Assalaamu alaikum truthseeker63
format_quote Originally Posted by
truthseeker63
Some Christians I have talked to tell me that Prophet Muhammad/The Messenger Muhammad of over 1400 years ago could not be a true Prophet because he was not a Israelite he was a Ishmaelite how would Muslims respond to ths claim ?
Humans may have written that possibly because it would be highly convenient, as then an excuse could be made not to follow the next prophet that God was going to send. Except that they made one omission, which tells that a prophet was going to come, descended from Ishmael (peace be upon him):
And, actually, God tells Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) in the Bible that there will come a non-israelite prophet, specifically an ishmaelite prophet, who people have to follow:
"I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren,
like unto thee,
and I will put my words in his mouth;
and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him." (Deuteronomy.18:18).
First thing is "a prophet from among their brethren", note that it does not say "from among them" but "from among their brethren". Who are the brethren of the israelites? The ishmaelites! If Ishmael and Isaac are the sons of the same father Abraham (peace be upon them all), then they are brothers. And so the children of the one are the
brethren of the children of the other. So God is telling them that a Prophet will come, who is a descendent of Ishmael (peace be upon him).
Next: "Like unto thee".
Some say the verses refer to Jesus (peace be upon him) but let's put that to the test and examine the likes:
Both Moses (pbuh) and Muhammad (pbuh) had a mother and father, Jesus (pbuh) did not.
Both Moses (pbuh) and Muhammad (pbuh) had a normal birth, Jesus (pbuh) did not.
Both Moses (pbuh) and Muhammad (pbuh) married and had children, Jesus (pbuh) did not.
Both Moses (pbuh) and Muhammad (pbuh) were accepted by their people in their lifetime, while Jesus (pbuh) on the whole was not accepted by the Jews he was sent to.
Both Moses (pbuh) and Muhammad (pbuh) died natural deaths, Jesus (pbuh) did not.
And the list goes on...
So the Prophet like unto Moses (peace be upon him) is Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Next:"And I will put my words into his mouth"
History tells us that Muhummad (pbuh) was forty years of age. He was in a cave some three miles north of the City of Mecca. In the cave the Archangel Gabriel commands him in his mother tongue: 'Iqra'' which means Read! or Proclaim! or Recite! Muhummed (pbuh) was terrified and in his bewilderment replied that he was not learned! The angel commands him a second time with the same result. For the third time the angel continues.
Now Muhummad (pbuh) grasps what was required of him was to repeat! to rehearse! And he repeats the words as they were put into his mouth:
"Read! In the name of your Lord and Cherisher, who created-
Created man, from a clinging substance:
Read! And thy Lord is most bountiful,-
He who taught (the use of) the pen,
Taught man that which he knew not".
(Holy Qur'an 96:1-5)
These are the first five verses which were revealed to Prophet Muhummad (peace be upon him) which now occupy the beginning of the 96th chapter of the Holy Qur'an.
"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)
113 chapters of the Qur'an as revealed by Allah to, and spoken by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) all begin with "
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful." God's words, spoken by the Prophet, i
n His name. With this formula in fact, Muslims begin every lawful act. And in the first revelation to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), mentioned above, what were the words that came immediately after Read? Have a look... "
in the name of your Lord."
The Prophecy is fulfilled in Prophet Muhummad (peace be upon him) to the letter. And it is said in the Bible that God said:
"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)
Which means that Christians and Jews
have to believe in Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Sahih International
O Mankind, the Messenger has come to you with the truth from your Lord, so believe; it is better for you. But if you disbelieve - then indeed, to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and earth. And ever is Allah Knowing and Wise. (4:70)
Sahih International
Say, [O Muhammad], "O mankind, indeed I am the Messenger of Allah to you all, [from Him] to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death." So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet, who believes in Allah and His words, and follow him that you may be guided. (7:158)
Unlike Christians and Jews, Muslims do not reject nor discriminate nor defame the characters of any of the prophets or messengers of God, and that is one of our articles of faith. We believe in and accept them all, as the noblest of humanity that ever walked the face of the earth, sent to guide and warn mankind. And this is what God says in the Qur'an about Prophet Ishmael (peace be upon him):
And mention in the Book, Ishmael. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet.
And he used to enjoin on his people prayer and almsgiving and was to his Lord, pleasing. (Translation of Qur'an 19:54-55)
Say (O Muslims): "We believe in Allah, and that which has been revealed to us, and what was revealed to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob, and the descendants, and what was given to to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) Prophets from their Lord: We make no difference between one and another of them: And to Him we have submitted (in Islam)." (Holy Qur'an 2:136).
Peace.