In reading these particular verses of the Koran, Muhammad shares much about how he is to be viewed in the eyes of the believers and in doing so, prescribes his rights as an Apostle of Allah.

Muhammad describes himself as the “Apostle of Allah, and the seal of the prophets.” He is a Prophet sent “to be a witness, and a herald of glad tidings, and a warner; and one who, through His own permission, summoneth to Allah.”

As an Apostle of Allah, Muhammad enjoys certain things not allowable to the rest of the faithful. “O Prophet! We allow thee thy wives who thou has dowered, and the slaves whom thy right hand possesseth out of the booty which God hath granted thee, and the daughters of thy uncle, and of thy paternal and maternal aunts who fled with thee to Medina, and any believing woman who hath given herself to the Prophet, if the Prophet desired to wed her- a Privilege to thee above the rest of the Faithful.” According to the notes of J.M. Rodwell (the translator of the Koran we are using), in reference to these verses he says “Muhammad had nine wives at this period, beside slaves. The number of wives allowed to the faithful is four.”

Muhammad says some contradicting things in the verses of Sura 33. In verse 47, he says “And obey not the Infidels and Hypocrites-yet abstain from injuring them: and put thou thy trust in Allah, for Allah is a sufficient Guardian.” But in later verses (60-61), Muhammad says “If the Hypocrites, and the men of tainted heart, and the stirrers of sedition in Medina desist not, we will surely stir thee up against them. Then shall they not be suffered to dwell near thee therein, but a little while: Cursed wherever they are found; they shall be seized and slain with slaughter!” These are the words of Muhammad to his followers. Islam, a blessing or burden? You be the judge.