Expert: J.M.J. West - 5/20/2008

Question
Thank you for your time. I am a practicing catholic and in this age where islam is growing. I am curious your opinion about the beginnings of Islam. Do you think Muhammand actually had an encounter with the angel Gabriel or do you think the Devil came as a vision of light to lead him away from the truth to cause separation?
have a great day!
kevin

Answer
Well, being a sincere and devout Catholic who firmly believes that the fullness of the Truth resides in the Catholic Church, I CANNOT assent to the story which professes that the Catholic Church got it wrong and so God sent an angel to Mohammad to get it right.

I think that it is, however, quite possible that Mohammad met an angel, but doubtful that it was Gabriel.  In fact, we ought to expect this for Paul himself warned:

"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.   As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8-9)

I'd expect that this is probably what happened in the case of the "prophet", as well as the case of the "prophet" Joseph Smith (and there are some striking similarities between Mormonism and Islam).

But this is just speculation, too.  It is possible that - assuming the veracity of the Catholic claim - Mohammad simply made it up.  In fact, early Christian communities regarded Islam as an aberrant sect of Christianity, and thought that the Koran was a Christian text that had been altered or changed.

This said, I have great respect for most Muslims; they are very devout in their prayer life and whom the Catholic Church recognizes that they do seek to worship the God of Abraham in Truth.  "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day" (CCC 841).

I think the best approach is taken by C. S. Lewis in his book "The Last Battle", a sort of apocalyptic ending to the Narnia series.  In it, Aslan obviously represents Christ.  There is another god, "Tash", who comes off very, very strikingly similar to the Muslim conception of Allah (even they way they reference him and their leader, the Tisroc).  In the book, a Calormene soldier (essentially a Muslim) named Emeth recounts his meeting with Aslan after spending his life serving Tash and hating the name Aslan:

"Then I fell at his feet and thought, Surely this is the hour of death, for the Lion (who is worthy of all honour) will know that I have served Tash all my days and not him. Nevertheless, it is better to see the Lion and die than to be Tisroc of the world and live and not to have seen him. But the Glorious One bent down his golden head and touched my forehead with his tongue and said 'Son, thou art welcome.' But I said 'Alas, Lord, I am no son of thine but the servant of Tash.' He answered, 'Child, all the service thou hast done to Tash, I account as service done to me.' Then by reason of my great desire for wisdom and understanding, I overcame my fear and questioned the Glorious One and said, 'Lord, is it then true, as the Ape said, that thou and Tash are one?' The Lion growled so that the earth shook (but his wrath was not against me) and said, 'It is false. Not because he and I are one, but because we are opposites, I take to me the services which thou hast done to him, for I and he are of such different kinds that no service which is vile can be done to me, and none which is not vile can be done to him. Therefore if any man swear by Tash and keep his oath for the oath's sake, it is by me that he has truly sworn, though he know it not, and it is I who reward him. And if any man do a cruelty in my name, then though he says the name Aslan, it is Tash whom he serves and by Tash his deed is accepted. Dost thou understand, Child?' I said, 'Lord, thou knowest how much I understand.' But I said also (for the truth contained me) 'Yet I have been seeking Tash all my days.' 'Beloved,' said the Glorious One, 'unless thy desire had been for me thou wouldst not have sought so long and so truly. For all find what they truly seek.'"

I hope you found this helpful!

Pax Christi,

-J.M.J. West