Comparative Religions (for Students)

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Comparative Religions 1431 / 2010 S.M. Rizvi / 1

A Discussion On Comparative Religions

IntroductionIntroduction

We are Muslims; we follow Islam.We are Muslims; we follow Islam.

Islam started in the 7Islam started in the 7thth century.century.

There were many religions:There were many religions:

some were there before Islam;some were there before Islam;

some that emerged later on.some that emerged later on.

Therefore, it is important to study otherTherefore, it is important to study other

faiths to know the similarities as well as thefaiths to know the similarities as well as the

differences.differences.

20 Rabi I 1431 / 7 March 2010 * Comparative Religions & EEM * Sayyid M Rizvi

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Prophets & MessengersProphets & Messengers

God sent 124,000 prophets.God sent 124,000 prophets.

313 were313 were RasulRasul; rest were; rest were NabiNabi..

104 books were sent down of which the104 books were sent down of which the

four are famous.four are famous.

We know the names of only 56 prophets:We know the names of only 56 prophets:

27 names are in the Qur27 names are in the Quran.an.

9 whose stories are in the Qur9 whose stories are in the Quranan

without their names.without their names.

10 other names are in the hadith.10 other names are in the hadith.


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For a full list of the names of the Prophets, see Prophethoodby Allamah Sayyid

Saeed Akhtar Rizvi.


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WellWell--Known ReligionsKnown Religions

In alphabetical order:In alphabetical order: BahaBahaismism

BuddhismBuddhism

ChristianityChristianity

ConfucianismConfucianism

HinduismHinduism

IslamIslam

JudaismJudaism

SikhismSikhism QadianismQadianism

ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism


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Categories of ReligionsCategories of ReligionsReligionsReligions

PrePre--Islamic PostIslamic Post--IslamicIslamic

KitabiKitabi NonNon--KitabiKitabi

ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism HinduismHinduism SikhismSikhism

JudaismJudaism ConfucianismConfucianism QadianismQadianism

ChristianityChristianity BuddhismBuddhism BahaBahaismism


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An Important Note About Respecting Previous Prophets

Almighty God sent a single message, a single dn. He expected all humans tofollow one faith. But some human beings were overcome by greed and arrogance,

and so they chose to differ with one another in interpretation of Allhs message.

This happened because God has given free will to humans, He has not createdthem as robots. As He said, If your Lord had wished, He could have (forcefully)made the people (followers) of one religion, but they always be different (in their

religions). (11:118)

So if we see that the people have changed the message brought by the prophets ofGod, we should not criticize the prophets or say anything wrong about themit is

their followers who should be condemned.

o Those who are mentioned in the Quran and hadith by their names or bytheir stories, we have the duty believe in their truth and respect and honour

them.

o Those founders of religions who came before Islam about whom we donthave any evidence positively or negatively, we have duty of notdishonouring them because they could have been true prophets.

o Those founders of religions who came after Islam, we have a duty toreject them, since there is no prophet to come after Prophet Muhammad(s.a.w.).

Founders of Faiths & Our DutyFounders of Faiths & Our Duty

Our responsibility of the founders of faithsOur responsibility of the founders of faiths

is as follows:is as follows: Prophets who areProphets who are mentioned in thementioned in the

QurQuran & Hadithan & Hadith we have to believewe have to believein their truth and respect them.in their truth and respect them.

Those who cameThose who came before Islambefore Islam forforwhom we donwhom we dont have any evidencet have any evidence we should notwe should not dishonourdishonour them sincethem sincethey could have been true prophets.they could have been true prophets.

Those who cameThose who came after Islamafter Islam we havewe have

to reject them since there is no prophetto reject them since there is no prophetafter Prophet Muhammad (after Prophet Muhammad (s.a.ws.a.w.).)


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Kitbi Religions 1: Zoroastrianism

ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism

Founder:Founder:ZarathushtraZarathushtra (in Farsi,(in Farsi, ZarthustZarthust).).

Location:Location:Mostly inMostly in PersiaPersia before Islambefore Islam..

Original Message:Original Message:To worshipTo worship One GodOne God

only known asonly known as AhuraAhura Mazda, believe inMazda, believe in

hereafter and live a righteous life.hereafter and live a righteous life.

What happened later on?What happened later on?The true faith wasThe true faith was

corrupted. Now they believe incorrupted. Now they believe in dualityduality::

AhuraAhura Mazda is creator of good whileMazda is creator of good whileAngraAngra MainyuMainyu is the creator of evil.is the creator of evil.

