According to the Standard Islamic Narrative, Muhammad was illiterate. This is based on Koran verses like:
7:157 Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them.
So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him – it is those who will be the successful.
158 Say, [O Muhammad], “O mankind, indeed I am the Messenger of Allah to you all, [from Him] to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death.”
So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet, who believes in Allah and His words, and follow him that you may be guided.
Koran 7:157-158
29:47 And thus We have sent down to you the Qur’an.
And those to whom We [previously] gave the Scripture believe in it.
And among these [people of Makkah] are those who believe in it.
And none reject Our verses except the disbelievers.
48 And you did not recite before it any scripture, nor did you inscribe one with your right hand.
Otherwise the falsifiers would have had [cause for] doubt.
Koran 29:47-48
What “unlettered” means is that Muhammad could not read the Jewish Torah and Talmud and thus, was not Rabbi (teacher).
Yet, according to Muhammad’s Koran, his tribe says:
And they say, “Legends of the former peoples which he has written down, and they are dictated to him morning and afternoon.”
Koran 25:5
Here it is expanded to make it clearer:
Legends of the former peoples
which he has written down,
and
they are dictated to him morning and afternoon.
Koran 25:5
The Quraysh accuse Muhammad of writing and taking dictation.
Muhammad did indeed copy the tales and legends of former peoples into his Koran, like the three Arabian “prophets”, and others.
Muhammad boasts about a “noble letter” – taking pride in his scribing.
She said, “O eminent ones, indeed, to me has been delivered a noble letter.
Koran 27:29
But, Infidel, that’s the Queen of Sheba talking about Solomon’s letter! Indeed, and they’re all played by Muhammad, as shown:
27:27 [Solomon] said, “We will see whether you were truthful or were of the liars. 28 Take this letter of mine and deliver it to them. Then leave them and see what they will return.”
29 She said, “O eminent ones, indeed, to me has been delivered a noble letter. 30 Indeed, it is from Solomon, and indeed, it is [i.e., reads]: ‘In the name of Allāh, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, 31 Be not haughty with me but come to me in submission [as Muslims].'”
Koran 27:27-31
Who taught the phrase: “In the name of Allāh, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful”? Muhammad:
In the name of Allāh, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
Koran 1:1
Muhammad swears by and knows that a Book is inscribed in parchment, spread open:
52:2 And [by] a Book inscribed 3 In parchment spread open
Koran 52:2-3
[It is recorded] in honored sheets,
Koran 80:13
It is [their destination recorded in] a register inscribed.
Koran 83:9
It is [their destination recorded in] a register inscribed
Koran 83:20
Within which are correct writings [i.e., rulings and laws].
Koran 98:3
Muhammad even swears by and boasts about the pen:
Nūn. By the pen and what they inscribe,
Koran 68:1
The “Nun”, apparently, is the whale that supports the seven earths.
And if whatever trees upon the earth were pens and the sea [was ink], replenished thereafter by seven [more] seas, the words of Allāh would not be exhausted. Indeed, Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.
Koran 31:27
Allah AKA Waraqa taught Muhammad the use of a pen, reading and writing:
Who taught by the pen
Koran 96:4
Waraqa taught Muhammad eloquence:
55:1 The Most Merciful 2 Taught the Qur’ān, 3 Created man, 4 [And] taught him eloquence.
Koran 55:1-4
Note that Allah doesn’t know how humans are created, as Allah (Muhammad) copies from Galen. Teachers and websites teach eloquence, not Allah. This passage shows that Muhammad’s father (“Created man”), Waraqa (as Allah) was teaching Muhammad literacy (reading and writing with “Taught the Qur’an”) and “eloquence” – how to speak well, rhetoric and sophistry.
