The one Promised by Prophets
All the guides for humanity told about the Divine Guides to come after them. Their predictions contained the signs and symptoms to this effect as was done by ‘Jeremiah’ and ‘Isaiah’ about Jesus Christ.
The Holy Prophet of Islam (P.B.U.H.) did not tell about any forthcoming Prophet. He, instead, declared that no prophet would succeed him. We therefore believe in the end of Prophethood. With this declaration, he did not declare the end of saint-hood or the Divine guidance but predicted the arrival of the Great Divine Guide who will come in the last age. This fact is proved by the Holy Quran and a lot of authentic Traditions bear upon it. It is further told that the said guide will fill the earth with justice, in the way it was previously full of injustice and tyranny. All the inhabitants of the earth and the heaven will be pleased with his arrival and human intellect will become perfect to the ideal extent.
Similarly, in all the revealed religions the arrival of the Greatest Divine Guide has been promised. The signs and symptoms, preceding his arrival, have also been told along with the specialties of that Guide. The reforms to be introduced by him have also been pointed out. We have been ordered to wait for him, to pray for him, and to assist him if we find his time.
The real motive behind this book is the pious personality. I think it is best that all the nations of the world, instead of going into details about his person, peculiarities, or religion, should make a combined prayer that God Almighty should send him soon. When he appears, we ought to obey and assist him. All strive and quarrels will end by his arrival. We, therefore, should postpone our scuffles till his arrival and mend our conduct and character according to our conscience and heavenly dictates. We should try to adorn our morality. Everyone should try to become a ‘good’ man according to his belief and should pray for the quick arrival of the ‘One Promised by Prophets’, so that the world may become a cradle of peace.
In every age every prophet used to predict a big Prophet among the coming Prophets, particularly about the one who was likely to face the hardest opposition. When we analyze the history of religions, we find that the victims of the severest criticism and opposition were only those Prophets who brought the Divine Statute. We see that in Samnite Prophets from Adam to Abraham there appears to be no strife. From Abraham to Moses there is a chain of worldly disputes and collisions between the Divine and devised religions but this is not the case among the revealed religions.
All the Prophets, even before Abraham, predicted the arrival of an International Leader and side-by-side told about the appointment of selected Prophets. The confusion arose from the point that followers of the predicting prophets assimilated the qualities of the International Leader and the forthcoming Prophets and thus confused two different personalities as one. This was the main cause that every Divine Guide had to face opposition. For example, it was well-known among the masses that the sons of Israel would be subjected to tyranny and a Deliverer (Moses) will come. It was the first prediction.
Another prophecy was that in the last age, total humanity will undergo cruelty and barbarism and a Universal Leader will arrange their deliverance. His reign will be a reign of perfect peace. The earth will unveil all the treasures therein etc. etc. Both the prophecies were mingled and the people demanded all the qualities of both from one Prophet. Since it was not possible, eventually their Prophethood was called to question.
The concept of the International Leader in the last age was current among the Pharaoh of Egypt (1). The norm for his recognition was:
- He will be a repository of heavenly and earthly powers;
- That he will make everybody rich with silver and gold.
Mr. David translated the predictions written on the walls of Pyramids. The date of Christ’s birth was written as the 4th of April, which has been accepted as correct by modern research. The year of the Holy Prophet’s appearance was also found written there. It was also written there that in the last age, the human race would be wiped out with deadly weapons and gunpowder. Only a small number of men will remain on the globe. Then a new era will start which will be headed by a Spiritual Leader. In the said book, the reason for the mummification of the dead bodies of Pharaohs has been also told. In their view, the last Spiritual Leader will restore to life all the dead persons and bring them under his rule.
They thought that until the body does not perish, the
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- I read an article in Science Digest in 1993 that contained information about the Pyramids of Egypt and Egyptian mythology. It told that in 1920 the writings on the Pyramids were deciphered. In 1927 Dr. David Davidson wrote a book called “The Great Pyramids and its DivineMessage.”
spirit accompanies it. If the body perishes, the soul also vanishes. They believed that if their body remained intact, the coming Spiritual Leader would put the soul in the genuine body, and with that original body and soul they would be able to enjoy the pleasures of the golden age. Therefore the Pharaoh got the dead bodies of their family mummified and to date, forty Pyramids are in hand. The year of their construction is 2690 B.C.
