Archive for August, 2013

Lost Prophets of India
 
Khurshid Imam
 
 
Index
 
A.    Introduction
B.     Hindus / India without Prophet?
C.     Prophet Noah community does not recognize its prophet
D.    Quran, Prophet Noah and Vedas
E.     Prophet Noah, Hindu Scriptures and India
F.     Prophet Adam, Hindu scriptures and India
G.    Prophet Adam was sent to the holy land of India
H.    Hindus and Muslims are lost brothers
I.     Conclusion
 
 
A. Introduction
 
Quran proclaims that messenger or prophet was sent to every nation/ every community. Quran mentions 25 prophets by name. Our Hindu brethren – in India – always come up with this question:
·         Which prophet was sent to India?
·         Is God of Islam discriminatory that he sent all messengers in and around Arab?
·         Today India forms 17% of world population; Hindu community is one of the largest communities of the world – how come Quran is completely absent from mentioning the name of prophet who was sent here?
·         Is Quran only for Arabs so that it mentions about prophets sent to that area but not for Indian peninsula?
 
A knowledgeable Muslim will rightly say – “It is not possible that Quran will mention name and details of each of hundreds of thousands of prophets, else it will become the bulkiest book of the world. Who will read the book whose pages will run into millions? Quran is mainly book of guidance and by mentioning 25 prophets Quran guides us for this world. Surely every community and nation was bestowed with prophet. We don’t know which prophet was sent to India”.
 
This last statement is made depending upon the knowledge and research. Most of Muslim will make this statement. However a deeper study of Quran, hadees (books containing words of Prophet Muhammad), history and other sources will surprise all of us.
 
Please note my beloved Hindu brethren: Most of you have the notion that Islam is a religion “founded” by Prophet Muhammad 1400 years back. Kindly clear this misconception. Nowhere Quran claims that Prophet Muhammad was the founder of any religion NOR God says that through Quran any NEW religion came into existence. God clears that Prophet Muhammad was the seal of prophet (Last prophet) (Refer to Surah Ahzab 33:40) and that Prophet Muhammad was not given any new religion rather the same old age religion of God that was previously given to all prophets.
 
The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah–the which We have sent by inspiration to you–and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses and Jesus: Namely that you should remain steadfast in Religion and make no divisions therein:……….. [Quran, Surah Shura 42:13]
 
So as per Islamic belief there has been Prophet / messenger of God in various places in different era and all of them taught and propagated the same religion of God. This religion is called “Islam” in Arabic language.
Terminologies that will be used in this article: Hadees=Words of Prophet Muhammad compiled in book; Ved= God’s word as per Hinduism; Puran, bhagwad Geeta, Ramcharitmanas= Sacred and revered scripture of Hinduism.
 
 
B. Hindus / India without Prophet?
 
All theist communities – those who believe in religion and existence of God – associate themselves with their Prophet. Even though the belief regarding their prophet is distorted, yet they know him-at least.
 
Community                Book that is considered divine           Prophet
 
Muslims           –          Quran                                             Prophet Muhammad
Christians        –           Bible                                                Prophet Jesus
Jews                –          Old Testament                                 Prophet Moses
Hindus            –           Vedas                                                     ??
 
If you ask a common Hindu; what is the God’s word in Hinduism? Most of them will say Bhagwad Geeta or Ramayana or Mahabharata. But you have to remind them that these all are human written books; only Vedas are claimed to be God’s word in Hinduism. Vedas are considered ishwani (God’s word) or aupaurishya i.e. divine. Though every Hindu loves Ram, Krishna most but he does not attribute Vedas being revealed to any of them. If Vedas are God’s word then there must be someone on whom it was revealed. Our country has lost its prophet in mythological stories. The first recipient of Vedas was the messenger on whom the book was revealed.
 
Allah has mentioned that for every community a prophet was sent.
a. “..For every Qaum (nation or community) there has been a warner [Quran, Surah Ra’d 13:7]
وَلِكُلِّ قَوْمٍ هَادٍ
 
b. “And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community) a Messenger...” [Quran, Surah Namal 16:36]
وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا
 
It will be highly surprising that no prophet was sent to India which happens to be one of the important cradles of human civilization. Definitely some Prophet would have come to this country India among Hindu masses. May be that Prophet is lost into mythological stories.
“Does Quran gives any indication of Hindi community”- is beyond the scope of this article.
 
 
C. Prophet Noah community does not recognize its prophet.
 
Out of all major communities only Hindus have a book (claimed to be God’s word) but not a person who can be associated with it. The Prophet of Hindus is Lost. Hindu community – as a whole does not recognize its prophet.
 
The shock is that – Community of Prophet Noah(Peace be upon him) also does not recognize him as a whole !!!. Look at this very interesting Hadees:
 
 “Allah’s messenger said, “Noah and his nation will come (on the Day of Resurrection) and Allah will ask (Noah), “Did you convey (the Message of God)?’
He will reply, ‘Yes, O my Lord!’
Then Allah will ask Noah’s nation, ‘Did Noah convey My Message to you?’
They will reply, ‘No; no prophet came to us.’
Then Allah will ask Noah, ‘Who will stand a witness for you?’
He will reply, ‘Muhammad and his followers (will stand witness for me).’ So, I and my followers will stand as Witnesses for him (that he conveyed Allah’s Message)………….”
[Sahih Bukhari Volume 60 (Prophetic Commentary on the Quran), Hadees 14;
Sahih Bukhari Book 96 (Holding Fast to the Quran and Sunnah) Hadees 77]
 
Please note down some important points from the above Hadees:
1.      When Allah will ask Prophet Noah whether he conveyed the message of Islam to his people then he will reply YES.
 
2.      When People of Prophet Noah will be asked whether Prophet Noah conveyed them message then what will be the reply of his community? His community will clearly REFUSE to acknowledge any Prophet coming among them. They will; in fact; say that no prophet came among them.
 
3.      So it means people of Noah – as a whole – don’t recognize him as a Prophet.
 
4.      Now who will be witness regarding prophet Noah claim that he came and delivered his message? Ummat (People) of Prophet Muhammad i.e. I and you will be witness. We will bear witness that Prophet Noah did come to his people, delivered his message but his people-as a whole-will not recognize him.
 
5.      Today Hindus are the only theist community who claim to have God’s word but fail to recognize their prophet. Does not this Hadees provide a very strong link between Prophet Noah and Hindus?
 
Hindu brethren do not know their Prophet. They say prophet hood is not part of their faith / culture.
Prophet Noah’s people will refuse to recognize / acknowledge any Prophet coming among them.
 
 
D. Quran, Prophet Noah and Vedas
 
Some very important observations from the Quran:
1. Prophet Noah was the first Prophet with laws.
 
He was first ba-shariat nabi i.e. Prophet who was given complete revelation; laws regarding religion.
Look at the chronological “order” of prophets when Allah speaks about Prophets – especially in context with religion / revelation – then it will always start with Prophet Noah and end with Prophet Muhammad.
 
We have sent you inspiration as we sent it to Noah and the Messengers after him; we sent inspiration to Abraham,  Ismail, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes, to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron and Solomon and to David We gave the Psalms. [Quran, Surah Nisa 4:163]
 
The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah–the which We have sent by inspiration to you–and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses and Jesus: Namely that you should remain steadfast in Religion and make no divisions therein……[Quran, Surah Shura 42:13]
 
And (remember) when We took from the Prophets their covenant, and from you and from Nuh (Noah), Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), and ‘Îsa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary). We took from them a strong covenant. [Quran, Surah Ahzaab 33:7]
 
Let’s take; for example 42:13 of Quran. The Prophets mentioned in chronicle order are:
 
Prophet                                    Revelation                               Today’s community
 
Prophet Muhammad                Quran                                      Muslims
Prophet Jesus                          Injeel                                       Christians
Prophet Moses                        Torah                                       Jews
Prophet Abraham                    Sohfa-e-Ibraheem                   Arabs/Jews
Prophet Noah                              ?                                              ?
 
We see that Prophet Noah is indicated as the first Messenger in these places of Quran. Also from hadees [Sahi Bukhari Volume 4, Book 55, hadith 556; Sahi Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, hadith 236] we know that Prophet Noah was the first ba-shariat nabi i.e. Prophet who was given complete Shariat i.e. laws. This was given in the form of revelation.
 
Also it’s interesting to see that all theist community of people who had God’s word are covered using above equation. Till now we had Hindu community but no prophet. Can Prophet Noah be prophet of Hindus? Prophet Noah has to be prophet of the oldest community or one of the oldest communities.
 
2. Hindu / Indian civilization – oldest civilization
 
Hindus have been claiming for years that they are the oldest religious community. Vedic religion is accepted as oldest religion by historians. No other community in the world claims that its religion is oldest – except Hindus. No wonder Vedas – claimed to be God’s word by Hindus – are said to be Aadi granth which means earliest revelation.
 
Now can you match the dots .. Prophet Noah.. Vedas ..Hindus?
Re-writing Quran, 42:13 in tabular form:
 
Prophet                                    Revelation                               Today’s community
 
Prophet Muhammad                    Quran                                       Muslims
Prophet Jesus                              Injeel                                        Christians
Prophet Moses                            Torah                                       Jews
Prophet Abraham                        Sohfa-e-Ibraheem                     Arabs
Prophet Noah                              Vedas?                                     Hindus?
 
 
3. Does Quran give any indication towards Vedas?
 
Look at this ayah of the Quran:
وَإِنَّهُ لَفِي زُبُرِ الْأَوَّلِينَ
“…wa innahu lafi zuburil awwaleen”- And verily it (Quran) is in earliest revelations.[Quran, Surah Shura 26:196]
 
Translating word Zuburil awwaleen into English; it means: earliest revelations.
Translating word Zuburil awwaleen into Sanskrit; it means Aadi Granth or: earliest revelations.
 
Please keep in mind ONLY holy Vedas are proclaimed as earliest revelations or aadi granth. So this ayah indicates that teachings of the Quran are into aadi granth. Is it possible that Quran is referring to Vedas in this ayah which is claimed as aadi granth  by Hindus?
When we actually look into Vedas then we DO find about tauheed (oneness of God), risalat (Prophet hood), akhrat (Life hereafter) and other aspects of Islam; though shirk is also mentioned (subject to interpretation). There are tons of other similarities between Quran and Vedas – description of which is beyond the scope of this article.
 
So Quran is referring to earliest scriptures of Allah and saying that teachings of Quran are present in that. When we look into Vedas then we do find lot of similarities and fundamentals of Quran present in Vedas.
Here one thing I would like to make clear. Some people may argue that word Zubril awaaleen was not taken as in the sense of Vedas by Sahaba (Companions of Prophet) or others. What we need to understand is that Quran is meant till qiyamah and it’s very eloquent. Every word of Quran is perfect, well balanced, conveying lot of meanings; we understand better and better with the passage of time. This is a big topic. Word Zubril awwaleen meant as “earliest revelations” for earlier Muslims referring to those scriptures of Allah that were sent earlier. That was also correct. Now today – after intellectual evolution we know that a community says that they have earliest revelations; then there is a strong possibility that Quran is referring to this particular book which was revealed earliest.
 
Hindus are claiming that they possess earliest revelations.
Prophet Noah is the prophet of earliest human civilization.
People of Prophet Noah will fail to recognize him – as a whole.
Today Hindus don’t recognize their Prophet.
Can you see the pattern?
 
Now there is one community who claims that it has earliest revelation; historians believe that Vedic religion happen to be earliest religion. Hindus are the only community that claims that it has earliest revelation. So can there be correlation between first Prophet-with-Shariat i.e. Prophet Noah — earliest civilization i.e. People of India — earliest scripture i.e. Vedas?
Are number of dots between Prophet Noah.. Vedas ..Hindus  increasing?
 
4. Idol worship, caste system, Quran and Hindus
 
a. Quran mentions about prophets, their call to people. Also God tells about the crime of those people; what major sins they indulged in. So a prophet’s community is characterized by some of crimes committed by its people. For example people of Prophet Lot are characterized with indulging in homosexuality.
Noah community was the one who was too much engrossed in shirk and idol worship.
Quran mentions about shirk of other community also but Noah people were so much engrossed in shirk and idol worship that Allah has mentioned about their 5 idols.
 
Nuh said: “My Lord! Surely they have disobeyed me and followed him whose wealth and children have added to him nothing but loss. And they have planned a very great plan. And they say: ‘By no means leave your gods, nor leave [the gods] Wadd, nor Suwa; nor Yaghus, and Yauq and Nasr.’ And indeed they have led astray many, and do not increase the unjust in aught but error.” [Quran, Surah Nuh 71:21-23]
 
b. There is an indication of another prevalent sin of Noah’s people. Look these two ayah of Quran:
 
But the chiefs of the Unbelievers among his people (Noah’s people) said: “We see (in) you nothing but a man like ourselves: Nor do we see that any follow you but the meanest among us, in judgment immature: Nor do we see in you (all) any merit above us: in fact we think ye are liars!” [Quran, Surah Hud 11:27]
 
قَالُوا أَنُؤْمِنُ لَكَ وَاتَّبَعَكَ الْأَرْذَلُونَ
 
They (People of Noah who rejected his teachings) said: “Shall we believe in you when it is the meanest that follow you?” [Quran, Surah Shura 26:111]
 
فَقَالَ الْمَلَأُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِن قَوْمِهِ مَا نَرَاكَ إِلَّا بَشَرًا مِّثْلَنَا وَمَا نَرَاكَ اتَّبَعَكَ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ هُمْ أَرَاذِلُنَا بَادِيَ الرَّأْيِ
 
The Arabic words “ardhalūna and arādhilunāare used in above two ayah respectively which has been derived from the root word rā dhāl lām (ر ذ ل). Both words convey the meaning – “mean /vile/ lowest in status”. Arabic-English Lexicon by Edward William Lane gives the meaning of Arabic word rā dhāl lām (ر ذ ل) as “low, base, vile, or contemptible, in his aspect and states or circumstances ..”. This word is not used for any other people of any prophet. Above two ayah give the idea that some people were considered meanest or lowest among the people of Prophet Noah.
Does this refer to prevalent untouchability or “caste system”? We know that caste system is an important character of Hinduism since centuries. Even today caste-system or untouchability is very unique feature of India.
 
So can we increase number of dots between Prophet Noah – Ved – Hindus / India?
 
Important: Today dalits brethren (People in Hinduism who are considered untouchable or lowest in status) hate “Manu” for the reason that they think that Manu started and propagated caste system. It is fact that the Hindu religious book ManuSmriti does speak volume in favor of caste system yet we don’t know for sure who authored this book. What is 101% guaranteed is that none of prophets can propagate or teach such inhumane teachings. This book is attributed to Manu but for sure; neither Jal-plavan-Manu i.e. Prophet Noah (Peace be upon him) nor swaymBhuva Manu i.e. Prophet Adam (Peace be upon him) taught this. In fact from above two Quranic ayah it’s clear that Prophet Noah acted against the caste system and among his followers were those who were considered meanest and lowest.  
 
 
E. Prophet Noah, Hindu Scriptures and India
 
If a muslim is asked about Prophet Noah  (Peace be upon him)  and the great flood then he / she will immediately tell that during the era of Prophet Noah there was a great flood and this destroyed wrong doers and world life except selected few; and this event is described in Quran, Surah Hud 11:36-44
 
Similarly if a Christian is asked about this incidence he too will tell that Bible speaks about Noah and the great flood in great detail in Bible – Book of Genesis 6:9-22; Genesis Complete 7th chapter.

However the surprising point is that if a learned Hindu is asked about the great flood and Jal-Plavan-Manu i.e. Manu of the great flood then he too can quote Matsya Puran Chapter 1 & 2 and Bhawishya Puaran, Pratisarga Parva, Chapters 4-7 – and tell How God ordered Noah (mentioned as NYUH or MANU) to build a boat and put creatures into the boat and how great flood destroyed the life on land.

1- Vishnu (GOD) had got a boat built by the devtas. (In other accounts, Manu was himself asked to construct the boat). When the earth was flooded, Manu (Prophet Noah) was to place all living beings in the boat and thus save them. ….. And when the waters of the flood receded, Manu (Prophet Noah) could populate the world afresh and rule over it. [Mat’sya Purana 1:29-35]
Source:    http://www.astrojyoti.com/matsyapurana.htm

2- “Then the seven destructive clouds would spring up from vapors… and would rain in torrents till all the seas become united into one great mass. In fact, the whole earth would be covered with one vast expanse of water, then get hold of that yonder boat and put the seed of creation and the sacred Vedasin it.” [Mat’sya Purana 2:10-11]

3- “At the beginning of the re-creation of the universe which would follow the period of destruction (Caused by the Deluge / flood), I shall propagate the Vedicknowledge”. [Mat’sya Purana 2:14-16]

Please note-Vedas and Prophet Noah are referred together in above two references.
Quran speaks about (Nooh used in Quran) Prophet Noah and the great flood event.
Bible tells about (Noah used in bible) Prophet Noah and the great flood event.
Hindu scriptures describe (Nyuh and Manu) Prophet Noah and the great flood event.

Are these mere co-incidences?

Are we telling the same – one event in different scriptures?

DO we have common root; the same event reached different people through different prophets?

The ONE and the same GOD told about this important event to different people in different era through divine revelation / through prophets?

Are we witnessing real incidence of Prophet Noah soaked in mythological stories in puranas?

5. Besides these references about Noah, Let us see some Shlokas (ayah) from the Bhavishya
Purana given by Pandit Ved Prakashs’ book – Vedon aur Puranon Ke Adhar Par Dharmik Ekta Ki Jyoti –  in which there are clear references of other prophets with their original names

“…From them was born a child named Noah. He ruled for 500years. He had three sons: Sim, Sham,Bhav. Noah, the true devotee of Vishnu was engrossed in the Pantheistic meditations. One day Vishnu told him in dream: ‘O dear Noah, listen! on the seventh day there will be a disaster in the form of a Deluge / flood. You immediately embark the Ark along with the People. O’ the devotee of Indra, save your life, you are elevated’. Acting upon this advice this great personage (Noah) constructed an Ark, 300 hath (an arm’s length) long, 50 hath wide and 3000 hath deep. With his family and the couples (male+female) of each creation, he embarked the Ark and started praising Vishnu…. For forty days there were torrential rains as a result of which all the land was flooded and all the four seas united into a great mass… After the Deluge / flood the great mystic Noah resumed life along with the members of his family. Noah’s sons became popularly known as Sam, Ham, Yaqut….”.

In these Shlokas the word “Niyuh” has been used for Noah, whereas Ham and Yaqut are same.

Let’s read this same event from other source; which presents same picture.
“..His son Nyuha (Noah) ruled for 500 years. He had three sons named Sima, Sama and Bhava. Nyuha (Noah) was a devotee of Lord Vishnu. Once the Lord appeared in his dream and said: “My dear Nyuha (Noah), please listen, there will be devastation on the seventh day. Therefore, you have to be very quick that you make a big boat and ride in it. O chief of the devotees, you will be celebrated as a great king”. Then he made a strong boat which was 300 hath (an arm’s length) long, 50 hath (an arm’s length) wide and 30 hath (an arm’s length) high. It was beautiful and all the living entities could take shelter in it. He then himself rode in it, engaged in meditating on Lord Vishnu. Lord Indra called the devastating cloud named Sambartaka and poured heavy rain continuously for 40 days. The whole earth, Bharat-varsa, had merged in the water and four oceans came up together. Only Visala or Badarikasrama was not submerged. There were 80,000 great transcendentalists in Visala who joined with king Nyuha and his family. All of them were saved and everything else was destroyed. [Bhawishya Puran, the Pratisarga Parva, Chapters 4 to 7]
Source: http://www.astrojyoti.com/bhavishyapurana-2.htm
 
Can Hindus, Christians and Muslims feel stronger common bonding?
 
Historical facts and observations attest very close relation between India and Prophet Noah:  
 
“{…….. A French writer, A.J.A. Dubois, who studied the Hindu religion and Indian civilization for forty years subsequently, wrote a voluminous and most authentic book – Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies – of its kind on Hindu rituals, customs, manners and traditions.
Book can be downloaded from http://www.scribd.com/doc/57522848/Hindu-Manners-Customs-and-Ceremonies
Some of the facts, he related in this book will certainly be of vital interest to our readers.
 
a.“…Suffice it to remark that a Celebrated Personage, reverenced by the Hindus, and known to them as MAHANUVU, escaped the calamity in an ark, in which were also the Seven Penitents. The appellation MAHANUVU is worthy of remark. It is a compound of two words-MAHA – great, and NUVU, which is undoubtedly the same as Noah”. [Page 48]
 
b.“It is practically admitted that India was inhabited very soon after the Deluge / flood, which made a desert of the whole world. [Page 100]
 
c.“It is definitely stated in the Markandeya Purana and the Bhagavata  that this event caused the destruction of all mankind, with the exception of the seven famous Rishis or Penitents whom I have often had occasion to mention, and who were saved from the universal destruction by means of an ark, of which Vishnu himself was the pilot. Another great personage, called Manu, who, as I have tried elsewhere to show, was no other than the great Noah himself. [Page 416-417]
 
d. The details about the event of Noah and the Deluge / flood have also been given in the Bhavishya Purana and the Matsya Purana. The word Manu has been used for a number of Hindu religious personages (It is said about Adam that from Manu’s left side shatrupa (i.e. Eve) was created. See Hanuman Prasad Potdar, Ram Charit Manas. (Gita press Gorakhpur, Ed. 15,) P. 154 and Kh. Hassan Nizami Dehlwi, Hindu Mazhab Ki Ma’lumat (Halqa Mashaikh, Delhi edition, 20 December, 1927) P. 6 ) but Manu who figures most in the puranas, the Vedas and other Hindu scriptures is Noah; un-doubted. Even in the Vedas the mention of Noah by the name Manu is at 75 places.
 
e. The English translator-commentator of the Vedas, Griffith writes in explaining the word Manu, in one of the mantras: “Manu is the man par excellence, or the representative man and father of the human race, regarded as the first institutor of sacrifices and religious ceremonies.” This explanatory note is in Griffith’s translation of The Rigveda in Mandal 1:sukt 13: Mantr 4
 
e. Besides these references of Noah in the Vedas and the purans, I am presenting here yet another authentic proof of the affiliation of Hindu race with Noah. Generally speaking, the relation between a race and its prophet can be established by the calendar which, in one way or the other, starts with the prophet himself. For example, Muslims count their calendar from Prophet Muhammad’s Hijrah
(Migration from Mecca to Madina), and the Christians theirs, from the departure of Jesus. Like-wise the Hindu people count the time of their main events from Noah’s times, and, thereby, count the period that elapsed since the Deluge / flood in terms of sixty years as one year.
 
Dubois writes “……the commencement of the true era of the Hindus, that is to say, of their Kali-yuga, dates from about the same time as the epoch of the Deluge / flood-an event clearly recognized by them and very distinctly mentioned by their authors, who give it the name of Jala-pralayam, or the Flood of waters……And curiously enough, in all their ordinary transactions of life, in the promulgation of all their acts, in the their monuments, the Hindus date everything from the subsidence of the flood…… Their public and private events are always reckoned by the year of the various cycles of sixty years which have elapsed since the Deluge / flood.” [Page 416-417]…….}”
 
[“Now or never”-English translation of “Agar Ab bhi Na Jaage To”; Page 14-15]
 
There are several other detailed proofs from Quran and other sources that prove beyond doubt about the event of Noah and great flood in India. For details kindly refer to the above book.
 
An interesting fact- One of my relative – from my wife’s side – hails from bottom most part of India; i.e. in Tamilnadu; his & his family last name is “Noohu”.Any association between Noah and that region? 🙂
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Starting point of Noah flood:
 
{.. We know from the Qur’an that after Noah’s Deluge the Ark of Noah came to rest upon (Mountain) Al-Judi which is located at Kurdistan in Iraq. From the Bible we know that his boat came to rest upon Ararat (Mountain) range. (Judi is a mount of the Ararat range). But commentators have still not been able to say, in which part of the world Noah preached after the Ark came to rest. It has also not been found where Noah was for 600 years prior to Deluge. The Torah merely states that after the Deluge, Noah and his companions assembled together in Babel.
The Qur’an says that water started gushing forth from the Tanur and it was the beginning of the deluge: “(Thus it was) till, when our commandment came to pass and the Al-Tanurgushed forth water. We said: ‘Load there-in two of every kind, a pair (the male and the female)..…” [Quran, Surah Hud 11:40]

‘Tanur’ is not an Arabic but a Persian word used in the sense of an ‘Oven’ in which bread are baked. Most of the commentators have used it in the same sense and only few have taken it to mean the surface of the earth: which means that water gushing forth from the surface of the earth. But in the Qur’an ‘Al’ is used before the word ‘Tanur’ which implies ‘a particular Tanur’. Let us see explanations of the scholars in this regard. 
 
