MULMANTRA: THE FUNDAMENTAL CREED OF SIKHISM

The best definition that any Sikh can give regarding the concept of God in
Sikhism is to quote the Mulmantra – the fundamental creed of Sikhism,
which occurs at the beginning of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
It is mentioned in Sri Guru Granth Sahib, volume 1 Japuji, the first verse:
"There exists but one God, who is called The True, The Creator, Free from
fear and hate, Immortal, Not begotten, Self-Existent, Great and
Compassionate."
Sikhism is a monotheistic Religion
Sikhism enjoins its followers to practise strict monotheism. It believes in
only One Supreme God who is, in the unmanifest form, called Ek Omkara.
In the manifest form He is called Omkara and has several attributes such
as:
Kartar – The Creator
Akal – The Eternal
Sattanama – The Holy Name
Sahib – The Lord
Parvardigar – The Cherisher
Rahim – The Merciful
Karim – The Benevolent
He is also called Wahe Guru – the One true God.
Besides Sikhism being strictly monotheistic, it also does not believe in
Avataravada – the doctrine of incarnation. Almighty God does not incarnate
Himself in what is known as Avatara. Sikhism is also strongly against idol
worship.
Guru Nanak was influenced by Sant Kabir
Guru Nanak was influenced by the sayings of Sant Kabir so much that
several chapters of Sri Guru Granth Sahib contain couplets of Sant Kabir.
One of the famous couplets of Sant Kabir is:
"Dukh mein sumirana sabh karein
Sukh mein karein na koya
Jo sukh mein sumirana karein
To dukh kaye hoye?"
"In times of trouble, God is remembered by all
But none remembers Him during peace and happiness.
If God is remembered in good times of happiness
Why should trouble occur?"
Compare this with the following verse of the Qur’an:
"When some trouble toucheth man,
He crieth unto his Lord,
Turning to Him in repentance:
But when He bestoweth
A favour upon him
As from Himself,
(Man) doth forget what he cried
And prayed for before,
And he doth set up
Rivals unto Allah."
[Al-Qur’an 39:8]
The Sikh scriptures therefore emphasise monotheism and God-
consciousness.
Monotheism comes from the combination of the Greek prefixes monos- ,
“alone” or “single,” and theo- , “god.” . Monotheism is the belief in a single
all-powerful god, as
opposed to religions that believe in multiple gods.

Islam and Hinduism

COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN ISLAM AND HINDUISM
PRESENTING ISLAM TO HINDUS
I. Introduction
A. Introduction of Hinduism
1. Definition of a Hindu
The word Hindu has geographical significance and was used originally
for those people who lived beyond the river Sindhu or the region
watered by the river Indus. Some historians say that it was first used
by the Persians who came to India through the north western passes of
the Himalayas. The word Hindu is no where mentioned in Indian
literature or scriptures before the advent of Muslims to India,
according to the Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics. According to
Jawaharlal Nehru in the book Discovery of India on page 74-75, he
writes that the earliest reference to the word Hindu can be traced to a
tantrik of the 8 th Century CE, where it means a people and not a
follower of a particular religion. The use of the word Hindu in
connection with a particular religion is of late occurrence.
In short Hindu is a geographical definition used for the people living
beyond the river Indus or those living in India
2. Definition of Hinduism
a) Hinduism has been derived from the word Hindu. Hinduism was a
name given in English language in the Nineteenth Century by the
English people to the multiplicity of the beliefs and faith of the people
of the Indus land. According to New Encyclopedia Britannica 20:581.
The British writers in 1830 gave the word Hinduism to be used as the
common name for all the beliefs of the people of India excluding the
Muslims and converted Christians.
b) The term Hinduism is misleading because though it suggests the
unified system of beliefs and ideas, it is certainly not the case.
Hinduism is too broad a phenomenon to be confined to a usual
definitions of religions. It does not owe its origin, formation or
finalization to any historical person or a prophet since there is no
uniformly accepted belief sacraments, rituals and practices in
Hinduism, there are no criteria for establishing rules in Hinduism. In
short a person who calls himself a Hindu becomes a true practicing
Hindu irrespective who he worships and what ever may be his beliefs
and practice.
c) According to the Hindu scholars Hinduism is a misnomer and it
should be referred a Sanatana Dharma, meaning eternal religion or
Vedic Dharma meaning religion of the Veda. According to Swami
Vivekananda the followers of this religion is referred as Vedantist.
B. Introduction of Islam
1. Definition of Islam
Islam is an Arabic word which comes from the word ‘Salaam’ which
means ‘Peace’. It also means submitting your will to Allah - the
Almighty God. In short Islam means peace acquired by submitting your
will to Allah (SWT).
2. Definition of a Muslim
A Muslim is a person who submits his will to Allah - the Almighty God.
3. Misconception about Islam
Many people have a misconception that Islam is a new religion which
came into existence 1400 years ago and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is
the founder of the religion of Islam. Infact Islam is there since time
immemorial, since man set foot on the earth. Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) is not the founder of the religion of Islam but he is the last and
final messenger of Islam.
II. Pillars of Faith (Imaan) - Pillars of Hinduism
Pillars of Faith in Hinduism are not defined. As mentioned earlier that
Hinduism does not have a set of unified or codified beliefs. Neither does it
have any fixed pillars or principles which are obligatory for its followers to
practice. A Hindu has a freedom to practice whatever he pleases, there is
no such thing as compulsory or prohibited for him thus no act committed by
a person can make him a non-Hindu. Neither omission of any act can make
him a non-Hindu. However there are certain beliefs which are common to
most of the Hindus. Even though it may not be agreed upon 100% by all the
Hindus, we shall discuss some of them while discussing the pillars of Islam.
CONCEPT OF GOD IN HINDUISM
The most popular amongst the Aryan religion is Hinduism

