Isnt Muhammad in the Bible?

 

The Bible does not explicitly prophesy about Muhammad, the founder of Islam (born 570 CE, began his prophethood in 610 CE). However, some Muslims point to certain biblical passages as potential prophecies about him.

Let’s examine these claims:

Deuteronomy 18:15-18 (ESV): This is a commonly cited passage. It says, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen… I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.” 

Muslim Interpretation: Some Muslims argue this “prophet like Moses” refers to Muhammad because he was a lawgiver, led a community, and came from the “brothers” of the Israelites, interpreted as the Ishmaelites (descendants of Abraham’s son Ishmael, from whom Arabs trace their lineage).

Biblical Context: In the Bible, this prophecy is understood to point to Jesus. Acts 3:22-23 (ESV) explicitly applies this prophecy to Jesus, saying, “Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers… to him you shall listen.’… And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.” Jesus, a Jew (“from among your brothers”), fulfilled this as the ultimate prophet, speaking God’s words (John 12:49, ESV: “For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak”). Muhammad, as an Arab and not an Israelite, does not fit the immediate context of “from among you,” which refers to Israel.

Isaiah 42:1-4 (ESV): Another passage often cited: “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations… He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastelands wait for his law.”

Muslim Interpretation: Some Muslims see this as a prophecy of Muhammad because it mentions a servant bringing justice to the nations, and “the coastlands” could refer to Arabia. They also connect “my servant” to Muhammad, as the Quran calls him Allah’s servant (Surah Al-Isra 17:1).

Biblical Context: In the New Testament, this passage is applied to Jesus. Matthew 12:17-21 (ESV) quotes Isaiah 42:1-4, stating, “This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: ‘Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.’” Jesus received the Spirit at His baptism (Matthew 3:16, ESV) and brought justice through His teachings and sacrifice, fulfilling this prophecy. The “nations” (Gentiles) receiving justice aligns with Jesus’ mission to all peoples (Matthew 28:19, ESV).

John 16:7-14 (ESV): Jesus says, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you… When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”

Muslim Interpretation: Some Muslims argue this “Helper” (Greek: Parakletos, often translated as Comforter or Advocate) is Muhammad, as he came after Jesus and is seen as guiding people to truth (the Quran). They may point to the similarity between Parakletos and Periklytos (meaning “praised one,” akin to Muhammad’s name, which means “praised”).

Biblical Context: The “Helper” is explicitly identified as the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. John 14:26 (ESV) says, “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 that I have said to you.” The Holy Spirit came at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4, ESV), fulfilling Jesus’ promise by empowering the disciples. Muhammad, as a human figure 600 years later, does not fit the description of a spirit who indwells believers and glorifies Jesus (John 16:14, ESV: “He will glorify me”).

Quranic and Hadith Perspective

From an Islamic perspective, you might argue that Muhammad is prophesied in the Bible because the Quran claims continuity with previous scriptures, and Muhammad is the final prophet. Let’s explore this:

Quranic Claim of Prophecy: The Quran suggests that Muhammad was foretold in earlier scriptures. Surah Al-A’raf 7:157 states, “Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right… those are the successful.” Similarly, Surah As-Saff 61:6 says, “And [mention] when Jesus, the son of Mary, said, ‘O Children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad.’” (Ahmad is a variant of Muhammad, both meaning “praised.”)

Hadith Support: In Sahih Bukhari, Book 60, Hadith 12, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) reportedly said, “My similitude in comparison with the other prophets before me, is that of a man who has built a house nicely and beautifully, except for a place of one brick in a corner. The people go about it and wonder at its beauty, but say: ‘Would that this brick be put in its place!’ So I am that brick, and I am the last of the prophets.” This suggests Muhammad saw himself as the fulfillment of a prophetic tradition, potentially hinted at in earlier scriptures.

They might argue that the Bible’s failure to explicitly name Muhammad indicates corruption (tahrif), as the Quran claims he was fore told in the Torah and Gospel. However, the passages Muslims often cite are interpreted differently in their biblical context.

Apologetic Response

Deuteronomy 18:15-18, Isaiah 42:1-4, and John 16:7-14—are applied to Jesus and the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, not Muhammad. Here’s why the Bible does not prophesy Muhammad:

Context of Prophecies: The biblical passages often cited by Muslims as prophecies of Muhammad are fulfilled within the Bible itself. Deuteronomy 18:15-18 refers to a prophet “from among your brothers” (Israelites), which fits Jesus, a Jew, as confirmed in Acts 3:22-23. Isaiah 42:1-4 is applied to Jesus in Matthew 12:17-21, aligning with His mission to the Gentiles. John 16:7-14 explicitly describes the Holy Spirit, not a human prophet, as seen in Acts 2. Muhammad, as an Arab 600 years after Jesus, does not fit these contexts.

Theological Incompatibility: The Bible presents Jesus as the final revelation of God (Hebrews 1:1-2, ESV: “In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son”). The idea of another prophet like Muhammad contradicts this, as the Bible warns against new gospels (Galatians 1:8, ESV: “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed”). The Quran’s teachings, such as denying Jesus’ divinity (Surah Al-Ikhlas 112:1-4), conflict with the Bible (Colossians 2:9, ESV), making it unlikely for the Bible to prophesy Muhammad as a true prophet.

Historical Timing: The Bible was completed before 70 AD (with the Book of Revelation), over 500 years before Muhammad’s birth. Any prophecy about him would need to be clear and specific to bridge this gap, but the passages cited are either fulfilled in Jesus or the Holy Spirit, or they lack specific details pointing to Muhammad (e.g., his name, location, or mission).

Quranic Claims vs. Biblical Evidence: While the Quran claims Muhammad is foretold in the Torah and Gospel (Surah Al-A’raf 7:157, Surah As-Saff 61:6), the Bible does not support this. The “unlettered prophet” or “Ahmad” is not mentioned in the biblical texts, and the passages Muslims cite are better explained within the Bible’s own narrative. The Quran’s claim may reflect a theological assertion of continuity rather than historical evidence in the Bible.

Addressing Skepticism

They might argue that the Bible was corrupted (tahrif), removing explicit references to Muhammad. However, the manuscript evidence (e.g., Codex Sinaiticus, 4th century) shows consistency with modern texts, predating Islam, and contains no trace of such prophecies. The Quran affirms the Torah and Gospel as guidance during Muhammad’s time (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:46-47), suggesting they were not corrupted then, yet they lack clear references to Muhammad. Click here to read more about the Quran’s teachings on the Bible.

The Quran honors Muhammad as the “Seal of the Prophets” (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:40), but the Bible does not anticipate a final prophet after Jesus. Instead, it warns against teachings that contradict the gospel, which from a biblical perspective includes Islam’s rejection of Jesus’ divinity and crucifixion.