Muhammad in The Bible 1 – Methodology

Viewers of the Islamic focus program I greet you with the greetings of all of the profits from Abraham to Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him Assalamu alaikum Peace be upon you. Welcome to the Islamic focus program. Today we begin the first in a two part series on Muhammad in the Bible, or Prophet Muhammad is foretold in the Bible. I have with me as a guest on today's program. Dr. Jamal Badawi of St. Mary's University,

brother Jamal,

the, for the viewers who have been watching the urban following the Islamic focus program will know that the last two series have dealt with the topics of monotheism and Prophethood. Could you just perhaps tell us the connection between these the two programs and this new series that we're about to embark upon? Okay, in fact, the first two series

we're focusing mainly about the Muslim testimony, the bearing witness that there is no deity but Allah which means God and that Muhammad is His Messenger. So the first tos on monotheism dealt specifically with the concept of monotheism and Islam.

The second part, which believing in Prophet Mohammed, as a prophet included, also believe in all previous prophets that were sent before Mohammed. So that's how we dealt with issues like the need for Prophethood the nature of Revelation, the characteristics of the Prophet, the relationship between Prophethood and prophecy, ingenuity, question of miracles get into profits, the number of profits and finally, the finality of prophethood through Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. In the last three series, there are three programs of the series on Prophethood we singled out the one of the great prophets about whom they have been a great deal of controversy, and that's profit Jesus

Christ, we speak peace be upon him. And we spend three sessions trying to explore what the Quran says about his lineage, his birth,

his natures, and his mission as a prophet. So what you're talking about today really is somewhat connected with Prophethood, because it also deals with the prophethood, of another great prophet, and that's the final of all prophets, Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, and try to show that his coming was foretold both in the old as well as the New Testament from the Bible itself.

Well, this is an interesting point, the Prophet Muhammad in the in the Bible, as a Muslim, most people would know that the Quran is the Holy Book of Muslims.

How is it that you would be using the Bible as a as a reference if

they might find this strange, right? I think those who find it strange

find it so simply because of having two notions about the attitude of the Muslim towards the Bible. Both of these notions are erroneous. In fact, one notion says that Muslim base is faith on the Bible, I heard some people saying that you take the Bible as part of the source of your faith.

And the other assumption is that Muslim reject the Bible in total does not accept the single word and it because it has changed or has undergone changes throughout history. Now, I said that both are erroneous. The first one is erroneous, because

a Muslim does not base his face on the Bible because the Quran is the last and the only authentic scripture of God that has been recorded in the lifetime of its prophet and has come to us without any theological or philosophical mixing are human ideas, just pure, Divine Word. So one cannot really say we base our face on on the Bible. But on the other hand, it is also just as biased and closed minded to say a Muslim, reject each and every word in the Bible because the Quran indicate that the Bible, whether old or new testament originally emanated from God it came as a revelation to this. The fact that there has been changes possibly inaccuracies in

Communicating these teachings to us, does not necessarily mean that each and every word or each and every verse really is erroneous. So, in fact,

there are three basic reasons I'd say why the Muslim cannot reject the Bible in total. One is that

one of the basic articles of faith in Islam is that the Muslim should believe in all prophets of God prior to Muhammad. And that also requires believe in the holy books that were revealed to them in their original and pure form. Secondly, we have indicated before that all prophets actually taught Islam in a sense of submission to the will of God. And it was only through the last prophet Mohammed that this mission of Islam has been completed and perfected. So how could the Muslim reject

earlier forms of Islam if you will? And finally, you will find that there are certain portions in the Bible, even in its present form?

Which the Muslim find no reason really, to scrub it with or to reject? So then

perhaps it might be helpful to inform the viewers of the program, the basis for accepting or not accepting portions of the Bible? Is it an arbitrary kind of thing? Or? Or is there some kind of objective basis that you use to distinguish between those portions of the Bible which you would accept and those portions which you would not accept? One day the Quran itself, the Word of God give an answer to this question.

And let me read the verse first, just as it is, so that there will be no misunderstanding of what it means.

This is a source entity. In the Quran, it says, right? Yeah. It says that.

to thee, that is to do Mohammed, we send the scriptures, that's the Quran in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it and guarding it and safety.

From this, it's quite obvious that's in the fifth chapter in the Quran. That is the Quran has been revealed to Prophet Muhammad, confirming whatever truth remains intact, of previous revelation given to peers, prophets and the crucial point guarding or protecting it from errors that is, correcting misconceptions, correcting philosophical ideas that were added to the pure revelation, as given to this process, there is a foundation for that.

