Introduction
People with little knowledge of Islam and malice make efforts to misguide the people by twisting the scripture. Stephen Blanton is one of such Islamophobes who has drawn a fallacious comparison titled: “COMPARE CHRISTIANITY TO ISLAM” at his website with his name. It is prudent to unveil the reality for the benefit of people of all faiths, to clear the false propaganda. It is being presented in a series of articles for convenience and better comprehension. In the last issue of DJ July 2018, first two points out of the 15 points of comparison between Christianity and Islam were responded. The first point was about “Christian’s Trinity and Islamic Monotheism” and in the second about “Bible Inspired Word of God or Corrupted to Conceal Prophecies of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)”. The “Prophecies of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in Bible” were just summarised. Here the details of “The Prophecies of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in Bible” and Islamic claim “Islam as the Religion of All Prophets” is being explained.
How Islam Claims to be the Religion of All Prophets?
The Bible was canonized in AD 325 some 300 years before Islam was founded. No Muslims existed or could have existed at that time. Islam claims that: “All Biblical prophets were Muslims, including Abraham, Noah, Moses and Jesus. Adam was a Muslim.”
What does word ‘Muslim” means?
Presently the word ‘Muslim’ is applied to the followers of the last Messenger of God, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who was given the last revealed book, the Quran for guidance of humanity. The Muslims believe in the all old scriptures (Bible, Old and New Testaments) and bow to command of God. This is limited application of word ‘Muslim’. One need to understand the Arabic word ‘Muslim’, drawn for Arabic root S-L-M, means “Surrender, Obedience to God”. The only religion in the sight of Allah is ISLAM (Submission), all the people of old, who accepted the religion of God were MUSLIM (surrendered to God). All the revealed religions were on ISLAM (Submission), differed in the law. In the terminology of Quran Muslim means “total submission and surrender to the commandment of God in pure monotheism”, free from any kind of polytheism. This is the reason that the Quran introduces Abraham (PBUH) as a MUSLIM, who had bowed to the will of God. Allah says:
Allah named you “Muslims” before [in former scriptures] and in this [revelation] that the Messenger may be a witness over you and you may be witnesses over the people. (Quran;22:78)
“The Prophet (Muhammad) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in God, His Angels, His Books, and His prophets. (They say,) ‘We make no distinction between one another of His prophets…’” (Quran 2:285)
The Quran describes many prophets and messengers within Judaism and Christianity and their respective followers as Muslim (submitting to Allah): Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Jacob, Moses, and Jesus and his apostles are all considered to be Muslims in the Quran. The Quran states that these men were Muslims because they ‘Submitted to God’, preached His message and upheld His values.
“Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was one inclining toward truth, a Muslim [submitting to Allah]. And he was not of the polytheists.” (Quran;3:67)
“You shall strive for the cause of God as you should strive for His cause. He has chosen you and has placed no hardship on you in practicing your religion – the religion of your father Abraham. He is the one who named you “Submitters” originally.”(Quran 22:78)
“And who is better in speech than him who invites people to Allah, tries to grow himself in goodness, fulfills the needs of others and declares, “Surely, I am one of those who surrender unto Him? (Muslim)”(Quran;41:33)
“And ask (O Muhammad) those of Our prophets whom We sent before you: ‘Did We ever appoint gods to be worshipped besides the Most Merciful (God)?’”(Quran 43:45)
“And, indeed We have sent prophets before you (O Muhammad), of some of them We have related to you their story, and of some We have not related to you their story.” (Quran 40:78)
“And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad) but We revealed to him (saying): ‘none has the right to be worshipped but I, so worship Me.’” (Quran 21:25)
Accordingly all the followers of revealed religions like Judaism and Christianity were Muslim till their denial of Prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH), the last Prophet of God for humanity.
The present books of Bible despite many changes, still there are commandments to surrender to the will of God [ISLAM / MUSLIM]:
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” [James 4:7]
I place under, subject to; mid, pass: I submit, put myself into subjection.]
“I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.” [Psalm 40:8].
“Praise the LORD! Happy is the person who honors the LORD, who takes pleasure in obeying his commands.” [Psalm 112:1].
[“Surrender and obedience to the Will of God” is found at many more places in Bible: Psalms:148:8,103:20, Jeremiah 31:33, 1 John 2:1-29، 2:17، Matthew 12:50، 26:42، 6:10، John 5:30، 4:34 ، Acts 21:14، Romans 12:2، Hebrews 10:7]
After the advent of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the real Muslim is the one who confesses to accept Muhammad (PBUH) as the last messenger of God and adheres to the other beliefs and collective and individual Islamic practices. In general terms a Muslim is someone who follows or practices Islam, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion, as preached by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who was prophesied in the Bible, but concealed by theologians by corruption and mistranslation of Bible. The subject of corruption of Bible has been covered comprehensively in last issue of DJ.
Views of Bible Scholar Bart Ehrman
Bart D. Ehrman, a New Testament scholar at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. ‘Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why?’ is a book by him in which he introduces the field of textual criticism of the Bible. Ehrman discussed a number of textual variants that resulted from intentional or accidental manuscript changes during the scriptorium era. The book made it to The New York Times Best Seller List. Ehrman recounts his personal experience with the study of the Bible and textual criticism. He summarized the history of textual criticism from the works of Desiderius Erasmus to the present. He describes an early Christian environment in which the books that would later compose the New Testament were copied by hand, mostly by Christian amateurs. Ehrman concludes that various early scribes altered the New Testament texts in order to de-emphasize the role of women in the early church, to unify and harmonize the different portrayals of Jesus in the four gospels, and to oppose certain heresies (such as Adoptionism).
Bart Ehrman also indicated that the King James version includes verses in some places that are almost certainly not “original” that is, passages that were not written by the original authors but were added by later scribes. He chose three of the most outstanding and famous examples: the explicit reference to the Trinity in 1 John 5:7-8 the story of the woman taken in adultery in John 7:53-8:11 and Jesus’ resurrection appearance in the longer ending of Mark’s Gospel, Mark 16:9-20.
A Summary: Some Verses not in earliest Greek Manuscript of New Testament
There is a long list debating the authenticity of many verses, some are listed here. It’s worthwhile to go through each of these verses and think about the implications of each verse that was added for specific purpose in support and justification for concocted doctrines:
1. John 5:7 – There are three that bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word,
and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. [Trinity]
2. Luke 22:20: And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that
is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. [Footnote; NRSV [a] Luke 22:20
Other ancient authorities lack, in whole or in part, verses 19b-20 (which is given
in my blood)
3. John 8:7 – Let the one who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.
4. John 8:11 – Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.
5. Matthew 6:13: “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
6. Matthew 17:21: “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
7. Luke 22:44 – In his anguish Jesus began to pray more earnestly, and his sweat became
like great drops of blood falling to the ground.
