Editing Satanic Verses (section)

===Modern Islamic scholarship===
While the authors of the {{transliteration|ar|[[tafsīr]]}} texts during the first two centuries of the Islamic era do not seem to have regarded the tradition as in any way inauspicious or unflattering to Muhammad, it seems to have been universally rejected by at least the 13th century, and most modern Muslims likewise see the tradition as problematic, in the sense that it is viewed as "profoundly heretical because, by allowing for the intercession of the three pagan female deities, they eroded the authority and omnipotence of Allah. But they also hold... damaging implications in regard to the revelation as a whole, for Muhammad's revelation appears to have been based on his desire to soften the threat to the deities of the people."<ref>{{Citation|title=Islam and Postcolonial Narrative|author=John D. Erickson|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge, UK|year=1998}}</ref> Different responses have developed concerning the account.

Many modern Muslim scholars have rejected the story. Arguments for rejection are found in [[Muhammad Abduh]]'s article "Masʾalat al-gharānīq wa-tafsīr al-āyāt",{{year needed|date=September 2014}} [[Muhammad Husayn Haykal]]'s ''Hayat Muhammad'' (1933), [[Sayyid Qutb]]'s ''[[Fi Zilal al-Quran]]'' (1965), [[Abul Ala Maududi]]'s ''[[Tafhim-ul-Quran]]'' (1972) and [[Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani]]'s ''Nasb al-majānīq li-nasf al-gharānīq''.{{year needed|date=September 2014}}<ref name="EoQ"/>

Haykal points out the many forms and versions of the story and their inconsistencies and argues that "the contextual flow of Surah 'al Najm' does not allow at all the inclusion of such verses as the story claims". Haykal quotes [[Muhammad Abduh]] who pointed out that the "Arabs have nowhere described their gods in such terms as 'al gharaniq'. Neither in their poetry nor in their speeches or traditions do we find their gods or goddesses described in such terms. Rather, the word 'al ghurnuq' or 'al gharniq' was the name of a black or white water bird, sometimes given figuratively to the handsome blond youth." Lastly, Haykal argues that the story is inconsistent with Muhammad's personal life and is completely against the spirit of the Islamic message.<ref>Muhammad Husayn Haykal, ''Hayat Muhammad,'' 9th edition (Cairo, Maktaba an-Nahda al-Misriya, 1964, pp. 
164–167)</ref>

[[Aqa Mahdi Puya]] has said that these fake verses were shouted out by the Meccans to make it appear that it was Muhammad who had spoken them; he writes:

{{blockquote|Some pagans and hypocrites planned secretly to recite words praising idolatry alongside the recitation of the Holy Prophet, while he was praying, in such a way that the people would think as if they were recited by him. Once when the Holy Prophet was reciting verses 19 and 20 of Najm one of the pagans recited: "Tilkal gharani-ul ula wa inna shafa-atahuma laturja"-(These are the lofty (idols), verily their intercession is sought after.) As soon as this was recited the conspirators shouted in delight to make the people believe that it was the Holy Prophet who said these words. Here, the Quran is stating the general pattern the enemies of the messengers of Allah followed when they were positively convinced that the people were paying attention to the teachings of the messengers of Allah and sincerely believing in them. They would mix their false doctrines with the original teachings so as to make the divine message a bundle of contradictions. This kind of satanic insertions are referred to in thus verse, and it is supported by Ha Mim: 26. It is sheer blasphemy to say that satanic forces can influence the messengers of Allah.<ref>{{citation|title=Aqa Mahdi Puya view, Satanic Verses |url=http://www.concentrationinprayer.com/documents/Verse43.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215247/http://www.concentrationinprayer.com/documents/Verse43.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 June 2021 |first=Aqa Mahdi. |last=Puya |year=2008 |publisher=Mahdi Puya }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.al-islam.org/quran/|title=Multilingual Quran|website=www.al-islam.org|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081225002128/http://www.al-islam.org/Quran/|archive-date=25 December 2008|access-date=12 December 2009}}</ref>}}