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Prophet Muhammad In The Bible
Prophet
Muhammad
in The Bible
by
Dr. Jamal Badawi
In the name of Almighty God,
the Merciful, the Compassionate
“Those who follow the Apostle, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own Scriptures, in the Torah and the Gospel…” (Quran 7:157; Trans.: Yusuf Ali)
Reference to the Bible
Is it justifiable for Muslims to quote the Bible or quote from it? There appears to be two common and extreme misconceptions about the Muslims’ attitudes towards the Bible:
a) that Muslims base their faith in full or in part on the Bible;
b) that Muslims reject the Bible in toto and accept no single word of it.
For Muslims the Qur’an is the last but not the only holy book revealed by Allah to mankind through His messengers. It is, however, the only holy book which remained intact from the time of its revelation until the present time. Not only is the full text of the Qur’an available, but it is also available in the full and exact form as uttered by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) at the time of its revelation and in the original language in which it was revealed (Arabic). No addition, deletion, or interpolation found its way into the Qur’an. For Muslims, the Qur’an is the only remaining authoritative and authentic revelation available to mankind; authoritative because an objective study of the Qur’an clearly shows its divine origin; and authentic because of the conclusive evidence that it remained intact and was transmitted to us as it was revealed without being mixed with human and philosophical ideas and doctrines. As such, Muslims do not need any other scriptures to base their faith on, either in full or in part.
On the other hand, it is erroneous to think that Muslims reject the Bible in toto and do not accept a single passage of it. There are at least two reasons for this:
a) One of the main articles of faith in Islam is the belief in all prophets and messengers sent before the advent of the last of them, Prophet Muhammad. This also necessitates believing in the holy books revealed to those prophets in the original forms of their revelation;
b) According to the Qur’an all prophets were Muslims (i.e. those who consciously and lovingly submitted to the will of Allah), what they taught was nothing but earlier versions of Islam (conscious and loving submission to Allah) and their sincere followers were Muslims as well. The fact that the transmission of earlier revelations, prior to the Qur’an suffered from inaccuracies and misinterpretations does not justify a total and categorical rejection of such scriptures. There are bound to be some passages and portions of the Bible whose essence, if not wording, need not be rejected by Muslims.
Criterion of Acceptance
What is the Muslim basis or criterion for accepting or not accepting portions or passages from the Bible? The Qur’an itself provides such criterion:
“And unto you have We revealed the Scripture with the truth, confirming whatever Scripture was before it, and a watch over it .... “ (the Qur’an 5:48)
This emphasizes two main aspects of the Qur’an:
a) The Qur’an confirms those teachings or passages of previous scriptures which remained intact.
b) The Qur’an is the last, complete, authoritative and authentic revelation. It is the final arbiter and the only criterion to correct any inaccuracy or misinterpretation which might have occurred in the transmission of scriptures. It helps in discovering human additions to or interpolations of previous revelations, even as it reveals possible deletions which might have taken place through the centuries prior to its revelation (the Qur’an). Indeed one of the names of the Qur’an is al-Furqan (the criterion which distinguishes between right and wrong, truth and falsehood).
It follows therefore that a Muslim has no reason to reject the essence of any passage in the Bible if such a passage is confirmed by the Qur’an. For example, we read in the New Testament a reiteration of one of the Ten Commandments:
“And Jesus answered him. The first of all commandments is hear, 0 Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord” (Mark 12:29)
A Muslim who reads this passage in the Qur’an can find no objection to its essence. After all the Qur’an confirms:
“Say He is Allaah, the One and Only (God)” (The Qur’an 112:1)
If, however, a Muslim reads in the Bible (or other previous scriptures for that matter) accusations of major moral sins levied against great prophets or doctrines which are totally negated in the Qur’an, the Muslim accepts only the Qur’anic version as the original unadulterated truth, revealed by Allah (God).
Likewise if the Bible (or other scriptures) contains apparent prophecies about the advent of Prophet Muhammad, and if the Qur’an confirms that fact, then there is nothing unusual or objectionable in referring to such prophecies.
Qur’anic Reference to Prophecies
Is there any conclusive Qur’anic basis for claiming that the Bible did contain prophecies about the advent of Prophet Muhammad?
The original revelations given to prophets in the past contained a complete and clear profile of the advent of Prophet Muhammad. Even in its present form(s) the Bible still contains several such prophecies as will be shown in the forthcoming chapters.
It is useful, however, to start off by documenting the above statement.
1. Describing true believers, the Qur’an states:
“Those who follow the messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, whom they will find described in the Torah and the Gospel which are with them). He will enjoin on them that which is right and forbid them that which is wrong. He will make lawfu1 for them all good things and prohibit for them only the foul; and he will relieve them of their burden and the fetters that they used to wear. Men those who believe in him, and honor him, and help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him: they are the successful.” (The Qur’an 7:157).
This ‘ayah (passage) indicates that the characteristics as well as the teaching of that “Apostle, the unlettered Prophet” were mentioned in the “Torah” and the “Gospel”.
1. Quoting the Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him), the Qur’an states:
“And when Jesus, son of Mary said: 0 children of Israel: Lo! I am the messenger of Allah unto you, confirming that which was (revealed) before me in the Torah, and bringing good tidings of a messenger who will come after me, whose name is praised one. Yet when he has come unto them with clear proofs, they say: This is mere magic. (The Qur’an 61:6).
An interesting aspect of this ‘ayah is that it indicates that in the original revelation uttered by Prophet Jesus, even the name of the long-awaited messenger was given: Ahmad, which is another name of Prophet Muhammad. This issue will be further discussed later on.
Name or Signs?
Turning to the Bible, some may hasten to ask: I read the Bible several times, but never saw the name Muhammad. What is the justification for the title “Muhammad in the Bible?”
Many Christian theologians find no difficulty in pointing out what they consider as clear prophecies of the advent of Jesus. Where in the Old Testament does the name Jesus appear? Nowhere’ The main question is whether or not the profile of “that prophet” to come was materialized, and who fits that profile?
The profile of Prophet Muhammad was so clear to many Jews and Christians among his contemporaries that many of them embraced Islam and accepted him as the fulfillment of numerous Biblical prophecies. Ever since, there have been many others who arrived at the same conclusion. Further questions pertaining to the possible mention of Muhammad’s name will be discussed later.
Biblical Prophecies About Jesus
Does that previous discussion mean that all prophecies which were believed to have been fulfilled in Prophet Jesus were actually fulfilled in Prophet Muhammad instead?
There is no reason to rule out the possibility that some of the Old Testament Prophecies were in fact fulfilled in Prophet Jesus. This does not constitute a problem for the Muslims. On the authority of the Qur’an alone, the Muslims accept Jesus as a legitimate and major prophet of Allah. The same was reiterated in the sayings of Prophet Muhammad. There are, however, several Old Testament prophecies which were for a long time misinterpreted so as to apply to Jesus. Such prophecies do in fact refer to Prophet Muhammad. One such prophecy is in Deuteronomy 18:18 to be discussed later. Analysis and reinterpretation of such prophecies should in no way reflect negatively on the honoured status of Prophet Jesus in the hearts of Muslims. It is rather a revelation of the truth which would have been proclaimed by Jesus himself if he were among us today.
Main Elements in Muhammed’s Profile.
What then are the elements of the “profile” of Prophet Muhammad as depicted in the Bible?
That profile includes six crucial elements:
1. The lineage of the prophet,
2. His characteristics,
3. The location from which he was to come,
4. The revelation which was to be given to him,
5. Events which were to take place in his lifetime, and
6. The time when he was to come.
Lineage of “That Prophet”
Prophet Abraham: Common Father
Jews, Christians, and Muslims claim a common father, Prophet Abraham, the patriarch of monotheism. What does his family tree look like?
A simple look at it may help show some of the key figures in the Abrahamic family tree.
Abraham married Sarah From their union they had in their progeny the following prophets: Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, and Jesus.
Abraham married Hagar. From their union they had in their progeny the following prophets: Ishmael and Muhammad.
According to the Bible, Abraham was first named to Sarah who happened to be a barren woman and bore him no children (Genesis 16:1).
In the chronology of the Book of Genesis, God made an important promise to Abraham, even before any child was born to him:
“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. “ (Gen. 12:2-3)
In a later chapter in the Book of Genesis (Gen. 16) we are told that Sarah gave Abraham a handmaid (Hagar) to be his wife, in the hope that she may bear a child to Abraham.
Hagar did bear Abraham’s first child whose name, Ishmael (peace be upon him), meaning “God hears”, was given by the angels (Gen. 16:11). For the following fourteen years, Ishmael was Abraham’s only child.
After the birth of Ishmael and before the birth of Isaac, God’s promise to bless the families of the earth through Abraham’s descendants was repeated:
“As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. “ (Gen. 17:4)
Another pleasant surprise was in store for Abraham. In his old age, his first wife Sarah was to bear him another child, Isaac (peace be upon him) (Gen. 21:5).
The Bible tells us that because of jealousy, Sarah asked her husband Abraham to cast out Ishmael and his mother Hagar (Gen. 21:10) who subsequently dwelt in the wilderness of “PARAN” (Gen. 21:21).
God’s promise to bless the descendants of Abraham was indeed realized. Through Abraham‘s second son Isaac came the Israelite prophets, including Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon and Jesus (peace be upon them all), the last Israelite prophet. Fulfillment of God’s promise through the Israelite branch of Abraham is clearly and abundantly articulated in the Bible. How was that promise fulfilled through the Ishmaelite branch of the Abrahamic family tree? Or was it fulfilled at all? Or has it yet to be fulfilled?
To start with, God does not renege on His promises, nor does he forget, them. It is interesting to note that while the Bible contains elaborate details about the Israelite branch, the Ishmaelite branch is virtually ignored. With the exception of a few references here and there, the Bible is virtually silent on the Ishmaelites.
If it is accepted that God does not renege on His promises (a prerequisite of faith for any believer in God) then we are left with two possibilities:
a. that such a promise of blessing which included the Israelites had been fulfilled;
b. that it is yet to be fulfilled.
It is well known that out of the descendants of Ishmael came the last great prophet of monotheism, Prophet Muhammad, whose followers constitute nearly one-fifth of the total world population in all corners of the earth.
After blessing the descendants of Isaac, the Israelites, for centuries with the spiritual leadership, and after many lapses and rebellions against God on their part, a final chance was given to them through the mission of the last Israelite prophet, Jesus. When Jesus too was rejected, it was now time in God’s plan to fulfill His promise to the Ishmaelite branch as well, the branch which remained obscure until it was made a “great nation” through the mission of the well-known Prophet Muhammad, a descendant of Abraham through Ishmael. That shift of prophethood and spiritual leadership to the Ishmaelite branch of Abraham’s descendants brought to completion the centuries-old promise of God to bless the families of the earth through Abraham, the father of monotheism and patriarch revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims.
To any unbiased mind, the above evidence alone suffices to show the connection between such great prophets as Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad
If such prophecies about the advent of Prophet Muhammad are that obvious, how is it that millions of Bible readers could not come to such a conclusion?
Putting other reasons aside for now, it seems that combination of erroneous notions and misinterpretations are partly responsible for this situation.
Let’s analyze some of these notions.
Objections to the Inclusion of Ishmael in God’s Covenant with Abraham
Were Ishmael and his descendants excluded from God’s promise and covenant?
A common, yet erroneous, answer to this question is yes. A number of reasons are given:
1. Ishmael was not a legitimate son of Abraham. According to the commentators of The Interpreter’s Bible:
“Ishmael, like Isaac, is a descendant of Abraham; but Isaac is the child of ultimate promise, born to Sarah the true wife while Ishmael is born of the slave girl. Though he came of the stock of Abraham, yet it was right that he should be separated from the legitimate son.
This argument cannot be supported logically, morally, or even on the basis of the available versions of the Bible itself. Did the alleged state of bondage of Hagar prevent her from being a legitimate wife of Abraham. Why was she not a “true” wife? And if she were not a “true” wife like Sarah, what kind of wife was she?
The text of the Bible, not withstanding the possibilities of later insertions or changes, does not make such a claim. In Genesis 16:3, Hagar is described as Abraham’s wife
If Hagar was a legitimate wife of Abraham, there are no grounds whatsoever for questioning the legitimacy of her son Ishmael. Indeed the Bible refers to Ishmael as Abraham’s seed. Who was the first born child of Abraham.
Even if Hagar was a bondwoman, does that affect the rights and privileges of her son Ishmael?
The answer can be found in the Bible itself. In Hebrew traditions, the firstborn son was to have double portions of honour, even inheritance, and that right could not be changed due to the status of his mother.
In The Interpreter’s Bible, we read the following commentary on Deut. 21:15-17:
“However, the law of the first-born had ancient sanction, and so long as it was accepted justice demanded that mere favoritism not be allowed to deprive the eldest son of his rights.
It should be noted that God does not subscribe to human attitudes of ethnic or racial superiority or exclusivism, much less the submergence of spiritual and human qualities of mankind because of a certain unfortunate state of bondage. The fallacy of Ishmael’s inferior status owing to his mother’s “inferior” social status is not only contrary to the Judaic law (e.g. Deut. 21:15-17), it is also contrary to the moral, humanitarian and universal nature of God’s revelation cherished by any believer in Him.
b) Only Isaac was the son of promise and covenant.
Sometimes reference is made to the following verses in the Book of Genesis:
“But My Covenant will I establish with Isaac” (Gen. 17:2) “For in Isaac shall thy seed be called” (Gen. 21:12)
An interesting question is raised here: Is it possible that the writer(s) of this book (Genesis) inserted such statements to favor his own clan, himself being an Israelite?
According to The Interpreter’s Bible:
“Many Israelites did not want a God who would be equally the God of all nations on the earth. They did not want one who would be impartial Holiness. They wanted a God who would be partial to them. So we read in Deutoronomy of demands for a complete extermination of all non-Israelitish peoples of Palestine (Deut. 7:2) and as to the carrying out of that injunction read the harsh sentences of Deut. 20:10-17.
The possibility of insertions introduced to the supposedly “original” text of revelation is a matter that many Biblical scholars readily admit, including those scholars who are earnest believers in Christianity such as the editors of and contributors to The Interpreter’s Bible.
For example, the word “Egyptian” which appears in Genesis 16:3 in reference to Hagar is suspected to be an insertion and that Hagar was indeed a Bedouin and not an Egyptian woman.
In addition to such a possibility, if not likelihood, of insertions in Gen. 17:21 and 21:12, they do not in themselves conclusively exclude Ishmael from the promise and covenant of God.
Both verses could be understood to refer to the relatively “near” future extending over centuries during which the covenant of God and the seeds of prophethood were to be mainly in the Israelite branch of Abraham’s family. Such limitation, however, does not mean or imply the exclusion of the descendants of Ishmael for good When these two verses (Gen. 17:12 and 21:12) are examined within the context of other verses in the same book, it becomes evident that the Ishmaelites were included in God’s promise and His covenant with Abraham: i) God’s covenant with Abraham was made before the latter had any children (Gen. 12:2-3). It was reiterated after the birth of Ishmael and before the birth of Isaac (Gen. 17:4); ii) While Gen. 21:12 indicates that in Isaac shall Abraham’s seed be called, the very following verse (Gen. 21:13) calls Ishmael Abraham’s seed; iii) As Isaac was blessed in the same book (Genesis), Ishmael is also specifically blessed and hence is included in God’s promise.
“... of the son of the bondwoman (i.e. Ishmael) will I make a great nation because he is thy seed” (Gen. 21:13)
The above promise was further confirmed a few verses later:
“Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. “ (Gen. 21:18)
It may be noted here that when God speaks of “greatness”, He does not speak merely of numbers. “Greatness” in His own criterion is above all founded on faith, spiritual heritage and religious leadership.
c) The Son of Promise must be one or the other: Isaac or Ishmael.
