Muslim "linguist" Shibli Zaman has written a short article seeking to prove that Isaiah 42:1-11 is a prophecy of Muhammad. He bases much of his argument on the following tradition:

Saheeh al-Bukhari, Chapter 3, Narration 335

Ata bin Yasar reported:

I met Abdullah bin `Amr bin al-`Aas and asked him, "Tell me about the description of the Messenger of Allah which is mentioned in the Torah." He replied, 'Yes. By Allah, he is mentioned in the Torah with his qualities found in the Qur'an as follows, 'O Prophet! We have sent you as a witness, and a giver of glad tidings, And a warner, and guardian of the illiterates. You are My slave and My Messenger. I have named you 'al-Mutawakkil' (meaning 'Allah's dependent'). You are neither discourteous, harsh, nor a noise-maker in the markets; You do not do evil to those Who do evil to you, but you deal With them with forgiveness and kindness. Allah will not let him die till he makes upright the crooked people by making them say: None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, with which will be opened blind eyes, deaf ears and enveloped hearts." [The Authenticated Collection of al-Bukhari, 3:335]

After citing the above Zaman claims:

Anyone familiar with the Old Testament should recognize this immediately. A chapter of uncanny resemblance to this exists in the Book of Isaiah. However, the mystery rests in the fact that there is no evidence that the Book of Isaiah was accessible to the Arabs in the late 7th century A.D. How then was this kind of detail known?

RESPONSE:

The claim "that this kind of detail could not have been known at the time of Muhammad" has become a Muslim mantra, but it is amusing how Zaman uses it here without thinking. Usually this claim is made in regard to amazing "scientific information" that is allegedly found in the Qur'an and sometimes in sayings of Muhammad in order to show that these could only have come from a divine source. Two examples from Shibli Zaman's current website are:

Regarding the Quranic information about ants:

So in conclusion, how does the Qur'ân document such detail which would have literally been unknowable in the 7th century CE? According to those who say the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) invented the Qur'ân, one would have to conclude that he was a Biblical Scholar, a Semitic Etymologist with prowess in Hebrew, Syriac and Greek on a scholarly level, an OB-Gyn, a Chemist, a Meterologist, a Geologist, a Zoologist, a Chemist, etc, etc, and now an Entomologist!! Maybe he had a time machine, eh? Dismissing the Qur'ân as the Prophet's (peace be upon him) invention creates more problems than it addresses. (Talking Ants in the Qur'an?)

Regarding underwater volcanoes:

Now, praytell, who knew this in the 7th century AD and how did a desert Arab in that century who claimed to be sent by God mysteriously know that? This is a question that behooves the skeptics to answer. (Fire Under the Sea?)

In this case, however, the mantra went terribly wrong since Zaman used it mindlessly. So, what is wrong with it?

In the above quoted hadith, we read that one Muslim asked another Muslim to tell him about the description of Muhammad in the Torah. Just as today, Muslims in Muhammad's time were convinced that their prophet is foretold in the Jewish and Christian Scriptures. In this case, they were convinced that Muhammad is not only mentioned but even described in the Torah. This seems to have been "general knowledge" (or better: a general assumption) among Muslims already at a very early time. The second Muslim then proceeds to quote this above given description from the Torah. What was the purpose of Zaman's question regarding the source of these "unknown details"? Where is the miracle? Does he suggest that these Muslims whose conversation is narrated here received this information by direct divine revelation? Certainly not. It is obvious that these early Muslims had direct or indirect access to the Jewish Scriptures. There is no mystery in this hadith — not even the slightest indication that Abdullah bin `Amr bin al-`Aas came to know about this passage from Isaiah by any other way than how people usually learn about what is written in books.

Thus, the only mystery is how Zaman could claim that Isaiah was not accessible to the Arabs when this hadith has a Muslim QUOTING FROM IT! Is Zaman suggesting that Al-Bukhari fabricated this hadith and projected later knowledge back into the time of Muhammad and his followers? Obviously not since he concludes Bukhari’s quote by mentioning that this comes from his authenticated collection.

The fact that the Muslims had access to a Torah is substantiated in the following hadiths:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said, "A group of Israelites were lost. Nobody knows what they did. But I do not see them except that they were cursed and changed into rats, for if you put the milk of a she-camel in front of a rat, it will not drink it, but if the milk of a sheep is put in front of it, it will drink it." I told this to Ka'b who asked me, "Did you hear it from the Prophet ?" I said, "Yes." Ka'b asked me the same question several times. I said to Ka'b. "Do I read the Torah? (i.e. I tell you this from the Prophet.)" (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 54, Number 524)

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar:

The Jews came to Allah's Apostle and told him that a man and a woman from amongst them had committed illegal sexual intercourse. Allah's Apostle said to them, "What do you find in the Torah (old Testament) about the legal punishment of Ar-Rajm (stoning)?" They replied, (But) we announce their crime and lash them." Abdullah bin Salam said, "You are telling a lie; Torah contains the order of Rajm." They brought and opened the Torah and one of them solaced his hand on the Verse of Rajm and read the verses preceding and following it. Abdullah bin Salam said to him, "Lift your hand." When he lifted his hand, the Verse of Rajm was written there. They said, "Muhammad has told the truth; the Torah has the Verse of Rajm. The Prophet then gave the order that both of them should be stoned to death. ('Abdullah bin 'Umar said, "I saw the man leaning over the woman to shelter her from the stones." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 56, Number 829)

Narrated Abu Hurayrah:

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday; on it Adam was created, on it he was expelled (from Paradise), on it his contrition was accepted, on it he died, and on it the Last Hour will take place. On Friday every beast is on the lookout from dawn to sunrise in fear of the Last Hour, but not jinn and men, and it contains a time at which no Muslim prays and asks anything from Allah but He will give it to him. Ka'b said: That is one day every year. So I said: It is on every Friday. Ka'b read the Torah and said: The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) has spoken the truth… (Sunan of Abu Dawud, Book 3, Number 1041)

Narrated Salman al-Farsi:

I read in the Torah that the blessing of food consists in ablution before it. So I mentioned it to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him). He said: The blessing of food consists in ablution before it and ablution after it. (Sunan of Abu Dawud, Book 27, Number 3752)

Furthermore, even if Isaiah was not directly accessible to the Arabs, it was accessible to the Jews who could have passed it on to the Arabs, especially those Jews who converted to Islam.

What is the "Torah"?

"In Jewish tradition the word 'Torah', which literally means 'teaching', is often used to describe the entire gamut of Jewish religious learning. When so used, 'Torah' refers not only to the five books of Moses, but also to the Prophets, Holy Writings, Talmud, and Midrash -- In fact all religious writings from earliest times to the present." [This is the Torah, Alfred J. Kolatch]

The word "Tawrah" in the Arabic language is used for the Old Testament and all Jewish scriptures. "Zaboor" is used for the "Psalms" (from the root "Zibrah" or "Zimrah" in ancient Hebrew and Aramaic) within the Old Testament. This is how it has been understood by the Jewish nation historically and this is how it was understood by the Arabs and early Muslims.

Zaman seeks to establish that Torah can be used in a broader sense to refer to the entire Hebrew Bible, as well as other Jewish sources. It is always good to discover that there is at least something that we can agree upon.

In any case, the main issue is not how the Muslims learned about this passage in Isaiah, but whether the Muslim claim is true that this passage speaks about Muhammad. We will shortly turn to a detailed examination of this most important question, but first Zaman presents the readers with a comparison table which he expects to be shocking to Christians:

This prophecy recorded by al-Bukhari is in 42:1-7 and scattered elsewhere in Isaiah. I will break down 1-7 verse by verse in order to lucidate who this is quite clearly speaking about.

Isaiah 42:1-11, Bukhari 3:335 - The Shocking Comparison

Isaiah 42	Bukhari
"Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles." [Isaiah 42:1]	"You are My servant and My messenger. I have named you 'al Mutawakkil' (meaning 'the one who depends on Allah')" [Bukhari 3:335]
"He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street." [Isaiah 42:2]	"You are neither discourteous, harsh Nor a noise-maker in the markets.." [Bukhari 3:335]
"A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth." [Isaiah 42:3]	"And you do not do evil to those Who do evil to you, but you deal With them with forgiveness and kindness." [Bukhari 3:335]
"He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law." [Isaiah 42:4]	"I have named you 'Al-Mutawakkil' (meaning 'Allah's dependent')....Allah will not let him die till he makes upright the crooked people by making them say: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,' " [Bukhari 3:335]
"Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;" [Isaiah 42:5-6]	"I have named you 'Al-Mutawakkil' (meaning 'Allah's dependent')....Allah will not let him die till he makes upright the crooked people by making them say: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,' " [Bukhari 3:335]
"To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house." [Isaiah 42:7]	"With which will be opened blind eyes And deaf ears and enveloped hearts." [Bukhari 3:335]
"Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains." [Isaiah 42:10-11]

RESPONSE:

Here is our question for Zaman: WHAT exactly is so shocking about the fact that a quotation is quite similar to the original?

The only truly shocking, or rather amusing, aspect about this is that Zaman expects that this should shock his readers. Let's read the relevant part of the hadith again:

Ata bin Yasar reported: I met Abdullah bin `Amr bin al-`Aas and asked him, "Tell me about the description of the Messenger of Allah which is mentioned in the Torah." He replied, 'Yes. By Allah, he is mentioned in the Torah with his qualities found in the Qur'an as follows, ...

The hadith states clearly that Ata requested information from Abdullah about what the TORAH says about Muhammad, and Abdullah replied that the TORAH speaks about him (in agreement with what is found in the Quran) in the following way ...   Zaman seems to have completely missed the point that this was supposed to be a quotation.

It is common and acceptable to find writers or narrators giving a citation in paraphrase as opposed to quoting it verbatim. Moreover, there is always something lost in translation from one language to another. We have here a comparison between an English rendering of a Hebrew text, and a English rendering of an Arabic text which is in turn a paraphrase of the same Hebrew text. So, it is to be expected that there are some minor variations. However that may be, we should certainly not be surprised, let alone shocked, about the similarities that Zaman highlighted. It would be pretty bad if these were not there. There is no mystery or miracle whatsoever in the observation that a quotation is similar to the original.

On the contrary, if one wants to compare the original passage in the book of Isaiah with its citation in Al-Bukhari at all, it would be more interesting to observe and discuss the various differences, both glaring changes and subtle shifts of meaning that were introduced by the Muslim narrators. Let's look at just one example. The original formulation of Isaiah 42:7 ("to open the blind eyes ...") can be understood both literally (giving sight to the blind) and metaphorically (bringing truth to end spiritual blindness and ignorance). Jesus did both. Ending spiritual blindness by bringing the message of truth is the task of every prophet of God. Giving sight to the blind is a special authenticating miracle of God. Jesus gave sight to several blind people, including one who was born blind (John 9) which was part of the evidence confirming him as the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament. Abdallah was apparently very aware that Muhammad had not healed any blind people and therefore he worded the statement in a way that can only be understood metaphorically ("... by making them say: None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, with which will be opened blind eyes, ...").

The question whether Muslim traditions are accurate when quoting from the Bible is, however, not the topic of this article, nor does either the content or the accuracy of the citation found in this hadith (from 700 AD) have any consequence for the question whether Isaiah 42 (from 700 BC) refers to Muhammad or not, so that we want to leave it at this short observation and continue with the issue at hand.

When looking at this hadith objectively, i.e. with considerably less excitement than Zaman brings to it, then it becomes clear that the narration in Al-Bukhari 3:335 merely reports the OPINION of an early Muslim who thinks that Isaiah 42 refers to Muhammad. [In fact, it does not even report a statement of Muhammad himself.] The opinion of Abdallah has no more authority than any one of the many books and articles by contemporary Muslim authors who make similar claims for dozens of passages in the Bible (cf. our section Is Muhammad Foretold in the Bible?). The narration of this opinion may well be authentic, whether the opinion itself is correct is, however, a different issue.

Therefore, we now turn to the evidence presented for the claim that this passage supposedly speaks about Muhammad, beginning with Zaman's comments regarding Isaiah’s reference to Kedar:

Who is Kedar?

[Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament, H.W.F. Gesenius, page 724]

"Kedar" is obviously a reference to the Arabs as Gesenius states, "The Rabbins call all Arabians universally by this name; whence 'Leshon Qedar' Rabbin. used of the Arabic language." So now we must look in history and see which man who claimed to have a message of God preached monotheism as espoused by the previous Israelite prophets to the Arabs in the Arabic language, the Leshon Qedar? Did Jesus preach to the Arabs? Obviously not. Then who did? We are left with only one single figure in history who led the desert Arabs to spread across a majority of the known world within a span of 50-70 years.

Later on Zaman claims:

Then one is left to ask who this individual is who would be a light for the Gentile (non-Israelite) world. Who is this Kedarite Arab who would preach to the Arabs in the Arabic Language, the Leshon Qedar? Which personality in history are such things attributed to? None of than the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the successor to Christ and the Seal of the Prophets.

RESPONSE:

Notice how Zaman has managed to read his own Islamic theology into the text of Isaiah. Isaiah 42:11 doesn’t say that the servant is a "Kedarite Arab who" preaches "to the Arabs in the Arabic Language." Zaman has taken the comments of the rabbis regarding the name given to the speech of the Arabs and erroneously inserted this into the text of Isaiah in order to derive his assertion that the servant would preach in the Arabic language!

The major problem with this eisegetical blunder is that Gesenius and the rabbis were not even addressing Isaiah 42:11, but were focusing on the identity and use of the word Kedar. Even though the rabbis used Kedar as a designation for all the Arabs and called their language Leshon Qedar as a result of it, Isaiah says nothing about the servant speaking Arabic! Here is the passage in question, this time with the surrounding context:

"Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them. Let the DESERT and ITS TOWNS raise their voices; let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice. Let the people of SELA sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops. Let them give glory to the LORD and proclaim his praise in the islands." Isaiah 42:10-12

It is clear from the context that Isaiah was calling all the peoples to praise God for what he has done and will do. After the general introductory statement mentioning "the ends of the earth" Isaiah uses examples of contrast to illustrate this: Those living in the flat coastland near the sea, those living on islands (surrounded by water), and those living in the desert (lacking water), and finally those living on the mountains. All people in all different geographic locations are called to praise the LORD. Kedar is mentioned by way of illustration as one example in a list of several but is in no way singled out as special. Particularly, Isaiah says nothing about Arabic being the language which will be used to praise God, or to preach his word, nor does Isaiah state that the servant mentioned in 42:1-7 comes from Kedar, let alone being a "figure in history who led the desert Arabs to spread across a majority of the known world within a span of 50-70 years." All these ‘conclusions’ are merely a product of Zaman's much too vivid imagination.

Zaman seeks to prove that Jesus can’t be the servant since Christ wasn’t sent to the Gentiles:

Was Jesus Sent to the Gentiles?

Now regarding whether Jesus could have possibly been the "light of the Gentiles" mentioned in Isaiah 42, let us review Matthew 15:22-27:

"And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." [Matthew 15:22-27]

Thus, Jesus plainly says he is not a Messenger for the Gentiles and his message is not a final one for all of mankind. Glad tidings to the Gentiles? That you are all dogs? This is an obvious incompatibility with Isaiah 42.

Due to this obvious insurmountability of this point, the following verses can never apply to Jesus.

RESPONSE:

The issue of whether Christ was sent to the Gentiles or not, and his calling Gentiles "dogs", have already been thoroughly addressed in the following articles:

http://answering-islam.org/Hahn/gentiles.html
http://answering-islam.org/Morin/israel.html
http://www.christian-thinktank.com/qcrude.html
http://answering-islam.org/BibleCom/mt15-1.html
http://answering-islam.org/authors/beck/universal.html

So there is no need to repeat ourselves.

We would like to briefly focus here on the Islamic view of Christ’s mission. Since Zaman is a Muslim we now turn to his own sources in order to see if whether his claim that Jesus was sent ONLY to the nation of Israel is Islamically true:

"Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East. She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent her Our Spirit, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects. She said: 'I seek refuge from thee to (Allah) Most Gracious: (come not near) if thou dost fear Allah.' He said: 'Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord, (to announce) to thee the gift of a pure son. She said: 'How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?' He said: 'So (it will be): thy Lord saith, "That is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign UNTO MEN (lilnnasi) and a Mercy from Us". It is a matter (so) decreed.'" S. 19:16-21

"And (remember) her who guarded her chastity: We breathed into her of Our spirit, and We made her and her son a sign for ALL PEOPLES (lilAAalameena)." S. 21:91

These passages show that Jesus and his mother are signs to all mankind, with Jesus also being a mercy from God.

Commenting on the preceding, Abdullah Yusuf Ali twice states that Jesus’ mission was intended for all men:

"Mary the mother of Jesus, chastity was her special virtue: with a son of virgin birth, she and Jesus became a miracle to all nations. This was the virtue with which they (both Mary and Jesus) resisted evil." (Ali, The Holy Qur'an - Text and Commentary, p. 815, fn. 2748)

And:

"The mission of Jesus is announced in two ways (1) he was to be a sign to men: his wonderful birth and wonderful life were to turn an ungodly world to Allah: and (2) his mission was to bring solace and salvation to the repentant ..." (Ibid., p. 748, f. 2473)

While commenting on the different elections, Muslim exegete Ar-Razi notes:

"As for the second type of election ... it is that God granted her (Mary) Jesus without a father. He moreover, made Jesus speak as soon as he was separated from her, so that he testified to her innocence from all suspicion. God also made her and her son a sign for humankind." (Ayoub, The Qur'an and Its Interpreters, Volume II, The House of Imran [State University of New York Press, Albany 1992], p. 126; bold emphasis ours)

According to some Muslims, Muhammad’s mission was similar to Jesus in that both of them commanded their followers to spread their message throughout the world. Ibn Ishaq in his Sirat Rasulullah wrote:

"'God has sent me (Muhammad) to all men, so take a message from me, God have mercy on you. Do not hang back from me as the disciples hung back from Jesus son of Mary.' They asked how they hung back and he said, 'He called them to a task similar to that which I have called you. Those who had to go a short journey were pleased and accepted. Those who had a long journey before them were displeased and refused to go, and Jesus complained of them to God. (T. From that very night) every one of them was able to speak THE LANGUAGE OF THE PEOPLE TO WHOM HE WAS SENT.' (T. Jesus said, 'This is a thing that God has determined that you should do, so go.')

