The Prophet (SA) has said in a Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA) confirming his position as the seal of prophethood. “The similitude of the Prophets is that of a palace which is beautiful and perfect, except that the place of one brick is vacant. Whoever goes round it is struck by its beauty. However, he wonders why the place of one brick is empty. When I was sent, that empty place was filled and the building became complete. With me the line of the Messengers has been sealed.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Allah Almighty, has indeed confirmed this in the Quraan: “Rather, he is the Messenger of Allah and the seal of the Prophets.” (33:40)

As Muslims, we believe in Allah and we believe in the words of our beloved Nabi, Muhammad (SA). To deny the finality of prophethood to the Prophet (SA) is to commit an act of Kufr (disbelief). Together with this belief, we also believe that the advent of our Prophet (SA) was expressly foretold in all the sacred books of the former religions. The Holy Quraan informs:

“And when Allah made a covenant with the Prophets: ‘Take what I have given you from the book and wisdom, then an apostle comes to you verifying that which is with you, you must believe in him and you must aid him.’ He said: ‘Do you affirm and accept My covenant in this (matter)?’ They said: ‘We do affirm.” (3:80)

However, the matter may seem different when confronting our brothers and sisters of other faiths who may be adamant that the Prophet (SA) is not the last Prophet and that there is no information of the coming of such a Prophet in their scriptures.

While such claims are made and even with the passage of time upon those scriptures which brought about alterations by additions and deletions, yet there are verses and records which have survived referring to the Prophet Muhammad (SA).

Let’s consider some of these extracts from some of the ancient religions.

The Old Testament

There are many prophecies regarding the Holy Prophet (SA) in the Old and New Testaments. One such prophecy is in Deuteronomy  18 - 18.

“18. I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee [Moses], and I will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.”

a) “among their brethren” Brethren of Israelites (from Issac/Ishaq) are the Ishmaelites (from Ishmael). This verse excludes Jesus (AS) because he is an Israelite. It would fit the Prophet Muhammad (SA) because he is from the Ishmaelites, their brethren.

b)“like unto thee [Moses]” The likeness of Moses to the Prophet Muhammad is greater than that to Prophet Jesus (AS). Some comparisons are:

c)  “put my words in his mouth” The Quraan has been recited to the Prophet (SA) by Jibraeel (AS) exactly as Allah wanted it. The Prophet (SA) then recited the Quraan, beginning with: “In the Name of Allah the Beneficent Most Merciful”. This is unlike the many versions of the Bible which is ‘’According to..(different disciples)” and which has been inspired to Jesus (AS).

Another such prophesy in the Old Testament is found in Isaiah 21:7..

“And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels;...”

This here represents a vision by the Prophet Isaiah. In the original translation the word “rider” represents a closer translation than “chariot”. The interpretation of this vision is that there would be two restorers of true worship. The rider on the ass was in reference to Prophet Jesus:

“And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written.” (John 12:14)

He also made his entry into Jerusalem riding an ass. Who therefore is the rider on the camel? This is in reference to the Prophet of Arabia, Muhammad (SA).

In the New Testament

It has been prophesised in John 14:15.-

“If ye love me ye will keep my commandments. V. 16. And I pray the Father and He shall give you another Parakletos (comforter) that he may be with you forever...”

In John 16:7.-  “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the Comforter (Parakletos) will not come unto you, but if I go, I will send him unto you. v. 8 And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin and of righteousness and of Judgement. v. 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. v. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of Truth is come, he shall guide you into all the truth for he shall not speak from himself, but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak and he shall declare unto you  the things that are to come.”

These verses again point to the Prophet Muhammad (SA); his recitation of Quraan is from Allah and not of himself; the mission of the Prophet (SA) is until Qiyamah and he has given such information of the times to come, the last days and of the Hereafter which none before him (or after him) has disclosed  (or will disclose).

The word ‘Perikalutas’ rendered in English as ‘Comforter’ was not the one uttered by Jesus, but that it was ‘Parakletos’ meaning ‘illustrious’ or ‘renowned’ giving the meaning to the Arabic  word Ahmad. (Reference to Life of Mahomet – W.Muir.)

