Open Question & Answer Session
(Duration – 1 hour and 27 Minutes)
Mohammad Naik: To analyze the concept of God in major religions adequately for all present here today in the limited time available we would like the following rules to be followed during the question and answer session. Questions asked should be on the topic ‘Concept of God in Major Religions’ only. Questions not relevant to the topic, including any general questions on religion will not be allowed. Kindly state your question briefly and to the point. We will allow one question on each of the mikes in clockwise rotation.
Written questions on slip papers which are available from our volunteers on the sides and the center aisle would be given secondary preference after the questions on the mikes are answered by Dr. Zakir and if time permits. Kindly state your name and profession before putting forward your question.
May we have the first question from the ladies side please?
Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum, I am Saba Bakkai from Delhi and my question to Zakir uncle is the Christian concept of God is a trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost but these three are one. Does this mean that they believe in only one God?
Dr. Zakir: The sister’s asked a question that the Christians believe I trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost and that they are one, does it mean that they also believe in one God?
Sister if you analyze the word trinity, it occurs no where in the Bible. If you search the full Bible, the word trinity doesn’t exist anywhere in the Bible, its not there in the Bible but the word trinity is there in the Holy Quran but the word ‘trinity’ is there in the Holy Quran.
The Holy Quran says in Surah Nisa ch. 4 verse no. 171 it says
“Wala taqooloo Salaasa”
“Don’t say Trinity”
“Intahoo khayran lakum”
“Desist Stop it! It is better for you for God is one God.”
Its again repeated in Surah Maidah ch. no. 5 verse no. 73, it
Says
“Laqad kafara allazeena qaloo inna Allaha Salisu Salasa”
“They Blaspheme, those who say that Allah is one of three in trinity for there is no God but Allah.”
The word trinity is not mentioned in the Bible but it is there in the Quran. And Quran says “Wala taqooloo Salaasa”
“Don’t say Trinity.”
The closest verse that you can find in the Bible which can be taken for trinity is the First Epistle of John ch. no. 5 verse no. 7 which says
“For there are three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one.”
This verse of the Bible, first Epistle of John ch 5 verse no. 7 is the closest resemblance to trinity in the full Bible but if you read the revised standard version which has been revised by 32 scholars of the highest eminence backed by 50 different Christian co-operating denominations, they have removed this verse from the Bible as an interpolation, as a concoction, as a fabrication. It was not removed by Muslims or non-Christian scholars but it was removed by 32 Christian Scholars of the highest eminence backed by 50 different co-operating denominations as an interpolation, as a concoction, as a fabrication because it was not there in the original manuscript.
We Muslims, we should thank the galaxies of DDs, the doctors of divinity for getting the Bible one step closer to the Quran, closer to Islam. As the Quran says “Wala taqooloo Salaasa”
“Don’t say Trinity.”
In fact if you analyze as I said in my talk Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) never spoke about trinity that Father, Son and Holy Ghost, they were one.
Infact he said in the Gospel of John ch. 14 verse no. 28
“My Father is greater than I”
Gospel of John Ch no. 10 verse no. 29
“My Father is greater than all.”
Gospel of Mathew ch. No. 12 verse no. 28
“I cast out devil with the Spirit of God”
Gospel of Luke ch. No. 11 verse no. 20
“With the finger of God, I cast out devil”
Gospel of John Ch. No. 5 verse no. 30
“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just because I seek not my own will, but the will of thy Father who has sent me.”
He never spoke about trinity. Infact when he was asked that which is the first of the commandments he said,
its mentioned in the Gospel of Mark ch. no. 12 verse no. 29,
“Shama Israelo, Ada Ilahaino Ada Ihad”
which means
“Hear O Israel, the Lord, our God in one Lord”
but if you ask the Christian Church in the catechism, they tell you that the Father is a person, the Son is a person and the Holy Ghost is a person. but they aren’t 3 persons, they are one person. Person, person, person but not 3 person, 1 person. What language is this? 1 + 1 + 1 = 3 it’s not equal to 1. 1 X 3 is 3 not 1. So when we ask them that suppose there are 3 triplets, identical triplets if one of them commits murder can you hang the other? They say ‘no’ then you ask them why? because each one has a different personality. If one of the triplets commit murder, you can’t hang the other because each one has a different personality.
And when the Christian, what they think about Father in Heaven, they think like an old man like Santa Claus sitting in the Heaven on one of the planets with the earth as his footstool. When trey think about the son that’s Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) they think of a tall man who is fair, who has got blonde eyes like Jeffery Hunter. You see in the movie King of Kings. He did the acting of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) Jeffery Hunter. They have a certain mental picture. When they talk about Holy Ghost, they think of a dove as the Bible says which came upon Jesus (peace be upon him) when he was baptized or they think it like a sprit that came at the feast pf Pentecost which is mentioned in the Bible. But when you ask the Christian that when you speak about trinity how many pictures do you have in your mind? The Christian will tell you one. Believe me, he is lying to you. Because 1 + 1 + 1 is 3, it is not 1. Hope that answers the question.
Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum. My name is Mohammad Javed. My question is why can God not take a human form?
Dr. Zakir: The brother asked a question that why can God not take an human form. If God wants he can take a human form but the moment he takes a human form, he ceases to be God because God and man they are two opposites. Man is mortal, God is immortal. You can’t have a mortal and an immortal person at the same time. Man has a beginning, God has got no beginning. You can’t have a person who has a beginning and no beginning at the same time. Man has an end, God has no end. So you can’t have a person having an end and no end at the same time. It doesn’t make sense. So you can’t have a God-Man. You can either have God or you can have man. You can’t have a god-man. So if God takes human form, he ceases to be God. he becomes human being because man requires to eat, God does not require to eat.
The Quran says in Surah Anam Ch 6 verse no. 14 that
“He feedth everyone but doesn’t require to be fed.”
The human beings, they require rest, they require sleep. The Quran says in Ayatul Qudsi ch. no. 2 verse no. 255 which was also recited by the Qari Br. Ashraf Mohammedy
“Allahu la ilaha illa huwa alhayyu alqayyoomu la ta’khuzuhu sinatun wala nawmun lahu ma fis samawati wama fee al-ard”
“Allah, He is one and only, the Self-existent, the eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor does he require sleep. To Him belongs everything in the Heavens and the Earth.”
Therefore God when he takes a human form, he ceases to be God. You can’t have a God-man together and if a God becomes human being and gives up his quality and becomes man, why should you worship a human being? because he has same power like you and me. People will want to worship you and me also then. What is the use of worshiping a person who has same powers like you and me? And later on if someone tells me this same human being became God, its not possible. If human beings can become God even you and I would become God tomorrow. Therefore if Allah wants he can become a human being but he ceases to be a God. Therefore Allah will never want to become a human being. Allah can tell a lie if he wants but He will never tell a lie because to lie is ungodly. The moment he lies, he ceases to be God. Allah can do injustice if He wants but he will not because to do injustice is ungodly.
As the holy Quran says in Surah Nisa Ch. 4 verse no. 40 that
“Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is never unjust in the least degree”
So if He does injustice, He ceases to be God. Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) if He wants, He can make a mistake. But He will not make a mistake because to make mistake is ungodly the Quran says in Surah
Taha ch. no. 20 verse 52 that
“Allah does not make a mistake. Allah doesn’t err.”
So if He makes a mistake, He ceases to be God. Allah can forget if He wants but He will not forget because forgetting is an ungodly act. The Quran says in Surah Taha ch. 20 verse 52
“Allah doesn’t make a mistake neither does He forget”
The moment He forgets, He ceases to be God.
