Islam - The Summit of Religious Evolution — Page 50
50 As stated above, this prophecy mentions the locations of the two remaining Divine manifestations to occur at Teman and Pharan. From the prophecies of Deuteronomy and Habakkuk, it is evident that the advent of Jesus at Seir was not to mark the last stage in the process of human spiritual development. It was to be followed by the advent of another Prophet, at Pharan, to mark the third manifestation of Divine glory. This prophet was to manifest both the Beauty and the Majesty of God and bring a fiery Law into the world, not merely a message of forgiveness. Detailed analyses of this prophesy, in the light of the criterion established above, reveals that the Holy One to appear from the land of Teman and Mount Pharan were Jesus and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) respectively. The fiery Law was the Quran, which has the virtue of annihilating sins and satanic machinations. Moses truly said in Deuteronomy that ten thousand saints would accompany the Promised One, rising from Pharan. History unequivocally records that it was the Holy Prophet of Islam who rose from Pharan and marched into Mecca with ten thousand followers. Neither Moses nor David nor Jesus could have fulfilled this great prophecy. None of them rose from Pharan and none of them marched to victory with ten thousand saintly followers. According to the New Testament, Jesus had only twelve disciples, one of whom betrayed him to the Romans. Another cursed him for fear of being maltreated. According Biblical accounts, even the ten remaining disciples deserted him when he was put on the Cross. Another sign in this prophecy describes is that the Promised One was to be bestowed with immense praise: 32. . . and the earth was full of his praise. It is not merely an accident that the Holy Prophet of Islam was named Muhammad (which literally means the Praised One). Further, this prophecy continues to describe more conditions: 33 Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet. This sign of the Promised One was also fulfilled in the Prophet of Islam. True, the prophecy speaks of pestilence, that is, a disease in epidemic form, which causes extreme destruction. In that context, the enemies of the Holy Prophet suffered large-scale death and destruction in their aggressions against him. Thus even this part of the prophecy may have been fulfilled in his person. The prophecy continues to state other signs of the Promised Prophet: 34 He stood and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations. This part of the prophecy, like the others, can apply neither to Moses nor to Jesus. Moses died while he was still fighting his enemies, while Jesus was put on the Cross. The Prophet who beheld and drove asunder the nations was the Prophet of Islam. Truly did he say of himself, my presence is awe-inspiring, and I have been helped not a little by it. People fear me from a distance of one month’s journey. 35