PRESENTING ISLAM TO HINDUS
Arabic Recitation
(3:64)
I. Introduction
A.
Introduction of Hinduism
1.
Definition of a Hindu
2.
Definition of Hinduism
B.
Introduction of Islam
1.
Definition of Islam
2.
Definition of a Muslim
3.
Misconception about Islam
II. Pillars of Faith
(Imaan)
(i) Pillars of
Hinduism - Pillars of Faith in Hinduism are not defined
(ii) Pillars of
Faith (Imaan) in Islam
A.
Tawheed
1.
2:177
2.
Hadith of six pillars of Imaan - Sahih Muslim, Vol. 1,
Kitabul Imaan, Chapter 2, Hadith 6
3.
Concept of God in Islam (112:1-4) (3:64)
4.
Concept of God in Hinduism
a)
Common concept of God in Hinduism
b)
Difference between Islam and Hinduism
is ‘S’
c)
Bhagavad Geeta 7:20
d)
Upanishad
Svetasvatara
Upanishad 6: 9
Svetasvatara
Upanishad 4: 19
Svetasvatara
Upanishad 4: 20
e)
Yajurveda
Yajurveda 32: 3
Yajurveda 40: 8
Yajurveda 40: 9
f)
Atharvaveda 20 : 58 : 3
g) Rigveda
Rigveda 1: 64: 46
Rigveda 2: 1
B.
Angels
1.
Angels in Islam
2.
Angels in Hinduism
C.
Books
(i) Books of Islam
1.
Several revelations of Allah (13:38)
2.
By name four are mentioned
3.
Qur’an is the last and final revelation
4.
All previous revelation meant for particular group of
people and for a particular group of
people and for a particular period of time
5.
Qur’an revealed for whole humankind (14:52) (2:185)
(39:41)
(ii) Books of Hinduism
Introduction
1. Vedas
2.
Upanishads
3.
Puranas
4.
Itihas
5.
Can Hindu scriptures be considered the word of God
D.
Messengers
Messengers in Islam
1.
Messengers sent to every nation (35:24) (13:7)
2.
25 prophets mentioned by name in the Qur’an
3.
Stories of only some prophets mentioned in the Qur’an
(4:164) (40:78)
4.
Several hundreds of messengers sent to the world according
to Hadith
5.
All previous messengers were only sent for their people
and nation and their complete message was meant for that period of time
6.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) last and final messenger (33:40)
7.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) sent for whole of humankind
(21:107) (34:28) Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 1, Book of Salaah, Chapter 56, Hadith 429
8.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) prophesied in Hindu scriptures
a)
Bhavishya Purana, Parv 3, Khand 3,
Adhaya 3, Shloka 5-8
b)
Bhavishya Purana, Parv 3, Khand 3,
Adhaya 3, Shloka 10-27
c)
Atharvaveda, Book 20, Hymn 127, Verses
1-113 (kuntap sukla)
d)
Atharvaveda, Book 20, Hymn 21, Verse 6
e)
Atharvaveda, Book 20, Hymn 21, Verse 7
f)
Samveda, Book 2, Hymn 6, Verse 8
9.
Avtaars and Messengers in Hinduism
10.
Anthropomorphism
11.
Which prophet was sent to India ,
can we consider Ram and Krishna to be the
messengers of Allah?
12.
Hadith sayings and tradition of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
E.
Life after Death - hereafter
(i)
Life after death in Islam
1.
Life after death (2:28)
2.
This life is the test for the hereafter (67:2)
3.
Full recompense on the day of judgement (3:185)
4.
Paradise - Al Jannah
5.
Hell - Jahannam
(ii) Life after death in
Hinduism
1. Concept of Rebirths
in Hinduism - Reincarnation or Transmigration of the souls
a) Bhagavad Geeta, Chapter 2,
Verse 22
b) Brhadaranyaka Upanishad, Part
4, Chapter 4, Verse 3
2. Karma - the law of
cause and effect
3. Dharma - righteous
duties
4. Moksha - liberation
from the cycle of rebirths
5. Rebirths not
mentioned in the Vedas
6. Punarjanam is not
cycle of rebirth but life after death
7. Life after death in
the Vedas
a) Rigveda,
Book 10, Hymn 16, Verse 4
b) Rigveda,
Book 10, Hymn 16, Verse 5
8.
Paradise - Swarga in the Vedas
a) Atharvaveda, Book 4, Hymn 34, Verse 6
b) Atharvaveda, Book 4, Hymn 34, Verse 2
c) Atharvaveda, Book 2, Hymn 34, Verse 5
d) Atharvaveda,
Book 6, Hymn 122, Verse 3
e)
Rigveda, Book 10, Hymn 95, Verse 18
9. Hell - Nark in the
Vedas - Rigveda, Book 4, Hymn 5, Verse 4
F.
Destiny
1.
Concept of Destiny - Qadr in Islam
2.
Logical concept for differences in different individuals
(67:2)
3.
Present conditions in Islam is a test (2:214) (29:2)
(21:35) (2:155) (8:28)
III. Pillars of Islam
1.
Islamic Creed
a) Sahih
Bukhari, Vol. 1, Book of Imaan, Chapter 1, Hadith 8
b)
To testify that ‘Ash-hadu-al-lailaha
illallah wa anna Muhammadar Rasulullah’
2.
Salaah
a) Not
merely prayers but programming (5:90) (2:188)
b) Prayers
restrains you from unjust and shameful deeds (29:45)
c) Five
times Salaah for healthy souls
d) Idol
worship is prohibited in Hinduism
e) Common
Hindus use idols for worshipping for concentration
f)
Muslims do not worship Kaaba while
offering Salaah
3.
Zakat
a) Meaning
purification and growth
b) Description
2.5% charity of the saving above nisab every lunar year (9:60)
c)
If every human being gives Zakat, not a
single human being will die of hunger
d) Wealth
does not circulate only among the wealthy and rich
e) Charity
in Hinduism
4.
Saum - Fasting
a)
Description - Abstain from food and
drink from dawn to sunset for one lunar month in Ramazan
b)
(2:183) Learn self-restraint. If you
control your hunger you can control almost of all your desires
c)
Discourages smoking, alcoholism and
other addictions
d)
Medical benefits, increases absorption
of intestine
e)
Decreases cholesterol level
f)
Fasting in Hinduism
5.
Hajj - pilgrimage
a)
Description - Pilgrimage atleast once
in life time if you can afford it
b)
Universal brotherhood - 2.5 million
people from all over the world gather, wear 2 pieces unsewn preferably white
cloth - can’t differentiate
c)
Pilgrimage in Hinduism
IV. Commandments of Allah
1.
Five pillars do not constitute the complete religion of
Islam
2.
Islam is not merely a religion but complete way of life it
caters to the body as well as the soul
3.
(51:56)
(1)
Abstaining from prohibited food is submitting your will to
Allah (SWT) e.g. Alcohol (5:90) - Alcohol prohibited in Veda (Rigveda 8:2:12)
(Rigveda 8:21:14)
(2)
Prohibition of gambling in Qur’an (5:90) - Prohibition of
gambling in Veda (Rigveda 10:34:3-13)
(3)
Prohibition of Interest in the Qur’an (3:130) (4:161)
(30:39) (2:275) (2:276) (2:278) - Prohibition of Interest in the Veda (Rigveda
3:35:14)
(4)
Dressing modestly (24:31) + six criteria’s in hijab -
Dressing modestly in Hinduism (Rigveda 10:33:19) Men forbidden to wear female
dress (Rigveda 10:85:30)
V. Hindu Reformers
1. Sri Ramakrishna
2. Swami Vivekananda
3. Swami Dayanand
Saraswati
4. Raja Ram Mohan Roy
5. Mahatma Gandhi
VI. Conclusion
1. No reforms required
in Islam (5:3)
COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN ISLAM AND HINDUISM
PRESENTING ISLAM TO HINDUS
Arabic Recitation
(3:64)
I. Introduction
A. Introduction of Hinduism
1.
Definition of a
Hindu
The word Hindu has geographical
significance and was used originally for those people who lived beyond the
river Sindhu or the region watered by the river Indus. Some historians say that
it was first used by the Persians who came to India through the north western
passes of the Himalayas. The word Hindu is no where mentioned in Indian
literature or scriptures before the advent of Muslims to India, according to
the Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics. According to Jawaharlal Nehru in the
book Discovery of India on page 74-75, he writes that the earliest reference to
the word Hindu can be traced to a tantrik of the 8th Century CE,
where it means a people and not a follower of a particular religion. The use of
the word Hindu in connection with a particular religion is of late occurrence.
In short Hindu is a geographical
definition used for the people living beyond the river Indus or those living in
India
2.
