Prophecies About Prophet Muhammad ﷺ By Prophet Solomon

(Cite: Khan, Dr. (Mufti) Imran & Hamdani, Mufti Shah Rafi Uddin. (2018), Prophecies About Prophet Muhammad By Prophet Solomon , Encyclopedia of Muhammad , Seerat Research Center, Karachi, Pakistan, Vol. 1, Pg. 268-277.)

As the different prophets of the different era had predicted about the arrival of Muhammad , Solomon also predicted his arrival in his golden words. Solomon said poetry in the honour and praise of Muhammad in which it is mentioned in clear words that the last prophet will come soon and even the name “Mahamaddim” is also written.

Hebrew words like Abraham, Jerusalem, Judah, etc. hold no explanation. Despite this fact, the prediction of the arrival of the Holy Prophet is mentioned in these books in depth. This proves that Allah by his wisdom was saving the prediction of His beloved prophet Muhammad , in the Jewish books by their hands since the real book was lost. Same is the case about the prophecy of Solomon who used the word “Muhammadeem”, and it is present in his prediction. In Hebrew Bible, it was found as:

حکوممتقیم وى كل محديم ذه د ودى وى زه دے عى بینوت یروشلایم.

In the present (now available) Arabic Bible these words are found as:

حَلْقُهُ حَلاَوَةٌ وَكُلُّهُ مُشْتَهَيَاتٌ. هذَا حَبِيبِي، وَهذَا خَلِيلِي، يَا بَنَاتِ أُورُشَلِيمَ. ¹

His mouth is sweet to kiss; everything about him enchants me. This is what my lover is like, women of Jerusalem.

The first word of the verse “Hakoo حکو” in Hebrew has the literal meaning of the internal side of the mouth, palette, or jaws. In Hebrew and Torah, this word is used as a term. As it is said: “I don’t speak but only the truth”, “He only speaks the truth”, “I don’t allow myself to speak nothing but the truth”, etc. this explanation proves that the word “Hakoo حکو” means “his words”.

The second word of the verse “mamittakim ممتقیم” has the literal meaning of sweet; something sweet, honey or to eat something sweet. So, the collective meaning will be “his words are like honey.” If an acute observer takes a closer look, the words of Torah are affirming the beauty and sweetness of the Holy Quran. The words and verses of the Holy Quran are so sweet that they have a charm, allure and charisma for the reciter and the listener. This honour and beauty are only found in the Holy Quran. The word, Quran, itself claims that it is the most readable book of the world because according to the Arabic grammar it means, “The book which is read the most” and no such work is present in the world except it.

The verse includes the words “Wi kullo Mahamaddim وی کل محمدیم” which means, “It is Muhammad altogether” it means the words of the Quran are not only sweet but Muhammad who received it is also sweet. The root word of “Mahamaddim” is Hamd (حمد) whose Hebrew meanings are praise, quality, and peace. Solomon says by “Kul Mahamaddim”, “My prophet has all the qualities and is the one to be highly praised or is Muhammad ” The “im” in “Mahamaddim” is not for plural but is for his majesty and glory.

One thing should be kept in mind that in the Torah, in chapter Song of Songs, the word “Mahamaddim” is used just once. It is not used elsewhere. When the translation of Torah is done, the word is translated as “Everything about him enchants” or “altogether lovely”. ² It is a fact that when someone loves anyone, so he/she loves because of qualities or character. Honestly, the translators of Torah should translate the word as “Muhammad is great” because of its ending with “im” instead of any other way. Nevertheless, it is also enough that Muhammad’s name is written in the Torah in clear words. Only stubbornness, prejudice and adversity stop Jews and Christian to accept it.

Solomon gave the third sign by the words, “zeh dodi ذہ دودی” which means in Hebrew, “a friend or beloved”. These words are only used concerning the uncle or the father’s brother. In Hebrew and Kaldanyun English dictionaries, this word is explained as, “A friend: A father’s brother or uncle by the father’s side.” ³

Solomon in his poetry used the word “Dodi دودی” in such respect that the reader comes to know that Muhammadeem is his cousin brother from the father’s side, not from Israel as Solomon belongs to it. Thus, Bani Ismail was Solomon’s cousin. This prediction is only valid for Muhammad with such proofs and evidence that if Christians still do not believe it, one can only question their thinking and intelligence. Christians are still trying to prove this prediction in favour of Jesus though the present Mathew and Luke in the Bible show that the offspring of Solomon includes Jesus while Mahamaddim is said to be related to Bani Ismail or his uncle’s children.

