Saturday, October 21, 2006

Questions asked by Hindus about Islam


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.
1. 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”.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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”
7. 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”.


4:14:22 PM
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