Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Prophet Muhammad [pbuh]- Prophesied in World scriptures!!


In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.


All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.


We know that Allah sent a prophet to every nation to warn mankind and revive the message of submission to God. The last and the final Prophet to be sent in the chain of Prophets was Prophet Muhammad [May peace and blessings be upon him]. Thus he [Prophet Muhammad] was the seal of Prophets. As Prophethood would come to an end with the departure of the last and final prophet, Allah sent Muhammad [pbuh] as His Messenger to the whole mankind with a Universal message.


We have not sent thee but as a universal (Messenger) to men, giving them glad tidings, and warning them (against sin), but most men understand not.[Al- Qur’an 34: 28]




Prophet Muhammad [pbuh] came at a time when almost the state of the entire world was miserable. The world had forsaken the path of truth, virtue and righteousness. He came at a time when ignorance was widespread and superstitions were in vogue.  Men had turned cold-hearted and inhumane practices were at peak. Women were subject to atrocities, treated like objects and had zero status in the society. In such an era of darkness, Allah sent him to revive the message of God, perfect all moral values and to serve as the best example for mankind to follow. 




Today, it is a well-known fact that the Prophet Muhammad [pbuh] was the supremely successful man in the entire human history [Discussed in - The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History].
George Bernard Shaw, an eminent playwright, rightly called him ‘The Savior of Humanity’. Famous Personalities from all over the world have studied Prophet Muhammad [pbuh] deeply and inculcated his teachings in their lives. Mahatma Gandhi, who is popularly known as the Father of our country, also read about the life and behavior of this Prophet of God [pbuh] and was influenced greatly.  There were many who were taken aback when they learnt about the beautiful character and conduct of the Last and final Messenger of God, there are and there will be. 


We are told in the Qur’an that Prophet Muhammad [pbuh] is of most sublime and exalted character. However there was one verse that caught my attention. In the 7th Surah of the noble Qur’an, Allah states [addressing the Jews at the time of Prophet Muhammad [pbuh]] in verse 157-

"So I will decree it [mercy] [especially] for those who fear Me and give Zakaat and those who believe in Our verses. Those who follow the apostle, the unlettered Prophet [Muhammad], whom they find mentioned in their own (scriptures) in the law and the Gospel."

This verse clearly states that the advent of the last and final Messenger was mentioned aforetime in the scriptures. Moreover we are told in the Qur’an that Isa [pbuh] prophesied the coming of Prophet Muhammad to the Bani Israel [Children of Israel]

 “And (remember) when ‘Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), said: 
‘O Children of Israel! I am the Messenger of Allah unto you, confirming the Tawraat [(Torah) which came] before me, and giving glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad.’ But when he (Ahmad, i.e. Muhammad) came to them with clear proofs, they said: ‘This is plain magic’! [Al-Qur’an 61:6]

This instigated me to look into the scriptures and learn about the prophecies which spoke about the same.  Undoubtedly all prophets at their time living far away from Arabia, centuries ago prophesied the advent of the last Prophet.  Unlike other prophecies these had strong and clear evidence and arguments to support it. Let us see what the world scriptures have to say about the last and final messenger of God- Muhammad [pbuh]

In the Bible- Old Testament

There are several predictions and prophecies which talk about the last Prophet to come. I will be brief in explaining the Prophecies, as expounding each and every prophecy word by word would be difficult here and would require detailed description.

Prophecy 1]


"I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him..[Deuteronomy 18:18]


When we analyze the Prophecy closely we realize:


The Promised Prophet will be from the Ishmaelites [Arabs].  The Arabs and the Jews are cousins i.e. the Ishmaelites are brethren the Israelites.
Like unto thee- The term ‘like unto thee’ refers to the promised prophet being like Prophet Moses [pbuh]. When we study their respective lives and the occurrences of events we can establish the fact that both were ‘like’ each other in many ways. One of the similarities is- Both brought a comprehensive legal code. [Torah was revealed to Moses [pbuh] for the Bani Israel and the Qur’an was revealed to Muhammad [pbuh] for the whole Mankind]
Will put my words in his mouth; he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him- This indicates that the Prophet would speak unto people that which is commanded.


