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THE AMAZING PROPHECIES OF MUHAMMAD in the BIBLE
Twenty-Eight Proofs from the Bible of Muhammad’s Prophethood
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The Clear Religion Series - Part 5
Excerpted from Who Deserves to Be Worshipped
www.saaid.net/The-clear-religion/017.pdf
Majed S. Al-Rassi
Edited by Ann Ronayne
Revised 2019
This book may be copied and distributed for free as long as no changes are made.
www.saaid.net/The-clear-religion/06.pdf
NO DOUBT THIS LIFE IS AN EXAMINATION
WHICH NEEDS YOUR FULL CONSIDERATION
AS TO WHAT YOU WILL TAKE TO
YOUR FINAL DESTINATION
ONLY TRUE BELIEF AND GOOD DEEDS ARE
YOUR WAY TO SALVATION
(Muhammad Sherif)
CONTENTS
HONORIFIC PHRASES IN THIS BOOK 3
ABOUT THE WORD ‘LORD’ 3
ABOUT THE WORD ‘ALLAH’ 4
INTRODUCTION 5
MUHAMMAD (BPUH) IN THE BIBLE 7
THE MAIN ATTRIBUTES OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD’S PROFILE IN THE BIBLE 9
1. His name 9
2. His characteristics 10
3. The location from which he was to emerge 27
4. The message to be revealed through him 29
5. Fulfilment of prophecies which he foretold 31
6. The time when he was to appear 33
7. The unique proof 36
8. The lack of warnings from previous prophets 36
9. The consistency between Muhammad’s and Jesus’ teachings 37
THIS IS IT 40
A WHISPER 41
HOW TO BECOME A MUSLIM 44
BEST DECISION THEY EVER MADE 49
Other Muslims who were formerly Christians 57
2 The amazing prophecies of Muhammad in the Bible
BIBLIOGRAPHY 59
APPENDIX 60
GLOSSARY OF ISLAMIC TERMS 62
HONORIFIC PHRASES IN THIS BOOK
(the Exalted): used after the mention of God/Allah to express: Glorified and Exalted is He
(bpuh): Blessings and peace be upon him; used after mention of the Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh): Peace be upon him; used after mention of any prophet or after mention of Angel Gabriel
(May Allah be pleased with her): used after mention of a female Companion of the Prophet
ABOUT THE WORD ‘LORD’
he word lord in English has several related meanings. The original meaning is ‘master’ or ‘ruler’, and in this sense it is often used to refer to human beings: ‘the lord of the mansion’ or ‘Lord So-and-So’ (in the United Kingdom, for example). The word Lord with a capital L is used in the lexicon of Islam to refer to the One and Only God—Allah. In Islam, there is no ambiguity about the meaning of this word. While it is true that one may occasionally use the word lord (whether capitalized or not) to refer to a human being, in Islamic discourse the reference of this term is always clear from the context. Whereas for Christians, Hindus and other polytheists, the word Lord with a capital L may refer to Allah, to Jesus or to some imagined deity, for Muslims, there can be no plurality of meaning. Allah alone is the Lord, and the Lord is Allah—not Jesus, not Rama, not any other being.
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ABOUT THE WORD ‘ALLAH’
lthough the English word ‘God’ has often been used interchangeably in this book with the word Allah, there is a difference. ‘Allah’ is the word in Arabic that is translated as ‘God’. However, ‘Allah’ has a much more precise meaning than ‘God’. ‘Allah’ is not merely an Arabic term for the word ‘god’. Instead, the root word of the word ‘Allah’ is ilah, which means ‘a god’. There are countless numbers of made-up ‘gods’, but only One True God worthy of worship, Whose name is Allah. The word ‘Allah’ literally means ‘the worshipped’, or ‘the God’. Allah is, thus, the proper name for the only Being that is worthy of worship in truth, the True Creator of the universe. By saying ‘Allah’, Muslims are, in essence, negating every other entity which people wrongfully worship, while affirming worship to Him alone. The name ‘Allah’ is how God Almighty has referred to Himself in the Quran, and how Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) also referred to Him. Therefore, in this work, the term ‘Allah’ will often be used in reference to this One and Only God Who is worthy of worship.
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INTRODUCTION
very individual is born into a religious environment that is not necessarily in accordance with his or her choice; children are raised to follow the religion or ideology of their family, society, or culture. Even as new-born babies, they are assigned either the religion of their family or the ideology of the state; in some countries, the child’s assigned religion is even recorded on the birth certificate. By the time individuals reach their teens, they have usually accepted the beliefs of their parents or their particular society. Since these beliefs have come to feel normal to them, they may give no thought to examining and possibly changing them.
However, individuals often encounter, or are exposed to, various beliefs and ideologies throughout the course of their lives, leading many to question long-held beliefs, traditions, or philosophical ideas. They begin to question the validity of their own beliefs. Seekers of truth often reach a point of confusion, especially upon realizing that the believers of every religion, sect, ideology, and philosophy claim to profess the one and only truth.
