Biblical Prophecy of Conquest of Mecca and Ten Thousand Saints (Deut. 33:2)

One of the most important events in the history of Islam was the Conquest of Mecca in the sacred month of Ramadan, 8 A.H., corresponding to 11 January, 630 C.E. This victorious event, after years of persecution and exile, was prophesied in the Holy Qur’an (for example Surah 48). During this event, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) entered into Mecca accompanied by ten-thousand of his companions:

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَرَجَ فِي رَمَضَانَ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ، وَمَعَهُ عَشَرَةُ آلاَفٍ، وَذَلِكَ عَلَى رَأْسِ ثَمَانِ سِنِينَ وَنِصْفٍ مِنْ مَقْدَمِهِ الْمَدِينَةَ، فَسَارَ هُوَ وَمَنْ مَعَهُ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ إِلَى مَكَّةَ

The Prophet (ﷺ) left Medina (for Mecca) in the company of ten-thousand (Muslim warriors) in (the month of) Ramadan, and that was eight and a half years after his migration to Medina. He and the Muslims who were with him, proceeded on their way to Mecca

(Sahih al-Bukhari)

In fact, this event of the Prophet (peace be upon him) entering into Mecca eight and a half years after having been driven out from his homeland, accompanied by ten thousand of his companions, was prophesied in the Torah: 

וַיֹּאמַר, יְהוָה מִסִּינַי בָּא וְזָרַח מִשֵּׂעִיר לָמוֹ--הוֹפִיעַ מֵהַר פָּארָן, וְאָתָה מֵרִבְבֹת קֹדֶשׁ; מִימִינוֹ, אשדת (אֵשׁ דָּת) לָמוֹ

“The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.” (Deuteronomy 33:2, KJV)

The word used in the Torah is רְבָבָה Rebabah, which means “multitude, myriad, ten thousand” (Strong’s Concordance; 7233)

In Deuteronomy 33:2, the word is used in this form מֵרִבְבֹ֣ת mê·riḇ·ḇōṯ meaning “from the midst of ten thousand” or “with ten thousands”, and likewise in Psalm 3:6.

The passage in the Torah describes the Prophet’s Companions who accompanied him during the Conquest of Mecca as “holy ones” or “saints”.

Mount Paran is in the wilderness of Paran; a geographic area whose exact location is uncertain for Bible scholars; but is the the region of Hijaz or Tihamah in Arab tradition (called Faran), where the sacred cities of Mecca and Medina are situated. In the Torah, the wilderness of Paran is associated with Ishmael (Genesis 21:21), progenitor of the Ishmaelite Arabs.

Interestingly, the region of Seir is also mentioned in this verse. Seir is a mountain range in Edom (Strong’s Concordance; 8165), and throughout the Hebrew Bible, Seir is the hill country associated with Edom.

Hence, the mention of three locations (Sinai, Seir, and Paran) corresponds to three different dispensations or nations (Judaism, Christianity and Islam). Sinai, associated with Moses, where he met God and received the Torah. Seir associated with Edom, which in Jewish tradition refers to Roman civilization and Christendom. And finally Paran, associated with Ishmael and the Arabs.

The prophecy of Deuteronomy 33:2 is therefore a perfect and succinct prophecy regarding the Prophet Muhammad and ten thousand of his holy and saintly companions.