As the Noble Qur’an testifies –


Nor does he speak from personal desire. It is no less than an inspiration sent down to him [Al-Qur’an 53:3, 4]


Sheikh Ahmed Deedat explains saying-
“If I were to teach you a language like Arabic about which you have no knowledge and if I asked you to read or repeat after me what I utter i.e.:


"SAY: HE IS ALLAH THE ONE AND ONLY;
ALLAH, THE ETERNAL ABSOLUTE;
HE BEGETTETH NOT, NOR IS HE BEGOTTEN:
AND THERE IS NONE LIKE UNTO HIM.
[Al Qur'an 112:1-4] (I read them in Arabic )


Would I not be putting these unheard words of a foreign tongue which you utter, into your mouth?"


The next prophecy we will be dealing with will provide a strong base to the above prophecy as well as an explanation to it.

Prophecy 2]  


                   Then the book will be given to the one who is illiterate, saying, "Please read this."And he will say, "I cannot read. [NIV Isaiah 29:12]



Other translation reads- And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned [King James Bible]
Compare this prophecy with the incident which took place in the cave of Hira when Muhammad [pbuh] was bestowed with Prophethood.  The angel Gabriel descended and asked him to READ [IQRA- Read, recite, proclaim]; Bewildered and terrified, The Prophet [pbuh] replied, "I do not know how to read.” After which the angel asked him again to read and he replied, 'I do not know how to read.' When Angel Gabriel repeated this for the 3rd time, Prophet Muhammad [pbuh] realized that he had to repeat.  


This was when the 1st verse of the Qur’an was revealed -


'Read in the name of your Lord, who has created (all that exists) has created man from a clot.  
Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous."  [Al-Qur’an 96:1, 2, 3]


Amazing it is but absolutely well known that Prophet Muhammad [pbuh] was unlettered [had no formal schooling since childhood] and thus ‘the book will be given to the one who is illiterate’ is the fulfillment of the Prophecy . Alhamdulillah.

In the New Testament-

The Qur’an says that Isa [pbuh] (Jesus Christ) foretold the coming of Prophet Muhammad who was also known as Ahmad which means ‘highly praised.’  Muhammad [Pbuh] was given the title Al-Amin i.e. Truthful, Honest by everyone who knew him even before he was given Prophethood. It was because of his helping nature and trustworthy character he was liked and wanted by all.

Let’s see what this prophecy from the Gospel of John says-
Jesus Christ [pbuh] is reported to have said-


Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprieve the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment 
[John 16:7, 8]

The prophecy clearly speaks of someone to come. We know that Prophet Muhammad succeeded Prophet Jesus [pbut] and he truly reprieved the world of sin, established righteousness and propounded judgment with the God given Law.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Quran English translation by Abdullah Yousif Ali [Note No 5438]

 “Ahmed, or Muhummed”, the praised One, is almost a translation of the Greek word Periclytos. In
the present Gospel of John 14:16, 15:26, and 16:7, the word Comforter in the English
version for the Greek word Paracletos, which means Advocate, “one called to the help of
another, a kind friend”, raher than “Comforter”. Our doctors contend that Paracletos is a
corrupt reading for Periclytos, and that in the original saying of jesus there was prophecy
of our holy prophet Ahmed by name. Even if we read Paraclete, it would imply to the
Holy Prophet, who is “a Mercy for all creatures” [Al-Quran 21:107] and “most kind
and merciful to the Believers”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another clear prophecy which fits Prophet Muhammad [pbuh] like a glove is as below-
Jesus Christ [pbuh] tells his disciples-


 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me.[John16:12,13,14]

When we read the Gospels we learn that the disciples couldn’t grasp most of the simple things Jesus Christ told them. In addition to it, the Jews misunderstood whatever he said and even charged him of Blasphemy. He therefore promised the coming of the “spirit of truth” [upright Prophet] who would be a guidance and mercy for all leading men unto “ALL TRUTH”.
As for the last part of the Prophecy- It is evident through the dictates of the Qur'an and Prophet Muhammad [pbuh]  we Muslims glorify [honor] Jesus Christ [pbuh] . Muslims are the only people (besides the Christians) who are obliged to believe in Jesus Christ [pbuh] No Muslim would be a Muslim if he denies Jesus Christ [pbuh].  It was revealed unto Prophet Muhammad [pbuh] about the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ [pbuh] and his being a Prophet to the Jews. As Muslims, we love, revere and accept the true teachings of Isa (Jesus Christ) [pbuh] who preached the same message of submission to the will of God.