Let’s examine the other place the word “dictate” is found in Muhammad’s Koran:
O you who have believed, when you contract a debt for a specified term, write it down. And let a scribe write [it] between you in justice. Let no scribe refuse to write as Allāh has taught him. So let him write and let the one who has the obligation [i.e., the debtor] dictate. And let him fear Allāh, his Lord, and not leave anything out of it. But if the one who has the obligation is of limited understanding or weak or unable to dictate himself, then let his guardian dictate in justice. And bring to witness two witnesses from among your men. And if there are not two men [available], then a man and two women from those whom you accept as witnesses – so that if one of them [i.e., the women] errs, then the other can remind her. And let not the witnesses refuse when they are called upon. And do not be [too] weary to write it, whether it is small or large, for its [specified] term. That is more just in the sight of Allāh and stronger as evidence and more likely to prevent doubt between you, except when it is an immediate transaction which you conduct among yourselves. For [then] there is no blame upon you if you do not write it. And take witnesses when you conclude a contract. Let no scribe be harmed or any witness. For if you do so, indeed, it is [grave] disobedience in you. And fear Allāh. And Allāh teaches you. And Allāh is Knowing of all things.
Koran 2:282
Who is the scribe “in justice”? Muhammad the Balance.
The next verse confirms that Muslims on a journey away from Muhammad will have to find a scribe:
And if you are on a journey and cannot find a scribe, then a security deposit [should be] taken.
And if one of you entrusts another, then let him who is entrusted discharge his trust [faithfully] and let him fear Allāh, his Lord.
And do not conceal testimony, for whoever conceals it – his heart is indeed sinful, and Allāh is Knowing of what you do.
Koran 2:283
But what about the “written”?
54:52 And everything they did is in written records.
53 And every small and great [thing] is inscribed.
Koran 54:52-53
The “they” refers to Muhammad’s tribe. What they did, is recorded in Muhammad’s Koran, obviously by Muhammad, and that includes: “And every small and great [thing] is inscribed” which show Muhammad is a scribe who inscribes.
The Day when We will fold the heaven like the folding of a [written] sheet for the records. As We began the first creation, We will repeat it. [That is] a promise binding upon Us. Indeed, We will do it.
Koran 21:104
Where are these “written records”? Surely not with Allah and the Pen, as that with them is the Qur’an right? Actually, they’re with Allah (Waraqa) and the Pen (Muhammad), and the “written records” are Muhammad’s proto-type Koran, the records of “everything they did” which are “written” by the furious and impotent Muhammad.
Then if they deny you, [O Muḥammad] – so were messengers denied before you, who brought clear proofs and written ordinances and the enlightening Scripture.
Koran 3:184
And if they deny you – then already have those before them denied. Their messengers came to them with clear proofs and written ordinances and with the enlightening Scripture.
Koran 35:25
So woe to those who write the “scripture” with their own hands, then say, “This is from Allāh,” in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.
Koran 2:79
Muhammad curses himself.
Hadith
There are several hadith which show that Muhammad could and did write and so read:
Once the Prophet wrote a letter or had an idea of writing a letter. The Prophet was told that they (rulers) would not read letters unless they were sealed. So the Prophet got a silver ring made with “Muhammad Allah’s Messenger” engraved on it. As if I were just observing its white glitter in the hand of the Prophet.
Sahih al-Bukhari 65
Allah’s Messenger wrote a letter to Caesar saying, “If you reject Islam, you will be responsible for the sins of the tillers (i.e. your people).”
Sahih al-Bukhari 2936
We accompanied the Prophet in the Ghazwa of Tabuk and the king of ‘Aila presented a white mule and a cloak as a gift to the Prophet. And the Prophet wrote to him a peace treaty allowing him to keep authority over his country.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3161
The Prophet wrote the (marriage contract) with `Aisha while she was six years old and consummated his marriage with her while she was nine years old and she remained with him for nine years (i.e. till his death).
Sahih al-Bukhari 5158
Ibn Abbas said, “When Allah’s Messenger was on his deathbed and there were some men in the house, he said, ‘Come near, I will write for you something after which you will not go astray.’ Some of them (i.e. his companions) said, ‘Allah’s Messenger is seriously ill and you have the (Holy) Qur’an. Allah’s Book is sufficient for us.’ So the people in the house differed and started disputing. Some of them said, ‘Give him writing material so that he may write for you something after which you will not go astray.’ while the others said the other way round. So when their talk and differences increased, Allah’s Apostle said, “Get up.” Ibn Abbas used to say, “No doubt, it was very unfortunate (a great disaster) that Allah’s Messenger was prevented from writing for them that writing because of their differences and noise.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 4432
Muhammad was a false prophet, for a false god, Allah, for a false religion, Islam, without even a false book, the Koran.
Koran Contradiction 