As they evidently could not be his contemporaries, they helped him only by saying and writing about his advent, such that their posterity could have an introduction of him and so trust him.
Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) was commanded by God to inform that he was not the only Messenger of God to the world [Al Qur’an 46:9]. Scholars say that there had been some 124,000 Prophet sent to the world who preached in the language of the respective people [A Qur’an 14:4]. The true religion they preached and their scriptures got corrupted with passage of time (with the exception of Al Qur’an). However, the message on the last and greatest Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) is retained till date in the scriptures of all major world religions.
We are presenting here some interesting information from these Books so that adherents to these religions (as also Muslims) come to know that Messenger e is not alien to them, get rid of unfounded prejudices against Islam and the Messenger (Pbuh) and that they may take interest in the scripture and religion he brought. The reason is that Islam as given to him is the true religion of the world brought to ultimate perfection [Al Qur’an 5:3]
These scriptures identify the greatest Prophet to come mentioning details of his birth, events of his life, his followers, etc. Some even give his Arabic name or its equivalents! This article will help creating right belief (Iman) in other religionists. Further, it will help Muslims appreciate yet another facet of greatness of Prophet (Pbuh) and deepen their Iman. We will see here only a sample of the overwhelming evidences!
Prophet (Pbuh) Foretold in Hindu scriptures:
There is no doubt that God sent Prophets (Pbuh) to people of India. There is no mention of any Indian Prophet or scripture in Holy Qur’an. But Bukhari records Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) as saying he was enjoying breeze wafting from India laden with fragrance of Tawhid (unity of God). The four Vedas (scriptures) of Hindus and their epics are said to be 5000-10,000 years old. They contain a great deal of monotheistic ideas, and of course, prophecies on Hadrath Muhammad (Pbuh).
(1) Atharva Veda
A chapter called Kuntapa Sukt of Atharva Veda is said to be very obscure in meaning and its theme, inscrutable. But it readily makes sense if looked at with history of Prophet (Pbuh). One verse as translated from Sanskrit language reads; Hear O people! Narashans will be praised.
O Kaurama! We got 60,090 people from our enemies.
The word Narashans means the ‘Praised one’ and the sentence ‘praised one will be praised’ is peculiar. Here Narashans is a proper noun, Muhammad in Arabic! Kaurama means emigrant muhajir that Prophet (Pbuh) was. It also means spreader of peace - peace in Arabic is being salam or Islam! 60,000+ was the population of Makkah who eventually embraced Islam.
The first line of the next verse is translated as;
O Chanter (or Praiser)! Enjoy like a bird on a tree full of fruits.
Praiser in Arabic is Ahmad, the other name of Prophet (Pbuh). The verse compares beautifully with the Qur’anic verses 14:24,25 describing Kalima Tayyiba (“There is no god but Allah”) as a tree firmly rooted (in the earth), with branches reaching to heavens, capable of bearing fruit in all seasons (i.e. the world and the hereafter).
The Veda talks about a great sage named Mamaha that means; honoured or famed Muhammad, again. The Veda mentions a mysterious set of numbers are associated with objects that the sage would possess. They are simply incomprehensible. These are; 100 gold coins 10 garlands, 300 horses and 10,000 cows. They can very well be approximate references respectively to the first batch of Mekkan emigrants to Abyssinia; 10 companions who were designated by Prophet (Pbuh) as sure entrants to paradise; 313 companions of Battle of Badr and 10,000 companions at the invasion on Makkah.
(2) Bhavishya Puran
This is a Sanskrit work of prophecies. The title means ‘Book of the Future’. Since Hinduism is based in India it was, and still is, taken for granted that its sages will be born in India itself. Contrary to this belief the Book says that a great master will appear in a foreign country (mlechcha acharya) and live in a sandy region (marusthal). His name will be Mahaaamad. Within a short span of 18 couplets Mahaamad is mentioned five times.
One couplet enumerates the main identification points of Mahaamad’s followers; They will be circumcised (unknown in India); cut hair of their heads short (as against the Indian practice of long uncut hair knotted into a bun), keep beards call out at top voice (for prayers - Azan) and will be omnivorous (i.e. eat vegetarian as well as meat). The class of Hindu religious masters are strict vegetarians). They will be known as Musalay! These details will completely dispel any suspicions of coincidence in the matters between Mahaamad and Muhammad (Pbuh)!