This is typically expressed in a statement like the following:
“Ishmael is set aside as the inheritor of the Covenant. The fact that the (supposed) elder son of Abraham did not become the heir of the divine Promise is accounted for in J2 by Hagar’s f1ight before the child’s birth (Ch. 16), and in E by her expulsion with the child (21:9-21)...
One may inquire at this point: i) Why should there be only one child as the heir of the divine promise? Why not both sons in view of the evidence discussed already? ii) What type of divine justice punishes an innocent child because of his mother’s flight before he was even born (especially if that flight was prompted by the jealousy and mistreatment of Sarah)? iii) What type of divine justice (or even common sense) is that which punishes an innocent child because he and his mother were “expelled” to satisfy Sarah’s ego and bless her jealousy? Was Sarah dictating her desires to God, too?
Why Were Ishmael and Hagar Taken Away?
If Muslims too believe that Hagar, (Abraham’s wife) and her son Ishmael were settled in a different location, what is their version of the story? And how does that version compare to the Biblical version?
The Muslim Version
Prophet Abraham received instruction from God to take Hagar and her baby Ishmael to a specified barren and lifeless place in Arabia (paran), more specifically to Makkah (Mecca). In the Qur’an, Abraham is quoted:
“Our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation by thy sacred house; in order, 0 Lord, that they may establish prayer: So fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them, and feed them with fruits: So they may give thanks.“ (The Qur’an 14:37)
When Abraham began to leave Hagar and Ishmael alone in such barren wilderness, Hagar cried to him: “Where are you leaving us?” The question was repeated three times but no answer was given by Abraham. Hagar then asked: “Did God ordain you to do this?” Abraham said: “Yes.” In complete faith and trust on God she responded “Then, He will not suffer us to be lost. “
When Hagar ran out of water, she started to hasten between two little hills called As-Safa and Al-Marwah in search of water or for any passing traveler. After she hastened seven times without success, she returned to check on her baby (Ishmael) who was crying and kicking the ground with his heels. In this moment of despair and apparent certain death, a spring of water suddenly gushed forth from under Ishmael’s feet. That well later came to be known as the well of Zamzam. Since water is the most crucial element in desert life, some Bedouins began to settle around the well, gradually growing into the most important city in Arabia, Makkah (Mecca). Centuries later, out of the descendants of Ishmael came the last prophet of God, Prophet Muhammad who was born in Makkah (Mecca) some five centuries after the mission of the last Israelite prophet Jesus.
It is interesting to note that until the present time, the hills of As-Safa and Al-Marwah are still easily identifiable. Indeed, hastening between these two hills is part of the annual rites of hajj (pilgrimage) performed by innumerable pilgrims every year. This rite is actually performed partly in commemoration of Hagar’s search for water and it dates back to Ishmael, long before the advent of Prophet Muhammad. Likewise, the Well of Zamzam which miraculously gushed forth from under baby Ishmael’s feet is still gushing with water until this time. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to Makkah (recently about two million) drink from it annually and many others drink from it year round.
The Biblical Version
Sarah, Abraham’s first wife was jealous of Hagar and her son Ishmael. She did not want Ishmael to inherit with her son Isaac as Ishmael was the son of the “bondwoman”. She was particularly angry because of what she considered as mockery on the part of Ishmael toward his younger brother Isaac while they were playing together. This incident took place after Isaac was weaned.
Abraham obeyed his wife Sarah whose demand of casting out the “bondwoman” and her son was blessed by God who told Abraham to “hearken unto her voice”.
One morning Abraham rose up, gave provisions and water to his wife Hagar and put her child Ishmael upon her shoulder, and left them in the wilderness of Beer Sheba in southern Palestine. When Hagar ran out of water, she could not stand sitting there and watching her child die. An angel appeared before her and showed her a spring of water of which she went and brought drink to the lad. The angel further told her “Arise, lift up the lad and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation”.
Ishmael dwelt in the wilderness of “Paran”. He begot twelve sons one of whom was named “Kedar”
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Similarities Between the Two Versions
How does this tradition compare with the Muslim version? There appear to be at least three similarities between the two versions:
i) That Hagar and Ishmael were taken away from Palestine and dwelt in the wilderness (of Paran);
ii) That Hagar ran out of water and was worried about the life of her son Ishmael;
iii) That, unexpectedly, she had access to water which she gave to her son to save his life.
Differences Between the Two Versions
According to the Muslim version:
Hagar and Ishmael were taken away because of a specific divine instruction given to Abraham as part of the divine plan. When the time came, prophethood was to shift from the Israelites to the Ishmaelites, after the rejection of the last Israelite prophet, Jesus, by the Israelites.
Hagar and Ishmael were taken to the wilderness of Arabia, specifically to Makkah (Mecca) and not to Beet Sheba.
This incident took place before the birth of Isaac and not after, when Ishmael was a baby, which is a further confirmation of the real reason for Hagar and Ishmael’s apparent exile as stated in the first difference.
Analysis of Differences
Is reconciliation of these differences possible? Let’s focus on the last difference, namely did this incident take place before or after Isaac’s birth?
If we were to accept the Biblical version, we would encounter a number of inconsistencies and contradictions.
It is abundantly clear from the story in Gen. 21:14-19 that Ishmael was a little baby at the time. Following is the documentation of this statement:
According to Gen. 16:16 Abraham was 86 years old when Ishmael was born. And according to Gen. 21:5 Abraham was one hundred years old when Isaac was born. It follows that Ishmael was already fourteen years old when his younger brother Isaac was born.
According to Gen. 21:14-19, the incident took place after Isaac was weaned. Biblical scholars tell us that “the child was weaned about the age of three”.
It follows that when Hagar and Ishmael were taken away Ishmael was a full grown teenager seventeen years old.
The profile of Ishmael in Gen. 21:14-19, however, is that of a small baby and not of a teenager. Why?
First: According to The Interpreter’s Bible, the original Hebrew for Gen. 21:14 was “... and put the child upon her shoulder”. The same reading is rendered in the Revised Standard Edition of the Bible.
How would a mother carry a seventeen year old teenager “upon her shoulder”? Certainly he was strong enough to carry his mother! Ishmael must have been a baby!
Second: In Gen. 21:15 we are told that Hagar “cast” the child under one of the shrubs, Again, according to this Biblical text Ishmael must have been a baby and not a teenager.
Third: In Gen. 21:16 we are told that Hagar sat away so that she may not see the death of the child before her own eyes. Is that a profile of a husky seventeen year old teenager who probably was capable of being worried about his mother dying before his eyes? Or is it obviously a profile of a small helpless baby or at most a small child?
Fourth: According to Gen. 21:17, the angels told Hagar “arise, lift up the lad”. Is a seventeen year old young man a proper object to be “lifted up” by a woman? Or is that a reference to a small child or a baby?
Fifth: In Gen. 21:19, we are told that Hagar went to fill the bottle with water “and give the lad a drink”. One would expect a strong young man of seventeen to go and bring water to his mother instead.
The above analysis leads to the inevitable conclusion that while the Bible contains some truths as explained earlier, there is also evidence of human additions, deletions, and interpolations which only a subsequent authentic revelation (The Qur’an) could clear. The Islamic version of the story is fully consistent and coherent from A to Z; Ishmael was a baby and Isaac was not born yet when this incident took place. This coherence and consistency are confirmed by centuries-old traditions and even actual locations in Makkah (Mecca) where Hagar and Ishmael settled. This clearly implies that the real reason behind their settlement in Arabia (Paran) was not the dictation, jealousy, ego or sense of racial superiority on the part of Sarah. It was rather God’s plan; pure and simple.
It may be relevant to indicate that this issue is not the only instance of inconsistency in respect to Ishmael’s story. The Interpreter’s Bible compares the story of Hagar and Ishmael in Gen. 21:14-19 with that in an earlier chapter (Gen. 16:1-16) and concludes “the inclusion in Genesis of both stories so nearly alike and yet sufficiently different to be inconsistent, is one of many instances of the reluctance of the compilers to sacrifice any of the traditions which has become established in Israel”.
The Symbol of God’s Covenant with Ishmael and his Descendants
According to Gen. 17:10-14, circumcision was regarded as a symbol of the covenant with God and a sign of purification from polytheism.
The significance of circumcision is further reiterated by Christian Biblical scholars who indicate that it is not merely an external act:
“This was His own sign and seal that Israel was a chosen people. Through it a man’s life was linked with a great fellowship whose dignity was its high consciousness that it must fulfill the purposes of God.”
This picture is completed by referring to Gen. 17:23-27 in which we are told that Abraham took Ishmael and all those males born in his household and circumcised them. Commenting on this, The Interpreter’s Bible admits that the Ishmaelites and other descendants of Abraham were “somehow participating in the Abrahamic covenant”.
It is notable that the descendant of Ishmael, Prophet Muhammad, as well as his followers remain until today faithful to this covenant. Circumcision is required of every male Muslim. Using The Interpreter’s Bible’s wording, doesn’t that mean that this was God’s “sign and seal” that the Ishmaelites were also part of God’s covenant in view of their commitment to purify their belief from all forms of polytheism and to restore the pure and true monotheism of their grandfather Abraham? Are they not closer to the Abrahamic covenant than those who sought excuses not to practice circumcision?
Surely many nations on earth were blessed through Abraham. Those closest to Abraham, to the purity and universal scope of the monotheism he taught and to the “sign and seal” of his covenant with God are presently found among the followers of Ishmael’s notable descendant Muhammad. Even without this blood relationship, which is undisputed, the more important relationship with Abraham is the relationship of faith in God’s words:
“Abraham was not a Jew or Christian; but he was true in Faith, and bowed his will to God’s (was a Muslim) and he joined not gods with God. Without doubt, among people, the nearest of kin to Abraham are those who follow him, as are also this apostle (Muhammad) and those who believe. And God is the Protector of those who have faith.“ (The Qur’an 3:67-68)
Further Evidence About the Lineage of the Long-awaited Prophet
The foregoing discussion is more than enough to demonstrate that the advent of Prophet Muhammad, a descendant of Ishmael, was indeed the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham and Hagar (Gen. 21:13, and 18).
An additional confirmation which leaves no iota of doubt is found in the Book of Isaiah (Ch. 11:1-2):
“And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge, and of the fear of the Lord.”
The profile given in this chapter is of someone who will be a prophet, a statesmen and a judge and is of the descendants of “Jesse”. Who is “Jesse”? And who met these descriptions?
Some contend that “Jesse” is a reference to David’s father. According to Encyclopedia Biblica, however, we read: “Jesse is contracted from Ishmael.
The only one who came from Ishmael’s “stem” who was a prophet, statesmen and judge was Prophet Muhammad.
II
Characteristics of the Awaited Prophet - A Prophet Like Unto Moses
In the Book of Deuteronomy, Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) was quoted as saying:
“And the Lord said unto me, they have well spoken that which they have spoken, I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.“ (Deuteronomy 18:17-18)
Three important elements are included in this prophecy: A prophet will come from among the “brethren” of the Israelites; this prophet will be “like unto Moses”; God will put his words in the mouth of this prophet.
Let us look closely at each of these elements:
A Prophet From Among the Brethren of the Israelites
When these words were spoken, they were addressed to the Israelites. The most notable “brethren” of Israelites (descendants of Abraham through his second son Isaac), are the Ishmaelites (descendants of Abraham through his first son Ishmael).
According to the Hebrew Dictionary of the Bible, “Brethren” is the:
“Personification of a group of tribes who were regarded as near kinsmen of the Israelites. “
The Bible refers to the Israelites as the brethren of the Ishmaelites (e.g. Gen. 16:12, and Gen. 25:18).
A Prophet Like Unto Moses
It is sometimes contended that the prophet like unto Moses was Jesus. After all both were Israelites and spiritual teachers. Was this prophecy really about Jesus?
To start off, Jesus himself was an Israelite, not of the “brethren” of the Israelites. This fact alone suffices to show that this particular prophecy is not about the coming of Jesus but about another prophet “like unto Moses”. That prophet could have been none but Prophet Muhammad.
Following is a comparison between a few crucial characteristics of Moses, Muhammad and Jesus which may clarify the identity of “that prophet” who was to come after Moses:
Area of Comparison Moses Muhammad Jesus
Birth Usual Usual Usual
Family Life Married, Children Married, Children No Marriage, or children
Death Usual Usual Unusual
Career Prophet/Statesman Prophet/Statesman Prophet
Forced Emigration (in adulthood) To Median To Medinah None
Encounter with enemies Hot pursuit Hot pursuit/Battles No Similar Encounter
Results of encounter Moral phys.victory Moral physical victory Moral victory
Writing dawn of Revelation In his life time In his lifetime After him
(Torah) (Al-Qur’an)
Nature of Teachings Spiritual/ Legal Spiritual/Legal Mainly Spiritual
Acceptance of leadership Rejected Rejected then accepted Rejected (by most Israelites)
(by his people)
This table is self-evident. It shows that not only were Moses and Muhammad very much alike in many respects, but it shows also that Prophet Jesus does not fit this particular prophecy. Following are the
The birth of Jesus was unusual. According to Christian and Muslim beliefs, he was miraculously born of the virgin Mary. Both Moses and Muhammad were born in the usual manner.
Both Moses and Muhammad were married and begot children. There is no similar record of marriage and offspring in the case of Jesus.
Both Moses and Muhammad died of natural causes and were buried. The end of the mission of Jesus on earth was unusual; crucifixion according to Christian beliefs and being raised up to heavens without crucifixion according to Muslim beliefs,
Both Moses and Muhammad were not only prophets and spiritual teachers in the usual sense, but they were also “heads of states” whose mission included the establishment of a “state” founded on the teachings of their faith No such opportunity presented itself to Prophet Jesus.
Moses left Egypt following knowledge of a plot to kill him and went to Median where he was welcomed and assured by Jethro. Muhammad left Makkah (Mecca) following knowledge of a plot to kill him and went to Yathrib which was later called Al-Madinah (Medina). No similar incident was reported about Jesus in his adulthood and after he began his mission as a prophet.
Moses encountered his enemies (the Pharaoh’s army) who sought to destroy him and his followers in “hot pursuit”. Muhammad encountered his enemies (the pagan Arabs) who sought to destroy him and his followers in several battles. No such encounter was reported in the case of Jesus. Indeed he was reported to have commanded Simon Peter to put his sword into the sheath when he attempted to defend Jesus at the time of his arrest.
Moses’ encounter with his enemies ended with a military and moral victory. His enemies drowned and Moses and his followers were saved. Muhammad’s encounters with his enemies ended with his final military and moral victory over them. He and his followers reentered Makkah (Mecca), the center of plotting against him. Impressed with his truthfulness and magnanimity, the great majority of his former enemies chose to become Muslims and were among his ardent supporters. Jesus’ victory against his enemies was only a moral victory which did not involve an immediate military victory over them at the same time.
The teachings revealed to Moses were available in a written form in his lifetime. The Qur’an revealed to Muhammad was fully written down in his lifetime and under his supervision. The teachings of Jesus were not committed to writing in his lifetime. Even the earliest Gospel was written down many years after him.
Unlike any other prophets from the lineage of Abraham, the revelation given to Moses and Muhammad contained comprehensive codes of law, in addition to the spiritual and moral elements of their teachings. The teachings of Jesus were almost entirely spiritual. Indeed Jesus never claimed to bring a new law, nor even to abrogate the existing Old Testament Law. He simply added a spiritual and human touch to the concept of law, which by his time had been reduced to the level of lifeless and at times hypocritical formalism. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill”, Jesus was quoted as saying.
After initial resistance and skepticism by his people, Moses was accepted by his people as a prophet and a leader in his lifetime, notwithstanding certain lapses (such as the worship of the golden calf). After initial resistance, Muhammad was enthusiastically accepted as a prophet and a leader in his lifetime. Until the end, however, and with the exceptions of a few followers, Jesus was rejected by his people (the Israelites).
