A questioner recently shared their distress after encountering websites claiming that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was “possessed by demons” and attempted suicide multiple times. Below is a clarification of these misconceptions.

1. The Claim of “Demonic Possession”

It is unclear what these websites mean by “demons.” This claim usually stems from two different angles: the nature of revelation or the story of black magic.

  • The Nature of Revelation: If “possessed” refers to the Prophet receiving verses of the Qur’an from the Angel Gabriel, then this is simply a matter of whether one believes in divine revelation. If you believe that God sends messages to humankind through angels, then Muhammad (PBUH) is no different from any other prophet in history.
  • The Story of Black Magic: While some authentic collections of Hadith mention an incident involving magic, not all sources confirm the Prophet was actually affected by it. The narrations state that an attempt was made to harm him, but the core of the story is the Prophet’s reaction: he asked the angel for guidance. He was commanded to seek refuge in God through faith and by reciting specific chapters (Surahs) of the Qur’an.

2. The Misconception of “Attempted Suicide”

The claim that the Prophet “tried to commit suicide” is a significant distortion of historical accounts.

The Context: At the beginning of his prophethood, after the initial revelations, there was a period known as Fatrat al-Wahy (the pause in revelation). This lasted anywhere from three months to a year. Having suddenly lost the heavenly support and companionship of the angel, the Prophet felt deep spiritual distress.

The Reality: The narrations describe a human prophet who was so heartbroken—fearing that God was displeased with him or had forsaken him—that the thought of throwing himself from a mountain crossed his mind. However:

  • He never attempted it. There is no historical account, even among critics of the time, that suggests a physical attempt at suicide.
  • It was a test of patience. The Prophet remained steadfast until God revealed the comforting verses of Surah Ad-Duha.

Divine Reassurance: Surah Ad-Duha

The following verses were revealed specifically to comfort the Prophet during this difficult time:

“By the glorious morning light, and by the night when it is still, your Guardian-Lord has not forsaken you, nor is He displeased. And verily the Hereafter will be better for you than the present. And soon will your Guardian-Lord give you (that wherewith) you shall be well-pleased…” (Ad-Duha 93:1–11)

The True Essence of Muhammad’s Life

Websites focusing on “magic” or “suicide” are being extremely unfair to the historical reality of Islam. Muhammad’s life was defined by:

  1. Monotheism: Believing in and calling people to the Creator.
  2. Morality: He stated, “I was sent mainly to perfect good morals.”
  3. Mercy: God describes him in the Qur’an: “And We have not sent you but as a mercy to the worlds.” (Al-Anbiyaa’ 21:107).

Muhammad (PBUH) brought a message of tolerance, oneness of God, and high moral character to all of humankind.

By Dr. Jasser Auda