The Expected One

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following is a transcript of discourse given by Mawlana Wafi’ Muhammad. 

The coming of Abraham (a.s.) ushered in a new era in the mission of man as the Vicegerent of Allah (s.w.t.) on the Earth.  On one hand, he was a model for mankind, while on the other he became the father of the Revealed religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.  Judaism and Christianity came from his son with Sarah (r.a.), while Islam came from his son Ishmael (a.s.). 

Christians do not recognise Ishmael (a.s.) as a son in every sense of the word, because he was born from the slave of Sarah (r.a.), that is, Hagar (r.a.).  However, their argument for not accepting him as a legitimate son of the Patriarch is very weak.  Their reason for not accepting him as Abraham’s (a.s.) first son is as they say that he was the son of lust and not the son of Promise. 

What they failed to take note of is the fact that his father, Abraham (a.s.), was a very pious person and because of his righteousness, according to their beliefs, he is in Paradise.  He became the father of Ishmael (a.s.) when Sarah (r.a.) gave her slave, Hagar (r.a.), to him, so that he did not commit any immoral act.  So, the argument about him being the son of lost is misleading. 

Abraham (a.s.) was nearing eighty years old and was not blessed with any offspring from Sarah (r.a.).  He used to pray for a son, as he was desirous of having someone to take up his legacy and continue to spread the Religion of Submission, Islam.  Abraham’s (a.s.) prayer is Recorded in the Qur’an as follows: 

سُوۡرَةُ الصَّافات

رَبِّ هَبۡ لِى مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ (١٠٠) 

“O my Lord!  Grant me a righteous (son)!” (Surah asw-Swaffat:100) 

Both Abraham (a.s.) and his wife, Sarah (r.a.), were concerned about the fact that they did not have any children.  The Bible tells us about their concern as follows: 

Genesis 16:1-4

¹ And still Abram’s wife, Sarai, bore him no children.  But she had an Egyptian maid-servant, called Agar; ² and now she said to her husband, “The Lord, as thou seest, Denies me motherhood; betake thyself to this maid of mine, in the hope that I may at least have children through her means.”  So Abram consented to the wish of his wife, ³ and she brought this Egyptian maid-servant of hers, Agar, and gave her to her husband as his mate, ten years after they had taken up their abode in the land of Chanaan.  ⁴ Abram, then, had knowledge of her, and she, finding herself with child, began to look on her mistress with scorn. 

¹ Σαρα δὲ ἡ γυνὴ Αβραμ οὐκ ἔτικτεν αὐτῷ ἦν δὲ αὐτῇ παιδίσκη Αἰγυπτία ᾗ ὄνομα Αγαρ ² εἶπεν δὲ Σαρα πρὸς Αβραμ ἰδοὺ συνέκλεισέν με κύριος τοῦ μὴ τίκτειν εἴσελθε οὖν πρὸς τὴν παιδίσκην μου ἵνα τεκνοποιήσῃς ἐξ αὐτῆς ὑπήκουσεν δὲ Αβραμ τῆς φωνῆς Σαρας ³ καὶ λαβοῦσα Σαρα ἡ γυνὴ Αβραμ Αγαρ τὴν Αἰγυπτίαν τὴν ἑαυτῆς παιδίσκην μετὰ δέκα ἔτη τοῦ οἰκῆσαι Αβραμ ἐν γῇ Χανααν καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτὴν Αβραμ τῷ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς αὐτῷ γυναῖκα ⁴ καὶ εἰσῆλθεν πρὸς Αγαρ καὶ συνέλαβεν καὶ εἶδεν ὅτι ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχει καὶ ἠτιμάσθη ἡ κυρία ἐναντίον αὐτῆς 

¹ Igitur Sarai, uxor Abram, non genuerat liberos: sed habens ancillam ægyptiam nomine Agar, ² dixit marito suo: Ecce, conclusit me Dominus, ne parerem. Ingredere ad ancillam meam, si forte saltem ex illa suscipiam filios. Cumque ille acquiesceret deprecanti,  ³ tulit Agar ægyptiam ancillam suam post annos decem quam habitare cœperant in terra Chanaan: et dedit eam viro suo uxorem.  ⁴ Qui ingressus est ad eam.  At illa concepisse se videns, despexit dominam suam. 

So, Ishmael (a.s.) was born in the normal way like any other human being.  His birth was that of a normal child, which resulted in the union of a male, Abraham (a.s.) and a female, Hagar (r.a.), who was given to him by her mistress, Sarah (r.a.). 

