Muhammad in the Bible — Page 23
23 It does not seem to us a mere accident that the Holy Prophet of Islam was named Muhammad (literally, the Praised One). When his enemies denounced him, they were worried by the contradiction entailed in denouncing the Praised One. So they changed his name from Muhammad to Mudhammam, from the Praised One to the denounced one. When the Prophet’s Companions got exasperated at the denunciations and abuse hurled at him he would say, “Hold your peace; they abuse not me but someone else called Mudhammam. ” Only a man with a name as beautiful as his personality and character could answer to the description which Habakkuk had given of the Promised One. No less significant is the tradition of devotional verse which has grown in Islam, and which has resulted in an important branch of the poetry written by Muslims of all countries. Habakkuk also says: Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet (3:5). This sign of the Promised One was also fulfilled in the Prophet of Islam. True, the prophecy speaks of pestilence, that is, a disease in epidemic form. But it is large scale destruction and death which a pestilence brings which is here meant. Because the enemies of the Holy Prophet suffered large scale destruction and death in their encounters with him, he may be said to have fulfilled even this part of the prophecy. Again it says: He stood and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations (3:6). This part of the prophecy, like the others, can apply neither to Moses nor to Jesus. Moses died while he was still fighting his enemies, while Jesus was put on the Cross. The Prophet who beheld and drove asunder the nations was the Prophet of Islam. Truly did he say of himself, “My presence is awe-inspiring, and I have been helped not a little by it. People fear me from a distance of one month’s journey” (Bukh ā r ī ). Again: The everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow (3:6). This part of the prophecy also applies to the Holy Prophet of Islam. For his enemies were completely routed. Mountains and hills only mean powerful enemies.