Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Brother(s) Assalam-U-Alaykum Wa-Rahmat!!!

 

I want to ask you a very complicated question (it might be complicated for me, perhaps not for you). I live in Pakistan and married a European woman. I preached her about ISLAM and AL-HA-DU-LIL-AH eventually she embraced ISLAM. Later, we got married and came back to Pakistan. Now, my friends and I, all of our group members are preaching a couple of non-Muslim guys in Pakistan. One of them is Christian and konws a lot many things about ISLAM and HADITH. I personally believe that he is a hipocrat. Reason is that he (verbally) says "MUHAMMAD (SAWS) is the prophet of ALLAH" and quotes translations of different AAYAH from HOLY QURAN. He says that he is convinced but yet confused to embrace ISLAM. When we ask him the reason, he replies, "TELL ME IN WHICH EDITION OF BIBLE, PROPHET MUHAMMAD`s (SAWS) NAME (AHMED) HAS BEEN DISCUSSED OR FORETOLD BY GOD (ALLAH)? IF YOU TELL ME THE NAME OF THAT PARTICULAR VERSION OF BIBLE NO MATTER HOW OLD THE VERSION COULD BE; I WILL GET IT FROM ROME (ITALY) AND CHECK IT OUT. IF IT IS THERE, I WILL EMBRACE ISLAM." According to him, "THE OLDEST BIBLES ARE STILL THERE IN ROME AND YOU CAN`T TURN OVER THE PAGES WITH YOUR HANDS, BUT WITH ESPECIAL CHEMICALS." We told him numerous times that the Original Bible is no more available and had been changed, yet the person is still stubborn to stick with such a question.
I and all of my group members will be very grateful to you dear brother if you help us out regarding the aforementioned confusion. He may embrace ISLAM. May ALLAH-PAK help you in your present and future endeavors.

ALLAH-HAFIZ!!! 

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Where is Prophet’s name mentioned in the bible?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Firstly, it is not at all true that the Bible or the Torah is preserved anywhere in its original form. Even the scholars of the Christian Faith admit that their original Revelations are completely lost and destroyed due to the initial hostility and intensity of opposition from the Romans and the Jews after the ‘supposed’ crucifiction of Jesus Christ (a.s.). The original ‘Injeel’ was revealed in the Hebrew language of Prophet Isa (a.s.), and was subsequently destroyed by the Romans, then translated into Greek, then again destroyed and translated into Aramaic. The English Bible that is available today is a translation from the Aramaic language copies, and these English Bibles themselves have been through several editions and revisions by their doctors and priests!

 

Just imagine the state of the Divine Scripture, if one (Allah forbid) were to take the Glorious Quran in Arabic, then translate the Arabic into Japanese, then the Japanese translation into Italian, and then the Italian translation into English: to be presented as the Divine Words of God!

 

Even at the time of the Revelation of the Quran, which was only about 600 odd years after Jesus Christ (a.s.), the Bible had completely lost its original authenticity. Allah Subhanah Himself confirms in the Glorious Quran that the previous Divine Scriptures had been completely altered and changed by their doctors of law to suit their desires and beliefs!

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verses 13-18:

13 But because of their breach of their (the People of the Book) Covenant, We cursed them and made their hearts grow hard: they change the words from their (right) places and forget a good part of the Message that was sent them, nor wilt thou cease to find them barring a few ever bent on (new) deceits: but forgive them and overlook (their misdeeds): for Allah loveth those who are kind.

14 From those too who call themselves Christians We did take a Covenant but they forgot a good part of the Message that was sent them: so We estranged them with enmity and hatred between the one and the other to the Day of Judgment. And soon will Allah show them what it is they have done.

15 O People of the Book! There hath come to you Our Messenger (Mohamed (saws)) revealing to you much that ye used to hide in the Book and passing over much (that is now unnecessary): There hath come to you from Allah a (new) Light and a perspicuous Book.

16 Wherewith Allah guideth all who seek His good pleasure to ways of peace and safety and leadeth them out of darkness by His Will unto the light guideth them to a Path that is Straight.

17 In blasphemy indeed are those that say that Allah is Christ the son of Mary. Say: "Who then hath the least power against Allah if His Will were to destroy Christ the son of Mary his mother and all everyone that is on the earth? For to Allah belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is between. He createth what He pleaseth. For Allah hath power over all things."

18 (Both) the Jews and the Christians say: "We are sons of Allah and His beloved." Say: "Why then doth He punish you for your sins? Nay ye are but men of the men He hath created: He forgiveth whom He pleaseth and He punisheth whom He pleaseth: and to Allah belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is between: and unto Him is the final goal (of all)."

