The Concept of God in Hinduism

It is an aboriginal concept that there is a power out there which is the controller of our destiny. First it was believed that the trees, lightning, sun etc were the powers that decided our destinies. As our understanding evolved, the power 'out there' became more and more sophisticated till the power took on anthropomorphic forms with supernatural powers. In the midst of the plethora of external powers being worshiped in the form of idols in Arabia came Islam and proclaimed that there is only one God, but still believed that that God is 'out there'. Meanwhile, the Hindu religion evolved and much before Islam was born, declared that the power that controls our destiny is not ‘out there’ but ‘within us’, nay - is the essence of what we are. Hinduism, though permitting idol worship, became the first religion to transcend the need for idol worship as it discovered the culture of meditation to discover our true nature and declare that all existence is one and divine.

Islam still worships a God outside the worshipper and hence has not been able to discard idol worship. Hinduism, as it has the concept of God being what the worshipper essentially is, has transcended idol worship. But Hinduism also allows idol worship, as most people find it difficult to reach God without taking the aid of idols and also because idols can be seen as manifold expressions of man’s yearning for the one truth of divinity.

The Vedas do not proclaim that there is only one God. The Vedas say that there is only God. It means that which we worship is what we are. Zakir Naik does not understand this concept and therefore interprets the Vedas as saying that there is only one God.

I dont know why Dr Zakir Naik tries to find similarities between Islam and Hinduism they're totally opposite religions

format_quote Originally Posted by aadil77

I dont know why Dr Zakir Naik tries to find similarities between Islam and Hinduism they're totally opposite religions

Dr. Zakir Naik either refutes Hinduism or misinterprets it. He only wants to prove that Islam alone is a true and valid religion. In the process he is willing to whitewash matters and stretch the meaning of words as convenient.

When you say Islam and Hinduism are totally opposite religions, you must bear in mind that the element that makes both religions relevant - its adherents - have one thing in common - they are all human beings.

format_quote Originally Posted by Saimah Ali

If we erase these differences, then Muslims and Hindus will become one.

How could you 'erase' them? The difference is absolutely fundamental (almost as much so as the theist/atheist divide), and you cannot 'erase' it without erasing Islam, Hunduism or most likely both.

There are many more similarities, please click the link I posted in the above post.

There are a great many similarities between any two religions not least because they all fulfill much he same function and address the same basic human needs.

format_quote Originally Posted by Hamza Asadullah

Concept of God in Hinduism
by Dr. Zakir Naik[/B]

1. Common Concept of God in Hinduism:

Hinduism is commonly perceived as a polytheistic religion. Indeed, most Hindus would attest to this, by professing belief in multiple Gods. While some Hindus believe in the existence of three gods, some believe in thousands of gods, and some others in thirty three crore i.e. 330 million Gods. However, learned Hindus, who are well versed in their scriptures, insist that a Hindu should believe in and worship only one God.

The major difference between the Hindu and the Muslim perception of God is the common Hindus’ belief in the philosophy of Pantheism. Pantheism considers everything, living and non-living, to be Divine and Sacred. The common Hindu, therefore, considers everything as God. He considers the trees as God, the sun as God, the moon as God, the monkey as God, the snake as God and even human beings as manifestations of God!

Islam, on the contrary, exhorts man to consider himself and his surroundings as examples of Divine Creation rather than as divinity itself. Muslims therefore believe that everything is God’s i.e. the word ‘God’ with an apostrophe ‘s’. In other words the Muslims believe that everything belongs to God. The trees belong to God, the sun belongs to God, the moon belongs to God, the monkey belongs to God, the snake belongs to God, the human beings belong to God and everything in this universe belongs to God.

Thus the major difference between the Hindu and the Muslim beliefs is the difference of the apostrophe ‘s’. The Hindu says everything is God. The Muslim says everything is God’s.


2. Concept of God according to Hindu Scriptures:

We can gain a better understanding of the concept of God in Hinduism by analysing Hindu scriptures.

BHAGAVAD GITA

The most popular amongst all the Hindu scriptures is the Bhagavad Gita.

Consider the following verse from the Gita:

"Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures."[Bhagavad Gita 7:20]

The Gita states that people who are materialistic worship demigods i.e. ‘gods’ besides the True God.


UPANISHADS:

The Upanishads are considered sacred scriptures by the Hindus.

The following verses from the Upanishads refer to the Concept of God:

"Ekam evadvitiyam"
"He is One only without a second."
[Chandogya Upanishad 6:2:1]1


"Na casya kascij janita na cadhipah."
"Of Him there are neither parents nor lord."
[Svetasvatara Upanishad 6:9]2

"Na tasya pratima asti"
"There is no likeness of Him."
[Svetasvatara Upanishad 4:19]3

The following verses from the Upanishad allude to the inability of man to imagine God in a particular form:

"Na samdrse tisthati rupam asya, na caksusa pasyati kas canainam."

