We've been looking for the wrong MUHAMMAD in the 7th century!

Jay, with Sam from "Reasoned Belief" move to a 3rd subject, asking whether we have been looking for the wrong "Muhammad" in the 7th century. To answer that we need to look at the name Muhammad itself. Written Arabic in the 7th century was still very crude, with only about 16 consonantal letters (Rasm), and no vowels. They were only created and introduced into Arabic in the 8th and 9th centuries. Today we now have 28 letters in Arabic, as well as 3 vowels to help us pronounce the words we are reading. So, in order to write the name "Muhammad" in the 7th century, you wouldn't be able to employ the 3 vowels which we currently find in the name Muhammad (a Dhamma above the letter 'mim', followed by two fatahs above the letters 'ha' and 'mim'). Thus, the word Muhammad in the 7th century would only have 4 consonants ('mim', 'ha', 'mim', and 'dal'), but devoid of any vowels it would look like MHMD, and be pronounced "Mahmad". Now that word (MHMD) is found all over the 7th century, and was used commonly by Jews and Christians from as far back as 1,000 B.C. MHMD means “the praised one”, or “the blessed one”, or “the anointed one”, and even “the Messiah” later on.. Thus, it is not a name but a title It was first used in Ugaritic in 1400 BC Then it was used in Hebrew, in 1000 BC, and is found in the Old Testament 11 times For instance, in Song of Solomon 5:16 the Hebrew title ‘Machmad’ is translated as the “Altogether Lovely one”, referring to Solomon himself It was subsequently employed by Saint Ambrose in the 4th century AD as the title "the anointed one", who Ambrose said was Jesus Christ, the Messiah. There were subsequent examples of later Church Fathers, who interpreted the Song of Songs passage as the Church and Christ, and subsequently used “MHMD” for Christ: Origen, an early 3rd century Christian theologian, interpreted the Song of Songs 5:16 passage as the unique Scripture where the eschatological nuptials of Christ and his Bride are present. Saint Ambrose in the 4th century AD introduced the ideas that the Song of Solomon 5:16 passage reference to ‘MHMD’ was to be considered a title for Jesus Christ, the Messiah. This was taken up by Gregory of Elvira (d. 392AD). St John Cassian agreed with this interpretation (360-435AD). St Augustine (396-430AD) considered the MHMD as Jesus Christ. Apponius in the middle of the 7th century continued that same idea. Conclusion: “MHMD” was a common title for Jesus by the 7th century in the church in that part of the world, so we shouldn’t be surprised when we find it written in many places, at that time. Probably the most obvious place was on a coin minted by the Caliph of Damascus Muawiya in 663 AD with his image on the front of the coin holding a cross in his hand with another cross above his head. On the back side of the coin was yet another cross, suggesting pretty clearly that he was a Christian, and not a Muslim. How could a Muslim caliph be caring a cross. On the reverse side of the coin, beneath the cross is the letter M, denoting the number 40, which was the worth of the coin. Beneath the large "M" were four letters...MHMD ('mim', 'ha', 'mim', 'dal'), denoting the MHMD, who would have to be Jesus Christ himself. Watch this video and see if you agree... © Pfander Centre for Apologetics & Polemics - US, May 4, 2025 (118,030)