Home > Surah 22 - The Pilgrimage
The Quran Verse
Surah 22:52:
And We did not send before you any messenger or prophet except that when he spoke, Satan threw into it. But Allah abolishes that which Satan throws in; then Allah makes precise His verses...
This is one of the most problematic verses in Islamic theology. It provides the scriptural foundation for the historical incident of the "Satanic Verses" (Gharaniq), recorded by early historians like Ibn Ishaq and Al-Tabari.
Muhammad allegedly recited verses in Surah 53 that praised three pagan Meccan goddesses, only to later claim Satan had "thrown" those words onto his tongue.
If Satan can successfully plant false verses into a prophet’s recitation, the entire integrity of the Quran is compromised. How can a believer be certain which verses were "abolished" and which were "made precise"?
To the critic, this verse serves as a "theological backstop" to explain away an embarrassing moment of syncretism with paganism.