8. Luke 22:20 – And in the same way after supper Jesus took the cup and said,
“This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”
9. Mark 16:15 : And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel
to every creature.
10. Mark 16:17 – These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will
cast out demons and they will speak with new tongues.
11. Mark 16:18 – And they will take up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any poison
it will not harm
12. John 5:4 – For an angel of the Lord went down at certain times into the pool and
disturbed the waters; and whoever was the first to step in when the water
was disturbed was healed of whatever disease he had.
13. Luke 24:12 – But Peter rose up and ran to the tomb, and stooping down to look in,
he saw the linen clothes by themselves. And he went away to his own home marveling
at what had happened.
14. Luke 24:51 – And when Jesus blessed them he departed from them and he was
taken up into heaven.
These few example out of hundreds of variations and contradictions are enough to conclude that the Bible in its present form is not all word of God, however it may contain something from God in human words. The Quran is criteria (Furqan) to judge right from wrong, so the Biblical teachings can be tested with Quran, those conform be accepted and contractions rejected being fabrication and corruption.
Corruption of Bible, Muslim View
It should be borne in mind that Muslims do believe that the Torah was revealed to Moses (PBUH), and the Gospel was revealed to Jesus Christ (PBUH). But it is pretty obvious from these books as they appear in the Bible today that neither of the two books are the same ones which were revealed to these Prophets of God or even dictated by them. They are more of a historian’s account of the lives and teachings of Moses and Jesus respectively than books revealed to them. Moreover:
1. The books that comprise the Bible are not the ones given by the respective prophets
to whom they are ascribed.
2. These books do not meet the criteria of unbroken and dependable chains
of transmission, and
3. A number of intentional and unintentional changes have occurred in the text
of these books.
“Therefore woe be unto those who write the Book with their hands and then say, “This is from Allah,” that they may purchase a small gain therewith. Woe unto them for that their hands have written, and woe unto them for that they earn thereby.” (Quran;2:79)
Muslims do not believe that the books that now constitute the New Testament were written by Jesus Christy (fact even accepted by Christian scholars) whereas, the basis of Christianity is ascribed to him. Even if these books were ascribed to Jesus Christ, the Muslims have never been provided with unbroken and dependable chains of transmission of these books from one generation to the next. The case of the Torah is no different. Lastly, even experts on the text of the Bible believe that it has not remained safe from intentional and/or unintentional changes in the text. Consequently, in the situation as it stands, Muslims have no option but to believe that the books of the Bible as we have them today do not truly reflect the true teachings of the Prophets to whom they are ascribed.
Hence the Muslims, while believing in all the previous prophets and ‘original scriptures’ adhere to Quran, the final preserved revelations, ‘The Last Testament’ available for the guidance of humanity which abrogated all the previous scriptures. God says:
“God accepted a Covenant from the Children of Israel and appointed twelve chieftains from among them and said: “I am with you; if you establish Prayers (Salah) pay Alms (Zakah), believe in My Messengers, support them and give a generous loan to Allah (spend in charity), I will certainly forgive you your sins and admit you to gardens beneath which the rivers flow. However, if any one of you, after this, violates this Covenant, he will indeed go astray from the Right Way. Even after that, they broke their covenant; as a result, We laid on them Our curse and hardened their hearts. They tempered with words out of their context and neglected much of what they were enjoined. You will always find most of them deceitful except for a few of them. Yet forgive them and overlook their misdeeds. Allah loves those who are kind to others. Likewise We also made a Covenant with those who call themselves Christians, but they too have neglected much of what they were enjoined. As a result, We stirred among them enmity and hatred, which will last till the Day of Resurrection and soon God will inform them all of what they have done. O followers of Bible (People of the Book i.e. the Jews and Christians)! Now Our Messenger (Muhammad) has come to you to reveal much of what you have concealed from the Holy Books and to pass over much which is no longer necessary. There has come to you from God a new Light and a clear Book (Quran) with which God will guide to the ways of peace all those who seek His good pleasure and bring them out of the depth of darkness into the light of His grace and guide them to the Right Way.” (Quran;5:12-15).
Despite all the distortions and corruptions, prophecies of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) can still be discovered with in-depth research and analysis.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in Bible
According to Easton’s Bible Dictionary “Prophecy or prediction was one of the functions of the prophet. It has been defined as a “miracle of knowledge, a declaration or description or representation of something future, beyond the power of human sagacity to foresee, discern, or conjecture.” The great prediction which according to Jews and Christians runs like a golden thread through the whole contents of the Old Testament is that regarding the coming and work of the Messiah; and the great use of prophecy was to perpetuate faith in his coming, and to prepare the world for that event. Though they differ widely in its application. Then there are many prophecies regarding the Jewish nation, its founder Abraham, and his posterity, Ishmael (Ismail), Isaac and Jacob and their descendants which have all been fulfilled. Many predictions were also delivered by Jesus Christ (PBUH).
But the followers of the Bible under the influence of extra Biblical concepts miss deliberately or inadvertently the other most important great prophecy that hold the most important place in the great chain of events which illustrate the sovereignty and all-wise overruling providence and mercy of God for the humanity, regarding advent of the last prophet, mercy for the mankind.
It may appear odd that Muslims try to explore the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him) from the Bible, the holy scripture of those who do not believe in him. It should be kept in view that it’s the article of faith for the Muslims to believe in the all the previous scriptures and prophets (peace be upon them all). Allah says:
“O you who have believed, believe in Allah and His Messenger and the Book (Quran) that He sent down upon His Messenger (Muhammad) and the Scripture which He sent down before. And whoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day has certainly gone far astray.”(Quran;4:136).
The only Books, scriptures considered to be Holy are the Scrolls of Abraham and Moses, the Torah of Moses, the Psalms of David, the Gospel of Jesus, and the Quran of Muhammad (Pbuh). Each of these constitute “parts” of the complete revelation from Allah of the “Mother of the Book”, also referred to as “Louh Al-Mahfouth”. The Quran is the last revelation sent by Allah: “HE has sent down to thee the Book containing the truth and fulfilling that which precedes it; and HE has sent down the Torah and the Gospel. Before this, as a guide to mankind, and He sent down the criterion (of judgment between right and wrong). Then those who reject Faith in the Signs of God will suffer the severest penalty, and God is Exalted in Might, Lord of Retribution.” (Quran;3:3-4).
The Quran indicates that the previous Scriptures were corrupted, but does not go in to the details as per its style. What we do know for a fact is that they were corrupt and that the Quran “confirms it in truth and acts as a criterion or guardian over them”:
“Therefore, woe to those who distort the scripture with their own hands, then say, “This is what GOD has revealed,” seeking a cheap material gain. Woe to them for such distortion, and woe to them for their illicit gains.” (Quran;2:79).