There is an interesting information in Bhavishya Purana that Mahaamad would appear to Bhoj, ruler of Dhar, and say that he would establish the religion of meat eaters, by the command of Ishwar i.e. God. There is a tradition that long afterwards, Bhoj got terrified on seeing the full moon split into two. Learned men consulted holy books and told him that it was one of the signs of the Universal Master to be born in a country to the West. Bhoj sent his minister to Prophet (Pbuh) in Arabia, who named the king Abdullah. The Tomb of Abdullah is still there at Dhar.
(3) Mahabharat
This is a Hindu epic describing the struggle and triumph of good against evil. It was written by sage Vyas who also authored Bhavishya Purana. Mahabharata says that in the last eon called Kali Yug (in which we now live) a great sage will appear with name Mahaamad. He would preach about unity of God. He will be driven away from his native place by his own folk. By him the world would get peace. (Islam means peace).
Mahabharat further says that cloud will provide him shade. It is recorded in history that Buhaira, the Christian priest of Syria observed this sign with Muhammad e in his boyhood and identified him as the last Prophet anticipated for millennia.
Kalki Puran
This is a holy book of Hindus describing the advent of the last, the tenth Avtar to come. An Avatar is considered an incarnation of God, who appears on earth whenever religion declines and evil abounds, and corrects the situation. He is of high character and miraculous powers but subject to predestination and morality. If the term ‘human representative of God’ is substituted for ‘incarnation of God’ this description will fit the Islamic concept of Prophet (Pbuh). The signs and events of the final Avatar Kalki point out to final Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh). They fit those of Muhammad (Pbuh) neatly and perfectly. They are as follows;
* Kalki will appear in the last on Kali Yug and will be the guide for the entire world.
* He will be born on the 12th day of the month. Prophet (Pbuh) as born on 12th Of Rabiyyul Awwal).
* His parents will be : Vishnu Bhagat and Soomati meaning servant of God (the Cherisher) and peace. (Messenger’s (Pbuh) father’s name was Abdullah, God’s servant and mother was Amina refuge giver which includes the idea of ‘peace’.)
* He will be with a beauty par-excellence. His body will be fragrant.
* He will get wisdom on a mountain. (Messenger (Pbuh) was conferred Prophethood on Mt.Hira)
* He will receive a horse from God, which will be faster than lightning. Riding it he will go around the earth and seven skies. (During Mi’raj Prophet (Pbuh) got Buraq meaning lightning and toured the entire universe.)
Kalki will split the moon.
Like Bhoj, Cheraman (Zamorin) Perumal the ruler of Indian kingdom of Kerala, witnessed splitting of the moon performed by Prophet (Pbuh). After gathering the facts he sailed to Arabia and became Muslim at Prophet’s (Pbuh) hand. His Tomb is near the city of Salala in Oman (Refer Fig.1).
The word ‘Kalki is considered to be a basic word, a noun without a meaning, as against attribute - based or action - based ones. The preceding Hindu Books either give attribute based name in sanskrit to the Last Prophet (Pbuh) or Arabic name, which is also attribute based. The author thinks that ‘Kalki’ is the Sanskrit transliteration of the Arabic ‘Khalqi’ meaning creation (concrete noun). He is celebrated by Muslims as being;
(1) Awwal ul Khalki
First of creations
(2) Khair il Khalki
Best of creations
(3) Awf al Khalki
Foremost out of creations
(4) Akram al Khalki
Greatest of creations
Prophet (Pbuh) Foretold in Buddhist Scriptures
Buddhism is older than Christianity. It originated in India but is prevalent in entire South Asia and far East. Gautama Buddha, its founder is supposed to be an agnostic but this is disputed. The word Buddha means enlightened. Scriptures of Buddhism are available in Sanskrit, Pali, Sinhalese, Burmese, Chinese, Tibetan and Japanese languages. We could get the following information collectively from them;
At his death bed his grief-stricken disciples asked him who will provide them guidance after him. The Buddha consoled them by saying; “Do not think I am the only Buddha. There had been many before me and will be many after me. (Compare this with the Qur’anic Verse 26:9 “say (O Muhammad): I am no new thing among Messengers (of Allah....). At appropriate time a great Buddha will come.”
* He will be born in a country to west ( and not in India) Refer Fig.1
* He will migrate from his homeland.
