A mysterious and ancient copy of what has been referred to as the Gospel of the People of the Book has sparked significant interest from the Vatican. This text allegedly foretells the coming of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon him) and is valued at a staggering £14 million. The story was reported by the British newspaperThe Daily Mail.
According to the report, former Pope Benedict XVI had expressed interest in seeing this 1,500-year-old manuscript, believed by many to be the Gospel of Barnabas. The document had reportedly been kept hidden by the Turkish government for years.
This gospel, written by hand in golden script, is said to be penned in the Aramaic language—the mother tongue of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him). The manuscript is claimed to contain many of Jesus’ early teachings and explicitly predicts the arrival of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon him) on Earth.
The text was discovered in a leather-bound volume made of animal hide, uncovered by Turkish police during an anti-smuggling operation in the year 2000.
The British newspaper revealed that Turkey safeguarded this manuscript until 2010, when it was handed over to the Ankara Ethnography Museum. Sources indicate it may be displayed to the public once again after undergoing minor restoration work.
Turkish sources suggest that the manuscript could include parts of the original Gospel that had been hidden by the Christian Church due to its striking alignment with the Islamic perspective on Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him).
The Vatican reportedly submitted an official request to view this controversial text, described as a “sacred book.” The document is thought to be a complementary version to the canonical Gospels of Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John.
In line with Islamic teachings, this gospel presents Jesus as a human prophet, not divine, and rejects the concepts of the Trinity and the crucifixion. Instead, it emphasizes monotheism and reveals Jesus’ prophecy about the coming of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon him).
One of the texts within the gospel quotes Jesus answering a priest’s question about his successor, stating: “Muhammad is his blessed name.”
Despite the considerable interest surrounding this manuscript, some biblical scholars argue that it is a forgery dating back to the 16th century. Protestant pastor Ihsan Ozbek remarked: “It is unlikely to be an original gospel. Barnabas lived in the first century after the birth of Jesus and was one of his disciples, whereas this version is said to date back to the fifth or sixth century.”
Professor of Theology, Omar Farouk Harman, emphasized that scientific examination of the manuscript is essential to determine its true age and authenticity.
