Is Muhammad mentioned in the Bible?
Not by name, but Muslims believe the Bible contains prophecies that point to Muhammad ﷺ. The Quran says he was described in the Torah and the Gospel. Christians and Jews generally read those same passages differently, so this is a matter of interpretation, not an obvious statement in today's Bible.
What the Quran says
The Quran describes the Prophet ﷺ as the one "whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel" (Quran 7:157). It also quotes Jesus giving good news of a messenger to come:
"Ahmad" is another form of the Prophet's name. The Companion Abdullah ibn Amr also quoted a description of the Prophet ﷺ from the Torah, beginning "O Prophet, We have sent you as a witness, a bringer of good news and a warner" (Sahih al-Bukhari 2125).
Passages Muslims often point to
- Deuteronomy 18:18: God promises Moses to raise "a prophet like you from among their brothers". Muslims link "their brothers" to the Ishmaelites, cousins of the Israelites, and note how Muhammad ﷺ, like Moses, brought a law and led a nation. Christians usually apply it to Jesus.
- John 14:16 and 16:7: Jesus promises another "Paraclete" (helper or comforter) who will come after him. Christians understand this as the Holy Spirit; many Muslim writers see it as Muhammad ﷺ.
- Isaiah 42: a chosen servant who brings justice to the nations, with a mention of Kedar, a son of Ishmael whose descendants lived in Arabia.
- Genesis 21: God promises to make Ishmael into a great nation.
Why it isn't clearer
Muslims believe the original revelations to Moses and Jesus were true, but that the texts we have today passed through translation, copying and editing over centuries. That's why Muslims respect the Bible while relying on the Quran as the final, preserved word. See Do Muslims believe in the Bible?
It's fair to say these readings are debated. A Christian scholar and a Muslim scholar will often read the same verse in good faith and reach different conclusions.
Does a Muslim need these prophecies?
No. Faith in Muhammad ﷺ rests on the Quran, his character and his message, not on winning a debate about Bible verses. For converts, these passages are interesting and can be a bridge in conversations with Christian or Jewish family, as long as they're shared gently. See Can I keep my Bible after becoming Muslim?
- The name "Muhammad" doesn't appear in today's Bible.
- The Quran says he is described in the Torah and the Gospel (7:157, 61:6).
- Muslims point to Deuteronomy 18, John 14 and 16, and Isaiah 42.
- Christians and Jews interpret these passages differently.
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