Did Muhammad (Pbuh) Call Himself The Expected Prophet?

we have seen that jesus (pbuh) did not claim that he was the expected prophet. did muhammad (pbuh) inform us that he was that promised prophet as the previous prophets stated?

the prophecies of the coming of muhammad, which we find in the books of the prophets, are one of many important issues emphasized by the quran and the traditions of muhammad. the quran mentions that every prophet reminded his people about the coming prophet. these prophets had vowed that when muhammad comes, they would all believe in him. {and (remember) when allâh took the covenant of the prophets, saying: "take whatever i gave you from the book and hikmah (understanding of the laws of allâh, etc.), and afterwards there will come to you a messenger (muhammad) confirming what is with you; you must, then, believe in him and help him." allâh said: "do you agree (to it) and will you take up my covenant (which i conclude with you)?" they said: "we agree." he said: "then bear witness; and i am with you among the witnesses (for this)."} (al-emran: 81).

ali, son of abu talib, (may allah be pleased with him) said: (allah took the covenant of the prophets, adam and afterwards there will come to you a messenger (muhammad) must, then, believe in him and help him). ¹

among these prophets, who gave prophecies of the next prophet, was prophet abraham (pbuh), when he said the prayer {"our lord! send amongst them a messenger of their own (and indeed allâh answered their invocation by sending muhammad peace be upon him ), who shall recite unto them your verses and instruct them in the book (this qur'ân) and al-hikmah (full knowledge of the islamic laws and jurisprudence or wisdom or prophet-hood, etc.), and sanctify them. verily! you are the all-mighty, the all-wise."} (al baqara: 129).

jesus (pbuh) {and (remember) when 'iesa (jesus), son of maryam (mary), said: "o children of israel! i am the messenger of allâh unto you, confirming the taurât [(torah) which came] before me, and giving glad tidings of a messenger to come after me. whose name shall be ahmed. but when he (ahmed i.e. muhammad) came to them with clear proofs, they said: "this is plain magic."} (al saff :6).

muhammad (pbuh) said, (god considers me the last and final prophet, since adam is twisted in his clay, and i will inform you of my beginning. i am the answer of abraham's prayer, and the prophecy of jesus, and the dream that my mother saw when she delivered me, as a very bright light came out of her, where the palaces of syria shined). ²

naturally, the prophets’ great attention to the "final prophet” should make them talk about him in their writings, his description and conditions.

the holy quran confirmed that, these prophecies exist in the books of the christians and jews. {those who follow the messenger, the prophet who can neither read nor write (i. e. muhammad) whom they find written with them in the taurât (torah) (deut, xviii, 15) and the injeel (gospel) (john xiv, 16) , - he commands them for al-ma'rûf (i.e. islâmic monotheism and all that islâm has ordained); and forbids them from al-munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism of all kinds, and all that islâm has forbidden); he allows them as lawful at-taiyibât [(i.e. all good and lawful) as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc.], and prohibits them as unlawful al-khabâ'ith (i.e. all evil and unlawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc.), he releases them from their heavy burdens (of allâh's covenant), and from the fetters (bindings) that were upon them. so those who believe in him (muhammad), honour him, help him, and follow the light (the qur'ân) which has been sent down with him, it is they who will be successful.} (al-aaraf: 157).

allah, informing us about the existence of these prophecies about prophet muhammad (pbuh), his nation and his companions in the torah and the bible, said: {muhammad is the messenger of allâh, and those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves. you see them bowing and falling down prostrate (in prayer), seeking bounty from allâh and (his) good pleasure. the mark of them (i.e. of their faith) is on their faces (foreheads) from the traces of (their) prostration (during prayers). this is their description in the taurât (torah). but their description in the injeel (gospel) is like a (sown) seed which sends forth its shoot, then makes it strong, it then becomes thick, and it stands straight on its stem, delighting the sowers that he may enrage the disbelievers with them. allâh has promised those among them who believe (i.e. all those who follow islamic monotheism, the religion of prophet muhammad till the day of resurrection) and do righteous good deeds, forgiveness and a mighty reward (i.e. paradise)} (al-fath: 29).

the noble quran did not tell in detail about the description of muhammad (pbuh) and his conditions mentioned in the books of the jews and christians. however, it informs us about one important fact, that the jews and the christians know this messenger of god as they know their own children. he was mentioned many times by their prophets and through their books. {those to whom we have given the scripture (jews and christians) recognize him

(i.e. muhammad as a messenger of allâh, and they also know that there is no ilah (god) but allâh and islâm is allâh's religion), as they recognize their own sons. those who destroy themselves will not believe. (tafsir at-tabarî)} (al-anaam: 20)

with no doubt, this knowledge comes from the number of or the clarity of the prophecies mentioned in their books about him (pbuh).

we will try to touch some of these prophecies in the following pages, hoping that we can succeed in clarifying the alterations that come in these books, avoiding many of the misunderstandings that happen to christians trying to understand these prophecies.