Therefore the Holy Quran says “InnaAllaha ala kulli shay-in Qadeer” Verily, Allah has power over all things in several places, in Surah Baqarah Ch. 2 verse no. 106, in Surah Baqarah Ch. 2 verse no. 109, Surah Baqarah Ch. 2 verse no. 284, Surah Ale Imran ch. no. 3 verse no. 29, Surah Nahl ch. 16 verse 77, in Surah Faatir ch. 35 verse no. 1 Allah says “InnaAllaha ala kulli shay-in Qadeer” For Verily, Allah has power over all things. But Allah only does godly things, he doesn’t do ungodly things because Quran says in
Surah Buruj ch. 85 verse no. 16
“Allah is the doer of all He intends. Whatever Allah intends, He can do. But He only intends Godly things.”
This theory of God becoming a human form is called as ‘Anthropomorphism’. All Mighty God taking a human form and most of the major religions sometime or the other they have in their philosophy that God has taken a human form. Some religion once, some several times and they have a very beautiful logic for that. They say that God All Mighty, He is so pure, He is so Holy, He doesn’t know regarding the feelings of the human being, regarding the short comings, the difficulties the human being can have, He is so Holy and pure. And Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) doesn’t know how does a human being feel when he is hurt, how does he feel when he gets into trouble. So therefore God All Mighty came in the form of a human being in this world to set the rules for the human being. On the face of it, very good logic but I tell this people that if 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? No! I just write an instruction manual that when you want to play an audio cassette put in the cassette, press the ‘play’ button. When you wan t to stop, press the stop button. When you want to fast forward, press the FF button. Don’t drop it from a height, it will get spoilt. Don’t immerse it in water, it will get damaged. I write an instruction manual. I don’t have to become a tape recorder to know what is good or what is bad for the tape recorder.
Similarly when All Mighty God is our creator He doesn’t have to become a human being to know what is good or what is bad fore the human being. He sends an instruction manual and the last and final instruction manual for the human beings is the holy Quran. The holy Quran is the last and final instruction manual for the human beings, the Do’s and Don’ts for the human beings.
And He need not come down in this world as a human being to give us the instruction manual. What does He do? He chooses a man amongst men to deliver his message whom we call as Messengers or Prophets who He communicates on a higher level through the revelations. It is so clear cut to any logical person that God All Mighty cannot take human form. Any fool can also understand that’s the reason the Holy Quran says in Surah Baqarah ch. 2 verse no. 18
“Summun bukmun Umyun fahum la yarji’oon”
“The deaf, the Dumb, the Blind, they will not come to the true path.”
The Bible gives the same message in the Gospel of Matthew ch. no. 13 verse no. 13
“Seeing they see not, Hearing they hear not neither do they understand”
Righveda also gives the same message in Book no. 10 ch. no. 71 verse no. 4 that
“Though they see the words, they see it not. Though they hear the words, they hear not.”
Mohammad Naik: Next question from the ladies side?
Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum. If all the major religions and scriptures speak about one God then does it imply that all these religious scriptures i.e. Bible, Vedas etc. are the word of God? And does it further imply that whichever religion you follow be it Islam or Hinduism or Christianity, it is one and the same?
Dr. Zakir: Sister asked the question that I have quoted so many various scriptures and proved about the concept of All Mighty God i.e. monotheism, does it imply that all these religious scriptures I quoted. They are the word of All Mighty God? And does it imply that irrespective whether you follow Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, it’s one and the same.
Sister many people have the misconception that Islam came into existence and the founder of the religion of Islam was Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) 1400 years ago. In fact Islam is there in existence since time immemorial, since man set foot on the earth.
And the Holy Quran says in Surah Faatir ch. 35 verse no. 24
“Wa-in min ummatin illa khala feeha nazeer”
“There is not a nation or a tribe to whom we have not sent a warner”
The Holy Quran says in Surah Rad ch. no. 13 verse no. 7
“Walikulli qawmin had”
“And to every nation have we sent a guide.”
By name only 25 are mentioned in the Holy Quran but our Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), he said there were more than one hundred and twenty four thousand Prophets sent on this earth. By name we know only 25 mentioned in the Holy Quran. Adam, Moses, Jesus, Solomon, Muhammad, peace be upon them all. But there were more than one hundred and twenty four thousand Prophets sent on the face of the earth. Similarly by name we know only 4 revelations of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala), of All Mighty God the Torah, the Zaboor, the Injeel and the Furqaan.
Torah is the Wahi, the revelation which was given to Moses (peace be upon him)
Zabur is the Wahi, the revelation which was given to David (peace be upon him)
Injeel is the Wahi, the revelation which was given to Jesus (peace be upon him)
And Furqaan that’s the Holy Qur’an is the last and final revelation which was given to the last and final Messenger Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). But if you analyze that all the other scriptures whether are they the word of God or not Bible, can I say whether it is the word of God or not? We believe in the Injeel, the Wahi which was given to Isa (alaihe salaam) This Bible that the Christians have today is not the Wahi which we believe in. This Bible does contain the word of God, it also contain the words of Prophets and also words of historian as well as pornography. It’s totally not the word of God. No wonder the Christian scholars they are keeping on revising the Bible. We believe in the original Wahi given to Isa (alaihe salaam) but the present Bible is not the correct Wahi. It may contain a pat of the Wahi. How to check up which part is true? You have to check it with the Furqaan and the Furqaan is the holy Quran.
Similarly if you analyze all the messengers that were sent before Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), all the revelations that came before Holy Quran, all of these revelations and these messengers were only sent for their people and the message was supposed to be followed for a particular time period.
As the holy Quran says in Surah Ale Imran ch. 3 verse 49 that Isa (alaihe salaam) he was sent only for the Bani Israel.
The message is repeated in Surah Saff ch. 61 verse no. 6 that Isa (alaihe salaam) the son of Mary was sent only for the Bani Israel, the children of Israel.
The same message is given in the Bible in the Gospel of Matthew ch. no. 10 verse no. 5 to 6 that Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) tells his disciples that “go ye not into the way of Gentiles.” Who are the Gentiles? The Non-Jews, the Hindus, the Muslims. Go ye not into the way of Gentiles but rather go to the lordship of the house of Israel. That means he was only sent for the house of Israel.
Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) said its mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew ch. no. 15 verse no. 24 that
“I have not been sent but to the Lordship of the House of Israel.”
So all the messengers and all the revelation by name only 4 revelations are given in the Holy Quran but there were several revelations of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) like Suhufe Ibrahim but all the revelations that Came before the Holy Quran and all the messengers that came before Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) they were only sent for their people and for a particular time period. But our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the holy Quran says in Surah Al Ambiya ch. 21 verse no. 107, it says
“Wama Arsalnaka illa Rahmatan lil Alameen” that
“We have sent thee not but as a mercy to the whole of human kind, as a mercy to all the worlds, as a mercy to all the creatures.”
The Holy Qur’an says in Surah Saba ch 34 verse no. 28 that
“Wama arsalnaka illa kaffatan lilnnasi basheeran wanatheeran” that
“We have sent thee not but as a universal messenger, giving glad tidings and warning them against sin but most of the human kind yet do not know”
Similarly all the religious scriptures that were sent by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) that came before the Quran were only meant for that people and for a particular time period. But the Holy Quran it says in Surah Ibraheem ch. 14 verse 52 as well as Surah Baqarah ch. 2 verse 185 and Surah Al Zumar ch. no. 39 verse no. 41 that it was sent for the whole of humanity.
Regarding your question that are these scriptures the Vedas, the Bible, the ZendAvesta, the Dasatir, the Upanishad are they the word of All Mighty God? What I can say that we believe in Injeel as the word of God but the present Bible is not the word of God. Regarding Veda, Upanisahd, Gita, ZendAvesta, Dasatir I can say may be they were the word of God, may be. I cannot say for sure. Since the Quran does not say that Vedas are the word of God, I cannot say for sure. I can only say may be they were the word of God. But even if they were the word of God all the scriptures besides the Holy Quran have been changed by human being, they have been corrupted. As a famous critic of Islam, William Moore he said 2 centuries before that the only religious scripture which has maintained its purity is the holy Quran for 12 centuries. William Moore who is a very strong critic of Islam, he had to agree that this Quran has maintained its original purity for 12 centuries, he said this 200 years before.
