Are Hindus People of the Book?
- Thread starter omahmed
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trying2learn
Junior Member
Hindu's don't follow the prophets that the people of the book do, i.e. Abraham(pbuh) and Jesus (pbuh)
kayleigh
Junior Member
I've read that under the Mughals in the Indian sub-continent, they expanded the traditional meaning of "people of the book" to include Hindus and treated them as such. It was practical considering Hindus were the majority population.
I don't know if they really are or not though. Many Hindus I know would argue that Hinduism is actually monotheistic, and like ayman said, in some of their holy texts there are very monotheistic statements.
I don't know if they really are or not though. Many Hindus I know would argue that Hinduism is actually monotheistic, and like ayman said, in some of their holy texts there are very monotheistic statements.
Tabassum07
Smile for Allah
Well, there have been thousands of Prophets, haven't there. And there is no documented evidence of all of them. I've heard this discussion a lot on Indian TV - some say that maybe once, years and years ago, there *could have* been a Prophet by the name of Ram, or something similar who had Allah's teachings, but they were corrupted over the years and mixed in with paganism.. it's happened before. I recall a shaikh once mentioned on ETV Urdu that by that logic Hindus could be the people of the book - their religion has become misguided and corrupted (like the rest of the other religions), but they could be extended into the People of the Book definition.
Only Allah knows the truth. I hope this post doesn't cause a heated debate, like so many things on TTI easily do.
Only Allah knows the truth. I hope this post doesn't cause a heated debate, like so many things on TTI easily do.
saima abdullah
my life iz 4 Allah
bettar you listen dr. zakir lecture on this topic...he have much understanding then us... they are musrikeen....but you can google it under dr. zakir name...
wsalam
wsalam
Salaamalaykum waa rahmatullahi..
We can not call Hindus as people of the book because we have no mention of them being part of 'People of the book' from either the Holy Quran and the Sunnah.
Some of the duat in India have erroneously speculated this in order to find common ground with the Hindus while doing dawah. Our pious scholars (May Allah protect them) have cautioned these duat from doing so and refuted them.
Wasalaamalaykum waa rahmatullahi
We can not call Hindus as people of the book because we have no mention of them being part of 'People of the book' from either the Holy Quran and the Sunnah.
Some of the duat in India have erroneously speculated this in order to find common ground with the Hindus while doing dawah. Our pious scholars (May Allah protect them) have cautioned these duat from doing so and refuted them.
Wasalaamalaykum waa rahmatullahi
ShahnazZ
Striving2BeAStranger
Many of the Mughal rulers are hardly an example of rulers leading by Islamic example. Most of the time they did what was just convenient for them during their rule. Naturally, one can't generalize and apply this to all the rulers as many of them were just and fair. But that doesn't mean they ruled according to Shariah. Like you said, many of them expanded the traditional meaning of People of the Book to include Hindus when the Quran has limited the category to solely Jews and Christians (Sabians were at one time included, however I believe that Verse has been abrogated). You are correct that they did this simply because the Hindus were the majority population.
This does not make their actions correct. Islam is constant and unchanging. No human being on this earth has the right to alter or "modify" it according to the current geography or demographics of a nation. Under the same notion, many of the Mughals also abolished the Islamic concept of jizyah on non-Muslim civilians simply because they figured it would bring more unity and stability. Sure it may have but now they can't be considered as ruling according to Shariah. They also allowed Hindu temples to be built within mosques and vice versa.
Basically, not all the Mughal emperors were paragons of Islamic leadership. Yes, they brought amazing culture and diversity to the land. But they in no way, ruled the land according to Islamic Law. There are of course some exceptions. But majority wise, they pretty much did their own thing under the banner of Islam and Mughal culture/domination.
ShahnazZ
Striving2BeAStranger
They believe that Hinduism is actually the oldest religion in the world. In a way they're correct, since polytheism has existed on this planet since the time of the 'Aad civilization who were the first to introduce polytheism. However, they also discount Adam a.s. as a monotheist. I actually don't know what they say about him but I doubt they would be saying their religion was the oldest in the world if they believed in his existence.
They do say that there is one God. However, they believe that this One God can take various forms and appear based on need for a certain form. This kind of blurs the line between monotheism and polytheism. The rest is fine print. But basically they traverse into the realms of polytheism despite the fact that they originally believe in One God and I think that's where it gets messy.
:salam2:
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.
You could read more more here http://www.irf.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=145&Itemid=128
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.
