Sakshi Apologetics Network (SAN) approached Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) for an educative debate between Bro. Jerry Thomas and Janab Dr. Zakir Naik. However, citing laughable reasons, IRF evaded the debate invitations leaving SAN with no option except to do public rebuttals for all the allegations of Janab Dr. Zakir Naik. Following is the third part for Dr. Zakir Naik’s transcript- Similarities between Islam and Christianity and notes from Bro Jerry Thomas’s rebuttal given on July 31, 2010. This is first in the series and God willing, all other videos of Dr. Zakir Naik will be similarly refuted in public and distributed to people to see the banality of Dr. Zakir Naik’s arguments.
Janab Dr. Zakir Naik Section 3: (13:45-25:27)- Is Muhammad Mentioned in the Holy Bible 13:45
The prophecy of Prophet Mohammad is mentioned in various world scriptures, including the Christian Scriptures. If you read the Book of Deuteronomy18:18: “I shall raise thee a prophet from among thy brethren, like unto thee. And I shall put my words into his mouth. He shall speak all that I command him.”
This is a prophecy of the coming of a prophet, which if you ask the Christians, will say, this prophecy is actually about Jesus. When you ask them “How does it refer to Jesus?”, they will say the Bible says “I will raise thee a prophet from among thy brethren, like unto thee, like unto Moses. If he is like Moses, then it indicates that the person is the prophet mentioned. And they say that Moses and Jesus are alike. The reasons they give are: Moses is a prophet of God, Jesus is a prophet of God; Moses is a Jew, Jesus is a Jew. They give two similarities and when we ask them “are these two similarities sufficient to prove that this prophecy indicates only to Jesus and they will agree with it.
If these two similarities are sufficient, then all the prophets that came after Moses, mentioned in the Bible like Solomon, David, Isaiah, Hosea, Ezekiel, Daniel, Joel, John all of them are prophets of God, and they are all Jews.
In fact if we analyze, the prophet mentioned in Deuteronomy 18: 18 depicts no one but the last and final messenger, Prophet Mohammad. Because if we analyze, Moses and Mohammad had natural birth, both of them had a father and a mother; Jesus, according to the glorious Quran Surah 3:43-47 was born miraculously, without any male intervention. The same message is given in the Gospel of Matthew 1:18 and Gospel of Luke 1:35 that Jesus was born miraculously. He had no worldly father.
16: 39
Moses was like Mohammad and unlike Jesus. Both Moses and Mohammad were married and had children. Acc to the Bible, Jesus wasn’t married and had no children. Both Moses and Mohammad had natural death. Jesus did not have a natural death. According to glorious Quran Surah 4:157, 158 says that Jesus was raised up alive.
17: 10
He did not die. According to the church, in the Bible, Jesus was crucified on the cross. In both the ways, Jesus did not have a natural death. Moses was unlike Jesus.
17: 27
Further if we analyse, Moses and Mohammad, they were accepted by the people. Gospel of John 1:11 says when Jesus went to His people, His own did not receive Him. Jesus’ own people did not 17:50receive Him. If you analyse Moses and Mohammad besides being prophets of God, they were even kings. Kings mean they could give a punishment, a capital punishment of death to whomever they wanted, and whoever committed a crime. Besides being prophets of God, they were even head of states or kings of that world at that particular time.
18:20
But Jesus mentions in John 18: 36: My kingdom is not of this world.” That means Jesus wasn’t a worldly king. So if you analyze, Moses and Mohammad were alike. But Moses and Jesus were unlike. So this prophecy depicts none better than the last and final messenger Prophet Mohammad.
19:00
Deuteronomy says,” I shall arise up a prophet from among thy brethren”. Brethren mean relatives. We know Jews and Arabs; we are relatives of each other.
19:25
Further it says, “I shall put My word in His mouth.” We know whatever revelation Prophet Mohammad received, he verbatim repeated it, as though word was put in his mouth. This complete prophecy exactly depicts Prophet Mohammad.
19:37
There is a further prophecy mentioned in the Book of Isaiah 29: 12 that the Book shall be given to a person who is not learned. And when he is asked to pray, read this, he says, “I am not learned.”
19:48
And you know when the first revelation was revealed to Prophet Mohammad in Surah 96:1 when he was given the first commandment to read, he said “ I am not learned “, exactly verbatim what has been prophesied in the Book of Isaiah 29:12.
