Zakir Naik refuted on Prophet Muhammad being prophesied in the bible (Ch.

Jamkhokai Mate)
Zakir Naik is one of the most controversial figures right now in India; every time you open a News channels the whole page or part of it
is filled with his story. I have no hatred for him in term of his religion but I am well cautious about his misquotation of religious
scripture from other faith. He claims himself as an expert on various religions and people revered him as a brilliant scholar. After
watching one of his video I have seen him misquoting many verses from the bible trying hard to proof that prophet Muhammad was
prophesied even in the OT Bible. The bad thing is he misrepresents every single doctrine of the bible and here is my refutation.
In the first place, he quote Deuteronomy 18:18: I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee,

and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. He boldly said this refers to
Prophet Muhammad and even Christians admit it. But if Dr. Naik is really an expert on Christian religion he would have seen this verse
as his own repudiation because every Christian knows that Deuteronomy is referring to Christ and inspired apostle Peter applies this
verse to Jesus Christ in its fulfillment in Acts 3:19:-23:Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of
refreshing may come from the Lord,

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and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for youeven Jesus. 21 Heaven must

receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.

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For Moses said,

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.
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Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people. Peter did not have to wait for more than 500 years.

This verse is often misquoted and smuggled by imposter like Zakir Naik. We also have to know that when Moses talk about his
successor he is emphasizing his uniqueness in performing great miracles as well: Deuteronomy 34:10-12 says: Since then, no prophet
has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, who did all those signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in
Egypt--to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the
awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. Contrary to this even Quran itself confirms that Muhammad never did any
miracles, he was once asked by his fellows that Moses the prophet of God did great miracle and you being a prophet do not miracles. In
reply Muhammad answered and said to them that Allah gave him no such the power to do such miracles, all He gave him was the
inspired Quran. This is mentioned even in Quran in Surah Al-Qasas 28:48: But when the truth came to them from Us, they said, "Why
was he not given like that which was given to Moses?" Did they not disbelieve in that which was given to Moses before? They said,
"[They are but] two works of magic supporting each other, and indeed we are, in both, disbelievers."49: Say, "Then bring a scripture
from Allah which is more guiding than either of them that I may follow it, if you should be truthful." 50. But if they do not respond to you
- then know that they only follow their [own] desires. And who is more astray than one who follows his desire without guidance from
Allah? Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people. 51. And we have [repeatedly] conveyed to them the Qur'an that they might
be reminded (Sahid International Translation). Let us recapitulate Deuteronomy18:18 again and expound; the words "from among
their brethren are almost certainly genuine, though even without them the meaning is clear. It is true that Ishmael was Isaac's halfbrother: but, if the Ishmaelites may be called the brethren of Israel, assuredly, the Israelite tribes within themselves may more correctly
be called one another's brethren in this very book of Deuteronomy, e.g., in chapters 3:18; 15:7; 17:15; 24:14. To reinforced the point in
the same book in Deuteronomy 17:15 we have an exactly parallel passage in reference to the appointment of a king: You shall surely set
him king over you, whom the LORD your God shall choose: one from among your brethren shall you set king over you: you may not set
a stranger over you, who is not your brother. Even the word their brethrens in Hebrew is Ahehem used 36 times in the OT bible to
refers to Israelites own nation. So far as Israel History they have not chosen any Arab as their king and so among their brothers is
historically and biblically refuted to Zakir Naik for Muhammad to be part of Deuteronomy prophecy. In addition that Jesus precisely
referred himself to Moses words John 5:46; If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. From the light of
the above discussion Deuteronomy teach nothing about prophets Israelites expected from ISMAELITE nation, or to Prophet
Muhammad.
Second: Another misquote is from the Song of Solomon 5:16: His mouth is most sweet; Yea, he is altogether lovely (Machamadim
root word from machmad). This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem. Zakir Naik asserts that the word
Machmadim is a personal reference to Muhammad the Prophet and im added in the last part of his name is a reference to respect like
Elohim in Semitic language. This is a far stretch; just because some languages have similar tone or same sound does not mean they are

of the same meaning. The word machmad is translated in the bible in various ways such as: desirable, pleasant, precious ones,
treasures etc and appear 12 times in the Hebrew OT. In Ezekiel 24:21: the same word is used Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith
the Lord GOD; Behold, I will desecrate my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire (Machmad) of your eyes, and that
which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword. If we assume Zakir Naik way of
interpretation, it implies that God will profane Muhammad and destroy him along with all his people which Zaik will never agree. If he
follows sound hermeneutical approach he will have to contradict his explanation on Song of Solomon which is book in which husband
and wives share their intimacy praising the physical bodies of their love one. Naik if he is really an expert in bible he will never used or
smuggle this particular text.
Third: He quotes John 14:16: to apply to Muhammad And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may
abide with you forever. However the comforter is the Holy Spirit in the same chapter in verse 26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy
Ghost, 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 unto you. Is Prophet Muhammad the comforter? The inspired bible (injeel) says it is the Holy Spirit but Zakir Naik who
claims himself as an expert in bible says it is Prophet Muhammad. Also Jesus said the Father will send in his name, Quran states that
God (Allah) cannot be a Father to anyone (Surah 114:1-4, 19:88-93, 4:171), and the highest relationship man can have with God is to be
a slaves (Surah 19:93); and Quran itself refutes Zakir Naik false assertion of John 14. In addition to that verse 17 says: the Spirit of
truth, whom the world is not able to receive, because it does not see Him nor know. But you know Him, for He abides with you and He
will be in you. Was Muhammad already there when Jesus said this word for He abides with you (30-33 AD)? Does not history record
Prophet Muhammads birth in 532 AD? In short my personal view on Zakir Naik is that he is not what he claimed; he is imposter and
cannot represent a true Islamic scholar. Even his claim about expert in many religions particularly in Christian doctrine is a
questionable statement.
[Note: this article does not condemn the religion of Islam or Quran but Zakir Naik who misquotes and misrepresents Christian belief]

Ch. Jamkhokai Mate

Scientist, ICAR-Govt. of India