Love Never Keeps Promises, Only Promises Keep Love

  Love Never Keeps Promises, Only Promises Keep Love Why the Foundation of Human Love is Not Feeling, but Commitment --- Introduction Since the fall of humanity into sin, our ability to love perfectly has been tainted. Human love becomes fragile, inconsistent, and vulnerable to self-interest. In this condition, God no longer bases His relationship with humanity on easily forgotten "words of love," but on eternal covenantal promises. This principle applies not only to the relationship between humans and God but also to interpersonal relationships—including marriage. --- 1. Love Never Keeps Promises Love, in the sense of human feeling, is fluctuating. It can strengthen in times of joy and weaken in the midst of difficulty. The biblical narrative is full of examples of human infidelity: - Israel repeatedly forgot their love for God and turned to idols. - David, called "a man after God's own heart," fell into adultery and murder. - Peter, who claimed he was ready to...

Song of Solomon 5:16 is about Islam ?

 Misguided Claim About Song of Solomon 5:16  


Here is a detailed explanation comparing the root word Ḥ-M-D (ح-م-د) in Arabic and Ḥ-M-D (ח-מ-ד) in Biblical Hebrew, and why the two cannot be equated linguistically or theologically:  


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 1. Fundamental Differences in Root Words  

| Aspect | Arabic (Ḥ-M-D) | Hebrew (Ḥ-M-D) |  

|----------------|----------------|----------------|  

| Letter Count | 3 letters (triliteral) | 3 letters (triliteral) |  

| Primary Meaning | "To praise" (ḥamida) | "To desire/covet" (ḥamad) |  

| Connotation | Positive (praise) | Neutral/negative (lust/craving) |  

| Example Verse | QS 1:2: "Al-ḥamdu lillāh" (All praise is to God) | Ex 20:17: "Lo tachmod" (Do not covet) |  


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 2. Linguistic Analysis  

A. Arabic (ح-م-د)  

- Derived Words:  

  - Ḥamida (حَمِدَ) = "to praise"  

  - Maḥmūd (مَحْمُود) = "the praised one"  

  - Aḥmad (أَحْمَد) = "the most praiseworthy"  

- Function: Exclusively used for spiritual/worldly praise.  


B. Hebrew (ח-מ-ד)  

- Derived Words:  

  - Ḥamad (חָמַד) = "to desire/covet" (often for forbidden objects)  

  - Taḥmūd (תַּחְמוּד) = "lust/desire"  

  - Maḥmad (מַחְמָד) = "object of desire" (Song 5:16)  

- Function: Primarily denotes physical desire (e.g., Ex 20:17’s prohibition against coveting).  


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 3. Why They Cannot Be Equated?  

1. Semantic Differences  

   - Arabic: Ḥ-M-D always relates to praise.  

   - Hebrew: Ḥ-M-D relates to desire/coveting (often negative).  

   - Example:  

     - Arabic: "Al-ḥamd" = praise to God.  

     - Hebrew: "Lo tachmod" = prohibition against coveting another’s wife.  


2. Theological Context  

   - Islam: "Muhammad" (the praised one) is a sacred name.  

   - Judaism/Christianity: "Maḥmad" in Song of Solomon 5:16 is not a personal name but a metaphor for a beloved.  


3. Phonetic Inconsistencies  

   - Arabic ح (ḥa’) and Hebrew ח (ḥet) appear similar, but:  

     - Arabic "ḥamid" (حامد) = "one who praises."  

     - Hebrew "ḥomed" (חומד) = "one who desires."  


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 4. Example of Misinterpretation  

- Claim: "Muhammad was prophesied in Song of Solomon 5:16 (מַחֲמַדִּים/machamadim)."  

- Correction:  

  1. "Machamadim" is plural ("all that is desirable"), not a proper name.  

