52. Is Muhammed mentioned in the Bible?

Muslims claim that Muhammad is mentioned in the Bible. They start by referring to the first born son of Abraham, Ishmael, as the descendant promised to Abraham in Genesis 12 verses 2-3. God reiterates the promise when Ishmael is born in Genesis 17 verse 4. In Genesis 21 verse 13 it specifically states that the descendants of Ishmael will become a great nation. According to Deuteronomy 21 verses 15-17 the traditional rights and privileges of the first born son are not to be affected by the social status of the mother, being a bondwoman such as Hagar (Ishmael’s mother).

Muhammad the Prophet is likened unto Moses. In Deuteronomy 18 verse 18 Moses spoke of the prophet to be sent by God who is:

a) From among the Israelite brethren. This is a reference to their Ishmaelite cousins as Ishmael was the other son of Abraham who was explicitly promised to become a great nation

b) A Prophet like unto Moses. Muslims claim that Muhammad was the closest of the Prophets to Moses According to Muslims this awaited prophet was to come from Arabia. Deuteronomy 33 verses 1-2 combine reference to Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. Isaiah 42 verses 1-13 is allegedly speaking about the beloved of God, His elect and messenger who will bring down a law to the long awaited in the isles, rising from Seir and shining forth from Paran. According to Genesis 21 verse 21, the wilderness of Paran was the place where Ishmael settled, being Mecca.

These Islâmic scholars who are searching for evidence of Muhammad in the Bible use Isaiah 42 verses 1-13 to explain that Ke’dar was the second son of Ishmael, the ancestor of the prophet Muhammad.

In the gospels some Islâmic scholars say that Matthew 21 verses 19-21 speak of a fruitless fig tree. This fig tree was going to be cleared after being given the test of three years to give fruit. ‘Therefore I say to you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that bears fruit.’ And then in Matthew 21 verse 42 Jesus spoke about the stone that people would fall on to and it will grind him to powder. Dr Jamal Badawi, who was born in Egypt and completed his Ph.D. at Indiana State University, espouses this doctrine.

Christians all view these teachings as inconsistent with good principles of hermeneutics. They claim that there is no evidence of Muhammad being mentioned in the Bible.