 

Your Question: When we ask him the reason, he replies, "TELL ME IN WHICH EDITION OF BIBLE, PROPHET MUHAMMAD`s (SAWS) NAME (AHMED) HAS BEEN DISCUSSED OR FORETOLD BY GOD (ALLAH)?

If the Christian brother has made the mention of the name of the Prophet Mohamed (saws) in their Bible a criteria for their belief in his position of Prophethood; why don’t we honor them the same respect and ask them where and in which edition of the Old Testament is the Noble Prophet of Allah, Jesus son of Mary (a.s.) mentioned by name?

 

If they even mention the term Messiah, make it known to the brother that Messiah, translated to Christ, is not a name but a title!

 

Ask him if there is even a single Prophecy in the Old Testament which states that the name of the Messiah will be Jesus (or Isa)?

Ask him if there is even a single Prophecy in the Old Testament which states that he will born miraculously, or his mother’s name will be Mary or Maryam?

Ask him if there is even a single Prophecy in the Old Testament which states that his ‘supposed’ father would be (as they claim) Joseph the Carpenter?

Ask him if there is even a single Prophecy in the Old Testament which states that he would be born in the reign of Herod the King? Etc. etc.

 

We assure you that there is not a single such Prophecy in their Scriptures!! Then how come they accepted Prophet Jesus (Isa a.s.) as their Prophet when he was not mentioned in the Previous Scriptures by name?

 

But there is not a muslim amongst the 1.8 billion muslim today, and the billions of muslims who passed away, who ever even doubt that Jesus (Isa a.s.) is indeed one of the Truest and Noblest Prophets of God!

 

Our Christian brethren claim that there are several Prophecies in the Old Testament relating to the coming of a Messiah in the form of Jesus (a.s.). These Prophecies are sort of word-pictures of something that is going to happen in the future, and when that thing actually comes to pass, one is able to see vividly in these prophecies the fulfillment of what had been predicted in the past Scriptures. There are no names or details, but prophecies or word-pictures in the Scriptures which clearly notify some things that are to come in the future.

 

If that is how our Christian brothers deduce that the Messiah was indeed Jesus (a.s.), and Allah is our witness, he was; would it not only be fair to use the same criteria for them to see if indeed Mohamed ibn Abdullah (saws) was the Last and Final Prophet or not.

 

Example 1: ‘like unto thee’ from the Old Testament.

 

Bible, Book of Deutronomy 18:18

I will raise them up a Prophet

From among their brethren,

Like unto thee, (referring to Moses)

And I will put My words in his mouth;

And he shall speak unto them

All that I shall command him.

 

Eight Proofs that the prophecy of a coming Prophet like unto Moses (‘like unto thee’) refers to Prophet Mohamed (saws) and not Jesus (a.s.) as our Christian brothers claim:

Moses was born of a father and a mother; Mohamed (saws) was born of a father and mother; but Jesus was born of a mother alone and no father.

Moses and Mohamed (saws) were both born normally and naturally; but Jesus had a miraculous birth.

Moses and Mohamed (saws) both married and begot children; but Jesus remained a bachelor all his life.

Moses and Mohamed (saws) were accepted as Prophets of Allah by their people in their lifetime; but the Jews upon whom Jesus was sent rejected him. ‘He (Jesus) came unto his own, but his own received him not.’ (Bible, Gospel of John 1:11)

Moses and Mohamed (saws) were both leaders of their people and their land in their lifetime; but the Jews upon whom Jesus was sent rejected him.

Moses and Mohamed (saws) both brought new Laws and a new Shariah; but Jesus neither came with a new law or Shariah. ‘Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the Prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill; for verily, I say unto you: till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (Bible, Gospel of Matthew 5:17-18)

Moses and Mohamed (saws) both died their natural deaths; but according to Christian belief Jesus was crucified, and according to the Truth of the Quran, Allah Subhanah raised him to Himself.

Moses and Mohamed (saws) both lie buried on the earth; but according to both Christian and Muslim belief, Jesus is in the Heavens until his second coming.

 

Thus the prophecy of their Scriptures of the coming of a Prophet like unto Moses (‘like unto thee’) clearly refers to none other than Prophet Mohamed (saws).

 

Example 2: ‘From among their brethren’ from the Old Testament.

 

Bible, Book of Deutronomy 18:18

I will raise them up a Prophet

From among their brethren,

Like unto thee, (referring to Moses)

And I will put My words in his mouth;

And he shall speak unto them

All that I shall command him.