 “If it is said that the word Tanur has a prefix ‘Al’ (used for the definite article in Arabic) then it is most probable that Noah already knew it. Hasan Basri reports that the Tanur was made of stone and Eve used to bake bread in it. Then this Tanur was possessed by Noah and he had been told: ‘Once you see water gushing forth from the Tanur, embark along with your companions in the Ark.”
 
“That this Tanur was of Adam has also been stated by Muhammad Naim Moradabadi in his commentary of the Qur’an. Earlier we have quoted the statement of Ibne Abbas from Tafsire Fath’ul Qadir that the Tanur of Adam was in India. Let us look at it from a different perspective. While collecting together various facts about the word ‘Tanur’, Showkani has written “…..the eighth saying is that it is a place that exists in India.” [Tafsir Fat’hul Qadir, Vol II, P. 474.]
 
It won’t be out of place to mention here that when I searched the word in Indian Railway timetable, I found that a place called Tanur is in Kerala and when I attempted to locate it in the map I found the place Tanur located at the sea shore in the district Malappuram of Kerala. It is on the western shore of India, separated from Arabia by the Arabian ocean. In the light of the above discussed legends can it be supposed that it is the same place wherefrom Noah’s Deluge started, as has been illustrated in the Quran? It correlates all other sayings about Tanur, concluding that the water had started gushing forth from the Tanur situated at the sea shore and the same is called ‘The Tanur of Adam’.…}
[“Now or never”-English translation of “Agar Ab bhi Na Jaage To”; Page 21-22]   

          

 
F. Prophet Adam, Hindu scriptures and India
 
1. Adam – The first human being – the first Prophet – the first Man  “..All are progeny (children) of Manu (Adam)…” [Rigveda 1:45:1]
 
O children of Adam.. ”[Quran Surah Araf 7:26-27,31,35,172; Surah isra 17:70; Surah yasin 36:60]
 
Let me remind you that in Hindu tradition MANU is a title given to 14 great personalities. Two prominent of them are:
Svayambhuva Manu  = Manu who was created without parents=Prophet Adam(Peace be upon him)
Jal-Plavan-Manu = Manu of the great flood = Prophet Noah (Peace be upon him)
 
It has been the consistent belief of Muslims and Christians that God created Adam as the first person. And thereafter Eve (or Hawwa) was created as his spouse and from them human beings originated.
 
O Mankind! We have created you from single pair of male and female…” [Quran Surah Hujrat 49:13]
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ
 
This same event is described in Hindu scripture.
“Brahma accordingly created two beings from his body, one was male and the other was female. The male half was named Svayambhuva Manu and the female half was named Shatarupa.”
 
Matasya Puran describes in allegorical term that Brahma made two parts of his body and formed two person – one part formed was male known as Svayambhuva Manuand other part formed was female by name Shatarupa. [See Hanuman Prasad Potdar, Ram Charit Manas.(Gita press Gorakhpur, Ed. 15,) P. 154 and Kh. Hassan Nizami Dehlwi, Hindu MazhabKi Ma’lumat (Halqa Mashaikh, Delhi edition, 20 December, 1927) P. 6.]
 
Please note – The word Brahma has been used for Adam in Hari Vansh Puran.
When a Muslim reads the above statement he immediately realizes that this incidence is about creation of Prophet Adam and Hazrat Hawwa (Spouse of Adam). They both were created in the beginning and Puran / Hindu scripture is referring to their creation.
Similarly when a Christian reads the above passage he can understand that this even is about the creation of Adam and Eve which is also mentioned in bible. Refer to Bible, Book of Genesis 2:7-22
Is this just co-incidence?
 
2. Is this also co-incidence?
 
Hazrat Adam was first person who was created without any parents and Matasya puran refers him as Svayambhuva (swaym+bhoo) Manu which in Sanskrit means the Manu who came into existence / was created himself (without any parent)?
Svayambhuva manu and Prophet Adam is the one and the same person by name and by event.
 
Also there has been debate on the meaning and origin of word ADAM. Scholars and researches have tried vaguely to prove Adam being Arabic word or Hebrew word. Probably their attention was not drawn towards the Sanskrit language. According to the Monier-Williams Sanskrit Dictionary, adi means “beginning” or “first”. Similarly sanskrit word Aadim means “The first or most ancient man”. Can it be said that Word Adam refers to the first man?
 
Is it difficult to understand why people in Indian peninsula refer to human being as AADMI?
Also see the name “Nyuh” or “Nooh” and Sanskrit word for boat – “Naav”. Prophet Noah is strongly correlated with the great flood and ark / boat. Noah is Prophet of Ark/boat.
 
3. Hindu Scriptures and Prophet Adam  
 
Also see some Shlokas (ayah) from the BhavishyaPurana given by Pandit Ved Prakashs’ book- Vedon aur Puranon Ke Adhar Par Dharmik Ekta Ki Jyoti
 
Adam and Eve took birth from Vishnu’s (God’s) mud. In the Eastern part of the Paradise, Parmeshwar (God) had constructed a big and beautiful forest spreading over an expanse of 4 Kos (eight miles). Adam’s impatience to see his wife led him to see Eve under the forbidden tree. At once Satan appeared there in the guise of a snake. This cunning enemy cheated Adam and Eve, made them violates the commandment of Vishnu (One of attribute of God), and the husband took the forbidden fruit that led both of them to this terrestrial universe. Both of them sustained by means of the leaves of the wild fig. Subsequently a number of children were born to them, and all of them were called Malechh. Adam lived for 930 years”. 
 
In these Shlokas the word Adam figures as Adam, Eve as Haw’yawati, Paradise as Pradan Nagar (inhabitation of Rewards) and for Satan Kali. Please note – word for Eve here is Hawyawati which is similar to word Hawwa that muslims use for spouse of Prophet Adam. Is this co-incidence?   
 
Let us read this event from another source – which also presents same picture:
“In the eastern side of Pradan city (city of reward i.e. paradise) where there is a big God-given forest, which is 16 square yojanas in size. The man named Adama was staying there under a Papa-Vriksha or a sinful tree and was eager to see his wife Havyavati (Eve or hawwa). The Kali purusha (The Satan) quickly came there assuming the form of a serpent. He cheated them and they disobeyed Lord Vishnu. The husband ate the forbidden fruit of the sinful tree.”
 
स्वर्गलोक से समस्त मानवजाति के पिता का आगमन धरती पर हुआ।उनका नाम आदम था और उनकी पत्नी का नाम हव्वा।
‘‘आदमोनामपुरूषःपत्नीहव्यवतीतथा‘‘                     (भविष्यपुराणप्रतिसर्गपर्व 4, 18)
अनुवाद—   आदम नाम का पुरूष तथा पत्नी का नाम हव्यवती था।
 
Again – both Christians and Muslims can correlate themselves with the above mentioned event of Adam. Quran mentions about this event — Adam-Eve living in paradise, asked not to approach a particular act, then Satan mislead them – in Quran, Surah Baqrah 2:35-36.
Similarly Bible describes this event in Bible, Book of Genesis, Chapter 2: 15 Chapter 3: 1-7.
Again same event – almost same description in three different scriptures. Can there be a common connection for these three?
 
Was there some divine source in India – in the form of messenger and revelation – the traces of which can be found in above described stories?
 
Vedas mention about Prophet Adam, Prophet Noah and Prophet Muhammad.
Prophet Adam was the first person, first prophet, came before Prophet Noah so it’s not surprising that he was mentioned in Vedas.
Prophet Muhammad was the last prophet and he has been prophesized in previous scriptures of God so it’s also not surprising that he is mentioned in Vedas. What is surprising is that no prophet after Prophet Noah is mentioned in Vedas. What does it indicate? Does it indicate that Vedas were contemporary to Prophet Noah? In other words – Vedas were given to Prophet Noah?
 
 
G. Prophet Adam was sent to the holy land of India?
 
1. Muhammad ibn Sa’d ibn Mani’ al-Baghdadi or Ibn Sa’d (Arabic: ابن سعد‎), born in the year 168AH/784CE) and died in 230AH/845CE wrote Kitab Tabaqat Al-Kubra which was a compendium of biographical information about famous Islamic personalities in 8 volumes.
 
He (lbn Sa`d) said: Hishám Ibn Muhammad Ibn al-Sa’ib al-Kalbi informed us on the authority of his father, he on the authority of Abu Salih, he on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas; he said: Adam was cast down in India and Eve at Juddah. Then he came in her search and reached Jam’a; then Eve joined him, and so the place was known as al-Muzdalifah, and they had come together at Jam’a so it was known as Jam’a. [Ibn Sa’d, AL-TABAQAT AL-KABIR, Volume 1, Parts 1.4.3]
 
2. Adam was sent from the Paradise…. He was cast down on a mountain in India known as Nawdh and Eve cast at Juddah. …, then he built an oven which was inherited by Nuh, and from this oven gushed out boiling water bringing torment in India.
..After that he returned to India.. [Ibn Sa’d, AL-TABAQAT AL-KABIR, Volume 1, Part 1.3.42]
 
3. “Al-Hassan said that Adam descended in India…. Ass’ady related that Adam descended.. in India..”
 
4. At-Tabarani, Abu Nu’aim and Ibn Asakir all related from Abu Hurairah (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said “Adam (as) descended in India.” And At-Tabarani related the following narration from Abdullah ibn Umar (ra): When Allah made Adam (as) descend, He made him descend in the land of India. He then went to Makkah and afterwards went to Ash-Shams, which is where he died.
 
5. कुरआन के प्रसिद्ध भाष्यकार इब्ने कसीर ने मुस्नदअब्दुर्रज़्ज़ाक़ को उद्धृत करते हुए अपने भाष्य में लिखा है कि
‘‘. आदम . भारत की भूमि पर उतरे थे।उनका क़द बहुत लम्बा था।‘‘
 
     ईशदूत. मुहम्मद . सत्संगिंयों तथा अन्य मुस्लिम संतों और इतिहासकारों की एक बड़ी संख्या से यही उल्लिखित है कि पृथ्वी के पहले मानव ने, जो ईश्वर के पहले दूत भी थे, अपना पहला क़दम भारत में रखा।उन्होंने अपनी संतान में ईशप्रदत्त सनातनधर्म (अरबी भाषा में दीनक़य्यिम) का प्रचार प्रसार किया और बाद में समय समय पर संसार के विभिन्न भागों में ईशदूतों ने उसी एक ईश्वरीय धर्म को पुनर्जीवित किया।
 
आदम या आदिम शब्द, जिसका अर्थ है ‘‘सबसे पहला‘‘, भारतीय मूल का होना भी यही सिद्ध करता है कि आदिमानव भारत में उतरा।उसी को बाद में भारतीय साहित्य में आदिमनु या स्वयंभूमनु कहा गया।
 
स्वायंभू मनु अरू सतरूपा।जिन्हतेंभैनरसृष्टिअनूपा।।
दंपत्ति धरम आचरण नीका। अजहुँ गाव श्रुति जिन्हकैलीका।।
(रामचरितमानस, दो. 141, चौ. 1)
 
अर्थात स्वायम्भूवमनु और उसकी पत्नी शत्रूपा जिनसे मनुष्यों की यह अनुपम सृष्टि हुई, इन दोनों पति पत्नी के धर्म और आचरण बहुत अच्छे थे आज भी वेद जिनकी मर्यादा का गान करते हैं।अरफ़ात, पति पत्नी के मिलने का स्थान    इस्लामी परंपरा के अनुसार आदम की पत्नी हव्वा को स्वर्ग लोक से जिद्दा (सऊदीअरब) में उतारा गया।दोनों एक दूसरे को तलाशते रहे, यहां तक कि दोनों की मुलाक़ात अरफ़ात में हुई जो मक्का से 12 किमी. दूर एक निर्जन खुले क्षेत्र का नाम है।हज के महीने की  9वीं तारीख़ को सुबह चलकर अरफ़ात पहुंचना और सूर्य अस्त से पहले तक समय वहां ईश्वर से प्रार्थना आदि में बिताना हज का सबसे प्रमुख अंग है।
 
In the above Hindi Quotation – Ramcharitmanas – revered book of Hinduism speaks about Adam, and his wife Hawwa.
 
Here it is important to mention that ahadees speaking about Prophet Adam’s descent in India has been declared weak by Muhaddesseen (those who collect Hadees); but few points that are important are:
a)      We don’t find any Sahi Hadees contradicting this.
b)      We don’t find other ahadees referring to other places apart from India.
c)      Weak / dhayeef Hadees does not mean unauthentic but absence of other chain of narrations; lesser number of people narrating Hadees etc.
d)     Moreover we have seen lot of other proofs and will see further that gives strong indication towards Prophet Adam being in India.
 