So regarding the messengers whether Ram whether Laxman all these were they messengers of God or not. Jesus Christ (peace be upon him), he was because the Quran says. But the name of Ram and Buddha and Zoroaster is not mentioned in the Quran. So what I can say may be they were, I don’t know. but even if they were, they were only meant for that time and they were only supposed to be followed by that particular people. The scripture that came before the Quran they were only meant for a particular group of people and they were only meant to be followed till that time. So even if they were words of God even if the previous messengers were messengers of God, you only have to follow the last and final messenger i.e. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Even if the other scriptures were the word of God, today you have to follow the last and final message of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) that’s the Holy Quran and nothing else.
Regarding can you be a Christian, Hindu, Muslim it’s the same. No sister, it’s not the same. Why? Because if you analyze the Holy Quran says in Surah Ale Imran ch. 3 verse no. 52 that Jesus (peace be upon him) he was a Muslim. Same thing that the Bible says in Gospel of John ch. 5 verse no. 30 “I seek not my will but the will of my Father” If you translate into Arabic not my will, God’s will it is nothing but Islam. He was a Muslim. Abraham (peace be upon him) the Holy Quran says in Surah Ale Imran ch. 3 verse 67 He was not a Jew or a Christian, he was a Muslim.
So today if you have to choose any religion, the holy Quran says in Surah Ale Imran ch. 3 verse no. 19
“Innad deena indaAllahil Islam”
“The only religion acceptable in the sight of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is Islam.”
Though the other religion speaks about monotheism, only monotheism is not sufficient, you have to believe in Tawheed. You have to do Ibadah of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). That’s why the Holy Quran repeats the message in Surah Ale Imran ch. 3 verse no. 85 that
“If anyone desires any other religion besides Islam, submitting the will to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) it will not be accepted of him and in the hereafter he’ll be among the losers”.
Hope that answers the question.
Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum! I am Azam Khan. I am a mechanical engineer by profession. First I congratulate you for the beautiful speech you have delivered. Now my question is water is called by different names in different languages like in English as water, in Hindi as pani, in Tamil as Tani. Similarly if God is either called as Ram or Jesus is it not one and the same?
Dr. Zakir: the Brother has posed a question that water in different languages can be called as water in English, Pani in Hindi, Tani in Tamil, similarly God is one can we not call Ram or Jesus etc.(peace be upon him).
As I mentioned in my talk the Holy Quran says in Surah Isra ch. 17 verse no. 110
“Qulid`ullaah ‘Awid`ur-Rahmaan ‘Ayyama Tad`u Falahul ‘Asma’ ul Husna”
Say “Call upon Him by Allah or by Rehmaan” by which ever name you call upon Him, to Him belongs the most beautiful names.”
You can call upon Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) by any name but it should be a beautiful and it should not conjure up a mental picture. It should contain the qualities of All Mighty God.
And the same message is repeated in Surah Taha ch. no. 20 verse no. 8 in Surah Araf ch. no. 7 verse no. 180 as well as in Surah Al Hashr ch. 59 verse no. 24 which says “To Allah belongs the most beautiful names.” You can call Him by any name but it should not conjure up a mental picture.
Regarding your question that water is called by different names in different languages and I know about it. In English it is called as water in Hindi as Pani. In Tamil as Tani. In Arabic its called as Ma’i. In Surah Al Anbiya ch. no. 21 verse no. 30, in Sanskrit it is called as Apa in Bahgvad Gita ch. no. 7 verse no. 4 in Shudh Hindi its called as Jal. In Gujarati as Jal or Pani. In Marathi as Pandee. Its called as in Kannad, its called as Nir. In Telagu Nir. In Malayalam as wellam. Various languages. You can call.
I gave you only 10 examples. Quran gives 99 attributes to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). But there is no objection if you call water in any language as log as it is water. In any language but it should be water. It should not be something else.
For example if suppose someone comes and tells me that I have been advised by my friend that every day in the morning ii should have one glass of Pani. I know Pani means water so I understand what he is saying. But then he continues but when I have that one glass of Pani I feel like vomiting. I asked him why do you feel like vomiting so he tells me because the water stinks, it is yellowish in color. Later I realize that what he is talking is not Pani it is urine. So somebody told him that you have one glass of urine but the name he gave was pani. So you can call water by pani, tani, ma;i, Apa, pandee no problem. But it should be water. You can call water by any name but anything else besides water neither can you call it water neither can you call it Pani neither can you call it Tani neither can you call it as Ma’i. Water as water you can call. But something else as water, you can’t call.
People may think that what analogical example even an ignorant person can make out the difference between urine and water. Only a fool will not know the difference between urine and water and I agree with him. That even an ignorant person knows the difference between urine and water. Similarly those people who know the concept of All Mighty God, the correct concept they say that these people who worship false god, they are not only ignorant, they are foolish. Can’t they differentiate between a true God and a false god? You give it any name but if it’s a true God, you can give it the name of God. If it’s not a true God you are giving false God the name of God aren’t they foolish? They are foolish.
For example if you want to buy some gold there is a person who comes and wants to sell his gold jewellery to you. And he says this is 24 carrot sona. You know that sona in Hindi means gold, in Arabic it is Zahaba. You know it very well but even after knowing that Sona in Hindi is for gold yet you will not just buy it like that. You will verify whether the Sona what he is calling 24 carrot Sona is it actually 24 carrot gold or not. You will not just buy it off. What will you do? You go to a goldsmith and verify whether it is actually 24 carrot Sona or not and after verifying with the touchstone. You know I gave the example of touchstone in my talk. He tells you it is fake. Though the jewelry was glittering but all that glitters is not gold. You will verify before buying the sona whether its actually sona or not. Why? because you have to pay money for it. You know, you don’t want to lose because you know if you lose a thousand rupees or a ten thousand rupees it’s precious. So why don’t you do the same when anyone says this is God. you check it up with the touchstone. Which is the touchstone? Surah Ikhlas ch. no. 112 verse no. 1 to 4 which says
“Qul Huwallaahu Ahad”,
“Say: He is Allah, One and Only”
“Allahus Samad”
“Allah, the Absolute and Eternal”
“Lam Yalid Wa Lam Yulad”
“He begetteth not, nor is He begotten”
“Walam Yakullahu Kufuan ‘Ahad”
“There is nothing like Him”
So anyone says this is God, you first check it up with the touchstone whether actually he is God or not. If he fits in that definition, we have got no objection in accepting that person who they are calling as All Mighty God.
For example suppose some lunatic he says that Muhammad (peace be upon him) he is All Mighty God, a lunatic if he says that. We know we Muslims we love our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), we love him, we will do anything for him, we obey him. Even the non-muslims Michael H. Heart when he wrote a book on 100 most influential people in the world, no. 1 he gave to the last and final messenger Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Yet, yet in spite of that we will use the touchstone, Surah Ikhlas. Though we respect him maximum amongst all the human beings yet we will check with the touchstone Surah Ikhlas
“Qul Huwallaahu Ahad”,
“Say: He is Allah, One and Only”
Is Muhammad one and only? May peace be upon him. Allah has sent several messengers; he is not the only messenger. We agree he is the last and final but Quran says you have to believe in all the messengers. So not differentiate in the belief of the messengers.
Second is “Allahus Samad” “Allah, the absolute and eternal.”
We know that our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) he was a great human being but he was not absolute and eternal he toiled, he worked hard. His biography tells us he was even stoned many times, he prayed to All Mighty God. he was not absolute and eternal.
Third test is “Lam Yalid Walam Yoolad” “He begets not nor is He begotten”
We know that he was born in Mekkah, he had a father and a mother by the name of Abdullah and Aamina. He had parents, he had children also. Fathima, may Allah be pleased with her, Ibrahim, may Allah be pleased with him. He had. He was begotten and he also begat. So he is not Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) for sure. Though we Muslims, we love our Prophet, we respect our Prophet no Muslim in his true senses will ever say that Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) is All Mighty God, never. You know why because Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) has seen to it that the Islamic creed the Shahadah says “la ilaha ill Allah Muhammadur rasulullah” There is no God but Allah and Prophet Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. We say this 5 times a day minimum, in the Adhan, in the Iqamah before Salaah we always say there is no God but Allah and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah, he is the servant of Allah.
