The sanctity and reverence of the Puranas is admitted and recognised in all the authentic books of the Hindus. But in spite of this, some Pandits have today begun to reject these collections simply because they find in them numerous prophecies and vivid signs of the truth of the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh). Instead of having believed in the Prophet and thus obeying their great and Holy Rishis and realising the truth of their saying, these Pandits have thought it best to totally refuse credence to what the Puranas contain. But the Vedas have clearly testified to the truth of the Puranas and it is recorded that just as the Puranas were revealed from God, in like manner, the Puranas too were revealed by Him. Sometimes, however, it is pleaded that the present Puranas are not the same collection of which the Vedas speak, the real books having been lost. But this contention is not correct. It is possible and far from truth that all the Puranas which were so widely read and keenly studied, could have fallen in oblivion and totally wiped out from the surface of the earth, and the Vedas, which only a few could read and understand, remained intact upto this time.

It is further said that these prophecies were added to the Puranas at a later date. But this too is a baseless argument. Such a well-known book, having a vast circulation, and also being read at appointed times in the prayers, cannot be easily tempered with. Seeing clear prophecies of the Arabian Prophet in their books, the Pandits began to clamour that the Puranas were corrupted. Moreover, it is nonsensical to think that all the Pandits and the learned divines of the Hindus could have assembled at some place and added these prophecies to the Puranas. There are at the same time, so many sects among the Brahmans and each sect is strongly opposed to the other, so it was impossible for them to agree to such a change. A copy of the Puranas will be found in almost every Brahman's house, and it is really strange that so far the world has not seen any collection without these prophecies. And the most ridiculous thing is that the corruption is said to have been made in favour of the Prophet and against their own religion. It was just impossible to add something against something against these prophecies or to change the text, but it is simply absurd to think that the Hindu Pandits added something against their own religion and conviction. Thus, we appeal to our Hindu brethren to give serious consideration to this question.

The following article contains two extracts from the book "Muhammad in World Scripture", published by Adam Publishers of Dheli:

The Hindus have been very well-known for hero-worship. This trait of their character, as a matter of fact, forms part of their religion. Maharishi Vyasa is greatly esteemed among the Hindus as a great rishi and learned Divine, He was a very pious, God-fearing and pure-hearted man. He was the man who arranged the Vedas under various heads. He also wrote a valuable book under mysticism. The Gita and the Maha Bharata too were the productions of his masterly pen. But his greatest compilation is the 18 volumes of the Puranas. Chief among the Puranas is the book known as "Bhavishya Puran", in which the Maharishi makes a wonderful survey of the future events. The Hindus regard it as the Word of God like the other Vedas. Mahirishi Vyasa was just the compiler of the book, the real author believed by some being God himself. From the copy of the Bhavishya Puran, printed at the Venketeshwar Press at Bombay, we quote the following clear prophecies about the Holy Prophet in Sholokas 10-27:

    "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 friend whom I 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), who has been given by the epithet of Brahma, is busy in bringing the 'Pishachas' to the right path. O Raja! You need to 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 Ishwar Parmatma, 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 Adzan (call for prayer) and will be eating all lawful things, He will eat all sort 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 the Musalmans (Hindi/Urdu: Muslims). I shall be the originator of the religion - meat-eating nation,"

In this prophecy Vyasaji has enumerated numerous signs of the advent of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him). Prominent among these are the following

1. The land of the Arabs has been corrupted by evil-doers.
2. Arya Dharma is not to be found in that land.
3. The present enemies will perish just as the former enemies like Abraha and others had perished.
4. In order to guide these opponents of truth, Mohammad has been given By Allah the epithet of 'Brahma', and he is busy in the construction of his nation.
5. The Indian Raja is afraid of going to the land of the Arabs. His purification, however will take place in India when the Musalmans will arrive here.
6. The coming prophet will attest the truth of the Aryan faith and will reform these misguided people.
7. The followers of the Prophet will be circumcised, will keep beard, will not keep a tail (like the Hindus or Sikhs), and their leader will create a great revolution.
8. There will be no secrecy in the religion and the call to prayer (Adzan) will be raised from the minarets of every mosque.
9. The flesh of swine will be unlawful to them, the rest of the eating animals being lawful.
10. The Hindus use a kind of grass for purification, but these people will be purified by means of sword.
11. They will be known as Musalmans on account of their fighting the irreligious people.
12. And this religion of the meat-eaters will be Divine cult.