20:18
It is also mentioned in the Book of the Song of Solomon 5:16. It is a Hebrew quotation which says “his mouth is most sweet, he is also very lovely.” If you analyze …..mohammadim.
20:50
In Hebrew language, in the semantic languages, “im” is a word for respect. Plural of respect “im” like elohim, it is a word of respect. Similarly the word Mohammadim.
21:00
Actually even his name is mentioned in the original manuscript. But in translation, they have translated “his mouth is sweet, he is altogether lovely.” Mohammadim, they have translated as “altogether lovely.” He is my beloved; he is my friend, O daughter of Jerusalem. So by name, even the name of Prophet Mohammad is mentioned in the original manuscript of Bible.
21:24
There may be some Christians who say they don’t give importance to the OT. We give more importance to NT. By the grace of Allah, even the NT prophecies the advent of Mohammad. It is mentioned in the Gospel of John 14: 16, I shall ask My Father to send you another Comforter. It’s mentioned in the Gospel of John 15: 34, He shall glorify Me. Further it is mentioned in the Gospel of John 16: 7, Nevertheless, I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away. If i go not away, the Comforter shall not come. If I depart, He shall come.
22:27
The word for Comforter in the present is “parakletos”. This is actually a corrupted form of “perekeetois”.
Perekeetos actually means one who praises or one who is praise worthy. Praiseworthy in Arabic is Mohammad and one who praises, in Arabic, is Ahmad. Both of which exactly depicts the last and final messenger, Pr
ophet Mohammad.
22:57
The glorious Quran says in SUrah 66 :16 says that Jesus, son of Mary, was sent as a messenger to the people of Bani-Israel. He said, “I have come to confirm the Law, that came before Me, and to give glad tidings of a messenger who will come after Me, whose name shall be Ahmad. Quran says he will prophesied by name in the Law and the Gospel.
23:15
he original word is Perekeetos which means praiseworthy or one who praises. The corrupted form is Parakletos, which is translated as Comforter. Even the actual meaning of Parakletos is not Comforter. It is “one who is kind.”
23:46
Whatever the word is Parakletos or Perekeetos or praiseworthy or one who praises or comforter or kind – all these apply very well to the last and final messenger, Prophet Mohammad.
23:57
There may be some Christians who may say, see this prophesy is indicating to the Holy Spirit and not to prophet Mohammad. If we analyze, “it is expedient to you that I go away from you. For if I go away not, the Comforter shall not come to thee.” The criterion for the Comforter to come is that Jesus should depart.
24:15
And we know that the Holy Spirit was there before Jesus. It was even there when he was. It was even there when Jesus was baptized. Surely this Comforter that the Bible speaks does not refer to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was already there when Jesus was present.
24:40
Further it is mentioned in the Gospel of John 16: 12-14, “I have yet many things to say unto you. But ye cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of Truth shall come, He shall guide you unto all truth. He shall not speak of Himself. All that He hears, He shall speak. He shall testify Me, He shall glorify Me.
25:02
He shall show you things to come. This Spirit of Truth which the Bible speaks about is about the last and final messenger, Prophet Mohammad.
So if you read the Bible, even the Bible prophesies of the last and final messenger, Prophet Messenger.
25:27
There were several revelations sent on the face of the earth. By name, we know four, which are mentioned in the Glorious Quran – Torah, Zaboor, Injil, and Quran, Torah is the wahi, the revelation which was given to Moses.
Zaboor is the wahi, the revelation which was given to David.
Injil is the wahi, the revelation which was given to Jesus.
Quran is the last and final revelation which was given to the last and final messenger, Prophet Mohammad.
Bro. Jerry Thomas- Section 3: Refutation: Is Muhammad Mentioned in the Holy Bible Four portions of the Holy Bible, Deuteronomy 18: 18, Isaiah 29: 12, Song of Solomon 5:16 and the Gospel of John chapters 14, 15, & 16 have been misinterpreted by Janab Dr. Zakir Naik to claim that Muhammad is mentioned in the Holy Bible.
Let us start with Deuteronomy 18:18–
First, Janab Dr. Zakir misrepresented the Christian argument. We do not say that Lord Jesus Christ is like Prophet Moses just because both of them are Jews and Prophets. That is not our complete argument. Before I present the Christian argument, let me make an observation regarding Janab Dr. Zakir’s argument.