To see to it that no one however much he may love he may not equate him to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). So whoever you are saying is All Mighty God, you use the touchstone. Whether it be Jesus, whether it be Ram, whether it be Krishna whether it be Buddha whether it be Mahavir use the touchstone. I have given you the touchstone. On the day of judgment I can give Shahadah to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) that the thousands of people that were present here, I showed them how to use the touchstone. Now the God that you worship, the God that you worship you apply this formula of touchstone to that God. If it passes the touchstone even I agree he is All Mighty God. If it doesn’t pass then you cannot call him God at all. Hope that answers the question.
Questioner: My name is M.D. Marathe, I am a technologist. Before I start I would just like to state that I would like to take the audience from this sentimental plane to a more scientific and rational plane. I hope I have the permission. Today’s school books present following scientific information. In the course of evolution the animal man Homo Erectus who was 2 billion years ago with a brain size of one thousand CC against the size of oral CC of the apes. Evolution continued with the brain going to 400 CC 200 thousand years ago and this animal was known as homo Sapien. The present form of man was evolved about 35 thousand years ago and is known as Homo sapiens. Anthropologist have estimated that man developed a speech center in brain 50 thousand years ago. So the question is in this record of development when did God originate and for what purpose? No. 2 the progress of science has made it possible…
Mohammad Naik: Only one question sir…
Questioner: This is in relation to that…
Mohammad Naik: No, No…
Questioner: If you cut it short the answer will not be long. Give me time for the question. Please.. ya .. ya okay.. Progress in science has made it possible to clone all animals including man, produce any number of animals having all desired characteristics. If God ever existed how much of the power attributed to God is now left with him? Third one is that God is described as AC of sky.. finish and mercy yet all leaders of all religions when faced to the prospect of death rush to a hospital like the one next to him and never to a place of worship which they preached all their life that man lives and dies by the wish of God. Is there any explanation for this phenomenon?
Dr. Zakir: The brother has asked basically 3 questions. First he gave according to him the theory of evolution of man and said where does God fit in? Secondly after God has created all these things how much of his power has been reduced? Thirdly that when you get sick you run to the hospital not to the temple or church or masjid. Three pars of the question. He said that the answer will be short, the question was long so imagine.. To give a detailed answer will take time.
Brother I’d like to tell you that what you quoted about the Homo sapiens etc. you are talking about the theory of evolution brother, theory of evolution. I am a medical doctor I have not come across a single book in my life which says fact of evolution, it is theory of evolution. And even I know about the theory of evolution and about the Darwin’s theory. Complete answer refer to my video cassette ‘Quran and Modern Science – Conflict or Conciliation?’ what Darwin said was only a theory he wrote a letter to his friend Thomas Thompton in 1881 that I believe in this theory of natural selection because I don’t have any proof, only because it helps me in natural selection, it helps me in embryology, in classification in rudimentary organs. There is no book saying the fact of evolution. All the books say theory of evolution. That’s why if we have to say to a friend that if you were present at Darwin’s time Darwin’s theory would have been proved right. Trying to insinuate you look like an ape. There were missing links. Darwin himself said the missing links. You only spoke about the Homo sapiens; you only spoke about one wave. I’ll tell you about all the 4 waves,.. The first wave was Lucy…Lucy….Lucy was first wave which came three and a half million years, you talk about 2 million years, I am telling you about scientists have said three million years ago. Lucy it died out about the ice age. The second came the Homo erectus, Homo erectus about five hundred thousand years after that came the Neanderthal man the third wave about 40 thousand years ago and the last was the Cro-Magnon but brother there is no link between all these stages. It’s only a hypothesis. According to P.P. Grasse, according to PP Grasse who held the chair of evolutionary studies in Paris in Saugeen University in 1971 he said it is letting your imagination run too wild just based on wastages to say who our ancestors were. I do know some people who speak about Darwin’s theory, I am a medical doctor, I know about that but do you know there are hundreds of scientists who speak against it. Few scientists speak in favor but there are more who speak against it. For the complete answer refer to my video cassette Quran and Modern Science. There are few scientists because there’s no fact of evolution they say lets support a theory. Quran doesn’t support any theory or Hypothesis, Quran speaks about fact.
For regarding your 2 million years Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), no beginning when man came no one knows the exact date, on one knows assumption, assumption, assumption but Quran says the First man was Adam (alaihe salaam) first man and with it came Eve, may Allah be pleased with her. Man hasn’t reached that stage. There is not a single statement in holy Quran which science has proved wrong yet. Hypothesis go against the Quran, theories go against the Quran, there is not a single scientific fact which is mentioned in the holy Quran which goes against established science. It may go against theory so brother your thing is only supported by few people not by the majority.
Regarding the second part of the question that if Allah has created all these things how less his power has become. You can’t understand completely as the Quran says in
Surah Anam ch. 6 verse 103
“He is beyond comprehension”
I can give you a slimily not exactly same. An ocean, if you take a drop out of the ocean how much does the level of the ocean go down? How much? How much? Yet, yet in spite of this the difference between Allah becoming less when He creates things and the difference between the level of the ocean becoming less is infinite. The level of the ocean may become point 000000 somewhere point 00 somewhere it will end but Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) not even, not even a bit becomes less, He is all powerful, that’s Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). If such a God who becomes less, we don’t worship such God who becomes less keeps on creating, he will sometime lose his power. So this God is eternal, absolute as I said in my talk He is absolute and eternal. Everything depends on Him, he doesn’t depend on anything. Where did Allah come? Allah was there before the universe was created, where does He fit in? Where did He get created? He is uncreated. You’re asking me the question where did he come into existence, he is uncreated.
It’s like you asking me that when I tell that my friend he told me that by Brother Tom, he gave birth to a child, is the child girl or a boy? I being a doctor know very well that a man cannot give birth to a child. So where does a question come whether its girl or a boy? So you are asking me when did Allah come, fit in the picture. Allah is uncreated because He is uncreated, the question doesn’t arise when did He come? He is there, question doesn’t arise.
Regarding your third part of the question that when people get sick, they run to the hospital, they don’t run to the temple, they don’t run to the mosque, not to the church, the brother may not be knowing all the people, I am a doctor, I know that when the doctors give up the thing we doctors say… we doctors say “Hua Sha’afi” It is He who cures.. that doesn’t mean if a person gets sick, only go to the temple because the Quran says in
Surah Nahl ch. 16 verse 43 as well as in Surah Furqaan ch. 25 verse 59
“if you are in doubt go to a person who knows, whose is an expert.”
If you get sick besides praying to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) go to a person who is an expert in medicine, go to a doctor. Quran says that. But even after going to the doctor have faith in Allah because he is the person who cures you, He can cure you with a doctor or without a doctor. So Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) says you don’t believe in blind belief, no Muslim scholar will ever say if you are sick, don’t go to a doctor. Go to a doctor but finally who cures is Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) that’s why all the doctors when all their brain, all their science, all the medicines fails they say, it is only Allah who can save you.
Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum brother. I am Dr. Qamar Ara and my question is Christians explain the concept of trinity as well as that God can take human form by giving the example that water can be present in 3 states. As solid like ice, liquid as water and gas as vapor yet it is one and the same water. Similarly a person can also be a father, a brother, a businessman at the same time but yet he is one and the same person. So why not the Father, the Son and the Holy Sprit?
Dr. Zakir: Sister asked a question regarding trinity that Christians have the concept of trinity Father, Son and Holy Ghost. The previous question was.. I proved it that from the Bible Jesus (peace be upon him) never believed in trinity. Now she gave an example, she has given an human logic asking a question that if water can be present in three states as solid, liquid and gas as ice water and vapor when water can be in 3 states why can’t God be? Similarly the Christian Missionary, they pose the question even God All Mighty can be present in 3 forms Father, Son and Holy ghost.
