Section: The pathways to knowing that the earlier prophets foretold Muhammad—peace and blessings be upon him
Our certainty that the prophets before him announced his coming is established through several means:
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The passages that mention him in the scriptures now in the hands of the People of the Book.
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The testimony of those—whether they later became Muslim or not—who have examined those scriptures and other writings of the People of the Book and reported the references to him they discovered there.
A striking example is the widely attested report about the anṣār (the Helpers): their Jewish neighbors used to inform them of his imminent mission, affirm that he was the Messenger of Allah, and state that his description was found in their books. This was among the greatest factors that moved the anṣār to believe in him when he called them to Islam, so they accepted faith and pledged their allegiance without fear or worldly incentive.
Hence it has been said: “Medina was won by the Qurʼan; it was not taken by the sword as other cities were.”