Category Archives: There is no mention of Mohammad in the Bible

Part 5 - Does John 14_16-20 refer to Mohammad

Part 5 – Does John 14_16-20 refer to Mohammad

Muslims appeal to verses like John 14:16-20, where Jesus says, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper..”Most Muslims quote only the first half of this verse, and then shut the Bible! If Jesus stopped at this point, one could speculate about the identity of this Helper. But Jesus clearly identifies Him by continuing, “that He (the Helper) may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” From the earliest centuries of Islam, Muslim scholars have endeavoured to prove that this Helper was Muhammad, the prophet of Islam. It is argued that the Greek word paracletos, which is translated ‘Helper,’ should be pareklutosor ‘praised one,’ meaning Ahmad or Muhammad. This is proof, they say, that the Biblical text has been changed! However, any knowledgeable
scholar in the field will tell you that there is no evidence at all for this ‘corruption.’ All of the Greek manuscripts in existence, which predate Muhammad, say parakletos, not paraklutos. There are more than 70 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament in existence today, dating from before the time of Muhammad, and not one of them uses the word paraklutos! All use the word parakletos. In fact the word paraklutos does not appear anywhere in the Bible!

Let us look at the specific details of the arrival and identity of this parakletos, ‘Helper,’ and see if they fit Muhammad:

1) He will give you another Helper
Even if, as Muslims claim, the original word was Paraklutos, the sentence would read, “He will give you another praised one.” It makes no sense and is completely out of context. What
Jesus is saying here is this, ‘I have been your Helper, Counselor, Comforter. I still have many things to teach you, but I will send you another Helper like me.’

2) He will give you another Helper – The Spirit of Truth
The one obvious fact that emerges is that the Helper is a Spirit. Has Muhammad ever been called the Spirit of Truth?

3) He will abide with you forever
In no sense was Muhammad ever with Jesus’ disciples, let alone permanently. Muhammad was born in the 7th century after Christ. He lived only 62 years and then died. He did not live with
his companions forever, did he? His body was buried in Medina. But Jesus said that the promised Helper would be with His disciples forever. The one referred to cannot possibly be
Muhammad.

4) The Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot see
According to this prophecy, the world cannot receive the Helper because it can’t see Him. Thousands of people saw Muhammad during his lifetime, for he was visible. The invisible Helper
cannot be the visible Muhammad.

5) You know Him for He dwells with you
Jesus is clearly talking about someone with whom the disciples were familiar. Was Muhammad known to them? Of course not. He was born more than five hundred years later.

6) He dwells in you
The Helper was to be in the disciples. How could the Helper be Muhammad? Muhammad was a flesh and blood person who is no longer alive. Muhammad is not in Jesus’ followers and never will
be.

What can we conclude? Was Muhammad alive at the time of Jesus’ apostles? No. Was Muhammad ever called the ‘Spirit of Truth’? No.

Did Muhammad live with the apostles forever? No.

Did Muhammad live inside the apostles? No.

This prophesy cannot be a reference to Muhammad. Who is it about? The Bible states the truth in the following verses. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (John 14:26). It is certain, then, that the Helper is the Holy Spirit (Ruh Al-Kudus) of God.
The fulfilment of this prophecy occurred within a matter of days.Only fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus, the disciples received the Helper on the day of Pentecost. Jesus had told them to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit, the Helper, should come (Acts 1.4-8). The Holy Spirit came upon them while they were all together, praying in the city. “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2.3-4). The Holy Spirit was with the disciples in the person of Jesus while Jesus was still on earth, and the Holy Spirit was in the disciples’ hearts from the day of Pentecost and forever.

The Helper is indeed the Holy Spirit of the living God. We all need Him to open our eyes so that we can see who Jesus is and what He has done for sinners like us. The Helper is only given to those who believe the Gospel; that Jesus died for our sins and rose again. This is what makes someone a Christian. Only those who believe receive the Helper. You can receive
the Holy Spirit today by genuinely inviting Jesus into your life and receiving Him as your Saviour.

Having examined the context, it is evident that John 14:16-20 has nothing to do with Muhammad!

