya.’ Thus, Allah gave this verse"
So, this "unfavorable matter" was strongly related to idolatry, but even so, Muhammad refused to abolish it and several Quranic verses were given to confirm it. Muhammad himself performed it and Muhammadan Muslims are still practicing it today.
The Kissing of the Black Stone-
This famous meteorite is one of the Ka’ba’s stones. The idolators were accustomed to worshipping it and kissing it. When 'Islam' was established, Muhammad did not abolish this practice, but rather he himself performed it and commanded his followers to do so, in spite of their surprise and objection.
In his Sahih (part 2, page 183), al-Bukhari records a famous statement made by ’Umar ibn al-Khattab which demonstrates the confusion of the 'Muslims'-
"When ’Umar ibn al-Khattab reached the Black Stone, he kissed it and said, ‘I know that you are a stone that does not hurt or benefit. If I had not seen the prophet kiss you, I would have not kissed you."’
All scholars (ancient and contemporary) confirm that this statement is uttered by ’Umar ( Sahih of Muslim, volume 3, page 406, and "Islam: A creed and a Law" by Imam Shaltut, page 122).
It is well known that Muhammadan pilgrims jostle around to kiss it as Muhammad and his companions did before them. Because of such crowding, the pilgrims suffer a large number of serious casualties.
Sheikh Sha’rawi says:
‘The kissing of the meteorite is a firm practice in Islamic law because Muhammad did it. You must not ask about the wisdom behind that because this rite is (an expression) of worship in spite of the obscurity of its wisdom"
This was his answer to the 'Muslim' youths who asked, "What is the wisdom of kissing the meteorite?"
Other Rituals Of Pilgrimage -
To be brief, it should be pointed out that in addition to the kissing of the meteorite and running between the Safa and Marwa, the Muhammadan pilgrim has to make the trip to mount ’Arafa. Hundreds of thousands attempt to climb this mountain, but many suffer hardship which results in many casualties because they hasten toward it in a disorderly manner as they do when they jostle around the meteorite. Climbing this mountain is one of the most important rituals of the pilgrimage. Even Muhammad used to say, "’Arafa is the Hajj (pilgrimage)."
After that, they go to another mountain called the Muzdalifa. Then, on the tenth day of the pilgrimage, they go to Mina and they start casting pebbles. They also have their hair cut or shortened (having it cut is better) provided that the barber starts from the right side of the head, because Muhammad did so.
After that, they slay their sheep. Some prefer to offer these sacrifices before the day of Mina because these sacrifices pile up in Mina. Some are forced to donate money instead of sacrificing sheep contrary to the advice of Muhammadan scholars who believe that such acts abolish one of the rudiments of the pilgrimage and create a dispute among 'Muslims'.
("Rudiments of the Hajj" by Imam Shaltute; Sahih of the Bukhari, part 2, Sahih of Muslim, volume 3, and any other source about the rudiments of the Hajj.)
2:158 Behold! Safa and Marwa are among the Symbols of Allah. So if those who visit the house in the season or at other times should compass them round it is no sin in them. And if anyone obeyeth his own impulse to good be sure that Allah is He Who recogniseth and knoweth
#160 The virtue of patient perseverance in faith leads to the mention of two symbolic monuments of that virtue. These are the two little hills of Safa and Marwa now absorbed in the city of Mecca, and close to the well of Zam-zam. Here, according to tradition, the lady Hajar, mother of the infant Ismail, prayed for water in the parched desert, and in her eager quest round these hills, she found her prayer answered and saw the Zam-zam spring. Unfortunately the Pagan Arabs had placed a male and a female idol here, and their gross and superstitious rites caused offence to the early Muslims. They felt some hesitation in going round these places during the Pilgrimage. As a matter of fact they should have known that the Ka'ba (the House of Allah had been itself defiled with idols, and was sanctified again by the purity of Muhammad's life and teaching. The lesson is that the most sacred things may be turned to the basest uses; that we are not therefore necessarily to ban a thing misused; that if our intentions and life are pure, Allah will recognise them even if the world cast stones at us because of some evil associations which they join with what we do, or with the people we associate with, or with the places which claim our reverence#
#2077 The ancient Persians believed in two powers in the Universe, one good and the other evil. The Pagan Arabs also had pairs of deities: e.g., Jibr (Sorcery) and Tagut (Evil), referred to in iv. 51, n. 573, or the idols on Safa and Marwa referred to in n. 160 to ii. 158: their names were Isaf and Naila#
Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 5.85
SA'I BETWEEN SAFA AND MARWAH, Historical Background
Ibn 'Abbas said: 'Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) brought Hajar, his wife, and her son Isma'il (peace be upon them), whom she was still nursing, and left them at (the site of) the House of Allah under a tree above the Zamzam. Makkah at that time was a place where there was neither water nor any dweller. He left a bag of dates and a container of water for them. Then Ibrahim (peace be upon him) turned to go away. Isma'il's mother said to him, "O Ibrahim! Where are you going? And who are you leaving us to in this valley without a companion or a thing?" She repeated this several times but he did not respond. At last she asked him, "Has Allah commanded you to do so?" He answered, "Yes." Thereupon she said, "Then He will not let us perish!'' (Bukhari) In another narration we read: "She asked him, 'Who are you leaving us to?' He answered, 'To Allah' whereupon she responded, 'I am satisfied,' and turned back."