It is now a widely accepted fact among the modern Biblical scholars like Bart Eherman, that the present Bible is not in its original form, containing many distortions, the fact also accepted by Bible itself:
“How can you say, ‘We are wise, And the law of the LORD is with us’? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes made it a lie (Bible- Jeremiah;8:8).
Revised Standard Version of the Bible (RSV) is an authorized revision of the American Standard Version, published in 1901, which was a revision of the King James Version, published in 1611. In the Preface it reads: “Yet the King James Version has grave defects. By the middle of the nineteenth century, the development of Biblical studies and the discovery of many manuscripts more ancient than those upon which the King James Version was based, made it manifest that these defects are so many and so serious as to call for revision of the English translation. The task was undertaken by authority of the Church of England in 1870. The English Revised Version of the Bible was published in 1881-1885 and the American Standard Version, its variant embodying the preferences of the American scholars associated in the works was published in 1901.”
Despite the corruption of the text the Bible still contains the parts of original message of God, which can be explored through critical analysis while Quran acts as the criteria (Al-Furqan). Hence it says: “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.” (Quran;7:157)
“Say, `Tell me, if this Qur’an is from ALLAH and you disbelieve therein, and a witness from among the Children of Israel bears witness to the advent of one like him, and he believed, but you are too proud to believe, how should you fare?’ Verily ALLAH guides not the wrongdoing people.” (Quran;46:10).
On the basis of these verses of Quran Muslims explore the Bible to find sufficient evidence and prophesies about advent of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It proves that Islam is the continuation of the legacy of Prophet Abraham (PBUH) removing distortions and corruption to ease out the restrictions imposed upon the believers in the past due to hardening of their hearts and violations to the commandments of God.
Prophet Abraham (PBUH) and Decedents
Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim, peace be upon him) is the common ancestor and spiritual leader of Muslims, Christians and Jews alike, also revered by people of other faiths. He the original monotheist in known history, purifier of God’s house, builder of the Ka’ba who preached against idolatry and sin: “And he believed the LORD; and he reckoned it to him as righteousness.”(Genesis:15:6). Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) was granted sons at old age, Ishmael, from Hager, and later Isaac (Ishaq) from Sara. The scripture of revelations to Abraham [Suhaf Ibrahim] is mentioned in Qur’an; 53:36-37 & 87:18-19, which is now extinct, though ‘Testament of Abraham’ had been popular among Christians. He destroyed the idols and survived attempt by the king to burn him alive. After successful trials he was rewarded by God for his faith and given a position of spiritual leadership of the mankind, to be passed down to his descendants, excluding the wrong doers (Qur’an;2:124). The descendants obviously include the progeny of Ishmael and Isaac (peace be upon them). The claim of the children of Israel as “Chosen People of God” by virtue of their descent from Abraham, who was made “a leader of mankind” by God, was totally negated. God makes it clear that the exalted status of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) was not something that would automatically confer a comparable status on this physical descendants, and definitely not on the sinners among them. Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) is awarded with a covenant from God that his “seed” will inherit the land and become a numerous nation: “And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. And I will give to you, and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojourning, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your descendants after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.”(Genesis;17:7-10). Limiting covenant to the children of Isaac (Genesis;17:19) appears to be insertion as it is violates the prevalent tradition of peculiar sanctity attached to the first-born both of man and of cattle.
After Abraham (PBUH) the leadership role of humanity was retained among the children of Isaac, through the progeny of Prophet Jacob (PBUH). It continued through Prophet Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, John the Baptist and Jesus Christ (PBUH).
“And [We cursed them] for their breaking of the covenant and their disbelief in the signs of Allah and their killing of the prophets without right and their saying, “Our hearts are wrapped”. Rather, Allah has sealed them because of their disbelief, so they believe not, except for a few. And [We cursed them] for their disbelief and their saying against Mary a great slander, And [for] their saying, “Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.” And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him but it appeared so unto them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.” (Quran;4:155-157)
Due to continuous disobedience which continued even after their rejection of Jesus Christ, six centuries later God shifted this leadership role to the progeny of Ishmael (PBUH) keeping His promise to Prophet Abraham(PBUH) [Genesis;17:7-10] and Quran 2:124: “When his Lord tested Abraham’s faith, (by His words) and he satisfied the test, He said, “I am appointing you as the leader of mankind.” Abraham asked, “Will this leadership also continue through my descendants?” The Lord replied, “The unjust do not have the right to exercise My authority.”
“Since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed? For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”(Genesis 18:18-19)
The change of leadership to the progeny of Ishmael has not been accepted by most of them due to their rebellious nature. They even ignore the clear prophecies in the Torah and Gospel about the expected prophet: “Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?” “No,” he replied. “Are you the Prophet we are expecting?” “No.” (John 1:21, New Living Translation). “And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?” (John 1:25, King James Bible)
The whole land of Arabia appears (Genesis;10:1-32) to have been inhabited by a variety of tribes of different lineage, Ishmaelites, Arabians, Idumeans, Horites, and Edomites; but at length becoming amalgamated, they came to be known by the general designation of Arabs. The modern nation of Arabs is predominantly Ishmaelite (descendants of Ishmael or Isma’il), their language Arabic, is the most developed and the richest of all the Semitic languages, and is of great value to the student of Hebrew. Isma’il was also a messenger of God (Qur’an;19:54).
It is well known that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was an Arab from the tribe of Quraish, the descendants of Prophet Ishmael (PBUH) the eldest son of Prophet Abraham (PBUH). Ishmael has been mentioned in Bible to be leader of a nation being the seed of Abraham (Genesis;13:18, 16:12, 17:20). Ishmael (PBUH) in infancy was left in the wilderness along with his mother Hager. They miraculously survived and the place developed into the city of Makkah, a religious and commercial centre. Later Prophet Abraham (PBUH) came to offer sacrifice of his only son Ishmael, but he was saved by God. Prophet Abraham (PBUH) built the first House of Worship of One God along with his son Ishmael, it is now known as Kaaba (the direction of prayer for worship of One God (Allah) symbolizing the unity of Muslims). He also established the rites of Pilgrimage (Hajj). The advent of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has been clearly prophesied in the Old Testament as well as in New Testament:
Old Testament
1. God Calls Abraham
“I will make thee a great nation and I shall bless thee, and make thy name great and thou shall be a blessing, and I will bless them that bless thee and curse them that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed”. (Genesis;12:2,3):
2. God Said To Hagar
“I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold thou art with child, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.” (Genesis;16:11)
3. God Said To Abraham about Ishmael
“As for Ishmael, I have heard thee; Behold I have blessed him, and make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, I will make him a great nation.” (Genesis;17:20)
4. Right of The First Born
“If a man has two wives, one beloved another hated; and if the first born son be hers that was hated; then it shall be that when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved first born, before the son of the hated which is indeed the first born, by giving him the double portion of all that he hath; for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of firstborn is his”. (Deuteronomy;21:15-17)
[Note. Ishmael, the first born son of Abraham (PBUH) was 14 years old when Isaac was born.]
