Short answer
Muslims believe so. The Quran says Muhammad ﷺ is described in the Torah and the Gospel, and that Jesus gave good news of a messenger after him named Ahmad. Muslim scholars point to passages such as Deuteronomy 18:18 and Jesus' promise of a coming Helper in John 14 to 16. Christians and Jews read these passages differently.
Believing that Muhammad ﷺ is the final messenger is part of the shahada. Believing that earlier scripture foretold him follows from clear verses of the Quran. Which Bible verse refers to him is a matter of scholarly interpretation, not a condition of faith.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Quran speaks of "the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel" and says Jesus told the Children of Israel he was "bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad". Ahmad, like Muhammad, comes from the root meaning praise. See Quran 7:157.
Muslim scholars, including the Hanafi scholar Rahmatullah Kairanawi in his book Izhar al-Haqq, have pointed to passages like these:
- Deuteronomy 18:18: God promises Moses a prophet "like you" from among "their brothers". Muslims read the brothers as the descendants of Ishmael, and a prophet like Moses as one who brought a law and led a nation.
- John 14 to 16: Jesus promises another Helper or Comforter (the Paraclete) who will guide into all truth. Muslims see a reference to the final messenger.
- Isaiah 42: the chosen servant who brings justice to the nations, in a passage that mentions Kedar, a son of Ishmael.
A Companion who knew the Torah, Abdullah ibn Amr, said the Prophet ﷺ is described in it with some of the same qualities the Quran gives him.
Christians usually read Deuteronomy 18 as pointing to Jesus and the Paraclete as the Holy Spirit, and Jewish readers have their own understanding. Muslims should present their reading calmly and respectfully, as the Quran instructs. Muslim faith in the Prophet ﷺ rests on the Quran, not on any one Bible verse. See can Muslims read the Bible?
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-A'raaf 7:157
ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ ٱلرَّسُولَ ٱلنَّبِىَّ ٱلْأُمِّىَّ ٱلَّذِى يَجِدُونَهُۥ مَكْتُوبًا عِندَهُمْ فِى ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ وَٱلْإِنجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُم بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَىٰهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْخَبَٰٓئِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَٱلْأَغْلَٰلَ ٱلَّتِى كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ ٱلنُّورَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ مَعَهُۥٓ ۙ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿١٥٧﴾
Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them. So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him - it is those who will be the successful.
The Quran says the Prophet ﷺ was described in the earlier scriptures.
Quran, Surah As-Saff 61:6
وَإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ يَٰبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ إِنِّى رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَيْكُم مُّصَدِّقًۭا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَىَّ مِنَ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ وَمُبَشِّرًۢا بِرَسُولٍۢ يَأْتِى مِنۢ بَعْدِى ٱسْمُهُۥٓ أَحْمَدُ ۖ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ قَالُوا۟ هَٰذَا سِحْرٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ ﴿٦﴾
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 Ahmad." But when he came to them with clear evidences, they said, "This is obvious magic."
Jesus foretold a messenger after him named Ahmad.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:146
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ يَعْرِفُونَهُۥ كَمَا يَعْرِفُونَ أَبْنَآءَهُمْ ۖ وَإِنَّ فَرِيقًۭا مِّنْهُمْ لَيَكْتُمُونَ ٱلْحَقَّ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿١٤٦﴾
Those to whom We gave the Scripture know him as they know their own sons. But indeed, a party of them conceal the truth while they know [it].
Some People of the Book recognised the Prophet ﷺ from what their scripture said.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2125
Sahih... إنه لموصوف في التوراة ببعض صفته في القرآن ...
"Abdullah ibn Amr said: by Allah, he is described in the Torah with some of the description he has in the Quran."
A Companion who read the Torah confirmed that it described the Prophet ﷺ.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Izhar al-Haqq (Rahmatullah Kairanawi), the chapter on the prophecies of the Prophet ﷺ in the Bible. A classic study by a Hanafi scholar of the Bible passages Muslims read as foretelling the Prophet ﷺ.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.