PROPHET MUHAMMAD

IN

THE ANCIENT SCRIPTURES

FAQIR HUSSAIN SHAKIR B.Sc., M.A. (Durham), DPSI, DIP CITT (Westminster)

C O N T E N T S

A brief account of the Gospel of St. Barnabas 3

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in the ancient scriptures 10

The Old Testament: 11

Behold My Servant 13

Arabia: An Oracle 15

Solomon’s Book 16

The New Testament: 17

The Gospel of St. Barnabas 23

Hindu and Parsi Scriptures: 25

Bibliography 31

F.H. Shakir

Email: fhshakir-islamicwritings@hotmail.com

1991

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THE GOSPEL OF St. BARNABAS

The following is a brief background account of the Gospel of St. Barnabas that needs our attention for two reasons.

Firstly, it is one of those Gospels that was forbidden by the Roman Church in the sixth century C.E. at a time when there were no followers of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) because he was not even born then. However, this Gospel contains dozens of illuminating prophecies by Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) regarding the coming of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). It should be remembered that the time span between these two great Prophets of God is about six hundred years.

Secondly, the current opinion of the Christian world is that it is a forgery that was committed by some Muslim in the distant past.

In the sixteenth century C.E. an Italian translation of this Gospel was discovered at the private library of Pope Sixtus V. Eventually, it reached the Imperial Library, Vienna, Austria in 1738 C.E. through some adventurous circumstances where it has been lying since then.1

According to the New Testament, St. Barnabas was one of the disciples of Jesus Christ (pbuh). He had earned a high esteem among the believers for his piety, knowledge and generosity. He was influential too. After Jesus’ departure, it was he who paved the way for St. Paul, the persecutor of the believers in the beginning, to be accepted by the disciples despite their strong opposition. They did not trust Paul of Tarsus although he had converted.

St. Barnabas and St. Paul preached together for several years but then fell apart. The former returned to Cyprus, his homeland with his nephew St. John Mark. We find the mention of several Gospels including the Gospel of St. Barnabas among ancient Christian sources. It was taught widely especially in the Eastern churches in the earlier centuries.

In the fourth century C.E., Pauline Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire. Emperor Constantine, a pagan at the time, arranged a gathering of over two thousand Christian church leaders in 325 C.E. at Nicea in order to iron out the differences among the warring Christian creeds. The two main rivals were the Trinitarians and the Unitarians. The former - the followers of St. Paul - believed Christ to be divine and the "son of God" that came to earth in the form of man and gave his life

1     ?. For detail, please see, Forgotten Gospel of St. Barnabas, by Dr. M. H. Durrani, International Islamic Publishers, 111-E-2, Commercial Area, Nazimabad, Karachi, Pakistan, December, 1982.

See "THE GOSPEL OF BARNABAS", translated from the Italian manuscript in the Imperial Library at Vienna by Lonsdale and Laura Ragg.

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on the cross to save mankind from the "original sin". On the other hand, the latter believed in the Oneness of God without associating any “sonship” or partners with Him. They believed Jesus Christ (pbuh) to be a Prophet of God.

History records that a great number of Gospels were presented for canonical purposes at this meeting including the Gospel of St. Barnabas, but the present four Gospels were "officially" canonised through some "mysterious and suspicious circumstances" and the rest were rejected as heretical.2 However, the Gospel of St. Barnabas still continued to be observed especially in the North African churches despite the pressures from the Roman Empire and the Roman Trinitarian Church. In the sixth century C.E., Pope Gelasius the First declared a Gelasian Decree of the Apocryphal Books. The Gospel of St. Barnabas was also included in this list. The mighty Pope forbade the followers even to read these books let alone to observe their teachings at the threat of death. All of this happened long before the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

Now let us look at the first reason.

St. Barnabas and St. Paul split from each other after preaching together for several years. The "Acts of the Apostles" gives a vague reason for the split that was caused over John Mark. St. Paul did not want to take John Mark on the missionary tours with him anymore whereas St. Barnabas insisted to keep him on. It is a strange reason for the split for a common cause! But if we read between the lines and take into account the critical attitudes of the other disciples especially St. Peter towards Paul, it would appear that it was the colourful and strange teachings of St. Paul that were becoming more and more distant from the true and simple teachings of Jesus Christ (pbuh). It should be remembered that St. Paul had neither attended the blessed company of Jesus nor had he met him in person to be enlightened by the Master. St. Paul was well-versed in the current philosophical ideas and legends of the time. There was a gradual but discernible change in his teaching that was way out from the teaching of the disciples who had learnt it from the lips of the Master himself.

St. Paul was conforming more and more with the prevalent philosophical and religious beliefs of the Greco-Roman cultures in order to win over converts from the 'gentiles'. These gentiles, the ordinary masses, were already familiar with the ideas of the original sin, the virgin birth, the atonement, the redemption, the crucifixion and even the resurrection after three days as with regard to their “Sun-god deity”. This Sun-god was also a familiar god in the old Egyptian and Persian mythologies with similar characteristics. His sign was Cross and he was born on 25th December. These ideas were prevalent among those cultures at the time of Jesus Christ (pbuh). So it was easy for St. Paul to convert the gentiles to his own vision of Christianity. Furthermore, these gentiles did not like the idea of being circumcised and found no reason to abstain from the Unlawful foods such as the flesh of swine which was forbidden by all the Biblical Prophets.

St. Paul freed them from the yoke of the Torah Law by cursing it and then replaced it

2     ?. See Dr. Durrani, FORGOTTEN GOSPEL OF ST. BARNABAS, ibid.See also Ata ur-Rahim, Muhammad, JESUS, A PROPHET OF ISLAM, MWH London Publishers, 233 Seven Sisters Road, London N4 2DA, 1979.

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with the divinity of Christ. The imaginary figure of Christ took over the man of Jesus - the Prophet of God, peace be upon him. Eventually, the Pauline thought won over the day when the pagan Roman Empire converted to Paul's brand of Christianity in the fourth century without giving away much of their ancient pagan beliefs. Trinity was perfected by then with the addition of the 'Son and the Holy Ghost'. It was accepted officially in 325 C.E. at Nicea with the symbol of the Cross, the sign of the ancient Sun-god. Jesus' birthday was also fixed at the same time as 25th December in order to be in line with the birthday of the Graeco-Roman Sun-god. Everything was worked out very well under the pagan eyes of the Roman Emperor, Constantine. In truth, only the names of the ancient deities were changed, otherwise the essence remained the same.

Succeeding centuries saw the rise of the Pauline or the Trinitarian Christianity, in particular in the West. The mighty Roman Church established itself as a world power to be reckoned with. On the other hand, the Unitarian Christianity suffered heavy losses in the hands of her Trinitarian opponents through horrendous killings and heartless persecutions for centuries. The Trinitarians tried to erase all the traces of the other Christian creeds that were in conflict with their own views.

In this conflict that lasted for centuries, the historical Jesus was dwarfed by the powerful deity of the Christ and eventually the former gave his last breath on the altar of the Roman Catholic Church. It was no more important to know the true teachings and the practical code of behaviour of Jesus, the Prophet of God. It was sufficient to believe in Christ - the mighty deity - for the sake of salvation. In anyway, there was hardly any true record left of Jesus' life by that time. He had become a very powerful god who enriched the Roman Church with all the riches of the material world.

