Rebuttal to Sam Shamoun and Jochen Katz’s article The Profit of the Prophet

Should Muhammad Get Paid Or Shouldn’t He?

 

Sam Shamoun and Jochen Katz wrote:

The Quran records the words of a believer who advised his people to follow the messengers who asked for no money:

And there came running from the farthest part of the town, a man, saying: "O my people! Obey the Messengers; "Obey those who ask no wages of you (for themselves), and who are rightly guided. And why should I not worship Him (Allah Alone) Who has created me and to Whom you shall be returned. Shall I take besides Him aliha (gods), if the Most Beneficent (Allah) intends me any harm, their intercession will be of no use for me whatsoever, nor can they save me? Then verily, I should be in plain error." It was said (to him when the disbelievers killed him): "Enter Paradise." He said: "Would that my people knew! That my Lord (Allah) has forgiven me, and made me of the honoured ones!" S. 36:20-27 Hilali-Khan

The foregoing presupposes that true messengers do not ask for money or receive a fee for their services, a point repeated in the following texts:

And recite to them the story of Noah when he said to his people, 'My people, if my standing here is grievous to you and my reminding you of the signs of God, in God have I put my trust; so resolve on your affair, with your associates, then let not your affair be a worry to you, but make decision unto me, and respite me not. Then if you turn your backs, I have not asked you for any wage; my wage falls only on God, and I have been commanded to be of those that surrender.' S. 10:71-72 Arberry

(The tribe of) A'ad denied the messengers (of Allah). When their brother Hud said unto them: Will ye not ward off (evil)? Lo! I am a faithful messenger unto you, So keep your duty to Allah and obey me. And I ask of you no wage therefor; my wage is the concern only of the Lord of the Worlds. S. 26:123-127 Pickthall – cf. 26:109, 145, 164, 180

 

 

My response:

 

Once again we see a very incorrect interpretation of the verses. The conclusion reached by the writers is that true messengers do not ask for money. This is not the correct conclusion. The correct interpretation is that the Prophets did not ask for money for their personal gain from the people they preached to but only wanted good for the people. Their aim was not material wealth but to give guidance.

 

 

 

 

Sam Shamoun and Jochen Katz wrote:

Muhammad was commanded to follow this precedent:

Those are they whom God has guided; so follow their guidance. Say: 'I ask of you no wage for it; it is but a reminder unto all beings.' S. 6:90 Arberry

And We have sent thee (O Muhammad) only as a bearer of good tidings and a warner. Say: I ask of you no reward for this, save that whoso will may choose a way unto his Lord. S. 25:56-57 Pickthall

Thou askest them no fee for it. It is naught else than a reminder unto the peoples. S. 12:104 Pickthall

 

My response:

 

This is absolutely correct. Prophet Muhammad (s) never asked for money from the pagans, Jews or the Christians for himself. His desire was not material wealth.

 

 

 

 

Sam Shamoun and Jochen Katz wrote:

For instance, the Islamic narrations and Muslim commentators state that Allah commanded the Muslims to give to Muhammad the plunder they gathered through Islamic conquests:

And did He not find you needy, poor, and enrich you?, [and] made you content with the spoils and other things which He gave you - in a hadith [it is stated], 'Wealth comes not from the proliferation of transient [worldly] goods, but wealth comes from the contentedness of the soul'. (Tafsir al-Jalalayn; source; bold and underline emphasis ours)

Narrated Abu Huraira:
Whenever a dead man in debt was brought to Allah's Apostle he would ask, "Has he left anything to repay his debt?" If he was informed that he had left something to repay his debts, he would offer his funeral prayer, otherwise he would tell the Muslims to offer their friend's funeral prayer. When Allah made the Prophet wealthy through conquests, he said, "I am more rightful than other believers to be the guardian of the believers, so if a Muslim dies while in debt, I am responsible for the repayment of his debt, and whoever leaves wealth (after his death) it will belong to his heirs." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 37, Number 495)

 

 

 

My response:

 

You explanations just show your lack of basic common sense. Prophet Muhammad (s) was the leader of the Muslims. He managed the affairs of the State (in whatever state it was) and for that money is required. The above explanations say that a Prophet does not ask for his personal desires and this is exactly what Prophet Muhammad (s) did. The above mentioned verses lay down a basis for a flourishing state. A President of a country collects money through taxes. During the time of the Prophet, a system of taxes had not yet been established. Whatever was collected was through this method mentioned above.

 

A Hadith is mentioned above with bold letters by the accusers. It is posted below again with my emphasis.

 

Narrated Abu Huraira:
Whenever a dead man in debt was brought to Allah's Apostle he would ask, "Has he left anything to repay his debt?" If he was informed that he had left something to repay his debts, he would offer his funeral prayer, otherwise he would tell the Muslims to offer their friend's funeral prayer. When Allah made the Prophet wealthy through conquests, he said, "I am more rightful than other believers to be the guardian of the believers, so if a Muslim dies while in debt, I am responsible for the repayment of his debt, and whoever leaves wealth (after his death) it will belong to his heirs." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 37, Number 495)

 

The above mentioned verses in the beginning state that a Prophet does not ask for money from the people. This is very true. Whatever was collected by the Prophet was not by the people but through the booty of the wars.

 

The accusers gave some material and with it gave a conclusion that is given below,

This clearly shows that the one fifth was to be given to Muhammad personally, not to someone else.

This is absolutely correct. The percentage was 20 for the Prophet. What is the reason for that?

Narrated Abu Huraira:
Whenever a dead man in debt was brought to Allah's Apostle he would ask, "Has he left anything to repay his debt?" If he was informed that he had left something to repay his debts, he would offer his funeral prayer, otherwise he would tell the Muslims to offer their friend's funeral prayer. When Allah made the Prophet wealthy through conquests, he said, "I am more rightful than other believers to be the guardian of the believers, so if a Muslim dies while in debt, I am responsible for the repayment of his debt, and whoever leaves wealth (after his death) it will belong to his heirs." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 37, Number 495)

The reason is very valid. I wonder what problem do the accusers have with Prophet Muhammad (s) getting 20% of the remains of war?

https://www.answering-christianity.com/muhammads_share.htm

The accusers then go on to accuse the Prophet further by stating that he married a captive girl by freeing 7 slaves. I wonder what problem do these people have with this? Those 7 slaves were paid for by the Prophet, He did not take anyone else’s money for that.

The remaining of the silly argument by the two accusers is answered in the above given link.