MUHUMMED (PBUH) IS THE “PARACLETE”

To the sincere seekers of Truth it is obvious that Muhummed (pbuh)is the promised Paraclete or Comforter, alternatively called Helper,Advocate, Counsellor, etc of the prophecies of Jesus (pbuh) in theGospel of St. John. There are millions of Christians — men and womenlike our good lady at the Cairo Airport who are hungry for this simplestraight-forward Message. But alas, we can only weep with Jesus (pbuh)for our utter ineptitude —

The harvesttruly is plenteous, but the workers are few.

(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 9: 57

LANGUAGE OF JESUS (PBUH)

In the Holy Qur’an God Almighty puts the name “Ahmed” which isanother name for Muhummed (pbuh) in the mouth of Jesus (pbuh). TheChristian controversialist, Bible-thumper, Hot-Gospeller flippantlyscoffs at the suggestion. The Christian missionary does not deny thatJesus (pbuh) did make a prophecy about someone coming after him. But”Ahmed” to him seems too far-fetched.

The most commonly accepted name by Christendom is “Comforter” Itdoes not really matter Comforter or any other equivalent term will do.We will settle for Comforter as used in the most popular BibleTranslation the “King James Version.”

Ask your adversary, your disputant whether Jesus (pbuh) spoke theEnglish language? “Most definitely not!” any Christian will say. If youare sharing this with an Arab Christian then you can ask him whetherhis “lord” used the word “MOOUZZI?” Surely not, because Arabic was nothis language. Did Jesus (pbuh) prophesy “uMthokozisi?” (Comforter inZulu) or “Trooster” from the Afrikaans Bible? The answer again is adefinite NO!”

The Christians are rightfully boasting that they now have translatedthe complete Bible into hundreds of different languages, and the NewTestament (in which this prophecy abounds) into more than two thousanddifferent languages and dialects. So the Christian genius has inventedmore than 2000 different names in 2000 different languages for this onecandidate — Comforter!

PNEUMA: GHOST OR SPIRIT?

The Church fathers haddeveloped a sickness by translating names of people, for which they hadno right to do. For example like Esau to Jesus, Messiah to Christ,Cephas1 to Peter and so on.

1. See “What is His Name?” for a better clarification on this point.

The closest one can ever getto the original utterance of Jesus (pbuh) in the Christian Scripturesis the Greek word “Para-cletos” which also has to be rejected becausethe Master did not speak Greek! But let’s not be difficult for thepurpose of this discussion and accept the Greek word Paracletos and itsEnglish equivalent Comforter.

Ask any learned Christianman as to who the Comforter is? You will unmistakingly hear – “The Comforter is the HOLY GHOST!” fromJohn 14: 26. This sentence is only part of verse twenty six. We willdeal with the verse fully in due course. But first we must educate theChristian mind with regards to this misnomer — “Holy Ghost.” “Pneuma”is the Greek root word for SPIRIT. There is no separate word for GHOSTin the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, and the Christians nowboast 24,000 different manuscripts in their possession of which no twoare identical!

The editors of the KJV (TheKing James Version) alternatively called AV (The AuthorisedVersion) and the DOUAY (The Roman Catholic Version) of theBibles gave preference to the word “GHOST’ instead of the wordSPIRIT when translating “pneuma”

The revisers of the RSV (RevisedStandard Version) 1 the most up-to-date versionof the Bible, are going back, as claimed, to the Most Ancientmanuscripts. These revisers, described as “thirty-two scholars of thehighest eminence, backed by fifty co-operating denominations” whocourageously re-placed the shady word “ghost” with the word “spirit”Hence from now on you will read in all modem translations — “TheComforter which is the Holy SPIRIT”! However, the Christian crusadersand the televangelists stubbornly cling to the spooky (“ghost”-ly) pastThey will not opt for the Newer Versions. It’s better fishing with theold bait – the KJV and the RCV (Roman Catholic Version).