Amongst these beliefs is the one which Christians hold against Muhammad (bpuh), the Prophet of Islam, that he is not a true Messenger of God (Allah, the Exalted).
Simply and logically, this book sheds light on biblical proofs that Muhammad (bpuh) is a true prophet of Allah, whose prophethood was foretold by the prophet who preceded him: Jesus (pbuh).
Before we proceed, here is a reminder that when beginning the search for the true religion, one should keep in mind the following four things:
Firstly, Allah has given us the ability and the intellect to discover the answer to this crucial question, which is also a life-changing decision: What is the true religion?
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6 The amazing prophecies of Muhammad in the Bible
Secondly, Allah, the Most Compassionate, has not left us to go astray without any guidance. Indeed, He sent us prophets with scriptures to show us the right path.
Thirdly, we should always remember the underlying reason for this search: the everlasting life to come depends upon adopting the true religion in this life. This should be our ultimate motivation and a driving force to keep us searching until we are completely satisfied.1
Fourthly, we can only determine the true path and make a rational and correct decision if we willingly put aside all the emotions and prejudices which often blind us to reality.
With this short introduction, I leave you to peruse this book
Kind regards,
Majed S. Al-Rassi Phone: 966 50 5906761 e-mail: majed.alrassi@gmail.com
1 The Bible, in its present form, confirms that seeking the truth is the main cause for salvation. In John 8:32, it has been stated, “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Muslims believe that the existing versions of the Bible contain elements of the original true message, although it has been altered significantly over time.
MUHAMMAD (BPUH) IN THE BIBLE2
llah, the Most Kind and Wise, did not leave the followers of Jesus (pbuh) to disagree forever; He sent Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) to reveal the facts and resolve the perceived mysteries or points of great division. Those who believe in the Bible should know that it includes nearly thirty prophecies about the coming of Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) as a prophet for all people, and these ultimately prove the truth of the religion which he came with (namely, Islam).
Hence, if the Bible (or another scripture) contains apparent prophecies about the coming of Prophet Muhammad (bpuh), then there is nothing unusual or objectionable in referring to such prophecies.
Describing true believers amongst the followers of Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them), the Quran has stated:
{Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet,3 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
2 This chapter was compiled from Muhammad in the Bible by Dr Jamal Badawi and What the Bible Says about Muhammad by Ahmed Deedat.
3 Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) was illiterate; he could neither read nor write. No human had ever taught him a word. The wisdom behind his unlettered status is to repel false accusations that the Quran was written or authored by Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) himself. It should be noted that there were no Arabic-language Bibles in existence in the 7th century CE, when Muhammad (bpuh) lived and preached. Indeed, Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) was educated through the Quran, which was revealed to him by His Creator and which contained things that no other human being could have known. Additionally, the Messenger of Allah (bpuh) was the best of humanity in every aspect of his character, including his intellectual skills.
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8 The amazing prophecies of Muhammad in the Bible
them. So they who have believed in him, honoured him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him—it is those who will be the successful.} (Quran 7: 157)4
The original Bible given to Prophets Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them) contained a complete profile and clear prophecies of the coming of Prophet Muhammad (bpuh). Even in its present form(s), the Bible still contains many such prophecies. Quoting Prophet Jesus (pbuh), the Quran has stated:
{And [mention] when Jesus, the son of Mary, said: O children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad. But when he came to them with clear evidences, they said: This is obvious magic.}
(Quran 61: 6)
4 The translations of the meanings of the Quranic verses in this book have been taken from Saheeh International, The Quran: Arabic Text with Corresponding English Meanings. Please note that any quotation in this book from the Quran is the translation that we feel has the closest meaning to its original Arabic. The translation is not the Quran itself.
THE MAIN ATTRIBUTES OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD’S PROFILE IN THE BIBLE
he main elements in Prophet Muhammad’s profile, as depicted in the Bible, are the following eight:
1) His name
2) His characteristics
3) The location from which he was to emerge
4) The message to be revealed through him
5) The fulfilment of prophecies which he foretold
6) The time when he was to appear
7) The unique proof
8) The consistency between Muhammad’s and Jesus’ teachings
1. His name
Proof 1: Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) is mentioned by name in ten places in the Gospel of Barnabas.
Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) is mentioned by name in ten places in the Gospel of Barnabas, in Chapters 39, 41, 44, 54, 55, 97, 112, 136, 165, and 220.5 Consider the following explicit quote from Chapter 165:
The disciples answered: O Master, who shall that man be of whom you speak, who shall come into the world? Jesus answered with joy of heart: He is Muhammad; Messenger of God, and when he comes into the world, even as the rain makes the earth to bear fruit when for a long time it has not rained, even so shall he be occasion of good works among
5 The Gospel of Barnabas is not included in either the Protestant or Catholic Bible.
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10 The amazing prophecies of Muhammad in the Bible
men, through the abundant mercy which he shall bring. For he is a white cloud full of the mercy of God, which mercy God shall sprinkle upon the faithful like rain.