Definition of Hinduism
a) Hinduism has been
derived from the word Hindu. Hinduism was a name given in English language in
the Nineteenth Century by the English people to the multiplicity of the beliefs
and faith of the people of the Indus land. According to New Encyclopedia Britannica
20:581. The British writers in 1830 gave the word Hinduism to be used as the
common name for all the beliefs of the people of India excluding the Muslims
and converted Christians.
b) The term Hinduism is
misleading because though it suggests the unified system of beliefs and ideas,
it is certainly not the case. Hinduism is too broad a phenomenon to be confined
to a usual definitions of religions. It does not owe its origin, formation or
finalization to any historical person or a prophet since there is no uniformly
accepted belief sacraments, rituals and practices in Hinduism, there are no
criteria for establishing rules in Hinduism. In short a person who calls
himself a Hindu becomes a true practicing Hindu irrespective who he worships
and what ever may be his beliefs and practice.
c) According to the
Hindu scholars Hinduism is a misnomer and it should be referred a Sanatana
Dharma, meaning eternal religion or Vedic Dharma meaning religion of the Veda.
According to Swami Vivekananda the followers of this religion is referred as
Vedantist.
B. Introduction of Islam
1.
Definition of Islam
Islam is an Arabic word which
comes from the word ‘Salaam’ which means ‘Peace’. It also means submitting your
will to Allah - the Almighty God. In short Islam means peace acquired by
submitting your will to Allah (SWT).
2.
Definition of a
Muslim
A Muslim is a person
who submits his will to Allah - the Almighty God.
3.
Misconception about
Islam
Many people have a
misconception that Islam is a new religion which came into existence 1400 years
ago and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is the founder of the religion of Islam. Infact
Islam is there since time immemorial, since man set foot on the earth. Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) is not the founder of the religion of Islam but he is the last
and final messenger of Islam.
II. Pillars of Faith (Imaan) -
Pillars of Hinduism
Pillars of Faith in Hinduism are not defined. As
mentioned earlier that Hinduism does not have a set of unified or codified
beliefs. Neither does it have any fixed pillars or principles which are
obligatory for its followers to practice. A Hindu has a freedom to practice
whatever he pleases, there is no such thing as compulsory or prohibited for him
thus no act committed by a person can make him a non-Hindu. Neither omission of
any act can make him a non-Hindu. However there are certain beliefs which are
common to most of the Hindus. Even though it may not be agreed upon 100% by all
the Hindus, we shall discuss some of them while discussing the pillars of
Islam.
CONCEPT OF GOD IN
HINDUISM
The most popular amongst the Aryan religion is Hinduism
1. Common concept of
God in Hinduism:
If you ask a common Hindu that how many Gods he
believe in, some may say three some may say thirty three, some may say a
thousand while some may say thirty three crore i.e. 330 millions. But if you
ask this question to a Hindu learned man who is well Versed with the Hindu
scriptures, he will reply that the Hindu should actually believe and worship
only one God.
2. Difference between
Islam and Hinduism is ‘s’
(Everything is ‘God’s’ -
everything is ‘God’):
The major difference between the Hindu and the
Muslim is that the common Hindu believes in philosophy of Pantheism i.e.
everything is God, the tree is God, the sun is God, the moon is God, the snake
is God, the monkey is God, the human being is God.
The Muslims believe that
everything is God’s. God with and apostrophe ‘s’. Everything belongs to God,
the tree belongs to God, the sun belongs to God, the moon belongs to God,
monkey belongs to God, the human being belongs to God.
Thus the major difference between
the Hindus and the Muslims is the apostrophe ‘s’. The Hindu says everything is
God. The Muslim says everything is God’s, God with an apostrophe ‘s’. If we can
solve the difference of the apostrophe ‘s’, the Hindus and the Muslims will be
united.
The Holy Qur’an says, “Come to
common terms as between us and you”, which is the first term? “That we worship
none but Allah”, so lets come to common terms by analyzing the scripture of the
Hindus and the Muslim.
3. Bhagwad Geeta 7:20
The most popular amongst all the Hindu scriptures
is the Bhagwad Geeta. Bhagwad Geeta mentions in Chapter 7, Verse 20, “Those
whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires worship demigods” that
is “Those who are materialistic, they worship demigods” i.e. besides the true
God.
4. Upanishad
Upanishad are also one of the
sacred scriptures of the Hindus.
(i)
Chandogya Upanishad, Chapter 6, Section 2, Verse 1
It is mentioned in the Chandogya
Upanishad, Prapathaka(Chapter) 6, Khanda(Section)2, Shloka(Verse) “Ekam
evaditiyam”, “He is one only without a second”.
The principal Upanishad by S.
Radhakrishnan, page 447 and 448(sacred books of the east Volume 1 the
Upanishads, part I, page 93)
a) (ii) Similar to what
is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an in Surah Ikhlas, Chapter 112, Verse 1, “Say he
is Allah one and only”.
b) (i) Svetasvatara Upanishad, Chapter 6, Verse 9
It is mentioned in the
Svetasvatara Upanishad, Adhyaya(Chapter) 6, Shloka(Verse) 9, “Na
casya kascij janita na cadhipah” “Of him there is neither parents nor
lord”.
“na tasya kascit patir asti loke,
na cesita naiva ca tasya lingam, na karanam karanadhipadhipo na casya kascij
janita na cadhipah”.
“Of him there is no master in the
world, no ruler, nor is there any mark of him. He is the cause, the lord of the
lords of the sense organs; of him there is neither progenitor nor lord”.
(The principal
Upanishad by S. Radhakrishnan page 745 and in sacred books of the east Volume
15, the Upanishads, part II, page 263)
(ii) Similar
message is given in Holy Qur’an in Surah Ikhlas, Chapter 112, Verse 3,
“He begets not, nor
is he begotten”.
(i) In Svetasvatara Upanishad, Chapter 4, Verse 19
It is mentioned in
Svetasvatara Upanishad, Adhyaya(Chapter) 4, Shloka(Verse) 19,
“Na
tasya pratima asti” “There is no likeness of him”.
“nainam
urdhvam na tiryancam na madhye na parijagrabhat na tasya pratima asti yasya
nama mahad yasah” “There is no likeness of him whose name is great
glory”.
(The principal
Upanishad by S. Radhakrishnan page 736 & 737 and in sacred books of the east
Volume 15, the Upanishad, part II, page 253)
c) (ii) Similar message
is given in the Holy Qur’an in Surah Ikhlas, Chapter 112, Verse 4,
“And there is none
like unto him”.
c)
(iii) Surah Shura, Chapter 42, Verse 11 and also in Surah Shura, Chapter
42, Verse 11,
“There is nothing
whatever like unto him”.
d) (i) In Svetasvatara
Upanishad, Chapter 4, Verse 20
It is mentioned in
Svetasvatara Upanishad, Adhyaya(Chapter) 4, Shloka(Verse) 20,
“na
samdrse tishati rupam asya, na caksusa pasyati kas canainam” “his form
cannot be seen, no one sees him with the eye”
“nasamdrse
tishati rupam asya, na caksusa pasyati kas canainam. Hrda hrdistham manasa ya
enam, evam vidur amrtas te bhavanti”
“His form is not to
be seen; no one sees him with the eye. Those who through heart and mind know
him as abiding in the heart become immortal”.
(The principal
Upanishad by S. Radhakrishnan page 737 & in sacred books of the east Volume
15, the Upanishad part II, page 253)
e) (ii) Similar message
is given in the Holy Qur’an in Surah Anam, Chapter 6, Verse 103,
“No vision can grasp
him. But his grasp is over all vision: he is above all comprehension, yet is
acquainted with all things”.
5.
Yajurveda
Vedas are the most sacred amongst all the
Hindu scriptures, there are principally 4 Vedas, Rigved, Yajurved, Samved and
Atharvaved.
a) Yajurveda, Chapter 32, Verse 3
It is mentioned in Yajurved, Chapter 32,
Verse 3
“na tasya pratima asti” “There is no
image of Him”
It
further says as “He is unborn, He deserves our worship”
“There is no image
of him whose glory verily is great. He sustains within himself all luminous
objects like the sun etc. may he not harm me, this is my prayer. As he is
unborn, he deserves our worship”.
(The
Yajurveda by Devi Chand M.A. page 377)
b) Yajurveda, Chapter 40, Verse 8
It
is mentioned in Yajurved, Chapter 40, Verse 8, “He is body less and pure”
“He hath attained
unto the bright, bodiless, woundless, sinewless, the pure which evil hath not
pierced. Far-sighted wise, encompassing, he self existent hath prescribed aims
as propriety demands unto the everlasting years”
(Yajurveda
Samhita by Ralph I.H. Griffith page 538)
c) Yajurveda, Chapter 40, Verse 9
It is mentioned in Yajurved, Chapter 40,
Verse 9
“Andhatma pravishanti ye asambhuti mupaste”
“They enter darkness, those who worship
natural things” For e.g. air, water, fire etc.
