How important is it to study other religions?

[hariananta]

Are Hindus allowed to drink alcohol?

best,

Rigveda 10.5.6:
One becomes sinful if he or she crosses even one of the 7 restraints. Yaskacharya defines these 7 sins in his Nirukta as: Theft, Adultery, Murder of a noble person, Abortion, Dishonesty, Repeating misdeeds and consumption of alcohol.


Rigveda 8.2.12:
Those who consume intoxicants lose their intellect, talk rubbish, get naked and fight with each other.



Rigveda 7.86.6:
An action performed as per the inner voice does not lead to sins. Dumb arrogance against inner voice, however, is source of frustration and miseries in same manner as intoxication and gambling destroy us. God inspires those with noble elevated thoughts towards progress and propels down those who decide to think lowly. Lowly acts performed even in dreams cause decline.



Atharvaveda 6.70.1:
Weak minds are attracted towards meat, alcohol, sensuality and womanizing. But O non-violent mind, you focus your mind towards the world in same manner as a mother cares for her child.

 

[جوري]

^^ that's great then how come all the Hindus I know without exception drink?

best,

 

[hariananta]

^^ that's great then how come all the Hindus I know without exception drink?

best,

maybe they are not following the teachings in the scriptures. Hinduism is quite lenient. There is no concept of hell or heaven.

 

[جوري]

maybe they are not following the teachings in the scriptures. Hinduism is quite lenient. There is no concept of hell or heaven.

Ok thank you, and welcome aboard!

 

[Eric H]

Greetings and peace be with you hariananta;

welcome to the forum, and it is good to see some Hindu scriptures.

Eric

 

[Ali_008]

Welcome aboard hariananta

My knowledge of Hindu scriptures is quite low but I know that their origin is not known. When, where and to whom they were revealed is unheard of. However even they prophecize the arrival of Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahuAlayhiWaSallam). Narashangsa and Kalki Avataar, the names by which he's referred in the Hindu scriptures.

 

[Predator]

Here are some quotes from sacred hindu scriptures. Kindly reflect your views on them:

Tulsidas' Ramcharitmanas states: "Jaki rahi bhavana jaisi, prabhu murat dekhi tin taisi" - A person's attitude/devotion determines how he sees God.

Quotes from Bhagwad Gita(Most Sacred Scripture of the Hindus)
GOD says the following:

1. “Delusion arises from anger. The mind is bewildered by delusion. Reasoning is destroyed when the mind is bewildered. One falls down when reasoning is destroyed.”


2. "It is better to do one’s own duty, however defective it may be, than to follow the duty of another, however well one may perform it. He who does his duty as his own nature reveals it, never sins. ”


3. ”Man is made by his belief. As he believes, so he is.”

4."Still your mind in me, still yourself in me, and without a doubt you shall be united with me, Lord of Love, dwelling in your heart"
5. "Hypocrisy,arrogance,pride,anger,harshness and ignorance; these are the marks of those who are born with demonic qualities"

​

Other lines from sacred Hindu Scriptures:

Honor your mother as God, Honor your Father as God, Honor thy teacher as God - Upanishads
Children should follow in their parents footsteps and having become like them, serve them to the best of their ability - Atharva Veda
God is one but sages call it by different names, devotees see it in different forms - Rigveda

Welcome to the board hariananta , what do you think of these verses ?

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


"Of Him there are neither parents nor lord."
[Svetasvatara Upanishad 6:9]


"There is no likeness of Him."
[Svetasvatara Upanishad 4:19]
"There is no image of Him."
[Yajurveda 32:3]


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

"They enter darkness, those who worship the natural elements" (Air, Water, Fire, etc.). "They sink deeper in darkness, those who worship created things(Idol, Table,Chairs)."
[Yajurveda 40:9]


So , do you beleive on idol worship ?

 

[CosmicPathos]

It is important to study other religions from a purely skeptical and academic point of view.