Ibrahim left and when he reached a mountain pass where he could no longer see them, he turned his face toward the Ka'bah and with his hands raised, supplicated, "O Our Lord! I have made of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation by your Sacred House; in order Our Lord, that they may establish regular prayer: so fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them, and feed them with fruits, so that they may give thanks!" (Qur'an 14.37)
Hajar sat under the tree with her baby next to her. She drank from her water container hanging nearby, and nursed her baby, until all the water she had was gone, her milk dried out. Her son grew hungrier and hungrier. She could hardly bear to look at him. She went and stood at Safa - the hill nearest to her. She looked down the valley to see if there was someone around to help. She could see no one. So, she climbed down Safa and reached the valley. She struggled hard, crossed the valley and reached Marwa. She stood on Marwah, and looked around. Still she could see no one around. She repeated this seven times. Ibn 'Abbas added, "The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'It is (to commemorate this walk) that pilgrims walk between Safa and Marwa."'
Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 2.706 Narrated byUrwa
I asked 'Aisha : "How do you interpret the statement of Allah: 'Verily! (the mountains) As-Safa and Al-Marwa are among the symbols of Allah, and whoever performs the Hajj to the Ka'ba or performs 'Umra, it is not harmful for him to perform Tawaf between them (Safa and Marwa)' (2.158). By Allah! (it is evident from this revelation) there is no harm if one does not perform Tawaf between Safa and Marwa." 'Aisha said, "O, my nephew! Your interpretation is not true. Had this interpretation of yours been correct, the statement of Allah should have been, 'It is not harmful for him if he does not perform Tawaf between them.' But in fact, this divine inspiration was revealed concerning the Ansar who used to assume Ihram for worshipping an idol called 'Manat' which they used to worship at a place called Al-Mushallal before they embraced Islam, and whoever assumed Ihram (for the idol), would consider it not right to perform Tawaf between Safa and Marwa.
When they embraced Islam, they asked Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) regarding it, saying, 'O Allah's Apostle! We used to refrain from Tawaf between Safa and Marwa.' So Allah revealed: 'Verily; (the mountains) As-Safa and Al-Marwa are among the symbols of Allah.' " Aisha added, "Surely, Allah's Apostle set the tradition of Tawaf between Safa and Marwa, so nobody is allowed to omit the Tawaf between them." Later on I ('Urwa) told Abu Bakr bin 'Abdur-Rahman (of 'Aisha's narration) and he said, "I have not heard of such information, but I heard learned men saying that all the people, except those whom 'Aisha mentioned and who used to assume Ihram for the sake of Manat, used to perform Tawaf between Safa and Marwa."
When Allah referred to the Tawaf of the Ka'ba and did not mention Safa and Marwa in the Qur'an, the people asked, "O Allah's Apostle! We used to perform Tawaf between Safa and Marwa and Allah has revealed (the verses concerning) Tawaf of the Ka'ba and has not mentioned Safa and Marwa. Is there any harm if we perform Tawaf between Safa and Marwa?" So Allah revealed: "Verily As-Safa and Al-Marwa are among the symbols of Allah." Abu Bakr said, "It seems that this verse was revealed concerning the two groups, those who used to refrain from Tawaf between Safa and Marwa in the pre-Islamic period of ignorance and those who used to perform the Tawaf then, and after embracing Islam they refrained from the Tawaf between them as Allah had enjoined Tawaf of the Ka'ba and did not mention Tawaf (of Safa and Marwa) till later after mentioning the Tawaf of the Ka'ba."
Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 4.583 Narrated byIbn Abbas
The first lady to use a girdle was the mother of Ishmael. She used a girdle so that she might hide her tracks from Sarah. Abraham brought her and her son Ishmael while she was suckling him, to a place near the Ka'ba under a tree on the spot of Zam-zam, at the highest place in the mosque. During those days there was nobody in Mecca, nor was there any water. So he made them sit over there and placed near them a leather bag containing some dates, and a small water-skin containing some water, and set out homeward. Ishmael's mother followed him saying, "O Abraham! Where are you going, leaving us in this valley where there is no person whose company we may enjoy, nor is there anything (to enjoy)?" She repeated that to him many times, but he did not look back at her. Then she asked him, "Has Allah ordered you to do so?" He said, "Yes." She said, "Then He will not neglect us," and returned while Abraham proceeded onwards, and on reaching the Thaniya where they could not see him, he faced the Ka'ba, and raising both hands, invoked Allah saying the following prayers:
"O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring dwell in a valley without cultivation, by Your Sacred House (Kaba at Mecca) in order, O our Lord, that they may offer prayer perfectly. So fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and (O Allah) provide them with fruits, so that they may give thanks." (14.37) Ishmael's mother went on suckling Ishmael and drinking from the water (she had).
When the water in the water-skin had all been used up, she became thirsty and her child also became thirsty. She started looking at him (i.e. Ishmael) tossing in agony. She left him, for she could not endure looking at him, and found that the mountain of Safa was the nearest mountain to her on that land. She stood on it and started looking at the valley keenly so that she might see somebody, but she could not see anybody. Then she descended from Safa and when she reached the valley, she tucked up her robe and ran in the valley like a person in distress and trouble, till she crossed the valley and reached the Marwa mountain where she stood and started looking, expecting to see somebody, but she could not see anybody. She repeated that (running between Safa and Marwa) seven times.
The Prophet said, "This is the source of the tradition of the walking of people between them (i.e. Safa and Marwa). When she reached the Marwa (for the last time) she heard a voice and she asked herself to be quiet and listened attentively. She heard the voice again and said, 'O, (whoever you may be)! You have made me hear your voice; have you got something to help me?" And behold! She saw an angel at the place of Zam-zam, digging the earth with his heel (or his wing), till water flowed from that place. She started to make something like a basin around it, using her hand in this way, and started filling her water-skin with water with her hands, and the water was flowing out after she had scooped some of it."
The Prophet added, "May Allah bestow Mercy on Ishmael's mother! Had she let the Zam-zam (flow without trying to control it) (or had she not scooped from that water) (to fill her water-skin), Zam-zam would have been a stream flowing on the surface of the earth." The Prophet further added, "Then she drank (water) and suckled her child. The angel said to her, 'Don't be afraid of being neglected, for this is the House of Allah which will be built by this boy and his father, and Allah never neglects His people.'
The House (i.e. Kaba) at that time was on a high place resembling a hillock, and when torrents came, they flowed to its right and left. She lived in that way till some people from the tribe of Jurhum or a family from Jurhum passed by her and her child, as they (i.e. the Jurhum people) were coming through the way of Kada'. They landed in the lower part of Mecca where they saw a bird that had the habit of flying around water and not leaving it. They said, 'This bird must be flying around water, though we know that there is no water in this valley.' They sent one or two messengers who discovered the source of water, and returned to inform them of the water. So, they all came (towards the water)." The Prophet added, "Ishmael's mother was sitting near the water. They asked her, 'Do you allow us to stay with you?' She replied, 'Yes, but you will have no right to possess the water.' They agreed to that." The Prophet further said, "Ishmael's mother was pleased with the whole situation as she used to love to enjoy the company of the people. So, they settled there, and later on they sent for their families who came and settled with them so that some families became permanent residents there. The child (i.e. Ishmael) grew up and learnt Arabic from them and (his virtues) caused them to love and admire him as he grew up, and when he reached the age of puberty they made him marry a woman from amongst them.
After Ishmael's mother had died, Abraham came after Ishmael's marriage in order to see his family that he had left before, but he did not find Ishmael there. When he asked Ishmael's wife about him, she replied, 'He has gone in search of our livelihood.' Then he asked her about their way of living and their condition, and she replied, 'We are living in misery; we are living in hardship and destitution,' complaining to him. He said, 'When your husband returns, convey my salutation to him and tell him to change the threshold of the gate (of his house).' When Ishmael came, he seemed to have felt something unusual, so he asked his wife, 'Has anyone visited you?' She replied, 'Yes, an old man of so-and-so description came and asked me about you and I informed him, and he asked about our state of living, and I told him that we were living in a hardship and poverty.' On that Ishmael said, 'Did he advise you anything?' She replied, 'Yes, he told me to convey his salutation to you and to tell you to change the threshold of your gate.' Ishmael said, 'It was my father, and he has ordered me to divorce you. Go back to your family.' So, Ishmael divorced her and married another woman from amongst them (i.e. Jurhum).
