The Prophecies of Muhammad
One of the ways in which a person proves his prophethood is honesty,
whether it be in regards to incidents in the past, in their everyday
life, or things to come in the future. In addition to the Quran,
there are many sayings of Prophet Muhammad which contain prophecies he
made in his lifetime dealing with near and distant future. Some of
them have come true, others await fulfillment. Hudhaifah, a disciple
of Prophet Muhammad, tells us:
"The Prophet once delivered a speech in front of us wherein he
mentioned everything [all the signs] that would happen till the Final
Hour without leaving anything. Some of us remembered it and some
forgot it. After that speech, I used to see events taking place which
were referred to in that speech, but I had forgotten them before their
occurrence. Then I would recognize such events as a man recognizes
another man who has been absent and then sees and recognizes
him." (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)
There are at least 160 known and confirmed prophecies of Prophet
Muhammad which were fulfilled in his lifetime and the first generation
after him.[1] We will mention some here.
(1) Preceding the Battle of Badr, the first and decisive
confrontation with pagan Meccans in the second year of migration from
Mecca in 623 CE, Prophet Muhammad foretold the precise spot every
pagan Meccan soldier would fall. Those who witnessed the battle saw
the prophecy come true with their own eyes.[2]
(2) Prophet Muhammad prophesized the Battle of the Confederates (al-
Ahzab) would be the last invasion the tribe of Quraish (the pagan
Meccans) would launch against the Muslims. It was fought in the fifth
year of migration, 626 CE and was the last military conflict between
the two sides. All Meccans embraced Islam after a few years.[3]
(3) The Prophet informed his daughter, Fatima, that she would be the
first member of his family to die after him. There are two prophecies
in one: Fatima will outlive her father; Fatima will be the first
member of his household to die after him. Both were fulfilled.[4]
(4) The Prophet Muhammad prophesized Jerusalem would be conquered
after his death.[5] The prophecy was fulfilled when, according to
Encyclopedia Britannica: "In 638 the Muslim Caliph, Umar I, entered
Jerusalem."[6]
(5) The Prophet Muhammad prophesized the conquest of Persia.[7] It
was conquered by Umar's commander, Sa'ad bin Abi Waqqas. In the words
of Encyclopedia Britannica:
"…raids into Sasanian territory were quickly taken up by Muhammad's
Caliphs, or deputies, at Medina - Abu Bakr and Umar ibn al-Khattab… an
Arab victory at Al-Qadisiyyah in 636/637 was followed by the sack of
the Sasanian winter capital at Ctesiphon on the Tigris. The Battle of
Nahavand in 642 completed the Sasanids' vanquishment."[8]
(6) The Prophet Muhammad prophesized the conquest of Egypt.[9] In
the words of Encyclopedia Britannica:
"Amr… undertook the invasion in 639 with a small army of some 4,000
men (later reinforced). With what seems astonishing speed the
Byzantine forces were routed and had withdrawn from Egypt by 642…
Various explanations have been given for the speed with which the
conquest was achieved."[10]
(7) The Prophet foretold confrontation with the Turks.[11] The first
conflict took place in the caliphate of Umar in 22 AH.[12]
(8) The Prophet foretold the first maritime battle to be undertaken
by Muslims would be witnessed by Umm Haram, the first woman to
participate in a naval expedition. He also prophesied the first
assault on Constantinople.[13]
The first maritime battle in Muslim history was in 28 AH in the rule
of Mu'awiya. It was witnessed by Umm Haram as foretold by Prophet
Muhammad, and Yazid ibn Mu'awiya led the first attack on
Constantinople in 52 AH.[14]
(9) The prophecy that Rome, Persia, and Yemen will be conquered was
made during the Battle of Confederates in 626 CE,[15] under extreme
circumstances, as is described by the Quran:
"[Remember] when they came at you from above you and from below you,
and when eyes shifted [in fear], and hearts reached the throats and
you assumed about God [various] assumptions. There, the believers
were tested and shaken with a severe shaking. And [remember] when the
hypocrites and those in whose hearts is disease said, 'God and His
Messenger did not promise us except delusion.'" (Quran 33:10-12)
(10) Prophet Muhammad prophesized an imposter claiming to speak in
the name of God would be killed at the hands of a righteous man in
Muhammad's lifetime.[16] Al-Aswad al-Ansi, an imposter prophet in
Yemen, was killed in the Prophet's lifetime by Fayruz al-Daylami.[17]
There are at least an additional 28 prophecies pertaining to the end
times which are awaiting fulfillment.
Indeed these well-documented prophecies are clear proofs of the
Prophethood of Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon
him. There is no possible way that the Prophet could have knowledge
of these incidents except if it were inspired by God Himself, all in
order to further prove the authenticity of the Muhammad, that he was
not an imposter, but rather a Prophet raised by God to deliver
humanity from Hellfire.
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Footnotes:
[1] They are collected by Dr. Muhammad Wali-ullah al-Nadavi in his
Master's thesis entitled, 'Nubuwwat al-Rasul,' from al-Azhar
University, Cairo, Egypt.
[2] Saheeh Muslim, Abu Ya'la.
[3] Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Bazzar, and Haithami.
[4] 'Sharh' Saheeh Muslim,' by Imam al-Nawawi.
[5] Saheeh Al-Bukhari.
[6] "Jerusalem." Encyclop?dia Britannica from Encyclop?dia Britannica
Premium Service. (http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-61909)
[7] Saheeh Muslim.
[8] "Iran." Encyclop?dia Britannica from Encyclop?dia Britannica
Premium Service. (http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-32160)
[9] Saheeh Muslim.
[10] "Egypt." Encyclop?dia Britannica from Encyclop?dia Britannica
Premium Service. (http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-22358)
[11] Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim.
[12] Ibn Kathir's 'al-Bidaya wal-Nihaya.'
[13] Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim.
[14] Ibn Kathir's 'al-Bidaya wal-Nihaya.'
[15] Saheeh Al-Bukhari.
[16] Saheeh Al-Bukhari.
[17] Encyclopedia of Islam.
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