Muhammad S. A. W. In The Bible
Bible prophecies about the advent of Muhammad S.A.W
Abraham is widely regarded as the Patriarch of monotheism and the common father of the Jews, Christians and Muslims. Though His second son, Isaac, came all the Israelite prophets including such towering figures as Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon and Jesus. May peace and blessings be upon them all. The advent of these great prophets was in partial fulfilment of God's promises to bless the nations of earth through the descendants of Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3). Such fulfilment is wholeheartedly accepted by Muslims whose faith considers the belief in and respect of all Prophets and article of faith.
Blessings of Ishmael and Isaac
Was the first born son of Abraham (Ishmael) and his descendants included in God's covenant and promise? A few verses from Bible may help shed some light on this question;
- Genesis 12:2-3 speaks of Gods promise to Abraham and his descendants before child was born to him.
- Genesis 17:4 reiterates Gods promise after the birth of Ishmael and before the birth of Isaac.
- In genesis, ch 21. Isaac is specifically blessed but Ishmael was also specifically blesses and promises by God to become "a great nation" especially in Genesis 21:13, 18
- According to Deuteronomy 21:15-17 the traditional rights and privileges of the first born son are not affected by the social status of his mother (being a "free" woman such as Sarah, Isaac's mother, or a "Bondwomen" such as Hagar, Ishmael's mother). This is only consistent with the moral and humanitarian principles of the revealed faiths.
- The full legitimacy of Ishmael as Abraham's son and "seed" and the full legitimacy of his mother, Hagar, as Abraham's wife and clearly sated in Genesis 21:13 and 16:3
After Jesus, the last Israelite messenger and prophet, it as time that God promise to bless Ishmael and his descendants be fulfilled. Less than 600 years after Jesus, came the last messenger of God Muhammad from the progeny of Abraham through Ishmael. God's blessing of both of the main branches of Abraham's family tree was now fulfilled. But are there additional corroborating evidence that the Bible did in fact foretell the advent of prophet Muhammad?
Muhammad: The Prophet Like Unto Moses
Long time after Abraham, God's promise to send the long awaited Messenger was repeated this time in Moses' words. In Deuteronomy 18:18, Moses spoke of the prophet to be sent by God who is:
1) From among the Israelite's "brethren", a reference to their Ishmaelite cousins as Ishmael was the other son of Abraham who was explicitly promised to become a "great nation".
2) A prophet like unto Moses. There were hardly any two prophets who were so much alike as Moses and Muhammad. Both were given comprehensive law code of life, both encountered their enemies and were victors in miraculous ways, both were accepted as prophets/statesmen and both migrated following conspiracies to assassinate them. Analogies between Moses and Jesus overlooks not only the above similarities but other crucial ones as well (e.g. the natural birth, family life and death of Moses and Muhammad but not Jesus, who was regarded by His followers as Son of God and not exclusively a messenger of God, as Moses and Muhammad were and as Muslim belief Jesus was)
The Awaited Prophecies was to Come From Arabia
Deuteronomy 33:1-2 combines references to Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. It speaks of God (i.e. God's revelation) coming from Sinai, rising from Seir (probably the village of Sa'ir near Jerusalem) and shining forth from Paran. Accrording to Genesis 21:21, the wilderness of Paran was the place where Ishmael settled (i.e. Arabia, specifically Mecca).
Indeed the King James version of the Bible mentions the pilgrims passing through the valley of Ba'ca (another name of Mecca) in Psalms 84:4-6.
Isaiah 42:1-13 speaks of beloved of God. His elect and messenger who will bring sown a law to be awaited in the isles and who "shall not fail nor be discouraged till he have set judgement on earth". Verse 11, connects the awaited one with the descendants of Ke'dar. Who is Ke'dar? According to Genesis 25:13, Ke'dar was the son of Ishmael, the ancestor of prophet Muhammad.
From Mecca to Medina: Prophesied in the Bible?
Habakkuk 3:3 speaks of God (God's help) coming from Te'man (an Oasis North of Medina according to J. Hasting's Dictionary of Bible), and the holy one (coming) from Paran. That holy one under persecution migrated from Paran (Mecca) to be received enthusiastically in Medina was none but prophet Muhammad.
Indeed the incident of migration of the prophet and his persecuted followers is vividly described in Isaiah 21:13-17. That section foretold as well about the battle of Badr in which the few ill-armed faithful miraculously defeated the " mighty" men of Ke'dar, who sought to destroy Islam and intimidate their own folks who turned to Islam.
The Qur'an (Koran) Foretold in the Bible?
For twenty-three years, God's words (the Quran) were truly put into Muhammad's mouth. He was not the "author" of the Quran. The Quran was dictated to him by Angel Gabriel who asked Muhammad to simply repeat the words of the Quran as he heard them. These words were then committed to memory and to writing by those who hear them during Muhammad's life time and under his supervision.
