Note: The word Sura means chapter in the Koran.

  For Islam to be a religion, Muhammad must be a prophet of God. The message of Muhammad as recorded in the Koran is the foundation of Islam. This is seen in the confession to become a Muslim. This is called the Shahadatain. The second part of the Shahadatain follows: “...that Muhammad is His messenger to all human beings till the Day of Judgment.”

By Messenger, the Koran means prophet. According to Islam, he is the final prophet or seal of the prophets: Sura 33:40 “Muhammad ...(he is) the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets: and Allah has full knowledge of all things.”

Islam teaches not only is Muhammad the seal of the prophets but he is the greatest of the prophets. He is equal to or greater than Moses. Islam believes that Muhammad is the special prophet the Bible mentions will be like Moses. The verse from the Bible which the Muslims claim is about Muhammad follows:

Deuteronomy 18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

  The Koran states that Muhammad is the Prophet who will be like unto Moses. Muhammad came with the final message, which everyone has to obey. The Suras to show this follow:

Sura 46.9 Say: I am not the first of the apostles, and I do not know what will be done with me or with you: I do not follow anything but that which is revealed to me, and I am nothing but a plain warner. (10) Say: Have you considered if it is from Allah, and you disbelieve in it, and a witness from among the children of Israel has borne witness of one like him, so he believed, while you are big with pride; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people.

Sura 3:85 And whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and in the hereafter he shall be one of the losers.

What it Means to be Prophet Like Unto Moses

  There are six outstanding characteristics that have to be met to be the prophet like Moses. The Bible teaches that Moses is different from all the other Old Testament prophets. To be the prophet of Deuteronomy 18, these six characteristics must be fulfilled. These requirements follow:

  1). The prophet has to be from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The brethren of Deuteronomy 18 are the sons of Jacob. The brethren in the context of Deuteronomy 18:18 are the descendants of the 12 sons of Jacobs

Deuteronomy 18:1 The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel ... 2 Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the LORD is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them.

Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

  2). God spoke directly to Moses. All other prophets received their revelation by visions or dreams. Moses’ revelation was directly from the mouth of God.

Numbers 12:6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. (7) My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. (8) With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?

  3). Moses was in the direct presence of God. He saw the similitude or form of the LORD. Moses glowed from being in direct presence of God’s glory.

Exodus 34:29 And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. (30) And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.

  4). Moses intorduced a blood covenant relationship with God. The other prophets built upon this covenant, but no other Old Testament prophet brought in a different covenant.

Exodus 24: 8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words. (9) Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: (10) And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.

  5). Moses did mighty miracles. God used Moses to split the Red Sea .

Exodus 14:21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. (22) And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

  6). Moses prophesied of the future. Moses gave entire chapters of prophecy. His prophecy centered on the people and nation of Israel .

Leviticus 26:42 Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. (44) And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God. (45) But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.

The Test of Muhammad as The Prophet Like unto Moses  

Using the six criteria of Moses being the special prophet, let us test the Muslims claim that Muhammad is the prophet like Moses.

1).  Muhammad was not a Jew.

Muhammad is automatically eliminated from being the prophet like Moses because he was not a descendant from one of the 12 tribes of Israel . However, Islam claims that the brethren of Deuteronomy 18 are not the children of Israel . Islam claims that the brethren are not Jews, but they are the Arab descendants of Abraham through Ishmael. They claim the brethren means related to the Jews.

This relationship to the Jews is the brethren of Deuteronomy 18:18 and not someone from the 12 tribes of Israel . Islam claims this brethren are the descendants of Abraham through his son Ishmael. The Bible is clear that the brethren are the 12 tribes of Israel . However, let us examine the Muslim claim that the brethren are the descendants from Ishmael, and therefore Muhammad is the Prophet like Moses.

When studying the Bible, there is little said about the descendants of Ishmael. God promises to bless Ishmael with 12 sons, and he will become a great nation. The Bible then lists the 12 sons of Ishmael. After listing these 12 sons, there is no more continuation of Ishmael’s genealogy. It simply ends with the 12 sons.

