Is it Muhammad or is it Moses?

[truth]

Moderators please leave this message on general issues as its scope is far greater than merely quran translation.
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Peace to all readers,

In an unrelated discussion recently a brother brought it to my
attention that 171 may not actually refer to Muhammad at all and
instead refers to Moses.

I have examined this closely and recommend it for your attention as
this is actually an enormously important verse as far as the God
alone message goes. It debunks so much hadith literature as well as
concepts of the masjid-al-haram being in Mecca that I believe this
issue is one of the single most important things to address right
now.

Observe

171 Most glorified is the One who summoned His servant
(Muhammad) during the night, from the Sacred
Masjid (of Mecca) to the farthest place of
prostration,* whose surroundings we have blessed, in order to show
him some of our signs. He is the Hearer, the Seer.

Note that the (parentheses) are throwing this
verse into an entirely different meaning. One which is uncritically
accepted and given further subtle support with the following verse

172 Similarly, we gave Moses the scripture, and
rendered it a beacon for the Children of Israel that "You shall not
set up any idol as a Lord and Master beside Me."

It is not "similarly" at all. It is simply 'and' at the beginning of
the sentence. Moreover the messenger mentioned adjacent to 171 is
Moses.

There are two additional clues as to why this verse may be related to
Moses rather than Muhammad. If one examines the more detailed calling
of Moses in surah 20 one finds

2012 "I am your Lord; remove your sandals. You are in the sacred
valley, Tuwaa.

God calls on Moses; compare verses like 7142, 251 where Moses is
again summoned.

The land that Moses is on is blessed and this is certainly similar to
the concept of blessed surroundings in 171

2023 "We thus show you some of our great portents.

Moses is actually shown many signs of God. The staff turning to a
snake, the white hand, the mountain crumbling, and the tablets. Thus
Moses is shown some of the signs - even the greatest signs (al
kubra).

The evidence is clearly quite strong. I leave it to you to consider
this possibility as this would require you to think more carefully on
other issues.

Sincerely,

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