COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN

ISLAM AND HINDUISM

PRESENTING ISLAM TO HINDUS

Arabic Recitation (3:64)

I. Introduction

A. Introduction of Hinduism

1. Definition of a Hindu

2. Definition of Hinduism

B. Introduction of Islam

1. Definition of Islam

2. Definition of a Muslim

3. Misconception about Islam

II.Pillars of Faith (Imaan)

(i) Pillars of Hinduism - Pillars of Faith in Hinduism are not defined

(ii) Pillars of Faith (Imaan) in Islam

A. Tawheed

1. 2:177

2. Hadith of six pillars of Imaan - Sahih Muslim, Vol. 1, Kitabul Imaan, Chapter 2, Hadith 6

3. Concept of God in Islam (112:1-4) (3:64)

4. Concept of God in Hinduism

a) Common concept of God in Hinduism

b) Difference between Islam and Hinduism is ‘S’

c) Bhagavad Geeta 7:20

d) Upanishad

Chandogya Upanishad, Ch. 6, Section 2, Verse 1

Svetasvatara Upanishad 6: 9

Svetasvatara Upanishad 4: 19

Svetasvatara Upanishad 4: 20

e) Yajurveda

Yajurveda 32: 3

Yajurveda 40: 8

Yajurveda 40: 9

f) Atharvaveda 20 : 58 : 3

g) Rigveda

Rigveda 1: 64: 46

Rigveda 2: 1

B. Angels

1. Angels in Islam

2. Angels in Hinduism

C. Books

(i) Books of Islam

1. Several revelations of Allah (13:38)

2. By name four are mentioned

3. Qur’an is the last and final revelation

4. All previous revelation meant for particular group of people and for a particular group of people and for a particular period of time

5. Qur’an revealed for whole humankind (14:52) (2:185) (39:41)

(ii) Books of Hinduism

Introduction

1. Vedas

2. Upanishads

3. Puranas

4. Itihas

5. Can Hindu scriptures be considered the word of God

D. Messengers

Messengers in Islam

1. Messengers sent to every nation (35:24) (13:7)

2. 25 prophets mentioned by name in the Qur’an

3. Stories of only some prophets mentioned in the Qur’an (4:164) (40:78)

4. Several hundreds of messengers sent to the world according to Hadith

5. All previous messengers were only sent for their people and nation and their complete message was meant for that period of time

6. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) last and final messenger (33:40)

7. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) sent for whole of humankind (21:107) (34:28) Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 1, Book of Salaah, Chapter 56, Hadith 429

8. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) prophesied in Hindu scriptures

a) Bhavishya Purana, Parv 3, Khand 3, Adhaya 3, Shloka 5-8

b) Bhavishya Purana, Parv 3, Khand 3, Adhaya 3, Shloka 10-27

c) Atharvaveda, Book 20, Hymn 127, Verses 1-113 (kuntap sukla)

d) Atharvaveda, Book 20, Hymn 21, Verse 6

e) Atharvaveda, Book 20, Hymn 21, Verse 7

f) Samveda, Book 2, Hymn 6, Verse 8

9. Avtaars and Messengers in Hinduism

10. Anthropomorphism

11. Which prophet was sent to India, can we consider Ram and Krishna to be the messengers of Allah?

12. Hadith sayings and tradition of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

E. Life after Death - hereafter

(i) Life after death in Islam

1. Life after death (2:28)

2. This life is the test for the hereafter (67:2)

3. Full recompense on the day of judgement (3:185)

4. Paradise - Al Jannah

5. Hell - Jahannam

(ii) Life after death in Hinduism

1. Concept of Rebirths in Hinduism - Reincarnation or Transmigration of the souls

a) Bhagavad Geeta, Chapter 2, Verse 22

b) Brhadaranyaka Upanishad, Part 4, Chapter 4, Verse 3

2. Karma - the law of cause and effect

3. Dharma - righteous duties

4. Moksha - liberation from the cycle of rebirths

5. Rebirths not mentioned in the Vedas

6. Punarjanam is not cycle of rebirth but life after death

7. Life after death in the Vedas

a) Rigveda, Book 10, Hymn 16, Verse 4

b) Rigveda, Book 10, Hymn 16, Verse 5

8. Paradise - Swarga in the Vedas

a) Atharvaveda, Book 4, Hymn 34, Verse 6

b) Atharvaveda, Book 4, Hymn 34, Verse 2

c) Atharvaveda, Book 2, Hymn 34, Verse 5

d) Atharvaveda, Book 6, Hymn 122, Verse 3

e) Rigveda, Book 10, Hymn 95, Verse 18

9. Hell - Nark in the Vedas - Rigveda, Book 4, Hymn 5, Verse 4

F. Destiny

1. Concept of Destiny - Qadr in Islam

2. Logical concept for differences in different individuals (67:2)

3. Present conditions in Islam is a test (2:214) (29:2) (21:35) (2:155) (8:28)

III. Pillars of Islam

1. Islamic Creed

a) Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 1, Book of Imaan, Chapter 1, Hadith 8

b) To testify that ‘Ash-hadu-al-lailaha illallah wa anna Muhammadar Rasulullah’

2. Salaah

a) Not merely prayers but programming (5:90) (2:188)

b) Prayers restrains you from unjust and shameful deeds (29:45)

c) Five times Salaah for healthy souls

d) Idol worship is prohibited in Hinduism

e) Common Hindus use idols for worshipping for concentration

f) Muslims do not worship Kaaba while offering Salaah

3. Zakat

a) Meaning purification and growth

b) Description 2.5% charity of the saving above nisab every lunar year (9:60)

c) If every human being gives Zakat, not a single human being will die of hunger

d) Wealth does not circulate only among the wealthy and rich

e) Charity in Hinduism

4. Saum - Fasting

a) Description - Abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset for one lunar month in Ramazan

b) (2:183) Learn self-restraint. If you control your hunger you can control almost of all your desires

c) Discourages smoking, alcoholism and other addictions

d) Medical benefits, increases absorption of intestine

e) Decreases cholesterol level

f) Fasting in Hinduism

5. Hajj - pilgrimage

a) Description - Pilgrimage atleast once in life time if you can afford it

b) Universal brotherhood - 2.5 million people from all over the world gather, wear 2 pieces unsewn preferably white cloth - can’t differentiate

c) Pilgrimage in Hinduism

IV. Commandments of Allah

1. Five pillars do not constitute the complete religion of Islam

2. Islam is not merely a religion but complete way of life it caters to the body as well as the soul

3. (51:56)

(1) Abstaining from prohibited food is submitting your will to Allah (SWT) e.g. Alcohol (5:90) - Alcohol prohibited in Veda (Rigveda 8:2:12) (Rigveda 8:21:14)

(2) Prohibition of gambling in Qur’an (5:90) - Prohibition of gambling in Veda (Rigveda 10:34:3-13)

(3) Prohibition of Interest in the Qur’an (3:130) (4:161) (30:39) (2:275) (2:276) (2:278) - Prohibition of Interest in the Veda (Rigveda 3:35:14)

(4) Dressing modestly (24:31) + six criteria’s in hijab - Dressing modestly in Hinduism (Rigveda 10:33:19) Men forbidden to wear female dress (Rigveda 10:85:30)

V. Hindu Reformers

1. Sri Ramakrishna

2. Swami Vivekananda

3. Swami Dayanand Saraswati

4. Raja Ram Mohan Roy

5. Mahatma Gandhi

VI. Conclusion

1. No reforms required in Islam (5:3)