 
6. Adam’s peak
 
There is a big foot-print in Sri-Lanka (See the below picture) which is revered by people from different faith. Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhist – all have great respect and honor for this foot print as they correlate it with their religion. It is a 1.8 meters (5 ft 11 in) rock formation near the summit, which in Buddhist tradition is held to be the footprint of the Buddha, in Hindu tradition that of Shiva and in Muslim and Christian tradition that of Adam, or that of St. Thomas.
 
 
 
Muslim researchers and Scholars have time and again attested to the belief that prophet Adam descended to India and lived here. India was the blessed land where human civilization started.
 
a. Prophet Hazrat Syedina Azam Alaihis salatus salaam’s Peak (Famous as Adam’s Peak) – The First Foot Mark on Earth by Hazrat Adam (Alaihis Salaam)
 
 
 
Jutting sharply skyward from the lush jungles of southwestern Sri Lanka is the 7362 foot (2243 meter) peak of Sri Pada, the ‘Holy Footprint’. Also called Adam’s Peak, the mountain has the unique distinction of being sacred to the followers of four of the world’s major religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. Long before the development of these religions, however, the mountain was worshipped by the aboriginal inhabitants of Sri Lanka, the Veddas. Their name for the peak was Samanala Kanda; Saman being one of the four guardian deities of the island. For Hindus, the name of the mountain is Sivan Adi Padham, because it was the world-creative dance of the god Shiva that left the giant footprint (5 feet 7 inches by 2 feet 6 inches). According to Buddhist traditions from as early as 300 BC, the real print is actually beneath this larger marking. Imprinted on a huge sapphire, it was left by the Buddha during the third and final of his legendary visits to Sri Lanka. When Portuguese Christians came to the island in the 16th century they claimed the impression to be the footprint of St. Thomas who, according to legend, first brought Christianity to Sri Lanka.
 
The mountain is more easily seen from the sea than from land, and also more impressive. Early Arab seafarers fascinated with the pyramidal peak wrote of it as “the highest mountain in the world” (it is not even the highest in Sri Lanka), and “visible from three days sail”. The ancient Sinhalese also believed it to be of great height and a native legend tells “from Seyllan to Paradise is forty miles, and the sound of the fountains of Paradise is heard here”. Visited by many early world travelers, among them the Arab Ibn Batuta (1304-1368) and the Venetian Marco Polo (1254-1324), Adam’s Peak attained a legendary status as a mystic pilgrimage destination. Today the pilgrimage season commences in December and continues until the beginning of the monsoon rains in April (from May to October the mountain is obscured by clouds). Certain parts of the path leading up the mountain are extremely steep and the climbing chains secured in these sections are said to have been placed by Alexander the Great (365-323 BC), though there is no evidence that he made it this far south on his Asia travels. Atop the peak is an oblong platform (74 x 24 feet) where stands a small Buddhist temple and the shrine of Saman with the strange footprint. Votive offerings are made here, especially of a coil of silver as long as the donor is tall, for recovery from sickness; and rain-water taken from the footprint is known to have a wonderful healing power. Adam’s Peak is also called Samanalakande or the ‘butterfly mountain’ because of the myriads of small butterflies that fly from all over the island to die upon the sacred mountain.
 
b. Islamic literature tells us that Prophet Adam descended directly from the heaven on Indian soil. India was his first domicile and the entire human race has spread from here. For this very reason the nomenclature A’dmi is used to denote human being. We find numerous references to this effect in Muslim magnum opus i.e. Subhatul Marjan Fi Tarikhe Hindustan, written by the celebrated Islamic scholar Allama Ghulam Ali Azad Bilgrami.
The above is an edited version of a long article by the late Maulana Hussain Ahmad Madani, translated from Urdu by Mohammad Anwer Hussain.
 
7. Adam bridge
 
Last but not least is the bridge connecting India and Sri-Lanka. It is popularly known as Adam’s bridge. Some of our Hindu brethren have started making claim that this bridge was built by Shri Ram and his Vaanar-Sena.
 
Wikipedia says – “Adam’s Bridge also known as Rama’s Bridge or Rama Setu is a chain of limestone shoals, between Pamban Island, also known as Rameswaram Island, off the southeastern coast of Tamil Nadu, India, and Mannar Island, off the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka.
Geological evidence suggests that this bridge is a former land connection between India and Sri Lanka” Geologists have strong view that this path – Adam’s bridge – was formed naturally without any human intervention.
Also please note that it’s very difficult – as of today – to estimate the date of existence of Prophet Adam. Whatever it may be it certainly belongs to pre-historic era. May be 10,000 year+; may be 50,000 year +; may be 1,00,000+ – we don’t know for sure. But one thing that we know from geography is that map of the world has not been same throughout history. It changes over long period of history.
Map of India and Sri-Lanka was not exactly same thousands and millions of years back – as it is today. Most probably – India and Sri-lanka was one part that time. Geologists suggest that initially whole land was joined together and was one single land – known as supercontinent and gradually formation of continents took place and continents started drifting away from each other.
What was map of India and Saudi Arab during early period of human habitation? This is an interesting topic which is beyond the scope of the article.
But at least – we have strong indication that when Adam descended on earth then India and Sri-Lanka was one single entity. This region was the blessed land where first human being came.
 
 
H. Hindus and Muslims are lost brothers
 
It is possible that you would not be satisfied with one or some proofs presented in the article citing it not to be – very authentic; however one cannot ignore large numbers of proofs presented from various sources (Quran, Hadees, Ved, Puran, History, Tradition and culture) all indicating that Prophet Noah and Prophet Adam were sent to India. Moreover we don’t find the contrary; i.e. we don’t have proofs regarding these Prophets coming to some other part of world.
 
The vague picture behind the dirt of history is the picture of a great nation, a great civilization, the cradle of human civilization, the blessed land of India – loosing pure religion into mythological stories; forgetting its blessed past; making hundreds of gods; forgetting its Prophets….. traces of which can be found even today in various ways.
Hindus and Muslims are lost brothers.
 
{ .. “A. The Hindus are the earliest race with Shari’at (the Revealed Law) and the Muslims the last and God’s wisdom has assembled them together in one country, India.
 
B. All the ancient temples and mosques in india have been consutructed facing Kaaba. Dubois writes in his book: “The structure of the large temples, both ancient and modern, is everywhere the same….. Their architectural monuments, such as they exist today……. the entrance of the great pagodas….. Faces the east, a position which is observed in all their temples, great and small.” [Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies. Page 579.] The Muslims know the reason of their mosques being in this direction, towards Ka’aba, but the Hindus do not. Different people give different explanations but no one has got the factual knowledge. May it be due to their old association with Ka’aba a fact which they have absolutely forgotten now? The customs have still remained where as the reality is lost. Even the pyre of the Hindus, like the graves of the muslims, is always in the North-South direction. C. The Muslims circumbulate Ka’aba seven times during Haj and Umrah 3 and the Hindus, at the time of marriage, take pledge after making seven rounds around fire.
 
D. The attire the Muslims use at the time of Haj, consists of the two pieces of unstitched cloth, one fastened round the waist and another to cover the upper body. Since thousands of years the Hindus too have been wearing the similar kind of dress at the time of visiting the places of pilgrimage. This dress is considered so sacred by them that in its changed version their men have been using it in the form of ‘Dhoti’ and women in the form of ‘Sari’ even in their diurnal life.
 
E.  At the time of Haj and Umrah it is compulsory for the Muslims to cut hair and better still to shave it. The Hindus too have been shaving off their hair at the time of pilgrimage for thousands of years.
 
F. While performing Haj or Umrah when the Muslims are in Ahram (the holy dress) their men are not allowed to wear such shoes as would cover their insteps. During these days Hawai Chappals are used so that only two fillets remain on the insteps and no difficulty is caused while walking also. While on pilgrimage the Hindus have always been using filletless wooden sandals having only a peg like thumb on them.
 
G. The Muslims name the child on A’qiqah(The Muslim ceremony of shaving the head of a newly born child on the seventh day after birth and a sacrifice made on that day) and shave his head. The Hindus from the early beginning shave the head of the baby at a similar occasion, called by them Namkaran Sanskar.
 
H. Can you  even imagine that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had borrowed (God forbid) these manners and customs from Hinduism 1400 years ago? The fact is that this race has an old affiliation with ka’aba and they are the only religious community in the world that has still retained its traditions even in the form of meaningless rituals. If Noah had given these customs connected with Ka’aba to his people, then Moses and Jesus too would have given to theirs. With the passage of time, the truth about Ka’aba has been lost. While the various other races have lost these related customs too, it (Hindu race) is the only race that has still retained them in one or the other form. There are hundreds of identical examples which I am not quoting here for fear of prolonging this discussion, but it must be clearly understood that the unique and precious quality of this race is that if their lost truths are revived back for them, then their understanding of Islam will be easier as compared to other races. The defect of ignoring the reality at the cost of rites has already crept in even amongst the Muslims.
 
It has been realized by the famous Urdu poet Iqbal when he said:
The reality is lost in the stories- this community is lost in absurdities.
 
1. But the book given to the Muslims and the Prophet sent unto them are preserved and protected till the Last Day. The Muslims will find their lost realities and essentials once they refer to the Qur’an and the Holy prophet. If the Vedas, as the Hindu scholars assert, is the name of the divine knowledge and not of any particular book, then it is to be concluded that the Book as well as prophet of the Hindu race are lost. We can return their essentials to them once we search their prophet and the Scripture for them.” }
 
[“Now or never”-English translation of “Agar Ab bhi Na Jaage To”; Page 19-20]
 
Regarding Prophet Muhammad, Prophet Jesus, Prophet Adam, Prophet Noah and details of the great flood etc and Hindu Scriptures / India; Kaaba in Hinduism; association of India with Kaaba; Ved and its exact status; Are Hindus referred in Quran; tons of other similarities between Islam and Hindu scriptures – kindly refer to the book “Agar ab bhi na jaage to” / “Now or Never” mentioned in the last part of article. It is available in English, hindi and urdu.
 
 
I. Conclusion
 
1. The general belief is that Quran / Islam is silent about any prophet in Indian Peninsula. Hindu brethren argue why Allah did not send any Prophet/messenger to India?
2. Among theist communities only Hindus are completely dissociated with the concept of Prophet hood and they don’t associate themselves with any Prophet.
3. Word of Prophet Muhammad tells us that people of Prophet Noah will not recognize him on the day of judgment; they will not acknowledge that any Prophet came among them.
4. Hindu brethren claim that they are the oldest civilization. They possess the oldest revealed book Vedas. Historian has no objection against it. Quran gives several clues regarding Prophet Noah being the prophet of first human civilization who was given complete shariat or laws.
5. Quran, hadees, Hindu scriptures, history, observations make sure that Prophet Noah was sent as messenger in India, the great flood started here, wrong-doers got destroyed. Even after the flood Prophet Noah came to India.
6. Prophet Adam was also sent to India, India is the blessed land from where Prophet hood started.
7. India and Hindus still maintain several tradition and practices that tells us that the pure & original Sanatan Dharam i.e. Islam started from this pavitr (sacred) land.
 
 
Important Note: This article is primarily and heavily based on the revolutionary work of Acharya Maulana Shams Naved usmani (May God bless him) – authored by Allama Syed Abdullah tariq Sahb (May God bless him;give good health) in – the book “Agar Ab Bhi Na Jaage to”. 
 
“The book which created a sensation in Urdu circles and transformed the outlook of more than a million Muslims vis-a-vis their Hindu brethern and Sanatan Dharma. Based on a part of comparative religious work of the great Saint and Scholar Maulana Acharya Shams Naved Usmani, ‘Agar ab bhi na jaage to’— written by his favorite disciple S. Abdullah Tariq, has now been translated by Dr. A. H. Tak, reader dept. of English, Srinagar University..”
 –opening page of the book “Now or Never” (English translation of “Agar Ab Bhi Na Jaage to”)
 
1. Download the original book – in Urdu – “Agar Ab Bhi Na Jaage to” from here:
 
2. Download the English Translation – “Now or Never” from here:
 
3. Download the Hindi Translation – “Agar Ab Bhi Na Jaage to” from here:
 
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Author Khurshid Imam is software engg at Bangalore, India. For any criticism / feedback kindly mail to serviceforhumanity@gmail.com
 
 
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Haraam-Halaal contradiction and islam

Khurshid Imam

A. Introduction

………….       This is haraam in islam.

………………..         That is not permissible in islam.

………………………………            This is not allowed in islam.

……………………………………………………….            That is against Quran and sunnah.