From Ishmael’s (a.s.) genealogy came Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.).  The Prophet (s.a.w.) was also born as a normal human being.  Perhaps, that is a reason why Allah (s.w.t.) Records about him in the Qur’an in the following verse: 

سُوۡرَةُ الکهف

قُلۡ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۟ بَشَرٌ۬ مِّثۡلُكُمۡ ... (١١٠) 

Say, “I am but a man like yourselves ...” (Surah al-Kahf:110) 

Both the Qur’an and the Bible confirm that fact that the Merciful Lord Accepted the prayer of Abraham (a.s.) regarding his off springs.  In the case of Ishmael (a.s.), there are the following references. 

Genesis 17:18-20

¹⁸ And this was what he asked of God, “If only thou wilt Grant life to Ismael!”  ¹⁹ But God Said to Abraham, “Thou shalt have a son by thy wife Sara, and shalt give him the name of Isaac; it is to him and to the race which shall follow him that I will Make Good My Promise, Ratified forever.  ²⁰ As for Ismael, for him too I Grant thy prayer; be sure that I will Bless him, and Make him fruitful, and Grant him increase beyond all measure, so that he will be the father of twelve chieftains.  From him, too, a great nation shall arise.  As for Ishmael, I have Heard your prayer; I will, Indeed, Bless him and Make him fruitful, Giving him many, many descendants.  He shall become the father of twelve princes, and I will Make him a great nation.” 

¹⁸ εἶπεν δὲ Αβρααμ πρὸς τὸν θεόν Ισμαηλ οὗτος ζήτω ἐναντίον σου ¹⁹ εἶπεν δὲ ὁ θεὸς τῷ Αβρααμ ναί ἰδοὺ Σαρρα ἡ γυνή σου τέξεταί σοι υἱόν καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ισαακ καὶ στήσω τὴν διαθήκην μου πρὸς αὐτὸν εἰς διαθήκην αἰώνιον καὶ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ με{T'} αὐτόν ²⁰ περὶ δὲ Ισμαηλ ἰδοὺ ἐπήκουσά σου ἰδοὺ εὐλόγησα αὐτὸν καὶ αὐξανῶ αὐτὸν καὶ πληθυνῶ αὐτὸν σφόδρα δώδεκα ἔθνη γεννήσει καὶ δώσω αὐτὸν εἰς ἔθνος μέγα 

¹⁸ Dixitque ad Deum: Utinam Ismaël vivat coram te.  ¹⁹ Et ait Deus ad Abraham: Sara uxor tua pariet tibi filium, vocabisque nomen ejus Isaac, et constituam pactum meum illi in fœdus sempiternum, et semini ejus post eum.  ²⁰ Super Ismaël quoque exaudivi te: ecce, benedicam ei, et augebo, et multiplicabo eum valde: duodecim duces generabit, et faciam illum in gentem magnam. 

سُوۡرَةُ الصَّافات

فَبَشَّرۡنَـٰهُ بِغُلَـٰمٍ حَلِيمٍ۬ (١٠١) 

So, We Gave him the good news of a boy ready to suffer and forbear. (Surah asw-Swaffat:101) 

Both the Qur’an and Bible Confirm that Ishmael (a.s.) was a Gift from the Lord to the Patriarch (a.s.).  So, to lower his status in the eyes of man, in order to promote the importance of Isaac (a.s.) is misleading.  Both of these sons had their mission, one to the Israelites and the other to the whole world. 

In addition to getting the Good News from the Lord about Ishmael (a.s.), Abraham (a.s.) also prayed that from his offspring should come a person who will be able to establish the Lord’s religion of submission on the earth.  This is Confirmed in the Qur’an in the following verses: 

سُوۡرَةُ البَقَرَة

رَبَّنَا وَٱبۡعَثۡ فِيهِمۡ رَسُولاً۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ يَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡہِمۡ ءَايَـٰتِكَ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ وَيُزَكِّيہِمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ (١٢٩) 

“Our Lord!  Send, amongst them, a Messenger of their own who shall rehearse Thy Signs to them and instruct them in Scripture and Wisdom, and purify them; for Thou art the Exalted in Might the Wise.” (Surah al-Baqarah:129) 

Abraham (a.s.) is recognised as a model and a very righteous person.  This is Confirmed both in the Bible and in the Qur’an. 

Luke 16:22

²² Time went on; the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom ... 

²² ἐγένετο δὲ ἀποθανεῖν τὸν πτωχὸν καὶ ἀπενεχθῆναι αὐτὸν ὑπὸ τῶν ἀγγέλων εἰς τὸν κόλπον Ἀβραάμ: ... 

