Monday, February 3, 2014

Da'wah: Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and the Idols Ibrahi...

Da'wah: Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and the Idols


Ibrahi...
: Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and the Idols Ibrahim [Abraham] (pbuh) was one of the Greatest and Mightiest Messenger of God Almighty. He wa...

Da'wah: Concept of God in Hindu Scriptures Do not worship...

Da'wah: Concept of God in Hindu Scriptures

Do not worship...
: Concept of God in Hindu Scriptures Do not worship anybody but Him, the Divine One, Praise Him alone (Rigveda 8:1:1) (Rigveda Samhiti Vol....

Thursday, October 4, 2012

::MHAMMAD(PBUH) IN BUDDHIST SCRIPTURES:: PART: 2.

ii) Even during the battle of Honain when the Prophet was surrounded by the enemies who were archers, Anas (r.a...) who was only 16 years old stood by the Prophet. Anas (R) can surely be compared with Ananda who stood by Gautam Buddha when the mad elephant approached him. 4. Six Criteria for Identifying Buddha: According to the Gospel of Buddha by Carus pg. 214: "The Blessed one said, ‘There are two occasions on which a Tathagata’s appearance becomes clear and exceedingly bright. In the night Ananda, in which a Tathagata attains to the supreme and perfectinsight, and in the night in which he passes finally away in that ultra passing which leavesnothing whatever of his earthly existence to remain.’ " According to Gautam Buddha, following arethe six criteria for identifying a Buddha. i) A Buddha attains supreme and perfect insight at night-time. ii) On the occasion of his complete enlightenment he looks exceedingly bright iii) A Buddha dies a natural death. iv) He dies at night-time. v) He looks exceedingly bright before his death. vi) After his death a Buddha ceases to exist on earth. i) Muhammad (pbuh) attained supreme insight and Prophethood atnight-time. According to Surah Dukhan: "By the books that makes thing clear– We sent it down during a blessed night." [Al-Qur'an 44:2-3] According to Surah Al-Qadar: "We have indeed revealed this (message) in the night of power." [Al-Qur'an 97:1] ii) Muhammad (pbuh) instantly felt his understanding illumined with celestial light. iii) Muhammad (pbuh) died a naturaldeath. iv) According to Ayesha (r.a.), Muhammad (pbuh) expired at night-time. When he was dying there was no oil in the lamp and his wife Ayesha (r.a.) had to borrow oil for the lamp. v) According to Anas (r.a.), Muhammad (pbuh)looked exceedingly bright in the night of hisdeath. vi) After the burial of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) he was never seen again in his bodily form on this earth. 5. Buddhas are only Preachers: According to Dhammapada, Sacred Books of East volume 10 pg., 67: "The Jathagatas (Buddhas) are only Preachers." The Qur’an says in Surah Ghashiya: "Therefore do thou give admonition,for thou art one to admonish. Thou art not oneto manage (men's) affairs." [Al-Qur'an 88:21-22] 6. Identification of Maitreya by Buddha: According to Dhammapada, Mattaya Sutta, 151: "The promised one will be: i) Compassionate for the whole creation ii) A messenger of peace, a peace-maker iii) The most successful in the world. The Maitreya as a Preacher of moralswill be: i) Truthful ii) Self-respecting iii) Gentle and noble iv) Not proud v) As a king to creatures vi) An example to others in deeds and in words".

::MUHAMMAD (PBUH) IN BUDDHIST SCRIPTURES::