Solomon after saying, Mahamaddim as his cousin, has given one more point so that the prediction becomes apparent to everybody. Solomon said “we-zeh de ei وی زہ دے عی”. It is meant as “neighbouring”, “other branch” or “The friend of the humanity” in Torah. In Hebrew and Kaldanyun English dictionaries it means: “A companion, a friend with whom one has intercourse.” ⁴

It Has Given Us Two Points

The Holy Prophet is Solomon’s neighbour. Geographically, Syria is the neighbour of Arab and their borders are together. So, Solomon’s neighbour is the Arab nation. The Holy Prophet is his friend. It is evident that Solomon is from Israelites and its other branch is Bani Ismail. That is why Solomon says Muhammad is from Bani Ismail, from the other branch of his family.

The end of the prediction represents the time and place of Muhammad . At the end of the poetry, the land of the Prophet Makkah is discussed with love, “Bainut Yerushalayim” (بینوت یروشلایم), the word Bainut which means “O daughters” is an Arabic phrase used for residents and dwellers. The dictionary states its meaning as, “The inhabitants of a city or country both men and women.” ⁵

“Yerushalayim” is taken in the sense of “The City of Jerusalem” and the close observers of Torah know that there are two Jerusalems. One is the near one, and the other is the distant one. The near one belongs to Hagar, and the distant one belongs to Sarah.

Our fact is testified by Paul’ Galatians in which he writes: Our fact is testified by Paul’ Galatians in which he writes:

وَكُلُّ ذَلِكَ رَمْزٌ، لِأَنَّ هَاتَيْنِ هُمَا ٱلْعَهْدَانِ، أَحَدُهُمَا مِنْ جَبَلِ سِينَاءَ، ٱلْوَالِدُ لِلْعُبُودِيَّةِ، ٱلَّذِي هُوَ هَاجَرُ. لِأَنَّ هَاجَرَ جَبَلُ سِينَاءَ فِي ٱلْعَرَبِيَّةِ. وَلَكِنَّهُ يُقَابِلُ أُورُشَلِيمَ ٱلْحَاضِرَةَ، فَإِنَّهَا مُسْتَعْبَدَةٌ مَعَ بَنِيهَا. وَأَمَّا أُورُشَلِيمُ ٱلْعُلْيَا، ٱلَّتِي هِيَ أُمُّنَا جَمِيعًا، فَهِيَ حُرَّةٌ. ⁶

These things can be understood as a figure: the two women represent two covenants. The one whose children are born in slavery is Hagar, and she represents the covenant made at Mount Sinai. Hagar, who stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia, is a figure of the present city of Jerusalem, in slavery with all its people. But the heavenly Jerusalem is free, and she is our mother.

Now the question arises regarding Jerusalem which is the real “Heavenly Jerusalem” or “The land of peace”. It is evident that the land of peace will be the area that is bounded by law. Where there is no law how can it be the land of peace? Thus it is proved that there was only one land and that was Bait-ul-Haram which was full of law and order after its conquered by Muhammad . And according to the prediction, this pure, peaceful land is Jerusalem which is the Jerusalem of Hagar which was not only saved by the enemies, but the one who lives in it was also protected. As The Holy Quran states:

وَمَنْ دَخَلَهُ كَانَ اٰمِنًا...97⁷

and whoever enters it shall be safe…

Ali Unal says about this prophecy that as it has discussed several times that the Bible has suffered alteration and corruption owing to the vicissitudes of time. About fifty years after its original was lost during the invasion of Judah by the Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar; it was collected from oral traditions and committed to writing in the existing Hebrew script by Ezra . Different editions of this collection have differences in readings. Nevertheless, even in its present interpolated form, scores of prophecies about the Holy Prophet are found in the Bible. This is because the Holy Prophet is heir to all the previous prophets, with his cause being the same as claimed by all his predecessors. Another important reason is that he was sent as a mercy for all creatures and therefore the followers of all the previous prophets have to recognise and believe in him. Also, he cleared the previous prophets of the calumnies and false accusations which have been interpolated in the Bible against them. The prophet who testifies to all preceding prophets must have corresponding confirmation of his truthfulness from the lips of those prophets.

