A Comparative View of Religions By J. H. Scholten - Christian Ebook
Comparative Religions (for Students)
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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.
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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.)..).
Original Message:Original Message:To worshipTo worship One GodOne God
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.)..).
Original Message:Original Message:To worshipTo worship One GodOne God
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
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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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Present ChristianityPresent Christianity
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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Present ChristianityPresent Christianity
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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Present ChristianityPresent Christianity
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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Present ChristianityPresent Christianity
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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Present ChristianityPresent Christianity
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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Present ChristianityPresent Christianity
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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