Who was then the “Prophet like unto Moses”?
God Will Put His Words in the Mouth of that Prophet
Generally speaking, this description may apply to any messenger of God who is communicating God’s message to mankind. While that message may come in “written tablets” as is believed to have been the case with Moses, the specific wording of the above verse is a vivid description of the type of revelation received by Muhammad. Angel Gabriel used to come and dictate to him specific portions of the Qur’an which were then repeated by Prophet Muhammad exactly as he had heard them. Muhammad’s own thinking or authorship were not involved in any way in what he uttered. The words of God (The Qur’an) were “put into his mouth”. As the Qur’an itself described:
“He (Muhammad) does not speak of his own desire, it is no less than a revelation sent down to him. “ (The Qur’an 53:3-4)
Numerous passages in the Qur’an command Muhammad in such terms as Qul (say), Thakkir (remind), Nabbi’ (inform). Other passages in the Qur’an start with such expressions as wa qala Rabbukum (and your Lord said ...). Still in other passages it reads wa yas’aloonaka ... qul (and they ask you (0 Muhammad) ... say ...).
The above analysis fits not only Deuteronomy 18:18, but is also consistent with the subsequent verses. For example Deuteronomy 18:19 reads:
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto My words which he shall speak in My name, I will require it of him. “
It is interesting to note that 113 out of the 114 Surahs (chapters) of the Qur’an starts with Bismillahir-rahmanir-raheem (In the name of Allah (God), Most Gracious, Most Merciful). The very first passage of the Qur’an revealed to Prophet Muhammad reads:
“Read in the name of your Lord who created ... “ (The Qur’an 96:1)
Following the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, there is no other community of believers who starts almost every action in their daily lives with this formula “In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful”. It should be noted here that the Arabic term “Allah” is not only the Arabic equivalent of “God”, but it is also the personal name of God. To say “In the Name of Allah” is a far clearer fulfillment of the prophecy “... he shall speak in My name” (Deuteronomy 18:19), than other common expressions such as “In the name of God” or “In the name of the Father”.
A fair question at this point is this: Since virtually anyone can presume to speak “in the name of God”, what criterion should be used to distinguish between a genuine prophet and messenger of God and other false prophets who may also presume to speak in the name of God?
The answer to this question was clearly given in the concluding verses of Chapter 18 of the Book of Deuteronomy:
“And if thou say in thine heart, how shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously; thou shall not be afraid of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:21-22)
It is a fact that not a single prophecy made by Prophet Muhammad proved to be inaccurate in the least degree. Every prophecy he made about the near future at his time did come to pass. Examples of these
a) The prophecy that Muslims were to conquer the two “super-powers” of their time; the Persian and Byzantine empires. This prophecy was made when Muslims were so few and weak that to prophecy their mere physical survival would have sounded too hopeful!
b) A prophecy that Suraqah (a man who was about to kill Prophet Muhammad during the later’s journey to Madinah (Medina) after the pagans plotted to kill him) would become a Muslim,
participate in the Muslim army conquering the Persian Empire and would actually have access to the Emperor’s crown and place it over his head! Not only did this prophecy appear to be a virtual impossibility when it was made, but its fulfillment was so perfect and complete as if the Prophet was looking eye-to-eye at the scene which took place years after his death. The fact that Suraqah did become a Muslim, lived long enough to participate in the conquest of Persia, that the Muslims came out victorious, that Suraqah had access to the Emperor’s crown and actually wore it, can hardly be regarded as a coincidence or a self-fulfilling prophecy. Surely the chances are nil that numerous such prophecies, all in the minutest detail described by Prophet Muhammad, happened by accident! Nor can such 100% accuracy every time and at all times emanate from any other than a true and genuine prophet using the criterion stipulated in Deuteronomy 18:21-22.
III
Other Characteristics of “That Prophet”
An equally interesting and most revealing profile of Prophet Muhammad is found in the 42nd chapter of the Book of Isaiah. Let us examine some of these characteristics:
The One in Whom God’s soul delights is called the servant of God (V. 1), His elect (V. 1) and His Messenger (V. 19).
Translated into Arabic these titles read “Abduhu warusooluhul-Mustapha”. Surely all prophets were indeed servants, messengers and elects of God. Yet no prophet in history is as universally called by these specific titles as is Muhammad. The testimony of faith by which the person enters into the fold of Islam reads:
“I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.”
Virtually the same formula is repeated five times a day during the call to prayers, five times a day immediately before the beginning of prayers (iqamah), nine times a day during the minimum mandatory prayers, several more times if the Muslim performs additional recommended prayers (s ). The most common title of Prophet Muhammad since his mission until today is Rasoolullah (the messenger of God). The Qur’an gives him this title. During his lifetime he was addressed as such by his followers. The voluminous collections of hadith (Prophet Muhammad’s sayings) are narrated typically in these forms: “I heard the Messenger of Allah say ...”, “The Messenger of Allah said or replied ...”.
He shall not fail nor be discouraged till he has set judgment in the earth (V. 4), he shall prevail against his enemies (V. 13) and shall bring judgment to the Gentiles (V. 1).
In comparing the lives and missions of Jesus and Muhammad, it becomes readily clear that in the case of Jesus he expressed on more than one occasion how disappointed he was in the Israelites’ rejection of him. Nor did Jesus live long enough on Earth to prevail over his enemies (beyond the moral victory which is a common victory for all prophets).
On the other hand, we find no trace of Prophet Muhammad’s discouragement even in the most critical moments of his mission. In one year his beloved and supporting wife Khadijah died following 25 years of successful marriage; his uncle Abu-Talib, who was instrumental in protecting him from the fury of the pagan Arabs also died. These two tragedies were combined with the fact that his followers constituted only a small persecuted and tortured group. Under such trying circumstances, Muhammad went to the city of at-Taif to invite people to Islam and seek their support in his struggle against paganism. He was rejected, mocked at and stoned to the point of bleeding. In spite of all this he was never “discouraged” to use Isaiah’s term (V. 4): “0 Allah! Forgive my people for they do not know what they’re doing” was his utterance. When Angel Gabriel offered him the chance to retaliate by destroying their city, he refused in the hope that out of the descendants of these wicked people would come those who would worship God, and come they did!
After this bitter struggle, Muhammad “prevailed against his enemies”, established a strong community of believers who indeed “brought judgment to the Gentiles”, especially in the Persian and Byzantine Empires. Many such Gentiles were guided to Islam while others suffered defeats. As such he was truly “a light of the Gentiles” of the whole world.
He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street (V. 2).
Not only was this a distinct characteristic and mark of decency of Muhammad’s, it was indeed the embodiment of the revelation given to him. In the words of the Qur’an:
“Be modest in thy bearing and subdue thy voice. Lo! the harshest of all voices is the voice of the ass. “ (The Qur’an 31:19)
“Allah loveth not the utterance of harsh speech save by one who has been wronged.” (The Qur’an 4:148)
“The Isles shall wait for his law. “ The only prophet who came, after this prophecy was made (Isaiah’s time) with a complete and comprehensive code of law was Prophet Muhammad. The law revealed to him spread to all corners of the earth, even in many remote isles and to the farthest deserts.
He will be sent “to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house” (V. 7).
Many of those who were opposed to the truth and bitterly fought Muhammad ended up among the most devout believers. Their blindness to truth was cured. Those who lived in the darkness of an unholy life came to the light of truth completed through the mission of Muhammad.
No wonder the Qur’an describes itself as “Nooram-mubeena” or light manifest. Describing the Qur’an, God addresses Prophet Muhammad:
“A book which we revealed unto you, in order that you may lead mankind out of the depths of darkness unto light by the leave of their Lord to the way of Him, the exalted in power, worthy of all praise.“ (The Qur’an 14: l. Emphasis added)
God’s glory will not be given to another (V. 8).
The greatest glory a person receives from God is to be entrusted as His messenger to mankind and receive His glorious revelation. Not only did this apply to Prophet Muhammad, but it uniquely applied to him as the last messenger and prophet of God. Truly God’s glory (revelation of scriptures) was not given and will not be given to another prophet after Muhammad, as he is the “seal” of all prophets. It is already about 1400 years since Muhammad was sent and the Qur’an was revealed to him. Yet we hear of no genuine prophet of the magnitude and influence on humanity to be compared with such figures as Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. Nor do we hear about another post-Qur’anic (glory) or holy book that has influenced mankind to such a degree.
Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth ...(V. 10).
A new song may be a reference to a new scripture in a language other that the language of the Israelite scriptures. This interpretation seems consistent with a more explicit mention of someone who will be speaking to people (including the Israelites) in “another tongue” Isaiah 28:11).
This explanation seems to fit closely with the second half of the same verse Isaiah 42:16) which speaks of the praise of God “from the ends of the earth”. Only in the case of Islam do we find this prophecy realized in amazing accuracy. In all ends of the earth, five times every day the praise of God and of His last messenger, Muhammad, is chanted from the minarets of hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of mosques around the world. Additionally, frequent praise of God and Muhammad by millions of devout Muslims is made on daily basis. It is even a part of the required five daily prayers to include the praise of Abraham and his descendants and of Muhammad and his descendants. This is known as “As-Salatul-Ibrahimiyyah”.
This person to come is connected with the Arabs, and specifically with the descendants of Ishmael (who settled in Makkah and its environs). Verse 11 to the 42nd chapter of Isaiah leaves absolutely no doubt about the identity of “that prophet”:
“Let the wilderness of and the cities thereof lip up their voice, the villages that Ke’dar does inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. “ Isaiah 42:11)
According to the Book of Genesis, Ke’dar was the second son of Ishmael (Gen. 25:13). The best known prophet who came from Ishmael’s descendants is Muhammad. His enemies (who were of his own clan!), who were misled by their leaders or mighty men (as described in Isaiah 21:17) ultimately embraced Islam and were embraced by it. Indeed they had reason to “lift up their voice”, to “sing” praise of God, and “shout from the top of the mountains”. is that possibly a reference to the shouting of:
“Here I come (for your service) 0 Allah. Here I come. Here I come. Were is nor a partner with You. Here I come. Verily yours is the Praise, the blessings and sovereignty. Were is no partner besides you”.
This “shouting” is chanted annually by multitudes of Muslims from all over the world from Mount ‘Arafat as part of the annual rites of hajj (pilgrimage).
The 42nd chapter of Isaiah is indeed a fascinating one. It is not a casual or ambiguous reference to that servant and messenger of God who was to come centuries later. It is rather a comprehensive profile which not only fits Prophet Muhammad but fits no one else. After all, the chapter relates this profile to Ke’dar son of Ishmael and no other descendants of Ishmael fits these descriptions but Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Muhammad
in The Bible
by
Dr. Jamal Badawi
In the name of Almighty God,
the Merciful, the Compassionate
“Those who follow the Apostle, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own Scriptures, in the Torah and the Gospel…” (Quran 7:157; Trans.: Yusuf Ali)
Reference to the Bible
Is it justifiable for Muslims to quote the Bible or quote from it? There appears to be two common and extreme misconceptions about the Muslims’ attitudes towards the Bible:
a) that Muslims base their faith in full or in part on the Bible;
b) that Muslims reject the Bible in toto and accept no single word of it.
For Muslims the Qur’an is the last but not the only holy book revealed by Allah to mankind through His messengers. It is, however, the only holy book which remained intact from the time of its revelation until the present time. Not only is the full text of the Qur’an available, but it is also available in the full and exact form as uttered by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) at the time of its revelation and in the original language in which it was revealed (Arabic). No addition, deletion, or interpolation found its way into the Qur’an. For Muslims, the Qur’an is the only remaining authoritative and authentic revelation available to mankind; authoritative because an objective study of the Qur’an clearly shows its divine origin; and authentic because of the conclusive evidence that it remained intact and was transmitted to us as it was revealed without being mixed with human and philosophical ideas and doctrines. As such, Muslims do not need any other scriptures to base their faith on, either in full or in part.
On the other hand, it is erroneous to think that Muslims reject the Bible in toto and do not accept a single passage of it. There are at least two reasons for this:
a) One of the main articles of faith in Islam is the belief in all prophets and messengers sent before the advent of the last of them, Prophet Muhammad. This also necessitates believing in the holy books revealed to those prophets in the original forms of their revelation;
b) According to the Qur’an all prophets were Muslims (i.e. those who consciously and lovingly submitted to the will of Allah), what they taught was nothing but earlier versions of Islam (conscious and loving submission to Allah) and their sincere followers were Muslims as well. The fact that the transmission of earlier revelations, prior to the Qur’an suffered from inaccuracies and misinterpretations does not justify a total and categorical rejection of such scriptures. There are bound to be some passages and portions of the Bible whose essence, if not wording, need not be rejected by Muslims.
Criterion of Acceptance
What is the Muslim basis or criterion for accepting or not accepting portions or passages from the Bible? The Qur’an itself provides such criterion:
“And unto you have We revealed the Scripture with the truth, confirming whatever Scripture was before it, and a watch over it .... “ (the Qur’an 5:48)
This emphasizes two main aspects of the Qur’an:
a) The Qur’an confirms those teachings or passages of previous scriptures which remained intact.
b) The Qur’an is the last, complete, authoritative and authentic revelation. It is the final arbiter and the only criterion to correct any inaccuracy or misinterpretation which might have occurred in the transmission of scriptures. It helps in discovering human additions to or interpolations of previous revelations, even as it reveals possible deletions which might have taken place through the centuries prior to its revelation (the Qur’an). Indeed one of the names of the Qur’an is al-Furqan (the criterion which distinguishes between right and wrong, truth and falsehood).
It follows therefore that a Muslim has no reason to reject the essence of any passage in the Bible if such a passage is confirmed by the Qur’an. For example, we read in the New Testament a reiteration of one of the Ten Commandments:
“And Jesus answered him. The first of all commandments is hear, 0 Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord” (Mark 12:29)
A Muslim who reads this passage in the Qur’an can find no objection to its essence. After all the Qur’an confirms:
“Say He is Allaah, the One and Only (God)” (The Qur’an 112:1)
If, however, a Muslim reads in the Bible (or other previous scriptures for that matter) accusations of major moral sins levied against great prophets or doctrines which are totally negated in the Qur’an, the Muslim accepts only the Qur’anic version as the original unadulterated truth, revealed by Allah (God).
Likewise if the Bible (or other scriptures) contains apparent prophecies about the advent of Prophet Muhammad, and if the Qur’an confirms that fact, then there is nothing unusual or objectionable in referring to such prophecies.
Qur’anic Reference to Prophecies
Is there any conclusive Qur’anic basis for claiming that the Bible did contain prophecies about the advent of Prophet Muhammad?
The original revelations given to prophets in the past contained a complete and clear profile of the advent of Prophet Muhammad. Even in its present form(s) the Bible still contains several such prophecies as will be shown in the forthcoming chapters.
It is useful, however, to start off by documenting the above statement.
1. Describing true believers, the Qur’an states:
“Those who follow the messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, whom they will find described in the Torah and the Gospel which are with them). He will enjoin on them that which is right and forbid them that which is wrong. He will make lawfu1 for them all good things and prohibit for them only the foul; and he will relieve them of their burden and the fetters that they used to wear. Men those who believe in him, and honor him, and help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him: they are the successful.” (The Qur’an 7:157).
This ‘ayah (passage) indicates that the characteristics as well as the teaching of that “Apostle, the unlettered Prophet” were mentioned in the “Torah” and the “Gospel”.
1. Quoting the Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him), the Qur’an states:
“And when Jesus, son of Mary said: 0 children of Israel: Lo! I am the messenger of Allah unto you, confirming that which was (revealed) before me in the Torah, and bringing good tidings of a messenger who will come after me, whose name is praised one. Yet when he has come unto them with clear proofs, they say: This is mere magic. (The Qur’an 61:6).
