Contribution of Indian Non Muslims to Islamic Studies

Theme
Contribution of Indian Non Muslims to Islamic Studies

Title
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in the texts of Indian Non-Muslims with Special
Reference to ‘Kalki Avataar aur Muhammed Saheb’ of Pro. Ved Prakahs Upadhyay  

Abstract 

Even after suffering from long days of corruption and distortion, ancient religious scriptures remain immortal in many discussions and unrelenting topics and resolve solutions for many complexities and difficulties of modern intellectual questions. Numerous pens of various hues still continued this legacy of truth exhibition. Surprisingly, all their concentration has been primarily centered on the figurehead of Islam, as the Muslims assert, the last messenger of the God and prophet to the whole humanity Muhammad (pbuh). The ‘Promised Prophet’, ‘the Awaited Prophet’, ‘the Prophesied Prophet’, and others future-indicator terms were attributed to the ‘Praised Prophet’ Muhammad in manifold latches of his biographies. All these seek several researches and analysis on its authenticity and were subjected for it too in several universities all over the world especially in the home country. Vedas, Puranas, Mahabharata and other Hindu religious texts hold on to their authenticity even today. It was in-depth researched by Dr. Ved Prakash Upaddhay in his book ‘Kalki Avataar aur Muhammed Saheb’ with concise claims of Western intellectuals for ‘this truth’ (p. xiii). Its English version, ‘Muhammad in the Hindu Scriptures’ as a compilation of three authors made the subject in more detail. First three chapters were in Hindi in its first on-stage release by Ved Prakash. Prof. Ashit Kumar Bandopaddhay added ‘Muhammad in the Vedas and Mahabharata’ as 4th chapter with their translation into Bengali. With the renamed title and comprehensive contents, Muhammad Alamgir translated it into English. Vigorous efforts and research led Dr. Ved Prakash to even out the sense of realizing truth the way ahead whether it is strewn with backbreaking difficulties. The book details several descriptions comparing Narashangsa and other figures with Muhammad at a prospect to establish the unified truth and present him as ‘universal messenger’. Several other works produced by non-Muslims shed light on this subject with a notion and intention of earthing out the ultimate truth. With this viewpoints, this work delves into exploring the dimensional aspects of the Prophet’s existence featured in different religious texts of Indian origin which possibly led to rapid acceptability of Islam overpassing all barriers of diversities. In addition, the analysis tries to shed light on the huge efforts of non-Muslims to contribute to prophetic studies, especially with Indian languages. 

Keywords: Prophet Muhammad, scriptures, India, non-Muslim, truth