1. Common concept of God in Hindu

What Does Islam Say About War?

Like Christianity, Islam permits fighting in self-defence, in defence of
religion, or on the part of those who have been expelled forcibly from their
homes. It lays down strict rules of combat which include prohibitions against
harming civilians and against destroying crops, trees and livestock. As
Muslims see it, injustice would be triumphant in the world if good men were
not prepared to risk their lives in a righteous cause. The Qur'an says:
Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not transgress
limits. God does not love transgressors. (2:190)
If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One
that heareth and knoweth all things. (8:61)
War, therefore, is the last resort, and is subject to the rigorous conditions
laid down by the sacred law. The term Jihad literally means 'struggle', and
Muslims believe that there are two kinds of Jihad. The other 'Jihad' is the
inner struggle which everyone wages against egotistic desires, for the sake
of attaining inner peace.

How Do Muslims View Death?

Like Jews and Christians, Muslims believe that the present life is only a trial
preparation for the next realm of existence. Basic articles of faith include:
the Day of Judgement, resurrection, Heaven and Hell. When a Muslim dies,
he or she is washed, usually by a family member, wrapped in a clean white
cloth, and buried with a simple prayer preferably the same day. Muslims
consider this one of the final services they can do for their relatives, and
an opportunity to remember their own brief existence here on earth. The
Prophet taught that three things can continue to help a person even after
death; charity which he had given, knowledge which he had taught and
prayers on their behalf by a righteous child.

What Do Muslims Think About Jesus?

Muslims respect and revere Jesus, and await his Second Coming. They
consider him one of the greatest of God's Messengers to mankind. A Muslim
never refers to him simply as 'Jesus', but always adds the phrase 'upon him
be peace'. The Qur'an confirms his virgin birth (a chapter of the Qur'an is
entitled 'Mary'), and Mary is considered the purest woman in all creation.
The Qur'an describes the Annunciation as follows:
'Behold!' the Angel said, 'God has chosen you, and purified you, and chosen
you above the women of all nations. O Mary, God gives you good news of a
word from Him, whose name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary,
honored in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near to
God. He shall speak to the people from his cradle and in maturity, and shall
be of the righteous.'
She said: 'O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?'
He said: 'Even so; God creates what He will. When He decrees a thing, He
says to it, "Be!" and it is.' (Qur'an, 3:42-7)
Jesus was born miraculously through the same power which had brought
Adam into being without a father:
Truly, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of Adam. He created
him of dust, and then said to him, 'Be!' and he was. (3:59)
During his prophetic mission Jesus performed many miracles. The Qur'an
tells us that he said:
I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I make for you out of clay, as
it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it and it becomes a bird by
God's leave. And I heal the blind, and the lepers, and I raise the dead by
God's leave. (3:49)
Neither Muhammad nor Jesus came to change the basic doctrine of the belief
in One God, brought by earlier prophets, but to confirm and renew it. In the
Qur'an Jesus is reported as saying that he came:
To attest the law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of
what was forbidden you; I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so
fear God and obey me. (3:50)
The Prophet Muhammad said:
Whoever believes there is no god but Allah, alone without partner, that
Muhammad is His messenger, that Jesus is the servant and messenger of
God, His word breathed into Mary and a spirit emanating from Him, and that
Paradise and Hell are true, shall be received by God into Heaven. (Hadith
from Bukhari)

Quran

The Qur'an is a record of the exact words revealed by God through the
Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad. It was memorized by Muhammad
and then dictated to his Companions, and written down by scribes, who
cross-checked it during his lifetime. Not one word of its 114 chapters,
Suras, has been changed over the centuries, so that the Qur'an is in every
detail the unique and miraculous text which was revealed to Muhammad
fourteen centuries ago.The Qur'an, the last revealed Word of God, is the prime source of every  Muslim's faith and practice. It deals with all the subjects which concern us as human beings: wisdom, doctrine, worship, and law, but its basic theme is the relationship between God and His creatures. At the same time it
provides guidelines for a just society, proper human conduct and an
equitable economic system.

