Moses versus Muhammad: 50 Stark Differences

Moses versus Muhammad: 50 Differences

Brother Daniel

Muslim apologists claim that Muhammad was prophesied in the Bible. One of the commonly quoted verses is Deuteronomy 18:18. The verse reads as follows:

I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. (ESV)

Muslim apologists who claim that this verse is prophesied about Muhammad deviously skip verse 15, which reads: 

“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen.” 

It is obvious that “brothers” in this verse refers to the 12 tribes of Israel, not the Arabs, who are said to be the children of Ishmael.  It is irresponsible and deceptive to replace Israelites with other nations when the verse is as clear as it could be about its referent. Anyone who cares about the truth and believes in following the God of the truth will never use such a dishonest approach to the scriptures.

The argument, at this point, is proven to be a debacle, but let’s see how far Muslim apologists can go with it. Islamic writings that claim this prophecy for Muhammad point out some “similarities” between Moses and Muhammad. However, the points they mention are usually so communal that any average man can be compared to Moses. For example, Ahmed Deedat, in one of his tiny booklets, listed the similarities, such as that both were born naturally, both were married, both were leaders, both have died, etc. (Ahmed Deedat, What the Bible Says About Muhammad, p. 7, 12). Once a Muslim friend amusingly argued that since their names begin with the English letter “M,” the prophet like Moses must be Muhammad. In reality, the differences between Moses and Muhammad are much greater than their similarities. Even though the differences are numerous, in this article we will mention 50 of them. I would like to give due credit in advance to those Christian authors who have already pointed out some of these differences long before me.

