The Promised Servant, The Promised Prophet in The Torah: The value of the Torah at the time of the Qur'an's revelation

A sincere investigation about The Torah and the Gospel according to the records in the Sahih Hadith lead me to notice this. The stories there recorded present a thesis not used very much today by the defenders of the muslim faith: At the time of the revelation of the Qur'an, the copies of the Torah and the Gospel had a significant value for Islam.  It is said that the people who held these copies had in these manuscripts reliable tools to judge the advent of a promised prophet. In fact, the Hadith tells us about several people among the people of the Book who came to believe in the message of Prophet Muhammad after reviewing the writings in The Torah and/or The Gospel. Among them, Abdullah Ibn Salam is perhaps the most renowned. He was once a Jewish Rabbi who then became a faithful follower of the Prophet Mohammed. It is mentioned in the Muslim tradition (Hadith): 

Narrated 'Abdullah bin Salam: "The description of Muhammad is written in the Tawrah, [and the description that] 'Eisa will be buried next to him." (One of the narrators) Abu Mawdud said: "[And] there is a place for a grave left in the house." (1)

Ibn Salam's virtuosity made him to be considered a man deserving heaven per some commentaries. He was told to be a man of Paradise walking on earth (2). In the books of Hadith there are also records about some prophetical verses within the Torah, of which the followers of Islam have attributed its fulfillment in the life of prophet Muhammad. An example is the following Hadith, found in the compilations made by Bukhari:

Narrated Ata bin Yasar:

I met `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`As and asked him, "Tell me about the description of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) which is mentioned in Torah (i.e. Old Testament.") He replied, 'Yes. By Allah, he is described in Torah with some of the qualities attributed to him in the Qur'an as follows: "O Prophet ! We have sent you as a witness (for Allah's True religion) And a giver of glad tidings (to the faithful believers), And a warner (to the unbelievers) And guardian of the illiterates. You are My slave and My messenger (i.e. Apostle). I have named you "Al-Mutawakkil" (who depends upon Allah). You are neither discourteous, harsh Nor a noisemaker in the markets And you do not do evil to those Who do evil to you, but you deal With them with forgiveness and kindness. Allah will not let him (the Prophet) Die till he makes straight the crooked people by making them say: "None has the right to be worshipped but Allah," With which will be opened blind eyes And deaf ears and enveloped hearts." (3)

This Hadith paraphrases the text of Isaiah 42, which in one of the translations to English today reads:

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.” This is what God the Lord says— the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. (4)

Manyeople within Islam considers that the descriptions of The Servant match prophet Mohammad. In the Book of Isaiah, there are several other songs about the Servant. Those songs present further descriptions of this prophetical character. They speak about the office and life events of him. These descriptions aim to provide details for us to identify who the prophet would be. A famous song about The Servant is found in Isaiah chapters 52 and 53:

13 See, My Servant will act wisely; He will be raised and lifted up and greatly exalted. 14 Just as many were appalled at You --His appearance was so disfigured that He did not look like a man, and His form did not resemble a human being -- 52:15 so He will sprinkle many nations. Kings will shut their mouths because of Him, For they will see what had not been told them, and they will understand what they had not heard. 53:1 Who has believed what we have heard? And who has the arm of the LORD been revealed to? 2 He grew up before Him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground. He didn't have an impressive form or majesty that we should look at Him, no appearance that we should desire Him 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; He was despised, and we didn't value Him. 4 Yet He Himself bore our sicknesses, and He carried our pains; but we in turn regarded Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds. 6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the LORD has punished Him for the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, He did not open His mouth. 8 He was taken away because of oppression and judgment; and who considered His fate? For He was cut off from the land of the living; He was struck because of my people's rebellion. 9 They made His grave with the wicked and with a rich man at His death, although He had done no violence and had not spoken deceitfully. 10 Yet the LORD was pleased to crush Him severely. When You make Him a restitution offering, He will see His seed, He will prolong His days, and by His hand, the LORD's pleasure will be accomplished. 11 He will see it out of His anguish, and He will be satisfied with His knowledge. My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will carry their iniquities.12 Therefore I will give Him the many as a portion, and He will receive the mighty as spoil, because He submitted Himself to death, and was counted among the rebels; yet He bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels. (5)

Verses like Isaiah 53:4, 5, 8, 10, 11 and 12 describe the theological concept of Substitution. This concept says that in the eyes of God it is possible for The Servant of God to take the burden of the sins of other people. Within the Islamic theology, there is no mention about the concept of substitution. In Islam is believed that every person good deeds and bad deeds are recorded, and each will be either rewarded or punished(6). Isaiah 53:5 clearly states that The Servant "was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him". This contradicts the Islamic theology of atonement and the issue of Tai'rah (deeds recording). I beg the readers to think about this: if the message presented by Prophet Muhammad contradicts what the book of Isaiah said the Servant would do, is it reasonable to assign this prophecy fulfillment to Prophet Muhammad? Clearly not.