Then Abraham stayed away from them for a period as long as Allah wished and called on them again but did not find Ishmael. So he came to Ishmael's wife and asked her about Ishmael. She said, 'He has gone in search of our livelihood.' Abraham asked her, 'How are you getting on?' asking her about their sustenance and living. She replied, 'We are prosperous and well-off (i.e. we have everything in abundance).' Then she thanked Allah. Abraham said, 'What kind of food do you eat?' She said. 'Meat.' He said, 'What do you drink?' She said, 'Water." He said, "O Allah! Bless their meat and water." The Prophet added, "At that time they did not have grain, and if they had grain, he would have also invoked Allah to bless it." The Prophet added, "If somebody has only these two things as his sustenance, his health and disposition will be badly affected, unless he lives in Mecca." The Prophet added," Then Abraham said Ishmael's wife, "When your husband comes, give my regards to him and tell him that he should keep firm the threshold of his gate.' When Ishmael came back, he asked his wife, 'Did anyone call on you?' She replied, 'Yes, a good-looking old man came to me,' so she praised him and added. 'He asked about you, and I informed him, and he asked about our livelihood and I told him that we were in a good condition.' Ishmael asked her, 'Did he give you any piece of advice?' She said, 'Yes, he told me to give his regards to you and ordered that you should keep firm the threshold of your gate.' On that Ishmael said, 'It was my father, and you are the threshold (of the gate). He has ordered me to keep you with me.'
Then Abraham stayed away from them for a period as long as Allah wished, and called on them afterwards. He saw Ishmael under a tree near Zam-zam, sharpening his arrows. When he saw Abraham, he rose up to welcome him (and they greeted each other as a father does with his son or a son does with his father). Abraham said, 'O Ishmael! Allah has given me an order.' Ishmael said, 'Do what your Lord has ordered you to do.' Abraham asked, 'Will you help me?' Ishmael said, 'I will help you.' Abraham said, Allah has ordered me to build a house here,' pointing to a hillock higher than the land surrounding it." The Prophet added, "Then they raised the foundations of the House (i.e. the Ka'ba). Ishmael brought the stones and Abraham was building, and when the walls became high, Ishmael brought this stone and put it for Abraham who stood over it and carried on building, while Ishmael was handing him the stones, and both of them were saying, 'O our Lord! Accept (this service) from us, Verily, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.' The Prophet added, "Then both of them went on building and going round the Ka'ba saying: O our Lord ! Accept (this service) from us, Verily, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing." (2.127)
Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 9.336 Narrated byJabir bin Abdullah
We were in the company of Allah's Apostle and we assumed the state of Ihram of Hajj and arrived at Mecca on the fourth of Dhul-Hijja. The Prophet ordered us to perform the Tawaf around the Ka'ba and (Sa'i) between As-Safa and Al-Marwa and use our Ihram just for 'Umra, and finish the state of Ihram unless we had our Hadi with us. None of us had the Hadi with him except the Prophet and Talha. 'Ali came from Yemen and brought the Hadi with him. 'Ali said, "I had assumed the state of Ihram with the same intention as that with which Allah's Apostle had assumed it." The people said, "How can we proceed to Mina and our male organs are dribbling?" Allah's Apostle said, "If I had formerly known what I came to know latterly, I would not have brought the Hadi, and had there been no Hadi with me, I would have finished my Ihram." Suraqa (bin Malik) met the Prophet while he was throwing pebbles at the Jamrat-al-'Aqaba, and asked, "O Allah's Apostle! Is this (permitted) for us only?" The Prophet replied. "No, it is forever" 'Aisha had arrived at Mecca while she was menstruating, therefore the Prophet ordered her to perform all the ceremonies of Hajj except the Tawaf around the Ka'ba, and not to perform her prayers unless and until she became clean. When they encamped at Al-Batha, 'Aisha said, "O Allah's Apostle! You are proceeding after performing both Hajj and 'Umra while I am proceeding with Hajj only?" So the Prophet ordered 'Abdur-Rahman bin Abu Bakr As-Siddiq to go with her to At-Tan'im, and so she performed the 'Umra in Dhul-Hijja after the days of the Hajj.