The genealogy of Ishmael has very little significance in the Bible. Jacob’s genealogy is the one that the Bible keeps in great detail. The Scriptures about Ishmael’s genealogy follow:  

Genesis 17:20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

Genesis 25:12 Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham: (13) And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, (14) And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa, (15) Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:

1 Chronicles 1:29 These are their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, (30) Mishma, and Dumah, Massa , Hadad, and Tema, (31) Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael.  

The Koran contains no genealogy at all. Islam had no prophets prior to Muhammad, who maintained the Prophet like unto Moses’ genealogy. Islam cannot make a direct connection between Muhammad and Ishmael. There is a 2600-year genealogical gap between Ishmael and Muhammad with no way to connect the two!

The Bible even shows that at the time of Jeremiah, 600 BC, there was a great mixture of people in Arabia . This was 1200 years before Muhammad. It is very possible that Muhammad could be a descendant of the “mingled people” as the Bible described them and not from Ishmael. The verse to show this follows:

Jeremiah 25:24 and all the kings of Arabia , and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the desert,  

The context of Deuteronomy 18 is the children of Israel . However, even if one was to think it could possibly be the descendants of Ishmael, the Koran offers no proof whatsoever this could be Muhammad. The Koran is void of genealogy and therefore no link can be established between the two. Islam has no prophets that kept the genealogy to show this link.

Islam cannot produce the genealogical records prior to Muhammad that were kept by recognized prophets of God, so there can be no doubt to the authenticity. There are no such records and there are no such prophets. Prior to Muhammad, Islam has to rely on the Bible for prophets. The Bible’s prophets are silent about Ishmael’s genealogy while they kept the genealogy leading up to the Lord Jesus.

The Koran offers no proof that Muhammad can be the brethren while the Bible establishes a direct genealogical link from Abraham to the Lord Jesus. The Bible offers all the proof and the Koran has nothing. The failure to establish this requirement eliminates Muhammad as the Prophet like unto Moses.  

2). God spoke directly with Moses. Muhammad failed because the Koran shows he received his message from an angel.

  Sura 77.5 Then I swear by the angels who bring down the revelation

Sura 2.97 Say: Whoever is the enemy of Jibreel-- for surely he revealed it to your heart by Allah's command, verifying that which is before it and guidance and good news for the believers

3). The Koran never reported that Muhammad was literally in the direct presence of God.  

4). Muhammad never created a blood covenant with God, but his message went directly against the revealed word of God. Muhammad denied the basis for the New Testament covenant, which is the death of the Lord Jesus on the cross.

Sura 4.157 And their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Isa (Jesus) son of Marium, the apostle of Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them so  

5). The Koran reports no miracles of Muhammad.  The Koran even says that Muhammad was not like Moses.

Sura 28.48 But (now) when the truth has come to them from Us, they say: Why is he not given the like of what was given to Musa (Moses)? What! did they not disbelieve in what Musa was given before? They say: Two magicians backing up each other; and they say: Surely we are unbelievers in all. (49) Say: Then bring some (other) book from Allah which is a better guide than both of them, (that) I may follow it, if you are truthful.  

6). Muhammad made no prophecies in the Koran. The Muslims call Sura 30 the Great Prophecy: This Sura is often used as proof Muhammad is a prophet.

Sura 30.2 The Romans are vanquished, (3) In a near land, and they, after being vanquished, shall overcome, (4) Within a few years. Allah's is the command before and after; and on that day the believers shall rejoice,  

Sura 30 is not a valid prophecy:  The Romans, who were the Byzantines, were always at war. The Koran does not identify a near land. The location to judge the near land was not identified in the Koran. Is it Jerusalem , Mecca , or Medina etc? What are a few years? No date is given for this prophecy so within a few years can be identified. The fulfillment is not recorded in the Koran. It is impossible to verify that Sura 30:2-4 is a valid prophecy.