An interesting aspect of this ‘ayah is that it indicates that in the original revelation uttered by Prophet Jesus, even the name of the long-awaited messenger was given: Ahmad, which is another name of Prophet Muhammad. This issue will be further discussed later on.
Name or Signs?
Turning to the Bible, some may hasten to ask: I read the Bible several times, but never saw the name Muhammad. What is the justification for the title “Muhammad in the Bible?”
Many Christian theologians find no difficulty in pointing out what they consider as clear prophecies of the advent of Jesus. Where in the Old Testament does the name Jesus appear? Nowhere’ The main question is whether or not the profile of “that prophet” to come was materialized, and who fits that profile?
The profile of Prophet Muhammad was so clear to many Jews and Christians among his contemporaries that many of them embraced Islam and accepted him as the fulfillment of numerous Biblical prophecies. Ever since, there have been many others who arrived at the same conclusion. Further questions pertaining to the possible mention of Muhammad’s name will be discussed later.
Biblical Prophecies About Jesus
Does that previous discussion mean that all prophecies which were believed to have been fulfilled in Prophet Jesus were actually fulfilled in Prophet Muhammad instead?
There is no reason to rule out the possibility that some of the Old Testament Prophecies were in fact fulfilled in Prophet Jesus. This does not constitute a problem for the Muslims. On the authority of the Qur’an alone, the Muslims accept Jesus as a legitimate and major prophet of Allah. The same was reiterated in the sayings of Prophet Muhammad. There are, however, several Old Testament prophecies which were for a long time misinterpreted so as to apply to Jesus. Such prophecies do in fact refer to Prophet Muhammad. One such prophecy is in Deuteronomy 18:18 to be discussed later. Analysis and reinterpretation of such prophecies should in no way reflect negatively on the honoured status of Prophet Jesus in the hearts of Muslims. It is rather a revelation of the truth which would have been proclaimed by Jesus himself if he were among us today.
Main Elements in Muhammed’s Profile.
What then are the elements of the “profile” of Prophet Muhammad as depicted in the Bible?
That profile includes six crucial elements:
1. The lineage of the prophet,
2. His characteristics,
3. The location from which he was to come,
4. The revelation which was to be given to him,
5. Events which were to take place in his lifetime, and
6. The time when he was to come.
Lineage of “That Prophet”
Prophet Abraham: Common Father
Jews, Christians, and Muslims claim a common father, Prophet Abraham, the patriarch of monotheism. What does his family tree look like?
A simple look at it may help show some of the key figures in the Abrahamic family tree.
Abraham married Sarah From their union they had in their progeny the following prophets: Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, and Jesus.
Abraham married Hagar. From their union they had in their progeny the following prophets: Ishmael and Muhammad.
According to the Bible, Abraham was first named to Sarah who happened to be a barren woman and bore him no children (Genesis 16:1).
In the chronology of the Book of Genesis, God made an important promise to Abraham, even before any child was born to him:
“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. “ (Gen. 12:2-3)
In a later chapter in the Book of Genesis (Gen. 16) we are told that Sarah gave Abraham a handmaid (Hagar) to be his wife, in the hope that she may bear a child to Abraham.
Hagar did bear Abraham’s first child whose name, Ishmael (peace be upon him), meaning “God hears”, was given by the angels (Gen. 16:11). For the following fourteen years, Ishmael was Abraham’s only child.
After the birth of Ishmael and before the birth of Isaac, God’s promise to bless the families of the earth through Abraham’s descendants was repeated:
“As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. “ (Gen. 17:4)
Another pleasant surprise was in store for Abraham. In his old age, his first wife Sarah was to bear him another child, Isaac (peace be upon him) (Gen. 21:5).
The Bible tells us that because of jealousy, Sarah asked her husband Abraham to cast out Ishmael and his mother Hagar (Gen. 21:10) who subsequently dwelt in the wilderness of “PARAN” (Gen. 21:21).
God’s promise to bless the descendants of Abraham was indeed realized. Through Abraham‘s second son Isaac came the Israelite prophets, including Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon and Jesus (peace be upon them all), the last Israelite prophet. Fulfillment of God’s promise through the Israelite branch of Abraham is clearly and abundantly articulated in the Bible. How was that promise fulfilled through the Ishmaelite branch of the Abrahamic family tree? Or was it fulfilled at all? Or has it yet to be fulfilled?
To start with, God does not renege on His promises, nor does he forget, them. It is interesting to note that while the Bible contains elaborate details about the Israelite branch, the Ishmaelite branch is virtually ignored. With the exception of a few references here and there, the Bible is virtually silent on the Ishmaelites.
If it is accepted that God does not renege on His promises (a prerequisite of faith for any believer in God) then we are left with two possibilities:
a. that such a promise of blessing which included the Israelites had been fulfilled;
b. that it is yet to be fulfilled.
It is well known that out of the descendants of Ishmael came the last great prophet of monotheism, Prophet Muhammad, whose followers constitute nearly one-fifth of the total world population in all corners of the earth.
After blessing the descendants of Isaac, the Israelites, for centuries with the spiritual leadership, and after many lapses and rebellions against God on their part, a final chance was given to them through the mission of the last Israelite prophet, Jesus. When Jesus too was rejected, it was now time in God’s plan to fulfill His promise to the Ishmaelite branch as well, the branch which remained obscure until it was made a “great nation” through the mission of the well-known Prophet Muhammad, a descendant of Abraham through Ishmael. That shift of prophethood and spiritual leadership to the Ishmaelite branch of Abraham’s descendants brought to completion the centuries-old promise of God to bless the families of the earth through Abraham, the father of monotheism and patriarch revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims.
To any unbiased mind, the above evidence alone suffices to show the connection between such great prophets as Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad
If such prophecies about the advent of Prophet Muhammad are that obvious, how is it that millions of Bible readers could not come to such a conclusion?
Putting other reasons aside for now, it seems that combination of erroneous notions and misinterpretations are partly responsible for this situation.
Let’s analyze some of these notions.
Objections to the Inclusion of Ishmael in God’s Covenant with Abraham
Were Ishmael and his descendants excluded from God’s promise and covenant?
A common, yet erroneous, answer to this question is yes. A number of reasons are given:
1. Ishmael was not a legitimate son of Abraham. According to the commentators of The Interpreter’s Bible:
“Ishmael, like Isaac, is a descendant of Abraham; but Isaac is the child of ultimate promise, born to Sarah the true wife while Ishmael is born of the slave girl. Though he came of the stock of Abraham, yet it was right that he should be separated from the legitimate son.
This argument cannot be supported logically, morally, or even on the basis of the available versions of the Bible itself. Did the alleged state of bondage of Hagar prevent her from being a legitimate wife of Abraham. Why was she not a “true” wife? And if she were not a “true” wife like Sarah, what kind of wife was she?
The text of the Bible, not withstanding the possibilities of later insertions or changes, does not make such a claim. In Genesis 16:3, Hagar is described as Abraham’s wife
If Hagar was a legitimate wife of Abraham, there are no grounds whatsoever for questioning the legitimacy of her son Ishmael. Indeed the Bible refers to Ishmael as Abraham’s seed. Who was the first born child of Abraham.
Even if Hagar was a bondwoman, does that affect the rights and privileges of her son Ishmael?
The answer can be found in the Bible itself. In Hebrew traditions, the firstborn son was to have double portions of honour, even inheritance, and that right could not be changed due to the status of his mother.
In The Interpreter’s Bible, we read the following commentary on Deut. 21:15-17:
“However, the law of the first-born had ancient sanction, and so long as it was accepted justice demanded that mere favoritism not be allowed to deprive the eldest son of his rights.
It should be noted that God does not subscribe to human attitudes of ethnic or racial superiority or exclusivism, much less the submergence of spiritual and human qualities of mankind because of a certain unfortunate state of bondage. The fallacy of Ishmael’s inferior status owing to his mother’s “inferior” social status is not only contrary to the Judaic law (e.g. Deut. 21:15-17), it is also contrary to the moral, humanitarian and universal nature of God’s revelation cherished by any believer in Him.
b) Only Isaac was the son of promise and covenant.
Sometimes reference is made to the following verses in the Book of Genesis:
“But My Covenant will I establish with Isaac” (Gen. 17:2) “For in Isaac shall thy seed be called” (Gen. 21:12)
An interesting question is raised here: Is it possible that the writer(s) of this book (Genesis) inserted such statements to favor his own clan, himself being an Israelite?
According to The Interpreter’s Bible:
“Many Israelites did not want a God who would be equally the God of all nations on the earth. They did not want one who would be impartial Holiness. They wanted a God who would be partial to them. So we read in Deutoronomy of demands for a complete extermination of all non-Israelitish peoples of Palestine (Deut. 7:2) and as to the carrying out of that injunction read the harsh sentences of Deut. 20:10-17.
The possibility of insertions introduced to the supposedly “original” text of revelation is a matter that many Biblical scholars readily admit, including those scholars who are earnest believers in Christianity such as the editors of and contributors to The Interpreter’s Bible.
For example, the word “Egyptian” which appears in Genesis 16:3 in reference to Hagar is suspected to be an insertion and that Hagar was indeed a Bedouin and not an Egyptian woman.
In addition to such a possibility, if not likelihood, of insertions in Gen. 17:21 and 21:12, they do not in themselves conclusively exclude Ishmael from the promise and covenant of God.
Both verses could be understood to refer to the relatively “near” future extending over centuries during which the covenant of God and the seeds of prophethood were to be mainly in the Israelite branch of Abraham’s family. Such limitation, however, does not mean or imply the exclusion of the descendants of Ishmael for good When these two verses (Gen. 17:12 and 21:12) are examined within the context of other verses in the same book, it becomes evident that the Ishmaelites were included in God’s promise and His covenant with Abraham: i) God’s covenant with Abraham was made before the latter had any children (Gen. 12:2-3). It was reiterated after the birth of Ishmael and before the birth of Isaac (Gen. 17:4); ii) While Gen. 21:12 indicates that in Isaac shall Abraham’s seed be called, the very following verse (Gen. 21:13) calls Ishmael Abraham’s seed; iii) As Isaac was blessed in the same book (Genesis), Ishmael is also specifically blessed and hence is included in God’s promise.
“... of the son of the bondwoman (i.e. Ishmael) will I make a great nation because he is thy seed” (Gen. 21:13)
The above promise was further confirmed a few verses later:
“Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. “ (Gen. 21:18)
It may be noted here that when God speaks of “greatness”, He does not speak merely of numbers. “Greatness” in His own criterion is above all founded on faith, spiritual heritage and religious leadership.
c) The Son of Promise must be one or the other: Isaac or Ishmael.
This is typically expressed in a statement like the following:
“Ishmael is set aside as the inheritor of the Covenant. The fact that the (supposed) elder son of Abraham did not become the heir of the divine Promise is accounted for in J2 by Hagar’s f1ight before the child’s birth (Ch. 16), and in E by her expulsion with the child (21:9-21)...
One may inquire at this point: i) Why should there be only one child as the heir of the divine promise? Why not both sons in view of the evidence discussed already? ii) What type of divine justice punishes an innocent child because of his mother’s flight before he was even born (especially if that flight was prompted by the jealousy and mistreatment of Sarah)? iii) What type of divine justice (or even common sense) is that which punishes an innocent child because he and his mother were “expelled” to satisfy Sarah’s ego and bless her jealousy? Was Sarah dictating her desires to God, too?
Why Were Ishmael and Hagar Taken Away?
If Muslims too believe that Hagar, (Abraham’s wife) and her son Ishmael were settled in a different location, what is their version of the story? And how does that version compare to the Biblical version?
The Muslim Version
Prophet Abraham received instruction from God to take Hagar and her baby Ishmael to a specified barren and lifeless place in Arabia (paran), more specifically to Makkah (Mecca). In the Qur’an, Abraham is quoted:
“Our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation by thy sacred house; in order, 0 Lord, that they may establish prayer: So fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them, and feed them with fruits: So they may give thanks.“ (The Qur’an 14:37)
When Abraham began to leave Hagar and Ishmael alone in such barren wilderness, Hagar cried to him: “Where are you leaving us?” The question was repeated three times but no answer was given by Abraham. Hagar then asked: “Did God ordain you to do this?” Abraham said: “Yes.” In complete faith and trust on God she responded “Then, He will not suffer us to be lost. “
When Hagar ran out of water, she started to hasten between two little hills called As-Safa and Al-Marwah in search of water or for any passing traveler. After she hastened seven times without success, she returned to check on her baby (Ishmael) who was crying and kicking the ground with his heels. In this moment of despair and apparent certain death, a spring of water suddenly gushed forth from under Ishmael’s feet. That well later came to be known as the well of Zamzam. Since water is the most crucial element in desert life, some Bedouins began to settle around the well, gradually growing into the most important city in Arabia, Makkah (Mecca). Centuries later, out of the descendants of Ishmael came the last prophet of God, Prophet Muhammad who was born in Makkah (Mecca) some five centuries after the mission of the last Israelite prophet Jesus.
It is interesting to note that until the present time, the hills of As-Safa and Al-Marwah are still easily identifiable. Indeed, hastening between these two hills is part of the annual rites of hajj (pilgrimage) performed by innumerable pilgrims every year. This rite is actually performed partly in commemoration of Hagar’s search for water and it dates back to Ishmael, long before the advent of Prophet Muhammad. Likewise, the Well of Zamzam which miraculously gushed forth from under baby Ishmael’s feet is still gushing with water until this time. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to Makkah (recently about two million) drink from it annually and many others drink from it year round.
The Biblical Version
Sarah, Abraham’s first wife was jealous of Hagar and her son Ishmael. She did not want Ishmael to inherit with her son Isaac as Ishmael was the son of the “bondwoman”. She was particularly angry because of what she considered as mockery on the part of Ishmael toward his younger brother Isaac while they were playing together. This incident took place after Isaac was weaned.
Abraham obeyed his wife Sarah whose demand of casting out the “bondwoman” and her son was blessed by God who told Abraham to “hearken unto her voice”.
One morning Abraham rose up, gave provisions and water to his wife Hagar and put her child Ishmael upon her shoulder, and left them in the wilderness of Beer Sheba in southern Palestine. When Hagar ran out of water, she could not stand sitting there and watching her child die. An angel appeared before her and showed her a spring of water of which she went and brought drink to the lad. The angel further told her “Arise, lift up the lad and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation”.
Ishmael dwelt in the wilderness of “Paran”. He begot twelve sons one of whom was named “Kedar”
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Similarities Between the Two Versions
How does this tradition compare with the Muslim version? There appear to be at least three similarities between the two versions:
i) That Hagar and Ishmael were taken away from Palestine and dwelt in the wilderness (of Paran);
ii) That Hagar ran out of water and was worried about the life of her son Ishmael;
iii) That, unexpectedly, she had access to water which she gave to her son to save his life.
Differences Between the Two Versions
According to the Muslim version:
Hagar and Ishmael were taken away because of a specific divine instruction given to Abraham as part of the divine plan. When the time came, prophethood was to shift from the Israelites to the Ishmaelites, after the rejection of the last Israelite prophet, Jesus, by the Israelites.
Hagar and Ishmael were taken to the wilderness of Arabia, specifically to Makkah (Mecca) and not to Beet Sheba.
This incident took place before the birth of Isaac and not after, when Ishmael was a baby, which is a further confirmation of the real reason for Hagar and Ishmael’s apparent exile as stated in the first difference.
Analysis of Differences
Is reconciliation of these differences possible? Let’s focus on the last difference, namely did this incident take place before or after Isaac’s birth?
If we were to accept the Biblical version, we would encounter a number of inconsistencies and contradictions.