Conclusion
All of these verses, (and others that Muslims refer to), can be understood with a little study and consideration of the context. Those who apply these passages to Muhammad demonstrate that they have only a superficial understanding of the Bible. The truth is available for anyone who is willing to examine it. Searching for the truth requires effort, yet it can be done. As Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

Part 4 - Does Isaiah 42 refer to Mohammad

Part 4 – Does Isaiah 42 refer to Mohammad

Muslims claim that the servant Isaiah 42:1 mentioned is “Ahmad” which is Muhammad, “the false prophet”.

Let’s set the record straight.

First of all, Isaiah is a prophet whom the Qur’an NEVER mentioned by name, so how do Muslims actually know that he was one of the prophets since they also cling to the claim that the Bible is corrupt? According to Qur’an 2:79; they are subjected to eternal damnation for assuming things that Allah did not reveal, if Isaiah was not a prophet, by suggesting that Isaiah 42 is from Allah.

Secondly, Isaiah was a prophet that explicitly prophesied the most about the coming Messiah. He talked about His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14); His Deity – Immanuel, which means God with us (Isaiah 7:14), that He is Might God (Isaiah 9:6-7); and His sacrificial death (Isaiah 53); which Islam completely denies.

So, how could this prophet (Isaiah) prophecy about a ‘supposed’ coming prophet (Muhammad), who would deny most of his prophecies; is beyond me!

Of course, Muslims have the answer which is, “Oh, all of his other prophecies are corrupted but this chapter 42 is definitely talking about Muhammad”. It amazes me how Muslims can’t even realize how inconsistent, ridiculous and asinine they sound sometimes.

Jesus said that He came to fulfil the law and the prophets (Matthew 5:17); thus we expect Him to fulfil Isaiah 42 if, indeed, He was telling the truth. So let’s see if Isaiah 42 if fulfilled in Him (Jesus):

Isaiah 42:1-4,

1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. 4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

After Jesus healed a man on a Sabbath Day, the Pharisees conspired to kill Him but knowing what they planned to do to Him; Jesus didn’t confront them but rather simply left. When that happened, Matthew, quoting Isaiah 42:1-4, records:

14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. 15 Jesus, perceiving that, withdrew from there. Great multitudes followed him; and he healed them all, 16 and commanded them that they should not make him known: 17 that it might BE FULFILLED which was spoken through ISAIAH THE PROPHET, saying, 18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit on him. He will proclaim justice to the nations. 19 He will not strive, nor shout; neither will anyone hear his voice in the streets. 20 He won’t break a bruised reed. He won’t quench smoking flax, until he leads justice to victory. 21 In his name, the nations will hope.” – Matthew 12:14-21

Peter re-echoed this in his epistle,

22 Who (Jesus) did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously – 1Peter 2:22-23

A similar verse as Isaiah 42 is Isaiah 61 which was also fulfilled by Jesus in Luke 4:16-21,

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, this day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. – Luke 4:16-21

Did Muhammad keep quite when people stood against him? I don’t think so; he killed anyone standing on his way.

In the same Isaiah 42, God said His name is Yahweh (Isaiah 42:8), which Muhammad NEVER mentioned, why is that?

As we see, Isaiah 42 was fulfilled by Jesus already, so it is impossible that Muhammad came to fulfil it. Muhammad denied some of Isaiah’s prophecies, namely the Deity of Christ and His sacrificial death as mentioned above. Therefore, he was a false prophet and Muslims are condemned by their god for believing something that didn’t come from him.

Jesus called Himself, the Seal of prophets – the Last to come:

Do not work for the food that disappears, but for the food that remains to eternal life – the food which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has put HIS SEAL OF APPROVAL on him.” – John 6:27

A parable about Him being the last to come,

1 He began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit for the wine press, built a tower, rented it out to a farmer, and went into another country. 2 When it was time, he sent a servant to the farmer to get from the farmer his share of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 They took him, beat him, and sent him away empty. 4 Again, he sent another servant to them; and they threw stones at him, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. 5 Again he sent another; and they killed him; and many others, beating some, and killing some. 6 Therefore STILL HAVING ONE, HIS BELOVED SON, HE SENT HIM LAST to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 But those farmers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 They took him, killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.– Mark 12:1-8

The servants that were sent before the Son (Jesus) were the prophets. Jesus is the Son of God whom He sent last. No wonder the book of revelation records:

18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, IF ANYONE ADDS to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book. 19 IF ANYONE TAKES AWAY from the words of the book of this prophecy, may God take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book. – Revelation 22:18-19

Muhammad is a false prophet; he can never be the servant of God mentioned by Isaiah. He denied Jesus as the Son of God and God as Father. The Bible calls that type of person an antichrist and liar:

Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, HE WHO DENIES the Father and the Son. – 1 John 2:22

Come to Christ O Muslims, you can’t win against the truth.