We hear these statements umpteen number of times. Muslims Scholars come up with frequent fatwas on a number of issues. Just have a glimpse on some of issues and the ruling of majority of muslim scholars on these issues AND the CHANGING trend:

B. Wearing collar Shirts, using english etc was deemed Haraam, Now….? – It was during British era that WE had declared that using things that looks like imitating Britishers – was haraam or prohibited. So wearing Shirt, using english etc was declared haraam. Ask your elders about it.

C. Drinking coffee was Haraam, Now…?  During the early days of coffee some of US have declared that drinking coffee was haraam.

D. Using mike for adhan was Haraam. Now…? It was till recently that WE deemed mike for adhaan etc to be haraam. 

 E. Wearing Tie was Haraam earlier. Now…?  Till recently wearing tie was considered taboo by US. WE considered wearing tie as imitating kuffaar.Even today some of US equate wearing tie equal to imitating kuffar and hence a forbidden act.

F. Photography / making photos was Haraam. Now…? If u would have asked till 1990s to a muslim scholar about the ruling on photography – most probably you would have got the answer that it is haraam. Muslim world had an unanimous understanding that photography is not allowed at all. Its absolutely haraam. Even today some of them SAY its haraam.  

G. TV / Videography was Haraam, Now…? Similar to the case of photography even videography was deemed prohibited or haraam by ulema till very recently. Islamic Scholars – probably from all school of thoughts – deemed it absolutely prohibited. Making video of human being was considered unislamic. A very generic understanding was in the air there that having TV at home is haraam.

Note: When i mention that we/some of us/muslims scholars have declared haraam then of course that does not means all muslim scholars.

H. Did islam change? New revelation came? Or understanding of muslims was wrong?

If you prevent a muslim from drinking coffee because u think it is haraam then you will be declared lunatic.

If you say wearing shirt, using english is prohibited in islam then you will be mocked.

Similarly if u start propagating that tie is haraam then most probably people will say that this fellow does not know about islam.

Photography and videography is very interesting. Some of the opinions of Scholars are:

. Some say photography or videography for non living things is allowed and for others haraam.One can find plant photography / videography being allowed. ( I say: are plants living things or Non living things?)

. Some say photography or videography for human beings is haraam, for others it is allowed.

. Many of scholars are now saying (at least practically) that photography / videography for good purpose is allowed – whether of human beings or non living things.

Just ponder over the fact that:

1. Our tableeghi jamaat brothers and other “pious” muslims were strictly against photography / videography EARLIER. They would not hesitate in burning old photos at home (assuming it was HARAAM to have photographs at home). Now?

Now they are not that much vocal against photography and videography. A large number of bayaan (talks) of Maulana Tariq jameel sahab (A prominent tableeghi jamaat member) and others is available on Internet in videos. Lot of photos of tableeghi brother is available on net. Many members have their profile picture in facebook as their picture. The voice that photography/videography is haraam has diminished.

2. Old journals of jamat-e-islami never had photographs of human beings. Why? They thought its HARAAM to have it. Now? No seminar/ program / meeting / gathering of jamat-e-islami is complete without more-than-sufficient photographs flashing around newspaper, journals and magazines, TV etc.

3. Our salafi brothers too had been very very vocal on this topic. For them – since things fall only under allowed or HARAAM – so it was not surprise that their scholars too considered it absolutely HARAAM. The impression given was that a person indulging in photography / videography will have to enter hell fire.

Now? Of all the available islamic websites on the Internet; islamic videos / lectures – that contains large amount of photos and videos of human beings – probably more than 50% belongs to salafis (My observation). Tons of videos of salafi scholars are available on youtube.

4. Similarly a unanimous voice from deoband was that photography/videography was haraam but now that voice seems to have disappeared or least not much discussed now.

5. We hear that so many people are coming to islam because of widespread use of islamic lectures / documentaries in the form of audio, video and print media. Muslims and Non muslims are understanding islam very easily through tonns of videos available on internet. If videography was haraam then muslims scholars – today –  must make it absolutely haraam to propagate islam though videos. In fact – all “students of islam and comparative religion” type “orators” make sure that their no programs go unrecorded and then distributed among masses in all good ways.

Several things that were deemed haraam or prohibited by ulemas some years back are considered permitted or encouraged today. Is it logical and valid? Somewhere something is wrong. If something was absolutely forbidden 20 years back then it should be wrong even today and even after 20 years.

This is the characteristics of unislamic society that they declare something as permissible though it was considered wrong earlier. For example: Drinking alcohol was considered bad thing decades back in medium family in india. Today its considered a norm. Similarly premarital affair was paap i.e. great sin in indian society sometimes back, today its encouraged. Unislamic society change their values and rulings because they are not bound by any laws viz: Quran or Prophet.

But how come muslims too made similar mistakes. My analysis is as follows:

1. Intention of ulemas had been noble and good – by and large.

2. Due to abandoning Quran as a whole – we failed to grasp the faham of Quran. Things that are haraam and prohibited are mentioned clearly by Allah. Now what about new inventions like TV, photography, videography etc? For these intellectual brainstorming is required in the light of Quran.

3. Unfortunately muslim world took any new invention from non-believers as unislamic. Advancement in science and technology was directly or indirectly discouraged giving the impression that islam is against exploring science.

4. Had we used our intellectual capacity to its best we would not have ended up in this situation.

5. The ONLY solution for above all problems is that people hold Quran very very strongly and understand that islam is deen-e-fitrat i.e. religion of nature. Understanding faham of deen-islam is an important aspect that is ignored by masses.

6. Quranic principles are forver and do not changes with time. Implementation of these principle may change with time.

In the language of software (java): Quranic principles are abstract class while its rulings/implementations are concrete class.

Note: Intentionally skipping the details of islamic rulings on photography / videography / TV.

I. Conclusion

1. Islam is religion of nature. It is as simple and as natural as 2+2=4.

2. Principles of islam are eternal and never changes with time. Implementation of an islamic principle may change from time to time.

3. Its ONLY Allah or Almighty GOD who can make a thing Haraam. One need to be extremely careful while declaring anything as haraam. Declaring something today as haraam and tomorrow halal makes us laughing stock.

4. Haraam always remain Haraam – never a Haraam can become Halaal. People have misconception that haraam can become halal in necessity. The ayah 5:3 does NOT say that haraam will become Halaal in necessity, rather it says that if you are forced in unbearable situation then for haraam thing you will not get gunah or sin. Please note this important difference. In unbearable situation when you can not refrain from haraam then if u do that; then you will not be sinned – it does NOT mean that haraam will become halal in unbearable situation. Due to not understanding this delicate and basic difference many wrong rulings have been deduced in fiqh.

5. For future generations it will be hard to believe that WE had declared photography and videography HARAAM. Just like its hard for present generation to believe that once upon a time coffee, english, shirt, tie was declared haraam

Note: * If you don’t agree with the mail then instead of giving fatwa of deviation / kufr / shirk / biddat – have faith in Allah and leave it to him to judge.

* Author: Khurshid Imam is software engineer at Bangalore, India. For any criticism / feedback / suggestion feel free to mail – serviceforhumanity@gmail.com

The article can be found at: http://khurshidimam.blogspot.in/2012/04/haraam-halaal-contradiction-and-islam.html

The article can be downloaded as pdf from: http://www.scribd.com/KHURSHIDIMAM

The Haraam (forbidden) concept of halala
 
by Khurshid Imam
 
 
A. Introduction
 
Ask a mufti or maulana on an islamic scholar – “Can i marry a lady for one or two night?”
—- “What do you mean?”
 
“I mean i want to marry a lady for one or two night and after that i will divorce her. Is it ok? Is it permissible in islam?”
— — “No. No. its absolutely prohibited in islam. Its haraam. Its nothing less than zina i.e. illegal physical relation.”
 
Though any person with the sane mind and little bit of knowledge of islam will agree that marrying someone for one or two night or for fixed time is prohibited in islam yet there exists a similar unislamic practice called halala. Thanks to blind and unconditional following of their-set-of-scholars. Thanks to utter most ignorance about islam.
 
 
B. What is Halala?
 
Note: The correct way of divorce or talaq in islam is hardly practiced by people. Almighty God has clearly guided us regarding the procedure of talaq yet muslims as a whole mock at ruling of Allah and adopt other method of talaq contrary to the one described by Almighty God. If a couple really try to follow the proper way of talaq then very very few talaq will happen between a husband and wife. This is different topic and inshallah i will write over it in future. Wait for the article:Nikah and Talaq : As described by Almighty God
 
One must keep in mind that the correct procedure of talaq is such that a couple is highly encouraged to reconcile. It is actually very difficult and requires high degree of conviction for divorce; that a couple will get separated.
However, if a couple agrees for divorce and complete all formalities for divorce then they are to be separated. Let’s assume husband was Mr. H and wife was Ms. W. Now, after divorce they are to be separated. Here both H and W are free to marry any person. However they both can not get married to each other. They both can get married if (here comes two different ways 1- islamic way 2 – Un-islamic way called halala) :
 
1. Islamic way –
a. The wife W marries to someone else – say Mr. E. They marry as per islamic way.
b. They have not decided or put condition that their marriage will be only for one night or any fixed number of time.
c. Then if within their married life at any point of time due to any unavoidable reason they decide for divorce and go for separation and they complete all formalities of talaq or divorce as per Quran.
d. Then this lady W can marry her first husband W.
e. The important point is that W can not marry to E with the intention of divorce.
 
2. Unislamic way called halala
All above steps except that W or E or both have decided in advance that they will go for divorce so as to facilitate marriage of W with H. 
Its utter non-sense and against common sense that a marriage happens for a fixed time. This is because of ignorance and blind following of people. This halala has become business in some part of india-pakistan. There are halala expert men whose job is to marry a lady, divorce her after 1 night so that she can marry her first husband. 
 
 
C. Important point:
Marriage is a very important and sacred bond. Due to not following God’s way of life we know the horrific result of western world where more children and getting borne out of  (without their parents being married) wedlock.  
 
A. Just over 40% of births were outside of marriage in 2002 
 
B. Nearly half of all children born out of wedlock, official figures show (22 Oct 2010)
 
Since islam is a complete way of life (and not only theoretical gossip) hence islam prescribes best ways to deals with issues and day-today problems. One should not take marriage as game of doll. Its holiness need to be maintained. So Islam has prescribed the tough condition for re-marriage with the former husband IF talaq was complete in all aspects.
A Nikah in Islam is an Ibadat and is a contract of permanent nature till it is impossible for them to adjust later on for reasons unforeseen at the time of marriage. Describing the nature of permanency in a contract of Nikah, the Qur’an says: “They (the wives) have taken from you a solemn covenant.” (Quran, Surah Nisa 4:21)
 
 
D. Conclusion
1.      The Quranic way of talaq is hardly practiced by Muslims. The real method of talaq leaves no stone unturned in reconciliation between couple.
2.      After complete talaq husband and wife can marry only if wife marries a person without the intention of seeking divorce. If later in her married life, due to unavoidable reason she gets divorced, then only she can marry her former husband. This is Islamic way.
3.      The haraam concept of halal makes a wife marry a person for one night or a few days with the intention of divorce so that she can marry her former husband.
4.      Ignorance, distance from Quran is the main reason fro halala.
5.      For details on Nikah and Talaq kindly wait for the article: Wait for the article: Nikah and Talaq : As described by Almighty God
 
 
Note: * If you don’t agree with the mail then instead of giving fatwa of deviation / kufr / shirk / biddat – have faith in Allah and leave it to him to judge.
 
* Author: Khurshid Imam is software engineer at Bangalore, India. For any criticism / feedback / suggestion feel free to mail – serviceforhumanity@gmail.com
 
The article can be found at:  http://khurshidimam.blogspot.in/2012/04/haraam-concept-of-halala.html  and same has been attached in the mail.
 

What is the name of Allah?

Khurshid Imam

 

A. Introduction

It is very common among muslims to hear – “Allah is the personal name of God and Allah has 99 attributive names”.

However, this statement opens door for several questions.

There is a personal name of almighty God?

He has only 99 attributive names? And all in arabic only?

What about other language names for God?

Is Allah “arabic” God?

Is God of muslims is specific to arabian peninsula or arabic language at least?

What about Krishna, yahowa, ishwar etc? Are they not the name of God?

B. Can Almighty God have a personal name?

It is said that Allah is the personal name (zaati naam) of almighty God. There are 99 attributive name (sifati naam) of Allah. Please ponder over the term personal name.

Who named mobile phone as mobile phone?

Who named mount Everest as mount Everest?

Who named Albert Einstein as Albert Einstein?

Who named Lamborghini car as Lamborghini?

The answer to all above questions is – the producer, the discoverer or the one who owned it named it so. To name something i.e. to give a personal name there MUST be an entity over and above that thing. Then only that particular thing can be named. My son is called as Ammar imam because i have named him so. There must be someone before ammar imam who will name him so.