It is abundantly clear from the story in Gen. 21:14-19 that Ishmael was a little baby at the time. Following is the documentation of this statement:
According to Gen. 16:16 Abraham was 86 years old when Ishmael was born. And according to Gen. 21:5 Abraham was one hundred years old when Isaac was born. It follows that Ishmael was already fourteen years old when his younger brother Isaac was born.
According to Gen. 21:14-19, the incident took place after Isaac was weaned. Biblical scholars tell us that “the child was weaned about the age of three”.
It follows that when Hagar and Ishmael were taken away Ishmael was a full grown teenager seventeen years old.
The profile of Ishmael in Gen. 21:14-19, however, is that of a small baby and not of a teenager. Why?
First: According to The Interpreter’s Bible, the original Hebrew for Gen. 21:14 was “... and put the child upon her shoulder”. The same reading is rendered in the Revised Standard Edition of the Bible.
How would a mother carry a seventeen year old teenager “upon her shoulder”? Certainly he was strong enough to carry his mother! Ishmael must have been a baby!
Second: In Gen. 21:15 we are told that Hagar “cast” the child under one of the shrubs, Again, according to this Biblical text Ishmael must have been a baby and not a teenager.
Third: In Gen. 21:16 we are told that Hagar sat away so that she may not see the death of the child before her own eyes. Is that a profile of a husky seventeen year old teenager who probably was capable of being worried about his mother dying before his eyes? Or is it obviously a profile of a small helpless baby or at most a small child?
Fourth: According to Gen. 21:17, the angels told Hagar “arise, lift up the lad”. Is a seventeen year old young man a proper object to be “lifted up” by a woman? Or is that a reference to a small child or a baby?
Fifth: In Gen. 21:19, we are told that Hagar went to fill the bottle with water “and give the lad a drink”. One would expect a strong young man of seventeen to go and bring water to his mother instead.
The above analysis leads to the inevitable conclusion that while the Bible contains some truths as explained earlier, there is also evidence of human additions, deletions, and interpolations which only a subsequent authentic revelation (The Qur’an) could clear. The Islamic version of the story is fully consistent and coherent from A to Z; Ishmael was a baby and Isaac was not born yet when this incident took place. This coherence and consistency are confirmed by centuries-old traditions and even actual locations in Makkah (Mecca) where Hagar and Ishmael settled. This clearly implies that the real reason behind their settlement in Arabia (Paran) was not the dictation, jealousy, ego or sense of racial superiority on the part of Sarah. It was rather God’s plan; pure and simple.
It may be relevant to indicate that this issue is not the only instance of inconsistency in respect to Ishmael’s story. The Interpreter’s Bible compares the story of Hagar and Ishmael in Gen. 21:14-19 with that in an earlier chapter (Gen. 16:1-16) and concludes “the inclusion in Genesis of both stories so nearly alike and yet sufficiently different to be inconsistent, is one of many instances of the reluctance of the compilers to sacrifice any of the traditions which has become established in Israel”.
The Symbol of God’s Covenant with Ishmael and his Descendants
According to Gen. 17:10-14, circumcision was regarded as a symbol of the covenant with God and a sign of purification from polytheism.
The significance of circumcision is further reiterated by Christian Biblical scholars who indicate that it is not merely an external act:
“This was His own sign and seal that Israel was a chosen people. Through it a man’s life was linked with a great fellowship whose dignity was its high consciousness that it must fulfill the purposes of God.”
This picture is completed by referring to Gen. 17:23-27 in which we are told that Abraham took Ishmael and all those males born in his household and circumcised them. Commenting on this, The Interpreter’s Bible admits that the Ishmaelites and other descendants of Abraham were “somehow participating in the Abrahamic covenant”.
It is notable that the descendant of Ishmael, Prophet Muhammad, as well as his followers remain until today faithful to this covenant. Circumcision is required of every male Muslim. Using The Interpreter’s Bible’s wording, doesn’t that mean that this was God’s “sign and seal” that the Ishmaelites were also part of God’s covenant in view of their commitment to purify their belief from all forms of polytheism and to restore the pure and true monotheism of their grandfather Abraham? Are they not closer to the Abrahamic covenant than those who sought excuses not to practice circumcision?
Surely many nations on earth were blessed through Abraham. Those closest to Abraham, to the purity and universal scope of the monotheism he taught and to the “sign and seal” of his covenant with God are presently found among the followers of Ishmael’s notable descendant Muhammad. Even without this blood relationship, which is undisputed, the more important relationship with Abraham is the relationship of faith in God’s words:
“Abraham was not a Jew or Christian; but he was true in Faith, and bowed his will to God’s (was a Muslim) and he joined not gods with God. Without doubt, among people, the nearest of kin to Abraham are those who follow him, as are also this apostle (Muhammad) and those who believe. And God is the Protector of those who have faith.“ (The Qur’an 3:67-68)
Further Evidence About the Lineage of the Long-awaited Prophet
The foregoing discussion is more than enough to demonstrate that the advent of Prophet Muhammad, a descendant of Ishmael, was indeed the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham and Hagar (Gen. 21:13, and 18).
An additional confirmation which leaves no iota of doubt is found in the Book of Isaiah (Ch. 11:1-2):
“And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge, and of the fear of the Lord.”
The profile given in this chapter is of someone who will be a prophet, a statesmen and a judge and is of the descendants of “Jesse”. Who is “Jesse”? And who met these descriptions?
Some contend that “Jesse” is a reference to David’s father. According to Encyclopedia Biblica, however, we read: “Jesse is contracted from Ishmael.
The only one who came from Ishmael’s “stem” who was a prophet, statesmen and judge was Prophet Muhammad.
II
Characteristics of the Awaited Prophet - A Prophet Like Unto Moses
In the Book of Deuteronomy, Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) was quoted as saying:
“And the Lord said unto me, they have well spoken that which they have spoken, I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.“ (Deuteronomy 18:17-18)
Three important elements are included in this prophecy: A prophet will come from among the “brethren” of the Israelites; this prophet will be “like unto Moses”; God will put his words in the mouth of this prophet.
Let us look closely at each of these elements:
A Prophet From Among the Brethren of the Israelites
When these words were spoken, they were addressed to the Israelites. The most notable “brethren” of Israelites (descendants of Abraham through his second son Isaac), are the Ishmaelites (descendants of Abraham through his first son Ishmael).
According to the Hebrew Dictionary of the Bible, “Brethren” is the:
“Personification of a group of tribes who were regarded as near kinsmen of the Israelites. “
The Bible refers to the Israelites as the brethren of the Ishmaelites (e.g. Gen. 16:12, and Gen. 25:18).
A Prophet Like Unto Moses
It is sometimes contended that the prophet like unto Moses was Jesus. After all both were Israelites and spiritual teachers. Was this prophecy really about Jesus?
To start off, Jesus himself was an Israelite, not of the “brethren” of the Israelites. This fact alone suffices to show that this particular prophecy is not about the coming of Jesus but about another prophet “like unto Moses”. That prophet could have been none but Prophet Muhammad.
Following is a comparison between a few crucial characteristics of Moses, Muhammad and Jesus which may clarify the identity of “that prophet” who was to come after Moses:
Area of Comparison Moses Muhammad Jesus
Birth Usual Usual Usual
Family Life Married, Children Married, Children No Marriage, or children
Death Usual Usual Unusual
Career Prophet/Statesman Prophet/Statesman Prophet
Forced Emigration (in adulthood) To Median To Medinah None
Encounter with enemies Hot pursuit Hot pursuit/Battles No Similar Encounter
Results of encounter Moral phys.victory Moral physical victory Moral victory
Writing dawn of Revelation In his life time In his lifetime After him
(Torah) (Al-Qur’an)
Nature of Teachings Spiritual/ Legal Spiritual/Legal Mainly Spiritual
Acceptance of leadership Rejected Rejected then accepted Rejected (by most Israelites)
(by his people)
This table is self-evident. It shows that not only were Moses and Muhammad very much alike in many respects, but it shows also that Prophet Jesus does not fit this particular prophecy. Following are the
The birth of Jesus was unusual. According to Christian and Muslim beliefs, he was miraculously born of the virgin Mary. Both Moses and Muhammad were born in the usual manner.
Both Moses and Muhammad were married and begot children. There is no similar record of marriage and offspring in the case of Jesus.
Both Moses and Muhammad died of natural causes and were buried. The end of the mission of Jesus on earth was unusual; crucifixion according to Christian beliefs and being raised up to heavens without crucifixion according to Muslim beliefs,
Both Moses and Muhammad were not only prophets and spiritual teachers in the usual sense, but they were also “heads of states” whose mission included the establishment of a “state” founded on the teachings of their faith No such opportunity presented itself to Prophet Jesus.
Moses left Egypt following knowledge of a plot to kill him and went to Median where he was welcomed and assured by Jethro. Muhammad left Makkah (Mecca) following knowledge of a plot to kill him and went to Yathrib which was later called Al-Madinah (Medina). No similar incident was reported about Jesus in his adulthood and after he began his mission as a prophet.
Moses encountered his enemies (the Pharaoh’s army) who sought to destroy him and his followers in “hot pursuit”. Muhammad encountered his enemies (the pagan Arabs) who sought to destroy him and his followers in several battles. No such encounter was reported in the case of Jesus. Indeed he was reported to have commanded Simon Peter to put his sword into the sheath when he attempted to defend Jesus at the time of his arrest.
Moses’ encounter with his enemies ended with a military and moral victory. His enemies drowned and Moses and his followers were saved. Muhammad’s encounters with his enemies ended with his final military and moral victory over them. He and his followers reentered Makkah (Mecca), the center of plotting against him. Impressed with his truthfulness and magnanimity, the great majority of his former enemies chose to become Muslims and were among his ardent supporters. Jesus’ victory against his enemies was only a moral victory which did not involve an immediate military victory over them at the same time.
The teachings revealed to Moses were available in a written form in his lifetime. The Qur’an revealed to Muhammad was fully written down in his lifetime and under his supervision. The teachings of Jesus were not committed to writing in his lifetime. Even the earliest Gospel was written down many years after him.
Unlike any other prophets from the lineage of Abraham, the revelation given to Moses and Muhammad contained comprehensive codes of law, in addition to the spiritual and moral elements of their teachings. The teachings of Jesus were almost entirely spiritual. Indeed Jesus never claimed to bring a new law, nor even to abrogate the existing Old Testament Law. He simply added a spiritual and human touch to the concept of law, which by his time had been reduced to the level of lifeless and at times hypocritical formalism. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill”, Jesus was quoted as saying.
After initial resistance and skepticism by his people, Moses was accepted by his people as a prophet and a leader in his lifetime, notwithstanding certain lapses (such as the worship of the golden calf). After initial resistance, Muhammad was enthusiastically accepted as a prophet and a leader in his lifetime. Until the end, however, and with the exceptions of a few followers, Jesus was rejected by his people (the Israelites).
Who was then the “Prophet like unto Moses”?
God Will Put His Words in the Mouth of that Prophet
Generally speaking, this description may apply to any messenger of God who is communicating God’s message to mankind. While that message may come in “written tablets” as is believed to have been the case with Moses, the specific wording of the above verse is a vivid description of the type of revelation received by Muhammad. Angel Gabriel used to come and dictate to him specific portions of the Qur’an which were then repeated by Prophet Muhammad exactly as he had heard them. Muhammad’s own thinking or authorship were not involved in any way in what he uttered. The words of God (The Qur’an) were “put into his mouth”. As the Qur’an itself described:
“He (Muhammad) does not speak of his own desire, it is no less than a revelation sent down to him. “ (The Qur’an 53:3-4)
Numerous passages in the Qur’an command Muhammad in such terms as Qul (say), Thakkir (remind), Nabbi’ (inform). Other passages in the Qur’an start with such expressions as wa qala Rabbukum (and your Lord said ...). Still in other passages it reads wa yas’aloonaka ... qul (and they ask you (0 Muhammad) ... say ...).
The above analysis fits not only Deuteronomy 18:18, but is also consistent with the subsequent verses. For example Deuteronomy 18:19 reads:
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto My words which he shall speak in My name, I will require it of him. “
It is interesting to note that 113 out of the 114 Surahs (chapters) of the Qur’an starts with Bismillahir-rahmanir-raheem (In the name of Allah (God), Most Gracious, Most Merciful). The very first passage of the Qur’an revealed to Prophet Muhammad reads:
“Read in the name of your Lord who created ... “ (The Qur’an 96:1)
Following the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, there is no other community of believers who starts almost every action in their daily lives with this formula “In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful”. It should be noted here that the Arabic term “Allah” is not only the Arabic equivalent of “God”, but it is also the personal name of God. To say “In the Name of Allah” is a far clearer fulfillment of the prophecy “... he shall speak in My name” (Deuteronomy 18:19), than other common expressions such as “In the name of God” or “In the name of the Father”.
A fair question at this point is this: Since virtually anyone can presume to speak “in the name of God”, what criterion should be used to distinguish between a genuine prophet and messenger of God and other false prophets who may also presume to speak in the name of God?
The answer to this question was clearly given in the concluding verses of Chapter 18 of the Book of Deuteronomy:
“And if thou say in thine heart, how shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously; thou shall not be afraid of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:21-22)
It is a fact that not a single prophecy made by Prophet Muhammad proved to be inaccurate in the least degree. Every prophecy he made about the near future at his time did come to pass. Examples of these
a) The prophecy that Muslims were to conquer the two “super-powers” of their time; the Persian and Byzantine empires. This prophecy was made when Muslims were so few and weak that to prophecy their mere physical survival would have sounded too hopeful!
b) A prophecy that Suraqah (a man who was about to kill Prophet Muhammad during the later’s journey to Madinah (Medina) after the pagans plotted to kill him) would become a Muslim,
participate in the Muslim army conquering the Persian Empire and would actually have access to the Emperor’s crown and place it over his head! Not only did this prophecy appear to be a virtual impossibility when it was made, but its fulfillment was so perfect and complete as if the Prophet was looking eye-to-eye at the scene which took place years after his death. The fact that Suraqah did become a Muslim, lived long enough to participate in the conquest of Persia, that the Muslims came out victorious, that Suraqah had access to the Emperor’s crown and actually wore it, can hardly be regarded as a coincidence or a self-fulfilling prophecy. Surely the chances are nil that numerous such prophecies, all in the minutest detail described by Prophet Muhammad, happened by accident! Nor can such 100% accuracy every time and at all times emanate from any other than a true and genuine prophet using the criterion stipulated in Deuteronomy 18:21-22.
III
Other Characteristics of “That Prophet”
An equally interesting and most revealing profile of Prophet Muhammad is found in the 42nd chapter of the Book of Isaiah. Let us examine some of these characteristics:
The One in Whom God’s soul delights is called the servant of God (V. 1), His elect (V. 1) and His Messenger (V. 19).
Translated into Arabic these titles read “Abduhu warusooluhul-Mustapha”. Surely all prophets were indeed servants, messengers and elects of God. Yet no prophet in history is as universally called by these specific titles as is Muhammad. The testimony of faith by which the person enters into the fold of Islam reads:
“I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.”
Virtually the same formula is repeated five times a day during the call to prayers, five times a day immediately before the beginning of prayers (iqamah), nine times a day during the minimum mandatory prayers, several more times if the Muslim performs additional recommended prayers (s ). The most common title of Prophet Muhammad since his mission until today is Rasoolullah (the messenger of God). The Qur’an gives him this title. During his lifetime he was addressed as such by his followers. The voluminous collections of hadith (Prophet Muhammad’s sayings) are narrated typically in these forms: “I heard the Messenger of Allah say ...”, “The Messenger of Allah said or replied ...”.
He shall not fail nor be discouraged till he has set judgment in the earth (V. 4), he shall prevail against his enemies (V. 13) and shall bring judgment to the Gentiles (V. 1).