1. Buddha prophesised the advent of a Maitreya: A) Almost all Buddhist books containthis prophecy. It is in Chakkavatti Sinhnad Suttanta D. III, 76: "There will arise in the world a Buddha named Maitreya (the benevolent one) a holy one, a supreme one, an enlightened one, endowed with wisdom in conduct, auspicious, knowing the universe: "What he has realized by his own supernatural knowledge he will publish to this universe. He will preach his religion, glorious in its origin, glorious at its climax, gloriousat the goal, in the spirit and the letter. He will proclaim a religious life, wholly perfect and thoroughly pure; even as I now preach my religion and a like life do proclaim.He will keep up the society of monks numbering many thousands, even as now I keep up a society of monks numbering many hundreds". B) According to Sacred Books of the East volume 35 pg. 225: "It is said that I am not an only Buddha upon whom the leadership and order is dependent. After me another Buddha maitreya of such and such virtues will come. Iam nowthe leader of hundreds, he will be the leader of thousands." C) According to the Gospel of Buddhaby Carus pg. 217 and 218 (From Ceylon sources): "Ananda said to the Blessed One, ‘Who shall teach us when thou art gone?' And the Blessed one replied, 'I am not the first Buddha who came uponthe earth nor shall I be the last. In due time another Buddha will arise in the world, a holy one, a supremely enlightened one, endowed with wisdom in conduct, auspicious, knowing the universe, anincomparable leader of men, a master of angels and mortals. He will reveal toyou the same eternal truths, which I have taught you. He will preach his religion, glorious in its origin, glorious at the climax and glorious at the goal. He will proclaima religious life, wholly perfect and pure such as I now proclaim. His disciples will number many thousands while mine number manyhundreds.' Ananda said, 'How shall we know him?' The Blessed one replied, 'He will be known as Maitreya'." (i) The Sanskrit word ‘Maitreya’ or its equivalent in Pali ‘Metteyya’ means loving, compassionate, merciful and benevolent. It also means kindness and friendliness, sympathy, etc. One Arabic word which is equivalent to all these words is ‘Rahmat’. In Surah Al-Anbiya: "We sent thee not, but as a mercy for all creatures." [Al-Qur’an 21:107] Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was called the merciful, which is ‘Maitri’. (ii) The words Mercy and Merciful arementioned in the Holy Qur’an no lessthan 409 times. (iii) Every chapter of the Glorious Qur’an, except Chapter 9, i.e. Surah Taubah begins with the beautiful formula, 'Bismillah Hir-Rahman Nir-Rahim', which means 'In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful'. (iv) The Word Muhammad is also spelt as ‘Mahamet’ or ‘Mahomet’ and in various other ways in different languages. The word ‘Maho’or ‘Maha’in Pali and Sanskrit mean Great and Illustrious and ‘Metta’ means mercy. Therefore ‘Mahomet’ means ‘Great Mercy’. 2. Buddha’s doctrine was Esoteric and Exoteric: According to Sacred Books of the East, volume 11, pg. 36 Maha-Parinibbana Sutta chapter 2 verse 32: "I have preached the truth without making any distinction between exoteric and esotericdoctrine, for in respect of truths, Ananda, the Tathagata has no such thing as the closed fistof a teacher, who keeps something back". Muhammad (pbuh) on the commandment of Almighty God delivered the message and doctrine without making any distinction between esoteric and exoteric. The Qur'an was recited in public in the days of the Prophet and is being done so till date. The Prophet had strictly forbidden the Muslims from hiding the doctrine 3. Devoted Servitors of the Buddhas: According to Sacred Books of the East volume11 pg. 97 Maha-Parinibbana Sutta Chapter 5 verse 36: "Then the Blessed one addressed thebrethren, and said, ‘Whosoever, brethren have been Arahat-Buddhas through the long ages of the past, they were servitors just as devoted to those Blessed ones as Ananda hasbeen to me. And whosoever brethren shall bethe Arahat-Buddhasof the future, there shall be servitors as devoted to those Blessed onesas Ananda has been to me’." The Servitor of Buddha was Ananda. Muhammad (pbuh) also had a servitor by the name Anas (r.a.) who was the son of Malik. Anas (r.a...) waspresented to the Prophet by his parents. Anas (r.a...) relates: "My mother said to him, 'Oh Messenger of God, here is your little servant'." Further Anas relates, "I served him from the time I was 8 years old and the Prophet called me his son and his little beloved". Anas (r.a...) stayed by the Prophet in peace and in war, in safety as well as in danger till the end of his life. i) Anas (r.a.), even though he was only 11 years old stayed beside the Prophet during the battle of Uhud where the Prophet’s life was in greatdanger. See Next post....

