An Indian King Witness of Moon Splitting (Miracle of Prophet Muhammad PBUH)

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WITNESS OF MOON SPLITTING (A MIRACLE OF PROPHET

MUHAMMAD (PBUH ))

CHAKRAWATI FARMAS KING OF MALABAR, INDIA

The incident relating to King Chakrawati Farmas is

documented in an old manuscript in the India Office Library, London, which has

reference number: Arabic, 2807, 152-173. It was quoted in the book “Muhammad

Rasulullah,” by M. Hamidullah:

“There is a very old tradition in Malabar,

South-West Coast of India, that Chakrawati Farmas, one of their kings, had

observed the splitting of the moon, the celebrated miracle of the Holy Prophet

(pbuh) at Mecca, and learning on inquiry that there was a prediction of the

coming of a Messanger of God from Arabia (Detail given bellow), he appointed

his son as regent and set out to meet him. He embraced Islam at the hand of

the Prophet, and when returning home, at the direction of the Prophet, died at

the port of Zafar, Yemen, where the tomb of the “Indian king” was piously

visited for many centuries.”

The old manuscript in the 'India Office Library'

contains several other details about King Chakrawati Farmas and his travel[1].

The king spent weeks in seclusion. In the midst of

his quiet life, he set out on the journey along with the Arab travelers who'd

promised him earlier. On the way, they stopped by Koylandi and from there to

Dharmapatnam where they halted for 3 days. Then they set out to Shehr Muqalla.

On reaching there, they set for the Hajj pilgrimage and thereafter returned to

Malabar. He aspired to spread the message of Islam. But on the way, he fell sick

and breathed his last.

A tradition of the Holy Prophet has also been

reported from one of the companions, Abu Saeed al Kaudri, regarding the arrival

of Cheraman Perumel. “A king from India presented the Messenger of Allah with a

bottle of pickle that had ginger in it. The Holy Prophet distributed it among

his companions. I also received a piece to eat “. (Hakim reports in 'Al

Musthadrak )

Umar Qazi's poem on Cheraman Perumal.

Umar Qazi was well aware of the story of Cheraman Perumal - the first Indian

to accept Islam. He narrates it thus in one of his poems inscribed on the walls

of Ponnani Juma Masjid.

Kodungallur was a center of festivals

established by the great Emperor Cheraman Perumal …..

The major part of all the minor kingdoms were under his rule …

As such, one day he saw he saw the moon split into two (a miracle of Holy

Prophet performed in Arabia) on a clear cloudless night ….

As a result the love for Holy Prophet grew in his heart and he became the

earliest Muslim of this nation….[2]

Moon Splitting in The Quran

The splitting of the moon is mentioned in the Holy Qur'an, Surah Al-Qamar

(54), Verses 1-3:

The hour drew nigh and the moon was rent in twain.

And if they behold a portent they turn away and say:

Prolonged illusion.

They denied (the Truth) and followed their own lusts.

Yet everything will come to a decision.

Moon Splitting in Hadiths

Narrated Abdullah bin Masud: “During the lifetime of the Prophet the moon

was split into two parts and on that the Prophet said, 'Bear witness (to

thus).' (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Virtues and Merits of the Prophet (pbuh)

and his Companions, Volume 4, Book 56, Number 830)”

Narrated Anas: “That the Meccan people requested

Allah's Apostle to show them a miracle, and so he showed them the splitting of

the moon. (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Virtues and Merits of the Prophet (pbuh)

and his Companions, Volume 4, Book 56, Number 831)”

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: “The moon was split into two

parts during the lifetime of the Prophet. (Translation of Sahih Bukhari,

Virtues and Merits of the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions, Volume 4, Book 56,

Number 832)”

Narrated Anas bin Malik: “The people of Mecca

asked Allah's Apostle to show them a miracle. So he showed them the moon split

in two halves between which they saw the Hiram' mountain. (Translation of Sahih

Bukhari, Merits of the Helpers in Madinah (Ansaar), Volume 5, Book 58, Number

208)”

Narrated 'Abdullah: “The moon was split ( into

two pieces ) while we were with the Prophet in Mina. He said, “Be witnesses.”

Then a Piece of the moon went towards the mountain. (Translation of Sahih

Bukhari, Merits of the Helpers in Madinah (Ansaar), Volume 5, Book 58, Number

209)”

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas: “During the

lifetime of Allah's Apostle the moon was split (into two places). (Translation

of Sahih Bukhari, Merits of the Helpers in Madinah (Ansaar), Volume 5, Book 58,

Number 210)”

Narrated 'Abdullah: “The moon was split (into two

pieces). (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Merits of the Helpers in Madinah (Ansaar),

Volume 5, Book 58, Number 211)”[3]

According to Maududi, the traditionists and

commentators have agreed that this incident took place at Mina in Makkah about

five years before the Holy Prophet's Hijra (migration) to Madinah.

The Moon had split into two distinct parts in

front of their very eyes. The two parts had separated and receded so much apart

from each other that to the on-lookers (in Makkah) one part had appeared on one

side of the mountain and the other on the other side of it. Then, in an instant

the two had rejoined. This was a manifest proof of the truth that the system of

the universe was neither eternal nor immortal, it could be disrupted.

