Hazrat Muhammad(P.B.U.H) knows how to read & write or not?

[ravage]

Re: Hazrat Muhammad(P.B.U.H) knows how to read & write or not?

@Iconoclast

^I expect better from you ravage than plain untiring disagrement based upon personal beleifs.

There are certain aspects of Prophet saw life that are unique to him only. Like number of marriages.

Look at the verses SOA posted. Plus find me a single reference in history that shows He was seen writing.

Yes He did encourage learning and what learning entails will be different in different times. Few decades from now, pen and paper may disappear.

Re the verses… As shias understand those ayaat, he was unschooled (which is one meaning of Ummi) but not illiterate.

as for aspects of life being unique to him, I can understand marriage being something unique to the prophet, given that it served to bridge between tribes and so on. but why would this be unique? doesnt it seem like any time where you cant explain something it is easy to invoke this answer?

Can you list references for where other prominent personalities were writing? Say the second caliph, the third, if I give you an arbitrary personality could you find recorded evidence of just the act of them writing? It is reasoning by abduction. Hypothetically lets say there is no recorded evidence of the Prophet ever cleaning his teeth though he encouraged it. Is it fair to say he never did it, but encouraged others, and he didnt do it because certain things are unique to him?

There is evidence of him exchanging correspondences with people on the field etc, but to my knowledge it isnt certain whether those letters were written by someone else. There is this hadith too, although there are versions of the same incident where he merely crossed out certain portions instead of writing a different text:

When the Prophet intended to perform 'Umra in the month of Dhul-Qada, the people of Mecca did not let him enter Mecca till he settled the matter with them by promising to stay in it for three days only. When the document of treaty was written, the following was mentioned: ‘These are the terms on which Muhammad, Allah’s Apostle agreed (to make peace).’ They said, “We will not agree to this, for if we believed that you are Allah’s Apostle we would not prevent you, but you are Muhammad bin 'Abdullah.” The Prophet said, “I am Allah’s Apostle and also Muhammad bin 'Abdullah.” Then he said to 'Ali, "Rub off (the words) ‘Allah’s Apostle’ ", but 'Ali said, “No, by Allah, I will never rub off your name.” **So, Allah’s Apostle took the document and wrote, 'This is what Muhammad bin ‘Abdullah has agreed upon: No arms will be brought into Mecca except in their cases, and nobody from the people of Mecca will be allowed to go with him (i.e. the Prophet ) even if he wished to follow him and he (the Prophet ) will not prevent any of his companions from staying in Mecca if the latter wants to stay.’ **When the Prophet entered Mecca and the time limit passed, the Meccans went to 'Ali and said, “Tell your Friend (i.e. the Prophet ) to go out, as the period (agreed to) has passed.” So, the Prophet went out of Mecca. The daughter of Hamza ran after them (i.e. the Prophet and his companions), calling, “O Uncle! O Uncle!” 'Ali received her and led her by the hand and said to Fatima, “Take your uncle’s daughter.” Zaid and Ja’far quarrel ed about her. 'Ali said, “I have more right to her as she is my uncle’s daughter.” Ja’far said, “She is my uncle’s daughter, and her aunt is my wife.” Zaid said, “She is my brother’s daughter.” The Prophet judged that she should be given to her aunt, and said that the aunt was like the mother. He then said to 'All, “You are from me and I am from you”, and said to Ja’far, “You resemble me both in character and appearance”, and said to Zaid, “You are our brother (in faith) and our freed slave.”

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/049.sbt.html#003.049.863

At the very least there is significant doubt about the matter.