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observe followers of a Religion. Refer to Authentic Sources of
that Religion
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Followers of major religions, whether
it be Hinduism, Islam or Christianity, have divided themselves
and their beliefs into various sects.
It is not appropriate for one to try to understand a religion
by observing the followers of that religion. Most followers
may themselves not be aware of the correct teachings of their
religion. Thus, the best and the most appropriate method of
understanding any religion is to understand the authentic
sources of that religion, i.e. the sacred scriptures of that
religion.
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Authentic Sources of ISLAM
Allah (swt), Almighty God, says in the Glorious Qur’an:
And hold fast, All together, by
the Rope Which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided
among yourselves. (Al Qur’an 3:103)
The “rope of Allah refers” to the Glorious Qur’an.
Allah (swt) says that Muslims should not be divided and that
the only unifying factor is the authentic source of the religion
of Islam i.e. the Glorious Qur’an.
Allah (swt) also says in the Glorious Qur’an in several
places including Al Qur’an:
O
ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger. (Al Qur’an
4:59) To understand the Qur’an better
we have to refer to the explanation of the Qur’an
by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) on whom the Qur’an was
revealed. Thus the best and the most appropriate method
of understanding Islam is to understand the authentic sources
of Islam which are the Glorious Qur’an, (the words
of Almighty Allah) and the authentic Ahadith, (i.e. the
sayings and traditions of Prophet Muhammad. |
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Authentic Sources of Hinduism
Similarly, the best and the most appropriate method of understanding
Hinduism is to understand the authentic sources i.e. the sacred
scriptures of Hinduism. The most sacred and authentic Scriptures
of Hinduism are the Vedas, followed by the Upanishads, the
Itihaas, Bhagvad Gita, Puranas, etc.
Let us understand these two major religions of the world,
i.e. Islam and Hinduism, by studying and analyzing the authentic
Scriptures of these two major religions of the world. |
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Emphasis on those Similarities,
which are not commonly known.
In this work on ‘Similarities between Islam and Hinduism’,
we shall not lay emphasis on those similarities which are
known by almost all the followers of both the religions e.g.
a person should always speak the truth, he should not lie,
he should not steal, he should be kind, he should not be cruel,
etc. Instead, we shall consider those similarities, which
are not commonly known by all the followers and hence are
known only to those who are familiar with the contents of
their sacred Scriptures. |
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Intoduction of Islam
& Hinduism
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Definition of Islam
Islam is an Arabic word, which comes from the word
‘Salm’ which means peace and from 'Silm', which
means submitting your will to Allah – the Almighty God.
In short Islam means peace acquired by submitting your will
to Allah (swt).
The word Islam is mentioned in several places in the Qur’an
and the Hadith including Surah Ali Imran, chapter 3, verse
19 and verse 85.
Definition of a Muslim
A Muslim is a person who submits his will to Allah
– the Almighty God.
The word Muslim is mentioned several times in the Qur’an
and Hadith including Surah Ali Imran Chapter 3 Verse 64 and
Surah Fussilat Chapter 41 Verse 33.
Definition
of a Hindu
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The word ‘Hindu’
has geographical significance and was used originally
to refer to those people who lived beyond the river
Sindhu or the region watered by the river Indus. |
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Historians say that it was first
used by the Persians who came to India through the North
Western passes of the Himalayas. The word ‘Hindu’
was also used by the Arabs. |
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This word ‘Hindu’ is
nowhere mentioned in Indian Literature or Hindu Scriptures
before the advent of Muslims to India, according to
the Encyclopedia of Religions and Ethics (6:690) |
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Jawaharlal Nehru, in his book ‘Discovery
of India’, writes on pg. 74-75, that the earliest
reference to the word ‘Hindu’ can be traced
to a tantrik of the 8th Century C.E., where it means
a people and not a follower of a particular religion.
The use of the word ‘Hindu’ in connection
with a particular religion is of late occurrence. |
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In short the word ‘Hindu’
is a geographical definition or term which is used to
refer to people who live beyond the river Indus or in
other words to those who live in India.
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Definition of Hinduism
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Hinduism has been derived
from the word Hindu. According to the New Encyclopedia
Britannica 20:581, Hinduism was a name given in English
language in the Nineteenth Century by the English people
to the multiplicity of the beliefs and faiths of the
people of the Indus land. The British writers in 1830
gave the word Hinduism to be used as the common name
for all the beliefs of the people of India excluding
the Muslims and converted Christians. |
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According to the Hindu Scholars,
Hinduism is a misnomer and the religion ‘Hinduism’
should be either referred to as ‘Sanatana Dharma’,
which means eternal religion, or as Vedic Dharma, meaning
religion of the Vedas. According to Swami Vivekananda,
the followers of this religion are referred to as Vendantists. |
And all praises are for the One and Only God and Creator Allah,
who alone is worthy of devotion, complete submission and worship.
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A
misconception about Islam
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Many people have a misconception that
Islam is a new religion that was formulated 1400 years ago,
and that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the founder of Islam.
However, let me clarify that Islam is not the name of some
unique religion presented for the first time by Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) who should, on that account be called the founder of
Islam.
The Qur’an states that Islam – the complete submission
of man before his one and only Unique Creator – is the
one and only faith and way of life consistently revealed by
God to humankind from the very beginning. Noah, Solomon, David,
Abraham, Moses, Isaac and Jesus (peace be upon them all) –
prophets who appeared at different times and places –
all propagated the same faith and conveyed the same message
of Tawheed (Oneness of God), Risaalat (Prophethood) and Aakhirah
(the Hereafter). These prophets of God were not founders of
different religions to be named after them. They were each
reiterating the message and faith of their predecessors.
However, Muhammad (pbuh) was the last Prophet of God. God
revived through him the same genuine faith which had been
conveyed by all His Prophets. This original message was earlier
corrupted and split into various religions by people of different
ages, who indulged in interpolations and admixture. These
alien elements were eliminated by God, and Islam – in
its pure and original form – was transmitted to humankind
through Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Since there was to be no messenger after Muhammad (pbuh),
the Book revealed to him (i.e. the Glorious Qur’an)
was preserved word for word so that it should be a source
of guidance for all times.
Thus the religion of all the prophets was ‘total submission
to God’s will’ and one word for that in the Arabic
language is ‘Islam’. Abraham and Jesus (peace
be upon them) too were Muslims, as Allah testifies in Al-Qur'an
3:67 and 3:52 respectively. |
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