O Who Talks Like That?

Muhammad, the prophet of Islam had a very peculiar way of talking. He usually added an “O….” when he addressed someone.

When he addressed his wife:
Narrated Al-Laith: `Aisha said “The Prophet entered upon me one day and said, ‘O `Aisha! I do not think that so-and-so and so-and-so know anything of our religion which we follow.” (Bukhari Vol. 8, Book 73, Hadith 94 )

When he addressed his father-in-law.
Narrated Abu Bakr: I said to the Prophet while I was in the Cave. “If any of them should look under his feet, he would see us.” He said, “O Abu Bakr! What do you think of two (persons) the third of whom is Allah?” (Bukhari Vol. 5, Book 57, Hadith 5)

Countless other examples:
Narrated ‘Aishah: that the Prophet said: “O ‘Uthman! Indeed Allah may give you a shirt, and if they wish that you take it off, do not take it off for them.” (Jami a-Tirmidhi Vol. 1, Book 46, Hadith 3705 )

It was narrated that ‘Ali said:“The Prophet said: ‘O ‘Ali, do not squat like a dog.” (Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 895 )

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger said, “If a man says to his brother, O Kafir (disbeliever)!’ … (Bukhari Vol. 8, Book 73, Hadith 125 )

Even when he prayed to Allah:
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger said, “O Allah! Give food to the family of Muhammad.” (Bukhari Vol. 8, Book 76, Hadith 46)

Perhaps it was a habit of Muhammad. Or perhaps that was the speaking style of Arabs in 7th century Arabia.


This isn’t really an issue until you begin to notice that in the Quran, many diverse peoples over the centuries had the same speaking style! Once you see it, you will never be able to un-see it!

600 years before Muhammad, a thousand miles from Arabia apparently Jesus and his disciples spoke in Aramaic, in the same style.
Said Jesus the son of Mary: “O Allah our Lord! (5:114)
When the disciples, said: “O Jesus the son of Mary! (5:112)

Going back in time, 2000 years from Muhammad, Moses, speaking in Hebrew to the children of Israel speaks in the same style.
O my people! Enter the holy land which Allah hath assigned unto you…” (5:21)

Going back even further, to Abraham. Now we’re in 2000BC, and we read Abraham saying: ” Behold, he said to his father: “O my father! why worship that which hears not and sees not, and can profit thee nothing? (19:42)

Isn’t it strange that everyone from Lot’s townsfolk (26:167) in 2000BC to Mary’s neighbors (19:28) in 1st century AD, all had this same peculiar speaking style?

if that isn’t suspicious, even the jinns (demons) spoke that way: They said: O our people! we have listened to a Book revealed after Musa verifying that which is before it, guiding to the truth and to a right path” (46:30)

Last, but not least, even Allah spoke like Muhammad. “When Allah said, “O Jesus, indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself ….” (3:55)

What is going on?

It is unlikely that such a varied group of individuals, men and women who were separated by thousands of years, from different lands, different cultures and speaking different languages would speak in the same manner as one another.

The Quran is supposed to be the verbatim words of Allah spoken through a messenger, so the quotes should be exact quotes unhindered by the fickle nature of the human memory. Yet like a substandard Shakespearean rip-off, it would seem that almost any time someone is quoted in the Quran, they begin with the poetic “O”. Just like Muhammad.

Remember, Muhammad never actually heard Jesus, his disciples, Mary’s neighbors, Angels, Abraham, Moses, Jews, Lot, the people of Sodom, the Israelites speaking. Even Allah never spoke to Muhammad.
Muhammad merely claimed that Allah revealed all this poorly thought-out speech by speaking through one person; namely, himself.

It should be apparent to all that Muhammad put words in other people’s mouths and fabricated quotes that found their way into the Quran under the guise of Allah’s words.


[Adapted from: Misquoting Jesus and Others in the Quran]