Muhammad's Conduct and Morals as Evidence of his Prophethood

The evidence of prophethood in Islam stands alone in this theme. Never before the advent of Muhammad, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, was the moral perfection an evidence of prophethood. Here are some reasons for that:

1. The Holy Qur’an praises the Prophet’s morals. The Almighty Allah says:

"And verily, you [O Muhammad] are on an exalted [standard of] character." (Qur’an, 68:4)

He mentions that the Prophet’s good morals and conduct made his companions gather around him. The Almighty Allah says:

"…And had you been severe and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about you…" (Qur’an 3:159)

2. The perfect character is a miracle, as many people try hard to achieve that but cannot.

3. The perfect morals necessitates truthfulness which in turn necessitates acceptance of speech, and since the most important element in prophethood is telling and accepting of the news, the perfect character is an evidence of Messengership.

4. In confirming the Prohet’s perfect morals and conduct there is a strong answer to the invective accusing the Prophet, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, of bad morals that made him unqualified to have the honour of Prophethood (according to accusers).

The Prophesy of Prophet Muhammad in Buddhist Scriptures

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):

Muhammad (pbuh) prophesised in Bhavishya Purana

According to Bhavishya Purana in the Prati Sarag

 Parv III Khand 3 Adhay 3 Shloka 5 to 8 :

"A malecha (belonging to a foreign country and speaking a foreign language) spiritual teacher will appear with his companions. His name will be Mohammad. Raja (Bhoj) after giving this Maha Dev Arab (of angelic disposition) a bath in the Panchgavya and the Ganga water (i.e. purifying him of all sins) offered him the present 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 malecha opponents."

The Prophecy clearly states:

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The name of the Prophet as Mohammad.

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He will belong to Arabia. The Sanskrit word Marusthal means a sandy track of land or a desert.

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Special mention is made of the companions of the Prophet, i.e. the Sahabas. No other Prophet had as many companions as Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

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He is referred as the pride of mankind (Parbatis nath). The Glorious Qur’an reconfirms this

"And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character" [Al-Qur'an 68:4]

"Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah, a beautiful pattern (of conduct)". [Al-Qur'an 33:21]

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He will kill the devil, i.e. abolish idol worship and all sorts of vices.

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The prophet will be protected against his enemies.

Some people may argue that Raja Bhoj mentioned in the prophecy lived in the 11th century C.E. 500 years after the advent of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and was the descendant in the 10th generation of Raja Shalivahan. These people fail to realise that there was not only one Raja of the name Bhoj. The Egyptian Monarchs were called as Pharaoh and the Roman Kings were known as Caesar, similarly the Indian Rajas were given the title of Bhoj. There were several Raj Bhoj who came before the one in 11th Century C.E.