The Unitarians, however, continued to survive despite their persecutions. The Gospel of St. Barnabas reflected this brand of Christianity as opposed to the Trinitarians.

St. Barnabas wrote an eye-witness account of Jesus Christ (pbuh) for he had the good fortune to be in the blessed company of his Master as one of his close disciples. He, faithfully, recorded whatever he saw or heard from the lips of Jesus (pbuh) who had also instructed him to write the full account of his life and teachings so that the world will know the truth.

It is a moving account which brings out the clearest picture of Jesus Christ's entire life. We see him through our mind's eye and feel as if we are walking with him by his side. We learn for the first time, through Christian sources, that how he truly lived, walked, ate, slept, prayed, wept, cured and performed miracles. We learn how he educated his disciples; how he refuted the pagan ideas; how he confronted the Doctors of the Law; how he preached the Unity of God without a shade of Trinity; how he defined the blessed Attributes of God; how he fused the high moral principles into his followers' spirits to elevate them to higher ranks; how he was far removed from the idea of the 'original sin'; how he preached that every soul is born in nature without a stain of sin at birth; how he presented himself as a Prophet of God rather than anything else; how he refuted the idea of the 'son of God' as some people had started calling him as such due to the strange miracles; how he explained that it was not him who performed miracles but it was the power of God that accomplished them in order to bring the testimony of truth against the transgressing people; how he defended the past Prophets, the Law

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and the other divine books; how he confirmed the circumcision (he himself was circumcised) and explained about the Lawful and Unlawful foods; how he taught his followers that man could not find the Straight Path on his own except through God's Prophets; how he was sent by God to reform and to confirm rather than to refute the Law3 and finally how he foretold the Coming Events including his own 'supposed crucifixion' and his miraculous escape.

Jesus Christ (pbuh) talks in plain language as well as in wonderful parables. His discourses carry the flow of a mighty river that sweeps men off their feet. One feels a sensational effect in one's body and soul while reading the Gospel of St. Barnabas. It makes one realise that what it is like and what it really means to be exposed to the true account of a great Prophet like Jesus (pbuh). It fills the soul with strange noble feelings where one loves him more than ever before. One learns that how much he cared for people and how much he suffered for telling the truth. Here, one comes across a living Jesus (pbuh) who purifies souls and whom one can almost touch with one's hands.

The entire Gospel runs smoothly with a consistency that is hard to find in the repetitive, disorderly gathered, disconnected and almost boring account of the prevalent four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. It contains material not only from the four Gospels but also carries much more revealing information. On the whole, it is in line and conforms well to the Old Testament teachings with a striking Prophetic touch of Jesus Christ (pbuh), the Prophet of God. Unlike the prevalent Gospels, it is free from contradictions and discrepancies. This is a Gospel that is truly written under inspiration and it makes its readers feel so.

This Gospel totally refutes the fundamental beliefs of the Pauline or the Trinitarian Church because they have no basis in the Bible. No wonder St. Barnabas and St. Paul parted company after being together for several years as they were, gradually, becoming poles apart from each other in their fundamental beliefs. The followers of Trinity could not accept the Gospel of St. Barnabas with so much basic differences. This was the only reason of its condemnation in the earlier Christian centuries by the powerful Roman Church whose philosophical and religious lineage was much closer to St. Paul than to Jesus, the Prophet of God. Just to remind the reader that this Gospel was not only banned but was also ordered by the mighty Catholic Church to be burnt a long time before the emergence of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in 610 C.E. at Makkah, Arabia.

Now let’s look at the second reason.

An English translation of this Gospel from the Italian manuscript by Lonsdale and Laura Ragg, kept in the Imperial Library, Vienna, Austria, was first published in 1907 by the Clarendon Press, Oxford, England. Strange as it may seem that it abruptly and mysteriously disappeared from the market as soon as its contents were known. It was never published again for reasons unknown. Only two copies are known to have survived the onslaught. One is kept in the British Museum, and the other in the Library of Congress, Washington D.C. It was only in recent years that the Gospel was published again and made available to the general public when some scholars from Pakistan obtained its micro-film.

3     ?. Even the present Gospels are witness to this statement. See Matthew 5 : 17 to 20

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The Gospel contains several dozen prophecies by Jesus Christ (pbuh) himself about the coming after him of a mighty Prophet. The expressions that he uses for this Prophet are the Praised One, the Illustrious, the Admirable, the Messenger of God, and the Messiah etc. He even foretells his name as Muhammad on several occasions.

Since its discovery and subsequent publication, the Christian world has been accusing it of being a forgery by some scheming Muslim in the distant past. It is a serious charge against their own Gospel. However, if it is a forgery then we have a few questions to ask:

1. Where is the original Gospel or any of its remnants or translations? It ought to be brought into the open for dusting for a breath of fresh air but also to clear the misunderstandings. It can easily settle the matter once for all.

We suspect the Church’s usual answer, under the old guise of "condemnation", will be that it is "lost"! But this joke is now too old and it does not amuse anymore. They had a good run for centuries of playing with history and the Words of God. They must stop it now for their own spiritual salvation.

2. Why was it condemned and banned even before the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)? Surely there was no Muslim at that time to forge it!

3. Why were the Christians in the earlier centuries expecting another great Prophet whom they called the Praised One as foretold by Jesus Christ himself? Their expectations are recorded in the history books. Some early Christians even thought that Montanus, a second century pious man, was "that Prophet". Even the Gospel of St. John mentions it clearly if the verses are read with an open mind without confusing it with a spiritual being like Comforter or Holy Ghost. This is an intellectual cosmetic surgery to hide the prophecy.

4. If it was forged by a Muslim, as they claim, then why was it not known among the Muslims who knew nothing about its existence until the eighteenth century? Islam produced great scholars. Some of them were well-versed in Christian theology. If they had seen this Gospel, it could have provided them with the best ammunition against the Trinitarian Christianity. They produced extensive bibliographies of books kept in the libraries of the Muslim world, but there is no mention of this Gospel in any of them. The Christian authorities had hidden it so well - right in the heart of the private papal library at the Vatican!

But God has His Own ways of revealing the truth. Moses (pbuh) stood against the mighty Pharaohs who had brought him up in their own household since his infant days. This Gospel was stolen in the sixteenth century from the Pope's library by a monk called Fra Marino. He was a close friend of Pope Sixtus V.

The rest is history. The truth came out from the heart of the Vatican and they could not stop it except to renounce it of being a forgery.

5. The entire Muslim world was unaware of its existence until the publication of

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George Sale's English translation and commentary of the Holy Quran in the eighteenth century. He has written a partial note in his introduction to this Gospel. He also mentions a Spanish translation of this Gospel which was in existence at that time in the good care of some academics at the Oxford University, England. But unfortunately this Spanish version also disappeared in "mysterious circumstances". Where is that Spanish version now?