Now if you analyze I do agree matter can be in 3 states solid, liquid and gas but you should realize that if water is present in 3 states solid, liquid, gas as ice, water and vapor in all the 3 states the constituent, the component of water is the same H2O. Even if its ice the constituents and components is H2O even when it is water it is H2O even when it is Vapor, it is H2O. Even when its ice, even when it is gas or liquid it is H2O. that’s very important.
Now let’s analyze the examples he gave of trinity. Father, Son and Holy Ghost. In three forms if you say for sake of argument I agree but are the constituents of all these three things Father, Son i.e. Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) and Holy Ghost, the same? We know very well that human beings have got flesh and bones. A sprit and God All Mighty has got no flesh and bone. Human beings require to eat, God All Mighty does not require to eat. And the same message Jesus (peace be upon him) gave its mentioned in the
Gospel of Luke ch. no. 24 verse no. 39 to 43 that
“Behold my hands and feet. It’s I myself, Handle me and see that a sprit has got no flesh and bone as you see me have. And he gave his hands and feet and they were overjoyed.”
To prove what? That he was not a sprit, he was not God All Mighty and the verse continued “do you have meat to eat” and the next verse says that “he ate broil fish and honeycomb.”
To prove what? That he was God? To prove that he was not God. Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) said a sprit has no flesh and bone as I have. Proving that he was not a sprit, he was not all Mighty God.
Regarding the second example, sister gave an example that a person can be a father, a brother and a businessman at the same time so why can’t God be father, son and holy Ghost. It is a very good example and I do agree that one person can be a father can be a brother, can be a businessman at the same time. Many people out here may be father, brother and a businessman at the same time but if suppose the sister of that man tells a secret to the brother but natural even the father and the businessman will know that secret because he’s one and the same person. If a sister tells a secret to the brother who is a father and a businessman at the same time. When the secret is told to the brother even the father part of that man and businessman part of that man will know that secret. But when you read in the Bible, in the Gospel of Mark ch. no. 13 verse no. 32 it says
“Of that Day, of that Hour knoweth no man, no not even the angels in the heaven nor the son of man but the Father.”
The knowledge of the hour of that day.. no one knows Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) said except the Father not even the angels, not even himself. If Father i.e. God All Mighty and Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) were one and the same and if knowledge of Hour is known to All Mighty even Jesus should know (peace be upon him). So this proves that they were not one.
Further, further if the brother died even the man and the businessman will die. If the brother dies, even man and businessman will die. And when Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) according to the Bible, according to the Christian, he died on the cross do you mean to say even God All Mighty and the Holy Ghost died?
Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum, I am Riaz Wadgaonkar and a businessman. Sir my question is Allah is the most appropriate name for God so besides Quran is it mentioned in any other religious scriptures?
Dr. Zakir: Brother has posed a question that Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) as I explained in my talk is an appropriate name for Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), for All Mighty God is this name Allah mentioned anywhere else in other religious scriptures? If you analyze most of the religious scriptures which have the concept of All Mighty God somewhere or the other most probably, one of the attributes of God All Mighty is Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala).
For example if you read the Bible in the Hebrew language they call God All Mighty as Elohim. ‘him’ is a sign of respect in the Semitic languages. So actually it is Elo, Elo for God and if you read the Bible the Old Testament also it says for God Elo or Ela and in the English Bible revised by Reverent Scofield, he gives the spelling of Ela as alternatively either as ‘EL’ or ‘Elah’ or ‘Alah’ prounced as Elah. El, Elah or Alah. A-L-A-H. We Muslims when we write in English Allah we write A-L-L-A-H but Reverent Scofield wrote A-L-A-H. They pronounce Elah we pronounce Allah.
When I was in school, I was taught T-O to, D-O do, G-O, G-O is what? Not goo, it is go. I was taught B-U-T but, C-U-T cut, N-U-T nut, P-U-T? Not patt Put. I said what sought of a language is this? They say no you have to say B-U-T but not boot. And if I have to pass the examination even I say B-U-T but. G-O is not goo, it is go. Have to because it is their language. Similarly we know how to pronounce correctly ‘ALLAH’ they say ‘Elah’ we say no problem, right pronunciation is Allah. later on when Reverent Scofield realized what he had done that he is coming closer to the Quran may be people took objection in the revised edition that thing is taken out. A-L-A-H is taken out. So now when you get the Scofield, English Bible only E-L and E-L-A-H is there. A-L-A-H is not there.
But in spite of that yet Alhamdulillah by the grace of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) in every Bible yet the name of Allah is there. Because according to the Bible when Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) allegedly he was crucified, its mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew ch. no. 27 verse no. 46 as well as in the Gospel of Mark ch. no. 15 verse no. 34 when he was put on the cross he cried out “Eloi Eloi lama sabachthani” So as to say “O God, O God! Why has thou forsaken me?” if you analyze and ask them that what is “Eloi Eloi lama sabachthani” it’s a Hebrew quotation but it has been maintained even in the English Bible it has been maintained and then they translate “Eloi Eloi lema sabachthani” “O God, O God! Why has thou forsaken me?” Some people say the name of God is Jehovah so I ask them does “Eloi Eloi lema sabachthani” sound like “Jehovah, Jehovah! Why has thou forsaken me?” They say no. does it sound like “Jesus, Jesus (peace be upon him)! Why has thou forsaken me?” they say no. Hebrew and Arabic language are sister languages. If you translate “Eloi Eloi lema sabachthani” into Arabic it is “Allah, Allah! Lama tarak tani” Does it sound similar? Yes. Why? Sister language. And the best part of this is that the Bible has been translated into more than 2,000 different languages and in every language this quotations is verbatim the same. “Eloi Eloi lama sabachthani” whether it’s a Tamil Bible, Chinese Bible, Hebrew Bible any Bible this Hebrew quotation has been maintained and the word Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is there in each and every translation of the Bible.
This word Allah, the Guru Nanak one of the attributes he gave to God is Raheem also he gave Allah.
If you read the Hindu scriptures, the Upanishads one of the Upanishads is called as the ‘Allo’ Upanishad and God All Mighty has called by Allah several times. Even in RigVed, even if you read the Rigved the name of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) one of the attributes is given in Book no. 2 Hymn no. 1 verse no. 11 the name one of the attributes of God All Mighty as Allah. They write it as I-L-A but when you pronounce it you have to tell them pronounce it as ALLAH. Hope that answers the question.
Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum. My name is Haji Mohammad. Brother Zakir, Br. Zakir you mentioned in your talk that Jesus never claimed divinity but it is mentioned in the Bible that Jesus said I and my Father are one. Does this not imply that he claimed divinity?
Dr. Zakir: Brother asked a question that I said in my talk that no where does the Bible say that Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) claimed divinity and he gave a quotation of the Bible that Jesus said “I and my Father are one” what the brother is quoting is a verse from the Bible in the Gospel of John ch. no. 10 verse no. 30 which does say “I and my Father are one” but when you ask the Christian missionaries that what is the context. I have not yet met a Christian missionary who can tell you the context without opening the Bible. He knows that I and my Father are one but he doesn’t know the context. For example if I quote to someone the Quran says “Do not pray” most of the Muslims will be shocked. What am I doing? But if you open it up it say do not pray but its half the verse Surah Nisa ch. 4 verse 43 says do not pray with your mind befogged, do not pray when you are intoxicated. If I only quote do not pray it will mean Quran says don’t pray. Half the quotation. For context “I and my Father are one” you have to go to the Gospel of John ch. no. 10
Verse no. 23 and I am talking from my memory that Jesus walked in to the temple in Solomon’s porch.
Verse no. 24 says and the Jews came around him and asked him “How long does though make us doubt, If though are the Christ tell us plainly.
Verse no. 25 I told you but you believe me not the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
Verse no. 26 says that you believe not because you are not my sheep as I said unto you, the Jews, they were asking Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) that why don’t you speak plainly so he tells them that “Yes I am the Messiah, I have told you clearly but because you are not my sheep you don’t believe in me”.
