Lightner

He was an English researcher and earned more than a Ph.D. in Sharî‘ah, philosophy and theology. In 1854, he visited Istanbul, went around many Islamic countries and met with their celebrities and scholars.

The woman had been before she came to be

This polygamy, tells Lightner, should abide by many conditions: one could marry four women provided that he should deal with them all equally even in love and affection, otherwise it is permissible for him to marry only one[1]. Muhammad, as seems from his law, encouraged marriage only to one woman. He elevated the woman to a great station after she was considered a possession. She came to have the right of ownership, her judgment is supported and her rights maintained.[2]

Had it not been for that religion

His (Muhammad’s) religion helped to guide and civilize millions of people and, had it not been for this religion, they would have remained sunk in brutality and barbarism and would not have had this bond of brotherhood enforced in the religion of Islam.[3]

As if it laid the foundation of slavery

The fools among the Christians hold blame on Islam as if it laid the foundation of slavery although Muhammad encouraged the emancipation of slaves – being the highest way to abolish it.[4]

Not adaptation

To the best of his knowledge of Judaism and Christianity, the author states that what Muhammad learnt was not an adaptation in so much as a divine revelation sent to him – a fact in which there is no doubt so long as it is believed that a revelation came from God the Exalted in Might, the Knowing.

Truly speaking, The sacrifice for the public benefit, the true purpose, the faith of a firm heart, the real penetrating insight of the subtleties of mistake and error and using the best means to eliminate them are among the apparent signs that Muhammad was a Prophet and received divine revelation.[5]

That is an indication

Once God revealed to the Prophet criticizing him strongly for turning his face from a poor blind man to speak to a rich noble and this piece of revelation was made public. Had Muhammad, as alleged by the fools of the Christians, been as they say about him, this piece of revelation would not have existed.[6]

ٌReferences:

[1] Perhaps he refers here to the statement of Allâh (what means): {marry those that please you of [other] women, two or three or four. But if you fear that you will not be just, then [marry only] one.} [An-Nisâ’ 3]

[2] Lightner, the Religion of Islam, (adapted from the Arabic translation), 11.

[3] Ibid. 5.

[4] Ibid. 7.

[5] Ibid., 4-5.

[6] Ibid., 6.

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