Muhammad in The Bible 3 – A Prophet Like Unto Moses

In the Name of God, the benevolent the Merciful, the creator and the Sustainer of the universe, I greet you with the greetings of all the profits from Adam to Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu wasallam peace be upon him Assalamu alaikum which means peace be upon you. In today's program, we have part three of our series on Prophet Muhammad in the Bible, or Prophet Muhammad is foretold in the Bible. I have with me to discuss the today's topic, Dr. Jamal Badawi from St. Mary's University. Welcome to Islam and focus, brother

for the benefit of the viewers of the Islamic phobic program, who may not have caught the last series, could you perhaps summarize for their benefit to what we discussed in part two of our series?

Okay, the main points are basically that there are several processes in the Bible for telling the advent of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. And that many of these prophecies has been interpreted in a traditional way for hundreds of years. And that many are not aware that in fact, they do refer to the advent of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him.

We have studied as an example of this, the prophecy that appears in the book of Genesis. And we mentioned there that God made a promise to Prophet Abraham, to make of his descendants a great nation, or to bless the nations of the earth through him. And that more specifically, there was a promise to have a covenant with his children, both of his first and second children, Ishmael, and Isaac. And then we

refer to this chart that we have last time.

And we indicated that from Isaac, the second son of Abraham, came all the Israelite prophets, including Moses, and Jesus, peace be upon them, and that the covenant of God and His promise has been also fulfilled, according to the book of Genesis, through the descendants of Ishmael. And we mentioned that the only measure of profit that we know of who comes from the descendants of Ishmael, because this man was the grandfather of the Arabs, was the last prophet, Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. So the prophecy is there in Genesis and the fulfillment has already taken place through both branches of the house of Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him. We also discussed some of the

unjustified biases against Ishmael in favor of Isaac and we indicated that this only reflects type of ethnic

prejudice really, because the text of the Bible itself, and the moral values of any face does not really preclude Ishmael, whom we have proven from the Bible to be illegitimate son of Abraham, actually the first son, and his mother being a legitimate wife, also to Prophet Abraham. So this, this is a very crucial and important prophecy at the very beginning, and the Bible, but that's not the only one.

In addition to the this prophecy that we've discussed last time, in the Genesis, are there other prophecies in the in the Bible? There aren't many Prophet Muhammad? Yes, there are many I'm trying to focus and this program on some of the major ones, they actually I could write volumes on it.

But one of the most interesting one is in the book of Deuteronomy if we follow more or less the sequence in the Bible, and I'm referring particularly to chapter 18, verse 18. Let me read it first, again, on the basis of the King James Version.

Moses here is quoting God,

I will raise them up a prophet, from among their brethren, notice this word from among their brethren,

like unto thee, that is like unto thee or Moses,

and we'll put my words in his mouth, and he should speak unto them all that I shall command him.

Now based on the discussion

That we had earlier on the descendants of Abraham. If we refer back to the original chart,

we mentioned that

Ishmael and Isaac, were both brothers. They were both the children of Prophet Abraham. Now, when Moses was quoting God as promising to send a prophet like Moses, diverse says, from their, or their brother.

Now, who are the president of the Israelites?

The Brotherhood of the Israelites are simply the ishmaelites, which again, is a clear, straightforward indication, that that Prophet which are who is going to be like unto Moses, from the brethren of the Israelites, the only one we know off is Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and no one else. This seems like a very straightforward explanation. Are there other explanations that have been made of this reference? And if so, what are what is your assessment of these explanations, there are some explanation that really does not hold much water, especially if you put it in the context also of the following portions of the verse and the following verses that we were going to,

to discuss. But one question that could be raised, for example, is that when Moses says from

the brethren, is it possible that he's referring to other children of Abraham, other than the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael like the descendants of keturah, for example, the third wife of Abraham, whom he married after the death of his first wife, sir,

but this is very weak and not very relevant, because historically speaking, as a matter of fact, we don't know of any measures, great profit that has any resemblance to the great role played by Prophet Moses, peace be upon him from other descendants of Abraham, we all know that Prophethood has been basically within the branches the Israelite branch and Nationale plans to Prophet Mohammed.

Furthermore, we find that the Bible is very explicit in the case of the promise about making great nation out of the Israelites and the ishmaelites. But we don't see a clearly explicit statement. For others, the same thing would apply also to the president of the Jacobites, the descendants of Israel. This is the brother of, of Jacob, again, this is very weak, and there is nothing really that supported in terms of texts of the Bible or an actual historical reality. Some people also may claim that possibly this verse applies

to another Israelite prophets. And they point out, for example, to verse 15, in the same chapter, chapter 18, verse 15. And they say that a term there that's used is from the midst of the,

from the president, both terms are used and say, Alright, that's from the minister of the Israelites. But there are a number of problems of taking this word literally, because number one, it is quite possible that the term they're missed, is a later addition to the Bible reflecting these ethnic

biases that we have mentioned, for example, against Ishmael and always in the favor of the Israelite side of the children of Abraham. And this is not something new, or the first one last time we quoted the story of Hagar when she was taking Ishmael and we showed the clip inconsistency which like a quoted from the Bible's, or one of the numerous problems in the terms of the accuracy of recording of the events in the Bible. But Furthermore, what is really more important is verse 18. Because in verse 18, Moses is quoting the Lord is quoting God directly. And this carries more weight. And Moses cannot really violate or change the Word of God when he says, from the President or from their

brother, and that's the president of the Israelites, I wish my life

Furthermore, the term Brethren, as used in the context of the Bible, has been used a visa v the relationship between the Israelites and the ishmaelites. For example, in the book of Genesis in chapter 16, verses 10 to 12. It talks about prophet Ishmael peace be upon him that he lived in the presence of his brethren. In chapter 25, verse 18, it talks about him dying in the presence of all his brethren. In fact, if you check the Hebrew Dictionary of the Bible, it defines brethren as used in the biblical sense. In the following sense it says a personification of a group of tribes who were

regarded as sneered kinsmen, to the Israelites, and there is no near kinsmen,

or no nearer kinsmen, tribes, to the Israelites other than the ishmaelites, because they are their brethren. They're just descendants of the brother of Isaac. That's Ishmael. Is it soccer consistent, actually, you could also refer even in the new testament to the act, chapter three, verse 22, in which Peters, even after Jesus is quoting, the same verse, again, without using the minister simply saying, God has promised to raise until the from the brethren or from them from the president, and profit. So I mean, the evidence is consistent, showing that it really means the ishmaelites side of the house or the Abraham. Okay, let's look at other aspects that are other indications in this

first, are there other comments that you would like to make other things that are of interest in this that might shed light on this in the balance of the verse?

I think perhaps, one crucial word that's used in 1818, is when it says, from their president, a prophet, like unto thee, that is a prophet like unto Moses. I think this is significant because the only great prophets who came after

Moses, were Jesus and Muhammad, there's no question about that there were minor prophets. But these are the major ones who had the greatest impact on word, religious history. Now, as we mentioned before, it could not be Jesus because it says from thy brethren, and nobody denies that Jesus was a Jew was raised as a Jew, an Israelite, he admitted that the Christians have made that the Jews admit that the Muslims also admit that there's no difference whatsoever on this fact. So it does not apply to Jesus because that particular one, because he's not really from the president of the Israelites, he is himself an Israelite, okay. However, other people say that there are similarities between

Moses and Jesus, in a sense that were they were both Jews, and they were both prophets. They were both, they have both performed miracles. During those times the rulers are the killing of all male children, and so on. But again, like I said, that contradicts the term Brethren, that has been already explained.