²² Factum est autem ut moreretur mendicus, et portaretur ab angelis in sinum Abrahæ … 

سُوۡرَةُ النّحل

إِنَّ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً۬ قَانِتً۬ا لِّلَّهِ حَنِيفً۬ا وَلَمۡ يَكُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ (١٢٠) شَاڪِرً۬ا لِّأَنۡعُمِهِ‌ۚ ٱجۡتَبَٮٰهُ وَهَدَٮٰهُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٲطٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬ (١٢١) وَءَاتَيۡنَـٰهُ فِى ٱلدُّنۡيَا حَسَنَةً۬‌ۖ وَإِنَّهُ ۥ فِى ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ (١٢٢) ثُمَّ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ أَنِ ٱتَّبِعۡ مِلَّةَ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ حَنِيفً۬ا‌ۖ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِڪِينَ (١٢٣) 

Abraham was indeed a model devoutly obedient to Allah, (and) true in faith, and he joined not gods with Allah: He showed his gratitude for the Favours of Allah Who Chose him and Guided him to a straight way.  And We Gave him good in this world, and he will be, in the Hereafter, in the ranks of the righteous.  So, We have Taught thee the inspired (message), “Follow the ways of Abraham, the true in faith, and he joined not gods with Allah.” (Surah an-Nahl:120-123) 

Abraham’s (a.s.) prayer was very specific.  He wanted someone to come after him who would be able to teach the people how to read the Book, teach them the messages contained in the Book, teach them the wisdom of the Messages in the Book, and teach them self-purification and spirituality.  None of the Messengers were able to fulfill the prayer of Abraham (a.s.).  As a result, the Israelites were always on the lookout for him who was to come as the answer to the Patriarch’s (a.s.) prayer. 

There were always wise men called “sophias” on the borders and in the important centres of worship, on the lookout for him who was to come, the expected one.  When John the Baptist (a.s.) began his mission, the people thought that he was the expected One.  In response to their belief, John the Baptist (a.s.) denied it explicitly: 

Luke 3:16

¹⁶ But John gave them their answer by saying publicly, “As for me, I am baptising you with water; but one is yet to come who is mightier than I, so that I am not worthy to untie the strap of his shoes.  He will baptise you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.” 

¹⁶ ἀπεκρίνατο λέγων πᾶσιν ὁ Ἰωάννης: ἐγὼ μὲν ὕδατι βαπτίζω ὑμᾶς: ἔρχεται δὲ ὁ ἰσχυρότερός μου, οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ, αὐτὸς ὑμᾶς βαπτίσει ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ καὶ πυρί: 

¹⁶ respondit Joannes, dicens omnibus: Ego quidem aqua baptizo vos: veniet autem fortior me, cujus non sum dignus solvere corrigiam calceamentorum ejus: ipse vos baptizabit in Spiritu Sancto et igni: 

When Jesus (a.s.) began his mission, John (a.s.) thought that he was the expected one, so he sent two of his disciples to question Jesus (a.s.) about it.  The Bible records this in the following verses: 

Luke 7:19

¹⁹ And he summoned two of his disciples, and sent them to Jesus to ask, “Is it thy coming that was foretold, or are we yet waiting for some other?” 

¹⁹ ἔπεμψεν πρὸς τὸν κύριον λέγων: σὺ εἶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἢ ἄλλον προσδοκῶμεν; 

¹⁹ Et convocavit duos de discipulis suis Joannes, et misit ad Jesum, dicens: Tu es qui venturus es, an alium exspectamus? 

In response to John’s (a.s.) query, Jesus (a.s.) said: 

Matthew 11:11

¹¹ “Believe me, God has Raised up no greater son of woman than John the Baptist; and yet to be least in the kingdom of heaven is to be greater than he.” 

¹¹ ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, οὐκ ἐγήγερται ἐν γεννητοῖς γυναικῶν μείζων Ἰωάννου τοῦ βαπτιστοῦ: ὁ δὲ μικρότερος ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν μείζων αὐτοῦ ἐστιν. 

¹¹ Amen dico vobis, non surrexit inter natos mulierum major Joanne Baptista: qui autem minor est in regno cælorum, major est illo 

John 14:15-17

¹⁵ “If you have any love for me, you must keep the commandments which I give you; ¹⁶ and then I will ask the Father, and He will Give you a Paraclete, one who is to dwell continually with you for ever.  ¹⁷ It is the truth-giving Spirit, for whom the world can find no room, because it cannot see him, cannot recognise him.  But you are to recognise him; he will be continually at your side, nay, he will be in you.” 

¹⁵ Ἐὰν ἀγαπᾶτέ με, τὰς ἐντολὰς τὰς ἐμὰς τηρήσετε: ¹⁶ κἀγὼ ἐρωτήσω τὸν πατέρα καὶ ἄλλον παράκλητον δώσει ὑμῖν, ἵνα μεθ' ὑμῶν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ᾖ ¹⁷ τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας, ὃ ὁ κόσμος οὐ δύναται λαβεῖν, ὅτι οὐ θεωρεῖ αὐτὸ οὐδὲ γινώσκει: ὑμεῖς γινώσκετε αὐτό, ὅτι παρ' ὑμῖν μένει καὶ ἐν ὑμῖν ἔσται. 

