Lecture

 (Duration 1 hour and 50 minutes)

 

Dr. Mohammad Naik: Bismillah Hir Rahman Nir Raheem. We begin the programme with the recitation from the Holy Qur’an by Qari Rehan Ghalib followed by its English translation by Brother Ashraf Mohammady. 

 

Rehaan Ghalib: Qirat [Surah Isra, Chapter No. 17, Verse No. 110, Surah Al Hashr Chapter No. 59, Verse No. 22 to 24]

 

Ashraf Mohammady: The translation from Surah Isra, Chapter 17, Verse 110.

 

“I seek refuge with Allah from Satan, the accursed.”

 

“In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.”

 

“Say “Call upon Allah or Call upon Rahman” By whatever name you call upon Him it is well. For to Him belong the most beautiful names.” 

 

The translation from Surah Al Hashr Chapter 59, Verses 22 to 24.

“Allah is He then whom there is no other God who knows all things. Both secret and open. He, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Allah is He than whom there is no other God, the Sovereign, the Holy one, the source of Peace and Perfection, the Guardian of faith, the preserver of safety, the Exhalted in Might, the Irresistible, the Supreme. Glory to Allah, High is He above the partners they attribute to Him. He is Allah, the Creator, the Evolver, the Bestower of forms and colors, To Him belongs the most beautiful names. Whatever is the Heavens and on Earth, does declare His praises and Glory. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. 

 

Verily Allah has spoken the truth.

Dr. Mohammad Naik: Now we have the recitation from the Holy Vedas by Pandit Niraj Shastri, Pandit Chandrapal Shastri and Pandit Hari Om Shastri. All three are from the Arya Samaaj, Mumbai 

 

Pandit Niraj Shastri, Pandit Chandrapal Shastri and Pandit Hari Om Shastri: [Sanskrit]

 

Rig Ved, Yajur Ved Ke Mantro Ka Manushyamat Ke Kalyaan Ke Liye Parmeshwar Ne Jo Gyaan Diya Usko Hume Aapke Saamne Mantro Ko Prastut Kiya, Dhanyawaad. Om Shaanti 

 

Translation: [The verses from Rig Ved, Yajur Ved which God gave as knowledge for the betterment of the human beings, we presented the verses in front of you, Thank You. Om Shaanti]

 

Dr. Mohammad Naik: Thank You. The translation by brother Ashraf Mohammady.

 

Ashraf Mohammady: Verses recited by the priests, the translation of the two of these verses is in front for you. The first set of Shlokas were from Rig Veda, Book 1, Hymn 164, Mantra 46, it reads,

“God is one but the wise call him by various names to denote his different attributes. They call him Indra, God of Supreme power or Lord of the world. Mitra, the friend of all. Varuṇa, the most desirable supreme being. Agni, the all knowing supreme leader. Divya, the shining one and Garutmān, the Mighty universal spirit. The Rishis describe the one being in various ways calling him Agni, self refulgent one. Yama, the ordainer of the world and Mātariśvan, the life energy of the universe”

 

The next Shloka was from Yajurveda, Chapter 40, Verse 1, it says,

 

“Enveloped by the lord must be this, all each thing that moves on earth with that renounced enjoy yourself, covet not wealth of any man”

 

Thank You.

 

Dr. Mohammad Naik: Dear Brothers and Sisters, As Salaamu Alaikum. May Peace be on you. I, Dr. Mohammad Naik, am your host and coordinator for this evenings programme. 

 

I welcome each one of you to this momentous event. An event with a difference, the difference being similarities, similarities between Hinduism and Islam. It’s perhaps for the first time in the history of modern India that we are holding a talk of such vital relevance. A talk that attempts to bring to common terms the followers of this great nation to major religions, Hinduism and Islam. An educative talk that will try to dispel misconceptions and promote understanding about the common teachings of Hinduism and Islam.

 

My school principal had once told me the law of the jungle is, “Kill or be killed” but the law of life is “Live and let live”, it’s a tragedy.. so many of us choose to live by the law of the jungle. We choose blind hate over compassion and understanding, fallible falsehood over transparent truth, its sad; we cannot live together amicably many a times. Understand our similarities; learn to live with our differences. No wonder somebody once remarked, “Men will wrangle for religion, fight for it, die for it…anything…but live for it”

 

Tonight… like brothers in humanity lets learn to live and let live. But this is possible only if we understand each others perspectives, beliefs and religions.

 

Surprisingly both Hinduism with its 850 Million followers and Islam with its 1300 Million followers remain mysteries in the minds of many.

 

Tonight we have before us the internationally acclaimed orator on Comparative Religion, Dr. Zakir Naik. 

 

Dr. Zakir is a medical doctor. His critical analysis and convincing answers are founded on fact since he quotes verbatim from various religious scriptures.. like.. the Noble Qur’an, the Holy Bible and the ancient Vedas. In the last seven years, Dr. Zakir has delivered more than more than 700 public speeches in various countries world wide including the U.S.A., Canada, U.K., Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., South Africa, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Guyana in South America in addition to numerous public talks in India. He appears regularly on many international TV Channels in over 150 countries. 

 

This evening he would be highlighting the similarities between Hinduism and Islam before us.

 

May I present before you all.. brothers and sisters in humanity.. Dr. Zakir Naik. 

 

 

 

Dr. Zakir Naik: 

 

Alhamdulillah, was salaatu was salaam ala rasoolillah wa ala aalihi wa ashaabihi wa ajma’een, amma baad. 

A’uzu billahi minash shaytan nir-rajeem, Bismillah hirrahman nirraheem.

 

Qul Ya 'Ahlal-Kitaab Ta`alaw 'Ilá Kalimatin Sawa'in Baynana Wa Baynakum 'Allah Na`buda 'Illallah Wa La Nushrika Bihi Shay'an Wa La  Yattakhidha Ba`duna Ba`dan 'Arbaban Min Dunillahi Fa'in Tawallaw Faqulush hadu Bi'anna Muslimun.

 

Rabbish rahli Şadri Wa Yassir Li 'Amri Wa Ahlul `Uqdatan Min Lisani Yafqahu Qawli

 

My respected elders and my dear brothers and sisters, I welcome all of you with the Islamic greetings As Salaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu, May peace, mercy and blessings of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala), of All Mighty God be on all of you.

 

The topic of this evening’s talk is “Similarities Between Hinduism and Islam”. 

 

I started my talk by quoting a verse from the Glorious Qur’an from Surah Ale Imran Chapter No. 3 Verse No. 64 which says:

 

“Qul Ya 'Ahlal-Kitaab”,

“Say O people of the Book”

 

“Ta`alaw 'Ilá Kalimatin Sawa'in Baynana Wa Baynakum”

“Come to common terms as between us and you”

 

Which is the first term?

 

“Alla Na`buda 'Illallah”

“That we worship none but one Almighty God”

 

“Wa La Nushrika Bihi Shay'an”                                                              “That we associate no partners with him”

 

“Wa La Yattakhidha Ba`duna Ba`dan 'Arbaban Min Dunillahi”           

“That we erect not among ourselves Lords and Patrons other than Allah.”

 

“Fa'in Tawallaw”

“If then they turn back”

 

“Faqulush hadu”

“Say ye bear witness”

 

“Bi'anna Muslimun”

“That we are Muslims bowing our will to Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala).”

 

This verse though it specifically refers to the Ahle Kitaab, the Jews and Christians, in general it can be used for people of different faiths. And according to me it is the best verse that can be used while speaking with different kinds of people. It says,

 

“Ta`alaw 'Ilá Kalimatin Sawa'in Baynana Wa Baynakum”

“Come to common terms as between us and you”

 

Which is the first term?

 

“Alla Na`buda 'Illallah”

“That we worship none but One Almighty God”

 

“Wa La Nushrika Bihi Shay'an”

“That we associate no partners with him.”

 

“Wa La Yattakhidha Ba`duna Ba`dan 'Arbaban Min Dunillahi”           

“That we erect not among ourselves Lords and Patrons other one Almighty God.”

 

It is not appropriate to try and understand a particular religion by trying to observe the followers of that religion. Because many a times the followers, they themselves are not aware about the teaching of their religion. Therefore the best and the most appropriate method of trying to understand any religion is to try to understand the authentic sources of that religion, the authentic scriptures of that religion. If you have to understand Hinduism, we have to try and understand the sacred scriptures of Hinduism. 

 

The most sacred are the Vedas and the Shlokas were recited from these scriptures. That is supplemented by the Upanishads, by the Ithihas; Ramayan, Mahabharat, Bhagavad Gita, by the Puranas, Manu Smriti etc. But the most sacred are the Vedas amongst all the Hindu scriptures. So if you have to understand Hinduism, you have to try and understand the sacred scriptures of Hinduism.

Similarly, in Islam, the most sacred scripture is the Glorious Qur’an, which is the last and final revelation of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) of Almighty God which was revealed to the last and final Messenger Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It is supplemented with the authentic Hadith the sayings and traditions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). So if you have to understand Islam we have to try and understand the Glorious Qur’an and the authentic Hadith of the Prophet.

 

Let’s understand the definition of the word Hindu. ‘Hindu’ is a Geographical definition, which refers to the people living beyond the river Sindhu or people living in the land watered by river Indus. According to the historians, this word Hindu was first used by the Persians when they came to India through the north western passes of Himalaya. It was also used by the Arabs.

 

According to the Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics, it is mentioned in Volume No. 6, Reference No. 690, that the word Hindu is not found in any of the Indian literatures or scriptures before the advent of Muslims to India. 

 

And according to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, he wrote the book “Discovery of India” on page No.74 and 75, he writes, that the earliest occurrence of this word Hindu can be traced to a Tantrik of 8th century C.E. Means the first time the word Hindu was used is in the 8th century C.E. in the Christian Era in a Tantrik in a scripture. And it was used to describe the people; it was never used for describing the followers of particular religion. Its relationship to religion is of late occurrence. 

 

The word Hinduism is derived from the word Hindu. And it was first time used by the Englishmen, by the westerners, by the Britishers, to describe a group of belief and faiths of the people of India. According to the New Encyclopedia Britannica, Volume No. 20, Reference No. 581, it says that the word Hinduism was first used by the British writers in the year 1830 to describe the religion and the belief of the people of India. Since the word Hinduism was first coined by the Englishman, it’s a English word, today the Hindu scholars they object and they say that Hinduism is a misnomer. The right word for the Religion should be Sanatana Dharma, that is the eternal religion or the Vedic Dharma, that is the religion of the Vedas. 

 

And according to Swami Vivekananda, Hinduism is a misnomer. The followers should be called as Vendantist that means the followers of Vedas. So in short the word Hindu is a geographical definition used for describing the people of India. Its relationship to religion is of late occurrence. The word Hinduism was first used in 1830 by the British writers, its an English word and the word Sanatana Dharma, Vedic Dharma and Vedantist, is more appropriate but these two are not to be found in any Indian scriptures… all these words has come into existence in the past two centuries.

 

Let’s understand the definition of the word Islam. Islam comes from the word ‘Salam’, which means peace. It’s also derived from ‘Silm’, which means to submit your will to Almighty God. Islam in short means, peace obtained by submitting your will to Almighty God and anyone who submits his will to Almighty God he is called as a Muslim. 

 

This word Islam, occurs in various places in Glorious Qur’an as well as authentic Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam).. including.. the word Islam occurs in Surah Baqarah, Chapter No. 2, Verse No. 208 and the word Muslim occurs in several places in the Qur’an and the Hadith, including Surah Ale Imran, Chapter 3 Verse No. 64.

 

There’s a misconception that Islam is a new religion, which came into existence 1400 years back and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) he was the founder of this religion of Islam. In fact, Islam is there since time immemorial. Since man set foot on this earth, and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is not the founder of this religion but he is the last and final messenger of Almighty God to whom was revealed the last and final message the Glorious Qur’an 1400 years back. 

 

In this talk of mine today, I will not be speaking about those similarities between Hinduism and Islam which is commonly known by most of the followers of both of these religions. I will not be speaking about…both the religion say that you should speak the truth, that you should not tell a lie, that you should not be cruel, that you should be kind, that you should not steal. All these are known by the followers of both this religion. Infact I’ll be speaking about those similarities which are not known commonly by both the followers of these religions.

 

First we will discuss the Similarities between Hinduism and the Pillars of Eemaan or Faith in Islam. 

 

Allah says in the Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Baqarah, Chapter No. 2, Verse No. 177, Allah says, that,

“It is not righteousness that you turn your face to the east or west, but it is righteousness, that you believe in Allah, you believe in the last day, that you believe in the Angels, his books and his Messengers”

 

There’s a Hadith which is mentioned in Sahih Muslim, Volume No. 1, in Book of Eemaan, Chapter No. 2, Hadith No. 6,

 

A person approaches the Prophet and asks him, “What is Eemaan?” And the Prophet replies, “Eemaan is believing in Allah, in God, in his Angels, his Books, his meeting, his Messengers, in the Resurrection i.e. life after death and in Qadr i.e. Destiny”

 

So basically there are six pillars of Eemaan in Islam.

 

The first is, believing in God.

Second is, believing in his Angels.

Third is believing in his Books.

Fourth is believing in his Messengers.

Fifth is believing in the resurrection, that is Hereafter i.e. life after death and

Sixth is, believing in Qadr, i.e. destiny.

 

First we’ll discuss what Hinduism has to say about the first pillar, Concept of God. 