6. Why were they so afraid unless it was the truth? They could not then, in the distant past and cannot now in this enlightened age, face the truth. It is a Gospel that is knocking down the entire edifice of the Trinitarian Church from its very foundations with all its self-claimed beliefs of the Original Sin, the Redemption, and the Son of God etc. that find no authority from the Lord God Himself in the Holy Bible. There is nothing in the Holy Book that supports it from the time of Noah to Jesus Christ (peace be upon them). On the contrary, it refutes such belief even in the present interpolated Bible if one reads it with an open mind.

We do not know for certain that from which language or languages the present Italian version was translated. The original language could have been Hebrew or most likely the Syriac which was the common language of the holy land at the time and was spoken by Jesus Christ (pbuh). In addition, there might have been more than one translations involved over the centuries from one language to another.

In any event, Jesus Christ (pbuh) foretold the name of the coming Prophet as MUNHAMANNA.4 This is the Syriac word which means THE PRAISED ONE. Its Greek equivalent is PERICLYTOS and the Arabic equivalent is MUHAMMAD. Both mean THE PRAISED ONE.

After the advent of Islam, the name of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) became well known among the Jews and Christians alike. In the intervening centuries, whoever translated this Gospel into the Italian language must have realised the fulfilment of the prophecy of Jesus Christ (pbuh). Therefore, it is almost certain that he had put the Arabic name of Muhammad in its right place while he was translating the Gospel into Italian language. He must have been a very honest and conscientious man. Besides, we must not forget that it is a normal practice among the Biblical translators (as well as interpolators) to "smooth out" the holy books every now and then. The practice is still in progress but goes back in time even before the birth of Jesus Christ (pbuh).

The mention of the name of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in this Gospel has really upset the Christian world. So now they have brought out, as usual, a convenient peg of forgery to hang it over for good. We understand their opposition very well. For this

Gospel is not only causing them to close down their long established shop but also to orientate it towards Makkah.

It is an irony that before the birth of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) they were against this Gospel because it was cutting down the roots of the powerful Trinitarian Christianity.

4     ? Please see the next chapter on prophecies for full detail of this word.

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And now they are denying it just because it has the name of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). They are not really fair in the rules of their own game! They do not realise how unfortunate they are! They do not understand that it makes not even a jot of difference to a Muslim whether the Gospel of St. Barnabas is genuine or a forgery because he loves and reveres Jesus Christ (pbuh) and the other Prophets of God just as much. In fact, he loves Jesus Christ more than many Christians themselves but not as a deity but as a great Prophet and as a slave of God just like Muhammad is and just like all the other Prophets such as Abraham and Moses are (peace be upon them).

A Momin (believer) is concerned about the spiritual (as well as temporal) welfare of the entire humanity. He wishes his fellow-beings to worship nothing but One True God, the Creator and the Sustainer of all. His heart aches when he sees his fellow-beings groping in the abyss of darkness. This Gospel is truly a blessing for the Christians but only if they take heeds and return to the blessed path of Jesus Christ (pbuh).

Whatever the Christian scholars have written about this Gospel in recent years is both prejudicial and cosmetic to hide the truth. However, we believe that sooner or later Truth will dawn upon them for it is the nature of truth to shine through at the end. We pray for them. Amen!

MUHAMMAD IN THE ANCIENT SCRIPTURES

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If the West had studied Islam with an open mind especially at the beginning of the Renaissance Movement - that owes a lot to Islam for its inception - the map of the world would have been different today. Although some Western writers did write about Islam, their work was far less accurate and much more slanderous. In fact, it was no more than a reflection of their dishonesty, ignorance and biased approach towards the understanding of Islam. Anti-Islamic propaganda was carried through the centuries on such a monumental scale that it filled the Western mind with a deep prejudice at subconscious level towards Islam, the holy Quran and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The propaganda was targeted against "that" Prophet whose coming was foretold by many Biblical Prophets such as Moses, Isaiah and Jesus Christ (peace be upon them).

The holy Bible, in spite of its interpolations, is still witness to the prophecies regarding the Arabian Prophet. There are a great number of prophecies scattered throughout the Old Testament about many things including the coming of the Prophets Jesus Christ and Muhammad (peace be upon them). An unbiased eye can, clearly, distinguish the prophecies concerning these two mighty Prophets without confusing them or superimposing them, forcibly, onto one another. However, the compilers of the Old Testament Books have been at work for centuries to camouflage the prophecies about Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) by giving them strange, remote, out of context and out of substance meanings. The idea behind their attempts is to “fit these prophecies”, somehow, on Prophet Jesus Christ (pbuh) without any regard for the real events that came to pass as predicted by the Holy Scriptures.

We are taking this opportunity to quote some of the prophecies about Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), with notes, for the benefit of the reader so that he may ponder upon these prophetic visions, himself, with an open mind for the love of truth. As Muslims’ faith demands of them to believe in all the Prophets of God, they respect them all without making any distinction according to the commandment of God.

285 The Messenger believeth in what hath been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of faith. Each one (of them) believeth in Allah, His angels, His books, and His Messengers. "We make no distinction (they say) between one and another of His Messengers." And they say: "We hear, and we obey: (we seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys."

Surah 2 : 285 The Heifer

THE OLD TESTAMENT

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In the following verse, the Prophet Moses (pbuh) is giving his people, the Israelites, the news of a future Prophet who would be like unto him.

"And the Lord said to me, "They have rightly said all that they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him." "

Deuteronomy 18: 17, 18

Prophet Muhammad was descended from Ishmaelites, the brethren of Israelites, and the holy Quran was revealed to him in portions for twenty three years as if God was putting His Words into his mouth. He did exactly what God commanded him to do. He is the only Prophet, like unto Moses, among the Ishmaelites in their long history. This may be seen in the following comparison between Prophet Moses and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon them).

1 They were both Prophets and Servants of God and were accepted as such by their followers.

2 They had mother and father and had normal birth.

3 They were married and had children.

4 They were both called to the Office of Prophethood as if "out of the blue". Moses, when he went to see the Fire on the Mount Sinai, and Muhammad when he was minding his own business of meditation in the lonely Cave of Mount Hira outside Makkah.

5 They both brought the Divine Law covering the conduct of life.

6 They made Jihad obligatory and fought with the enemies of God.

7 They made ablution compulsory before prayers and after copulation.

8 They gave laws for lawful and unlawful foods (Halal, Haram, and Kosher).

9 They both established the Kingdom of God in practical terms.

10 They both enforced the Divine Law with authority.

11 They worshipped One God without associating any partners with Him.

12 They declared fornication, adultery, usury unlawful.

13 They both destroyed idolatry and every kind of image worship.

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14 They both talked with God: the former when he received the Tablets on the Mount Sinai, and the latter when he ascended into the heavens to receive his commandments.

15 They both died a natural death.

These are some of the common attributes between these two great Prophets and Moses' prophecy fits perfectly onto Prophet Muhammad.

In the following verses Moses is blessing the Children of Israel before his death.

2 And he said, The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; He shined forth from Mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: From his right hand went a fiery law for them.

3 Yea, he loved the people; All his saints are in thy hand; And they sat down at thy feet; Every one shall receive of thy words.

Deuteronomy 33 : 2, 3

Mount Sinai and Mount Seir are associated with Moses (pbuh) and Jesus Christ (pbuh) respectively. Mount Paran is situated outside Makkah and refers to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). He was born and had preached in that city before he was forced to flee. History tells us that he returned in triumph and captured Makkah without a fight. His entry was through the valley of Mount Paran. He had ten thousand of his blessed companions with him and he had the shining forceful Law of the holy Quran in his right hand. The above two prophecies fit word for word for Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Perhaps it is these prophecies about which the holy Quran gives a passing reference in the following verses. The first three are highly charged with mystical meanings.

1 By the Fig and the Olive,2 And the Mount of Sinai,3 And this City of security,-

Surah 95 : 1, 2, 3 The Fig

29 Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those who are with him are strong against Unbelievers (but) compassionate amongst each other. Thou wilt see them bow and prostrate themselves (in prayer), seeking Grace from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure.

Surah 48 : 29 The Victory

BEHOLD MY SERVANT

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1 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.

2 He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;

3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.

4 He will not fail or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.

5 Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it:

6 "I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations,

7 To open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

8 I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to graven images.

9 Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them."

10 Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the end of the earth! Let the sea roar and all that fills it, the coastlands and their inhabitants.

11 Let the desert and its cities lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits; let the inhabitants of Sela sing for joy, let them shout from the top of the mountains.

12 Let them give glory to the Lord, and declare his praise in the coastlands.

13 The Lord goes forth like a mighty man, like a man of war he stirs up his fury; he cries out, he shouts aloud, he shows himself mighty against his foes........................................................…………………………………………

16 And I will lead the blind in a way that they knew not, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do, and I will not forsake them.

17 They shall be turned back and utterly put to shame, who trust in graven images, who say to molten images, "You are our gods."

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18 Hear, you deaf; and look, you blind, that you may see!

19 Who is blind but my servant, or deaf as my messenger whom I send? Who is blind as my dedicated one, or blind as the servant of the Lord?

20 He sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear.

21 The Lord was pleased, for his righteousness' sake, to magnify his law and make it glorious.

Isaiah 42 : 1 to 13 and 16 to 21

This is a remarkable prophecy that also finds some cross-reference in Psalms (96: 11 and 98 : 7). In this vision of Prophet Isaiah (pbuh) where there is the news of the advent of a Prophet, we have two proper nouns of Kedar and Sela. Kedar was the son of Prophet Ishmael (pbuh), the ancestor of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Kedar's offspring lived in the wilderness of Paran, the territory of Hejaz, now Arabia. Sela, the name of a mountain in Medinah, was well known during the time of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). And wait for it, it is still known by the same name even today!5

History tells us that when Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) entered Medinah after his flight (Hijrah) from Makkah, the inhabitants of Medinah and the whole valley of Sela sang joyous songs on his arrival.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is mentioned as the Faithful Servant and the Blessed Messenger of God, several times in the holy Quran as it is mentioned in the above verses. One of his famous titles is Mustafa (the Chosen One). He is described in the holy Quran as the Light and Mercy for all nations. He is the mighty one who fought against the enemies of God, shamed the image-worshippers and destroyed idolatry forever when he cleansed the Kabah (The House of Allah at Makkah) from idols. He brought light to the blinds and listening ears to the deaf. He brought Arabs out of the darkness of ignorance into the divine light. He, successfully, completed his mission in an unprecedented way. His companions and followers learned a new way of life; they, triumphantly, walked on new paths from Indonesia to Spain which Arabs had never done before. The mighty kingdoms of the unbelievers crumbled down under their feet.

His glorious Law - the Quran and Sunnah (his way of life) - is observed by different races and nations throughout the world. He rules over their hearts and minds no matter what colour, race, nation or country they belong to. They love him more than their own selves.

The vision of Prophet Isaiah (pbuh) is fitting like a hand in glove to Prophet Muhammad

5     ? I, myself, visited Medinah in 1989. The mountain Sela is well known historically as well as locally. Please also see the following book.

Keranvi, Rahmat ullah, Izhar-ul-Haq, translated from Arabic language into Urdu language as Bible se Quran tak (From Bible to Quran), by Ali, Akbar and researched by Usmani, Muhammad Taqi, Maktab-e-Dar-ul-Ulum, Karachi 14, not dated, vol. 3, pp. 281-283. This is a remarkable book that deals with prophecies as well as with the making of the present Christianity from its beginning.

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(pbuh).

And when they give the book to one who cannot read, saying, "Read this," he says, "I cannot read."

Isaiah 29 : 12

This vision of Prophet Isaiah (pbuh) fits, literally, to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). It was the occasion on which Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had the first encounter, in the Cave of Mount Hira outside Makkah, with the Archangel Gabriel who said to him, "Read this," and the Prophet said, "I cannot read", for he was illiterate.

ARABIA: An Oracle

13 In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.

14 The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they presented with their bread him that fled.

15 For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.

16 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:

17 And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the Lord God of Israel hath spoken it.

Isaiah 21 : 13 to 17

The above vision holds a lot of information. The mighty leaders of Quraish at Makkah were the descendants of Kedar. Kedar was the son of Prophet Ishmael and the grandson of Prophet Abraham, the ancestors of Quraish and Prophet Muhammad. The leaders of Quraish decided to kill Prophet Muhammad after persecuting him for thirteen years in Makkah. The night of killing was fixed with drawn swords outside his home. But God revealed to His Prophet their wicked plan. He escaped with his close friend Abu Bakr Siddique and travelled northward to Medinah by following unfamiliar routes for the fear of being captured. The enemy pursued but could not find him. He received a tumultuous welcome when he arrived in Medinah after his tiring and dangerous journey. Soon he was joined by his many followers who had also left their homes and possessions, back in Makkah, for the sake of their faith. They were all taken to the hearts by the people of Medinah like their own families. They shared their property and possessions with the fugitives. Prophet Muhammad lived and died and is buried in Medinah. It is a city which was, and still is, thickly surrounded by forest of fruit and date trees. A year later, the first battle at Badar was fought between the Prophet and the tribes of Kedar - the Quraish - with swords and arrows etc. The Quraish were defeated although they were more than three times in number. They lost a number of their great warriors. Within a short time, they were all absorbed by Islam. This is a remarkable

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vision of Prophet Isaiah (pbuh) that came to pass in every detail.

THE NAME “MUHAMMAD” IN SOLOMON'S BOOK

"According to Biblical usage, Solomon too has a prophecy about the advent of the Holy Prophet. We have several songs from him in love of the Prophet. One song actually gives his Holy Name. The Hebrew words in Roman script are as follows:

HIKKOMAMITTAQIM VIKULLO MAHAMADDIM ZEHDUDIVEZEH RAAI BENUTS YARUSHALAM. 'His mouth is most sweet: Yea, he is Mohammad altogether lovely. This is my beloved and this my friend. O daughter of Jerusalam'. (Song of Solomon 5:16).

It must be remembered that the word Mahamaddim has been used but once in the whole Bible. In the book of Solomon - (The Song of Songs) - the translator has rendered it as 'He is altogether lovely'. As a matter of fact, the word should never have been translated, in view of the suffix IM it should have been rendered as 'MAHAMADDIM', the suffix 'IM' is not the mark of plurality but of dignity and grandeur, just as in the word ELOHIM.

