2.1. The Qur’an speaks of the prophecies of earlier prophets which foretold the coming of Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)
Introduction

The mission of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), his name, his description and the place where he would appear were all mentioned in the earlier Scriptures. Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own scriptures, in the Torah and the Gospel. He enjoins them to do that which is right and forbids them to do that which is wrong; he makes good things lawful to them and bad things unlawful; he relieves them of their burden, and of the shackles that were upon them." (al-A‘raf 7:157) "Although in the past they used to pray for victory against those who disbelieved – when there comes to them that which they recognize as truth, they disbelieve in it; the curse of Allah is upon the disbelievers." (al-Baqarah 2:89) It was narrated from ‘Asim ibn ‘Umar ibn Qatadah, from some shaykhs among them who said: It was about us and them – meaning the Ansar and the Jews – that this story was revealed. They said: We had got the better of them during the Jahiliyyah, when we were polytheists and they were people of a book. They used to say: A prophet will be sent soon and we will follow him, for his time is nigh. With his help we will kill you like the killing of ‘Ad and Iram. When Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, sent His Messenger from Quraysh and we followed him, they disbelieved in him. Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "When there comes to them that which they recognize as truth, they disbelieve in it." (al-Baqarah 2:89) (Sirat Ibn Ishaq)

Another example of that is what Zayd ibn ‘Amr ibn Nufayl did of travelling to meet the People of the Book, who told him that a prophet would be sent among the Arabs. He went back and met the Prophet before his mission began, and he died before it began. (al-Bukhari)

2.1.1. The supplication of Ibrahim
Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "And remember when Ibrahim and Isma‘il raised the walls of the House saying: Our Lord! Accept this from us, for You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. Our Lord! Make us both Muslims submitting to You, and of our descendants a nation that is Muslim, submitting to You; and teach us our rituals of pilgrimage; and accept our repentance, for You are the Accepter of repentance, the Most Merciful. Our Lord, send to them a Messenger from among them, who will recite Your revelations to them, teach them the Book and wisdom, and purify them; for You are the Almighty, the Most Wise." (al-Baqarah 2:127-129)

It was narrated from ‘Ubadah ibn al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, “I am the answer to the supplication of Ibrahim, and the last one to foretell my coming was ‘Isa ibn Maryam.”

Al-San‘ani said, "I am the answer to the supplication of Ibrahim’ means: I am what Ibrahim prayed for when he said, whilst he was building the Ka‘bah: send to them a Messenger from among them, who will recite Your revelations to them, teach them the Book and wisdom, and purify them …. He (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) is the one who recited Allah’s revelations to the people, the one who purified them and taught them the Book and wisdom. ‘and the last one to foretell my coming was ‘Isa ibn Maryam,’ when he said (interpretation of the meaning), 'O Children of Israel, verily I am the Messenger of Allah to you, confirming what came before me of the Torah, and bringing glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name will be Ahmad.' (as-Saff 61:6) This indicates that every prophet foretold his coming, because he said ‘the last one.’ The purpose of foretelling his coming was to highlight his high status and to prove when he was sent that his mission was true, because the prophets spoke the truth and would not foretell anything unless it was definitely true.”

The Torah that exists today – despite the distortion to which it has been subjected – still contains some of this foretelling. Hence we find in it that Allah answered the supplication of Ibrahim concerning Isma‘il. In the Torah, in the Book of Genesis, it says, “And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.” (Genesis 17:20)

This text is mentioned in the Samaritan Torah in wording very close to what is quoted here. The literal translation of this verse from the Hebrew Torah says, “And as for Yishmael, I have heard thee; hinei behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly (bi-me’od me’od).” Orthodox Jewish Bible

This foretelling of our Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) is significant in several ways:
i. The nation that is great in Allah’s sight must be Muslim, but this nation that was descended from Isma‘il did not exist until after the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was sent, and the Muslims spread east and west.
ii. The Hebrew text “bi-me’od me’od,” translated above as “exceedingly” clearly refers to the name of the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). Some translators rendered it as “very very” or “much much,” but the correct view is that it is Muhammad, because the Hebrew pronunciation of the name is very close to the Arabic.
iii. The phrase “He will be the father of twelve rulers” is in harmony with the words of the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), who said that this ummah would be ruled by twelve caliphs, all of them from Quraysh.