  1. Moses was an Israelite from the tribe of Levi (Exod. 2:1-2). The lineage of Muhammad originates from the Arab tribe called “Quraysh” (Surah 41:44, Sahih Al-Bukhari 4: 698).
  2. Moses was born when the Israelites were in slavery (Ex. 1:9–14). In the days of Muhammad, the Arabs were slaves to none.
  3. As a child, Moses survived the decree of death through divine intervention (Exod. 1:15–16; 2:2–10). Muhammad had no such story.
  4. Pharaoh’s daughter gave Moses to his mother to nurse him (Ex. 2:7-8). Instead of breastfeeding him by herself, Muhammad’s mother gave him to a nursing woman called Halima (Ibn Ishaq, Sirat Rasulullah, p. 72).
  5. Moses lived in Egypt (Ex. 2:10). Muhammad never went to Egypt.
  6. Moses did not have any suspicious or obnoxious spiritual experiences in his childhood. As a child, Muhammad had a suspicious spiritual experience that manifested as epilepsy, even his foster mother thought that he was demonized and returned him to his mother (Ibn Ishaq, Sirat Rasulullah, p. 72).
  7. Moses did not worship idols. Muhammad, as a child, was an idol worshipper (Hisham Ibn al-Kalbi, The Book of Idols (Kitab al-Asnam), pp. 17–18; A. Guillaume, Islam, pp. 26–27).
  8. Moses was a learned man who was trained in Egyptian knowledge (Acts 7:22; Ex. 24:4; Lev. 1:1; 4:1, 5:14; Num. 1:1, 33,2; Deut. 1:1, 4:44, 29:1). Muhammad was illiterate (Sura 7: 157–158, Sahih Muslim Vol. 1, p. 97).
  9. Moses wrote the laws God gave him by his own hands (Exod. 24:4; Lev. 1:1; 4:1; 5:14; Num. 1:1, 33:2; Deut. 1:1, 4:44, 29:1). Mohammed had scribes who were writing “revelations” for him, and they were at times writing their ideas (Al-Wahidi Al-Naysaboori. Asab al-Nuzool; p. 126).
  10. Moses had a brother and a sister named Aaron and Miriam (Num. 26:59). Muhammad was the only son of Abdallah and Aminah (Ibn Sa’d. Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir, Vol. I Parts I & II, p. 107).
  11. Moses was born to an Israelite family who knew God (Exod. 2:1–3; Heb. 11:23). Muhammad’s parents and relatives were idolaters. Muhammad said that his father and mother are in hell (Sahih Muslim Vol. 2, Bk. 4, Hadith 2130).
  12. Moses’ sons Gershom and Eliezer reached the age of marriage and had children (1 Chron. 23:15–17). Muhammad had three sons (two of them, al-Qasim and Abdullah, from Khadija, and the other one, Ibrahim, from Egyptian slave Mary); and all three of them died in infancy. (Sirat Rasulullah, p.83)
  13. Moses was called to the ministry at the age of 80 (Ex. 7:7). Muhammad claimed that Jibril appeared to him at the age of 40 (Sahih Al-Bukhari, 5:242).
  14. Moses did not need his wife’s confirmation for his prophethood (Ex. 4:1–18). It was his wife Khadija who convinced Muhammad that he was a prophet (Sahih Al-Bukhari, 9:111; The History of Tabari, translated by W. Montgomery Watt, vol. 6, p. 72).
  15. Moses confirmed his prophethood because God had revealed himself to him in a miraculous way (Exod. 3–4). Muhammad recognized his prophethood after sitting on the lap of his wife Khadija and being covered with her garment (Sahih Al-Bukhari, 9:111; Sirat Rasul Allah, p. 107).
  16. Moses, after encountering God, never doubted the identity of the one who appeared to him and never said, “Satan appeared to me” (Exod. 3–4). Muhammad, after the experience of the cave, was deeply concerned that the person who appeared to him was Satan. (Musnad Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal, Vol. 3, page 14; Sirat Rasul Allah, p. 106).
  17. When God appeared to Moses, he did not force him but persuaded him with words and miracles (Exod. 3-4). Jibril violently compelled Muhammad, aggressively pushing his head to the ground and suffocating him (Sahih Al-Bukhari, 9:111; Sahih Muslim Vol. 1, p. 97).
  18. After Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai, his face miraculously shone (Ex. 34:30). Muhammad returned to his wife in fear and despair over what happened to him in the cave of Hira (Ibn Sa`d, Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir, Vol. 1, p. 225).
  19. Moses did many miracles (Exod. 7, 8, 14, 17, Sura 2:50, Sura 2:57). Muhammad did not perform any miracles (Surah 28:48, 6:109; 13:27, 17:59, 13:7). In the Hadith, Muhammad is reported to have performed miracles, but it is clear that they are fictional stories written centuries later, as opposed to the Qur’an, which never mentions a single miracle performed by Muhammad but denies he did so.
  20. Moses spoke directly with God (Exod. 33:11; Surah 4:164). Muhammad never had such experience (Suraj 42:51; Al-Bukhari, Vol. 6, Bk 60, No. 378). Muhammad received “revelations” through an agent called Jibril (Surah 2:97).
  21. Moses was a man of great humility who did not argue for his good (Numbers 12:3). Muhammad was a proud man who would exalt himself and kill his critics (Surah 33:57; Al-Bukhari, vol. 5, no. 369; Ibn Sa`d, Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir, vol. 2, p. 31; Sirat Rasul Allah, pp. 675,  676).
  22. Moses did not marry more than one wife, nor did he commit adultery. Muhammad exercised polygamy (Al-Bukhari, vol. 7, No. 142), and committed adultery (Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir, p. 151).
  23. Moses did not marry a premature girl. Muhammad married a prepubescent girl called Aisha and slept with her when she was only 9-years-old (Al-Bukhari, Vol. 5, Bk 58, No. 234; Vol. 5, Bk 58, No. 236; Vol. 9, Bk 87, No. 140; see also No. 139; Vol. 7, Bk 62, No. 64; see also No. 65 and 88; Sahih Muslim, Bk 008, No. 3309; see also 3310; Bk 008, No. 3311; Abu Dawud, No. 2116; Bk 41, No. 4915; Bk 13, No. 2380). It is shocking to read in Islamic traditions that Muhammad looked at a crawling baby and said that he would marry her when she “grew up” (Musnad Ahmed, No. 25636).
  24. Moses did not marry the wife of his adopted son. Muhammad married Zaynab, the wife of his adopted son (Sura 33:37, Sahih Muslim, Bk 8, No. 3330).
  25. Moses led the Israelites into the Promised Land (Ex., Lev., Num., and Deut.). Muhammad massacred, plundered, enslaved, and exiled Israelites (Sirat Rasul Allah,pp. 363, 437, 461, 510) He claimed that in the last days, the Muslims would kill all Jews, revealing his genocidal attitude towards the Jews (al-Bukhari, Vol. 4, Bk 52, No. 177; Sahih Muslim, Bk 041, No. 6981).
  26. Moses never thought that he was possessed by a demon. Muhammad said that he was possessed by a demon (Sirat Rasulallah, p. 106, 121, 130, 136).
  27. Moses never tried to kill himself. Muhammad was a suicidal who tried several times to throw himself off the top of a mountain and kill himself (History of Tabari, vol. 6, pp. 69–70; Sirat Rasul Allah, p. 106; al-Bukhari 9:111).
  28. Moses had a sound mind and a clear thought to the end (Deut. 34:1–7). Muhammad suffered from a mental disorder as he approached his death (al-Bukhari, Vol. 2, Bk 23, No. 471).