¹⁵ Si diligitis me, mandata mea servate: ¹⁶ et ego rogabo Patrem, et alium Paraclitum dabit vobis, ut maneat vobiscum in æternum, ¹⁷ Spiritum veritatis, quem mundus non potest accipere, quia non videt eum, nec scit eum: vos autem cognoscetis eum, quia apud vos manebit, et in vobis erit. 

John.16:12-15

¹² “I have still much to say to you, but it is beyond your reach as yet.  ¹³ It will be for him, the truth-giving Spirit, when he comes, to guide you into all truth.  He will not utter a message of his own; he will utter the Message that has been Given to him; and he will make plain to you what is still to come.  ¹⁴ And he will bring honour to me, because it is from me that he will derive what he makes plain to you.  ¹⁵ I say that he will derive from me what he makes plain to you, because all that Belongs to the Father belongs to me.” 

¹² ἔτι πολλὰ ἔχω ὑμῖν λέγειν, ἀλλ' οὐ δύνασθε βαστάζειν ἄρτι: ¹³ ὅταν δὲ ἔλθῃ ἐκεῖνος, τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας, ὁδηγήσει ὑμᾶς ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ πάσῃ: οὐ γὰρ λαλήσει ἀφ' ἑαυτοῦ, ἀλλ' ὅσα ἀκούσει λαλήσει, καὶ τὰ ἐρχόμενα ἀναγγελεῖ ὑμῖν.  ¹⁴ ἐκεῖνος ἐμὲ δοξάσει, ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ ἐμοῦ λήμψεται καὶ ἀναγγελεῖ ὑμῖν.  ¹⁵ πάντα ὅσα ἔχει ὁ πατὴρ ἐμά ἐστιν: διὰ τοῦτο εἶπον ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ ἐμοῦ λαμβάνει καὶ ἀναγγελεῖ ὑμῖν. 

¹² Adhuc multa habeo vobis dicere, sed non potestis portare modo.  ¹³ Cum autem venerit ille Spiritus veritatis, docebit vos omnem veritatem: non enim loquetur a semetipso, sed quæcumque audiet loquetur, et quæ ventura sunt annuntiabit vobis.  ¹⁴ Ille me clarificabit, quia de meo accipiet, et annuntiabit vobis.  ¹⁵ Omnia quæcumque habet Pater, mea sunt. Propterea dixi: quia de meo accipiet, et annuntiabit vobis. 

Neither John (a.s.) nor Jesus (a.s.) met the criterion of the conditions made by Abraham (a.s.) regarding the prayer for the one who was to take his legacy.  As a result, the sophias continued to keep looking for the expected one. 

When Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) was born, they saw the sign in the sky and they were sure that he had arrived.  This was confirmed by the monk, Sayyidina Bahirah (r.a.), who interviewed the Prophet (s.a.w.) as a boy who was in the company of his uncle, Sayyidina Abu Thalib ibn ‘Abd al-Muththalib (r.a.), on a caravan journey to Basra. 

Allah (s.w.t.) Answered Abraham’s (a.s.) prayer with the birth of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.).  He Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ آل عِمرَان

لَقَدۡ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ إِذۡ بَعَثَ فِيہِمۡ رَسُولاً۬ مِّنۡ أَنفُسِهِمۡ يَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡہِمۡ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ وَيُزَڪِّيہِمۡ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلۡحِڪۡمَةَ وَإِن كَانُواْ مِن قَبۡلُ لَفِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ (١٦٤) 

Allah did Confer a great favour on the believers when He Sent, among them, a Messenger from among themselves, rehearsing unto them the Signs of Allah, sanctifying them, and instructing them in Scripture and wisdom, while, before that, they had been in manifest error. (Surah Ali ‘Imran:164) 

Unfortunately, the followers of Isaac (a.s.) did not select to accept him as the one they were expecting due to the fact that he came from the progeny of Ishmael (a.s.) and not of Isaac (a.s.).  Whatever Jews and Christians may want to believe, that does not alter the position and status of the Prophet (s.a.w.), as he was the only one that was able to unite mankind into one brotherhood.  He fulfilled the prediction of Jesus (a.s.), who informed his people that the Comforter will teach them all things, and will not say anything, except what the Lord wants him to say.  About this, Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ النّجْم

وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ (٣) إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡىٌ۬ يُوحَىٰ (٤) 

Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) desire.  It is no less than inspiration Sent down to him: (Surah an-Najm:3-4)