One of religion’s most astonishing and incredible stories is that of the first two persons to settle in Mecca. Hagar is known scripturally as an African Arab woman from Egypt and the second wife of the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) who bore Abraham’s first child named Ishmael. It is said that, by God’s command, while Ishmael was still an infant, Abraham (peace be upon him) journeyed his second wife Hagar and their child into the wilderness and left them there to settle. At which time the land was nothing but barren desert, unpopulated having no signs of food or water. But with time, the place grew into what is now known today as the Holy City of Mecca.
Now concerning this, the following Biblical verses says that God spoken to Hagar at the time when she and her baby Ishmael were alone in this wilderness now called Mecca. At which time, God heard their cry; an Angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven and said unto her:
“What grieves thee Hagar? Fear not: for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in your hand; for I will make him a great nation. And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink. And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran” (Genesis 21: 17-21).This verse of Genesis tells of the time and place in Hagar’s life when she was alone in the wilderness with her infant child named Ishmael. To start, the wilderness of Paran here mentioned is located in Arabia. In the time of the Prophet Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael (peace be upon them) were left there to settled at which time the land was unpopulated barren desert valley having no signs of life, food or water; for this the Bible refers to this place as wilderness of Paran. The Bible say Paran, but in Arabic, the word is Fa’ran—as Hagar and Ishmael (peace be upon them) were isolated in that part of the desert, passing by Arab-Egyptian traders regarded them as Fa’ran meaning two refugees. Because of the miraculous well mentioned in Genesis 21:19, and since water is the most crucial element in desert life, Arab travelers on the trade route began colonizing near the well with Hagar and her baby Ishmael (peace be upon them). This eventually grew into a permanent Arab settlement from which Ishmael and his progenies became known as Arabs.
Linguistically, the word Arab means desert and wasted barren land well-nigh waterless and treeless. From the dawn of history, the Arabian Peninsula and its people have been called as such. But even before Ishmael (peace be upon him) was born, according to the Bible (Gen. 16:12), God made mention to Hagar that her son would grow up to be a wild man—an Arab in other words. Ishmael learned Arabic at the hand of the tribe of Jurhum, one of the tribes to settle near the well. One of the prominent Arab tribes that emerged from this event was the Quraysh who trace their ancestry through Ishmael’s second son named Kedar. Into this tribe that the Prophet and Messenger of God named Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born approximately six hundred years after the advent of Jesus (peace be upon him). Mecca thus became the center of the Islamic religion in the 7th century.
Medina is another Holy Islamic City in Arabia. It is where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the early Muslims once took flight for safety; from which time the Islamic calendar begins. It is in Medina that Islam gained strength, and there the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) himself established the first Islamic State.
Indeed, the phenomenal event of Hagar and Ishmael in the wilderness is commemorated by Muslims each year during Hajj (pilgrimage). It is a blessed event and fifth pillar of Islam. Every year for the past 1,400 years, millions of Muslims from all parts of the world have been making pilgrimage to the sacred City Mecca in commemoration to the event of Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael (peace be upon them). For instance, the running between two small hillocks (Safa and Marwah) during pilgrimage is done in memory of Hagar’s search for water in her hour of desperate need—where Ishmael (peace be upon him) is described in the Bible as having become extremely restive from the agony of thirst. There, it is said, sprouted a fountain which still exists today in some form, and water from that spot is considered to be blessed water. Tens of millions of Muslims every year drink from it during the Hajj or pilgrimage.
MUHAMMAD IN THE BIBLE
Prophecies of the coming of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) are found in the religious Scriptures of almost every faith, but the Bible, being the forerunner of Islam contains the largest number of such prophecies. The following are two examples.
Arabia is the land of the Promised One:
Arabia is the land of the Promised One:
“The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye traveling companies of Dedanim. The inhabitants of the land of Tema (ninth of Ishmael’s twelve sons) brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled. For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war. For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail: And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the Lord God of Israel hath spoken it” (Isaiah 21:23-17).
The first point to bear in mind in connection with the above prophecy is that Arabia is the scene of the prophecy. This is most significant. Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him) appeared in Arabia.
Secondly, the prophecy speaks of him that fled. The flight of Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him) is a momentous event in the history of the world. It is upon that flight called Hijrat of Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him) from Mecca to Medina that the Muslim calendar begins.
Thirdly, they fled from the swords conclusively proves the fulfillment of the prophecy in the Prophet of Arabia. Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him) fled from Mecca when his house was surrounded by his deadly enemies who stood there, drawn swords in hand, thirsty for his blood.
Fourthly, another important and clear testimony of the fulfillment of the prophecy in the Prophet of Islam is to be found within a year… all the glory of Kedar shall fail … the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished. This was fulfilled in the Battle of Badr which occurred within a year from the flight of Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him) and, in which battle, the Quraish of Mecca sustained a crushing defeat; most of their mighty men fell.
This event in the early history of Islam is also in fulfillment of the prophecy Revelation 12:7-8 which says:
Secondly, the prophecy speaks of him that fled. The flight of Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him) is a momentous event in the history of the world. It is upon that flight called Hijrat of Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him) from Mecca to Medina that the Muslim calendar begins.