But even then, we find even if you take it for just for the sake of argument, that Jesus could be a possibility or a possible candidate for this prophecy, that you find that there is a great deal more similarity between prophets, Moses and Muhammad, on one hand, then the similarity between prophets Moses and Jesus peace be upon them.

I see that you have a chart here For comparison, would you like to share that with us, so perhaps, clarify this point? Okay. Now, that we have

four columns on this chart, the first is the area of comparison, the subject of discussion. And then we have something about Prophet Moses, Prophet, Muhammad, and Prophet Jesus, peace be upon them all. And then we'll show again, that the resemblance between Moses and Muhammad is very clear. And that in fact, Prophet Jesus peace be upon him, actually had a great deal of similarity with these two prophets in many respects. And these are only 10 points, they could be more. But first of all,

regarded as that is, Moses was regarded as Prophet Mohammed was regarded as a prophet.

Jesus was regarded at least by Christians as Son of God, that point alone privileges, because the prophecy is about a prophet like unto Moses. And when Jesus is regarded as God incarnate, or Son of God, then that precludes him. At least, this prophecy doesn't apply to him. Like I mentioned last time, there are other prophecies that apply to Jesus, but this not this one. Second, in terms of parents, Moses had enormous

mother, father, so did Muhammad. But Jesus was born only from a mother. In terms of birth.

The Birth of Moses was normal. So was Muhammad's, whereas Jesus birth was virgin birth, according to both the Muslims and Christians.

family life, Moses married and had children, so that Muhammad, but about Jesus, it's quite unlikely there is no record of him getting married or having children, at least as far as we know.

In terms of death, Moses and Mohammed both had natural deaths, natural causes. The death of Jesus, according to Christian not according to Muslims, is an unusual and violent death.

In terms of the emphasis on his mission, we find that Moses mission was

Both spiritual and legal. He broke the law. So did Muhammad. But Jesus Miss admission was mainly spiritual actually said I came not to destroy the law of profit. I think that's in Matthew chapter five, I came to fulfill

in terms of acceptance of leadership, Moses, leadership was accepted by people, they might have given him hard time, but his leadership at least was accepted in his lifetime. So it was Mohammed leadership. Whereas Jesus Himself complained that his leadership was not accepted was resisted by the very people to whom he was sent, the Israelites was complaining frequently.

In terms of careers, we find that Moses had a career both as a prophet and a governor, ruler also to implement the Divine Law. So it was Muhammad. But in the case of Jesus, again, his emphasis, or his career does not include that authority.

In terms of methods or encounters with enemies, we find that Moses did encounter his enemies, the Egyptians, and they were drowned. He had victory. Muhammad did encounter also the pagans who tried to destroy him and Muslims, and he had victory over them in Battlefield. But there is no such thing, at least in terms of physical combat, with in the case of Prophet Jesus peace be upon him. In terms of the mission,

we find that the mission of Prophet Moses was completed, in a sense that he succeeded not only in preaching, but also established a new order, following the best commandments, the same thing applied to Mohammed before his death, there was already an Islamic community that was victorious over its enemies. And also, in the case of Jesus, we find that the opposite was true that the persecution of Christians continued for many years to come. And that even until the year 325, one Constantine, at least was said to have embraced Christianity and then started releasing the pressures on Christians. And this, like I said, I'm not the only ones. Actually, there's another striking similarity. Moses

left Egypt, his birthplace, at the time when there was a conspiracy to kill him. And he went to Midian to Prophet are known in the Bible as Jethro

Mohamad also left his birthplace Mecca. In the same night, he was to be assassinated by the pagans, and he went to Medina, there are other similarities. Also, like I said, the charts speak for itself. Yeah, I think earlier, when we were reading the verse, there was a

quotation that God will put the words in his mouth.

Do you consider this to be relevant? The Prophet Mohammed, I consider to be very crucial. Okay, repeat after me. La ilaha illAllah La ilaha illAllah. Now, when you said that, did you say that out of your own choice? No, you did instruction? Yes. Okay. That means then I put the words in your mouth. Yes, you did not think you did not also, or put up this word, you're simply repeating what I told you. That's putting the words in his mouth, right. And this is very striking. Because as we described previously, in the one of the programs on Prophethood,

that the way the revelation came the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, the Quran was that Angel Gabrielle would come to him, dictate to him what he should recite. And then Mohammed simply recites as he hears. In other words, Mohammed is not the author of the Quran, as many people make this fifth mistake is not the author of it does not make it he was not even thinking or using his own intellectual knowledge, when he was reciting the Quran is simply repeating what Gabrielle was saying. And we said that this was not a hidden secret. It continues for 23 years in the presence of hundreds of followers, and that the Quran was committed directly to memory, and his presence as well

as

to writing also, what could be a more beautiful explanation of the term, put the words in his mouth that God is putting the words in the mouth of Prophet Mohammed that he's repeating what is exactly dictated to him, as I indicated before also in one program, that even the prophetic tradition which comes from the mouth of the Prophet is kept separate from the Quran because at least he uses his own words to express that revelation whereas the Quran is verbatim word for word, expression of what that's putting the word in its mouth. Not only this, we find that there is an internal evidence of that in the Quran itself.

For example, in chapter 53, verses, verses three and four, it says, He that is Mohammed. Prophet Mohammed does not speak of his own desire. It is no less than a revelation sent down to him. It does not say what he wants. He's saying what is being revealed.

To him what's been dictated to him word for word? It is obvious then that both on the basis of overwhelming historical evidence on the basis of internal evidence from the Quran itself,

that the Quran is nothing but the words being put in the mouth of the Prophet, which is a manifestation or fulfillment of that Prophet. In fact, if you recall, the very first verse

revealed the Prophet Muhammad when he started, is he receiving the Quran, which continued over 23 years? The very first verse, you remember, what does it say?

Listen site, the site and the name of the Lord, which means that you don't say something on the site, what is being taught to you? And that's another very obvious sign of who that Prophet is exploring this verse a little further and in the context of once again of Deuteronomy 1818. Is there any additional collaboration in this first, for the interpretations that we've been discussing? I want to make sure that things are put in the proper context, let me say a diverse following that, verse 19, for example, it says, And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words, which he shall speak in my name,

I will required of him

to continue on verse 20. But the prophet which shall presume to speak a word, in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in my in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die, which in biblical language also mean he should be put to death. Now, this is an interesting point, because one of the signs of that foretold Prophet, that He will speak in the name of God, that that term has been repeated twice in verse 19, and verse 20, in the Deuteronomy. Now, this is an extremely interesting point to comment on. For those who are not familiar with the Quran. The Quran contains 114 chapters, because sutras

113 of these sutras start with Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, in the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful, which means that virtually every chapter in the Quran starts in the Name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful. And that's quite interesting. Because like I said, the the prophecy say that he will speak in the name of God. So it's not the authorship of Muhammad, that he's presenting this information in the name of God, because God revealed that to him.

Okay.

But that's not all. In fact, it has been the custom of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, when he starts doing any act, eating, drinking, sleeping, working, to always repeat that

formula In the name of Allah or God, the Beneficent, the Merciful, and he taught Muslims to do the same thing. So he speaks always in the name of the Lord. And there's something that's quite curious also,

as you know, when you compare the Islamic formula, Bismillah R Rahman R, which is the term Allah, not God, which I've explained in previous in one previous program on monotheism, that this is a very delicate term, and it is a lot more accurate, because Allah means the one and only God. And in addition, on top of that, it also means the name the person and name of God, which established the personal report between the human and the creators. And this is very significant, because like we said before, the term God is subject to plurality, you can say Gods is subject to femininity, you can say, Goddess, but only the term Allah is not subject to any of this in Arabic, it's it's a term