Now when one say that personal name of Almighty God is Allah – then a very logical and natural Question arises: Who was there before Allah who named him so? Who decided that Allah should be the personal name of Allah? And that also why only an arabic name? Is Almighty God specific to Arabic language? Billion dollar question is – can God have a personal name?

Answer is:

1. There is no personal name of almighty God. All names of God are attributive names.

2. The one who is the master, creator, sustainer, ..(You can add all possible attributes of almighty God) is the one who alone is worthy to be worshipped. He is the one almighty God.

3. One who is worthy to be worshipped is called Allah in arabic language. Arabic word Allah is made up of two words – Al (The) + Ilah (Worthy to be worshipped).

4. Did not pre-islamic pagans of arabs used to address their supreme God as Allah?

5. Allah or Almighty God existed when there was no language viz: Sanskrit, Arabic, Hebrew.

Note: I am aware of some people’s opinion that Allah is not made up of Al+ilah rather its one personal name of God. I respect their view but find it wrong because it is based on the wrong assumption that Almighty God has personal name Allah.

C. The myth of personal name of Allah

“Say: “Invoke Allah or invoke the Most Gracious (Al Rahmaan), by whatever name you invoke Him (it is the same), for to Him belong the most beautiful Names (Asma ul husna)”- Quran, Surah Isra 17:110

1. The Ayah says that whether you call Allah or Al-Rahman; you can call him by any name as long as it is the most beautiful name.

2. Message of Allah has come into different regions of the world and in different language. It is obvious that Almighty God would have addressed himself in those revelations in that language and not in Arabic. The message of Allah in Persian language would have mentioned Almighty God in Persian language. Similarly the revelation of Allah in Sanskrit language would had terms in Sanskrit language that would denote Almighty God.

3. There is very close resemblance in the root word for “worthy to be worshipped” / “Allah” in languages like Arabic, Hebrew etc. Not going into details of these.

4. Previous ummah upholding the message of God would have addressed almighty God in their language. Since Quran is in arabic hence we have the arabic word Allah.

5. The above ayah makes clear that God can be called by any name that is most beautiful and befits the God. In fact – all good qualities in its extreme form refers to Almighty God only. There is no limit to the number of attributive names of God. His all names are depending upon a quality.

6. Hence in dawah one can refer to Almighty God as Ishwar, mahaprabhu, Sarwshaktimaan, ajanma etc.

D. Hadees regrading 99 names of Allah

1. There are few ahadees that speaks about 99 names of Allah. for example:

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah has ninety-nine Names, i.e., one hundred minus one, and whoever believes in their meanings and acts accordingly, will enter Paradise; and Allah is Witr (one) and loves ‘the Witr’ (i.e., odd numbers). (Sahih Bukhari, Book #75, Hadith #419). Also Sahih Bukhari, Book #50, Hadith #894

2. However there is a hadees in trimdhi that speaks about certain 99 names of Allah. The hadees of trimdhi that speaks about certain 99 names and put the list of 99 names has been deemed week by the scholars. The list of 99 names was inserted by the narrator Al Walid Ibn Muslim. This hadees has been judged weak by many hadith scholars such as al-Tirmidhi himself, al-Nawawi, ibn Hajar, ibn Taymiyyah, ibn al-Qayyim, ibn Kathir, al-San’ani and others.

Without going into detail i would like to just point out that:

1. As evident with many ahadees, one need not to take every word of hadees literally. 99 names does not indicate that only 99 names. For example- Sahih Bukhari, Book #50, Hadith #894 says that Allah has 99 names and whoever knows them will go to Paradise. One should not conclude that just by knowing 99 names of Allah one will get jannah. Taking it literary will create havoc. Lot of mushrik can just memorize these 99 names and claim that they are entitled for jannah because they know these names as per this hadees. Similarly 99 does not mean only 99, rather it signifies lot of names.

2. Scholars like Ibn Taimiyah, Ibnul Qayyim have made clear that hadees saying Allah has 99 names; does not mean only 99. Imam Nawawi states:”The scholars agree that this hadith did not limit the Names of Allah and this is not what it is supposed to mean, that Allah do not have Names other than these 99 Names.What is meant in this hadith is that, anyone who managed to encompass ( memorize and understand ) these Names will enter paradise. So it was intended to inform us on the condition for the entry of paradise, and not limit the Names of Allah.”

3. There are so many names of Allah in the Quran that are not mentioned in ahadees.For example:

Dhul Fadhl: (Mentioned in Quran, Surah Baqrah 2:105)

Dhul Arsh: (Mentioned in Quran, Surah 85:15)

Dhil Ma’aarij: (Mentioned in Quran, Surah Marij 70:3)

Dhul Jalali wal Ikram: (Mentioned in Quran, Surah rahmaan 55:27, 78)

Dhul Tawl: (Mentioned in Quran, Surah momin 40:3)

Ar Rabb: (Mentioned in Quran, Surah Fatiha 1:1)

Researchers have found far more than 99 attributes of Allah from Quran. There is no restriction of language or number of names of Almighty God.

E. Claim of ISKCON : Krishna – name of God?

Those of you who are into interfaith interaction, would have encountered situation when an ISKCON / hare krishna group person would have said that krishna is also name of Allah. ISKCON / hare krishna is a sect of Hinduism and believes Krishna to be supreme God. They tell to muslims that Krishna and Allah are same and Krishna is one of the name of Allah. One need to remember following things:

1. Krishna refers to the person who was part of Mahabharat – an epic. The epic has no correlation with reality. Only with the passage of time people started believing this mythological story as real story.

2. Apart from that, as per the story; Krishna was a man, who was born, who died. He can never ever remotely be called God.

3. Last but not least – As Quran says in 17:110 that all beautiful names belong to Almighty God. krishna means “black”. Black is usually symbol of negative / devil / ignorance and hence can never ever apply to Almighty God.

F. Conclusion

1. It is a misconception that the almighty GOD has a personal name. He can never have a personal name.

2. All names of Allah are attributive name including the name Allah.

3. God can be referred in any language. There is no restriction of language. God is beyond the boundaries of language.

4. Its wrong to say that God has only 99 names. In fact there is no limit to names of God.

5. To God belongs most beautiful names.

Note: * If you don’t agree with the mail then instead of giving fatwa of deviation / kufr / shirk / biddat – have faith in Allah and leave it to him to judge.

* Author: Khurshid Imam is software engineer at Bangalore, India. For any criticism / feedback / suggestion feel free to mail – serviceforhumanity@gmail.com

The article can be found at http://khurshidimam.blogspot.in/2012/04/what-is-name-of-allah.html

The article can be downloaded in pdf from: http://www.scribd.com/KHURSHIDIMAM

Can a Muslim man marry ANY ahle-kitab (People of the book) woman?

By Khurshid Imam

A. Introduction

It is widely believed by most of Muslims that a Muslim man can marry any woman from ahle-kitab. Ahle-kitab is Arabic word which refers to people of the book or people who were given previous scriptures by Almighty God. The general understanding about ahle-kitab is that it refers to Jews and Christians.

So Muslims believe that a Muslim man can marry ANY jew or Christian lady.They believe that even if christian lady is mushrik – a muslim can marry her.  However this is an incorrect and incomplete belief.

Wait….. Don’t open your fatwa bank. Just read the complete article.

B. Reason of the misconception

As usual; this misunderstanding is also because of not believing and pondering over the Quran. Quran is the uncorrupted and final message of Almighty God for the mankind. Though God has time and again commanded in the Quran to strongly hold it and take decisions as per the guidance of Quran but Muslims – as a whole –  have failed to do so. Practically majority of Muslims prefer Quran to their set of scholars.

So even on the issue of marriage with Ahle-kitab; people don’t ponder over the Quran to seek guidance and blindly follow their set of scholars. Some Muslims believe that marriage with ALL jew / Christian lady is allowed even though she is a msuhrik!!!

Some Muslims believe that today marriage with Jew / Christian is NOT allowed at all!! So we see the different and contradictory ruling on the same matter because of abandoning Quran.

Note: Mushrik refers to a person who associate partner with Almighty God.

C. Revisiting basics

Though Muslims  day and night swear that “Quran is the word of Almighty God, we should follow the teachings of Quran into our life, we should rule by Quran” – but when it comes to seeking guidance then first thing people do is set aside Quran and look at other sources.

” The month of Ramadhan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion …….” [Quran, Surah Baqrah 2: 185]

Please mark the purpose of Quran.

It is for whole mankind. Quran is not exclusive property of any particular sect, religion, group of race.

Quran contains clear proofs. The proofs given by Quran are self explanatory.

Quran is for guidance purpose. We MUST seek guidance from Quran.

Quran is the criterion – it means in any matter Quran will have the last say; what is right and what is wrong – what Quran decides will be final.

Those who don’t follow rulings from Quran are kafir and fasiq and zalim as per Quran.

It was we who revealed the law (to Moses): therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the prophets who bowed (as in Islam) to Allah’s will, by the rabbis and the doctors of law: for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah’s book, and they were witnesses thereto: therefore fear not men, but fear me, and sell not my signs for a miserable price. If any do fail to judge by what Allah has revealed, they are Unbelievers (kaferoon). [Quran, Surah Maida 5:44]

We ordained therein for them: “Life for life, eye for eye, nose or nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal.” But if any one remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for him. And if any fail to judge by what Allah has revealed, they are wrong-doers (Zalemoon). [Quran, Surah Maida 5:45]

Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by what Allah has revealed, they are those who rebel (Faseqoon). [Quran, Surah Maida 5:47]

To you We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety: so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that hath come to thee…….;[Quran, Surah Maida 5:48]

And this (He commands): you judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, but beware of them lest they beguile thee from any of that (teaching) which Allah hath sent down to thee. And if they turn away, be assured that for some of their crime it is Allah’s purpose to punish them. And truly most men are rebellious. [Quran, Surah Maida 5:49]

Above ayah of Quran make very clear that if we judge against the guidance of Quran then it is kufr / zulm / fisq / absolutely wrong. See how much emphasis Allah has given on judging from what he has revealed.

D. Marriage with mushrik is NOT allowed

Quran – the word of Almighty God guide us on this issue in following ayah:

1. Quran, Surah Maida 5:5 – “This day are (all) things good and pure made lawful unto you. The food of the People of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them. (Lawful unto you in marriage) are (not only) chaste women who are believers, but chaste women among the People of the Book, revealed before your time,- when you give them their due dowers, and desire chastity, not lewdness, nor secret intrigues if any one rejects faith, fruitless is his work, and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good).

2. Quran, Surah Baqrah 2:221 – “Do not marry mushrik (One who associates partner with GOD) women , until they believe: A slave woman who believes is better than an unbelieving woman, even though she allures you. Nor marry (your girls) to mushrik until they believe: A man slave who believes is better than an unbeliever, even though he allures you. Unbelievers do (but) beckon you to the Fire. But Allah beckons by His Grace to the Garden (of bliss) and forgiveness, and makes His Signs clear to mankind: That they may celebrate His praise.

Going by above two ayah it becomes crystal clear that:

1. Marriage with msuhrik (One who associate partner with GOD) is not allowed – both for men and women. In no any case one can marry a person who associate partner with God. Quran 2:221

2. Marriage with women from people of the book is allowed. Quran 5:5 . Also please note that 5:5 emphasize on marriage with CHASTE women among people of the book.

Combining both ayah we realize that ONLY those women from people of the book are lawful for marriage who are NOT mushrik

The mistake many people make is that they read 5:5 in isolation and think that marriage with ALL jew or Christian lady is allowed even if she is a mushrik. This disastrous misunderstanding is because of not taking into consideration all similar ayah of a quran on any particular issue. Let me make it simple.

If you ask a scholar – “Quran, Surah Miada 5:5 makes it lawful to eat food of people of the book. So can a Muslim eat pork made by a jew or Christian?” The reply would be – “No”. Why? Because we need to look at other ayah over the issue of food and then understand 5:5. When we read Quran then we find that Almighty God prohibits pork in 4 places:

Surah Baqrah 2:173

Surah Maida 5:3

Surah Anam 6:145

Surah Nahal 16:115

So the proper understanding will be that pork is prohibited – no matter it is prepared by Muslims or Non Muslim. Rest of other halal food made by Ahle kitab is permitted.

… So 5:5 gives general ruling over food of ahle kitab and marriage with Ahle kitab.

… 2:173, 5:3, 6:145, 16:115 – makes clear that pork is prohibited in all cases.

… 2:221 – makes clear that marriage with mushrik is prohibited in all cases.