In comparing the lives and missions of Jesus and Muhammad, it becomes readily clear that in the case of Jesus he expressed on more than one occasion how disappointed he was in the Israelites’ rejection of him. Nor did Jesus live long enough on Earth to prevail over his enemies (beyond the moral victory which is a common victory for all prophets).
On the other hand, we find no trace of Prophet Muhammad’s discouragement even in the most critical moments of his mission. In one year his beloved and supporting wife Khadijah died following 25 years of successful marriage; his uncle Abu-Talib, who was instrumental in protecting him from the fury of the pagan Arabs also died. These two tragedies were combined with the fact that his followers constituted only a small persecuted and tortured group. Under such trying circumstances, Muhammad went to the city of at-Taif to invite people to Islam and seek their support in his struggle against paganism. He was rejected, mocked at and stoned to the point of bleeding. In spite of all this he was never “discouraged” to use Isaiah’s term (V. 4): “0 Allah! Forgive my people for they do not know what they’re doing” was his utterance. When Angel Gabriel offered him the chance to retaliate by destroying their city, he refused in the hope that out of the descendants of these wicked people would come those who would worship God, and come they did!
After this bitter struggle, Muhammad “prevailed against his enemies”, established a strong community of believers who indeed “brought judgment to the Gentiles”, especially in the Persian and Byzantine Empires. Many such Gentiles were guided to Islam while others suffered defeats. As such he was truly “a light of the Gentiles” of the whole world.
He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street (V. 2).
Not only was this a distinct characteristic and mark of decency of Muhammad’s, it was indeed the embodiment of the revelation given to him. In the words of the Qur’an:
“Be modest in thy bearing and subdue thy voice. Lo! the harshest of all voices is the voice of the ass. “ (The Qur’an 31:19)
“Allah loveth not the utterance of harsh speech save by one who has been wronged.” (The Qur’an 4:148)
“The Isles shall wait for his law. “ The only prophet who came, after this prophecy was made (Isaiah’s time) with a complete and comprehensive code of law was Prophet Muhammad. The law revealed to him spread to all corners of the earth, even in many remote isles and to the farthest deserts.
He will be sent “to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house” (V. 7).
Many of those who were opposed to the truth and bitterly fought Muhammad ended up among the most devout believers. Their blindness to truth was cured. Those who lived in the darkness of an unholy life came to the light of truth completed through the mission of Muhammad.
No wonder the Qur’an describes itself as “Nooram-mubeena” or light manifest. Describing the Qur’an, God addresses Prophet Muhammad:
“A book which we revealed unto you, in order that you may lead mankind out of the depths of darkness unto light by the leave of their Lord to the way of Him, the exalted in power, worthy of all praise.“ (The Qur’an 14: l. Emphasis added)
God’s glory will not be given to another (V. 8).
The greatest glory a person receives from God is to be entrusted as His messenger to mankind and receive His glorious revelation. Not only did this apply to Prophet Muhammad, but it uniquely applied to him as the last messenger and prophet of God. Truly God’s glory (revelation of scriptures) was not given and will not be given to another prophet after Muhammad, as he is the “seal” of all prophets. It is already about 1400 years since Muhammad was sent and the Qur’an was revealed to him. Yet we hear of no genuine prophet of the magnitude and influence on humanity to be compared with such figures as Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. Nor do we hear about another post-Qur’anic (glory) or holy book that has influenced mankind to such a degree.
Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth ...(V. 10).
A new song may be a reference to a new scripture in a language other that the language of the Israelite scriptures. This interpretation seems consistent with a more explicit mention of someone who will be speaking to people (including the Israelites) in “another tongue” Isaiah 28:11).
This explanation seems to fit closely with the second half of the same verse Isaiah 42:16) which speaks of the praise of God “from the ends of the earth”. Only in the case of Islam do we find this prophecy realized in amazing accuracy. In all ends of the earth, five times every day the praise of God and of His last messenger, Muhammad, is chanted from the minarets of hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of mosques around the world. Additionally, frequent praise of God and Muhammad by millions of devout Muslims is made on daily basis. It is even a part of the required five daily prayers to include the praise of Abraham and his descendants and of Muhammad and his descendants. This is known as “As-Salatul-Ibrahimiyyah”.
This person to come is connected with the Arabs, and specifically with the descendants of Ishmael (who settled in Makkah and its environs). Verse 11 to the 42nd chapter of Isaiah leaves absolutely no doubt about the identity of “that prophet”:
“Let the wilderness of and the cities thereof lip up their voice, the villages that Ke’dar does inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. “ Isaiah 42:11)
According to the Book of Genesis, Ke’dar was the second son of Ishmael (Gen. 25:13). The best known prophet who came from Ishmael’s descendants is Muhammad. His enemies (who were of his own clan!), who were misled by their leaders or mighty men (as described in Isaiah 21:17) ultimately embraced Islam and were embraced by it. Indeed they had reason to “lift up their voice”, to “sing” praise of God, and “shout from the top of the mountains”. is that possibly a reference to the shouting of:
“Here I come (for your service) 0 Allah. Here I come. Here I come. Were is nor a partner with You. Here I come. Verily yours is the Praise, the blessings and sovereignty. Were is no partner besides you”.
This “shouting” is chanted annually by multitudes of Muslims from all over the world from Mount ‘Arafat as part of the annual rites of hajj (pilgrimage).
The 42nd chapter of Isaiah is indeed a fascinating one. It is not a casual or ambiguous reference to that servant and messenger of God who was to come centuries later. It is rather a comprehensive profile which not only fits Prophet Muhammad but fits no one else. After all, the chapter relates this profile to Ke’dar son of Ishmael and no other descendants of Ishmael fits these descriptions but Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Scientists On The Quran
SCIENTISTS ON THE QURAN
Keith L. Moore
Professor Emeritus, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Toronto. Distinguished embryologist and the author of several medical textbooks, including Clinically Oriented Anatomy (3rd Edition) and The Developing Human (5th Edition, with T.V.N. Persaud).
Prof. Moore presenting his research in Cairo.
Investigations in to the 'alaqa or leech-like stage.
Pro. Moore investigating the 'alaqah or leech stage.
Dr. Moore was a former President of the Canadian Association of Anatomists, and of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists. He was honoured by the Canadian Association of Anatomists with the prestigious J.C.B. Grant Award and in 1994 he received the Honoured Member Award of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists "for outstanding contributions to the field of clinical anatomy."
"For the past three years, I have worked with the Embryology Committee of King cAbdulazîz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, helping them to interpret the many statements in the Qur'ân and Sunnah referring to human reproduction and prenatal development. At first I was astonished by the accuracy of the statements that were recorded in the 7th century AD, before the science of embryology was established. Although I was aware of the glorious history of Muslim scientists in the 10th century AD, and some of their contributions to Medicine, I knew nothing about the religious facts and beliefs contained in the Qur'ân and Sunnah."[2]
At a conference in Cairo he presented a research paper and stated:
"It has been a great pleasure for me to help clarify statements in the Qur'ân about human development. It is clear to me that these statements must have come to Muhammad from God, or Allah, because most of this knowledge was not discovered until many centuries later. This proves to me that Muhammad must have been a messenger of God, or Allah." [1]
Professor Moore also stated that:
"...Because the staging of human embryos is complex, owing to the continuous process of change during development, it is proposed that a new system of classification could be developed using the terms mentioned in the Qur'ân and Sunnah. The proposed system is simple, comprehensive, and conforms with present embryological knowledge.
"The intensive studies of the Qur'ân and Hadîth in the last four years have revealed a system of classifying human embryos that is amazing since it was recorded in the seventh century A.D... the descriptions in the Qur'ân cannot be based on scientific knowledge in the seventh century..."[1]
E. Marshall Johnson
Professor and Chairman of the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, and Director of the Daniel Baugh Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Interview with Prof. Johnson.
Author of over 200 publications. Former President of the Teratology Society among other accomplishments. Professor Johnson began to take an interest in the scientific signs in the Qur'ân at the 7th Saudi Medical Conference (1982), when a special committee was formed to investigate scientific signs in the Qur'ân and Hadîth. At first, Professor Johnson refused to accept the existence of such verses in the Qur'ân and Hadîth. But after a dicussuion with Sheikh Zindanî he took an interest and concentrated his research on the internal as well as external development of the fetus.
"...in summary, the Qur'ân describes not only the development of external form, but emphasises also the internal stages, the stages inside the embryo, of its creation and development, emphasising major events recognised by contemporary science."
"As a scientist, I can only deal with things which I can specifically see. I can understand embryology and developmental biology. I can understand the words that are translated to me from the Qur'ân. As I gave the example before, if I were to transpose myself into that era, knowing what I do today and describing things, I could not describe the things that were described...
I see no evidence to refute the concept that this individual Muhammad had to be developing this information from some place... so I see nothing here in conflict with the concept that divine intervention was involved in what he was able to write..." [1]
Joe Leigh Simpson
Professor and Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
He is the President of the American Fertility Society. He has received many awards, including the Association of Professors of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Public Recognition Award in 1992. Like many others, Professor Simpson was taken by surprise when he discovered that the Qur'ân and Hadîth contain verses related to his specialised field of study. When he met with Sheikh Abdul-Majeed A.Zindanî, he insisted on verifying the text presented to him from the Qur'ân and Hadîth.
"... these Hadîths (sayings of Muhammad) could not have been obtained on the basis of the scientific knowledge that was available at the time of the 'writer'... It follows that not only is there no conflict between genetics and religion (Islâm) but in fact religion (Islâm) may guide science by adding revelation to some of the traditional scientific approaches... There exist statements in the Qur'ân shown centuries later to be valid which support knowledge in the Qur'ân having been derived from God." [1]
Gerald C. Goeringer
Professor and Co-ordinator of Medical Embryology in the Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA.
Sheikh cAbdul-Majeed A.Zindanî met with Professor Goeringer and asked him whether in the history of embryology was there any mention of the different stages of embryonic development, or whether there existed any embryological texts at the time of the Prophet. Sheikh Zindanî also asked his opinion regarding the terms the Qur'ân uses to describe the different phases of fetal development. After several long discussions, he presented a study at the 8th Saudi Medical Conference:
"...In a relatively few ayahs (Qur'ânic verses) is contained a rather comprehensive description of human development from the time of commingling of the gametes through organogenesis. No such distinct and complete record of human development such as classification, terminology, and description existed previously. In most, if not all instances, this description antedates by many centuries the recording of the various stages of human embryonic and fetal development recorded in the traditional scientific literature." [1]
Alfred Kroner
Professor of the Department of Geosciences, University of Mainz, Germany.
Professor Kroner is one of the world's most famous geologists, becoming well known among his colleague scientists for his criticisms against the theories of some of the major scientists in his field. Sheikh cAbdul-Majeed A. Zindanî met with him and presented several Qur'ânic verses and Hadîth which he studied and commented upon.
"Thinking where Muhammad came from... I think it is almost impossible that he could have known about things like the common origin of the universe, because scientists have only found out within the last few years with very complicated and advanced technological methods that this is the case."
"Somebody who did not know something about nuclear physics 1400 years ago could not, I think, be in a position to find out from his own mind for instance that the earth and the heavens had the same origin, or many others of the questions that we have discussed here...
If you combine all these and you combine all these statements that are being made in the Qur'ân in terms that relate to the earth and the formation of the earth and science in general, you can basically say that statements made there in many ways are true, they can now be confirmed by scientific methods, and in a way, you can say that the Qur'ân is a simple science text book for the simple man. And that many of the statements made in there at that time could not be proven, but that modern scientific methods are now in a position to prove what Muhammad said 1400 years ago." [1]
Yushidi Kusan
Director of the Tokyo Observatory, Tokyo, Japan.
Interview with Prof. Yushidi Kusan - Director of the Tokyo Observatory.
Sheikh cAbdul-Majeed A. Zindanî presented a number of Qur'ânic verses describing the beginnings of the universe and of the heavens, and the relationship of the earth to the heavens. He expressed his astonishment, saying that the Qur'ân describes the universe as seen from the highest observation point, everything is distinct and clear.
"I say, I am very much impressed by finding true astronomical facts in Qur'ân, and for us modern astronomers have been studying very small piece of the universe. We have concentrated our efforts for understanding of very small part. Because by using telescopes, we can see only very few parts of the sky without thinking about the whole universe. So by reading Qur'ân and by answering to the questions, I think I can find my future way for investigation of the universe." [1]
Professor Armstrong
Professor Armstrong works for NASA and is also Professor of Astronomy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA.
Professor Armstrong.
Prof. Armstrong was asked a number of questions about Qur'ânic verses dealing with his field of specialisation. He was eventually asked, "You have seen and discovered for yourself the true nature of modern Astronomy by means of modern equipment, rockets, and satellites developed by man. You have also seen how the same facts were mentioned by the Qur'an fourteen centuries ago. So what is your opinion?"
"That is a difficult question which I have been thinking about since our discussion here. I am impressed at how remarkably some of the ancient writings seem to correspond to modern and recent Astronomy. I am not a sufficient scholar of human history to project myself completely and reliably into the circumstances that 1400 years ago would have prevailed.
Certainly, I would like to leave it at that, that what we have seen is remarkable, it may or may not admit of scientific explanation, there may well have to be something beyond what we understand as ordinary human experience to account for the writings that we have seen." [1]
William Hay
Professor of Oceanogprahy, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA.
Professor Hay.
Professor Hay is one of the best known marine scientist in the USA. Sheikh cAbdul-Majeed A. Zindanî met with him and asked him many questions about the marine surface, the divider between upper and lower sea, and about the ocean floor and marine geology.
"I find it very interesting that this sort of information is in the ancient scriptures of the Holy Qur'ân, and I have no way of knowing where they would have come from. But I think it is extremely interesting that they are there and this work is going on to discover it, the meaning of some of the passages."
And when he was asked about the source of the Qur'ân, he replied, "Well, I would think it must be the divine being." [1]
Professor Siaveda
Professor of Marine Geology, Japan.
Professor Siaveda.
Sheikh Zindanî asked him a number of questions in his area of specialisation, and then informed him of the Qur'ânic verses and Hadîth which mention the same phenomena he spoke of. One of the questions was concerning mountains. Sheikh Zindanî asked him about the shape of mountains; and whether they were firmly rooted in the earth. "What is your opinion of what you have seen in the Qur'ân and the Sunnah with regard to the secrets of the Universe, which scientists only discovered now?"
"I think it seems to me very, very mysterious, almost unbelievable. I really think if what you have said is true, the book is really a very remarkable book, I agree." [1]
Tejatat Tejasen
Chairman of the Department of Anatomy and is the former Dean of the faculty of Medicine, University of Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Prof. Tejasen embraces Islam.
Professor Tejasen studied various articles concerning the Qur'ân and modern embryology. He spent four days with several scholars, Muslims and non-Muslims, discussing this phenomenon in the Qur'ân and Hadîth. During the 8th Saudi Medical Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia he stood up and said:
"In the last three years, I became interested in the Qur'ân... From my studies and what I have learned throughout this conference, I believe that everything that has been recorded in the Qur'ân fourteen hundred years ago must be the truth, that can be proved by the scientific means.
Since the Prophet Muhammad could neither read nor write, Muhammad must be a messenger who relayed this truth which was revealed to him as an enlightenment by the one who is eligible creator. This creator must be God, or Allah.
I think this is the time to say La ilaha illa Allah, there is no god to worship except Allah (God), Muhammad rasoolu Allah, Muhammad is Messenger of Allah...
The most precious thing I have gained from coming to this conference is La ilaha illa Allah, and to have become Muslim." [1]
Dr. Maurice Bucaille
Born in 1920, former chief of the Surgical Clinic, University of Paris, has for a long time deeply interested in the correspondences between the teachings of the Holy Scriptures and modern secular knowledge.
