Is Celebration of Prophets Birthday Allowed : Halal or Haram?

Praise be to Allah.

Celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) is an innovation (bid’ah) which goes against the guidance of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and of the Rightly Guided Khaleefahs (al-khulafaa’ al-raashidoon) and the Sahaabah, may Allah be pleased with them. It is proven that the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “Whoever does anything that is not part of this matter of ours (i.e., Islam), will have it rejected.”

And it has been confirmed on the authority of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) that he said: Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours (i.e. Islam) that which is not from it, will have it rejected, [Sahih al-Bukhari/2697 and Sahih Muslim/1718].


There is nothing in the Qur’an to say that we should celebrate the Mawlid or birthday of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). The Prophet himself (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) did not do this or command anyone to do it, either during his lifetime or after his death.


Indeed, he told them not to exaggerate about him as the Christians had exaggerated about Jesus (upon whom be peace). He said: “Do not exaggerate about me as the Christians exaggerated about the son of Maryam. I am only a slave, so say, ‘The slave of Allah and His Messenger.’” (Reported by al-Bukhari).


What has been reported is that the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) made the day of his birth a day of worship, which is different to celebration. He was asked about fasting on Mondays, and he said: “That is the day on which I was born and the day on which I was entrusted with the Mission or when I was first given Revelation.” (Reported by Muslim, al-Nisaa’i and Abu Dawood).


Moreover, we know that the Sahaabah (radiallahu ‘anhum) were the people who loved the Prophet most. Was it reported that Abu Bakr, who was the closest of people to him and the one who loved him the most, celebrated the birthday of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)? Was it reported that ‘Umar, who ruled for 12 years, or ‘Uthmaan, did this? Was it reported that ‘Ali, his relative, did this? Was it reported that any of the Sahaabah did this? No, by Allah! Is it because they were not aware of its importance, or did they not truly love the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)? No one would say such a thing except one who has gone astray and is leading others astray. Did any of the imaams – Abu Haneefah, Maalik, al-Shaafi’i, Ahmad, al-Hasan al-Basri, Ibn Seereen – do this or command others to do it or say that it was good? By Allah, no! It was not even mentioned during the first and best three centuries.


The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said in a sahih hadith: “The best of mankind are my generation (or my century), then those who come after them, then those who come after them. Then there will come a people who will not care if their testimony comes before their oath or vice versa (i.e., they will not take such matter seriously).” (Reported by al-Bukhari, Muslim and al-Tirmidhi).


The celebration of the Prophet’s birthday appeared many centuries later, when many of the features of true religion had vanished and bid’ah had become widespread. Thus this celebration became a sign of one’s love for the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)? But can it be possible that the Sahaabah, the imaams and the people of the best three centuries were unaware of it, and it was only those who came later who were aware of its importance?!


What the Qur’an tells us is that love of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) is demonstrated by following the guidance he brought.


Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say (O Muhammad): ‘If you (really) love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Say: ‘Obey Allah and the Messenger.’ But if they turn away, then Allah does not like the disbelievers.” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:31-32]

• The first aayah explains that love is just a claim, but the proof of sincerity is following what the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) brought.
• The second aayah reaffirms the importance and necessity of obeying Allah and His Messenger.

Hence Allah ended the aayah with a very stern warning in which those who refuse to obey are described as kaafirs, and Allah does not love the disbelievers. We ask Allah to keep us safe from that. The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) told us of the danger of not obeying him, and the danger of adding to what he brought.

The celebration of Mawlid or his birthday is indeed an addition to what he brought – as all the scholars agree. He said: “The best of speech is the Book of Allah, and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad. The most evil of things are those which are newly-invented (in religion), and every innovation is a going astray.” (Reported by Muslim and al-Nisaa’i).


Establishing the celebration of the Prophet’s birthday or (the birthday of) other than him is an innovation. Furthermore, Gathering the people on the night of the birthday and the reading of his life story is not legislated, rather it is an innovation. And their insisting that the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) attends their sitting is a lie, and the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) being alive in his grave is the life of barzakhiyyah enjoying the bliss and comfort of paradise, and not like his life in this world, since he died and was washed and covered in the burial shroud and the funeral prayer was performed over him and he was buried like others (are).