The question then is, who is The Servant? Approximately 100 years before the birth of Jesus, some fathers of the Judaism interpreted that descriptions of The Servant presented in the book of Isaiah corresponded to The Messiah. This is found within the writings of the students of the Jewish school of Hilel. Beit Hilel, the house of Hilel, was one of the most recognized jewish law academies in the first century BCE. Jonnathon Ben Uzziel, a disciple of Hilel, wrote a Targum with Mishnah (interpretative commentaries) of the book of Isaiah. The Targum originally written in Aramaic, served as a translation of The Scriptures. Given the piety and righteous life of Jonnathon Ben Uzziel, some Jews came to consider that his translations were inspired by God himself. Not saying that this is the case, I highlight this to indicate to the reader that Judaism before the time of Jesus did believe that the Servant was The Messiah. Proof of this are the following excerpts of Isaiah 9, 42, and 52. 

Targum Johnathon - Isaiah:

A. Isaiah 9:6 The prophet spoke to the House of David, for unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, He has taken the Law upon himself to keep it. His name is called from eternity, Wonderful, The Mighty God, who liveth to Eternity, The Messiah, whose peace should be great upon us in His days

B. Isaiah 42:1 Behold my Servant, The Messiah, whom I bring, My chosen in whom one delights: As for My Word, I will put my Spirit on Him; He shall reveal my judgement into the nations

C. isaiah 52:13 Behold My Servant, The Messiah, shall prosper, He shall be exalted and stolled,  and He shall be very strong (7)

We can conclude that the Judaism in the first century BCE was expecting a Divine and suffering Servant as their Messiah. Today's Rabbinic Judaism does not recognize that the Servant mentioned in Isaiah is referred to the Messiah. A believe has evolved over the last 2000 years which claims that the Servant is the nation of Israel. Why? Some of Them don't believe that The Messiah has come. They don't believe that Jesus son of Mary (Isa ibn Maryam) and Joseph is The Messiah (Al-Masih). It results very interesting reading in the Qur'an that Jesus was called The Messiah (Al-Masih). In a passive way, this is a recognition that Jesus is The Messiah and therefore The Servant described in Isaiah. And the implication is that this is acceptance of whom Jesus was and what He did and who He is:

- He has sprinkled the nations

- He was lifted up and raised, He defeated death

- when He was despised, He carried our pains

- He received our judgement

- He was pierced for our transgressions 

- He has carried our iniquities, our sins, and He justifies those who believe in Him

- He is God with us, He is Divine

All I have presented here is based on sincere investigations and studies. I invite you, my dear reader, to also study and leverage the facts here presented. From the Islamic scriptures it is drawn that The book of Isaiah contains the word of truth and the description of The Servant of God. That Servant has paid for your iniquities and He offers you assurance of your Salvation. 

God loves us desperately. This world and all of us deserve the wrath of God falling into us. God has not done it because He loves everyone of us. Though one day His wrath will come, today He still offers you the gift of Salvation through The Servant, who was pierced for our iniquities. We all have two choices: Life through the works of The Servant or Eternal separation from God through your own works. 

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Footnotes 

(1) http://sunnah.com/urn/634790 or http://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/49

Grade : Hasan (Darussalam)

English reference  : Vol. 1, Book 46, Hadith 3617

Arabic reference  : Book 49, Hadith 3977

(2) http://sunnah.com/bukhari/63/38

Narrated Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas:

I have never heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying about anybody walking on the earth that he is from the people of Paradise except `Abdullah bin Salam. The following Verse was revealed concerning him: "And a witness from the children of Israel testifies that this Qur'an is true" (46.10)

Reference  : Sahih al-Bukhari 3812

In-book reference  : Book 63, Hadith 38

USC-MSA web (English) reference  : Vol. 5, Book 58, Hadith 157 (deprecated numbering scheme)

(3) Reference  : Sahih al-Bukhari 2125. In-book reference  : Book 34, Hadith 77. USC-MSA web (English) reference  : Vol. 3, Book 34, Hadith 335. http://sunnah.com/bukhari/34

(4) Isaiah 42:1-7 NIV

(5) Isaiah 52:13, Isaiah 53 (HCSB)

(6) DEEDS RECORD KEEPING, ibn Kathir commentary on Surah 17:13 And We have fastened every man's Ta'irah (deeds) to his neck, and on the Day of Resurrection, We shall bring out for him a Book which he will find wide open.17:14 (It will be said to him): "Read your Book. You yourself are sufficient as a reckoner against you

this Day.''

The word Ta'irah (lit. something that flies) refers to man's deeds which fly from him, as Ibn Abbas, Mujahid and others said. It includes both good deeds and bad deeds, he will be forced to acknowledge them and will be REWARDED OR PUNISHED accordingly. = And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of a speck of dust shall see it. (99:7-8)=. But verily, over you (are appointed angels in charge of mankind) to watch you, Kiraman (Honorable) Katibin - writing down (your deeds), they know all that you do. (82:10-12)= WHOSOEVER WORKS EVIL, WILL HAVE THE RECOMPENSE THEREOF. (4:123)

"The meaning is that the deeds of the sons of Adam are preserved, whether they are great or small, and they are recorded night and day, morning and evening."

"The one who is on your RIGHT records your GOOD deeds, and the one who is on your LEFT records your BAD deeds. `So do whatever you want, a lot or a little, until you die, then I will fold up your Book and tie it to your neck with you in your grave. Then when you come out on the Day of Resurrection, you will find the Book wide open, so read your Book.'

By Allah, the One Who makes you ACCOUNTABLE for your own deeds is being PERFECTLY JUST.'

(7) The Chaldee Paraphrase on The Prophet Isaiah - Johnathan Ben Uzziel, translated by Rev C. Pauli, London's society house, 1871