5. The Blessing of Moses
Muslim scholars relied heavily on Christian and Jewish converts. These converts reported the reasons why they converted and mentioned the Bible verses that helped them make their decision. Most prolific among those converts was 12th Century Baghdadian Samau’al al-Maghribi whose book “Convincing the Jews” discussed Deuteronomy 18:18 and Deuteronomy 33:2. He reports in his book that his conversion to Islam followed from two Biblical passages. He claimed that Deuteronomy 18:18 refers to a prophet from the brothers of the Israelites, since the word used for brothers was in singular (i.e. a Brother tribe), he continues “but if they claim that this word is mentioned several times in the Bible referring to Israelites, the reply is the same word was also used to refer to the Edomites, children of Esau in Deuteronomy 2:4. “Their brother” was used to mean the rest of the Israelites but they were all assembled together when God spoke to them in this verse, and if they say the verse came in one of the prophets or allude to any prophet, then the answer that God-binding them under severe penalty will perplex both a coming prophet and the Jews for they will fear punishment both ways, if they obeyed the prophet who changes the law and if they did not obey him because of the original binding to Moses’ revealed Law. For this reason Magrebi says Deuteronomy 33:2 gave guidance to interpret Deuteronomy 18:18.
“And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran (Arabic: Faran) came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them. Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in your hand: and they sat down at your feet; everyone shall receive of your words. Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob”. (Deuteronomy;33:2-4).
The association of Paran in Genesis 21:21 with Ishmael and the Ishmaelites is affirmed by the Muslim geographer Yaqut al-Hamawi who writes “Faran, an arabized Hebrew word, one of the names of Mecca mentioned in the Bible. The “Desert of Paran” is also interpreted as Hijaz in an old Arabic translation of the Samaritan Bible. When it was translated into English in 1851, it was found to include a footnote making this interpretation. Muslim and Arabic traditions hold that the wilderness of Paran is, broadly speaking, the Hejaz, the northern half of Tihamah, stretching along the east side of the Red Sea starting from Jordan and Sinai, and that the specific site where Ishmael settled is that of Mecca, near the mountains of Paran. The Arab geographer Al-Muqaddasi mentioned in his book that the Red Sea branches into two “at the extremity of al-Hijaz at a place called Faran”. Approximate extent of Hejaz equated with Paran in Arabic and Muslim traditions. The name ‘Paran’ or ‘Faran’ has often been used to refer specifically to the wilderness and mountains near where Mecca is situated. Al-Hamdani in his book Geography of the Arabian Peninsula says that the Paran mountains around Mecca were named after Paran son of Amalek. Sam’ni in his Book of Surnames also says that the surname Farani is derived from the Faran mountains near Mecca in Hijaz. According to Wahb ibn Munabbih, there was a Tal Faran (“Hill of Faran”) on the outskirts of Mecca, mentioned in his book Kitab al-Tijan, a Pre-Islamic Arabic folklore compilation. Ibn Munabbih further suggested an identification for Tal Faran as the ‘mound of the Two runaways’, a place where the Jurhum tribe found Hagar and Ishmael and thought of them as two runaways. According to Immanuel Velikovsky, “the desert of Pharan according to the old Arabian sources, neglected by Biblical research, is in the mountainous area of Hedjaz”. He identified the biblical Kadesh Barnea in the Paran desert with Mecca in the Hejaz desert. Paul writes: “Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.” (Galatians 4:25, NIV)
Since the Desert of Paran is associated with Ishmaelites Genesis;21:21, and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was an Ishmaelite, then it was Muhammad (PBUH) who the prophet referred to in the words “God will flare over mount Paran”. He says that the passage is in the future tense to instruct the Jews that it refers to a future prophet, since the verse used three different verbs “dawn, Crest, flare” that allude to different incidents in history, of which the first incident “God dawned from Mount Sinai” happened to them in the past with Moses.
6. The Age of Peace
“And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. Gather yourselves together, and hear, you sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father. Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father’s bed; then you defiled it: he went up to my couch. Simeon and Levi are brothers; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not into their secret; unto their assembly, my spirit, be not united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they dug down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise: your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s children shall bow down before you. Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, you are gone up: he stooped down, he crouched as a lion, and as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? The scepter (symbolize power, authority) shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until SHILOH (Peace=Islam) comes; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be”.(Genesis;49:1-10)
7. The Vision of Isaiah
“And he hath seen a chariot—a couple of horsemen, The rider of an ass, the rider of a camel, And he hath given attention—He hath increased attention!”(Isaiah;21:7) [Young’s Bible Literal Translation]. “He saw two riders one of them was a rider upon an ass, and the other rider was upon a camel, he harkened diligently with much heed.”(Isaiah;21:7) [Vulgate Bible]
8. Jesus Was The Promised Rider Upon Ass:
“And Jesus, when he had found a young donkey, sat thereon; as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Zion, behold, your King comes, sitting on a donkey’s colt. These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him”.(John;12:14-16)
9. Another Version Supporting the Above:
“Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your King comes unto you, meek, and sitting upon a donkey, and a colt the foal of a donkey. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, And brought the donkey, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they sat him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and spread them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he came into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.( Matthew;21:5-11)
Who is the promised rider upon the camel? Obviously it refers to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)!
10. The Chosen Servant
Hadith recorded by Bukhari depict some early Jewish converts to Islam interpreting Isaiah 42 as a prediction of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my elect, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth justice unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he has established justice in the earth: and the coastlands shall wait for his law. Thus says God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which comes out of it; he that gives breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk in it: I the LORD have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand, and will keep you, and give you for a covenant to the people, for a light to the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images”. (Isaiah;42:1-8)
11. Prevail Against Jealous Enemies:
“Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar does inhabit: let the inhabitants of Sela sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the coastlands. The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, shout aloud; he shall prevail against his enemies.” (Isaiah;42:11-13).
Kedar came from Ishmael; “These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, listed in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, and Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa, Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah: These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their towns and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations. Kedar and Ancient Arabs (From the NIV Bible, Genesis 25:13)” The Arabian desert region was named after Kedar.
12. Brethren, Not Brothers; Prophecy of Moses:
Ishmael and Isaac are the sons of the same father Abraham, hence they are brothers. And so the children of the one are the BRETHREN of the children of the other. The children of Isaac are the Jews and the children of Ishmael are the Arabs so they are BRETHREN to one another. The Bible affirms, ‘and he (Ishmael) shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.’ (Genesis 16:12). ‘And he (Ishmael) died in the presence of all his brethren.’ (Genesis 25:18). The children of Isaac are the brethren of the Ishmaelites. In like manner Muhammad is from among the brethren of the Israelites because he was a descendant of Ishmael the son of Abraham. This is exactly as the prophecy has it ‘from among their brethren’. (Deut. 18:18). The prophecy distinctly mentions that the coming prophet who would be like Moses, must arise NOT from the ‘children of Israel’ or from ‘among themselves’, but from among their brethren. Muhammad (PBUH) therefore was from among their brethren!
