Answer
Salam Dear Erkana,
Thank you for your question and for contacting Ask About Islam.
In both the Old and the New Testaments of the Bible, we find clear prophecies about the advent of the final prophet of God, Muhammad (peace be upon him).
For the prophecies in the Old Testament, you can read the following links:
Who Is “Muhammadim” in the Song of Solomon?
Is Prophet Muhammad Mentioned in the Torah?
The Rejected Stone
In the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament, we read how Jesus was addressing his people — the Children of Israel:
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. (Matthew 21:42-44, KJV)
The Christians interpret “the rejected stone” to be Jesus. But the epithet refers to Ishmael the son of Abraham, and not to Jesus, for the following reasons:
- Jesus was not rejected unlike Ishmael who was clearly rejected.
- Jesus himself refers to “the rejected stone becoming the head of the corner” in future tense.
- This verse particularly: The Kingdom of God will be taken from you, and given to a nation producing the fruits of it.
In this context, the reference to a nation clearly shows that it cannot be Jesus.
And he is not speaking of himself here. Rather, he tells the Children of Israel whom he addresses that “the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it.”
So, the nation mentioned here must be a nation other than the Children of Israel. Obviously the reference is to the Children of Ishmael.
A Prophet Like Moses
In New Testament times, the Jews were still expecting the “Prophet like Moses” mentioned in Deuteronomy 18. When Jesus claimed to be the expected Messiah, the Jews questioned him about Elias, because they had a parallel prophecy that Prophet Elias must come before the Messiah. And Jesus confirms this belief among them:
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already (Matthew 17:11-12, KJV)
But the Jews were not prepared to believe the words of any would-be Messiah. And so when John the Baptist confronted them, they asked him who he actually was.
Read the Gospel of John:
And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 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 1:19-21, KJV)
From the above verses the following facts become clear:
1. John is not the Christ (i.e. the Messiah).
2. He is not Elias (This is a contradiction of what Jesus said about him, and it poses a problem for the Christian interpreters of the Bible).
3. He is not “that prophet.”
Note that John answers three questions about three distinct persons: Christ, Elias, and “that prophet.” There is no reference to “that Prophet” in any previous passage in the Gospel of John nor in the three other gospels. Who is “that prophet”? Christian exegetes argue that “that prophet” means the same as Christ. We see no supporting evidence to this either in the words of John the Baptist or in the gospels.
Bible concordances mention in their notes that the words “that prophet” refer to the prophecy in Deuteronomy 18 about “the prophet like Moses.” And the “Prophet-like-Moses” was not Jesus, but Muhammad, as can be seen in our explanations of the relevant verses.
The Comforter Will Come
In the New Testament, we read about Jesus telling his followers that a “Spirit of Truth” or “Comforter” (translation provided for the Greek word, “Paracletos” in the English translations of the New Testament) would come after him to complete the Religion of God.
See the Gospel of John:
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:16-17, KJV)
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (John 16:7, KJV)
This means that “the Comforter” is someone who would come after the departure of Jesus. In fact “the Holy Spirit” was active according to the Old Testament as well as the Gospels, before the departure of Jesus. So the predicted “Comforter” was someone other than the Holy Spirit.
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:8-13, KJV)
The above verses mean that “the Comforter” would not be a member of the Trinity (i.e. God Himself according to the Christians) because he would be someone who speaks what he hears (i.e. hears from God), and “he shall not speak of himself.” That is, he would not be God the Holy Spirit.
He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (John 16:14, KJV)
That is, “the Comforter” will glorify Jesus. We find that it was Muhammad who glorified Jesus, by quoting the Word of God in the Quran, as he ought to be glorified.
For the above reasons, the predicted “Comforter” or “the Spirit of Truth” is not “the Holy Spirit,” as claimed by Christians. And it was only Muhammad who fit all the details of the prophecy of Jesus here. And this prophecy in the New Testament is corroborated by the Old Testament prophecies about “the Prophet-like-Moses” given in Deuteronomy 18 as well.
As outlined above, the qualities mentioned in the prophecies of both Moses and Jesus about the coming prophet find their fulfillment in Prophet Muhammad, the final prophet of God, through whom God completed His Guidance for humanity.
I hope this answers your question. Please stay in touch.
Salam
(From Ask About Islam archive)