Verse no. 27 continues Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) continues saying that My sheep, they hear my voice and I know them and they follow me.
Verse 28 that I give them eternal life, no man can pluck them out of my hand and they shall not perish.
Verse no. 29 says My Father who giveth to me, He is greater than all. No man can pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Then verse no. 30 says I and my Father are one.
Any person who has little bit sense can make out I and my Father are one doesn’t mean one as one person. It means one in purpose.
Verse no. 28 says No man can pluck them out of my hand. Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) is saying No man can pluck them out of my hand.
Verse 29 is saying No man can pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Verse no. 30 says I and my Father are one, in purpose. Both Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) and All Mighty God, they are one in purpose.
If I say that my father is a doctor and he is a doctor, Alhamdulillah. Even I am a doctor, if I say I and my father are one. What does it mean? It means one in purpose as medical profession, my father is a doctor even I am a doctor. It doesn’t mean that I and my father are one. It means my father is a medical doctor even I am a medical doctor. But Christians say no, no it means one, actual unity. So we say okay you say actual unity lets read further.
If you go ahead in the gospel of John ch. no. 17 verse no. 21 it says that “Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) said that ye all of them are one. My Father in me and I in thee. We all are one.”
Does it mean that God All Mighty is in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ is in all his 12 disciples so there will be 14 Gods. Jesus Christ, God All Mighty and disciples. The same one is used there and here. If you go to the source same word is used. If you go to the Greek, same word is used. So does it mean you’ll have 14 gods? And amongst those disciples Judas was the traitor even he is god. Thomas doubted Jesus (peace be upon him), is he god? Peter, Jesus Christ says, he is satanic. Is he also God? No! All of them, God All Mighty, Jesus Christ and the apostles are one in purpose. They are same.
Again if you go 2 verse ahead Gospel of John ch. 17 verse 23 says “I am in thee and you are in me.”
He tells the disciples. Does it make all of them God? No! It means one in purpose. But the Christians will say you have quoted the first part why don’t you quote after that, after verse no. 30 Gospel of John ch. 10. Let’s go ahead Gospel of John ch. no. 10
verse no. 31 says and “Jews picked up stones again to stone at Jesus (peace be upon him).
Verse no. 32 says and Jesus (peace be upon him) asked them for which of the good works of my Father do you stone me?
Verse 33 says that we don’t stone you for any good work but because you blaspheme being a man, call yourself God that’s why we stone you. Verbatim, I am reading from my memory any person wants to check up, can check up. It’s there in the Bible. Gospel of John ch. 10 verse 23 onwards I am quoting so Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) gives the answer the Jews say that see he is trying to blaspheme, calling himself God, good ridden, we want to kill him, good ridden. So the Christians say O the Jews called him God All Mighty, see they understood him correctly. For redemption. One wants for redemption they are calling him God, the other group of people for good riddance.
But the answer is given in the next verse, verse no. 34 of Gospel of John ch. 10 says that is it not mentioned in your scriptures that ye are gods and if the person to who the word of God came if he says God, the scripture is not broken.
If you check up in the Bible in the Psalms ch. no. 82 verse no. 6 does say that ye are gods. So Jesus Christ gave the answer that the person to whom the word of God came, if you call him god it is not blaspheme, it is meaning that they are one in purpose. Hope that answers the question.
Questioner: Assalamu Aliakum. This is Yasin, I’m asoftware engineer by profession. My question is that Hindu Pandits and scholars agree that the Vedas and other Hindu religious scriptures prohibit idol worship but initially because the mind may not be mature therefore an idol is required for concentration while worshipping. After the mind reaches higher consciousness, the idol is not required for concentration. What you have to say about this?
Dr. Zakir: Brother asked a question that the Hindu Pandits, and scholars they agree that the Vedas are against idol worship, against making image of All Mighty God but they give the logic that initially because the mind is not mature, you require idol to concentrate. Later on when you reach higher consciousness, idol is not required. If this is the logic I would like to say that we Muslims have already reached the higher consciousness. We don’t require. We don’t require any idols to concentrate on All Mighty God, we have already reached the higher consciousness if this is the logic.
But now lets analyze once I was having a discussion with a Swami from the Iskon, hare ram, hare Krishna, you know its there in Bombay, hare ram, hare Krishna, he came to IRF and we were having a discussion on idol worship. So he gave me the example that Brother Zakir, see when your son asks you why does it thunder so you tell him that ‘aai ma chakki peesti hai, aai ma chakki peesti hai’ i.e. the grandmother in heaven she is grinding flour. Why? Because the child is innocent, can’t understand. Therefore we give this. Similarly human beings because they are immature initially idol is allowed later on when they get matured, idol is not allowed. So I tell them that when I told this Swami from Iskon, hare ram, hare Krishna, that I will never tell my child when he asks me why does it thunder that aai ma chaki peesti hai, grandmother is grinding flour. You know why? Because to tell a lie is Haraam. Its wrong to tell a lie in Islam. You cannot tell.. Even if it is a white lie. In extreme cases certain cases, if someone puts a gun and you lie, that’s a different thing. Otherwise normal circumstances why should a person lie? Because if I tell my son that ‘Aai ma chaki peesti hai’, grandmother is grinding flour in heaven when he goes to school and when the teacher teaches him that the thundering after lightening is due to expansion of rapidly heated air he will think that teacher is lying and afterwards when he comes to know the fact he will say “My father was a liar.” ‘ai ma chaki nahi peesti hai’. So this is the problem that why should you say such wrong things.
And this philosophy is common among all the human beings, common most of them, if not all. And you know we have like those people who stay in a building like when they play with the children you know they throw the toy out, ‘Kawwa le ke gaya’, crow has taken it, you know. You do the action of throwing the toy out of the building, ‘Kawwa le ke gaya’. And then you find even your child is throwing out toys and then when you ask these parents why your child is throwing out toys. “Woh toh everyone does, sab log karte hain, sab children phekte hai” the mother will tell all the children throw out toys so if my child throws, what is great. All the children don’t throw, it is because most of the parents do this trick Kawwa le ke gaya so even he wants to do that trick, even he throws it out. My son Alhamdulillah, we are staying in ninth storey, ninth storey in Mazgon. My son has never thrown any toy. You know why? I have never played that trick with him, Kawwa le ke gaya. So you teach wrong things and your child remains following wrong things. Best is to give the answer. Simplify, simplify and give the answer to the best of their understanding. I know the child.. Many things he can’t understand. Give the answer in a simple way but if you don’t know the answer, you should have the guts to tell the truth “I don’t know.” But most of the children especially nowadays, they won’t take this simple answer. If I tell my son “I don’t know”, he will tell me “Aba, why don’t you know?” so what happens then we have to do our homework. You have to go and find the answer; it educates us as well as our children. But never tell a lie. You can never let your child grow on falsehood.
There are other Pandits when I have discussions they give me the example that See brother Zakir we do know that Vedas are against idol worship and its wrong to do idol worship but initially in standard one because the mind is not mature idol worship is fine but when they graduate then idol worship is not required. So I tell them that if a person goes to school in standard 1 the fundamentals the basics of any subjects should be strong. If the basics and fundamentals are strong in future even the structure will be strong. If the basics are not strong, the structure will not be strong. So if a teacher teaches in Standard 1, in Mathematics 2 + 2 is equal to 4. Even after he goes to standard 3, 4, 5 when he passes school when he becomes a graduate even if he has done Ph.D in mathematics yet 2 + 2 will always remain 4. He may learn Trigonometry Algebra Logarithms but the basics of Arithmetic addition 2 + 2 will remain the same. If the teacher teaches wrong things 2 + 2 is 5 or 2 + 2 is equal to 6 in standard 1 what will happen to the student when he graduates. Therefore the basics should always be strong, the fundamentals should always be strong and these scholars, they know very well the fundamentals of the Vedas are regarding the concept of God that God has got no images. You cannot make any idol of God, that’s the fundamental. I ask these people that if you know that the followers of your religion are doing wrong things it’s your duty to correct them. If your son says 2 + 2 is equal to 5 will you keep quite? In standard 1, you’ll say no, no let him graduate then I’ll tell him 2 + 2 is equal to 4. Will you say that? You’ll correct him initially. You won’t wait till he graduates. As much as you can explain, you explain so if they know the Vedas are against idol worship, its their job to tell the people that this is the fundamental of faith even in the initial stages you can worship Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) without an idol. Hope that answers the question.