  29. Moses did not speak a word from Satan. Muhammad received revelation from Satan and uttered Satanic verses (History of Tabari, vol. 6, pp. 108–110).
  30. Moses did not speak in a name other than YHWH (Deut. 18:20). Muhammad spoke in the name of Arabian idols, al-Lat, al-Uzza, and Manat (History of Tabari, vol. 6, pp. 108–110).
  31. Moses had never spoken lies in the name of God (Deut. 18:20). Muhammad admitted that he had fabricated something about which God never told him and attributed it to God (History of Al-Tabari, vol. Vi, p. 111; Ibn Sa’d, Kita al-Tabaqat al-Kabir, vol. 1, p. 237).
  32. Magic never worked on Israelites under the leadership of Moses, let alone on Moses (Numbers 23:23). Muhammad had been under the influence of magic for about a year (al-Bukhari, vol. 7, no. 660; al-Bukhari, vol. 7, no. 658).
  33. The God of Moses is the Father of His people (Deut. 32:6). The god of Muhammad has never been a father to anyone (Sura 5:18).
  34. Moses never abrogated his revelation. Muhammad repeatedly repealed his revelations (Surah 13:39, 16:101, 2:106, 17:86).
  35. Moses had forbidden personal retribution (Lev. 19:18). Muhammad taught that forgiveness is preferable but allowed personal retribution (sura 16: 126), and he sought revenge (al-Bukhari, vol. 5: 369; Ibn Sa`d, Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir, Vol. 2, p. 31; Sirat Rasul Allah, pp. 675, 676).
  36. Moses never lost in the wars he was involved in. Muhammad was severely defeated at the Battle of Uhud. In this battle, his cousin Hamza died, and Muhammad himself had his lips pierced and his front teeth shattered. Two teeth, which are said to be Muhammad’s, are kept in the Istanbul Museum today. (Paul Fregosi. Jihad in the West, Muslim Conquest from 7th to 21st Centuries; 1998, p. 53)
  37. Moses forbade a man to wear women’s clothing and vice versa (Deut. 22:5). Muhammad was a crossdresser who was wearing the garment of his wife, Aisha, and claimed that it helped him receive revelations (al-Bukhari, No. 2442; 2393; 3941; Sahih Muslim, Bk 031, No. 5984).
  38. Moses forbade lusting after another man’s wife (Ex. 20:17). Muhammad lusted after another man’s wife and even married her after cunningly divorcing her from her husband, who was his adopted son (Surah 33:37, Sahih Muslim Bk 8, No. 3330).
  39. Moses forbade the rape of captive women (Deut. 21:10–14). Muhammad allowed the rape of captive women, even when their spouses were alive! (al-Bukhari 62: 137; al-Bukhari, 34:432; Abu Dawud, 2150; Sahih Muslim, Vol. 2, No. 3371; Surah 70:29-30, 23:5-6).
  40. Moses was performing sacrifice for the atonement of sins (the book of Leviticus). Muhammad did not teach about the atonement.  He sacrificed a camel, which was even forbidden to eat in the Mosaic Law; and his practice was not the same as the meaning of the sacrifice of Moses; it was an imitation of Arab idolaters (Surah 22:32–36; 2:196).
  41. While quoting Moses, Muhammad inserted his own words, showing that he did not know the Books of Moses: Surah 5:45, “And he wrote upon them, “We ordained therein for them: “Life for life eye for eye nose for nose ear for ear tooth for tooth and wounds equal for equal…”  But, in all the places where the commandment was given, we never find “nose for nose, ear for ear” (Ex. 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21).
  42. According to the Law of Moses, a camel is among unclean animals (Lev. 11:1–4; Deut. 14:3–7). Muhammad not only allowed eating camel meat but also allowed sacrificing camels and drinking their urine (al-Bukhari, 8:796; Surah 22:32–36; 2:196).
  43. Moses taught good lessons on hygiene (Lev. 11:25; 13:47–58; 14:8; 15:5–13; Deut. 23:12–14). Muhammad taught dangerous practices for health. For example, according to Muhammad, if a fly falls into our drink, deepening it will prevent illness, and drinking water from a well where dead animals are thrown and women wash their menstrual clothes does not harm health as “water cannot be defiled by anything” (al-Bukhari, Vol. 4, Bk 54, No. 537; Sunan Abu Dawud, 671; Sunan Ibn Majah, 521).
  44. Erecting a sacred stone and using it in the act of worship is forbidden in the Law of Moses (Ex. 26:1; Deut. 16:22). Muhammad kissed the black stone, which was revered by Arab pagans, and ordered his followers to pray towards it five times a day (al-Bukhari, Vol. 2, Bk. 26, No. 673; Surah 2:150).
  45. The God of Moses is the Holy One who does not lie or deceive (Numbers 23:19). The god of Muhammad is called a deceiver – Surah 3:54: “And (then unbelievers) plotted and planned, and God too planned, and the best of planners is God.” ومكروا ومكر الله والله خير الماكرين literally means “He is the most deceitful of all deceivers.” There are many references in the Qur’an that use the Arabic word “Makr” (sura 799; 8:30; 10:21, 13:42). But the translators distorted the meaning of the word to mislead the readers, while the literal meaning is that Allah is the worst of all deceivers or tricksters. According to one version one of the 99 names of Allah is “al-Makr,” or “the Deceiver.” Many Arabic dictionaries define the word as “deceitful, fraudulent, etc.”
  46. Moses never used revelations for the sake of personal gain. Muhammad pursued his gain under the cover of revelations (Surah 33:51; 33:37; 33:50; 33:53; 49:4).
  47. Moses married an Ethiopian woman (Numbers 12:1). Muhammad expressed a racist attitude towards Ethiopians and also made them slaves (Sahih Muslim, Bk 10, No. 3901; al-Bukhari, Vol. 9, Bk 91, No. 368). He called Ethiopians “raisin head ” (al-Bukhari bk 89 No. 256). He likened Satan to a black man (Sirat Rasulallah, p. 243). He claimed that a black woman in a dream is a sign of an epidemic (al-Bukhari, Vol. 9, Bk 87, No. 161). 
  48. Islamic Hadiths state that Moses had no blemishes on his body (al-Bukhari, Vol. 4, Bk 55, No. 616; Vol. 1, Bk 5, No. 277). Muhammad had a mole on his back, which was absurdly considered by his followers as “the seal of the prophet” (al-Bukhari Vol. 1, Bk 4, No. 189; Vol. 7, Bk 70, No. 574; Sahih Muslim Bk 030, No. 5790). 
  49. Moses lived a long and healthy life and died after appointing his successor according to the will of God, and his body was guarded by an angel (Deut. 34, Jude 1:9). Muhammad ate poison and died suddenly after suffering for a long time without appointing his successor, which turned out to be a serious point of disagreement between Muslims since then, and his tomb is in the city of Medina (al-Bukhari, Vol. 5, Bk. 59, No. 713).
  50. Moses said that a prophet like him would rise from the midst of the Israelites (Deut. 18:18). Muhammad said that in five ways he was different from all the prophets, so he would not be a prophet like Moses in his own words (al-Bukhari, Vol. 1, Bk 7, No. 331).