::MUHAMMAD (PBUH) IN BUDDHIST SCRIPTURES::

1. Buddha prophesised the advent of a Maitreya: A) Almost all Buddhist books containthis prophecy. It is in Chakkavatti Sinhnad Suttanta D. III, 76: "There will arise in the world a Buddha named Maitreya (the benevolent one) a holy one, a supreme one, an enlightened one, endowed with wisdom in conduct, auspicious, knowing the universe: "What he has realized by his own supernatural knowledge he will publish to this universe. He will preach his religion, glorious in its origin, glorious at its climax, gloriousat the goal, in the spirit and the letter. He will proclaim a religious life, wholly perfect and thoroughly pure; even as I now preach my religion and a like life do proclaim.He will keep up the society of monks numbering many thousands, even as now I keep up a society of monks numbering many hundreds". B) According to Sacred Books of the East volume 35 pg. 225: "It is said that I am not an only Buddha upon whom the leadership and order is dependent. After me another Buddha maitreya of such and such virtues will come. Iam nowthe leader of hundreds, he will be the leader of thousands." C) According to the Gospel of Buddhaby Carus pg. 217 and 218 (From Ceylon sources): "Ananda said to the Blessed One, ‘Who shall teach us when thou art gone?' And the Blessed one replied, 'I am not the first Buddha who came uponthe earth nor shall I be the last. In due time another Buddha will arise in the world, a holy one, a supremely enlightened one, endowed with wisdom in conduct, auspicious, knowing the universe, anincomparable leader of men, a master of angels and mortals. He will reveal toyou the same eternal truths, which I have taught you. He will preach his religion, glorious in its origin, glorious at the climax and glorious at the goal. He will proclaima religious life, wholly perfect and pure such as I now proclaim. His disciples will number many thousands while mine number manyhundreds.' Ananda said, 'How shall we know him?' The Blessed one replied, 'He will be known as Maitreya'." (i) The Sanskrit word ‘Maitreya’ or its equivalent in Pali ‘Metteyya’ means loving, compassionate, merciful and benevolent. It also means kindness and friendliness, sympathy, etc. One Arabic word which is equivalent to all these words is ‘Rahmat’. In Surah Al-Anbiya: "We sent thee not, but as a mercy for all creatures." [Al-Qur’an 21:107] Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was called the merciful, which is ‘Maitri’. (ii) The words Mercy and Merciful arementioned in the Holy Qur’an no lessthan 409 times. (iii) Every chapter of the Glorious Qur’an, except Chapter 9, i.e. Surah Taubah begins with the beautiful formula, 'Bismillah Hir-Rahman Nir-Rahim', which means 'In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful'. (iv) The Word Muhammad is also spelt as ‘Mahamet’ or ‘Mahomet’ and in various other ways in different languages. The word ‘Maho’or ‘Maha’in Pali and Sanskrit mean Great and Illustrious and ‘Metta’ means mercy. Therefore ‘Mahomet’ means ‘Great Mercy’. 2. Buddha’s doctrine was Esoteric and Exoteric: According to Sacred Books of the East, volume 11, pg. 36 Maha-Parinibbana Sutta chapter 2 verse 32: "I have preached the truth without making any distinction between exoteric and esotericdoctrine, for in respect of truths, Ananda, the Tathagata has no such thing as the closed fistof a teacher, who keeps something back". Muhammad (pbuh) on the commandment of Almighty God delivered the message and doctrine without making any distinction between esoteric and exoteric. The Qur'an was recited in public in the days of the Prophet and is being done so till date. The Prophet had strictly forbidden the Muslims from hiding the doctrine 3. Devoted Servitors of the Buddhas: According to Sacred Books of the East volume11 pg. 97 Maha-Parinibbana Sutta Chapter 5 verse 36: "Then the Blessed one addressed thebrethren, and said, ‘Whosoever, brethren have been Arahat-Buddhas through the long ages of the past, they were servitors just as devoted to those Blessed ones as Ananda hasbeen to me. And whosoever brethren shall bethe Arahat-Buddhasof the future, there shall be servitors as devoted to those Blessed onesas Ananda has been to me’." The Servitor of Buddha was Ananda. Muhammad (pbuh) also had a servitor by the name Anas (r.a.) who was the son of Malik. Anas (r.a...) waspresented to the Prophet by his parents. Anas (r.a...) relates: "My mother said to him, 'Oh Messenger of God, here is your little servant'." Further Anas relates, "I served him from the time I was 8 years old and the Prophet called me his son and his little beloved". Anas (r.a...) stayed by the Prophet in peace and in war, in safety as well as in danger till the end of his life. i) Anas (r.a.), even though he was only 11 years old stayed beside the Prophet during the battle of Uhud where the Prophet’s life was in greatdanger. See Next post....

