The Prophet’s Name
Then, who can be described as having all virtuous
characteristics but Muhammad, the great Prophet, Allah’s beloved and favored
Messenger? 2. In the New
Testament, the Prophet’s name occurs in several positions. In the Book of John
16:7, we read Jesus’ words while addressing his Disciples: “Nevertheless I
tell you the truth: it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not
away, the comforter (“periclytos” in Greek) will not come unto you.” The word “comforter” is translated from the
Greek word “paracletos” which had been used to replace the original word
“periclytos” meaning “Muhammad” or “Ahmad” in Arabic. The two Greek
utterances have little difference in pronunciation as well as in spelling;
therefore, the scribes could have easily used one word for the other in some
versions. Christians have preferred the corrupted version to the true one.[22] 3. There is a
Gospel known by the name “the Gospel of Barnabas”, which the church banned in
492 AD by the order of Pope Gelasius. It was confiscated everywhere. But there
was still a copy of that Gospel in the library of Pope Sixtus V. Fortunately a
certain Roman Monk called Framarino managed to bring it out. He had found the
letters of Ireneus, where he came upon the name of the Gospel of Barnabas
mentioned as a reference. His curiosity urged him to look for that gospel. When
he became a close friend to Pope Sixtus V, he got that copy of the Gospel and
found in it that there would come a time when it would be claimed that Jesus is
Allah’s son, and this misconception would continue till Muhammad, Allah’s
Messenger comes, to set things right. In
the Gospel of Barnabas, (220:4), we read: “And this mocking shall continue
until the advent of Muhammad the Messenger of God, who, when he shall come,
shall reveal this deception to those who believe in God’s Law.”[23] Framarino
was converted to Islam and he published among people this Gospel, which the
church had opposed.[24] 4. The name of the Prophet (Peace be upon him)
has clearly been mentioned in the scriptures of Jews and Christians throughout
history. Muslim scholars used to use this fact in their disputes with
the priests and learned Jews.
q
In
the Book of Isaiah, we read: “I make your name Muhammad. O Muhammad, the
holy one of the Lord! Your name has been there always.” This quotation is
taken from “al-Din wa al-Dawala” written by ‘Ali Ibn Raban Al-Tabari (who had
been Christian and then embraced Islam). He died in 247 AH.
[25]
q
We
read, in the Book of Isaiah also: “We heard, from the extremes of earth, the
voice Of Muhammad.”[26]
q
In
the Book of Habakkuk, we read: “God came from Tayman, the Holy one from the
Mount of Paran. Mohammed’s splendor has covered the heavens, and the earth is
filled with his praise.” That is
also mentioned in “al-Din wa al-Dawlah”
of Ali Ibn Raban al Tabari.[27]
It is also mentioned by Ibrahim Khalil Ahmad, previously a Christian priest who
embraced Islam later and included the above Verse in a book he wrote in 1409
AH.
q
In
Isaiah also we read: “What I will give him will not be given to anyone else.
Ahmad will praise Allah newly. He comes from the best land; the wilderness and
its inhabitants will rejoice. They will celebrate the Oneness of Allah at every
elevated place and glorify Him on every hill.”[28] This
is mentioned by Abdullah al-Turjuman, whose name had been Anslam Tormida. He
had been a Spanish priest before he was converted to Islam. He died in 832 AH. Jubayr
Ibn Mut’im said: “I heard Allah’s Messenger (Peace be
upon him) saying: ‘I have various names: I am Muhammad, and I am Ahmad, and I
am Al-Mahi with whom Allah obliterates disbelief, and I am al-Hashir at whose
feet people will be gathered, and I am al-‘Aqib.’’’[29]
Allah (SWT) says: “And Remember, the son of Mary said: ‘O children of Israel! I
am the Messenger of Allah (sent to you) confirming the Torah (which came)
before me, and giving glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me whose name
shall be Ahmad.’ When he came to them with clear signs, they said, ‘This is
evident sorcery.’’’(61:6) Professor
Abdul-Ahad Dawud al-Ashuri, the former archbishop of Mosul, who was converted
to Islam, says (in his book “Muhammad in the Bible”):[30]
“The statement popular among Christians: “Glory be to Allah in the heavens and
peace be on earth and happiness be among people” was originally: “Glory be to Allah in the
heavens, Islam be on earth, and Muhammad is for people.” 5. The name of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) occurred in the Hindu Scriptures. In the Sama Veda[31], we read: “Ahmad acquired Shari’ah (religious law) from his Lord. This Shari’ah is full of wisdom. I receive light from him just as from the sun.”
6.
In Athrava Veda (another Hindu Scripture), Kanda 20, Sukia 127, Mantra
1-3, we read: “O people! Listen to this carefully! Muhammad will be raised
among people…. His greatness will be praised even in paradise and it will be
subjected to him, and he is the Muhammad.”
7. In
Bhawishya Purana (another Hindu scripture ) parv 3, Khand 3, Adhya 3 , Shalok
5-8, we read: “Just then an illiterate man with the epithet Teacher,
Muhammad by name, comes only with his companions. The angel will purify him
with the five things.”
The five things of purification are obviously the five daily prayers that cleanse a Muslim of his sins.[32]
[21] King James Version
[22] Izhar Al-Haqq, Rahmatullah Ibn Khalil Al-Hindi,
Al-Dar Al-Baida ed. Part2, p.28. The archbishop of
[23] The Medieval Gospel of Barnabas translated by Canon
L. Ragg.
[24] Khalil Sa’adah, in his introduction to the
translation of Barnabas Gospel into Arabic. He reported the story of Framarino
from what is written in the introduction to the Spanish version, as related by
the Orientalist Sale in his introduction
to the translation of the Qur’an.
[25] This is also mentioned by Salih Ibn. Husain
al-Hashimi (d. 668 AH) in his book “Takhjil Man Harrafa al-Tawrat wa al-Injil”
(Bringing shame upon those who corrupted the Old and New Testaments). Al-Qarafi
(d. 682 AH) mentioned it in his book “al-Ajwiba al-Fakhira” (the Excellent
Answers), and Ibn Taymiyah (d. 728 AH) in his book “al-Jawab al-Sahih
lIman Baddal Din al-Masih” (The correct
answer to those who changed the religion of Jesus), and Ibn Qayyim
al-Jawziyyh (d. 751 AH) in his book “Hidayat al-Hayara min al-Yahud wa
al-Nasara” (Guiding the bewildered among the Jews and Christians).
[26] This is mentioned by the Imams: Salih al-Hashimi;
al-Qarafi; Ibn Taymiyah; Ibn al-Qayyim in their books mentioned
above.
[27] It is mentioned by Ali Ibn Muhammad
al-Mawardi (d. 450 AH) in his book “A’lam al-Nubawah”; Abu ‘Ubaida al-Khazraji
(d. 582 AH) in his book “Maqami‘ Hamat al-Sulban wa Marati’ Rawdat al-Iman”;
Al-Qurtubi (d. 671 AH) in his book “Al-A’lam”. It is also mentioned by
al-Hashimi; al-Qarafi; Ibn Taymiyah and Ibn al-Qayyim in their
above-mentioned books.
[28] It is mentioned by the Imams: al-Khazraji;
al-Hashimi; al-Qurtubi; al-Qarafi; Ibn Taymiyah and Ibn al-Qayyim
in their above-mentioned books.
[29] Al-Bukhari, Book/ al-Manaqib, Section/ what
is said about the names of Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him); Muslim, Book/
al-Fadail (virtues), Section/ about his names (Peace be upon him); al-Tirmidhi,
Book/ al-Adab, Section/ what is said about the Prophet’s names; al-Nasai in
al-Sunnan al-Kubra 6/489; Ahmad in al-Musnad 4/80, and others.
[30] Chapter: Islam and al-Ahmadiyyat that the angels
declared, p. 145-154
[31] Paragraphs 6,8, part II
[32] “Al-Tayyarat
al-Khafiyyah fi al-Diyanat al-Hindiyyah al-Qadima” |