The King James Version translate this prophecy as:

His mouth is most sweet, yea he is altogether lovely (and praiseworthy) (Mahammadim). This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters (inhabitants) of Jerusalem. ⁸⁹

The Hebrew words of this song in Roman script are as follows:

‘Hikko mamittakim we khullo Mahamaddim zeh dodi we-zeh ra`i benoth Yarushalayim.’

Some Christian scholars criticise this prophecy for the following main points:

1. It is a standard love song expressing a woman`s desire for her lover.
2. The word Mahamaddim is used in the plural form, and in Hebrew, it is a common noun (i.e. not a name). The same word occurs again as a common noun in several other places in the Bible. For example, in Ezekiel 24: 16, it is used in the meaning of "the desire of your eyes" and is applied to a woman, Ezekiel`s wife.

The Christian scholars who criticise this prophecy only to refute the Muslims' claim that the Bible predicts Muhammad by name, are not agreed on their approaches to it. While some argue that there is no prophecy in it and the word is a common noun, and not a proper name denoting a particular person, The Reference Bible published by Oxford University Press sees in it a description of Christ by his graces and therefore a prophecy for Jesus.

Second, the claim that the word mahammaddim occurs in several other places in the Bible is entirely untrue. The word occurs in the Bible only once, and it is in verse under discussion. In Ezekiel, 24: 16 and I Kings, 20: 6 the word is mahmad, not mahamaddim.

As for the other objection that the word mahamaddim is plural, the fact is that the suffix ‘im’ is a plural of respect, majesty and grandeur, expressing high dignity or greatness, just as in Elohim (the God). In the Holy Quran as well, God Almighty sometimes uses the plural pronoun "We” for Him to express dignity, grandeur and majesty. Without ‘im’ the name becomes Mahamadd, which was translated as `altogether lovely` in the Authorized Version of the Bible or `the praised one', `the one worthy of praise'. The Hebrew root word hamad, from which Mahammadd is derived, means `to take pleasure` and `desire'. It has also been used in the sense of gratitude and praise. Adopting these thoughts together, the word has the meaning `to feel grateful to someone for some good, virtue, and delight in him and praise the same'. Thus, in the expression wikhullo mahamaddim, Solomon means: "Beloved combines all the virtues in himself. Therefore, he is praiseworthy, i.e., Muhammad ." In Arabic, Muhammad means the one who is most praised.

...His Mouth Is Most Sweet: A Reference To The Holy Quran

The other parts of this prophecy also refer to Muhammad . Its first part hikko mamittakim (mamtakkim) means "his words are honey", "his speech is sweet", or "his mouth is a sweet spring". For hikko, derived from hakh or hanakh, has the meanings of `the inside of the mouth', `the sense of taste', and `tongue' or `language', while mamittakim (mamtakkim), derived from mathaq carries the significance of `to eat something delicious' or `sweet' or `honey'. Also, In the Book of Numbers in the Bible (33: 28) the word Mithcah in verse "And they journeyed from Terah, and encamped in Mithcah" <sup>10</sup> is the name of a place and a spring of water in Arabia where the Children of Israel halted during their exodus. In Arabic, the word mattaq means a pot full of water or a spring of water. Thus, the word mamittakim (mantakkim) means `honey', `sweet', and `Spring'.

The description in the combined meaning of the expression hikko mantakkim ("his words are honey", "his speech is sweet", or "his mouth is a sweet spring") can fit in with only the Holy Quran. God Almighty allowed His prophets to work miracles. A miracle is an extraordinary event that God Almighty creates at the hand of a prophet to prove his prophethood, strengthen the believers' faith, and break the unbelievers' obstinacy. Since the prophets before the Last One were sent each to his people and for a limited time, and their prophethood was thereby restricted, their miracles were related to the widespread arts and crafts of their time. For example, since at the time of Moses , sorcery enjoyed high prestige in Egypt, God Almighty caused his staff to change into a snake and swallow those of the sorcerers. At the time of Jesus , the healing arts enjoyed high prestige, and so most of his miracles involved healing.

Said Nursi writes, God Almighty sent the Prophets to human communities as leaders of spiritual and moral progress; He also made them masters and forerunners of humanity`s material progress through miracles. Just as by relating the prophets' spiritual and moral perfections, the Holy Quran encourages people to benefit from them, by presenting their miracles as well, it urges people to achieve something similar to science. It may even be said that, like spiritual and moral attainments, material achievements and wonders were first given to humanity as gifts through prophetic miracles. For example, Noah was the first to build ships, and Joseph was the first to make clocks. Thus, the ship and clock were given first as prophetic miracles. It is a significant indication of this reality that so many craft guilds take a prophet as the "patron" or originator of their craft. For example, seamen take Noah , watchmakers take Joseph , and tailors take Enoch .

As for Muhammad since his prophethood is universal and he is the last prophet, his miracles are very diverse and connected with nearly all parts of creation. However, since the people among whom he was raised up were highly advanced in literary arts and rhetoric, the prophet's greatest and everlasting miracle appeared as the Holy Quran, which is, first of all, a miracle of eloquence. When it came, it challenged not only the people of its time, but also the whole world until the end of time to produce a like of it. Not only a like of it, but it challenged and still challenges everyone until the last day to produce a like of one of its smallest chapters. More than that, it challenges in the following eight degrees of challenge:

If anyone has doubt about the Divine authorship of the Quran and think a human being has written it, let one of your unlettered people, as Muhammad the Trustworthy is unlettered, produce something similar. (2) If he cannot, then let the most famous of your writers or scholars do it. (3) If he cannot either, call upon all your deities, scientists, philosophers, sociologists, theologians, and literary men to come together and produce something similar. (4) If they cannot, let them try-leaving aside other inimitable aspects of Quran---to produce a work of equal eloquence in word order and composition. (5) By, Therefore bring ten fabricated chapters like these… ¹¹ The Holy Quran means: What you write does not have to be true; let it be fabrications or false tales. Neither need it match the Quran`s length, just produce the like of its ten chapters. (6) If you cannot do that either, produce only the like of one chapter. (7) If you cannot do that, produce only the like of a short section. (8) If you cannot do that which you cannot although you direly need to do it because such inability will put your honour, religion, nationality, lives, and property at risk, and you will die humiliated-then fear the Fire, whose fuel is people and stones. ¹² You and your idols will remain in Hell for eternity. Having understood your eight degrees of inability, what else can you do but admit eight times that the Quran is a miracle? ¹³

The Holy Quran is miraculous in all its aspects. Unique in eloquence and diction. It has become a standard of eloquence for all time to come. As it is extraordinarily eloquent when expressing meaning, so also it is wonderfully fluent and pure in wording and word arrangement. One proof of this is that it does not bore the senses but rather gives them pleasure, even if it is recited thousands of times. It feeds the heart, gives power and wealth to the mind, functions as light for the spirit, and cures the soul's illnesses. Brilliant scholars of the sciences of rhetoric and grammar also confirm its matchless eloquence with the wisdom it has. Even a child can memorise the Holy Quran easily. So many people have memorised no other book in history than the Holy Quran as those who have memorised it. Critically ill people, even if troubled by a few words of ordinary speech nearby, feel relief and comfort upon hearing it. For dying people, it gives their ears and minds the same taste and pleasure as that left by the sweetest water in their mouths and on their palates. Thus, by saying hikko mantakkim ("his words are honey", "His speech is sweet", or "His mouth is a sweet spring") Solomon refers to the Holy Quran. It is a fact that the Holy Prophet , appeared in the heart of the desert like a spring of pure water, a source of light in an all-enveloping darkness. Whoever appeals to this spring can take as much water as needed to quench their thirst to become purified of all their sins, and to get illumined with the light of belief.