Their holy book:Their holy book:thethe AvestaAvesta..


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Zoroastrianism (2)Zoroastrianism (2)

What is their status inWhat is their status inShiShiaafiqhfiqh??

They are considered by many of ourThey are considered by many of our

mujtahideenmujtahideen asas AhlulAhlul KitabKitab..

Therefore, they are considered asTherefore, they are considered as pakpak..


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Kitbi Religions 2: Judaism

JudaismJudaism

Founder:Founder:ProphetProphet MosesMoses (Musa), one of the(Musa), one of the

ulululul azmazm prophets. He was from theprophets. He was from the BaniBani

IsraIsraililthe descendants ofthe descendants of IshaqIshaq, son of, son of

Prophet Ibrahim (Prophet Ibrahim (a.sa.s.)..).


only. They dononly. They dont have any statue or imaget have any statue or image

of an idol.of an idol.

The Holy Book:The Holy Book:The Torah (The Torah (TawratTawrat) was) was

revealed upon Prophet Musa. The originalrevealed upon Prophet Musa. The originalis lost. So what is the Old Testament?is lost. So what is the Old Testament?


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JudaismJudaism

Founder:Founder:ProphetProphet MosesMoses (Musa), one of the(Musa), one of the

ulululul azmazm prophets. He was from theprophets. He was from the BaniBaniIsraIsraililthe descendants ofthe descendants of IshaqIshaq, son of, son of

Prophet Ibrahim (Prophet Ibrahim (a.sa.s.)..).


only. They dononly. They dont have any statue or imaget have any statue or image

of an idol.of an idol.

The Holy Book:The Holy Book:The Torah (The Torah (TawratTawrat) was) was

revealed upon Prophet Musa. The originalrevealed upon Prophet Musa. The original

is lost. So what is the Old Testament?is lost. So what is the Old Testament?


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The original is lost and what is seen in the present Old Testament (the Jewish

Bible) has some parts of the Tawrat but not all.

The Tawrat contained many rules and regulations governing the daily life of the Jewishpeople. It contains 613 commandments. In many ways, the shariah of Musa is similar to


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the shariah of Islam: Circumcision for male babies; strict rules on religious purity;

kosher meat; prohibition of eating skin fish; the right of divorce is for the hands of the

husband.

Judaism (2)Judaism (2)

What is their status inWhat is their status inShiShiaafiqhfiqh?? Judaism started with Musa who was a trueJudaism started with Musa who was a true

Prophet of God.Prophet of God.

The Jewish people were expected to followThe Jewish people were expected to follow

thethe MessianMessian when he appears. But whenwhen he appears. But when

the Messiah in form of Jesus appeared,the Messiah in form of Jesus appeared,

they strongly opposed him.they strongly opposed him.

They were also told to follow the LastThey were also told to follow the Last

Prophet. But when the Last ProphetProphet. But when the Last Prophet

appeared, they opposed him also.appeared, they opposed him also.

Nonetheless, they are considered asNonetheless, they are considered as AhlulAhlul

KitabKitab andand pakpak..


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Judaism (3)Judaism (3)The Jewish History:The Jewish History:

P. Musa delivered them from slavery in Egypt to aP. Musa delivered them from slavery in Egypt to a

land of Canaan where they built their kingdom andland of Canaan where they built their kingdom andthe Temple.the Temple.

In 586 BC, the Babylonians attacked Jerusalem,In 586 BC, the Babylonians attacked Jerusalem,

destroyed the Temple, and took the Jews todestroyed the Temple, and took the Jews to

Babylon.Babylon.

Eventually, the Jews returned and rebuild theEventually, the Jews returned and rebuild the

Temple.Temple.

In 70 BC, the Romans conquered Jerusalem andIn 70 BC, the Romans conquered Jerusalem and

destroyed the Temple. It was ruled by Christiansdestroyed the Temple. It was ruled by Christians

until Muslims conquered it in 2until Muslims conquered it in 2ndnd caliphcaliphs time.s time.

After WWII, the modern State of Israel was foundedAfter WWII, the modern State of Israel was foundedby the Zionists.by the Zionists.


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After the WWII, the modern State of Israel was founded by the Zionist with support of

the British and the USA. (Some Haredim [Ultra-Orthodox] Jews dont recognize the

legitimacy of the State of Israel; they believe that a true Jewish state will emerge only

with the coming of the Messiah.)


