Names of Mohammad and ‘Ali (SBUT) in the bible

Part 13

There are indeed other occurrences of the names Elijah, Elihu and … in the old testament of the bible and in other biblical writings- which the primary or secondary application, or the Ta’wil and interpretation of each could be, implicitly or explicitly, directly or indirectly- related to Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH), not to mention facts which have been concealed and …; Allah Knows best … but we think we have presented our case, so we, in this regard, rest our case for now …

… Now after mentioning at least nine different possibilities of the name of Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH) in the old testament of the bible as related to Eli, Elia and …- before moving on to other possibilities of specifically the name ‘Ali علی in the old testament of the bible- let us, in a related note, look at perhaps another indication to the Prophet Mohammad and the AhlulBayt (SBUT) in what is called the bible:

In the book of the Prophet Zechariah a vision is depicted in which it is said that the Prophet Zechariah (SBUH) saw “two olive trees” (4:11), then in the next statement it is clarified that the Prophet made it more specific and said “two olive branches” (4:12). Then in the book of Revelation it is said that John in his vision also saw two olive trees or branches as “two witnesses” (11:3-4). In the futurist interpretation of the book of Revelation, they are said to be two witnesses in the Last Days (Walvoord, John (1999), Every Prophecy of the Bible, Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Pub, p. 574; Hitchcock, Mark (1999), The Complete Book of Bible Prophecy, Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, p. 122, as cited in the English Wikipedia).

Again we need to remind that it is vital to always keep in mind that- due to distortions, omissions, additions and … within the texts of previous scriptures- the passages of the bible which we refer to, only the specific mentioned points are being evaluated and the rest of the presented concepts are not necessarily confirmed.

With these points in mind … let us look at verse number 35 of Surah Noor (24) of the Majid Qur’an:

Qur’an 24:35 Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth; a parable of His Light is like a niche in which is a lamp, the lamp is in a glass, the glass is as it were a brilliant star, lit from a blessed olive-tree, neither eastern nor western, its oil almost gives Light though fire touched it not-- Light upon Light-- Allah guides for His Light whom He pleases, and Allah sets forth parables for mankind, and Allah is Cognizant of all things.

In the Ahadith of the Infallible Ones (SBUT) mentioning the Ta’wil (Allah-intended hidden meanings) of this verse, from one aspect the niche is the parable of the hart and chest of the Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) wherein the Divine Light and Knowledge - at the most exalted level for creations- have been placed and have then been transferred to the heart and chest of Hadrat ‘Ali (SBUH) … and then Light upon Light i.e. from one Imam to another (SBUT), to Hadrat Mahdi (SBUH) through whom worldwide guidance shall occur … in other Hadiths, from other aspects, it is mentioned that the olive tree is the parable of Hadrat Ibrahim (SBUH) … and Light upon Light have been the Prophets and Allah-Chosen Successors consecutively, from Hadrat Adam (SBUH) to Qiyaamat, whom the earth has never been without … and the Knowledge issues forth from the oil of the olive tree …(from Tafsir Noor al-Thaqalayn; Tafsir ‘Ali ibn-Ibrahim Qommi; Ghaayat al-Maraam; …)

In another word, from one aspect, the Divine Light has passed through the purest transparent chain of Infallible Prophets and their Allah-Chosen Successors (SBUT), consecutively without any detour, and manifested itself in its full glory in the Holy Prophet and from him to the twelve Infallible Imams (SBUT), one after the other i.e. Light upon Light, to illuminate the human society till eternity …

Now … if from one overall aspect, the olive tree is the parable of Hadrat Ibrahim (SBUH) then surely Hadrat Ishaaq- Isaac- and Hadrat Ismael- Ishmael- (SBUT) are the two branches of the olive tree from whom the chain of Prophets and Successors (SBUT) have been manifested …

The last remnant of the branch of Hadrat Ishaaq or the bani-Israel who has been kept alive is Hadrat ‘Eesa- Jesus- (SBUH); and the last remnant of the branch of Hadrat Ismael (SBUH) or the bani-Ismael (the brethren of bani-Israel as prophesied in Deut. 18:18 …) who has been kept alive is Hadrat Mahdi (SBUH) …

And “The personification of the two witnesses in Revelation, is so prevalent that according to theologian William Barclay, the passage seems to refer to definite persons.” (Barclay, William (2004), The Revelation of John (3rd ed. fully rev. and updated. ed.). Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press, p. 80. As cited in the English Wikipedia.)

And indeed the two living remnants of the two branches of the olive tree shall be two witnesses at the Last Days …:

Douay Rheims Bible

Zechariah 4:14 And he said: These are two sons of oil who stand before the Lord of the whole earth.

Hebrew Transliteration:

Zechariah 4:14 VY'aMUr 'aLH ShNY BNY-HYTShHUr H'yMDYM 'yL-'aDVN KL-H'aUrTSh.

We also cordially invite readers to read the article “Two Messiahs” in this site: kindfather.com

Allah Knows best …

To be continued …