1. For greater detail on theRSV see “Is theBible God’s Word?”

With the new change in spirit, the verse under scrutiny will read:

But the Comforter, Which is The Holy Spirit,whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things,and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said untoyou. (Emphasis added).(HOLY BIBLE) John 14: 26

You do not have to be a Bible scholar of any calibre to sense thatthe expression “which is the Holy Spirit” is actually an interpolation.It ought to be in parenthesis, in brackets, like my words which havebeen interpolated in the quotation, i.e. “(emphasis added).” Althoughthe editors of the RSV have expunged dozens of interpolations fromtheir boasted Revised Standard Version, they have retained this jarringphrase which contradicts other explicit predictions of Jesus (pbuh) onthe subject of the Comforter itself.

“HOLY SPIRIT” IS HOLY PROPHET

(i) It may be noted that no Biblical scholar of any standing hasever equated the “paracletos” of John in the original Greek with theHoly Ghost. Now we can say with one breath that if the Comforter is the”Holy Spirit” then that Holy Spirit is the Holy Prophet!

As Muslims we acknowledge that every true prophet of God is Holy andwithout sin. But whenever the expression “The Holy Prophet” is usedamong Muslims it is universally accepted as referring to the HolyProphet Muhummed (pbuh). So even if we accept the above incongruoussaying — “the Comforter which is the Holy Spirit,” as Gospeltruth, even then this prophecy will fit Muhummed (pbuh) like a glove,without any stretching of its meaning.

The same John, who is supposed to have authored the Gospel bearinghis name, also penned three more Epistles which are also part of theChristian Bible. Amazingly he has used the same terminology of “HolySpirit” for “Holy Prophet.”

Beloved, believe not every Spirit,but try the Spiritswhether they

are of God;because many false Prophets are gone out into the World.

(HOLY BIBLE) 1 John 4: 1

You can observe that the word spirit is used here synonymously witha prophet. A true spirit is a true prophet, and a false spirit is afalse prophet But for the so-called “born-again” Christians who seeonly with eyes of emotion, I recommend that they lay their hands onC.I. Scofield’s Authorized King lames Version of the Bible who with anEditorial Committee of 9 D.D.’s adding their notes and comments. Whenthey come to the First word “spirit” in the above verse they shouldgive a notation to compare it with Matthew 7: 15 which confirms thatfalse prophets are false spirits. So according to St. John the HolySpirit is the Holy Prophet, and the Holy Prophet is Muhummed (pbuh) theMessenger of God.

A VALID TEST

But St. John does not leave us in the air, guessing the true fromthe false. He gives us an acid test for recognising the true Prophet,he says —

Hereby knowye the Spirit 1of God:Every Spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in theflesh is of God.

(HOLY BIBLE) 1 John 4: 2

According to John’s owninterpretation in verse one above the word “spirit” is synonymous withthe word prophet So verse two “Spirit of God” would mean Prophet of Godand “Every spirit” would stand for every Prophet You have a right toknow as to what the Holy Prophet Muhummed (pbuh) says about “JesusChrist.” 2

1.For SPIRIT, read PROPHET

2.See “Christ inIslam” for detailed information of the high positon that Jesus(pbuh) occupies in the house of Islam

Jesus Christ (peace be uponhim) is spoken by name no less than 25 times in the Holy Qur’an. He ishonoured as —

Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus, the son of Mary)

An-nabi (The Prophet)

As-saaliheen (The Righteous)

Kalimatu’Llah  (Word of God)

Ruhu-Llah  (Spirit ofGod)

Masih-uLlah  (Christ ofGod)

Behold the angels said: “O Mary! God giveththee Glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus,the son of Mary, held In honour in this world and The Hereafter and of(the Company of) those nearest to God-(SURA al-i-‘imran) HolyQur’an 3:45

MUHUMMED (PBUH) IS THE”OTHER”

(ii) TheComforter in John 14: 26 can never be the “Holy Ghost” because Jesus(pbuh) had already explained—

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you AnotherComforter, that he may abide with you for ever.