 

If you ask a common Hindu that how many Gods does he believe in? Some may say 3, some may say 10, some may say 100, some may say 1000, while others will say 33 crores, 330 million. But if you ask this question to a learned Hindu who is well versed with his scriptures, he will tell you that the Hindus should actually believe and worship only one Almighty God. But the common Hindu, he believes in a philosophy known as Pantheism. The common Hindu believes that everything is God. The tree is God, the sun is God, the moon is God, the human being is God, the snake is God. What we Muslims believe, that everything is God’s. ‘G’ ‘O’ ‘D’ with an apostrophe ‘S’ , everything belongs to God, the tree belongs to God, the sun belongs to God, the moon belongs to God, the human being belongs to God, the snake belongs to God. So the major difference between the Hindu and the Muslims is, the common Hindu says that everything is God, we Muslim say everything is God’s. ‘G’ ‘O’ ‘D’ with an apostrophe ‘S’.  The major difference is the apostrophe ‘s’. If we can solve this difference of apostrophe ‘S’, the Hindus and the Muslims will be united. How would do you do it?

 

As the Qur’an says,

 

“Ta`alaw 'Ilá Kalimatin Sawa'in Baynana Wa Baynakum”

“Come to common terms as between us and you”

 

Which is the first term?

 

“Alla Na`buda 'Illallah”

“That we believe in only One Almighty God”

 

Let us try and understand what the Hindu scriptures have to speak about Almighty God. 

 

It is mentioned in the Chandogya Upanishad, Chapter No. 6, Section No. 2, Verse No. 1, it says,

 

“Ekam Evadvitiyam”

It’s a Sanskrit quotation which means,

“God is only one without a second.”

 

It is mentioned in the Shvetashvatara Upanishad, Chapter No. 6, Verse No. 9,

 

“Na casya Kascij janita na Cadhipah.”

“Of Him there are no parents, he has got no lords, Almighty God has got no mother, he has got no father, he has got no master, he has got no superior”

 

It’s mentioned in the Shvetashvatara Upanishad, Chapter No. 4, Verse No. 19,

 

“Na Tasya Pratima Asti”

“Of Him there is no likeness” 

 

It’s further mentioned in the Shvetashvatara Upanishad, Chapter No. 4, Verse No. 20, that

 

“His form cannot be seen. No one can see Him with their eyes.”

 

Amongst all the Hindu scriptures the most widely read and the most popular is the Bhagavad Gita. 

 

 

 

It’s mentioned in Bhagavad Gita Chapter No. 7, Verse No. 20,

 

“All those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires, they worship demi Gods.”

 

Which means all materialistic people, they worship demi gods, that is the false gods besides the one true Almighty God. 

 

It’s further mentioned in Bhagavad Gita Chapter No. 10, Verse No. 3, that

 

“He who knows me as the unborn, the beginning less, the supreme Lord of all the worlds.”

 

Amongst the Hindu scriptures, the most sacred are the Vedas. It’s mentioned in the Yajurveda Chapter No. 32, Verse No. 3,

 

“Na Tasya Pratima Asti”

“Of Him there are no images.”

 

Almighty God has got no images, and it further says that he’s unborn, he alone only should be worshipped.

 

It’s mentioned in Yajurveda, Chapter No. 40, Verse No. 8, that

 

“Almighty God is imageless and pure.”

 

It’s mentioned in Yajurveda Chapter No. 40 Verse No. 9,

 

“Andhatma Pravishanti ya Aasambhuti mupaste.”

 

‘Andhatma’ means darkness. ‘Pravishanti’ means entering and ‘Asambhuti’ means the natural things like fire, water, air.

 

It means, “They are entering darkness those who worship the natural things like fire, water, air and the verse continues, they are entering more in darkness those who worship the created things”

 

Like table, chair, idols etc.  Who says that? Yajurveda Chapter No. 40 Verse No. 9.

 

It’s further mentioned in the Atharvaveda, Book No. 20, Hymn No. 58, Verse No. 3,

 

“Dev maha Asi”

“Verily great is Almighty God.”

 

And amongst the Hindu scriptures, the most sacred are the Rigveda. It’s mentioned in the Rigveda, Book No. 1, Hymn No. 164, Verse No. 46, the Shlokas which were recited by the respected Pandits, it says,  

 

“Ekkam sad vipra bhudha vidante”

“Ekkam sad vipra bhudha vidante”

 

Which means, “Truth is one, God is one, sages call him by various names.”

 

And the same message is repeated in Rigveda, Book No. 10, Hymn No. 114, Verse No. 5, that God is one but sages call him by a variety of names.”

 

And in Rigveda alone, in Book No. 2 Hymn No. 1 there are no less than 33 different attributes given to Almighty God, many of which were recited by the respected Pandits. One amongst them in Rigveda, Book No. 2, Hymn No. 1, Verse No. 3 is Brahamma. Brahamma is called the creator. If you translate into Arabic, it means Khaliq. We Muslims have got no objection if someone calls Almighty God as Khaliq or the Creator, but if someone says the creator is Almighty God who has got four heads and on each head is a crown, we Muslims take strong exception to it. More over, you are going against Shvetashvatara Upanishad Chapter No. 4 Verse No. 19 which says,

 

“Na Tasya Pratima Asti”

“Of Him there is no likeness”

 

Another attribute given in Rigveda, Book No. 2, Hymn No. 1, Verse No. 3 is ‘Vishnu’. Vishnu is called the Sustainer, the cherisher. If you translate into Arabic, it is somewhat similar to Rabb. We Muslims have got no objection if someone says Almighty God is Rabb or Sustainer or Cherisher. But if someone says Sustainer, he’s Almighty God who has got four hands, one of his right hand is the Disc, the Chakra, the other hand he has the conch, he’s traveling on the bird by the name of Garuda or reclining on couch of snakes, we Muslims take strong objection to it. Moreover you are going against the Yajurveda, Chapter No. 32, Verse No. 3 which says,

 

“Na Tasya Pratima Asti”

“Of Him there are no images” 

If you read Rigveda, all these descriptions are not given, the attributes are given that Almighty God is creator, he’s sustainer, he’s cherisher. We have no objection with attribute, but these images are not given because it is mentioned in the Veda’s that Almighty God has got no images.

 

It’s further mentioned in Rigveda, Book No. 8, Hymn No. 1, Verse No. 1,

 

“Ma Chidanyadvi Sansad”

“Ma Chidanyadvi Sansad”

 

Which means, “Do not worship anyone except the one God.”

 

It’s mentioned in Rigveda, Book No. 6, Hymn No. 45, Verse No. 16,

 

“Ya Ekit Mushtihi”

“Praise him alone, the one true God”

 

And the Brahma Sutra of the Vedanta is

 

“Ekam Brahm, dvitiya naste neh na naste kinchan”

 

Which means, “Bhagwan ek hi hai doosra nahi hai, nahi hai, nahi hai, zara bhi nahi hai.”

 

“There is only one God not a second, not at all, not at all, not in the least bit.”

 

So, if we read the Hindu scriptures, we understand the concept of God in Hinduism.

 

Let’s try and understand the concept of God in Islam. The best reply any Muslim can give you regarding the concept of God in Islam is quote to you Surah Ikhlaas, Chapter 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”, 

“And there is nothing like Him”

 

This is a four line definition of Almighty God given in the Glorious Qur’an in Surah Ikhlaas which is the same as which was mentioned in the Hindu Scriptures. 

 

The first is “Qul Huwallaahu Ahad”, “Say: He is Allah, One and Only”

 

Same as the Chandogya Upanishad, Chapter No. 6, Section No. 2, Verse No. 1. which says,

 

“Ekam Evadvitiyam” “God is only one without a second.”

 

The second verse, “Allahus-Samad” “Allah the absolute and eternal”

 

Same as Bhagavad Gita, Chapter No.10, Verse No.3, which says that

 

“He is the Lord of all the worlds.”

 

Verse number three,

 

“Lam Yalid Wa Lam Yulad.” “He begetteth not, nor is He begotten.”

 

Same as Shvetashvatara Upanishad, Chapter No. 6, Verse No. 9, which says, 

 

“Na casya kascij janita na cadhipah.”

Which means, “Almighty God has got no parents, he has got no Lords, he has got no mother, he has got no father.”

 

And the last is

 

“Walam Yakullahu Kufuan 'Ahad”, “There is nothing like Him”

 

Same as mentioned in the Shvetashvatara Upanishad, Chapter No. 4, Verse No. 19, as well as Yajurveda, Chapter No. 32, Verse No. 3, which says,

 

“Na Tasya Pratima Asti” “Of him there is no likeness, he has got no images.”

 

The definition of Almighty God given in Qur’an and the Hindu scripture is exact the same. This is the touchstone of theology, Surah Ikhlaas and what’s quoted from the Hindu Scriptures is the touchstone of theology. If anyone says that so and so candidate is God you put him to the test of Surah Ikhlaas, if that candidate passes the test he is a true Almighty God. If he doesn’t, he’s not a true God.

 

For example, some people say that Bhagwan Rajneesh he’s Almighty God. There was a Hindu brother of ours, during question and answer time, once he said that we Hindus don’t agree Bhagwan Rajneesh is God. I know that, I never said that the Hindus say Bhagwan Rajneesh is God. I said some people say that Bhagwan Rajneesh is God. I have read the Hindu scriptures, no where do the Hindu scripture say that Bhagwan Rajneesh is God. But there are many people who have converted from different religion and now they say that Bhagwan Rajneesh is God. Let us put this Bhagwan Rajneesh to the test of Surah Ikhlas and the test of the Hindu scriptures.

The first is..

 

“Qul Huwallaahu Ahad”, “Say: He is Allah, One and Only”

 

“Ekam Evadvitiyam” “There is only one God without a second.”

 

Is Rajneesh one and only? Is he the only man who has claimed divinity? There are many who have claimed divinity specially in this country of ours, there are thousands of men who have claimed divinity, he’s not the only one. But a Rajneesh Bhakth will say, no he is unique, he’s the only one. Let’s go to the next test.

 

“Allahus- Samad” “Allah the absolute and eternal”

 

Was Rajneesh absolute and eternal? We know from his biography that he was suffering from asthma, from diabetes, from chronic back. Imagine Almighty God suffering from asthma, from diabetes, from chronic back ache.

 

Third test is,

 

“Lam Yalid Wa Lam Yulad.”

“He begetteth not, nor is He begotten.”

 

Same in the Shvetashvatara Upanishad, Chapter No. 6, Verse No. 9,

 

“Na casya kascij janita na cadhipah.”

“Of Him there are no parents, no mother, no father”

 

We know Rajneesh had a father and mother. He was born in the state of Madhya Pradesh. In 1981 he goes to America and takes thousands of Americans for a ride. And in the state of Oregon, he starts his town known as Rajneesh Puram. Later on the American government, they arrest him and they put him behind bars and he claims that the American government gave me slow poisoning in the jail. Imagine Almighty God being slow poisoned. And later on in 1985, the American government they kick him out of the country he comes back to India, and in the city of Poona, he restarts his center which is today known as the Osho Commune. And If you go to Poona and visit his centre Osho Commune, it is mentioned on his tomb stone, “Bhagwan Rajneesh, ‘Osho Rajneesh’ never born, never died, but visited the earth from the 11th of December 1931 to the 19th of January 1990.” Never born, never died but visited the earth from the 11th of December 1931 to the 19th of January 1990. Never born, never died. They forgot to mention on his tomb stone that he was not given visas to 21 different countries of the world. Imagine Almighty God coming in this world to visit the world and he requires visas to visit different countries. And the Arch Bishop of Greece said if you don’t remove Rajneesh out of this country, we will burn his house and the house of his disciple.

 

And the last test

 

“Walam Yakullahu Kufuan 'Ahad” “There’s nothing like Him”

 

Is so stringent that no one besides the true Almighty God can pass. The moment you can compare God to anyone in this world, in this universe, he is not God. 

 

“Walam Yakullahu Kufuan 'Ahad”  

 

We know Rajneesh he was a human being like us…. had two eyes.. one nose.. two hands… two legs, had a white beard. The moment you can compare God to anything in this world, he is not God.

 

“Walam Yakullahu Kufuan 'Ahad”

 

For example if someone says that Almighty God is a thousand times stronger than Arnold Schwarzenegger. You might have heard the name of Arnold Schwarzenegger, the person who got the title Mr. Universe, Mr. World, the strongest man in the World, the strongest man in the Universe. If someone says that Almighty God is thousand times stronger than Arnold Schwarzenegger, the moment you can compare God to anyone, whether it be Arnold Schwarzenegger whether it be Dara Singh, or whether it be King Kong. Whether it be thousand times or whether it be a million times. The moment you can compare God to anything in this world, he is not God.

 

“Walam Yakullahu Kufuan Ahad”

“There is nothing like him.”

 

My request is, to my dear brothers and sisters, whichever God you are worshipping put him to the test of Surah Ikhlaas and the test of the Hindu scriptures. If they pass, they are true Almighty God. If they fail, they are not. 

 

Otherwise Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) says in the Qur’an, in Surah Isra, Chapter No. 17, Verse No. 110, the Ayaat which was recited by the Qari… 

 

“Qulid`ullaah 'Awid`ur-Rahmaan 'Ayyama Tad`u Falahul 'Asma' ul Husna”

 

“Say: call upon him by Allah or by Rahman, by whichever name you call upon him to him belongs the most beautiful names.”

 

You can call Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) by any name but it should be a beautiful name, it should no conjure up a mental picture. And there are no less than 99 different attributes, given to Almighty God in the Glorious Qur’an. Ar Rahman, Ar Rahim, Al Hakim, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, Most Wise, no less than 99. And the crowing one is Allah.

 

Why do we Muslims prefer calling Allah by the Arabic word Allah instead of the English word God. Because a person cannot play mischief with the Arabic word Allah, as you can do with the English word God. For example, if you add ‘s’ to God, it becomes ‘Gods’, that’s plural of ‘God.’ There is nothing like plural Allah, “Qul Huwallaahu Ahad”, “Say he is Allah one and only.” If you add ‘dess’ to ‘God’, it becomes ‘Goddess’, meaning a female God, there is nothing like male Allah or female Allah. Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) has got no gender, He is unique. If you add a father to ‘God’, it becomes ‘Godfather’. He is my ‘Godfather’, he’s my guardian, there is nothing like Allah father or Allah Abba in Islam. If you add mother to God, it becomes God mother. There is nothing like Allah Ammi or Allah mother in Islam. Allah is unique word. If you add ‘tin’ before God, it becomes ‘Tin God’, meaning a fake God. There’s nothing like Tin Allah in Islam. That’s the reason we Muslims, we prefer calling Allah by the Arabic word Allah instead of the English word God. But if there are some Muslims who while speaking to the non Muslims about Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala), these non Muslims may not know the concept of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) so if they use the word God, instead of the word Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) like how I am doing today, there’s no problem. But I would like to remind that God is not the appropriate translation of the Arabic word Allah.

 

And this word Allah is mentioned in all the sacred scriptures of the major religions. Including Hinduism. It’s mentioned in Rigveda, Book No. 2, Hymn No. 1, Verse No. 11, he’s referred as Ilaah or Alah, meaning God. Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) is also mentioned by name in Rigveda, Book No. 3, Hymn No. 30 Verse No. 10 as well as Rigveda, Book No. 9, Hymn No. 67, Verse No. 30. He has been mentioned by name as Allah in several verses of the Vedas.

 

Let’s try and understand the second pillar of Eemaan that is the angels.

 

As far as Hinduism is concerned there’s no particular concept of angels in Hinduism. But, Hinduism, they have certain super-beings, which do work which a normal human being cannot do.

In Islam, Angels are created by Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala), Almighty God. And they are created from Light. They do not have a free will of their own. They obey all the commandments of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala), and they have been appointed for certain duties. For example Archangel Gabriel he has been appointed to get the revelations from Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) to the Messengers of Almighty God.

 

Let’s discuss the third pillar of Eemaan, that is the Books

 

First we’ll discuss the books in Hinduism. The books in Hinduism are divided in to two broad categories.

 

The Shruti’s, and the Smriti’s.

 

The Shruti means something which is revealed, which is heard, which is perceived, which is understood. The Shruti’s by the Hindu scholars they are considered to be of divine origin, to be the word of God. And they are the more superior. They are divided in to the Vedas and the Upanishads.

 

The word Veda is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘vid’, which means to knowledge. ‘Vedas’ means knowledge par excellence. These are the Holy Vedas, the most sacred and there are principally four Vedas. We have the Rig Veda which deals with the songs of praises. We have the Yajur Veda, which deals with the sacrificial formulas. We have the Sam Veda, which deals with melody. And the Atharva Veda, which deals with magical formulas.

 

Vedas are the most authentic and the most sacred among the Hindu scriptures. And these Vedas, the exact date when they were written or when they were revealed is not known. According to Swami Dayanand Saraswati, of Arya Samaj, he says that the Vedas are 1310 million years old. But according to the majority of the scholars they say that the Vedas are approximately 4000 years old. The exact date is not known. To whom it was revealed or who compiled it is not known. Where it came to existence first time in the world is not known. But yet the Vedas are considered be of the divine origin, the word of God and they are most sacred amongst all the Hindu scriptures.

 

Next we have, we have the Upanishads. There are more than 200 Upanishads but our Indian culture puts a figure of approximately 108 and there are some important Upanishads… some say 10, some say 12, some say 18, this Upanishad which is translated by Radhakrishnan he says that there are 18 principal Upanishads.

 

Next we have the Smriti’s. Smriti means memory, that which is remembered. And these Smritis they are less authentic, less sacred as compared to the Shrutis, the Vedas and the Upanishads. And they are not of divine origin. The Hindu scholar say they have been written by men for the guidance of the human being, how a life should be lead. They are also referred as the Dharma Shastra.

 

Among the Smritis, we have the Itihaas, the epics. We have the two great epics, Ramayan and Mahabharat. Ramayana is an epic which deals with the story of Sri Ram, which most of us Indians we are aware of it. know. Then we have the Mahabharat. Mahabharat talks about a feud, between the cousins, the Pandavas and the Kawrawas. It also deals with the story of Sri Krishna. And all of us are aware about the story of Mahabharat.

 

Then we have the Bhagavad Gita. It is an advice given by Sri Krishna to Arjun in the battle field and it is a part of Mahabharat. It contains 18 Chapters, from the Bheeshma Parv of Mahabharat, from Chapter No. 25 to Chapter No. 42. It contains totally 18 Chapters.

Next amongst the Hindu scriptures, we have the Puranas, which deals with the stories of deities, the creation of the universe It is compiled into 18 voluminous parts by Maha Rishi Vyas. And most important amongst the Puranas is the Bhavishya Purana. This is the Bhavishya Purana which talks about the future. There are various other scriptures of the Hindu’s. We cannot name all. 

 

Another one is the Manu Smriti, the Laws of the Hindus which were written by Manu. So in short these were the scriptures, the books of Hinduism. But the major are the Vedas. If anything contradicts with the Vedas, the Vedas should be followed. They are sacred amongst all the Hindu scriptures and they are considered to be of divine origin. 

 

Let’s discuss the books in Islam. It mentioned in Surah Ra’d, Chapter No. 13, Verse No. 38, it says,

 

“Likulli 'Ajalin Kitaab”,

“In every age have we sent a revelation”

 

There were several revelations sent by Almighty God on this earth, but the last and final revelation is the Glorious Qur’an and it is the most sacred amongst all the Islamic scriptures. It was revealed to the last and final Messenger Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), 1400 years ago. It was revealed in Arabic. And Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Shu’ara, Chapter No. 26, Verse No. 196, that 

 

“It is assuredly mentioned in the revealed books of all the previous people”

 

That means Qur’an is mentioned in the revealed books of all the previous people. Other sacred Books are the Authentic Ahadith, the traditions and the sayings of the last and final Messenger Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). These are supplementary to the Qur’an, they are the commentary of the Qur’an, they will never conflict with the Qur’an. They will never over rule the Qur’an. 

 

This is Sahih Bukhari, which is one of the Authentic Books, the sayings of the prophet.  

 

 

Fourth pillar of Eemaan, is the Messengers of God.

 

First we will discuss the Messengers of God in Islam. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Faatir, Chapter No. 35, Verse No. 24

 

“Wa 'In Min 'Ummatin 'Illa Khala Fiha Nadhir”

“There is not a people without a warner having lived among them is the past” 

 

Allah says in the Qur’an that there were several Messengers sent on the face of the earth. 

 

He also says in Surah Ahzaab Chapter No. 33, Verse No. 40,

 

“Ma Kana Muhammadun 'Aba 'Ahadin Mirijaalikum Wa Lakin Rasulallaah Wa Khaataman-Nabiyin Wa Kaanallaahu Bikulli Shayyin Alima”

 

Which means, “Muhammad (peace be upon him) is not the father of any of you men but he is the Messenger of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) and he is the seal of the Prophets, he is the last and the final Messenger of Almighty God and Allah is All Knowing full of knowledge”

 

Since Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the last and final Messenger of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala), he was not sent only for the Muslims or only for the Arabs. 

 

Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Ambiya, Chapter No. 21, Verse No. 107,

 

“Wa Ma 'Arsalnaaka 'Illa Rahmatan Lil`Alameen”

 

That “We have sent Thee not, but As a Mercy to the whole of humanity as a mercy to all the worlds, as a mercy to all creatures”

The message is repeated in Surah Saba’, Chapter No. 34, Verse No. 28, where Allah says,

 

“Wa Ma 'Arsalnaaka 'Illa Kaffatan Lilnnas Bashiran Wa Nadhiran.”

 

That 

 

“We have not sent Thee not but As a universal (Messenger), giving glad tidings, and warning them against sin but most of the human being yet do not know”

And our Prophet said, its mentioned in Sahih Bukhari, Volume No. 1, in the Book of Salaah, Chapter No. 56, Hadith No. 429, the Prophet said, that

 

“All the previous Messengers that came before me they were only sent for their people but I have been sent for the whole of humanity.” 

 

Lets discuss the concept of Messengers in Hinduism. The common Hindus they have a different concept, they believe in Avtar. The word Avtar is derived from ‘Av’ which means ‘down’ and ‘tra’ which means ‘passover’. So Avatar means to descend down, to come down. And according to Oxford Dictionary it says, that Avtar means, in Hindu Mythology, a deity or a revered soul coming down on the earth in bodily form. The common Hindu’s, they believe that Avtar means Almighty God coming on this earth as a human being. 

 

And this concept is derived from Bhagavad Gita, Chapter No. 4, Verse No. 7 and 8 which says, 

 

“Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya,

Glanir Bhawati Bharata,

Abhyutanam Dharmasya,

Tataatmaan Sajjaymaham”

It’s a very common verse, we hear it on the television in the serial of Mahabharat, which means, that,

 

“Whenever there is decay of religion, O Bharata,

And a rise of unrighteousness, I manifest Myself”

 

Verse No. 8 says,

“To protect the good, and for the destruction of the evil, and to establish righteousness, I will be born in every age.”

 

“Sambhawami Yuge Yuge.”

“I will be born in every age”

 

This message is also repeated in the Bhagavad Purana, Khand 9, Adhyay 24, Shloka 56, it says that

 

“Whenever there is rise of unrighteousness and rise of sinfulness, I incarnate myself.”

 

But this concept of Avtar which most of the common Hindu’s believe in it is nowhere to be found in the Vedas, the most sacred amongst the Hindu scriptures. Therefore the scholars of Veda, they say, that the concept of Avtar as believed by the common Hindu is different. Because Avtar is a Sanskrit word which is possessive of Almighty God. It doesn’t mean God Almighty has himself come down. It is possessive, therefore it refers to a man who Almighty God has sent.

 

And if you read the Vedas, nowhere in the Vedas is the concept of Avtar present. But the Veda speak, about saintly men, about Rishis, who Almighty God has sent to guide the human kind.  

 

This is exactly same as the Islamic concept that Almighty God chooses a man amongst men and communicates with them on a higher level and these men who Allah has sent to guide the human beings are called as Messengers of Prophets of Almighty God. So if you consider the Vedic concept it is similar to the Islamic concept that Almighty god has sent chosen men who we call Prophets or Messengers. 

 

Let’s discuss what do the Hindu scriptures have to speak about the last and final Prophet, the Antim Rishi.  

 

It’s mentioned in the Bhavishya Purana, Parva 3, Khand 3, Adhyay 3 Shloka 10 to 27 it says that, 

 

“The Malechha’s have spoiled the land of the Arabs. There is a enemy who’s causing mischief. I will send a man, by the name of Muhammad to defeat these enemies and to guide the people. O Raja, you need not go to the foolish land of the Pishachas, I with my grace will purify you here. A person of angelic disposition, comes to Raja, and says, Arya Dharma will prevail in the world; the religion of truth, will prevail in the world. I have been sent by Ishwar Parmatma and my follower will be those who will be circumcised. Who will not have a ‘Shendy’, a tail on the head, they will grow a beard, they will create a revolution, they will give the call for prayer, they will eat all lawful things but will not eat the flesh of swine. They will not be purified by herbs or shrubs but will be purified by warfare. They will be called Musalmaan, they will be a creed of meat eaters.

 

Now this prophecy if we analyze refers to no one but the last and final Messenger Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). it says that the enemies, will be defeated by a man called as Muhammad. His name is mentioned, peace be upon him. And he will guide the people. And we know Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) lead the Arabs from darkness to light. It further says that the followers of this Prophet referring to the Muslims, they will be people who are circumcised; they will not have a tail on the head. They will grow beard, they will create a revolution. They will give the call for prayer i.e. the Adhan. They will eat all lawful things but will not eat the flesh of swine. They will not be purified by herbs and shrubs but by warfare. They will be called Musalamaans. They will be a community of meat eaters. All these prophesied no one but Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his followers, the Muslims.  

 

Prophet Muhammad has been prophesized in several places in Bhavishya Purana. Time doesn’t permit us to go into the details, I’ll just give a reference of a couple…  

 

He is prophesied in:

 

Bhavishya Purana, Parva III, Khand 3, Adhyay 3, Shlokas 5 to 8: he’s also prophesied in Bhavishya Purana, Parva III, Khand 1, Adhyay 3, Shloka 21 to 23.

 

The Prophet Muhammad has even been prophesied in several places, in the Atharva Veda.

 

It’s mentioned in the Atharva Veda, Book no. 20, Hymn No. 127, Shlokas No. 1 to 14. These are called as ‘Kuntap Suktas’ Kuntap in Sanskrit means the hidden gland in the abdomen, referring to the meaning of these Shlokas are hidden. They will be known later on.

 

Due to shortage of time we’ll just discuss the first four in brief.