And he will be the first who shall rise from his grave on the Day of Resurrection, and Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) has said, addressing him:


Verily, you will die and verily, they will die. Then, on the Day of Resurrection, you will be disputing before your Lord [Surah az-Zumar, Aayahs 30 and 31].


And He (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) said: After that, surely, you will die. Then, surely you will be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection [Surah al-Mu’minoon, Aayahs 15 and 16].


We ask Allah to protect us from bid’ah and to bless us by helping us to follow. Allah knows best. May Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad.

Part 2 : Is Celebration of Prophets Birthday Allowed : Halal or Haram?

Believing that the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is not like the rest of humanity, and that he is light from the Light of Allah Himself is not a correct belief, because it contradicts the Qur'an. Allah has stated that the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is human, and has explained what makes the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) different from the rest of mankind. He said (interpretation of the meaning):

"Say (O Muhammad): 'I am only a man like you. It has been inspired to me that your God is One God (Allah). So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord." [al-Kahf 18:110]

Mankind, human beings, are created, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him He created his wife (Hawwa/Eve), and from them both He created many men and women..." [An-Nisaa' 4:1]

"O mankind, if you are in doubt about the Resurrection, then verily! We have created you from dust, then from a nutfah (mixed drops of male and female sexual discharge)..." [al-Hajj 22:5]

"O Prophet! Verily, We have sent you as witness, and a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner, – and as one who invites to Allah by His leave, and as a lamp spreading light."
[al-Ahzaab 33:45-46]

In contrast, Allah is the First, and He has no beginning, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

"He is the First (nothing is before Him) and the Last (nothing is after Him), the Most High (nothing is above Him), and the Most Near (nothing is nearer than Him). And He is the All-Knower of every thing."
[al-Hadeed 57:3]

Allah called His Prophet "light" and a "lamp spreading light" because of the guidance and light with which Allah sent him, with which Allah guides all those who answer his call (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

"... Indeed, there has come to you a light (Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)) and a plain Book (this Qur'an)."
[al-Maa'idah 5:15]

Saying that he is present and watching in every place, that he is himself present at every gathering to celebrate his birthday, and that he hears what the people present are saying, is all false. There is no basis for this in either the Qur'an or the Sunnah. Calling on him and seeking his help and support is a form of major shirk which is not permitted, whether one is calling on the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) or on any other created being, because Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"... so invoke not anyone along with Allah." [al-Jinn 72:18]

"And whoever invokes (or worships) besides Allah, any other god of whom he has no proof, then his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely! Al-kaafiroon (the disbelievers) will not be successful."
[al-Mu'minoon 23:117]

(Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 3/4)

The Muslim should follow, not innovate(in religious matters). He should believe in Allah alone, call on Him alone and seek His help alone. He should not call on or seek the help of anyone else. The consequences of shirk are devastating, as it will wipe out all a person's good deeds and lead to his doom in Hell. Bid'ah is a serious matter, which will cause a person's deeds to be thrown back at him, not accepted. The Muslim should love, respect, honour and obey the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), and give his words precedence over the words of any other human being, but it is not permitted to exaggerate about him, or to raise his status above that which has been bestowed upon him by Allah, or to call on him instead of Allah, because this is a violation of the rights of Allah, and involves directing acts of worship to someone other than Allah, when they should only be directed towards Allah, may He be glorified and exalted. We ask Allah to help us to do that which will please Him and to avoid that which will earn His wrath, and to help us to love Him and His Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam). May Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad. And Allah knows best.

We ask Allah to protect us from bid'ah and to bless us by helping us to follow. Allah knows best. May Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad.

Quran vs. Bible

To start of this topic, I would like to bring out a few facts or lets say claims made by non-muslims:

1. Quran is not the word of God.
2. Quran is the word of the devil.
3. Quran was made of falsehoods made by Muhammed.

Lets bring out evidence to clear doubts about these falsehoods by bringing out evidences not only from the Quran, but also from the Bible:

Why sould the Devil ask you to believe in the God that Isa (Jesus) and other prophets before him had asked?