  2. The context is Solomon’s love poetry, not prophecy.  

  3. The root Ḥ-M-D here means "desire," not "praise."  


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 5. Name Comparison Table  

| Name | Arabic | Meaning | Hebrew Equivalent | Hebrew Meaning |  

|------------|--------|---------------|--------------------|----------------|  

| Muhammad | مُحَمَّد | "The Praised One" | - | - |  

| Ahmad | أَحْمَد | "The Most Praiseworthy" | - | - |  

| Machmad | - | - | מַחְמַד | "Object of desire" |  


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 6. Conclusion  

1. The Arabic Ḥ-M-D and Hebrew Ḥ-M-D roots are homographs (similar in writing) but unrelated in meaning.  

2. There is no etymological connection between "Muhammad" (Arabic) and "Machmad" (Hebrew).  

3. Claims of equivalence usually stem from:  

   - Misunderstanding Semitic root systems.  

   - Apologetic attempts to link Islam with Judaism/Christianity.  


Important Notes:  

- The name "Muhammad" originates purely from pre-Islamic Arab tradition.  

- The meaning "the praised one" does not exist in Hebrew usage of Ḥ-M-D.  


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 List of Names Derived from the Arabic Root Ḥ-M-D (ح-م-د)  

Below are names derived from the root Ḥ-M-D in Arabic, along with their meanings and examples of usage in pre-Islamic and early Islamic Arab society:  


 1. Male Names  

| Name | Form | Meaning | Example Usage |  

|------------|-----------|--------------------------|---------------|  

| Muhammad | مُحَمَّد | "The Praised One" (passive form) | Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Muhammad bin Umayyah (pre-Islamic). |  

| Ahmad | أَحْمَد | "The Most Praiseworthy" (superlative) | Quranic title for the Prophet (QS 61:6), common Arab name. |  

| Hamid | حَامِد | "One Who Praises" (active form) | Hamid bin Abdullah (Companion of the Prophet). |  

| Mahmud | مَحْمُود | "The Praised One" (synonym of Muhammad) | Mahmud al-Khurasani (historical figure). |  

| Hammād | حَمَّاد | "One Who Frequently Praises" (intensive form) | Hammād bin Salamah (hadith scholar). |  


 2. Female Names  

| Name | Form | Meaning | Example Usage |  

|------------|-----------|--------------------------|---------------|  

| Hamida | حَمِيدَة | "Woman Who Praises" | Hamida bint Zayd (a tabi'iyyah). |  

| Mahmuda | مَحْمُودَة| "Woman Who Is Praised" | Rare but linguistically valid. |  

| Hamdah | حَمْدَة | "Praise" (simple form) | Hamdah bint Al-Mu'ammil (female Companion). |  


 3. Names Combined with Allah’s Attributes  

| Name | Form | Meaning |  

|---------------|-----------------|-----------------------------|  

| Abdul-Hamid | عَبْدُ الحَمِيد | "Servant of the Praiseworthy" (one of Allah’s names). |  

| Abdul-Mahmud | عَبْدُ المَحْمُود| "Servant of the Praised One" (rarely used). |  


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 Comparison with Hebrew (Root Ḥ-M-D, ח-מ-ד)  

- Machmad (מַחְמַד) = "Desirable one" (Song 5:16), not a personal name.  

- Chemda (חֶמְדָּה) = "Beloved/desire" (rarely used as a name).  


Key Notes:  

- These Hebrew names do not influence Arabic names, as they come from different traditions.  

- Pre-Islamic Arabs did not borrow names from Hebrew/Babylonian for the Ḥ-M-D root.  


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 Interesting Facts  

1. The name "Ahmad" appears in Arabic Gospel translations as a rendering of "Parakletos" (John 14:16).  

2. The name "Muhammad" was used by at least four individuals in Mecca before the Prophet’s birth (Source: Kitab Al-Aghani by Al-Isfahani).  

3. Arabic has the most variations of Ḥ-M-D names compared to other Semitic languages.


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July 19, 2025

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