Did Muhammad Test the Spirit? 

A Critical Examination of His First Revelation

One of the central tenets of discerning a true prophet in Biblical and logical principles is the requirement to test the spirit — to verify whether an encounter aligns with the nature and character of God as revealed in prior scriptures. Yet, Muhammad’s first encounter with the entity later identified as the angel Gabriel raises significant theological and historical questions. The problem is not just the experience itself, but the troubling fact that Muhammad never actually tested the spirit. Instead, his entire prophetic claim rested on the interpretation and validation of one man — Waraqah ibn Nawfal.

Introduction: Waraqah ibn Nawfal — The First Validator of Muhammad’s Prophethood

When Muhammad experienced his first encounter with a mysterious spirit in the cave of Hira, he was overwhelmed with terror. The being pressed him forcefully, leaving him in a state of panic and confusion. Fleeing home to his wife Khadijah, he feared for his sanity, even suspecting that he had encountered a demonic presence. But instead of testing the spirit directly, Muhammad relied entirely on the words of Waraqah ibn Nawfal — a Christian monk and Khadijah’s relative — who assured him that the spirit was none other than Gabriel, the angel of divine revelation.

But how did Waraqah know? What authority did he possess to identify the spirit? And why did Muhammad, a man who would soon claim to be the final prophet of God, not test the spirit himself using any of the methods established by the Biblical tradition he claimed to affirm?

1. The Biblical Principle: Test the Spirits

The Bible provides a clear, timeless principle for discerning the authenticity of a spiritual encounter:

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.”
— (1 John 4:1)

True prophets in the Biblical tradition did not merely accept spiritual encounters at face value. They tested them, ensuring their divine origin through clear, verifiable means. This is evident in the encounters of Moses, Gideon, Isaiah, and others. Yet Muhammad did none of this. Instead, his experience was characterized by fear, confusion, and reliance on a third party — Waraqah.

2. Test 1: Alignment with the Character of God

• Biblical Principle: God’s nature is characterized by peace, truth, and order:
  “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” — (1 Corinthians 14:33)

• Muhammad’s Experience:

  • Muhammad was physically seized, pressed, and terrified by the spirit.

  • He left the cave in a state of fear, convinced he might be possessed by a demon.

  • This stands in stark contrast to the peaceful and reassuring nature of true divine encounters in the Bible.

• Waraqah’s Role:
  Despite the violent nature of the encounter, Waraqah immediately declared it to be the angel Gabriel without any direct evidence, and Muhammad simply accepted this interpretation without further questioning.

3. Test 2: Direct Inquiry — Did the Spirit Identify Itself?

• Biblical Principle: Angels clearly identify themselves and their purpose:

  • Gabriel identified himself to Mary: “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God.” — (Luke 1:19)

  • The angel of the Lord declared his mission to Gideon: “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” — (Judges 6:12)

• Muhammad’s Experience:

  • The spirit did not identify itself. It issued a command — "Read!" — without introduction.

  • Muhammad did not ask the spirit who it was or why it had appeared.

• Waraqah’s Role:
  It was Waraqah, not the spirit, who declared it to be Gabriel, claiming that Muhammad had encountered the same messenger who spoke to Moses. Muhammad's prophetic claim was now built on Waraqah’s interpretation — not direct divine confirmation.

4. Test 3: Comparison with Previous Revelations

• Biblical Principle: True revelations from God do not contradict previous scriptures:
  “God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind.” — (Numbers 23:19)

• Muhammad’s Revelation vs. The Bible:

  • The Quran denies the divinity of Jesus and His crucifixion (Surah An-Nisa 4:157-158).

  • The Quran promotes a works-based salvation, contrary to the Biblical teaching of salvation by grace.

  • These contradictions directly conflict with the Biblical message.

• Waraqah’s Role:
  Waraqah, familiar with Christian teachings, should have recognized these contradictions but instead uncritically validated Muhammad’s experience.

5. Test 4: Fruits of the Message

• Biblical Principle:
  “By their fruits you will know them.” — (Matthew 7:16)

• The Fruits of Muhammad’s Revelation:

  • Violence and warfare, including the conquest of Mecca and the subjugation of non-Muslims.

  • Suppression of religious freedom under Islamic rule.

  • The spread of Islam by force rather than persuasion.

• Waraqah’s Role:
  Waraqah did not live to see the violent fruits of Muhammad’s mission, but his premature validation gave Muhammad the confidence to continue without ever questioning the true nature of the spirit.

6. Test 5: Asking for a Confirming Sign

• Biblical Principle:
  Prophets often received signs to confirm their divine mission (Moses’ miracles, Gideon’s fleece).

• Muhammad’s Response:

  • Muhammad did not request any sign from the spirit.

  • Instead, he relied entirely on Waraqah’s assurance.

7. Test 6: Consulting Knowledgeable Religious Authorities

• Biblical Principle:
  “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” — (Proverbs 11:14)

• Muhammad’s Consultation:

  • Muhammad consulted only Waraqah, a single man whose understanding of scripture was questionable.

  • Waraqah’s interpretation was based on his personal understanding, not on direct divine authority.

8. The Fatal Consequences of Not Testing the Spirit

By failing to test the spirit, Muhammad left his prophetic claim vulnerable to serious doubts:

• His revelations contained contradictions with the Bible.

• His later teachings led to coercion, warfare, and political domination.

• His initial experience relied entirely on Waraqah’s interpretation, making Waraqah the true foundation of his prophetic claim.

9. Conclusion: Waraqah’s Validation — The Fatal Flaw in Muhammad’s Claim

At the heart of Muhammad’s prophetic claim is not a divine encounter, but a hasty validation by Waraqah ibn Nawfal. Muhammad’s experience in the cave was one of fear, confusion, and terror — the very opposite of a divine encounter characterized by peace and clarity.

Instead of testing the spirit by asking who it was, requesting a sign, or seeking confirmation from multiple religious authorities, Muhammad blindly accepted Waraqah’s interpretation. Waraqah’s words became the foundation of Islam’s claim to divine origin, making him — not the spirit — the first true architect of Muhammad’s prophethood.

If the spirit truly was Gabriel, why did it not identify itself? Why did Muhammad not question it? And why did the entire weight of Islam’s divine authority rest on the unverified interpretation of Waraqah ibn Nawfal?

These questions remain unanswered. And until they are, the credibility of Muhammad’s prophetic claim is fatally compromised.