(HOLY BIBLE) John 14: 16

The emphasis here is on the word “ANOTHER,” an other, a differentone, an additional one, but of the same kind, yet distinctly differentfrom the first. Who is then the first Comforter? The Christian world isunanimous that in this case the speaker himself — Jesus Christ (pbuh)is the first Comforter; then the other, the one to follow must be oflike nature, subject to the same conditions of hunger, thirst, fatigue,sorrow and death.

But this promised Comforter was to “abide with you for EVER!” No onelives for even Jesus (pbuh) was mortal so must the coming Comforteralso be mortal. No son of man can ever be immortal!

Every soul shall have a tasteof death.

(SURAAL-I-IMRAN)Holy Qur’an 5:185

ALIVE IN THEIR TEACHINGS

The soul does not really die, but when it separates from the body atthe time of the death of the body, the soul will get a taste of death.But our Comforter was to “ABIDE” continue, endure for ever. AllComforters abide with us for ever. Moses is here with us today in histeachings. Jesus is here with us today in his teachings and Muhummedalso is here with us in his teachings today. (May the peace andblessings of God be upon them all). This is not my novel idea trying tojustify the preposterous. I say this with conviction and on theauthority of Jesus Christ (pbuh) himself.

In Luke, chapter sixteen, Jesus (pbuh) tells us the story of the”Rich Man, Poor Man.’ At death both find themselves at opposite ends —one in Heaven and the other in Hell. The rich man (Dives) simmering inHell cries to Father Abraham to send the beggar (Lazarus) to assuagehis thirst. But when every plea fails, he, as a last favour, requeststhat Father Abraham send the beggar back to earth to warn his livingbrothers against their impending doom if they heeded not the warningsof God.

But Abraham said, “If they (those still alive onearth) won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen eventhough someone rises from the dead. ” (to warn them)(HOLY BIBLE) Luke16: 31

Jesus (pbuh) uttered the above fact centuries after the demise ofthe prophets of Israel like Jeremiah, Hosea, Zechariah, etc and overthirteen hundred years after Moses (pbuh). The Pharisees at the time ofJesus (pbuh) and we today can still listen to “MOSES AND THE PROPHETS,”for they are still alive, and with us here today in their teachings.

‘YOU’ OF THE TIME

If it is said that the Comforter was promised to the immediatedisciples of Jesus (pbuh) and not to a people six hundred years later:

and he (God)shallgive You another Comforter, that he may abide with Youfor ever.

(HOLY BIBLE) John 14:16

Surprisingly, the Christiansees no difficulty in justifying the fulfilment of prophecies “since theworld began,” 1 and after over a millennium2 when Peter in his secondsermon to the Jews, reminds them:

For Moses truly said unto thefathers, A prophet shall the Lord Your God raise up unto Youof Your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear In all thingswhat-soever he shall say unto You.

(HOLY BIBLE) Acts3: 22

All these “YE, YOU andYOURS” are from the Book of Deuteronomy, chapter 18, 3 when Moses (pbuh) addressedhis people and not the Jews at the time of Peter, thirteen hundredyears later. The Gospel writers have put the same compromising words inthe mouth of their Master which are begging for fulfilment for twothousand years. I think just one example will suffice:

But when they persecute Youin this city, flee Ye into another: for verily (most assuredly) I(Jesus) say unto You, Ye shall not have gone over thecities of Israel till the son of man (Jesus) be come.

(HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 10: 25

1. Acts3:21

2. Millennium:A thousand years

3.For an elaboration on this prophecy, see “WHAT THE BIBLESAYS ABOUT MUHUMMED (PBUH)”

SCANNING THE CLOUDS

These early followers of the Messiah, forever ran, forlornly fleeingpersecution. They ran from one city to another in Israel, scanningevery dark cloud for the descent of Jesus (pbuh) in his second coming.The missionaries see no anomaly in their millennium of unfulfilledprophecies. God Almighty did not keep them waiting for even a quarterof the time for the advent of the “paracletos,” — the Comforter orAhmed which is another name for the Praised One. Let them showgratitude to God by accepting this Last and Final Messenger of God —Muhummed (pbuh)!