It is a fact that the Trinitarian church has done its utmost to obliterate all existing copies of the Gospel of Barnabas and to either hide it from the masses or to label it a forgery.
2. His characteristics
Moses (pbuh) reported that God told him:
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers.6 And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. (Deuteronomy 18:18-19)
So the coming prophet will have three characteristics, which are discussed in further detail below:
― He will be like Moses (pbuh).
― He will descend from the Ishmaelites, the brothers of the Israelites.
― He will say what God instructs him to say (for God will put “words in his mouth”).
Proof 2: Is like Moses (pbuh).
As explained in A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam:
6 When these words were spoken, they were addressed to the Israelites. The most notable ‘brothers’ of Israelites (Jews, the descendants of Abraham through his second son Isaac) are the Ishmaelites (Arabs, the descendants of Abraham through his first son Ishmael).
The main attributes of Prophet Muhammad’s profile in the Bible 11
There were hardly any two prophets who were as similar as Prophets Moses and Muhammad (bpuh). Both were given a comprehensive law and code of life. Both encountered their enemies and were victorious in miraculous ways. Both were accepted as prophets and statesmen. Both migrated following conspiracies to assassinate them. Analogies between Moses and Muhammad overlook not only the above similarities, but other crucial ones as well. These include the natural birth, the family life, and the death of Moses and Muhammad (bpuh) but not that of Jesus. Moreover, Jesus was regarded by his followers as the Son of God and not exclusively as a prophet of God, as Moses and Muhammad (bpuh) were and as Muslims believe Jesus was. So, this prophecy refers to Muhammad (bpuh) and not to Jesus, because Muhammad (bpuh) is more like Moses than Jesus [is].7
Some people believe that this prophecy refers to Prophet Jesus (pbuh), but this cannot be true. The following eight points of comparison among Prophets Moses (pbuh), Muhammad (bpuh), and Jesus (pbuh) demonstrate that Prophet Jesus (pbuh) does not fit this particular prophecy. This comparison is self-evident; it clarifies the identity of the prophet who was to come after Moses (pbuh).
Birth
The birth of Jesus (pbuh) was miraculous. According to Christian and Muslim beliefs, he was miraculously born of the Virgin Mary.8
7 Ibrahim, A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam, 34.
8 In the Gospel of Matthew 1:18:
When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph [the carpenter], before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
Luke tells us that when the good news of the birth of a holy son was announced to her:
12 The amazing prophecies of Muhammad in the Bible
However, both Moses (pbuh) and Muhammad (bpuh) were born in the usual manner, as a result of the physical association of man and woman. Therefore, Jesus is not like Moses, but Muhammad (bpuh) is like Moses.
Parents
Moses had a father and a mother, and so did Muhammad (bpuh). Jesus, however, had only a mother and no human father. Therefore, Jesus is not like Moses, but Muhammad (bpuh) is.
Marital status
Both Moses (pbuh) and Muhammad (bpuh) got married and had children. There is no record of a marriage and offspring in the case of Jesus (pbuh). Therefore, Jesus is not like Moses, but Muhammad (bpuh) is.
Death
Both Moses (pbuh) and Muhammad (bpuh) died due to natural causes and were buried. The end of the mission of Jesus (pbuh) on Earth was unusual: being raised up to the heavens, according to Islamic belief, and being crucified, resurrected, and then raised up, according to Christian belief.9 According to Christians, Jesus died for the sins of the world, but Moses did not have to die for the sins of the
Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;” (Luke 1:34-35)
The noble Quran confirms the miraculous birth of Jesus in noble and sublime terms. See al-Rassi, Eleven Facts about Jesus and His Mother (Mary) in Islamic Teachings. It should be noted that it is not necessary for Allah to plant a seed in any human or animal; he merely wills it, and it comes into being. This is the correct view of the conception and birth of Jesus.
9 This subject is discussed in al-Rassi, Is Original Sin a Fact?
The main attributes of Prophet Muhammad’s profile in the Bible 13
world. He and Muhammad (bpuh) died due to natural causes. Therefore, Jesus is not like Moses, but Muhammad (bpuh) is.
Prophethood
Jesus was regarded by later Christians as the Son of God and not as a prophet of God (Allah), as Moses and Muhammad (bpuh) were. Therefore, Jesus is not like Moses, but Muhammad (bpuh) is.
Acceptance/rejection of prophethood
Moses and Muhammad (bpuh) initially met with resistance and scepticism, but they both were eventually accepted by their own people, during their lifetimes, as prophets and leaders. This was not the case with Jesus.
When Moses learned of a plot to kill him, he left Egypt and went to Madyan, where he was welcomed and reassured by Jethro. After returning to Egypt later, Moses led the Jews out of Egypt to escape Pharaoh and his soldiers. There is no doubt that the Jews caused endless trouble for Moses as they wandered in the wilderness—one significant lapse was their worship of the golden calf—but ultimately, the Jews, as a nation, acknowledged Moses as a Messenger of Allah who was sent to them.