Here is full verse, God speaks to Prophet Moses: “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren (אֶחָ֖), like unto thee, and I will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not harken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him”(Deuteronomy; 18:18,19).
It’s very simple if a prophet was to be raised from among the Israelites, the wordings would have been like: “I will raise up a Prophet from among you, like unto thee”. Since it was not to be from among the Israelites but form Ishmaelite, hence the words: “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren , like unto thee”.
The Hebrew word (awkh,אֶחָ֖) has been wrongly translated in many Bible translations as: “fellow Israelites”, countrymen, relatives” however majority translate it as “brothers, brethren”. Same word (awkh,אֶחָ֖) has been directly used about Ishmael: “And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren (אֶחָ֖).” (Genesis 16:12, KJV)
Now let’s look again: “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren (אָח awkh), like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.” (Deuteronomy 18:18 KJV) [Reference:http://biblehub.com/text/genesis/16-12.htm]
This Hebrew word (awkh,אֶחָ֖) word has been explained:
Strong’s Concordance: Reference; 251: ach, ach: a brother, Original Word:, Part of Speech: Noun Masculine, Transliteration: ach, Phonetic Spelling, (awkh), Short Definition: brother.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance: Word Origin: from an unused word, Definition: a brother.
NASB Translation of (awkh): alike, another, brethren, brother, brother with his brothers, brother’s, brotherhood, brothers, brothers’, companions, countryman, countryman’s, countrymen, fellow, fellow countryman, fellow countrymen, fellows kinsman, kinsmen, nephew, other, relative, relatives.
[http://biblesuite.com/hebrew/251.htm]
Hence it is established that word (awkh) used for Ishmael at Genesis 16:12 is also related with him at Deuteronomy; 18:18,19 regarding prophesy of another prophet, mistranslation as; “among Israelites” is a deception to conceal the truth.
Relating this prophesy (Deuteronomy; 18:18,19) with Jesus Christ by Christians is not correct as the analysis indicate that it is related with Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): Among the prophets which followed Prophet Moses, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is most like Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) where as Jesus (peace be upon him) had nothing common with Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) except being a Jew and prophet, (In Christianity, Jesus is believed to be Son of God, one of the three persons of the Trinity). Moreover, being descendent of Prophet Ishmael, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is among the brethren of Jews, who was like Moses.
Three Differences between Moses and Jesus according to Christian’s non Biblical Theology
a. In the FIRST place Jesus is not like Moses, because, according to Christian belief: ‘JESUS IS A GOD’, but Moses is not God, therefore Jesus is not like Moses!
b. SECONDLY, according to Christians: ‘JESUS DIED FOR THE SINS OF THE WORLD’, but Moses did not have to die for the sins of the world, therefore Jesus is not like Moses!
c. THIRDLY, according to Christians: ‘JESUS WENT TO HELL FOR THREE DAYS’, but Moses did not have to go there therefore Jesus is not like Moses.
These are not hard facts, solid, tangible facts; they are mere matters of belief over which one can stumble. Let us look at something very simple, very easy that for anyone to follow without any difficulty.
13. Similarities: Moses & Muhammad (peace be upon them) (PBUT):
a. Prophet Muhammad and Moses (peace be upon them) had a normal birth through father and a mother, while Jesus (peace be upon him) was miraculously born without any male intervention. (Matthew; 1:18 and Luke; 1:35 and also Quran;3:42-47).
b. Both, Prophet Moses and Muhammad (PBUH) were married, had children and died natural deaths.
c. Muhammad (peace be upon him) is from among the brethren of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) being descendent of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) through his sons Ishmael and Isaac (peace be upon them) respectively.
d. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was unlettered, hence in verbatim repeated the revelations conforming phrase, “Words in the mouth”. It is mentioned in the book of Isaiah [29:12]: “And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.” In 610 C.E when archangel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad (peace be upon him) and asked him to ‘Proclaim’ (recite, read-Iqra) (Quran;96:1). The Prophet replied, “I do not know how to read.”(Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith,1.3, Narrated by Aisha).
e. Prophet Moses & Muhammad (peace be upon them) brought new laws and new regulations for their people, besides, both were accepted as messengers of God by their people in their lifetime.
f. They ruled over their communities (as kings), they could inflict capital punishment whereas Jesus (peace be upon them) said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” (John; 18:36).
g. Prophet Jesus (PBUH) was not accepted by most of his people in his lifetime: “He came unto his own, but his own received him not.”(Gospel of John;1:11).
h. Prophet Jesus (PBUH) did not bring any new laws, Jesus said; “Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them..;”(Matthew;5:17-18).
14. Mentioned by Name in Song of Solomon:
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is mentioned by name in the Old Testament: “His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely (Muhammadim). This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.”(Song of Solomon; 5:16). :”Hikko Mamittakim we kullo Muhammadim Zehdoodeh wa Zehraee Bayna Jerusalem.“ ” In the Hebrew language ‘im’ is added for respect. Similarly ‘im’ is added after the name of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to make it Muhammadim. In English translation they have even translated the name of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as “altogether lovely”, but in the Old Testament in Hebrew, the name of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is still present.
Prophecies in New Testament
Change of Leadership from Jews:
Jesus through parables said: “Therefore I say unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” (Matthew;21:43),“Salt is good: but if the salt has lost its taste how shall it be restored? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that has ears to hear, let him hear” (Luke;14:34-35, also Matthew;5:16, Mark;9:50). “What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the tenants, and will give the vineyard unto others.” (Mark;12:9).This may also be linked with: “Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in” (Isaiah;26:2).
These parables apply to the Jews. They had been the children of the kingdom, or under the reign of God; having his law, and acknowledging him as King. They had been his chosen and peculiar people. But he says that now this privilege should be taken away, and they cease to be the peculiar people of God; and the blessing should be given to a nation who would bring forth the fruits thereof, or be righteous. Keeping in view the Covenant with Abraham (Genesis;12:2,3, 17:10-12, 17:20-21), it obviously refers to the Children of Ishmael, to keep the leadership within the progeny of Abraham.
“That Prophet” and John the Baptist:
In the New Testament period it is found that the Jews were still expecting the fulfillment of the prophecy of ‘ONE LIKE MOSES’; [refer John 1:19-25] When Jesus Christ (PBUH) claimed to be the Messiah of the Jews, the Jews began to enquire as to where was Elias? The Jews had a parallel prophecy that before the coming of the Messiah, Elias must come first in his second coming. Jesus confirms this Jewish belief:
“ Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, that Elias is come already, and they knew him not, Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of john the Baptist.” (Matthew 17:11-13).
