[10 References] Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in Buddhism (Buddhist Scriptures and Religious Books)

PROPHET MUHAMMAD (ﷺ) in Buddhism (Buddhist RELIGIOUS BOOKS)

Buddhism is a faith that was founded by Siddhartha Gautama (“the Buddha”) more than 2,500 years ago in India. There are many prophecies about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the religious books of Buddhism, which are as follow:

    1: Cakkavatti Singhnad Suttanta

Cakkavatti Singhnad 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.

    2: Sacred Books of the East

Sacred Books of the East: Vol 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.

    3: Gospel of Buddha      

Gospel of Buddha: Pg 217-218

According to the Gospel of Buddha by Carus pg. 217 and 218 (From Ceylon sources) :

Ananda said to the Blessed One, Who will teach us when you are 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''.

Explanation: 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".

    4: Maha Parinibbana Sutta 

Maha Parinibbana Sutta: Chp 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.

Explanation: Muhammad (PBUH) on the commandment of Almighty God delivered the message and doctrine without making any distinction between esoteric and exoteric. The Qur'ân 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.

    5: Sacred Books of the East

Sacred Books of the East: Vol 11, Pg 36

The previous prophiece in ''Maha Parinibbana Sutta: Chapter 2, Verse 32'' word by word again repeats here as follow:

'' 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 ''.

Explanation: Muhammad (pbuh) on the commandment of Almighty God delivered the message and doctrine without making any distinction between esoteric and exoteric. The Qur'ân 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

    6: Maha Parinibbana Sutta

Maha Parinibbana Sutta: Chp 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 ".

Explanation: 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 Muhammad 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.

1) 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. 

2) Even during the battle of Hunain 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.a) can surely be compared with Ananda who stood by Gautam Buddha when the mad elephant approached him.

    7: Sacred Books of the East

Sacred Books of the East: Vol 11, Pg 97

The previous prophiece in ''Maha Parinibbana Sutta: Chapter 5, Verse 36'' word by word again repeats here as follow:

"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".

Explanation: 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 Muhammad 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.

1) 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. 

2) Even during the battle of Hunain 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.a) can surely be compared with Ananda who stood by Gautam Buddha when the mad elephant approached him.

    8: Gospel of Buddha

Gospel of Buddha: Page 214

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. 

1) A Buddha attains supreme and perfect insight at night-time.  

2) On the occasion of his complete enlightenment he looks exceedingly bright  

3) A Buddha dies a natural death.  

4) He dies at night-time. 

5) He looks exceedingly bright before his death.

6) After his death a Buddha ceases to exist on earth.

Answers to these 6 questions.

1) According to Surah Dukhan: "By the books that makes thing clear ? We sent it down during a blessed night." [Al-Qur'ân 44:2-3]

According to Surah Al-Qadar: "We have indeed revealed this (message) in the night of power." [Al-Qur'ân 97:1]

2) Muhammad (pbuh) instantly felt his understanding illumined with celestial light.

3) Muhammad (pbuh) died a natural death.

4) According to Ayesha (r.a), Muhammad (pbuh) died 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.

5) According to Anas (r.a.), Muhammad (pbuh) looked exceedingly bright in the night of his death.

6) After the burial of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) he was never seen again in his bodily form on this earth.

    9: Sacred Books of the East

Sacred Books of the East: Vol 10, Pg 68

" The Tathagatas (Buddhas) are only Preachers ".

The Qur'ân 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'ân 88:21-22]

    10: Dhammapada 

Dhammapada: Mattaya Sutta, 151

Identification of Maitreya by Buddha:

The promised one will be:

1) Compassionate for the whole creation.

2) A messenger of peace, a peace-maker.

3) The most successful in the world.

The Maitreya as a Preacher of morals will be:

1) Truthful

2) Self-respecting

3) Gentle and noble

4) Not proud

5) As a king to creatures

6) An example to others in deeds and in words

So Alhamdulillah! All these criteria and identifications be fit no one but the last prophet, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

All these References are confirmed by Syed Faqeer Haider himself. If you have any questions or would like to know about any other topic, please let us know in the comment section below or Email us at bawatonishah@gmail.com

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