Haggai 2:6-9

His saying: “Lord of hosts” refers to Allāh as the Supreme Commander of the heavenly armies.

His saying: “I will shake” is an expression of Allāh’s power and ability to bring about great changes in the universe. The shaking refers to a tremor that overturns the balances of life. Here, it is an indication of the tremor caused by the prophethood of Muḥammad (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him), which changed people through his coming, turning them from polytheism and idolatry to monotheism and the worship of the One God.

His saying: “The heavens and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land” symbolizes the entire universe.

His saying: “All nations” means all peoples.

His saying: “The Desire of all nations”, is an expression referring to a person of great value, beloved by the nations. There has been no prophet or messenger on this earth greater than Muḥammad. For everyone who comes to know his biography throughout history, and who knows the truth of his religion, and possesses sound intellect and discernment, will love him, follow his religion, and not turn back from it, whether they are Jewish, Christian, or pagan.

In his saying: “All nations” there is an indication that his message is universal for all of humanity, as Allāh said to him in the Qur’ān: “And We have not sent you except comprehensively to mankind as a bringer of good tidings and a warner.” [Saba’ (Sheba), 34:28]. This is contrary to the case of the Al-Masīḥ (Messiah), Moses, Zechariah, Y aḥyā (John) the Baptist, Jacob, and Is·ḥāq (Isaac); Allāh sent them specifically to the Children of Israel, and did not send them to all the nations of the earth. For in the Gospel of Matthew (15:24), Jesus said: ‘I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’”

In addition, whoever contemplates the state of people across the globe finds two things: firstly, that Islam is spread in every part of it; and secondly, that Islam is the fastest-growing religion, especially after the availability of media and social communication.

His saying: “I will fill this house with glory” refers to the liberation of Jerusalem. The “house” here is Jerusalem. This happened during the era of the Caliph ‘Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (Umar ibn al- Khattab) (may Allāh be pleased with him) after the death of the Prophet Muḥammad.

His saying: “The glory of this latter house shall be greater than the former”; here, the speech concerns two houses: the first is Jerusalem, and the second is the Ka‘bah in Mecca. The glory and status of the Ka‘bah indeed became greater than the glory of Jerusalem. People have been performing pilgrimage to it since the mission of the Prophet and even before it. It became a symbol of the religion of Islam and its Prophet Muḥammad. His saying: “And in this place will I give peace” speaks of the covenant of security that prevailed over Jerusalem, which ‘Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb granted to the people of Jerusalem when he opened it. Thus, the prophecy about giving peace was fulfilled. In summary, the interpretation of this verse is a prophecy of a great event and the cause of a major change in the world, and this event is linked to the coming of the “Desire of All Nations.” This prophecy from the Old Testament speaks about Muḥammad, because he is the only messenger to all nations. The Prophet Haggai said it as glad tidings from Allāh to the Children of Israel, reassuring them upon their return from Babylonian captivity to Jerusalem. He told them not to fear, for thus says the Lord of armies – that is Allāh – “I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land, and I will bring the Desire of All Nations. I will fill this house (Jerusalem) with glory, honor will return to it, and it will obtain glory and greatness greater than the former glory. This will happen after the establishment of peace.” And this indeed happened, because people from all over the world began to make their way to it in worship.

It should be noted that this prophecy does not speak about the Messiah, because the Messiah was a messenger only to the Children of Israel, and not to all nations, as stated in this prophecy and glad tidings.

As a supplementary note, this prophecy is connected to the one found in Isaiah: 60, which will be addressed in Glad Tidings No. 21.