The Arabs made Muhammad’s life terribly difficult during the first ten years of his mission, and he suffered very badly at their hands. After thirteen years of preaching in Makkah, he left his hometown of Makkah upon learning of a plot to kill him. He went to Yathrib, later called Madinah, and before his death, the Arab nation in general acknowledged him as a Messenger of Allah (bpuh).
In contrast, the Christian Gospels clearly confirm that with the exception of a few followers, Jesus (pbuh) was rejected by his people (the Israelites) throughout his lifetime. According to the Bible, “He [Jesus] came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.”
14 The amazing prophecies of Muhammad in the Bible
(John 1:11) Even today, after 2,000 years, his own people—the Jews—on the whole still reject him. Thus, from this aspect, Jesus is not like Moses, but Muhammad (bpuh) is.
Confrontation of the enemy
Moses encountered his enemies (the Pharaoh’s army), who sought to destroy him and his followers before they could escape to the Red Sea. Muhammad (bpuh) also encountered his enemies (the pagan Arabs), who sought in several battles to destroy him and his followers. No such encounter was reported in the case of Jesus. On the contrary, Jesus was reported to have commanded his disciple Simon Peter to put his sword back into its sheath when he attempted to defend Jesus at the time of his arrest. From this aspect as well, Jesus is not like Moses, but Muhammad (bpuh) is.
Moral and military victories
Moses’ encounter with his enemies ended with a military and moral victory. His enemies drowned, and Moses and his followers were saved.
Muhammad’s encounters with his enemies also ended with his final military and moral victory over them. He and his followers re-entered the city of Makkah, the centre of plotting against him. Impressed with his truthfulness and magnanimity, the great majority of his former enemies chose to become Muslims and his ardent supporters. Jesus’ victory against his enemies was only a moral victory, which did not involve an immediate military victory over them. Therefore, Jesus is not like Moses, but Muhammad (bpuh) is.
The main attributes of Prophet Muhammad’s profile in the Bible 15
Table 1: Comparison of characteristics among Prophets Moses, Muhammad and Jesus (peace be upon them all).
MOSES MUHAMMAD JESUS Birth
normal
normal
miraculous Parents
mother and father
mother
and father
mother, no human father Marital status
married, children
married, children
unmarried, no children Death
normal, buried
normal,
buried
ascended to heaven, will return to Earth Prophethood (in the eyes of followers)
seen as a prophet
seen as a prophet
seen as the son of God Accepted by those he was sent to?
yes
yes
mostly no Confronted enemies?
yes
yes
no Moral, military victories?
yes
yes
no
16 The amazing prophecies of Muhammad in the Bible
Conclusion
Given these eight points of comparison among Moses (pbuh), Jesus (pbuh) and Muhammad (bpuh), the rational conclusion is that Muhammad (bpuh) is the prophet referred to in Deuteronomy 18:18, “like you (Moses).”
Proof 3: Descends from the Ishmaelites, the brothers of the Israelites.
The two prophets, Muhammad (bpuh) and Moses (pbuh), were descended from two brothers, Ishmael and Isaac, respectively. To elaborate, Abraham (pbuh) had two wives: Sarah and Hagar. Hagar bore Abraham his first son, Ishmael (pbuh),10 and then Sarah bore him Isaac (pbuh).11 Ishmael became the grandfather of the Arab nation, and Isaac became the grandfather of the Jewish nation. The prophet who was foretold was to come not from the Jews (the Israelites) but from their brethren, the Ishmaelites. Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) is a descendant of Ishmael; hence he is that prophet.
Isaiah 42 refers to the ‘servant’ of God (42:1), His ‘chosen’ (42:1), and His ‘messenger’ (42:19). Isaiah 42:11 mentions that the ‘chosen’ one was from the descendants of Kedar. Who was Kedar?
These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael; and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam. (Genesis 25:13)
So Kedar was the second son of Ishmael, and Islamic teachings tell us that they both were ancestors of Prophet Muhammad (bpuh).12
10 See Genesis 16:15.
11 See Genesis 21:2-3.
12 Isaiah 42:1-8 reads:
Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it
The main attributes of Prophet Muhammad’s profile in the Bible 17
Isaiah 42 prophesies the ‘chosen’ one (Isaiah 42:1), whose mission of prophethood would be for all the nations; this fits only Prophet Muhammad (bpuh), whose mission was for all nations, unlike the Hebrew prophets, whose missions were limited to Israel:
...he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. (Isaiah 42:3-4)
Let the desert and its cities lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits; (Isaiah 42:11)
Proof 4: Says what God instructs him to say.