According to the New Testament the Jews were not the ones to swallow the words of any would-be Messiah. In their investigations they underwent intense difficulties in order to find their true Messiah. And this, the Gospel of John confirms: “and this is the record of John,” (the Baptist) “when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, who art thou? And he confessed and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.” (This was only natural because there can’t be two Messiahs at the same time. If Jesus was the Christ then John couldn’t be the Christ!) “and they asked him, what then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not.” (Here John the Baptist contradicts Jesus! Jesus says that John is “Elias” and John denies that he is what Jesus ascribes him to be). One of the TWO (Jesus or John), God forbid! is wrong as per this narrative in Bible [scribe error or what God knows]. On the testimony of Jesus himself, John the Baptist was the greatest of the Israelite prophets: “verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women there has not risen a greater than John the Baptist:” (Matthew 11:11).
Muslims know John the Baptist as Prophet Yahya (peace be upon him) and revere him as a true prophet of Allah. The Holy Prophet Jesus (PBUH) known to Muslims as Prophet Isaa (peace be upon him), is also esteemed as one of the mightiest messenger of the Almighty. Muslims impute lies to either of them? We leave this problem between Jesus and John for the Christians to solve, for their “sacred scriptures” abound in discrepancies which they have been glossing over as the “dark sayings of Jesus”. We Muslims are really interested in the last question posed to John the Baptist by the Jewish elite “art thou that prophet? And he answered, no.” (John 1:21).
Three Questions!
Please note that three different and distinct questions were posed to John the Baptist and to which he gave three emphatic “NO’s” as answers. To recapitulate:-
(1) Art thou the Christ?
(2) Art thou Elias?
(3) Art thou that prophet?
But the learned men of Christendom somehow only see two questions implied here. To make doubly clear that the Jews definitely had THREE separate prophecies in their minds when they were interrogating John the Baptist, let us read the remonstrance of the Jews in the verses following –
“and they asked him, and said unto him, why baptizest thou then, if thou be;
(a) Not the Christ, (b) Nor Elias, (c) Neither “that prophet?” (John 1:25)
The Jews were waiting for the fulfillment of THREE distinct prophecies: One, the coming of CHRIST. Two, the coming of ELIAS, and Three, the coming of THAT PROPHET.
“That Prophet”
If we look up any Bible which has a concordance or cross-references then we will find in the marginal note where the words “the prophet” or “that prophet” occur in John 1:25, that these words refer to the prophecy of Deuteronomy 18:15 and 18. And that “that prophet” – ‘the prophet like Moses’ – “LIKE UNTO THEE”, we have proved through overwhelming evidence that he was MUHAMMAD and not Jesus!
Muslims do not deny that Jesus was the “Messiah”, which word is translated as “Christ” . Muslims do not contest the “thousand and one prophecies” which the Christians claim abound in the Old Testament foretelling the coming of the Messiah. However it is clear that Deuteronomy 18:18 does NOT refer to Jesus Christ but it is an explicit prophecy about the Holy Prophet MUHAMMAD.
Comforter: Paracletos
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter (Παράκλητος , Paracletos), that he may abide with you forever.”(John; 14:16). [Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) delivered the message of God, (Qur’an), which is available to Christians and all the humanity in original uncorrupted form for their peace and comfort till eternity.]
Witness to the Truthfulness of Jesus
“But when the Counselor comes whom I shall send to you from the Father even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me;” (John; 15:26). [Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), bore witness of truthfulness of Jesus as messenger of God, he also glorified Jesus Christ].
Spirit of Truth, Glorify Jesus
“I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth (referring to Muhammad) is come, he will guide you unto all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me” (John; 16:12-14). [Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) spoke verbatim the revelations received through angel Gabriel, (Qur’an), he also glorified Jesus Christ]
Dr. Jamal Badawi comprehensively explains that Qur’an in fact glorifies Prophet Jesus more than the Gospel itself (other than the areas interpreted in implying his Godhood) this may be a surprise to many. In terms of his character and dealings, the Qur’an glorifies him more than what can be found in the New Testament.
First of all, Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) testified, as God revealed to him through the Qur’an, that it was not Jesus who was crucified. What happened when people believed in Jesus as the man who died on the cross? First, some of those who rejected him took this as proof that he was a false prophet when he was not. They refer to the book of Deuteronomy, for example, where it says, “And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death.” (Deut. 13:5) The Jewish law applies to him and this proves that he was a false prophet.
It is found that even those claiming to be his followers have agreed with his enemies on one point- saying he was accursed in order to forgive the sins of men. This is specifically mentioned in the Book of Galatians, which says, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it hath been written, cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree.” (Gala. 3:13) The Qur’an says that Prophet Jesus was neither crucified (as a false prophet nor was he cursed), but that God actually saved him.
Secondly, the Qur’an, also vindicates Prophet Jesus from what is attributed to him particularly in the Gospel of Matthew, which says, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46) and in the Gospel of Mark, which repeats the previous verse, “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34) These verses claim that while he was on the cross and about to die, Jesus cried out asking God why He had forsaken him.
Everyone knows that there are people who are not saints and not prophets and definitely not sons of God in any theological sense who were able to face death, for the sake of God, without losing trust in God at the very last minute. This shows that it was most likely not Jesus who was shouting those words and showing this distrust and impatience in the Father while on the cross.
Thirdly, it is only the Qur’an that makes it undeniably clear and obvious that the mother of Jesus is a respectable, truthful and honest woman and vindicated her from all accusations that were raised concerning her conception and birth of Jesus. Indeed, the Qur’an absolves Jesus even in another area. There are verses that are not commonly mentioned since most people don’t really examine these verses critically. There are many unkind and untruthful attributes given to Prophet Jesus. In the Gospel of John for example, Jesus is quoted as telling his mother, “Woman, what have I to do with thee?” (John 2:4)
In the Qur’an, Jesus says “God has made me kind and compassionate to my mother, and hath not made me arrogant.” (Quran;19:32) This compassion is definitely confirmed in the Qur’an, while it is denied in the verse in John that shows some kind of roughness on his part towards his own mother.
Similar things have been attributed to Jesus. Some examples can be found in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 23 verses 13-33. In chapter 15, verses 22-28, he is accused of using harsh language. Everyone is familiar with the story of the Canaanite woman when he called other nations dogs. Whereas the Qur’an never mentions Prophet Jesus other than with full respect and adoration and denies that any such harsh statements or actions were made by him.
In this sense, who is really testifying of and vindicating Jesus more than Prophet Mohammed (peace and blessings be upon him), who came after him? The recognition of him as a great prophet and the rejection of false claims that has been attributed to him are very clearly manifested in the Qur’an.
