Muhammad is NOT Maitreya

Dr Zakir Naik, a prominent figure of Moslems, try to claim that Muhammad has already foretold by other religions. In the case of Buddhism, he said that Muhammad is actually the future Buddha Maitreya, which has been predicted by Gautama Buddha. The claim made that Muhammad is Maitreya, The future Buddha foretold by Buddha Siddharta Gautama, was based on similarities between the prophecy of Maitreya and the life of Muhammad. However this claim is illogical and hasty. It did not consider the aspects of Buddha's prophecy that accurately stated when and at what condition will the future Buddha Maitreya come. Also, there are huge differences between Buddhism and Islam in basic doctrines, while the Buddha said that the teachings will be the same.
I do not wish to attack Islam, but to clarify from Buddhism standpoint of why the claim is false. I will focus on differences on the prophecy of Maireya and Muhammad's life story, based on credible Buddhist scriptures.

There are certain conditions of the world and the signs of Maitreya's birth. His birth, his life, his achievements, all has been prophesied. But Muhammad did not live to meet all that. The differences are:
 
1. Maitreya will come after Gautama Buddha's teaching is forgotten. 
It was not forgotten like become corrupted or distorted, like muslims will say. In Anagata Vamsa(chronicles of future buddhas), this means complete elimination of whatever traces of Buddhism, and the word "Buddha" completely lose meaning. I will happen 5000 years after Buddha's death. Now, it is only 2600 years after Buddha's death, and there are still many Buddhist scriptures, Buddhist monks, and the like

2. Before Maitreya come, there will be a period of degeneration
Cakkavati Sihanada Sutta has been repeatedly quoted by those who justify that Maitreya is Muhammad. But the scriptures says more about Maitreya. The Buddha explained that immorality will continue to increase and the human life span will continue to decrease until it is only ten years. Girls will be married at five years of age. At that time, people who have no respect for their parents, for religious leaders, or for community leaders will be honoured and praised. Promiscuity will be so common, human beings will be like animals. Animosity, ill will, and hatred will be so strong, people will want to kill the members of their own family. There will be a seven-day war with great slaughter. But some people will hide for the seven days, and afterwards they will rejoice to see those who have survived. They will determine to stop killing, and their life spans will increase to twenty years. Seeing this, they will undertake to keep other moral precepts, and gradually the human life span will increase again.
There is no record of that kind of degeneration in this world, yet.

3. Maitreya will come in the period of welfare
Again, from the now famous Cakkavati Sihanada Sutta, the Buddha goes on to describe 
  how morality among human beings grows stronger and stronger. As a result, their life span grows longer until it reaches eighty thousand years, and at that time, Buddha Metteyya will come. 
Added by prophecy from Anagata Vamsa: "There will be three diseases: desire, hunger, and old age. The women will marry at the age of five hundred."

4. Maitreya will have 32 birthmark.
This birthmark, also shared by Siddharta, is common knowledge among Hindus and Buddhas, marking the person who possess it as a man of greatness. Thus, it was called "32 Mark of Great Person". It was elaborated in Lakkhana Sutta. Check for yourself whether or not Muhammad was told to have these 32 marks. As I know it, there is no story about it.
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/Signs-of-Buddha-32-80.htm

5.The birth of Maitreya
Many details concerning the coming Buddha can be assembled by combining Buddha Gotama's prediction in the Digha-nikaya, the Anagatavamsa, the two versions of The Ten Bodhisattas, and the Dasavatthuppakarana. Further details can be added from the description by Buddha Gotama of the past Buddha Vipassi,Ven. Ananda's praise of the Buddha, and the commentary on The Chronicle of Buddhas.

The details confirm these prophecy:
a) His mother gives birth in a standing position and in a forest
b) He comes forth without any stain
c) He takes seven steps to the north, surveys the four quarters, and pronounces the lion's roar that he is supreme in the world.
d) Seven days after the birth of the Bodhisatta, his mother dies and is reborn in the Tusita Deva world.
e) At this time, there will be a Wheel-turning Monarch named Sankha. The Bodhisatta will be the son of the Wheel-turning Monarch's head priest, Subrahma, and his wife, Brahmavati
f) He will be named Ajita
g) He will lead the household life for eight thousand years.
h) He will have four palaces named:Sirivaddha, Vaddhamana, Siddhattha, and Candaka. 
i) His wife will be Candamukhi and his son will be named Brahmavaddhana.
j) He will decide to give up household life after they have seen the four signs (an old man, a sick man, a dead man, and a contented man who has gone forth from lay life)
k) He will become averse to sensual pleasures. Not looking for the unsurpassed, great happiness and bliss in seeking honour, he will go forth


Do you find these facts when reading the biography of Muhammad? Did Muhammad lead a holy and celibate life, free of sensual pleasure? Did Muhammad leave his family and household just like Siddharta Gautama? If the answers are no, then the conclusion is “Muhammad is not the one foretold in Buddhist Scriptures”

The prophecy of Maitreya is one of the most misused in the history of the world. There are many people, for political or personal reason, try to assert that he is Maitreya. But the prophecy itself is quite detailed, vast, and clear on many things. With small amount of reading, you can find that what Dr Zakir Naik said about Muhammad = Maitreya is completely false.