Commenting on this word, the Jewish Encyclopaedia says: 'Elohim, plural in form though commonly constrained with a singular verb or adjective; is most probably to explain of the high dignity or greatness'. Thus the word 'Mahammadim', should never have been translated, in view of suffix 'IM' and should have been rendered as 'Mohammad the Great'.

That among all the sons of Adam, the name Muhammad should be given for the first time alone to the son of 'Abdullah and Amina in the town of Makkah, is a unique miracle in the history of religions. There could be no artificial device, attempt, or forgery in this respect. His parents knew nothing of the prophecies in the Hebrew or Christian scriptures concerning a great prophet, who was promised to come to restore and establish the Right Religion of Allah, which is commonly known as Al-Islam. His parent’s choice of the name Muhammad could not be explained away as a coincidence or an accidental event. It was surely providential and inspired.

It is thus clear that Solomon has quite distinctly mentioned the name of the Holy Prophet that was to come as 'MAHAMADDIM'. But an error is made, intentionally or unintentionally, by translation of the proper name as 'Altogether Lovely'."6

THE NEW TESTAMENT

6     ? The above account regarding the prophecy of Solomon is quoted from :Durrani, Dr. M. H. Muhammad the Biblical Prophet, International Islamic Publishers III-E-2, Commercial Area, Nazimabad, Karachi, Pakistan, pp. 28-29.Dr. Durrani was formerly Rev., Senior Chaplin at St. Mary's church, Quetta, Pakistan.

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PROPHECIES BY JESUS CHRIST (PBUH)

42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures:The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

43 Therefore I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it.

44 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, 43, 44

Israelites looked down upon their own brethren Ishmaelites, and called them 'gentiles', meaning uncivilised, brute, ignorant etc which was not very far from the truth. This prophecy is in two parts: first part belongs to Prophet David (pbuh) and the second to Prophet Jesus (pbuh). The former sees a vision where a rejected stone not only completes the building but also becomes its pride. Arabs were a rejected stone, thrown into the gutter. They had not produced any notable figure in their past history whereas the Israelites, their brethren, were blessed with knowledge and many towering figures of Prophets. But the same Arabs, after the advent of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), became the torch-bearer of the world in a, surprisingly, short time and produced tens of thousands of scholars and saints to illuminate the lands. The non-Arab Islamic countries produced their own giant scholars for the blessing of mankind. Throughout the centuries, Islam has continued to influence the non-Muslim nations of the world for good in one way or another regardless of whether they are aware of it or not. It is indeed a great prophecy that is expressed in this vision.

There is a famous Hadith (saying) of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) regarding his relationship with the past Prophets. He says in a parable that a builder built a beautiful palace but he left an empty space for a brick in its corner. People came to view it and admired the building but they felt sorry for the palace that was put to shame by this missing brick. Now I am that missing brick which has filled that gap to complete the "palace" of Prophets.7

The prophecy of Jesus Christ (pbuh) in the verses 43 and 44 has also come to pass. The true religion of all the Prophets has always been Islam which is preserved intact in the holy Quran. The mighty stone is still here against all the opposing forces of the world. Its current resurgence to re-establish the Kingdom of God as it did once before is worrying some nations.

15 If you love me, keep my commandments.16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that

he may abide with you for ever;......................................................

7     ? Sahih Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Manaqib, Bab Khatumun Nabiyin. Also see Sahih Muslim, Kitab-ul-Fazail, Bab Khatumun Nabiyin.

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30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh.

John 14 : 15, 16, 30

26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the father, he shall testify of me:

27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

John 15 : 26, 27

7 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.

8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

......................................................

12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

13 Howbeit when, the spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.

14 He shall glorify me: John 16 : 7, 8, 12, 13, 14

The occasion of these important verses, which are strangely missing from all the other three Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, is at the end of the Last Supper where Jesus Christ (pbuh) is preparing, himself, for the departure. He was arrested, shortly, after delivering this glorious speech to his disciples. He had a lot to say to them but time was short and besides they could not bear to hear it all.

He consoles them and reviews the current situation. He talks about the disappointing response of his people to his divine mission which seems to have failed. However, his testimony and arguments have closed the doors for the Children of Israel to find excuses to commit sins. He is concerned about the humanity at large. He talks about the future events, and refers again and again to the coming of the spirit of truth, who will convince the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment; who will guide them into all the truth for all the time to come, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to them the things that are to come, and he will praise him (that is Jesus Christ).

Anyone who reads these verses with an open mind and with an unbiased approach,

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will conclude that Jesus Christ (pbuh) is telling his disciples, in plain language, that although his mission has been cut short, there is another Prophet to come who will, effectively, establish the kingdom of God on earth. When he comes, they must lend their ears to him.

Among the well known titles of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Al-Sadiq (The Truthful) and Al-Amin (The Trustworthy, The Faithful) are the ones to which this prophecy refers. He convinced the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment without any parallel in the history of man. His practical guidance (the Sunnah) and the holy Quran are for the entire mankind to abide with them forever. He spoke nothing of his own but only that which he heard from his Lord Who put His words into his mouth through revelation. He attested Jesus and his divine teachings with a mighty authority and also cleared his name of being accursed. He declared the things that were to come. He glorified Jesus Christ (pbuh) and his blessed mother Mary (pbuh) in a magnanimous way and so do all the Muslims throughout the world. They love and revere Jesus Christ (pbuh), probably, more than his own followers.

Now let us look at the word "Comforter." The translators of the English Bible (and in other languages too) have been using such words as Advocate, Consoler, Comforter, Intercessor etc. for the Greek word Paraclete, used in St. John's Greek Gospel. It has been suggested that this word, itself, was put in the place of the original Greek word Periclytos 8 (the Illustrious, the Praised One). Why? Because it is the equivalent of the Arabic word Muhammad which also means the illustrious, the praised one. The expert linguists suggest that the word Paraclete (instead of Periclytos) is oddly placed in these verses in terms of the Greek grammar. Do we see a clever hand of interpolators and translators at work here? But, unfortunately, the original text of St. John's Greek Gospel is not extant, so we do not know for certain.

But, we have a good reason to believe that the word Periclytos was, itself, translated by the ancient Greek writers from a Syriac word MUNHAMANNA (the Illustrious, the Praised One). It is this word which Jesus Christ (pbuh), himself, used in his Syriac tongue, a common dialect of the Aramaic language of the time, to prophecise the advent of a Prophet and which the Gospel writers rendered it into Greek equivalent as Periclytos.

The proof is found in Ibn-e-Hisham's (d.828 C.E.) biography of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). He, himself, quotes from Ibn-e-Ishaque (d. 768 C.E.), the earliest biographer of the Prophet. The translation of these particular verses which are quoted from the Bible by these two great biographers, contain the Syriac word MUNHAMANNA. It must be remembered that Ibn-e-Ishaque and Ibn-e-Hisham wrote their books about twelve hundred years ago, and at a time, when the Syriac language was still spoken in the holy land. They also explain that the meaning of MUNHAMANNA is Muhammad in Arabic and Periclytos in Greek language. So the mystery is solved. St. John did use the word Periclytos in his Gospel which was replaced with Paraclete by some scheming interpolators when they, probably, found it against their dogmatic beliefs. A change of such a subtle nature is common among the writers and translators of the holy Bible!

