The Promised Prophet of the Bible

The Promised Prophet of the Bible

  Muslims believe that to prove the prophet-hood of Muhammad (PBUH) is one of many essential tasks in their religion; therefore, it is a compulsory duty for Muslims to present this evidence and proof. There are many and various ways to prove that, but the most important way is by understanding the prophecies given by the previous prophets that prophesize and confirms the arrival and the authority of a final prophet to humanity, in order to re-establish the religion that God Almighty accepts until the Day of Judgment.

  The reason that these prophecies are most important, and why Muslims are concerned, is that they exist in the Jewish and Christian sacred writings, and that they indicated the coming of Muhammad (PBUH) centuries ago and in various eras.

  Jews and Christians acknowledge the existence of these prophecies and affirm that they indicate the coming of "the final prophet" or "the great prophet"; however, they still insist that he is a man who is a descendant from the children of Israel. The Christians claim that he is Jesus (PBUH) son of Mary, while the Jews are still expecting him. We aim here to prove that he, the expected prophet, is Muhammad(PBUH) and not any of the previous prophets peace be upon them all.

  Regarding the books that contain these prophecies, we have explained their conditions and credibility in other books of this series, by using these books as a reference, it is not to complement them; however, it is merely an attempt to search between the lines for some traces from the previous prophets. We as Muslims believe in those traces and we do not deny them, because they meet an agreement with what we believe.

  Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) brought to our attention that these books contain some truth, He said: {When you ask them about anything if they tell you the truth do not call it a lie, and when they tell you lies do not believe in it}. 1

  In other words, if the previous books contain information, that match verses of the Holy Quran, and the tradition of Muhammad (PBUH), then this is proof that, it is true and has not been altered. “The Unbelievers say: "No apostle art thou." Say: "Enough for a witness between me and you is Allah, and such as have knowledge of the Book.” (Al-Ra'd: 43).

  In spite of the alterations made to the Holy Bible, it still contains many prophecies that foretell the arrival of the "Final prophet". It has been almost 2000 years since Jesus (PBUH) came to this earth; yet, these prophecies have not been fulfilled; therefore, we ask when will it be? To claim that these prophecies are still to come, as the years go by, is to reduce the credibility of the Holy Bible to its readers.

  Therefore, we send an honest true invitation to examine the prophecies in the Holy Bible, and to read it again carefully considering the appearance of Islam and the prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and we are confident that this will uncover the truth of the belief of the prophet-hood of Muhammad (PBUH). We do not just simply say that, but it is a historical fact admitted by all those who have studied the life of this prophet.

  Hercules, the Roman king, had acknowledged the prophet-hood of prophet Muhammad (PBUH). When he received a letter from prophet Muhammad (PBUH), inviting him to embrace Islam, then he sent a messenger to Rome inquiring about the "Final Prophet". When Hercules received the response to his inquiry, he said to his people:

"O' Romans, I have requested you to gather for good news. I received a letter from this man, inviting me to join his faith, and by God I testify that he is the prophet we've been waiting for, and he is the one mentioned in our holy books, so let us follow him and believe in his message to be saved in our life and the hereafter" .

  The same story mentioned in Bukhari’s narration is as follows: Hercules said, "O' Romans, if you are seeking success and guidance and for your empire to hold strong, then you should believe in this prophet, so immediately they rushed to the gates but to find the gates locked. When Hercules saw that he commanded the people to return, and then he said, I said what I said only to test your faith, and I saw what you did. Then they prostrated to him with satisfaction". 1

  Hercules did not adhere to his testimony and did not embrace Islam, just like many who know the truth but deny it and never follow its path. The Negus king of Abyssinia believed in the prophet (PBUH). He said to the priests of his Kingdom:- "O' you priests and monks, what they say (the Muslims) about the son of Mary is not more than what you say, you messengers of Muhammad are welcomed here and so he is. I bear witness that he (Muhammad) is the messenger of God, and that he is the one Jesus gave glad tidings of his coming. And if I wasn't occupied with this kingdom I would go to the prophet and personally carry his shoes". 2

  The reversion of tens of well-known Christians and Jews to Islam such as; Al-Hassan Bin Ayoub, Zyadah Alnasb Alrasy, priest/ Abdul Ahaad Dawood, Ibrahim Khalil, Moris Bokay and many more, assured the glaring fact about the existence of these prophecies in the Holy Bible.

1 Narrated by Al-Bukhari (7).

2 Narrated by Abu Dawood (3205), and Ibn Shayba (346/14)