"His form is not to be seen; no one sees Him with the eye."
[Svetasvatara Upanishad 4:20]4

1[The Principal Upanishad by S. Radhakrishnan page 447 and 448]
[Sacred Books of the East, volume 1 ‘The Upanishads part I’ page 93]

2[The Principal Upanishad by S. Radhakrishnan page 745]
[Sacred Books of the East, volume 15, ‘The Upanishads part II’ page 263.]

3[The Principal Upanishad by S. Radhakrishnan page 736 & 737]
[Sacred Books of the East, volume 15, ‘The Upanishads part II’ page no 253]

4[The Principal Upanishad by S. Radhakrishnan page 737]
[Sacred Books of the East, volume 15, ‘The Upanishads part II’ page no 253]





THE VEDAS

Vedas are considered the most sacred of all the Hindu scriptures. There are four principal Vedas: Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samveda and Atharvaveda.



Yajurveda

The following verses from the Yajurveda echo a similar concept of God:


"na tasya pratima asti
"There is no image of Him."
[Yajurveda 32:3]5

"shudhama poapvidham"
"He is bodyless and pure."
[Yajurveda 40:8]6

"Andhatama pravishanti ye asambhuti mupaste"
"They enter darkness, those who worship the natural elements" (Air, Water, Fire, etc.). "They sink deeper in darkness, those who worship sambhuti."
[Yajurveda 40:9]7

Sambhuti means created things, for example table, chair, idol, etc.

The Yajurveda contains the following prayer:
"Lead us to the good path and remove the sin that makes us stray and wander."
[Yajurveda 40:16]8

5[Yajurveda by Devi Chand M.A. page 377]

6[Yajurveda Samhita by Ralph T. H. Giffith page 538]

7[Yajurveda Samhita by Ralph T. H. Giffith page 538]

8[Yajurveda Samhita by Ralph T. H. Griffith page 541]



Atharvaveda

The Atharvaveda praises God in Book 20, hymn 58 and verse 3:

"Dev maha osi"
"God is verily great"
[Atharvaveda 20:58:3]9


Rigveda

The oldest of all the vedas is Rigveda. It is also the one considered most sacred by the Hindus. The Rigveda states in Book 1, hymn 164 and verse 46:
"Sages (learned Priests) call one God by many names."
[Rigveda 1:164:46]

The Rigveda gives several different attributes to Almighty God. Many of these are mentioned in Rigveda Book 2 hymn 1.

Among the various attributes of God, one of the beautiful attributes mentioned in the Rigveda Book II hymn 1 verse 3, is Brahma. Brahma means ‘The Creator’. Translated into Arabic it means Khaaliq. Muslims can have no objection if Almighty God is referred to as Khaaliq or ‘Creator’ or Brahma. However if it is said that Brahma is Almighty God who has four heads with each head having a crown, Muslims take strong exception to it.

Describing Almighty God in anthropomorphic terms also goes against the following verse of Yajurveda:

"Na tasya Pratima asti"
"There is no image of Him."
[Yajurveda 32:3]

Another beautiful attribute of God mentioned in the Rigveda Book II hymn 1 verse 3 is Vishnu. Vishnu means ‘The Sustainer’. Translated into Arabic it means Rabb. Again, Muslims can have no objection if Almighty God is referred to as Rabb or 'Sustainer' or Vishnu. But the popular image of


9[Atharveda Samhita vol 2 William Dwight Whitney page 910]





Vishnu among Hindus, is that of a God who has four arms, with one of the right arms holding the Chakra, i.e. a discus and one of the left arms holding a ‘conch shell’, or riding a bird or reclining on a snake couch. Muslims can never accept any image of God. As mentioned earlier this also goes against Svetasvatara Upanishad Chapter 4 verse 19.

"Na tasya pratima asti"
"There is no likeness of Him"

The following verse from the Rigveda Book 8, hymn 1, verse 1 refer to the Unity and Glory of the Supreme Being:

"Ma cid anyad vi sansata sakhayo ma rishanyata"
"O friends, do not worship anybody but Him, the Divine One. Praise Him alone."
[Rigveda 8:1:1]10

"Devasya samituk parishtutih"
"Verily, great is the glory of the Divine Creator."
[Rigveda 5:1:81]11


Brahma Sutra of Hinduism:

The Brahma Sutra of Hinduism is:

"Ekam Brahm, dvitiya naste neh na naste kinchan"

"There is only one God, not the second; not at all, not at all, not in the least bit."

Thus only a dispassionate study of the Hindu scriptures can help one understand the concept of God in Hinduism.