But they have lost much more than gained through such attempts in the holy Scriptures 8     ? It is also spelt as Parakletos.

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by inventing strange philosophical and metaphysical dogmas, around the word Paraclete, which have no proof either in the Bible or in the heavens or on earth. Instead of admitting the advent of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as prophesised by Jesus Christ (pbuh), they are going deeper and deeper into an "enigmatic triangular problem" for which they have found no sensible answer since St. Paul's indoctrination into Jesus' religion which St. Peter, St. Barnabas and other believers opposed so vehemently in the beginning.9 The ideas were, gradually, imported into Christianity, during the earlier centuries, from the ancient Egyptians, Persians and Greek mythologies which were prevalent at the time of Jesus Christ (pbuh). This is the fruit of their own hands and imaginations. God, the Almighty and the blessed Jesus Christ (pbuh) are free from any blame for their own misguidance.10

THE RIDER ON A WHITE HORSE

In St. John's Revelation, we find one of the most revealing and detailed prophecies which leaves no doubt whatsoever about the person of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

11 Then I saw heaven wide open, and there before me was a white horse; and its rider's name was Faithful and True, for he is just in judgment and just in war.

12 His eyes flamed like fire, and on his head were many diadems. Written upon him was a name known to none but himself,

13 And he was robed in a garment drenched in blood. He was called the Word of God,

14 And the armies of heaven followed him on white horse, clothed in fine linen, clean and shining.

9     ? Keranvi, Rahmat Ullah, Bible se Quran tak, ibid, pp. 103-177. This particular part is a valuable contribution, researched and written by Usmani, Muhammad Taqi, towards the understanding of present Christianity.

10      ? Please see the following for more prophecies in the holy Bible:

Deuteronomy 18 : 15Psalms 45 : 1 to 17

Psalms 149 : 1 to 9Isaiah 21 : 7Isaiah 54 : 1 to 17Daniel 2 : 31 to 45Matthew 13 : 31Matthew 20 : 1 to 16John 1 : 19 to 26

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15 From his mouth went a sharp sword with which to smite the nations; for he it is who shall rule them with an iron rod, and tread the winepress of the wrath and retribution of God the sovereign Lord.

16 And on his robe and on his thigh there was written the name :'King of kings and Lord of lords'.

Revelation 19 : 11 to 16

Six hundred years later, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) came and this is what the history has recorded and this is how the prophecy was fulfilled. Some of the highlights are as follows:

1 His name Muhammad/Ahmad11 was unique, unknown in the ancient world prior to his arrival as if it was known only to him. According to traditions, his mother Amina had a dream where she was inspired to name her child as Muhammad. People were curious when his grandfather Abdul Muttalib named his grandson as Muhammad (The Praised One). He said that he wanted his grandson to be praised in the world and in the heavens above. We must not forget that Arabs at the time had no idea about the Biblical prophecies.

2 He was known among his people as the Faithful and the Truthful for his piety long before he was called to the office of the Prophet Hood.

3 He fought several battles with his enemies, including some where he rode on a white horse. His pious followers, the “armies of heaven”, accompanied him in plain, simple clothes.

4 He was just in wars that were fought purely in the cause of God. He never took revenge for his own person although he was persecuted.

5 He was just in judgment for all the high and low and established the Just Kingdom of God.

6 Within a short period, the crowns of many nations fell under his feet from Indonesia to Spain including the Persian and Roman-Byzantine Empires, the two super-powers of the time. He ruled with power and authority.

7 The fiery sword of Quran, the true word of God, came out of his mouth to smite the unbelieving nations.

8 He is the King of kings and Lord of lords of all the believing nations.

11     ? He is known by both names as the words are synonym.

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107 We have sent not thee (O, Muhammad!) except as a Mercy for all the creatures.

Surah 21 : 107 The Prophets

28 And We have not sent thee (O, Muhammad) save as a bringer of good tidings and a Warner unto all mankind; but most of mankind know not.

Surah 34 : 28 Saba

6 And remember, Jesus, the son of Mary, said: "O Children of Israel! I am the messenger of Allah (sent) to you, confirming the Law (which came) before me and giving glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad12 (The Praised One)". But when he came to them with Clear Signs, they said, "This is evident sorcery!"

Surah 61 : 6 The Ranks

157 "Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own (Scriptures); in the Law and the Gospel; for he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure); he releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe in him, help him, and follow the Light which is sent down with him,--it is they who will prosper."

Surah 7 : 157 The Heights

PROPHECIES FROM THE GOSPEL OF ST. BARNABAS

We have given a brief account of this Gospel at the start of this work and now we are giving here a few prophecies from this Gospel to conclude the Biblical section.

CHAPTER 17

"Jesus answered 'There are written in the prophets many parables, wherefore thou oughtest not to attend to the letter, to the sense. For all the prophets, that are one

12     ? Ahmad is another version of Muhammad.

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hundred and forty-four thousand, whom God hath sent into the world, have spoken darkly. But after me shall come the Splendour of all the prophets and holy ones, and shall shed light upon the darkness of all that the prophets have said, because he is the messenger of God.'"

CHAPTER 43

"Verily I say unto you, that every prophet when he is come hath borne to one nation only the mark of the mercy of God. And so their words were not extended save to that people to which they were sent. But the messenger of God, when he shall come, God shall give to him as it were the seal of his hand, insomuch that he shall carry salvation and mercy to all the nations of the world that shall receive his doctrine. He shall come with power upon the ungodly, and shall destroy idolatry, insomuch that he shall make Satan confounded."

CHAPTER 72

Jesus answered: 'Let not your heart be troubled, neither be ye fearful: for I have not created you, but God our Creator who hath created you will protect you. As for me, I am now come to the world to prepare the way for the messenger of God, who shall bring salvation to the world. But beware that ye be not deceived, for many false prophets shall come, who shall take my words and contaminate my gospel.'

Then said Andrew: 'Master, tell us some sign, that we may know him.' Jesus answered: 'He will not come in your time, but will come some years after you when my gospel shall be annulled, insomuch that there shall be scarcely thirty faithful. At that time God will have mercy on the world, and so he will send his messenger, over whose head will rest a white cloud, whereby he shall be known of one elect of God, and shall be by him manifested to the world. He shall come with great power against the ungodly, and shall destroy idolatry upon the earth. And it rejoiceth me because that through him our God shall be known and glorified, and I shall be known to be true; and he will execute vengeance against those who shall say that I am more than man....He shall come with truth more clear than that of all the prophets, and shall reprove him who useth the world amiss.'