::MUHAMMAD (PBUH) IN BUDDHIST SCRIPTURES::

1. Buddha prophesised the advent of a Maitreya: A) Almost all Buddhist books containthis prophecy. It is in Chakkavatti Sinhnad Suttanta D. III, 76: "There will arise in the world a Buddha named Maitreya (the benevolent one) a holy one, a supreme one, an enlightened one, endowed with wisdom in conduct, auspicious, knowing the universe: "What he has realized by his own supernatural knowledge he will publish to this universe. He will preach his religion, glorious in its origin, glorious at its climax, gloriousat the goal, in the spirit and the letter. He will proclaim a religious life, wholly perfect and thoroughly pure; even as I now preach my religion and a like life do proclaim.He will keep up the society of monks numbering many thousands, even as now I keep up a society of monks numbering many hundreds". B) According to Sacred Books of the East volume 35 pg. 225: "It is said that I am not an only Buddha upon whom the leadership and order is dependent. After me another Buddha maitreya of such and such virtues will come. Iam nowthe leader of hundreds, he will be the leader of thousands." C) According to the Gospel of Buddhaby Carus pg. 217 and 218 (From Ceylon sources): "Ananda said to the Blessed One, ‘Who shall teach us when thou art gone?' And the Blessed one replied, 'I am not the first Buddha who came uponthe earth nor shall I be the last. In due time another Buddha will arise in the world, a holy one, a supremely enlightened one, endowed with wisdom in conduct, auspicious, knowing the universe, anincomparable leader of men, a master of angels and mortals. He will reveal toyou the same eternal truths, which I have taught you. He will preach his religion, glorious in its origin, glorious at the climax and glorious at the goal. He will proclaima religious life, wholly perfect and pure such as I now proclaim. His disciples will number many thousands while mine number manyhundreds.' Ananda said, 'How shall we know him?' The Blessed one replied, 'He will be known as Maitreya'." (i) The Sanskrit word ‘Maitreya’ or its equivalent in Pali ‘Metteyya’ means loving, compassionate, merciful and benevolent. It also means kindness and friendliness, sympathy, etc. One Arabic word which is equivalent to all these words is ‘Rahmat’. In Surah Al-Anbiya: "We sent thee not, but as a mercy for all creatures." [Al-Qur’an 21:107] Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was called the merciful, which is ‘Maitri’. (ii) The words Mercy and Merciful arementioned in the Holy Qur’an no lessthan 409 times. (iii) Every chapter of the Glorious Qur’an, except Chapter 9, i.e. Surah Taubah begins with the beautiful formula, 'Bismillah Hir-Rahman Nir-Rahim', which means 'In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful'. (iv) The Word Muhammad is also spelt as ‘Mahamet’ or ‘Mahomet’ and in various other ways in different languages. The word ‘Maho’or ‘Maha’in Pali and Sanskrit mean Great and Illustrious and ‘Metta’ means mercy. Therefore ‘Mahomet’ means ‘Great Mercy’. 2. Buddha’s doctrine was Esoteric and Exoteric: According to Sacred Books of the East, volume 11, pg. 36 Maha-Parinibbana Sutta chapter 2 verse 32: "I have preached the truth without making any distinction between exoteric and esotericdoctrine, for in respect of truths, Ananda, the Tathagata has no such thing as the closed fistof a teacher, who keeps something back". Muhammad (pbuh) on the commandment of Almighty God delivered the message and doctrine without making any distinction between esoteric and exoteric. The Qur'an was recited in public in the days of the Prophet and is being done so till date. The Prophet had strictly forbidden the Muslims from hiding the doctrine 3. Devoted Servitors of the Buddhas: According to Sacred Books of the East volume11 pg. 97 Maha-Parinibbana Sutta Chapter 5 verse 36: "Then the Blessed one addressed thebrethren, and said, ‘Whosoever, brethren have been Arahat-Buddhas through the long ages of the past, they were servitors just as devoted to those Blessed ones as Ananda hasbeen to me. And whosoever brethren shall bethe Arahat-Buddhasof the future, there shall be servitors as devoted to those Blessed onesas Ananda has been to me’." The Servitor of Buddha was Ananda. Muhammad (pbuh) also had a servitor by the name Anas (r.a.) who was the son of Malik. Anas (r.a...) waspresented to the Prophet by his parents. Anas (r.a...) relates: "My mother said to him, 'Oh Messenger of God, here is your little servant'." Further Anas relates, "I served him from the time I was 8 years old and the Prophet called me his son and his little beloved". Anas (r.a...) stayed by the Prophet in peace and in war, in safety as well as in danger till the end of his life. i) Anas (r.a.), even though he was only 11 years old stayed beside the Prophet during the battle of Uhud where the Prophet’s life was in greatdanger. See Next post....

