RKCanaday: You may want to check out John 1:19-23. Based on these verses, there were three prophecies. Elijah(p), The Messiah, and The Prophet. These priests were not expecting two men to come, but three. In the Gospels, we are told Elijah(p) has already come. If you believe Jesus(p) is the Messiah, then that prophecy is fullfilled. I don't see how Christians can claim "The Prophet" is the Messiah after reading this series of questions to John(p). So, for me,  when the Gospels were written "The Prophet" prophecy was unfullfilled and it makes perfect logic for Jesus(p) to prophecize of the coming of this "Prophet" (Comforter).

AliSayMuh7: John the Baptist was a Jewish prophet from the tribe of Levi.  His father Zachariah was a priest of the division of Abijah and his mother was of the daughters of Aaron (Luke 1:5).  The common argument used by most Muslims is that Moses promised the children of Israel that an Arab prophet would be raised among them. If this is true, why did the Pharisees send priests and Levites to ask a Jew if he was the Arab prophet Moses promised them?  Does that make any sense? When Moses promised the children of Israel that a prophet would be raised up for them "from among their brethren", they understood the word "brethren" to mean a fellow Israelite, a descendant of Jacob. Why else would the Pharisees send priests and Levites to ask John the Baptist if he was the prophet Moses promised them?  If John the Baptist was an Arab, the Pharisees wouldn't have sent anyone to question him about anything.  But since he was a Jew, they asked him if he was the promised prophet that Moses spoke of being raised up for them "from among their brethren". The Jews knew that John that Baptist was "from among their brethren", so they asked him if he was the Christ (Messiah), and John denied it.  The Jews weren't expecting an Arab Messiah.  If John was an Arab, they would not have asked him if he was the Messiah, because the expected Messiah was to arise "from among their brethren" (i.e. a fellow Israelite).  After denying that he was the Christ (Messiah), the Jews then asked John if he was Elijah, an ancient Jewish prophet.  Again John responded in the negative.  If John was an Arab, they would not have asked him if he was Elijah because Elijah was a descendant of Jacob, not Ishmael.  Finally, the Jews asked John if he was "the Prophet". John was a Jew.  He adhered to the Law of Moses and he had disciples who addressed him as "Rabbi" (John 3:26).  As I have already pointed out, if John was an Arab, the Pharisees would not have sent anyone to question him about being the Messiah or Elijah.  So I ask again, if the Jews believed that Moses promised them an Arab prophet from the line of Ishmael, why would they ask John the Baptist, a Jew, if he was the Arab prophet that Moses promised them in Deuteronomy 18:15?

RKC: I don’t believe Moses promised an Arab. I think he promised that “The Prophet” would be their “brother”, which is subject to interpretation. After reading the uses from Strong’s for the word “ach”, I just don’t think its that big of a stretch.

1. To refer to a male sibling (Genesis 4:2; Genesis 37:14)
2. To refer to a blood relative (Genesis 14:16)
3. To refer to a relative (Genesis 9:25; Genesis 29:15)
4. To refer to tribes (Judges 1:3)
5. To refer to fellow tribesman (Genesis 31:32)
6. To refer to fellow countrymen (Exodus 2:11)
7. To refer to a companion/colleague (2 Kings 9:2)
8. To refer to an ally (Genesis 19:6-7; Numbers 20:14; 1 Kings 9:13)
9. A term of polite address to a stranger (Genesis 29:4)
10. Sometimes represents someone or something that simply exists
alongside a given person or thing (Genesis 9:5-6)

The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Red Letter Edition)

Hebrew and Aramaic Dictionary, Page 10

RKC: I’m just curious. After reading the below, do you believe there are any remaining scriptures in the Bible which refer to Muhammad(p)? What made Waraqa believe in Muhammad(p) so easily?

Surah 7

157. "Those who follow the apostle, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own (scriptures),- in the law and the Gospel;- for he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure); He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe in him, honour him, help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him,- it is they who will prosper."

Bukhari Volume 4, Book 55, Number 605:

Narrated 'Aisha:

The Prophet returned to Khadija while his heart was beating rapidly. She took him to Waraqa bin Naufal who was a Christian convert and used to read the Gospels in Arabic Waraqa asked (the Prophet), "What do you see?" When he told him, Waraqa said, "That is the same angel whom Allah sent to the Prophet) Moses. Should I live till you receive the Divine Message, I will support you strongly."

RKCanaday: I don't believe Moses promised an Arab. I think he promised that "The Prophet" would be their "brother", which is subject to interpretation. After reading the uses from Strong's for the word "ach", I just don't think its that big of a stretch.

1. To refer to a male sibling (Genesis 4:2; Genesis 37:14)
2. To refer to a blood relative (Genesis 14:16)
3. To refer to a relative (Genesis 9:25; Genesis 29:15)
4. To refer to tribes (Judges 1:3)
5. To refer to fellow tribesman (Genesis 31:32)
6. To refer to fellow countrymen (Exodus 2:11)
7. To refer to a companion/colleague (2 Kings 9:2)
8. To refer to an ally (Genesis 19:6-7; Numbers 20:14; 1 Kings 9:13)
9. A term of polite address to a stranger (Genesis 29:4)
10. Sometimes represents someone or something that simply exists
alongside a given person or thing (Genesis 9:5-6)

The New Strong's Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Red Letter Edition)Hebrew and Aramaic Dictionary, Page 10

In Deuteronomy 18:15 & 18, Moses is speaking to all of the tribes of Israel.  In the examples that you have provided above, only #'s 4 & 6 are applicable to the context of the word "brethren" in Deuteronomy 18:15 & 18. 

"from your midst, from your brethren" - This passage makes it very clear that the prophet was to arise from the midst of the Israelites, from their brethren.  Many Muslims will argue that the phrase "from among their brethren" is speaking of the Ishmaelites, since Ishmael and Isaac were half-brothers and their descendants, the Jews and Arabs are cousins, but let's take a deeper look.

Muhammad was born and raised in Makkah in the midst of his Arab brethren from the tribe of Quraysh.  In 624 the Muslim army attacked the Jewish tribe of Banu Qaynuqa.  In 625 the Jewish tribe of Banu Nadir was expelled from Madinah.  In 627 the Banu Qurayzah tribe was destroyed.  None of these tribes lasted in Madinah more than five years after the Prophet had arrived in that city.  So out of the 63 years of his life, Muhammad only lived 5 years among the Jews.  The other 58 years of his life was spent among his brethren, the Arabs.

When the bible uses the word "brethren" to describe a group of people who are closely related to the Israelites, it has only applied that word to the Edomites (#8 in your list, second reference) since Edom was the twin brother of Israel.

RKCanaday: I'm just curious. After reading the below (S. 7:157), do you believe there are any remaining scriptures in the Bible which refer to Muhammad(p)?

I don't know.  If there are, I don't have the ability to interpret them correctly and point them out to you.  Had the Qur'an stated where those verses could be found, I would have no choice but to accept them, but I am not of those who believe that Deuteronomy 18:15 & 18 or John 16:7 are what Surah 7:157 is speaking about.

Please read the following:

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 34, Number 335:
Narrated Ata bin Yasar:

I met Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As and asked him, "Tell me about the description of Allah's Apostle which is mentioned in Torah (i.e. Old Testament.") He replied, 'Yes. By Allah, he is described in Torah with some of the qualities attributed to him in the Quran as follows:

"O Prophet ! We have sent you as a witness (for Allah's True religion) And a giver of glad tidings (to the faithful believers), And a warner (to the unbelievers) And guardian of the illiterates. You are My slave and My messenger (i.e. Apostle). I have named you "Al-Mutawakkil" (who depends upon Allah). You are neither discourteous, harsh Nor a noise-maker in the markets And you do not do evil to those Who do evil to you, but you deal With them with forgiveness and kindness. Allah will not let him (the Prophet) Die till he makes straight the crooked people by making them say: "None has the right to be worshipped but Allah," With which will be opened blind eyes And deaf ears and enveloped hearts."

Can you show me where any of this can be found in the Torah?

RKCanaday: Bukhari Volume 4, Book 55, Number 605:
Narrated 'Aisha:
The Prophet returned to Khadija while his heart was beating rapidly. She took him to Waraqa bin Naufal who was a Christian convert and used to read the Gospels in Arabic Waraqa asked (the Prophet), "What do you see?" When he told him, Waraqa said, "That is the same angel whom Allah sent to the Prophet) Moses. Should I live till you receive the Divine Message, I will support you strongly."

What made Waraqa believe in Muhammad(p) so easily?

I don't know.  The hadith doesn't tell us.  If we had a copy of the scriptures he was reading, perhaps we would know why he believed in Muhammad.

Tahirkheli16270: While searching for some facts I came across these verses in Bible. I would refer to New International Version and King James Version.

NIV:  Deuteronomy (18-15):  The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers, you must listen to him.

KJV:  Deuteronomy (18-15):  The Lord they God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of they brethern, like unto me, unto him ye shall hearken.

The question is:  who is Moses refering to here, which prophet is he promising to his people?
Now read few more verses:

NIV:  Acts (3-22):  For Moses said, The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.

KJV:  Acta (3-22):  For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethern, like unto me; him shall ye hearin all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

If a Christian reads these verses he won't hesitate to say that Moses is promising/prophisising about Jesus Christ. (If anyone feels I am wrong, I would like to be corrected because I do not claim that it has been overwhelmingly proved or anything, its my own research). After reading the same verses a Muslim could arguably claim that Moses is refering to Mohammad. I would like all to share there thoughts on this issue.

RKC: You may want to check out John 1:19-23. Based on these verses, there were three prophecies. Elijah(p), The Messiah, and The Prophet. These priests were not expecting two men to come, but three. In the Gospels, we are told Elijah(p) has already come. If you believe Jesus(p) is the Messiah, then that prophecy is fullfilled. I don’t see how Christians can claim “The Prophet” is the Messiah after reading this series of questions to John(p). So, for me,  when the Gospels were written “The Prophet” prophecy was unfullfilled and it makes perfect logic for Jesus(p) to prophecize of the coming of this “Prophet” (Comforter).

John 1

¹⁹ And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"

²⁰ He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."

²¹ And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" And he answered, "No."

²² They said to him then, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" ²³ He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."