The Satanic Verses: An Islamic Controversy

“The Satanic Verses” is a term derived from a controversial story in early Islamic history. It has sparked debates for centuries and gained worldwide attention in modern times due to Salman Rushdie’s novel of the same name. But what are these “Satanic Verses,” and why are they so controversial?

The story of the “Satanic Verses” revolves around an incident that allegedly took place during the life of the Prophet Muhammad. According to some early Islamic sources, there was a moment when Muhammad, under pressure from the leaders of Mecca, briefly acknowledged the existence of three Meccan goddesses: al-Lāt, al-‘Uzzā, and Manāt, all of whom were worshipped by the people of Mecca before the arrival of Islam and were sometimes referred to as the “daughters of Allah” in the context of pre-Islamic Arabian polytheism.

The controversial verses are said to have praised these goddesses and suggested that their intercession (seeking their help or protection) could be hoped for. These verses were purportedly part of the Qur’an but were later removed after Muhammad realized they were inspired by Satan rather than God. Subsequently, he retracted these verses and replaced them with what is found in the Qur’an in Surah An-Najm (Chapter 53, Verses 19-23), which suspiciously names the three goddesses to reject them and affirms the oneness of God.

Historians and scholars who subscribe to the Satanic Verses to be factual have presented evidence that suggests it might be true. One piece of evidence is that the story appears in several early Islamic historical sources, such as the works of al-Tabari and Ibn Sa’d, who wrote some of the earliest comprehensive histories of Islam. The fact that these early sources recorded the story, even though they sometimes expressed skepticism, suggests that it was a known narrative in early Islamic tradition.

Another point in favor of the story’s potential truthfulness is that it is reported through multiple chains of transmission, known as isnad. These were methods used by early Muslim scholars to verify the authenticity of reports. While the reliability of these chains varies, the existence of multiple isnads has led some historians to argue that the story might be based on a real event.

Historians who find the story plausible argue during the early years of his prophethood, Muhammad faced strong opposition from the Quraysh tribe, the dominant power in Mecca, which worshipped the goddesses mentioned in the story. The idea that Muhammad might have sought a temporary compromise with the Quraysh by acknowledging their deities seems possible, given the intense pressure he was under at the time.

Additionally, there is the “criterion of embarrassment,” a concept used by historians to assess the authenticity of a story. The idea is that people are less likely to make up stories that are embarrassing or potentially damaging. Since the “Satanic Verses” story portrays Muhammad in a negative light, some scholars argue that it is unlikely to have been invented by his followers, making it more likely to be based on a true event.

Early Islamic scholars who included the story in their writings often tried to explain it in a way that preserved Muhammad’s infallibility, suggesting that they were trying to reconcile an existing narrative with Islamic teachings rather than inventing it. For example, some interpretations assert that the verses were inspired by Satan but that Muhammad quickly realized the mistake and corrected it.

Lastly, some non-Muslim sources from the early Islamic period also mention the “Satanic Verses” story, which some scholars take as evidence that the story was known outside the Muslim community, an indication that it was widespread enough to be noted by observers of early Islam.

Most Islamic scholars and many historians are skeptical about the authenticity of the “Satanic Verses” story. They argue that the story contradicts a core Islamic belief, which is that the Qur’an is divinely protected from any errors. This belief makes the idea of the “Satanic Verses” problematic for many scholars.

Additionally, they point out that the chains of transmission, which are the methods used to verify the story’s authenticity, are often weak or unreliable, which raises doubts about the story’s credibility.

Some also believe that the story might have been invented by early opponents of Islam as a way to discredit Muhammad and undermine his message, despite the fact that the early Islamic scholars who acknowledged the “Satanic Verses” did so while defending the Prophet Muhammad in the incident.

I first heard about The Satanic Verses through Salman Rushdie’s book. Since I was a child when it was published, my understanding was limited to what my sisters told me. As an adult, I didn’t pay much attention to the publication.

What recently caught my interest in Satanic Verses was an entry in Encyclopedia Britannica that referred to these Verses as a factual account. Given that Encyclopedia Britannica is known for its reliability, I was intrigued. However, when I later searched for that article, I couldn’t find it. It may have been removed, or perhaps I used different keywords that led me astray.

One issue I’ve encountered is that some Islamic scholars tend to be defensive about Islam, even in cases where claims that cast Islam in a negative light are supported by strong evidence, which makes their credibility questionable.

So, what do I think about the Satanic Verses? Although the mention in Encyclopedia Britannica was impressive, I have not yet confirmed the details through other reputable sources. Therefore, while I believe there might be some basis to the claims, I am not ready to fully accept them to be true without further verification.

#SatanicVerses #IslamicHistory #SalmanRushdie