It further continues
and says, “They sink deeper in darkness those who worship Sambhuti i.e. created
things”, For example table, chair, idol etc.
“Deep into shade of
blinding gloom fall asambhuti’s worshippers. They sink to darkness deeper yet
who on sambhuti are intent”
(Yajurveda Samhita
by Ralph T.H. Griffith page 538)
6. Atharvaveda
a) (i) Atharvaveda, Book 20, Hymn
(Chapter) 58, Verse 3
It
is mentioned in Atharvaveda, Book 20, Hymn (Chapter) 58, Verse 3
“Dev
maha osi” “God is verily great”
“Verily,
surya, thou art great; truly, aditya, thou art great. As thou art great indeed
thy greatness is admired: yea, verily,
great art thou, O God”
(Atharvaveda
Samhiti Volume 2, William Dwight Whitney page 910)
a) (ii) Surah Rad, Chapter 13, Verse 9
A
similar message is given in Qur’an Surah Rad, Chapter 13, Verse 9,
“He
is the Great, the most High.”
7. Rigveda
The
most oldest and sacred amongst all the Vedas is Rigveda.
a) Rigveda,
Book No.1, Hymn No. 164, Verse 46
It
is mentioned in Rigveda Book no.1, Hymn no.164 Verse 46
“Sages (learned Priest) call one God by
many names”
“They have styled
(Him, God or the sun) indra (the resplendent), mitra (the surveyor), varuna
(the venerable), agni (the adorable), and he is the celestial, well-winged
garutmat (the great), for learned priests call one by many names as they speak
of the adorable as yama (ordainer) and matarisvan (cosmic breath)”.
Therefore only if
you read the Hindu Scripture will you understand the correct concept of God in
Hinduism.
II B Angels
1.
Angels in Islam
Angels are creation of Allah (SWT)
which are normally unseen and has been created from light. They do not have
their own free will and always obey the commandments of Almighty Allah.
Different angels have been appointed by Almighty Allah for different activity
e.g. Arch Angel Gabriel (Jibreel) was appointed to bring the Revelation of
Allah (SWT) to the prophets.
2.
Angels in Hinduism
There is no concept of Angels in
Hinduism. However there are certain super beings which perform acts which
cannot be done by a normal human being. These too are worshipped as deities by
some Hindus.
II C (ii) Books
of Hinduism
Introduction:
There are two kinds of sacred writings in Hinduism
Sruti and Smrti. Sruti means that which has been heard perceived understood or
revealed. It is the oldest and the most sacred of the Hindu’s scriptures. The
Sruti is divided into two main parts. The Vedas and the Upanishads and are
considered to be of divine origin.
Smrti is not as sacred as the Sruti, but it is yet
considered to be important and is popular with the Hindus today. Smrti means
memory or remembered. This Hindu literature is easier to understand because it
speaks about the truths of the uniVerse through symbolism and mythology. The
Smrti are not considered to be of divine origin but are human composition which
regulate and guide individuals in their daily conduct and lists rules governing
the actions of the individual, the community and the society. They are also
known as Dharma Shastra Smrtis consists of many writings including the Puranas
and Itihas.
II Muhammad
(pbuh) in the Hindu Scriptures
1. Introduction
There are several Holy Scriptures
of the Hindus among them are the Vedas, Upanishads & the Puranas.
a) (i)Vedas: It is derived from ‘Vid’, to know,
means knowledge par excellence, sacred wisdom. There are 4 principal divisions
of the Vedas (Although according to their number, they amount to 1131 out of
which about a dozen are available. According to Maha Bhashya of Patanjali there
are 21 branches of Rigveda, 9 types of Atharvaveda, 101 branches of Yajurveda
and 1000 of Samveda)
(ii) The Rigveda, the
Yajurveda and Samveda are considered to be more ancient books and are known as
‘Trai Viddya’ or the ‘Tripple Sciences’. The Rigveda is the oldest and has been
compiled in 3 long and different periods of time. The 4th Veda is
the Atharvaveda which is of a later date.
(iii) There is no unanimous opinion regarding the
date of compilation or revelation of the 4 Vedas. According to Swami Dayanand,
who is the founder of the Arya Samaj, the Vedas were revealed 1310 millions of
years ago and according to other scholars they are not more than 4000 years old.
(iv) Similarly there is a
difference of opinion regarding the places where these books were revealed and
the Rishis to whom these Scriptures were given. Inspite of these differences
the Vedas are the most authentic of the Hindu Scriptures and the real foundations
of the Hindu Dharma.
b) Upanishads:
(i)
The word Upanishads is derived from ‘Upa’ meaning near, ‘ni’ which means down
and ‘shad’ means to sit, therefore Upanishads means sitting down near groups of
pupils sit near the teacher to learn from him the secret doctrines.
According to Samkara Upanishad is
derived from the root word ‘Sad’ which means ‘to loosen’, ‘to reach’ or ‘to
destroy’, with ‘Upa’ and ‘ni’ as prefix, therefore Upanishad means
Brahma-knowledge by which ignorance is loosened or destroyed.
(ii) The number of
Upanishads exceeds 200 though the Indian tradition puts it at 108. There are 10
principal Upanishads however some consider them to be more than 10, while other
18.
(iii) The Vedanta meant originally the Upanishads,
though the word is now used for the system of philosophy based on the
Upanishad. Literally, Vedanta means the end of the Veda, Vedasya-antah, the
conclusion as well as the goal of Vedas. The Upanishads are the concluding
portion of the Vedas and chronologically they come at the end of the Vedic
period.
(iv) Some Pandits
consider the Upanishad to be more superior to the Vedas.
c) Puranas
Next in order of authenticity are the Puranas which
are the most widely read scriptures. The
Purana contains the history of the creation of the uniVerse, history of the
early Aryan tribes and life stones of the devines and deities of the Hindus.
The Puranas are revealed books like the Vedas which were revealed
simultaneously with the Vedas or somewhere close to it.
Maharishi Vyasa has divided the Puranas into 18
voluminous parts. He also arranged the Vedas under various heads. The Gita and
Mahabharata were productions of his masterly pen.
Chief among the Puranas is a book known as
Bhavishya Purana. It is called so because it gives an account of future event. The
Hindus consider it to be the word of God. Maharishi Vyasa was just the compiler
of the book. The real author being God himself.
Muhammad (pbuh) prophesized in
Bhavishya Purana
According to Bhavishya Purana in the Prati Sarag,
Parv III, Khand 3, Aday 3, Shaloka 5 to 8
“A malechha (belonging to a
foreign country and speaking foreign language) spiritual teacher will appear
with his companions. His name will be Mohammad. Raja (Bhoj) after giving this
Maha Dev Arab (of angelic disposition) a both in the ‘Panchgavya’ and the
Ganges water (i.e. purging him of all time) offered him the presents of his
sincere devotion and showing him all reverence said, “I make obeisance to thee,
‘Oye! The pride of mankind, the dweller in Arabia, Ye have collected a great
force to kill the Devil and you yourself have been protected from the malechha
opponents.”
The Prophecy
clearly states:
(i) The name of the Prophet as
Muhammad
(ii) He will belong to Arabia. The Sanskrit
word ‘Marusthal’ means a sandy track of land or a desert.
(iii) Special
mention is made of the companions of the Prophet i.e. the Sahabas. No other
Prophet had as many companions as Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
(iv) He is referred
as the pride of mankind (Parbatis nath). The Holy Qur’an reconfirms this in
Surah Al-Qalam, Chapter 68, Verse 4
“And thou (standest) on an exalted
standard of character” and in Surah Al-Ahzab Chapter 33, Verse 21
“Ye have indeed in the messenger of
Allah, a beautiful pattern (of conduct)”
(v) He will kill the
devil i.e. abolish idol worship and all sorts of vices.
(vi) The Prophet will be given the
protection against his enemy.
Some people may argue that Raja
Bhoj mentioned in the prophecy lived in the 11th century CE 500
years after the advent of Prophet Muhammad and was the descendant in the 10th
generation of Raja Shalivahan. These people fail to realize that there was not
only one Raja of the name Bhoj. The Egyptian Monarchs were called as Pharaoh
and the Roman kings were known as Caesar’s, similarly the Indian Rajas were
given the tittle of Bhoj. There were several Raja Bhoj who came before the one
in 11th Century CE.
The Prophet did not physically take a bath in
Panchgavya and the water of Ganges.
Since the water of Ganges is considered holy, taking bath in the Ganges
is an idem meaning washing away or making immune from all sorts of sins. Here
the prophecy implies that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was sinless i.e.
‘Maasoom’.