The Prophet To Be From Solomon’s Cousins, The Ishmaelites And A Neighbouring Country Arabia

As for the third and fourth parts of the prophecy, namely zeh dodi wezhe ra`i, Solomon gives another sign of the promised prophet. Zeh means `thi` and dodi `a friend, especially a father's brother; uncle by the father's side.' As to ra`i, coming from the root ra`ah, it means ‘a neighbour, the other branch, a friend of humanity’. By the use of these words, Solomon signifies that Mahammaddim would be from among his cousins. He should not be expected from among his nation the Israelites. The cousins of the Israelites are the Ishmaelites, the stock out of which the Holy Prophet came. Also, these cousins would be from a neighbouring country. Arabia, where the Ishmaelite dwelled and Muhammad appeared is a neighbour of Syria, the land of Solomon . Secondly, Mahamaddim would be from the second branch of the same House. The Israelites and Ishmaelites are the branches of the same House.

"O Daughters Of The House Of Peace And Safety!"

The last part of the prophecy is Benoth-Yarushalim. Benoth has two meanings: ‘inhabitants’ and ‘daughters’. As for Yarushalim or Yerushalayim, some scholars opine that it is composed of yarush and shalom, meaning ‘The property of peace and safety’. However, some others suggest that it is derived from the root yarawah which means ‘foundation’ and render the word as ‘The basis of peace and safety’. As a matter of fact, the word is from the root yaru, meaning ‘people’ or ‘house’. The expression Benoth-Yerushalayim thus means: "O, the inhabitants or daughters of the House of Peace and Safety!"

Solomon addressing the daughters of the House of Peace and Safety has special significance. For before the advent of the Holy Prophet , women were despised not only in pre-Islamic Arabia but also in the Roman and Sassanid lands. Daughters were buried alive. Hearts had become stone-cold. Every day a pit was dug in the desert for an innocent girl to be buried. The Holy Quran declared that those who killed their daughters would be questioned concerning this: When the female (infant) buried alive is questioned for what crime was she killed? ¹⁴ After the Holy Prophet had declared his prophethood, a companion told him what he had done with his daughter:

“O Messenger of God, I had a daughter. One day I told her mother to dress her, for I was taking her to her uncle. My poor wife knew what this meant, but could do nothing but obey and weep. She dressed the girl, who was very happy that she was going to see her uncle. I took her near a well and told her to look down into it. While she was looking into the well, I kicked her into it. While she was rolling down, she was shouting: "Daddy, Daddy!" ¹⁵

As he was recounting this, the Holy Prophet , sobbed as if he had lost one of his nearest Kinsfolk. The Holy Prophet came with the Divine Message and this dark period of jahiliyyah ended. He was compassionate toward children, whenever he saw a child crying, he sat beside him or her and shared his or her feelings. He took them in his arms and carried them on his shoulders. When his daughter Fatima entered, he would stand, take her hands and make her sit where he had been sitting. He felt the pain of a mother for her child more than the mother herself. Once he said: "I stand in Prayer and wish to prolong it. However, I hear a child cry and shorten the Prayer to lessen the mother's anxiety."¹⁶ Therefore, all daughters were indebted to him and sang praises of him.

Ali Unal further writes, all of the Holy Prophet's companions, who describe him say that the Holy Prophet , had a bright, radiant face and a ruddy complexion. For example, Umm Ma`bad Al-Khuza`iyah says in the description of him:

"He was innocently bright and had broad countenance. His manners were fine. He had black attractive eyes finely arched by continuous eyebrows. His hair was glossy and black, inclined to curl, he wore it long. His expression was contemplative, serene and sublime. The stranger was fascinated from a distance, but no sooner he became intimate with him than this fascination was changed into attachment and respect. His expression was very sweet and distinct. His speech was well set and free from the use of superfluous words, as if it were a rosary of beads."

