Critique of Claude Gilliot's View on Teachers of the Prophet of Islam

Criticisms and doubts about the Quran have existed from its revelation to the present day. One such criticism pertains to doubts about the origin of the Holy Quran and its revelation. One version of this criticism is that the Prophet of Islam was taught by Christian or Jewish people. The Quran responds to this challenge in chapter al-Nahl (Q. 16). This challenge has persisted to this day, and Leiden’s Encyclopaedia of the Qurān has dedicated on entry to it. In this entry the author, Claude Gilliot, attempts to explicate the matter by citing a variety of historical reports from Islamic sources. Ultimately, he concludes that a Meccan chapter was developed under the instruction and influence of such supposed teachers of the Prophet. However, the most important evidence dismissing these claims is Q. 16:103 as well as other Quranic verses that emphasize the Quran as revelation. Historical reports only state that the Prophet came into contact with these individuals, not that he was taught by them. In fact, in some of these cases, the contact only lasted for a few hours or occurred after the Prophet’s appointment.