Muslim Christian Dialogue

14. The Prophet Like Unto Moses

THE PROPHET LIKE UNTO MOSES

God addressed Moses (Deuteronomy 18:18): "I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee (Moses), and will put My words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him."

1. The brethren of Israelites (descendants of Abraham through Isaac) and Ishmaelites (descendants of Abraham 86 through Ishmael). Jesus is here excluded, as he is an Israelite; otherwise it should be written "a Prophet from amongst you."

2. Muhammed is in many ways like unto Moses. If this is not accepted, then this promise has yet to be fulfilled. The table below, taken from Al-Ittihad, January-March 1982, page 41, is self-explanatory:

The following is a comparison between a few crucial characteristics of Moses, Muhammed and Jesus, which clarifies the identity of "that prophet" who was to come after Moses.

Area of comparison.MosesMuhammedJesusBirth.Usual.Usual.Unusual.Family Life.Married with children.Married with children.Not married & no children.Death.Usual.Usual.Lifted up bodily.Career.Prophet & Statesman.Prophet & Statesman.Prophet Only.Forced emigration in adulthood.To Median.To Madina.None.Encounter with enemies.Hot Pursuit.Hot pursuit & Battles fought with enemies.No similar encounter.Results of encounters.Moral & Physical Victories.Moral & Physical Victories.Moral Victory only.Writing down of Revelation.In his lifetime. (Torah).In his lifetime. (Al' Quran.)Never authorized it to be written down.Acceptance of Leadership.Rejected at first & then accepted in his lifetime by his people.Rejected at first & then accepted in his lifetime by his own people as well as all nations as prophesized.The Jews, his own People, rejected him, and even till today they reject him.Nature of Teachings.Spiritual & Legal. (Torah.)Spiritual & Legal. (Al' Qur'an.)Mainly spiritual.

3. "I shall put my words in his mouth." Deutronomy: 18.18. It happened exactly as stated. The Qur'an was revealed bit by bit via Gabriel, and the "words were out into the Prophet's mouth. Thereafter the Prophet read it out to his companions, and a scribe used to write it down. After it was written down, it was read to the Prophet for verification. 4. The Qur'an was revealed in this manner, bit by bit over a period of 23 years as prophesized in Isaiah.

Deuteronomy 18:19: "And it shall come to pass that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in My name, I will require it of him."

In the Qur'an 113 of the 114 chapters (Surah) start with "In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, And Most Merciful." Also, in their daily work, the Muslims start with this saying "In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, And Most Merciful." God's personal name is "Allah" and as such it is not subject to gender like God & Goddess, or to plurality, like God & Gods. Christians start with "In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit."

It is to be noted that those who will not hear him, and deny him, will be punished. In certain Bibles Deuteronomy 18:19 states "I will be his avenger" This corresponds with passages in the Holy Qur'an: (Surah 3:19): "Truly the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam." (Surah 3:85): "And whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers."