By: Dr.Z.Haq
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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 spoke 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
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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
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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 wellknown
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
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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.
Table 2
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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.’
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“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.
No Compulsion in Religion
Qur’an 2:256
There is no compulsion in religion.
The right direction is henceforth distinct from error.
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And he who rejects the 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.
Abbreviations 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)
- 1. 2. A.H.Vidyarthi and U. Ali, “Muhammad in Parsi, Hindu & Buddhist Scriptures,” IB.
