Was the prophet illiterate?

Sources

• ✓ 7:157 · Al-A'raaf

  7:157 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall

  ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ ٱلرَّسُولَ ٱلنَّبِىَّ ٱلْأُمِّىَّ ٱلَّذِى يَجِدُونَهُۥ مَكْتُوبًا عِندَهُمْ فِى ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ وَٱلْإِنجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُم بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَىٰهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْخَبَٰٓئِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَٱلْأَغْلَٰلَ ٱلَّتِى كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ ٱلنُّورَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ مَعَهُۥٓ ۙ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ

  Those who follow the messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, whom they will find described in the Torah and the Gospel (which are) with them. He will enjoin on them that which is right and forbid them that which is wrong. He will make lawful for them all good things and prohibit for them only the foul; and he will relieve them of their burden and the fetters that they used to wear. Then those who believe in him, and honour him, and help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him: they are the successful.

• ✓ Al-Kafi 1:15

  Shia

  Al-Kafi · Book 1, Hadith 15

  No one among the prophets ever spoke to people about the secret of his intellect. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: "We, the community of prophets, were ordered to speak to people according to the level of their intellect." — OR — I asked Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him) about a junub person who finds a small amount of water on the road and wants to wash but has no vessel to scoop with and his hands are dirty. He said: He should place his hand into the water, perform ablution with it, then wash (bath) with that. This is what Allah, the Exalted, has decreed that there be no hardship in religion for you. — OR — They used to believe that charity could protect a person from the evil caused by an oppressor. — OR — All good is in the sword, under the sword, and in the shade of the sword. I heard him say: All good is bound to the bridles of horses until the Day of Resurrection. — OR — I heard him say: A fortunate man does not die without seeing an heir from himself. — OR — If a man makes a will to his brother in his absence, the brother does not have the right to reject the will because if he refuses while witnessing it, the testator would seek another witness. — OR — Regarding the words of God Almighty, 'When they felt Our punishment, lo! they fled from it,' he said: When the Qa'im rises and sends to the Umayyads in the Levant, they flee to the Romans. The Romans tell them, 'We will not admit you until you become Christians.' They hang crosses around their necks and admit them. When the companions of the Qa'im arrive, they seek peace and security, but the companions of the Qa'im say, 'We will not consent until you deliver those among you who opposed us.' They then hand them over to the Qa'im’s companions. That is what God meant by 'do not flee but return to what you were given luxury and your dwellings, perhaps you will be questioned.' He questions them about treasures they know best. They will say, 'Woe to us, we were wrongdoers.' Their claim continues until We make them a soured harvest, extinguished by the sword. — OR — I said to Abu Abdullah, "I am your sacrifice, I see some of our companions seized by rashness, harshness, and aggression, so I grieve deeply. And I see those who oppose us appear well-mannered." He said, "Do not say 'well-mannered,' for manner (samt) is the way of the path; rather say 'beautiful appearance,' for Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, says their features are marked on their faces from the effect of prostration." I said, "I see him with a beautiful appearance and dignity, so I grieve for that." He said, "Do not grieve for what you see in your companions' rashness and for the beauty of those who oppose you. When Allah wanted to create Adam, He created these two clays, then separated them into two factions. To the companions of the right, He said, 'Be created by My command,' and they became like dust that moves. To the companions of the left, He said, 'Be created by My command,' and they became like dust that stumbles. Then He raised fire for them and said, 'Enter it by My permission.' The first to enter it was Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family), followed by the resolute messengers, their successors, and followers. Then He said to the companions of the left, 'Enter it by My permission.' They said, 'Our Lord, You created us to burn us,' so they disobeyed. Then He said to the companions of the right, 'Come out by My permission.' The fire did not harm them nor affect them. When the companions of the left saw this, they said, 'Our Lord, we see our companions are safe; we yield and commanded to enter.' He said, 'I have yielded to you, so enter it.' When they approached, the heat afflicted them, so they returned and said, 'Our Lord, we cannot endure the burning.' They disobeyed. He commanded their entry three times; each time they disobeyed and then returned. He commanded those steadfast companions three times; each time they obeyed and came out. Then He said to them, 'Be dust by My permission.' He created Adam from it. He said, 'Whoever is from these shall not be from those, and whoever is from those shall not be from these.' What you saw of your companions' rashness and behavior is from the contamination of the companions of the left, and what you saw of the beautiful appearance and dignity of those who opposed you is from the contamination of the companions of the right.