Answering Objections to Islam · Positive Evidences
Deuteronomy 18:18 and the Prophet Like Moses
Handle with care. Do not claim Deuteronomy 18:18 can only refer to Muhammad (SAW). Acts 3:22 applies it to Jesus (PBUH), and overclaiming turns a strong typological case into a losing textual one.
In short
- 1."From among their brethren" normally means a related people — the children of Ishmael (PBUH) fit that.
- 2.Moses (PBUH) brought a law, led a people and died a natural death. That pattern matches Muhammad (SAW).
- 3."I will put my words in his mouth" matches revelation recited word for word by the prophet.
The claim being examined
Muslims read Deuteronomy 18:18 as a prophecy of Muhammad (SAW); Christians apply it to Jesus (PBUH).
The Islamic position
The criteria in the text — a prophet like Moses (PBUH), from among their brethren, with God's words in his mouth — are matched more closely by Muhammad (SAW) on the traditional Christian understanding of Jesus (PBUH), since a prophet "like Moses" is a lawgiver, a leader and a mortal man.
Analysis
Say up front that Acts 3:22 applies this verse to Jesus (PBUH). This is a contested reading, not a knock-out blow, and presenting it as one loses the conversation. The strength of the Muslim reading is in the likeness itself. On the standard Christian belief, Jesus (PBUH) is divine, born without a father, and did not bring a new law. In all three of those he is unlike Moses (PBUH). Muhammad (SAW) matches Moses (PBUH) point by point: born to two parents, married with children, brought a law, led a community, migrated from persecution, and died a natural death. Ali Ataie makes the case by piling these up together rather than resting it on one word. Do not claim the verse can only mean Muhammad (SAW). Overclaiming turns a strong resemblance into an argument you cannot win.
From the Qur'an
إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ رَسُولًۭا شَـٰهِدًا عَلَيْكُمْ كَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ رَسُولًۭا
innā arsalnā ilaykum rasūlan shāhidan ʿalaykum kamā arsalnā ilā fir'ʿawna rasūlan
We have sent to you a messenger as a witness upon you, just as We sent to Pharaoh a messenger.
From the Bible
Hebrew
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put my words in his mouth.
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