I do not find other religions fascinating though. I've studied historicity of Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism in quite detail. My minor was in religious studies. I did not find anything "fascinating" about these religions. Man made work that is supposed to be word of God is not fascinating at all. Yea, the cultural representation of these religions might be fascinating, for example, I really like the gothic cathedrals and churches purely from an aesthetic point of view. But I dislike what happens in there, shirk and other oddities. In the same way, I like the Buddhist monastries facing the serene landscapes on the edge of mountains, but the tenets of the religion do not blow my mind away.

 

[Muhaba]

we should first learn our own religion (Islam) well, by reading the commentary of the Quran, history of islam, etc. we should be knowledgeable and our foundation should be strong and unshakeable. after that, we should stduy a bit abou the the relgion and culture of the people we intend toi preach to (most likely, those are the people we come i contact with). after that we should start preaching to them with wisdom. Allah says to use wisdom when discussing with people of other religions and not to argue or display bad behavior. if our recepient seems to be the arguing / fighting type, just give him/her a booklet to read and tell them that you will discuss further later if timepermits. avoid arguments and insulting language altogether because such behavior is what Satan wants since it will keep your receipient away from Islam.

of course, we should preach even if we learn just one verse, but our knowledge base should be high enough to keep ourselves from preaching incorrect information.

 

[♥ Sofia ♥]

:wasalamex

i agree with sis writer. if you know only a little about your islam then preach the little that you know but don't step out of that boundary unless you're absolutely sure of what you're talking about and where it comes from etc. be sure to spread no falsehood about this beautiful deen.

there's a young revert at my school the same age as me (14), masha'Allah, and i'm helping her in her studies of islam. she's very mature for her age and used to be extremely fascinated with science and atheism but once i started tactfully giving dawah she developed a soft spot for islam. i find that it's best when she asks me questions about islam rather than me giving her random bits of info because then i can also study and benefit from it while giving her the benefit of such knowledge afterwards. her reversion was more of a gut instinct one rather than ages and ages of independent study. this is also why it's important to really give the best of yourself in public as a muslim while around company who have different beliefs as little things can really influence them as they did with her.

it's good to learn some more about other religions other than the basic foundations of them because, while simple arguments from other beliefs can be easily counteracted, slightly more complex passages can help you in your argument. again, it can also leave an impression on the other party and can lead them to think that you've really done your research and you're passionate about your religion other than reacting purely on personal opinion and emotion.

if you're going to take part in such discussions then you really need to be firm in your imaan, simply due to the fact that if you're weak and still questioning basic aspects of islam yet attempting to read up about other religions to fight against them, such religions can trick you and cast you to fall into even further doubt about islam.

make sure you strengthen your own roots, carry a good example whenever you can, learn about other religions from legit sources and you're good to go.

i personally study other religions when i'm not learning about my own deen because that strengthens my imaan massively. it really just makes me appreciate my own religion and opens my eyes even further to the truth and, because i feel as if i'm currently stable in my imaan alhamdulillah, researching other religions helps to rid any thoughts of doubt rather than add to them.

 

[Pygoscelis]

I do not find other religions fascinating though. I've studied historicity of Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism in quite detail. My minor was in religious studies. I did not find anything "fascinating" about these religions. Man made work that is supposed to be word of God is not fascinating at all.

I think they are very fascinating, both the official doctrines, and the actual beliefs and behaviours of the individuals. Sometimes it is inspiring. Sometimes it is frightening. Sometimes it is hilarious. It is almost always interesting. In fact I wouldn't be here if it wasn't.

 

[Sothis Girl]

The more I study other religions, the more I realize how far more superior Islam is, and affirms it as the truth.

I was born muslim but I learned Christianity in 13 reading Ahmed Deedat "the choice" and King James Bible. Deedat's book changed my life. Even until today I still read books about Buddhism and Wicca. There are a lot of wisdoms in every religions that will enrich your soul and it reminds me always to respect another religions, no matter how strong I hold to Islam.

