- Muhammad in the Bible - The Lord Jesus in the Qur'an -

MUHAMMAD IN THE BIBLE

Surah 7:157 "... the Prophet ... whom they will find described in the Torah and the Gospel ..."

Was Muhammad foretold in the Bible ?

Consider two of the best Muslim claims that the Bible predicted the coming of Muhammad:-

1)  THE PROPHET predicted in Deuteronomy 18:18

To be that "Prophet" Muhammad must fulfil the two criteria shown here in bold print:-

"I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren ⁽ⁱ⁾  like unto thee [Moses] , and will put my words in his mouth ⁽ⁱⁱ⁾ ..." (Deuteronomy 18:18)

i)  By the time this was written only members of the tribes of Israel were called "brethren":-

Deuteronomy 18:1-2 "... the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: ... they have no inheritance among their brethren: ..."

Deuteronomy 17:15 "Thou shalt ... set ... king over thee whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren ...".  God chose Saul, David and Solomon. All of their kings were from the tribes of Israel. Not one was an Ishmaelite.

Judges 20:13 "... But the children of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel:"

ii) That prophet would receive his words directly from God.

"I ... will ... put my words in his mouth ..."

Muhammad did not receive his words directly from God.

Surah 2:97 "... Gabriel ... hath revealed (this Scripture) to thy heart by Allah's leave ..."

Muhammad does not comply with either of these two necessary criteria.

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Who was that prophet?

The Apostle ^a  Peter said  that it was the Lord Jesus:-

"For Moses truly said unto the fathers, 'A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me ...'  ... all the prophets ... have ... foretold of these days. Unto you first [the Israelites] God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you ..." (Acts 3:22-26)

i)  The Lord Jesus was an Israelite. (Matthew 1:2-16).
ii) He received his words directly from God:-
"I have given unto them [his companions ^a] the words which thou [God] gavest me ..." (John 17:8).

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2)  THE COMFORTER predicted in John chapters 14 to 16

Surah 61:6 "... Jesus son of Mary, said: ... I am ... bringing good tidings of a messenger who cometh after me, whose name is the Praised One ..." [Pickthall's footnote: Arabic - Ahmad]

They say that the word translated "Comforter" in John 14:16, 14:26, 15:26 and 16:7
A) referred to Muhammad, and
B) is from "periklytos", which they say has the same meaning as "Ahmed" (The Praised One).

A) The promised "Comforter" must fulfil all the criteria shown here in bold type in those 4 verses:-

i)  John 16: 7 "... if I go not away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send him to you."

ii)  John 14: 16 "... he [God] shall give you [the Apostles] another Comforter, ... "

iii) John 14: 26 "But the Comforter ... shall ... bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said unto you."

So the Comforter would:-
i) come to the Apostles ^a
ii) be given to the Apostles
iii) remind the Apostles of all that the Lord Jesus had said to them whilst he was with them on earth.

Muhammad was born over 450 years after the Apostles had all died.
So Muhammad does not comply with any of these 3 vital criteria.

iv) John 15: 26 "But when the Comforter is come, whom I [The Lord Jesus] will send to you from the Father ...".    Muhammad was not sent by the Lord Jesus.

B) The word Comforter is always "parakletos" [never "periklytos"] in every Greek manuscript containing these verses, some of which pre-date the time of Muhammad. The word "parakletos" does not mean "Ahmed" (The Praised One).

So none of these passages refer to Muhammad

The Comforter came to the Apostles after the Lord went away into heaven. (Acts 1:4, 1:26-2:4).
The Comforter's work is to glorify the Lord Jesus. "He shall glorify me; for he shall  receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you [the Apostles]" (John 16:14).
The only authentic source for this information is the New Testament part of the Bible.

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THE LORD JESUS IN THE QUR'AN

The Qur'an highlights the Lord's supremacy.

In the Qur'an:-

1) Only the Lord Jesus is born of a virgin:

Surah 19:20-22 "She said: How can I have a son when no mortal hath touched me ... ?  He said: ... Thy Lord saith: It is easy for Me ... and it is a thing ordained ... And she conceived him, ..."

2) He is not accused of sin even though the Qur'an attributes sin to other distinguished persons such as:-

Adam: Surah 7:22-23 "... their Lord called them (saying): Did I not forbid you from that tree ...?  They said: Our Lord! ... If Thou forgive us not and have mercy on us, surely we are of the lost!"

Abraham: Surah 26:82 "... who, I ardently hope, will forgive me my sin on the Day of Judgement."

Moses: Surah 28:16 "He said: My Lord! Lo! I have wronged my soul, so forgive me. Then He forgave him..."

Jonah: Surah 37:142 "And the fish swallowed him while he was blameworthy;"

Muhammad: Surah 47:19 "... (O Muhammad) ... ask forgiveness for thy sin ...".   Surah 48:2 "... Allah may forgive thee of thy sin that which is passed and that which is to come ..."

3) Only the Lord Jesus is not dead, is not in a tomb but has gone up into heaven.

Surah 4:158 "Allah took him up unto Himself ..."

4) He performed miracles. He even raised the dead

Surah 3:49 "... I heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I raise the dead ...".

5) He alone is called the Messiah (Al Masih) ^b

Surah 3:45 "...whose name is the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary,...".

Surah 4:171 "...The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, ..."

6) He alone is identified as word of God (Kalimat Ullah)

Surah 3:45 "...O Mary! Lo! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a word from Him,...".

Surah 4:171 "...His word which He conveyed unto Mary,..."

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THE GLORIOUS WORD OF GOD

"Kalimat" means the same as the Lord Jesus' title, "Logos", translated "Word" in John chapter one.

John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

The eternal Word became a human being:-

John 1:14 "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, ... full of grace and truth."

The Lord Jesus Christ is The Glorious Eternal Word of God.

No one can afford to ignore him because Almighty God said "...whoever will not heed my words which he shall speak in my name, I will penalize him." (Deuteronomy 18:19).

The Bible is the only authentic record of his teaching.

Please see our free correspondence course:  "Understanding the Bible"

a The Lord Jesus gave his 12 closest companions the title of "Apostle". Luke 6:13-16

b "The Messiah" (Al Masih) means the same as "the Christ".

Quranic references are taken from:-

"The Meaning of the Glorious Qur'an", translated by Marmaduke Pickthall, Taj Company, Karachi.
^NOTE:  Verse reference numbering in other publications of the Qur'an might differ a little.