This shows that Pharaoh Remises and his predecessors believed in life after death and also in the arrival of the last Universal Leader.
With these two standards, the Pharaoh tried to falsify Moses. All his miracles were taken to be magic and said as quoted in the Holy Quran.
“I am surely better than this fellow, who is despicable, and can hardly make his (meaning) plain! Why, then, have armlets of gold not been set upon him, or angels sent along with him? “
Al-Zukhruf (52-53)
It means that these were two big proofs that Moses lacked. That is why they falsified his Prophethood. The fact was that they mingled the symptoms of a prophet and the Leader of the last age. The fact is that in all the revealed books the signs of both have been given separately. The Old Testament says:
- If a Prophet arises among you or dreamer of dreams and gives you a sign or a wonder and sign or wonder which he tells you comes to pass and if he says let us go after other gods which you have not known and let us serve them, you shall not listen to the words of that Prophet or that dreamer of dreams for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether or not you love your God with heart and soul.”
Towards the close of this chapter, it has been said,
“That prophet or dreamer should be beheaded because he instigated to rebel against Lord God.” Deuteronomy Chapter 13 (1-5 Verses)
It becomes clear from the preceding lines that there were many prophets to come in the future. The proof for their prophethood was not any prophesying or showing miracles but to follow them only if they preached to worship only one God. If someone preached the worship of idols etc. in addition to God, he was to be taken as a self-made prophet or an imposter. Therefore such a one deserved beheading.
The people of the following age forgot the above test and remembered only the ‘Angels and treasures.’ When the sons of Israel saw a cloud, (a manifestation of the grandeur of the Lord) casting its shadow over their heads, they included this condition too among other tests viz., the future prophet will be accompanied with Angels and treasures and will be riding a cloud. These three signs became an unfailing test and every prophet of God was required to show these three things. The answer being negative, he was declared fit for beheading.
Actually the real test of a prophet was that he should preach oneness of God should know the occult and should work miracles. The other three qualities were peculiar to the Universal Leader coming in the last age. So these six specialties were combined intentionally or due to misunderstanding.
As the arrival of other prophets was told beforehand, quite similarly the arrival of the Chief Prophet (P.B.U.H.) was also predicted successively. The same was the case with Christ. The people of every age considered their age as the last age and took every prophet to be the last prophet and combined the signs of the prophets and the last Universal Leader and under a continuous misconception, tried to find out the same in a single personality. For example Jacob told about a ‘coming one’:
“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be”.
Genesis Chapter 49 (10 Verse)
It was told about the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel and Judah’s race was being given a gold tiding. Similarly Moses predicted about so many prophets and also predicted the arrival of the Chief of the Prophets (P.B.U.H.):
“The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me, unto him Ye shall hearken. According to all that thou desiredst of Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, let me not hear again the voice of Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I did not. And the Lord said unto me, they have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thin heart, how shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken?
When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously; thou shalt not be afraid of him.”
Deuteronomy chapter 18 (15-22)
The preceding quotation clearly shows that (in
Old Testament) it has been mentioned that:
- The prophet alluded to, will be similar to Moses.
- He will not speak at his own will but the words of God will be put in his mouth and he will order accordingly and
- He will descend from the brothers of Israel viz. Instead of hailing from Isaac family, he will hail from Ismaeel’s family.
While announcing the arrival of other prophets, it was said that whatever a real prophet says, comes to pass and that he will call for the worship of only one God and none else. In quite the same way the Holy Quran certifies the general set of prophets (from the sons of Israel):
“We made a covenant of old with the Children of Israel and We sent unto them messengers.” Al-Maidah (The Table Spread -70)
The Holy Quran attested that according to the covenant many prophets were sent to them. But the prediction as made in the case of the Holy Prophet of Islam (P.B.U.H.) was not made for any other prophet. The promise was realized when the Holy Quran announced in surah Muzzammil:
“Lo! We have sent unto you a messenger as witness against you, even as We sent unto Pharaoh a messenger”
Muzzammil (The Enshrouded One – 15)
- The second sign was that ‘this’ prophet will say nothing at his will, but Lord will put His words in his mouth and he will convey the same to his people.
Holy Quran again bears upon it. It is said in surah An-Najm
“Nor doth he (the Prophet) speak of (his own) desire; but at the behest of Lord through revelation.”
- The third sign of this miraculous entity was that whatever he said would prove true.
Quite like other prophets Moses also gave a tiding about the Pious Entity which was to emerge in the last age and in whose reign the whole human race will embrace only one religion. The Old Testament says:
“And this is the blessing, where Moses blessed the children of Israel before his death. And he said, The Lord. The Lord came from Sinai and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran; and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.” Deuteronomy Chapter 33(1-2)
This ‘fiery Law’ has not come into existence so far because had it appeared, only one religion would have remained. This is proved from all the revealed books that the people demanded the signs of a Universal Leader from the prophets. The predictions about the following well-known personalities were already present:
1- The Holy Prophet of Islam (P.B.U.H).
2- Masih (1)
3- Eliah
4- Some other Prophets
5- The anti-religion persons such as Dajjal, Yajooj Majooj, tyrant kings, false prophets, and false Masih, etc.
On the same matter (feel) if it is used as an object, it means, wiped bathed anointed “
The epithets as subjects will only be held by the leader to come in the last stage.
There are many predictions about the former three personalities. The Gospel according to St. John says:
“And this is the record of John when the Jews sent Priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him who art thou?
And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
And they asked him, what then? Art thou Elias? And he said I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.”
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- Masih at the meter of the Arabic word Faeel. Masih is subject and means one who gives a bath to, one who gives the blessing, one who uncovers his sword, one who removes ills of body and soul, an extensive traveler, one who wipes the tears, and very handsome.
St. John chapter 1 (19-21)
- And they asked him, and said unto him why baptizes thou them if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that Prophet? John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom Ye know not;
He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoes latchet I am not worthy to unloose.”
St. John chapter 1 (25-27)
The fact becomes clear here, that in the preceding event of John (Yahya), four pious personalities have been mentioned:
1- Elia (Elia will be introduced and discussed in the coming chapters).
2- That Prophet (he has not been named out because all know him).
3- Masih
4- One whose name has not been told. His specialties and qualities have been mentioned, viz Christ.
Up to the time of Christ, all Israelites and Jews used to discuss various qualities in general of the aforementioned personages without particularizing each one of them. That is why Christ had to face countless hardships. When he worked miracles, the majority of the public took him to be the ‘Universal Leader’ who was to come in the last age. This misconception forced John (Yahya) to enquire from Christ:
“Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and saidunto him; Art thou he that should come or do we look for another?
Jesus answered and said unto them, go and shew John again those things which Ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” (Who is not lead to any misconception). Matthew chapter 11 (2-6)
In the same book chapter 16 verses 13 and
14 say:
“When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, whom do men say that I the son of man am?
And they said some say that thou art John the Baptist: Some, Elias; and other Jeremias or one of the Prophets.”
In that period none was considered more respectable than John (Yahya). The people believed him to be alive even after his martyrdom. Some others loved the scriptures of Jeremias. It was due to the fact that most of the prophets had predicted their recurrence or reappearance. (This will be discussed in coming chapters). This was why those who loved Jeremiah took Jesus for him. Some others were waiting for Elia and some awaited the arrival of the Great Universal Leader who was to come in the last age. The majority, therefore, took Jesus to be the same leader. (The qualities of the Great Leader being so widely known.)
In Bible, there is a dialogue between Jesus with a
woman:
“The woman said unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he has come, he will tell us all things.”
St. John chapter 4 (25)
Similarly, when Christ showed his famous miracle at the Lake of Tiberias, the people present there expressed their views in the following words:
“Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the world.”
St. John chapter 6 (14)
Similarly at another place in the book of St. John it has been told:
“But lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?
How be it we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.” Chapter 7 (26-27)
“And many of the people believed on him, and said, when Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done.”
St. John Chapter 7 (31)
All the Jews believed that in the last age, the Masih of the world was to come. They were of the view that he would be the king of Jews. Therefore, they expressed these views repeatedly at the time of Christ’s trial.
For example, when Jesus was walking on the porch of Solomon’s Temple at the time of the feast of the dedication, the Jews gathered around him and said,
“ How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ tell us plainly.’’
St. John Chapter 10 (24)
In the book referred to above, there is a saying of a woman named ‘Martha’.
“She said unto him, yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which shouldcome into the world.”