How Does Someone Become A Muslim?

Simply by saying 'there is no god apart from God, and Muhammad is the
Messenger of God.' By this declaration the believer announces his or her
faith in all God's messengers, and the scriptures they brought.

What Do Muslims Believe?

Muslims believe in One, Unique, Incomparable
God; in the Angels created by Him; in the
prophets through whom His revelations were
brought to mankind; in the Day of Judgement
and individual accountability for actions; in God's
complete authority over human destiny and in
life after death. Muslims believe in a chain of
prophets starting with Adam and including Noah,
Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, David,
Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John the Baptist, and Jesus, peace be upon them.
But God's final message to man, a reconfirmation of the eternal message
and a summing-up of all that has gone before was revealed to the Prophet
Muhammad through Gabriel.

The Five Pillars Of Islam

Islam has five primary obligations, or
pillars of faith, that each Muslim must
fulfill in his or her lifetime. They are
as follows:
Shahadah, profession of faith, is the
first pillar of Islam. Muslims bear
witness to the oneness of God by
reciting the creed "There is no God but God and Muhammad is the Messenger
of God." This simple yet profound statement expresses a Muslim's complete
acceptance of and total commitment to Islam.
Salah, prayer, is the second pillar. The Islamic faith is based on the belief
that individuals have a direct relationship with God. The world's Muslims
turn individually and collectively to Makkah, Islam's holiest city, to offer
five daily prayers at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and evening. In
addition, Friday congregational service is also required. Although salah can
he performed alone, it is meritorious to perform it with another or with a
group. It is permissible to pray at home, at work, or even outdoors;
however it is recommended that Muslims perform salah in a mosque.
Zakat, almsgiving, is the third pillar. Social responsibility is considered part
of one's service to God; the obligatory act of zakat enshrines this duty.
Zakat prescribes payment of fixed proportions of a Muslim's possessions for
the welfare of the entire community and in particular for its neediest
members. It is equal to 2.5 percent of an individual's total net worth,
excluding obligations and family expenses.
Sawm, fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, is the fourth pillar of
Islam. Ordained in the Holy Qur'an, the fast is an act of deep personal
worship in which Muslims seek a richer perception of God. Fasting is also an
exercise in self-control whereby one's sensitivity is heightened to the
sufferings of the poor. Ramadan, the month during which the Holy Qur'an
was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, begins with the sighting of the new
moon, after which abstention from eating, drinking and other sensual
pleasures is obligatory from dawn to sunset. Ramadan is also a joyful
month. Muslims break their fast at sunset with a special meal, iftar,
perform additional nocturnal worship, tarawih, after evening prayer; and
throng the streets in moods that are festive and communal. The end of
Ramadan is observed by three days of celebration called Eid Al-Fitr, the
feast of the breaking of the fast. Customarily, it is a time for family
reunion and the favored holiday for children who receive new clothing and
gifts.
Hajj, the pilgrimage to Makkah, is the fifth pillar and the most significant
manifestation of Islamic faith and unity in the world. For those Muslims who
are physically and financially able to make the journey to Makkah, the Hajj
is a once in a lifetime duty that is the peak of their religious life. The Hajj
is a remarkable spiritual gathering of over two million Muslims from all over
the world to the holy city. In performing the Hajj, a pilgrim follows the
order of ritual that the Prophet Muhammad performed during his last
pilgrimage.
The five pillars of Islam define the basic identity of Muslims - their faith,
beliefs and practices - and bind together a worldwide community of believers
into a fellowship of shared values and concerns.

What Does Islam Mean?

