Was 'Ahmad' a Messenger In Isa's Lifetime?

S 61:6 And when Isa son of Maryam said: Banu Isra’il, I am Allah’s messenger to you, confirming what is in front of me of the Torah and as one giving the good news of a messenger coming after me whose name is Ahmad. But when he came to them with the proofs they said: This is obvious magic.

The 'when' suggests something that had been written, something that his audience might be familiar with, as in so many other passages that use 'when'. In this passage Isa speaks of a messenger who would come after him called Ahmad. Now, the text doesn't use sa- or sawfa 'will'. We may understand that 'Ahmad' was a dude alive in Isa's day. The text continues: "But when he came to them with the proofs they said: This is obvious magic." Who's the 'he'? This Ahmad, as a number of mufassirun say. He came to them some time after Isa had died with the proofs, i.e. miracles. Allah's boss, as quran makes it clear, produced no miracles. So how might this text be speaking of him? Now, according to the standard reading, the Banu Isra'il said that 'this' is obvious magic (a variant has magician), which would indicate that some kind of visual thing was going on which they dismissed as being magic or as his being a magician.

The Jalalayn say:

And mention when Jesus son of Mary said ‘O Children of Israel — he did not say ‘O my people’ as did Moses because he was not related to them in any way — I am indeed God’s messenger to you confirming what is before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger who will come after me whose name is Ahmad.’ God exalted be He says Yet when he brought them when Ahmad brought the disbelievers the clear signs the revelations and the indications they said ‘This namely what has been brought is manifest sorcery!’ sihrun a variant reading has sāhirun ‘a sorcerer’ meaning the one who has brought them is a manifest sorcerer. Altafsir.com -تفسير ايآت القرآن الكريم (74-0-6-61) [Variant]

The Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs:

(And when Jesus son of Mary said: O Children of Israel! Lo! I am the messenger of Allah unto you, confirming) the profession of Allah divine Oneness and some of the laws (that which was (revealed) before me in the Torah, and bringing good tidings) and I have come to you with the good tidings (of a messenger who cometh after me, whose name is the Praised One. Yet when he) i.e. Jesus and it is also said: Muhammad (pbuh) (hath come unto them with clear proofs) with commands, prohibitions and the marvels which he displayed to them, (they say: This is mere magic) this is evident magic and lies.

From Ibn Kathir:

(But when he came to them with clear proofs, they said: "This is plain magic.'') this refers to Ahmad, who was anticipated, in accordance with the early Scriptures and early generations, according to Ibn Jurayj and Ibn Jarir. When the Prophet appeared bringing clear signs, the disbelievers and rejecters said,

هَـذَا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ

(This is plain magic) Ibn Al Kathir commentary for verses 61.5-6

No miracles were given at the hands of the guy who called himself 'Muhammad' and the sign that should have been seen was a sacrifice consumed by fire from heaven, which failed to happen. S 3:183 See: Is He a Messenger?

Now, if this 'Ahmad' is to be found in the 'Injil', it is unlikely that the 'Injil' given to Isa would contain a reference to him. So that would leave some other work. If he is supposedly mentioned in the NT somewhere, maybe in one of the four Gospels, then that is 'corrupted'. So no point in looking for him there. If Allah thinks that he is to be found there, but it is 'corrupted', then Allah is a chump.

Further reading:

AHMAD OR THE HOLY SPIRIT? – Answering Islam Blog

More of the Incomplete Quran Exposed: Who or What Is Ahmad? – Answering Islam Blog

THE HOLY SPIRIT, MUHAMMAD AND AHMAD REVISITED – Answering Islam Blog