Characteristics of the Prophet (s.a.w.) Mentioned in the Torah

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Shaykh ‘Utsman Nuri Tufbas wrote, in “The Prophet Muhammad Muswthafa the Elect (s.a.w.)”, that it is recorded, in Sunan ad-Darimi, that one day, Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (r.a.) asked Shaykh Abu Ishaq Ka’b ibn Mati’ al-Himyari al-Ahbar (r.a.) to tell him of the characteristics of the Prophet (s.a.w.) mentioned in the Torah.  He said, “Mentioned therein are the following characteristics: Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah will be born in Makkah, and will migrate to Madina.  He will eventually seize Damascus.  Never will he speak foul words, nor will he raise his voice in public.  He will not retaliate against evil with evil, and will forgive the culprits.  His people will offer their thanks to Allah (s.w.t.), and glorify Him in good times and bad.  They will wash their arms, and stand in lines in prayer like in battles.  Constantly heard from their places of worship will be a buzz.  Their call to prayer will fill the sky.”  The “buzz” refers to the recitation of the Qur’an in acts of ‘ibadah. 

It is recorded, in Swahih al-Bukhari, that Sayyidina ‘Atha’ ibn Yasar (r.a.) narrated, “I came across ‘Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-A’asw and asked him to tell me about the description of Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.) in the Torah.  He said, ‘By Allah, he is indeed described in the Torah with some of the qualities attributed to him in the Qur’an. 

It is said in the Torah that, ‘O Prophet!  We have Sent you as a witness for Allah’s True religion, a giver of glad tidings to faithful believers, a warner to unbelievers and as a guardian of the illiterate.  You are My slave and My Messenger.  I have named you ‘al-Mutawakkil’.  You are neither discourteous, harsh nor a noisemaker in public.  You do not do evil to those who do evil to you, but you deal with them forgivingly and kindly.  Allah will not let you die until, through you, He Straightens the crooked by making them admit that none has the right to be worshipped besides Allah; and through this which will blind eyes, deaf ears and hearts of stone be opened to the truth.’’”  “al-Mutawakkil” means “the one who depends upon Allah”.