He is the author of a best-seller, "The Bible, The Qur'ân and Science" (1976). His classical studies of the scriptural languages, including Arabic, in association with his knowledge of hieroglyphics, have allowed him to hold a multidisciplinary inquiry, in which his personal contribution as a medical doctor has produced conclusive arguments. His work, "Mummies of the Pharaohs - Modern Medical Investigations" (St. Martins Press, 1990), won a History Prize from the Académie Française and another prize from the French National Academy of Medicine.
His other works include: "What is the Origin of Man" (Seghers, 1988), "Moses and Pharaoh, the Hebrews in Egypt", (NTT Mediascope Inc, 1994); and "Réflexions sur le Coran" (Mohamed Talbi & Maurice Bucaille, Seghers, 1989)
After a study which lasted ten years, Dr. Maurice Bucaille addressed the French Academy of Medicine in 1976 concerning the existence in the Qur'ân of certain statements concerning physiology and reproduction. His reason for doing that was that :
"...our knowledge of these disciplines is such, that it is impossible to explain how a text produced at the time of the Qur'ân could have contained ideas that have only been discovered in modern times."
Bibliography
[1] Zindanî, cAbdul-Majeed A, This is the Truth (video tape). Scientific Signs of the Qur'ân and Sunnah containing interviews with various scientists. Available in Arabic, English, French, Urdu and Turkish. A full English transcript of this video with illustrations is also available: Al-Rehaili, cAbdullah M.,This is the Truth, Muslim World League, Makkah al-Mukarrammah, 1995. Also available on the web at: ( http://www.it-is-truth.org/ )
[2] Moore, Keith L. and Zindanî, cAbdul-Majeed A., The Developing Human with Islamic Additions, Third Edition, W.B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, 1982, with Dar Al-Qiblah for Islamic Literature, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 1983, page viiic. Limited Edition.
[3] Moore, Keith L., Zindanî, cAbdul-Majeed A., Ahmed Mustafa A, The Qur'ân and Modern Science - Correlation Studies, Islamic Academy for Scientific Research, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Reprinted by World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), USA., 1990, ISBN 0-9627236-0-6. Collection of papers presented at a symposium sponsored by the Muslim Students Association, University of Illinois, May 1990.
[4] Moore, Keith L.; Johnson, E. Marshall; Persaud, T.V.N.; Goeringer, Gerald C.; Zindanî, cAbdul-Majeed A.; and Ahmed Mustafa A, Human Development as Described in the Qur'ân and Sunnah, Commission on Scientific Signs of the Qur'ân and Sunnah, Muslim World Leage, Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Saudi Arabia, 1992, ISBN 0-9627236-1-4. Collection of papers that were originally presented in the First International Conference on Scientific Signs of the Qur'ân and Sunnah, held in Islamabad, Pakistan, 1987, and after some modifications and development, presented in their present form in Dakar, Sengal in July 1991.
Keith L. Moore
Professor Emeritus, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Toronto. Distinguished embryologist and the author of several medical textbooks, including Clinically Oriented Anatomy (3rd Edition) and The Developing Human (5th Edition, with T.V.N. Persaud).
Prof. Moore presenting his research in Cairo.
Investigations in to the 'alaqa or leech-like stage.
Pro. Moore investigating the 'alaqah or leech stage.
Dr. Moore was a former President of the Canadian Association of Anatomists, and of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists. He was honoured by the Canadian Association of Anatomists with the prestigious J.C.B. Grant Award and in 1994 he received the Honoured Member Award of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists "for outstanding contributions to the field of clinical anatomy."
"For the past three years, I have worked with the Embryology Committee of King cAbdulazîz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, helping them to interpret the many statements in the Qur'ân and Sunnah referring to human reproduction and prenatal development. At first I was astonished by the accuracy of the statements that were recorded in the 7th century AD, before the science of embryology was established. Although I was aware of the glorious history of Muslim scientists in the 10th century AD, and some of their contributions to Medicine, I knew nothing about the religious facts and beliefs contained in the Qur'ân and Sunnah."[2]
At a conference in Cairo he presented a research paper and stated:
"It has been a great pleasure for me to help clarify statements in the Qur'ân about human development. It is clear to me that these statements must have come to Muhammad from God, or Allah, because most of this knowledge was not discovered until many centuries later. This proves to me that Muhammad must have been a messenger of God, or Allah." [1]
Professor Moore also stated that:
"...Because the staging of human embryos is complex, owing to the continuous process of change during development, it is proposed that a new system of classification could be developed using the terms mentioned in the Qur'ân and Sunnah. The proposed system is simple, comprehensive, and conforms with present embryological knowledge.
"The intensive studies of the Qur'ân and Hadîth in the last four years have revealed a system of classifying human embryos that is amazing since it was recorded in the seventh century A.D... the descriptions in the Qur'ân cannot be based on scientific knowledge in the seventh century..."[1]
E. Marshall Johnson
Professor and Chairman of the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, and Director of the Daniel Baugh Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Interview with Prof. Johnson.
Author of over 200 publications. Former President of the Teratology Society among other accomplishments. Professor Johnson began to take an interest in the scientific signs in the Qur'ân at the 7th Saudi Medical Conference (1982), when a special committee was formed to investigate scientific signs in the Qur'ân and Hadîth. At first, Professor Johnson refused to accept the existence of such verses in the Qur'ân and Hadîth. But after a dicussuion with Sheikh Zindanî he took an interest and concentrated his research on the internal as well as external development of the fetus.
"...in summary, the Qur'ân describes not only the development of external form, but emphasises also the internal stages, the stages inside the embryo, of its creation and development, emphasising major events recognised by contemporary science."
"As a scientist, I can only deal with things which I can specifically see. I can understand embryology and developmental biology. I can understand the words that are translated to me from the Qur'ân. As I gave the example before, if I were to transpose myself into that era, knowing what I do today and describing things, I could not describe the things that were described...
I see no evidence to refute the concept that this individual Muhammad had to be developing this information from some place... so I see nothing here in conflict with the concept that divine intervention was involved in what he was able to write..." [1]
Joe Leigh Simpson
Professor and Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
He is the President of the American Fertility Society. He has received many awards, including the Association of Professors of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Public Recognition Award in 1992. Like many others, Professor Simpson was taken by surprise when he discovered that the Qur'ân and Hadîth contain verses related to his specialised field of study. When he met with Sheikh Abdul-Majeed A.Zindanî, he insisted on verifying the text presented to him from the Qur'ân and Hadîth.
"... these Hadîths (sayings of Muhammad) could not have been obtained on the basis of the scientific knowledge that was available at the time of the 'writer'... It follows that not only is there no conflict between genetics and religion (Islâm) but in fact religion (Islâm) may guide science by adding revelation to some of the traditional scientific approaches... There exist statements in the Qur'ân shown centuries later to be valid which support knowledge in the Qur'ân having been derived from God." [1]
Gerald C. Goeringer
Professor and Co-ordinator of Medical Embryology in the Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA.
Sheikh cAbdul-Majeed A.Zindanî met with Professor Goeringer and asked him whether in the history of embryology was there any mention of the different stages of embryonic development, or whether there existed any embryological texts at the time of the Prophet. Sheikh Zindanî also asked his opinion regarding the terms the Qur'ân uses to describe the different phases of fetal development. After several long discussions, he presented a study at the 8th Saudi Medical Conference:
"...In a relatively few ayahs (Qur'ânic verses) is contained a rather comprehensive description of human development from the time of commingling of the gametes through organogenesis. No such distinct and complete record of human development such as classification, terminology, and description existed previously. In most, if not all instances, this description antedates by many centuries the recording of the various stages of human embryonic and fetal development recorded in the traditional scientific literature." [1]
Alfred Kroner
Professor of the Department of Geosciences, University of Mainz, Germany.
Professor Kroner is one of the world's most famous geologists, becoming well known among his colleague scientists for his criticisms against the theories of some of the major scientists in his field. Sheikh cAbdul-Majeed A. Zindanî met with him and presented several Qur'ânic verses and Hadîth which he studied and commented upon.
"Thinking where Muhammad came from... I think it is almost impossible that he could have known about things like the common origin of the universe, because scientists have only found out within the last few years with very complicated and advanced technological methods that this is the case."
"Somebody who did not know something about nuclear physics 1400 years ago could not, I think, be in a position to find out from his own mind for instance that the earth and the heavens had the same origin, or many others of the questions that we have discussed here...
If you combine all these and you combine all these statements that are being made in the Qur'ân in terms that relate to the earth and the formation of the earth and science in general, you can basically say that statements made there in many ways are true, they can now be confirmed by scientific methods, and in a way, you can say that the Qur'ân is a simple science text book for the simple man. And that many of the statements made in there at that time could not be proven, but that modern scientific methods are now in a position to prove what Muhammad said 1400 years ago." [1]
Yushidi Kusan
Director of the Tokyo Observatory, Tokyo, Japan.
Interview with Prof. Yushidi Kusan - Director of the Tokyo Observatory.
Sheikh cAbdul-Majeed A. Zindanî presented a number of Qur'ânic verses describing the beginnings of the universe and of the heavens, and the relationship of the earth to the heavens. He expressed his astonishment, saying that the Qur'ân describes the universe as seen from the highest observation point, everything is distinct and clear.
"I say, I am very much impressed by finding true astronomical facts in Qur'ân, and for us modern astronomers have been studying very small piece of the universe. We have concentrated our efforts for understanding of very small part. Because by using telescopes, we can see only very few parts of the sky without thinking about the whole universe. So by reading Qur'ân and by answering to the questions, I think I can find my future way for investigation of the universe." [1]
Professor Armstrong
Professor Armstrong works for NASA and is also Professor of Astronomy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA.
Professor Armstrong.
Prof. Armstrong was asked a number of questions about Qur'ânic verses dealing with his field of specialisation. He was eventually asked, "You have seen and discovered for yourself the true nature of modern Astronomy by means of modern equipment, rockets, and satellites developed by man. You have also seen how the same facts were mentioned by the Qur'an fourteen centuries ago. So what is your opinion?"
"That is a difficult question which I have been thinking about since our discussion here. I am impressed at how remarkably some of the ancient writings seem to correspond to modern and recent Astronomy. I am not a sufficient scholar of human history to project myself completely and reliably into the circumstances that 1400 years ago would have prevailed.
Certainly, I would like to leave it at that, that what we have seen is remarkable, it may or may not admit of scientific explanation, there may well have to be something beyond what we understand as ordinary human experience to account for the writings that we have seen." [1]
William Hay
Professor of Oceanogprahy, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA.
Professor Hay.
Professor Hay is one of the best known marine scientist in the USA. Sheikh cAbdul-Majeed A. Zindanî met with him and asked him many questions about the marine surface, the divider between upper and lower sea, and about the ocean floor and marine geology.
"I find it very interesting that this sort of information is in the ancient scriptures of the Holy Qur'ân, and I have no way of knowing where they would have come from. But I think it is extremely interesting that they are there and this work is going on to discover it, the meaning of some of the passages."
And when he was asked about the source of the Qur'ân, he replied, "Well, I would think it must be the divine being." [1]
Professor Siaveda
Professor of Marine Geology, Japan.
Professor Siaveda.
Sheikh Zindanî asked him a number of questions in his area of specialisation, and then informed him of the Qur'ânic verses and Hadîth which mention the same phenomena he spoke of. One of the questions was concerning mountains. Sheikh Zindanî asked him about the shape of mountains; and whether they were firmly rooted in the earth. "What is your opinion of what you have seen in the Qur'ân and the Sunnah with regard to the secrets of the Universe, which scientists only discovered now?"
"I think it seems to me very, very mysterious, almost unbelievable. I really think if what you have said is true, the book is really a very remarkable book, I agree." [1]
Tejatat Tejasen
Chairman of the Department of Anatomy and is the former Dean of the faculty of Medicine, University of Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Prof. Tejasen embraces Islam.
Professor Tejasen studied various articles concerning the Qur'ân and modern embryology. He spent four days with several scholars, Muslims and non-Muslims, discussing this phenomenon in the Qur'ân and Hadîth. During the 8th Saudi Medical Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia he stood up and said:
"In the last three years, I became interested in the Qur'ân... From my studies and what I have learned throughout this conference, I believe that everything that has been recorded in the Qur'ân fourteen hundred years ago must be the truth, that can be proved by the scientific means.
Since the Prophet Muhammad could neither read nor write, Muhammad must be a messenger who relayed this truth which was revealed to him as an enlightenment by the one who is eligible creator. This creator must be God, or Allah.
I think this is the time to say La ilaha illa Allah, there is no god to worship except Allah (God), Muhammad rasoolu Allah, Muhammad is Messenger of Allah...
The most precious thing I have gained from coming to this conference is La ilaha illa Allah, and to have become Muslim." [1]
Dr. Maurice Bucaille
Born in 1920, former chief of the Surgical Clinic, University of Paris, has for a long time deeply interested in the correspondences between the teachings of the Holy Scriptures and modern secular knowledge.
He is the author of a best-seller, "The Bible, The Qur'ân and Science" (1976). His classical studies of the scriptural languages, including Arabic, in association with his knowledge of hieroglyphics, have allowed him to hold a multidisciplinary inquiry, in which his personal contribution as a medical doctor has produced conclusive arguments. His work, "Mummies of the Pharaohs - Modern Medical Investigations" (St. Martins Press, 1990), won a History Prize from the Académie Française and another prize from the French National Academy of Medicine.
His other works include: "What is the Origin of Man" (Seghers, 1988), "Moses and Pharaoh, the Hebrews in Egypt", (NTT Mediascope Inc, 1994); and "Réflexions sur le Coran" (Mohamed Talbi & Maurice Bucaille, Seghers, 1989)
After a study which lasted ten years, Dr. Maurice Bucaille addressed the French Academy of Medicine in 1976 concerning the existence in the Qur'ân of certain statements concerning physiology and reproduction. His reason for doing that was that :
"...our knowledge of these disciplines is such, that it is impossible to explain how a text produced at the time of the Qur'ân could have contained ideas that have only been discovered in modern times."
Bibliography
[1] Zindanî, cAbdul-Majeed A, This is the Truth (video tape). Scientific Signs of the Qur'ân and Sunnah containing interviews with various scientists. Available in Arabic, English, French, Urdu and Turkish. A full English transcript of this video with illustrations is also available: Al-Rehaili, cAbdullah M.,This is the Truth, Muslim World League, Makkah al-Mukarrammah, 1995. Also available on the web at: ( http://www.it-is-truth.org/ )
[2] Moore, Keith L. and Zindanî, cAbdul-Majeed A., The Developing Human with Islamic Additions, Third Edition, W.B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, 1982, with Dar Al-Qiblah for Islamic Literature, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 1983, page viiic. Limited Edition.
[3] Moore, Keith L., Zindanî, cAbdul-Majeed A., Ahmed Mustafa A, The Qur'ân and Modern Science - Correlation Studies, Islamic Academy for Scientific Research, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Reprinted by World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), USA., 1990, ISBN 0-9627236-0-6. Collection of papers presented at a symposium sponsored by the Muslim Students Association, University of Illinois, May 1990.
[4] Moore, Keith L.; Johnson, E. Marshall; Persaud, T.V.N.; Goeringer, Gerald C.; Zindanî, cAbdul-Majeed A.; and Ahmed Mustafa A, Human Development as Described in the Qur'ân and Sunnah, Commission on Scientific Signs of the Qur'ân and Sunnah, Muslim World Leage, Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Saudi Arabia, 1992, ISBN 0-9627236-1-4. Collection of papers that were originally presented in the First International Conference on Scientific Signs of the Qur'ân and Sunnah, held in Islamabad, Pakistan, 1987, and after some modifications and development, presented in their present form in Dakar, Sengal in July 1991.
