Dear F,
As-salamu alaykum
With utmost respect, learned brothers and sisters have already attempted to assist you (Jazāk Allāh to the kind souls), but it appears you have not heeded their input / wisdom or accepted it. In my humble view, this is disappointing.
You cite Deuteronomy 18:18 which speaks of a prophet from their
'brethren'. This is clearly a reference to a prophet from amongst the Children of Israel, most likely a Jew or a Jewish prophet. To link 'brethren' in any other way to prophet Abraham (which is unproven from the Quran) or completely ignore how the term is used in the main in the Book of Deuteronomy or wider OT, would in my humble view, be a travesty.
This interpretation is arguably sealed even in the previous verses. Please kindly note verse 18:15ff, where this is clearly a reference to the Israelites.
Here are the verses in context:
King James Version:15 The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
16 According to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.
17 And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.
18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.Some translations even account for this interpretation in their translations: [NIV]15 The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.
16 For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.”
17 The Lord said to me: “What they say is good.
18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him.
For this to be a reference to Prophet Muhammad, please kindly note that the burden of proof is with you to provide me unequivocal evidence from the Quran that Muhammad was from the 'brethren' of the Children of Israel (i.e. a Jew).In my humble view, you have already been unable to show any cogent evidence for a lineage connection to Prophet Abraham, let alone the Children of Israel.
[1]You share:
• Deuteronomy (18:18) I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.
Why Allah told Moses that he will “put His words in his mouth” since we already have his words (Torah)?
Why Allah didn’t tell Moses that I will send another Prophet “to teach the Torah that I gave to you”?
My humble response to this would be, why would He need to? The verse provides news of a prophet to come and it is quite simple as that. This is part of a general covenant that departing prophets have given to their people i.e. glad tidings of continuous guidance.
This view could even be supported by the Quran:
002:038
“We said: Go down / forth, all of you, from hence; but verily there comes to you from Me a guidance; and whosoever follows My guidance, there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve” 003.081
"And when God took a covenant (through - See reference [2] below) the prophets: Certainly what I have given you of the Book and wisdom, then a messenger (Arabic: rasulun) comes to you confirming that which is with you, you must believe in him, and you must help (Arabic: walatansurunnahu) him. He said: Do you affirm and accept My Covenant in this (matter)? They said: We do affirm. He said: Then bear witness, and I (too) am of the bearers of witness with you"Please kindly see article
[2] below.
It is also noteworthy, that it was not unheard of for nations to claim cessation of guidance.
040:034
"And indeed, Joseph came to you before with clear arguments, but you ever remained in doubt as to what he brought; until when he died, you said: God will never raise a messenger after him. Thus does God cause him to err who is a transgressor, a doubter"You then proceed to cite Deuteronomy 18:19
• Deuteronomy (18:19) And he that will not hear his words, which he shall speak in my name, I will be the revenger.
Allah said that “And he that will not hear his words”: therefore, Allah wants ALL mankind to follow these specific words without adding a letter or omitting a letter.
With respect, how did you deduce that as the only interpretation?
Again, if you look at verse 3:81 of the Quran, the covenant was that they were expected to believe a new prophet and aid him. The verses in the Bible simply shares the same expectation. i.e God will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on His behalf. This is supported by the very next verse of the Quran.
003:082
"Then whoever turns away after this, they are perverted transgressors / wrongdoers / disobedient (Arabic: fasiqun)"That is true for each and every nation or people that came in touch with the God's appointed agents.
Therefore in summary, the verses simply present tidings of a prophet to come after Prophet Moses from their brethren (i.e. the Children of Israel) whom they were expected to hearken / listen to.
With respect and regards,
Joseph
REFERENCES:[1] Arab are not descendants of Abraham / Sacrificed son was Isaac, not Ishmaelhttp://quransmessage.com/forum/index.php?topic=2134.msg10898#msg10898[2] IS VERSE 3:81 A REFERENCE TO ANY PARTICULAR MESSENGER?http://quransmessage.com/articles/3-81%20FM3.htm[3] IS THE NAME 'AHMAD' FOUND IN THE BIBLE?http://quransmessage.com/articles/ahmad%20FM3.htm