Satanic Verses, Satan in Islam of Allah, Quran considered

Debate Question; Why does Allah permit Satan to commit mischief?

7/31/2016

Allah tries to explain why he lets Satan have some influence over prophets:

"Never did We send a messenger or a prophet before you, but, when he framed a desire, Satan threw some (vanity) into his desire: but Allah will cancel anything (vain) that Satan throws in, and Allah will confirm (and establish) His Signs: for Allah is full of Knowledge and Wisdom." (Quran 22:52)

Debate Question: Why does Allah have Satan "throw some vanity into" the desires of the prophets, instead of doing this by himself?

"That He may make the suggestions thrown in by Satan, but a trial for those in whose hearts is a disease and who are hardened of heart: verily the wrong-doers are in a schism far (from the Truth)" (Quran 22:53). Here Allah endeavors to provide a reason for permitting Satan to influence prophets. Debate Question: If Allah saw value in "a trial for diseased hearts" alive back then, why not keep the verses in the Scripture, so that these Satanic verses could yield trials for all those with diseased hearts who will come later?

Even more major Debate Question: What could possibly be the logical reason for Allah to create a devil like Satan in order to misguide people?

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Some Additional Background Material from one of Muhammad's early biographers:

7/26/2016

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Like some other early biographers of Muhammad, al-Tabari makes mention of the Satanic Verses in his "History of al-Tabari":

With his [Muhammad's] love for his tribe and his eagerness for their welfare it would have delighted him if some of the difficulties which they made for him could have been smoothed out, and he [Muhammad] debated with himself and fervently desired such an outcome. Then God revealed:
By the Star when it sets, your comrade does not err, nor is
he deceived; nor does he speak out of (his own) desire ...and when he came to the words:
Have you thought upon al-Lat and al-'Uzza and Manat, the third, the other? Satan cast on his tongue, because of his inner debates and what he desired to bring to his people, the words:

These are the high-flying cranes; verily their intercession is accepted with approval. When Quraysh heard this, they rejoiced and were happy and delighted at the way in which he spoke of their gods...

...Then Gabriel came to the Messenger of God and said, "Muhammad, what have you done? You have recited to the people that which I did not bring to you from God, and you have said that which was not said to you." Then the Messenger of God was much grieved and feared God greatly, but God sent down a revelation to him, for He was merciful to him, consoling him and making the matter light for him, informing him that there had never been a prophet or a messenger before him who de sired as he desired and wished as he wished but that Satan had cast words into his recitation, as he had cast words on Muhammad's tongue. Then God cancelled what Satan had thus cast, and established his verses by telling him that he was like other prophets and messengers, and revealed:

Never did we send a messenger or a prophet before you but that when he recited (the Message) Satan cast words into his recitation (umniyyah). God abrogates what Satan casts. Then God established his verses. God is knower, wise. [see Quran 22:52].

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Useful video describing the background of certain Satanic Verses:

7/24/2016

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In trying to assess whether particular verses were excised from the Quran, it is helpful to first determine if something seems to be missing:

7/23/2016

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What may have been in the Quran originally (call this Version A):

Quran 53:19-20 "Have you thought upon al-Lat and al-'Uzza and Manat, the third, the other?" [A question is posed]
"These are the high-flying cranes; verily their intercession is accepted with approval." [A direct answer to the above question -- but was this verse removed?]

What is currently in the Quran (call this Version B):

Quran 53:19-20 "Have you thought upon al-Lat and al-'Uzza and Manat, the third, the other?" [A question is posed]
Quran 53:21 "Is the male for you and for Him the female?" [Another question is posed that does not answer the first question]
Quran 53:22 "That is an unfair division." [Allah does not like being assigned the women]
Quran 53:23 "They are not but [mere] names you have named them - you and your forefathers - for which Allah has sent down no authority. They follow not except assumption and what [their] souls desire, and there has already come to them from their Lord guidance."

Debate Question: Which version seems more natural to you: Version A or Version B?

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Debate Question; Why does Allah permit Satan to commit mischief?

Some Additional Background Material from one of Muhammad's early biographers:

Useful video describing the background of certain Satanic Verses:

In trying to assess whether particular verses were excised from the Quran, it is helpful to first determine if something seems to be missing:

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