So Quran makes ample clear that only those ladies from Jews and Christians are lawful for marriage who don’t associate partner with God. It may possible that an Ahle-kitab lady does not believe in Prophet Muhammad or life hereafter but she does not associate partner with God – then marriage with her is allowed. However if she believes:

a. Prophet Jesus to be son of God.

b. Prophet Jesus to be God.

c. Trinity i.e. unification of 3 gods

…… or such thing that makes her mushrik then marriage with such ladies is NOT AT ALL allowed.

Practically speaking today – very few women will fall under this category with whom marriage is allowed.

E. Conclusion

1. It is a misconception to believe that Islam permits marriage with ANY ahle kitab or Jew / Christian.

2. Marriage with any mushrik is not allowed. No matter, male or female – marriage with them is not allowed in any case.

3. Marriage of Muslim man with ahle-kitab woman is allowed ONLY if she is NOT a mushrik. If she believes:

a. Prophet Jesus to be son of God.

b. Prophet Jesus to be God.

c. Trinity i..e unification of 3 gods

…… or such things that makes her msuhrik then marriage with such ladies is NOT AT ALL allowed.

4. Even if very few ladies (among ahle kitab) will fall under such category with which marriage is allowed, one MUST stick to the commandment of God.

Note: Does Ahle-Kitab means ONLY Jews and Christians? Answer is – No. Wait for the article on this topic in future inshallah.

* If you don’t agree with the mail then instead of giving fatwa of deviation / kufr / shirk / biddat – have faith in Allah and leave it to him to judge.

* Author: Khurshid Imam is software engineer at Bangalore. For any criticism / feedback / suggestion feel free to mail – serviceforhumanity@gmail.com

The article can be found at: http://khurshidimam.blogspot.com/2011/12/marriage-with-ahle-kitab-women.html

Can Muslim say SALAAM to non Muslim?

 By Khurshid imam

  1. Introduction

 One of the issues that are of much discomfort for our Hindu brethren is the issue of Salaam. Many Hindus complain that when they greet Muslims with Salaam or AsSalaam  o alaikum then Muslims  don’t say walaikum asSalaam . Our Hindu brethren expect walaikum asSalaam from Muslims. “Why Muslims don’t say Walaikum AsSalaam to us”? – is one of the questions very often asked by non Muslims to Muslims.

On the other hand most of Muslims are of the idea that a Muslim can not say Salaam or AsSalaam  o alikum or walaikum asSalaam  to any non Muslims. One can find lot of fatwas (religious verdict) against saying Salaam to non Muslim. The same group of Muslims is also of the idea that it is prohibited to seek forgiveness or do dua of maghfirat to any non Muslim.

What is the reality if this issue? Can a Muslim say Salaam to non Muslim? Can a Muslim do dua (prayer or supplication) of forgiveness for non Muslim / mushrik / kafir? Let’s understand this issue with unbiased and open mind.

* Salaam  means ‘Peace’. AsSalaam  o alaikum means ‘Peace be upon you’. walaikum asSalaam   means ‘Peace be upon you too’.

* Mushrik means one who associates partner with God. In simple words one who worship something else as God.

 2. Claim of some Muslims and the misunderstanding

 Some Muslims claim that Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) has told to not to initiate Salaam to non Muslims. Also people say that Prophet told us to say only walaikum when greeted by a non Muslim.

 This wrong conclusion is the result of failing to derive correct guidance from hadees.

Claim of such people is based on following ahadees mainly:

A> Narrated AbuHurayrah Allah’s Messenger  said: Do not greet the Jews and the Christians before they greet you and when you meet any one of them on the roads force him to go to the narrowest part of it. (Hadith – Sahih Muslim, Book 026, Number 5389)

B> ‘A’isha reported that some Jews came to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) and they said: Abu’l-Qasim (the Kunya of the Holy Prophet), as-Sam-u-‘Alaikum (Death be upon you), whereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Wa ‘Alaikum (On you too). A’isha reported: In response to these words of theirs, I said: But let there be death upon you and disgrace also, whereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: ‘A’isha, do not use harsh words. She said: Did you hear what they said? Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Did I not respond to them when they said that; I said to them: Wa’Alaikum (let it be upon you). (Hadith – Sahih Muslim, Book 026, Number 5386)

By quoting these types of ahadees people arrive at the conclusion that:

a. A muslim should only say WALAIKUM when greeted by non Muslims.

b. A muslim should not initiate Salaam to non Muslims.

 3. Reason for the misunderstanding

 Again: the most commonly repeated mistake of the majority of Muslim. Not understanding an issue UNDER THE PRINCIPLE OF QURAN. When people don’t look at Quran, don’t analyze what Allah has revealed, don’t ponder over how Quran has guided and directly try to reach at conclusion just by looking at hadees in isolation then they are bound to make mistake.

Based on mainly above ahadees people conclude that it’s not allowed to say Salaam to ALL non Muslims. This erroneous and false understanding is due to:

a> Not understanding an issue under the guidance of Quran.

b> Not considering Quran as the ultimate guidance and final criteria from almighty God.

c> Taking the meaning of hadees by completely ignoring the context, background of issue.

d> Also people don’t try to find out if the ruling was only for certain people and for certain time or for all people till the day of qiyamah.

4. Ahadees under consideration

 As far as above ahadees are concerned then following points should be very clear to all:

1. “Do not initiate Salaam with them….” – It is not difficult to understand that this injunction was specifically when Muslims were going to Banu Quraizah – who were in hostile terms with Muslims. And these Jews were the open enemy of Islam who has rejected the prophet hood of Prophet Muhammad even though prophet was alive among them. People who rejected Prophet Muhammad as Prophet were much severe in kufr (denying) compared to today’s non Muslims  – as far as rejecting prophet hood is concerned because that time Prophet was alive among them.

2. “……this hadîth relates to “a state of hostilities” which had erupted at that time against the Muslims. It was, in fact, at the time of the campaign against Banû Qurayzah. This is established by another authentic hadîth where the Prophet [peace be upon him] said: “…We are going forth in the morning against a group of Jews, so do not initiate the greeting of Peace with them….” [ Musnad Ahmad 26695 and Mu’jam al-Tabarani al-Kabir  22 / 291. See also Musnad Ahmad 16844 and.17584.]. Ibn Hajar al-`Asqalani relates the same from al-Bukhari’s al-Adab al-Mufrad and from Sunan.al-Nasa’I while.discussing.this.topic.in.“Fath.al-Bari”.[.11./.39.]

3. The second hadees is very clearly mentioning why Prophet told walaikum. It says that since Jews wished death to prophet by saying “as-Sam-u-‘Alaikum” i.e. death be on you so he replied Walaikum i.e. same to you. Is it difficult to understand why prophet said ONLY walaikum? Do non Muslims around you wish you by saying ‘Death be on you’? Obviously not. So this commandment of prophet was specific to a particular situation and not a general commandment for all non Muslims till the day of qiyamah.

4. If someone is hell bend on taking these ahadees without context, situation and background and argues – “No No! Since ahadees tells us not to initiate Salaam  to Jews and Christians so one should not greet ANY non Muslims ” – then my argument is –  “OK, so using this understanding it can be said that hadees speaks about not initiating Salaam  to Jews and Christians; it does not prohibit initiating Salaam  to Hindus, jainis, Buddhist, Sikh etc – So it means one can say Salaam  to Hindus and all other non Muslims except Jews and Christian – do you agree???” Can you get me fatwa from any scholar that saying Salaam to jews and Christians is prohibited but it is allowed for other faith people like Hindus, Buddhist, Sikh etc? It is very obvious one will not get such fatwa.

Also the first hadees also mentions that “when you meet any one of them on the roads force him to go to the narrowest part of it” – if you believe that this hadees injunction was for you also today then will you force your Christian friends or teachers to narrow path when you meet them in road? No! This instruction was temporary in nature for a specific case.

5. Also if you consider this commandment of Prophet to be generic in nature and for all non Muslims till the day of qiyamah then you should realize that this judgment contradicts Quran. Wait!!!! Don’t open your fatwa bank. Have patience. Kindly read complete article to find out what ruling Almighty God has given to us in this matter. If Almighty God has guided us that we can say Salaam to non Muslims (Not each and every non Muslim) and seek forgiveness for them (Not each and every non Muslim) then can prophet go against the rulings of God? No! Never! Impossible.

6. The commandment of Prophet not to initiate greetings to SOME of non Muslims is in perfect harmony with the guidance of Quran (It is explained later). To what kind of non Muslims we should not initiate Salaam ? For what kind of non Muslims we can not do dua of forgiveness? Read these in later part of article.

5. Revisiting basics

 A. Quran is NOT the book of history or story but it’s the book of guidance

 Though Muslims  day and night swear that “Quran is the word of Almighty God, we should follow the teachings of Quran into our life, we should rule by Quran” – but when it comes to seeking guidance then first thing people do is set aside Quran and look at other sources.

Remember: Though quran contains science, history, mathematics, logic etc – its MAIN purpose is guidance of mankind. When it tells you events of past prophet and past community then it is not for only for information but it is for giving guidance. When Quran tells the crime of past community then you should not think that – “Ok! This was the crime of past community. thats it!!”. No No! This incidence is mentioned in quran to warn you, so that you don’t commit error committed by past community, you should take guidance from these events. So the purpose of revelation for Quran is to get guidance and then rule your life by that.

The month of Ramadhan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion …….” [Quran, Surah Baqrah 2: 185]

Please mark the purpose of Quran.

  1. It is for whole mankind. Quran is not exclusive property of any particular sect, religion, group of race.
  2. Quran contains clear proofs. The proofs given by Quran are self explanatory.
  3. Quran is for guidance purpose. We MUST seek guidance from Quran.
  4. Quran is the criterion – it means in any matter Quran will have the last say; what is right and what is wrong – what Quran decides will be final.

 B. Those who don’t follow rulings from Quran are kafir and fasiq and zalim

 Quran is word of Almighty God.

Quran is word of Almighty God.

Quran is word of Almighty God.

No wonder Muslims claim Quran to be word of God loudly but when it comes to ACTUALLY believing and practicing it they fail miserably.

Quran says that one MUST judge as per the revelation of Almighty God.

It was we who revealed the law (to Moses): therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews, by the prophets who bowed (as in Islam) to Allah’s will, by the rabbis and the doctors of law: for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah’s book, and they were witnesses thereto: therefore fear not men, but fear me, and sell not my signs for a miserable price. If any do fail to judge by what Allah hath revealed, they are Unbelievers (kaferoon). [Quran, Surah Maida 5:44]

We ordained therein for them: “Life for life, eye for eye, nose or nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal.” But if any one remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for him. And if any fail to judge by what Allah hath revealed, they are wrong-doers (Zalemoon). [Quran, Surah Maida 5:45]

Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by what Allah hath revealed, they are those who rebel (Faseqoon). [Quran, Surah Maida 5:47]

To you We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety: so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that hath come to thee…….;[Quran, Surah Maida 5:48]

And this (He commands): you judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, but beware of them lest they beguile thee from any of that (teaching) which Allah hath sent down to thee. And if they turn away, be assured that for some of their crime it is Allah’s purpose to punish them. And truly most men are rebellious. [Quran, Surah Maida 5:49]

Above ayah of Quran make very clear that if we judge against the guidance of Quran then it is kufr / zulm / fisq / absolutely wrong. See how much emphasis Allah has given on judging from what he has revealed.

  C. Quran permits saying Salaam  to non Muslims. It prohibits only for a certain types of non muslims

 I know very well that i have taken much time before arriving at the crux of the article – the reason is: to remind Muslims about the basics of Islam. Muslims – by large- have abandoned Quran and that is what will be complain of Prophet on the Day of Judgment.

Oh my Lord! My people have abandoned this Quran” Quran, Surah Furqan (25) – Ayah 30

Let’s see What Almighty God has told us about the greetings or saying Salaam or seeking forgiveness for non Muslims.

A. “When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally” [Quran – Surah al-Nisa’ 4:86]

In the above ayah Allah mentions a generic rule regarding greeting – that when anyone wishes you with a greeting then you should respond with better greeting or at least with equal greeting.

B. “And the servants of (Allah) Most Gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, ‘Salaam !’ (Peace).” [Al-Qur’an, Surah Furqan 25:63]

Here also Allah instructs us that as a good believer we should be humble and when dealing with jahil or ignorant (they may be Muslim or non muslim) we should say Salaam.