Ar-Rabi` Bint Muawwidh says: "Had you seen God's Messenger; you would have felt that the sun was shining." Ibn al-`Abbas says of him: "His two front teeth were split so whenever he speaks, the light goes through them. His neck was as pure and silvery as a neck of doll." Anas ibn Malik gave the information that he had a pink-colored complexion. Al-Bara’ ibn ‘Azib describes him as he is having the most handsome face and the best character. ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib says of him: ‘The Prophet was the most tractable and the most yielding companion, seeing him unexpectedly you fear him and venerate him. He who has acquaintance with him will like him.’ He who describes him says: `I have never seen such a person like him, neither before nor after seeing him.’ Abu Juhayfa says: "I took his hand and put it on my head and I found that it was better scented than musk perfume." God's Messenger was, in the words of Anas, "The most comely and generous person." Jabir ibn Samura reports: "Once we were sitting in the mosque, and a full moon was shining above us. God's Messenger entered. I looked first at the moon and then at his face. I swear by God that the Messenger's face was brighter than the moon." ¹⁷

Solomon , who predicts his Vindicator by name, also describes him as follows:

“My beloved is white and ruddy, the Chiefs (outstanding) among ten thousand.” ¹⁸

It is evident how exactly this description of Solomon fits the Holy Prophet . Secondly, as discussed before, for the conquest of Makkah the Holy Prophet marched at the head of ten thousand righteous men as the most distinguished of them, as God's Messenger and their commander. No other man in world history than the Holy Prophet has ever had these two attributes in his or her personality, namely having a bright and ruddy countenance and outstanding among ten thousand. He and none other, therefore, is the Mahammadim of Solomon . ¹⁹

With the given explanation, it is clear that Solomon is talking about Muhammad in his poetry. This poetry is the prophecy for Muhammad whereas it is completely changed in the modern translations of the Bible.

• ¹  The Bible, Song of Solomon 5: 16
• ²  The Bible, Song of Solomon 5: 16 (King James Version)
• ³  Josiah Willard Gibbs (1832), A Manual Hebrew and English Lexicon, Pub: Hezekiah Howe, Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Connecticut, USA, Pg. 48.
• ⁴  Richard N. Rhoades (2012), Faith of the Ages, iUniverse, Indiana, USA, Pg. 274.
• ⁵  Thomas Taylor (1782), A New Concordance to the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, R. Spence, London, U.K, Pg. 169.
• ⁶  The Bible, Galatians 4: 24-26
• ⁷  Holy Quran, Aale Imran (The Family of Imran) 3: 97
• ⁸  The Bible, Song of Solomon 5-16 (King James Version)
• ⁹  It is the same verse given as a first prophecy at the very first page of Solomon’s prophecies but here Ali Unal used the translation of King James Version and we used there the translation of Good News Bible as per our pattern.
• ¹⁰  This is the translation of King James Version otherwise in Good News Bible this word is written with ‘k’ instead of ‘c’ i.e. “Mithkah”.
• ¹¹  Holy Quran, Hud (Prophet Hud) 11: 13
• ¹²  Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2: 14
• ¹³  Bediuzzaman Said Nursi (2010), The Words (trans.), "The Twenty-fifth Word", The Light, New Jersey, USA, Pg. 404-405.
• ¹⁴  Holy Quran, Al-Takweer (The Rolling Up) 81: 8-9
• ¹⁵  ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdul Rehman Abu Muhammad Al-Darmi (1412 A.H), Musnad Al-Darmi, Hadith: 2, Dar-ul-Mughni, Saudia, Vol. 1, Pg. 153.
• ¹⁶  Abu Abdullah Muhammad Bin Ismail Al-Bukhari (1999), Sahih Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Azaan, Hadith: 707, Darussalam, Riyadh, Saudia, Pg. 116.
• ¹⁷  Ahmed Bin Muhammad Bin Abi Bakr Abdul Maalik Al Qastalani Al Misri, Al Mawahib ul Ladunniya Bil Manhil Muhammadia, Al Maktaba Tul Tawfiqiyya, Cairo, Egypt, Vol. 2, Pg. 195.
• ¹⁸  The Bible, Song of Solomon 5: 10 (King James Version)
• ¹⁹  Ali Aunal Harun Gultekin (2013), The Prophet Promised in World Scriptures, Tughra Books, New Jersey, USA, Pg. 111-119.