ADVENT OF COMFORTER CONDITIONAL

(iii) The Comforter is definitely not the “Holy Ghost” because thecoming of the Comforter was conditional whereas that of the Holy Ghostwas not as we observe in the prophecy —

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: It is expedientfor you that I go for If I Go Not Away, The Comforter Will Not Comeunto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

(HOLY BIBLE) John 16: 7

“lf I don’t go he won’tcome, but if I go, I will send him.” There are numerous instances inthe Holy Bible about the coming andgoing of the HOLY GHOST, before thebirth and departure of the Messiah. Do yourself a favour, please verifythese references in your Bible – B.C. BEFORE CHRIST’S BIRTH:1. … and he (John the Baptist) shall befilled with the Holy Ghost,even from his mother’s womb.(HOLY BIBLE) Luke1: 15 2. … andElizabeth was filledwith the Holy Ghost. (HOLY BIBLE)Luke 1: 413. And his father Zacharias wasfilled with the Holy Ghost.(HOLY BIBLE) Luke1:67A.C. AFTER CHRIST’S BIRTH:4. … and the Holy Ghost was upon him (Simeon).(HOLY BIBLE) Luke 2:265. And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him (Jesus). (HOLY BIBLE) Luke 3:22From theabove quotations, before and after the birth of Jesus (pbuh), onecannot help admiring St. Luke who appears to be a specialist on theHoly Ghost We may well ask the Christians, after the descent of the”dove”, with whose help did Jesus (pbuh) perform his many miracles ifnot with the help of the Holy Ghost? Let the Master himself tell us.When accused by his own people, the Jews, that he was working in leaguewith Beelzebub (the chief of the devils) to work his miracles, Jesus(pbuh) rhetorically questions them, “How can Satan cast out Satan?” TheJews imputed that this spirit of holiness – the Spirit of God – whichwas helping him, was devilish. This was treason of the highest order.So he gives them a dire warning:… but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, itshall never be forgiven (HOLYBIBLE) Matthew 12:31This “HolyGhost” is non other than what Matthew himself has described in threeverses before quoting the Master: But if I (Jesus) cast out devils by the Spirit OFGod, then the kingdom of God is come upon you. (HOLYBIBLE) Matthew 12:28Compare thesame statement by another Gospel writer1 But if I (Jesus) by the Finger Of God cast outdevils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.(HOLY BIBLE) Luke3:221. Give a second glance at thetwo verses, top and bottom, and you cannot help concluding that theyare almost indentical. Why? The answer is in “Is theBible God’sWord?”.You do not have to be a Bible scholar to understand that theexpressions (a) “Finger of God” (b) “Spirit of God” and (c) “HolyGhost” are all synonymous phrases. So the Holy Ghost was helping Jesus(pbuh) in his ministry. The Holy Ghost was also helping his discipleson their missions of preaching and healing. If there is still any doubtin your minds about the workings of the Holy Ghost then please read:EMPTY PROMISE…as my Father hath sent me, even so I sendyou (the disciples of Jesus),And when he had said this, be breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive Ye The Holy Ghost(HOLYBIBLE) John 20: 21 –22 This wassurely no empty promise. The disciples must have received the gift ofthe Holy Ghost. So if the “Holy Ghost” was with (1) John the Baptist,(2) Elizabeth. (3) Zacharias. (4) Simeon. (5) Jesus and (6) theDisciples of Jesus; then all this makes nonsense of the saying that “ifI go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you.” Therefore theComforter is not the Holy Ghost?The verse under discussion is John 16: 7. I remember the thrill and joy1 got out of it when quoting it in Arabic to the Coptic Christian ladyin the land of the Pharaohs ( discussed earlier). The pleasure isimmense when expounding Biblical verses in the standard native languageof a country or locality. I have done it in a dozen differentvernaculars. Won’t you master the above verse in a language or two ofyour choice for the good of Islam?AFRIKAANS A UNIQUE LANGUAGEOf all the languages in which I have mastered the verse inquestion. I have derived the greatest excitement and benefit fromAfrikaans. It is a language of the ruling race in South Africa. It isthe youngest of the world’s languages. The language is unique. In factevery language is unique. But Afrikaans is in a class of its own. Italso happens to be the mother tongue of half the Muslim population ofSouth Africa who were brought here as prisoners of war and enslaved bythe Christians; that is simply by force of circumstances. For theirimmediate benefit and for your information I reproduce the verse here:Maar ek se julle die waarheid: dit is virjulle voordelig dat ek weggaan;want as ek Nie weggaan Nie, saldie Trooster1 Niena julle komNie; maar as ek weggaan, sal ek horn na julle stuur]ohanness 16: 7 1. TROOSTER: Now changed to “VOORSPRAAK!” Believe it or not! It is the genius of this language that it usesfour negatives NIE, NIE, NIE, NIE. to prove a positive! The departureof Jesus is an absolute imperative for the coming of the “Trooster,”the Comforter to come! This verse in this language has opened manydoors for me, other than religious, and it locks the door against theidea of the “Comforter which is the Holy Ghost” (John 14:26).DISCIPLES NOT FITWe now come to the four most comprehensive and decisive verses inJohn. chapter sixteen to solve the enigma of the Successor to Christ.For Jesus (pbuh) did truly say: I have yet Many Things to say unto you, but Ye Cannot Bear Them Now.(HOLYBIBLE) John 16: 12We willlater tie up the phrase “many things” from the above verse with “guideyou into all truth” from the verse that follows, when discussing it.For now. let us discuss the phrase — “YE CANNOT BEAR THEM NOW”The truth of this statement “ye cannot bear them now” is repeatedmonotonously throughout the pages of the New Testament: And he (Jesus) saithunto them (the disciples). Why are ye fearful, O YeOf Little Faith? (HOLY BIBLE) Matthew 8. 26