Ash-Shura[42:13]

He has ordained for (the Muslims) the same religion which He enjoined Noah, and that which We have revealed to thee (Muhammed) and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: that you should establish the faith and make no division in it…

Muslims are required to believe in the Books revealed by Allah in its original form : the Suhuf,Torah(Part of the old testament), Zabur(Psalms), (The New Testament)Injeel;and if this was the word of the Devil it would sound pretty corny, dont you think? The Devil asking you to believe in the previous revelations of god? And why should the Devil praise Isa(Jesus).

Al-Baqarah [2:136]

Say: We (Muslims) believe in Allah and in what He has revealed to us, and in what He revealed to Abraham and Ishmael, and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes (of Israel), and in what was given to Moses and Jesus, and what was given to the prophets by their Lord. We make no distinction between them, and to him we submit.

Consequently if the People of the book read the Quran, they will find in it praise for their books, messengers, and prophets.

If Muslims hold discussions with the people of the book, approaches that lead to bitterness and hostility should be avoided. Now I really dont think thats what the devil wants to do...

Al-'Ankabut[29-46]

And do not dispute with the people of the book except by (the way) which is best, unless it be with such of them as transgressors, and say, 'We believe in what has been sent down to you, and our God and your God is one, and to Him we do submit'

And further evidence to this is evident from this verse:

Al-Maidah [5:6(5)]

..The food of those who were given the Scripture (before you) is permitted to you and your food is permitted to them. And (lawful to you in marriage are) chaste women from among the Believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you….

This relates to the people of the book. People of the Book meaning, those who were sent down guidance by God All mighty.

Al-Maidah [5:72]

..But said the messenger (Jesus) "O Children of Israel! Worship God, my Lord And your Lord"....

This same message there in the Bible, and this cannot be denied. The message so simple and clear ,that, God is one and only one.

Mark 12:25 Jesus says: "The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord"

The Above evidences are I hope more than enough to prove that Quran is Indeed the word of God, and NOT of the devil.


It is a well known fact among historians that Prophet Muhammed was illiterate all his life, not knowing how to read or write. And for arguments sake, lets say he did know. Even if he did know, the language spoken by the people there was Arabic and at that time the Bible was not available in Arabic, and its translation in Arabic was only available later on when Islam was fast growing and was the most accepted religion in Arabia. And by the time this was available in Arabic, the prophet had reached the later stages of his prophethood.

And the biggest of all evidence, and lets say, a miracle, was when the people of Quraish (probably at the instigation of Jews) asked the prophet of the question "Why did the Israelites go to Egypt?". This question was asked during the last stages of the prophets life in Makkah, when the Quraish were considering to imprison or exile or kill him. The reason for asking this question was because of the fact that there was no mention of this in any of the Jewish scriptures and no one knew about this except for the Jews. They expected the prophet to not give the answer, and he would be exposed as a liar to them. But their plans were foiled and tables turned, Allah revealed the whole story and life of Prophet Joseph then and there, and it was recited by the prophet to them. Their plan not only backfired on them but it also acted as a warning to them - "they are acting they way Josephs brothers behaved towards him, and they too would face a similar fate."

And further more, there isn't any verse that contradicts another in the Holy Quran. This further shows that the Quran is indeed "Holy", there aren't any mistakes in it, it is PERFECT. And Since no man is perfect in this world, it truly only can be the work of Allah Alone.

This should be sufficient to say that Quran is not a work of man.

And now lets check the authenticity of the present state of the Torah (The Old Testament):

Is it really the work of God and only God?

Read what Luke said about his recording in (Luke 1:2-3)

"Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus."

If Luke had said that he himself was not an eyewitness, and the knowledge he gathered was from eyewitnesses and not as words inspired by God, do you still believe the Bible is God's word?

History has shown that the Bible suffered changes throughout the ages. The Revised Standard Version (1952 and 1971), The New American Standard Bible and The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures have expunged certain verses compared with The King James Version. Reader's Digest has reduced the Old Testament by 50 percent and the New Testament condensed by about 25 percent. Some years ago Christian theologians wanted to "desex" the Bible. Does "holy" mean that the Bible is free from error?