CHAPTER 96

Jesus answered: 'As God liveth, in whose presence my soul standeth, I am not the Messiah whom all the tribes of the earth expect, even as God promised to our father Abraham, saying: "In thy seed will I bless all the tribes of the earth." But when God shall take me away from the world, Satan will raise against this accursed sedition, by making the impious believe that I am God and son of God, whence my words and my doctrine shall be contaminated, insomuch that scarcely shall there remain thirty faithful ones: whereupon God will have mercy upon the world, and will send his messenger for whom he hath made all things; who shall come from the south with power, and shall destroy the idols with the idolators; who shall take away the dominion from Satan which he hath over men. He shall bring with him the mercy of God for salvation of them that shall believe in him, and blessed is he who shall believe his words.'

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CHAPTER 112

"… So all the disciples and apostles departed by fours and by sixes and went their way according to the word of Jesus. There remained with Jesus he who writeth; whereupon Jesus, weeping, said: 'O Barnabas, it is necessary that I shall reveal to thee great secrets, which, after that I shall be departed from the world, thou shalt reveal to it.'

Then answered he that writeth, weeping, and said: 'Suffer me to weep, O master, and other men also, for that we are sinners. And thou, that art an holy one and prophet of God, it is fitting for thee to weep so much.'

Jesus answered: 'Believe me, Barnabas, that I cannot weep as much as I ought. For if men had not called me God, I should have seen God here as he will be seen in paradise, and should have been safe not to fear the Day of Judgment. But God knoweth that I am innocent, because never have I harboured thought to be held more than a poor slave. Nay, I tell thee that if I had not been called God I should have been carried into paradise when I shall depart from the world, whereas now I shall not go thither until the judgment. Now thou see if I have cause to weep. Know, O Barnabas, that for this I must have great persecution, and shall be sold by one of my disciples for thirty pieces of money. Whereupon I am sure that he who shall sell me shall be slain in my name, for that God shall take me up from the earth, and shall change the appearance of the traitor so that every one shall believe him to be me; nevertheless, when he dieth an evil death, I shall abide in that dishonour for a long time in the world. But when Mohammad shall come, the sacred messenger of God, that infamy shall be taken away. And shall God do because I have confessed the truth of the Messiah; who shall give me this reward, that I shall be known to be alive and be a stranger to that death of infamy.'

CHAPTER 124

Jesus answered: 'Everything that conformeth to the book of Moses, that receive ye for true; seeing that God is one, the truth is one; whence it followeth that the doctrine is one and the meaning of the doctrine is one; and therefore the faith is one. Verily I say unto you that if the truth had not been erased from the book of Moses, God would not have given to David our father the second. And if the book of David had not been contaminated, God would not have committed the Gospel to me; seeing that the Lord our God is unchangeable, and hath spoken but one message to all men. Wherefore, when the messenger of God shall come, he shall come to cleanse away all wherewith the ungodly have contaminated my book.'

THE OTHER HOLY SCRIPTURES

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The prophecies about the coming of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) are also found in the ancient Holy Scriptures of Parsi and Hindu religions. The following two quotations are from the original Sanskrit text. The fifth word from the left in the first line of the first quotation is actually the name of the Prophet Muhammad which will surprise even the die-hard doubters.

PROPHECIES IN HINDU SCRIPTURES

Just then an illiterate man with the epithet of Teacher, Mahammad by name, came along with his companions. Raja (Bhoja in a vision) to that Great Deva, the denizen of Arabia, purifying with the Ganges water and with the five things of cow offered sandal wood and pay worship to him. O denizen of Arabia and Lord of the Holies to thee is my adoration. O thou who has found many ways and means to destroy all the devils of the world! O pure one from among the illiterates, O sinless one, the spirit of truth and absolute master, to thee is my adoration! Accept me at thy feet.

(Bhavishya Purana Parv 3, Khand 3, Adhya 3, Shalok 5-8)

O people, listen to this emphatically! The man of praise [Muhammad] will be raised among the people. We take the emigrant in our shelter from sixty thousand and ninety enemies whose conveyances are twenty camels and she camels, whose loftiness of position touches the heaven and lowers it.

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He gave to Mamah Rishi hundreds of gold coins, ten circles, three hundred Arab horses and ten thousand cows.

(Atharva Veda, Kanda 20, Sukta 127, Mantra 1-3)

PROPHECY IN THE PARSI SCRIPTURE

The Dasatir and the Zand Avasta are the two ancient collections of Holy Scriptures of the Parsi religion. A quotation from the Dasatir No. 14, associated with the name of Sasanll, is given below.

"When the Persians should sink so low in morality, a man will be born in Arabia whose followers will upset their throne, religion and everything. The mighty stiff-necked ones of Persia will be overpowered. The house which was built (referring to the building of Kabah originally built by the Prophet Abraham) and in which many idols have been placed will be purged of idols, and people will say their prayers facing towards it. His followers will capture the towns of the Parsis and Taus and Balkh and other big places round about. People will embroil with one another. The wise men of Persia and others will join his followers." 13

It is not a surprise to find such prophecies among the ancient religions despite their current corrupted form. The reason lies in their ultimate source that goes back to Islam, the Fountain-head, from which they have diverged over a long period of time. Islam is not another "religion" in a generic sense but Al-Din (The Religion, The Way of Life). The English word religion is limited in meaning. It is, normally, used to describe a certain belief and a set of certain rituals of a people. But Islam uses the word AL-Din (The Way) which covers the entire life, both temporal and spiritual with all its finest details according to the Will of God. Listen to Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them).

13     ? The Sanskrit and Persian quotations are taken from the book Israel and the Prophecies of the Holy Quran By Ali Akbar, Seraj Publishers, 17 Broadstairs Road, Leckwith, Cardiff, pp. 9-11.

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"Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is the only Lord; love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength."

St. Mark 12 : 29, 30

The above verse is not meant to be observed merely as a subjective faith but it is meant to be applied as a term of reference for all the practical affairs of life. It provides a divine point of reference in which to conduct all daily affairs - social, economic, political, commercial, personal, national or international - where they relate with God for His Good Pleasure.

It is obvious that when a person (or a nation) loves God in this practical manner, he will live a disciplined life according to God's commandments. He would not do anything intentionally to offend his God. This is the path of nature and this is Islam. All the Prophets came to spread this Message in different parts of the world in different times. At the same time, they gave good tidings to their people of a mighty Messenger of God whose Light of Righteousness and Shining Law will abide with them forever. But man has been corrupting and fragmenting this Message (Al-Din) into different religions for his own selfish aims.

Mankind should be grateful that Muhammad (pbuh), the Last Prophet, has brought Quran, the Final Message, from God in its entirety and in its purest form, so that people may follow it with full confidence to achieve their purpose of life on earth. This favour of God, through His Prophet, is not an ordinary matter! Even a life-long prostration is not enough to pay back the gratitude.

Islam is a faith that stands on reason and pure knowledge. It is absolutely free from the nonsensical superstitions and blasphemous mythologies that form part of many faiths. Admittedly we may not comprehend the Unseen - the Metaphysical aspects - due to our limited knowledge, but then, what do we really know? We do not even know the mystery of our own little self or our physical universe that is around us with its full Splendour.

3 He Who created the seven heavens one above another: no want of proportion wilt thou see in the Creation of (Allah) Most Gracious. So turn thy vision again: seest thou any flaw?

