Written by Ibrahim Poncardas Romas

Leaflet # 27


ISHMAEL (PBUH) WAS BLESSED AND HEARD

The life and religion (way of life) of Muhammad (pbuh) can be fully understood only if we trace back the story of Ishmael (pbuh), the son of Ibrahim (Abraham-pbuh). Actually there are many prophecies of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in the Old Testament of the Bible. However, in this article, I will focus my discussion according to the words of Jesus Christ, in the New Testament of the Bible. But before I proceed, allow me to quote some passages in the Old Testament as a background of Muhammad’s ancestors and concerning the promise of God.


Let us start from the beginning (Genesis): The name "Ishmael" appeared in Genesis of the NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (1978) of the Bible 15 times. The story of Ishmael the son of Ibrahim (Abraham-pbuh) in the Old Testament testifies that Ishmael means "God heard": (Gen 16:11 NIV), the angel of the LORD also said to Hagar: "You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard of your misery." In fact even in the Jewish tradition and in the Christian literature the name "Ishmael" literally means, "God hears."


(Gen 17:20 NIV) "And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation." Not less than four times is the word "HEARD" mentioned by God due to Ishmael--Gen. 16:11, 17:20, 21:17. Concerning Ishmael God said, "I will bless or I have heard" several times in Genesis of the "Old Testament," yet Jews and Christians strongly ignore, and instead say that Ishmael was an illegitimate son and look down on Ishmael and to his descendants: today Jews and Christians believe that Arabs and Muslims are illegitimate children of Ishmael (pbuh). "Thus, Islam propagated by those people is a religion that has no values and significance, because these faith and actions could be traced to Ishmael who was a bastard." Nowhere in the Bible that God said, "Ishmael was an illegitimate son."


EVERLASTING COVENANT

(Gen 17:10-11, 24-25 NIV) "This is my covenant with you and your descendants … Every male among you shall be circumcised. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, and his son Ishmael was thirteen." "This is my covenant with you and your descendants…" At that time of circumcision, Isaac was not yet born: "Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him." (Gen 21:5 NIV). Circumcision is of great importance for people who love God and hygiene: For Muslims, Arabs, and Filipinos (Muslims and non-Muslims) circumcision is a symbol and tradition. To be hygienic is an obligatory in Islam. Remember that circumcision is a covenant of God to Abraham and to his descendants, peace be upon them: The words "to you (Abraham) and your descendants" which mean an everlasting covenant.


ACCORDING TO JESUS CHRIST (PBUH)

In the annals of religious and prophetical history there is no other nation, faith, or practice that has been rejected, but Islam. When a Muslim preaches the message (values) and the beauty of Islam, the protagonist will trace back the story of Ishmael. Thus the word of Jesus Christ is undisputedly true: Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone ; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? ( Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17, Mat 21:42 NIV)

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Jesus (pbuh) was reminding them in the "Scripture" surely not the records of the "New Testament" of the Bible, because the "New Testament" was not existing during his time. The "stone" refers to the person that had been rejected by the Israelis because Jews believe themselves to be the "chosen people." The "builders" refers to the tribes of Israel (children of Jacob) who rejected the legitimacy of Ishmael as the son of Ibrahim (Abraham) through Hagar. The Arabs and Muslims believe that Major Prophets were born from the lineage of Jacob-pbuh (which has changed to Israel). Thus, the Jews had been referred as "builders" or the "guardians" of the laws of God, but they became arrogant and changed (altered) the laws of God, even Jesus Christ (pbuh) testified: according to the Christian records. The Israelis (Jews) and Christians brand the Arabs and Muslims to be illegitimate children of Ibrahim (Abraham-pbuh) through Ishmael (pbuh).


A NATION BRINGING FORTH THE FRUITS

(Mat 21:43 KJV) "Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." In Genesis 17:20; …I will make him (Ishmael) fruitful…great nation." The "kingdom" here is referred to the builders and system, which had been ignored by Scribes and Pharisees (the so-called intellectuals of the Israelis). According to Jesus: "Given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." The "Christian and Jewish Nation" in general representing the West (Jewish Nation is an off-shoot of the Western Nation) undoubtedly is the most fruitful or great nation when it refers to technology. But when it refers to godly morals and values they are the most backward nation on earth: some of them do not believe in God and hate religion. They separate religion from any affairs of the state. The "Western Nation" which claims to be the most civilized nation legalize and moralize devilish things (laws), such as: mass destruction (with the pretext of defense), genocide, gambling industry, wine industry, usury, nudity, free-sex, homosexuality, deceit, etc. Based on God's Will (laws), do you think Jesus (pbuh) considers the "Western Nation" or "Christian-Jewish Nation" to be a fruitful or great nation? A society cannot stand if no punishment is imposed to violators. In Christianity: "… Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you…" (Mat 5:44 KJV). Christian communities hate superficially the devilish laws of their own state, but they are swimming and depending on the devilish laws. Jesus said, "You snakes!" "You hypocrites!" (Matt.15:7;23:33). Jewish Nation is almost the same with Christianity. Jewish Nation promotes racism, read the Bible, Numbers 31:17-19. In the Old Testament the Mercy of God and His laws generally referred only to Israelis and to the extent they claim to be "Chosen Nation". A nation that fights and hates devilish things, that is a nation that Jesus referred to as "fruitful nation," i.e. Islam. Because in Islam, state and church are not separated.


IN CHRISTIANITY, THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD

Jesus said, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you." (John 16:13-14 KJV). In John 16:13 the only verse in the Bible that seven (7) times a masculine pronoun has been repeated: Indeed, it is referred to Muhammad (pbuh). After Jesus Christ (pbuh), Muhammad (pbuh) was born (570 Christian era in the land of Arabia): at the age of 40 he received the first revelation which lasted for 23 years, i.e., Qur'aan. Those things had been fulfilled in Muhammad (pbuh) who was the great descendant of Ishmael (pbuh), whom even until now the Israelis and Christians are rejecting them (Ishmael & Muhammad) to be a men of God. Muhammad (pbuh) glorified JESUS CHRIST (pbuh) and continues to preach Islam--that is submission to the will of God. "He" does not refer to Spirit: "He" refers to a prophet. Spirit, according to Christianity, is one of God's personalities. Does God cannot speak of Himself? God can do and talk of Himself, contrary to a person coming after Jesus (pbuh), who has to be dictated and no other than a character of prophet, not God. A prophet will talk and do only according to what he hears from above. The Spirit was existing before and during Jesus' time. In saying that "Spirit will come after Jesus" is redundant and it manifests ignorance in the Old Testament, as well as the ministry of Jesus.


Most Chrstians say, "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John The Baptist." Ask them, did you know Ellen G. White, Joseph Smith, Felix Manalo…? The members of "Iglesia Ni Kristio" are energetic to elaborate Felix Manalo as a Prophet, using the Bible. But if I will use it to prove Muhammad (pbuh), how incosiderate they are!


Finally, perhaps an adverse party will question, that "Muhammad's name is not mentioned in the New Testament!" Simply, I respond, is Jesus' name mentioned in the Old Testament? Then, why the Christian Ministers do preach that Jesus Christ is foretold in the Old Testament, hundred times. Why then the same method cannot be applied to Muhammad (pbuh) in terms of prophecies if we are men of justice and knowledge.


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