Does Mohammad's name mentioned in the New Testament?

Muslims claim that the name of their prophet Mohammad is mentioned in the Gospel, based the words in the Koran Surah 61;6, "And remember Jesus, son of Mary, said, 'O children of Israel! I am the apostle of God (sent) to you, confirming the Law (which came) before me, and giving Glad Tidings of an apostle to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad'"

 It was said that the meaning of the Greek Paraclete in the Gospel is the same as Ahmad, the praise one and that Ahmad and Mohammad are the same. Some allege that the Gospel has been altered because this announcement is no longer in it, even though it is still recorded in the Gospel as it was in Mohammad's day. Here we have to remember that the Old Testament was written in Hebrew and the New Testament was written in Greek.

 However, what the Koran understood by the intended word was misconstrued because the word in the Greek is this; Hapakahtoe not Heipikahote. In the Latin spelling thus, Paracletos and not Periclutos is its correct form. The first means the Comforter while the second is the famous or praise one.

 This verse is still in the Gospel, proving that it has not undergone change. Let us now return to study the verses containing the word Paraclete in order to understand its meaning in the Koran and see if it is right to attribute it to Mohammad as our Muslim brother’s claim.

1 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you for ever-the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John; 14;16-17).

2 “When the Counsellor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.” (John 15;26).

3. “But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.” (John 16;7-8).

4.“On one occasion, while he (Jesus) was eating with them, he gave them this command; ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1; 4-5).

5. “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2; 1-4).

 Now it is clear that Christ was the disciple’s teacher while he was among them. He was a guide and a Comforter to the, defending them, so that they became attached to him. With his foreknowledge he knew that his departure from them through death would break their hearts. He was convinced that they were in need of heavenly help to strengthen, guide and comfort them after his departure. For this reason he promised to send them Holy Spirit to be their Comforter, as you have seen from previous verses.

 After close examination of these texts it becomes clear to us that the Person who was promised could not possibly be Mohammad the Prophet of Islam for reasons which wee see in the same verse.

 First, the one promised was not corporeal (Spirit of Truth), therefore the world could not receive him because they could not see him. This description does not fit Mohammad because he had a body and the world saw him, both believers and non-believers.

 Second, the Promised One came to stay with the disciples forever. This too cannot be said of Mohammad because he did not come at the time of the disciples and did not remain in the world forever.

 Third, the Promised One was at that time with the disciples, “because he is with you.” This also cannot apply to Mohammad because he was not with disciples.

 Fourth, Christ instructed his disciples “not to leave Jerusalem but wait...” for that Comforter, the Holy Spirit. In obedience to their Master they waited ten days in Jerusalem until that Comforter came and “everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit.” This too cannot apply to Mohammad. Otherwise it would have been necessary for the disciples to wait in Jerusalem 600 years until Mohammad’s arrival. How long could they live, especially as Christ promised them to send the Spirit Comforter quickly?! Otherwise it was no use comforting them after death. Therefore to encourage them he said, “For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will baptised with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1;5).

I do not think that my Muslim brother wants to believe that Christ is the one who sent Mohammad, because the verses above show that Christ was the one who sent the Comforter Spirit. If that was so, it would be another matter, for he would have to agree to the divinity of the one who sent (Christ), because Mohammad claimed to be God’s Apostle. Imagine!

 I ask God to give my Muslim brother this Holy Spirit, as he gave to those disciples, so that he would guide him to the truth and guide him to the right path and enlighten his mind so that he may distinguish between the worthless and the worthwhile!