The Gospel also gave glad tidings of the mission of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH). Even though the present Gospels have been altered and distorted, they still contain indications about the coming of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH). For instance, in the Gospel of John it is mentioned: “Jesus (‘Isa, peace be upon him) said: If you love me, keep my commandments, and I will ask the Father (according to Christianity: God) to give you a highly praised Prophet.”
Also, Jesus (peace be upon him) said: “Indeed, there are many instructions that I must tell you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when the Spirit of Truth (Muhammad (PBUH)) comes, he will guide you into all truth.”
It is also mentioned in the Gospel: “The Paraclete (Ahmad) will not come unless I depart. But when he comes, he will reprove the world of sin and error. He will not speak from himself but will say what he hears (from Allah), and he will guide people to the truth and inform them of the unseen (through revelation).”
The noble Companion Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari said: “I heard from Najashi, the king of Abyssinia, that he testified: ‘I bear witness that Muhammad (PBUH) is the Messenger of Allah, and Jesus (peace be upon him) gave glad tidings of his Prophethood. If I did not have the responsibility of my kingdom and people, I would have gone to serve him and carried his shoes myself.’”
Glad Tidings in the Psalms (Zabur)
Imam Bayhaqi narrated from Wahb ibn Munabbih that he said: “Allah revealed to David (peace be upon him) in the Psalms: O David! After you, there will soon come a Prophet whose name is ‘Ahmad’ and ‘Muhammad.’ He is truthful. I will never be angry with him, nor will he ever disobey Me. I have surely forgiven all his past and future shortcomings.”
David (peace be upon him) also said: “He will pass from sea to sea, from rivers to the ends of the earth. Islands will fall before him. His enemies will be defeated. The kings of Persia will bow before him. Nations will obey him. He will rescue the oppressed from the hands of tyrants, and deliver the helpless with no supporter. He will be merciful to the poor and destitute. Blessings and mercy will be invoked upon him at all times.”
Glad Tidings from the Prophet Isaiah (peace be upon him)
He mentioned the name of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and declared: “I have made your matter, O Muhammad, praiseworthy. O Holy Lord! Your name will remain forever.”
He also said: “A son will be born to us, a wondrous man. He will have the seal of Prophethood on his shoulder. He will be a great person. His rule will be of peace and justice. He will sit upon the throne of David (peace be upon him) as the inheritor of his prophethood and kingdom.”
In another narration, he said: “It was said to me: Arise and look, what do you see? I said: I see two riders approaching—one riding a donkey and the other riding a camel. One says to the other: Let the idols of Babylon with their owners be cast into the sea.” Scholars explain: the rider of the camel was Muhammad (PBUH) and the rider of the donkey was Jesus (peace be upon him). Through Muhammad (PBUH), the idols of Babylon were destroyed.
Glad Tidings from the Prophet Simeon (peace be upon him)
In the sayings of Prophet Simeon (peace be upon him), it is mentioned: “Allah brought forth clear evidences and proofs (i.e., Muhammad (PBUH) and the Qur’an) upon Mount Paran (Makkah), and the heavens and earth were filled with his (Muhammad’s (PBUH)) praises and those of his nation.”
This narration specifies the place of Prophethood as Mount Paran (the Sacred Makkah). After Abraham, the Friend of Allah, and his son Ishmael, the Sacrificed One (peace be upon them), there was no Prophet in Makkah except the Messenger (PBUH). According to the traditions of the Israelites, the advent of a Prophet in the land of Hijaz (Makkah) among the Arabs was already well known. Prophet Ezekiel, while warning the Jews, described the nation of Muhammad (PBUH), saying: “Allah will give them power over you. Among them, He will send a Prophet and reveal a Book, and He will place it as a yoke upon your necks. They will humble and subdue you. Men from the descendants of Qaraz (tribe of Rabi‘ah and Mudar, the children of Adnan, descendants of Qaraz ibn Isma‘il) and other tribes will rise, accompanied by angels mounted on horses, armed and surrounding you from all directions. Eventually, you will be cast into Hell.”
Reports established by transmission confirm that angels on white horses assisted the Muslims in battles. The Qur’an also refers to the presence of angelic armies on the battlefield.
Glad Tidings from the Prophet Daniel (peace be upon him)
When Prophet Daniel earnestly prayed to Allah to show him the future of the Israelites, he said: “An angel appeared to me in the form of a young man, saying: Peace be upon you, O Daniel! Allah the Almighty says: The Israelites angered Me with rebellion and idolatry. They turned from knowledge to ignorance and from truth to falsehood. Therefore, I subjected them to King Nebuchadnezzar. He killed their men, enslaved their women and children, destroyed Jerusalem, and burned their scriptures. Those who came after him did the same. I am not pleased with them, nor will I forgive their sins. They will remain under My wrath until I send the Messiah, the son of the Virgin (Mary). But because of their killing of Zachariah and John, and their harm to Jesus, My curse and wrath will again descend upon them. They will live in disgrace, poverty, and misery until I send a Prophet from the descendants of Ishmael—the one to whom Hagar was given glad tidings. I will reveal to him, entrust him with divine names, adorn him with piety, make goodness his emblem, truthfulness and loyalty his nature, firm resolve his character, and guidance his tradition. I will grant him a Book confirming the earlier scriptures and abrogating some of their laws. I will take him on the Night Journey to Myself, draw him near, greet him with peace, and send revelation to him. Then I will send him to My servants joyfully. He is trustworthy, acts upon My command, calls people to My oneness with gentle words and wise preaching. He is not harsh or loud in marketplaces. He is kind to those who love and believe in him, but firm against enemies. Through his words, he calls to My worship and informs them of My signs. Yet his people will deny and harm him.”
In summary, before the advent of the Prophet of Islam, recurrent reports had spread about the appearance of a Prophet from among the Arabs. Priests and monks had found glad tidings of him in the Torah and Gospel. The noble Companion Salman al-Farsi reported from a Christian priest in ‘Awdiyah (a Roman city) that he said: “The advent of a Prophet upon the pure faith of Abraham (peace be upon him) from among the Arabs is near. His place of migration will be a land between two lava fields (‘harrah’), where there are date-palm trees. Among the signs of his Prophethood: he will eat gifts but not accept charity, and between his shoulders will be the Seal of Prophethood.”
The word ‘harrah’ refers to land with black stones. The city of Madinah is situated between two such harrahs, east and west.
