For more than fourteen centuries scholars from Judaism, Christianity and Islam have been discussing whether or not the prophet Muhammad -Peace & Mercy be Upon Him- could have indeed been a true prophet from Almighty God.
Was he the long awaited ‘Messiah’ the Jews have been waiting for so many centuries?
Was he the one prophesied in the Old Testament Book of Isaiah, calling in the wilderness?
Was he ‘That Prophet’ mentioned in the New Testament Gospel of John?
We would like to share some of the findings of these scholars from their own sources and invite the reader to consider these evidences.
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17
“When the Advocate (Paraclete) is come whom I will send to you from the Father’s presence–the Spirit of Truth who comes forth from the Father’s presence–He will be a witness concerning me” John 15:26
According to Muslim scholars “Muhammad” meaning “the praised one” is almost the translation of the Greek word Periclytos.
In the Gospel of John 14:16, 15:26, and 16:7. The word ‘Comforter’ is used in the English translation for the Greek word Paracletos which means advocate or a kind friend rather than a comforter. Paracletos is the warped reading for Periclytos.
Some Christians say that the Comforter mentioned in these prophecies refers to the Holy Spirit. They fail to realize that the prophecy clearly says that only if Jesus departs will the Comforter come. The Bible states that the Holy Spirit was already present on earth before and during the time of Jesus, in the womb of Elizabeth, and again when Jesus was being baptized, etc. Hence this prophecy refers to none other than Muhammad. [1]
“Speaks of God (God’s help) coming from Te’man (an Oasis North of Madinah according to J. Hasting’s Dictionary of the Bible), and the holy one coming from Paran.” Habakkuk 3:3
That holy one who was under persecution migrated from Paran (Makkah) to be received enthusiastically in Madinah was none but prophet Muhammad. Indeed the incident of the 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.
Jabal An-Nur (literally means: the Mount of Light) in Mecca. It was on this mountain that Muhammad received the first revelation of the Qur’an; which is Verse 96:1: “Read: In the Name of your Lord who created”[2]
Another sign of the prophet to come from Paran (Makkah) is that he will come with “ten thousand of saints” (Deuteronomy 33:2 KJV). That was the number of faithful who accompanied Prophet Muhammad to Makkah in his victorious, bloodless return to his birthplace to destroy the remaining symbols of idolatry in the Kaaba. The text says, “He shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousand of saints, from his right hand (went) a fiery law for them.”
According to the Islamic history, the city of Makkah (Paran) was liberated by Prophet Muhammad’s ten thousand troops.
If Muhammad who liberated the city of Paran with 10,000 believing men (the „saints‟), 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 is the only prophet on whom this prophecy fits perfectly.
Since it has clearly been shown that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is mentioned in the Bible, as a next step, we invite you to look into Islam by reading a translation of the Qur’an and learning more about Muhammad (pbuh). Many people are attached to their identity, and don’t want to look into another religion. But Islam is not just another religion; it’s the same core message of monotheism preached by Moses, Jesus and Abraham (peace be upon them). It is the final instalment of the same message sent by God over the centuries.
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[1] “Islamic Research Foundation”. Irf.net. Retrieved 2015-11-25
[2] Al-Maghribi, Al-Samawal; Taweile, Abdulwahab. [Confuting the Jews] (in Arabic) (1st 1989 ed.). Syria: Dar Al Qalam. p 67