Muhammad fails the test of prophet in general and specifically he is not the prophet like unto Moses. Therefore, his message as written in the Koran is to be totally rejected. He cannot be classified as a prophet because he made no prophecy that could be tested. The Muslim’s claim that Muhammad is the seal of the prophets has no authority, as there is no proof in the Koran that Muhammad was a true prophet of God.

The Lord Jesus Meets the Criteria To be the Prophet Like Unto Moses.

The Bible says that the Lord Jesus is the Prophet like unto Moses.

Acts 3:20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: (22) For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. (23) And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

1). The Lord Jesus was from the brethren of Deuteronomy 18. The Lord’s genealogy was special. He was a direct descendant of David and the Kings of Israel; thus, He qualifies to be Israel ’s King Messiah, the Savior of the world.

Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.  

The Bible establishes the Lord Jesus is of the brethren by His genealogy. His genealogy can be traced back to Abraham on both his adopted father and his mother, Mary. Both of these genealogies are traced back to Abraham through Judah .

In Deuteronomy 18, the context of the brethren is someone whose genealogy can be traced to one of Jacob’s 12 sons. Judah was one of the 12 sons, so the Lord Jesus by His genealogy qualifies to be one of the brethren of Deuteronomy 18. He is a direct descendant of one of the 12 tribes of Israel . The verse from Luke that proves this genealogical link follows:

Luke 3:23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, (33) Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda, (34) Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham,...  

The Bible shows that even in heaven the Lord Jesus is identified as being from the tribe of Judah . In heaven, He did not lose the distinction of being from Judah . This distinction is actually enhanced. Even in eternity, He is identified as being one of the brethren of Deuteronomy 18:18. This verse follows:

Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.  

2). God spoke directly to Moses. God spoke directly through the Lord Jesus.

John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.  

3). Moses was in the direct presence of God and glowed from God’s presence. Jesus was the direct presence of God, and He manifested the glory of God!

Matthew 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, (2) And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.  

4). Moses brought in a blood covenant relationship with God. The Lord Jesus brought in a better blood covenant with God. The better covenant gives the assurance of eternal life to all that believe.  

Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament (covenant), which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Hebrews 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.  

5). Moses did mighty miracles. Jesus did mighty miracles. The Lord Jesus raised a man from the dead after he was four days in the grave. The Bible reported only a few of the awesome miracles that the Lord Jesus did. These miracles were a sign of Him being the Son of God.

John 11:39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. (43) And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. (44) And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

John 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

  6). Moses prophesied of the future. Jesus prophesied of the future. Like Moses, the Lord Jesus focused His prophecy on the Jews and their dispersion and restoration. The restoration of Israel and Jerusalem would occur just before His Second Coming. Just as the Lord prophesied, exactly happened to the Jews. Israel is once again a nation with Jerusalem as its capital.

Luke 21:7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? (23) But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land ( Israel ), and wrath upon this people (Jews). (24) And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

  The Lord Jesus not only met the requirements of being the Prophet like unto Moses, but he exceeded them in all points. Moses was the servant of God, but the Lord Jesus was the Son of God; therefore, He was greater than Moses.

Hebrews 3:2 (Christ) Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. (3) For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. (5) And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; (6) But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Jesus of Nazareth is the seal of the prophets and not Muhammad:

John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

  The Bible shows that the Lord Jesus is greater than Moses, as He is the Son God. God sent His Son into the world to die for our sin. Because of the death of the Lord Jesus on the cross, you can be forgiven of all sin and have assurance of eternal life with God.

When you trust the Lord Jesus as your Savior, God makes an eternal blood covenant with you.  Please repent of sin and trust the Lord Jesus as your Savior.  Eternal life is only through faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. He is the Prophet like unto Moses and those that do not listen to His message, God will require it of them.

1 John 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. (10) He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

(11) And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son (12) He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9

By John McTernan: Defend and Proclaim the Faith
Blog: John McTernan's Insights at www.johnmcternan.name