Praise be to Allaah.
Islam means submitting to Allaah, worshipping Him alone and obeying
Him, and shunning shirk (polytheism, associating others with Allaah) and
those who believe in that. This is the religion which Allaah approves for
His slaves. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Truly, the religion with Allaah is Islam”
[Aal- ‘Imraan 3:19]
“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted
of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:85]
The person who enters this religion is called a Muslim (one who submits),
because he has submitted (aslama) to all the rulings that have come from
Allaah and from the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him). Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And who turns away from the religion of Ibraaheem (Abraham) (i.e.
Islamic Monotheism) except him who befools himself? Truly, We chose him
in this world and verily, in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous.
When his Lord said to him, ‘Submit (i.e. be a Muslim)!’ He said, ‘I have
submitted myself (as a Muslim) to the Lord of the ‘Aalameen (mankind,
jinn and all that exists).’” [al-Baqarah 2:130-131]
“Yes, but whoever submits his face (himself) to Allaah (i.e. follows
Allaah’s religion of Islamic Monotheism) and he is a Muhsin ( a doer of
good who does good deeds solely for the sake of Allaah) then his reward
is with his Lord (Allaah), on such shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve”
[al-Baqarah 2:112].
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
When Did Islam Start ?
Praise be to Allaah.
Islam began with the beginning of the Prophet’s mission, when Jibraa’eel
(the Archangel Gabriel) brought down the Revelation from Allaah in
Makkah (Mecca) in the Arabian Peninsula. This occurred on a Monday in
the month of Ramadaan, in the fortieth year of the Prophet Muhammad’s
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) life, thirteen years before
his Hijrah (migration) to Madeenah (which marks the beginning of the
Islamic or Hijri calendar). According to the Gregorian calendar, the
beginning of the Prophetic mission happened around 608 or 609 CE.
Salmaan al-Farsi, may Allaah be pleased with him, one of the Companions
of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) reported that
between Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and
Jesus (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), there were six
hundred years.
And Allaah knows best.

Brief Introductions about ISLAM

Brief Introductions about ISLAM
Islam means, to acquire peace, by submitting your will, to the will of the 1
real GOD of Universe,Abraham Moses David Jesus, Muhammad etc.
It is not a new religion.
It was not founded by Prophet Muhammad.
But it is existing, since the time of Adam.
Prophet Muhammad was the last and final prophet of the 1 real GOD of
Universe,Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus etc.
He was the successor of Prophet Jesus.
He was a descendant of Abraham, through Prophet Ishmael.
He was also illiterate, he could not read and write.
GOD had sent many Prophets, to this world.
All the previous prophets, before Prophet Muhammad, were sent, only for
the particular times and for the particular nations.
But he was sent, for all the humans, with Quran, for ever.
Qur'an is the last and final testament, of the 1 real GOD of
Universe,Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, Muhammad etc.
Qur'an was sent, for all the humans and for ever.
Now about GOD, in Islam
Islam believes in the only 1 real GOD of universe, Abraham, Moses, David,
Jesus, Muhammad etc.
It believes that there is only 1 real GOD, without any other.
It believes that the GOD has no partner, no mother, no father, no
begotten son etc.
GOD is GOD, not a human.
Humans are humans, not GOD.
Sex, beget and having sons etc, are humans acts, not of GOD,
It believes that the GOD has no beginning, no end.
It believes that the GOD is unique, HE has no similar image.
It believes that the Trinity is a lie.
These are the basic concepts of GOD, in Islam.
Now about Jesus, in Islam.
Islam believes that the Jesus was a prophet / messenger / Christ /
messiah / peace maker / servant, sent by the only 1 real GOD of Abraham,
Moses, David, Muhammad etc.
It believes, glorifies and testifies Prophet Jesus too.
It believes that the Prophet Jesus was sent, only for Israelis, for a
particular time.
It believes that the Prophet Jesus was not and is not GOD.
It believes that the Prophet Jesus was not and is not a begotten son of
GOD.
It believes that the Trinity is a lie.
It believes that the GOD of Prophet Jesus is already the most merciful and
fair too.
It believes that the GOD can easily forgive all the sins, when a person
repents with sincerity and believe righteously.
It believes that each human is responsible for his own deeds, not of any
other.
It believes that the Adam and eve also repented after sin, so GOD also
forgave them.
It also denies the concept of original sin.
It believes that the GOD of prophet Jesus saved him, by raising him up
alive.
It believes that the Prophet Jesus was never died, never crucified.
But as all the humans must die once.So the Prophet Jesus will return and
then die too.
Now about bible, in Qur'an
Qur'an also believes in the previous revelations of GOD, revealed to the
previous Prophets, for the particular nations and for the particular times.
The majors were:
1) Torah = God’s Word to the Prophet Moses
2) Zaboor = God's Word to the Prophet David
3) Injeel = God's Word to the Prophet Jesus
But, all the previous revelations of GOD, were delegated to their
nations, to protect them, as their tests.
But their nations failed to fulfill their tests, by corrupting, changing
and concealing, those pure words of GOD, revealed to their prophets,
directly.
So the Bible is a corrupted, changed and concealed form of those pure
words of GOD, revealed to their prophets, directly.
But as the Qur'an is the only 1 remaining, last and final testament
and guidance from GOD, for all the humans and forever,that’s why, in
the Qur'an, GOD himself promised to protect the Qur'an, by His own.
So I challenge the whole world that the Qur'an was, is and will always
remain 100% pure words of GOD.
I also challenge that if any 1 can prove to me, even a single
contradiction or scientific error in Quran, I am ready to leave Islam!.
I also challenge that the Qur'an was, is and will always remain 100%
purely divine, logical, practical, scientific and spiritual too.Brief Introductions about ISLAM