PROF. M. SAUD ALAM traces resemblance between the teachings of Islam and the Vedic Religion as far as monotheism is concerned and asserts that idol worship is a post-Vedic phenomenon.
All the Prophets from Adam, the first Prophet, to Muhammad the last, practised and propagated the same religion based on monotheism. The Holy Qur’an observes: “He has appointed for you the same religion which he had ordained for Noah and which (O Muhammad) we have now revealed to you and which we have already enjoined on Abraham and Moses and Jesus, stressing this “establish this religion and be not divided in it”. (Al-Shura: 13)
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless and greet him) further explained this concept in the following words: “We, the group of Prophets are sons of different mothers but our religion is the same.” (Tafseer Ibn Katheer)
It is a historical fact that human beings always received divine guidance through the messengers of God. The Holy Qur’an observes: “(O! Muhammad) We have sent you with the truth, as a bearer of good news and a warner. And there has been no nation which was not visited by a warner”. (Al-Fatir: 24)
The Holy Prophet Muhammad also stated that approximately, one lakh twenty-four thousand messengers of God were sent down for the guidance of humanity though the Holy Qur’an mentions only some of them. The Holy Qur’an states:
“We also sent revelation to those messengers whom We have already mentioned to you and to those messengers whom We have not mentioned.” (Al-Nisa: 144)
Keeping in view this declaration of Holy Qur’an, it cannot be imagined that such an old country and ancient civilisation like India did not receive divine guidance during the long course of time and remained out of the fold of mercy of God. Certainly, there must have come many messengers of God to preach the true religion.
But then who were those messengers, who came with the divine guidance to the Indian people. We don’t find any description in the Holy Qur’an and Hadith in this respect. However, on the basis of some hints discernable from the Holy Qur’an, Muslim scholars consider that the ancient Vedic religion traces its origin to the divine revelation. Mirza Mazhar Jane Janan, a noted Sufi scholar of the Mughal period observes:
“It appears from the old scriptures of Hindus that at the time of the beginning of human race God in His mercy sent down a book to guide them and regulate their affairs. This book was named Vedas and sent down, through an angel who was named Brahma.” (Rude-Kausar, p. 646)
Eminent theologian, late Maulana Manazir Ahsan Gilani, former Head of the Department of Theology, Osmania University, Hyderabad, was of the view that Buddha was a messenger of God. He argued:
“Kapil Vastu was the name of a town in the foothills of the Himalayas, where Buddha was born and the same was the capital of his father’s kingdom. Zulkifl is therefore, one of the Prophets mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. According to Ruhul Ma’ani (a noted commentary on the Holy Qur’an), there are different versions in determining the name of Zulkifl and none of them is correct. Would it be justified to refute the idea that Zulkifl in fact is the Arabicised version of Kapil? It would be therefore, not a matter of surprise if we find the name of great revolutionary Buddha mentioned in the Holy Qur’an (Al-Nabi-ul-Khatim, p. 9)
Another renowned Muslim theologian, Maulana Shams Naved Usmani, considers the Vedas divine scriptures, which Prophet Noah was commissioned by God to deliver to his people. Thus he terms the Hindus as the community of Noah. (Agar Ab Bhi Na Jaage To, p. 32)
According to the Holy Qur’an, the core message of every messenger of God was monotheism and all of them propagated to worship only one God. The Holy Qur’an observes:
“The fact is that every messenger whom we sent before you, revealed the same thing. There is no other deity than Me, so worship Me alone.” (Al-Ambia: 25)
The last Prophet Muhammad did not come with a new religion but it was only the extension of the same religion or the new and most complete edition thereof.
The Holy Qur’an observes:
“This Book has been revealed by the Lord of the worlds. The trustworthy spirit has come down upon your heart so that you may become one of those who are appointed by God to warn the people in plain Arabic language, and this is also contained in the scriptures of the former people.” (Al-Shura: 192-96).
The Vedas therefore, could be the oldest scripture in the world. In this context, when one goes through the Vedas, one finds there glimpses of Monotheism and the wonderful resemblance of the teachings of the Holy Qur’an. The following glorious examples can be cited for ready reference:
The main thrust of the Holy Qur’an is on Monotheism. The Holy Qur’an observes:
“Say He is Allah, the one, Allah the eternal, absolute; begetteth not, Nor is He begotten and there is none like unto Him.” (Al-Ikhlas)
The Vedas also remind us:
“Into Him is entered (ni-gam) this power; He Himself is one, single, one only.” (Atharva Veda Samhita, 13:04:12)
The Holy Qur’an refutes any image of God as God has no shape or embodiment. There is nothing like Him in the universe: “He is all hearing and all seeing.” (Al-Shu’ra:11) .
The Veda also declares:
“There is no resemblance of Him whose glory verily is great.” (Yajur Veda, 32:3)
the Holy Qur’an particularly warns the human beings against idol worship:
“Shirk (to make partner with God), is the only sin that Allah does not forgive. He may forgive whomever He will, other than this sin, for whoever associates partners with Allah does in fact go far stray into deviation.” (Al-Nisa: 162)
The Veda also warns against the sin:
“Deep into shade of blinding gloom fall Asambhuti’s worshippers (those who worship natural phenomena). They sink to darkness deeper yet who on Sambhuti (self made idol) are intent.” (Yajur Veda, 40:9)
The great Muslim scholar Abu Rehan Al-Beruni of the 11th century observes:
“The Hindus believe with regard to God that He is one, eternal, without beginning and end, acting by free will, almighty, all wise, living, giving life, ruling, preserving; one who in his sovereignty is unique, beyond all likeness and unlikeness and that He does not resemble anything nor does anything resemble Him.” (Abu-Rehan-al-Bairuni, Al-Beruni’s India, edited by Edward C. Sachau, New Delhi, 1989. Vol. 1 p. 27)
Now the question is if the Veda refutes the idol worship, how has idol-worship been the foundation pillar of the Hindu religion? It can be argued that idol worship is a post-Vedic phenomenon and Hindu scholars are of the view that it is simply meant to concentrate on worship as uneducated people do not pass beyond the apprehension of the senses.
Maulana Shams Naved Usmani’s interpretation in this regard seems to be more logical. He mentions that various gods and goddesses of Hindu pantheon in fact represent different attributes of God. For instance, God in His capacity as Creator is Brahma, as Preserver, Vishnu and as Destroyer Shiva.
It is interesting to note that like the Holy Qur’an, the Rig Veda also confirms several good names of God.
The issue of equality is a matter of deep concern for Islam. The Holy Qur’an lays great stress on the equality of mankind, as all human beings are equal before their Lord.
The Holy Qur’an observes:
“O mankind! we created you from a single pair of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that ye know each other not ye despise each other), verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.” (Al-Hujjrat:13)
On the other hand, the Hindu religion believes in caste system. The Shastra of Manu imposes a very cruel law on the lower caste people. This kind of discrimination cannot be sanctioned by God. Most probably it may be post-Vedic addition and the handiwork of human beings.
Al-Beruni observes:
“Among the Hindus institutions of this kind abound, we Muslims, of course stand entirely on the other side of the question, considering all men equal, except in piety which prevents any approach or understanding between Hindus and Muslims.” (Al Beruni’s India, Vol.1, p. 100)
[The writer is Chairman, Department of Sunni Theology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh]