1. The Context of the Fifth Covenant in the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light
The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, under the leadership of Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq, posits the idea that the divine covenant was passed from the Children of Israel to the Arabs with the coming of Muhammad. This idea is central to their theological framework, which, they argue, begins with the teachings of Jesus and culminates with the advent of Muhammad, who is identified in their doctrine as the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophetic words. The assertion is that, through Jesus’ prophecy about a coming messenger named Ahmed, the covenant was transferred from Israel to the Arabs.
This interpretation is drawn from Surah 61:6 in the Qur’an, which the Ahmadi sect claims confirms the divine transfer of the covenant. The verse reads:
“And [mention] when Jesus, the son of Mary, said, ‘O Children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmed.’”
However, this understanding is fraught with significant theological issues when examined in light of biblical teachings and the broader context of God’s covenant with His people. The transfer of the covenant from Israel to the Arabs as suggested by the Ahmadi Religion is not supported in the Bible. In fact, it conflicts with several key biblical doctrines that underscore the continuity of God’s promises to Israel and the universality of Christ’s new covenant for all people, Jew and Gentile alike.
2. Historical Context and the Unbroken Covenant with Israel
The claim that the divine covenant was passed from the Israelites to the Arabs contradicts the foundational biblical doctrine of the unbroken covenant with Israel. From the time of Abraham, God made a covenant with His people, which was reinforced with Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve tribes of Israel. This covenant was characterized by the promise of land, a great nation, and the blessings of God’s presence.
Genesis 17:7-8 describes the covenant that God established with Abraham and his descendants:
“And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. And I will be their God.”
This passage makes clear that God’s covenant with Israel was intended to last forever, without being revoked or transferred to another people group. The promise made to Abraham was not contingent on Israel’s obedience but was part of God’s eternal plan to bring salvation to the world through Israel. This covenant, as the Bible teaches, was confirmed through the descendants of Isaac and Jacob and was never intended to be replaced by another group of people.
When examining the Old Testament, it is clear that the covenant with Israel was based on a relationship between God and the Jewish people. The law given to Moses at Mount Sinai was an integral part of this covenant, establishing a framework for how the Israelites were to live as God’s chosen people. The promise of salvation and restoration through the Messiah was always connected to the Jewish people, as seen in Isaiah 9:6-7, which prophesies the coming of a Davidic King:
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.”
This prophecy confirms that the Messiah would be a descendant of David and that His kingdom would be eternal. There is no suggestion that this promise would ever be transferred to another nation or ethnic group.
3. The New Covenant: Fulfillment and Universality
The concept of a “New Covenant” in the Bible is central to understanding the relationship between God and His people, especially as it relates to Jesus Christ. The New Covenant is not a replacement of God’s promises to Israel but the fulfillment of them. Jesus Christ, as the Messiah, is the fulfillment of the Old Covenant, and through His life, death, and resurrection, He inaugurated a new relationship between God and humanity.
In Jeremiah 31:31-34, the prophet speaks of a new covenant that God would establish with His people:
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers… But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
This prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who, as the Lamb of God, made the ultimate sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. His death on the cross inaugurated this New Covenant, as He Himself stated in Luke 22:20:
“This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”
The New Covenant is not restricted to Israel alone but is extended to all people who place their faith in Jesus Christ. This is evident in the Great Commission, where Jesus commands His followers to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). The Apostle Paul also emphasizes the universal nature of the New Covenant in Galatians 3:28, stating that there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all are one in Christ Jesus.
The Ahmadi claim that the covenant was transferred to the Arabs through Muhammad fails to account for the inclusive nature of the New Covenant. Jesus did not come to create a new covenant exclusive to one ethnic group, but rather a covenant that would bring salvation to all who believe in Him.
4. The Significance of Jesus’ Role as the Fulfillment of the Covenant
A critical aspect of the biblical view of Jesus is His role as the fulfillment of the promises made to Israel. Jesus was not merely a prophet among many; He was the Messiah promised in the Scriptures, and His life, death, and resurrection were the culmination of God’s redemptive plan for Israel and the world.
Matthew 5:17 underscores this point, where Jesus says:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
Jesus’ mission was to fulfill the righteous requirements of the Law, which no one else could do. He is the ultimate revelation of God’s will and the perfect sacrifice for sin. This is further emphasized in the Book of Hebrews, which describes Jesus as the great high priest who mediates the New Covenant between God and His people:
Hebrews 9:15 states:
“Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.”
In this passage, we see that Jesus’ death was necessary for the redemption of sins under the Old Covenant, and His death initiated the New Covenant that brings eternal life to all who believe. This theological truth confirms that the New Covenant is not a new chapter replacing the Old Covenant, but a fulfillment of all that the Old Covenant pointed to.
The Ahmadi claim that the covenant was transferred to the Arabs through Muhammad not only misunderstands the nature of the New Covenant but also denies the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice. Jesus did not come to set up another ethnic or national covenant but to bring salvation to all who would accept His gift of grace.
5. Muhammad in the Bible: The Absence of a Prophetic Role for Muhammad
The Ahmadi religion’s assertion that Jesus foretold the coming of Muhammad as the fulfillment of the covenant is based on a misinterpretation of Scripture. While Jesus did speak of another who would come after Him, this refers to the Holy Spirit, not a human prophet.
In John 14:16-17, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit as a comforter and guide for His followers:
“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”
The Ahmadi interpretation of the coming of another prophet (Muhammad) misinterprets these words, overlooking the clear biblical context that refers to the Holy Spirit, not a new prophet.
There is also a stark absence of Muhammad in the Bible. While the Qur’an claims that Jesus prophesied the coming of Muhammad, there is no such prophecy in the Bible. The Old and New Testaments provide ample details about the Messiah and His role in salvation, but they make no mention of a prophet after Jesus. This absence is significant and cannot be overlooked in any serious theological discussion.
6. Conclusion: The Fifth Covenant and the Fulfillment of God’s Plan in Christ
The claim made by the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light that the covenant was transferred from the Israelites to the Arabs through Muhammad is a fundamental misunderstanding of biblical theology. The Bible clearly teaches that God’s covenant with Israel is eternal and unbroken, and the New Covenant established by Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the promises made to Israel. This covenant is open to all people, Jew and Gentile alike, and is not limited to any one ethnic or national group.
The Ahmadi assertion that Jesus prophesied Muhammad’s arrival is not supported by the Bible, which identifies the “other” that Jesus spoke of as the Holy Spirit, not a prophet. Furthermore, there is no prophetic basis for Muhammad’s role in Scripture, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ remains the final and ultimate revelation of God’s will to humanity.
As believers in the biblical message, we must reject the Ahmadi interpretation of the Fifth Covenant and affirm the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice. The New Covenant is not a new chapter in God’s plan but the fulfillment of His eternal promises to Israel. Through Jesus Christ, the Savior of all, God’s covenant of grace is available to all who believe.