This incident indicated that huge stars and

planets could split asunder, disintegrate, collide with each other, and

everything that had been described in the Qur'an on the Resurrection could

happen. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) invited the

people's attention to this event only with this object in view and asked them to

mark it and be a witness to it. But the disbelievers described it as a magical

illusion and persisted in their denial. They were reproached in Surah Al-Qamar

(The Moon) for their stubbornness.

Other Relevant Notes

It is due to this incident about their king, the people of Malabar became

the first community in India to accept Islam. Subsequently, they increased their

trade with Arabs, as the Arab ships used to pass by their shores on the way to

China before the advent of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

Before Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Malabar also had a

Christian community dating back from the earliest followers of Prophet Jesus ('Isa),

pbuh. St. Thomas is believed to have migrated to India and died there. This

community remained untouched by later theological developments in Christianity

until the arrival of Portugese traveler Vasco da Gama.

When the British were consolidating their

stronghold in India, they deployed the largest naval operation (on the shores of

India) against the Muslims of Malabar[4].

Predictions of the coming of a Messanger of God

from Arabia

Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) was commanded by God to inform that he was not the

only Messenger of God to the world [Al Qur'an 46:9]. Scholars say that there had

been some 124,000 Prophet sent to the world who preached in the language of the

respective people [A Qur'an 14:4]. The true religion they preached and their

scriptures got corrupted with passage of time (with the exception of Al Qur'an).

However, the message on the last and greatest Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) is

retained till date in the scriptures of all major world religions.

The Hindu scriptures identify the greatest Prophet

to come mentioning details of his birth, events of his life, his followers, etc.

Some even give his Arabic name or its equivalents! This article will help

creating right belief (Iman) in other religionists.

Further, it will help Muslims appreciate yet

another facet of greatness of Prophet (Pbuh) and deepen their Iman. We will see

here only a sample of the overwhelming evidences!

Prophet (Pbuh) Foretold in India (A) Hindu

scriptures

There is no doubt that God sent Prophets (Pbuh) to people of India. There is

no mention of any Indian Prophet or scripture in Holy Qur'an. But Bukhari

records Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) as saying he was enjoying breeze wafting from

India laden with fragrance of Tawhid (unity of God). The four Vedas (scriptures)

of Hindus and their epics are said to be 5000-10,000 years old. They contain a

great deal of monotheistic ideas, and of course, prophecies on Hadrath Muhammad

(Pbuh).

Bhavishya Puran

This is a Sanskrit work of prophecies. The title means 'Book of the Future'.

Since Hinduism is based in India it was, and still is, taken for granted that

its sages will be born in India itself. Contrary to this belief the Book says

that a great master will appear in a foreign country (mlechcha acharya) and live

in a sandy region (marusthal). His name will be Mahaaamad. Within a short span

of 18 couplets Mahaamad is mentioned five times.

There is an interesting information in Bhavishya

Purana that Mahaamad would appear to Bhoj, ruler of Dhar, and say that he would

establish the religion of meat eaters, by the command of Ishwar i.e. God. There

is a tradition that long afterwards, Bhoj got terrified on seeing the full moon

split into two. Learned men consulted holy books and told him that it was one of

the signs of the Universal Master to be born in a country to the West. Bhoj sent

his minister to Prophet (Pbuh) in Arabia, who named the king Abdullah. The Tomb

of Abdullah is still there at Dhar…

Mahabharat

This is a Hindu epic describing the struggle and triumph of good against

evil. It was written by sage Vyas who also authored Bhavishya Purana.

Mahabharata says that in the last eon called Kali Yug (in which we now live) a

great sage will appear with name Mahaamad. He would preach about unity of God.

He will be driven away from his native place by his own folk. By him the world

would get peace. (Islam means peace). Mahabharat further says that cloud will

provide him shade. It is recorded in history that Buhaira, the Christian priest

of Syria observed this sign with Muhammad e in his boyhood and identified him as

the last Prophet anticipated for millennia.

Kalki Puran

The signs and events of the final Avatar Kalki point out to final Prophet

Muhammad (Pbuh). They fit those of Muhammad (Pbuh) neatly and perfectly. They

are as follows;

• Kalki will appear in the last on

  Kali Yug and will be the guide for the entire world.

• He will be born on the 12th day

  of the month. Prophet (Pbuh) as born on 12th Of Rabiyyul Awwal).

• His parents will be: Vishnu

  Bhagat and Soomati meaning servant of God (the Cherisher) and peace.

  (Messenger's (Pbuh) father's name was Abdullah, God's servant and mother was

  Amina refuge giver which includes the idea of 'peace'.)

• He will be with a beauty

  par-excellence. His body will be fragrant.

• He will get wisdom on a

  mountain. (Messenger (Pbuh) was conferred Prophethood on Mt.Hira)

• He will receive a horse from

  God, which will be faster than lightning. Riding it he will go around the

  earth and seven skies. (During Mi'raj Prophet (Pbuh) got Buraq meaning

  lightning and toured the entire universe.)

• Kalki will split the moon. Like

  Bhoj, Cheraman (Zamorin) Perumal the ruler of Indian kingdom of Kerala,

  witnessed splitting of the moon performed by Prophet (Pbuh). After gathering

  the facts he sailed to Arabia and became Muslim at Prophet's (Pbuh) hand. His

  Tomb is near the city of Salala in Oman[5].