that simply there's a lot, there's not a last, or Elias, there's nothing like that. Okay? Now, this is interesting, in view of the fact that the usual Christian formula that we normally hear, is in the name of the Father, for example, and the name of the Lord or in the name of God. But that's not the name of God. That's the description. That's the only the term Allah is the personal name

of God. And this is another corroborating evidence again, that beautifully and perfectly fit with the terms used in the

in the

five or so remaining minutes that we have on today's program. Are there any any additional clues that you might want to comment on? Okay, because of shortness of time, but I'm sure that the viewers would be able to check that on a copy of the Bible. If you really keep reading the remaining verses and that chapter, chapter 18. In Deuteronomy, there are additional clues. First of all, it says that the prophet who shall speak or pretend to speak in my name, something that have not commanded him he shall die or be put to death.

Now, we know for sure that Moses was not put to death.

We know for sure that Mohammed was not put to death, despite the fact that both prophets were subject to conspiracies to assassinate them. Yes. And that's an interesting point, isn't it? Yes. Okay. In addition to that,

you notice also as you go on reading in verses 21, and 22,

that there are

some criteria that Moses is given to people to find out whether the Prophet is really speaking in the name of God, or whether the person for example, is a false prophet.

And one of the most important thing he mentioned about the truthfulness of that Prophet is that he says that if a prophet tell you something that does not come to pass or prophesied something that does not come to pass, then you shall not be afraid of that profit, which means he's a false prophet.

This is a very interesting area, which we cannot cover fully in this program. But we could talk about it when you discuss the evidence of the revelation of the Quran, and that it comes from God not from any human source, or when we discuss also Islamic history, particularly the life of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. But suffice to say that both in the Quran and in the prophetic tradition of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. There are numerous prophecies that were made at a time where it sounded very unlikely that they will actually come to pass, and they did come to pass, not a single prophecy, not a single prophecy has proven to be false. And this is the most clear

manifestation according to the biblical criteria itself, of the truthfulness of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him I just mentioned Titan melon, you can, like I said, come to that later on.

The prediction that the Romans will have victory

over their opponents for some time, the prediction that Muslims will open

or have conquest in Persia and Rome and overthrow the tyrannical regimes that were dominant at this time. And this prophecy by the world was made when Muslims were very few and persecuted in sound, it's very unlikely that this will happen. About one particular person who was going to assassinate the Prophet was named Soraka. And the Prophet told him that someday you will wish the crown of the scissors the ruler of Prussia, and this did happen even after the death of the Prophet, the prophecy that some Muslims will divide, or we will be divided after his death and fight each other. The prophesy that his grandson and Hassan will play an important role in trying to reconcile this

difference. There are numerous

prophets, like say none of them proved

to be to be false or inapplicable, right? We only have a few seconds left in the program and a lot of time to explore this final question inadequately. I guess we have about a minute. But in the context of the Bible itself, in the context of the verse that we've been discussing here today, particularly to a person who has viewed the program and listen to the explanations have been given us on what is the what what would be the appropriate response? Is there any

obligation implied according to the Bible, in terms of you know, what a person who hears this prophecy is expected to do is in the context of the Bible of any other or any other religion or any other sensible criteria. As human beings, we have a moral and spiritual obligation to seek for the tourists. Once we find the truth, we are obliged to follow it not just to pay lip service to it or to discuss it as an academic issue. But since you asked me particularly about the criteria in the Bible, I refer you to chapter 18, verse 19, and Deuteronomy, in which it says, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words, that's the word of God which he chose to speak in my name or that Prophet

that IE Mohammed, I will require it of him. So that's a clear indication again, that is not just a matter of argument that there is a moral obligation to follow the truth once the person heart is comforted, and

reached the stage of certitude by the demand we've run out of time on our Islamophobic program today. I want to thank you for coming along to explain this very important topic. I want to thank our viewers for watching Islam's focus. Look forward to seeing you next time.