Mohammad Naik: One question on the slip and one on the mike in continuing in a clockwise rotation so that we give an opportunity for the people that have taken the trouble to write the question on the slip. One question on the slip then on the mike again on the slip then on the mike, again on the slip, then on the mike. The question is when all believe in one God, why people fight in the name of God and in the name of religion?
Dr. Zakir: The person asked a question that if all the people, all the human beings or most of them believe in one God, believe in one type of religion, why do they fight? Why there is so much of fighting, riots etc. no religion which I know of tells that people should fight with other people unnecessarily, no religion says that. Neither the Quran, neither the Veda, neither the Bible unnecessary you should not.
And the Holy Quran says in Surah Maidah ch. no. 5 verse no. 32
“If anyone kills any human being unless it be for murder or creating mischief in the land, it is as though, you have killed the entire humanity.” Qur’an does not say that if you kill a Muslim, you have killed the whole of humanity if you kill any human being unless it be for murder or creating mischief in the land, it is as though you have killed the whole of humanity. so no religion teaches that people should fight with each other unnecessarily. Suppose people are trying to oppress you then most of the religion says that you should put the oppressor back in its place. Quran says that Surah Anfal, Surah Tawbah that if the people try to drive you out of the house, out of your faith, out of your land then you can fight for self defense. Even the Gita, the whole Bhagvad Gita it is known as the nectar of the Vedas lord Krishna, he is giving advice to Arjun that see fight for the truth even if the opposite people are your relatives don’t stop, if they are in the wrong, you fight.
Quran says in Surah Isra ch 17 verse 81
“Wa Qul Jaa’al Haqq Wa Zahkal Baatil. Innala Baatila Kana Zahuka Wanunazzilu mina al Qur-ani ma huwa shifaon warahmatun lil mu’mineena wala yazeedu al zalimeena illa khasara”
that
“When truth is hurled against falsehood, falsehood perishes for falsehood by its nature bound to perish.”
The Quran is a healing and mercy for those who believe, it was revealed in stages but for those who are unbelievers, they have nothing but loss after loss. So basically no religion tells you to fight unless in self-defense. Even the police kills the robber in self-defense, kills the criminal but normally under normal circumstances people should not fight but yet I do know that people fight. Why! Is a big question. You know what’s the reason? The reason is people fight for power, for material things. The politician he wants vote. So what does he do, he instigates a riot, a riot and then you get marginalized and then Hindus vote Hindu, Muslim vote Muslim. Politicians! If a builder wants a land, you can’t acquire the land because there are thousands huts there. What does he do? He instigates a riot in the basis of religion. The huts are burnt down and then he builds a big building on that land for money. So these people for power, for money, for material requirements, these people they instigate the riots otherwise the common Hindu, the common Muslim, Alhumdulillah we love each other, we love our non-Muslim brothers.
Bombay if you know Bombay even during partition there was not such a riot as we had a couple of years ago. Was engineered by whom? Politicians! Politicians engineered it. All because for power, for material desires otherwise no religion says that you should fight with one another. We do know, we have similarities, we agree with that. We have differences also but a politician on front of everyone he’ll say “Ram bhi Khuda, Allah bhi Khuda” front of it and behind he goes and engineers riots. See we don’t believe in pseudo secularism if suppose 2 people are there one person is saying 2 + 2 = 4 the other person is saying 2 + 2 = 5 that does not means O he is such a good man 2 + 2+ is also equal to 4, 2 + 2 is also equal to 5. I am a very Deshbakht, secular person. What secular? Hypocrisy. I should have the guts to say that see what you are saying 2 + 2 is equal to 4 is right, what you are saying 2 + 2: 5 is wrong but I will not fight with you. I will tell you the truth; I will not fight with you. Same the Quran says in Surah Kafiroon ch 109 verse no. 1 to 6
“Qul ya ayyuha alkafiroona
La a’budu ma ta’budoona
Wala antum abidoona ma a’bud
Wala ana Aabidun ma a’badtum
Lakum deenukum waliya deen”
“Say to those who reject faith, I will not worship what you worship
Nor will you worship what I worship
I will not be worshipping that which you want me to worship
Nor will you worship what I worship
To you is your way, to me is mine. To you is your religion, to me is mine”
I will present the truth to him, Bhai, don’t do idol worship. Don’t have wrong concept of God yet if you have Lakum deenukum waliya deen. To you is your way, to me is mine.
The holy Quran says in Surah Baqarah ch. 2 verse 256
“La ikraha fid deen”
“There is no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from error”
If you hold the hand of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) He will take you from darkness to light. If you hold the hand of the evil one, the devil, he will take you from light to darkness. The choice is yours. But no religion says that you should fight with each other unnecessarily. Hope that answers the question.
Questioner: My name is Sushil Karamkuttar, official photographer, All India Radio, V.V. Bharti service and Bombay Doordarshan. I have visited holy country of Islam i.e. Saudi Arabia 3 times and spent nearly 4 years in Saudi Arabia and watched Islam from closer distance. Now Dr. Zakir Naik my question is there is a Muslim blind person. His one eye is replaced by eye donated by a Hindu person. His kidney, one kidney is replaced by kidney donated by a Christian person and his heart is replaced by heart donated by Parsi gentleman. Such a Muslim person will be allowed to perform prayers in a Mosque.
Dr. Zakir: Brother asked a question that he had been to Saudi Arabia and one person, his eye is from a Hindu, or heart from a Christian and kidney from so and so various things so having eye from another religion, heart from another religion, can you offer Salaah in the Mosque? The answer is brother according to Islam every human being is born as a Muslim. Every heart is a Muslim, every kidney is a Muslim, every eye is a Muslim. What is the meaning of Muslim; Muslim is a person is a person who submits his will to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). Every heart submits his will to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). I am talking about the organic heart, organic heart haan. Organic heart it pumps blood. The heart of a Christian pumps blood, the heart of a Muslim pumps blood, the heart of a Hindu pumps blood. The heart is a Muslim, talking about the organic heart. Eye, the organic eye is a Muslim but you see wrong things. I am sorry, I am not telling you. You means you… the human beings see wrong things so human being is to blamed. But the eye sees, the eye is following the will of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). The kidney, its doing its job, its purifying, it’s a Muslim. So whether heart taken from a person whose born in a Hindu family or Christian family every heart is a Muslim, every eye is a Muslim, every kidney is a Muslim. He will be very well allowed to pray in a Mosque. But even if a non-muslim wants to come to the Mosque, he is most welcome.
Our beloved Prophet, he had discussions about concept of God. Time didn’t permit me the revelation of Surah Ikhlas, the touchstone, the touchstone of theology which I gave to everyone was reveled when? When he was having a discussion with the Christians in the Mosque and they asked him who is Allah. What can you think? The Quran says you covert all the trees into pens, all the ocean into ink what will he say Rehmaan, Raheem, what answer can he give? The direct revelation came. Qul, tell them
“Qul Huwallaahu Ahad”,
“Say: He is Allah, One and Only”
“Allahus Samad”
“Allah, the Absolute and Eternal”
“Lam Yalid Wa Lam Yulad”
“He begetteth not, nor is He begotten”
“Walam Yakullahu Kufuan ‘Ahad”
“There is nothing like Him”
Mohammad Naik: Next question from the slip is from Swaati S. Malik. She is an engineer. As you mentioned in your talk that Hindus say Sun, Moon, Snake and Monkey is God. Basically it’s not like that. We Hindus don’t believe that the above mentioned things are God but we believe that God is everywhere; God is in each and every thing. God is in goat, God is in air, in fire. Does Islam believe the same, if not then why? What’s wrong in this?
Dr. Zakir: The question posed was that they believe that the moon, the sun, the tree, they aren’t God but God is present everywhere. Since God is present everywhere therefore we worship it. What does Islam believe? See the Holy Quran says that wherever you turn your face, you’ll find Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). Allah is everywhere but what does it mean? Are you talking Allah is present physically? When Quran says Allah is everywhere, do you mean to say physical? My question is what do you mean Allah is everywhere? Is it physical? If physical, if you believe Allah is physical then you should be able to see it. No eye can see Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). It’s not physical; the knowledge of Allah is everywhere. The knowledge of Allah is everywhere. Allah has power over all things. But physically He is not everywhere. Therefore the Quran gives the logic in Surah Shura ch. no. 42 verse no. 11 “laysa kamislihi shay” There is nothing unto Him. Nothing like whatever unto Him. So I am telling you the moment you worship the sun, do you mean to say God is only there and nowhere else? Or even if I agree with you.. Okay you say God is every where for the sake of argument I agree with you but then you are worshipping only small part of God. The tree, very small in the full universe, spec. that means indirectly God is so small, only in the tree, only in the snake. So therefore if you have to worship the true God All Mighty even though His knowledge is present everywhere, He is present everywhere not in the physical form. Hope that answers the question.
Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum, Dr. Brother Zakir Naik. My question is regarding the form of Allah. Surah no. 39 Zumar verse 67 the translation says that and on the Day of Resurrection the whole of the earth will be grasped by His hand and the Heavens will be rolled up in His right hand. There is also a Hadith in support of this Sahih Al Bukhari Vol. 6 Hadith no. 336. Can we just imagine some form of Allah?
Dr. Zakir: Sister asked a question in Surah Al Zumar it says, she’s correct the Quran does say that.. that on the Day of Judgment, Resurrection Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) will hold all the creation and various verses in the Quran etc. but if you heard my talk sister I gave you the key word. The key, the key to this concept is Surah Ashura ch. 42 verse no. 11 which says “laysa kamislihi shay” “There is nothing whatever like Him.” So if Quran says Allah has hands, people ask me that if Quran says Allah holds the sky what do you mean, He holds like that? If I say I am holding my family together. Do you mean to say 24 hours I am with my wife and my child? I am not holding my and my child always but yet I am holding them. But I am not holding them like that. These are words used and whenever as I said if Quran says Allah sees and hears. You tell me O Allah hears like us. He hears, how He hears, Allahu Alam, Allah knows. He has a hand but not like yours and mine’s. five fingers with nail and with this. Not like that. He has hand? Yes he has hand. How he has a hand? “Walam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad” There is nothing like Him. How will He do it? Allahu Alam. He will do it for sure. Quran says He’ll hold it in the right hand. He will hold it in the right hand. How He’ll hold it? I don’t know. On the Day of Judgment, InshaAllah, you and I will witness that.
Mohammad Naik: The next question from the slip. Assalamu Alaikum Brother Zakir. As Muslims we believe that Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is Noor. We cannot attribute any form or gender to Him. Why then when we speak of All Mighty God or as written in the Holy Quran, Allah is always referred to as ‘He’? A sister.
Dr. Zakir: The sister has asked a very good question and this question had troubled me for several years. And she asked the question that Allah has Noor, He has got no gender so why it’s written as Hua, as He. And this question I asked to various people, you know, in India and other scholars but never got a satisfactory reply then I myself did little research and then I checked it up with the experts that when I learnt Arabic, the grammar. The Arabic grammar has got only 2 genders, male and female. English grammar 3 genders male, female, neutral. So if you translate Hua into English it can be translated as He or as It. Either He or It. Same as Hiya, if you translate into English it can be translated as She or It, that’s Arabic language 2 genders, English language 3 genders, so Hua if you can translate as He or It, Hiya as She or It. So Hua in English if you say Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is beyond any gender so why have used He.
Some people may say that if Hua means He and It and Hiya means She and It both means it so why did Allah use Hua and why not Hiya vecause Quran says Qul huwa Allahu Ahad. Say He is Allah one and only.
When I learnt in grammar, in Arabic grammar I was told that in the Arabic grammar there are certain rules and criterias for feminine gender, feminine gender. First, if it is femine in nature like mother Ummun, it becomes a feminine gender. Second rule if it ends with ‘tah’ ‘tah’ it is feminine gender. Like mirwahatun, fan ending with ‘tah’ it becomes feminine gender. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is not a female so it can’t be feminine. It is not ending with ‘tah’ is it ending with ‘tah’? No. so can’t be feminine. Third is it should end with ‘bada Alif’ then it becomes feminine. Allah doesn’t end with ‘bada Alif’ so it can’t become feminine. And another one is that pairs of the body twos, like eyes ‘aainooon’ feminine. ‘Yadoon’ hands, feminine. Allah is Qul huwa Allahu ahad. Say He is Allah one and only. Its not pair. So therefore in defection, in default since it can’t be used as HiyaIt that she it, Allah uses Hua it. Otherwise Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) has got no gender at all.
Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum brother. My name is Ali Hussain. In your talk you have mentioned that and even in your earlier talks which I have heard you have mentioned that Jesus in Bible is no where claiming divinity. Now I have gone through a booklet which was propagating Christianity and implying that all the sufferings are healed by Jesus (peace be upon him) and it gave the reference that Jesus is saying “I am the lord that heals you” and the reference was from Exodus ch. no. 15 verse no. 26 and even it went further saying that in First John ch. no. 1 verse no. 7 the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sins. Now my emphasis is on the first reference where he is saying that I am the lord who heals you. Now doesn’t this imply or doesn’t this indicate that Jesus is claiming divinity?
Dr. Zakir: Brother is quoting Exodus ch. no. 15
Questioner: Verse no. 26
Dr. Zakir: Verse 26 and saying that Jesus said that I healed you. Brother Exodus is a part of the Old Testament, Old Testament. Jesus Christ never spoke in Exodus, never. I said in my talk there is not a single unequivocal statement in the whole Bible where Jesus (peace be upon him) himself says that he is God or worship me. This is the Bible I have got by the Christians, King James Version. Everything what Jesus Christ spoken is in red. You check it up this will never be in red. It is not the words of Jesus; it is word of somebody else. And even if I agree with you for sake of argument that Jesus did say that he heals and the Quran does agree with that and I said in my talk we believe that he gave life to the dead with God’s permission. He healed those born and blind with God’s permission. So I have got no objection in agreeing Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) did heal the people. It’s our faith even we believe in it but whatever he did as the Bible says in the Gospel of Matthew ch. no. 12 verse no. 28
“He cast out devil by the sprit of God.”
Gospel of Luke ch. no. 11 verse no. 20
“With the finger of God, he cast out devil. He did everything which bore witness of the father.”
So I have got no objection in agreeing that Jesus did do miracle but regarding Exodus, it’s not the word of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him). Even if it is I have got no objection because whatever miracles he did, Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) said that this is done by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala).
And again Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) said in the Gospel of Matthew ch. no. 24 verse no. 24
“For there shall arise many false Christ and false Prophets and if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect”
Miracle is not the test. Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) said it’s mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew ch. no. 11 verse no. 11
“Of those that are born of a woman, the greatest person is John the Baptist”
Those that are born of a woman, the greatest person is John, the Baptist that means he was greater even than Jesus (peace be upon him) because Jesus was born to Mother Mary. So amongst all born of a woman the greatest is John, the Baptist according to Jesus (peace be upon him). Which miracle did he do? Not a single. Therefore miracle is not the criteria to make him God. Hope that answers the question.
Mohammad Naik: We thank Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) for making this programme possible. On behalf of the Islamic Research Foundation, I thank all our guests including the press for attending the programme. We also appreciate and thank all the persons involved in the organizing and recording of this event. Jazakmullah Khairan!