2.1.2. The prophecy of Musa (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)
Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), "Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel." (al-A‘raf 7:157)

Al-Baghawi said, “That is, they find his description and mention of his prophethood written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel. This prophecy is still to be found in the Torah, in the Book of Deuteronomy, where God says to Moses (Musa), “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 And whoever will not give heed to my words which he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19)

This prophecy clearly points to Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), because he is one of the Children of Isma‘il, the brethren of the Children of Israel, for their grandfather is Ishaq (Isaac) and Isma‘il and Ishaq are brothers. Moreover, they are the best of the Arabs in lineage. The words “like you” mean: he will be a lawgiver like Moses (Musa). Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) is the one in whose mouth Allah put His words, as he was unlettered and did not read from the Scriptures, but Allah revealed His words to him, then he memorised them and recited them. He is the Messenger who was sent to all people, and the Children of Israel are required to follow him and to give up their law for his law; whoever does not do that, Allah will punish him.

2.1.3. The prophecy of ‘Isa (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)
Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, tells us that ‘Isa foretold the coming of Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), as He says (interpretation of the meaning), "And mention when Jesus, the son of Mary, said, "O children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing glad tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad." (as-Saff 61:6)

Ibn Kathir said, “That is, the Torah foretold my coming, I am the fulfilment of what the Torah foretold, and I am foretelling the coming of the one who will come after me; he is the Messenger, the unlettered Arabian Makkan Prophet Ahmad. ‘Isa was the last of the Israelite prophets; he addressed the Children of Israel, foretelling the coming of Muhammad, who is Ahmad, the last of the prophets and messengers, after whom there would be no other messenger and no other prophet.”

2.2. Prophecies in the Torah
The Torah that is extant today has undoubtedly been distorted, and perhaps that led to the loss of many of the prophecies, or distorted their wording, yet despite that many of them still remain.

2.2.1. Mention of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) by name in the Torah
Some of the prophecies clearly mention the name of Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). Some Muslim scholars read these texts, but the ongoing distortion of this Book caused these texts to disappear. This includes what is mentioned in the Hebrew Torah in the third chapter of the Book of Habakkuk, where it says, “And the earth was filled with praise of Ahmad; he gained control of nations. The earth was illuminated with his light, and his cavalry was carried on the sea.”

In a copy of the Bible printed in London in 1848 CE, and another printed in Beirut in 1884 CE, and in the ancient manuscripts, you will find in the Book of Habakkuk that the text is very clear indeed: “The heaven is illuminated with the splendour of Muhammad and the earth is filled with his praise… … O Muhammad, draw nigh,
The mountains saw you, and trembled.”

2.2.2. Description of Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in the Torah
It was narrated that ‘Ata’ ibn Yasar said, “I met ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As and I said, 'Tell me about the description of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in the Torah.' He said, 'Indeed, by Allah, he is described in the Torah, which mentioned some of his attributes that are also mentioned in the Qur’an, 'O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of glad tidings and a warner, as a guardian for the unlettered. You are My slave and My Messenger; I have named you al-Mutawakkil (one who puts his trust in Allah). He is not discourteous or harsh, nor is he one who raises his voice in dispute in the marketplaces. He does not repay evil with evil; rather he overlooks and forgives. Allah will never take his soul in death until he makes straight the crooked nation by making them say, La ilaha illa Allah (there is no god worthy of worship except Allah), and opens thereby blind eyes, deaf ears and sealed hearts.” (al-Bukhari)

This foretelling is not found in the Torah that is widely available today among the Jews and Christians. If what is meant by the Torah is that specific Torah, then this foretelling is something that the Jews have hidden, and if it is hidden by them, no one will have access to it except their rabbis. But the word Torah may not necessarily refer to the Torah of Moses (Musa); rather it may refer to books revealed by Allah. Based on that, this glad tidings is to be found in their books in the prophecy of Isaiah, in which it says, “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. He will open blind eyes and deaf ears, and bring life to sealed hearts. What I give to him I will not give to anyone else. He will praise God with new praises, he will come from the farthest ends of the earth. The earth and its inhabitants will rejoice. They will proclaim God’s oneness in every high place and will magnify Him atop every hill. He will not weaken or be defeated, and he will not incline towards desires… He will not humiliate the righteous who are weak; rather he will support those who are strong in faith. He is the support of the humble, the light of God that will never be extinguished. The seal of his authority is between his shoulders.”