Comforter to Come after Departure of Jesus
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” (John;16:7). [Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), came six centuries after departure of Jesus Christ]
Referring these prophecies to ‘Holy Ghost’ is irrelevant, because as per Christian theology ‘Holy Ghost’ was already present in the womb of Elizabeth (Luke 1:41), dove upon Jesus (Mt 3:16, Mr 1:10, Lu 3:22, Joh 1:32), and is considered as one of Trinity. Moreover what ‘new thing’ ‘Holy Ghost’ has brought after departure of Jesus Christ in last 2000 years? (‘Holy Ghost’ is believed to be guiding the Churches).
All these prophecies are clearly applicable to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). As explained earlier, “Ahmed” or “Muhammad” meaning “the one who praises” or “the praised one” is almost the translation of the Greek word Παράκλητος par-ak’-lay-tos; Periclytos. In the Gospel of John;14:16, 15:26, and 16:7, Jesus (peace be upon him) actually prophesized “Ahmed” by name, word ‘Comforter’ in Greek Paracletos, Periclytos refers to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Allah says in the Quran: “Those to whom We have given the Scripture (their scholars) recognize this (Muhammad) as they know their own sons. Those who have lost their own souls refuse therefore to believe.” (Qur’an;6:20), “And remember, Jesus, the son of Mary, said, ‘O Children of Israel! I am the messenger of Allah (sent) to you, confirming the Law (which came) before me and giving glad tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name shall be “Ahmed”.’ But when he came to them with clear signs, they said, ‘This is evident sorcery!”(Qur’an; 61:6). Ye People of the Book! Why do ye clothe truth with falsehood and conceal the truth while ye have knowledge?” (Qur’an;3:71).
The earliest Muslim scholar to identify the Periclytos, Paraclete with Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is probably Ibn Ishaq (died 767). Others who similarly interpreted the “paraclete” include Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn Kathir, Al-Qurtubi, Rahmatullah Kairanawi (1818-1891) and contemporary Muslim scholars such as Martin Lings.
David Benjamin Keldani, an early-20th-century Christian convert to Islam, created a variation on this argument in his book “Muhammad in the Bible” (1928) in which he claimed the word “Paraclete” was originally “Periclyte”, which he says is a literal translation of the name Ahmad or Muhammad from a hypothetical Hebrew/Aramaic original version of the Gospel of John translated into Greek. Keldani and others after him claimed that the word for “Comforter” found in Gospel according to John was originally written without vowel letters PRCLT which could be read or understood both as Periclyte or Paraclete. Periclyte means “the one who is blessed all over him”, which is Muhammad or Ahmad in Hebrew and Arabic. Paraclete (advocate or comforter) was used instead. He claims that the original Hebrew/ Aramaic word in the original lost Hebrew/Aramaic master copy (or verbal dictation) was “Ahmed” but it was not supposed to be translated to its meaning but should have been left as a person’s name. Instead Ahmed was translated into Periclyte which was written Prclt which later was vocalized as Paraclete (comforter).
The Paraclete or Comforter as foretold by Jesus, in Gospel of John, will abide with you forever. (John 14:16). Many will also claim that Jesus as a physical body does not exist but he did exist. He existed in the sense that is understood to Christians but also in the sense understood by Muslim, he exists in terms of his law and his teaching – at least whatever remains intact of his teachings remains till this day. When he says, abide with you forever; no human being ever lives forever. Muslims believe Jesus, (PBUH) is a human being created by God and he’s a prophet just like Muhammad (PBUH). The language of the scripture, when saying things abide forever, doesn’t necessarily mean that the person will be around forever, but what is brought about through the person will- such as the law. Today we have clear evidence of this. Fourteen hundred years after the death of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) each and every word uttered in the Qur’an is available intact, in the very original language, as if he is with us reciting the word of God to us. In addition, the sayings of the prophet, called Hadith, have been recorded intact until today. In terms of the law that he brought and the scripture and final revelation that came from God, it can be said that Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), metaphorically, will abide with the believers forever. It’s one of the clearest evidence of the finality of the prophet-hood since it’s been 1400 years and all of this still exists intact and no other person has come claiming any scripture that in any way has come close to what the Bible or the Qur’an have achieved. This is a manifestation in itself.
Sharp Sword of Words
“And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword that with it he should smite nations” (Revelations;19:15).This means that the religion of the Final Prophet will be supported by the sword of words; it will be the ideological ascendancy of religion of submission to God which will vanquish nations; the main strength of the last Prophet of God will be words which man utters rather than metals which are extracted from the earth. This is a great prophecy. It means that the followers of the Final Prophet will never be defenseless or empty-handed. They will, potentially, have supreme might at their command, even when they seem powerless. The secret of the strength of follower of last Prophet is the ascendancy of its thought and that is something which can never be taken away from it. This prophecy cannot be applicable but Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The Word of God that was revealed to him had taken most of the known world by storm. Today also the power of the word of God can work wonders, on the condition that the followers convey it as he and his companions did.
“Prophecies in The Gospel of Jesus” by Disciple Barnabas
The Commandment of Jesus about Barnabas! “If he comes unto you, receive him” (Bible; Colossians;4:10). Barnabas, one of the closest disciples of Jesus Christ (PBUH). He is considered as the author of Epistle to Hebrews, Epistle of Barnabas; his Acts and His Gospel. He helped Paul of Tarsus to be accepted by real dispels of Jesus Christ at Jerusalem who were suspicious about Paul. Later he parted with Paul due to differences. All the Gospels except four were ordered to be destroyed in 325 C.E. However the Gospel of Jesus’ according to Barnabas survived. In 383 C.E, the Pope secured a copy of the Gospel of Barnabas and kept it in his private library. It was again prohibited by the Pope in 496 C.E, because it does not support the doctrines of Christianity, though the four canonical gospels do the same but provide some leverage to extract desired meanings to some. This Gospel was taken out of library of Pope in 16th century. Initial five centuries after Jesus were full of turmoil, [though it continued and resurfaced in 16th century and later]. There was a tussle between the Trinitarians and Monotheists (Unitarian, who consider Jesus to be a human, prophet and not divine). The ‘The Gospel of Jesus’ by Barnabas was accepted as a Canonical Gospel in the Churches of Alexandria till 325 C.E, which openly support the Monotheists (Unitarian) doctrines of Christianity as opposed to Trinitarians. Any rationalist and pragmatic individual who want to use his reason to find the truth and do not like to be pushed to accept any irrational doctrines has a right to look at the document which despite all out efforts, survives. This will enable an individual to rationally accept or reject any doctrine. In this Gospel Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is clearly mentioned:
“…And though I have been innocent in the world, since men have called me “God,” and “Son of God,” God, in order that I be not mocked of the demons on the day of judgment, hath willed that I be mocked of men in this world by the death of Judas, making all men to believe that I died upon the cross. And this mocking shall continue until the advent of Muhammad, the messenger of God, who, when he shall come, shall reveal this deception to those who believe in God’s law.” (Barnabas:220)
“….Wherefore, when the messenger of God shall come, he shall come to cleanse away all wherewith the ungodly have contaminated my book.” (Barnabas:124)
“ …After those years shall the angel Gabriel come into hell, and shall hear them say: “O Mohammed, where are thy promises made to us, saying that those who have thy faith shall not abide in hell for evermore?” ‘Then the angel of God shall return to paradise, and having approached with reverence the messenger of God shall narrate him what he hath heard.’ ‘Then shall his messenger speak to God and say: “Lord my God, remember the promise made to me thy servant, concerning them that have received my faith, that they shall not abide for evermore in hell.” ‘God shall answer: “Ask what thou wilt, O my friend, for I will give thee all that thou askest.” (Barnabas:136)
The Acid Test
Let us apply that acid test which the Jesus Christ himself wanted his followers to apply to any would be claimant to Prophethood. He had said: “by their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes from the thorns, or figs from the thistles? Every good tree will bear good fruit and every evil tree will bear evil fruit By their fruits ye shall know them. (Matthew 7:16-20).