The Miracle of Zam Zam Water From Mecca
The Miracle of Zam Zam Water
Research by Tariq Hussain and Moin Uddin Ahmed
Come the Hajj season, and I am reminded of the wonders of Zumzum water. Let me go back to how it all started. In 1971, an Egyptian doctor wrote to the European Press, a letter saying that Zumzum water was not fit for drinking purposes. I immediately thought that this was just a form of prejudice against the Muslims and that since his statement was based on the assumption that since the Ka'aba was a shallow place (below sea level) and located in the center of the city of Makkah, the wastewater of the city collecting through the drains fell into well holding the water.
Fortunately, the news came to King Faisal's ears who got extremely angry and decided to disprove the Egyptian doctor's provocative statement. He immediately ordered the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources to investigate and send samples of Zumzum water to European laboratories for testing the potability of the water.
The ministry then instructed the Jeddah Power and Desalination Plants to carry out this task. It was here that I was employed as a desalting engineer (chemical engineer to produce drinking water from sea water). I was chosen to carry out this assignment. At this stage, I remember that I had no idea what the well holding the water looked like. I went to Makkah and reported to the authorities at the Ka'aba explaining my purpose of visit.
They deputed a man to give me whatever help was required. When we reached the well, it was hard for me to believe that a pool of water, more like a small pond, about 18 by 14 feet, was the well that supplied millions of gallons of water every year to hajis ever since it came into existence at the time of Hazrat Ibrahim A.S., many, many centuries ago. I started my investigations and took the dimensions of the well. I asked the man to show me the depth of the well.
First he took a shower and descended into the water. Then he straightened his body. I saw that the water level came up to just above his shoulders. His height was around five feet, eight inches. He then started moving from one corner to the other in the well (standing all the while since he was not allowed to dip his head into the water) in search of any inlet or pipeline inside the well to see from where the water came in. However, the man reported that he could not find any inlet or pipeline inside the well.
I thought of another idea. The water could be withdrawn rapidly with the help of a big transfer pump which was installed at the well for the Zumzum water storage tanks. In this way, the water level would drop enabling us to locate the point of entry of the water. Surprisingly, nothing was observed during the pumping period, but I knew that this was the only method by which you could find the entrance of the water to the well. So I decided to repeat the process. But this time I instructed the man to stand still at one place and carefully observe any unusual thing happening inside the well. After a while, he suddenly raised his hands and shouted, "Alhamdollillah! I have found it. The sand is dancing beneath my feet as the water oozes out of the bed of the well."
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Then he moved around the well during the pumping period and noticed the same phenomenon everywhere in the well. Actually the flow of water into the well through the bed was equal at every point, thus keeping the level of the water steady. After I finished my observations I took the samples of the water for European laboratories to test. Before I left the Ka'aba, I asked the authorities about the other wells around Makkah.
I was told that these wells were mostly dry. When I reached my office in Jeddah I reported my findings to my boss who listened with great interest but made a very irrational comment that the Zumzum well could be internally connected to the Red Sea . How was it possible when Makkah is about 75 kilometres away from the sea and the wells located before the city usually remains dry? The results of the water samples tested by the European laboratories and the one We analysed in our own laboratory were found to be almost identical.
The difference between Zumzum water and other water (city water) was in the quantity of calcium and magnesium salts.
The content of these was slightly higher in Zumzum water. This may be why this water refreshes tired hajis, but more significantly, the water contained fluorides that have an effective germicidal action. Moreover, the remarks of the European laboratories showed that the water was fit for drinking.
Hence the statement made by the Egyptian doctor was proved false. When this was reported to King Faisal he was extremely pleased and ordered the contradiction of the report in the European Press. In a way, it was a blessing that this study was undertaken to show the chemical composition of the water. In fact, the more you explore, the more wonders surface and you find yourself believing implicitly in the miracles of this water that God bestowed as a gift on the faithful coming from far and wide to the desert land for pilgrimage.
Let me sum up some of the features of Zumzum water.
This well has never dried up. On the contrary it has always fulfilled the demand for water. It has always maintained the same salt composition and taste ever since it came into existence. Its potability has always been universally recognised as pilgrims from all over the world visit Ka'aba every year for Hajj and umrah, but have never complained about it. Instead, they have always enjoyed the water that refreshes them. Water tastes different at different places.
Zumzum water's appeal has always been universal. This water has never been chemically treated or chlorinated as is the case with water pumped into the cities. Biological growth and vegetation usually takes place in most wells. This makes the water unpalatable owing to the growth of algae causing taste and odour problems.
But in the case of the Zumzum water well, there wasn't any sign of biological growth. Centuries ago, Hagar (raa) searched desperately for water in the hills of Safa and Marwa to give to her newly born son Ismail (pbuh) As she ran from one place to another in search of water, her child rubbed his feet against the sand. A pool of water surfaced, and by the grace of God, shaped itself into a well which came to be called Zumzum water.
Research by Tariq Hussain and Moin Uddin Ahmed
Come the Hajj season, and I am reminded of the wonders of Zumzum water. Let me go back to how it all started. In 1971, an Egyptian doctor wrote to the European Press, a letter saying that Zumzum water was not fit for drinking purposes. I immediately thought that this was just a form of prejudice against the Muslims and that since his statement was based on the assumption that since the Ka'aba was a shallow place (below sea level) and located in the center of the city of Makkah, the wastewater of the city collecting through the drains fell into well holding the water.
Fortunately, the news came to King Faisal's ears who got extremely angry and decided to disprove the Egyptian doctor's provocative statement. He immediately ordered the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources to investigate and send samples of Zumzum water to European laboratories for testing the potability of the water.
The ministry then instructed the Jeddah Power and Desalination Plants to carry out this task. It was here that I was employed as a desalting engineer (chemical engineer to produce drinking water from sea water). I was chosen to carry out this assignment. At this stage, I remember that I had no idea what the well holding the water looked like. I went to Makkah and reported to the authorities at the Ka'aba explaining my purpose of visit.
They deputed a man to give me whatever help was required. When we reached the well, it was hard for me to believe that a pool of water, more like a small pond, about 18 by 14 feet, was the well that supplied millions of gallons of water every year to hajis ever since it came into existence at the time of Hazrat Ibrahim A.S., many, many centuries ago. I started my investigations and took the dimensions of the well. I asked the man to show me the depth of the well.
First he took a shower and descended into the water. Then he straightened his body. I saw that the water level came up to just above his shoulders. His height was around five feet, eight inches. He then started moving from one corner to the other in the well (standing all the while since he was not allowed to dip his head into the water) in search of any inlet or pipeline inside the well to see from where the water came in. However, the man reported that he could not find any inlet or pipeline inside the well.
I thought of another idea. The water could be withdrawn rapidly with the help of a big transfer pump which was installed at the well for the Zumzum water storage tanks. In this way, the water level would drop enabling us to locate the point of entry of the water. Surprisingly, nothing was observed during the pumping period, but I knew that this was the only method by which you could find the entrance of the water to the well. So I decided to repeat the process. But this time I instructed the man to stand still at one place and carefully observe any unusual thing happening inside the well. After a while, he suddenly raised his hands and shouted, "Alhamdollillah! I have found it. The sand is dancing beneath my feet as the water oozes out of the bed of the well."
Google Enter your search terms Submit search form
Web islamicmiracles.net
Then he moved around the well during the pumping period and noticed the same phenomenon everywhere in the well. Actually the flow of water into the well through the bed was equal at every point, thus keeping the level of the water steady. After I finished my observations I took the samples of the water for European laboratories to test. Before I left the Ka'aba, I asked the authorities about the other wells around Makkah.
I was told that these wells were mostly dry. When I reached my office in Jeddah I reported my findings to my boss who listened with great interest but made a very irrational comment that the Zumzum well could be internally connected to the Red Sea . How was it possible when Makkah is about 75 kilometres away from the sea and the wells located before the city usually remains dry? The results of the water samples tested by the European laboratories and the one We analysed in our own laboratory were found to be almost identical.
The difference between Zumzum water and other water (city water) was in the quantity of calcium and magnesium salts.
The content of these was slightly higher in Zumzum water. This may be why this water refreshes tired hajis, but more significantly, the water contained fluorides that have an effective germicidal action. Moreover, the remarks of the European laboratories showed that the water was fit for drinking.
Hence the statement made by the Egyptian doctor was proved false. When this was reported to King Faisal he was extremely pleased and ordered the contradiction of the report in the European Press. In a way, it was a blessing that this study was undertaken to show the chemical composition of the water. In fact, the more you explore, the more wonders surface and you find yourself believing implicitly in the miracles of this water that God bestowed as a gift on the faithful coming from far and wide to the desert land for pilgrimage.
Let me sum up some of the features of Zumzum water.
This well has never dried up. On the contrary it has always fulfilled the demand for water. It has always maintained the same salt composition and taste ever since it came into existence. Its potability has always been universally recognised as pilgrims from all over the world visit Ka'aba every year for Hajj and umrah, but have never complained about it. Instead, they have always enjoyed the water that refreshes them. Water tastes different at different places.
Zumzum water's appeal has always been universal. This water has never been chemically treated or chlorinated as is the case with water pumped into the cities. Biological growth and vegetation usually takes place in most wells. This makes the water unpalatable owing to the growth of algae causing taste and odour problems.
But in the case of the Zumzum water well, there wasn't any sign of biological growth. Centuries ago, Hagar (raa) searched desperately for water in the hills of Safa and Marwa to give to her newly born son Ismail (pbuh) As she ran from one place to another in search of water, her child rubbed his feet against the sand. A pool of water surfaced, and by the grace of God, shaped itself into a well which came to be called Zumzum water.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Application For Study
The Faculty of Homeopathy Malaysia - FAHOM ( Rgt)
Fakulti Perubatan Homeopathy Malaysia
Main Campus: 122 Taman University, Gelang Mas, Meranti, 17010 Pasir Mas, Kelantan.
Tel: 019 9401915 E Mail: fahom2009@gmail.com
Web: www.homeopathymalaysia.org.my
Faculty of Homeopathy Malaysia – Centre For Continuing Education – FAHOM –CfCED
Pusat Pendidikan Berterusan _ Fakulti Perubatan Homeopathy Malaysia
Application Form Homeopathic / Acupuncture Course
Nature of Course: Certificate , Diploma, Bachelor, Master………………………………………..
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Qualification: Academic & Professional: Name of Certificate, Diploma or Degree. Name of school
or college obtained and year of qualification.
1. Name of Certificate:……………………………………………………………………………….Year…………………...
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2 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Year……………………….
Kindly attach photocopy of all your qualification to support your application.
1. 3 passport size photos.
2. Photocopy copies of academic and professional qualification.
3. Testimonial / Recommendation letter from any VIP
Acceptance Of Offer Form:
I hereby confirm that I agree to attend the programme of study as mentioned above and I will abide to all rules and regulation as governed by the management of FAHOM and Unit T/CM Ministry of Health Malaysia throughout the duration of my studies.
I understand that the programme of study is provided specifically for those who wish to enhance their knowledge and skill and traditional medicine especially homeopathy.
I understand that the programme of study is not listed as programmed recognized by Public Service Department ( PSD) for any appointment. This programme of study is also not listed as programmes recognized by any professional or certified bodies either local or abroad. I also understand that generally, this programme of study is not listed as a qualification for entry to any local universities unless given special consideration by the university.
I agree that FAHOM has the right to withdraw or terminate this offer if the information or statement given by me in this application are false.
I agree that FAHOM has the right to terminate my studies, at any time, without assigning any reason.
Date of applicant:……………………………….. Signature:……………………..………………………………….
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Please Note: If the application is rejected, the college will refund all fee paid with 2 weeks from the date of receiving.
Board of Faculty of Homeopathy Malaysia
Sig. Registrar………………………………………………………… Director…………………………………………………..
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Penyembuhan Ajaib - Cured The Uncurable
The Miracle Cure by Homeopathy
Pesakit ini seorang Wanita Melayu:Puan N bt J Umur 50 tahun
Dari Rekod: Pusat Perubatan Homeopathy Dr Nik Omar
118 Jalan Raja Laut, KL
Aduan: Infeksi yang tidak Mahu Sembuh.
Seorang wanita muda berusia sekitar 26 tahun datang ke kelinik saya untuk meminta ubat homeopati, katanya ibunya sakit tenat dan sedang berada di hospital sejak satu bulan yang lepas kerana infeksi jangkitan kuman dibahagian betis kerana terkena paku karat dan daging dibetis burok, bernanah dan daging jatuh sekeping demi sekeping. Doktor tidak dapat buat apa-apa cuma hanya balut dibahagian infeksi.
Kesian melihat keadaan ibu di wad, anak muda ini datang untk meminta ubat dengan saya. Saya memebri ubat berdasarkan cakapan Si anak tadi. saya memberi Calendula Off diikuti dengan Graphite.
Seminggu selepas makan ubat homeopati daging yang gugur serta buruk dan busok mula mengering dan melihat tanda-tanda kebaikan.
Melihat keadaan infeksi yang menunjukkan kebaikan, doktor di hospital menyatakan, "
"MakChik bernasib baik, kerana penyakit mak chik menunjukan kebaikan, ini satu keajaiban", kata doktor di hospital.
Memang doktor sendiri akui, satu keajaiban, kerana usaha sungguh-sungguh serta ubat homeopati yang tepat, sesuatu penyakit yang sukar dirawat, menjadi mudah dan dapat disembuhkan.
Pada 29 Ogos 2010 Mak Chik ini datang sendiri, berjumpa dengan saya hanya untuk mengucapkan " terima kasih kerana telah menyembuhkan kesakitannya'
Pesakit ini seorang Wanita Melayu:Puan N bt J Umur 50 tahun
Dari Rekod: Pusat Perubatan Homeopathy Dr Nik Omar
118 Jalan Raja Laut, KL
Aduan: Infeksi yang tidak Mahu Sembuh.
Seorang wanita muda berusia sekitar 26 tahun datang ke kelinik saya untuk meminta ubat homeopati, katanya ibunya sakit tenat dan sedang berada di hospital sejak satu bulan yang lepas kerana infeksi jangkitan kuman dibahagian betis kerana terkena paku karat dan daging dibetis burok, bernanah dan daging jatuh sekeping demi sekeping. Doktor tidak dapat buat apa-apa cuma hanya balut dibahagian infeksi.
Kesian melihat keadaan ibu di wad, anak muda ini datang untk meminta ubat dengan saya. Saya memebri ubat berdasarkan cakapan Si anak tadi. saya memberi Calendula Off diikuti dengan Graphite.
Seminggu selepas makan ubat homeopati daging yang gugur serta buruk dan busok mula mengering dan melihat tanda-tanda kebaikan.
Melihat keadaan infeksi yang menunjukkan kebaikan, doktor di hospital menyatakan, "
"MakChik bernasib baik, kerana penyakit mak chik menunjukan kebaikan, ini satu keajaiban", kata doktor di hospital.
Memang doktor sendiri akui, satu keajaiban, kerana usaha sungguh-sungguh serta ubat homeopati yang tepat, sesuatu penyakit yang sukar dirawat, menjadi mudah dan dapat disembuhkan.
Pada 29 Ogos 2010 Mak Chik ini datang sendiri, berjumpa dengan saya hanya untuk mengucapkan " terima kasih kerana telah menyembuhkan kesakitannya'
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Venue 19th AHML Conference at New Delhi, India 13 -1 4 Nov 2010
The Congress will be held on November 13th and 14th, 2010. The timings of the Congress will be from 9.00AM to 5.00PM. The venue is INSTITUTE FOR DEFENCE STUDIES AND ANALYSIS(IDSA), 1 DEVELOPMENT ENCLAVE, RAO TULA RAM MARG New Delhi-110010, India.
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