C. “And when they hear vain talk, they turn away there from and say: ‘to us our deeds, and to you yours; Salaam  u alaikum (peace be to you): we Seek not the ignorant.’ ” [Al-Qur’an, Surah Qasas 28:55]

Here again Almighty God instructs us that when vain talk or useless talk is going on then turn away from such group (they may be Muslims or non muslims) by saying AsSalaam  u alaikum.  Here also Quran proves that it’s allowed to say Salaam to non Muslims.

D. Then Allah makes crystal clear in the matter of saying Salaam to non Muslim or kafir or mushrik and also about doing dua of maghfirat for them i.e. seeking forgiveness for them.

And mention in the Book (the Qur’an) Ibrahim (Abraham). Verily he was a man of truth, a Prophet.

When he said to his father: “O my father! Why do you worship that which hears not, sees not and cannot avail you in anything?

“O my father! Verily there has come to me of the knowledge that which came not unto you. So follow me, I will guide you to the Straight Path.

“O my father! Worship not Shaitan (Satan). Verily Shaitan (Satan) has been a rebel against the Most Gracious (Allah).

“O my father! Verily I fear lest a torment from the Most Gracious (Allah) should overtake you, so that you become a companion of Shaitan”

He (the father) said: “Do you reject my gods, O Ibrahim (Abraham)? If you stop not (this), I will indeed stone you. So get away from me safely (before I punish you).”

قَالَ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكَ ۖ سَأَسْتَغْفِرُ لَكَ رَبِّي ۖ إِنَّهُ كَانَ بِي حَفِيًّا

Ibrahim (Abraham) said: “Peace be on you! (AsSalaam  u alikum) I will ask Forgiveness of my Lord for you. Verily He is unto me Ever Most Gracious.

 [Quran – Surah Maryam 19:41-47]

E. Finally Almighty God describes the universal principal regarding saying Salaam and seeking forgiveness for non Muslims.

It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allah’s Forgiveness for the Mushrikun, even though they be of kin, after it has become clear to them that they are the dwellers of the Fire.

And Ibrahim’s (Abraham) invoking (of Allah) for his father’s forgiveness was only because of a promise he [Ibrahim (Abraham)] had made to him (his father). But when it became clear to him [Ibrahim (Abraham)] that he (his father) is an enemy of Allah, he dissociated himself from him. Verily Ibrahim (Abraham) was Awwah (one who invokes Allah with humility, glorifies Him and remembers Him much) and was forbearing.

[Quran – Surah Tauba 9:113-114]

Here is the key to the whole issue. Few important points from above two references i.e Surah maryam 19:41-47 and Surah Tauba 9:113-114

1. Prophet Abraham invited his father to monotheism. His father was a mushrik who was committing shirk (Associating partner with Almighty God) knowingly. We know father of Prophet Abraham used to make idol for worship purpose.

2. His father rejected the invitation and got angry at Abraham. He threatened Prophet Abraham with stoning-to-death and asked him to leave. Thus in simple words – Prophet Abraham invited his father to the religion of God and his father rejected it thus becoming kafir.

3. But even then Prophet Abraham said Assalam u alaikum i.e Peace be upon you. Not only this, but also Prophet Abraham told that he will seek forgiveness for his father from Allah i.e he would do dua of maghfirat for his father. Imagine!

4. And afterwards when he became dead sure (After continuous and strong rejection of Islam by his father) that his father will never return to truth that he stopped praying for his father.

5. Allah gives a principal here that if you are dead sure that a person will never return to the truth then you should not seek his forgiveness or do dua of maghfirat or say SALAM.. Before this one CAN do dua of maghfirat or seek forgiveness from God or say Salam.

6. So in layman’s language one can say:

No Salam category> You feel that this person has constantly rejected the truth of God after being explained about Islam many times and he will never ever return to deen of almighty God then you can NOT say Salam to him.

 If it is not the case No Salam category> then you CAN do Salam or seek his forgiveness from God.

 How many non Muslims around you fall under category < No Salam category >??? Hardly a few!!!!

 D. Prophet’s instruction is as per quran

I hope now it is clear that which category of people were there for whom Prophet advised Muslims to not to say Salaam. Of course they were those people who fall under < No Salam category >

Prophet prohibited Muslims from saying Salam to those non Muslims who fell under the category mentioned by Quran in Surah Tauba 9:113-114

The prohibition of saying Salam to non Muslims will apply to ONLY this category of people about whom one is sure that he is going to be in hell.

6. Conclusion

  1. Saying Salaam means “AsSalaam -o-alaikum” i.e. May peace of Almighty God be upon you.
  2. Some Muslims have misconception that Islam does not allow saying Salaam to all non Muslims.
  3. Almighty God instructs us that one can NOT say Salaam or do dua of forgiveness for those mushriks (mushrik means one who associate partner with Almighty God) about whom you are dead sure that they are going to be in hell because of their constant rejection of truth. Under this category those people will come who have been very open and continuous rejecter of truth.
  4. To rest of non Muslims one can say Salaam or reply walaikum asSalaam .

 * If you don’t agree with the mail then instead of giving fatwa of deviation / kufr / shirk / biddat – have faith in Allah and leave it to him to judge.

 * Author: Khurshid Imam is software engineer at Bangalore. For any criticism / feedback / suggestion feel free to mail – serviceforhumanity@gmail.com

The article can be found at: http://khurshidimam.blogspot.com/2011/12/can-muslim-say-salam-to-non-muslim.html

An introduction to Hindu Scriptures

Introduction

Hinduism is the misnomer of Sanatan dharma that is professed by more than 80 million people in India. It actually refers to set of belief and customs. In this article we will throw light over sacred scriptures of Hinduism. When it is asked to a Muslim about their holy book then answer is – Quran; similarly our Christian brethren answer – Bible. But when same question is asked to hindus then there is different answers; some may say – bhagwad geeta, some will say ramayan and a very few Vedas. Let’s have brief idea about the scriptures of Hinduism in order to understand each other better.

Scriptures of Hinduism

Vedas
Upnishad
Darshan
Puranas
Itihaas
Smriti

The precise time of origin of each of these is not known. What people say about time is nothing but speculation. In fact – in terms of remembering the time of origin of any of hindu scriptures we have no information at all. No proof for whatever people say about the time of origin of any books. However the only thing guaranteed is the order in which they came into existence. For example – there is no difference of opinion that Vedas are the earliest, then upnishad were authored, then puranas came.

A. VEDAS

Vedas are the earliest scripture of Hinduism. They are held most scared by knowledgeable people of Hinduism. Vedas are considered ISH-WANI or God’s word. Vedas are said to be APAURISHAY meaning “Not from human being” or “divine”. There is no precise information available about the time of origin of Vedas. Regarding Vedas being God’s word or Not from Islamic perspective – is beyond the scope of the article. However I will only mention that though majority of Muslims are silent or negate Vedas being God’s word – we have several proofs based on which we say that Vedas too were word of God like torah,zabur,injeel . This discussion can be taken separately in other article.

Vedas are divided into 4 books. These 4 books are further divided with various terminologies. I will mention the latest rule of division for each ved.

1.Rigved: It is considered to be most scared and oldest Vedas. Rigved is divided into 10 mandal. Each mandal is divided into sukt and each sukt is divided into mantr. It is similar to the division of Quran: 30 para, each para has several ruku and each ruku has several ayah.

For example: “The Only Lord of all created beings. He fixed and holdeth up this earth and heavens. What gods besides Him shall we adore with our oblation?” – Rigved 10:121:1 means this statement is given in rigved 10th mandal, 121st suk and 1st mantr.
Remember there is no shlokas in Vedas. Vedas contain only mantr.

2.Samved: As per the latest division samved is divided into 1875 mantr.

3.Yajurved: It is divided into 40 adhyay and each adhyay is divided into mantr.

For example: “Those who worship natural things enter into darkness of hell, those who worship man made things enter more into darkness of hell” – Yajurved 40:9 – means 40th adhyay and 9th mantr.

4.Atharvaved: It is divided into 20 kand, and each kand is divided into sukt and each sukt into mantr.
For example: “He (God) does not die, nor grows old” – atharvaved 10:8:32 – means Atharvaved 10th kand, 8th sukt and 32nd mantr.

Vedas are full of monotheism. It is absent from idol worship. If someone does not misinterpret then it is free from multiple god concept. It will require a separate book to elaborate these points.

B. UPNISHAD

Primarily 108 upnishad are accepted. They were authored by scholars. They are not claimed to be God’s word. Upnishad contain word of wisdom, about monotheism about social life etc. They too are free from any concept of idol worship.

Probably chandogya upnishad was the starting point of the concept of birth-re birth cycle. Also through upnishad caste system got force. The status of Brahmin was raised.
“A man who steals the gold of a brahmin, he (i.e. a brahmin) who drinks liquor, he who dishonours his teacher’s bed and he who kills a brahmin—these four fall, as also a fifth who associates with them”- Chandogya Upnishad: Part 5, chapter 10, verse 9

However with the upnishad playing with the God’s word (Vedas) has started. Before upnishad only Ved was there – which was considered God’s word. But human interference in God’s word started with the writing of Illopnishad. All hindu scholars agree that illopnishad was the first upnishad – and to your surprise it contains word by word last chapter of Yajurved i.e. 40th Chapter of yajurved was written separately as a book in the form of illopnishad.

C. DARSHAN

Darshan means philosophy. There are 6 books of darshan. They contain philosophy, word of wisdom and monotheistic talk. Again they too free from idol worship concept. Out of these 6 darshan the most famous and popular is uttar-mimansa-darshan which is also called Vedant. It was written by badrayan.

D. PURANAS

Primarily 18 puranas are accepted. Puarans are the work of much later time than Vedas or upnishad. Some of the famous puranas are: shrimad bhagwad puran, shiv puran, Vishnu puran, kalki puran, bhawishy puran, matasya puran, garud puran etc. Puarans does contain the concept of idol worship, the concept of multiple gods, gods like human beings, marriage of gods, fights of gods etc. In fact what is practiced today in Hinduism is not vedic religion rather puranic religion. In shrimadbhagwad puran Krishan is projected as superior god, in Vishnu puran Vishnu is projected as superior, in shiv puran shiva is projected as superior.
The story of Prophet Adam, eve, Prophet Noah and the great flood is mentioned in detailed in puranas. Also puranas contain detailed description of paradise and hell as described in Islam.

E. ITIHAAS

Itihas means history. Two most famous books of itihas are : Ramayan and Mahabharat

1. RAMAYAN

Ramayan is the great epic written by valmiki ji. However the ramayan that we know today and that is read in temples is NOT the valmiki ramayan but tulsidas written ramcharitmanas. Ramcharitmanas was written during the time of Akbar and its mostly read, preached and telecasted through TV Serial. While valmiki ramayan projected ram only as a human being or an obedient son – ramcharitmanas projects ram as God. Valmiki ramayan speaks about king dashrath having more than 360 wives – ramcharitmanas speaks about he having only 3 wives. Similarly as per valmiki ramayan Ram had several wives. (For more information: click here – )

2. MAHABHARAT

This is also one of the greatest literary works in Sanskrit. This epic was written originally by Ved vyas. However what ved vyas wrote was a book called jay. It contained 8000 shlokas. After him Vaishampayan and other added shlokas in the book and named it bharat. Number of shlokas was increased from 8000 to 24,000. And today mahabharat contains more than 1,00,000 or 1 lakh shlokas and it is now called mahabhrata. So the book that was originally written with 8000 shlokas – today contain more than 1 lakh shlokas. So on an average out of every 13 shlokas in mahabharat 12 are adulteration and only 1 is as per original book.

BHAGWAD GEETA

Practically it is considered most sacred by hindus. Bhagwad Geeta is nothing but a small part of Mahabharat. It is from the bhism parv of mahabharat. Geeta contains conversation between arjuna and Krishna. In the battlefield when arjuna refused to take arms against his relatives then Krishna encouraged him to fight for truth and justice. Now as I already mentioned that today’s mahabharat contains every 12 shlokas out of 13 as adulteration or interpolation. So whatever krihna / arjuna say in geeta there is only 1/13 chance (on an average) that they have said as per original mahabharat.

F. SMRITI

Most popular book under this category is manusmriti. This is the book of Hindu law. Hindu laws are derived from this book. It emphasizes lot on caste system. However I would like to add that one should not get confused by the name that MANU was the author of this book. . It is of very later origin. Manu was not the author rather it was in his remembrance that book was written and attributed to him.

These are very brief information about Hindu scriptures. One should know it in order to have better understanding of Hinduism.

If you don’t agree with the mail then instead of giving fatwa of deviation /kufr /shirk/biddat – have faith
in Allah and leave it to him to judge

Author: Khurshid Imam is software engineer at Bangalore. For any criticism / feedback / suggestion
feel free to mail – serviceforhumanity@gmail.com