The Erasure of the 'Satanic Verses' and the Manipulation of Islamic Doctrine

The narrative surrounding the 'Satanic Verses' incident and the subsequent erasure of these verses from the Quran represents a critical example of religious and historical manipulation within Islam. The Quranic verse that reads, "These ˹idols˺ are mere names that you and your forefathers have made up—a practice Allah has never authorized. They follow nothing but ˹inherited˺ assumptions and whatever ˹their˺ souls desire, although ˹true˺ guidance has already come to them from their Lord," (Quran 53:23) is often cited as a key moment in Islamic doctrine. This article seeks to explore how this verse was used by Muhammad to negate the inclusion of verses that mentioned the three goddesses—Al-Lat, Al-Uzza, and Manat—effectively blaming the incident on the devil and reshaping Islamic theology.

The Incident of the Satanic Verses

The incident of the 'Satanic Verses' is a controversial and much-debated topic within Islamic history. According to early Islamic sources, during a moment of revelation, Muhammad is said to have received verses that allowed for the intercession of the three pagan goddesses of Mecca, Al-Lat, Al-Uzza, and Manat. These verses, which acknowledged the existence and power of these deities, were later retracted by Muhammad, who claimed that they had been inspired by Satan, not Allah. The revised verses now condemned these goddesses as mere names with no divine authority.

The Role of Quran 53:23

The verse in question, Quran 53:23, states: "These ˹idols˺ are mere names that you and your forefathers have made up—a practice Allah has never authorized. They follow nothing but ˹inherited˺ assumptions and whatever ˹their˺ souls desire, although ˹true˺ guidance has already come to them from their Lord." This verse is significant because it serves multiple purposes:

1. Denial of Divine Authority to Pagan Deities: By explicitly stating that these idols are mere names without divine sanction, the verse undermines the religious practices of pre-Islamic Arabs, who revered these deities.

2. Condemnation of Ancestral Practices: The verse criticizes the inherited traditions of the forefathers, labeling them as misguided assumptions and desires, contrasting them with the true guidance from Allah.

3. Rewriting of Islamic History: The invocation of this verse allowed Muhammad to distance himself from the earlier, controversial verses that acknowledged the goddesses. By attributing the previous verses to Satan, Muhammad reinforced the monotheistic purity of his message and consolidated his theological authority.

Theological Implications

The erasure of the 'Satanic Verses' and the incorporation of Quran 53:23 had profound implications for Islamic doctrine:

1. Preservation of Monotheism: The narrative helped to maintain the strict monotheistic stance of Islam, eliminating any association with polytheistic beliefs that could compromise the religion's foundational tenet of Tawhid (the oneness of God).

2. Authority of the Prophet: By presenting the incident as a momentary lapse influenced by Satan, Muhammad reinforced his role as a fallible human but ultimately a divinely guided prophet. This duality allowed for a narrative of prophetic infallibility in delivering Allah's final message.

3. The Role of Satan: The incident underscores the role of Satan as a deceiver in Islamic theology, emphasizing the need for constant vigilance and reliance on divine revelation to avoid falling into error.

Conclusion

The use of Quran 53:23 to erase the 'Satanic Verses' incident is a pivotal moment in the development of Islamic doctrine. It demonstrates how theological narratives can be constructed and reconstructed to serve the religious and political needs of a faith community. For conservative Christians, this incident highlights the importance of discernment and the potential for human manipulation in religious texts. It serves as a reminder of the necessity to adhere to the truth as revealed through Christ, who is unchanging and infallible, unlike the mutable revelations attributed to Muhammad.

References

• Ibn Ishaq. Sirat Rasul Allah. Translated by A. Guillaume. Oxford University Press, 1955.
• Quran 53:23.
• Watt, W. Montgomery. Muhammad: Prophet and Statesman. Oxford University Press, 1961.
• Rodinson, Maxime. Muhammad. Translated by Anne Carter. New Press, 2002.