Allah, the Almighty, put His words into the mouth of Muhammad (bpuh) by sending the angel Gabriel (pbuh) to convey the exact words he should repeat to the people. The words were not his own, since they did not come from his own thoughts. To clarify, when teaching a language, if the teacher asks a student to read or repeat after him, is he not putting foreign words into the student’s mouth?
The words of the noble Quran were revealed in an identical manner.
heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.
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History tells us that Muhammad (bpuh) was forty years of age at that time. One night during the month of Ramadan, he was in a cave some three miles north of the city of Makkah. In the cave, the archangel Gabriel (pbuh) commanded him in his mother tongue: Iqra (which may be translated as: read, proclaim, or recite)!
Muhammad (bpuh) was terrified; in his bewilderment, he replied that he was illiterate. The angel commanded him a second time, with the same result. For the third time, the angel uttered the same command. This time, Muhammad (bpuh) grasped that what was required from him was to repeat and to recite, so he repeated the words as they were put into his mouth:
{Recite in the name of your Lord Who created—created humankind from a clinging substance. Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous—Who taught by the pen—taught humankind that which it knew not.} (Quran 96: 1-5)
As soon as the awe-inspiring angel departed, Muhammad (bpuh) rushed back home, shaking in fear and sweating all over. He asked his beloved wife, Khadeejah (may Allah be pleased with her), to cover him up. He lay down, and she remained by him, calming him down and comforting him. When he had regained his composure, he described to her what he had seen and heard. She assured him that Allah, the Exalted, would not allow anything terrible to happen to him. During the next twenty-three years of his life, after being given the prophethood, words were ‘put into his mouth’ in the same way, and he uttered them. These words (verses) made an indelible impression on his heart and mind, and as the volumes of the sacred scripture (the noble Quran) grew, they were recorded on palm leaves, on animal skins, and on the shoulder-blades of dead animals—as well as in the hearts of his devoted disciples.
The words (revelation) were actually put into his mouth exactly as foretold in the prophecy under discussion, “I will put my words in his
The main attributes of Prophet Muhammad’s profile in the Bible 19
mouth.” (Deut. 18:18) In a similar quote, Jesus (pbuh) says of the ‘Paraclete’ who will come after him:
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak. (John 16:13)
As a scholar of comparative religions has said:
Neither the content of the revelation, nor its form, were of Muhammad’s devising. Both were given by the angel, and Muhammad’s task was only to repeat what he heard.13
Proof 5: Unlettered prophet.
Muhammad’s experience in the cave of Hira (later known as Jabal an-Noor, the Mountain of Light) and his response to that first revelation are the exact fulfilment of another Biblical prophecy. In Isaiah 29:12, we read, “And when they give the book to one who cannot read, saying, ‘Read this,’ he says, ‘I cannot read.’”
It is a well-known fact that Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) could not read or write.14 He was described in the Quran as the unlettered prophet.15 Allah has also said:
{Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination. It is not but a revelation revealed, taught to him by one intense in strength.}
(Quran 53: 3-5)
Proof 6: Stammering lips.
13 Parrinder, World Religions, 472.
14 The wisdom behind this has been discussed in an earlier footnote.
15 {Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel... So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet, who believes in Allah and His words, and follow him that you may be guided.}
(Quran 7: 157-158)
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The Book of Isaiah explicitly mentions, “For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.” (Isaiah 28:11, KJV) This verse correctly describes the ‘stammering lips’ of Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) reflecting the state of tension and concentration, as well as of unfamiliarity, that he experienced at the times when he was receiving revelation.
Proof 7: Revealed in sections.
A related fact is that the Quran was revealed in sections over a span of twenty-three years. It is interesting to compare this with Isaiah 28, which speaks of the same thing:
For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little. (Isaiah 28:10)
Proof 8: Name of God.
Deuteronomy 18:19 reads, “And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.” This prophecy in Deuteronomy mentions that this prophet will speak the words of God, starting with the name of God. If we look at the Quran, we will find that every chapter except Chapter 9 is preceded by, or begins with, the phrase “In the name of God (Allah), Most Gracious, Most Merciful.”
The very first passage of the Quran that was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) reads:
{Recite in the name of your Lord Who created.} (Quran 96: 1)
Furthermore, Islam teaches people to start almost every action in their daily lives with the words, “In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful,” and this is in accordance with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (bpuh).
As mentioned earlier, the name ‘Allah’ is how Allah refers to Himself in the Quran and how Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) always
The main attributes of Prophet Muhammad’s profile in the Bible 21
referred to Him. To say, “In the name of Allah” is a far clearer fulfilment of the prophecy “he shall speak in my name” than are other common expressions such as “In the name of God” or “In the name of the Father.”16
Other Biblical characteristics of Prophet Muhammad (bpuh)
An equally interesting and most revealing profile of Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) can be found in the 42nd chapter of the Book of Isaiah. Let us examine some of the characteristics found there:
Proof 9: The “one in whom God’s soul delights” is called the ‘servant’ of God (42:1, 19), His ‘messenger’ (42:19) and His ‘chosen’ (42:1).