Was it a coincidence that the prophet "like unto Moses" from the "brethren" of the Israelites (i.e. from the Ishmaelites) was also described as one in whose mouth of God will put his words and that he will speak in the name of God., (Deuteronomy 18:18-20). Was it also a coincidence in the "Paraclete" that Jesus foretold to come after Him was described as one who "shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak..." (John 15:13).
Was it another coincidence that Isaiah ties between the messenger connected with Ke'dar and new song ( a scripture in a new language) to be sang unto lord (Isaiah 42:10-11). More explicitly, prophesies Isaiah "For with stammering lips, and another tongue will he speak to this people" (Isaiah 28:11). This latter verse correctly describes the "stammering lips" of Prophet Muhammad reflecting the state of tension and concentration he went through at the time of revelation. Another related in piece-meals over a span of twenty-three years. It is interesting to compare this with Isaian 28:10 which speaks of the same thing.
Muhammad: The Prophet Like Unto Moses
Long time after Abraham, God's promise to send the long awaited Messenger was repeated this time in Moses' words. In Deuteronomy 18:18, Moses spoke of the prophet to be sent by God who is:
1) From among the Israelite's "brethren", a reference to their Ishmaelite cousins as Ishmael was the other son of Abraham who was explicitly promised to become a "great nation".
2) A prophet like unto Moses. There were hardly any two prophets who were so much alike as Moses and Muhammad. Both were given comprehensive law code of life, both encountered their enemies and were victors in miraculous ways, both were accepted as prophets/statesmen and both migrated following conspiracies to assassinate them. Analogies between Moses and Jesus overlooks not only the above similarities but other crucial ones as well (e.g. the natural birth, family life and death of Moses and Muhammad but not Jesus, who was regarded by His followers as Son of God and not exclusively a messenger of God, as Moses and Muhammad were and as Muslim belief Jesus was)
The Awaited Prophecies was to Come From Arabia
Deuteronomy 33:1-2 combines references to Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. It speaks of God (i.e. God's revelation) coming from Sinai, rising from Seir (probably the village of Sa'ir near Jerusalem) and shining forth from Paran. Accrording to Genesis 21:21, the wilderness of Paran was the place where Ishmael settled (i.e. Arabia, specifically Mecca).
Indeed the King James version of the Bible mentions the pilgrims passing through the valley of Ba'ca (another name of Mecca) in Psalms 84:4-6.
Isaiah 42:1-13 speaks of beloved of God. His elect and messenger who will bring sown a law to be awaited in the isles and who "shall not fail nor be discouraged till he have set judgement on earth". Verse 11, connects the awaited one with the descendants of Ke'dar. Who is Ke'dar? According to Genesis 25:13, Ke'dar was the son of Ishmael, the ancestor of prophet Muhammad.
From Mecca to Medina: Prophesied in the Bible?
Habakkuk 3:3 speaks of God (God's help) coming from Te'man (an Oasis North of Medina according to J. Hasting's Dictionary of Bible), and the holy one (coming) from Paran. That holy one under persecution migrated from Paran (Mecca) to be received enthusiastically in Medina was none but prophet Muhammad.
Indeed the incident of migration of the prophet and his persecuted followers is vividly described in Isaiah 21:13-17. That section foretold as well about the battle of Badr in which the few ill-armed faithful miraculously defeated the " mighty" men of Ke'dar, who sought to destroy Islam and intimidate their own folks who turned to Islam.
The Qur'an (Koran) Foretold in the Bible?
For twenty-three years, God's words (the Quran) were truly put into Muhammad's mouth. He was not the "author" of the Quran. The Quran was dictated to him by Angel Gabriel who asked Muhammad to simply repeat the words of the Quran as he heard them. These words were then committed to memory and to writing by those who hear them during Muhammad's life time and under his supervision.
Was it a coincidence that the prophet "like unto Moses" from the "brethren" of the Israelites (i.e. from the Ishmaelites) was also described as one in whose mouth of God will put his words and that he will speak in the name of God., (Deuteronomy 18:18-20). Was it also a coincidence in the "Paraclete" that Jesus foretold to come after Him was described as one who "shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak..." (John 15:13).
Was it another coincidence that Isaiah ties between the messenger connected with Ke'dar and new song ( a scripture in a new language) to be sang unto lord (Isaiah 42:10-11). More explicitly, prophesies Isaiah "For with stammering lips, and another tongue will he speak to this people" (Isaiah 28:11). This latter verse correctly describes the "stammering lips" of Prophet Muhammad reflecting the state of tension and concentration he went through at the time of revelation. Another related in piece-meals over a span of twenty-three years. It is interesting to compare this with Isaian 28:10 which speaks of the same thing.