This statement is in conformity with the statement of Prophet Jesus (AS) in the Quraan: “And remember, Jesus, the son of Mary, said: ‘O Children of Israel! I am a messenger of Allah (sent) unto you, confirming the law (which came) before me, and giving glad tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad (praised one, illustrious).” (61:6)

In a narration this has also been confirmed in the Sahih of Imam Bukhari, from Jubayr bin Mut`im, who said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah say, I have names. I am Muhammad and Ahmad. I am Al-Mahi through whom Allah will eliminate disbelief. I am Al-Hashir who will be the first to be resurrected with the people being resurrected hereafter. I am also Al-`Aqib (i.e., there will be no Prophet after me).”

The Hindu Scriptures

In many Hindu scriptures too there are a number of prophecies of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SA). A few of these are in the Puranas.

5. “Just then an illiterate man with the epithet Teacher, Muhammad by name, came along with his companions. 6. Raja (Bhoja in a vision) to that Great Deva, the denizen of Arabia, purifying with the Ganges water and with the five things of cow offered sandal wood and pay worship to him. 7. O denizen of Arabia and Lord of the Holies to thee is my adoration. O, thou who hast found many ways and means to destroy all the devils of the world. 8. O pure one from among the illiterates, O sinless one, the spirit of truth and absolute master, to thee is my adoration. Accept me at thy feet.” (Bhavishya Purana Parv 3, Khand 3, Adhya 3, Shalok 5-8)

In another Original Sanskrit text it has been mentioned:

“O people, listen this emphatically! The man of Praise (Muhammad/Ahmad) will be raised among  the people....” (Atharva Veda, Kanda 20, Sukta 127, Mantra 1-3)

The name of the Prophet (SA) was mentioned and alluded to in these verses as well as his description of being unlettered/ illiterate. The Quraan describes the Prophet (SA) as being An-Nabiyyil Um-mi, meaning the unlettered Prophet.

The Parsi Religion

The Parsi religion is one of the oldest religions in the world, perhaps as old as, if not older than the Hindu religion. It has two collections of Scriptures – the Dasatir and the Zand Avasta. In the Dasatir, No.14, which is associated with the name of Sasanil, there is a very clear prophecy of the advent of the Prophet Muhammad (SA) being mentioned after a time of extreme disorder and demoralization in Persia.

“When the Persians should sink so low in morality, a man will be born in Arabia whose followers will upset their religion and everthing. The mighty stiff-necked ones of Persia will be overpowered. The house which was built (referring to Ka’ba) and in which many idols have been placed will be purged of idols, and people will say their prayers facing towards it. His followers will capture the town of Balkh and other big places round about. People will embroil with one another. The wise men of Persia and others will join his followers.”

Dear readers, even though these religions may have lost their true teachings and guidance, yet we see that the effects of these prophesises still penetrated their religion or so influenced their writers that it was mentioned in their books.

The Quraan mentions (13:7): “For every nation was sent a warner/guide (Prophet).”

The Prophets (AS) are brethren one to the other and the Bestower of prophethood and messengership is one - Allah. Therefore the heralding of the prince of both worlds, Muhammad (SA) was mentioned by many Prophets (AS) and nations from the past.

The law for all times is that the nations at any particular time must believe in Allah and that they should follow and adhere to the practices of the Prophet of their time.

Acknowledging the Prophet Muhammad as the last Prophet and as that Prophet who was foretold and prophesised in former religions means that belief and adherence is mandatory on such individuals. The Prophet Muhammad (SA) was sent as ‘Kaaffatal lin-naas’ – (His teaching) is sufficient for the entire people (and for all ways of life). Likewise he was sent as, ‘Rahmatal lil ‘aalameen’ – A mercy for the worlds. That is, his religion and his practices will continue to be a means of achieving the Rahmah – mercy of Allah until Qiyamah, so long as it is adopted and practiced with sincerity, and also that the world would not receive any other messengers after him. He was also ‘Khaataman-nabiy-yeen’ – the seal of the prophets. This means that the mission of the message of Islam lies in the hands of the believers after him to propagate it to the entire of mankind.

May Allah send His choicest blessings on the Prophet Muhammad (SA) and may He guide us and the whole of mankind to this way of life.

“Mohammad was of middle height, rather thin but broad shoulder, wide of chest, strong of bone and muscle. His head was fairly large, strongly developed. Dark hair, slightly curled, flowed in a dense mass almost to his shoulders; even in advanced age it was sprinkled with only about twenty grey hairs, produced by the agonies of his ‘Revelations’. His face was oval shaped, slightly tawny of colour. Fine long arched eye-brows were divided by a vein, which throbbed visibly in moments of passion. Great black restless eyes shone out from under long heavy eyelashes. His nose was large, slightly aquiline. His skin was clear and soft, his complexion ‘red and white.’ His hands were as ‘silk and satin’ even as those of a woman. His step was quick and elastic, yet firm as that of one who steps ‘from a high to a low place’. In turning his face, he would also turn his whole body. His whole gait and presence was mild and pensive. His laugh was rarely more than a smile.”