Part 3 - Does Song of Solomon 5:16 refer to Mohammad?

Part 3 – Does Song of Solomon 5:16 refer to Mohammad?

His mouth is full of sweetness. And he is wholly desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem,” (Song of Solomon 5:16).

Muslim Arguments The word translated here “wholly desirable” is the word “machamadim.” The word sounds a lot like “Muhammad,” though it is in the plural form. Some Muslims argue that this should be understood as the name Muhammad.
They contend that the small differences in pronunciation are irrelevant and that it is in the plural form as a sign of respect. Therefore, they say, this is a plain prophecy of Muhammad. Jews and Christians translate it as “wholly desirable” or “altogether lovely” to hide this clear reference to the Muslim prophet. “His mouth is full of sweetness” is said to be a reference to the giving of the Quran.

Christian Response To any Christian remotely familiar with Song of Solomon, the first appropriate response to this argument is honestly a hearty laugh. This is obviously a love song between Solomon and his bride, and to put Muhammad in the place of the bride’s beloved turns the book into nonsense. The context is clearly about the passionate love of a marriage and is sometimes rather descriptive. It could not possibly be about some future prophet bringing a new book.

Additionally, the argument hinges on the idea that, in the original Hebrew, the personal name of Muhammad is there. It plainly is not. The Hebrew word “machmad” means “desirable” or when used as a noun, “desirable thing” or “lovely thing.” The plural form used here, “machamadim,” is an emphatic form and so is translated “wholly desirable” or “altogether lovely.” The fact that it sounds kind of like a name in another language from a different time period is obviously irrelevant to the meaning of the word.

This word is used throughout the Old Testament. It is not a unique word. If the word secretly means the personal name “Muhammad,” then in places like Hosea 9:16 where God pronounces judgment on Ephraim and promises to slay even “your beloved” (machamadim) we should read this as a promise by God that He would slay Muhammad in judgment, right? No Muslim would want to say that, of course. And they don’t need to because the word quite obviously doesn’t mean Muhammad. If it
did, why would ancient translations from before the time of Muhammad
consistently translate it just as we do today? They would have no reason to try and hide Muhammad’s name when the man had not yet even been born and so obviously could not yet be rejected by any of them. The Greek Septuagint translation of Song of Solomon was completed sometime around the first century B.C., hundreds of years before Muhammad. It reads: “he is altogether an object of desire.” The old Latin text of the 5th century AD, still well before Muhammad, reads: “he is all lovely.”

The translation here is not controversial. No one is hiding anything. An eager bride finds her husband-to-be wholly desirable. She does not consider her future husband to actually be a prophet who will come a thousand years after she is dead. Since there is no personal name “Muhammad” in this text, there is absolutely no reason to think that this passage has anything to do with the
future Muslim leader.

Much more could be said, as this argument is so absurd. It is worth at least pointing out lastly that the same chapter in which these Muslims attempt to show that the beloved groom of Song of Solomon is actually Muhammad opens with this beloved groom drinking wine with his milk and urging all his friends to imbibe with him. As Islam strictly forbids alcohol, it is clear that this beloved groom not only isn’t Muhammad but does not even share the moral convictions that Muhammad would later promote. He urges people to do what Muhammad would call a
sin. Thus, on every level, this argument simply doesn’t hold water.

Having examined the context, it is evident that Song of Solomon 5:16 has nothing to do with Muhammad!

Part 2 - Does Isaiah 29:12 refer to Mohammad?

Part 2 – Does Isaiah 29:12 refer to Mohammad?