Translated into Arabic, these titles read: Abduhu, rasooluhu, and al-mustafa. All the prophets were indeed slaves and elects of Allah, yet no prophet in history has been universally called by these specific titles, as Muhammad (bpuh) has been. The testimony of faith by which a person enters into the fold of Islam reads, “I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger.”
Virtually the same formula is repeated five times a day during the call to prayers, five times a day immediately before the beginning of prayers, nine times a day during the minimum mandatory prayers, and several more times if the Muslim performs additional recommended prayers. The most common title used for Prophet Muhammad (bpuh), from the beginning of his mission until today, is Rasool Allah (the Messenger of Allah [bpuh]). The Quran has given him this title, and during his lifetime, he was addressed as such by his followers. The
16 Referring to Allah (God) as ‘the Father’ is an example of the serious distortions in the Bible. Allah has said about Himself:
{He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.}
(Quran 112: 3-4)
22 The amazing prophecies of Muhammad in the Bible
voluminous collections of hadiths have been narrated typically in these forms: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (bpuh) say...” or “The Messenger of Allah (bpuh) said...” He has been described in the Quran as “Allah’s slave” and “Allah’s Messenger.”
Proof 10: He will not grow faint or be discouraged until “he has established justice in the earth” (42:4), “he shows himself mighty against his foes” (42:13), and he “bring[s] forth justice to the nations” (42:1).
While comparing the lives and missions of Jesus (pbuh) and Muhammad (bpuh), it is clear that this verse talks about Prophet Muhammad (bpuh). On more than one occasion, Jesus expressed how disappointed he was to be rejected by the Israelites. Also, Jesus was not present long enough to prevail over his enemies (beyond the moral victory, which is common to all prophets).
On the other hand, we find no trace of Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) being discouraged, even in the most critical moments of his mission. In the space of one year, his beloved and supportive wife, Khadeejah (May Allah be pleased with her) died after twenty-five years of successful marriage; his uncle Abu Talib, who was instrumental in protecting him from the fury of the pagan Arabs (in Makkah) also died. These two tragedies were combined with the fact that his followers constituted only a small persecuted and tortured group. Under such trying circumstances, Muhammad (bpuh) went to the city of Taif to invite people to Islam and to seek their support in his struggle against paganism. He was rejected, mocked, and stoned until his knees and feet bled. In spite of all this, he was never “discouraged” (to use the term from Isaiah 42:4).
When the angel of mountains offered him the chance to retaliate by destroying their city, he refused, in the hope that some of the descendants of these wicked people would worship Allah, and indeed, they did!
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After this bitter struggle, Muhammad (bpuh) “prevailed against his enemies,” establishing a strong community of believers who indeed brought “justice to the nations,”17 especially in the Persian and Byzantine Empires. Many members of those nations were guided to Islam, while others suffered defeats. As such, he was truly “a light for the nations” and for the whole world as well.18
Proof 11: “He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;” (42:2).
From the life history of Prophet Muhammad (bpuh), it is known that he was described by these characteristics. Also, the Quran teaches these characteristics, saying:
{And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; indeed, the most disagreeable of sounds is the voice of donkeys.} (Quran 31: 19)
Proof 12: “The coastlands wait for his law” (42:4).
The only prophet who came after this prophecy (made in Isaiah’s time) with a complete and comprehensive code of law was Prophet Muhammad (bpuh). The law that was revealed to him spread to all corners of the earth, even to the remote islands and the farthest deserts. Jesus did not bring a new law, but Muhammad (bpuh) did.
Proof 13: “My [God’s] glory I give to no other” (42:8).
The greatest glory a person receives from God (Allah) is to be entrusted as His messenger to humankind and receive His glorious revelation. Not only did this apply to Prophet Muhammad (bpuh), but it applied to him uniquely as the last and final messenger and prophet of Allah. Truly, Allah’s glory (revelation of scriptures) was not given, and will not be given, to any other prophet after Muhammad (bpuh);
17 See Isaiah 42:1.
18 See Isaiah 49:6.
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he is the ‘seal’ of all prophets. After a letter or a message has been written, folded and sealed, nothing further can be added to it. It has been more than 1400 years since Muhammad (bpuh) was sent and the Quran was revealed to him. Yet we hear of no genuine prophet having the magnitude and influence on humanity to be compared with such figures as Abraham (pbuh), Moses (pbuh), Jesus (pbuh), and Muhammad (bpuh); nor do we hear about another post-Quranic glory or holy book that has influenced humankind to such an extent.
Proof 14: A descendant of Ishmael (pbuh).
The person to come was connected with the Arabs, specifically with the descendants of Ishmael (pbuh) who settled in Makkah and its environs. Isaiah 42:11 leaves absolutely no doubt about the identity of that prophet.
Let the desert and its cities lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits; let the habitants of Sela [the rock] sing for joy, let them shout from the top of the mountains.