Indeed, you will find that there are so many points in the both in the old as well as the New Testament, where the Muslim definitely accepts as portions that remained intact. When you read in the Old Testament, for example, here, O Israel, the Lord our God is one God. And then you read again in the New Testament, for example, in the Gospel according to Mark in chapter 12, verse 29, Prophet Jesus peace be upon him repeating exactly the same statement and then the Quran also affirms the oneness, absolute oneness of God, then what reason with the Muslim has to say no, I don't accept anything from the Bible. It's consistent with what the Quran as the last revelation has indicated.

However, if there are certain things that the Quran has definitely denied, as been said by the prophets, some alien ideas or philosophies, then in this case, the Muslim would say right, possibly this part has not remained intact. So there is an objective criteria, and that is that the Quran itself is the criterion. One interesting thing is that one of the names of the Quran in Arabic is called al Furqan.

For Kant means in Arabic, the criterion or something that sits or divides between truth and falsehood, that is, one can examine any scriptures, taking the Quran as the final truth, and as the final and ultimate reference for what God has revealed in the past. I think many of the

viewers of the program, particularly those who are non Muslim, might be surprised by the fact that

the Quran mentions that the Bible in its original form has contained prophecies about the advent of Prophet Muhammad. I suppose if you were to approach the average non Muslim on the street and ask him what does the Bible say about Prophet Mohammed? I'm sure he would answer nothing. Right? Perhaps you might comment on this.

This this point, in other words, that you're asking us to whether there's any foundation in the Quran itself? Yes. Well, this type mentioning that the that the Bible does contain many prophecies about the advent of Prophet Muhammad and perhaps it might be interesting for you to comment on these for those people who

who may not be aware

these prophecies and backed might insist that the Bible contains no such prophecy. Okay, let me quote you two or three verses from the Quran, which provide the foundation for the Muslim, to show that this is not something that somebody has discovered or a Muslim scholar have just recently found out there are basis in that in the Quran itself. For example, in the Quran in chapter seven, verse 157, it says, Those describing believers, those who follow the apostle, the unlettered, Prophet, Muhammad, whom they find mentioned in their own scriptures, in the law, or Torah, and the gospel, for he commands them what is just and forbids them what is even, and allows them as law for what is

good and pure, and prohibits them from what is bad and impure. He releases them from the heavy burdens, and from the yolks that are upon them. So it is those who believe in Him, honor Him, help him and follow the light, which is sit down with him, it is they who will prosper. This is one in the same vein, also, the claim is made very clearly in the Quran, that possibly in original or older forms of the Bible, particularly the Old Testament, there were already clear references even about the advent of Prophet Muhammad, I give you documentation from the Quran first,

in chapter two, verses 146 and 147. It says, the people of the book and that term in the Quran used to refer particularly to Jews and Christians, the People of the Book no this, this was interpreted as profit or no this profit as they know their own sons. But some of them conceal the truth, which they themselves know. In other words, some of the learn some of those who had access in the past to the Scriptures used to conceal this, even though the description and the profile of that prophet to come has been indicated to them, these two verses applied to the foundation in the Quran, about what exists in the Old Testament. There is one also even about the New Testament. And that would be even

more startling to find out, especially when you come later in the program about the prophecies from the New Testament. But quoting Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, we find that

in chapter 661, verse six,

it says, and remember Jesus, the son of Mary said, Oh children of Israel, I am the apostle of God sent to you, confirming the law, or the law, which came before me, and giving glad tidings of an apostle or prophet to come after me, whose name shall be met, which is the same name as Mohammed because both me and the priest one. But when he came to them with clear science, they said, this is evidence sorcery. So from these three citations from the Quran, you find that both in the old as well as the New Testament, the Quran, claims that there were signs there were processes about the advent of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon. So coming to the Bible now.

Many as I've mentioned, many people said, well, I've read the Bible. In fact,

I've surprised myself. I've read the Bible many times to learn that the

Bible does mention

Muhammad.

Many people say that they've read it many times, but I've never saw the name Muhammad.

What would your response be to those people? The answer is very simple.

Many theologians, Christian theologians would claim that there are so many prophecies that are very clear, about foretelling the advent of Prophet Jesus peace be upon him. Where in the Old Testament is the name Jesus appears?

