According to the surate 61:16, Jesus did foretell the coming of the prophet Mohammed. Here is the text in the translation of its meaning in English:
"And remember, Jesus, the son of Mary, said: "O Children of Israel! I am the messenger of Allah (sent) to you, confirming the Taurát (Law) (which came) before me, and giving Glad Tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad." But when he came to them with Clear Signs, they said, "This is evident sorcery!"
This teaching is built on two basic foundations: a text from Qur’an and the idea that the original text of the Gospel of John has been corrupted.
Here is the comment of ‘Abdullah Yusuf ‘Ali about this text in “The Meaning of the Holy Qur’an”:
[“Ahmad”,or “Muhammad”, the Praised One, is almost a translation of the Greek word Periclytos. In the present Gospel of John, 14:16, 15:26, and 16:7, the word “Comforter” in the English version is for the Greek word “Paracletos”, which means “ Advocate”, “One called to help of another, a kind friend”, rather than “Conforter”. Our doctors contend that Paracletos is a corrupt reading for Periclytos, and that in their original saying of Jesus there was a
prophecy of our Holy Prophet Ahmad by name. Even if we read Paracletos, it would apply to the Holy Prophet , who is “ a Mercy for all creatures ( 21:107) and “most king and merciful to the believer” ( 9:128) .]
To quote a text that is assumed to have been corrupted, and then try to guess what the original reading was, without access to an authentic manuscript, is not sound scholarship. We must put aside the theory of an alteration of the text of John, since it can’t admit solid evidence.
Therefore let us consider John’s text as it is. The controversial greek word “Paracletos” means comforter, advocate, assistant . Does the text itself and its context give us the possibility to apply the prophecy to the prophet Mohammed?
Let’s read those verses and see if we can identify about whom ( or what) Jesus was talking.
The first mention of the “Paracletos” is in John 14:16 and I will request the Father and he will give YOU another helper to be with YOU forever,17 the spirit of the truth, which the world cannot receive, because it neither beholds it nor knows it. YOU know it, because it remains with YOU and is in YOU.
This text is part of the last discourse addressed by Jesus to the apostles during his last night with them. This discourse is found in chapters 13 to 17 and is the appropriate context for the subject at hand.
( In fact, a good understanding of the whole book of John is invaluable to approach this subject).
The purpose of the gospel of John is well summarized in a verse of chapter 20:
John 20:30 To be sure, Jesus performed many other signs also before the disciples,
which are not written down in this scroll. 31 But these have been written down that YOU may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, and that, because of believing, YOU may have life by means of his name.
The miracles mentioned here are the one related to his resurrection, one of the pillars of the Christian faith.
But let us go back to the discourse found in John chapters 13 to 17:
The verses in John 14:16-17 give us many details to help us identify this “ Paracletos”:
1] The meaning of the word itself: Assistant, Advocate
2] He will stay with the disciples forever.
3] He is the Spirit of the truth.
4] The world cannot receive him, see him, nor know him.
5] The disciples( the 12 apostles) knew him already because he was with them.
6] He will be IN THEM.
According to this simple analysis of verses 16 and 17 it is quite easy to understand that, at least in a literal way, this cannot apply to a human being coming centuries after Jesus. This Paracletos was already in action at the time this promise was given. He was known of the apostles, and most of all, he will be IN THEM (which could not be the case if it was a real person).
The following verses tell us more of interest about the Paracletos:
John 14:26 But the helper, the holy spirit, which the Father will send in my name, that one will teach YOU all things and bring back to YOUR minds all the things I told YOU.
Here we find the most valuable information about the Paracletos: he is the HOLY SPIRIT. Who or what is the Holy Spirit in the holy scriptures?
It is not the third person of the trinity like many churches pretend. In fact the Bible does not teach this doctrine, and we cannot even find the word “trinity” in the text.
The first mention of the Holy Spirit in the gospel of John is found in the first chapter
Jean 1: 32 John also bore witness, saying: “I viewed the spirit coming down as a dove out of heaven, and it remained upon him( Jesus). 33 Even I did not know him, but the very One who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘Whoever it is upon whom you see the spirit coming down and remaining, this is the one that baptizes in holy spirit.’
Is it possible that the promised sending of the Paracletos in John 14 corresponds to the promise about the baptism in the spirit mentioned above? It seems to be the case, since this promise is renewed many times. In fact it refers explicitly to another prophecy very familiar to the Jews of the time; the prophecy of Joel.
In the second chapter of Joel we find a prophetic description of the work of John the baptist; namely, his successful call for the ancient nation of Israel to repent
Joel 2:13 And rip apart YOUR hearts, and not YOUR garments; and come back to Jehovah YOUR God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness, and he will certainly feel regret on account of the calamity.14 Who is there knowing whether he will turn back and actually feel regret and let remain after it a blessing, a grain offering and a drink offering for Jehovah YOUR God?
Some more verses describe to us the saving action of the Spirit of God on his people:
Joel 2:28 “And after that it must occur that I shall pour out my spirit on every sort of flesh, and YOUR sons and YOUR daughters will certainly prophesy. As for YOUR old men, dreams they will dream. As for YOUR young men, visions they will see. 29 And even on the menservants and on the maidservants in those days I shall pour out my spirit. 30 “And I will give portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun itself will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and fear-inspiring day of Jehovah. 32 And it must occur that everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will get away safe; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will prove to be the escaped ones, just as Jehovah has said, and in among the survivors, whom Jehovah is calling.”