Chapter 11 (27)
But the specialties of the Masih of the world which were well known, were not traceable in Christ. Therefore the Jews had to proceed against Christ. The said specialties were demanded by the disciples of Christ themselves. For instance, when Jesus foretold the time of his crucifixion, the people were wonderstruck. They started to ask questions and asked:
“We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth forever: and how sayest thou. The son of man must be lifted up. Who is this son of man?”
St. John chapter 12 (34)
This was because the idea of Masih of the world which prevailed in religions of the by-gone prophets was, that he would rule forever with pomp and show with an unending life and that he would take revenge and destroy the nonbelievers and oppressors. This was the reason that Yahoda, who was one of the twelve disciples of Christ, when could not find the said specialties in Christ, refused to believe even in God. This happened because in his mind the idea of the Masih of the world was one of a grand king, a just ruler, and a revenger from the wicked with an unending life. But in the preachings of Christ forgiveness was given prime importance and it was directed that if someone slaps you on one cheek, present the other one to him. He continued to wait for the emergence of that king who would seek vengeance but when he became disappointed, he himself got the Christ arrested for a few coins. After his arrest he became remorseful. He thought that although Christ may not be Masih of the world he was a personality of an ideal character. But it was too late.
Even after his arrest the Jews and the people of Jerusalem continued to mention the promised Masih. One specialty of the Masih of the world was that he knew every hidden thing. When Christ was arrested the Jew soldiers made fun of Christ with special reference to this specialty. The book of St. Luke provides,
“And the men that held Jesus mocked him and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?”
Chapter 22(63 64)
One of the specialties of Masih of the world was that his rule was to last forever. This very attribute was attached to Christ as an allegation because people used to say him ‘ Masih’ and Masih was to be the sole ruler of the whole world.
Therefore, they accused Christ that he labeled himself as the king of Jews. On the crucifix, the charge sheet which was suspended to his neck contained the same allegation:
“And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew- THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
St. Luke chapter 23 (38)
When Christ was brought before Pilot, the Jew Chiefs leveled the same allegation:
“And they began to accuse him, saying, we found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding giving tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a king.”
St. Luke chapter 23 (2)
The title of Masih was equalized to the kingship of Israel. The end was that Jesus was ordered to be crucified in lieu of a notorious robber, Barabbas. Two other persons, who also were robbers, were crucified along with Jesus. One of them, while he was on the crucifix, referred to the idea of Promised Masih. Because the Masih to came in the last age was known to take revenge on tyrants and no one would be able to overpower him. Referring to this very quality one of the crucified robbers pinchingly said to Jesus “Are you Masih? If you are Masih then save yourself and us.”
“And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, if thou be Christ, save thyself and us.”
St. Luke 23 (39)
The passersby made the same pinching remarks and said “O Christ, O king of Israel release yourself from the crucifix.” After going through all the preceding quotations, we can easily infer how deep-rooted the concept of the Masih of the world among Jews.
All the sons of Israel and believers of Abraham firmly believed that in the last age, the king of Israel would come. His government will last forever, all the powers of the earth and the sky will be accompanying him, He will be riding the clouds, He will rise with a sword in hand and will destroy the tyrants and will seek the revenge of the oppressed. Only one religion will sway the whole world, the earth will become a symbol of peace and no one will be able to oppress anyone at all. As the concept of the reformer of the last age was present in Jews, Jesus also mentioned this pious personality during his preaching and prophesied his arrival along with his own. As he foretold about the arrival of a Universal Leader, similarly he foretold about the arrival of the Prophet of Islam. I consider it necessary to mention it briefly. When Jesus told the people that he was going to quit the world, he told about the arrival of a great Prophet after him:
- Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father, for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it comes to pass that when it comes to pass, Ye might believe. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the Prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me.”
St. John chapter 14 (28-30)
- But when the comforter comes, whom I will send unto you from the father, even the spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.”
St. John chapter 15 (26-27)
“Never the less I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness and of judgment.”
St. John chapter 16 (7-8)
“How to beat when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth, for he shall not speak of himself: but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me.”
St. John chapter 16 (13)
The preceding verses are generally interpreted to be about the Holy Ghost. Since the people had no idea of any prophet coming in the future, they intentionally referred the said verses to the Holy Ghost. But nobody could deny the fact that after Jesus up to the Holy Prophet of Islam, the Holy Ghost neither visited any person nor anyone was given the honor to be a prophet. No one has testified the purity of the Christ as was done by the Holy Prophet of Islam, (P.B.U.H.).
Similarly, the Chastity of the Virgin Mary was not so strongly proved by anyone as proved by the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.). His specific sign which Moses told was that the coming great Prophet will not say anything of his own accord but he will say what God Almighty will order him to say. This sign is repeated in the Holy Quran.
He does not speak anything of his own accord until he is ordered by revelation.
This is a vast subject and many books have been written on it. The reference to the same will not do any good except to add to the Volume of this book. I am being brief, simply because, in all religions, there are prophecies about many personalities to come in the future. We are to restrict ourselves only to the last Great Emperor promised by many prophets. We have to identify him by his peculiar attributes and specialties and we ought to assist him.
In the past whenever a revealed religion collided with another revealed religion it was merely because of the fact that the specific attributes referred to above could not be understood correctly.
After the advent of Islam the Holy Prophet had to face the same difficulties which were faced by Moses and later on by Jesus Christ. Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) was subjected to the same objections which had been raised in the past. It is a hard fact that Israelites were waiting for Moses and the Pharaohs of Egypt were also waiting for him, but when he came, due to confusion in the signs and specialties they refused to accept him as a prophet. The true and pious followers of Moses had read the prophecies about Jesus Christ. The prophet Isaiah had predicted:
“The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our god. Every valley shall be exalted.”
Isaiah Chapter 40 (3-4)
“The Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name ‘Immanuel’. Butter and honey shall he eat.”
Chapter 7 (14-15)
So despite the fact that the predictions existed, the confusion among the various attributes stood in the way of Christ to get him acknowledged. He could not gather around himself except a tiny number of followers. Those who had been praying for his arrival in the past were the foremost to raise objections when Christ came. Similarly, the Holy Prophet of Islam (P.B.U.H.) had to face the same hardships and difficulties. The Holy Quran refers to this very attitude and says:
- And when there cometh unto them a Book from God, confirming that in their possession though before that they were asking for a signal triumph over those who disbelieved— and when there cometh unto them that which they know they disbelieve therein.”
Al-Baqarah (The Cow – 89)
There was a concept prevalent among the Jews and Christians that God would come with angels, he would be riding the clouds and would administer justice, etc. All these signs related to that pious personality who was to come in the last age. But they based their refusal on the same signs. Their thinking has been expressed in ‘Sura Baqarah’ in the following words:
“Wait they for naught else than that Allah should come unto them in the shadows of the clouds with the angels? Then the case would be already judged.”
(The Cow -210).
These were the signs peculiar to the Great Leader of the last age and they demanded the same from the Holy Prophet of Islam (P.B.U.H.). It was here that they started to defy. In Sura Anaam, a similar approach of the Jews and Christians has been expressed and answered.
“Wait they, indeed, for nothing less than that the angels should come unto them, or thy Lord should come, or there should come one of the portents from thy Lord? In the day when one of the portents from thy Lord cometh, its belief availeth naught a soul which theretofore believed not, nor in its belief earned good (by works). Say: Wait ye! Lo! We (too) are waiting.” Al-Anam (Cattle – 159)
Their similar attitude has been expressed in ‘Sura Nahal’
“Await they aught save that the angels should come unto them or thy Lord’s command should come to pass?”
An-Nahal (The Bee – 33)
What I want to underline is that all the differences cropped up from the fact that people could not understand the signs and specialties of the last Great Leader. If every ‘Ummah’ had not taken their prophet as the last one and welcomed him in the light of the predictions of the preceding prophet, mankind would have been saved from the destruction it has faced. We ought to take account of the errors and omissions of the past and should not try to repeat them. We should pave the way jointly for the coming pious personality. All his signs which exist in the holy books of all religions, should be collected and publicized so that when he comes he may get a ready platform for himself.
Every prophet has told about the specialties of the awaited Universal Leader has pronounced his arrival with specific signs and has tried to terrify the believers of his sword, vengeance, and administration of justice, and has given the believers good news of a pleasant future, because the rule of this Great Emperor is actually the rule of God which will bring a great revolution providing permanent pleasure for the victimized, poor and oppressed. David, Jesus, and other Prophets had imparted the same good news for the poor relating to his reign.