And the answer is no.

So the problem here is not just having a name, but rather having a profile a clear evidence, corroborating evidence that put together shows that Prophet Jesus or Prophet Muhammad peace be upon them were first taught in the in the Old Testament.

Now, in the same problem, and in the same vein, we'll find that as we move on in this program, which even might take more than two sessions, I suppose, if we want to cover it in a reasonable and thorough way, that will find that there is a clear portrait about the advent of Prophet Muhammad unmistakable prophecies to the point that historically speaking, there were so many sincere Jews and Christians at the time when Prophet Muhammad was sent, who embraced Islam who became Muslims and followed him basically, on the fact that they have found that his description his profile is

His history corresponds perfectly with the kind of prediction or signs that they had or learned through their own scriptures or their own traditions. So many of his contemporaries actually became Muslim because of that.

The challenge in my mind, which really faces all believers today, both

Muslims, Christians and Jews as well, because those face are faced that has common heritage, at least insofar as their connection with the patriarch of monotheism, that's Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him. This challenge is to rise above the centuries of theological antagonism, to rise above dogmatism, and to rediscover the truth and the connection that ties together this great faith. And that even in the present form of the Bible, with all the reservations that the Muslim would have about the accuracy of its recording of the revelation, instead, we will be able to discover so many clear signs that make this or cross that particular bridge that has been

destroyed for for too long.

We all know that there are so many traditional interpretations, I would like to say from the very beginning, there are traditional interpretations of the prophecies that appear in the Old Testament. And the claim is made that none of which applies to Prophet Mohammed. So I acknowledge there are interpretations. All I'm saying that, in my humble opinion, there are erroneous interpretations at distance, as far as some of them are concerned. And we will be showing very obvious and very clearly, as we go on, that definitely some of those prophecies, even in the present form, applies specifically to the advent of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. And that could go a long way,

establishing those bridges, just to be sure now.

I'm sure some of the viewers must be puzzled. Are you saying that all of the prophecies which were contained in the Bible, which have been interpreted to apply to Jesus actually apply to Prophet Mohammed instead? No, no, I didn't say that. I'm glad that you asked that question to clarify that issue.

There is no problem whatsoever in the mind of the Muslim accepting the property Prophethood of Jesus, peace be upon him because the Quran it says it's an article of faith in the Quran mention his story. And he mentioned he was a prophet.

And on that ground alone, a Muslim would not rule out at all, that there are certain processes in the Old Testament that applies to Jesus because He acknowledges him as a prophet. So there's no problem for the Muslim accepting that. All I can say is that there are other prophecies, in addition to those foretelling the coming of Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, also foretelling the advent of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. And some, some of those prophecies even have been mistakenly interpreted to apply to Jesus, what actually they are applicable very clearly as we saw, to Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. So there are course there's there's no problem of having both because

after all, both Jesus and Muhammad, peace be upon them came after the Old Testament has been better. I'm sure people would be interested then then looking at some of these specific prophecies in the in the Bible,

clarifying those which refer to Prophet Muhammad.

There are many prophecies there, where would you like to? Would you like to start at first, it would appear to me that perhaps the logical point to start from it's just the very first book in the Bible in the Torah, the book of Genesis, I have a chart here that might

summarize

our discussion on this.

This whole chart except for this corner, which I covered, and I'll show you why I covered this for the time being. The entire chart is based exclusively on the Bible not talking about the Quran. Now we're talking about the Bible itself.

And to summarize, it all starts with Prophet Abraham, which I mentioned is regarded highly by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the patriarch of monotheism, the father of both the Arabs and the Israelites,

according to the Bible, particularly in the book of Genesis, and I just read one, to give an example in chapter 12. In verses two and three.

It says that God addressed Abraham saying, I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great, and thou shall be a blessing, and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curses D. And in the shell, all the families of the earth be blessed. This is on the basis of the King James Version of the Bible.

There's a similar statement also that you find just for the brevity of time just give the number it's in the same book of Genesis, in chapter 17, verse four, again, saying basically the same thing, and indicating God's promise to Abraham to bless.

Through him through his descendants. Now, because of this sincerity, that was shown by Prophet Abraham, as you know, in his history of struggling and fighting of the idolatry, and deviation from truth, God rewarded him. First of all, he had his first wife, Sarah.