According to the Book of Genesis (25:13), Kedar was the second son of Ishmael. The best of the prophets from Ishmael’s descendants is Muhammad (bpuh). His enemies (of his own clan), who were misled by their leaders, or “mighty men” (as described in Isaiah 21:17), ultimately embraced Islam and were embraced by it. Indeed, they had reason to “lift up their voice,” to “sing” praise of God, and to “shout from the top of the mountains.”
This “shouting” is chanted annually, by multitudes of Muslims from all over the world, from Mount Arafah and other places as part of the annual rites of Hajj (pilgrimage):
Here I am [at Your command], O Allah. Here I am. Here I am. There is no partner with you [in our worship]. Here I am at Your command. Verily, yours is the praise, the blessings and sovereignty. There is no partner besides you [in our worship].
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Proof 15: He will be sent “to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.” (42:7)
Many of those who were opposed to the truth, and who fought Muhammad (bpuh) bitterly, nevertheless ended up as the most devout believers, with their blindness to the truth cured. Those who lived in the darkness of an unholy life came to the light of truth through the mission of Muhammad (bpuh).
No wonder the Quran describes itself as light manifest. Describing the Quran, Allah has addressed Prophet Muhammad (bpuh):
{...[This is] a book which We have revealed to you [O Muhammad], that you might bring humankind out of darknesses into the light by permission of their Lord—to the path of the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy.} (Quran 14: 1)
Proof 16: “Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the end of the earth…” (42:10)
Another indication (other than the prophecy in Deuteronomy) is that Isaiah ties the messenger connected with Kedar to “a new song” to be sung to the Lord. (Isaiah 42:10-11) This new song may refer to a new scripture in a language other than the language of the Israelite scriptures. This interpretation seems consistent with a more explicit mention of someone who will be speaking to people (including the Israelites) in “a foreign tongue.” (Isaiah 28:11)
This explanation seems to fit closely with the verse that speaks of the praise of God “from the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 24:16) Only in the case of Islam do we find this prophecy realized in amazing accuracy. In all corners of the earth, five times every day, the praise of Allah and His last messenger, Muhammad (bpuh), is chanted from the minarets of hundreds of thousands, perhaps even millions, of mosques around the world. Praising Abraham and his descendants, along with Muhammad (bpuh) and his descendants, is a part of the five daily
26 The amazing prophecies of Muhammad in the Bible
obligatory prayers; in addition, millions of devout Muslims praise Allah and Muhammad (bpuh) frequently throughout the day.
The 42nd chapter of Isaiah is indeed a fascinating one. It is not a casual or ambiguous reference to the Messenger of Allah (bpuh), who was to come centuries later. It is instead a comprehensive profile fitting only one person: Prophet Muhammad (bpuh). After all, the chapter relates this profile to Kedar, son of Ishmael, and no other descendant of Ishmael fits this description except Muhammad (bpuh).
Proof 17: Riding the camel.
Prophet Isaiah (pbuh) prophesied the coming of two leaders, whom he metaphorically called ‘chariots’, one riding a donkey and another riding a camel. “And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed.” (Isaiah 21:7, KJV)
Who are the “couple of horsemen”?
They are Jesus (pbuh) and Muhammad (bpuh). Let us examine the proof:
Jesus fulfilled the riding of the donkey prophecy, which says, “And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written.” (John 12:14)
The quote “just as it is written” is referring to Isaiah 21:7. It is important to know that nowhere in the New Testament do we see Jesus (pbuh) riding any camel. Nowhere in the New Testament do we see any fulfilment of any kind about the prophecy of riding the camel.
When we look at Muhammad (bpuh), he rode camels many times during his lifetime. Perhaps the most well-known incident is when he migrated from Makkah to Madinah to escape the torture of the pagans. When Muhammad (bpuh) rode into Madinah on his camel, the members of each group/tribe wanted him to be in their own neighbourhood. In order to avoid hurting anyone’s feelings, the
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Prophet (bpuh) released the reins of his camel so that it could walk freely, and then he let it settle at the location chosen by Allah. This wisdom from Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) solved the problem.
Now, the open questions to any Jewish rabbi, or Christian priest or minister, are as follows:
• Where in the Bible do we see the fulfilment of the prophecy about riding the camel?
• In the Bible, who was the prophet who rode the camel, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 21:7? The New Testament fulfils the riding of the donkey prophecy (of John 12:14), and it claims that it fulfilled only that prophecy. There is still an unfulfilled prophecy in the New Testament regarding riding the camel.
• If Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) was not the one who fulfilled the remainder of the prophecy in Isaiah 21:7, then who was that prophet?
These prophecies in the Old and New Testaments predict, in unequivocal terms, the coming of Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) and the genuineness of his prophethood.
3. The location from which he was to emerge
Proof 18: Deuteronomy 33:1-2.