 

The first Mantra says,

He will be Narashangsa, He will be Kaurama, who will be protected from 60,090 enemies.

 

Mantra No. 2 says

He will be a camel-riding Rishi.

 

Mantra No. 3 says

He will be Mamah Rishi

 

Mantra No. 4

He is Vachyesv rebh

 

The first Mantra says, He is Narashangsa

 

Narashangsa in Sanskrit is derived from the word ‘Nar’ meaning a man or a person. And Shangsa means praiseworthy. How we know in Hindi we say ‘Prashansa’. Prashansa is the same thing. So Narashangsa means ‘a person who is praised worthy’ and if you translate Muhammad (peace be upon him) from Arabic to English, it means ‘the Praise Worthy’. So Narashangsah is the Sanskrit translation of the Arabic word ‘Muhammad’ (pbuh).

 

The first Mantra further says, he is Kaurama. One of the meaning of Kaurama, it means the ‘Prince of Peace’ and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the prince of peace. The other meaning of Kaurama is an emigrant, and the Prophet he migrated from Makkah to Madina. 

 

And the verse also says, he will defeat 60,090 enemies. And we know the population of Makkah that was against prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) was approximately 60,000 thousand.

 

Mantra No. 2 says

He will be a camel-riding Rishi

 

Indicating he will not be an Indian Rishi, he will not be a Brahmin, because Manu Smriti, Chapter No. 11 Verse No. 202 says “A Brahman cannot ride a camel or an ass.” So this means it cannot be an Indian rishi. It cannot be a Brahmin, it has to be a foreign Rishi. A foreigner. 

 

Mantra No. 3 says, He is Mamah Rishi. Also meaning Maha Rishi means a great Rishi or some places it says Muhammad, that’s the name of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam). 

 

The fourth Mantra says he is Rebh, Rebh means one who praises. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) he was also called as ‘Ahmed’ (may peace be upon him) which means ‘One who praises’. And the Prophet was called the one who praises which is the translation of the Sanskrit word Rebh. He has been prophesied in several other places in the Atharva Ved. He’s also prophesied in Atharva Veda, Book No. 20, Hymn No. 21, Verse No. 6, it says that a ‘Karu’ meaning the praise worthy man he will defeat 10,000 enemies without a battle.

 

This refers to the battle of Ahzaab, the battle of Khandaq, which Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) we know that he was the one who was praise worthy and he won the battle of Khandaq, Battle of Ahzaab in which the enemies were approximately 10,000 without the battle being fought.

 

He is also prophesied in Atharva Veda, Book No. 20, Hymn No. 21 Verse no. 7, saying that the Abhandu by God’s help will defeat 20 Chiefs. Abhandu means an orphan, it also means one who praises. Both of this refers to Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam). And he will defeat 20 Chiefs, we know from history that approximately in Makkah, there were approximately 20 tribes. So Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), he won the Battle of Makkah and defeated all these 20 Chiefs. 

 

Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) is even prophesied in Rigveda, Book No. I, Hymn No. 53 Verse No. 9. the same Prophecy but the but the word is changed. It’s called as Sushrama. And Sushrama again means one who praises, the translation of the word Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam). 

 

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is also prophesied in the Samaveda in Agni, Mantra No. 64, it says, “that he will not be fed by his mother, his mother will not breast feed him and after that he will become a Prophet”. And we know it was a Arab custom that the children are normally breastfed by the wet-nurse and Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) he was breastfed by Halima (may Allah be please with her).

 

There are various prophecies of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in several places in the Vedas. 

 

He is also prophesied in Samved, in Uttararchika, Mantra 1500, it says that Ahmed will be given the eternal law, Ahmed as I mentioned earlier is another name for Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) meaning one who praises. He will be given the eternal law. Referring to the Qur’an, Samved says, he has been given the eternal law. But since Ahmed is a non Sanskrit word the translators could not understand what is the meaning of Ahmed… so they broke the word into ‘Ah’ and ‘mati’ and now they translate as ‘I alone’. So it means I alone has been given eternal law. So if you read the translation it says, I alone has been given eternal law, but actually it should read as Ahmed has been given eternal law. And Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) has been prophesied as Ahmed is several places in the Vedas. 

 

He’s also prophesied in the Vedas in Samveda, in Indra, Mantra 152

He’s prophesied in Yajurveda, Chapter No. 31, Verse No. 18

 

He’s prophesied in Rigveda, Book No. 8, Hymn No. 6, Verse No. 10

 

In Atharva Veda, Book No. 8 Hymn No. 5 Verse No. 16, 

 

in Atharva Veda, in Book No. 20, Hymn No. 126, Mantra No. 14.

 

In several places he’s been prophesied as Ahmed, which was another name of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), the one who praises. 

 

Furthermore the last and final Messenger has been prophesied as Narashangsa in several places in the Vedas.

 

And as I mentioned earlier Narashangsa is derived from the word ’Nar’ meaning a person or a man. And shangsa, as Prashansah, means the praised worthy. A man who’s praise worthy which is exactly the translation of the Arabic word Muhammad. 

 

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has been prophesied as Narashangsah, as Muhammad (pbuh) in several places in the Vedas. 

 

He’s prophesied,

 

In Rigveda Book No. 1 Hymn No. 13 Verse No. 3

In Rigveda Book No. 1 Hymn No. 18 Verse No. 9

In Rigveda Book No. 1 Hymn No. 106 Verse No. 4

In Rigveda Book No. 1 Hymn No. 142 Verse No. 3

In Rigveda Book No. 2 Hymn No. 3 Verse No. 2

In Rigveda Book No. 5 Hymn No. 5 Verse No. 2

In Rigveda Book No. 7 Hymn No. 2 Verse No. 2

In Rigveda Book No. 10 Hymn No. 64 Verse No. 3

In Rigveda Book No. 10 Hymn No. 182 Verse No. 2

In Yajurveda Chapter 20 Verse 37

Yajurveda Chapter 20 Verse 57

Yajurveda Chapter 21 Verse 31

Yajurveda Chapter 21 Verse 55

Yajurveda Chapter 28 Verse 2

Yajurveda Chapter 28 Verse 19

Yajurveda Chapter 28 Verse 42

 

You can keep on quoting only references he’s been mentioned as Narashangsah in several places in the Vedas.

You can only give a talk for several hours together about Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned in the Hindu scriptures.

 

I will just mention another one, last prophecy. 

 

He has been prophesied as the Kalki Avtar, the final Avtar, the Antim Rishi. It’s mentioned in the Puranas about the Kalki Avtar about his coming.

 

 It’s mentioned in the Bhagavat Purana, Khand, 12 Adhyay 2, Shlokas 18-20 it says that in house of Vishnuyasas, the revered priest, Brahmin priest of the village of Sambhala will be born the Kalki Avtar.

 

It further says that, He will be Lord of the worlds. And he will have unsurpassed qualities and character. He will be given specially eight criteria’s. And he will be given by the Angels a steed horse, a fleet horse and he will ride a white horse with the sword in his hand, he will defeat the miscreant, the evil people and he will be savior to the world. 

 

It further says in Bhagavat Purana, Khand 1, Adhyay 3, Shlokas 25 that “In Kalyug when King become robbers, there’ll be a savior who will be born in the house of Vishnuyash. His name shall be Kalki.”

 

He’s even prophesied in the Kalki Purana, Chapter No. 2 Verse No. 4, that in the house of Vishnuyash, the Chief of the village of Sambhala will be born Kalki Avtar.

 

Kalki Purana, Chapter No. 2 Verses No. 5 says that he will along with four companions defeat the evil people.

 

Kalki Purana, Chapter No. 2 Verses No. 7, it says, that He will be helped by angels in the battle field.

 

Kalki Purana, Chapter No. 2 Verses No. 11, says that in the house of Vishnuyash, in the womb of Sumati the Kalki Avtar will be born.

 

And further it says in Kalki Purana, Chapter No. 2 Verses No. 15 says, He will be born on the 12^th of the first half of the month of ‘Madhav’ month.

 

Now all these prophesies refer to no one but the last and final Messenger Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam).

 

Point No.1, He will be born in the house of Vishnuyash. That means his fathers name will be Vishnuyash.

 

And we know that the name of the father of Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) was Abdullah. Vishnuyasas means the follower, the obedient of Vishnu. And Abdullah means the obedient, the worshiper of Almighty God. 

 

His mothers name will be Sumati. Sumati in Sanskrit means one who is peaceful. And the name of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) mother was Aminah, which also means peaceful.

 

It says he will be born in the village by the name of Sambhala. Sambhala in Arabic means a place which is of peace and security and we know Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) he was born in Makkah which is also called as Darul Aman which means a place of security and peace. 

 

It further says that he will be born in the house of the Chief of Sambhala, and we know Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) was born in the house of the chief of Makkah.

 

It further says he will be born on the 12th day of the first half of the month of ‘Madhav’. And we know that Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) he was born on the 12th on the first half of month of Rabbi Awwal. 

 

It further says that the Kalki Avtar, he will be an Antim Rishi, the last Rishi. And we Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) he was the last and final Messenger of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) as is mentioned in Surah Ahzaab, Chapter No. 33, Verse No. 40. 

 

It further says that he will receive guidance from Parshuram in the mountain and then will go towards the north and comeback. We know he received the first guidance through Archangel Gabriel in Gaar-e-Hira, in Jabl al Noor, i.e. Mount of Light and later he migrated from Makkah i.e. northwards and he comes back to Makkah later.

 

It further says that he will have qualities which are unsurpassed in character. As Allah says in the Qur’an in Chapter No. 68, Verse No. 4, that, it says that

 

“Verily Thou art standeth on the highest standard of character.”

 

“Thou art standeth on the highest standard of character.”

 

It’s further says that this Kalki Avtar will be given eight special qualities, referring to, he will be wise, he’ll have self-control, he’ll have respectable lineage, he will also have revealed knowledge, he’ll have valor and strength, he will have measured speech, he will have the qualities of being charitable, and he will also be very kind. All these eight criteria’s and characteristics refer to no one but the last and final Messenger Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). It fits his character exactly. 

 

It further says that Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) he will be given the steed horse by Shiva. And we know Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) was given the Buraq by Almighty God by which he went to Mi’raj, the ascension to the heaven

 

It’s further says he will ride a white horse and will have sword in the right hand, and we know Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) he took part in most of the battles, most of which were in self defense, he took active part, he even rode the horse and had the sword in the right hand.

 

It further says he will be a savior of humankind, as Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Faatir, Chapter No. 35, Verse No. 24 and 

Surah Sabaa, Chapter No. 34, Verse No. 28, it says, 

 

“Wa Ma 'Arsalnaaka”

That “We have sent Thee not, but As a Mercy to the whole of humankind. And he has been sent as a guidance to the whole humankind but most of the men yet do not know.”

He’s also said that he will guide the people to the right path and we know Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), it was the days of Yaum-al-Jahiliya and he guided them from darkness to light. 

It further says that he will be supported by four companions who will spread the message. And we know the four companions mentioned refer to, Hazrat Abu Bakr, Hazrat Umar, Hazrat Uthmaan and Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with them all).

 

And it further says that he will be helped by the angels in the battle field and we know in the battle of Badr, angels helped Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) to win the battle. It’s mentioned in the Qur’an in Surah Ale Imran Chapter No. 3, Verse No. 123 and 125, it’s also mentioned in Chapter No. 8 Verse No. 8 and 9.

These prophecies undoubtedly refer to no one but the last and final messenger Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). He’s been referred as the last Rishi, Antim Rishi, last and final Messenger Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).

 

Let’s discuss the fifth pillar of Eemaan, that is believing in life after death, believing in the hereafter. First we’ll discuss life after death in Hinduism. The common he believes in the cycle of birth – death and rebirth known as the Samsara, the theory of reincarnation. And this theory of reincarnation says that Almighty God has created different people in different ways, some are born rich, some are born poor, some are born healthy, some are born with some congenital defect. So how could God be unjust in making different people born in different ways, so they cam out with the theory of Samsara also known as theory of reincarnation or Transmigration of soul based on the verse of 

 

Bhagavad Gita, Chapter No. 2, Verse No. 22, which says, 

 

“Whenever a person changes his clothes and wears new clothes it is somewhat similar like a soul gives away the body and enters new body it believes in the theory of Karma the actions that you do are the Karma if you do good actions you’ll be rewarded in this world or the hereafter and if you do bad actions you get the punishment”

 

They also believe in the theory of Dharma, Dharma means a person should live life according to the guidance of Almighty God, if you do good Dharma then your Karma will also be good.

 

And they believe in Moksha which means free from the cycle of birth death and rebirth. If you analyze that this concept of transmigration of soul or Samsara is nowhere mentioned in the Vedas what the Vedas speak is about the Punar Janam, Punar means next or again and Janam means life, so Punar Janam means next life or life again, it doesn’t mean life-death and life again it’s not cycle of birth death and rebirth it’s only next life or life again. So the Hindu Scholars who believe in the Vedas they say that the concept of transmigration of soul was never mentioned in the Vedas, it came into existence later on what is mentioned in the Vedas if you read Vedas, Rigveda, Book No. 10, Hymn No. 16, Verse No. 4 and 5, it speaks about the next life and also says that you will go to Paradise, but doesn’t speak about death life and death.

 

Further if you analyze the Vedas and the other Hindu scriptures they talk about Swarg about heaven and describes heaven that it’s a very beautiful place where rivers will flow there will be rivers flowing of milk and there will be various fruits it will be a place which is good it even talks in several places in the Vedas in Atharvaveda in Rigveda, 

 

The Vedas even speaks about Nark that is Hell. The description is somewhat like fire and it says that this fire of hell will be bad and a person won’t be able to bear the pain in hell. 