"Those whom Jesus son of Mary sent, both disciples and those who came after them, in the land were: Peter the disciple AND PAUL WITH HIM, (Paul belonged to the followers and was not a disciple) to Rome. Andrew and Matthew to the land of the cannibals; Thomas to the land of Babel, which is in the land of the east; Philip to Carthage and Africa; John to Ephesus the city of the young men of the cave; James to Jerusalem which is Aelia the city of the sanctuary; Bartholomew to ARABIA WHICH IS THE LAND OF HIJAZ; Simon to the land of Berbers; Judah who was not one of the disciples was put in place of Judas.'" (Alfred Guillaume, The Life of Muhammad, Oxford University Press Karachi, p. 653; bold and capital emphasis ours)

Al-Tabari also mentions this tradition:

"He (Jesus) began to use such language announcing his death. Then he said, 'The truth is that one of you shall deny me thrice before the cock-crow, and one of you will shall sell me for a few coins, and he shall eat my price.' They walked out and dispersed. The Jews were looking for him. They seized Simeon, one of the apostles, and said, 'This one is a companion of his.' But he denied it, and said, 'I am not his companion.' So they left him. Then another caught him, but he denied it again. Then he heard the cock crow, and wept. When morning came, one of the apostles came to the Jews, and said, 'What will you give me if I lead you to Christ?' And they set for him thirty pieces of silver. He took those, and led them to him. Before that they were not sure of Christ. But now they seized him, chained him, tied him with cord, and began to lead him away, saying, 'You revived the dead, chased away the devil, and cured the possessed, will you not set yourself free from this cord?' They spat upon him and threw thorns upon him, until they brought the wooden board upon which they wanted to crucify him. But God raised him up to Himself and they crucified 'only a likeness of that shown them.' A week passed. Then his mother and the woman whom Jesus healed and cured from derangement came weeping at the place of crucifixion. But Jesus came to them and said, 'Why are you weeping?' They said, 'Because of you;' whereupon he replied, 'God raised me up to Himself, and nothing but good has happened to me. Only a likeness was shown to them. Instruct the apostles to meet me at place such and such. They met him at that place, eleven of them, as the one who had betrayed him and led the Jews to him was missing. Jesus asked the apostles about him. They said, 'He rued what he had done, and strangled himself to death.' Jesus said, 'Had he repented, God would have forgiven him.' He asked them about John, a youth who was following them, and said, 'He is with you. Go! EACH OF YOU WILL SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OF A PEOPLE TO WARN AND SUMMON THEM' ...

"Among the apostles, and the followers who came after them were the Apostle Peter and Paul who was a follower and not an apostle; they went to Rome. Andrew and Matthew were sent to the country whose people are man-eaters, a land of blacks, we think; Thomas was sent to Babylonia in the east, Philip to Qayrawan (and) Carthage, that is, North Africa. John went to Ephesus, the city of the youths of the cave, and James to Jerusalem, that is, Aelia. Bartholomew was sent to Arabia, namely, the Hijaz; Simeon to the land of the Berbers in Africa. Judas was not then an apostle, so his place was taken by Ariobus. He filled in for Judas Iscariot after the latter had perpetrated his deed." (The History of al-Tabari - The Ancient Kingdoms, Vol. IV, trans. Moshe Perlmann [State University of New York Press, Albany 1987], pp. 121-122, 123; bold emphasis ours)

The Islamic traditions also state that Jesus will come again and rule over mankind as a just judge:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle said, "By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, surely (Jesus,) the son of Mary will soon descend amongst you and will judge mankind justly (as a Just Ruler); he will break the Cross and kill the pigs and there will be no Jizya (i.e. taxation taken from non Muslims). Money will be in abundance so that nobody will accept it, and a single prostration to Allah (in prayer) will be better than the whole world and whatever is in it." Abu Huraira added "If you wish, you can recite (this verse of the Holy Book): -- 'And there is none Of the people of the Scriptures (Jews and Christians) But must believe in him (i.e Jesus as an Apostle of Allah and a human being) Before his death. And on the Day of Judgment He will be a witness Against them." (4.159) (See Fateh Al Bari, Page 302 Vol 7) (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 55, Number 657)

This last point is pertinent in identifying God’s servant since one of his functions is to judge justly.

In light of the foregoing, Zaman’s claim that Jesus was sent only to Israel is not only unbiblical in that it distorts the meaning of the Gospel text, but contradicts his own Muslim sources! Even if the Bible had taught that Jesus was sent only to Israel, Shibi would still have to face the music and deal with the preceding Islamic quotations which teach otherwise.

Finally, the readers may be interested to know that this same method of interpreting the Bible can be applied more forcefully to the Quran to show that Muhammad was not a universal Prophet. In fact he wasn’t even a true prophet at all! For more on the issue of whether Muhammad was a universal messenger please read the article http://answering-islam.org/Muhammad/warner.html

Isaiah 42:1-11 — The Uncanny Refutation

In this section we hope to accomplish the following objectives:

1. The identity of the Servant according to Isaiah.
2. The Rabbinic interpretation of Isaiah 42.
3. The NT application of Isaiah 42 to the ministry of Christ.

1. The identity of the Servant according to Isaiah.

Isaiah 42 is not the only servant passage in the book. There are many references to God’s servant, some of which refer specifically to the nation of Israel. Cf. Isaiah 41:8-16; 42:18-25; 43:10; 44:1-5, 21-23; 45:4; 48:20.

Other passages clearly speak of an individual and it is these passages which concern us here in this discussion. Furthermore, certain things said about the servant in Isaiah 42 are also said of the Messianic King, supporting the position that the two are actually one and the same individual.

Here are all the passages, beginning with Isaiah 42:1-7:

"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope. This is what God the LORD says - he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness."

"Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan - The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. ... For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this." Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7

"A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his ROOTS a BRANCH will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD - and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist ... In that day the ROOT of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea." Isaiah 11:1-5, 10

"Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver. He said to me, ‘You are MY SERVANT, ISRAEL, in whom I will display my splendor.’ But I said, ‘I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the LORD's hand, and my reward is with my God.’ And now the LORD says - he who formed me in the womb to be HIS SERVANT to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength - he says: ‘It is too small a thing for you to be MY SERVANT to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.’ This is what the LORD says - the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel - to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the servant of rulers: ‘Kings will see you and rise up, princes will see and bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you. This is what the LORD says: ‘In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances, to say to the captives, "Come out," and to those in darkness, "Be free!" They will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill. They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat upon them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.’" Isaiah 49:1-10

"See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him - his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness - so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.’" Isaiah 52:13-15

"Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a ROOT out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." Isaiah 53:1-12

Other prophets provide further evidence that God’s servant is in fact the Messiah son of David:

"Listen now, Joshua the high priest, both you and your colleagues who are sitting before you, all of you are a symbol that I am about to introduce MY SERVANT, THE BRANCH." Zechariah 3:8 NET Bible

"Tell him this is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the LORD. It is he who will build the temple of the LORD, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.’" Zechariah 6:12-13

These passages identify God’s servant as the Branch, a name used for the Messiah elsewhere:

"‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness." Jeremiah 23:5-6

"In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David's line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness." Jeremiah 33:15-16

Amazingly, the Messiah is not only a son of David, but is Jehovah God our righteousness himself, echoing Isaiah 9:6-7 where the Messianic king is called the Mighty God!

The rabbis hold this title Branch as a designation of the Messiah. More on this later.

Let us summarize the data regarding God’s servant:

1. He is a descendent of Jesse through his son David. This proves that God’s servant is an Israelite, not an Arab.
2. He is called Israel and distinct from national Israel. This provides additional proof that the servant is an Israelite and not an Arab.
3. He is the Mighty God and eternal king.
4. He is empowered by God’s Spirit.
5. He will restore national Israel.
6. He will be a light to the Gentiles and the Savior of the entire earth.
7. He will be a covenant to the people.
8. He will bring a law which all the peoples will follow.
9. He will at first be rejected and despised by both the nation of Israel and other nations.
10. He will offer himself as a sacrifice for sin.
11. He will see offspring and carry out the Lord’s will.
12. He will intercede and justify sinners.

2. The Rabbinic interpretation of Isaiah 42.

Earlier, Zaman excitedly appealed to the rabbis to show that the Arabic language was named after Kedar, i.e. Leshon Qedar. Since the rabbins excite him so much we present their views regarding the servant’s identity. The following quotes are taken from William Webster's superb book Behold Your King: Prophetic Proofs That Jesus Is the Messiah, Christian Resources, June 2003, pp. 239-242.

Webster’s book can be purchased at http://christiantruth.com/beholdyourking.html. All bold, underlined and capital emphasis ours.

Midrash on Psalms, Psalm 2:9

In the decree of the Prophets it is written Behold My servant shall prosper, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high (Isa. 52:13), and it is also written Behold My servant, whom I uphold; Mine elect, in whom My soul delighteth (Isa. 42:1). In the decree of the Writings it is written, The Lord said unto my lord: "Sit thou at My right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool" (Ps. 110:1), and it is also written I saw in the night visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of heaven one like unto a son of man, and he came even to the Ancient of days, and he was brought before Him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him (Dan. 7:13, 14).

In another comment, the verse is read I will tell of the decree: The Lord said unto me: Thou art My son ... Ask of Me, and I will give the nations for thine inheritance, and the ends of the earth for thy possession (Ps. 2:7, 8). R. Yudan said: All these goodly promises are in the decree of the King, the King of kings, who will fulfill them for the Lord MESSIAH (The Midrash on Psalms, William G. Braude, Translator (New Haven: Yale, 959), Yale Judaica Series, Volume XIII, Leon Nemoy, Editor, Book One, Psalm 2:9)

Here the rabbis applied Psalm 2:7-8, 110:1, Isaiah 42:1, 52:113 and Daniel 7:13-14 to the Messiah!

Midrash on Psalms, Psalm 42/43.5

For from what didst Thou redeem our fathers in Egypt? Was it not from the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppressed them, of which God said: Moreover, I have seen the oppression (Ex. 3:9)? For me, too, life is nothing but oppression by an enemy. Then Why must I go about myself mourning under oppression of the enemy? Didst Thou not send redemption at the hand of two redeemers to that generation, as is said He sent Moses His servant, and Aaron whom He had chosen (Ps. 105:26)? Send tow redeemers like them to this generation. O send out Thy light and Thy truth; let them lead me (Ps. 43:3), Thy light being the prophet Elijah of the house of Aaron, of which it is written "The seven lamps shall give light in front of the candlestick" (Num. 8:2); and Thy truth being the Messiah, son of David, as it is written "The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; He will not turn from it: of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne" (Ps. 132:11). Likewise Scripture says, Behold I will send you Elijah the Prophet (Mal. 3:23) who is one redeemer, and speaks of the second redeemer in the verse Behold My servant whom I uphold (Isa. 42:1) (Ibid., Psalm 42/43.5, p. 445).

Targum Jonathan

Behold, My servant, THE MESSIAH, whom I bring near, My chosen one, in whom MY MEMRA [Sam- Aramaic for Word] takes delight; I will place My holy spirit upon him, and he shall reveal My law to the nations, He shall not cry, nor shout, nor raise his voice on the outside. The humble, who are like the bruised reed, he shall not break, and the poor of My people, who are like candles, he shall not extinguish; he shall truly bring forth justice. He shall not faint and he shall not tire until he establishes justice in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his Torah. Thus says the God of the universe, the Lord, who created the heavens and suspended them, who established the earth and its inhabitants, who gives life to the people who are upon it and spirit to those who walk in it. "I, the Lord, have anointed you in righteousness, and have firmly taken you by the hand, and established you, and I have given you as a covenant of the people, as a light of the nations. To open the eyes of the house of Israel, who have been blind to the Torah; to bring back their Dispersions from among the nations, they, who are like prisoners; and to deliver them, who are imprisoned like prisoners in darkness, from the servitude of the empires. I am the Lord, that is My name, and My glory, which I have revealed unto you, I will not give to any other people, nor My praise to those who worship idols. The former things, behold, they have come to pass, and new things I declare; even before they occur I announce them to you" (The Messiah: An Aramaic Interpretation, Samson H. Levy (New York: Hebrew Union College, 1974), pp. 59-60).

These quotes show that the rabbis had no problem identifying the servant as the Messiah even though reference is made to Kedar!

Here is what the rabbis said about the title Branch, along with their interpretation of the passages from Jeremiah and Zechariah:

Targum Jonathan

... Behold the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘when I will raise up for David a righteous Messiah, and he shall reign as king, and prosper, and shall enact a righteous and Meritorious law in the land. In his days they of the house of Judah shall be delivered, and Israel shall live in security. And this is the name which they call him: "May vindication be accomplished for us by the Lord in his day."’ (The Messiah: An Aramaic Interpretation, Samson H. Levy)

Targum Jonathan

Say unto him: Thus says the Lord of Hosts saying: ‘Be hold the man whose name is "The Messiah." He is destined to be revealed and to be anointed, and he shall build the Temple of the Lord. He shall build the Temple of the Lord, and he will bear the radiance, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and there shall be a high priest on his throne, and there be a counsel of peace between the two of them.’ (Ibid.)

Midrash Rabbah, Lamentations

BECAUSE THE COMFORTER IS FAR FROM ME, EVEN HE THAT SHOULD REFRESH MY SOUL. What is the name of King Messiah? R. Abba b. Kahana said: His name is ‘the Lord’; as it is stated And this is the name whereby he shall be called, The Lord is our righteousness (Jer. XXIII, 6). For R. Levi said: It is good for a province when its name is identical with that of its king, and the name of its king identical with that of its God. ‘It is good for a province when its name is identical with that of its king,’ as it is written, And the name of the city from that day shall be the Lord is there (Ezek. XLVIII, 35). ‘And the name of its king is identical with that of its God’ as it is stated, And this is the name whereby he shall be called, The Lord is our righteousness: R. Joshua b. Levi said: His name is ‘Shoot’, as it is stated, Behold, a man whose name is Shoot, and who shall shoot up out of his place, and build the temple of the Lord (Zech. VI, 12). R. Judan said in the name of R. Aibu: His name is ‘Comforter’, as it is said, THE COMFORTER IS FAR FROM ME. R. Hanina said: They do not really differ, because the numerical value of the names is the same, so that ‘Comforter’ is identical with ‘Shoot’ (Midrash Rabbah, Lamentations (London: Soncino Press), I.16, 51, pp. 135-136).

Midrash on Psalms, Psalm 2:2

God will call the king Messiah after His own name, for it is said of the king Messiah This is his name whereby he shall be called: The Lord our righteousness (Jer. 23:6). (The Midrash on Psalms, William G. Braude, Book One, Psalm 2.2).

(The preceding were taken from pp. 200-201, 205-206 of Webster’s book)

3. NT application of Isaiah 42 to the ministry of Christ.

The NT shows that Jesus’ life and ministry perfectly fulfilled Isaiah 42, as well as a host of other Messianic prophecies. For instance, the apostle Matthew applies Isaiah 42 to Christ specifically:

"Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick, warning them not to tell who he was. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: ‘Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope.’ Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. All the people were astonished and said, ‘Could this be the Son of David?’" Matthew 12:15-23

The following chart provides further evidence to show that Christ alone fulfills Isaiah 42 to the letter.

Isaiah 42	New Testament
"Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles." [Isaiah 42:1]	"While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!’" Matthew 17:5 "When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’" Luke 3:21-22 "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus." Acts 3:13
"He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street." [Isaiah 42:2]	"But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick, warning them not to tell who he was." Matthew 12:14-16 "Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it." Mark 7:36
"A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth." [Isaiah 42:3]	"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry." Matthew 11:28-30 NET "Then Jesus went throughout all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were bewildered and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.’" Matthew 9:35-38 NET "Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son ... And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man ... By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me." John 5:22, 27, 30 "Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment." John 7:24 "Jesus said, ‘For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.’" John 9:39
"He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law." [Isaiah 42:4]	"Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of ALL NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’" Matthew 28:18-20 "‘If you love me, you will obey what I command ... Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him’ ... Jesus replied, ‘If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.’" John 14:15, 21, 23-24 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1-2 "To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under CHRIST’S LAW), so as to win those not having the law." 1 Corinthians 9:21 "But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does." James 1:25 "Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him." 2 John 9-10
"Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;" [Isaiah 42:5-6]	"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’" Luke 2:8-14 "Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’ The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’ There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem." Luke 2:25-38 "In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’" Luke 22:20 "But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises." Hebrews 8:6 "For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committee under the first covenant." Hebrews 9:15
"To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house." [Isaiah 42:7]	"He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.’ Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’" Luke 4:16-21 "At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So he replied to the messengers, ‘Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.’" Luke 7:21-23
"Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the see , and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains." [Isaiah 42:10-11]	"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the sound of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans AND ARABS--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!’ Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, ‘What does this mean?’… When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call.’ With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Acts 2:1-12, 37-41 "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: ‘Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will SING hymns to your name.’ Again, it says, ‘Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.’ And again, ‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and SING praises to him, all you peoples.’ And again, Isaiah says, ‘The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.’ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:5-13 "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual SONGS. SING and make MUSIC in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:18-20 "Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise." James 5:13

Conclusion

The evidence from Isaiah, the rabbis and the NT all point to the servant being the Messiah. The New Testament and Quran both agree that the Messiah is Jesus, which means that Muhammad cannot be the servant spoken of by Isaiah.

Zaman needed to misapply Gesenius and read into Isaiah his gross eisegetical errors and Islamic presuppositions regarding Muhammad being a prophet of the true God. Isaiah 42 says nothing about the servant being a Kedarite or that he would speak in Arabic, but simply says that Kedar and all the nations would proclaim the praises of the true God. The fulfillment of this has already taken place not in Islam, but in the Church of the risen Lord and immortal Savior Jesus Christ, his very own Body; a Body which includes individuals from every nation and language:

"And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.’" Revelation 5:9-10

In light of the preceding, Zaman’s claim that Muhammad is the servant goes against the clear exegetical and historical evidence.

Sam Shamoun and Jochen Katz

Responses to Shibli Zaman
Answering Islam Home Page