2.2.3. Mention of matters having to do with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)
One example of that is mention of where his mission would begin. In the Book of Deuteronomy it says, “The Lord came from Sinai and dawned over them from Seir;
he shone forth from Mount Paran." (Deuteronomy 33:2) Paran refers to the mountains of Makkah, where Allah sent revelation to Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). The fact that Mount Paran is Makkah is indicated by several texts in the Torah.

Al-Shawkani said, “A number of scholars said that what is meant by His coming from Mount Sinai is His sending down of the Torah to Musa at Mount Sinai, and what is meant by His dawning from Mount Se‘ir is His sending down the Gospel to the Messiah, for the Messiah came from Se‘ir or Sa‘ir, which is the land of Ibrahim, as he came from a town called Nazareth, after which his followers the Christians were named (as Nazarenes). What is meant by His shining forth from Mount Paran is His sending down of the Qur’an to Muhammad. Mount Paran is the mountains of Makkah, and there is no difference of opinion concerning that among the Muslim scholars and the scholars of the People of the Book.” What supports that in the Torah is to be found in the first book thereof, in which it says, “So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba. 15 When the water in the skin was gone, she cast the child under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went, and sat down over against him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot; for she said, ‘Let me not look upon the death of the child.’ And as she sat over against him, the child lifted up his voice and wept. 17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, ‘What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not; for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him fast with your hand; for I will make him a great nation.’ 19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. 20 And God was with the lad, and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness, and became an expert with the bow. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran." (Genesis 21:14-21)

2.2.4. The Torah mentions some of the features of the land to which the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) would migrate
In the twenty-first chapter of the Book of Isaiah, the Bible speaks of the migration of the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and refers to the land to which he would migrate, “bring water for the thirsty; you who live in Tema, bring food for the fugitives. 15 They flee from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the heat of battle.” (Isaiah 21:14-15)

Tema (Tayma’) is on the outskirts of al-Madinah al-Munawwarah. It is clear that the text is speaking about the migration of the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).

2.2.5. An epidemic and fever leaving the city
This prophecy says, “Plague departed before he arrived; pestilence left the city before his feet stepped in it.” (Habakkuk 3:5)

This is a clear prophecy, because before the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) came to Madinah, it was known for fever, and this fever affected the companions of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) when they first came to Madinah. Then the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) prayed to his Lord to take away the fever, and it was taken away.

2.3. Prophecies in the Gospel
In the Gospel of Matthew, it says, “Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the Scriptures, 'The stone the builders set aside has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes'? 43 ‘Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.’” (Matthew 21:42-43)

Ibn al-Qayyim said, "Think about his the Messiah’s words in the other prophecy, 'The stone the builders set aside has become the cornerstone' (Mark 12:10) If you compare it, you will find that it is in harmony with what the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, 'The likeness of me and the Prophets who came before me is that of a man who built a house and made it perfect and complete, apart from the space of one brick. The people started walking around it, admiring it, and saying, ‘Why has this brick not been put in place?' I am that brick.' (al-Bukhari, Muslim) Think about what the Messiah said in his prophecy, 'It is marvellous in our eyes.' And think about what he said in it, 'The kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a another people.' Do you not find these words to be in harmony with the verses in which Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), 'We wrote in the Psalms, after We had done so in the Reminder the Torah: My righteous slaves will inherit the land.' (al-Anbiya’ 21:105) 'Allah has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession to authority upon the earth …' (al-Nur 24:55) Think about what he said about the foretold Paraclete, “He will disclose to you all the secrets, and will explain all things to you, for I shall tell you the parables and He will tell you the interpretation thereof”, and how it is identical to what happened in reality, because Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning), 'And We have sent down to you the Book, explaining all things.' (al-Nahl 16:89) If you reflect on the Torah, the Gospel and other Scriptures, and you reflect on the Qur’an, you will find that the latter explains what is mentioned briefly in the former, interprets its parables and explains its symbols."