Muhammad Prophecy Debunked: Skyscrapers

Summary

In this video, the speaker, Apostate Prophet, critiques a popular claim by some Muslim apologists that Muhammad's prophecy about people competing to build tall buildings proves the truth of Islam. He argues that this claim is flawed due to the vagueness of the term 'tall buildings,' inconsistencies in the versions of the prophecy, and the historical context of building tall structures. Additionally, he cites scholar Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, who believed the prophecy was fulfilled centuries ago. The video aims to debunk the notion of this prophecy being miraculous or significant.

Takeaways

• 🤔 Muslim apologists claim the existence of tall buildings is proof that Muhammad was a true prophet.
• 🏙️ The argument is based on a hadith where Muhammad allegedly predicted that barefooted, destitute shepherds would compete in building tall buildings.
• 📏 'Tall buildings' is a vague concept, as it could refer to anything from watchtowers to modern skyscrapers.
• 📜 There are multiple versions of this hadith, with differing descriptions of the people involved in the building of tall structures.
• 👥 Some versions describe the builders as 'people,' while others specify 'shepherds,' 'black camel shepherds,' or 'barefooted, naked, destitute shepherds.'
• 🐪 The notion of black camel shepherds competing to build skyscrapers is particularly questioned, as these descriptions don't seem to match modern reality.
• 🔍 The argument criticizes the vagueness and inconsistency of the hadith’s versions, questioning whether the prophecy has any meaningful value.
• 🏗️ Construction workers involved in modern tall building projects are neither destitute nor shepherds, and they don’t compete in the way the hadith suggests.
• 📖 A respected 15th-century scholar, Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, believed this prophecy had already been fulfilled in Muhammad’s time, diminishing the idea that it predicts modern skyscrapers.
• ❌ The speaker concludes that there is no miracle or prophecy being fulfilled, and the claim is debunked as a flawed argument.

Q & A

What is the main claim being discussed in the video?

The main claim is that some Muslim apologists argue the construction of tall buildings in modern times fulfills a prophecy made by Muhammad, proving Islam is true.

What does the prophecy about tall buildings say according to some interpretations?

The prophecy suggests that barefooted, naked, destitute shepherds will compete in the construction of tall buildings, and this is seen as a sign of the coming hour (the end times).

Why does the speaker find the prophecy about tall buildings unconvincing?

The speaker finds the prophecy vague and inconsistent, noting that tall buildings existed long before and after Muhammad. Additionally, there's ambiguity about who exactly is building the buildings (people, shepherds, etc.), making it difficult to validate the prophecy.

How does the speaker critique the vagueness of the term 'tall buildings' in the prophecy?

The speaker points out that 'tall buildings' can refer to anything from a three-story house in the 7th century to modern skyscrapers, making the term too broad to be meaningful as a specific prophecy.

What does the speaker mention about the different versions of the prophecy?

The speaker notes that there are multiple versions of the prophecy, with different details such as barefooted shepherds, shepherds of black camels, or just people in general competing in building tall buildings, leading to inconsistency.

What historical examples does the speaker use to argue that building tall structures has always been a human endeavor?

The speaker references structures like the pyramids, temples in Asia, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, ziggurats, cathedrals, and churches as examples of tall buildings that were constructed long before Muhammad's time.

What issue does the speaker raise with the idea of 'shepherds' competing to build tall buildings?

The speaker questions why shepherds, who are traditionally occupied with herding animals, would suddenly be involved in constructing tall buildings, arguing that this detail does not make sense in a modern or historical context.

How does the speaker respond to the idea that modern construction workers could be the 'barefooted, naked, destitute shepherds' from the prophecy?

The speaker rejects this idea, stating that construction workers are not competing to build tall buildings and are not 'barefooted, naked, destitute shepherds' but simply laborers.

What does the speaker cite from the 15th-century scholar Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani regarding the prophecy?

The speaker cites Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani's commentary, which suggests that this prophecy was fulfilled around Muhammad’s time, when people were already building tall buildings, indicating that scholars from centuries ago did not interpret it as a future event.

What conclusion does the speaker reach about the prophecy and its modern interpretation?

The speaker concludes that the prophecy is neither remarkable nor miraculous, arguing that it has been misinterpreted in modern times and does not provide any real proof of Islam's truth.