 

So the concept of hell and heaven is there but the concept of death-birth and death is not there anywhere in the Vedas because the human being…the scholars they could not know that how could some people be born healthy, some people born with congenital defects so because of this we find that this concept has come about the birth-death and the rebirth.    

 

Lets discus life after death in Islam 

 

And Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Baqarah, Chapter No. 2, Verse No. 28, that,  

 

“Don’t you know that you were dead and We gave you life and then cause you to die and then We again resurrected you”

 

Here resurrection by Allah mentioned in the Qur’an is you’ll come in this world only once and then again you will be resurrected  

 

Allah says in the Quran in Chapter No. 67, Verse No. 2, that 

 

“Allazi Khalaqal Mauta Wal Hayata”

 

“It is Allah who has created death and life to test which of you is good in deed”

 

This life is a test for the hereafter

 

Allah says in Surah Ale Imran, Chapter 3, Verse 185, Allah says that,

 

“Qullu Nafsin Zaiqatil Maut”

 

“Every soul shall have a taste of a death the final recompense will be on the Day of Judgment. And those who’s saved from the hell fire and get Garden in the life they will achieve the objectives of this world for this world is nothing but mere amusement and chattels of deception” 

 

The description of heaven is given in the Qur’an. It describes that there are many rivers in the heaven, there are rivers of milk and there will be various fruits, it is a very beautiful place.

And Qur’an also describes about the hellfire. 

 

Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Baqarah ch. no. 2 verse no. 24 about the description of hell and if we analyze in the Quran as compared to Hinduism, it doesn’t have a philosophy that life death and life again because some people are born rich, some people are born poor, some people are born with health, some people with congenital defect, Allah says that this life…different people have different tests. And depending upon different tests, the life will keep on changing.

 

Let’s discuss the 6^th pillar of Islam. The 6^th pillar of Islam is Destiny, its Qadar. And Allah says that Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) has certain things destined for e.g. When a person is born, where he will die, when will he be born, how will he live like how the questions in the examination, it keeps on changing so Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) has already destined, how will a person be born, how will he die. And this concept is the same even in Hindu scriptures that All Mighty God has destined, He has assigned how will the human being live. This was in short the similarities between the 6 pillars of Eemaan in Hinduism.

 

Let us discuss the various similarities between Islam and Hinduism. Allah says in the Quran in Surah Maidah ch. no. 5 verse no. 90, Allah says 

 

“Ya Ayyuhal lazeena Amanoo”

“O you have believe” 

 

“Inna Mal Khamru Wal Maysiru”

“Most certainly intoxicants and gambling”

 

“Wal-ansabu Wal-azlamu”

“Dedications of stones, divination of arrows”   

 

“Rijsun Min Amalish Shaytan”

“These are satan’s handiwork” 

 

“Fajtaniboohu la’allakum Tuflihoon” 

“Abstain from the handiwork that you may prosper”

Allah says that intoxicants, gambling divination of arrows, all these are Satan’s handiwork, abstain from it that you may prosper. 

 

Let’s analyze what do the Hindu scriptures have to say about these things. 

 

If you read it’s mentioned in Manusmriti ch. no. 9 verse no. 235, it says that 

 

“A person who is a priest killer, who is a liquor drinker and who is a person who lies on the marriage bed of the Guru and who is a thief, all of them do major sins”

 

And in Manusmriti ch. no. 9 verse no. 238, it says that 

 

“All of these should be punished” 

 

….And it says that these people, no one should talk to them, no one should sacrifice for them, no one should marry them and all of these people should leave all the religions and should wander in the world, they should be excommunicated.”

 

That means anyone who has intoxicants according to Manusmriti, they should wander in the world and they should be excommunicated from all the religions, it is more strict than Islam. And if you read the Hindu scriptures, intoxicants have been prohibited in several places, if you read 

 

Manusmriti ch. no. 11 verse no. 55, it says that 

 

“A person who drinks and a person who kills the priest, who steals and who sleeps on the marriage bed of the Guru all of them, all those who are associated with them, all of them are major sinners”

 

It’s further mentioned that alcohol has been prohibited in Hindu Scriptures in several places including 

Manusmriti ch. no. 7 verse no. 47

Manusmriti ch. no. 7 verse no. 50, 

In Manusmriti ch. no. 9 verse no. 225, 

In Rigveda Book no. 8 Hymn no. 2 verse no. 12, 

in Rigveda Book no. 8 Hymn no. 21 verse no. 14, 

in several places the Hindu scriptures, they prohibit the having of intoxicants.

 

Even gambling has been prohibited in Hindu scriptures in Rigveda Book no. 10 Hymn no. 34 verse no. 3, it says that 

 

“A person who gambles, his wife, he has left aloof and his mother, they hate the gambler and no one supports him”

 

Its further mentioned in Rigveda Book no. 10 Hymn no. 34 verse no. 13, it says that 

 

“Do not play with the dice rather you should do farming, if you do farming even if you earn less money, it will be good for the hereafter”

 

If you analyze the Hindu scriptures, they forbid for a person to gamble. 

 

It’s mentioned in Manusmriti ch. no. 7 verse no. 50, it says that 

 

“A person who drinks, a person who gambles, a person who indulges with women and hunting, all of them, they are the most 4 major crimes that a person can do.” 

 

Gambling has been prohibited in several places in 

 

Manusmriti ch. no. 7 verse 47, 

in Manusmriti ch. no. 9 verse no. 221 to 228, 

Its also mentioned in Manusmriti ch. no. 9 verse no. 258, 

 

The Hindu scriptures also prohibit fortune telling as Allah says in the Qur’an in 

 

Surah Maidah ch. no. 5 verse no. 90

 

“Ya Ayyuhal lazeena Amanoo”

“O you have believe” 

 

“Inna Mal Khamru Wal Maysiru”

“Most certainly intoxicants and gambling”

 

“Wal-ansabu Wal-azlamu”

“Dedications of stones, divination of arrows”   

 

“Rijsun Min Amalish Shaytan”

“These are Satan’s handiwork” 

 

“Fajtaniboohu la’allakum Tuflihoon” 

“Abstain from the handiwork that you may prosper”

 

Gambling has been prohibited, besides gambling and alcohol even fortune telling has been prohibited, 

 

it’s also prohibited in Manusmriti ch. no. 9 verse no. 258 

 

“That all those who do fortune telling, they are doing a sin”

 

And verse no. 262 says that 

 

“King should punish them according to the severity of the crime”

 

Allah also says in Surah Baqarah ch. no. 2 verse no. 188, Allah says 

 

“Use not your wealth as a bait for judges in order you may eat other people’s wealth”

 

Bribing has been prohibited in the Qur’an. Even the Hindu scriptures, in Manusmriti ch. no. 9 verse no. 258 that 

 

“All those who bribe, all those who deal in fraud, all of them are major sinners”

 

And the punishment is mentioned in Manusmriti ch. no. 9 verse 262 that the 

 

“The King will punish them depending upon the severity of the crime”

 

Furthermore Islam believes in polygamy and Allah says in the Quran in 

 

Surah Nisa ch. no. 4 verse no. 3, Allah says that 

 

“Marry women of your choice in twos, threes or fours but if you can’t do justice, marry only one” 

 

Quran is the only religious book which says marry only one. There is no other religious scripture on the face of the earth which says marry only one. All the major religious scripture if you read, no religious scripture says marry only one. If you read the Hindu scriptures, if you read Ramayana, it says that King Dashrat, the father of Ram, he had more than one wife. 

 

It’s mentioned in Vishnusutra ch. no. 24 verse no. 1 that 

 

“A Brahmin can have 4 wives” 

 

If you read Mahabharat (Anushasana Parva Sec. 15), Krishna. How many wives did he have? Krishna had 16,108 wives. So if Krishna can have 16,108 wives so why can’t we Muslims have up to 4?

 

If you analyze, the Hindu scripture say, a Hindu can marry as many wives as they may want, it is the Indian Government which has put a limitation, the Indian Government has passed a law in 1954 called as the Hindu Marriage Act and says that a Hindu can only marry one wife. But the Hindu scripture say that the Hindus can marry as many wives as they want, there is no upper limit but the Indian Government has put up a limit that they can marry only one. 

 

If you read the report of the Indian Government on the status of women, its mentioned on page no. 66 and 67, it gives the statistics of the polygamous marriages done in a span of 10 years from 1951 to 1961 and the Muslims have done 4.31% of polygamous marriages and the Hindus have done 5.06% polygamous marriages. The reasons for polygamy has been mentioned in my cassette on ‘Women’s Rights in Islam’ this was in brief regarding the similarities between Hinduism and Islam.

 

You can keep on talking for hours together and for the complete day but if you analyze because of the British rule we find that Hinduism has gone down. And especially the Britishers, they came to India to do business and they changed many of the rigid beliefs of the Hindus, that’s the reason late towards the 18^th centaury and 19^th century there was a search of Hindu reformers and the pioneers among the Hindu reformers was the person by the name Raja Ram Mohon Roy. Raja Ram Mohon Roy, he was from Bengal and he was born in 1772 and he preached that you should believe only in one God, should not do idol worship, he was against the caste system and he wrote a book in 1803, he learnt Persian English as well as Arabic. And in that book, he condemned idol worship; he said he does not even agree in the Avtar. And he started a new trust by the name of Brahmo Samaaj and this Brahamo Samaaj in the trust deed, he writes that no sculpture, no graven image, no picture, no painting, no photograph should enter the building. And later on there were many off shoots of the Brahmo Samaaj and all of them, they had the common teachings that All Mighty God is one, he has got no images, there are no idols of All Mighty God, All Mighty God has got no Avtar, they were against idol worship and regarding believing in the cycle of birth, death and rebirth this is optional, if you want you can believe, if you don’t want, you don’t believe. 

 

The other great reformer which is off shoot of Brahamo Samaaj was Justice Ranade. 

 Justice Ranade, he was a person who started the Prarthana Samaaj. I hope you aee aware of Prarthana Samaaj. Are you aware of Prarthana Samaaj? Very good, you are aware of Prarthana Samaaj. How many of you know about Justice Ranade? How many of us? This person, he started an off shoot of Brahamo Samaaj and he even preached against caste system, he even preached that the widows, the women, they should re-marry; he even preached that the women should be educated. 

 

The other great reformer amongst the Hindu was Swami Dayanand Saraswati. He started in 1875 the Arya Samaaj and the 3 Pandits, they are from Arya Samaaj. What he said that we should strictly follow the Vedas and we should not follow anything but the Vedas, believe in one God, that you should not do idol worship, should not believe that God has got Avtar. He started the Arya Samaaj.

 

We even have one more famous reformer by the name of Swami Vivekananda. He was the founder of Shri Ramakrishna Mission and he said that Hinduism is a misnomer. We should call the followers as Vedantist. And he made Hinduism common to the western world where he gave a talk in Chicago in the parliament of religion. 

 

We find that many Hindu reformers were there, they tried to improve the teachings of Hinduism. And today we come to know from history that the Britishers, they had come to India to do business, they came to India about few centuries back, they came for doing business but they looted our country, they even ruled our country. And these Britishers, they changed the religious beliefs of the Indians and these people, they saw to it that they changed the philosophy of Hinduism. So we find a surge of Hindu reformers especially in the late 18^th century and the 19^th century. For example as I mentioned Raja Ram Mohon Roy, example of Vivekanada, example of Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Justice Ranade and these people, they were reformers. And people may wonder that all these things that I mentioned in my talk about the facts of Hinduism that I mentioned, they weren’t concoction but I received all these guidance about Hinduism from these great reformers like Raja Ram Mohon Roy and Justice Ranade and after I read this book, these people were great scholars. 

 

I am just a student of comparative religion, I am not a scholar. When I read the books of these scholars, I being a student of comparative religion, I don’t take anything for granted, whatever they say I checked up whether are they available in the sacred scriptures of the Hindus and after verifying them I have mentioned the facts of Hinduism while quoting the references of the Hindu Scriptures and all the facts I mentioned about Hinduism I have also mentioned the references from the Vedas as well as the other scriptures, like Upanishads like Bhagavad Gita etc. those Hindus who strictly believe in the Vedas they don’t believe in any other Scripture of Hinduism so even if you remove all the other reference of the Hindu scriptures whatever references I have given, I have quoted the Vedas as well as the other scriptures. If you remove the references of the other scriptures yet the message of Hinduism is the same. 

 

There are other Hindus though they believe that Veda is the most sacred among the Hindu scriptures but they even believe in the other scriptures and they more commonly read Bhagvad Gita etc. that’s the reason I have even quoted the Vedas, even the other Hindu scriptures. I have been enlightened by the great reformers of Hinduism and from history we have come to know that the Britishers, they ruled India by having a philosophy of divide and rule. With this philosophy, they ruled India for several years. We Alhamdulillah, more than 50 years back, we have got the freedom of this country from the rule of the British but unfortunately we yet continue following the philosophy of the Britishers of divide and rule. And we have examples that most of the Indian politicians they follow the philosophy of the Britishers and they have the philosophy of divide and rule for the vote banks. 

And we find that in this country of ours the maximum riots in any country of the world, it’s in India and the cause…. these politicians, they instigate these riots, they follow the philosophy of divide and rule. And many people say that the politicians, they add fuel to the fire. I disagree. The politicians of India, they don’t add fuel to the fire, these people, they add fire to the fuel.

