Main Attributes of Prophet Muhammad’s Profile in the Bible
The main elements in Prophet Muhammad’s profile, as depicted in the Bible, are the following:
1- His name
Prophet Muhammad is mentioned by name in ten locations in the Gospel of Barnabas.
2- His characteristics
3- The location from which he was to emerge
4- The message to be revealed through him
5- Fulfillment of prophecies which he foretold
6- The time when he was to appear
7- The unique proof
8- Consistency of Muhammad’s teachings with Jesus’ teachings
Proof 1: His Name & Characteristics
1- His name: Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is mentioned by name in ten locations in the Christian Gospel.
Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) is mentioned by name in ten locations in the Gospel of Barnabas, in chapters 39, 41, 44, 54, 55, 97, 112, 136, 165, and 220.
Consider the following explicit quote:
“The disciples answered: O Master, who shall that man be of whom you speak, who shall come into the world? Jesus answered with joy of heart: He is Muhammad; Messenger of God, and when he comes into the world, even as the rain makes the earth to bear fruit when for a long time it has not rained, even so shall he be occasion of good works among men, through the abundant mercy which he shall bring. For he is a white cloud full of the mercy of God, which mercy God shall sprinkle upon the faithful like rain.” (The Gospel of Barnabas:163)
It is a fact that the Trinitarian church has done its utmost to obliterate all existing copies of the Gospel of Barnabas and to either hide it from the masses or to label it a forgery.
- His characteristics
In Deuteronomy 18, Moses (peace be upon him) stated that God told him:
“I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19)
From these verses, we can conclude that the prophet mentioned in this prophecy must have the following three characteristics:
Firstly, he will be like Moses (peace be upon him).
Secondly, he will descend from the brothers of the Israelites, the Ishmaelites.
Thirdly, God will put His words into the mouth of this prophet, and he will declare what God commands him.
Let us examine these three characteristics in depth:
Proof 2: A prophet like Moses (peace be upon him)
There were hardly any two prophets who were as similar as Prophets Moses (peace be upon him) and Muhammad (peace be upon him). Both were given a comprehensive law and code of life. Both encountered their enemies and were victorious in miraculous ways. Both were accepted as prophets and statesmen. Both migrated, following conspiracies to assassinate them.
Analogies between Moses (peace be upon him) and Muhammad overlook not only the above similarities, but other crucial ones as well. These include the natural birth, the family life, and even death; both Moses and Muhammad died the natural death.
Between Moses, Muhammad and Jesus
Some people believe that this prophecy refers to Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him). However, this cannot be true. The following ten points of comparison between Prophets Moses, Muhammad and Jesus (peace be upon them) demonstrate that Prophet Jesus does not fit this particular prophecy.
It would clarify the identity of “that Prophet” who has come after Moses (peace be upon him). This comparison is self-evident.
Following are the details:
1- Birth
The birth of Jesus was miraculous.
According to Christian and Muslim beliefs, he was miraculously born of the Virgin Mary.7 However, both Moses and Muhammad (peace be upon them) were born in the usual manner; the physical association of man and woman. Therefore, Jesus is not like Moses; however, Muhammad is like Moses.
2- Parents
Moses had a father and a mother; so did Muhammad. Jesus, however, had only a mother and no human father. Therefore, Jesus is not like Moses, but Muhammad is.
3- Marital status
Both Moses and Muhammad got married and had children. There is no record of a marriage and offspring in the case of Jesus (peace be upon him). Therefore, Jesus is not like Moses, but Muhammad is.
4- Death
Both Moses and Muhammad died due to natural causes and were buried. The end of the mission of Jesus on the earth was unusual; being raised up to the heavens according to Islamic belief and crucifixion according to Christian belief.8 According to Christians, Jesus died for the sins of the world, but Moses did not have to die for the sins of the world. He and Muhammad died due to natural causes. Therefore, Jesus is not like Moses, but Muhammad is.
5- Prophethood
Jesus was regarded by later Christians as the Son of God and not as a prophet of God (Allah), as Moses and Muhammad were. Therefore, Jesus is not like Moses, but Muhammad is.
6- Acceptance/rejection of prophethood by people (moral success)
Unlike Jesus, Moses and Muhammad were accepted as prophets by their people in their very lifetime. No doubt, the Jews gave endless trouble to Moses and they wandered in the wilderness. He left Egypt when he learned of a plot to kill him; he went to Medyan, where he was welcomed and reassured by Jethro.
However, ultimately, the Jews, as a nation, acknowledged that Moses was a Messenger of Allah sent to them. The Arabs, too, made Muhammad’s life terribly difficult during the first ten years of his mission. He suffered very badly at their hands and left his home town Makkah, upon learning about a plot to kill him. He went to Yathrib, which was later called Madinah, after 13 years of preaching in Makkah. However, before his demise, the Arab nation as a whole accepted him as the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).
On the other hand, Jesus (peace be upon him) was not accepted by the people to whom he was sent. According to the Bible, “He (Jesus) came unto his own, but his own people received him not.” (John 1:11)
Even today, after two thousand years, his own people – the Jews, as a whole – still reject him.
Thus, from this aspect, Jesus is not like Moses, but Muhammad is.
7- Confrontation of the enemy
Moses encountered his enemies (the Pharaoh’s army) who sought to destroy him and his followers before they could escape to the Red Sea. Muhammad also 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.
On the contrary, Jesus was reported to have commanded his disciple, Simon Peter, to put his sword back into its sheath when he attempted to defend Jesus at the time of his arrest. From this aspect as well, Jesus is not like Moses, but Muhammad is.
8- Victory
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 also ended with his final military and moral victory over them. He and his followers re-entered Makkah, the city and centre of plotting against him. Impressed with his truthfulness and magnanimity, the great majority of his former enemies chose to become Muslims and 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.
Therefore, Jesus is not like Moses, but Muhammad (peace be upon him) is.
9- Acceptance
During his lifetime, after his people’s initial resistance and skepticism, Moses was accepted by his people as a Prophet, notwithstanding certain lapses (such as the worship of the golden calf).
Also, after initial resistance, Muhammad was enthusiastically accepted as a Prophet and a leader, also during his lifetime. Until the end however, and with the exception of a few followers, Jesus was rejected by his people (the Israelites). The Christian
Gospel clearly confirms this: when Jesus (peace be upon him) was dragged before the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate, and charged with sedition, he made a convincing point in his defense to refute the false charge.
“He said: My kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews, but now is my kingdom not from hence.” (John 18:36)
This convinced Pilate (a pagan) that although Jesus might not be in full possession of his mental faculty, he was not a danger to his rule. Jesus claimed a spiritual kingdom only; he only claimed to be a Prophet.
Therefore, Jesus is not like Moses, but Muhammad is.
10- Preservation of teachings
The teachings revealed to Moses were available in a written form in his lifetime. The Qur’an revealed to Muhammad was also written down in its entirety during his lifetime and under his supervision.
The teachings of Jesus, however, were not written during his lifetime. Even the earliest Gospel was written down many years after him. Therefore, Jesus is not like Moses, but Muhammad is.
With these ten points of comparison between Moses, Jesus (peace be upon him) and Muhammad, any rational person will conclude that Muhammad is the prophet referred to in Deuteronomy 18:18-19, “like unto me (Moses).”
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The article is excerpted from the book “The Amazing Prophecies of Muhammad in the Bible” (Twenty seven proofs of Muhammad’s prophethood in the Bible) Compiled by Majed S. Al-Rassi- August 2013.