4 Again turn thy vision a second time: (thy) vision will come back to thee dull and discomfited, in a state worn out.

Surah 67 : 3, 4 The Sovereignty

It is the faith in the Unseen, and the Unseen is confirmed, unanimously, by those who have seen it: they are the Prophets of God who have remained ever so Truthful and Trustworthy without a shadow of doubt in every situation. And who else can be the best witness to this than God Himself.

14 ...And none, (o man!) can tell thee (the Truth) like the One Who is acquainted with all things.

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Surah 35 : 14 The Originator

We still come across the anti-Islamic propaganda in the West, but its venomous approach appears to have been diluted to some level of tolerance. Perhaps it is the Arab oil! But we think it is the realisation of Truth. Truth, due to its own nature, cannot be suppressed. Some serious attempts are being made in certain Western academic quarters to understand Islam, as it is, after so many centuries of misunderstanding. It is a good sign. In any way one does not have to look very far to find the Truth provided one is sincere, honest and unbiased in one's search.

13 The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah - the which We have sent by inspiration to thee - and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses and Jesus: Namely, that you should remain steadfast in Religion, and make no divisions therein: To those who worship other things than Allah, hard is the (way) to which thou callest them. Allah chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him).

Surah 42 : 13 Consultation

146 The People of the Book know this as they know their own sons; but some of them conceal the Truth which they themselves know.

Surah 2 : 146 The Heifer

Finally we like to clear a general misunderstanding which still exists among the non-Muslims including the Jews and the Christians about the Prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). They think that this great man "founded his own religion" and named it Islam, some fourteen hundred years ago. Some even call it "Mohammedan religion" or "Mohammadanism". The terms are highly objectionable and offensive to Muslims. It is part of the propaganda against the Prophet and Islam which is spread over many centuries and which is based, entirely, on prejudice and ignorance. Here we would like our readers to refer to Surah Anbiya (The Prophets) 21 : 71 to 93 and Surah Muminun (The Believers) 23 : 23 to 54, if they have the holy Quran by their side. In these verses, God is referring to some of the past Prophets, common to Jews, Christians and Muslims alike, who brought His Message for mankind. The names, which are mentioned, include Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Lot, Issac, Ishmael, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, Job, Jonah, Ezekiel, Yahya (John the Baptist), Jesus (peace be upon them all). According to the traditions, there came some one hundred and twenty four thousand Prophets throughout the world. Some great sages like Buddha, Ram, Krishna, Zoroaster, and Confuscious may have been the true Prophets of God, although their present corrupted Holy Scriptures contains blasphemous material. The holy Quran mentions only a few of them by name but commands the believers to respect them all. The main idea, which God wants us to understand in these verses, is that all the Prophets, although sent in different times and to different places, were one community with a single common mission to preach. But their followers corrupted the Message after certain time for their own selfish aims and desires.

For instance, the terms Judaism and Christianity were never used by the Biblical

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Prophets. Their religion was one and the same and it was Islam and its followers were known as "those who surrender to the Will of God". In the Arabic language the word is Muslim and in the ancient languages the word would have been its equivalent. But it was in the later centuries when the terms Judaism and Christianity appeared to distinguish between the followers of Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them). The holy Quran accepts their followers as the People of the Book but criticises them by saying: "those who call themselves Jews and those who call themselves Christians". The implications are that they have created divisions in the Religion of God for their own desires.

140 Or do ye say that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes were Jews or Christians? Say: do ye know better than Allah? Ah! Who is more unjust than those who conceal the testimony they have from Allah? But Allah is not unmindful of what ye do!

Surah 2 : 140 The Heifer

It is an extremely important point to remember and to know the difference between Islam, Judaism and Christianity.14 The rebukes which the holy Quran levels against the

Jews and Christians is not that why do they follow Moses and Jesus but rather why don't they follow Moses and Jesus. If they truly follow the teachings of Moses and Jesus, they will have no difficulty in recognising the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon them all). However, what they follow is their own fancies rather than the Prophets.

51 O ye Messengers! Eat of the good things, and do right. Lo! I am aware of what ye do.

52 And Lo! This your religion is one religion and I am your Lord, so keep your duty unto Me.

53 But they (mankind) have broken their religion among them into sects, each sect 14     ? Please see also the following verses in Quran for the use of the terms Islam and

Muslim by the Biblical Prophets.

Surah 2 : 128, 131, 132, 133 The HeiferSurah 3 : 67 The Family of ImranSurah 5 : 44, 111 The Table SpreadSurah 7 : 126 The HeightsSurah 10 : 72, 84 JonahSurah 12 : 101 JosephSurah 27 : 31, 42, 44 The AntSurah 51 : 35, 36 The Winnowing Winds

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rejoicing in its tenets.

54 So leave them in their error till a time.

Surah 23 : 51 to 54 The Believers

92 Lo! this, your religion, is one religion, and I am your Lord, so worship Me.

93 And they have broken their religion (into fragments) among them, (yet) all are returning unto Us.

Surah 21 : 92, 93 The Prophets

The Jews have rejected Jesus Christ (pbuh) and the Christians along with the Jews have rejected Muhammad (pbuh). The reason behind their rejection, in both cases, is prejudice and ignorance rather than the true knowledge. On the other hand, Muslims are commanded by God, the Knower of all, to respect and believe in all the Messengers of God without making any distinction.

285 The Messenger believeth in what hath been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of faith. Each one (of them) believeth in Allah, His angels, His books, and His messengers. "We make no distinction (they say) between one and another of His messengers", and they say: "We hear, and we obey: (we seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys."

Surah 2 : 285 The Heifer

28 And We have not sent thee (O Muhammad) save as a bringer of good tidings and a Warner to all mankind; but most of mankind know not.

Surah 34 : 28 Saba

BIBLIOGRAPHY

St. Barnabas The Gospel of St. Barnabas, translated from the Italian manuscript in the Imperial Library at Vienna by Lonsdale and Laura Ragg.

Abbasi, Maulana InayatRasool of Chirriya Koti Bushra, Hijrah International Publishers, Miyan

Chambers, 3-Temple Road, Lahore, 1984.

Ata ur Rahim, Muhammad, Jesus a Prophet of Islam, MWH London Publishers, 233 Seven Sisters Road, London N4 2DA, 1979.

Durrani, Dr. M. H. The Forgotten Gospel of St. Barnabas, International Islamic Publishers, 111-E-2, Commercial Area, Nazimabad, Karachi, Pakistan, Dec., 1982.

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Keranvi, Rahmat Ullah Izhar-ul-Haq, translated from Arabic language into Urdu language as Bible se Quran tak (from Bible to Quran), by Ali Akbar and researched by Usmani, Muhammad Taqi, Maktab-e-Dar-ul-Ulum, Karachi 14, not dated.

Maududi, Abul Ala Sirat-e-Sarwar-e-Do Alam, edited Naim Siddiqi and Abdul Wakil Alvi, second edition, August 1979, Idara-e-Tarjuman-ul-Quran, Lahore, Pakistan, pp. 134-153.

Tafhim-ul-Quran, Surah 61: 6 Al-Saff (The Ranks), see the commentary on this verse on pp 458-476.

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