 

We know that the fuel is used for constructive work for vehicles, for factories, for upliftment of India. But these people, they add fire to the fuel and they cause the destruction of India. All the politicians aren’t like that but most of them, they add fire to the fuel. And they use it as a vote bank, most of them if not all. Irrespective whether they are Hindu politicians, Muslim politicians or Christian politicians.

And there was an article which came in the Times of India few weeks back, it said that according to Japan, according to Japan in the next 20 years India will be a superpower. And its my humble request to my dear Hindu brothers, to my dear Muslim brothers, to my dear politicians of this great country of India, its my humble request that you people, you should understand, you should follow the sacred scriptures, go back to the sacred scriptures of Hinduism and of Islam and if we follow our sacred scriptures, InshaAllah… God willing in the next 20 years India will be a superpower. India will be better than America and the European countries. It’s clearly mentioned, its clearly mentioned in 

 

Rigveda Book no. 10 Hymn no. 71 verse no. 4, 

 

It’s mentioned that 

 

“Seeing the word, you see not, hearing the word you hear not” 

 

You hear the word of All Mighty God but you hear not, you see the word of All Mighty God but you see not. 

 

Allah says in the Quran in Surah Baqarah ch. no. 2 verse no. 44, Allah says that 

 

“You read the scriptures but why don’t you follow it?”

 

Allah says in the Quran in Surah Baqarah ch. no. 2 verse no. 18 

 

“Summun bukmun umyun fahum la Yarji’oon”

 

“The deaf, the dumb, the blind, they will never return to the true path” 

 

And we find that the religious personalities of most of the major religions, they prevent the followers from reading the scriptures. The religions leaders whether they be Hindus, Muslims or Christians, they prevent their followers of the religion to read their scripture with understanding. And I have given a talk on ‘Al Qur’an – Should it be Read with Understanding?’ and I have proved there that the Qur’an was revealed so that a person should understand, the revelation of All Mighty God and follow the commandments of All Mighty God, the best is to understand Arabic as a language. If you can’t understand Arabic as a language, read the translation of the Quran in the language you understand the best. And today we find that even though there are various sects in the religion of Islam there are minor differences but the major principals of the various sects in Islam, it is the same, all the various different sects of Islam, they believe that there is one God, they believe that the Qur’an is the last and final revelation of God, they believe in the last and final messenger, it’s the same. There may be minor differences but the major pillars are the same. And if we analyze the reason that even though Islam has been divided into different sects, the major things are the same because Qur’an was revealed in Arabic and Arabic is a living language, there are several hundreds of millions of people who know Arabic as a language because of this, because the Qur’an was revealed in Arabic no one can change the main teachings of the Qur’an.

 

A great critic of Islam, Sir William More, he says though he is a critic of Islam, he says that Qur’an is the only book which has remained pure for 12 centuries, he mentioned this 200 years back. And today Quran is a book which has remained pure for 14 centauries. 

 

If you follow main scriptures, if you understand Arabic or understand in the language which you understand the best, the principals are the same. It’s my humble request to the Indian Government; it’s my humble request to my Hindu brothers that you should revive Sanskrit. The Indian Government and my Hindu brothers, they should revive the Sanskrit language. 

 

Today Sanskrit is a dead language; you should revive the Sanskrit language and understand the scripture of Hinduism. If you understand the scripture of Hinduism, you will realize that your scripture and the Islamic scripture, they speak about the same one God, they believe in the same message and the last final messenger Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), they believe about the resurrection, about life after death.

 

I would like to end my talk with the verse of the Glorious Quran of Surah Yunus ch. no. 10 verse no. 108 which says 

 

“Qul ya ayyuha an Nasu qad Jaakumu alHaqqu min Rabbikum”

 

“Say, O humankind! Truth has arrived from the Lord. Those who receive guidance are on the straight path and those who go astray, they will be on the wrong path and I have not been sent to manage your affairs” 

 

Wa Aakhiru Da’wana Anil Hamdu Lillahi Rabbill Aalameen!

Similarities between Hinduism and Islam

(Azad Maidan Mumbai 1^st Jan 2004)

 

By

Dr. Zakir Naik

 

Question & Answer Session 

 

(Duration – 46 minutes)

 

 

Mohammad Naik: JazakAllah. Thank you for your patient listening. Now we would have the question and answer session. To analyze the similarities between Hinduism and Islam adequately for all those present here today in the limited time that we have available now, we would like to following rules top be followed during the question and answer session.

 

3 mikes have been provided in the ground, one next to the stage for the gents, one on my right and one on my left and one mike has been provided for the ladies in the centre aisle in the front section of the ladies. The fourth question would be allowed from the slips. Please stand in the queue in front of the mikes if you wish to put forward a question to the speaker and speak in the mike only when the mike handling assistants hand you the mike.

 

Your questions should be on the topic ‘Similarities between Hinduism and Islam’ only. Questions not relevant to the topic including any general question on religion will not be permitted. Kindly state your question briefly and to the point. Only one question at a time per questioner will be allowed for your second question you would have to queue up at the back of the row and await your second chance which seeing the time limitations I am doubtful you may get.

 

We will allow 1 question at a time on each of the mikes in clockwise rotation. The first question from the ladies mike, the second question from the brothers who queue up on my right and the third question from the microphone on my left down here, the fourth question will be from the slip and we again rotate in serial order in similar fashion. Written question on slip papers which are available from the volunteers in the aisles and in the gangways can be sent up through the seating volunteers up to the stage on my left and the stage management director would handover the same to me. 

In the interest of avoiding wasting time on irrelevant issues and to ensure a more educative and interesting question and answer session, my decision to allow or disallow questions which are irrelevant will be final. In this I would also be assisted by the director of stage management and one of the officials from the police who have been deputed by DCP Mr. Himanshu Rai.

 

Kindly state your name and profession before putting forward your question so that the speaker can give you an adequate level response. Can we have the first question from the sisters please? 

 

Questioner: I am Mrs. Rangwala. You have praised Raja Ram Mohan Roy in your talk. Do you know that he was against Purdah? Why does Islam degrade women by keeping her behind the veil? Isn’t a Hindu woman modest in her Salwar Kameez?

 

Dr. Zakir: The sister’s asked a very good question that I spoke highly about Raja Ram Mohan Roy in my talk and about the reform he brought in Hinduism but he even spoke against the Hijab system that’s there in Islam so do I know about that? And why does Islam degrade the woman by keeping her behind the veil and is a Hindu woman who does not wear a veil and wears a Salvaar Kameez, is she modest? 

 

Sister you should understand that if I appreciate certain points of a person that does not mean I agree with all his points, for example 4 years back, 4 years back the Home Minister of India, Mr. L.K. Advani he suggested the law that the rapist should be put to death and I appreciate it that he agreed with the Islamic philosophy that a rapist should be put to death but when I appreciated Mr. L.K. Advani that doesn’t mean I agree with him totally but I do agree with his suggestion that a rapist should be put to death same as Islam says. Similarly Raja Ram Mohan Roy, I appreciate him, he is a great reformer, I really respect him. I also know that he was against the Hijab system which is mentioned in Islam. 

Now today if we analyze the modesty level of a human being, it differs depending upon the surroundings they live in. for example there are certain Muslim countries in the Arab land who say that if anyone looks at a woman or stares at a woman, it is considered immodest. Anyone stares at a woman, it is immodest. In India as long as you don’t touch a woman, you are modest. Therefore while they greet, the ladies and the gents, they fold their hands but they don’t touch anyone. If you don’t touch a woman, you are modest. In some of the western countries shaking hands is modest, if a man shakes hands with a lady, it is modest and if you don’t shake hands it is considered that you are not friendly. In other western countries, if you kiss a woman, that is modesty if you go beyond kissing, it is immodest. Some western countries as long as the man and the lady, anything they do, as long as they do willingly, it is modest. 

 

So different people have different levels of modesty depending upon where they live for example in America if a lady wears a mini skirt or shorts, she is considered modest but if the same girl if she comes to India and she wears a miniskirt and shorts we will say she is immodest. 

 

When I gave a talk in America there was an American who told me “Brother Zakir! Do you know that Indian woman are immodest?” I was shocked! I didn’t agree with him. He said “Of course, the Indian women when they wear the Saree, they expose their belly” So according to the Americans exposing the belly is immodest. So depending upon different people the level of modesty keeps on changing.

 

Let us try and analyze what our Creator, All Mighty God have to speak about modesty. Allah says in the Qur’an in 

 

Surah Nur ch. no. 24 verse no. 30 

 

“Say to the believing man that he should lower his gaze and guard his modesty.”

Allah first speaks about the modesty for a man and then for the woman. Whenever a man looks at a woman, any brazen thought comes in his mind, he should lower his gaze. 

 

There was a Muslim who was staring at a girl for a long time; I told “Brother, what are you doing? It is haraam to stare at a woman!” he told me “Our beloved Prophet said: “The first glance is allowed, the second is prohibited” I have not completed half my glance” what did the Prophet mean when he said that the first glance is allowed, the second is prohibited? What he meant was that if you unintentionally look at a woman, do not intentionally look at her to feast on her beauty, that does not means you can look at a woman for 10 minutes without blinking and say I have not completed my glance.

 

The next verse speaks about the Hijab for the women. Allah says in 

 

Surah Nur ch. no. 24 verse no. 31 

 

“Say to the believing women that she should lower her gaze and guard her modesty and display not her beauty except what appears ordinary off. And draw her veil, a head covering, over the bosoms except in front of her father, her husband, her sons…” 

And a big list of Mahrams who she cannot marry is given. 

 

And the criteria for Hijaab is given in the Qur’an and the Sahih Ahadith. 

 

There are basically 6 criterias. 

 

The first is the extent i.e. the extent for the man is from the naval to the knee. For the woman, the complete body should be covered; the only part that can be seen is the face and the hands up to the wrist. The remaining 5 criterias are the same for the man and the woman.

The second criteria is, the clothes they wear, it should not be transparent so that you could see through.

 

The third is, it should not be tight fitting so that it reveals the figure.

 

Fourth, it should not be so glamorous so that it attracts the opposite sex.

 

Fifth, it should not resemble that of the opposite sex.

 

And sixth, it should be clothes which are signs of the unbelievers.

 

And the reason for Hijab is given in 

 

Surah Ahzaab ch. 33 verse 59 in which Allah says 

                                                         

“O Prophet! Tell to your wives and your daughters and the believing women that whenever they go abroad they should put on a clock so that they shall be recognized and it will prevent them from being molested”

 

Suppose there are 2 twin sisters who are very beautiful, who are equally beautiful and if they are walking down the streets of Bombay, down the streets of Pedder Road and one of the twin sisters, she is wearing the western clothes, a mini skirts and shorts and the other twin sister, she is wearing the Islamic Hijab, the complete body covered except the face and the hands up to the wrist. And if they are waking down the streets of Pedder Poad and if round the corner there is a hooligan, there is a ruffian who is waiting for a catch, who is waiting to tease a girl, I am asking you a question, which girl will he tease? Will he tease the girl the mini skirts or shorts or will he tease the girl wearing the Islamic Hijab? But natural he will tease the girl wearing the western clothes.

 

Let’s analyze what do the Hindu scriptures have to speak about modesty. It is mentioned in 

 

Rigveda Book no. 8 Hymn no. 33 verse no. 19, it says that 

 

“When Brahama has made you a dame, when Brahama has made you a woman, you should lower your gaze and should not look up. You should put your feet together and you should not reveal that which the garment and the veil conceals”

 

So Rigveda says that the woman should wear the veil, they should lower the gaze and should not stare. 

 

Its further mentioned in Rigveda Book no. 10 Hymn no. 85 verse no. 30, it says

 

“Unlovely is the person, is the husband who covers his thighs with the garment of the wife” 

 

So Rigveda says that wearing the clothes of the opposite sex is prohibited. It’s further mentioned in 

 

Mahavir Charitra Act 2 Page no. 71 that 

 

“Rama says when Parushraam comes, Rama tells his wife Sita that “he is our elder, please lower your gaze and put on the veil”

 

Rama tells his wife Sita that put on the veil and lower your gaze. If you read historical books, the books talking about the Coin Age or the age of Gupta and Post-Gupta Age, there are coins which have women wearing veil, Indian women up and their veil goes up to their shoulders, some go up till their arms.Many Indian women, if you go the villages, they wear the veil, they cover their head, some of the women even cover their face.

 

So if you analyze even the Hindu scripture say that the women should wear the veil, that the women should lower their gaze, it’s a pity that Raja Ram Mohan Roy, he might not have read these verses. God willing if Raja Ram Mohan Roy if he would have read these verses, even he would have told that the women should wear the veil. Four years back I appreciated the Home Minister L.K. Advani for suggesting that the rapist should put to death. May be the next Home Minister, he would advice that the women of India should wear the veil. 

 

Mohammad Naik: Yes brother, can you state your name and profession?

 

Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum! My name is Afroz Wasaya, I am a manager in a private limited company. I would like to put one question. It is a common belief of all the religion that God can do everything then why can’t he become a human being? 

 

Dr. Zakir: The brother has posed a question that all the religions believe that God can do anything and everything so why can’t he become a human being? Most of the religions besides Islam, they believe in a philosophy known as ‘Anthropomorphism’ that means  All Mighty God, he takes human forms.

