Comparative Religion

Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) in the book of Moses - II

By S. Abdullah Tariq

"I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words into his mouth and he will tell them everything I command him". (Deut. 18:18)

The above prophecy was reminded by Peter and Stephen in Acts. 3:22 and 7:37. (The readers, while checking, may kindly note that in some versions of the Bible, like New International Version, Today’s English Version and the Living Bible etc. the words ‘from among your brothers’ have been replaced by ‘from among your own people in these two verses.)

In the previous column, arguments were presented to show that the above prophecy of Moses was for Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) and not Jesus Christ. Here are some more proofs from the Bible itself.

1. It is known that at the time of advent of Jesus and John the Baptist, the Jews were also expecting a third personality on the basis of prophecies found in their holy books. They sent priests to enquire of John, who he was. The Bible narrates: ‘And he confessed and denied not but confessed, ‘I am not the Christ’. And they asked him, what then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that Prophet? And he answered no. (John 1:20-21) And they asked him and said unto him, why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that Prophet? (John 1:25) In all such Bibles, in which references are provided for identical verses, John 1:21 refers ‘that prophet’ to Deut. 18:18. It shows that it is generally accepted by Christian scholars and Bible commentators that the prophecy of Moses in Deut. 18:18 is for ‘that Prophet’ whom they were waiting for, in addition to Elias and the Christ.

2. The Prophecy stated that the Prophet would be like Moses. Apart from logical arguments, presented earlier that Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) and Jesus were like Moses, the same Book of Moses (Deuteronomy) containing the Prophecy declares:

   "And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses whom the Lord knew face to face" (Deut. 34:10)
   As the Christ was an Israelite, he was not like unto Moses.
   

3. It was said that the Prophet would be from among their (Israeli’s) brethren. The testimony of Bible is that the words ‘their brothers’ whenever spoken about Israelites always referred to either the children of Ismael or the children of Esau for example: "....and he (Ismael) shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren." (Gen. 16:12) "And command thou the people saying ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren, the Children of Esau..." (Deut. 2:4)

   It shows that the prophecy was not for an Israeli and sure enough Jesus was an Israeli.

4. In the prophecy, the phrase, ‘putting the words in his mouth’ refers clearly to an unlettered person and Jesus, according to Bible, was not unlettered. See the following verse: "....he (Jesus) went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the Prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written..." (Luke 4:16,17)

5. And Finally the witness of Peter when he declares that Jesus’ second coming would not materialise unless all that was foretold by the earlier prophets, is not fulfilled including the prophecy of Moses. It proves conclusively that in the eyes of Peter, the closest disciple of Jesus, Moses’ Prophecy (of Deut. 18:18) was for some one other than Jesus. Read the words of Peter carefully. "And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you. Whom the heaven must receive until the time of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you." (Acts 3:19-22)