 

Prophet Ismail (a.s.) and Prophet Isaac (a.s.) are the sons of Prophet Abraham (a.s.), thus they are brothers. And according to the terminology of the Bible, the children of Ismail (the Arabs) and the children of Isaac (the Israelites) are thus ‘brethren’ to each other.

 

He (Ishmael) shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. (Book of Genesis 16:12).

History confirms that Prophet Ismail (a.s.) grew up and dwelled amongst his ‘brethren’ or Arabs all his life.

 

He (Ismael) died in the presence of all his brethren. (Book of Genesis 25:18)

Again, history confirms that Prophet Ismail (a.s.) died amongst his ‘brethren’ or Arabs.

 

The above prophecy where the Bible states: ‘I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren’ fits Prophet Mohamed (saws) like a glove, as he was the only Prophet amongst the children of Prophet Ismail, and thus the brethren of the Israelites.

 

Example 3: ‘And I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him’ from the Old Testament.

 

Bible, Book of Deutronomy 18:18

I will raise them up a Prophet

From among their brethren,

Like unto thee, (referring to Moses)

And I will put My words in his mouth;

And he shall speak unto them

All that I shall command him.

 

Compare the above statement to what is declared in the Quran by Allah Subhanah:

 

Chapter 96 Surah Al-Alaq verse 1:

Proclaim! (or Read! O Mohamed) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created

 

Chapter 53 Surah Najm verses 3-5:

3 Nor does he (Mohamed) say (aught) of (his own) desire.

4 It is no less than inspiration sent down to him:

5 He was taught by one mighty in Power

 

Every single word of the Glorious Quran is the verbatim Words of the Lord Most Gracious, put into the heart and mouth of Prophet Mohamed (saws), which he declared to mankind as the Last and Final Revelation of Allah Subhanah.

 

This whole verse of the Book of Deutronomy 18:18 fits Prophet Mohamed (saws) like a glove, and there can absolutely be no doubt that the Prophet that it talks about is none other than the Last and Final Messenger of Allah, Prophet Mohamed ibn Abdullah (saws)!

 

Example 4: The ‘Comforter’ from the Bible is Prophet Mohamed (saws)

 

Bible, Gospel of John 14:26

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit,

Whom the Father will send in my name,

He shall teach you all things,

And bring all things to your remembrance,

Whatsoever I have said unto you.

 

Bible, Gospel of John 14:16

And I will pray the Father,

And He shall give you Another Comforter,

That he may abide with you for ever.

 

Bible, Gospel of John 16:7

Nevertheless, I (Jesus) tell you the truth:

It is expedient for you that I go

For if I go not away,

The Comforter will not come unto you,

But if I depart, I will send him unto you.

 

Bible, Gospel of John 16:13

He (The Spirit of Truth) shall glorify me (Jesus),

For he shall receive of me,

And shall shew it unto you.

 

Bible, Gospel of John 15:26

But when the Comforter is come,

Whom I will send unto you from the Father.

Even the Spirit of Truth which precedeth from the Father,

He shall Testify of me.

 

Bible, Gospel of John 16:13

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, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

 

Because of the various translations of the Bible from one language to the other, and their subsequent various editions, the term ‘Comforter’ is obviously an English translation of a term translated from the Greek term ‘Paracletos’ which is a translation of the term from the original text, which is now extinct! Prophet Jesus (a.s.) obviously did not speak Greek, nor was the Injeel revealed to him in Greek!

 

Whatever the original term might have been is in the Knowledge of the Lord Alone. From the context of the verses, it is obvious that Jesus is talking about another Prophet, and History is a witness that no other true Prophet of Allah has come after Prophet Jesus (a.s.), other than the Last and Final Prophet of Allah, Mohamed ibn Abdullah (saws).

 

Your Statement: We told him numerous times that the Original Bible is no more available and had been changed, yet the person is still stubborn to stick with such a question.

Beloved brother, after the presentation of the above irrefutable proof from their own Scriptures, if our Christian brother does not accept Prophet Mohamed (saws) as the Last and Final Messenger of Allah; then invite him to read, study, understand and bear witness to the everlasting Miracle brought by Prophet Mohamed (saws): ie. The Message of the Holy Quran. It is expected that once he reads the Holy Quran with understanding, the Truth of the Quran will, Insha Allah, melt his heart into submission.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Bani Israel verse 81: And declare, “The Truth has come and falsehood has vanished. And falsehood is a thing that must by its nature, vanish!”

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your Brother in Islam,

 

 

Burhan