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Kitbi Religions 3: Christianity

Categories of ReligionsCategories of Religions

ReligionsReligions

PrePre--Islamic PostIslamic Post--IslamicIslamic

KitabiKitabi NonNon--KitabiKitabi

ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism HinduismHinduism SikhismSikhism

JudaismJudaism ConfucianismConfucianism QadianismQadianism

ChristianityChristianity BuddhismBuddhism BahaBahaismism

5 Rabi II 1431 / 21 March 2010 * Comparative Religions & EEM * Sayyid M Rizvi

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ChristianityChristianity

Founder:Founder:ProphetProphet JesusJesus ((Isa), one ofIsa), one ofthethe ulululul azmazm prophets. He was fromprophets. He was fromthethe BaniBani IsraIsraililthe descendants ofthe descendants ofIshaqIshaq, son of Prophet Ibrahim (, son of Prophet Ibrahim (a.sa.s.)..).

Miraculous Birth:Miraculous Birth:he was born fromhe was born fromMary without a father.Mary without a father.

The Holy Book:The Holy Book:TheThe InjilInjil was revealedwas revealedupon Prophet Jesus. The original isupon Prophet Jesus. The original islost.lost.

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JesusJesus TeachingsTeachings

MonotheismMonotheism He is a Messenger of God.He is a Messenger of God.

He has been sent to guideHe has been sent to guidethethe BaniBani IsrailIsrail

He taught about resurrectionHe taught about resurrectionand the eternal life.and the eternal life.

He prophesized coming of theHe prophesized coming of theLast Prophet.Last Prophet.

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Present ChristianityPresent Christianity

11stst ProblemProblem:: Monotheism was tainted withMonotheism was tainted with

Trinity = 1 is 3; 3 is 1.Trinity = 1 is 3; 3 is 1.

This was confirmed in 325 ADThis was confirmed in 325 AD

One argument:One argument:Since Jesus was born miraculously,Since Jesus was born miraculously,

so that proves that he is the Son ofso that proves that he is the Son ofGod.God.

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How the Prophet MuhammadHow the Prophet Muhammad(s) respond to this argument?(s) respond to this argument?

Did Jesus himself claim thatDid Jesus himself claim that

he ishe is the Son of Godthe Son of God??

1=3 & 3=1 is explained as1=3 & 3=1 is explained as

water + steam + icewater + steam + iceHow do you counter this?How do you counter this?

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22ndnd ProblemProblem:: The concept of the OriginalThe concept of the Original

SinSinall humans are bornall humans are born

sinful.sinful.

How do Muslims counterHow do Muslims counter

this?this?

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33rdrd ProblemProblem:: IsIs InjilInjil & the New Testament& the New Testament

the same book?the same book?

InjilInjil: revealed to Jesus.: revealed to Jesus.

NT consists of 4 Gospels byNT consists of 4 Gospels by

Matthew; Mark; Luke & John.Matthew; Mark; Luke & John.

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TheThe InjilInjil & the Qur& the Quran arean arerevelations of God upon therevelations of God upon the

Jesus (s) & Muhammad (s)Jesus (s) & Muhammad (s)

respectively.respectively.

The Gospels are like theThe Gospels are like the

hadith literature of thehadith literature of the

MuslimsMuslims

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44thth

ProblemProblem:: The crucifixion, death &The crucifixion, death &

resurrection of Jesus.resurrection of Jesus.

Muslims believe that JesusMuslims believe that Jesuswas taken up by God towas taken up by God toreturn back before the end atreturn back before the end at

the time of Imam althe time of Imam al--MahdiMahdissappearance.appearance.

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AbrahamAbraham

IsaacIsaac IshmaelIshmael

JesusJesus MahdiMahdi

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ShiShiaa FiqhFiqh & Christians& Christians::

Recognizing its origin, theRecognizing its origin, the

present Christians arepresent Christians are

considered asconsidered as AhlulAhlul KitabKitab andand

therefore there aretherefore there are pakpak..

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A Prophesy on the ProphetA Prophesy on the Prophet

The Jews sent priest & Levites fromThe Jews sent priest & Levites from

Jerusalem to him (John the Baptist):Jerusalem to him (John the Baptist):Who are you?Who are you?

I am not the Christ.I am not the Christ.

Are you Elias?Are you Elias?

I am not.I am not.

Are youAre you that Prophet?that Prophet?

No.No. (Gospel of John, 1:19(Gospel of John, 1:19--21)21)

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Comparative Religions (for Students)

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