3. Muhammad (pbuh) prophesized in Bhavishya Purana
According to Bhavishya Purana in
the Pratisarag, Parv III, Khand 3, Shloka 10 to 27 Maharishi Vyas has
prophesized.
“The Malechha have spoiled the well known land of
the Arabs. Arya Dharma is not to be found in the country. Before also there
appeared a misguided friend whom I had killed; he has now again appeared being
sent by a powerful enemy. To show these enemies the right path and to give them
guidance the well-known Mohamad (Muhammad), who has been given by me the
epithet of Brahma, is busy in bringing the ‘Pishachas’ to the right path. O
Raja, you need not go to the land of the foolish Pishachas, you will be
purified through my kindness even where you are at night, he of the angelic
disposition, the shrewd man, in the guise of a Pischacha said to Raja Bhoj, O
Raja! Your Arya Dharma has been made to prevail over all religions, but
according to the commandment of Ishwar Parmatma, I shall enforce the strong
need of the meat eaters. My follower will be a man circumcised, without a tail
(on his head), keeping beard, creating a revolution announcing Adhan (call for
prayer) and will be eating all lawful things. He will eat all sorts of animals
except swine. They will not seek purification from the holy shrubs, but will be
purified through warfare. On account of their fighting the irreligious nations,
they will be known as ‘Musalmans’. I shall be the originator of the religion of
the meat-eating nation”
The Prophecy states that:
(i) The evil doers have corrupted the Arab land.
(ii) Arya Dharma is not
found in that land.
(iii)
The present enemies will be destroyed just as the previous
enemies like Abraha had perished. Qur’an speaks about these sort of previous
enemies in Surah Al-Feel, Chapter No. 105, Verse No. 1 to 5.
“Seest thou not how thy word dealt with the
companions of the elephant? Did we not make their treacherous plan go astray?
And He sent against them flights of Birds sticking them with stones of baked
day then did He make them like an empty field of stalk and straw, (of which the
corn) has been eaten up”.
(iv) Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has been given the
title Brahma to guide the opponents of truth.
(v) The Indian Raja need
not go to Arab land since his purification will take place in India after the
Musalman will arrive in India.
(vi) The coming Prophet
will atlest the truth of the Aryan faith i.e. Monotheism and will reform the
misguided people.
(vii) The Prophets
followers will be circumcised without a tail on the head being a beard and will
create a great revolution.
(viii)Will announce the
Adhan i.e. ‘call for prayer’.
(ix) He will only eat lawful things and animals but
will not eat pork. Qur’an confirms this is no less than 4 different places.
In Surah Al-Baqarah, Chapter 2,
Verse 173
In Surah Al-Maidah, Chapter 5,
Verse 3
In Surah Al-Anam, Chapter 6, Verse
145
In Surah Al-Nahl, Chapter 16,
Verse 115
“Forbidden for you for food are
dead meat, blood, flesh of swine, and that on which had been invoked the name
of other than Allah”.
(x) They will not purify
with grass like the Hindus but by means of sword they will fight their
irreligious people.
(xi) They will be called as Musalman.
(xii) They will be a meat
eating nation.
Qur’an confirms the eating of
herbivorous animals in,
Surah Maidah, Chapter 5, Verse No. 1 &
Surah Moominoon, Chapter 23, Verse No. 21
Commentary
According to Bhavishya Purana,
Parv III, Khand 1, Aday 3, Shloka 21-23,
Corruption and persecution are in seven sacred
cities of Kashi etc. India is inhabited by Rakshas, Shabar, Bhil and other
foolish people. In the land of ‘Malechhas’, the followers of the ‘Malechha
dharma’ (Islam) are wise and brave people. All good qualities are found in
Musalmans and all sorts of vices have accumulated in the land of the Aryas.
Islam will rule in India and its islands. Having known these facts O Muni,
glorify the name of thy Lord”.
Qur’an conforms this in,
Surah Taukah, Chapter 9, Verse 33 &
Surah Al-Saf, Chapter 61, Verse 9,
“It is the who hath sort His
Messenger with guidance and the Religion of Truth, to proclaim it over all
religion, even though the pagan may detect (it)” and a similar message is given
in, Surah Fatah Chapter 48, Verse 28,
Ending with ‘And enough is Allah
as a witness’.
4. Muhammad (pbuh) prophesized
in Bhavishya Purana
In the 20th Book of
Atharvaveda, Hymn 127. Some Suktas (Chapters) are known as Kuntap Sukt. Kuntap
means the consumer of misery and troubles. Thus meaning the message of peace and
safety and if translated in Arabic means Islam.
Kuntap also means hidden glands in the abdomen.
These mantras are called so probably because their true meaning was hidden and
was to be revealed in future. Its hidden meaning is also connected with the navel
or the middle point of this earth. Mecca is called the ‘Ummul Qur’an’ the
mother of the towns or the naval of the earth in many revealed books it was the
first house of divine worship where God Almighty gave spiritual nourishment to
the world. The Holy Qur’an says in Surah Ale-Imran, Chapter 3, Verse 95.
“The first house (of worship) appointed for men was
that at Bakka (Mecca) full of blessings and of guidance and for all kinds of
beings”.
Another name for Mecca is ‘Becca’.
Thus Kuntap stands for Mecca or Becca.
Several people have translated
these Kuntap Suktas like M. Blomfield, Prof. Ralph Griffith, Pandith Rajaram,
Pandit Khem Karan, etc.
The main points mentioned in the Kuntap Suktas that
is Atharvaved, Book XX, Hymn 127, Verses 1-13 are:
Mantra 1:
He is narashansah or the praised
one (Muhammad).
He is Kaurama the prince of peace or the emigrant,
who is safe, even amongst a host of 60,090 enemies.
Mantra 2:
He is a camel-riding Rishi, whose chariot touches
the heaven.
Mantra 3:
He is Mamah Rishi who is given a hundred gold
coins, ten chaklets (necklaces), three hundred good steeds and ten thousand
cows.
Mantra 4:
Vachyesv rebh, ’Oh! ye who
glorifies’
Mantra 5:
The praying ones with their
prayers hurry on like powerful bulls.
Mantra 6:
O you who praises hold fast the wisdom which earns
cows and good things. Disseminate this among the divine.
Mantra 7:
He is the king of the worlds, the best of men and
guide for the entire mankind.
Mantra 8-9:
He has procured a secure dwelling for the people,
gives protection to every body and has spread peace in the world.
Mantra 10:
People
thrive happily end prosper under his rule and from the depth of degradation
they rise to the height of glory.
Mantra 11:
He is asked to wake up and warn the world.
Mantra 12:
He is extremely bountiful and very
generous.
Mantra 13:
(His followers) have been saved
from the hostility and robbery of the enemy and May the Master not be harmed.
Mantra 14:
We Glorify and praise the great
hero with a song of praise and a prayer. Please accept this praise so that evil
may not befall us.
(i) The Sanskrit word ‘Narashansah’ means ‘the
praised one’ which is the literal translation of the Arabic word Muhammad
(pbuh).
The
Sanskrit word ‘Kaurama’ means ‘one who spreads and promotes peace’ the holy Prophet
was the ‘Prince of Peace’ and he preached equality of human kind and universal
brotherhood. ‘Kaurama’ also means an emigrant. The Prophet migrated from Mecca
to Medina and was thus also an Emigrant. He will be protected from 60,090
enemies which was the population of Mecca.
(ii) The Prophet would
ride a camel, this clearly indicates that, it cannot be an Indian Rishi since
it is forbidden for a Brahman to ride a camel, sacred Books of the east, Volume
25, Laws of Manu page 472 according to Manu Smriti, Chapter 11, Verse 202.
“A Brahman is prohibited from
riding a camel or an ass and to bath naked. He should purify himself by
suppressing his breath”.
(iii)
(a) This Mantra gave the Rishis name as
Mamah. No rishi in India or any other Prophet had this name ‘Mamah’ is derived
from ‘Mah’ which means to esteem highly, on a revere, to exalt, etc. Some
Sanskrit books give the Prophets name as ‘Mahamad’, but this word according to
Sanskrit grammar can also be used in the bad sense. It is incorrect to apply
grammar to an Arabic word. Actually Mamah has the some meaning and somewhat
similar pronunciation as the word Muhammad (pbuh).
(b) He is given 100 gold
coins, which refers to the believers and the earlier companions of the Prophet
during his turbulent Meccan life. Later on due to persecution they migrated
from Mecca to Abyssinia later when Prophet migrated to Madina all of them
joined him in Madinah.
