Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in the Buddhist (Dr.Zakir Naik)

1. Buddha prophesised the advent of a Maitreya:

A) Almost all Buddhist books contain this 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, glorious at 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. I am now the

leader of hundreds, he will be the leader of thousands."

C) According to the Gospel of Buddha by 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 upon the 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, an incomparable leader of men, a

master of angels and mortals. He will reveal to you 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 proclaim a religious life, wholly

perfect and pure such as I now proclaim. His disciples will

number many thousands while mine number many hundreds.'

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 are mentioned in the Holy

Qur’an no less than 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 esoteric doctrine, for in respect of

truths, Ananda, the Tathagata has no such thing as the closed

fist of 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 volume 11 pg. 97 Maha-

Parinibbana Sutta Chapter 5 verse 36:

"Then the Blessed one addressed the brethren, 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 has been to me. And whosoever

brethren shall be the Arahat-Buddhas of the future, there shall

be servitors as devoted to those Blessed ones as 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...) was presented 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 great danger.

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 perfect insight, and in the night in which he

passes finally away in that ultra passing which leaves nothing

whatever of his earthly existence to remain.’ "

According to Gautam Buddha, following are the 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 at night-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 natural death.

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 his death.

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 one to 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 morals will 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".