i posed the question: "what does the bible say about muhammad?" without hesitation he answered, "nothing!" i asked: "why nothing? according to your interpretation the bible have so many things to say about the rise of soviet russia and about the last days and even about the pope of the roman catholics?" he said, "yes, but there was nothing about muhammad!" i asked again, "why nothing? surely this man muhammad who had been responsible for the bringing into being a world-wide community of millions of believers who, on his authority, believe in -
(1) the miraculous birth of jesus,
(2) that jesus is the messiah.*
(3) that he gave life to the dead by god's permission, and that he healed those born blind and the lepers by god's permission.
*the word "messiah" comes from the arabic and hebrew word masaha which means to rub, to massage. to anoint the religious significance is "the one who is anointed'— priests and kings were anointed in consecration to their offices. messiah translated christ does not mean god. even the heathen cyrus is called "christ" in the bible, (isaiah 45:1).

surely this book (the bible) must have something to say about this great leader of men who spoke so well of jesus and his mother mary?" (peace be upon them both).

the old man from the free state replied. "my son,*  i have been reading the bible for the past 50 years, and if there was any mention of him, i would have known it.”

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* i was much younger and clean shaven then.