It is related in this prophecy that the Holy Prophet will verify the truth of the Aryan faith and also that the Arya Dharma will predominate over all other religions. A question arises here that if Arya Dharma was the best of all faiths and was to prevail over the rest, what need there was of giving the world a new faith of Islam? But the reply to this is, that the Aryan religion, when it was revealed, was of course the best for the Aryan people and it did predominate over other religions. But by and by it got corrupted and hence the need for Islam. Maharishi Vyasa himself has described the condition of this religion at the time of the Prophet's appearance. He has given a true picture of the so-called 'malechha dharma' (Islam) and the Aryan faith. Says he:- "Corruption and persecution are the order of the day in the sacred cities of Kashi, etc. India is inhabited by Rakhsas, Shabar, Bhil, and other foolish people. In the land of 'Malechhas,' the followers of the 'malechha dharma (Islam) are wise and brave people. All good qualities are found in the Musalmans and all sorts of vices have accumulated in the land of the Aryas. Islam will rule in India and its islands. Having known these facts O Muni, glorify the name of thy Lord."

    In the above Shalokas, the word 'malechha' has been used again and again, apparently in different including in bad sense. Mahrishi Vyasa has defined it as: "A man of good actions, sharp intellect, spiritual eminence, showing reverence to the deities, is known as a wise 'malechha.' 
    Thus, when the Arya Dharma was reduced to a jumble of vices and was totally corrupted disconcerted, was it not essential that some Brahma should have appeared in Arabia to reform the Arabs as well as the Aryan people? So did actually happen as Mahrishi Vyasa had foretold. Let the Aryan people, therefore, obey their Rishi and glorify the name of the Lord on the appearance of the Prophet Muhammad the Saviour of the world.

We find the following prophecy in the Pranti Sarag Parv III : 3. 3. 5-8.

Below we give the English translation of the prophetic words:

"A malechha (belonging to a foreign country and speaking a foreign language) spiritual leader will appear with his companions. His name will be Muhammad. Raja (Bhoj) after giving this Maha Dev 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 maleccha opponents.' 'O Ye! The image of the Most Pious God and biggest Lord, I am a stave of thee, take me as one lying on thy feet.'"

In the eulogy of the Holy Prophet Maharishi Vyasa has enumerated the following points:

(1) The name of the Prophet is clearly stated as Muhammad. (2) He is said to be belonging to Arabia. The Sanskrit word 'marusthal' used in the prophecy means a sandy tract of land or a desert. (3) Special mention is made of the companions of the Prophet. There has hardly been any other Prophet in the world who had such a host of companions all resembling him. (4) He will be immune from sins, having an angelic disposition. (5) The Raja of India will show him his heart-felt reverence. (6) The Prophet will be given protection against his enemies. (7) He will kill the devil, root out idol-worship and will do away with all sorts of vices. (8) He will be an image of the All-Powerful God. (9) The Maharishi claims to be lying at his feet. (10) He will be regarded a pride of mankind (Parbatis Nath).

This prophecy is as clear as daylight, there being no shadow of doubt as to its application to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Some people, however, have raised an objection that the raja of whom this prophecy makes mention as Bhoj who lived in the 11th Century A.D. and the descendant of the tenth generation of Raja Shalivahan. But names in prophecy do not matter much as I have explained in another chapter. Names are also given as a prophecy and often these names have to be given an interpretation. Moreover, there was not one raja of the name Bhoj. Just as the Egyptian Monarchs were known as Pharaohs and the Roman kings were known as Kaisers, similarly the Indian rajas were given the epithet of Bhoj. Several rajas who lived before the above-mentioned Raja Bhoj had the same kingly name. We find a mention of Raja Bhoj made in the old Sanskrit book, 'Aitarya Brahmana' (Panthka VIII:12 and XIV:17). Similarly, Panni, who was a renowned grammarian of Sanskrit and lived long before Islam, also refers to Bhoj, his cities and his offsprings, (Adhya, 1,075). Besides, the prophecy gives clearly the name of the prophet as Muhammad which shows that it applies to none other than but the Prophet of Islam.

    Another point which requires elucidation is the Prophet's taking bath in the 'Panchgavya' and the water of the Ganges. This did not, of course, actually happen as it was only a vision; so we give it the interpretation that the Prophet will be purged of and made immune from all sorts of sins. These waters are considered to be very holy and sacred and they make people sinless, just as the water of the river Jordan is sacred to the Christians and that of Zamzam (in Makka) to the Muslims.

    We have, thus, seen what Brahmaji (God) revealed and what Vyasaji told the world. The Mahrishi has regarded the Holy Prophet as absolutely pious and sinless and showing his true loyalty and reverence to him. Should we not appeal, in the light of the above facts, to our Hindu Brethren, who believe in these Divine Scriptures and deify their religious leaders to ponder over what Mahrishi Vyasa has said about the Prophet and believing in the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to obey the commandments of Brahma and to fulfill the heart-felt desire of the Mahrishi?

Reference:

Extracted from "Sirat Ul Muslim TAHARA EDITION" (Printed by Dar-Ul-Uloom Al-Islamia Ghamkolvia, 107-113 Golden Hillock Road, Small Heath, Birmingham B10 0DP, UK)


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