Faithful Reflections

I. The Prophecy of the Departing Scepter Before his passing, Prophet Jacob (peace be upon him) gathered his twelve sons and foretold the future trajectory of their lineage ( Genesis 49 ). This prophetic utterance, which forms a nucleus of subsequent scriptural warnings, is recorded in the Book of Genesis : "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he ( Shiloh ) comes to whom it belongs; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples." (Genesis 49:10)    The phrase "Scepter and ruler's staff" symbolizes the dual authority of temporal sovereignty and prophetic lawgiving. This passage explicitly foretells the termination of this spiritual and temporal authority within the tribe of Judah (the Israelites ) upon the arrival of a successor known as  Shiloh —a figure to whom the universal "obedience of the peoples" belongs.    While  Shiloh  may refer to a place, its meaning of "peace...

I. Introduction: The Monotheistic Imperative Objective study of revealed scripture requires an unwavering commitment to the clear meaning of the divine word, free from preconceived doctrines. The fundamental truth of Islam is  Tawḥīd  (absolute Monotheism): Almighty God ( Allah ), the Creator, is the Ultimate Truth and is not the author of confusion. This principle must guide the interpretation of profound prophetic statements, such as the one recorded in the Book of Psalms : "The Lord says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool.'" ( Psalm 110:1 ) This verse, quoted in the Gospels (Matthew 22:44, Mark 12:36, and Luke 20:42), raises a critical theological question regarding the identity of the figure addressed as "my Lord" by Prophet David (PBUH). II. The Paradox of David’s Lordship The traditional interpretation that both "Lords" in the verse are aspects of the Godhead is viewed in Islamic thought as illog...

I. Establishing the Prophetic Lineage and Covenant The integrity of the divine message lies in the continuous, unified chain of messengers sent by God. The Book of Deuteronomy contains a prominent prophecy delivered by Moses concerning a future messenger: "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. 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). While traditional Christian exegesis often interprets this prophecy as referring to Jesus (peace be upon him), Islamic scholarship asserts that a meticulous analysis of the prophecy's linguistic and functional conditions points exclusively to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). A. The Identity of the "Brethren" The key condition is that the prophet must be raised up "from among their brethren." This phrase dic...

I. The Finality and Scope of the Prophetic Mission The commissioning of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) occurred during a period often referred to as the Dark Ages , centuries after the departure of Prophet Jesus .. Islam holds that Allah , in His universal mercy, sent prophets and messengers to all nations.. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was designated as the last and most comprehensive of this series, known as the  Seal of the Prophets ( Khatam an-Nabiyyīn ) .    While previous prophets were often sent to a specific tribe with a particular mission at a specific time, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was commissioned for all mankind.. His message, the Qur’an , is considered the Final Revelation and the Complete Code of Life , possessing a universal and comprehensive character valid until the Last Day .. The foundational principle is that the truth stands out clearly from error, as affirmed in the Qur'an..    II. The Infallible Character of the ...