 

[Who Am I?]

I think it's important to encourage research and free-thinking. I don't agree with censorship, and I sometimes resent my sheltered childhood because of censorship. I was not prepared for how the real world works when I finished school and became an adult, and I suffered for many years because of it.

Studying other religions is what led me here. Studying other religions is what led me to search for the truth. Studying other religions is what led me to Islam. At first it was merely because I wanted to understand Islam. I wanted to understand Muslims and why they do what they do and why they think what they think. But the more I discovered, the more I became convinced that la illaha illallah is the truth.

 

[AhlaamBella]

Studying other religions will, if anything, enrich our Dawah skills! How do you expect to explain Islam in a one-sided way? As far as interest is concerned, the only religions I find interesting are The Big 3: Christianity, Islam and Judaism. The other religions do not inspire or interest me. No disrespect to them; just my personal preference

 

[Who Am I?]

Studying other religions will, if anything, enrich our Dawah skills! How do you expect to explain Islam in a one-sided way? As far as interest is concerned, the only religions I find interesting are The Big 3: Christianity, Islam and Judaism. The other religions do not inspire or interest me. No disrespect to them; just my personal preference

I tend to agree with you there. I find the monotheistic faiths much more interesting and easier to follow too. ;D

 

[UUSeeker]

I think they are very fascinating, both the official doctrines, and the actual beliefs and behaviours of the individuals. Sometimes it is inspiring. Sometimes it is frightening. Sometimes it is hilarious. It is almost always interesting. In fact I wouldn't be here if it wasn't.

I agree. God is too vast to be encapsulated in a single religion or belief system. By studying different religions, along with science and humanism, we can get glimpses of what the divine entails.

Peace,

Seeker

 

[Burninglight]

I tend to agree with you there. I find the monotheistic faiths much more interesting and easier to follow too

Why not Hindu?; besides, I though Muslim don't consider Christianity monotheistic? I know it is, but your view confuses me a bit.

 

[Who Am I?]

Why not Hindu?; besides, I though Muslim don't consider Christianity monotheistic? I know it is, but your view confuses me a bit.

Eh, all the different gods and goddesses in Hinduism confuse me. Besides, I like beef too much to give it up. ;D

Technically, Christianity is monotheism. I don't necessarily think that it's polytheism, but the whole "3 in one deal" freaks me out a little. When I was younger, I just took it for granted that was how it is without questioning anything, but as I got older, I began to question why it was this way. Not good when you attend Christian schools and grow up in a Christian home.

This is why I like Islam. Only one God. No polytheism, no "3 in one" weird Trinity concept. Just you and God, direct connection. No priests to confess to.

 

[Burninglight]

Eh, all the different gods and goddesses in Hinduism confuse me. Besides, I like beef too much to give it up.

Learning about other religions doesn't mean you have to practice their life style. I like beef too. ;D

Technically, Christianity is monotheism. I don't necessarily think that it's polytheism, but the whole "3 in one deal" freaks me out a little.

Technically, you are correct. Not all Muslims share your view. The term trinity or 3 in one are not mentioned in the Bible; so why should man's explaination of who God is freak you out.? I have come to my conclusions without feeling the need to explain God's nature or essence. We aren't supposed to do that anyway. We are just suppose to trust Him and obey Him. Jesus said call no man father and Catholics call priest father; they are wrong

 

[MustafaMc]

Learning about other religions doesn't mean you have to practice their life style. I like beef too. ;D

I don't have a problem discussing religion with adherents of other religions. I have discussed Hindu religion with a co-worker, I have learned about Catholicism from 2 other co-workers and I have discussed Judaism with a Rabbi.

I have come to my conclusions without feeling the need to explain God's nature or essence. We aren't supposed to do that anyway. We are just suppose to trust Him and obey Him.

I can't say that I disagree with you here. Muslims follow Muhammad (saaws) as an act of obedience to Allah (swt) and I assume that you follow Jesus (as) for the same reason.