A BRIEF ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING ISLAM Chapter 1 Some evidence for the truth of islam (2) The Great Challenge to Produce One Chapter Like the Chapters of the Holy Qur’an God has said in the Qur’an: _ And if you are in doubt about what We have revealed (the Qur’an) to Our worshiper (Muhammad _), then produce a chapter like it, and call your witnesses (supporters and helpers) besides God if you are truthful. And if you do not do it, and you can never do it, then fear the Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones. It has been prepared for disbelievers. And give good news (O Muhammad) to those who believe and do good deeds, that for them are gardens (Paradise) in which rivers flow.... _ (Qur’an, 2:23-25) Ever since the Qur’an was revealed, fourteen centuries ago, no one has been able to produce a single chapter like the chapters of the Qur’an in their beauty, eloquence, splendor, wise legislation, true information, true prophecy, and other perfect attributes. Also, note that the smallest chapter in the Qur’an (Chapter 108) is only ten words, yet no one has ever been able to meet this challenge, then or today. Some of the disbelieving Arabs who were enemies of Muhammad _ tried to meet this challenge to prove that Muhammad _ was not a true prophet, but they failed to do so. This failure was despite the fact that the Qur’an was revealed in their own language and dialect and that the Arabs at the time of Muhammad _ were a very eloquent people who used to compose beautiful and excellent poetry, still read and appreciated today. (3) Biblical Prophecies on the Advent of Muhammad _, the Prophet of Islam The Biblical prophecies on the advent of the Prophet Muhammad _ are evidence of the truth of Islam for people who believe in the Bible. In Deuteronomy 18, Moses stated that God told him: “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19) From these verses we conclude that the prophet in this prophecy must have the following three characteristics: 1) That he will be like Moses. 2) That he will come from the brothers of the Israelites, i.e. the Ishmaelites. 3) That God will put His words into the mouth of this prophet and that he will declare what God commands him. Let us examine these three characteristics in more depth. 1) A prophet like Moses: There were hardly any two prophets who were so much alike as Moses and Muhammad _. Both were given a comprehensive law and code of life. Both encountered their enemies and were victorious in miraculous ways. Both were accepted as prophets and statesmen. Both migrated following conspiracies to assassinate them. Analogies between Moses and Jesus overlook not only the above similarities but other crucial ones as well. These include the natural birth, the family life, and the death of Moses and Muhammad _but not that of Jesus. Moreover, Jesus was regarded by his followers as the Son of God and not exclusively as a prophet of God, as Moses and Muhammad _ were and as Muslims believe Jesus was. So, this prophecy refers to Muhammad _ and not to Jesus, because Muhammad _ is more like Moses than Jesus. Also, one notices from the Gospel of John that the Jews were waiting for the fulfillment of three distinct prophecies: 1) The coming of Christ, 2) The coming of Elijah, 3) The coming of the Prophet. This is obvious from the three questions that were posed to John the Baptist: “Now this was John’s testimony, when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, ‘I am not the Christ.’ They asked him, ‘Then who are you? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the Prophet?’ He answered,‘No.’” (John 1:19-21). If we look in a Bible with cross references, we will find in the marginal notes where the words “the Prophet” occur in John 1:21, that these words refer to the prophecy of Deuteronomy 18:15 and 18:18. We conclude from this that Jesus Christ is not the prophet mentioned in Deuteronomy 18:18. 2) From the brothers of the Israelites: Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac (Genesis 21). Ishmael became the grandfather of the Arab nation, and Isaac became the grandfather of the Jewish nation. The prophet spoken of was not to come from among the Jews themselves, but from among their brothers, i.e. the Ishmaelites. Muhammad _, a descendant of Ishmael, is indeed this prophet. Also, Isaiah 42:1-13 speaks of the servant of God, His “chosen one” and “messenger” who will bring down a law. “He will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.” (Isaiah 42:4). Verse 11, connects that awaited messenger with the descendants of Kedar. Who is Kedar? According to Genesis 25:13, Kedar was the second son of Ishmael, the ancestor of the Prophet Muhammad _. 3) God will put His words in the mouth of this prophet: The words of God (the Holy Qur’an) were truly put into Muhammad’s _ mouth. God sent the Angel Gabriel to teach Muhammad _the exact words of God (the Holy Qur’an) and asked him to dictate them to the people as he heard them. The words are therefore not his own. They did not come from his own thoughts, but were put into his mouth by the Angel Gabriel. During the life time of Muhammad _, and under his supervision, these words were then memorized and written by his companions. Note that God has said in the prophecy of Deuteronomy: “If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.” (Deuteronomy, 18:19). This means that whoever believes in the Bible must believe in what this prophet says, and this prophet is Muhammad _.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 07:27:32 +0000
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