MUHAMMAD IN THE BIBLE

   Prophet Jacob (PBUH) while on his deathbed told his children;

"The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be."

(Genesis 49:10 KJVR)

   This practically means that the royal scepter and the office of Prophet Hood will remain in the tribe of Judah only until “Shiloh” comes. Who can Shiloh be?

1-         Certainly not Moses (PBUH) because he was the first organizer of the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

2 -       Decidedly not David(PBUH)  because he was the first King Prophet from the Tribe of Judah and even after him there were Prophets and Kings from this tribe like his own son Solomon(PBUH).

3 -       Surely not Jesus (PBUH) he was also from the same lineage down from Judah (see Matthew 1:1-2). Further he never tasted the (Royal) Scepter.

   No doubt the “Shiloh” foretold by Prophet Jacob is Muhammad (PBUH), the Messenger of God because;

1-        He was an Ishmaelite and not a descendent of Judah which in the light of above verse is the first proof of his being “Shiloh”.

2 -       He did taste the royal scepter and before his demise he became the de facto King of Arabia.
 

3-        He came with a new Law i.e. Quran to replace the old worn-out and impractical Jewish Law.

   The second interpretation of this word “Shiloh” is equally important. This word may also be interpreted as “peaceful, tranquil and trustworthy”. This interpretation also fits Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as even before Prophethood he was called “Al-Amin” which means exactly the same i.e. “peaceful, tranquil and trustworthy”.

As the general Islamic stand point is that previously revealed scriptures like "Torat'& 'Injeel' mentioned in the Quran have been corrupted and the presented Bible is not the revealed word of God, Christians ask why then Muslims use these scriptures which they believe to be corrupt for the Prophecies?

The answer is simple. Undoubtedly we believe as the Quran tells us, that previous scriptures have been corrupted. But still there is a chance that may be some words of God or the Holy Prophets may have survived and transmitted down to this day. Thus we take Quran as a criterion to judge. Whatever is in consonance with Quran and Authentic Ahadith (sayings and deeds of Prophet Muhammad) we believe and else we don’t. We are told in the Holy Quran;

"To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety: so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that hath come to thee. To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way."

{Al-Quran 5:48}

Abdullah Yusuf Ali in his commentary to this word writes;

"After the corruption of the older revelations, the Quran comes with a twofold purpose: (1 to confirm the true and original Message and (2 to guard it, or act as a check to its interpretation. The Arabic word 'Muhaimin' is very comprehensive in meaning. It means one who safeguards, watches over, stands witness, preserves, and upholds. The Quran safeguards "the Book", for it has preserved within it the teachings of all the former Books. It watches over these Books in the sense that it will not let their true teachings to be lost. It supports and upholds these Books in the sense that it corroborates the Word of Allah which has remained intact in them. It stands a witness because it bears testimony to the Word of Allah contained in these Books and helps to sort it out from the interpretations and commentaries of the people which were mixed with it: what is confirmed by the Our-in is the Word of Allah and what is against it is that of the people."

So as the Quran says that Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has been mentioned in the previous scriptures so we try to find those from whatever is with Jews and Christians today. Thus our endeavor is in this regard.