0[Rigveda Samhita vol. 9, pages 2810 and 2811 by Swami Satya Prakash Sarasvati and Satyakam Vidyalankar]

11[Rigveda Samhita vol. 6, pages 1802 and 1803 by Swami Satya Prakash Saraswati and Satyakam Vidyalankar]




as from the sun." The Prophecy confirms:

The name of the Prophet as Ahmed since Ahmed is an Arabic name. Many translators misunderstood it to be ‘Ahm at hi’ and translated the mantra as "I alone have acquired the real wisdom of my father".

Prophet was given eternal law, i.e. the Shariah.

The Rishi was enlightened by the Shariah of Prophet Muhammad. The Qur’an says in Surah Saba Chapter 34 verse 28 (34:28):



"We have not sent thee but as a universal (Messenger) to men, giving them glad tidings and warning them (against sin), but most men understand not."

Source: http://saif_w.tripod.com/interfaith/...inhinduism.htm

An account from a hindu girl who converted to islam

http://www.muslimconverts.com/newmus...Nur_Fatima.htm

A newspaper article of 40 hindu families converting to islam!

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/...=scrollingnews

[COLOR="Red"]Here are some very interesting video clips:

link of a hindu convert to islam

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...57247245417380

Link of Muhammed(saw) in hindu scriptures:

http://www.youtubeislam.com/video/33...-Dr-Zakir-Naik

Similarities between hinduism and islam

http://www.islamictube.net/watch/200...Dr.-Zakir-Naik

From hinduism to islam

http://www.biharanjuman.org/Deedat/F...m-to-Islam.htm

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...79132042612732

Christian, Buddhist, Hindu convert to Islam in Malaysia

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=y9qRSs...eature=related

How a Hindu Brahmin Turns to Islam

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...deoID=37353612

Hindu women converts to islam

http://www.turntoislam.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25759

Hindu turned Athiest Turns to islam

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WE8Jqv_v0DI

Ahmed deedat videos on comparitive religion(Very good)


http://qaazi.wordpress.com/category/.../ahmed-deedat/

Watch videos of Converts around the world turning to Islam

http://www.usislam.org/video/converts_to_islam.htm

Bumped for somebody new here who does not know his own Vedhas.

Islam is the fastest growing Religion with more proofs of Islam that Allah has shown as in this verse of the glorious Quran

41:53 '' We will show them Our Signs in the universe, and in their ownselves, until it becomes manifest to them that this (the Quran) is the truth. Is it not sufficient in regard to your Lord that He is a Witness over all things? ''


Islam really does not need any other Religions aid to boost itself since its glorious Quran and its teachings with its Noble Prophet with his noble traits are already mentioned in almost all the holy books of other religions but are suppressed , twisted to hide that fact though facts have sprouted decades ago from great people with their spirits of truths like Dr vedaprakash upadhyay in his book here

https://makashfa.wordpress.com/2012/...yay-must-read/


and other hindu scholars like Ahmed Pundit who had all embraced Islam here
https://islamhashtag.com/ahmed-pandi...ople-to-islam/

This is not told with the intention to convert the hindus or others but to prove that Islamic Books have already Prophesied that Allah has sent his Messengers to every Nation in their own language. Which is also a duty of Muslims to inform their fellow human kind to whichever relgion do they belong. Then its upto them to choose their own path to their Creator as reasonable as they think and are responsible for their own actions on the Day of Judgement. Those who mislead others will take the sins of those who mislead.. Since Quran also says that

2:134 '' That was a nation which has passed on. It will have [the consequence of] what it earned, and you will have what you have earned. And you will not be asked about what they used to do.''

format_quote Originally Posted by Bismillah666

Does it mean that the Hindu scriptures was written long before the prophet walked on earth ? I’m confused now

Before the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wa sallam walked the earth, yes.

This should beg the question: so which prophet and messengers were sent to the Indians?

And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], "Worship Allah and avoid Taghut." And among them were those whom Allah guided, and among them were those upon whom error was [deservedly] decreed. So proceed through the earth and observe how was the end of the deniers. [Qur'an 16:36]

It seems certain to me that the Hindu's were once upon a time, monotheist. However, they fell into error and became polytheistic, idol worshiper's. Their holy books of Hinduism have been added to and the message of monotheism has been polluted by most likely, well meaning scribes. It doesn't matter which prophets and messengers were sent to them, to us. The message is now polluted. And has been for a very long time.

Notice, Allah has mentioned stories of only a selection of Prophets and Messengers in the Qur'an, and there is good reason for this - namely, that their stories are still very much relevant for us to learn from in our lives. This is why you will not learn of who was the prophet/messenger sent to the Indians in an ancient past undocumented.

Hope this helps!