(c) The 10 chaplets or
necklaces were the 10 best companions of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) known as
‘Ashra – Mubbashshira’ (10 bestowed with good news). These were fore told in
this world of their salvation in the hereafter i.e. they were given the good
news of entering paradise by Prophets own lips and after naming each one he
said (in Paradise). They were Abu Baker, Umer, Uthman, Ali, Talha, Zubair,
Abdur Rahman Ibni Auf, Sad Bin Abi Waqqar, Sad Bin Zaid and Abu Ubeidah (May
God be well-pleased with them).
(d) The third gift was
300 good steeds. These horses belonged to the Arab breed. The Sanskrit word
‘Arvah’ means swift Arab horse, The 300 steeds refers to the 300 companions of
the Holy Prophet who fought at the battle of Badar and came back victorious
even though the enemies were thrice the number.
(e) The Sankrit word
‘Go’ is derived from ‘Gaw’ which means ‘to go to war’. A cow is also called
‘Go’ and is a symbol of war as well as peace, the 10,000 cows refers to the
10,000 companious of who accompanied the Prophet (Pubh) when he entered Mecca
during Fateh Mecca which was a unique victory in the history of mankind in
which there was no blood shed. The 10,000 companions were pious and
compassionate like a cow and were at the same time strong and fierce and are
described in the Holy Qur’an in Surah Fatah, Chapter 48, Verse 29,
“Muhammad is the Messenger of
Allah, and those who are with him are strong against unbelievers, (but)
compassionate amongst each other”.
(iv) This mantra
calls the Prophet as ‘Rebh’ which means one who praises which when translated
into Arabic is Ahmed which is another name for the Holy Prophet (pbuh).
(v)
He and his followers are always mindful of their prayers even in the
battlefield. The Holy Qur’an says in Surah Baqarah, Chapter 2, Verse 45,
“Nay, seek (Allah’s) help with
patience, perseverance and prayer”
The Holy Qur’an says in Surah
Nisa, Chapter 4, Verse 102,
“When thou (O Messenger) act with
them, and standest to lead them in prayer, Let one party of them stand up (in
prayer) with thee, taking their arms with them. When they finish their
prostations, let them take their position in the rear. And let the other party
come up which hath not yet prayed and let them pray with thee, taking all
precautions, and bearing arms.”
(vi) The wisdom mentioned
in this mantra refer to the Holy Qur’an. The Holy Qur’an earns good not only in
this world but also in the here after. The Prophet (pbuh) is asked to propagate
amongst his companions. Many of whom memorized the Qur’an.
(vii) All the attributes
in this mantra apply to the Holy Prophet (pbuh)
In Surah Al-Anbiya, Chapter 21,
Verse 107
“We sent thee not, but as a mercy
for all creatures”
In Surah Saba, Chapter 34, Verse
28
“We have not sent thee but as a
universal (Messenger) to men, giving them glad tidings, and warning them
(against sin), but most men understand not.”
In Surah Al-Qalam, Chapter 68,
Verse 4
“And thou (standest) on an exalted
standard of character.”
In Surah Al-Ahzab, Chapter 33,
Verse 21
“We have indeed in the Messenger
of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct)”.
(viii) & (ix) During
the reconstruction of Kaaba, the Prophet (pbuh) Through his wisdom prevented a
war between the Arab tribe. The Prophet not only gave peace to the Arab land
but also to the whole world. Even during the conquest of Mecca, the Prophet
established peace without shedding a single drop of blood. He gave peace,
shelter to the bitterest enemies and let them go by saying, “There shall be no
reproof against you this day.”
(x) The Arabs were the
most ignorant people 1400 years ago and it was referred to as ‘Youmul
Jahiliya’. The Prophet with his message brought prosperity and raised these
ignorant people and made them the torchbearers.
(xi) This Mantra gives the translation of the Holy
Qur’an Surah Al-Mudaththir, Chapter 74, Verses 1-3
“O thou wrapped up (in a mantle)! Arise and deliver
thy warning!
And thy Lord do thou magnify!” The Prophet arose
and warned the people and glorified the Lord.
(xii)
The Holy Qur’an says in Surah Ale-Imran, Chapter 3, Verse
159
“It is part of the Mercy of Allah
that thou don’t deal gently with them.
Wert thou severe or harsh hearted,
They would have broken away from about thee.”
It was due to the Prophets (pbuh)
kind-heartedness; mercy and generosity that people flocked around him otherwise
the stubborn Arabs could never have been won.
(xiii) This Mantra is a
prayer of the Rishi for the Prophet (pbuh) a similar prayer is found in the
last Chapter of the Holy Qur’an i.e. Surah Nas, Chapter 114, Verses 1-3.
“Say, I seek refuge with Lord and Cherisher of
mankind, The King (or Ruler) of mankind, the God (or Judge) of mankind from the
mischief of the Whisperer (of Evil), who withdraws (after his whisper) - (the
same) who whispers into the hearts of mankind – Among Jinns and among Men.”
(xiv) In this last Mantra,
the Rishi of the Veda makes it compulsory for the followers of the Veda to
praise the Holy Prophet (pbuh) land follow him so that they will be saved from
the evil of this world.
5. Battle of the Allies described
in the Vedas.
It is mentioned in Atharvaveda, Book XX, Hymn 21,
Verse 6, “Lord of the truthful! These libatrous drinks these feats of bravery
and the inspiring songs gladdened thee in field of battle. When thou renders
vanquished without fight the ten thousand opponents of the praying one, the
adoring one.”
(i) This Prophecy of the
Veda describes the well-known battle of Ahzab or the battle of the Allies
during the time of Prophet Muhammad. The Prophet was victorious without an
actual conflict which is mentioned in the Qur’an in Surah Ahzab, Chapter 33,
Verse 22, “When the believers saw the confederate forces they said, This is
what Allah and His Messenger had promised us and Allah and His Messenger told
us what was true”.
And it only added to their faith and their zeal in
obedience.
(ii) The Sanskrit word
karo in the Mantra means the ‘praying one’ which when translated into Arabic
means Ahmed, the second name of Prophet Muhammad.
(iii) (Pbuh) The 10,000 opponents mentioned in the
mantra were the enemies of the Prophet and the Muslims were only 3000 in
numbers.
(iv) The last words of
the Mantra ‘aprati ni bashayah’ means the defeat was given to the enemies
without an actual fight.
6. The enemies defeat in the conquest of Mecca
It
is mentioned in Atharvaveda, Book 20, Hymn 21, Verse No. 7
“You have O India, overthrown 20 Kings and 60,099
men with an outstripping Chariat wheel who came to fight the praised one or far
famed (Muhammad) orphan.”
(i) The Population of Mecca at the time of Prophet
advent was nearly 60,000.
(ii) There were several
clans in Mecca each having its own chief. Totally there were about 20 chiefs to
rule the population of Mecca.
(iii) An Abandhu meaning a
helpless man who was far famed and ‘Praised one’ Muhammad (pbuh) overcame his
enemies with the help of God.
A similar prophecy is also found in Rigveda, Book
I, Hymn 53, Verse 9
The Sanskrit word used is
‘Sushrana’ which means praise worthy or well praised which in Arabic means
Muhammad (pbuh).
7.
Muhammad (pbuh) prophesized
in Samveda
Book II, Hymn 6, Verse 8
“Ahmed acquired from his Lord the knowledge of
eternal law I received light from him just as from the sun”. The Prophecy
confirms.
(i) The name of the
Prophet as Ahmed since Ahmed is an Arabic name; many translators misunderstood
it to be Ahmat and translated the mantra as I alone have acquired the real
wisdom of my father.
(ii) Prophet was given
external law i.e. Shariah
(iii) The Rishi was
enlightened by the Shariah of Prophet Muhammad. The Holy Qur’an says in Surah
Saba, Chapter 34, Verse 28
“We have not sent thee but as a
universal (messenger) to men, giving them glad tidings and warning them
(against sin), but most men understand not.”
II Common
Questions Asked By Hindus About Islam
10.
ARE THE VEDAS A
REVELATION OF GOD?
Question:
If Allah has sent his books and
revelations in every period, then which revelation was sent to India? Can we
consider the Vedas and other Hindu scriptures to be word of God?
Answer:
1. Revelation sent in every period.
The Glorious Qur’an mentions in
Surah Rad, Chapter 13, Verse 38
“For each period is a book
(revealed).”
[Al-Qur’an 13:38]
2. Four revelations of God mentioned by name in Qur’an
By name, only four revelations of
God are mentioned in the Qur’an i.e. Torah, Zaboor, Injeel and the Qur’an
Torah is the revelation, which was given to Moses
(pbuh)
Zaboor is the revelation, which
was given to David (pbuh)
Injeel is the revelation, which
was given to Jesus (pbuh) and
Qur’an is the last and final
revelation which was given to the last and final Messenger Muhammad (pbuh).
All the previous revelations sent
only for their people
All the revelations that came
before Qur’an were only sent for their own people and were to be followed only
for a particular time period.
