September 29, 2007
“IS NON-VEGETARIAN FOOD PERMITTED OR PROHIBITED FOR THE HUMAN BEING?” – Part I
(Back Ground Azaan, By Brother Yusuf Islam)
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(Azan Continued….)
(Dr. Mohammed) In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Mr. Y.P. Trivedi, the chief guest of the evening, Mr. Rashmibhai Zaveri, Dr. Zakir Naik, Mr. Chamanbhai Vohra, Mr. Dhanraj Salecha, distinguished guest, ladies and gentlemen, Assalomo Alaykum – May peace be on you. On behalf of the organizers, the Indian Vegetarian Congress, the Islamic Research Foundation and the Rushabh Foundation, I welcome all of you today to this morning’s unique programme – a public dialogue on the topic… ‘Is Non-Vegetarian food, permitted or prohibited for a human being?’.
It is being held in a spirit of friendship and understanding each others view points. I, Dr. Mohammed Naik, am the coordinator for this dialogue… hence, I occupy a neutral position. It is my honorees duty to ensure a fair and proper conduct of this meeting. Therefore, I would request both our speakers as well as the audience, to maintain dear decorum, for a healthy and lively debate, as well as a dialogue. Now we would have the past president of the Indian Vegetarian Congress, Mr. Jayantilal. R. Doshi welcoming and introducing the chief guest of the evening,
Mr. Y.P. Trivedi – Mr. Jayantilal Doshi.
(Clapping)
(Mr. Jayantilal Doshi) Mr. Y.P. Trivedi is a very senior advocate in Supreme Court of India, and leading tax expert of Mumbai. His activities in economic field, inside ex-president of Indian Mercantile Chambers and active members of Chairman of many other Institute, trade and industrial body. In professional field, he was president of Chambers of IT consultant, and Vice-President of IT Tribunal, and Bar Association. In political field, he is traders of Maha Pradesh Congress Committee BRCC. He is also Chairman and Director of many Public Limited Companies… Reliance and Dena Bank. In educational field, he was Stockation of matters, degree in lower, and Bombay University. He regularly continues article of various sinpident in different papers and Journalist. He has addressed a member of Senior, and meeting of Rotary Lion Club, etc. and Air India and Doordarshan, etc. – Thank You.
(Dr. Mohammed) Now we have Mr. Dhanraj Salecha, President of Rushabh Foundation, presenting momentous to our chief guest, as well as garlanding him on behalf of the organization.
(Clapping)
Now we have our chief guest Mr. Y.P. Trivedi, addressing our audience collected here today – Mr. Y.P. Trivedi.
(Mr. Trivedi) Dr. Zakir Naik, Mr. Rashmi Zaveri, Dr. Mohammed Naik,
Dr. Dhanraj Salecha, Chimanlal Vohra, and friends – Before I give my introductory speech, I have been told and I think I would like to repeat, and say with great firmness… and one of the greatest friend and the greatest enemy of our civilization, is the cellular phone. And all those who have got cellular phones, it is a… it is a great friend, you know when you are in absolute necessity… and when you are in a meeting, it is a great enemy. So I would request all those with cellular phones, please switch off the phones and do not disturb, because it disturbs the trend of thinking of those who are speaking and those who are attending and others, listening very attentively. Friends, I welcome all the speakers and all of you here, to this very healthy debate which is taking place. I believe that this should be the beginning of similar debates, which should take place in the times to come. This debate or discussion, or the clearing house of mind, is probably in the best traditions… both of the Hindu civilization as well as of Islam . In our mythology and our history, we have such instances of such debates taking place in the courts of kings like Janak, when people from various shades of thoughts… because Hinduism was never following one particular pattern of thinking. There was Bhakti Marg, there was Non-Dualism, there was Advayit Marg, there was Charwaks… who did not believe in any God – so all of them, Janak King… King Janak used to assemble them, provoking them to debate – not trying to influence anybody, but inviting the thoughts, and then leaving the debate to the people at large, to make up their own minds. So that was the tradition of our Hindu religion in this land of India. That was also the tradition of Islam – In the immediately succeeding years after the demise of Prophet Mohammed, Islam was a religion – Arabia was the place which was the place of learning logic, Mathematics, Astronomy – all this was been discussed and the great scholars of Arabia, and built the thoughts, made inquiries and transformed that knowledge there after to the Western world. According to me the Renaissance Movement in Europe, owed its origin to the thinking of these Arab thinkers… who were great stalwarts in their own time.We very often associate Arabia, with thinking about, ‘Arabian Nights’. But let me tell you, that apart from the strides which they made in the field of fiction. And some of the most imaginative fictions, at the same time in the field of science, technology, thinking, logic, mathematics… they made great strides. That is why, today also, inspite of all their achievements, the West is still talking about the numerals, as the ‘Arabic numerals’ and this is how Islam also in those days used to think openly, that tradition had been continued – because I believe in the reign of King Akbar, he also used to call people from all Religions. Even the Christians who came at that time… they landed on the shore of India – They were also called, and they were asked to explain what are the tenets of the Religion. So this sort of a healthy debate is something which is an absolute necessity for the development of any cultured, civilized, and tolerant society. Dr. Vohra said that he is neutral – let me tell you, tell him, and all of you, I am also neutral. If I would not have been neutral, I would not have been made the chief guest. And I do not wish to desire to make any final comment on the subject… but one school of thought, I would like to narrate here, which I have read at some place – that all those animals… in nature, who are grass eaters, the animals which are thriving on leaves… they have got bovine teeth, they do not have canine teeth. All those animals which are eating flesh, meat eaters, they have got canine teeth… what we call ‘Rakshi’. Human being is the one specie, which has got both bovine teeth, as well as canine teeth. It is very likely, that nature wanted this specie to survive – Nature considered that this species… human beings, are the most important specie which should be there in this world. They should try to contribute… they should try to carry My message, and take it further. So they wanted… the nature probably wanted this specie to survive under all circumstances. Nobody can deny that the early Homo Sapiens or Homo erectus… they were all flesh eaters… at that time there was no agriculture… if you look at the evolution as we now learn from science. It is only the advance advance…. of civilization, that people started taking to agriculture. When they started taking to agriculture and started growing Corns… some of them became Vegetarians, some of them remained Non-Vegetarian, some of them became the mixture of both – they also took Vegetarian as well as Non-Vegetarian – and most of the Non-Vegetarian people today, also eat Vegetarian food as a part of the diet. I believe that in this aspect, when you are talking, whether it is permitted or prohibited – we are talking about permission or prohibition by the Religion. In this one aspect Dr. Naik, I would probably like to differ from you. I believe that it is not the function of Religion, to tell us, that… ‘What we should eat and what we should not eat’. Religion should try to purify our soul, purify our conscience, talk about good behavior, lead us to the path of God. What we should… what we should not eat, is something which the doctors should tell us… the nutrition experts should tells us. It is not the function of the Religion to say… ‘You shall not eat Garlic, you shall not eat Onions, you shall not eat Ginger’ because this is something, if subsequently the nutritional experts tell us, that this is something which is very good for your health, which is very good for your survival, which is very good for you to fight your diseases… then certainly it has to be taken. Because these are the subjects, in modern day’s science – We have to grow up, we have to think in terms of what is lying ahead of us – We are entering now the next millenium… 21st Century – So much is expected from us. Today only I was reading in one of the magazines, about the forecast of Nostradamus. That, Nostradamus thinks that this particular country, which is surrounded on three sides by sea… that one country will come on the top of the world. And are we going to go into the top of the world, become a super power, by just clinging ourselves to some of the outdated notions. For example, yesterday so many people migrated from this country – I was wondering in the heart of my heart… what is it?… there is no scientific explanation all through out. All people with any bases of logic, all people who knew something about science – they were saying… ‘Nothing will happen… whether eight planets come in one line or they go zig zag – nothing is going to happen’. But then all types of talks were there. ‘Alan’ which is our largest shipyard – that was completely forsaken and completely deserted – I was told that… for rushing to Rajasthan. I believe, I do not understand why people from Rajasthan are so panicky. The Marvadis left everything, came here, and made a empire – And the same Marvadis… thinking 8 planets are there… they ran away. I was told, 2500 rupees were paid for a bus ticket, for going back to Rajasthan, and nothing happened. So what is very important for all of us… if this country has to go further, if we as a nation, has to make our mark and probably the destiny before us… we can reach great strides. 21st centuries… as I have always been saying, belongs to India and Pakistan – both of them, when they will come near and near… they will be able to become the leaders of the 21st century. And if that is going to happen, then let me tell you, we will have to get out of these old dogmas. What we should eat… we should not eat – the doctors should tell us. If a new scientific discovery is made, and I have been asked, that I should eat tomatoes because it fights the cancerous growth, then I must eat tomatoes - irrespective of what my Religion tells me. So I think, let us go to the Scientists – let us develop for ourselves a modern mind… a scientific approach – then I think today or tomorrow, the whole world is before us. I do not want to comment on the… or trespass on the domains of the speakers. With this introductory remarks, I am once again trying to point out – I am absolutely neutral and I would like to hear the views of the learned people, who have made research on the subject – Thank very much.
(Dr. Mohammed) Thank you Mr. Trivedi… now we have brief introduction of each of the speakers, before we get into the mode of formal dialogue programme.
We have Mr. Chamanbhai Vohra, Senior Vice-President of the Indian Vegetarian Congress, to introduce Mr. Rashmibhai Zaveri.
(Mr. Chamanbhai Vohra) Well, today I feel very happy to introduce our President Shri. Rashmibhai Zaveri, President of the Indian Vegetarian Congress. I think this public dialogue will become very, very interesting, looking to the introductory speech given by our chief… learned guest, Y.P. Trivedi. So let us hope for the very good dialogue. Now Rashmibhai Zaveri is a Chartered Accountant by profession – He is having his own firm, ‘Rashmi Zaveri and Company’. They are very well reputed in the field of… as far as the Corporate sector section is concerned, and he is a very good speaker. As far as the Religious speeches are concerned, he is a master of many of the Religious philosophies. He is a very active member of the Chartered Accountant Society. He himself, is the member the of Bharat Jain Maha Mandal – He is the founder President of the Forum of Jain Intellectuals… one of very prominent institution, as for as the Jain people are concerned. And he is very well connected with the Kala Gujari also. Though he is very young at the age of 63, he is very energetic and he looks forward always to this type of dialogues – and today’s dialogue is really very good one. And I specially before… by giving the introduction of Mr. Rashmibhai Zaveri, I would like to thank our chief guest, as well as our Dhanrajji & our Zakir Naik Sahib, for having a very good dialogue… ‘Whether by principle, a human being can take, or should not take the Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian foods’? – Thank you very much.
(Dr. Mohammed) Mr. Ashraf Mohammedy, to introduce Dr. Zakir Naik.
(Ashraf Mohammedy) Dr. Zakir Abdul Karim Naik, 33 years, is the President of the Islamic Research Foundation, Mumbai. Though a medical doctor by professional training, he is renowned as a dynamic international orator, on Islam and Comparative Religion. Dr. Zakir, removes misconceptions about Islam, on the basis of Qur’an, Hadith and Religious Scriptures of various other Religions. He also uses reason, logic and modern scientific facts, to remove the misconceptions about Islam. He is popular for his critical analysis and convincing answers, to challenging questions posed by audiences, after his public talks. In the last 3 years itself, he has delivered more than 300 public talks, world wide. Dr. Zakir also appears on various international TV and Satellite TV Channels, throughout the world. He has also participated in various symposia and such dialogues, with prominent personalities of various faiths.
(Dr. Mohammed) I have been asked by many persons… ‘Why are we having this dialogue – this topic, these speakers only?’ I here by clarify – Mr. Dhanraj Salecha, President of Rushabh Foundation, once visited the Islamic Research Foundation office, about one half month ago. He presented the Islamic Research Foundation kindly, with a set of literature favoring Vegetarianism. These included quotations from major world Religions, which included quotations also from the Qur’an, and sayings of Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him), which according to him, indicate that Non-Vegetarian food is prohibited for human beings. After some discussions, Mr. Salecha proposed that a public dialogue be held at Patkar Hall… between Mr. Rashmibhai Zaveri, President of the Indian Vegetarian Congress and Dr. Zakir Naik, President of Islamic Research Foundation, on the topic…‘Is Non-Vegetarian Food Permitted or Prohibited for a human being’? This would in turn, enable the audience at large, to know the different view points of both the speakers, and form their own judgement. Both the speakers agreed to the same. Just about five days back, that is… this Tuesday. I met Mr. Zaveri, and he requested that both the speakers in their talk refrain form speaking on other Religions, except their own. Dr. Zakir, though being very ardently in the field of Comparative Religion, reluctantly agreed. Therefore, as far as the Religious points are concerned, in the talk and response of our speakers, Mr. Zaveri will speak only from the Jain viewpoint… unless compelled otherwise. Similarly, Dr. Zakir will speak only from the Islamic viewpoint… unless compelled otherwise. This in brief, is the clarifying background to the dialogue – the format for the dialogue will be, as agreed to, and decided fair by the speakers – Mr. Rashmibhai Zaveri will first address us for 50 minutes on the topic… ‘Is Non-Vegetarian Food Permitted Or Prohibited For A Human Being?’ Then, Dr. Zakir Naik will make his presentation for 50 minutes, on the same topic.
This would be followed by a response session, in which Mr. Zaveri will respond for 15 minutes, to the matter presented by Dr. Zakir. Similarly, Dr. Zakir too would then respond for 15 minutes, to the matter presented by Mr. Zaveri. When 5 minutes are left for the conclusion of the talk or the response time, I would put before each speaker, a ledge saying… ‘5 minutes left’ – in which time, they are expected to conclude. Lastly, we would have the question and answer session, in which the audience may pose questions to each of the speakers alternatively, on the question mikes provided in the auditorium. Written questions on slips of paper, would be given secondary preference… if time allows us. Now I would request our first speaker Mr. Rashmibhai Zaveri, to present his address. Ladies and gentlemen… Mr. Rashmibhai Zaveri.
(Mr. Zaveri) Before I start my talk, I am really very happy, that this atmosphere of brotherhood… it has really moved me, and I will request Dr. Zakir Naik to come forward and lets have a ‘Gale lag Ja scene’.
(Clapping)
The chief guest of this morning, Mr. Y.P. Trivedi, President of Rushabh Corporation, Shri. Dhanraj Salecha, the learned speaker Dr. Zakir Naik, the expert commentator and the coordinator, Dr. Mohammed Naik, Vice President of IVC Shri Chamanbhai Vohra, other dignitaries on and off the dais, my friends, brothers and sisters… First of all, I must acknowledge the dedication, the sincerity, with which all the three organizations, particularly Islamic Research Foundation, has taken pains in arranging this lecture. I do not mind and I do not hesitate in saying, the entire credit goes to IRF. Friends, the topic today is…‘Is Non-Veg. food permitted or prohibited for a human being?’ Any argument or any statement for that matter, is always to be considered from relative point of view. There cannot be any absolute truth, there cannot be any absolute statement, that it is 100% prohibited or 100% permitted. So friends, let us see, as very rightly put in by Mr. Trivedi, who has started the ball rolling… that we will not speak only from Religious point of view – Religious… has to enter… you can not diverse it from today’s subject. But I would like to speak on this topic, that… ‘Non-Veg. food is prohibited for human being’, from various angles. For example, Geographical reasons, historical reasons, Moral, Ethical and Religious reasons, Economical, Environmental and Ecological reasons, Natural reasons, and Psychological reasons, and above all medical reasons. It is a fact, now well established, that our actions are controlled by our thoughts.
