“And when Jesus son of Mary said: “0 Children of Israel! Surely I am the apostle of Allah to you, verifying that which was (revealed) before me of the Torah, and giving the good tidings of an Apostle who will come after me, whose name is Ahmad…”.(1) “Those who follow the Apostle – Prophet the Ummi whom they find ordained for them in the Torah and the Gospel, he enjoins them good and forbids them evil…”.(2)
The Gospel of Jesus (a.s.) brought into sharper focus the identity of the one who would fulfill the promise to make the line of Ishmael (a.s) a great nation. In the Gospel of John – a New Testament book which is not the Gospel of Jesus (a.s) and which may be considered as representing only in general terms portions of Jesus’ teaching – Jesus (a.s.) informs his close companions that his work among them was drawing to conclusion, but God would send someone else after a time to carry forward the prophetic movement.
This someone, however, would be the last of the prophets. The following passages of the New Testament lend further proof to the Prophethood of Muhammad (s.a.w): “And this is the record of John (the Baptist) when the Jews sent priests and levites from Jerusalem to ask him, who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed lam not the Christ. And they asked him, what then? Art thow Elias? And he saith lam not. Art thou THAT PR OPHET? And he answered, No. And they asked him, and said unto him, why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither THAT PROPHET.(3)
“If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father and He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.(4) “But when the Comforter is come, whom I shall send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.(5)
“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. And when he is come, he will reprove the world sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and y see me no more of judgment because the prince of this world 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 skew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall skew it unto you.(6) A careful study of these passages brings to light the following facts:
1) Jesus Christ (a.s) prophesies the coming of a Comforter after him.
2) The coming of the Comforter depends on Christ’s departure.
3) He is sent by Almighty, Allah.
4) He will teach everything.
5) He will draw attention towards what the Christ had foretold.
6) He will testify and glorify Christ.
7) He will not speak by himself but what he divinely hears.
8) He will foretell future events.
9) The world will follow his religion.
10) He will stay forever.
In view of these glaring facts if we cast a glimpse at the life of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) we will discover the amazing truth that these points perfectly tally with his mission and hence without doubt he is the Comforter whose tidings Jesus (a.s) gave. Because the holy Qur’an revealed to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) not only confirms and glorifies Jesus (a.s) and his Prophethood but also reminds people of Christ’s prophecy. Besides, the Qur’an is a final revelation for mankind and an eternal message. It is an inexhaustible mine of information, foretells future events and promises that Islam will eventually spread all over the world uniting humanity in peace and harmony.
A closer look at the word Comforter’ as mentioned in the Bible will help us uncover some more startling facts. Comforter here stands for the word Parakletos’ mentioned in the Greek version of the New Testament from which the English translation is made. And more precisely the meaning of Parakletos’ is an advocate, one who counsels or advises another from deep concern for the other’s welfare. Or to say it more clearly Parakletos’ would designate one who would be considered “Mercy for all creatures (Rahmatun lil Alameen), the term the holy Qur’an uses in chapter 21 verse 107 to describe Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w).
Moreover, scholars have pointed out that what Jesus’ said in his native language of Aramaic represents another similar Greek word Perildytos’, which means the Admirable or the Glorified One and corresponds exactly to the Arabic word Ahmad’. Hence the Qur’an’s quotation of Jesus’ good tidings to the Jews:”An Apostle will come after me whose name is Ahmad. When Jesus declares of this coming Prophet- Counselor that he would “abide with you forever he shows that there would be no need for additional prophets to succeed him. He would be the last one. He would lead mankind “to every aspect of the truth. So truthful and trustworthy would he be that he will be called Al-Amin (The Truthful) or as the text of John 16:13 says, “the spirit of truth, one of whom it could be said: “He has brought them the Truth.(7)
The term spirit’ here does not mean that the coming Prophet would be other than human. In New Testament Greek, this word has also been applied to an inspired person, “the possessor of a spiritual- communication or revelation. This is why the next sentence of the verse containing this expression says: He will guide you unto all truth; for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hew’ (from God), that shall he speak.(8) This person would receive the revelation of truth from God and these words alone would constitute the message, not his own opinions or the writings of his companions. His message or revelation would be first and foremost and literally the Word of God. Note that this corresponds exactly to what God revealed to Moses (a.s) about the Prophet who would come from among the “brothers of the Hebrews: I… will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.(9)
Continue in the next article: ( JESUS’ PROPHFCY ABOUT THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD (pbuh&hp) (2) )
NOTES
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1. (Holy Quran: 61:6)
2. (Holy Quran: 7:157)
3. (John: 1:19-21,25)
4. (John:14:15, 16, 26, 30)
5. (John 15:26)
6. (John 16:7-14)
7. (Holy Qur’an: 23: 70)
8. (John 16:13)
9. (Deuteronomy 18: 18)
