Reflections on the Mention of Muhammad (ﷺ) in the Bible
Assalamu alaikum, everyone. I was reflecting on a verse from the Bible that seems to resonate with Islamic beliefs. In Haggai 2:7, it says: 'And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.' The Hebrew word used for 'desire' is 'ḥemdâ,' which comes from a root (ḥ-m-d) meaning desire, beauty, or something greatly beloved. This root is interesting because in Arabic, the consonants ḥ-m-d form the root for 'praise' or 'to eulogize,' like in the name Muhammad (ﷺ), which means 'praised' or 'glorified.' In Hebrew, you have words like 'ḥāmaḏ' (to desire), 'ḥemeḏ' (desire), and 'maḥmāḏ' (beloved, delight), all sharing that ḥ-m-d pattern. It's similar to how 'shalom' in Hebrew (meaning peace, from sh-l-m) relates to 'salam' in Arabic (from s-l-m, meaning peace or safety). Later in Haggai 2:9, it says: 'The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.' It's a thought-provoking connection for us to ponder, insha'Allah. What are your thoughts on this?