“In his habits he was extremely simple, although he bestowed great care on his person. His eating and drinking, his dress and his furniture retained, even when he had reached the fullness of power, their almost primitive nature. The only luxuries he indulged in were arms, which he highly prized, and a pair of yellow boots, a present from the Negus of Abyissinia Perfumes, however, he loved passionately, being most sensitive to smells. Strong drink he abhorred.”

“He was gifted with mighty powers of imagination, elevation of mind, delicacy and refinement of feeling. ‘He is more modest than a virgin behind her curtain.’ It was said of him. He was most indulgent to his inferiors, and would never allow his little servant to be scolded whatever he did. ‘Ten years’, said Anas (RA), his servant, ‘I was about (in companionship of) the Prophet (SA), and he never said as much as ‘uff’ to me.’ He was very affectionate towards his family. One of his sons died on his breast in the smoky house of the nurse, a blacksmith’s wife. He was fond of children; he would stop them in the streets and pat their little heads. He never struck anyone in his life. The worst expression he ever used in conversation was, ‘What has come to him? May his forehead become darkened with mud!’ When asked to curse someone he replied, ‘I have not been sent to curse, but to be a mercy to mankind.’ ‘He visited the sick, followed any bier he met, accepted the invitation of a slave to dinner, mended his own clothes, milked the goats, and waited upon himself’, relates summarily another tradition. He never first withdrew his hand out of another man’s palm, and turned not before the other had turned.

‘He was most faithful protector of those he protected, the sweetest and most agreeable in conversation. Those who saw him were suddenly filled with reverence; those who came near him loved him; they who described him would say, ‘I have never seen his like either before or after.’ He was of great taciturnity (untalkative), but when he spoke it was with emphasis and deliberation, and no one could forget what he said.”

(The speeches and Table-Talk of the Prophet Muhammad, by Stanley Lane-Poole, London 1882, Introduction, pp. 27 – 29.)

In this issue we continue to bring information regarding Multi-vitamins and other herbal products. More brands which contain gelatin and are NOT PERMISSIBLE:

• Pharmaton
• Usana
• Men’s Health formula
• One-a-day Men’s
• One-a-day Women’s

Other brands information:

• Nature’s way has a variety of products. Those containing gelatin contains beef and pork gelatin and are not permissible. Products which have “Vcap” in the label are permissible.
  
  
• Symmetry products contain no gelatin or alcohol. These products are permissible.
  
  
• High Lignan Flax Seed Oil liquid is permissible but the soft gels contain gelatin and are not permissible.

More information on herbal health products and multivitamins will be given in the next issue.

Part 2 - Energy drinks

Energy drinks are soft drinks which are advertised as being designed to provide more energy and restore alertness for the user. There are many brands of energy drinks on the market today. Most of them contain one or more of the following ingredients which are advertised as providing energy, alertness, better memory and good health.

• Taurine
• Royal Jelly
• Vitamin B
• Guarana
• Ginseng
• Ginkgo Biloba 
• Caffeine.

After investigations the following are some of the energy drinks which are permissible:

• Red Bull
• Monster
• XS
• Shark
• Bullpower
• Black Cat
• Pimp Juice

Please note that other brands are being checked whose names will be given in the next issue.

THE DARUL ULOOM

The Darul Uloom T&T is an Islamic institution disseminating primary to tertiary Islamic Studies and secondary academic education. We are a non-profit organization whose objective is to educate Muslims about the Sacred Deen of Allah.

To achieve this end the Darul Uloom offers many programmes and courses on a full-time and part-time basis for brothers and sisters separately.

In addition to these programmes, services such as Counseling, the issuing of Islamic legal opinions, and collection of Zakaah and Sadaqah are done at the Darul Uloom.

Through the Grace and Mercy of Allah (S.W.T) the Darul Uloom is able to conduct these various programmes and courses only through the kind and generous donations of the Muslim Community.

As a service to Islam you are humbly requested to contribute to these efforts as we strive together to establish the Deen of Allah (S.W.T).