Dear Muslims; In light of these facts, what kind of evidence can you provide to prove that Muhammad was a prophet like Moses? After reading this list, how much confidence is left for you in the arguments of your apologists? According to the Qur’an, even the contemporaries of Muhammad realized that Moses and Muhammad were not alike.

Surah 28:48 “But (now), when the Truth Has come to them from Ourselves, They say, “Why are not (Signs) sent to him, like those which were sent to Moses?” Do they not then reject (The Signs) which were formerly sent to Moses? They say: “Two kinds of sorcery, each assisting the other!” And they say: “For us, We reject all (such things)!”

Muhammad was trying to undermine the significance of the miracles of Moses because he was unable to perform a single miracle. If Moses had not shown those supernatural miracles, he would not have delivered the Israelites from slavery. If Muhammad were able to show even two miracles as Moses did, he wouldn’t need to draw a sword to force the Arabs into his new religion. Dear Muslims; are you following Islam after ascertaining that Muhammad is a true prophet, or are you following him by blind faith? Is that because you are afraid of a sword, or at liberty? Are you afraid of the stigma and temporary suffering as a consequence of leaving Islam, or following Islam by anticipating eternal life? Is Muhammad eligible to save you from the coming judgment? Look at his life and speak the truth to your own heart! 

Allow me to suggest to you a Savior, who never sinned and never did evil things like Muhammad. His name is Jesus! In Hebrew, they call him Yeshua Mashiach; Arab Christians call him Yesua al-Messiah; and you call him al-Massiah Isa. The Scriptures testify that he is righteous, holy, and without a sin. He is the Son of God who came down from heaven to save mankind from their sins. He declares:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

This Holy Lord will give you eternal life for free, which you cannot achieve through your works. He will send you the Holy Spirit to enable you to overcome sin, the power of Satan, and every evil power. I offer you a call today to be saved from eternal destruction by believing in His name! May the Lord God help you!

Amharic Version: ሙሴና ሙሐመድ የማይመሳሰሉባቸው 50 ነጥቦች

Chines Version: 摩西對比穆罕默德：50個鮮明的差異