* He will look at the Universe face to face. (Compare this with Mi’raj).
* His countrymen cannot be reformed until his advent.
* He will preach the same religion as mine but its perfection and success will reach peak stage only in his time (Compare this with the Qur’anic Verse 5:3 “..... I have perfected your religion for you.. . and have chosen Al Islam for you as religion... “).
* While my disciples are in hundreds, his will be in thousands.
The Chief disciple Ananda asked him how to identify the great Buddha when he eventually comes. Gautama told them,
* “His name will be Maitreya.”
The word maitreya means love, kindness, compassion, mercy, and so on. The Arabic for mercy is rahmat. Rahmat is title given to the Sayyidul Mursaleen e Leader of Prophets, by Allah in Qur’an ! He refers to him as;
Rahmatan lil Alameen Mercy unto the worlds (21:07)
Rahshatun lilladeena amanu minkum Mercy unto the believers (9:61)
Rahmatan min Rabbika Mercy from thy Lord (28:46)
We can see that the Indian scriptures refer to the Ultimate Prophet (Pbuh) ultimate both in time and greatness in clear, direct terms. No stretch of imagination, playing with words and linguistic nuances or involved, artificial interpretations are needed to grasp the point. No complicated inductive or deductive logic is required for drawing the conclusion. On the other hand, the facts are recorded in a straightforward manner and are available for all to verify. No hearsay need be believed uncomfortably. The plain truth is inescapably evident that it is Hadhrat Muhammad (Pbuh), the chosen one (Mustafa) to be the greatest of Prophets for all people of the world and awaited by all of them since time immemorial.
Incidentally, we find that in these scriptures statements implying plurality of God have been interpolated causing confusion with Monotheistic concept that is La ilaha il Allah in Arabic). But the statements amounting to Apostleship of Muhammad (Pbuh) “Muhammadur Rasoolullah” is miraculously left intact!
Prophet (Pbuh) Foretold in Parsi Scriptures
Parsi religion or Magianism was established in Persia in ancient times by Prophet Zoroaster and hence also known as Zoroastrianism. The suggestion by some that he was a Prophet of Islam cannot be ascertained or denied for lack of direct evidence in Qur’an and Hadeeth. Their scripture Avezda is in Zend (old Persian) language and foretells of the advent of Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh). The Parsi religion at Rasoolullah’s time suffered, and still does, from two main deviations Tawheed (monotheism).
(1) It divided good and evil between two gods - god of evil was not worshipped, though
(2) Parsis worship fire as God’s manifestation.
Besides Avezda, Dasatir is also a holy book of Parsis. These two give the details of the appearance of Prophet of Arabia (Pbuh) in the following terms;
A great sage will appear in a sandy region to the west.
His name will be Astvat-ereta or Soeshyant.
Astvat-ereta means the Praised one Muhammad in Arabic. Soeshyant means mercy to the worlds, Rahmat lil Alameen in Arabic.
At his time the Parsis will abandon fire worship and will turn towards a temple which will be purified by removal of idols.
On conquering Makkah, Prophet (Pbuh) went straight to the Ka’abah, the oldest ever Mosque on earth, and eradicated the 360 idols, reciting the Qur’anic Verse; “Truth has come and falsehood vanished. Falsehood is ever bound to vanish” (Al Qur’an 17:81).
Despite clear prophecies when Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) appeared these three great communities of the world missed him for various reasons;
(1) Hindus because scriptural knowledge was not disseminated but kept confined to the priestly class;
(2) Buddhists because of information barriers due to geographical distances and
(3) Parsis because of jealousy and prejudices even though Prophet (Pbuh) and his followers were in touch with Persia. However, Persians eventually embraced Islam, the Prophet’s (Pbuh) religion except for a minuscule minority.
20 to 25% of people of Indian subcontinent converted to Prophet’s (Pbuh) faith. Conversions of Buddhists of Asia to Islam is to a much lesser degree. But due to today’s information and communication revolutions and current economic prominence of the Arab land the message of Prophet (Pbuh) is reaching the Asians, and also all other peoples of the world on a much wider scale. But this phenomenon is almost totally independent of the prophecies. They are therefore joining the faith he preached in a fresh series of waves.
Allahu A’lam. God alone knows the truth of everything, including the above mentioned prophecies in these three faiths. By M.I.Liaqath Ali
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