As per Janab Dr. Zakir’s argument is correct, even Prophet David is also qualified to be a prophet like Prophet Moses.
Prophet David had a natural birth, was married, and had a natural death. Prophet David like Prophet Moses was accepted by the children of Israel. Prophet David received revelation from God Almighty. Further, Prophet David was a King having the right to execute capital punishment on the wrong doers. Moreover, without doubt, Prophet David was from the children of Israel while there is no historical evidence to say that Hazarat Muhammad was a descendant of Ishmael.
Let me give you some of the Christian arguments on why Lord Jesus Christ is the Prophet like Prophet Moses.
John 5: 46 Our Lord Jesus Christ declared “For if you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about Me.”
Now what did Prophet Moses write about Lord Jesus Christ?
Luke 24:27 We read that Lord Jesus Christ taught His disciples beginning with Moses and all the prophets, on what they wrote about Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 3:22/3 Apostle Peter, having being taught by our Lord Jesus Christ and inspired by the Holy Spirit, quotes Deuteronomy 18:18 and says that Lord Jesus Christ is the Prophet like Prophet Moses.
In other words, there is no need for a Christian to make any interpretations. The Holy Bible is very clear. The Holy Bible also clearly says that the unique aspects of the prophethood of Prophet Moses.
Exodus 33:11 God spoke to Moses face to face as though to a friend.
Deuteronomy 34:10-12 there was no prophet like Prophet Moses, whom God spoke face to face and did mighty miracles.
In fact, Lord Jesus Christ, more than Prophet Moses directly came from the very presence of the Father and therefore fulfils the criteria.
John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent me.
And the words that He spoke:
John 7: 16 My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.
John 8: 38 Lord Jesus Christ said: I speak what I have seen with My Father.
In other words, Lord Jesus Christ directly spoke to the Father and spoke only those whose word which the Father gave Him.
Further, Lord Jesus Christ did mighty miracles like Prophet Moses.
Now, the criteria which the Holy Bible gave for Prophet Moses prophethood, Quran also agrees with it.
Surah 4:163-164– God spoke to Moses directly. But then Sahih Hadiths warns that anyone who says that Muhammad has seen his lord is a liar.
S.B. Vol 6: 378 and S.B Vol 9 : 477- Aisha, the mother of all Muslims, says, whoever says that Muhammad has seen his Lord is a liar.
But according to:
Surah 2:118, Surah 2:145, Surah 6: 37 and Surah 6:109– Quran clearly teaches that Hazarat Muhammad did not do any miracles.
Why Lord Jesus Christ would fit the prophetic profile of Prophet Moses?
Apart from the core criteria of seeing God face to face and doing mighty miracles, Lord Jesus Christ has the following similarities with Prophet Moses.
Ex. 1:15-16, 22 and Mathew. 2:13- Infants were massacred during the birth of Prophet Moses and Lord Jesus Christ.
Ex. 34:29; and Mathew 17:2 The face of Prophet Moses and the face of Lord Jesus Christ radiated with glorious light. Exodus 8:16-19 and Mark 5:1-13 Both Prophet Moses and Lord Jesus Christ defeated the demons. But unfortunately, Magicians defeated Hazarat Muhammad casting a doubt on his claims of being a prophet. S.B Vol 4:490, S.B Vol 7:660 and S.B. Vol 7:662 says Hazarat Muhammad was under the magic spell. Exodus 24: 8 and Luke 22:20 Both Prophet Moses and LORD Jesus Christ gave the children of God a covenant relationship. Exodus 32: 48-49 and Mark 10:33-34 Both Prophet Moses and Lord Jesus Christ accurately foretold about their death. Matthew 17:3 and Luke 24:38-39 Both Prophet Moses and Lord Jesus Christ appeared after their death. Therefore, beyond any doubt, it is clear that Lord Jesus Christ is the prophet like Prophet Moses. Isaiah 29:12- Does it refer to Hazarat Muhammad?
Let us read the entire context of this verse:
Isaiah 29:6 Yahweh God says He will punish the people for their sins.
Isaiah 29:8 it shall be like a hungry man who dreams that he is eating but when he is awakened, he realizes that it was a dream.
Isaiah 29: 9-10 Their prophets and seers no longer see the vision.
Isaiah 29:11-12 The vision shall be like a sealed book given to a literate and when he is asked to read, he says it is sealed or delivered to illiterate man, and when he is asked to read, he says I am illiterate.