 

And they believe in the philosophy that All Mighty God is so holy, he doesn’t know the short comings of the human beings, how will a human being feel when he is hurt, how will a human being feel when he is in trouble or in problem so All Mighty God has come down in this world and become a human being to set the rules for the human being. 

 

On the face of it, it’s a very good logic but I tell these people that suppose I manufacture a VCR, do I have to become a VCR to know what is good or what is bad for the VCR, since I am the creator, I don’t have to become a VCR, I just write an instruction manual that if you want to play the VCR, Video Cassette Recorder, put in the video an dress the ‘PLAY’ button, if you want to fast forward, press the ‘FF’ button. If you want to stop, press the ‘STOP’ button. Don’t drop it from a height, it will get spoilt. Don’t immerse it in water, it will get damaged. I will write an instruction manual, similarly All Mighty God, since He is the Creator of the human beings, He does not have to become a human being to know what is good or what is bad for the human being. What does He do? He chooses a man amongst men and He reveals a revelation. And the last and final revelations for the human beings, it is the Glorious Qur’an, the Dos and Don’ts. 

 

If I agree for sake of argument that All Mighty God can do anything and everything so why can’t He become a human being? If I agree with you for the sake of argument that God can do anything and everything that He can even become a human being, if God becomes a human being, He ceases to be God because God and human beings have got different qualities. All Mighty God, He is immortal, human beings are mortal. You can’t have a person who is mortal and immortal at the same time. God has got no beginning, Human beings have a beginning, you can’t have a person who has a beginning and no beginning at the same time. All Mighty God has got no end, human beings have an end. You can’t have a person who has an end and no end at the same time, it’s meaningless. So either you can have God or you can have man, you can’t have a God-Man, it doesn’t make sense. Human beings, we require to eat, All Mighty God does not require to eat. 

 

Allah says in Surah Anam ch. no. 6 verse no. 14 

 

“All Mighty God feedeth everyone but does not require to be fed”

 

We human beings require rest and sleep, All Mighty God does not require rest.

 

If I agree with you for the sake of argument All Mighty God can do anything and everything in that same argument, All Mighty God can even tell a lie, it is ungodly to tell a lie. The moment God tells lie, he ceases to be God. If I agree with you God can do everything, God All Mighty can even be unjust but the moment God does injustice, He ceases to be God. 

 

Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Nisa ch. no. 4 verse 40 that 

 

“All Mighty God is never unjust in the least degree”

 

If All Mighty God wants He can forget but to forget is ungodly. Allah says in 

 

Surah Taa Haa ch. No. 20 verse no. 52 that 

 

“Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) never forgets”

 

The moment All Mighty God forgets, he ceases to be God. If All Mighty God wants He can make a mistake but to make a mistake is ungodly, Allah says in 

 

Surah Ta Ha ch. no. 20 verse 52 that 

 

“All Mighty God never makes a mistake”

 

The moment God makes a mistake, He ceases to be God. No where in the Qur’an it is mentioned that God can do everything. What Allah says in the Qur’an in 

 

Surah Faatir Ch. no. 35 verse no. 1 is 

 

“Inna Allaha ala kulli shay-in Qadeer”

 

“That Verily Allah has Power over All Things”

 

It’s mentioned in several places. In 

 

Surah Baqarah ch. no. 2 verse no. 106, 

In Surah Baqarah ch. no. 2 verse no. 109, 

In Surah Baqarah ch. no. 2 verse no. 284, 

In Surah Ale Imran ch. 3 verse 29, 

In Surah Nahl ch. 16 verse 77, 

in Surah Faatir ch. 35 verse no. 1 Allah says 

 

“Inna Allaha ala kulli shay-in Qadeer”

 

“For verily, Allah has Power over All Things” 

 

Allah says in Surah Burooj ch. no. 85 verse no. 16 that 

 

“Allah is the doer of all He intends” 

 

Whatever He intends, He can do but All Mighty God will never intend telling a lie, will never intend making a mistake, he will never intend becoming a human being. He will only intend things which are Godly. Hope that answers the question. 

 

Mohammad Naik: Next question from the brother on my left…

 

Questioner: Assalamu Alaikum. My name is Aatif Sumar, I am a student and my question is that Hindu scholars when… when they are doing idol worship, they claim that they are just worshiping the All Mighty God but the idol is just for concentration so according to Islam is it allowed? Is this allowed? 

 

Dr. Zakir: The brother asked a question that the Hindu scholars, they agree that idol worship is wrong but to concentrate on All Mighty God the idol is only used for concentration they agree God has got no images but they use it for concentration so is it right? All these Hindu scholars, they have read the Hindu scriptures, the Hindu scholars agree that All Mighty God has got no images but what they say that those people who have lower consciousness, they require idol for concentration, once you reach a higher level of consciousness then idol is not required so I tell these Pandits and scholars that those people who have higher consciousness they don’t require an idol to concentrate so we Muslims have already reached that higher level of consciousness, we don’t required an idol to concentrate. 

 

Furthermore once a Pandit told me that when we speak to children we have to make them understand easily, If your child asks you why does it thunder, we give the reply that “Aai Maa Chaki Peesti hai” it is thundering because “Aai Maa Chaki Peesti hai”, grandmother in the heaven she is grinding flour. I told him in Islam we don’t agree in telling a lie even if it’s a white lie. If I tell my son that it thunders because “Aai maa Chaki peesti hai” and when he goes to school, he learns that thundering is due to sudden expansion of rapidly heated air. He will start thinking that my father is telling a lie. What we have to know that we have to speak the truth. The Pundits and the Scholars, they say that at a lower level, the idol is required for concentration at a higher level, we don’t require concentration like how if we study at the lower standard one…. its required, higher level its not required.

 

I tell them that suppose we teach mathematics in standard 2 when we teach mathematics we say 2 + 2 is equal to 4 but the same 2 + 2 is equal to 4 remains in 10^th Standard, remains when he does his graduation, it even remains when he does PhD, basic teaching of any subject remains the same 2 + 2 will remain the same irrespective in 2^nd standard or 10^th standard or graduation or PhD. It is very clear that in the Vedas, in the Hindu scriptures God All Mighty has got no images, it’s the basics, you can’t change your basic. If someone tells me that in Standard 2, 2 + 2 is equal to 5 so you can’t tell your son, don’t worry when you reach Standard 10, I will tell you 2 + 2 is not equal to 5, we have to correct him immediately. So it’s the duty of all the Hindu Scholars to tell the Hindus that according to the Hindu Scriptures, All Mighty God has got no images, that’s the basic. So even at the basic level that they should preach to the scholars that idol worship is wrong. Hope that answers the question. 

 

Mohammad Naik: The next question which is the 4^th question of the day and 1^st on the slip is by brother Rohit Shah, he asks: if Islam is the religion of peace then why does it preach the concept of Jihad i.e. fighting and killing the Kaafir infact Hinduism is the religion of peace.

 

Dr. Zakir: The brother has asked a very important question that Islam is the religion of peace why does it preach about Jihad i.e. fighting and killing the Kaafir infact Hinduism is a religion is a religion of peace. 

 

There is a great misconception as far as Jihad in Islam is concerned. This misconception is not only among the non-Muslims, it’s even among the Muslims. They think that any war fought by any Muslim, for any reason whether it be for personal gain whether it be for fame, whether it be for money, any war fought by any Muslim is Jihad. Jihad does not mean nay war fought by any Muslim. Jihad comes from the Arabic word Jahada which means to strive, which means to struggle, in Islamic context it means to strive against once own evil inclination, it also means to strive to make the society better, it also means to strive in the battlefield in self-defense, it also means to fight against tyrant and oppression. Jihad basically means to strive, it means to struggle and very often the critics of Islam, even the Hindu critics even Arun Shourie he writes in his book, ‘The World of Fatawa’ and he quotes 

 

Surah Tawbah verse no. 9 verse no. 5 and it says that the Qur’an mentions 

 

“Wherever you find a Kaafir, into brackets ‘Hindus’, whereever you find a Kaafir, you kill them.” 

 

And if you open the Qur’an and if you read in this Qur’an ch. no. 9 verse no. 5, it does say that wherever you find a Kaafir, you kill him but it’s a quotation out of context. For the context, read a few verses previous. The first few verse of Surah Tawbah speaks about a peace treaty between the Muslims and the Mushriks of Makkah. This peace treaty was unilaterally broken by the Mushriks of Makkah so Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) by the time He reaches verse no. 5, He gives an ultimatum to the enemies, to the Mushriks of Makkah, you put things straight in 4 months time otherwise a declaration of war and in the battlefield Allah says to the Muslims wherever you find the enemies, wherever you find the Kaafir, you kill them. This verse of the Qur’an is talking about the battlefield when the Muslims are fighting for truth against falsehood, against the enemy, if they come to attack you, don’t get scared, kill them! Any army general to boost up the moral of the soldiers, will say that kill the enemies, he will not say that let the enemies go. So Qur’an speaks the same and Arun Shourie after verse no. 5 of Surah Tawbah jumps to verse no. 7, any intelligent person knows that verse no. 6 has the reply to his allegation. Verse no. 6 says that 

 

“If the enemies, if the Mushriks want asylum don’t just let them go escort them to a place of security so that they will hear the word of All Mighty God” 

 

The most generous Army General today will say that let the enemy go which Army General today will say that escort the enemy to security that is what the Qur’an says.

 

And there is another misconception in Islam that Jihaad means holy war. Holy War in Arabic is ‘Harbum Mukadassa’ no where in the Qur’an Harbum Mukadassa mentioned, no where it’s mentioned in the Hadith. Holy war is not the translation of Jihad, this holy war was first used to describe the crusaders, the Christian crusaders who conquered many lands and killed thousands of people in the name of Christianity. Now today they use this ‘holy war’ for Muslims which is totally wrong and unfortunately many Muslims scholars in inverted commas even they use holy war as the translation of Jihad which is totally wrong. 

 

Let’s analyze what do the Hindu scriptures have to speak about Jihaad. 

 

It’s mentioned in Bhagvad Gita ch. no. 2 verse no. 50 

 

“Shri Krishna tells Arjun that strive for yoga, that’s good for you.”

 

Strive means struggle. So even Shri Krishna tells Arjun to strive and struggle and if you read the Mahabharat, Mahabharat, Mahabharat speaks about the battle between the cousins, the Kaurav and the Pandavs. There are thousands of verses which only speak about fighting, multiple times more than the Qur’an. And if you read Bhagvad Gita, Bhagvad Gita is Holy Scripture of the Hindus; it speaks about advice given by Shri Krishna to Arjun in the battlefield. 

 

Bhagvad says in ch. no. 1 verse no. 42 to verse no. 46, Arjun says 

 

“I would prefer dying unarmed and without fighting rather than kill the cousins, the Kauravas, the sons Dhritharashtra” 

 

Shri Krishna replies in the next chapter ch. no. 2 verse no. 2

 

“O Arjun! How could such impurities come to your mind? That you don’t want to fight. You will not enter into heaven. How could you get such impotent thoughts which weaken your hearts?” 

 

Shri Krishna says in Baghvad Gita ch. no. 2 verse no. 31 to verse no. 33, it says 

 

“O Arjun! You are a Kshatriya, you should fight then only will you go to heaven otherwise you won’t go. And blessed are those Kshatriya who fight for truth in the battle” 

 

And many of the critics, they speak against Qur’an and the Hadith and they quote 

Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 4 Book of Jihaad ch. no. 2 Hadith no. 46 in which our Prophet said 

 

“Mujahid is a person who strives in the way of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) and if a Mujahid dies in the battlefield, he will go to Jannah, to paradise and if he wins, he will get the booty of the war.”

 

Exactly same thing is mentioned by Shri Krishna in Bhagvad Gita ch. no. 2 verse no. 37

 

“O Arjun! Go and fight, if you get killed, you will go to heaven and if you win the battle, you will enjoy the good of this world, this earthly world.”

 

This is exactly the same thing what is mentioned in the Hadith. Imagine if I quote saying that Bhagvad Gita says, you should kill your cousins, it will be devilish on my part, I am telling out of context, it will be devilish! The right thing is Bhagvad Gita says that you have to fight for the truth against falsehood and even if it be your cousin who are on the falsehood even if you have to kill them for the truth, there is no problem. So quoting out of context is devilish. So here we understand that if while speaking with the different types of people, we should know how to convince them. Believe me, hundreds of Hindus have spoken to me and saying Jihad is wrong. The moment I say but isn’t it mentioned in your Bhagvad Gita that you should kill your cousins. They tell me “No! But that is Shri Krishna is talking about fighting of truth against falsehood” I said that is what the Qur’an says. “O is that is what the Qur’an says then we agree with the Qur’an” 

 

Mohammad Naik: Yes sister… 

 

Questioner: My name is Saira, I am a teacher. In your talk you mentioned about pillars of Eemaan i.e. faith in Islam and showed the similarities of the same in Hindu scriptures. Is there any mention of the pillars of Islam in Hinduism? 

 

Dr. Zakir: The sister asked a question that I have mentioned about pillars of Eemaan in my talk and compared with similarities in the Hindu scripture, are there any similarities between pillars of Islam and the Hindu scriptures? Yes sister, time didn’t permit me to speak about all these similarities, you can speak for days together. As far as the pillars of Islam are concerned, it’s mentioned in 

 

Sahih Bukhari vol. no. 1 in the Book of Eemaan Hadith no. 8, the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said that 

 

“Islam is based on 5 principals, on 5 pillars, the first is Affirming “La ila ha ill Allah Muhammadur Rasoolullah”. There is no God but Allah and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), is the messenger of Allah.