Sunan of Abu-DawoodHadith 1788 Narrated byAbdullah ibn Abbas
The Prophet (peace be upon him) raised his voice in talbiyah for hajj. When he came (to Mecca) he went round the House (the Ka'bah) and ran between as-Safa and al-Marwah. The narrator Ibn Shawkar said: He did not clip his hair, nor did he take off his ihram due to sacrificial animals. But he commanded those who did not bring sacrificial animals with them to go round the Ka'bah, to run between as-Safa and al-Marwah, to clip their hair, and then put off their ihram. The narrator Ibn Mani' added: Or shave their heads, then take off their ihram."
Sunan of Abu-DawoodHadith 1883 Narrated byAisha, Ummul Mu'minin
The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Going round the House (the Ka'bah), running between as-Safa and lapidation of the pillars are meant for the remembrance of Allah.
Sunan of Abu-DawoodHadith 1867 Narrated byAbuHurayrah
The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) came an entered Mecca, and after the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) had gone forward to the Stone, and touched it, he went round the House (the Ka'bah). He then went to as-Safa and mounted it so that he could look at the House. Then he raised his hands began to make mention of Allah as much as he wished and make supplication. The narrator said: The Ansar were beneath him. The narrator Hashim said: He prayed and praised Allah and asked Him for what he wished to ask.
Al-Tirmidhi HadithHadith 2624 Narrated byAisha
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Throwing pebbles at the jamrahs and running between as-Safa and al-Marwah were appointed only for the remembrance of Allah."
Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a hasan sahih tradition.
Sahih Muslim HadithHadith 2982 Narrated byJabir ibn Abdullah
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: Odd number of stones are to be used for cleaning (the private parts after answering the call of nature), and casting of pebbles at the Jamrahs is to be done by odd numbers (seven), and (the number) of circuits between as-Safa' and al-Marwah is also odd (seven), and the number of circuits (around the Ka'bah) is also odd (seven). Whenever any one of you is required to use stones (for cleaning the private parts) he should use odd number of stones (three, five or seven).
*** Not a single word in the above hadiths represents any theological truth or fact based on any documentary evidence or even upon any Oral pagan Arabian tradition.
The agenda of the Muhammadan scholars had been and continues to be, the creation for the Arabs and Muhammad a geneaology, ancestry and history connecting Abraham & Ishmael to themselves.
They were and are still willing to go to any length of perversity, mendacity, deception and any depth of stupidity and illogic to achieve this goal.
Every alleged 'tradition' of theirs is mere chimera and mirage of their fertile imagination as far away from any truth as the furthest galaxy is from the Earth.
It is a pitiful and a pitiable sight when so called 'learned' Muhammadans stoop to such levels of intellectual and theological depravity against all facts and all of documented history.
To prove my point, let us decipher the above stories, item by item:
1 Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael, according to the original story in the Bible, never went to Mecca or Arabia. Ishmael resided in the land of Paran.
2 The well that was revealed to Hagar was in Beersheba in the land of Canaan and not Mecca in Arabia and was not called Zamzam.
3 Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael, had no knowledge of any god called Allah.
4 When Hagar and Ishmael were dismissed from Abraham's household, Ishmael was a teenager of at least 14 years of age and was definitely NOT a suckling baby. (Genesis 21: 12-21)-
Genesis 21:12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is
thy seed.
14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.
19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
20 And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
21 And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.
5 By what standard of logic should one believe that a holy place existed (House of Allah), in a town called Mecca where no one lived since there was no water to sustain life?
6 According to other traditions, Zamzam was a well in the valley where Mecca was, and NOT above the town; hence what is the Zamzam referred to here if it is not a well?
7 All that Muhammad and his followers perform during the Hajj, such as the running between Safa & Marwa, the kissing or touching of the Black Stone, the Ihram, the Umrah, etc, etc., were PAGAN ARABIAN traditions and fetishes long before Muhammad and his Quran.
8 Since, according to the Quran, the Bible is Allah's revelations to the
People of Israel, then how is it possible that the stories as depicted in the Quran contradict almost every one of these divine revelations?
Muhammad had no choice but to incorporate them into his new
CULT BELIEFS, otherwise, his Quraysh tribe and the other pagan Arabs would not have followed him. That is, he very conveniently 'ISLAMIZED' them and gave them a Biblical background to make them sanctified and holy.
I leave any further comments and conclusions to the intelligent and inquisitive mind of the reader to come to ***