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Muhammad(pbuh) in Zoroastrianism::

MUHAMMED (PBUH) IN THE PARSI SCRIPTURES:-

*. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in Zend Avesta
It is mentioned in Zend AvestaFarvardin Yasht chapter 28 verse 129
(Sacred Books of the East, volume 23, Zend Avesta Part IIpg. 220):
"Whose name will be the Victorious, Soeshyant and whose name will be Astvat-ereta. He will be Soeshyant (The Beneficent one) because he will benefit the whole bodilyworld. He will be Astvat-ereta (he who makes the people, bodily creatures rise up) because as a bodily creature and as a living being he will stand against the destruction of the bodily (being) creatures to withstandthe drug of the two footed brood, to withstand the evil done by the faithful (idolaters and thelike and the errors of the Mazdaynians)".
This Prophecy applies to no other person more perfectly than it does to Muhammad (pbuh):
The Prophet was not only victorious at Fatah Makkah but was also merciful when he let go the blood thirsty opponents by saying:
"There shall be no reproof against you this day".
Soeshyant means the ‘praised one’ (refer Haisting’s Encyclopedia), which translated in Arabic means Muhammad (pbuh).
Astvat-ereta is derived from the root word Astu which in Sanskrit as well as in Zend means ‘to praise’. The infinitive Sitaudan in present day Persian means praising. Itcan also be derived from the Persian root word istadan which would mean ‘one who makes a thing rise up’. Therefore Astvat-ereta meansthe one who praised, which is the exact translation of the Arabic word 'Ahmed' whichis another name for Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The Prophecy clearly mentionsboth the names of the Propheti.e. Muhammad (pbuh) and Ahmed (pbuh).
The Prophecy further says thathe will benefitthe whole bodily world and the Qur’an testifies this in Surah Al-Anbiya chapter 21 verse 107:
"We sent thee not, but as a mercy for all creatures."
[Al-Qur'an 21:107]
Sanctity of Prophet’s Companions:
In Zend Avesta Zamyad Yasht chapter 16 verse 95 (Sacred Books of the East, volume 23Zend Avesta Part II pg. 308):
"And there shall his friends come forward, the friends of Astvat-ereta, who are fiend-smitting, well thinking, well-speaking, well-doing, following the good law and whose tongues have never uttered a word offalsehood."
Here too Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is mentioned by name as Astvat-ereta.
There is also a mention of the Prophet’s friends as companions who will be fighting the evil; pious, holy men having good moral values and always speaking the truth. This is a clear reference to the Sahabas – theprophet's companions.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) inDasatir:
The sum and substance of the prophecy mentioned in Dasatir is, that when the Zoroastrian people will forsake their religion and will become dissolute, a man will rise in Arabia, whose followers will conquer Persian and subjugate the arrogant Persians. Instead of worshipping fire in their own temples, they will turn their faces in prayer towards Kaabaof Abraham (pbuh) which willbe cleared of all idols. They (the followers of the Arabian Prophet), will be a mercy untothe world. They will become masters of Persia, Madain, Tus,Balkh, the sacred places of theZoroastrians and the neighbouring territories. TheirProphet will be an eloquent man telling miraculous things.
This Prophecy relates to no other person but to Muhammad (pbuh).
Muhammad (pbuh) will be theLast Prophet:
It is mentioned in Bundahish chapter 30 verses 6 to 27 that Soeshyant will be the last Prophet implying that Muhammad (pbuh) willbe the last Prophet. The Qur’an testifies this in Surah Ahzab.
"Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but (he is)the Messenger of Allah, and the Seal of the Prophets: and Allah has full knowledge of allthings."
[Al-Qur'an 33:40]. By Dr. Zakir Naik