And according to

chapter 16, verse one, all of this references, by the way, about that chapters from Genesis I just mentioned the chapter and verse number in 16. One,

we are told that Sarah was burn, so she could not burn any children, for Abraham. Okay. Now, the Bible also tell us in chapter 16, Book of Genesis, verse three, that Sarah had a bondwoman are handmade by the name of Hagar, an Egyptian lady.

And that because Sarah was bearing, she asked Abraham, to get married to Hagar, she gave him Hagar as a wife. In fact, the Bible is very specific on that, that you gave him as a wife, for Abraham.

Now, the Bible also tell us, and the reference to that is in 1611, Chapter 16, verse 11,

that the first child born to Abraham, was Ishmael, from Hagar, this month woman, okay.

And not only this, we are told also, in the same chapter that this name, Ishmael, was actually chosen by God, that is, the angels told Hagar that this will be the name of the child when she conceived him. All right. Now, shifting back to what happened later on to Sarah.

Ishmael was born when Prophet Abraham was 86 years old, according to the Bible, and would be coming to that point in the following program. Perhaps there's some very interesting remark to make on this.

about 16, about 14 years laters Sarah, who was burn miraculously gave birth to Isaac.

Because the Bible say that when Isaac was born, Abraham was 100 years old.

All right, okay. Now from the second son of Isaac, came all the Israelite prophets, as you know, and this includes Moses, and include Jesus, the last of the Israelite, prophets. Okay.

From the descendants of Ishmael,

we find that the Bible in several places mentioned the name kadesh. And Kadar, according to the Bible was the second son of Ishmael.

Not only this, we find that the Bible always connects between kadesh and Arabs, because what happens that Ishmael, as you know, is the father of the Arabs.

So then kadesh has some significance when it's mentioned to the right because it refers to the, to the Arabs.

Now, the only

measure profit that we know of

other than the Israelite prophets, who came from the descendants of Ishmael, is

the last prophet, Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him.

Now, how does that relate to the prophecies in the Bible?

We go back to the Bible. And we have said before that, in Genesis one, verses two and three are also in Genesis 17, verse four, that God has promised to bless all the nations of the earth through Prophet Abraham or through his descendants. Yes. Not only this, we find that there are specific evidence in the Bible that shows that that promise includes actually also prophet Ishmael.

In other words,

to quote

in chapter

21, verse 18,

it says,

Arise, addressing hegre, Arise, lift up the lead and hold him in hand, for I will make him a great nation. So there was a specific promise also

From the descendants of Ishmael, they will be a great nation. And when God uses his own criteria, of course for greatness, it doesn't talk about numbers. They have been so many oppressive and tyrannical empires with large numbers in the past, but from God's point of view, greatness also include greatness in terms also of the spiritual heritage, that is, there will be a profit also, or the owner of prophethood will also be included in the among the descendants of Ishmael. So from this clears, prophecies, it's quite obvious that

according to the Bible, there will be some great blessings that will come to the families of the earth, through both branches of Abraham, the Israelites, and the ishmaelites. And like I said, the biggest historical evidence and manifestation is that the only measure of profit from the descendants of Ishmael was the last prophet Muhammad, peace be upon

the we only have a few moments

left in today's program.

Many people this is very interesting information that you provide. Many people have completely disregarded

this side of the Abraham's family tree, on the basis that

this lady was a slave woman, and that really,

this son was illegitimate. And there are other arguments that are put forward to nullify this, the branch of the family, which eventually leads into Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.

Is there any additional response that you would make to those people who argue that

the the fast

that involves Hagar

should be

disregarded? What actually can refer to the, to the Bible itself? For example,

in

chapter 21,

I have already cited

Yeah, in chapter 21, and verse

13.

It says, and also of the son of the bunt woman, will I make a nation because he is thy seed? And I wonder how could God use the term vicp to apply to Abraham, if Ishmael was an illegitimate son? The question here is this word in the entire Bible? Does it say that Ishmael was an illegitimate son of Isaac,

of course, that had its operands that we've already mentioned, the Bible itself mentions that

Sarah has asked Abraham to take this bonds woman, as his wife as his wife, there was a legitimate, legally recognizable, exact relationship that existed between them, but we've exhausted our time for today's program. We want to thank the viewers for watching this session of Islam and focus. And we'd like to invite you to come back next week where we'll continue this various things discussion with our guests, Dr. Jamal Badawi

in part two of our series, Mohammed in the Bible, or Prophet Muhammad, as foretold in the Bible. That's our program for today. Thank you for watching Islamic focus.