The Quran Verses
Surah 39:11–12:
Say, 'Indeed, I have been commanded to worship Allah, sincere to Him in religion. And I have been commanded to be the first of the Muslims (awwala l-muslimīn).'
The claim that Muhammad was commanded to be the "first of the Muslims" creates a major internal contradiction with the rest of the Quranic canon. Throughout the text, the Quran repeatedly asserts that Islam is not a new religion, but rather the primordial faith of all previous prophets.
According to other verses, numerous biblical figures were explicitly designated as "Muslims" thousands of years before Muhammad was born:
Abraham and Ishmael pray to be made Muslims: "Our Lord, and make us Muslims [in submission] to You..." (Surah 2:128)
Jacob’s sons declare their faith: "We will worship your God... and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him." (Surah 2:133)
Moses addresses his people: "O my people, if you have believed in Allah, then rely upon Him, if you should be Muslims." (Surah 10:84)
The Disciples of Jesus proclaim their identity: "We have believed and bear witness that we are Muslims." (Surah 5:111)
If Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and their followers were all explicitly defined as Muslims, it is historically and textually impossible for Muhammad to be the first of the Muslims.
Apologists frequently attempt to resolve this by arguing that he meant the first of his specific generation or nation (the 7th-century Arabs). However, the plain Arabic text contains no such qualification; it is an absolute statement (awwala l-muslimīn).
To the critical scholar, this reveals a clumsy retrofitting of biblical history: early in his career, Muhammad used the slogan "First Muslim" to cement his absolute authority over his immediate followers, unaware or unconcerned that later revelations co-opting the biblical prophets would create a massive timeline glitch.
Compounding this chronological confusion, the Quran drops the title of "First Believer/Muslim" onto several entirely different individuals depending on the narrative context.
Surah 39:12 - Muhammad
Surah 7:143 - Moses
Surah 26:51 - Pharaoh’s Magicians
Critics argue that these shifting titles demonstrate that the author of the Quran used "the first" as an evolutionary rhetorical device rather than a factual historical marker. Whenever a prophet is backed into a corner by mockers, the text grants them the ultimate superlative title to demand absolute obedience from their immediate audience, sacrificing the grand chronological consistency of the overall book.
In verse 11, Muhammad is told to worship God while "being sincere to Him in religion" (mukhliṣan lahu ad-dīn).
In the historical milieu of 7th-century Mecca, this was a direct tactical strike against the Quraysh elite. The pagan Arabs did not deny Allah; they simply practiced syncretism—using lesser deities, tribal idols, and angelic intercessors to bridge the gap to the supreme God.
By mandating Ikhlas (exclusive sincerity) and pairing it immediately with the claim of being the "First Muslim," the text isolates Muhammad from the established tribal collective. It frames his absolute non-compromise not as a personal choice, but as a divine command that strips away the legitimacy of any middle-ground treaty with the Meccans.