Deuteronomy 33:1-2 combines references to Moses (pbuh), Jesus (pbuh), and Muhammad (bpuh). It speaks about God’s revelation coming from Sinai, rising from Seir (probably the village of Sair near Jerusalem) and shining forth from Paran. According to Genesis 21:21, the wilderness of Paran was the place where Ishmael (pbuh) settled. In other words, it was in Arabia, and specifically in Makkah.
Another sign of the prophet to come from Paran (Makkah) was that he would come with “ten thousands of holy ones.” (Deuteronomy
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33:2) That was the same number of faithful who accompanied Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) to Makkah in his victorious, bloodless return to his birthplace to destroy the remaining symbols of idolatry in the Kaaba. The text says, “he shone forth from Mount Paran; he came from the ten thousands of holy ones, with flaming fire19 at his right hand.”
According to Islamic history, the city of Makkah (Paran) was liberated by Prophet Muhammad’s 10,000 troops.
If Muhammad (bpuh), who liberated the city of Paran with 10,000 believing men (“holy ones”), was not the one who fulfilled this Biblical prophecy and ended the worship of the 365 gods (in the form of idols), then who was that prophet? Is there another prophet who marched upon Makkah with this exact same number of men? The historical answer is: Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) is the only prophet whom this prophecy fits perfectly.
Proof 19: Habakkuk 3:3.
Habakkuk 3:3 speaks of God (God’s help) coming from Teman (an oasis north of Madinah, according to Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible),20 and the “Holy One” coming from Paran. That “Holy One” who, under persecution, migrated from Paran (Makkah) to be received enthusiastically in Madinah was none other than Prophet Muhammad (bpuh).
Indeed, the incident of the migration of the Prophet (bpuh) and his persecuted followers is vividly and prophetically described in Isaiah 21:13-17. That section foretold the battle of Badr as well, in which the few ill-armed faithful miraculously defeated the “mighty men” of
19 The meaning of the Hebrew word used here is uncertain.
20 Hastings, James, entry for ‘Tema’, Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible, accessed May 8, 2017,
http://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/hdb/view.cgi?n=5416.
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Kedar, who sought to destroy Islam and intimidate their own folks who had turned to Islam. The text reads:
The oracle concerning Arabia. In the thickets in Arabia you will lodge, O caravans of Dedanites. To the thirsty bring water; meet the fugitive with bread, O inhabitants of the land of Tema. For they have fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the press of battle. For thus the Lord said to me, “Within a year, according to the years of a hired worker, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end. And the remainder of the archers of the mighty men of the sons of Kedar will be few, for the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.” (Isaiah 21:13-17)
4. The message to be revealed through him
The Bible foretells the story of revelation.
Proof 20: Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) was illiterate.
Throughout his entire life, he never learned to read or write. The exact circumstances of the first revelation have been mentioned: it was the habit of Muhammad (bpuh) to frequently get away from the midst of his fellow Arabs and their heathen ways and spend many days secluded in the cave of Hira in the mountains of Makkah. There, he would pray to Allah, the Exalted, according to the practice of Abraham (pbuh). When he reached the age of forty (in 610 CE), the angel Gabriel (pbuh) appeared before him in that cave one day and ordered him to recite. Muhammad (bpuh), in his terror, thought he was being asked to read, so he stammered that he was unlettered. The angel Gabriel (pbuh) again ordered him to read, but Muhammad (bpuh) again informed him that he was unlettered. The angel Gabriel (pbuh) took hold of him firmly and commanded him, “Recite, in the name of your Lord, Who created!” Now Muhammad (bpuh) began to understand that he was not being asked to read, but to recite and to repeat. He began to repeat after him, and Gabriel (pbuh) revealed to him the first verses of the Quran that were revealed:
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{Recite in the name of your Lord, Who created—created man from a clinging substance. Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous—Who taught by the pen—taught man that which he knew not.}
(Quran 96: 1-5)
As mentioned earlier, the actual word used by angel Gabriel (pbuh) to address Muhammad (bpuh) was the Arabic word iqra, which means to read, recite, or rehearse. It is derived from the Arabic root word qara. However, if we were to go back to the original Hebrew form of the verses of Isaiah 29:11, we would find that the actual word which is translated into English as “Read this” is the Hebrew word qara [kaw-raw]. Is it just an amazing coincidence that the Hebrew text used not only a word with the same meaning, but the exact same word itself? Isaiah 29:11-18 reads:
11 And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.”
12 And when they give the book to one who cannot read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot read.”
13 And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,
14 therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.”
15 Ah, you who hide deep from the LORD your counsel, whose deeds are in the dark, and who say, “Who sees us? Who knows us?”
16 You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker,
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“He did not make me”; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?
17 Is it not yet a very little while until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest?
18 In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.
Remember that when a statement in the earlier scriptures is found also in the Quran, then this is proof of its validity. This is because if it is confirmed by the later scripture, it is clearly a remnant of the original revelation, which was not deleted or changed over time by those who rewrote the Bible.
