Prophet Isaiah | The Bold Prophet Who Prophesied Muhammad ﷺ

(Cite: Hamdani, Mufti Shah Rafi Uddin & Khan, Dr. (Mufti) Imran. (2018), Prophet Isaiah , Encyclopedia of Muhammad , Seerat Research Center, Karachi, Pakistan, Vol. 1, Pg. 159-161. )

Isaiah , Arabic Shaiya, Hebrew Yeshaʿyahu (“God Is Salvation”) was a prophet who flourished in 8th century BC, in Jerusalem. The prophetical ministry of Isaiah lasted well-nigh half a century, from the closing year of Ozias, King of Juda, possibly up to that of Manasses. This period was one of great prophetical activity. Israel and Juda indeed were in sore need of guidance. ¹

Isaiah was sent after David and before Zechariah and his lineage was Isaiah Ibn Amos (Amisiah). He was among those prophets who prophesied about Jesus and Prophet Muhammad . The king who ruled during Isaiah’s era was called Hezekiah. Hezekiah listened to the advice of Isaiah and was obedient to him. In those days, the state affairs among the Israelites were unstable, and Hezekiah became seriously ill. While he was sick, King Sennacherib (Sinharib) of Babylon advanced towards Jerusalem with sixty thousand men.

When the king heard this news, he asked Isaiah : "What did Allah reveal to you regarding Sennacherib and his army?" He replied: "He has not yet revealed anything to me." Then, a revelation came down for the king which instructed him to appoint a successor since he was about to die. When Isaiah told him this, the king turned towards the Qibla (the direction faced in prayer), prayed, and glorified Allah. He said: "O Lord of lords, O, Benevolent and Merciful One Whom neither sleep nor nodding can overpower, remember me for my deeds and my just judgment over the children of Israel; and all that was from You, and You know it better than I do, my open acts and my secrets are with You."

After this prayer, another revelation came towards Isaiah . According to this revelation, the king had been granted another fifteen years so that he may defeat the enemy and save his people. Hence, Hezekiah heard this, he prostrated before his Lord and said:

"O Lord, it is You Who grants kingship to whomsoever You wish and dethrones whomsoever You wish and elevates whomsoever You wish and degrades whomsoever You wish, Knower of the unseen and the evident. And lo! You are the First and the Last; the Manifest and the Perceived; You grant mercy and answer the prayers of the troubled ones."

When he raised his head, Allah revealed to Isaiah to command the king to extract the water of the fig and apply it to his sore, and he would be whole and cured. The King obeyed and was cured. ²

A similar version of this prayer is stated in the Holy Quran as well:

قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ مَالِكَ الْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِي الْمُلْكَ مَنْ تَشَاءُ وَتَنْزِعُ الْمُلْكَ مِمَّنْ تَشَاءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَنْ تَشَاءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَنْ تَشَاءُ بِيَدِكَ الْخَيْرُ إِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ 26³

Invoke (O dear Prophet Mohammed ), “O Allah! Owner Of The Kingdom - You bestow the kingdom on whomever You will, and You take back the kingdom from whomever You will; and You give honour to whomever You will, and You humiliate whomever You will; only in Your hand lies all goodness; indeed, You are Able to do all things.”

The similarity between the prayer of Hezekiah and the verse of the Holy Quran proves that Hezekiah was a true believer and an obedient follower of Isaiah . Secondly, this also proves that all the messengers of Allah (from Adam till Prophet Muhammad ) preached the same religion. The foundation of all the messages (beliefs) of the prophets remained the same, and only a few teachings (pertaining to actions) were changed.

Hezekiah’s Enemies Are Destroyed

Allah sent death upon the army of Sennacherib. In the morning, All but Sennacherib and five of his companions were dead. Hezekiah put them in shackles and displayed them in the land for seventy days to spite and insult them. They were fed with a loaf of barley bread, and after seventy days, they were confined in prison.

Allah then revealed to Isaiah that the king should send the prisoners of war back to their country so that they might warn their people. When they returned, Sennacherib gathered his people and told them what had happened to him and his companions. His priests and magicians replied: "We told you about their Lord and their prophets, but you did not listen to us. It is a nation which, with their God, nobody can overcome." So, Sennacherib started fearing the lord died seven years later.

Demise of Isaiah

After the death of Hezekiah, Isaiah continued to preach guidance to the people of Israel. He warned them that disobedience would earn them a severe punishment so they should avoid it. The people of Israel did not like his call towards guidance and decided to kill him. When Isaiah learned about it, he decided to put distance between the people and himself. Further details are provided in the narration given by Ibn Ishaaq . He reports an Israelite interpolation which states that when Isaiah was passing by a tree, it opened, and he entered therein; but Satan saw him and held onto the loop of his garment so that it stuck out. When the people saw it, they brought a saw, sawed the tree, and martyred him. ⁴

• ¹  Souvay, C., (1910), The Catholic Encyclopedia (Online Version): http://www.newadvent.org/cathen /08179b.htm: Retrieved: 14-07-17
• ²  Abul Fida Ismail Ibne Kathir, Stories of the Prophets (Translated by Muhammad Mustapha), Darussalam, Riyadh, Saudia, Pg. 157.
• ³  Holy Quran, Aa’ale Imran (The Family of Imran), 3:26
• ⁴  Abul Fida Ismail Ibne Kathir, Stories of the Prophets (Translated by Muhammad Mustapha), Darussalam, Riyadh, Saudia, Pg. 157-158.