The Qur’an sent for whole humankind
Since the Qur’an is the last and
final revelation, it was not sent only for the Muslims or the Arabs but it was
sent for the whole of humankind. It is mentioned in:
a.
Surah Ibrahim,
Chapter 14, Verse 1
“Alif Lam Ra. A book which We have
revealed unto thee, in order that thou mightiest lead mankind out of the depths
of darkness into light…”
[Al-Qur’an
14:1]
b. A similar message is repeated in Surah Ibrahim, Chapter 14, Verse
52
“Here is a Message for mankind:
let them take warning therefrom, and let them know that He is (no other than)
One God: let men of understanding take heed”.
[Al-Qur’an 14:52]
c. Qur’an mentions in Surah
Baqarah, Chapter 2, Verse 185
“Ramadan is the (month) in which
was sent down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for
guidance and judgement (between right and wrong).” [Al-Qur’an 2:185]
c.
d. A similar message
is repeated in Surah Zumur, Chapter 39, Verse 41
“Verily We have revealed the Book
to thee in Truth, for (instructing) mankind.” [Al-Qur’an 39:41]
Which revelation sent to India?
The question that arises is “which
revelation of God was sent to India and whether we can consider the Vedas and
the other Hindu Scriptures to be the revelations of God?” There is no text in
the Qur’an or Sahih Hadith mentioning the name of the revelation that was sent
to India. Since the name of the Vedas or other Hindu scriptures are no where to
be found in Qur’an and Sahih Hadith, one cannot say for sure that they were the
revelations of God. They may be the revelation of God or may not be the
revelation of God.
Even if the Veda was
the word of God today you have to follow the Qur’an
Even if the Vedas and the other
scriptures were the revelations from God, they were only meant for people of
that time and were to be followed only for that particular period of time.
Today all human beings through out the world including India should only follow
the last and final Revelation of God, i.e. the Qur’an. Moreover since all the
previous revelations were not meant to be followed for eternity, Almighty God
did not preserve them in their original form. There is not a single religious
scripture of any of the major religions, which claims to be the word of God and
has maintained its pure original text and is free from alteration, adulteration
and interpolation. Since the Glorious Qur’an is to be followed for eternity,
Allah (SWT) has taken upon Himself to maintain its original purity and guard it
from corruption. Allah says in Glorious Qur’an.
Surah Hijr, Chapter 15, Verse 9
“We have without doubt, sent down
the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption).”
[Al-Qur’an 15:9]
9. ARE
RAM AND KRISHNA PROPHETS OF GOD?
Question:
If according to Islam, messengers or prophets were
sent to each and every ntion of the world, then which prophet was sent to
India? Can we consider Ram and Krishna to be messengers of God?
Answer:
1. Prophets sent to every
nation
a) The Glorious Qur’an mentions in
Surah Fatir, Chapter 35, Verse 24
“…And there never was a people,
without a warner having lived among them (in the past)”.[Al-Qur’an 35:24]
b) A similar message is repeated
in Surah, Chapter 13, Verse 7
“…and to every people a
guide”.[Al-Qur’an 13:7]
2. Stories only of some prophets narrated in the Qur’an
a) Allah (SWT) says in Surah Nisa,
Chapter 4, Verse 164
“Of
some messengers We have already told thee the story; of others we have not.”
[Al-Qur’an
4:164]
b) A similar message is
repeated in Surah Ghafir, Chapter 40, Verse 78
“We did aforetime send messengers before thee: of
them there are some whose story We have related to thee, and some whose story
We have not related to thee...”
[Al-Qur’an 40:78]
3. 25 Prophets of God are mentioned by name in the Qur’an
By name, only 25 Prophets of God are mentioned in
the Qur’an e.g. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad (pbuh)
4. More than 1,24,000 prophets of God
According to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), there were
more than 1,24,000 prophets sent to this world.
5. All previous prophets sent only for their people
All the prophets that came before Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
were only sent for their own people and were to be followed only for a
particular period of time.
Surah Ali Imran, Chapter 3, Verse
49
“And (appoint him) a messenger to
the Children of Israel,…”
[Al-Qur’an
3:49]
6. Muhammad (pbuh), the last messenger of God
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is the last and final
messenger of Almighty God. It is mentioned in
Surah Ahzab, Chapter 33, Verse 40
“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but
(he is) the Messenger of Allah, and the seal of the Prophets: and Allah has
full knowledge of all things.”
[Al-Qur’an
33:40]
7. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), sent for whole Humankind
Since Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is the last and final
messenger, he was not sent only for the Muslims or the Arabs, but he was sent
for the whole of humankind.
a. It is mentioned in
Surah Anbiya, Chapter 21, Verse
107
“We sent thee not, but as a mercy
for all creatures.”
[Al-Qur’an 21:107]
b. A similar message is
repeated in
Surah Saba, Chapter 34, Verse 28
“We have not sent thee but as a universal
(Messenger) to men, giving them glad tidings, and warning them (against sin),
but most men understand not.”
[Al-Qur’an
34:28]
c. It is mentioned in
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book of
Salaah, Chapter 56, Hadith no. 429
Narrated Jabir bin Abdullah:
Allah’s Messenger said,
“Every Prophet used to be sent to his nation only
but I have been sent to all mankind.”
8. Which prophet was sent to India?
Regarding the question of which prophet was sent to
India, and can we consider Ram or Krishna to be prophets of God, there is no
text in the Qur’an or Sahih Hadith mentioning the name of the prophet that was
sent to India. Since the names of Ram and Krishna are nowhere to be found in
the Qur’an and Sahih Hadith, one cannot say for sure whether they were prophets
of God or not. Some Muslims, especially certain Muslim politicians who try to
appease the Hindus, say Ram Alai-his-salaam, i.e. Ram, may peace be on him.
This is totally wrong, since there is no authentic proof from the Qur’an and
Sahih Hadith that he was a prophet of God. However, a person may say that
perhaps they may have been the prophets of God.
9. Even if Ram and Krishna were prophets, today we have to
follow the last Prophet of God i.e. Muhammad (pbuh)
Even if Ram and Krishna were prophets of God, they
were only meant for people of that time and were to be followed only for that
particular period of time. Today, all the human beings throughout the world,
including India should only follow the last and final prophet and Messenger of
God-prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
D 9. Avtaars and
Messengers in Hinduism
There is no concept of Messengers of God in
Hinduism. However they have a concept of Avtaar. Avtaar is the Sanskrit term
where ‘Av’ means down and ‘tr’ means passover. Thus Avtar means to descend down
or to come down. The meaning of Avtaar in the oxford Dictionary is, “(In Hindu
Mythology) the descent of a diety of a released soul to earth in bodily form”.
In simple words, Avtaar means God Almighty coming down to earth in bodily form.
In Hinduism, It is believed that God Almighty comes
down to the earth in some bodily form to protect the religion or to set an
example or set the rules for the human beings.
There is no reference of Avtaars anywhere in the
Vedas. The most sacred of the Hindu Scriptures i.e. Sruti. However it is found
in the Smrti i.e. the Puranas and the Itihasas.
It is mentioned in the most popular and widely read
book of Hinduism.
Bhagavad Geeta, Chapter 4, Verse
7-8
“Whenever and wherever there is a decline in
religious practice, O descendent of Bharata, and a predominant rise of
irreligion at that time I descend Myself”.
“To deliver the Pious and to annihilate the
miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I myself
appear, millenium after millennium”.
Thus according to Bhagavad Geeta, God takes Avtaar
to deliver the pious and annihilate miscreants and to reestablish the
principles or religion.
According to the Puranas there are hundreds of
Avtaars, but the Vishnu the sustainer has 10 Avtaars.
1. Matsya-avatar, in
the form of a fish
2. Kurm-avatar, in the
form of a tortoise
3. Varah-avatar, in the
form of a boar or a pig
4. Narasimha-avatar, in
the form of a monster, half man half lion
5. Vamana-avatar, in
the form of a Brahmin dwarf named Vamana
6. Parashuaram-avatar,
in the form of Parashurama
7. Rama-avatar, in the
form of Rama, the hero of Ramayana
8. Krishna-avatar, in
the form of Krishna, the hero of Gita
9. Buddha-avatar, in the
form of Gautam Buddha
10. Kalki-avatar, in the
form of Kalki
(Rigveda Samhiti, Volume XII, page 4309 by Swami
Satyaprakash Saraswati and Satyakam Vidhyalank)
All these Scriptures are telling
its reader that though the things are made so clear yet they divert away from
the truth.
4. ANTHROPOMORPHISM
a. God need not take
human form to understand human being.
