Prophet Muhammad in the Bible
Prophet Muhammad’s coming was clearly foretold in the Bible. Thus, the Quran states that Jews and Christians of the Prophet’s time recognised him as they would their own Son:
Those to whom We gave the Scripture know him as they know their own sons. But indeed, a party of them conceal the truth while they know.
Al Quran 2:146
The reason for this is that despite apparent changes and errors in the Biblical texts, there are still numerous Prophecies about the coming of the Prophet Muhammad in the Bible.
Below are just a handful of the many striking prophecies, which were clearly fulfilled by the advent of the Blessed Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace.
Prophet Muhammad in the Bible – A Prophet Like Moses
I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words into his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
Deutronomy 18.18
The above prophecy has the following important features:
- The Promised Prophet will not arise amongst the Israelites, but from their brethren. The Ishmaelite Prophet was indeed from the relatives of the Children of Israel, being a descendant of Abraham (Peace be upon him).
- He will be like Moses (PBUH). Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings upon him) was a Prophet, a Statesman and a law bearing Prophet just like Moses.
- God will put his words in his mouth. The Quran is the verbatim speech of God.
- He will speak in the name of God. The Quran prefaces every Chapter but one with the Basmallah i.e. ‘In the name of Allah, The Gracious, the Merciful.
The eminent Muslim Biblical Scholar, Abdul Sattar Ghauri explains how this prophecy does not fit any of the Israelite Prophets and can only refer to the Prophet Muhammad:
It is only Moses (sws) who brought the ‘LAW’ of the Lord for the people.
After him, there had been no other prophet from among the descendants of Abraham (sws) in the whole of the history of the humankind who can claim to bring a complete divine ‘LAW’ for the people, revealed to him by the Lord, except the Prophet Muhammad (sws)
…the single and sole Prophet from among the Ishmaelites, who are the genuine ‘brethren of the Israelites.
Prophet Muhammad Foretold in the Bible:
The Servant of the Lord.
One of the most breathtakingly accurate prophecies about the advent of Prophet Muhammad, is recorded in the Book of Isaiah Chapter 42.
I recommend the following excellent article for a detailed breakdown of all aspects of this stunning Prediction. It really leaves no doubt that Prophet Muhammad is foretold in the Bible.
To briefly, highlight some of the main elements of this prophecy:
- “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.” Comments: The Quran refers to Prophet Muhammad as the Servant of God (17:1 and others). He is also known as “Chosen One” (Mustafa) “Beloved of God” (Habib Allah). The Quran was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit, Gabriel (Quran 16:102). Bringing “justice to the nations” aptly describes the fall of the surrounding Empires to Islam, who had denied God’s final Messenger.
- “He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets… a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice… He will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.” Comments: This refers to the Prophet’s patient and gentle nature, while confirming that he would bear his persecution with patience and continue his mission until he establishes justice on earth. This is exactly what happened.
- “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles.” Comments: This makes it apparent that a New Covenant would be established that would include Jews and Gentiles. The Prophet was not a Jew and thus is described as a ‘light to the gentiles’.
- “Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices; let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintop” Comments : This amazing prophecy identifies the exact location of the coming Prophet i. e. Modern day Saudi Arabia. Biblical Scholars (like Charles Foster) agree that “the land of Kedar” refers to the Hejaz region that includes Mecca and Medina. Moreover, there is a mountain called Sela in Medina! Thus no doubt remains that the foretold one was to be sent to the Hejaz including Medina! This prophecy simply cannot apply to any other but Prophet Muhammad. Indeed the people of Sela (Medina) did sing for joy when the Prophet arrived there.
- “The Lord will march out like a champion, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies… But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back in utter shame.” Comments: This makes it clear that the Promised One of Arabia would utterly defeat the idol worshippers and be a mighty warrior. Who but Prophet Muhammad fulfilled this prophecy to the last detail?
Mount Paran & 10,000 Saints
Not only is Prophet Muhammad foretold in the Bible, so are his companions.
In a beautiful Prophecy, the Bible describes the Prophet coming from Arabia with a ‘fiery law and 10,000 holy ones with him’:
The LORD came from Sinai, and dawned from Seir upon us. He shone forth from Mount Paran. He came from the ten thousands of holy ones. At his right hand was a fiery law for them.
Deuteronomy 33:2
The above verse refers respectively to the Divine Missions of Moses (Mt Sinai), Jesus (Mt Seir in Palestine) and the Paran wilderness of Arabia, where the Prophet Muhammad came from.
It further mentions he would bring a Divine law and this would be “fiery”, an apparent reference to the punishment his rejectors would be given.
The prophecy describes the ten thousand companions who marched into Mecca with him as ‘holy ones’:
The Conquest of Makkah occurred eight years after the Muslims migrated from Makkah to Madinah. In 630 AD, the Prophet ﷺ and ten thousand of his Companions returned to Makkah and took control, facing little resistance.
https://isoc.co.uk/blog/spiritual/leading-in-good-deeds-a-lesson-from-fat%e1%b8%a5-makkah/
Another Advocate
Jesus Christ promised the coming of another ‘advocate’ after himself, who would convict the world of guilt regarding sin. He said:
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. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”
John 16:7-8, 13-15
The Prophet Muhammad clearly fulfilled this prophecy as Dr Jamal Badawi notes:
It was the Prophet Muhammad who was the Paraclete, Comforter, helper, and admonisher sent by God after Jesus.
He testified of Jesus, taught new things which could not be borne at Jesus’ time, he spoke what he heard (the Holy Quran), he dwells with the believers (through his well-preserved teachings). Such teachings will remain forever because he was the last messenger of God, the only Universal Messenger to unite the whole of humanity under God, upon the path of preserved truth.
He told of many things to come which came to pass in the minutest detail, meeting the criterion given by Moses to distinguish between the true prophet and the false prophets (Deuteronomy 18:22 KJV).
He did “convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.” (John 16:8).
Here
Parable of the Tenants
Jesus (Peace be upon him) compared the Jews of his time with tenants, who refuse to give the landowner his rightful share of the crops and kill the Landowner’s servants and even kill his Son.
This was a reference to the Jewish People and their scholars who had rejected God’s Prophets and finally the Messiah, and sought to kill him. They had failed to give God his due share of obedience.
Jesus announced that God would now take the ‘Kingdom of God’ from the Children of Israel, and give it to another nation. i.e. God would now appoint another Nation to receive his Words and Special Favour. This Nation will ‘bear fruit’.
He further promised that a “rejected stone” will become the cornerstone of God’s Building, and it will crush all those who oppose it:
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
“‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”
Matthew 21:42-44
This Prophecy can only refer to God’s new covenant with humanity through the Ishmaelites, led by the final Prophet.
No other nation even claimed to inherit the Kingdom of God from the Isrealites.
The reference to the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone implies that that Jews previously looked down upon the descendants of Ishmael, but they will appointed as God’s witnesses to mankind.
The Prophecy of the stone crushing its opponents, refers to the decisive victory of the Prophet Muhammad over God’s enemies, including rebellious Jews in Medina.
Such prophecies are impressive because they do not admit any other interpretations.
The Kingdom of God was only ever given to the followers of Prophet Muhammad after the Children of Israel.
No other sect or religion claimed that the God of Moses had revealed his Word to them.
No other Abrahamic faith arose, that would become ‘the cornerstone’, which crushed God’s opponents as the Messiah foretold.
As such this is a decisive prophecy about the truth of Islam and Prophet Muhammad in the Bible.
Also see: Prophet Muhammad: 5 Reasons He is a True Prophet (Peace be upon him)
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