What we think, we act… and our thoughts are controlled by our diet – As we eat, so we behave. And that is why, the topic is very important, that we should choose our diet in such a way, that our thinking is positive – the word positive will include everything. And believe me friends, not only all the Religions, but the medical science has now proved, that the food that we take, it definitely influences our thinking… and so our behavior. Friends, there was a time, when there was no alternative available, as Mr. Trivedi rightly put… there were places on this world, and there are even now places, where there is no availability of vegetation. It is simply not possible, because of the extreme circumstances. But now the world has progressed so much, that there is a very advanced system of transportation, which is available to us… and any type of commodity including food, can transported from one part of the globe to another, without any problem. Now… that when we have got alternatives, we have to think about this, which alternative is better, from all the angles – that which I have described earlier. And that is why friends, I am now coming to my topic proper that… ‘Non-Veg. food is not permitted’ now, at this point of time – not only for India, but for other countries of the world also. First of all, I will say that all Indian Philosophies have stated that we should not harm any living being, not only the living beings that we can see… but also those living beings, which we cannot see, which are in air, fire, water, etc. But always there is a limit – it is very difficult for a human being to refrain from total, total… ‘Hinsa’ or ‘violence’ because of his needs. So, that is why Lord Mahavir stated that… ‘At least you limit the essential killings, but absolutely no killing, for your own selfish motive or for your own needs of hunger, etc.’ And that is why under Jainism and most of the Indian philosophies, ‘Non-Veg. Food is totally prohibited’. Now this is our Religious aspect… I will not go very deep into it. But the psychological aspect… the effect that Non-Veg. food has on our thoughts and deeds… that is the most important part. The learned authors… I will not now quote the names of the books and authors, because that will take time, but I have got all the authorities with me. It is said that Veg. diet reduces needless suffering in the world, and also preserves our ecosystem. See, when I talk about alternative, you look here… you look at the wild animals who stay in jungle… they… those who are Carnivorous, they will restrict themselves to meat eating only – but those animals which are Herbivorous, they will never go for meat eating. Only human being is such… because of some false notions, I will say it has… the human being is been both… a Carnivorous and Herbivorous. As I said, if alternative is available, why should we go for unnecessary killing? The basic principle underlying this theory is non-violence, love and compassion for animals, birds, fish, etc… because flesh food falls in ‘Not Essential Category’ while Vegetarian food comes under ‘Essential Category’. Psychologically also… cruelty, instant impulses, urges, basic animal instincts, impatience, are all the necessary consequences of flesh food. By eating animal flesh, man will ingest all the animal instincts… the four basic animal instincts of food, fear, possessiveness and reproduction. These are there in man… I do not say ‘No’… but they are the basic instincts. – We have got a reasoning mind, we can rise above these basic instincts, we can control our impulses and urges, and become… then only we can become ‘super animals’ or ‘super beings’ – otherwise, human beings and animals… there is no difference at all. But man has additional quality called ‘Reasoning mind’, which is blunted by the influence of flesh food, and man becomes more like animal. The scientific reason for this, is that flesh is an integral part of animal body – it is full of ‘Tamasik’ value. There are three types of value… ‘Tamasik’, ‘Rajyasik’ and ‘Shartrik’. ‘Tamasik’ in short, is the brutal sense, or brutal instincts of the animal. A man becomes more like an animal… he is careless, he is cruel, he is ignorant… if he is eating the food, that is… the part of the bodies of the dead animals. The crime rate is higher, aggression is the natural consequences of flesh food. It distorts the thinking and reasoning. It is not only a problem by itself, but it creates many other problems like increase in crimes, cruelty, etc. The virtues like compassion, sharing, self control, are obliterated by the impact of flesh food. If we insist on treating animals more brutally, then our behavior will also become less human, and more brutal. I will quote one ‘Shayeri’, that what will happen if this animal instincts is so embedded in our heart… what will become of men… ‘Aadmi ke shakl se ab dar raha hai Aadmi – Aadmi ke shakl se ab dar raha hai Aadmi. Aadmi ko loot kar, Ghar bhar raha hai Aadmi … Aadmi hi marta hai – mar raha hai Aadmi. Aadmi hi marta hai – mar raha hai Aadmi… Samaj kuch aata nahin, kya kar raha hai Aadmi’. Friends, this is because the man has become an animal. He does not then distinguishes between… whether he is an animal or a human being, because this is the influence of the food, the flesh food that he eats. Flesh food is the cause of ‘PMS Syndrome’ – that is, ‘Pre Postures mood swings’ and psychological distortions – thus it is now established, that the flesh food is the root cause of moral and spiritual degeneration. We, at Indian Vegetarian Congress… we are working for important task, since it will lead to a more humane world at peace with animal kingdom, and with each other. We at ‘IVC’, define a ‘Vegetarian’, as one who does not, at any time, or under any circumstances eat meat, fish, fowl, eggs or any other type of flesh food. ‘Vegetarian’ does not come from ‘Vegetables’… now this very important friends, understand, the word ‘Vegetarian’ does not come from ‘Vegetable’. The root is, it is derived from the word Vegetus… V-e-g-e-t-u-s, meaning – whole, sound, fresh, lively – ‘Nothing is more powerful than an individual, acting out of his conscious, thus helping to bring the collective conscious to life’… that is, what Norman Consin said. And what does Albert Switzer has to say… ‘Until man extends his circle of compassion to all living things, man will not find peace for himself. It is a man’s sympathy with all creatures, that first makes him truly a human being’. Now friends I will go next, to the most important topic, and that is… the medical view point. It is a fallacy friends… it is a myth, to say that we do not get enough protein from Veg. food, and that is why a man must have a flesh food, that is rich in protein. I will come one by one, to these myths. First of all, I will first give you examples of those strong animals say elephant, say Rhino… these are the strongest animals on this earth. Are they meat eaters?… No, they are pure Veg. – Even if they die, they will not eat meat, even then they are the strongest. Take example of Horse… We talk about ‘Horse Power’ – it is the most powerful creature, useful for our purpose… and that is also a pure Vegetarian. And take examples of Cattle, Cows, Bullock and other animals… they are not only useful to us, but they are pure Vegetarian. My point here is, that those Vegetarian animals are strong enough, and they do not need any flesh food. In fact if stupidly, flesh food is given to these Veg. animals, what will happen? you all know about ‘The Mad Cow disease’, the syndrome called ‘BSE’. Friends, this ‘BSE’… ‘Bovine Spongephome Encyphalopathy’ – You know what happened a few years back in England. It was a result of feeding rendered Sheep bye products, to cattle, as protein supplement. This Sheep were infected with ‘Scrappy’ and ‘Acy’ disease, known for over two hundred years. Now if Sheep food can make a Cow mad, what do you expect the result on human beings? Millions of innocent Cows were killed mercilessly, just because they were suspected to be infected with ‘BSE’, and that too for no fault of theirs – but the stupid ways of feeding Sheep protein, on absolutely unnatural diet for a Cow. So is case with humans… animal protein is not natural for us. Similarly, millions of Chicks were destroyed in Eastern Asia countries, because they were infected with certain disease. Now coming back to healthy diet, I will quote from one Dr. Dean Ornish, who has written a very learned book on – ‘How to reverse heart disease, without surgery or drugs’. And this book, my friends, is the best seller in America now… it has really created interest in the people of America and all over the world, for that matter – that Veg. food is definitely better from medical point of view. He has given two types of diet – One reversal and one prevention of heart disease. Both are strictly Veg. diets – Because he has proved scientifically, that Veg. food is the best food, for a human being. It not only helps heart patients, but also reduces risks of other degenerating and fatal diseases caused by flesh food – disease like Cancers of Colon, Cancers of Breast, Cancers of Prostate, Obesity, High blood Pressure, Stroke, Diabetes, Gal stones. The Surgeon General of America has confirmed this, in the report on ‘Nutrition and Health’. He has given certain facts for proteins. Friends, we will have to little technical about it – the proteins is formed, from building blocks, called Amino Acids. These are of million varieties, of which, only three are critical for us… Lysine, Tryptophan and Mythiomine – all these are available in animals as well as Veg. plant food. But when one consumes animal food for getting these three critical Amino Acids – one also consumes unnecessary elements like cholesterol, saturated fat. Friends these are the two things that are the prime reasons – the killers for human beings – ‘Cholesterol’ and ‘Saturated fat’. Now let us address the issue that is universally put forward… ‘That we do not get sufficient protein from vegetarian food, and so we have to turn to flesh food, for adequate supply of Amino Acids’ – Now this is a fallacy. A combined meal of Legumes and Cereals Legumes means dal, pulses and cereals means Wheat, Rice, etc. You have to combine this two, and you get a complete balanced diet, which provides complete protein – which is not different from proteins found in eggs or meat – but without cholesterol and animal instincts. One diet, one Dietetic Association has stated, positive relationship between ‘Vegetable life style and risk reduction for several cronic degenerative diseases’ as mentioned earlier – It has confirmed that Veg. diet is healthier and more nutritious. Plant food is totally free from cholesterol, which is only found… it is… which is found in both… but cholesterol is only found in animal products such as meat, poultry, fish and diary. Flesh food is also high in saturated fats, which our liver converts into cholesterol – Our body makes all the cholesterol we need. Now this is very important friends, you must understand – We do not have to… we need cholesterol, but we do not have to take cholesterol from animal food – our body… it is a wonderful mechanism – the bio-chemistry, the chemical factory of our body can manufacture all proteins, all cholesterol, from our own systems. 3/4th of the cholesterol in our blood, is made by our body – it is the excessive amounts of cholesterol and fat in the diet, that lead to coronary heart disease. The other diseases friends, which I have summarized from various journals… Medical Journals – Epilepsy, Infected flesh, kidney diseases, excessive proteins, excessive Uric acid – these are all the diseases because of the flesh food – Rheumetoroid, Arthritis, Gaud… this is the direct consequences of Uric Acid found in flesh food – Degeneration of intestine, decay in Immunitive System. Dr. Deepak Chopra of America, has stated that our body is capable of living for more than hundred years, if we take proper care of it. Now look at the population in North Extreme, North region Eskimos – Now per force because no vegetation is available, they have to take flesh food, and the average life of an Eskimo, is only 30 years. All Non-Veg. food is devoid of Vitamin C and Vitamin A, which is naturally available in vegetables – ‘Avidin’ in eggs and other dangerous bacteria, are responsible for many skin diseases such as Exchema, Scabies, Leprosy, etc. Now I will give you a certain scientific facts – One medical study has proved that there are less heart diseases in Veg. people, than flesh eaters. Second – It is a well known fact that, not only in India, but even in advanced countries, there is no full proof system of medical exam of animals, before slaughtering – thus diseases carried by them are passed on to the humans who eat flesh food. Friends, you all know, that like human beings, the animals are also infected by diseases, and they are the carriers of the deadliest germs – and when these animals they die, and one eats that flesh, that diseases which were infected, and which were the part of the dead body of that animal, is again inherited by us. 9% of food poisoning cases, 90% of food poisoning cases are in flesh food eaters. When an animal or bird is brought to a slaughter house – now this is friends… which is again, it needs some explanation. If you have visited a slaughter house or a poultry, you will know this – when the animals are brought to the slaughter house, and when they know that they going to be slaughtered, the… the pain, the agony, the anguish, that runs in the system… it gives rise to ‘Adreline’ the hormone which mixes with the blood, and into the flesh. Now these instincts of fear, anguish, anger, despair – all negative points are then becoming part of the flesh food, and it passes on to the person who eats. And that is why, friends, I say that when one eats flesh food he becomes more like animal and less like a human being. I will now turn to the fallacy that… ‘Eggs are necessary for growing children, because they contain protein’. As I said excessive protein is more harmful than useful, and the protein that we find in pulses, in cereals is much more richer and natural, than the protein, the excessive proteins we find in animal food. Now I will give you the example of egg – Each egg weighs about 100 grams and has, 170 calories. It contains 13.6% of protein, as against that any dal or pulse will contains 24% of protein… much more than the egg of same weight – 100 grams. Egg will contain 13.3% saturated fat, while there is no saturated fat, or very little of 1% in Cereals and Pulses – 450 to 500 milligrams of cholesterol is contained in egg… One egg. Amino acid called ‘Milionine’ which destroys Vitamin B, large quantity of Sodium Salt – all these are part of the egg. And when one eats egg, he is then infected… his body is infected because of this excess protein, cholesterol and saturated fat – It does not contain any carbohydrates it does not contain any fibre. Friends, the medical science has now come up forward, and stated that for our digestion we must have fibre, and fibre is found only in Vegetable food, and not in the flesh food at all. Now, cost wise, I am only comparing the egg… now cost wise, for 1 gram of protein, the cost of egg is 4 to 5 times more than the pulses, Wheat or Soya bean. Cost of 100 calories – It is almost 10 times costlier than the pulses – thus, pulses, Wheat, etc. are not only cheaper, but they provide other important nutritions like vitamins, minerals, fibre, etc. Now let us take a look at the poultry farming – Now they call it ‘Poultry Farming’… it is a totally. I tell you sir, it is a Poultry factory… the way in which the birds are stored there – They have to climb upon one another to eat or drink, because there is not sufficient space. Even the poultry people, they say that… ‘This is our factory, and these are our merchandise, they are goods… Nothing but our products – We are not concerned whether they are living beings or not’. They are totally devoid of any compassion, any ‘Karuna’, and that is why these things are also reflected in the birds. The birds are stored like commodities. They are fed unnatural food and administered drugs which are harmful for humans, only to speed up their metabolism – So that they can produce more eggs. The poultry people are only interested in making profit, and the result of this, they die premature death. It effects physical as well as mental health… Intellectual and emotional growth. Egg is poison for children. Eggs begin to rot immediately, unless they are put in deep freeze – But when they are marketed, they are prone to be… to… to decay and disease faster. ‘Vegetable Egg’ is again a myth… It is a fallacy – No egg can be a ‘Vegetable Egg’- It is an animal product, and animal product only. It is definitely… it is definitely a animal product – It can never be called a vegetable item – It is a misnomer, it is a deception. Friends, I will now turn to the economical aspect – Now this also, I have studied from various journals… medical science, and more important… from the Statistics department of the government of India, and government of America, the U.K. government, etc. But I will not… that is why give the citations during my talk – but I will give you the summary. U.K. – the survey has stated… ‘The land required to produce the fodders, to feed the animals to obtain flesh food, is 14 times more than that required for vegetable diet, to feed man directly’. Because what happens… first you grow fodder, you feed it to the animals, and then you kill the animal for flesh food – and that is how your get you flesh food. But then if the same land is used for agriculture, for pulses and cereals… that same piece of land can support many more families – and here only few families can be supported by using this land for pasture. I have been given one statistics… ‘10 squares acres of land can support, 10 heads of human beings, or 10 heads of cattle for the whole year – but 10 heads of cattle for meat, cannot support even one single person throughout the year natural grass or pasture, can and grain crop, both genetically belong to grass family’. You see once the crop is harvested, what we have is Hassish for Stock. These are again the source of… excellent source of bio-chemical fertilizer or manure. Look how many crores of rupees, of our foreign exchange we are wasting on artificial fertilizer and chemical fertilizer, which we all know is extremely harmful to us. But because we are not able to get the natural manure, which we can get from cattle and animals we are destroying them. Foolishly destroying them for our own food, but we are not considering the fact that the manure that these animals produce, are much more economical, much more healthier, and much more useful to our country. It is now well known fact, that 16 kilogram of food grain are required to be fed to one animal, for forming one kilogram of meat. Thus by feeding animals led for slaughter, the country is deprived of vital food grains which can feed many, many more people – So not only for growing food, but also for pasture and for manure, we require land. The human… ‘The human Onkogene’ work done by Professor Will Bieng from Masachuchets – it has stated that… ‘To obtain one calorie of animal flesh, seven vegetable calories have to be spend’. Then the studies further shows that… ‘The land needed to graze one average animal, can sustain five average families’. Friends, I will not burden you with facts and figures, but the summary of all this is that it is very economical to feed people on Veg. diet, rather then on flesh food. Now let us take the other point of view of Economy, Ecology, Environment, Slaughter houses, etc. Production of animal flesh food require more land, more water, more food grains for feeding animals meant for slaughtering. Now this will again destroy, or rather