Now a book like the Bible, being the book revealed by god, should be free of errors: no conflicting verses,

Examples:

(I Chronicles 18:9-10)

When Toi, king of Hamath, heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer, then Toi sent Joram, his son, unto King David to salute him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and had smitten him, for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass.

Now when Tou, king of Hamath, heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer, king of Zobah; he sent Hadoram, his son, to King David, to enquire of his welfare and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer and smitten him (for Hadarezer had war with Tou); and with him all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass.

Seven hundred chariots or seven thousand men? Forty thousand: horsemen or footmen? Shobach or Shophach?

(II Samuel 10:18)

And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach, the captain of their host, who died there.

(I Chronicles 19:18)

But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men which fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach, the captain of their host.


Twenty-two or forty-two years?

(II Kings 8:26)

Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign.

(II Chronicles 22:2)

Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign


Eighteen years or eight years? Three months or three months and ten days?

(II Kings 24:8)

Jehoiachim was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months.

(II Chronicles 36:9)

Jehoiachim was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem

Tachmonite or Hachmonite? Eight hundred or three hundred?

(II Samuel 23:8)

These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lifted up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

(I Chronicles 11:11)

And this is the number of the mighty men who David had: Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains; he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time.

Is the Lord of David then Satan? May God forbid!

(II Samuel 24:1)

And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say: "Go, number Israel and Judah."

(I Chronicles 21:1)

And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

Did Michal have children or not?

(II Samuel 6:23)

Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child until the day of her death.

(II Samuel 21:8)

But the king took the two sons of Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal, the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzilai the Meholathite.

Note: The name Michal in II Samuel 21:8 is still present in The King James version and The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures used by the Jehovah's Witnesses, but has been changed to Merab in The New American Standard Bible (1973).

Do you want to know more? Is this not enough to deny its holiness? See (Genesis 6:3): "And the Lord said: 'My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years."

But how old was Noah when he died? More than a hundred and twenty years. See (Genesis 9:29): "And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years when he died." Some Christian theologians maintain not that the maximum age of man will be a hundred and twenty years, but that the Flood would come in a hundred and twenty years. Even this doesn't fit, because at the time of the Flood Noah should have been six hundred and twenty (500 + 120) years old, but the Bible states six hundred years. Study these verses: (Genesis 5:32): "And Noah was five hundred years old . . ."; (Genesis 7:6): "And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth."

Christianity believes that God created man in His image: white, black or any else, male or female? This is according to (Genesis 1:26): "And God said: 'Let Us make man in our image, after our likeness . . ." But this contradicts (Isaiah 40:18,25): "To whom then will ye liken God? Or what likeness will ye compare unto him? . . . 'To whom then will ye liken Me, or shall I be equal?' saith the Holy One." See also (Psalm 89:6): "For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord?"; and (Jeremiah 10:6,7): "For as much as there is none like unto Thee, O Lord . . . there is none like unto Thee."

But all these are in the Old Testament.

Let's go to the New Testament now.

(John 5:37): "Ye have neither heard His [God's] voice at any time, nor seen His shape"; (John 14:9): "... he that has seen me has seen the Father ...".

(John 5:31): "If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true"; (John 8:14): "Jesus answered and said unto them: 'Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true'".

These are only some of the contradictions in the New Testament. You will find more if we discuss together the truth of the doctrines of modern Christianity like the Trinity, Divinity of Jesus Christ, Divine sonship of Jesus, Original Sin and Atonement, not to mention the degrading of many Prophets in the Bible as worshipers of false gods and accusing them of incest, rape, and adultery.

Noah is shown to have been drunk to the point of becoming naked in the presence of his grown-up sons (Genesis 9:23-24): "And Shem and Japhet took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness. And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him."

Solomon was accused not only of having a large harem but also of worshiping their false gods (I Kings 11:9-10): "And the Lord was angry with Solomon ... And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded. "

Aaron, as a prophet who had accompanied his brother Moses to go to Pharaoh, was accused of having fashioned the golden calf for the Israelites to worship (Exodus 32:4): "And he [Aaron] received them [golden earrings] at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a golden calf: and they said: 'These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt."'