A second verse that Muslim apologists refer to in support of their claims is Isaiah 29:12 – “Then the book is delivered to one who is illiterate, saying, ‘Read this, please.’ And he says, ‘I am not literate.’”Muslims insist that: (a) the book referred to in this verse is the Qur’an; (b) the one to whom the book is delivered is Muhammad; and (c) the one who orders Muhammad to read the book is Gabriel. They suggest that Muhammad fits the description of this individual, since he was illiterate when the angel Gabriel revealed the words of Allah to him.

Once again we must not take the words out of their context. To understand the context of the verse, we must remember that Isaiah (who lived in the 8th century B.C.) is known as the ‘messianic prophet’ because he prophesied so many details about Jesus Christ—not Muhammad. In Isaiah 29 God pronounces judgements on Judah for her sins at that time (i.e. 702 B.C.).

The passage indicates that within a year, the great Assyrian king Sennacherib would lay siege to Jerusalem (vs. 3). Jerusalem (called ‘Ariel’) would be attacked by her enemies and punished for her sins against God, and then those enemies in turn would receive their just deserts (vs. 4-8).

God’s people were in deliberate spiritual blindness. To them the Bible was a closed book, and Judah’s false prophets were not helping the situation (vs. 9-10). Notice that Isaiah then describes the unwillingness of the people of his day to heed the truth, by comparing them to a literate person who is told to read something, but refuses, excusing himself by saying the document is sealed (vs. 11). Isaiah then likens the people to an illiterate person, who excuses himself by saying he cannot read (vs. 12).

The point is that the people of Isaiah’s day refused to pay attention to God’s Holy Word as spoken through His prophets. They did not want it! Verses 13-16 explain that because of their closed minds, they will suffer for their rejection of God’s Word when the Assyrians arrive to besiege the city, but, as usual, God reveals a better day when people will listen (vs. 17ff.).

Having examined the context, it is evident that Isaiah 29:12 has nothing to do with Muhammad!

Part 1 - Does Deuteronomy 18:18 refer to Mohammad?

Part 1 – Does Deuteronomy 18:18 refer to Mohammad?

Muslims refer to Deuteronomy 18:18 (Tawrat) where God says to Moses, “I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.”Muslims believe that this prophet was Muhammad. Abraham had two sons; Ishmael and Isaac. It is assumed that ‘their brethren’ refers to the Ishmaelites, and since it is assumed Muhammad was descended from Ishmael, he must be the prophet. However, a brief look at the background of the prophecy reveals that it was not the Ishmaelites who were in mind.
Who is God referring to with the words “them” and “their”?
My father used to work as a teacher. He often helped me with my homework. Whenever I asked him about the meaning of a word he would tell me to read the whole sentence or paragraph. I usually discovered the meaning myself just by reading the word in context! This is exactly what we must do when we read the Bible. We can’t just pick a word or paragraph out of context and make it say what we want. We must look at the whole context.
This prophecy is part of a discourse in which God gave Moses certain directions about the way the people of Israel (especially the Levite tribe) should conduct themselves once they reached the promised land. The first two verses of the chapter clearly reveal who God was referring to as ‘their brethren:’ “The priests, the Levites—all the tribe of Levi—shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and His portion. Therefore they shall have no inheritance among their brethren; the Lord is their inheritance, as He said to them” (Deuteronomy 18:1-2).
It is clear that God is talking about the Levites. ‘Their brethren’ are the other tribes of Israel. Moses states that God will raise up a prophet like himself from among the Jews, from among their brethren. The prophet will be a Jew. Muhammad was not a Jew. He was born an Arab. The Arab people are not one of the tribes of Israel. So Muhammad was not Moses’ brother.

Who then fits the description of a prophet like Moses? Jesus Christ does. The New Testament (Injil) as a whole makes it plain that Moses’ prophecy in Deuteronomy Chapter 18 was fulfilled in Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Jesus Himself said, “if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me” (John 5:46-47). He never said “Moses wrote about Muhammad.”

In the Gospel of John 1:45, we read words spoken by the apostle Philip: “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus was born of the tribe of Judah through Mary. Thus He was a Jew, an Israelite like Moses.

In Acts chapter 7 of the New Testament, Stephen says clearly that Moses foretold Jesus Christ. The apostle Peter declares the same thing in Acts 3:19-23, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’”

Having examined the context, it is evident that Deuteronomy 18:18 has nothing to do with Muhammad!