disturb the balance of our ecology and our environment. Because the resources are always limited, we have to make best use of that – either we grow crops or we rare animals, for slaughtering. And look at the way the slaughter houses work… how they are maintained – It is simply a hygienic horror… the conditions are appalling and totally unsanitary, all over the world. Yesterday only, on internet I got a report from foreign countries, advanced countries of America and France… that the conditions of slaughter houses there also… it is reported as ‘Totally unsanitary’. I got a copy of White Papers, from Government Accountability project of America. ‘Fighting field on the kill floor – a matter of life and death for America’s family’. Slaughtering of animals, meat processing plants, and finally most unhygienic ways of transport, and sale of flesh food has made flesh food, totally unfit for human consumption. And do not think for a moment, that imported packaged, nicely packaged meat, or canned meat, is totally hygienic. No, my dear friends… that is also coming from those slaughter houses, where all these things which I have stated of medical science, will apply. Not only that, they add certain preservatives certain chemicals, certain additives, which will keeps the meat fresh. Environmental consciousness in India and abroad, has now driven many people to Vegetarianism. ‘Environment-friendly Veg. Foods’ are now available. The craze now in all over the world, is to go for ‘Environmental-friendly Veg. Food’, because it is considered friendly and healthy. The Green factories or Grass houses, are now exporting plant food including fruits, to those countries which cannot grow them because of climate. The transportation system has given a much better alternative for food choice. In fact, for developing nations like India, Government and NGOs should give more emphasis, on larger production of more export of plant food, which will solve the economic development of our country. Now look at the pollution… the pollution caused by legal and illegal slaughter houses is terrific. The discharge of affluence from even so called ‘Modern Abattoirs’ is in the open, and exposed to elements and public gaze. The carcasses of animals, the flow of blood, the horrible stench, etc., will add to the pollution, ecological balance. Utility of animal world for human welfare cannot be over emphasised… Both are inter dependent – Cows, Sheep, Fish, Frogs, etc., are much more useful to us alive, than dead- then why should we kill our friends and our helpers? To satisfy our taste buds, we should not be so much ungrateful my friends… to our lesser beings… we call them animals or birds. Look at the… look at it from another point of view of natural manure – I have already stated that the animals produce, much more natural and healthy manure, than the artificial manure. Artificial chemicals, manure, cost us dearly. Then again, I am coming back to our economic term – We are importing artificial chemicals, for manure purposes – that is again a drain on our exchequers. Friends, I will now briefly give you historical and geographical views, I have already touched upon it. Historically in certain dry areas, of miles and miles of desert, where no vegetable can ever grow… may be only food for survival was the animal food. Geographically I stated is, like Eskimos… it is… there was no alternative – but once we have got this better alternative, which is healthier, which is more economical, which is more eco friendly, why not go for such food? And friends, I will now go to the most important point, which will prove my point beyond any doubt… that why man is Vegetarian, by nature? I have got some 16 points here, are to compare – ‘How our body is build up’. As Mr. Trivedi has started the ball rolling in this fashion of… ‘Bovine teeth’, and ‘Non-Bovine teeth’. Teeth embeded: Now I will first say about Herbivorous. Teeth of Herbivorous animals are embedded in the jaws – short, blunt, close to one another. While in Carnivorous, they are sharp, pointed, long, and conical. The two or four teeth, that we have got – like some people say… they are like Dog animal – they are not for meat eating, but they are found also in Apes and the Chimpanzees, and which are which are fit for picking the fruits, and eating the fruits. The claws: no sharp nails for Herbivorous, they are fit to pluck fruits only - while in Carnivorous the sharp nails help in tearing apart the prey easily. Jaws and chewing habits: Jaws of a Herbivorous, will move up and down, left and right, that is in all directions, they swallow their food after chewing – while the Carnivorous, the lower jaw moves upwards and downwards only… they swallow their food without mastication. Now friends you go on comparing this – I will only say Herbivorous and Carnivorous… it is for you enlightened friends to see, how our human body and parts of our human body, will fit – whether it will fit with Herbivorous animals, or with Carnivorous animals. Tongue: the tongue of Herbivorous is quite smooth, while that of Carnivorous is very rough. Water drinking habit: that is a very important thing. My friend, Dr. Paras Dalal told me – he said that… ‘These Herbivorous animals… they drink water with lips by suction – while all the Carnivorous, they drink the water with the tongue… they lap up’. We do not do it – we always use our lips. Now come to the length of intestine: longer intestines are found in Herbivorous… about 4 times the body length – this cannot quickly expel the flesh food – while in Carnivorous… smaller size of intestine, almost equal to the body length, and helps to expel flesh food, before it gets contaminated. Liver and Kidney: smaller in proportion in Herbivorous, so they are unable to throw out waste material easily – while in Carnivorous… liver and kidney are longer in proportion so they can throw out waste material easily. Digestive system: There is less Hydrochloric acid in digestive system of Herbivorous, thus flesh cannot be digested easily, while obviously in Carnivorous, the quantum of Hydrochloric acid is much more, and that is why they can digest the flesh food – but human being cannot. Saliva: In Herbivorous like human being, the saliva is alkaline and contains Vitaline which helps in digesting Carbohydrates, found in the grains – while in Carnivorous, there is… the saliva is always acidic. The blood: Ph is alkaline, like human being in Herbivorous – and acidic in Carnivorous. The blood… blood lipoproteins: - human blood lipoproteins is similar to all Herbivorous, while it is not similar to that of Carnivorous. Sense: Sense is weak – all the senses, particularly the eyesight is weak in Herbivorous, and very powerful in Carnivorous. Sound: The voice is not… the Herbivorous sound or even the human sound is not frightening, unless of course, we can make it now frightening… but by nature the sound of all Herbivorous is mild – while that of Carnivorous like Lions and Tigers is very coarse, and frightening. And lastly, Infants: Normal sight power of – right from – now see the young ones of Herbivorous – right from the moment of birth, they can see very clearly – while all the infants of Carnivorous wild animals are blind at least for a weak. Now friends it is for you to justify, whether man fits by nature in this category of Herbivorous… grain eaters, or in the category Carnivorous… the flesh eaters. Now friends, I will now tell you about certain great persons, who condemned flesh food. Looking at the world’s history, we find that all great Scholars, Philosophers, Scientists like Einstein, – Artists like Leonardo-da-Vinci, Poets like Milton Pope Shelly, and Writers like George Bernard Shaw, and Religious leaders of course, of the world – Now who are those people… the Mathematician, the Pythagorean, the Plutar, Newton and Einstein the Scientist, Dr. Annie Besant, Reverned Dr. Walter Walsh, George Bernard Shaw, Tolstoy, the Greek Philosopher Socrates and Aristotle – They are all enlightened people, and they say… they say that… ‘Blessed are those with noble qualities of tolerance and compassion, love and non-violence, who are not flesh eaters’. Now friends, I will quote from George Bernard Shaw, which is very famous and widely published…‘We are living graves of murdered beasts’ – listen what he says …‘We are living graves, moving graves of murdered beasts, slaughtered to satisfy our appetites – like Carrion Crows we live and feed on meat, regardless of the sufferings and the pain’. Doctors once advised Bernard Shaw… he was very ill – He said that… ‘You must take some meat soup’. Bernard Shaw said… ‘I will prefer death, than to have anything with flesh food’ and believe me friends, he survived… and the doctor turned ‘Vegetarian’. In the similar way, Mahatma Gandhi… his son was very sick – he was advised meat soup… and he refused – and the son survived. Why I am telling you friends all these things that, Mr. Trivedi said… ‘Yes, medically whatever that doctor says, we have to accept’. No doubt – but as I said in the very first thing… in the beginning I said… ‘Everything is relative’. When doctor says something, he will say only from medical point of view – and friends we are not living here… we are here on this earth, not only to survive – Survival is important, but not at the cost of others and inflict pain on others. Thank you very much friends. 21st century will belong to Vegetarians. Okay, I think I have made my point on very general terms, friends. I will tell you, that I know those who are regularly flesh eaters, are coming from some culture, some family, some faith, and that is why, they have never applied their mind. And that is what Mr. Trivedi stated, that let us… we are here today… we have gathered here… let us apply our mind, that not only from Religious angle, or from our social angle. Even I have seen I…I… I do not… I am not afraid to say, that many of our Jain friends, when they go to certain gatherings, because they are afraid of the social status, they start eating meat – I do not like it. But then, it is for everybody – whether he is a Vegetarian or a Non-Vegetarian, apply your mind – try to see from all these angles, whether it is permitted or prohibited, from our own health point of view, from the National point of view from the Social point of view, from Ecological, from Environmental, and above all, from compassion point of view. Friends, when nature has created all animals, all humans all creatures equal, nobody has got right to kill anybody, just to satisfy his own palate – Thank you very much.
(Clapping)
(Dr. Mohammed) Ladies and gentlemen… Dr. Zakir Naik to present his talk.
(Dr. Zakir) … (Arabic) …
Respected Mr. Rashmibhai Zaveri, Mr. Trivedi, Dr. Mohammed Naik, the respected people on the dais, my respected elders, and my dear brothers and sisters. I welcome all of you with the Islamic greetings… ‘Assalomo Alaykum Wa Rahmatulahi Wa Barakatuhu’. May Peace, Mercy and Blessings of Allah (SWT)… Almighty God, be on all of you. The topic of this morning’s debate is… ‘Is Non-Vegetarian food permitted or prohibited for a human being?’ It is not… ‘Whether Vegetarian food or Non-Vegetarian food – which is healthy or which is better?’ If I prove that ‘an Apple’ is better than ‘a Mango’… that does not mean ‘Mango’, is prohibited. This statement is sufficient to end the dialogue for me, but I have to reply. Non-Vegetarian, by definition means – ‘A person who has food of animal origin’. It does not mean… ‘A person who does not have Vegetarian food… it does not mean, a person who does not have vegetable and fruits.’ Let it be very clear to all of you. A more technical and a scientific word is, ‘an Omnivorous diet’. A person who has many types of food, especially foods of plant and animal origin. ‘Vegetarian’, as Mr. Rashmibhai Zaveri rightly said, it does not come from the word ‘Vegetables’- it comes from ‘Vegetas’ which means…‘ full of breath, full of life’ – he did not give a better explanation. We can talk about it – and he did not speak… there are various types of ‘Vegetarians’. We have ‘Fructorians’, who only eat fruits and nuts – then we have the ‘Vedanta’, who do not have any animal products – we have ‘Lacto Vegetarian’, what I believe Mr. Rashmibhai Zaveri is… they have milk, we have the ‘Ovo Vegetarians’ who have eggs – We have the ‘Lacto-Ovo Vegetarians’, who have egg and milk also – We have the ‘Pesco Vegetarians’ who eat fish. We have ‘Semi Vegetarians’ who also have Chicken. This classification is done by the Vegetarian Society… not by me – And you can name another 20, time does not permit me. I would like to state a quotation by Dr. William T. Jarves. Dr. William T. Jarves, he is the advisor to the ‘American Council of Science and Health’ ‘ACSH’, and he is also the ‘Professor of Public Health and Preventive Medicine’ in the Lomalinda University, and he is also the founder and the President of the ‘National Council Against Health Frauds’, and he is the co-editor of the book ‘The Health Robbers – a closer look at Ouakery in America’ – Most of the quotations he gives… from America. And according to him, he classifies ‘Vegetarian’ based on the behavior’s stand point, into two categories… ‘Pragmatic Vegetarian’ and ‘Ideological Vegetarian’. ‘A Pragmatic Vegetarian’ chooses his diet on objective health reasons – He is more reasonable in his approach, rather than emotional. ‘The Ideological Vegetarian’ on a other hand, he chooses his diet based on a principle, which is based on ideology – he is more emotional, rather than reasonable. And Dr. William T. Jarves says… ‘One can spot an Ideological Vegetarian, by his exaggeration of the benefits of Vegetarianism, and you could see that in the talk which preceded my talk… exaggeration of benefits of Vegetarianism. And the lack of skepticism, and the over looking of the fact that extreme Vegetarianism, can lead to potential health risk’. He says that…‘The ideological Vegetarian… he pretends to be like a scientist, but he is more like a lawyer, than like scientist’ – and you could see that in the talk by the learned speaker, more like a lawyer than like a scientist. They gather data information selectively, against the information which is against the ideology. This may be good for a debate like the one we are having, but not for engendering… scientific understanding. Dr. William T. Jarves says that… ‘Ideological Vegetarianism’ is filled with hypothesis – It is filled with extremism, from which even scientists and doctors are not immune’. And that you can see the quotation – Mr. Rashmibhai Zaveri has said, several diseases, and it is possible for me to refute each and every… but if time permits. Talking about science… but the approach was not scientific. All can be prevented very well – ‘Prevention is better than cure’… is the base of the medicine – which time will not permit me to go into health, and etc. In the rebuttal, if time permits I will try and cover most of the other aspects – and ‘Health’… I will try and cover in the rebuttal. Let us analyze the various reasons, why a person chooses a food habit. It can be Religious, it can be Geographical location, it can be a personal choice, smell, taste, colour’. Due to humane or ethical consideration, due to anatomical and physiological consideration, due to behavioral consideration, it can be due to ecological and economical consideration, it can be due to nutritional value or due to health and scientific reasons… health and medical reasons. Let us first analyze the Religious reasons – Mr. Trivedi said that… ‘Religion should not interfere with the human being… where it is concerned, what we should, and what we should not eat – That we should leave it up to the doctor’. I agree with him that most of the Religions, that is in the case. The Religious authority, the main foundation… that is Almighty God, if He is not a doctor, the God that you worship is not a doctor, then you should not follow him – He says… ‘Leave it to the doctor’. But in Islam, we believe… Allah (SWT), Almighty God, is our Creator – and the Creator of the human beings has far Superior knowledge, than all the doctors put together, in all the years. And you can find the statement, as Mr. Rashmibhai Zaveri said… ‘All from doctors’ – he is quoting from these books, which I think is available for sale outside… all these books. I will touch on some of these points, all out of which many are fictitious… fictitious, do not exist at all – Some are irrelevant, some are untested and some are truth… which are half-baked. I would like to make one point crystal clear, that while I prove undoubtedly, that Non-Veg. food should be permitted for the human beings, I do not have the slightest intention to hurt the feelings of any Vegetarian. And while I prove logically and scientifically that Non-Veg. food is permitted, and if someone feels hurt, his sentiments are hurt… I apologize in advance… I sincerely apologize. My intention is not to hurt anybody’s feelings, but I have to reply to the presentation, to the earlier speaker. As far as Islam is concerned, it is not compulsory for a human being to have Non-Veg. – a Muslim can be a very good Muslim, even by being a pure Vegetarian. But… but when our Creator… Almighty God… Allah (SWT), gives us permission to have Non-Veg., why should we not have it? And I started my talk by giving a quotation from the Glorious Qur’an, from Surah Maidah, Ch. No. 5, Verse No. 1, which says… (Arabic )…. ‘Fulfill all your obligations and lawful for you for food are. All four footed animals with the exceptions named’. Qur’an further says in Surah Nahl, Ch. No. 16, V. No. 5… ‘that cattle has been created by God, for you – in it are various benefits…. – You derive warmth, and of their meat you can eat’. The same message is repeated in Surah Mominun, Ch. 23, V. No. 21… ‘that you can have the meat of the cattle’. Let us analyze the geographical reasons and the surrounding environment… and as we know, it influences is the person’s food habit – like people living in the coastal region … the Kookiness, they have more fish – People living in South India, they have more Rice – People living in the desert, where there is scarcity of vegetation, and people mainly survive on the flesh of animals. The Eskimo in the Arctic region, where there is scarcity of edible vegetation, they survive more on sea food. And Mr. Zaveri said that…‘ he knows that vegetable is not available in certain parts of the world, but today, due to advancement of transportation, we can supply them with vegetables’. I would request the Indian Vegetarian Congress to supply, at least give the transportation cost… that is all… to supply to the Eskimos, to supply to Saudi Arabia. You get vegetables in Saudi Arabia, it is more expensive… Why? … because the cost of transportation – that makes if more expensive. It is illogical and unscientific to spend more money, to buy a food which is less nutritious. Let us analyze the ‘Humane reason’, the ‘Ethical reasons’ – And the pure Vegetarians, they say that… ‘All life is sacred – and no living creature should be killed’. They fail to realize that today, it is a universal fact, that even plants have got life – So the main argument on killing living creature, does not hold good today. Previously may be… a couple of centuries ago, it may have held some weight, but today it carries no weight. Then they further argue today, and they say… ‘Yes we know that plants have got life, but they cannot feel pain… therefore killing a plant, is a lesser crime and lesser sin, as compared to killing an animal’. Today, science has further advanced, and we have come to know that even the plants can feel pain, they can even cry – But the cry of the plant cannot be heard by the human ear, because the audible frequency range of the human ear, is from 20 cycles per second, to 20,000 cycles per second – Anything below and above this, the human ear cannot hear.
