In the sound divine hadith (1) it is related that God will say on the Day of Resurrection: “My servant, I was sick and you did not visit Me.” He will reply, “Lord, how could I visit You when You are the Lord of all realms?” He will say, “Did you not know that My servant So-and-so was ill and you did not visit him? Had you visited him you would have found Me with him.

My servant, I was hungry and you did not feed Me.” He will answer, “Lord, how could I feed You when You are the Lord of all realms?” He will say, “Did you not know that My servant So-and-so asked you for food and you did not feed him? Had you fed him you would have found that with Me.

My servant, I asked you for water and you did not give Me to drink.” He will respond, “Lord, how could I give You to drink when You are the Lord of all realms?” He will say, “Did you not know that My servant So-and-so was thirsty and asked you for water and you did not give him to drink? Had you given him to drink you would have found that with Me.” (2)

Even more emphatic than this (3) are God’s words: “Indeed, those who pledge allegiance to you are actually pledging allegiance to Allah; the Hand of Allah is over their hands” (48:10). Likewise, He says: “Whoever obeys the Messenger has truly obeyed Allah” (4:80).

If Muslims were to adopt the same line of reasoning you have adopted, they could argue from these texts that Muhammad is a deity, and their argument would be identical to yours—there is absolutely no difference between the two (4)(5)!

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And should you insist on ascribing divinity to him because of what is found in the Third Book of Kings—“And now, O Lord God of Israel, let Your promise to David be fulfilled, for it is surely the case that…”