The second is establishing Salaah.

Third is Zakaat, Charity.

Fourth is Saum i.e. fast in the month of Ramadhaan and 

Fifth is pilgrimage to the city of Makkah once in your lifetime.” 

 

These are basically 5 pillars, the first one about one Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) and the final messenger Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), I have already discussed in my talk.

 

Regarding the second pillar of Salaah, the main portion of Salaah in Islam is Sujood i.e. prostration. Allah says in the Qur’an in 

 

Surah Ale Imran ch. no. 3 verse no. 43 

 

“Ya Maryamu oqnutee li Rabbiki wasjudee…”

 

That 

 

“O Mary! Worship your Lord devotedly and bow down with those who bow down”

 

Allah says in the Qur’an in 

 

Surah Hajj ch. no. 22 verse no. 77

 

“Ya ayyuha allazeena amanoo”

“O you who believe! Bow down and prostrate yourself and prostrate with those who prostrate.” 

 

So the major part is prostration. In Hinduism there are various types of worship. One of the types of worship is called as ‘Sashtang’ Sashtang comes from ‘Sa’ meaning. Aath meaning ‘Eight’. ‘Ang’ mens part of body so Sashtang means 8 parts of the body. That means when you worship you should touch 8 parts of the body. Now if you analyze the best way a Hindu can do ‘Sashtang’ is the Sujood we do in Salaah, the 8 parts of the body we touch, is the forehead, is the nose, is the 2 hands, is the 2 knees and the 2 feet. 

 

The third pillar of Islam is Zakaat, that’s charity. 2.5% of excess wealth in charity every lunar year. Charity is even prescribed in the Qur’an in 

 

Surah Al Hashr ch. 59 verse no. 7 that 

 

“Charity has been prescribed so that the wealth does not circulate only amongst the rich”

 

This is exactly what is mentioned in Rigveda Book no. 10 Hymn no. 117 verse no. 5 that 

 

“Give charity to the poor and you may never know today you are rich, tomorrow you may become poor. And wealth circulates like the wheels of a chariot.”

Same thing as Islam.

 

Pillar no. 4 is Saum, that means fasting for the complete lunar month of Ramadhaan, abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset. 

 

Hinduism has various types of fasting. One type of fasting mentioned in Manusmriti ch. no. 6 verse no. 24 is 

 

“Fasting for 1 month”

 

Fasting is further mentioned in Manusmriti ch. no. 4 verse no. 222 and Manusmriti ch. no. 11 verse no. 204 

 

The fifth pillar is Hajj that every adult Muslim who has the means to perform Hajj should at least perform Hajj that is pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah in the month of Hajj.  

 

There are various types of pilgrimage in Hinduism, one type is mentioned in Rigveda Book no. 3 Hymn no. 29 verse no. 4, it speaks about ‘Elaispad’. A Tirtha, a place of worship called as Elai Spad, Ellah means Allah. Spad means place. So Elaispad means a place of God and it says, it is in the center of Prithvi, earth and we know that Makkah is the center of the world. So Veda says one place of pilgrimage is the House of Allah, we call it as Baitullah which is the center of the earth and further if you read in 

 

Rigveda Book no. 3 Hymn no. 29 verse no. 11, it speaks about Narashansa, about Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam). So this place of pilgrimage is nothing but Makkah and if you open and read the Sanskrit dictionary, it says Elaispad means a place of God, a place of Tirtha. Makkah pilgrimage is also mentioned in 

 

Rigveda Book no. 1 Hymn no. 128 verse no. 1

 

These were in short similarities between Hinduism and the pillars of Islam.

 

Mohammad Naik: Yes brother…

 

Questioner: Sameer Khatib, I am in business. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has been proph.. prophesied in 4000 old scriptures of Hinduism, Vedas and the…. Puranas. Therefore Dr. Zakir Naik, you believe that these books are God-Sent and therefore Hindus are also Ahle Kitaab?

 

Dr. Zakir: The brother’s asked a very good question that since Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) is prophesied in Vedas and in the other Hindu scriptures can we consider these scriptures to be the word of God? And can we call them the Ahle Kitaab. Brother Ahle Kitaab as I mentioned in my talk it’s a word used for People of the Book specifically referring to the Jews and Christians. Ahle Kitaab refers to Jews and Christians. 

 

Regarding your question that can we consider Vedas or the other Hindu scriptures as the word of God?

 

Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Ra’d ch. no. 13 verse no. 38 

 

“Likulli ajalin Kitab” 

 

“In every age have We sent a revelation”

But by name only 4 revelations are mentioned in the Qur’an, Torah, Zaboor, Injeel and the Qur’an. 

 

Torah is the wahi, which was revealed Prophet Moses (peace be upon him). 

Zaboor is the wahi, which was revealed to Prophet David (peace be upon him). 

Injeel is the wahi which was revealed to Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him). 

And Qur’an is the last and final revelation revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

 

Now all these revelations that were revealed, they were revealed only for those people and that time. All revelations before the Qur’an were revealed were only for those people and for that time. Qur’an was revealed for the whole of humankind. 

 

Your question, can we consider Veda or the Hindu were it word of God. Since the Vedas are not mentioned by name in the Qur’an we cannot say for sure that they were the word of God. What we can say may be they were the word of God. You ask me since Allah has sent various messengers can we consider Ram or Laxman as the messenger of God. See Allah says, He has sent several revelations on the face of the earth, he has sent several messengers since Veda is not mentioned in the Qur’an to be the word of God, I can say may be they were the word of God, I cannot say for sure. Similarly neither can I say that Ram or Krishna are the messengers of God, I can say, may be they were. Since they are not mentioned by name, I cannot say for sure they were, may be. But even if Ram was the messenger of God, even if Krishna was the messenger of God, even if Veda was the word of God, they were meant for those people and for that time. Today whichever part of the world you are living in, you should follow the last and final revelation i.e. the Glorious Qur’an and the last and final messenger Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) which is even mentioned in the Hindu Scriptures as Antim Avtar. 

 

Mohammad Naik: The next question from the slip is Brother Amar Sinha, he has asked, you promote interfaith dialogues in this do you agree with those who say all the religions are same?

 

Dr. Zakir: The Brother asked a question that that since I promote interfaith dialogue do I agree with those people who say that all religions are same. There are various interfaith dialogues going on throughout the world even in Bombay and we find that religious personalities of various religions come on the stage and say all religions are the same. A Hindu personality comes, a religious leader and says “All religions are same”. a Muslim personalities comes and says “all religions are same” and a Christian personalities comes and says “All religions are same”.

 

I ask them a simple question that if you agree all religions are the same then will a Christian priest give up Christianity and will he become a Muslim. Will a Muslim person give up Islam and will he become a Hindu. Will a Hindu priest give up Hinduism and will he become a Christian. The answer is no. these people they try and portray an image of being secular, they scratch each other’s back. It’s like a student asking a teacher that 2 + 2 is equal to how much? Is 2 + 2 equal to 3 or is it equal to 4 or is it equal to 5? 3 teachers come on the stage and say all three answers are correct. 2 + 2 is equal to 3 also, 2 + 2 is equal to 4 also and 2 + 2 is equal to 5 also. This is nothing but garbage. 

 

I being a student of Islam and comparative religion, I have read the various scriptures; I know the practices of the various religions are not the same. I believe in communal harmony, I believe in interfaith dialogue, what I say if we make an assumption that lets assume that at least among all the various scriptures, various religions at least one scripture is 100% authentic the word of God. Now this assumption, no religious personality would object to, I would not mind accepting at least one of the religious scripture as the word of God. The Christian would say fine, at least means at least Bible is the word of God. Hindu will say, no problem at least the Veda is the word of God, the Muslims will say no problem at least Qur’an is the word of God. Now what you do you collect all the hundreds of teachings from the Christian Bible, from the Hindu scriptures, from the Veda and from Islam, the Qur’an. Now you find the commonalities. Suppose 50 are common, now when we take out 50 commonalities, the teachings from all these religious scriptures everyone will at least agree that this portion of the various scriptures at least is surely the word of God and no one would object in implementing it because it is present in all the scriptures. This technique of communal harmony is based on the Qur’anic verse of 

 

Surah Ale Imran ch. 3 verse 64 which says 

 

“Ta`alaw 'Ilá Kalimatin Sawa'in Baynana Wa Baynakum”

 

“Come to common terms as between us and you”

 

There may be other differences, there may be other differences in the religions, I can give a talk even on differences between Islam and Hinduism but since we are coming on commonalities no one would object on following the commonalities because it is present in all the religious scriptures. There may be some people who may not be well versed of their scripture, they may sometimes be offended for example if you point out that all the religious scriptures whether the Bible, whether Veda whether the Qur’an says you should not do idol worship. Now since he is not aware of the Vedas, he may feel offended but yet, he will not go against me because if he goes against me, he is going against the Veda which is considered to be the word of God. So this is the best way for interfaith for interfaith dialogue and communal harmony that come to common terms as between us and you. Hope that answers the question. 

 

Mohammad Naik: yes brother…

 

Questioner: My name is Mubeen Solker and I am a lawyer by profession. Before I put up my question I must say sir that I am really impressed by your knowledge of Hindu scriptures, it’s really amazing. My question to you is that you’ve said that there are so many similarities between Islam and Hinduism; does that mean that according to Islam a person can be a Hindu?

 

Dr. Zakir: Brother’s asked a very critical question that since I have pointed so many similarities between Islam and Hinduism, does it mean that according to Islam a person can be a Hindu. 

 

Brother, if by the term Hindu you mean a geographical definition, a person who lives in India then according to Islam there is no problem in a person being an Indian. I am an Indian and I am a practicing Muslim, I am proud of my country India and I am proud to be a Muslim. So no problem in Islam if you are an Indian and practicing Islam but if you mean by the term Hindu, a person who follows the religious scripture of Hinduism then I have got no objection as long as that Hindu strictly follows the established truths of the scriptures of Hinduism.

 

What do I mean my established truth? Established truth means those truths mentioned in the Hindu scriptures which have been reconfirmed by the last and final revelation of God i.e. the Glorious Qur’an and I am referring to Vedas and the Qur’an which I talked in my lecture, both of them believe there is one God, they believe in the messengers, they believe the last messenger is Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), they believe in the Hereafter, if they believe in all these established facts, I have got no objection but if you tell me “No, Hindu is a person who believes in everything what is mentioned in the Hindu scriptures then I being a student of comparative religion, I don’t agree, why? It’s not possible for a Hindu to believe in all the teachings in the Hindu scriptures because many a times the teachings of different scriptures of Hinduism, they contradict. Many a times, the same scriptures, Rigveda, they contradict themselves Manusmriti, they contradict themselves for example one place it says that you should not have pork, one place it says that you should have pork so a person cannot follow contradicting statements simultaneously. 

 

So what we have to realize… That even in the Hindu scriptures there are certain things which are unethical as spoken by the great reformers, they believe in caste system which Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Justice Ranade spoke against, they spoke against the Sati system that the wife should burn in the funeral fire of the husband so these things a person cannot follow. That’s the reason I say that as long the Hindu follows the established fact and also agrees that there is one last Rishi, Antim Rishi when Buddha came and he tried to purify Hinduism of the superstition many people went against him that how come he is coming to purify the Vedas, later on they agreed that he was the 23^rd of the 24 Avtars, they even agree that he was the 9^th Avtar of Vishnu similarly when you read the scripture, it talks about Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) is the 24^th Avtar, he is the 10^th Avtar of Vishnu, he is the Antim Rishi so if the Hindu believes in the established fact, believes in Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) as the messenger of God, believes in one God, believes in the hereafter, there is no problem in him being a Hindu.

 

Mohammad Naik: Just a minute as I close the programme though Dr. Zakir would love to answer questions I think for another 1, 2, 3, 4 hours, the rules here do not permit us to continue, I have got a final ultimatum to close the programme. If you have any further questions on the topic or on Islam or on comparative religion you are most welcome to get in touch with the IRF to attend the lectures followed by the open question and answer sessions which we have after any kind of lecture on Saturday at 4pm, every Sunday at 10:30 pm for gents and on Monday for ladies at 3pm. 

 

Those who have not filled up the guest registration slip are kindly requested to do so at the registration counter while leaving so that you can be in touch and we may be able to inform you of our program.

 

Lastly we thank Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) for making this programme possible on behalf of the IRF and our organizing committees I thank all our gusts, the press and all the professionals who are involved in the running of this programme as well as our staff and volunteers and all persons who have helped up in making this programme successful especially with the help of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). JazakAllah. Assalamu Alaikum.

 

Audience 1: Such type of lectures as Dr. Zakir Naik has conveyed here, 100% people are convinced. 

 

Audience 2: It was a very nice programme and such programmes must be conducted more and more, that is very nice. Ajay Vaidya.

 

Audience 3: Mujhe toh yeh umeed hai key eh bahut bada ek… jisko bolte hain naa Raahe Manzil ka ek chiraag ban jaayega. 

 

Security: Speaker Chaan Bol le. Sarv Bhasha Ashi Sapsht hoti.. ekayla yehto ke aandee samajat yehtoh. 

 

Audience 4: My humble request is that to Mr. Dr. Zakir Naik is that come and preach in the slum area also.

 

Audience 5: I…I… I simply pray to God, to All Mighty God that a person of his caliber if only 5% of persons in this earth are of his caliber, I think there will be no problem in the world.