Isaiah 29:13 They draw near to God with their mouths and honor God with their lips. But their heart is away from God and their rules are taught by men and not by God,
People think that they are religious but they are like the hungry man who dreams. They receive no prophecy and no vision but they follow the commandments of men thinking that they are following God. Does it look like a prophecy regarding Hazarat Muhammad? As per Janab Dr. Zakir Naik, it is a prophecy regarding Hazarat Muhammad and I do not want to refute it. Song of Solomon 5:16- According to Janab Dr. Zakir Naik, the word ‘muhamaddin’ refers to Hazarat Muhammad. In the beginning of this presentation itself, I have shown the illogicality of arguing from theroot word. Now suppose, even if we take this for argument’s sake, we must apply this method of interpretation every time this word appears in the Holy Bible.
Ezekiel 24:16 As per the Hebrew scholars, the same word appears- which is translated as ‘desire of your eyes’.
Vs. 18-it applies to the wife of Prophet Ezekiel. Vs.24- it applies to sons and daughters of idolatrous Jews. Does Janab Dr. Zakir want to apply these passages to Hazarat Muhammad as well? If this method of interpretation is correct, the Sree Ram has been mentioned by name in the Quran as well.
Surah 30: 2-3 The Rum (Ram) empire has been defeated in a land close by. But they even after this defeat of theirs will soon be victorious.”
If you read the second and third verse as ‘Ram has been defeated in a land close by but they even after this defeat of theirs will soon be victorious’, then everything will be clear. This is definitely about the abduction of Sita but ‘soon’ Sree Ram was victorious.
You may ask why Muslims are not accepting this interpretation. Surah 30:6 says ‘understand not’ this. Surah 30:8-9 If they have reflected their minds, they would have seen this clear sign and would not have rejected it. The banality of Janab Dr. Zakir’s argument is clearly evident in all this. The Gospel of John chapters 14, 15, & 16
Janab Dr. Zakir Naik says that the original word is Perekeetos and Parakletos. Parakletos, he says is a corrupted form of Perekeetos. How did he say that? To say that he must have seen the original, at least a few early copies which must have had the word perikletos? However, not a single Greek manuscript, from the oldest to the latest has the word Perekeetos. NOT A SINGLE MANUSCRIPT.
Further, there are different shades of meaning for the word, Parakletos. It can mean advocate, Helper, Intercessor, Comforter and the context determines the meaning.
Now, let us examine those verses to see if the promise is about the Holy Spirit or Hazarat Muhammad. John 14: 16- “He may abide with you forever.” Does it fit the Holy Spirit or Hazarat Muhammad? John 14: 7 “The Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him, nor knows Him” Does it fit the Holy Spirit or Muhammad? John 14:7- Contd “But you know Him.” The disciples already knew Him. In other words, Lord Jesus Christ did not deny that the Holy Spirit was already in the world. But now, He is speaking about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in a unique way. In fact, they were told about this earlier also. John 7: 38 Lord Jesus Christ said: “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” The same Gospel writer who wrote John 14, 15, 16, then writes: John 7:39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive, for the Holy Spirit was not yet given beca
use Jesus was not yet glorified. They knew Him but the Holy Spirit had not started flowing like rivers of living water through the hearts of believers as Jesus was not yet glorified. That is why Lord Jesus Christ said: John 16: 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away: for I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you: but if I depart, I will send Him to you. The meaning has already been explained by Apostle John himself. Note, I will send Him to you. After Lord Jesus Christ was glorified, He said: Luke 24: 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you: but tarry in the City of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.Further,
John 15: 26 “The Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father.” Did Muhammad proceed from the Father? No, Muslims consider it a blasphemy to call God as the Father. John 16:7 Lord Jesus said: “I will send Him to you.”
Did Lord Jesus Christ send Muhammad? Or did Allah send Muhammad? If Lord Jesus Christ sent Muhammad, the Lord Jesus Christ is Allah. To summarize,
- Lord Jesus Christ who promised the Holy Spirit and the Apostle who wrote it, both of them made it very clear that the Promise is about Holy Spirit and not Muhammad.
- Further, the world cannot see Him nor knows Him but the disciples already knew Him. AndHe will abide with disciples for ever.
- Moreover, the Spirit of Truth came from the Father and was send by Lord Jesus Christ.