(Clapping)
But the cry of the animal can be heard by the human being – but the cry of the plant cannot be heard by the human being – Just because you cannot hear the cry of the plant, that does not justify you to inflict pain or kill the plant. There was an ideological Vegetarian, who had a discussion with me, and he told me that… ‘Brother Zakir, I know the plants have life, they feel pain… but you know plants… they have got about two senses less, as compared to the animals’. I said… ‘For the sake of argument I agree with you’. But then I asked him a simple question, that… ‘Suppose your brother is born deaf and dumb – cannot hear, cannot speak – two senses less – and when he grows up, and when someone comes and murders him – will you go and tell the Judge…‘ O my Lord give the murderer a less punishment, because my brother had two senses less’. In fact he will say… ‘Usne to Masoom ko mara hai’… ‘He has killed an innocent person – give him a bigger punishment’. And further if you analyze that in Islam, as far as living creatures are concerned – they are two types… broadly classified in two types – ‘Human beings who are living creatures’- and Non-human being living creatures. As far as killing the human beings are concerned, Qur’an says in Surah Maidah, Ch. No. 5, Verse No. 32 that… ‘If any person – if any one kills any human being, unless if be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land, it is as though he has killed the whole of humanity and if any saves an human being, it is as though he has saved the whole nation’. If any person kills any human being… Muslim or Non-Muslim, unless if it be for murder or for creating mischief, Qur’an says… ‘He has killed whole of humanity – if you save any human being, you have saved the whole of humanity’. As far as non-human being living creatures are concerned, no human being should harm them unnecessarily… should not kill them unnecessarily… for sports, or for fun, or for target practice – but if it is for you security and for your safety, you can stop them, you can even kill them – or if you want for lawful food, but not just for fun and frolic, or for hunting. Even if I agree that the plants are a lesser species, as compared to the human beings – if you take the life of one animal… an average animal, it can feed about hundred human beings. For this same hundred human beings, you may have to kill more than hundred plants. So is it preferable to take the life of one living animal, or the life of 100 living plants?… Which is a bigger sin? …Is it a bigger sin to kill human beings who are handicapped, or kill one healthy human being… which is a bigger sin? – You decide for yourself. There is a Vegetarian Society by the name of ‘World Foundation on Reverence for all Life’… Most of the quotations which he gave, is from here and from these three books… most of them … all most all. The name of the foundation is ‘World Foundation as Reverence for all Life’- they forgot to mention… (except plant life) in bracket. And it says… ‘All creation is one family… All life is sacred’. What kind of an ideology is this, that you permit the killing of one family member, but do not permit the killing of the another family member? – It is illogical and unscientific. You know in America, there are Vegetarian societies who take students to slaughter houses, and they make them see the blood shed and convert them to Vegetarianism. It is like a doctor taking the young girls to observe and watch a difficult childbirth, and then say that… ‘Is the reason you should not marry, and you should not have children’. These are unethical forms of mind control – unethical…unethical. In fact we should teach our children that… ‘When vegetables can be grown for food, why cannot animals be raised for food?’ All life is sacred… I agree… Unnecessarily killing them is wrong – But for your requirement, lawful food is permitted. Let us analyze the anatomical and the behavioral consideration, and there were a list of various things mentioned by Mr. Zaveri – you know he was reading from paper at 100 miles per hour, I was trying to note down, note down, note down how many diseases… diseases I being an medical doctor can answer… but how much can I answer? To name ten diseases, will taken few seconds – To reply all ten will take more then an hour – And he had listed a lot. I will just try and tell you, that if you go to authentic books… authentic books – not researches made by Ideological Vegetarians… most of the answers are given on the medical aspect. Considering the anatomical and the physiological aspect… and he had rightly said, that… ‘If you observe the teeth of the Herbivorous animals the Cow, the Goat, the Sheep, they have a flat set of teeth… they only have vegetables. If you observe the teeth of the Carnivorous animals Lion, Tiger, Leopard, they hare pointed set of teeth… they only have animal flesh – Not Non-Veg. Animal flesh’ – They are not called as Non-Veg. animals, they are called as Carnivorous animals. There is a difference between ‘Carnivorous’ and ‘Non-Veg.’ – Non-Veg. actually is, ‘Omnivorous.’ But if you analyze the set of teeth of the human being, have got flat teeth, as well as pointed teeth. If Almighty God… our Creator, wanted us to have only vegetables, why did He give us these pointed teeth – for what? And Mr. Zaveri said… ‘These pointed teeth, they are not referring to the Dog – they refer to the Apes’. He does not know the scientific meaning of the word – ‘Canine’ comes from the root word ‘Cananas’, in Latin, which means ‘of Dog’ - and ‘Canine’ means pertaining to the family of Canada, like Wolves, Dogs, etc. – Scientists have given this name… ‘Canine’, meaning ‘pertaining to Dog’. And he said… ‘It does not look like the teeth of Dog – it refers to teeth of Apes and Monkeys’. I believe in agreeing with the argument and proving the point, than to disprove him – It is easy. Even if I agree… ‘It is the teeth like the Monkeys’… do you know Monkeys also have Non-Veg.? they have the Lice! – There are many species of Apes, who even have raw flesh of animals. Many species of Apes who have raw flesh… they are Omnivorous – Who says they are Carnivorous?… they are Omnivorous… they are not pure Veg. also. And many species are even called as ‘Cannibals’ – Some species of Apes and Monkeys. If you analyze the digestive system of the human being, it can digest both Veg. as well as Non-Veg. If Almighty God wanted us to have only vegetables, why did He give us the digestion system, which can digest both, Veg. as well as Non-Veg. And Mr. Zaveri said that we cannot have raw flesh – I agree with him… most human beings cannot have raw flesh. In the same way, most of the human beings cannot have raw vegetables, raw vegetarian diet, like raw Wheat, raw Rice… Can you have it? … raw Moong, raw Drumstick … Can you have? … You will get indigestion. So what is the argument? – No… no, you have to cook them. I know as a medical doctor, that raw Wheat, raw Rice, raw Drumstick if you have… you will have problem, you cannot digest them – So you have to cook them. Similarly with the flesh, we Non-Vegetarians, we cook them for easy digestion. But yet there are certain human beings, who even have raw meat. He gave the name of ‘Eskimo’… he did not tell the root word meaning – The root word meaning of ‘Eskimo’, it literally means ‘Eaters of raw flesh’. So there are human beings who even have raw meat… they are conditioned – Tomorrow if you are conditioned to eat raw Wheat and raw Rice, even you may be able to digest it. But most human beings cannot digest certain raw vegetables – That does not mean you should not have Rice, you should have Wheat, that you should not have Drumsticks. There are in the Herbivorous animals, an enzyme known as ‘Cellulaze Enzyme’ and every vegetable has ‘Cellulaze’ – and this Cellulaze enzyme, helps in digesting the vegetables. We human beings, we do not have ‘Cellulaze enzymes’… therefore the vegetables we eat, the cellulose part remains undigested and you call them as ‘Fibres’ – It is undigested. On the other hand, there are certain enzymes like Lipase, Trapezes, Kino Trapezes, which are mainly meant for digesting Non-Vegetarian food. If Almighty God, did not want us to have Non-Veg. food, why did He give all these enzymes? And the primitive man, as said by the earlier speaker as well as the chief guest… Archeological evidence shows us clearly… the Homo Sapiens, the Eskimos, the Austo Aborigines, they were Non-Veg. So why the change now?… We have the same teeth, we have the same digestive system. And he has given a list of other comparison, which prove we can have Veg…. and I agree with that – where did I ever say, that you cannot have Veg.? A Non-Veg., is a person who has the food of the animal products, as well as Vegetarian food – it is an Omnivorous diet. He said that the liver and the kidney in Carnivorous animals is large. In the human beings it is small like the Herbivorous, because the animals have raw meat… therefore they have to remove the toxins on a higher level – we do it by cooking the food. Therefore, God gave us a small kidney, and a small liver, which is sufficient to digest both, cooked Non-Veg. and also vegetables. Similarly with all the arguments… HCL… It is not very acidic… Why? – Because we do not require it. If you do not require it, why should God unnecessarily give to us? Same with saliva, same with the Ph of the blood, same with the Lipo-protein… all the arguments are, that because they have raw flesh, therefore they required it – We do not require it so why should God give us? Yes! It is required for digesting Veg. food, and cooked Non-Veg. food. He said… ‘Carnivorous, they lick, and the Herbivorous animal they sip’. We human beings, we do both… we do both – When we drink… while we drink, we sip – When we have ice cream what we do?… we lick. We lick also, and we sip also… depending upon what is the food we are eating. Even the tea we can lick… not that we cannot lick… but why to waste time? – It will take more time. Similar by with all the arguments he has given about… ‘the teeth being close’ because we also have vegetables. If God would have asked us not to have vegetables, then may be our teeth would have been far apart – He asked us to have both Non-Veg. as well as Veg. food. And there are various verses in the Qur’an, talking about various foods, Pomegranates, talking about vegetables, talking about Dates, etc., which we should have. The plants – many Vegetarians say… ‘That they re grow, therefore we are not killing the plants’- and there are some plants which have that facility, not all plants – ‘There are various, which we cut, it re grows’… See this is the only argument, that because it re grows, you can have Veg. food. You know if you cut the tail of the Lizard, it re grows – Will you have the tail of the Lizard? – It is a delicacy. There are human beings… the ‘Australian Aborigines’… they relish the Lizard – Will you have the tail of the Lizard? – And the answer will be… ‘ No.’ You know what I am doing now? I am behaving like a lawyer. I am feeling ashamed to answer all these things, but I have to do because it is also a debate. I had come here, so that we understand better, and have a friendly understanding of each other, but I have to behave like a lawyer also, besides being logical and scientific, because of the argument put forth. Any one who has general knowledge can reply… but because people do not have general knowledge – Many people are not aware… that is why these arguments may satisfy many people. And all these arguments are given in the books which are distributed… ‘Meat eating, 100 facts’ by Nemichand, distributed by Jain organization – also by the Indian Vegetarian Congress. These are the books given to me by Mr. Zaveri… ‘100 facts about Egg’, ‘Vegetarian or Non-Vegetarian’… Each and every argument, each and every argument can be disproved – Certain things I know… that Non-Veg causes diseases, which can be prevented. Let us analyze the ‘Behavioral consideration’ – He gave certain arguments… ‘The food we eat, has an effect on our behavior’- I agree with him to a certain level. The food we eat, has an effect on our behavior – That is the reason, we Muslims have flesh of Herbivorous animals like Goat, Sheep, who are docile and peace loving – We want to be peace loving and docile. We do not have the meat of the Carnivorous animals like Lion, Tiger, Dog, Pig, etc. – and the Prophet clearly says, all these animals are prohibited. We are peace loving people, therefore we want to have animals which are peaceful. And countering your argument… ‘You all eat plants, and you all behave like plants’… that is, suppression of the senses… a lower species – I know scientifically it is wrong… I am only behaving like a lawyer – I feel ashamed to speak these points, as a medical doctor. It is not true, that if you eat plants, you behave like plants – But the argument he has put forth… I am giving a counter reply … ‘You eat plants and behave like plants, weak and suppressed – cannot move properly’. I am sorry, I really apologize… I apologize – I have to reply to the arguments – I apologize if I have hurt the feeling of any Vegetarian. It is not scientifically true – It is just an argument… A counter argument. Further, he gave the list of various peace loving people like Mahatma Gandhi… and I respect Mahatma Gandhi, because he has done certain good things for India, and humanity. But if, because Mahatma Gandhi was peaceful, indicates, that if you have Veg.food, makes you peaceful… then today if you analyze the list of the Noble prize winners for peace, almost all, or most of them are Non.Vegetarians… Manekchang Began… Non-Veg., Yaseer Arafat… Non-Veg., Anwar Sadat… Non-Veg., Mother Teresa… Non-Veg.,… Mother Teresa. I want to ask you a simple question… ‘Which man in the history of human kind, is known maximum, for killing maximum human beings – Can you guess?’ Hitler… Adolf Hitler!… He has killed six million Jews - Was he a Non-Veg. or Veg.?… Vegetarian! Anyhow, there are crusaders of Vegetarians - you know… now in the internet if you go, they say… ‘See, Adolf Hitler was a Vegetarian… is a myth – He sometimes had Non-Veg.’. And the other side says that… ‘You know, when he had gastric problems, that time he had vegetable foods only’. To tell you frankly on a scientific viewpoint, I do not consider the diet of Hitler to be responsible for him killing six million Jews. Neither am I telling… irrespective whether he was a Vegetarian or Non-Vegetarian, I am not interested in knowing, because I being a doctor, I know it does not carry any weight. There were other factors which influenced him to take this drastic step, which is totally inhuman, not the diet. There are various researches done – there have been researches in America on a group of students, who were ‘Pure Non-Veg.’ and on group of students who were ‘Veg. … Pure Veg.’ And they analyzed that the group of students who were ‘Non-Veg.’… they were less violent, and they were more social – But it is a research… It is not a scientific fact. I will never use this as an argument to prove that Non-Veg. food makes you peaceful… No… I am a doctor… more of a doctor, as well as lawyer where required… because I am in a debate. There are ‘Researches’- but these ‘Researches’… are not ‘Scientific Facts’. Most of the statements what Mr. Rashmi Zaveri made – all were ‘Researches’… not ‘Scientific Facts’. There is not a single authentic medical book which says that… ‘Non-Veg. food in general should be prohibited’ – Not a single. All these are Researches – like the research done by this person in America. Then they say that… ‘Veg. food makes a person intelligent’ – and he gave a list of great names… Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, etc., etc. If we analyze the list of the Noble Prize winners in all these years, majority were the Non-Veg. … Majority! And today ‘Animal Behavioral’ scientists – they say, that ‘the carnivorous animal, should be more intelligent than the herbivorous animal, in order to catch the prey – If he is not intelligent, how will he catch the prey?’ But anyway, I am not going to use this as an argument… ‘Therefore Non-Veg. food makes you intelligent’ – because these things do not actually effect a human being. The diet does effect human beings, but these are arguments… do not effect… these arguments do not effect – And all the other arguments given, they do not carry weight actually. There are people who give examples that… ‘Non-Veg. food makes you strong’ – is a myth. It is a scientific fact mentioned in every medical book… Authentic – That… ‘Non-Veg. food is good for health’. It does have diseases also… you can prevent them – There are proteins, which I will come to it later on. And to counter argue that, they are giving example of, ‘Yadunath Singh Naik’ – Has any body heard of him? – ‘Yadunath Singh Naik’… in the army. It is mentioned in the book ‘Vegetarian or Non Vegetarian – Choose for yourself ’, by Gopinath Agarwal -Yadunath Naik being a Vegetarian in the army, in wrestling, he defeated two Non-Vegetarians – therefore Veg. food makes you strong. I feel ashamed to reply to this argument… I feel ashamed. It is a known fact that the title holders of world wrestling… Yes, there are Vegetarian wrestlers also… but if you compare with the full world, almost all the title holders of world wrestling, are Non-Veg. The person known in body building… maximum… Who is he? – Arnold Schwarzneger! Thirteen times world titles, he got – Seven as Mr. Olmpia, five as Mr. Universe, and one, as Mr. World. What was he?… Veg. or Non-Veg.? – Non-Veg.! The boxer Mohammed Ali… Cascius Clay… Non-Veg.! – Mike Tyson… Non-Veg.! Yes of course, Non-Veg. food does add to the strength… that is a scientific fact. That is the reason that if you analyze, that when a person is convalesing from a disease, it is preferable… Non-Veg. food – Not that you have to have Non-Veg., it is preferable… egg, etc.- I will come to it later on. And then they give an example of a wrestler… Professor Ram Murthy – Never heard his name. He says he is a world famous wrestler – Who has heard of him?. Any one has heard of him?… Prof. Ram Murthy? No one – World famous… Where did he get this news from?… World famous. Then he gave the example of Paramjit Singh in London… pure Vegetarian, who skips 2000 times a day – therefore vegetarian food makes you an athlete. If these are the arguments… supposed to be scientific, I really feel ashamed. Most of the athletic record holders… here is the Guinness Book… you can go through it – I have brought it along here… all mentioned, about body building… body building, athletic, hundred metres dash. All these people, if at random also you check up their, dietetic history – Even giving benefit of doubt, more than 80 to 90 % will be Non-Veg. But I will be a fanatic, if I say that all these records are only due to the diets… I will be a fanatic – A few records may be related to the diet, but not all. Further argument that he gave, that… ‘The smell and the sight of a Carnivorous animal is strong, the night vision is strong’ – As Mr. Rashmibhai Zaveri said… ‘Night vision and sense of smell is strong in Carnivorous… in Herbivorous, it is less… in human beings it is less, therefore we should be Vegetarian. There are Herbivorous animals like the ‘Bee’ whose sense of smell is very strong, and they even have a very good night vision. See, these arguments, which are not scientific, may be useful in a debate to convince the people illogically – Therefore I am here. Then he gave the example… ‘You know animals have hoarse voice… you know, coarse voice – the Carnivorous animals – Herbivorous animals do not have coarse voice.’ I want to ask you a simple question – Which animal is maximum known for a hoarse voice? – Donkey! Veg. or Non-Veg.? Veg. or Non-Veg.? Veg.! Anyway, by no means am I trying to prove that Vegetarian food creates hoarse voice, or Non-Vegetarian food creates melodious voice. If you see the list of singers, many are Non-Veg.… many are Veg. also. So just by quoting singers who are Vegetarian – ‘Oh! that is why Vegetarian diet makes you melodious’… is all illogical arguments – Really I feel ashamed to answer all these things. And he gave certain ‘Economic’ points… that is economic reason, why we should have Vegetarian food – It is more economical, according to Mr. Zaveri. And he gave several statistics – so many calories, so many this, so many tons of protein, which are mentioned here – From where they get this statistics, God alone knows. And he mentioned some protein… it is also mentioned in this book, that 1 kg. of animal protein that we get, we have to feed so many plants, etc., therefore it is equivalent to 7 kgs. of Veg. protein. So if you are having meat… for 1 kg. protein, you are taking 7 kg. vegetables – therefore vegetable is cheaper. How they get this kg. of proteins, – I being a medical doctor do not realize – Is it kg. of food, or kg. of protein? And if agree with him… I agree with him - you say for sake of argument, 2 + 2 is 5,.. I agree – and I ask you that you take 2 rupees… take 2 rupees, and give me 5 rupees – take 2000, take 2000, give me 5000. Similarly, If I agree it is right… all their statistics, then I tell, that the Vegetarians, they should thank the Non-Vegetarians. You know why?… because if we would not have slaughtered the animals for food, it would have lived for another five to ten years, and in that time it would have the vegetables of 7 to 8 peoples for a few years. So you should thank us for preventing the animals from eating your vegetable food. Further more, he gave the calculation from some record… from where I do not know, 1:14 the land that you graze, required for animal, is 14 times more than the land required for food, etc. Same example is given here, that the land required to produce one ton of beef - the same land you can feed 5 average families. One ton of beef is equivalent to 10 or 20 tons of Veg. food, and the land required to graze an animal, can raise 5 average families. My earlier argument also holds good here – But besides that, these ideological Vegetarians… they fail to realize that the animals graze on land which is unsuitable for growing crops. They eat the plants which is inedible for the human beings… like husk and stocks… corn stocks. They do not eat plants which are edible for the human being – Yes! they can eat… But when they enter the fields, the farmer, but natural, takes them out of the field – Why to cause loss? Yes, if we have excess of crop, etc., there are certain governments who even feed them. And there are Nomadic populations who make their living, by grazing animals on land which is unsuitable for crop growing – But they eat the vegetation which is inedible to the human being and they make their living – Even the animal lives, even the human being lives. And today according to U.N report, about 23% approximately, of the land in the world is used for pastures, 23% for forest, less than 10% for cultivation, the remaining 45% majority can yet be used for growing crops. Why don’t you use that?… Why you are running after the food of the animals?… Poor living creatures… let them live, let them eat – Why you are stopping them from eating? If the Non-Vegetarians stop slaughtering the cattle, do you know that, there will be over population of cattle… over population. I am aware that human beings… they raise animals for food – that means, by methods, they increase the multiplication of the animals. But if suppose I agree that from today, all Non-Vegetarians stop raising animals for food, and stop killing them for food, yet they will grow in population. You know why?… Human beings… in all these years our population is increasing, even with all the family planning method, with all the birth control… ‘Hum do Humare do’ – Yet we are increasing. There is no birth control method among the cattle, and their gestation is less than the human beings, 5 months to 6 months to 8 months – Less then the human beings and they multiply faster. So if we stop killing and stop raising… yet, within a few decades, we will have problems… not of over population of human beings – of over population of cattle – How you are going to solve it? There are various Nutrition… he talked about ‘Protein’, etc. – if time permits I will speak in the rebuttal. I would like to make a statement of Dr. George R. Kar, which is sufficient to counter all his arguments on health. Dr. George. R. Kar, he is the professor of Nutrition, in the University of Texas. Why I am giving the designation, you can come to know that these people actually specialize in catching health fraud – People who deal in, fraud in health. He says that… ‘Virtually all authors of The diet and Disease books – they propose hypothesis which are untested, ill-tested, unfound, unlikely or disproved’. I would like to repeat – Dr. George R. Kar says… ‘Virtually all authors of books on diet and disease – they propose hypothesis which is ill-tested, unfound, non tested, unlikely or disproved’. Time is running short. I would like to make the statement that is given by ‘The American Council on Science and Health’ – Just a statement…. See they are experts. These quotations of research are not scientific facts… all these quotations… that this causes diseases, that… Some are scientific facts, but they can be prevented, but the others things what is mentioning about this land and that land… these are only statistics done by individual researchers. Even when you do Phd. – you can do a research that will come into account, but will not carry weight. American Council on Science and Health says that… ‘A person need not abstain from meat, and be a Vegetarian to have a healthy diet’. And the topic is not… ‘Veg. or Non-Veg. which is healthier?’ – It is… ‘Is Non-Veg. food, permitted or prohibited for the human beings?’ And I will list out the points in summary, to make it easier for Mr. Zaveri to answer, in the rebuttal. Point No. 1 – There is not a single major Religion, which bans or prohibits all
Non-Veg. food in general. Point No. 2 – Geographical places like Arctic, where Eskimos live – how could you have provided food all these years back, and today also if you provide, it is going to be more expensive. Point No. 3 – If all life is sacred, why do you kill the plants… even they have life. Point No. 4 – Even plants feel pain. Point No. 5 – Even if I agree that they have two senses less – killing a creature of two senses less, is a lesser crime… is illogical. Point No. 6 – It is preferable to kill one animal and take one animal life, than to take 100 lives of plants, for feeding 100 people. Point No. 7 – Each and every argument can be disproved… the liver and the kidney, HCL, same with saliva, same with the Ph. of the blood, same with the Lipoprotein. Point No. 8 – The human beings have an Omnivorous set of teeth, for eating Veg. as well as Non-Veg. Point No. 9 – They have a digestive system which can digest both Veg. and Non-Veg., and I have proved it scientifically… I have proved by the enzymes. Point No. 10 – Primitive man was Non-Veg. – So you cannot say… ‘It is prohibited for human beings’ – human beings… means, it is even for that person. Point No. 11 – The food you eat has an effect on you behavior – but saying that …
‘Non-Veg food makes you violent’, has got no scientific base at all. Point No. 12 – Giving arguments that…‘Veg. food makes you strong, makes you peaceful, makes you intelligent makes you athletes’, are all myths. Point No. 13 – ‘Night vision and sense of smell, is strong in Carnivorous – in Herbivorous it is less’. ‘The Carnivorous animal has hoarse voice, you know coarse voice – Herbivorous animals do not have coarse voice’… are all illogical arguments. Point No. 14 – ‘That Veg. food is cheaper’… I have disproved it – It is not economical. In certain countries – Yes! like India, it can be – But if you go abroad, in the Western countries, Veg. food is more expensive – And fresh Veg. food is phenomenal… Fresh vegetables. Further more…. Point No. 15 – That… ‘the land required to graze the animal, will cause scarcity of the land for growing crops’… is also wrong. Point No. 16 – If the Non-Vegetarians stop slaughtering the cattle… do you know, that there will be over population of cattle. Point No. 17 – According to Dr. Kar… ‘These books written by dietitians, they cannot be relied upon’. All these statistics given, are mainly from there. Point No. 18 -There is not a single statement in any authentic medical book which says… ‘Non-Veg. food in general, should be banned’. Point No. 19 – There is not a single government on the face of the earth, which has banned all Non-Veg. food, as a general rule. And, Point No. 20 – that even ‘ The American Council on Science and Health’ has said that…‘For a healthy diet, being a pure Vegetarian is not required’. These are sufficient proofs, logical and scientific, that Non-Veg. food has to be permitted. If Mr. Zaveri does not agree, I request him to answer scientifically – not by comparison on just ‘Researches’. But yet, if Mr. Rashmibhai Zaveri does not reply to more than 20 points which I have put forth, yet I will not ask him to become a Non-Veg. – because I am not a fanatic Non-Vegetarian… I am not. Yet if he wants to continue eating vegetarian food, I have got no objection – It is a personal choice… It is a personal choice. Some people like… due to certain taste, etc. – it is a personal choice. And, only thing I would like to tell the people that… the Vegetarians, the ideological Vegetarians who do so much propaganda that… ‘This has got more value, etc.’ – they should stop such things, and stop distributing these type of books, which mislead the people. I would like to end my talk by given a quotation from the Glorious Qur’an, from Surah Nahl, Chapter 16, Verse 125, which says… (Arabic)… That is… ‘Invite all to the ways of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching, and argue with them, and reason with them in the ways that are best and most gracious’. Wa Aakhiru Dawana Anil Hamdullillahi Rabbil Aalameen.
(Clapping)
(Dr. Mohammed) I now call upon Mr. Rashmibhai Zaveri, to present his response to Dr. Zakir Naik – Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Rashmibhai Zaveri.
(Clapping)
(Mr. Zaveri) First of all, I really thank Dr. Zakir Naik for giving me the choice, whether I would like to still remain a Vegetarian or Non-Vegetarian – Thank you very much. I would request Mr. Coordinator, that would you like to have the rebuttal or my comments now – or shall we have… because after all you know, this is a…
(Dr. Mohammed) Now it is better you know… we will…
(Mr. Zaveri) Let us have some Question-Answer if you think.
(Dr. Mohammed) Question-Answer… we will have in the third session – We have three-part session – Yes, Mr. Zaveri you can continue.
(Mr. Zaveri) Any how, we are totally at the command of the co-ordinator, so I will obey.
(Dr. Mohammed) No… as decided you know… the same format we will keep.
(Mr. Zaveri) I will obey.
(Dr. Mohammed) I will not allow Dr. Zakir also, to change the format… I will object.
(Mr. Zaveri) Now, first thing that I will say… it is not the question of whether one is logical or illogical, and it is not a question of the choice that one makes – as I said is my talk earlier, everything is relative, and you have to understand this topic from that perspective. Now one thing that I will very strongly object with respect to Dr. Zakir’s… ‘that not a single Religion prohibits Non-Veg’. I am expert… I can say because I am a student, I have done M.A. in Jainology – I can say from my Religious point of view, that Lord Mahavir and our all 24 Tirtankaras, very vehemently prohibited Non-Veg. food – I have already given you some quotations. You see, mainly arguments of Dr. Dean Ornish is based on the fact, that Non-Veg. food contains excessive protein, cholesterol, and saturated fat. So that is why he said that… ‘For healthy and peaceful living, you must have Non-Veg. diet… No… Veg. diet’. Now, he said that plant has also got life – No, it is not only proved by Dr. Jagdish Chandra Bose, but even our Lord Mahavir – he stated 2500 years ago, that… ‘Not only plants… air, water, fire, minerals of the earth, they all have life. He has not said that you are allowed to kill this life, and maintain yourself – but he was a practical Tirtankara – so he said, that those who cannot renounce this world and became Jain Muni. You know Jain Munis… they do not even kill plant vegetation or even other a living beings for their food – they beg the food, which is cooked in our house. We will not go into that controversy… ‘That even you kill it, and then, give them’… that is a separate story – but the teachings of Mahavir are very clear, that you shall not harm any living being, whether animate or inanimate. Now, because of certain constraint, for those people who cannot renounce the world, he has said that at least you can avoid essential killing. He has said that… ‘Even if you… when you have food made out of plant, it is violence, it is Hinsa… but it is necessary – So what I prohibit is, unnecessary killing’. Friends, this is a very sharp distinction, but very important distinction we should make – that if the alternative is available, we should not go for that alternative, which compels us to kill and eat our own fellow creatures. Another thing he said… ‘plants’… In my talk I stated about… ‘plant food’, and he said that… ‘Even a Lizard can grow tail’ – that is the only exception. The plants, you pluck fruits… they will give you make fruits – you cut their branches… more branches will grow. See there is no end to such argument… so let us restrict our argument to this. About medical science… and he has rightly stated that… medically also, he has given certain things – I have also stated. Now it is for the enlightened audience to decide, whether the scientific facts that I have given are correct, or he has given – it is okay… it is a question of argument. Now he has conveniently forgotten – Please excuse me… I am telling because I am trying to rebute your thing – It is a psychological aspect… When we consume animal food, we also inherit certain animal instincts. What have you to say? – Please, in your rebuttal you can say that. Now, doctors also… most of the doctors prescribe raw vegetable – Now coming to cooking, most of the doctors prescribe raw vegetables, for healthy diet. Only that food or cereals, which will not be proper for a human being to consume raw… that only can be cooked. But as far as possible… and in our ‘Indian Vegetarian Congress’, we always, whenever we have a meeting, we have most of the food raw… uncooked, and that is more healthy, according to us. About the books… these books were not given by me to Dr. Naik, and it was given by my friend Mr. Salecha, who approached me – that is okay… it is nothing very important. Now I will tell you one thing, that you cannot alter the truth, by just loud applause. Okay, if you are impressed by my argument, you can applause me, or if you are impressed by the other argument, you can applause that. But I firmly believe, that just because some arguments are appealing to you, and you applause them loudly, will not alter the truth. And I will… I have referred to about one book… one Dr. Deepak Chopra, he has also written many books – he is also a physician… practicing physician, like Dr. Dean Ornish. He has also conducted researches, and he has come out with a theory, that your food will have terrific effect an your impulses and urges, your physical development, psychological development and emotional development. You know, most of the psychological and emotional distortions, are because of the flesh food that one eats, and that is why it is prohibited. It is totally illogical to say… ‘That by eating animals, you are helping Vegetarians’. We should not worry about the animal population, because nature is quite capable of taking care. Why?… Because we are… because we are rearing more animals, animals for killing – that is why, then if we are not doing it… look at the jungle… everywhere the natural cycle is there, balancing will take care of itself nobody has to worry about it. Now as per the history that Mr. Trivedi also referred, and also Dr. Zakir – now I will tell from Jain historical point of view, that in our Jain scriptures, it is mentioned very clearly that the people… those persons who were living in prehistoric stage, they lived under a tree, and they were sufficiently provided by trees – they did not have to go for any killings. Friends, I am of course given more time, but I am… I really personally feel that let us not have a sort of a dialogue or arguments between… I would like very much, the audience to participate and have more time for Question-Answer… thank you.
(Clapping)
(Dr. Mohammed) Thank you Mr. Zaveri – We have 5 minutes more… he has taken 5 minutes less. Now, I call upon Dr. Zakir Naik, to present his response to Mr. Rashmibhai Zaveri… for 15 minutes only.
(Clapping)
(Dr. Zakir) Alhamdullillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam Ala Rasullillah Wa Aala Aalihi Was Sahabihi Ajmayeen – Ama Bad. Auzbilla Himanesh Shaitan Ir Rajim, Bismillah Hir Rehmaanir Raheem.
(Arabic)…
Respected people on the dais, and my respected elders, and my dear brothers and sisters, I welcome once again all of you with the Islamic greetings ‘As Salaam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu’ – May Peace, Mercy, and Blessings of Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala, be on all of you. I have not conveniently forgotten anything. If you realize, I spoke may be a half minute more than the time allotted – so how can he say… ‘ I conveniently forgot?’ If you give me even five hours more, if you are willing to stay… because you are the person who kept time restrictions… you know less time… Thirty. I had to bargain for fifty minutes – I would love to speak for two hours… even full day. I can do it, because I am a marathon speaker… Alhamdulillah… I am a Non-Vegetarian.
(Clapping)
Mr. Zaveri said that… ‘I said that… No Religion prohibits Non-Veg’. I never said… ‘No Religion’ – I said ‘No major Religion’ – it is being recorded… ‘No major Religion’ – and Jainism is not a major Religion, according to the books you gave me. You gave certain books – Jains are only 0.4% of India - 0.4 – less than 1 percent – Can you call it a major religion? – In India – leave aside the world – World out of the question – negligible – I am very clear cut in my statement. Regarding the argument on Jainism I can reply, but the coordinator will not give me permission… I am restricted to Islam – you know I can reply even on Jainism… I am a student of comparative Religion.
(Dr. Mohammed) Excuse me sir, you cannot interfere when the speaker is speaking.
(Dr. Zakir) Brother is saying… ‘I did not say’ – you can very well see the Video cassette… ‘There is not a single major Religion which bans or prohibits, all Non-Veg. food in general’ - You can see the Video cassette.
(Dr. Mohammed) You can ask the question… in question time.