Most of the other religions some time or the other
believes in the philosophy of anthropomorphism i.e. God take human form. They
have a very good logic for it Almighty God is so pure and Holy the he is
unaware of the hardships, shortcomings, difficulties feelings etc. of the human
being. He does not know how does a person feel when he is hurt or when he is in
trouble etc. Therefore in order to set the rules for the human beings. He came
down to the earth in the form of a human being. On the face of it, it seems to
be a very good logic.
b. Creator prepares an
instruction manual.
Suppose I manufacture a tape recorder. Do I have to
become a tape recorder to know what is good or what is bad for the tape
recorder. I writer an instruction manual. In order to listen to the
audiocassette, insert the cassette and press the play button. In order to stop,
press the stop button. If you want to fast-forward press the FF. button. Do not
drop it from a height it will get damaged. Do not immerse it in water it will
get spoilt. I write an instruction manual. The dos and don’ts for the machine.
c. Holy Qur’an is the
instruction manual for the human being.
In the similar fashion our lord and creator Allah
(SWT) need not come in the form of a human being to know what is good or bad
for the human being. He only has to reveal the instruction manual the last and
final instruction manual of the human beings is the Holy Qur’an.
The dos and don’ts for the human beings is
mentioned in the Holy Qur’an.
d. Allah chooses
messengers:
Allah (SWT) need not come down personally for
writing the instruction manual. He chooses a man amongst men to deliver the
message and communication with him at a higher level through the revelation.
Such chosen men are called as messengers and prophets of God.
I E LIFE AFTER DEATH-HEREAFTER
1. Its mentioned in the Qur’an
Surah Baqarah, Chapter 2, Verse 28
“How can ye reject the faith in
Allah? Seeing that ye were without life, And He gave you life; Then will He
cause you to die, And will again bring you to life; And again to Him Will ye
return”.
In Islam a human being comes into
this world only once and after he dies, he is again resurrected on the day of
judgement and depending upon the deeds he has done he will either dwell in
heaven i.e. Paradise or in hell.
2. This life is the test for the
here after
Its mentioned in the Qur’an
Surah Al Mulk, Chapter 67, Verse 2
“He who created Death and Life,
that He May try which of you is best in deed; and He is the exalted in Might,
oft forgiving.
This life that we lead in this world is a test for
the here after. If we follow the commandment of the creator Almighty Allah and
we pass the test, We shall enter Paradise i.e. Eternal Bliss. If you do not
follow the commandments of our creator and fail the test then we shall be put
into Hell.
3. Full Recompense on
the Day of Judgement
Its mentioned in the Qur’an Surah
Ali Imran, Chapter 3, Verse 185
“Every soul shall have a taste of death And only on
the Day of Judgement shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is
saved far from the fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the
object (of life). For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of
deception”.
4. Paradise – Al-Jannah
Al-Jannah i.e. Paradise is a place of Perpetual
bliss, in Arabic it literally means the Garden. The Qur’an describes the Jannah
in great detail, such as Paradise, underneath which rivers run. It contains
rivers of milk unchanging in flavor and rivers of honey purified. In it is
fruit of every kind. No fatigue shall be fell neither shall they hear idle
talk. There shall be no cause of sin except Peace and Peace.
5. Hell – Jahannam
Hell is a place of torment where the people undergo
suffering most often described as fire, a fire whose fuel is men and stones.
6. Purnjanam is not
cycle of Rebirth but life after death.
The common word used for the Doctrine of Rebirth is
‘Punarjanam’. In Sanskrit Punar or Puna means ‘next time’ or ‘again’ and Janam
means ‘life’. Therefore Punarjanam means next life or the life here after. It
does not means coming to life again and again.
Most of the reference for Punarjanam in the other Hindu Scriptures
besides the Vedas if read keeping life hereafter in mind including the
quotation of Bhagavad Gita and Upanishad it give us a concept of next life or
life again but not life again and again.
This concept of Rebirth again and again was developed later on after the
vedic period to rationalize the indifferences found in different individuals at
birth and different surrounding in which people live. Since the creator
Almighty can not be unjust.
Islam has a rational answer to this which we shall
discuss later Insha Allah.
7.
Life after death in the Vedas
There is reference to life after
death in the Vedas. It’s mentioned in
a. Rigveda Book No. 10,
Hymn No. 16, Verse No. 4
“The unborn portion; burn that, AGNI, with thy
heat; let thy flame, thy splendour, consume it; with those glorious members
which thou has given him, JATAVEDAS, bear him to the world (of the virtuous)”
The Sanskrit word Sukritam u Lokam
means the world of the virtuous or region of the pious, referring to the
hereafter. The next Verse i.e.
b. Rigveda, Book 10
Hymn 16, Verse 5 says.
“…Putting on (celestial) life, let the remains (of
bodily life) depart let him, JATAVEDAS be associated with a body.”
This Verse too refers to a second life i.e. life
after death.
8. Paradise-Swarga in
the Vedas.
Swarg i.e. Paradise is described
in several places in the Vedas including
Atharvaveda, Book 4, Hymn 34,
Verse 6 (Devichand)
a. “May all these
streams of butter, with their banks of honey, flowing with distilled water, and
milk and curds and water reach thee in domestic life enhancing thy pleasure.
May thou acquire completely these things strengthening the soul in diverse
ways.”
It’s mentioned in
a. Atharvaveda, Book 4,
Hymn 34, Verse 6 (Ved pra.)
“Having pools of clarified butter, stocks of sweet
honey, and having exhilarating drinks for water, full of milk and curds, may
all these streams flew to us in the world of happiness swelling sweetly. May
our lakes full of Lotuses be situated near us”.
b. Its mentioned in
Atharvaveda, Book 4, Hymn 34,
Verse 2
“Bereft of physical bodies, pure,
cleansed with the wind, brilliant, they go to a brilliant world. The fire does
not cause burning in their male organ. In the world if happiness they get
plenty of women”.
c. Its mentioned in
Atharvaveda, Book 2, Hymn 34,
Verse 5
May the realized ones, first of all, take the vital
breath under their control from the limbs in which it has been circulating. Go
to heaven, stay firm with all the parts of your body Attain the world of light
and emancipation, following the path of the enlightened ones, (your
predecessors).
d. It is mentioned in
Atharvaveda, Book 6, Hymn 122, Verse 3.
“O both of you, start to
accomplish it; make determined effort to accomplish it. Those having
unflinching faith attain this abode of happiness. Whatever ripe offerings you
have made in fire of sacrifice may both, the husband and wife, stand united to
guard them with care”.
8 e. It is mentioned in
Rigveda, Book 10, Hymn 95, Verse
18
“O Aila, the loud-sounding clouds, these divines
say to you, since you are indeed subject to death, let your progeny propitiate
your revered cosmic forces with oblations, then alone you shall rejoice (with
me) in heaven”
9. Hell-Nark in the
vedas
Nark or Hell is also described in
the Vedas and the Sanskrit word used is ‘Narakasthanam’.
It is mentioned in
Rigveda, Book 4, Hymn 5, Verse 4
“May the bounteous fire-divine,
consume them with his fiercely glowing sharp jaws like flames, who disregard
the commandments and steadfast laws of most venerable and sagacious lord”.
F.
DESTINY
1. Concept of Destiny –
Qadr in Islam
Qadr is the concept of Destiny.
Certain aspects of human life is predestined by our creator Almighty Allah for
e.g. where and when will a person be born. The Surround and condition in which
he will be born, how long will he live and where will he die.
2. Logical concept for
differences in different Individuals.
In Hinduism the differences in two individual at
birth e.g. one child is healthy while the other is handicapped, one child is
born in a rich family and the other in a poor family is based on past karma
i.e. actions of the previous life. There is no scientific or logical proof of the
cycle of Rebirths. The Islamic concept for these differences in different
Individual is given in Surah Mulk, Chapter 67, Verse 2
“He who created Death and life, that He may try
which of you is best in deed; And He is the Exalted In Might; oft-forgiving”.
This life that we live is the test for the
hereafter.
3. Present Conditions
in Islam is a test
There are several Verses in the Qur’an which
clearly specify that Our Creator Almighty Allah tests us in several different
ways
a. It is mentioned in
the Qur’an.
Surah Baqarah, Chapter 2, Verse
214
“Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of
Bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you?
They encountered suffering and
adversity, And were so shaken in Spirit that even the messenger and those of
faith who were with him cried. “When (will come) the help of Allah” Ah! Verily,
the help of Allah is (always) near!”
b. It is mentioned in
the Qur’an
Surah Ankabut, Chapter 29, Verse 2
“Do men think that they will be left a lone on
saying, “we believe”, And that they will not be tested?”
c. It is mentioned in
the Qur’an
Surah Anbiya, Chapter 21, Verse 35
“Every Soul shall have a taste of
death. And we test you by evil and by good by way of trial to us must ye
return.”
d. It is mentioned in
the Qur’an
Surah Baqarah, Chapter 2, Verse 155
“Be sure we shall test you with something of fear
and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your tail), but give
Glad tidings to those who patiently persevere.”
e. It is mentioned in
the Qur’an
Surah Anfal, Chapter 8, Verse 28
“And know ye that your possession
and your progeny are but a trial; And it is Allah with whom lies your highest
reward”.
II Life after Death in Hinduism
1. Concept of Rebirths
in Hinduism-Reincarnation or Transmigration of the souls.
Hinduism believe in the cycle of birth, death and
Rebirth, which is called as samsara.
Samsara or the doctrine of Rebirth is also called as the theory of
Reincarnation or the transmigration of the Soul and is considered to be the
basic tenet of Hinduism. According to
doctrine of Rebirth the difference found between one individual and the other
even at birth like one child is healthy the other is handicapped or blind is
due to their part karma i.e. actions done in the past birth. Similarly all
actions may not bear fruit in this life, thus there has to be another life.
a. Its mentioned in
Bhagavad Geeta in Chapter 2, Verse 22
“As a person puts on new garments, giving up old
ones the Soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and
useless.”
b. The doctrine of
Rebirth in also described in Brhadaranyaka Upanishad, Part 4 Chapter 4, Verse 3
“As a caterpillar which has wriggled to the top of
a blade of grass draws itself over to a new blade, so does the Soul, after it
has put aside its body draw itself over to a new existence.
2. Karma – the law of
Cause and Effect
Karma means act, action or activity and refers not
only to action undertaken by the body but also to those undertaken by the mind
Karma is actually action and reaction or the law of cause and effect. It is
explained by the saying,
“As we sow so shall we reap”
A Farmer cannot sow wheat and
expect Rice. Similarly every good thought word or deed begets a similar
reaction which affects our next life and every unkind thought harsh word and
evil deed comes back to harm us in this life or in the next life.
3. Dharma – righteous
duties
Dharma means what is right or Righteous duties.
This includes what is right for the individual, family, the class or cast and
also for the universe itself in order to achieve good Karma life should be
lived according to Dharma, otherwise its will result in bad Karma. Dharma
besides affecting the present life can also affect the future.
4. Moksha – liberation
from the cycle of Rebirth
Moksha means liberation from the cycle of Rebirth
i.e. Samsara. The ultimate aim of every Hindu is that one-day the cycle of
Rebirth will be over and he will not have to reborn again. This can only happen
if there is no Karma to cause an individual to reborn i.e. it looses its good
and bad Karma.
5. Rebirth not
mentioned in the Vedas
The Doctrine of rebirth is not mentioned anywhere
in the Vedas. There is no concept of transmigration of the Souls.
GOD IS UNJUST AS SOME ARE BORN HEALTHY WHILE OTHERS
ARE BORN WITH DEFECTS
Question:
If God is just then why are some
people born healthy while some are born with defects and are deaf and dumb,
some are born in rich families while other in poor families?
Answer:
1. This life is a test
for the Hereafter
According to Qur’an in
Surah Mulk, Chapter 67, Verse 2
2. Allah tests
different human being in different ways
Every year the question paper in an examination
keeps on changing. It does not remain the same. Similarly Allah tests different
human beings in different ways. He gives health to some people while others are
born with defects or are handicap. To some people He gives wealth while others
are poor.
3. Judgement will be
based upon the difficulty of the test
Depending upon what facilities and qualities Allah
has provided to each human being Allah (SWT) will judge him accordingly If the
test is difficult then Allah will be lenient while judging. If the test is
simple then Allah will be lenient while judging e.g. A poor person does not
have to give Zakah. He gets full marks where Zakat is concerned on the other
hand a rich person is supposed to give Zakat. Many rich people give much less
than what they actually are supposed to give, thus getting less marks where
Zakat is concerned.
4. Allah makes human
being with congenital defects, some are deaf and dumb while other are handicap.
The infant is not responsible for the defect. In such cases may be Allah is
testing the parents, whether they yet have faith in Allah after this calamity.
Allah says in the Qur’an in
Surah Anfal, Chapter 8, Verse 28
IDOL USED FOR CONCENTRATION
Question:
The Hindu Pandits and Scholars agree that the Vedas
and other Hindu religions scriptures prohibit idol worship but initially
because the mind may not be matured an idol is required for concentration while
worshipping. After the mind reaches higher consciousness, the idol is not
required for concentration.
Muslims
have reached the higher level of consciousness
Answer:
1. If Idol is required
for concentration only in the initial stages and not later on when the mind
reaches higher consciousness then I would like to say that the Muslims have
already reached the state of higher consciousness because when we worship Allah
(SWT) we do not require any idol or statue.
2. Child asks why does
it thunder?
When I was discussing with a Swami in I.R.F. He
said that when our child asks us, why does the sky thunder? We reply that ‘aaee
ma chhakki pees rahi hai’, the grandmother is grinding flour in the heaven,
because he is too young to understand, similarly in the initial stages people
require idol for concentration.
In Islam we don’t believe in talking a lie even if
it’s a while lie. I will never give such wrong answer to my child because later
on where he goes to school and learns that the thundering sound after
lightening is due to the expansion of rapid heated air, he will either think
that the teacher is lying or later on when he understand the fact he will
conclude that the father is a liar. If you feel that the child may not
understand certain difficult they you should simplify the answer but never give
a wrong fictitious reply. If you, yourself do not know the answer, you should
have the guts to be truthful and say ‘I don’t know’. Many children will not be
satisfied with such a simple but yet truthful and if this answer is given to my
son, he will say ‘Abba why you don’t know answer, that it will compel you to do
your homework and thus educate yourself as well as your child’.
3. Those in standard
one require idol for concentration 2+2=4 will remain same in standard one and ten)
Some pandits while trying to convince me regarding
idol worship said that in standard one the student is initially taught to
worship God by concentrating with the help of an idol but later on when he
graduates he no longer requires the idol to concentrate while worshipping the
God.
A very important fact to be noted is that only if
the fundamentals of any particular subject is strong, then only will he be able
to excel in future for e.g. Teacher of mathematics in standard I teaches the
students that 2+2=4 irrespective whether the student parses school or does
graduation, or does a Ph.D. in mathematics the basics of 2+2=4, will yet remain
the same, it will not change to 5 or 6. In higher standards the students,
besides addition may learn about Algebra, trigonometry, logarithm etc. but the
fundamental of addition will yet remain the same. If the teacher in standard I
itself teaches the fundamentals wrong, how can expect the student to excel in
future?
It is the fundamental principle of the Vedas
regarding the concept of God that he has got no image so how can the scholars
even after knowing this fact keep silent at the wrong practice being done by
people.
Will you tell your son who is in standard I that
2+2=4 is not equal to 4 but 5 or 6 and only confirm the truth after he passes
school. Infact if he makes a mistake you will correct him, and say it is 4 and
not wait till he graduates if you don’t correct him initial you will his
future.
Muslims do not worship the Kaaba
Question:
Many non-Muslims allege when Islam is against idol
worship why do the Muslims worship and bow down to the Kaaba in their prayer.
Answer:
1. Kaaba is the Qibla i.e. the direction:
Muslims do not worship the Kaaba
in the Salaah. Kaaba is the Qibla that is the direction we face towards and we
worship & bow down to no one but Allah towards in the Salaah, Islam always
believes in unity for e.g. If Muslims want to offer Salaah some may say lets
face north, some may say lets east for the sake of unity Muslims are asked to
face only in one direction i.e. towards the Kaaba. If they live in the west
they face the east, if they live in the east they face the west, if they live
in the north they face the south, if they live in the south they face the
north.
2. Kaaba in center of earth
The Muslims were the first people
to draw the map of the world and they drew it with the south on top and north
down and the Kaaba was in the center. Later on the westerners drew the map
upside down with north on top and south down but yet Alhamdullilah the Kaaba is
in the center of the world map.
3. Tawaaf around Kaaba for
indicating one God:
When the Muslims go to
Masjid-e-Haram in Mecca we do tawaf round the Kaaba i.e. circumambulate round
the Kaaba to indicate that as every circle has one center, similarly there is
only one Allah (SWT) worthy of Worship.
Hadith of Hazrat Umar:
According to Sahih Bukhari Vol. II
Book of Hajj, Ch. 56, V. No. 675, Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)
said “I know that you are a stone, can neither benefit nor harm. Had I not seen
the Prophet (pbuh) touching & kissing) you, I would never have touched
(& Kissed) you”.
This statements of Hazrat Umar
(RA) the second caliph of Islam is sufficient proof that we Muslims do not
worship the Kaaba.
People stood on Kaaba and gave the Adhan.
At the time of the Prophet people even stood on the
Kaaba and gave the Adhan which idol worshipper will ever stand on the idol he
worships.
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