The Greatest!
Sheikh Ahmad Deedat (may Allah bless him) narrates that: The Weekly News Magazine “TIME” dated July 15, 1974 carried a selection of opinions by various historians, writers, military men, businessmen and others on the subject: “Who Were History’s Great Leaders?” Some said that it was Hitler, others said – Gandhi, Buddha, Lincoln and the like. But Jules Masserman, a United States psychoanalyst put the standards straight by giving the correct criteria wherewith to judge. He said: “leaders must fulfill three functions:
(1) Provide for the well-being of the led,
(2) Provide a social organization in which people feel relatively secure, and
(3) Provide them with one set of beliefs.“
With the above three criteria he searches history and analyses – Hitler, Pasteur, Caesar, Moses, Confucius and the lot, and ultimately concludes:
“People like Pasteur and Salk are leaders in the first sense. People like Gandhi and Confucius, on one hand, and Alexander, Caesar and Hitler on the other, are leaders in the second and perhaps the third sense. Jesus and Buddha belong in the third category alone. Perhaps the greatest leader of all times was Mohammed, who combined all three functions. To a lesser degree, Moses did the same.”
According to the objective standards set by the Professor of the Chicago University, likely to be Jewish, JESUS and BUDDHA are nowhere in the picture of the “Great Leaders of Mankind”, but by a queer coincidence groups Moses and Muhammad together thus adding further weight to the argument that JESUS is not like MOSES, but MUHUMMED is like MOSES. Deut. 18:18 “LIKE UNTO THEE” like MOSES!
Prof. Dummelow, a Christian Reverend, the commentator of the Bible, says:
“The ultimate criterion of a true prophet is the moral character of his teachings.”
(Prof. Dummelow)
“by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Jesus Christ)
Why one should be afraid to apply this test to the teachings of Muhammad? You will find in the Last Testament of God – the Holy Qur’an the true fulfillment of the teachings of Moses and Jesus which will bring to the world the much-needed peace and happiness. “If a man like Mohamed were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness.” (George Bernard Shaw)
Prophecies in Other Scriptures
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has also been prophesied in the Zoroaster, Buddhist and Hindu Scriptures: ‘Bhavishya Purana in the Prati Sarag Parv III Khand 3 Adhay 3 Shloka 5 to 8’; Bhavishya Purana in the Pratisarag Parv III Khand 3 Adhay 3 Shloka 10 to 27; Bhavishya Purana, Parv – III Khand 1 Adhay 3 Shloka 21-23; and Samveda Book II Hymn 6 verse 8.
Conclusion
Most of the Christian and Jewish converts to Islam state that the Biblical passages convinced them that Muhammad’s (PBUH) prophetic career was predicted in the Bible. Expectations of forthcoming prophets existed within the Jewish community from before the lifetime of Jesus through to that of Muhammad (PBUH), and that Muhammad (PBUH) was the final fulfillment of these expectations and prophecies.
From above it may be deduced that the prophet after Jesus Christ would be:
1. Like Prophet Moses (PBUH).
2. Descendent of Abraham (PBUH) but form brethren of Israelites (progeny of Ishmael, PBUH).
3. A rider upon a camel.
4. God’s servant (Abduho).
5. God’s Elect (Mustafa).
6. Inhabitant of the villages of Prince Kedar, son of Ishmael.
7. His religion will be known as Shiloh (means; Peace-Islam).
8. His light will shine from Paran (Faran).
9. The scepter (A staff held by a sovereign as an emblem of authority or Ruling power
or authority; sovereignty) of Judah will pass on to him.
10. Not learned.
11. Spirit of Truth, Glorify Jesus:
12. He shall be known as Comforter, Ahmad, or Advocate.
13. God will put his words in his mouth.
14. He shall not fail and shall not break.
It is common sense to deduce that this all points towards none other than The Last Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):
“Ye People of the Book! Why do ye clothe truth with falsehood and conceal the truth while ye have knowledge?” ( Qur’an;3:71). “Surely, the true religion in Allah’s sight is Islam” (Qur’an;3:19) and “Whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from Him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers” (Qur’an;3:85).
“O People of the Book, believe in what We have sent down, fulfilling [the predictions] that is with you, before We destroy [your sense of] direction, so as to confound or reject you, as We rejected those who broke the Sabbath: God’s command is always carried out. God will not forgive anyone for associating something with Him, while He will forgive whoever He wishes for anything besides that. Whoever ascribes partners to God is guilty of a monstrous sin. Have you not seen those who consider themselves pure? It is indeed God who purifies whoever He pleases and none shall be wronged by as much as a hair’s breadth. See how they attribute their own lying inventions to God. This is in itself a flagrant sin! Have you not seen those who were in possession of a portion of the Book? They believe in idols and devils. They say of those who deny the truth, “They are more rightly guided than the believers.” Those are the ones God has rejected: you will not find anyone to help those God has rejected. Have they a share in God’s kingdom? If they did, they would not give others so much as the groove of a date stone. Do they envy others because of what God has given them out of His bounty? We granted the House of Abraham the Book and wisdom and We granted them a great kingdom. Some of them believed in it and some held back from it. Hell will suffice as a blazing Fire. We shall send those who reject Our revelations to the Fire. When their skins are burnt up, We shall replace them with new ones so that they may continue to taste the punishment. God is mighty and wise. As for those who believe and do good works, We shall make them enter Gardens through which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever; therein they shall have pure spouses, and We shall admit them into a dense shade.” (Quran 4:47-57)
Next …… The Nature of God….
References
http://SalaamOne.com/christianity-islam
