It is mentioned
in Zend Avesta Farvardin Yasht chapter 28 verse 129
(Sacred Books of the East, volume 23, Zend Avesta Part II pg.
220):
"Whose name will be the Victorious, Soeshyant and whose name
will be Astvat-ereta. He will be Soeshyant (The Beneficent one)
because he will benefit the whole bodily world. He will be
Astvat-ereta (he who makes the people, bodily creatures rise up)
because as a bodily creature and as a living being he will stand
against the destruction of the bodily (being) creatures to
withstand the drug of the two footed brood, to withstand the evil
done by the faithful (idolaters and the like and the errors of the
Mazdaynians)".
This Prophecy applies to no other person more perfectly than it
does to Muhammad (pbuh):
The Prophet was not only victorious at Fatah Makkah but was also
merciful when he let go the blood thirsty opponents by saying:
"There shall be no reproof against you this day".
Soeshyant means the ‘praised one’ (refer Haisting’s
Encyclopedia), which translated in Arabic means Muhammad (pbuh).
Astvat-ereta is derived from the root word Astu which in Sanskrit
as well as in Zend means ‘to praise’. The infinitive Sitaudan
in present day Persian means praising. It can also be derived from
the Persian root word istadan which would mean ‘one who makes a
thing rise up’. Therefore Astvat-ereta means the one who
praised, which is the exact translation of the Arabic word 'Ahmed'
which is another name for Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The Prophecy
clearly mentions both the names of the Prophet i.e. Muhammad
(pbuh) and Ahmed (pbuh).
The Prophecy further says that he will benefit the whole bodily
world and the Qur’an testifies this in Surah Al-Anbiya chapter
21 verse 107:
"We sent thee not, but as a mercy for all creatures."
[Al-Qur'an 21:107]
Sanctity of Prophet’s Companions:
In Zend Avesta Zamyad Yasht chapter 16 verse 95 (Sacred Books of
the East, volume 23 Zend Avesta Part II pg. 308):
"And there shall his friends come forward, the friends of
Astvat-ereta, who are fiend-smitting, well thinking,
well-speaking, well-doing, following the good law and whose
tongues have never uttered a word of falsehood."
Here too Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is mentioned by name as
Astvat-ereta.
There is also a mention of the Prophet’s friends as companions
who will be fighting the evil; pious, holy men having good moral
values and always speaking the truth. This is a clear reference to
the Sahabas – the prophet's companions. |
|