Who is the desire of all nations in Haggai 2:7? | Muhammad or Jesus?

Introduction | Haggai (2:7) prophecy in the Bible

Two centuries after the idolatrous and impenitent Kingdom of Israel was overthrown, Jerusalem and the glorious temple of Solomon (PBUH) were razed to the ground by the Chaldeans. When the foundations of the new house of God were being laid, the Almighty sent His servant the Prophet Haggai to give a prophecy that Hemda, the desire of all nations shall come:

“And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations (חֶמְדַּ֣ת - ḥem·daṯ) shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.… The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.” (KJV Haggai 2:7)

These were (Hemda) the desire of all nations verses.

Analysis of Haggai 2:7 in Hebrew:

There are two important words mentioned in the verses above: Hemda (חֶמְדַּ֣ת - ḥem·daṯ) and “Shalom” (שָׁל֔וֹם– šā.lō.wm). Contemporary translations use to translate the former as “the desire of all nations” and the latter with “peace.”

However, the word "Hemda" is read in the original Hebrew, thus "Hemdan" and it shares the common Semitic root “hamd" with the ancient Arabic language and the Aramaic which means desire as well praise.

Since the names are not translated, the name Ahmad is the closest Arabic word to the Semitic root “Hamd”. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was the only one to be named with Ahmad, especially in light of what the Qur’an proclaimed in the words of Jesus:

“And giving Glad Tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad.” (As-Saff 61: 6)

For Shalom, it is no secret for any student of Semitic languages ​​that Shalom and the word “Islam” are derived from one root, and both mean peace and surrender.

Hence, the Hebrew verses of Haggai 2:7 meaning could be better translated and understood if we read them through the original root “Hemda” and “Shalom”. Here the meaning would be:

“Ahmad” will come with Islam (peace);

Or, God will send “Ahmad” with Islam (peace), which he will spread in this place.”

This is what already happened 14 centuries ago with the birth of Islam and the coming of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as will be shown below.

Malachi’s prophecy Assist:

A similar prophecy in the Book of Malachi 3:1 indicating the same future event also gives us another clue for a better understanding of the Haggai Prophecy. Malachi reports The Lord says:

“Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple—the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight—see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts.

Note: The “Lord” mentioned in the middle of the verse is different from the “LORD” mentioned at the end of the verse; the former refers to a respected person -here the coming messenger- and the latter refers to God.

This Prophecy means that the Messenger who is to come suddenly to the temple -as it came in the prophecy of Haggai 2: 7 will glorify God and spread peace and prosperity in the place. He is already Muhammad (PBUH) who miraculously traveled to Jerusalem for the same purpose as God Almighty says in the Qur’an:

“Glory to Allah Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque [Macca] to the farthest Mosque [Jerusalem], whose precincts We did bless,- in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things).” (Quran 17:1)

In addition, the immediate successor of the Prophet (saw) liberated Jerusalem shortly after he passed away, spreading goodness, blessing, and prosperity through the sacred city, and Muslims glorify God in it day and night for more than 14 centuries.

Who is the “Hemda” mentioned in the two prophecies; Muhammad or Jesus?

Let’s put the pieces of the puzzle together. There are many pieces of evidence that argue that the prophecy of “Hemda” applies more to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) than Jesus (PBUH) or anyone else. Check the following:

• The common Semitic root (Hamd) of both names Hemda and Ahmad (another name of Prophet Muhammad) from which both names are derived. Muhammad was the first person ever to be named Ahmad in the history of mankind. This analogy is completely unrelated to Jesus.
•  The coming Prophet has to come with what is called “Shalom = peace”. However, the meaning and the Semitic root of “Shalom = Salam in Arabic” is somehow identical with “Islam = the religion brought by Prophet Muhammad.”
• Muhammad (PBUH) fulfilled the prophecy of Haggai 2:7 when he miraculously visited Jerusalem (Al-Israa) at the ruins of the destroyed Temple. And this was the sudden attendance of Muhammad to the mentioned spot in the verses above.
• Jesus’s visit to the Temple is irrelevant here because all his visits to the temple used to end up with controversy and intense discussion with the priests and promised of destroying the Temple and prophesied the destruction of the Temple completely (Matthew 10:34).
• The second real re-establishment of the Temple was by the Prophet’s successor “Umar ibn al-Khattab,” when he turned it into a place of worship, the original purpose of the Temple (Genesis 15:17).

The Haggai 2:7 prophecies say "Hemda" or Ahmad will bring gold and silver (referring to prosperity) to his nation and the sacred place. A later proven fact fulfilled throughout the Islamic rule of Jerusalem; prosperity prevailed Jerusalem and its surroundings throughout the Islamic ages for centuries.

Conclusions:

Prophet Haggai prophesies relating to the coming of a person whom he referred to in Hebrew with "Hemda" (shares the Semitic root with the Arabic name Ahmad, the nickname of Prophet Muhammad), but contemporary versions wrongly translated it as "The Desire of All Nations".

Haggai added the prophesied Prophet would come with “Shalom, or peace” (shares the Semitic root with the Arabic name Islam). Malachi later explained this prophecy by saying he is a Messenger who would come to glorify God in the Temple (Jerusalem).

We did not find any alternative closer to fulfill the two prophecies other than the Prophet Muhammad: who visited Jerusalem during the famous miraculous journey, and he is the first to be named Ahmad, and he is the Prophet who was sent by God with the religion of Islam.

If you think about it, you will find that none of the candidates (Jesus or any other person) have fulfilled all the requirements mentioned in the Prophecy the way Prophet Muhammad did.

$   For a full and expanded discussion of this prophecy and many of the prophecies of Prophet Muhammad in the Bible, I would urge you to visit our website: muhammadinthebible.com to read the book written by the former Roman Catholic priest, Professor David Benjamin (later Abd al-Ahad Dawood) under the title: "Muhammad in the Torah and the Gospel". Click here and check it now!