Foretelling of the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in the Bible

Praise be to Allah.

This is one of two cases: either this man is ignorant and what he says is of no significance, or what he says is a fabrication and a lie. We Muslims know well the aayah (Qur’anic verse) in which Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e. Muhammad) whom they find written with them in the Tawraat (Torah) (Deut, xviii 15) and the Injeel (Gospel) (John, xiv 16), — he commands them for Al-Ma‘roof (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained); and forbids them from Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); he allows them as lawful At‑Tayyibaat (i.e. all good and lawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons and foods), and prohibits them as unlawful Al‑Khabaa’ith (i.e. all evil and unlawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons and foods), he releases them from their heavy burdens (of Allah’s Covenant with the children of Israel), and from the fetters (bindings) that were upon them. So those who believe in him (Muhammad), honour him, help him, and follow the light (the Qur’aan) which has been sent down with him, it is they who will be successful

[al-A’raaf 7:157] 

Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his commentary (tafseer) on this verse:

“ ‘Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write whom they find written with them in the Tawraat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)’ – this is a description of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in the books of the Prophets who gave their nations the glad tidings of his coming and commanded them to follow him. This description is still there in their books and their scholars and rabbis know it. Imaam Ahmad narrated: Ismaa’eel told us from al-Jareeri from Abu Sakhr al-‘Aqeeli, a man from among the Bedouin told me, I brought a milch-camel to Madeenah during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). When I had sold her, I said, “Let me meet this man [the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)] and listen to him.” I met him walking between Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, and I followed them until they came to a Jewish man who was reading from a scroll of the Torah, consoling himself for the plight of his son who lay dying, a boy who was very handsome and good looking. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘I ask you by the One Who revealed this Torah, do you find any mention in this book of yours of my attributes and my coming?’ The man gestured with his head to indicate ‘No’. But his son said, ‘Yes indeed, by the One who revealed the Torah, we do find mention of your attributes and your coming in our book, and I bear witness that there is no god except Allah and that you are the Messenger of Allah.’ [The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)] said, ‘Keep this Jew away from your brother.’ Then he took care of shrouding him and praying [the funeral prayer] over him.” This is a qawiy jayyid hadeeth.

 It was narrated that ‘Ataa’ ibn Yassaar said: “I met ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Amr and said, ‘Tell me about the attributes of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) described in the Torah.’ He said, ‘Yes, by Allah he is described in the Torah as he is described in the Qur’aan (interpretation of the meaning): “Verily, We have sent you (O Muhammad) as a witness, as a bearer of glad tidings, and as a warner” [al-Fath 48:8] – and as a saviour to the unlettered; you are My slave and My messenger; your name is al-Mutawakkil; you are not harsh and aggressive; Allah will not take him (in death) until He has straightened a crooked nation through him so that they will say that there is no god except Allah, and has opened hard hearts, deaf ears and blind eyes.’”  ‘Ataa’ said: “Then I met Ka’b (who was one of the People of the Book who had become Muslim) and I asked him about that, and he told me exactly the same, not even one letter was different…” 

Al-Bukhaari narrated in his Saheeh that ‘Ataa’ ibn Yassaar said: “ I met ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas (may Allah be pleased with him) and said, ‘Tell me about the description of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in the Torah. He said, ‘‘Yes, by Allah, he is described in the Torah in some of the same terms as he is described in the Qur’aan (interpretation of the meaning): “Verily, We have sent you (O Muhammad) as a witness, as a bearer of glad tidings, and as a warner” [al-Fath 48:8] – and as a saviour to the unlettered; you are My slave and My messenger;  your name is al-Mutawakkil; he is not harsh and aggressive, and he does not make a noise in the market-place; he does not repay evil with evil, rather he overlooks and forgives; Allah will not take him (in death) until He has straightened a crooked nation through him so that they will say that there is no god except Allah, and has opened hard hearts, deaf ears and blind eyes.’”

(al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, no. 2125)

 Allah did not send any Prophet without taking from him the covenant and promise that if the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) were to appear during his lifetime, he would follow Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

 Allah says in Soorat Aal ‘Imraan (which no Christian reads with an open mind but he will become Muslim) (interpretation of the meaning):

“And (remember) when Allah took the Covenant of the Prophets, saying: ‘Take whatever I gave you from the Book and Hikmah (understanding of the Laws of Allah), and afterwards there will come to you a Messenger (Muhammad) confirming what is with you; you must, then, believe in him and help him.’ Allah said: ‘Do you agree (to it) and will you take up My Covenant (which I conclude with you)?’ They said: ‘We agree.’ He said: ‘Then bear witness; and I am with you among the witnesses (for this).’”

[Aal ‘Imraan 3:81] 

Al-Qurtubi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his commentary (tafseer) on this verse:

It is said that Allah took the covenant from the Prophets that they would confirm one another, and He commanded them to believe in one another. This is the meaning of believing and helping (‘you must, then, believe in him and help him’)… Taawoos said: Allah took the covenant from the first Prophets that they would believe in the Message of the later Prophets…

The Messenger here is Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), according to the view of ‘Ali and Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them).

Allah took the covenant from all the Prophets that they would believe in Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) if they met him, and He commanded them to take the same covenant from their nations.

If you want to know more about the references to the coming of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in the Bible (even after it has been altered!) we refer you to the books “Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in the Bible” and “What the Bible says about Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)” by Ahmad Deedat.

We ask Allah to guide you.