You could read more more here http://www.irf.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=145&Itemid=128
trying2learn
Junior Member
Only Allah knows. I have read in the Qur'an in refers to people of the book as christians and jews. May I be forgiven if I am not correct, but I do not want to assume what only Allah knows, I only go by my knowledge and what is says in the Qur'an.:tti_sister:
hayat84
I'm not what you believe
:salam2:
I allow myself to say tha hindus may be classified as the "worshipper of the fire"and not like the people of the book.I was hinduist and what you meant saying "the people of the book"is really far from christian and jewsh too,because they are monotheyst religions,but hindus have one god in each corner of the space...They worship the statues,so they are mushrikin.I read i a verse of the book of hindus that it is written about the arrival of a man who came from the desert,son of a man whose name was "slave of God"...this verse clearly refers to Muhammed(SAWS),but hindus gave to it an own interpretation,mixing poetry to daylife,so that you could read about a God called Krishna whose skin was light blue,who had human shape and who had 16.000 wives!!!!can you image this
I allow myself to say tha hindus may be classified as the "worshipper of the fire"and not like the people of the book.I was hinduist and what you meant saying "the people of the book"is really far from christian and jewsh too,because they are monotheyst religions,but hindus have one god in each corner of the space...They worship the statues,so they are mushrikin.I read i a verse of the book of hindus that it is written about the arrival of a man who came from the desert,son of a man whose name was "slave of God"...this verse clearly refers to Muhammed(SAWS),but hindus gave to it an own interpretation,mixing poetry to daylife,so that you could read about a God called Krishna whose skin was light blue,who had human shape and who had 16.000 wives!!!!can you image this
hayat84
I'm not what you believe
:salam2:
yes,in hinduism there are three main Gods:Bhrama,Vishnu and Shiva...Can you image what a confusion would it be there in the sky,when all those gods get angry!?!?I laugh at this,because I believed that they really existed.Maybe they are the names of jinns.Allah created jinns.
Moreover,the is the Paramathma,Kaly,Kama,Parvati,Narashinga...the list is very long.They worship cows too!what are they,if not mushrikin?
yes,in hinduism there are three main Gods:Bhrama,Vishnu and Shiva...Can you image what a confusion would it be there in the sky,when all those gods get angry!?!?I laugh at this,because I believed that they really existed.Maybe they are the names of jinns.Allah created jinns.
Moreover,the is the Paramathma,Kaly,Kama,Parvati,Narashinga...the list is very long.They worship cows too!what are they,if not mushrikin?
um_mustafa
sister in Islam
Salams All,
I found this below which is very intresting:
Categories of religion
What are the different categories of religion that exist in the world?
Praise be to Allaah.
People are divided according to their religions into two categories:
1 – Those who have a Book that was revealed from Allaah, such as the Jews, Christians and Muslims. The Jews and Christians, because of their lack of knowledge of what was narrated in their books, and because they took humans as lords instead of Allaah, and because a long time has passed (since those Books were revealed), have lost their books which Allaah revealed to their Prophets. So the rabbis and priests wrote books for them which they claimed came from Allaah, but they are not from Allaah, rather they are the work of forgers and the distortion of fanatics.
With regard to the Book of the Muslims (the Holy Qur’aan), it is the last of the Divine Books to be revealed, and the most reliable, and Allaah has guaranteed to preserve it – He did not leave that to human beings. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, We, it is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur’aan) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption)”
[al-Hijr 15:9]
It is preserved in men’s hearts and on paper, because it is the final Book in which is Allaah’s guidance for mankind, and He has established it as proof against them until the Hour begins. He has decreed that it will abide and He has created for it in every age people who will follow its guidance, learn it by heart, implement its laws and believe in it.
2 – Those who do not have a Book that was revealed from Allaah, although they may have an inherited book that is attributed to the founder of their religion, such as the Hindus, Magians (Zoroastrians), Buddhists, Confucians and the Arabs before the coming of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
There is no nation that does not have knowledge or act according to what is in their best worldly interests. This is part of the general guidance that Allaah has given to all people, and indeed to all animals, as He guides animals to eat food and drink that are good for them, and to avoid those that are harmful. Allaah has created in them love for the former and hatred towards the latter. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High,
Who has created (everything), and then proportioned it.
And Who has measured (preordainments for everything even to be blessed or wretched); and then guided (i.e. showed mankind the right as well as the wrong paths, and guided the animals to pasture).”
[al-‘Alaa 87:1-3]
And Moosa (peace be upon him) said to Pharaoh:
“Our Lord is He Who gave to each thing its form and nature, then guided it aright”
[Ta-Ha 20:50 – interpretation of the meaning]
And Ibraaheem (peace be upon him) said:
“Who has created me, and it is He Who guides me”
[al-Shu’ara’ 26:87 – interpretation of the meaning]
See al-Jawaab al-Saheeh fiman badala Deen al-Maseeh, vol. 4, p. 97.
Every intelligent person – who has the slightest insight – knows that the followers of different religions have more beneficial knowledge and do more righteous deeds than those who are not followers of any religion, so there is nothing good to be found with the non-Muslim followers of other religions, and what the Muslims have is more perfect. The followers of different religions have something that others do not have. Knowledge and actions are of two types:
The first type is knowledge that is acquired through mental reasoning, such as mathematics, medicine and manufacturing. These things are the same for followers of religion and for others, indeed they are more well versed in them. But with regard to matters which cannot be known merely through mental reasoning, such as divine knowledge and knowledge of religions, this is something that belongs only to the followers of religion. This includes matters for which rational evidence can be produced, and the Messengers guided mankind and pointed out to them the rational basis of this knowledge, thus it is rational and shar’i at the same time.
The second type is that which can only be known from the words of the Messengers. There is no way to acquire this knowledge through mental reasoning. This includes information about Allaah, His names and attributes, the reward in the Hereafter for those who obey Him, the punishment for those who disobey Him, His laws, and news of the earlier Prophets and their dealings with their nations. See Majmoo’ Fataawa Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, vol. 4, p. 210-211.
From al-Islam Usooluhu wa Mabaadi’uhu by Dr. Muhammad ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Saalih al-Husaym.
I found this below which is very intresting:
Categories of religion
What are the different categories of religion that exist in the world?
Praise be to Allaah.
People are divided according to their religions into two categories:
1 – Those who have a Book that was revealed from Allaah, such as the Jews, Christians and Muslims. The Jews and Christians, because of their lack of knowledge of what was narrated in their books, and because they took humans as lords instead of Allaah, and because a long time has passed (since those Books were revealed), have lost their books which Allaah revealed to their Prophets. So the rabbis and priests wrote books for them which they claimed came from Allaah, but they are not from Allaah, rather they are the work of forgers and the distortion of fanatics.
With regard to the Book of the Muslims (the Holy Qur’aan), it is the last of the Divine Books to be revealed, and the most reliable, and Allaah has guaranteed to preserve it – He did not leave that to human beings. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, We, it is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur’aan) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption)”
[al-Hijr 15:9]
It is preserved in men’s hearts and on paper, because it is the final Book in which is Allaah’s guidance for mankind, and He has established it as proof against them until the Hour begins. He has decreed that it will abide and He has created for it in every age people who will follow its guidance, learn it by heart, implement its laws and believe in it.
2 – Those who do not have a Book that was revealed from Allaah, although they may have an inherited book that is attributed to the founder of their religion, such as the Hindus, Magians (Zoroastrians), Buddhists, Confucians and the Arabs before the coming of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
There is no nation that does not have knowledge or act according to what is in their best worldly interests. This is part of the general guidance that Allaah has given to all people, and indeed to all animals, as He guides animals to eat food and drink that are good for them, and to avoid those that are harmful. Allaah has created in them love for the former and hatred towards the latter. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High,
Who has created (everything), and then proportioned it.
And Who has measured (preordainments for everything even to be blessed or wretched); and then guided (i.e. showed mankind the right as well as the wrong paths, and guided the animals to pasture).”
[al-‘Alaa 87:1-3]
And Moosa (peace be upon him) said to Pharaoh:
“Our Lord is He Who gave to each thing its form and nature, then guided it aright”
[Ta-Ha 20:50 – interpretation of the meaning]
And Ibraaheem (peace be upon him) said:
“Who has created me, and it is He Who guides me”
[al-Shu’ara’ 26:87 – interpretation of the meaning]
See al-Jawaab al-Saheeh fiman badala Deen al-Maseeh, vol. 4, p. 97.
Every intelligent person – who has the slightest insight – knows that the followers of different religions have more beneficial knowledge and do more righteous deeds than those who are not followers of any religion, so there is nothing good to be found with the non-Muslim followers of other religions, and what the Muslims have is more perfect. The followers of different religions have something that others do not have. Knowledge and actions are of two types:
The first type is knowledge that is acquired through mental reasoning, such as mathematics, medicine and manufacturing. These things are the same for followers of religion and for others, indeed they are more well versed in them. But with regard to matters which cannot be known merely through mental reasoning, such as divine knowledge and knowledge of religions, this is something that belongs only to the followers of religion. This includes matters for which rational evidence can be produced, and the Messengers guided mankind and pointed out to them the rational basis of this knowledge, thus it is rational and shar’i at the same time.
The second type is that which can only be known from the words of the Messengers. There is no way to acquire this knowledge through mental reasoning. This includes information about Allaah, His names and attributes, the reward in the Hereafter for those who obey Him, the punishment for those who disobey Him, His laws, and news of the earlier Prophets and their dealings with their nations. See Majmoo’ Fataawa Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, vol. 4, p. 210-211.
From al-Islam Usooluhu wa Mabaadi’uhu by Dr. Muhammad ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Saalih al-Husaym.
um_mustafa
sister in Islam
Salams , for a more stright forward answer, Hinus are not people of the book, and Allah Ta'laa knows best.