You will read of the incest of Prophet Lot with his two daughters (Genesis 19:36): "Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father."

You will read of a prophet who was married to two sisters at the same time (Genesis 29:28): "And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he [Laban] gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also."

And another prophet accused of adultery (II Samuel 11:4-5): "And David sent messengers, and took her [the wife of Uriah], and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness; and she returned unto her house. And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said: 'I am with child."'

My question is: How could David then be accepted in the genealogy of Jesus when it started with a person who committed adultery? Allah forbid it! Is this not in contradiction with what is mentioned in
(Deuteronomy 23:2): "A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the Lord."

Another allegation of incest along with rape by Ammon, the son of David, on his half-sister Tamar (II Samuel 13: 14): "Howbeit he [Ammon] would not hearken unto her voice, but being stronger than she [Tamar], forced her and lay with her."

Still another multiple rape, by Absalom on David's concubines, is told in (II Samuel 16:22): "So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house, and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel." I can't believe that anybody in the world could do this, not even the barbarian.

Another incest, by Judah and Tamar (his daughter-in-law): "Judah on his way to Timnath to shear his sheep saw Tamar. He thought her to be a harlot because she had her face covered (Genesis 38: 18): ". . . And he [Judah] gave it [signet, bracelet and staff] her, and came in unto her and she conceived by him."

Although Jews and Muslims are archenemies, no Muslim would dare to write a book and stamp any Israelite prophet like Judah, David, Jesus, etc (pbut) with rape, adultery, incest, or prostitution. All prophets were sent by Allah for the guidance of mankind.

Do you think that God had sent the wrong people for guidance?

The compilation of the present day Bible could be better understood with the following example :

"Suppose, if x and y, two individuals, watched a football game played between MU and BC and then both go and write a book about that game, wouldn't there be some differences in both the books. For example, x would talk about how Player A did a wonderful tackle doing his magic to tackle Player B and went on to shoot a goal. But from what y saw sitting on the top of the stadium would be Player A stepped on Player B who was doing a sliding tackle and scored a goal. Now x and y are watching the same game and come out with two totally different views of explaining how it happened. Aren't they wrong ?"

Yes, they are wrong. Because of the very fact that what each saw might not be true. And along with it they are spreading the WRONG message, it is NOT the truth. The real thing that happened in the match could be something else like A and B both did something clumsy and the goal happed by utter fluke. And if we have another ten writers writing the same story and each write something else and only one mention the truth, I doubt anyone would ever believe it.

Same is the case with the Bible, we dont have the original scriptures, but we have translations of it from someone else point of view, and it need not be what it should really have been translated to, because it is not necessary that everyones point of view remains the same or the point of view is in the right direction. As everyone knows, humans have limitations and we are not perfect. No man is perfect.

Next comes the spreading of message of Jesus or of the Bible:

Jesus himself said that he was sent only to the people of Israel
(Matthew 15:24 ): "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Also (Matthew 1:21): "And she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins."

He even said that he came not to make changes but to fulfill
(Matthew 5:17-18): "Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you: 'Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."'
But in Mark 16:15 Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."This contradicts what is mentioned above in (Matthew 15:24) and (Matthew 1:21).

Secondly, Mark 16:9-20 has been expunged in many Bibles.
The New American Standard Bible put this part in brackets and wrote the following commentary: "Some of the oldest mss. omit from verse 9 through 20." The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures used by the Jehovah's Witnesses admits that certain ancient manuscripts add a long conclusion or a short conclusion after (Mark 16:8) but some omit. And The Revised Standard version prints the following footnote: "Some of the most ancient authorities bring the book to a close at the end of verse 8 ..." This means also that the resurrection is not true, as this is described in (Mark 16:9).
But Jesus said in (Matthew 28:19): "Go ye therefore and teach all nations ..." "All nations" must be explained as the twelve tribes of Israel; otherwise it contradicts (Matthew 15:24) and (Matthew 1:21). In The New American Standard Bible and The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, it is not translated as "all nations" but as "all the nations," which means the twelve tribes of Israel.

Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) references from the Torah and Bible

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

"Among their brethren" clearly refers to a nation other than the Israelites; otherwise it should have been "amongst yourselves." The reference in Deuteronomy 18:18 could fit nobody else except Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and not Prophet Jesus, for the following reasons:

• Moses and Muhammad were born in the normal, natural course, that is, the physical union of man and woman, but Jesus was created by a special miracle.

• Moses and Muhammad married and begot children, but Jesus remained a bachelor all his life.

• Moses and Muhammad brought new laws and new regulations for their people, but Jesus came only to fulfill the old law of Moses.

• Both Moses and Muhammad died natural deaths and were buried, but Jesus was raised to heaven.

• Unlike Moses and Muhammad, who were accepted as prophets by their people in their very lifetime, Jesus was deserted even by his closest disciples.
• Both Moses and Muhammad ruled and enacted laws besides their being prophets. This was not the case with Jesus.

• The only likeness between Moses and Jesus was that both belonged to the Children of Israel, like all other Israelite prophets such as Solomon, David, Isaiah, Daniel, Joshua, Zechariah, John and many others.

Further, the well-known Deuteronomy 18:18, widely accepted as an unequivocal reference to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), is further clarified by the following verse:

"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" (Deuteronomy 18:19).

It is well-known that every surah (chapter) of the Qur'an (except At-Tawbah 9) should start by: bismillah ir-rahman ir-rahim (In the name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful). Muslims recite these words repeatedly in each of their five daily obligatory prayers, as well as before starting almost any action.

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke were both grossly mistaken in listing a false lineage of Jesus to David through his mother's fiancé, Joseph the carpenter. Also, Matthew and Luke contradicted each other in terms of the chain length and individual names therein.

The virgin Mary, his mother, is the daughter of `Imran, whose lineage extends to the Prophet Aaron, who is a Levite. Levites are grandsons of Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob (Israel). So, Mary, as well, is an Israelite, and Jesus has nothing to do with Esau, the brother of Jacob. "Their brethren" could refer only to the descendants of Ishmael.

All that is only one example of a multitude of biblical evidence; some references carry even more explicit descriptions and definitions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

According to the Bible, the coming prophet would come from Arabia:

"And he said, the Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them." (Deuteronomy 33:2)

Mount Paran is the area located between the mountains of Abu-Qubays, Qi`an, and Hira' in Makkah. It is where Abraham took his wife Hagar and their child Ishmael, as mentioned in the following:

"And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba…And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt." (Genesis 21:14, 20-21)

His universal message would gather people from all around the globe and would bring them for pilgrimage to Makkah, land of Kedar, the grandfather of the Quraysh, the tribe of Muhammad (peace be upon him), as in the following prophecy:

"For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people, but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord. All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory. Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?" (Isaiah 60:2-8)

They would praise Allah, as they do annually in Mina and `Arafat, the mountain tops in the following prophecy:

"Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.
Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare his praise in the islands." (Isaiah 42:10-12)

The coming prophet would be illiterate, as was Muhammad (peace be upon him):

"And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, 'Read this, I pray thee' and he saith, 'I am not learned.'" (Isaiah 29:12)

This amazingly coincides with how Muhammad (peace be upon him) received the first revelation:

"…till Truth came upon him while he was in the cave of Hira'. There came to him the angel and said, 'Read,' to which he replied, 'I do not know how to read.' He took hold of me (the Messenger said) and pressed me, till I was hard pressed; thereafter he let me off and said, 'Read.' I said, 'I do not know how to read.' He then again took hold of me and pressed me for the second time till I was hard pressed and then let me off and said, 'Read,' to which I replied, 'I do not know how to read.' He took hold of me and pressed me for the third time, till I was hard pressed and then let me go and said: *{Read in the name of your Lord Who created, created man from a clot of blood. Recite. And your Most Bountiful Lord is He Who taught the use of pen, taught man what he knew not}* Then the Prophet returned therewith, his heart was trembling…" (Narrated by Al-Bukhari.)