How can we employ the prophecies in the Scriptures of the People of the Book—that is, the Jews and Christians—regarding the advent of Prophet Muḥammad (PBUH) as an argument to persuade atheists?

To begin with, if Prophet Muḥammad (PBUH) was foretold in the Scriptures of other nations, this would serve as evidence of his truthfulness, and such evidence would be binding on all. Accordingly, the prophecies concerning his advent in non-Islamic Scriptures attest to the truth of Islam and also confirm the legitimacy of the institution of Prophethood—that is, they demonstrate that the predictions of the Messengers indeed come to pass. Numerous verses in the Qurʾān acknowledge and support this line of reasoning. Therefore, the argument that Prophet Muḥammad (PBUH) was foretold in the Scriptures of other nations is rationally binding on everyone. Allāh says: {If you ˹O Prophet˺ are in doubt about ˹these stories˺ that We have revealed to you, then ask those who read the Scripture before you} (Qurʾān 10:94). These words were addressed to the Prophet (PBUH), yet they were intended for those who harbored doubts about his message. The phrase “those who read the Scripture before you” is a reference to the People of the Book—that is, the Jews and Christians—because they possessed knowledge of the Scriptures, whereas the general population of Arabia did not. It was expected that their pious scholars would bear witness that the message of Islam is consistent with that of the former Prophets. In other words, all who are familiar with the divinely revealed Books would testify that the teachings of Muḥammad (PBUH) align with those conveyed by the earlier Prophets. Allāh says:{The disbelievers say, “You ˹Muḥammad˺ are no messenger.” Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Allāh is sufficient as a Witness between me and you, as is whoever has knowledge of the Scripture”} (Qurʾān 13:43). Accordingly, Allāh says: {Those We have given the Scripture recognize this ˹Prophet˺ as they recognize their own children. Yet a group of them hides the truth knowingly} (Qurʾān 2:146). The Arabic idiom “to recognize something as one recognizes one’s children” is used to describe knowledge that is certain and beyond any doubt. In this sense, the Jewish and Christian scholars were fully aware that Prophet Muḥammad (PBUH) was the final Prophet foretold in their Scriptures. Allāh says: {˹They are˺ the ones who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whose description they find in their Torah and the Gospel} (Qurʾān 7:157). In fact, the reference to the Prophet (PBUH) in this verse as ummiyy (unlettered) is highly significant, given that the Israelites used the term ummiyyīn (Gentiles) to describe all other nations. In short, the coming of Prophet Muḥammad (PBUH) is heralded repeatedly in both the Torah and the Bible.

In fact, the use of the prophecies to demonstrate the truth of Islam and the truthfulness of the Prophet (PBUH) is a matter of paramount importance, which, in my view, has long been neglected and insufficiently emphasized. As I often tell everyone, these prophecies constitute binding evidence and a clear sign for anyone seeking to confirm the authenticity of Muḥammad’s Prophethood. Simply put, the people of Makkah themselves lacked knowledge of the Scriptures, yet there were many scholars among the Israelites who fully understood that the Qurʾān did not convey a novel message presented for the first time by Prophet Muḥammad (PBUH); rather, it reaffirmed the same message that had been preached by the Prophets of Allāh in succession over thousands of years. Allāh says: {Was it not sufficient proof for the deniers that it has been recognized by the knowledgeable among the Children of Israel?} (Qurʾān 26:197). This, therefore, serves as convincing proof that the Qurʾān was revealed by the same Lord of the universe Who sent down the earlier Scriptures.