"WONDERFUL COUNSELLOR" (Series - I)

The commissioning of Muhammad (pbuh)

This topic may come as a bolt from the blue to non-Muslims, and may even bewilder some to the extent to conclude that it is a kind of hoax that the unlettered Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was indeed prophesized on many occasions in the Bible. Right reason tells that the truth prevails over falsehood, as Allah says:

"that the truth stands out clear from error..."

We are also told in the Quran that Allah, by his Mercy, sent prophets to all nations of the world and the last of them was Muhammad (pbuh), the seal of all prophets. While each of the previous prophets was sent to a certain tribe with a particular mission and at a specific time, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was sent for all mankind. His message was the Final Revelation, the Last Testament and the Complete Code of Life with a universal and comprehensive characters applicable to all mankind until the Last Day.

It was long after the departure of Jesus (pbuh), around the early part of the seventeenth century, that during the so called Dark Ages that Muhammad (pbuh) was commissioned as prophet. He was unschooled, yet a Wonderful Counselor and a Prince of Peace. He was the one who established a government (law) unparalleled in justice and was the "Counselor" and "Prince of Peace" revealed to Isaiah (pbuh). He was the "prophet like unto Moses", revealed to Moses (pbuh), and the progeny of Kedar, Ismael and Abraham, peace be upon them. He was the one spoken to "my Lord" by prophet David (pbuh), and the one alluded to and expected by Jesus (pbuh) as the "Counselor" or "comforter", the "Holy Spirit" and the "Spirit of truth" to come. He was "the Prophet" whom John and the Baptist predicted to come. The one who he said would be mightier than he and whose shoes he is not worthy to bear. His name was Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), whose Message was same in essence and purpose as the previous revelations which calls for man's total submission to the Will of Allah (the worship of the Only True God).

Prophecy

The first of the series of prophecies can be found in the book of Isaiah (chapter 9, verse 6) which Prophet Isaiah (pbuh) has rightly predicted:

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called 'Wonderful Counselor', Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Most Christian theologians and Churches believe that this particular prophecy was for the advent of Jesus (pbuh). However, all were totally misled because the Bible says to the contrary. The religion advocated by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was meant for Peace because it requires believers to submit themselves (materially and spiritually) to the Only True God (Allah), the Creator and Supreme Sovereign of all the worlds. Thus, anyone who submits himself will achieve a complete peace mentally and physically. Peace with the Only One Allah, Who has no partner, no sharer, no associate and no helper. Allah is unique and nothing is similar to Him, be it in essence, substance or attributes. He is the All-powerful, the All knowing, the Omnipotent and the Only Sovereign of the whole universe. On the other hand, no Christian can claim that the mission of Jesus (pbuh), was meant for peace because he categorically denied it in Matthew (10:34):

"Do not think I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in law; and a man's foes will be those of his own household". And in Luke (19:27): "But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me". Also in Luke (22:36): He Jesus said to them: "But now, let him who has purse take it, and likewise a bag. And let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy one."

The prophecy was corroborated by Jesus (pbuh)

Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) sayings also support the prophecy of Isaiah (9:6) in the book of John (John 14:16-17):

"And I will pray to the father, and He will give you another Counselor (another prophet) to be with you forever (until the Last Day).";(John 15:26): "But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me."; (John 16:7): "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you..."; (John 16:12-15): "I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me for he will take what is mine and declare it to you."

These above verses from the Bible prove one thing that Jesus (pbuh) expected someone to continue his unfinished mission (the worship of One True God), Whom Jesus (pbuh) called "Eli" or "Elio" in his Aramaic language which corresponds to "Elohem" for the Jews and "Allah" for the Arabs (Muslims). He anticipated the advent of a Counselor and Spirit of truth like him whose words are true (coming from God), but not the Holy Ghost as claimed by authorities of the churches. The one who would come is a man like Jesus (pbuh) with flesh and bones, a prophet like him not the spirit of a different nature, which cannot be seen.

Since the Christians claimed that the Holy Ghost is one of Trinity, whom they believed to be one of the Godhead, then their argument that this Spirit of truth is the same as the Holy Ghost is untenable. John (16:12-15) above clearly explained the Spirit of truth as one who is dependent on God. The words "for he will not speak on his authority but whatever he hears he will speak" meant nothing more then a subservient servant who is going to fulfill his Master's (God's) Will and he can never be God, for God is a master unto Himself.

Further, Jesus (pbuh) said, that the spirit of truth will foretell and glorify him by taking his message from his unfinished mission and teach it to the people. All the above sayings were inspired by God and all were fulfilled by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

Again, the contents of the Qur'an came from Allah through the agency of angel Gabriel; the circumstances and the manner how Muhammad (pbuh) received it has a profound resemblance with the prophecy in Isaiah (29:12): "And when they give the book (scroll) to one who cannot read", saying "Read this", he says, "I cannot read". It means that he will not speak of his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak. And when Jesus (pbuh) said, "he will glorify me for he will take what is mine and declare it to you," becomes all the more decisive, in that, the message of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was in no way different message but the same in essence, intent and purpose as the previous messages which call for the worship of the Only True God (Allah). Further, Jesus (pbuh) was glorified in the Qur'an by his name "Jesus" 25 times and that the whole chapter 19 of the Qur'an is names after his mother "Mary".

Reminders in the Qur'an

Finally, these fitting reminders from the Qur'an are for those who will pervert the meanings of the previous messages.

"O children of Israel! call to mind the (special) favor which I bestowed
upon you, and I shall fulfil My Covenant with you, and fear none but Me."
(Qur'an, 2:40)

"And believe in what I reveal, confirming the revelation which is with
you, and be not the first to reject faith therein, nor sell My Signs for a small
price and fear Me, and Me alone." (Qur'an, 2:41)

"And cover not Truth with falsehood, nor conceal the Truth when ye
know (what it is)." (Qur'an, 2:42)

"Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say: 'This is from Allah, to traffic with it for a miserable price! Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby'." (Qur'an 2:79)

Conclusion

I conclude with the strongest conviction that Isaiah (9:6) refers to the advent of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), the overwhelming evidence of which is as clear as day light. No mount of logic can refute such a claim, not even by those who are out to downplay Islam or those who are jaundiced against the prophet of Arabia. No other prophet can authoritatively claim this prophecy except Muhammad (pbuh), the son of Abdullah whose roots came from the famous Quraish tribe of Makkah, the origin of which was from the Kedar tribe, the second son of Prophet Ismael (pbuh), and who incidentally was the first son of Prophet Abraham (pbuh).

By: M.A.C. Cave
This Series is derived from "The Prophecies in the Bible for the Advent of prophet
Muhammad (pbuh)," by Mr. M.A.C. Cave.