AND (JESUS) said unto him (Peter) O Thou of Little Faith…(HOLYBIBLE) Matthew14:31

… he (Jesus) said unto them (the disciples),O Ye Of Little Faith, why reason among yourselves … (HOLYBIBLE) Matthew 16: 8

And he (Jesus) said unto them (his disciples).Where Is YourFaith?

(HOLY BIBLE) Luke 8: 25

We must bear in mind thatthis is not the indictment of Jesus (pbuh) on the indecisiveness of theJews, but on his very own elect. He stoops down to the level of littlechildren to make things plain to his disciples but he is compelled toburst out in frustration

And Jesus said, Are Ye Even Yet WithoutUnderstanding?

(HOLYBIBLE) Matthew 15:16

Andwhen he was provoked to breaking point, he rails against his chosenones —

‘ … OFaithless And Perverse Generation, how long shall Ibe with you, how long shall I bear with you?

(HOLY BIBLE) Luke 9: 41

OWN FAMILY THOUGHTHIM MAD

If Jesus (pbuh) would havebeen a Japanese instead of a Jew. he would happily have committed thathonourable “harakiri” (suicide). Sadly, he was the mostunfortunate of God’s Messengers. His family disbelieved himFor neither did his (]esus’) brethren believe in him (John 7: 5). In fact they went to theextent of wanting to apprehend him. believing that he was mad.

Andwhen his relatives heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him(Jesus); for they said, he is beside himself. (HOLYBIBLE) Mark3. 21

Who were these friends andrelatives of Jesus (pbuh) which had concern for his sanity? Let Rev.J.R. Dummelow. M.A. in his One Volume Bible Commentary tell us. On page726 he says —

“FROM V.31” (just 10 versesfollowing the above quotation) “THEY APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN HIS MOTHER ANDBRETHREN… HIS FAMILY SAID ‘HE IS BESIDE HIMSELF,’” (meaning thathe is not right in his head); “THE SCRIBES SAID, ‘HE IS POSSESSED BYTHE DEVIL HIMSELF.’ IT IS NOT, HOW EVER, IMPLIED AT ALL THAT HISFAMILY WAS IN SYMPATHY WITH THE SCRIBES” (the learned men of the Jews).”THEIR APPREHENSION BEING SIMPLY THAT HIS MIND WAS UNSETTLED. AND THATHE NEEDED TO BE PUT UNDER RESTRAINT.”

