Holy Prophet Muhammad
(S.A.W.) in Hindu Scriptures
DR.
Z. HAQ
There Never Was A People Without A Warner
Qur'an 35:24
Verily We have sent thee (Muhammad) in truth as a bearer of glad tidings
and as a warner:
And there never was a people without a warner having lived among them
(in the past).
Qur'an 16:36
For We assuredly sent amongst every People an apostle (with the Command)
"Serve Allah and eshew Evil":
Of the people were some whom Allah guided and some on whom Error became
inevitably (established).
So travel through the earth and see what was the end of those who denied
(the Truth).
Qur'an 4:164
And Messengers (Prophets who received revealed books) We have mentioned
unto thee (Muhammad) before
And Messengers We have not mentioned unto thee;
And Allah spake directly unto Moses.
These verses of the Holy Qur’an testify that Allah
(the One True God) has sent prophets to every people. Therefore,
it is not surprising to Muslims to find prophecies about the Last
Prophet, Muhammad (s), in previously revealed scriptures. Moreover,
Allah had taken covenant with the Prophets to believe and help future
Prophets of Allah, as indicated by the verse quoted below.
Allah's Covenant With Prophets
Qur'an 3:81-82
Behold! Allah took the covenant of the Prophets saying:
"I give you a Book and Wisdom; then comes to you an Apostle confirming
what is with you; do ye believe him and render him help."
Allah said: "Do ye agree and take this My Covenant as binding on you?"
They said: "We agree."
He said: "Then bear witness and I am with you among the witnesses."
If any turn back after this they are perverted transgressors.
A
Brief Introduction To Hindu Scriptures
The Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, and Brahmanas Granth are the four sacred
books in Hindu religion. The last one is a commentary on the Vedas, but
it is considered as a revealed book. These books are in Sanskrit, the
sacred language of the Hindus. The Vedas are divided into four books:
Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sam Veda and Atharva Veda. Of these, the first
three books are considered the more ancient books, and the Rig Veda is
the oldest of them. The Rig Veda was compiled in three long and
different periods. Opinions greatly differ as to the date of compilation
or revelation of the four Vedas. Swami Daya Nand, founder of the Arya
Samaj, holds the opinion that the Vedas were revealed 1.3 billion years
ago, while others (Hindu scholars and orientalists) hold the opinion
that they are not more than four thousand years old. Analysis of the
Vedas reveal differences in the accounts of the places where these books
were revealed and the Rishis (Prophets) to whom these scriptures were
given. Nevertheless, the Vedas are the most authentic scriptures of the
Hindus.
The Upanishads are considered next to the Vedas in order of superiority
and authenticity. However, some Pandits consider the Upanishads to be
superior to the Vedas primarily from the internal evidence found in the
Upanishads. Next in authenticity to the Upanishads are the Puranas. The
Puranas are the most widely read of all Hindu Scriptures, as these are
easily available (the Vedas are difficult to find). The compiler of the
Puranas is Maha Rishi Vyasa, and he arranged the Puranas in eighteen
volumes. These books contain the history of the creation of the
universe, the history of the early Aryan people, and life stories of the
divines and deities of the Hindus. The Puranas were either revealed
simultaneously with the Vedas or some time before. The sanctity and
reverence of the Puranas is admitted and recognized in all the authentic
books of the Hindus.
For a long time, the Hindu Scriptures were primarily in the hands of
Pandits and a small group of men who had learned Sanskrit (The majority
of the Hindu population knew Hindi and could comprehend only a
smattering of Sanskrit words). Sir William Jones, who was a Judge and
founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal, learned Sanskrit in the last
decade of the Eighteenth century. He was instrumental in generating
interest in Sanskrit and Hindu Scriptures in Europe, and it was due to
his efforts that the Hindu scriptures were translated into English.
In 1935, Dr. Pran Nath published an article in the Times of India that
showed that the Rig Veda contains events of the Babylonian and Egyptian
kings and their wars. Further, he showed that one-fifth of the Rig Veda
is derived from the Babylonian Scriptures. From a Muslim perspective, it
is likely that the Hindus were given a revealed book or books that
contained description and struggles of Allah’s Prophets sent previously
to other peoples. It is also possible that commentaries written about
them were incorporated later and became a part of the revealed books.
There are a number of examples of these in Hindu scriptures. The Atharva
Veda is also known as ‘Brahma Veda’ or in its meaning as the Devine
Knowledge. An Analysis of the Vedas reveal that ‘Brahma’ is actually
Abraham, where the initial letter A in Abraham
is moved to the end making it Brahma. This analysis is accurate when one
writes the two words in Arabic script, a language close to that spoken
by Prophet Abraham. Similarly, Abraham’s first wife Sarah is mentioned
in the Vedas as Saraswati, and Prophet Nuh
(Noah of The Flood) is mentioned as Manuh or Manu. Some Pundits consider
Atharva Veda as the Book of Abraham. Prophets Ismail (Ishmael) and Ishaq
(Isaac) are named Atharva and Angira, respectively, in the Vedas.
Table 1
Brahma, Abraham
Saraswati, Sarah
Manu,Manuh,Nuh
Background To Prophecies
It is well known that the Hindus love hero worship, and it is reasonable
to assume that over a long period of time the high regard and reverence
for some Prophets led to some of them considered as god or God. Further,
it is likely that the Book of Abraham and those of other Prophets
contained prophecies about the Last Prophet, Muhammad (s). Muslim
historians of India hold the opinion that the graves of Prophets Sheesh
and Ayyub (Job) are in Ayodhya, in the province
of Uttar Pradesh, India. In ancient times, Ayodhya was known as Khosla
according to Shatpath Brahmanas.
Some Pundits have now begun to reject the Puranas simply because they
find in them many prophecies and vivid signs of the truth of Prophet
Muhammad. A case has been made that the present Puranas are not the same
collection that Vedas refer to and the real books were lost.
Nevertheless, this contention is not correct. It is impossible that all
the Puranas which were so widely read and keenly studied, could have
fallen in oblivion and totally wiped out, whereas the Vedas, which only
a few could read and understand, remained intact until now.
Another argument against the prophecies is that these were added to the
Puranas at a later date. Nevertheless, this argument is also without a
basis. Such a well-known book, in vast circulation and read at appointed
times in prayers, cannot be easily tampered with. Moreover, all the
Pandits and the learned divines of the Hindus could not have conspired
and secretly added these prophecies to the Puranas. The most strange
thing is that the corruption is made in favor of the Prophet and against
their own religion.
All major books of the Hindus prophesy about Prophet Mohammad. In
addition to many of his qualities, his life events, Abraham, Ka'bah,
Bakkah (Makkah) and Arabia, the prophecies mention his name as Mahamad,
Mamah, and Ahmad. The name Mahamad appears in the Puranas, Mamah in
Kuntap Sukt (in Atharva Veda) and Ahmad in Sama Veda. Many different
classifications as to the degree of importance of the Vedas have been
made. For example, in Shatpath it is stated that Sama Veda is the
essence of all the Vedas. At another place in Taitttriya Brahmana, it is
stated that “This world was created from Brahma, the Vaishas were
created from the mantras of the Rig Veda, the Kashtriyas were created
from Yajur Veda and Brahmans were created from Sama Veda.”
Prophecy In The Puranas
The compiler of the Puranas, Mahrishi Vyasa, is highly honored among the
Hindus as a great rishi and learned person. He was a pious and God
fearing man. He also wrote the Gita and the Maha Bharat. Among the
eighteen volumes of the Puranas is one by the title ‘Bhavishya Puran,’
literally meaning future events. The Hindus regard it as the Word of
God. The prophecy containing Prophet Muhammad by name is found in Prati
Sarg Parv III: 3, 3, Verse 5.
Before the English translation is presented, a note on the word Malechha
that appears in the first part of verse 5 is in order. The word Malechha
means a man belonging to a foreign country and speaking foreign
language. This word is now used to degrade people meaning unclean or
even worse. Its usage varies and depends on who is using it and for
whom. Sir William Jones had great difficulty in recruiting a Pundit to
teach him Sanskrit because he was considered unclean (Malechha). It was
only after the direct intervention of Maharaja (King) Shiv Chandra that
Pundit Ram Lochna agreed to teach him Sanskrit.
It is not known when this word began to be used in the derogatory sense,
whether before the advent of Prophet Muhammad (s), after the conversion
of Hindu King Chakrawati Farmas (of Malabar,
located on the southwest coast of India) to Islam during the lifetime of
the Prophet, soon after the arrival of Muslims in India (711 CE) or
sometime later. Mahrishi Vyasa, the compiler of the Puranas, has defined
a wise Malechha as “a man of good actions, sharp intellect, spiritual
eminence, and showing reverence to the deity (God).
Many Sanskrit words have borrowed from Arabic and Hebrew with a slight
change as was shown in the examples of Brahma, Saraswati and Manu, and
as indicated in Table 2 below. It appears that this word is derived from
the Hebrew word Ma-Hekha (), which means thy brethren (e.g., And he
(Ishmael) shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. Genesis
16:12; i.e., Ismaelites are the brethren of the Israelites). In the
context of Biblical scriptures this word meant a descendant of Prophet
Ismail (Ishmael), and it is well known that Muhammad (s) is a descendant
of Prophet Ismail through his second son Kedar.
Those who can read Arabic Script can easily see that a mistake in
separating Ma from Hekha will produce a single word ‘Malhekha,’ and when
adapted in another tongue like Sanskrit might sound like Malechha.
The Sanskrit text and translation of Verse 5 of Bhavishya Puran, Prati
Sarg Parv III: 3, 3 are given below. (The boxed area in the Sanskrit
text identifies the word Mahamad or Mohammad).
A malechha (belonging to a foreign country and speaking foreign
language) spiritual teacher will appear with his companions. His name
will be Mahamad...
The translation of Verses 5-27 (Sanskrit text
of the Puranas, Prati Sarg Parv III: 3, 3) is presented below from the
work of Dr. Vidyarthi.
“A malechha (belonging to a foreign country and speaking foreign
language) spiritual teacher will appear with his companions. His name
will be Mahamad. Raja (Bhoj) after giving this Mahadev Arab (of angelic
disposition) a bath in the 'Panchgavya' and the Ganges water, (i.e.
purging him of all sins) offered him the presents of his sincere
devotion and showing him all reverence said, 'I make obeisance to thee.'
'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.'
“The Malechhas have spoiled the well-known land of the Arabs. Arya
Dharma is not to be found in that country. Before also there appeared a
misguided fiend whom I had killed [note: e.g., Abraha Al-Ashram, the
Abyssinian viceroy of Yemen, who attacked Mecca]; 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 (Mohammad), who
has been given by me the epithet of Brahma 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 a Pishacha said to Raja Bhoj, "O Raja! Your Arya Dharma has
been made to prevail over all religions, but according to the
commandments of ‘Ashwar Parmatma (God, Supreme Spirit), I shall enforce
the strong creed of the meat-eaters. My follower will be a man
circumcised, without a tail (on his head), keeping beard, creating a
revolution, announcing 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. Because of their fighting the irreligious nations, they will be
known as Musalmans (Muslims). I shall be the originator of this religion
of the meat-eating nation."
More Prophecies In Hindu Scriptures
The Vedas contain many prophecies about Prophet Muhammad. Some European
and Hindu translators of the Vedas have removed the name referring to
the Prophet, while others have tried to explain away the mantras
(verses) on his life events, Ka’bah, Makkah, Medinah, Arabia, and other
events using the terminology of the Hindus, such as purification
rituals, and lands and rivers in India. Some mantras containing
prophecies are inter-mixed with explanatory phrases, and it may be that
these were commentaries and explanatory notes on the prophecies, which
later became a part of the prophecy.
Several prophecies are found in Atharva Veda: (1) XX: 21, Mantras 6, 7,
and 9, (2) XX: 137, Mantras 7 through 9, and (3) X: 2, Mantras 26, 27,
29, 30, and 32. Similarly, in Rig Veda, additional prophecies are found
in: (1) VII: 96, Mantras 13 through 16, and (2) I: 53, Mantras 6 and 9.
Finally, a prophecy is found in Sama Veda III: 10, Mantra 1. These are a
sample of many prophecies. The serious reader may want to refer to
scholarly work of Dr. A.H. Vidyarthi, entitled “Mohammad in World
Scriptures,” 1990. This book explains the Hindu terminology used in the
Mantras and the meaning and usage of certain words and phrases from
within the Vedas and other Hindu Scriptures.
More in the E-book
No
Compulsion In Religion
Qur'an 2:256
There is no compulsion in religion.
The right direction is henceforth distinct from error.
And he who rejecteth false deities and believeth in Allah hath grasped a
firm handhold which will never break.
Allah is Hearer, Knower.
Allah: Allah is the proper name of the One True God, creator and
sustainer of the universe, who does not have a partner or associate, and
He did not beget nor was He begotten. The word Allah
is used by the Arab Christians and Jews for The God (Eloh-im in Hebrew;
'Allaha' in Aramaic, the mother tongue of Jesus). The word Allah does
not have a plural or gender.
pbuh: Peace Be Upon Him. This expression is used for all
Prophets of Allah. Abreviations derived from
Arabic words are (s) and (as).
ra: Radiallahu Anhu (May Allah be pleased with him).
References:
1. Abdul Haq Vidyarthi, "Muhammad in World Scriptures," Adam Publishers,
1990. (includes chapters on Zoroastrian and Hindu Scriptures)
2. A.H.Vidyarthi and U. Ali, "Muhammad in Parsi, Hindu & Buddhist
Scriptures," IB. |