Unraveling the Identity of the Spirit of Truth: Periklytos or Ahmad?

Assalam Aleikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakaatuh...

I express my deepest gratitude to (Allah Glorified and exalted be He) for the countless blessings He has graciously bestowed upon us. May peace and blessings be upon our Holy Prophet Muhammad s.a.w., whose guidance and teachings continue to illuminate the path for millions around the world.

The identity of the spirit of truth is a topic I find immense comfort in exploring and writing about. It is a subject that resonates deeply with me, and I take great pleasure in discussing it with various learned individuals. These discussions often include esteemed Men of Cloth, Bishops, Evangelists, Pastors, and other knowledgeable scholars from the Christian world. Recently, I had the opportunity to engage in a thought-provoking discussion with Evangelist Erupe, who is not only a devoted Evangelist but also a law lecturer at Nairobi University. This extensive and enlightening conversation took place on a live radio show at Iqra Radio Station 95.0 on June 27, 2025. The discussion began promptly at 20:00 and continued until 22:00 EAT, allowing us ample time to delve into the complexities of our respective viewpoints.

During this engaging dialogue, the Evangelist's task was to establish that the Spirit of Truth is synonymous with the Holy Spirit, while my role was to articulate the perspective that the Spirit of Truth is not the Holy Spirit but rather the prophecy concerning Prophet Muhammad (May the peace and blessings be unto him. The conversation was rich in detail, with both of us presenting our arguments and supporting evidence. If you wish to follow the proceedings and gain insights into our discussion, you can watch the video through the link provided below...

Before diving into the core of our discussion, let us take a moment to journey back approximately 1400 years, to a significant moment in history when our Holy Prophet Muhammad (May the peace and blessings be upon him) was asked by His companions about His identity and mission.

In response to their inquiry, the Prophet (May peace and blessings be upon him) humbly stated that he is the servant of Allah, the seal of the prophets, the prayer of his forefather Abraham, and the good news of Jesus Christ (May the Peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) (Musnad Ahmad Hadith no. 17150). This profound statement is deeply rooted in several verses from the Holy Quran, specifically Q: 48:29, 33:40, 2:127, and 61:6. For our discussion, I will cite one pivotal verse, which is Quran 61:6, as this will serve as the foundation of our argument.

As articulated in this verse, it explicitly states, "bringing good news of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad." This verse serves as a prophecy regarding the arrival of Prophet Muhammad, wherein Jesus Christ foretold the coming of the final messenger named Ahmad. We hold firm in our belief regarding this verse and affirm that Jesus Christ (May the Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) indeed made this proclamation, alongside other significant statements that have been meticulously recorded in the Noble Quran.

However, it is noteworthy that the Christian world often dismisses this verse, asserting that Muhammad (May the peace and blessings be upon him) fabricated it in a bid to validate his own authenticity. They also claim that the Bible does not contain any such mention of this prophecy. But is this assertion accurate and well-founded?

Indeed, many verses within the Bible indicate the prophecy of Muhammad, (May the peace and blessings be upon him) but I will refrain from delving into specifics at this moment, as it may divert us from our primary focus: the identity of the spirit of truth. Who is He? I encourage everyone to pay close attention as we embark on this exploration of the subject. Let us begin with this verse, which will serve as our guiding light throughout this discussion.

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Periklytos will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

In the aforementioned verse, the King James Version employs the term "comforter" in place of "periklitos," while other translations provide varied interpretations, such as counsellor in the New International Version published by the International Bible Society, and Helper as translated by the American Bible Society.

The terms "Comforter," "Counsellor," or "Helper" are all translations found in various English versions of the Bible. It is essential to recognize that the Gospel of John was originally penned in Greek, and the term used by John was Periklytos, which translates to one who is much praised.

Interestingly, the name Ahmad is an Arabic term that also means one who is much praised. Therefore, a Greek speaker would refer to him as Periklytos, an Arabic speaker would call him Ahmad, a Swahili speaker might say Msifiwa, and an English speaker would interpret it as one who is much praised. The Noble Quran utilizes the term "Ahmad," while the Greek version of the Gospel of John employs "periklytos." The verse from the Noble Quran states:

And bringing good tidings of a prophet to come after me, whose name is Ahmad Q:61:6

This can be directly compared with the verse in the Bible that states:

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Periklytos will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

In essence, the term Periklytos in the Gospel of John is equivalent to Ahmad in Quran 61:6. This verse stands as a prophecy of the coming of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w., underscoring the profound connections between these sacred texts.

Wabillahi tawfiq