JESUS – REJECTED BYHIS NATION

That was the verdict of theclose relations of Jesus (pbuh). What then was the response of his ownnation, the Jews, after all his beautiful preachings and mighty miracleworkings? His disciple puts it very mildly:

Hecame unto his own (the Jews) and his ownreceived him (Jesus) not.

(HOLY BIBLE) John 1:11

Actually “his own” mockedhim. scorned him and vehemently rejected him. To the extent of makingan attempt to crucify him.’ Despite two thousand years of Christianpersecutions and pogroms, and now their overweening love andinfatuation for them, so as to salve their own conscience, the Jews asa people and as a whole can never accept Jesus as their Saviour, theirDeliverer, their God, simply because of their one sound judgement —

“THAT NO JEW CANEVER ACCEPT ANOTHER JEW AS A GOD!”

It is only in Islam that theJews, the Christians and the Muslims can find accommodation — allbelieving in Jesus Christ (pbuh) for what he really was — one of themightiest Messengers of God; and not as God or His son!

DISCIPLES DESERTEDHIM

What was the response of thechosen twelve; of his own “mother andbretheren!” (Mark 3: 34), as he called them? I willallow Professor Momerie to describe it in his own inimitable words—

“HIS IMMEDIATE DISCIPLES,WERE ALWAYS MISUNDERSTANDING HIM AND HIS WORK: WANTING HIM TO CALL DOWNFIRE FROM HEAVEN; WANTING HIM TO DECLARE HIMSELF KING OF THE JEWS;WANTING TO SIT ON HIS RIGHT HAND AND ON HIS LEFT HAND IN HIS KINGDOM;WANTING HIM TO SHOW THEM THE FATHER. TO MAKE GOD VISIBLE TO THEIRBODILY EYES;

WANTING HIM TO DO. ANDWANTING TO DO THEMSELVES. ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT WAS INCOMPATIBLEWITH HIS GREAT PLAN. THIS WAS HOW THEY TREATED HIM UNTIL THE END. (and)WHEN THAT CAME. THEY ALL FORSOOK HIM. AND FLED.”

Quoted from SayedAmir All in his “The Spirit of Islam” page 31.

It was most unfortunate thatJesus Christ (pbuh) had no real choice in selecting his disciples. Theylet him down as no other group of devotees had ever let down theirprophet before. It was no fault of the Master. He bewailed his plight:”Thespirit indeed is willing, but the flesh “The spirit indeed iswilling, but the flesh (clay) is weak” (Matthew 26: 41). Truly, this is not the clayout of which a new Adam could be made. He passes on that responsibilityto his Successor, whom he calls here — “The Spirit of Truth,”ie the Prophet of Truth, the Prophet of Righteousness!

“SPIRIT” AND”PROPHET” SYNONYMOUS

Howbeitwhen he, the Spirit Of Truth, is come, he will guide you intoall truth

(Holy Bible) John 16:13

It has already beenestablished that. Biblically, the word “Spirit” is usedsynonymously for “Prophet,” by the same author in 1 John 4: 1(as seen earlier).

Hence the “Spirit of Truth”would be the Prophet of Truth. A prophet in whom Truth ispersonified. He had walked through life so honourably and industriouslythat he had won for himself even from his pagan fellow countrymen thenoble designation of as-Saadiq (the Truthful One) and al-Amin,”the Honest,” “the Upright.” “the Trustworthy;” the Man of Faith whonever broke his word. His life, his personality, his teachings are theveritable proof of Muhummed (pbuh) being the embodiment of Truth(al-Amin) — the Spirit of Truth!

Muhammed, The Natural Successor To Christ — By Ahmed Deedat

CHAPTER FOUR