Prophecies in the Hindu scriptures-


When we look into the Hindu scripture we find that all major books of the Hindus prophesy about Prophet Muhammad [pbuh]. As I mentioned earlier, expounding each and every prophecy word by word. Hence I would limit the description to few words and keep it brief.

It is mentioned in the Bhavishya Purana [which literally means future events ]


A Malechha (person from a foreign country and speaking foreign language) spiritual teacher will appear with his companions. His name will be Mahamad...

The Shloka further goes on to state-

'O Ye! the pride of mankind, the dweller in Arabia, Ye have collected a great force to kill the Devil and you yourself have been protected from the malechha opponents (idol worshipers, pagans).' ‘O Ye! the image of the Most Pious God the biggest Lord, I am a slave to thee, take me as one lying on thy feet.'


Shlokas 10 to 27 say:


The Malechas have spoiled the well-known land of the Arabs. Arya Dharma is not to be found in the country. Before also there appeared a misguided fiend whom I had killed; he has now again appeared being sent by a powerful enemy. To show these enemies the right path and to give them guidance, the well-known Mahamad [Muhammad], is busy in bringing the Pishachas to the right path. O Raja, You need not go to the land of the foolish Pishachas, you will be purified through my kindness even where you are. At night, he of the angelic disposition, the shrewd man, in the guise of Pishacha said toRaja Bhoj, "O Raja! Your Arya Dharma has been made to prevail over all religions, but according to the commandments of Ishwar Parmatma, I shall enforce the strong creed of the meat eaters. My followers will be men circumcised, without a tail (on his head), keeping beard, creating a revolution announcing the Aadhaan (the Muslim call for prayer) and will be eating all lawful things. He will eat all sorts of animals except swine. They will not seek purification from the holy shrubs, but will be purified through warfare. On account of their fighting the irreligious nations, they will be known as Musalmaans. I shall be the originator of this religion of the meat-eating nations."

Wickedness was widespread and the wrong doers have corrupted Arabian land.
The Indian Raja need not go the Arabia since his refinement will take place in India after themusalmaan will arrive in India.
The coming Prophet will guide all unto the truth of the Aryan faith, i.e. Monotheism and reformation of the misguided people will take place.
The followers of the Prophet will be circumcised. They will be without a tail [shendi-choti] on the head and bear a beard and will create a great revolution.
Proclaimation of the Adhan, i.e. ‘the Muslim call for prayer’.
He will eat all [halal]lawful things except pork which is [Haraam] prohibitted.
They will be known as musalmaans.
Each and every statement mentioned above lies in conformity with truth about the Muslims.
Prophet Muhammad [pbuh] is also Prophesised in Atharvaveda-


Shloka 1- He is Narashansah [ the praised one (Muhammad)]. He is Kaurama: the prince of peace or the emigrant..


Shloka 2- He is a camel-riding Rishi

Note- The word ‘Narashansah’ means ‘the praised one’, is the literal translation of the name Muhammad [pbuh]. The word ‘Kaurama’ means ‘one who spreads and promotes peace’. Muhammad [pbuh] preached peace, equality and universal brotherhood. Kaurama also means an emigrant. We know that the Prophet migrated from Maccah to Madinah.

[Atharvaveda book 20 Hymn 127 shlokas 1-13]

There are many other Shlokas which talk about the coming of Prophet Muhammad [pbuh]. Pundit Vedaprakash Upadhyay, a Hindu professor, writes in his book that all these prophecies match the personality of Muhammad [pbuh] him perfectly.
[Read: http://saif_w.tripod.com/interfaith/hinduism/kalki_avatar.htm ]

All the way through history, there have been many learned Christian scholars who have come to recognize the truth of the prophecies in the Bible and that it originally referred to Prophet Muhammad [pbuh], Similarly, Many Hindu pundits who were open to truth accepted Islam on learning about the mention of the last and final messenger of God.

An exemplar to the whole world, Prophet Muhammad was the living Qur’an. Many Non-Muslims today have accepted the truth [Islam] after having read the biography of this Prophet of God.

Anyone who browses through history and reads about the world before and after Prophet Muhammad would definitely arrive to the truth, period.

Insha’allah.




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