But is it really possible to link this ancient prophecy to the promise of Jesus regarding the Paracletos? The following verses of John tell us:
John 15:26 When the helper arrives that I will send YOU from the Father, the spirit of the truth, which proceeds from the Father, that one will bear witness about me; 27 and YOU, in turn, are to bear witness, because YOU have been with me from when I began.
Here we definitely see that the promise is directly addressed to the apostles. Jesus tells them specifically: because YOU have been with me from when I began.
This action of the Paracletos would motivate the apostles to witness about Jesus. So this detail about timing is clear : the Paracletos should come during the lifetime of the apostles.
The following chapter confirm this:
John 16: 7 Nevertheless, I am telling YOU the truth, It is for YOUR benefit I am going away. For if I do not go away, the helper will by no means come to YOU; but if I do go my way, I will send him to YOU. 8 And when that one arrives he will give the world convincing evidence concerning sin and concerning righteousness and concerning judgment: 9 in the first place, concerning sin, because they are not exercising faith in me; 10 then concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father and YOU will behold me no longer; 11 then concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
It is clear that the Paracletos cannot come unless Jesus ascends to GOD. It is also Jesus who will send him. Finally, this Paracletos will convince the world about sin, righteousness and judgment.
John16:13 However, when that one arrives, the spirit of the truth, he will guide YOU into all the truth, for he will not speak of his own impulse, but what things he hears he will speak, and he will declare to YOU the things coming.
An important action of the Paracletos will be to declare what he will hear from Jesus and to glorify him.
The last mention of the holy spirit in the gospel of John is in the chapter 20:
John 20: 21 Jesus, therefore, said to them again: “May YOU have peace. Just as the Father has sent me forth, I also am sending YOU.” 22 And after he said this he blew upon them and said to them: “Receive holy spirit. 23 If YOU forgive the sins of any persons, they stand forgiven to them; if YOU retain those of any persons, they stand retained.”
Here Jesus gives his apostles proof of his resurrection and renews the promise of the Holy spirit with a symbolic gesture. It is clear that the Holy spirit was already active at that time.
The first chapter of the Acts of apostles gives us the rest of this account:
Acts 1: 3 To these also by many positive proofs he showed himself alive after he had suffered, being seen by them throughout forty days and telling the things about the kingdom of God. 4 And while he was meeting with them he gave them the orders: “Do not withdraw from Jerusalem, but keep waiting for what the Father has promised, about which YOU heard from me; 5 because John, indeed, baptized with water, but YOU will be baptized in holy spirit not many days after this.”
The promise became more precise: the apostles were not to leave Jerusalem. Here the direct link between the Paracletos, The Holy Spirit, and Baptism in the Spirit declared by John the baptist is without ambiguity.
The text adds: Acts 1:8 but YOU will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon YOU, and YOU will be witnesses of me both in Jerusalem and in all Ju·de´a and Sa·mar´i·a and to the most distant part of the earth.”
We understand here that the Holy Spirit is an active force. This reminds us of what John 15:26 was saying about the witnessing work of the Paracletos:
John 15:26 When the helper arrives that I will send YOU from the Father, the spirit of the truth, which proceeds from the Father, that one will bear witness about me.27 and YOU, in turn, are to bear witness, because YOU have been with me from when I began.
Chapter 2 shows us the fulfillment of the promise of the Paracletos:
Acts 2:1 Now while the day of the [festival of] Pentecost was in progress they were all together at the same place, 2 and suddenly there occurred from heaven a noise just like that of a rushing stiff breeze, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting. 3 And tongues as if of fire became visible to them and were distributed about, and one sat upon each one of them, 4 and they all became filled with holy spirit and started to speak with different tongues, just as the spirit was granting them to make uterance...11 Cre´tans and Arabians, we hear them speaking in our tongues about the magnificent things of God.”
In a remarkable way we see the Holy spirit’s fulfillment of Jesus’ promise upon the disciples. Following this historic event Peter explains to the inhabitants of Jerusalem that it is truly the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel:
Acts 2: 14 But Peter stood up with the eleven and raised his voice and made this utterance to them: “Men of Ju·de´a and all YOU inhabitants of Jerusalem, let this be known to YOU and give ear to my sayings. 15 These [people] are, in fact, not drunk, as YOU suppose, for it is the third hour of the day. 16 On the contrary, this is what was said through the prophet Joel, 17 ‘“And in the last days,” God says, “I shall pour out some of my spirit upon every sort of flesh, and YOUR sons and YOUR daughters will prophesy ad YOUR young men will see visions and YOUR old men will dream dreams; 18 and even upon my men slaves and upon my women slaves I will pour out some of my spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
He further adds:
Acts2:33 Therefore because he was exalted to the right hand of God and received the promised holy spirit from the Father, he has poured out this which YOU see and hear.
From there onward, the book of Acts describes the first Christian community’s work, impelled by Holy Spirit, of giving the world convincing evidence concerning sin, justice and judgement.
I sincerely hope that this study had convinced you also of the truthfulness of the promises of the Gospel, and I pray The Almighty God that this same Spirit guide you in the accurate knowledge of the Truth,
Sincerely,
Yahya
2 corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers, continue to rejoice, to be readjusted, to be comforted, to think in agreement, to live peaceably; and the God of love and of peace will be with YOU