Thirdly, they fled from the swords conclusively proves the fulfillment of the prophecy in the Prophet of Arabia. Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him) fled from Mecca when his house was surrounded by his deadly enemies who stood there, drawn swords in hand, thirsty for his blood.
Fourthly, another important and clear testimony of the fulfillment of the prophecy in the Prophet of Islam is to be found within a year… all the glory of Kedar shall fail … the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished. This was fulfilled in the Battle of Badr which occurred within a year from the flight of Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him) and, in which battle, the Quraish of Mecca sustained a crushing defeat; most of their mighty men fell.
This event in the early history of Islam is also in fulfillment of the prophecy Revelation 12:7-8 which says:
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.”
It will be erroneous to think of the literal heaven as a battleground where a war between good and evil has been fought. The word heaven as mentioned in the above verse is allegorical; meaning an earthly Holy Place as Mecca has been since the time of Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael (peace be upon them). In fact the entire prophecy of Revelation 12 is metaphorical, and concerns Hagar’s branch of Abraham’s family. In the prophecy, Michael signifies a Prophet who was to come after Jesus to “rule all nations with a rod of iron” (verse five). To this, the prophecy fulfilled the dynasty of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, the notable descendant of Abraham, Hagar, Ishmael and Kedar (may Allah be please with them).
The next Prophecy is “he shined forth from Mount Paran”; this read’s as follows:
The next Prophecy is “he shined forth from Mount Paran”; this read’s as follows:
“And he said, The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them” (Deut. 33:2).
Explanation: Coming from Sinai refers to the appearance of the Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) and rising up from Seir alludes to that of Jesus (peace be upon him). The Prophet who shone forth from Mount Paran could be no other than the Holy Prophet of Arabia, Paran as already mentioned is the ancient name for Mecca. What unmistakable points to the identity of Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him) are “he came with ten thousands of saints” and “from his right hand went a fiery law for them.” At the time of the conquest of Mecca, ten thousand holy men followed at his heels and he was the bearer of the law of Qur’an. Hence these prophecies have been wonderfully fulfilled in the person of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him).
In conclusion, let us consider the fact that God is not a God of confusion. Had God not willed Islam to be the last and final of religions, He would not have fulfilled these prophecies after the advent of Jesus (peace be upon him). Thus, the promised nation (Kingdom) made to Hagar and Ishmael (peace be upon them) in the wilderness remained unfulfilled for six-hundred years after the advent of Jesus (peace be upon them). Until then, according to Matthew 6: 9-13, the followers of Jesus (peace be upon him) were instructed by Jesus (peace be upon him) to wait in supplication for its fulfillment. Jesus also announced the end of the Jewish Kingdom to be succeeded by another. So it is to the coming of this promise we inferred the meaning of Jesus’ prophetic parable where he is reported to have said:
In conclusion, let us consider the fact that God is not a God of confusion. Had God not willed Islam to be the last and final of religions, He would not have fulfilled these prophecies after the advent of Jesus (peace be upon him). Thus, the promised nation (Kingdom) made to Hagar and Ishmael (peace be upon them) in the wilderness remained unfulfilled for six-hundred years after the advent of Jesus (peace be upon them). Until then, according to Matthew 6: 9-13, the followers of Jesus (peace be upon him) were instructed by Jesus (peace be upon him) to wait in supplication for its fulfillment. Jesus also announced the end of the Jewish Kingdom to be succeeded by another. So it is to the coming of this promise we inferred the meaning of Jesus’ prophetic parable where he is reported to have said:
“The stone which the builders (of the house of Abraham) rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you (children of Israel, from the house Abraham), the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” (Matthew 21:42-46).
In light of fulfillment to such prophecies, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the only one who totally fulfilled them. Islam is therefore the promised spiritual Kingdom supplicated for by Jesus’ followers and to which God proclaimed in the Qur’an that, it is He who has sent the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) “with guidance and the religion of truth to proclaim it over all religion” (Qur’an 9: 33). And that: Whoso seeks a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and in the life to come he shall be among the losers. [Qur’an 3:86]
Thus the living and everlasting blessings of God continues till the Day of Judgment through Islam; it is the true living religion of our time where unfilled prophecies foretold in preceding Holy Books find fulfillment. A Second Advent of Jesus (peace be upon him) for example had been prophesied in the Bible and also by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This metaphorical prophecy manifested among the Muslims in the 19th century. The founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (peace be upon him) who, after receving revelation from God claimed in 1891 that his advent was in fulfillment of the metaphorical second coming of Jesus of Nazareth and the divine guide (Imam Mahdi) foretold by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). His claim constitutes the basis of the beliefs of Ahmadiyya Muslims.
Thus the living and everlasting blessings of God continues till the Day of Judgment through Islam; it is the true living religion of our time where unfilled prophecies foretold in preceding Holy Books find fulfillment. A Second Advent of Jesus (peace be upon him) for example had been prophesied in the Bible and also by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This metaphorical prophecy manifested among the Muslims in the 19th century. The founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (peace be upon him) who, after receving revelation from God claimed in 1891 that his advent was in fulfillment of the metaphorical second coming of Jesus of Nazareth and the divine guide (Imam Mahdi) foretold by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). His claim constitutes the basis of the beliefs of Ahmadiyya Muslims.
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