Muhammad in the Bible — Page 11
11 Divine Light From Paran The prophecies of the Bible had even led its followers to that part of the world where the great Prophet was to appear. Thus it was said: And he said, the Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; and shined forth from Mount Paran and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them. (Deuteronomy 33:2) In this verse Moses is promised three manifestations of the glory of God. The first of these appeared on Sinai in the time of Moses. Time passed. The second manifestation promised in the prophecy was to take place at Seir, a part of the world near where th e miracles of Jesus took place. “Rising up from Seir,” therefore, meant the advent of Jesus. The third manifestation of divine glory was to take its rise from Paran, and Paran (Arabic Faran) is the name of the hills which lie between Mecca, the birth place of Muhammad, and Medina, the town where he died. According to the Old Testament, Ishmael, th e ancestor of Muhammad, lived in this part. Thus we have in the Bible: And God was with the lad (Ishmael): and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran. (Genesis 21:20 - 21) Historical and geographical evidence shows that the