(Dr. Zakir) Do not get irritated… the diet will help you… do not get irritated. Brother Rashmibhai Zaveri said… ‘I did not answer, whether you get animal instinct’. I said in my lecture, I think you did not hear - I said… ‘We eat peaceful animals like goat, sheep, because we want to be peaceful’ – and therefore when I came… starting, I always said… ‘Peace be on all of you’. Further, he said I did not state… ‘Dr. Dean Ornish’. I yet challenge him – if his book is referred by any authentic Medical College - authentic book… not just dietary books – that answer I already gave… by Dr. Willam T. Jarves… ‘Even scientists and medical professionals are not immune to the ideological thinking of the Vegetarians – They are not immune’. It is not a medical book… he may have written a diet book. I am very clear in my words… I do not mix words. And Dean Ornish, whatever his name is… may be very famous – I do not know him… I am hearing for the first time… I do not know – I yet ask him to prove and check, whether that book is referred, as a text book, not as a medical book… a text medical book, in a college – that shows the authenticity. He said…‘We should not worry about the cattle… nature will take care’ – It is you all who are so much worrying… we are not worrying. Nature made them in such a way, that the moment you kill them, they will again come – God is the Creator… Allah made them. If we kill Lion, Tiger, they will become extinct… therefore we cannot have their food. The cattle, we can have… God has made them that way – If we do not follow the instruction of God, they will be overpopulated. And regarding cutting of plants, what he said… you know people say that… ‘ If we have plants, the mother is yet alive’ - So in that way the offspring of the Cow, of the Goat, the Calves – that means… can we eat them? Yes! Because mother is yet alive… the Cow is yet alive, and when the offspring becomes a mother, we can also kill the mother. So even if I agree with his logic… ‘The plants survives’- in the animals, more lives are surviving than the plants - if I agree with his logic. Further more I said that… ‘Best is, prevention is better than cure’. I agree with Dr. Ornish when he says that… ‘You know, vegetarian diet is helpful for certain disease’ – Even I advice that – Where did I say… ‘No’? But the topic is not… ‘Which food is healthier?’ - but making a statement… ‘It is, banned for human beings’. I challenge any authentic medical book… I am a doctor… not books… whether given by Rushabh Foundation or Indian Vegetarian Congress – Whatever it is… these books are stating things which are unfound, ill tested, unproved. There is a Islamic method of ‘Prevention is better than cure’ which will answer most of your questions – The Islamic method is there of ‘Prevention is better than cure’. When we slaughter the animal, we do the ‘Zabihah’ – we cut the throat, and the wind pipe, and the vessels of the neck, without damaging the spinal cord – otherwise the nerve going to the heart may get severed… there will be cardiac arrest. When the spinal cord is not damaged and the vessels of the neck are slit open, along with the throat and the wind pipe, the heart is pumping… most of the blood flows out of the body. Blood is a very good media of germ and bacteria. If you slaughter the animal in this way, most of the diseases transmitted by blood, many which you named, can be eliminated, can be prevented – the meat remains fresh for a longer time. If it is slaughtered in the Islamic method – and people say… ‘Oh! It is a merciless … you know you all are so mercilessly killing … it dies of pain’. When we slaughter in the Islamic method, when we cut the blood vessels of the neck, the blood supply going to the nerves which is responsible for pain, is severed – So the animal does not feel pain. The animal kicks and withers … you know why? – Due to the gush of flow. The animal does not feel pain – it is contracting and relaxing, because there is lack of blood in that part of the body. The animal does not die of pain … it dies a painless death – painless… painless. We eliminate most of the disease transmitted by blood. Secondly, there are many countries in the world, and many people, who raise animals… they give them hormones. And one was mentioned, by Mr. Zaveri… he did not name – It is called as ‘DES’ Diacecerol Beseserol. It is a hormone injected to cattle, so that they become fat, and you get more money for flesh – This is ‘Haram’… in Islam. ‘Carcinogenic hormones’… if injected animals – even if you slaughter by the ‘Zabihah’ method, it is yet ‘Haram’ It is ‘Zabihah’, but not ‘Halal’… It is ‘Zabihah’ , and ‘Haram’. If the cattle are injected with hormones… you are not allowed to have those hormones, neither are we allowed to have Cows, which are fed with Non-Veg. – because the Prophet said… ‘Any animal that is fed with Non-Veg., it is prohibited for you’. After that, if you take care of hygienic conditions, and cook the meat very well, most of the diseases which Mr. Zaveri spoke of… not all – Most of them will be eliminated. And in the Non-Veg. flesh food… the most dangerous, which is commonly eaten, is pork. It has more than 70 different diseases which you can get, if you inject pork… more than 70 different diseases – and one of them is ‘Ischemic heart disease’ which he spoke about. Because pork has more of fat building material than muscle building materials – It gets deposited on the walls of the vessels causing Artheresclerosis, Hyper tension, etc. That is the reason in the Qur’an, no less than four different places in Surah Baqrah, Chapter No. 2, Verse No. 173, in Surah Maidah, Chapter No. 5, Verse No. 3, in Surah Anam, Chapter No. 6, Verse No. 145 and Surah Nahl, Chapter No. 16, Verse No. 115, it says…(Arabic)… ‘Forbidden for you for food are dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and any food on which, any name besides God’s name has been invoked’. It is ‘Haram’ – So we abstain from it, and we prevent several diseases of Non-Veg. Qur’an says in Surah Taha, Chapter No. 20, Verse No. 81… ‘Eat of the food We have provided for you in sustenance, but commit no excesses there in’. Most of the diseases what Mr. Rashmibhai Zaveri spoke about, is due to excessive eating. Even if you eat excessive Veg. food, you will have many diseases - I will not say do not have Veg. food… I am a doctor, I am not an ideological, neither a fanatic Non-Vegetarian. So if you prevent eating in excess, most of the diseases will be prevented. If you follow the Islamic guidelines, slaughter in the Islamic method, remove the blood, do not give hormones, cook the food very well, hygienic conditions, avoid pork, do not eat in excess, most of the diseases can be prevented – It answers most of his arguments. Few are yet remaining – if time permits, during Question-Answer time if you ask, I will reply. Do you know, they are talking about healthy food… healthy food… talking about all research and experiments – I will talk something which is a fact. According to Dr. William… again very famous person - Dr. William, he says that… ‘Vegetarian food extends the life of a human being, for more than six years’. If you have Veg. food, as compared to Non-Veg. food, you will live six years longer – Again hypothesis… hypothesis. If you analyze, a data was collected about all the people who lived above 100 years from 1932 to 1952, and on this data a person by the name of Osegares - he wrote a book ‘Living to be Hundred’ – 1200 people who did… and why they did it - Everything is mentioned… In it even diet is mentioned. Do you know out of 1200 people, how many were Vegetarian? – How many, guess… 1000 – Four! Four!… Four! This survey was not done to prove Veg. food or Non-Veg food – It was done for other reasons… but even the diet was mentioned. It is a fact… It is not a research – It is a fact. Out of 1200 people who lived in a span of 20 years, over 100 years… only four were Vegetarian. You know ‘Alcohol’? - Alcohol alone – It is a Veg. diet, or no? ‘Alcohol’ is Veg. or Non-Veg?… Veg! – From juices of fruits. And the disease that are caused by alcohol alone, is more than all the Non-Veg., diseases put together – One vegetable diet! So just for alcohol, I cannot say that all vegetable food should be banned. Today scientists… and even he will agree… it is mentioned in his book also – the cause of maximum deaths today is… ‘Alcohol’… number one – So I do not ban all Veg. food. What do I say? – As Qur’an says in Surah Maidah, Chapter No. 5, Verse No. 90 … (Arabic)… That… ‘O! ye who believe, verily intoxicants and gambling and idol worship and dedication of stones and divination of arrows - these are Satan’s handiwork - Abstain from it, that ye may prosper’. ‘Alcohol’ is a Satan’s handiwork… abstain from it. I have only prohibited ‘alcohol’… not all Veg. food. And smoking… Second greatest cause of death in the world – Veg. or Non-Veg.? – Veg.! Can you prevent the alcoholic disease? – Only when you can prevent is, when it is defermented – it ceases to be Alcohol. Can you prevent smoking disease? – Do not have tobacco… Only option is prohibition. If there is no prevention, then comes the question of prohibition – So alcohol is prohibited. There are more than 400 Fatwas by Islamic scholars – ‘Smoking is prohibited’ because there is no prevention. You know Kesri dal… Kesri dal – Indian government has banned it. It causes ‘Spastic Paraplegia’… staple food of North West, Indians! Banned, why? – It causes death also… ‘Spastic Paraplegia’. ‘Alcohol’ – Many countries have banned… including Saudi Arabia, including states in India have banned it. Smoking in Singapore is banned in public places, in government places, in public transport. ‘Kesri dal’- banned by India. If there is no prevention, then you can ban it. I do not know of a single government, that has banned all Non-Veg. food in general… Not a single. Yes! few Non-Veg. food like pork – Saudi Arabia has banned. There is no prevention… ban it! – If there is no prevention, then you prohibit it. And the debate was not… ‘Which is better, which is healthier – Veg. or Non-Veg.?’ The debate was … ‘Is Non-Veg. food permitted or prohibited?’ I gave a list of more than 20 points – So I can very well say that Mr. Rashmibai Zaveri conveniently stopped his talk five minutes before, not to answer these things – If you give me one hour more, I will continue speaking. Wild berries… they are poisonous, Stitch beans… vegetable food – they are poisonous, Datura… poisonous. What is the solution? – Do not have it. You know ‘Water’ – Water has so many diseases transmitted… Cholera, Paratyphoid, Typhoid, it causes Amebiaces, Giadiasis, Round worm, Pin worm, Wild Hepetises – I can go on talking… only by water. What do you do… Do you ban water? – You prevent it… You purify the water… the diseases will be prevented. You know ‘milk’ – Milk has so many diseases… Chizelia, Cholera, Paratyphoid, Typhoid, Tuberculosis, Salmonelesis, Brusolosis – I can go on listing. What do you do?… Do you ban milk?… What do you do? – You pasteurize it… You do not ban it… You do not prohibit it – It is un-medical. Whether milk is Non-Veg. or Veg. … is a debatable topic – I will not argue on that. So if you cannot prevent the disease, then do you prohibit it? I have given various reasons, which Mr. Rashmibhai Zaveri has not replied. There is not a single government, who has banned Non-Veg. food in general, there is not a single major Religion which has banned Non-Veg. food in general – therefore I say that… ‘Non-Veg. food is permitted – not prohibited’. If I have hurt the feelings of any Vegetarian, while giving the replies to the speaker, I sincerely apologize from the bottom of my heart. I would like to end the talk, by giving the quotation of the Glorious Qur’an, from Surah Isra, Ch. No. 17, Verse No. 81, which says…(Arabic)… ‘When truth is hurled against falsehood, falsehood perishes, for falsehood is by its nature bound to perish’. Wa Akhiru Dawana Anil Hamdulillahi Rabbil Aalameen.
(Clapping)
(Back Ground Azaan, By Brother Yusuf Islam)
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(Azan Continued….)
September 29, 2007
UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD
(Br. Moin Don) Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Aalamin …(Arabic)… Good morning ladies and gentlemen – It is indeed a matter of great pleasure and pride for all the citizens of Bhiwandi, to have amongst us today, Dr. Zakir Naik. I take this opportunity to welcome Dr. Zakir Naik and the dignitaries from all the walks of the life, on behalf of the organisers… AQSA Educational Society. There has been another change in the programme – As it was announced, the Commissioner of the Police, Mr. Bohitay will be the President of the function – but because of some contingencies, he has sent his apologies. It is very kind of Mr. Hingorane, a senior Advocate, to have accepted to preside today’s function – I really thank him on behalf of Aqsa Educational Society. Friends, we are about to start our formal function – I hereby call upon Qari Abdus Salam to come on the desk, for recital of Qur’an – Qari Abdus Salam.
(Qari Abdus Salam) Assalamu Alaikum …(Arabic)…
(Br. Moin Don) JazakAllah – Qari Abdus Salam has just recited the 1st Verse, from Surah Nisa, from Holy Qur’an. For the benefit of all those who are present here, I would like to give the translation there of. Bismillah Hir Rahman Nir Rahim. In the Name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful. …(Arabic)… ‘O, Mankind fear your Guardian, Lord who created you from a single person. …(Arabic)… Created out of it, his mate, and from them twine, scattered like seeds, countless men and women. …(Arabic)… Fear Allah, through Whom you are demand your mutual rights, and be heedful of wombs that bore you. …(Arabic)… For Allah ever watches over you. That is the translation of the 1st verse of Surah Nisa. Now I call upon the chairman of AQSA Educational Society, Mr. Javed Fareed, to give a brief introduction of AQSA Educational Society – Mr. Javed Fareed.
(Mr. Javed Fareed) …(Arabic)… Respected President of this function, Advocate Hingorane Sahab, our chief uest of this function Advocate Prabhakar Hegde Sahab, Main speaker of this function Dr. Zakir Naik Saheb, Main organiser of this function, on behalf of AQSA Educational Society Mr Abdul Majid Narvel Saheb, our guest of honours, brothers and sisters, Assalamu Aalikum. On behalf of AQSA Educational Society, I welcome you all on this particular occasion and function. AQSA Educational Society was established in the year 1980, under the guidance and supervision, and thoughts, given by at that time, our Religious and spiritual guide, Maulana Abdus Samad Saifuddin Saheb. His idea was at that time, that the women of our society must get perfect and good education, so that as soon as they will get good education, they will prove themselves as good house wives, good mothers and then immediately they will be an asset to the society and of course they will just take care very gracefully – total problems of the families, and all that. And for that purpose and idea, in 1987 we started AQSA Girls’ High School, with just one hundred and twenty seven students at that time. Alhamdulillah by the grace of Allah, within 10 years, that is in 1998, this year, the strength of girls students has gone up to two thousand seven hundred, and InshaAllah in the year 1999 June, it is expected to go up to 3000 – Of course I know that you have come to listen not much to me, but to Dr. Naik – So please excuse me and listen to him – thank you.
(Br. Moin Don) Thank you Javed bhai. And as the protocol demands, I would like to introduce to you to, in a very brief manner, the distinguished guests, who are occupying the stage. As told to you earlier, Mr. K. R. Hingorane – he has kindly consented to preside over the function, in absence of Mr. Mohite. Mr. K. R. Hingorane, Advocate for last 45 years in Bhiwandi – he was President of Bhiwandi Bar Association for last six years, and he has in-depth studied comparative Religion. Our chief guest of the day, Prabhakar Hegde’s personality is well known to Bhiwandi people – He is a leading lawyer of state for last 50 years. He was also member of the Law Commission, and he is pioneer of ‘The Legal Aid and Lok Adalat’ which was first held in Bhiwandi. At the age of 75 years, he is still an active Advocate, an ideal for aspiring young Advocates. He has written books for the guidance of the junior practicing lawyers, on subjects like ‘Bail and Injunctions.’ As veteran Congress man, he was district Congress President, and also Vice President of MPCC – Presently he is busy defending TADA victims in Bombay. Our main speaker Dr. Zakir Naik, President of Islamic Research Foundation, is a dynamic international orator, on Islam and comparative Religion. He is the main driving spirit by, Alhamdulillah, behind the Islamic Research Foundation getting world wide acclaim for their proper presentation, understanding and clarification of Islam, as well as removing misconceptions about Islam. Though a medical doctor by professional training, he has turned around to spread the real truth of Islam, world wide, especially amongst millions of English speaking audience. At only 32 years, Dr. Zakir explains the teachings of Islam, and clears misconceptions convincingly, with the help of reason, logic and science. He has tremendous ability to quote extensively and verbatim, from Holy Qur’an and other Religions Scriptures. Dr. Zakir is renowned for his critical analysis and his spontaneous and convincing answers to challenging questions, posed by the audiences, and skeptics about his public talks, in open Question and Answer sessions. He has delivered more than 200 public talks in the last 2 years itself, in United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore, in addition to many public talks in India. He has also participated in symposium with prominent personalities of all the other faiths. Dr. Zakir has appeared on various international TV programmes, and Satellite and TV Channel programmes in United States of America, Malaysia, in India, etc. He is regularly quizzed and interviewed by the Media, world wide, specially on – Why Islam conflicts with issue of Women’s rights?.… Human rights, Modern Science and Secularism. But his dynamic resolve to dispel media myths about Islam, with facts, specific references and proper context, stand out to rectify or neutralize the prejudice or media bias if any, based on unwarranted presumption or conclusion. More than a 100 of Dr. Zakir’s lectures, debates and symposia available on video and audio cassettes, are popular – He has authored books on Islam and comparative Religion Friends, there I end the introductory part – I welcome on behalf of the AQSA Educational Society, DCP Mr. Saxena, who has just arrived on the stage – And I request now, Brother Mohammed to take care of the rest of the session – Brother Muhammed.
(Dr. Muhammed) Jazakallah Khair, for your kind introduction. Our session would be as such, we would a talk on ‘Universal Brotherhood’, by Dr. Zakir Naik, which would be followed by the Question and Answer session, in which our audience, the press, the people present here, including our learned Chief Guest, the President, and our DCP of the area – they are welcome to question or cross examine, or put forward any queries they may have on the topic of ‘Universal Brotherhood’ – so all present here have a better understanding of the topic. We begin right away with the talk on ‘Universal Brotherhood’ by Dr. Zakir Naik.
(Dr. Zakir) Alhamdulillah …(Arabic)… Respected Advocate Hegde, respected Advocate Hingorane, my respected elders, and my dear brothers and sisters, I welcome all of you with the Islamic greetings, Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barkatahu – May Peace, Blessings and Mercy of Allah (swt)… of Almighty God, be on all of you. The topic of this mornings’ talk is ‘Universal Brotherhood.’ There are various types of brotherhoods – For e.g. brotherhood based on blood relationships, brotherhood based on regions, on race, on caste, on creeds, etc. – But all these types of brotherhood – they are limited. Islam Alhamdulillah, believes in Universal Brotherhood. It does not believe that human beings have been created in castes or in different levels. And I started my talk by quoting a Verse from the Glorious Qur’an, from Surah Hujurat, Chapter No. 49, Verse No. 13, which describes the Islamic concept of Universal Brotherhood, in the best way. It says …(Arabic)… Which means that… ‘O human kind, We have created you from a single pair of male and female, and have divided you into nations and tribes, so that you shall recognize each other, not that you shall despise each other, and the most honoured in the sight of Allah (swt) is the person who has Taqwa – and Allah is all knowing, full of knowledge, and well acquainted with all things.’ This Verse of the Glorious Qur’an says that…‘O humankind, We have created you from a single pair of male and female’ – that means the whole human race originates from a single pair of male and female. All the human beings in the world – they have a common grandparent. And Allah (swt) says that We have divided the human race into nations and tribes, so that they shall recognize each other, not that they shall despise and fight amongst themselves.’ And the criteria for judgment, in the sight of Allah (swt) – this verse says… ‘Does not depend on sex, caste, colour, creed or wealth – but it depends, on Taqwa – that is God consciousness, that is piety, that is righteousness. Anyone who is more righteous, who is more pious, who is more God-conscious, is honoured in the sight of Allah (swt) – and Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted with all things. Further the Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Ar-Rum, Ch. No. 30, V. No. 22, that… ‘And amongst His signs, is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variation in your languages, and your colours. Verily in that, is a sign for those who know.’ The Glorious Qur’an says that Allah (swt) has created various types of languages and different colours… black human being, white, brown, yellow – and these are signs. These variations in colour and language, is not to despise each other, because every language that you have on the face of the earth – it is a beautiful language. It may sound funny, if it is unique to you – you may not have heard that language before – it may sound funny – but those people who speak that language, for them it is the most beautiful language. So Allah says… ‘He has created various languages and colours, so that you may recognize, you may know each other. And the Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Israa, Ch. No. 17, V. No. 70 …(Arabic)… That… ‘Allah (swt)… Almighty God, has honoured the children of Adam.’ Allah does not say that He has honoured only the Arabs or the Americans or a particular race – but Almighty God has honoured all the children of Adam, irrespective of race, caste, colour, creed or sex .And there are many faiths, there are many religions, who believe that the humankind has originated from a single pair – that is Adam and Eve (peace be upon them). But there are some faiths which say, that it is because of the sin of the woman… that is Eve (May Allah be pleased with her), that the human beings are born in sin – And they put the blame only on the woman, that is Eve, for the downfall of human beings. In fact the Qur’an speaks about the story of Adam and Eve (peace be upon them) in several places – but in all the places, the blame is equally put on both of them – Adam and Eve (peace be upon them). And if you read Surah Araf, Ch. No. 7 : V, No. 19 to 27…‘Adam and Eve (peace be upon them), they are addressed more than a dozen of times’. And the Qur’an says that…‘Both of them disobeyed Allah (swt)… Almighty God – both of them repented, and both were forgiven’. Both are equally blamed for the mistake – there is not a single verse in the Glorious Qur’an, which puts the blame only on Eve (May Allah be pleased with her). But there is a Verse in the Glorious Qur’an in Surah Taha, Ch. No.20, V. No. 121, which says that Adam (pbuh) disobeyed Allah (swt). But if you read the Qur’an, both are equally blamed for not obeying Allah (swt) – they both repented and they both were forgiven. And certain faiths – they say that…‘Because Eve disobeyed Allah (swt) and is responsible for the sin of humankind’ – which Islam does not agree – ‘Allah (swt) cursed the woman, and said that she will bear labour pains.’ That means – Pregnancy is a curse, according to some people – which Islam does not agree at all. And the Qari recited the Verse from the Glorious Qur’an, from Surah Nisa, Ch. No. 4, V. No. 1, which says… ‘Respect the womb that bore you.’ In Islam, pregnancy does not degrade a woman – it uplifts a woman. And the Qur’an says in Surah Luqman, Ch. 31, V. No. 14, that… ‘O humankind, We have enjoined on you, to be good to your parents. In travail upon travail, did your mother bore him, and in years twain, was his weaning.’ The Qur’an says in Surah, Ahqaf, Ch. 46, V. No. 15…‘We have enjoined on the human beings to be kind to the parents. In pain did his mother bore him, and in pain did she give him birth.’ Pregnancy uplifts a woman – it does not degrade her. And in Islam, men and women are equal. And according to a Hadith which is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari, Vol.No. 8, in the Book of Adab, Ch. No. 2, H. No. 2… ‘A person came to the Prophet Mohammed (saw)… Mohammed (pbuh), and asked him that… ‘Who is the person who deserves the maximum love and championship in this world ?’ And the Prophet said…‘Your mother.’ The man asked…‘Who next?’ The Prophet said… ‘Your mother.’ The man asked… ‘After that who?’ The Prophet repeated for the third time… ‘Your mother.’ The man asked… ‘After that who?’ Then the Prophet said… ‘Your father.’ In short 75% , ¾ of the love and companionship of the children, are due to the mother. 25% , ¼ of the love and companionship goes to the father. In short, the mother gets the gold medal, she gets the silver medal, as well as the bronze medal – The father has to be satisfied with a mere consolation prize. These are the teachings of Islam. In Islam, men and women are equal – but equality does not mean identicality. There are many misconceptions – specially when women are concerned in Islam. Many Muslims and Non Muslims – they have a misconception, which can be removed if you understand the authentic sources – Qur’an and the Sahih Hadith, correctly. As I mentioned, men and women are overall equal – But equality does not mean identicality. Let me give you an example – that if in a class of students, two student – Student ‘A’ and ‘B’ – they came out first – and both acquire 80 marks out of 100. But if you analyze the answer sheet, there are 10 questions, each carrying 10 marks. In the first answer student ‘A’ gets 9 out of 10, student ‘B’ gets 7 out of 10, so in question 1 student ‘A’ has a degree of advantage, than student ‘B’. In question 2, student ‘B’ gets 9 out of 10, and student ‘A’ gets 7 out of 10 – In question 2, student ‘B’ has a degree of advantage, than student ‘A’. In the remaining 8 questions, both get 8 out of 10 – and if you total the marks of both the students, both get 80 out of 100. So if you analyse, both student ‘A’ and ‘B’ are over all equal. But in the answers to some questions, student ‘A’ has a degree of advantage – In answers to some questions, student ‘B’ has a degree of advantage – but overall, both are equal. Similarly in Islam, men and women are equal. Brotherhood in Islam, does not only mean that the same sexes are equal. The ‘Universal Brotherhood’ in Islam means, that besides race, caste, and creed, even the sex are overall equal. Men and women are equal in Islam – but in some aspects, the men have a degree of advantage – In some aspects, the women have a degree of advantage – but overall both are equal. For example, if a robber enters my house, I will not say that… ‘I believe in women’s right… I believe in women’s liberation – therefore my sister, my wife, my mother, should go and fight the robber.’ Because Allah says in Surah Nisa, Ch. 4, V 34, that… ‘Allah has given men, more strength than the other’ – that is, men have more strength than the women.’ So where strength is concerned, the men have a degree of advantage – so since they have been given more strength, it is their duty to protect the women – Here the men have a degree of advantage. Where love and companionship is concerned, where children should give to their parents – the women have a degree of advantage – As I mentioned earlier, the mother gets three times more respect and companionship, than the father. Here the women have a degree of advantage – but overall if you analyze, men and women are equal in Islam. And for more details, you can refer to my video cassette – I have given a talk on ‘Women Rights in Islam – Modernizing or Outdated ? It is Part I – that is the lecture, and Part II which is the Question-Answer session. These discuss the issue in great detail, and many misconceptions which are there in the minds of the human being, have been removed here. And in this talk, I have divided the ‘Women’s Right in Islam’, under six broad headings… Spiritual rights, Economic rights, Social rights, Legal rights, Educational rights, and the Political rights. And I have described there, that overall, men and women are equal. The concept of Almighty God in Islam, of Allah (swt), is not that Almighty God… Allah (swt), is the deity of a particular race or a particular group of people. But the Qur’an says in Surah Fatihah, Ch. No.1, V. No. 2 …(Arabic)… ‘Praise be to the Lord of worlds.’ Almighty God is referred to as ‘Rabbil Aalamin’ the Lord of the worlds.’ And the last Surah of the Glorious Qur’an, that is, Surah Nas, Ch. 114, V. No.1 …(Arabic)… ‘That say: I Seek refuge with the Lord of humankind’. Almighty God… Allah (swt) is the Lord of the whole of humankind – not of a particular group of people, or a particular race.And there are various Verses in the Glorious Qur’an which begin by saying …(Arabic)… ‘O humankind’ …(Arabic)… ‘O humankind’ …(Arabic)… ‘O humankind.’ And even the two Verses I quoted in the beginning of my talk – they began with …(Arabic)… ‘O humankind.’ And the Glorious Qur’an also says in Surah Baqarah, Ch. No. 2, V. No. 168 …(Arabic)… ‘Oh humankind, eat of what is on the earth, good and lawful for you, and follow not the footsteps of the devil, for he is to you an avowed enemy.’ Islam – in order for Universal Brotherhood to prevail in the world, it has a moral code… it has a moral law, which helps in Universal Brotherhood prevailing throughout the world, throughout the Universe. The Qur’an says in Surah Maidah, Ch. No.5, V. No. 32, that…‘If anyone kills a person unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land, it is as though he has killed the whole nation – all the people. And if any person saves a life, it is as though he has saved the whole of humankind – all the people.’ The Qur’an says that if any person kills any human being – whether it be a Muslim or Non Muslim – it does not specify the race or caste or colour or creed – If any person kills any human being, unless it be for murder, or for spreading mischief in the land, it is as though he has killed the whole of humanity. And if any one saves an human being, whether it be a Muslim or Non Muslim, from any caste, colour or creed, it as though he has saved the whole of humankind. The Qur’an has various laws of moral conduct, so that Universal Brotherhood will prevail throughout the Universe. The Glorious Qur’an says that… ‘No one should ever rob – it is a crime, it is a sin.’ Islam has a system of Zakat – that is, any rich person who has a saving of more than the Nisab level, 85 grams of gold – he or she should give 2.5 percent of that saving, every lunar year in charity. If every human being in the world gives Zakat, poverty will be eradicated from this world – there will not be a single human being who will die of hunger. And the Glorious Qur’an says, that…‘You should love and help your neighbours.’ The Qur’an says in Surah Ma’un, Ch. No. 107, V. No. 1 to 7 …(Arabic)… That… ‘Seeth thou not the person who denies the day of judgement, and deals the orphan with harshness, and encourages not the feeding of the indigent. Woe to those who are neglectful of their prayers, woe to those who pray only to be seen of men, who do not even provide neighbourly assistance.’ The Qur’an says that… ‘Woe to those people who do not even provide neighbourly assistance.’ And our beloved Prophet Mohammed (sws) said that…‘He is not a Muslim, who sleeps with his full stomach, while his neighbours are hungry.’ That means, any person who sleeps with his full stomach… that means… had a good meal, while his neighbours are hungry, is not following the commandments of Allah, and His Rasul. The Glorious Qur’an says that… ‘Do not be a spendthrift.’ The Qur’an says in Surah Israa, Ch. No. 17, V. No. 26 and 27, that… ‘Do not squander your wealth like that of a spendthrift, for verily spendthrifts are the brothers of the evil one… of the Satan.’ If you are a spendthrift, you are bound to disturb the Universal Brotherhood – because but natural, if a person squanders, it creates animosity, it creates enmity, it creates envy between the brothers. A person should not rob, a person should give charity, a person should provide neighbourly assistance – all these are moral conducts, mentioned in the Glorious Qur’an. The Qur’an further says that…‘You should not bribe.’ The Qur’an says in Surah Baqarah, Ch. No. 2, V. No. 188, that… ‘Spend not your wealth on vanities and do not use it as a bait for judges, in order that you may eat somebody else’s property.’ That means… ‘Do not use your wealth to bribe the people, so that you may eat up other people’s wealth’ – Islam does not agree in eating up your brother’s wealth. And the Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Maidah, Ch. No. 5, V. No. 90…(Arabic)… ‘Oh you who believe …(Arabic)… Most certainly intoxicants and gambling …(Arabic)… dedication of stones, divination of arrows …(Arabic)… these are Satan’s handiwork …(Arabic)… Abstain from this handiwork, that you may proper.’ The Glorious Qur’an says that… ‘Abstain from having intoxicants, alcohol, drugs, from gambling, from dedication of stones, divination of arrows – all these are Satan’s handiwork.’ And we know that intoxicants is one root cause for various evils in the society – it prevents the Universal Brotherhood form prevailing. And according to statistics – it tells us that… ‘In America, on an average everyday, more than one thousand nine hundred cases of rape take place – and in most of the cases, either the victim or the rapist, is intoxicated.’ The statistics of America tell us that… ‘There is 8% of incest in America.’ That means, every 12th or 13th person you come across in America, he has committed incest – that is, having sexual relationship with close relatives – father and daughter, son and mother, brother and sister – and majority… almost all the cases, it is under the state of intoxication. AIDS is spreading in the world – one of the reason is intoxicants. Therefore the Qur’an says…‘Intoxicants and gambling – it is a Satan’s handiwork – Abstain form this handiwork, that you may prosper.’ If you abstain from these evil things, Universal Brotherhood will be helped in prevailing throughout the Universe. The Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Israa, Ch. No.17 : V. No. 32… ‘Nor come close to adultery, for it is a shameful deed – It is an evil, opening other roads to evil.’ Islam is against adultery, The Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Hujurat, Ch. 49 : V. No. 11 and 12 that …(Arabic)… ‘Oh ye who believe, let not some men among you laugh at the others – You may never know, that the latter may be better than the former. Let not some women among you, laugh at the other – You may never know, that the latter may be better than the former. Do not defame one another, nor be sarcastic or call each other with nicknames. Avoid suspicion, for in many cases suspicion is a sin. Do not spy on one another, do not backbite, do not speak ill of one another behind their backs. Are you ready to eat the dead meat of your brother ?’ The Qur’an says that…‘If you backbite, if you slander any one behind their backs, it is as though you are eating the meat of your dead brother.’ And eating the meat of your dead brother is a double sin – Eating dead meat itself is prohibited – eating meat of your dead brother is double crime. Even the cannibals who eat human beings, they do not eat the flesh of their brother. So if you backbite, if you speak ill about somebody else behind their back, it is a double crime – it is eating the meat of your dead brother. And the Qur’an, gives the answer… ‘Allah (swt) says… ‘Nay you will abhor it… No one would like it.’ The Qur’an says in Surah Humuzah, Ch. 104 : V. No. 1 …(Arabic)…‘Woe to every kind of scandal monger and backbiter.’ All these laws of moral conduct given in the Glorious Qur’an and the Sahih Hadith – they promote Universal Brotherhood. Besides talking about Universal Brotherhood, the uniqueness about Islam is that, it practically demonstrates the Universal Brotherhood. The Muslims are supposed to demonstrate the Universal Brotherhood, five times a day in their Salah. When we offer Salah, we practically demonstrate the Universal Brotherhood. It is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari, Vol. No.1, in the Book of Adhan, Ch. No.75, H. No. 692 that… ‘Hazrat Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) – he said that when we stood for Salah, the shoulder of the companions touched with the shoulder of the companion – our feet touched with the feet of a companion.’ The beloved Prophet said – it is mentioned in Sunnah Abu Dawood, Volume No. 1, in the Book of Salah Ch. No.245, H. No.666, our beloved Prophet said…‘Before starting the Salah… that straighten your rows, stand shoulder to shoulder, and do not leave any gap or opening, for the devil.’ The Prophet said… ‘Stand close to each other during Salah, and do not leave any opening for the devil.’ The Prophet was not referring to the devil which you see in the Onida TV Ad – You know the Onida TV Ad… the devil with the two horns and a tail. The Prophet was not referring to that devil – he was referring to devil of Racism, of Caste, of Colour, of Wealth. Irrespective whether rich or poor, whether king or pauper, when you stand for prayers… when you stand for Salah, stand shoulder to shoulder, so that the brotherhood increases – The devil of Racism, of Caste, of Colour, of Creed, of Wealth, does not came in between you. And the best example of International Brotherhood, is in the pilgrimage of Islam – that is, during Haj. About two and a half million people from various parts of the world – they come to Mecca to perform Haj. People from various parts of the world – from America, from Canada, from U.K, from Singapore, from Malaysia, from India, from Pakistan, from Indonesia – from various parts of the world they come. And the men they are dressed up in two pieces of unsewn cloth – that is preferably white. You cannot identify that the person standing next to you – whether he is a King or a pauper – It is the best example of International Brotherhood. It is the biggest annual gathering of the world. Two and a half million people gather every year – and the person standing next to you – You cannot make out whether he is a King or a pauper. Irrespective whether you are rich or poor, black or white – from whichever part of the world you are coming, you are dressed in the same attire. And our beloved Prophet Mohammed (SAW) said in the speech of his farewell pilgrimage as he said that… ‘There is only one God, and no Arab is superior to a Non-Arab; nor is a Non-Arab superior to an Arab; a White is not superior to a Black, nor a Black is over the White. The only criteria for superiority is taqwa… it is righteousness, it is piety, it is God consciousness. Irrespective whichever race you belong to, whichever colour you have – that does not make you superior – In the sight of Allah, all are equal. Only if you are more pious, more God-conscious, more righteous, can you be superior to the other human being. And when the Haj is performed, every person – he recites… ‘Lab baik Allah humma lab baik …(Arabic)… They keep on repeating …(Arabic)… Even when he comes back from Haj – that always remains in his mind …(Arabic)… which means … ‘Here I am O my Lord; here I am. …(Arabic)… Here I am – You have no partners – here I am. …(Arabic)… All praises are due to You – all bounties are yours. …(Arabic)… To You belongs the whole dominion, the whole Universe, and You have no partners.’ It is engrained in his mind, that …(Arabic)… ‘Here I am O my Lord, here I am.’ And the corner stone of the Islamic faith is, the belief in one and only sole Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe – He alone deserves worship. And it is because of belief in one God, that there can be Universal Brotherhood. That means, the same God has created all the human beings, irrespective whether you are rich or poor, whether a male or female, whether black or white, whichever caste, colour, creed you belong to all of them are equal – because they are created by one and only sole Creator, Almighty God. Only if you believe in one God, can you practice Universal Brotherhood. That is the reason that, all the major Religions which believe in the concept of God – On a higher level they believe in the existence of one Almighty God. And according to Oxford Dictionary, Religion means… ‘A belief in a super human controlling power – A God, or Gods, that deserve worship and obedience’ So in short, if you want to analyze any Religion, you have to understand the concept of God in that Religion. And the best way to analyze the concept of God in any Religion, is not by looking at what the followers are doing – because many of the followers themselves do not know what their Religious Scriptures speak about Almighty God. The best way is, to analyze what the Scripture of that Religion has to speak about Almighty God. And the Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Al Imran, Ch. No. 3, V. No. 64 …(Arabic)… ‘Say: Oh people of the Book. …(Arabic)… that come to common terms as between us and you.’ Which is the first term? …Arabic)… ‘that we worship none, but Allah. …(Arabic)… that we associate no partners with Him. …(Arabic)… that we erect not among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah. …(Arabic)… if then they turn back …(Arabic)… Say ye: ‘Bear witness …(Arabic)… that we are Muslims, bowing our will to Allah (swt).’ Allah shows you a way how to speak with different people. It says …(Arabic)… ‘that come to common terms as between us and you.’ Which is the first term? …(Arabic)… ‘that we worship none but Allah.’ …(Arabic)… ‘that we associate no partners with Him.’ So in order to understand the concept of God, in any Religion, we have to understand what that Scripture has to speak about Almighty God. If you understand the concept of God, you will understand the Religion. Let us first analyse the concept of God in Hinduism. If you ask a common Hindu, who is a layman, that… ‘How many Gods are there? Some may say… ‘Three’ – Some may say… ‘Hundred’ – Some may say… ‘Thousand’ – While others may say… ‘Thirty three Crores’… – Three hundred and thirty million. But if you ask a learned person who is well versed with the Hindu Scriptures, he will tell you that… ‘The Hindus should, actually worship only one God, and they should believe only in one God.’ But the common Hindu, he believes in a philosophy known as ‘Pantheism.’ What the common Hindu says that…‘Everything is God – The tree is God, the sun is God, the moon is God, the monkey is God, the human being is God, the snake is God.’ What we Muslims say that…‘Everything is God’s – ‘G. O. D.’ with an apostrophy ‘S’. Everything belongs to God – the tree belongs to God, the sun belong to God, the moon belongs to God, the monkey belongs to God, the human belongs to God, the snake belongs to God.’ So the major difference between the Hindus and the Muslims is, that the common Hindu says…‘Everything is God’ – We Muslims say…‘Everything is God’s – G.O.D. with apostrophe ‘S’. The only difference is apostrophe ‘S’. If we can solve this difference of apostrophe ‘S’ – the Hindus and the Muslims – we will be united. How do we do it ? Qur’an says …(Arabic)… ‘that come to common terms as between us and you.’ Which is the first term? …(Arabic)… ‘that we worship none but Allah.’ The most common Scriptures, which is the most widely read by the Hindus, is the Bhagvad Geeta. If you read Bhagvad Geeta, Ch. 7, V. No. 20, it says that… ‘All those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires, they worship demi gods. That means those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires – they worship gods, besides the one true God. And if you read the Upanishads, which is the another scared Scripture of the Hindus – it is mentioned in the Chandogya Upanishad, Ch. 6, Sec. No. 2, V. No. 1 …(Sanskrit)… ‘There is only one God, without a second.’ It is mentioned in the Svetasvatara Upanishad, Ch. No. 6, V. No. 9, …(Sanskrit)… which means… ‘Of Him… of Almighty God there are no Lords, neither does He have any parents.’ It is mentioned in the Svetasvatara Upanishad, Ch. No. 4, V. No. 19, …(Sanskrit)… ‘Of Him there is no likeness.’ It is mentioned in the Svetasvetara Upanishad, Ch. No. 4, V. No. 20, that… ‘He has got of no form… no one can see Him with the eyes.’ Among the Scriptures of the Hindus, the most sacred are the Vedas. There are basically four Vedas – the Rigveda, the Yajurveda, the Samved and the Atharvaved. If you read the Yajurved it is mentioned in Ch. No. 32, V. No. 3 …(Sanskrit)… ‘Of Him there is no image’ – Almighty God has got no image. It is mentioned in the Yajurveda Ch. No. 40, V. No. 8 that… ‘Almighty God is bodiless and pure’. And the next verse of Yajurveda, Ch. No. 40, V. No. 9, …(Sanskrit)… ‘That they are entering darkness – those who worship the Asambhooti’ – Asambhooti means the natural things like air, water, fire. And the verse continues… ‘They are entering more in darkness -those who worship the Sambhoot’ – Sambhooti are the created things like chairs, tables, idols, etc. Who says that?… Yajurveda Ch. No. 40, V. No. 9. Further if you read, it is mentioned in the Atharvaved, Ch. No. 20, Hymn No. 58, V. No. 3 …(Sanskrit)… ‘Verily great, is Almighty God.’ Amongst the Vedas, the most sacred is the Rigved. It is mentioned in Rigved, Book No. 1, Hymn No. 164, V. No. 46, that… ‘Sages and saintly people call Almighty God, by various names.’ And if you read Rigved, Book No. 2, Hymn No. 1, there are various attributes given to Almighty God – One amongst them – It is mentioned in Rigved, Book No. 2, Hymn No. 1, V. No. 3, ‘Brahma.’ If you translate ‘Brahma’ into English, one of it’s meaning is ‘The Creator’ – If you translate into Arabic, it means ‘Khaliq.’ We Muslims have got no objection, if someone calls Almighty God as Khaliq or Creator, or Brahma. But if someone says that Brahma is Almighty God, who has got four heads, and on each head, is a crown – we Muslims take strong objection to it. Moreover you are going against Svetasvatara Upanishad, Ch. No. 6, V. No. 9, which says …(Sanskrit)… ‘Of Him there is no likeness.’ – You are giving an image to Almighty God. Another beautiful attribute given in Rigveda Book No. 2, Hymn No. 1, V. No. 3, is ‘Vishnu.’ If you translate Vishnu into English – one of it is meaning is ‘The Sustainer,’ the Cherished if you translate into Arabic it means Rabb. We Muslims have no objection if someone calls Almighty God, as ‘Rabb,’ or ‘Sustainer’, or ‘Cherisher’ or ‘Vishnu’ – But if someone says that ‘Vishnu’ as Almighty God, who has got four hands, and in one of his hands is a chakra… the discus, and in one of his hands is a lotus, we Muslims take strong objection to it. Moreover you are giving an image to Almighty God – You are going against Yajurved, Ch. No. 32, V. No. 3, which says …(Sanskrit)… ‘Of Him there is no image.’ It is mentioned in Rigved, Vol. No. 8, Ch. No. 1, V. No.1 …(Sanskrit)… ‘All praises are due to Him alone, worship Him alone.’ It is mentioned in Rigved, Vol. No. 6, Hymn No. 45, V. No. 16, …(Sanskrit)… ‘There is only one God – Worship Him alone . And the Brahmasutra, the fundamental creed of Hinduism is …(Sanskrit)… ‘Bhagwan Ek hi hai, dusra nahi hai, nahi hai, nahi hai, zara bhi, nahi hai.’ ‘There is only one God, not a second one, not at all, not of all, not in the least bit.’ So if you read the Hindu Scriptures, you should understand the concept of God in Hinduism. Let us analyse the concept of God in Judaism. It is mentioned in the Book of Deuteronomy, in the Old Testament, Ch. No. 6, V. No. 4 Moses (pbuh) he says that …(Hebrew)… It is a Hebrew quotation which means… ‘Hear O Israel the lord our God, is one Lord.’ It is mentioned in the Book of Isaiah, Ch. No. 43, V. No. 11… ‘I, Even I, am Lord and besides Me, there is no Saviour.’ It is mentioned in the Book of Isaiah, Ch. No. 45, V. No. 5… ‘I am Lord, and there is none else – there is no God besides Me.’ It is mentioned in the book of Isaiah, Ch. 46, V.9…‘I am God and there is none else; I am God and there is none like Me.’ It is mentioned in the Book of Exodus, Ch. No. 20, V. No. 3 and 5, as well as in the Book of Deuteronomy, Ch. No. 5, V. No. 7 to 9, it says that… ‘Thou shall have none other gods besides Me.’ Almighty God is speaking here that…‘Thou shall have none other gods besides Me. Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image, of any likeness, of anything in the heavens above, in the earth beneath, and in the water beneath the earth. Thou shall not serve them, nor bow down to them, for I thy God, is a jealous God. So if you read the Old Testament, we should understand the concept of God, in Judaism. Before I discuss the concept of God in Christianity, I would like to make a few points clear – that Islam is the only Non-Christian faith, which makes it certain article of faith, to believe in Jesus (pbuh). No Muslim is a Muslim, if he does not believe in Jesus (pbuh). We believe that he was one of the mightiest Messengers of Allah (swt), of Almighty God. We believe that he was the Messiah… translated ‘Christ.’ We believe that he was born miraculously, without any male intervention, which many modern day Christians today, do not believe. We believe that he healed those born blind, and lepers, with God’s permission. We believe that he gave life to the dead, with God’s permission. The Muslims and the Christians we are going together – But there are some Christians who say… that Jesus Christ (pbuh), he claimed Divinity.’ In fact if you read the Bible, there is not a single unequivocal statement in the complete Bible, where Jesus (pbuh) himself says that he is God, or where he says… ‘Worship me.’ In fact if you read the Bible Jesus (pbuh) himself says – it mentioned in the Gospel of John, Ch. No. 14, V. No. 28, ‘My father is greater than I’; Gospel of John, Ch. No. 10, V. No. 29, ‘My father is greater than all’; Gospel of Mathew, Ch. No. 12, V. No. 28, ‘I cast out devil with the spirit of God’; Gospel of Luke, Ch. No. 11, V. No. 20, ‘I cast out devil with the finger of God’; Gospel of John, Ch. No. 5, V. No. 30, ‘I can of my own self do nothing, as I hear I judge, and my judgment is just, for I seek not my will, but the will of my Father.’ Anyone who says that… ‘I seek not my will, but God’s will’ – it means ‘Submitting his will to Almighty God.’ And if you translate into Arabic it means ‘Islam’ – and anyone who submits his will to Almighty God, is called as a ‘Muslim’. Jesus (pbuh) – he never came to destroy the law or the Prophets – In fact he came to confirm them. And Jesus (pbuh) he says – it mentioned in the Gospel of Mathew, Ch. No. 5, V. No. 17 to 20, he says that… ‘Think not that I am came to destroy the law or the Prophets’ – All these quotations are from the Bible, from the King James Version. Jesus (pbuh) says that… ‘Think not that I am come to destroy the Law and the Prophets. I am come not to destroy, but to fulfill; for verily till the heaven and the earth pass, not one jot or title shall pass away form the law, until all be fulfilled. And whosoever shall break one of the least commandments and teach men to do so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; and whosoever shall keep them, and teach the same, shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and the Pharisees, in no way shall you enter the Kingdom of Heaven.’ Jesus (pbuh) says, that if you want to go to Paradise, you have to follow each and every law of the Old Testament – including that… ‘God is one; He has got no partners; you cannot create any images of God.’ And Jesus (pbuh), he never claimed that he was Almighty God – In fact he says that he was sent by God. It is mentioned in the Gospel of John, Ch. No. 14, V. No. 24, Jesus (pbuh) says that… ‘The words that you hear are not mine, but my Father’s, who has sent me.’ It is mentioned in the Gospel of John Ch. No. 17, V. No. 3… ‘This is life eternal; so that you may know there is only one God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou has sent.’ It is mentioned in the Book of Acts Ch. No. 2, V. No. 22. that… ‘Hear O Israel, hear these words – Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God amongst you, by wonders and miracles, which God did by him, and you are witness to it.’ It says… ‘Jesus of Nazareth (pbuh), a man approved of God by wonders and miracles which God did by him, and you are witness to it.’ And When Jesus (pbuh) was asked that…‘Which is the first of the commandment?’ – he repeated what was earlier said by Moses (pbuh). It is mentioned in the Gospel of Mark, Ch. No. 12, V. No. 29… (Hebrew)… ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, is one Lord.’ So if you read the Bible, you shall understand the concept of God in Christianity. Let us analyse the concept of God in Islam. The best reply that any person can give you regarding the concept of God in Islam, is quote to you Surah Al Ikhlas, Ch. No. 112, V. No. 1 to 4, which says …(Arabic)… ‘Say: He is Allah, One and only. …(Arabic)… Allah the Absolute and Eternal. …(Arabic)… He begets not, nor is He begotten. … (Arabic)… There is nothing like Him.’ This is a four line definition of Almighty God… of Allah (swt) – Any person saying that he is Almighty God – if that person fits in this four line definition, we Muslims have got no objection in accepting that person as Almighty God. The first is …(Arabic)… ‘Say: He is Allah, One and only. Second is ..(Arabic)… Allah the Absolute and Eternal. …(Arabic)… He begets not, nor is He begotten. and the fourth is …(Arabic)… And there is nothing like Him.’ This Surah Ikhlas, Ch. No. 112, is the touchstone of theology. ‘Theo’ means ‘God’ – ‘logy’ means ‘Study’. Surah Ikhlas, Ch. No. 112, of the Glorious Qur’an, is the touchstone of Theology. Anyone claiming to be Almighty God – if that candidate fits in this four line definition, we accept him to be Almighty God. And for the Universal Brotherhood to prevail, it is compulsory that you believe and worship only one Almighty God. So anyone claiming to be Almighty God – If that person fits in this four line definition, we have no objection in accepting that candidate, as Almighty God. You know there are many false people who claim to be Almighty God – Let us analyse whether they pass the test or not. And one among such persons, is Bhagwan Rajnish – You know there are some people who claim that he was Almighty God. During one of my lectures…Question-Answer time, there was a Hindu friend of ours, who told that…‘The Hindus do not believe in Bhagwan Rajnish, as God.’ I told him…‘I do agree, and I have read the Hindu Scriptures – No where does the Hindu Scriptures say that Bhagwan Rajnish is God’ – What I said… ‘Some people say that Bhagwan Rajnish is God.’ I know very well that Hinduism does not consider Bhagwan Rajnish, to be God. Let us analyse the claim of such people who way that Bhagwan Rajnish is Almighty God. The first test is …(Arabic)… ‘Say: He is Allah one and only ?’ Is Bhagwan Rajnish, one and only? We know that are several human beings who claim to be Almighty God, specially in this country – there are several such people claming to be Almighty God. Is he one and only? But his followers, they say…‘No, he is one and only.’ Let us go to the next test …(Arabic)… ‘Allah the Absolute and Eternal.’ Was Bhagwan Rajnish, ‘Absolute and Eternal?’ We know from his Biography that he was suffering form Asthma, from chronic Backache, from Diabetes, Malitis. And he says that… ‘The American government, when they arrested him – they gave him slow poisoning’ – Imagine, Almighty God being slow poisoned. The third test is …(Arabic)… ‘He begets not nor is He begotten.’ And we know from his biography, that Rajnish was born in Madhya Pradesh, he had parents… mother and father, who later on became his own disciples. And in the year 1981, Rajnish goes to America, and takes thousands of Americans for a ride. And in the state of origin, he starts his own village, known as Rajnishpuram – Later on the American Government, they arrest him and they put him behind bars – and in 1985 he is deported… he is sent out of the country. He comes back to India in 1985, and in the city of Poona, he starts his own center – the Osho Commune. And if you go there, it is mentioned on the stone there, that… ‘Bhagwan Rajnish, Osho Rajnish never born, never died – But, visited the earth from the 11th of December 1931, to the 19th of January 1990.’ They forgot to mention that he was not given visas to 21 different countries in the world – Imagine Almighty God – He is visiting the earth, and He requires visas. And the last test …(Arabic)… ‘There is nothing like Him’ – It is so stringent that no one besides Allah (swt)… Almighty God can pass. The moment you can compare Almighty God to anyone in the world… to anything in the world, he is not God. For e.g. if suppose someone says that…‘Almighty God is a thousand times as strong as Arnold Schwazzenegar’ – You know Arnold Schwazzenegger – the person who was given the title ‘Mr. Universe’ – the strongest man in the Universe – If someone says at the ‘Almighty God is a thousand times as strong as Arnold Schwazzenegar.’ The moment you can compare Almighty God to anything in this world – whether it be Arnold Schwazzenegger, or King Kong, or Dara Singh – whether it be a thousand times, or million times – the moment you can compare Almighty God to anything in this world, He is not Almighty God. …(Arabic)… ‘There is nothing like Him.’ This is a four line definition of Almighty God, given in the ‘Glorious Qur’an, which is the touchstone of theology. Otherwise the Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Isra Ch. No. 17 : V. No. 110 …(Arabic)… ‘Say call upon Him by Allah, or by Rehman – by whichever name you call upon Him, to Him belongs the most beautiful names.’ You can call Allah (swt) by any name – but it should be a beautiful name – it should not conjure up a mental picture. And there are no less than 99 attributes given in the Glorious Qur’an, for Allah (swt) – Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim, Most Merciful, Most Beneficent – no less than 99. We Muslims, we call Almighty God, by the Arabic name ‘Allah’ – and the reason we prefer calling Almighty God, by the Arabic name ‘Allah’, instead of the English word ‘God’, is because the English word ‘God’ – you can play mischief with that word. For eg. If you add ‘S’ to God – it becomes ‘Gods’ – plural of God – There is no plural of Allah. …(Arabic)… ‘Say… He is Allah one and only ?’ If you add ‘dess’ to God…it becomes ‘Goddess’…that means a ‘female God.’ There is no gender to Allah (swt) – He is neither male neither female… Allah (swt) has got no gender…Allah is a unique word. If you add a ‘father’ to ‘God’…it becomes ‘God-father’ – he is my ‘God – father’, he is my ‘guardian’ – There is nothing like ‘Allah-father’ or ‘Allah-Abba’ in Islam. If you add a ‘mother’ to ‘God’, it becomes ‘God-mother’. There is nothing like ‘Allah-mother’ or ‘Allah-Ammi’ in Islam – ‘Allah’ is a unique word. If you prefix ‘Tin’ before ‘God’…it becomes ‘Tin-God’…meaning ‘fake-God’ – There is nothing like tin-Allah in Islam. That is the reason, we Muslims – we prefer calling Allah (swt) by the Arabic word ‘Allah’, instead of the English word…‘God.’ But if some people, some Muslims, use the word ‘God’ for ‘Allah (swt)’, so that those who do not know the concept of ‘Allah (swt)’ – if they can understand, I have got no objection – But the appropriate word is ‘Allah’… it is much more preferred than the English word ‘God.’ In Islam, the Universal Brotherhood does not only spread horizontally – i.e. it does not only cover all the regions and all the people of the whole world and universe – it even goes vertically. The Universal Brotherhood in Islam… the Universal Brotherhood of faith, includes vertically, even the generation that came before you, that went in the past. The Universal Brotherhood in Islam, includes the people living, and the people of past – You are a single race… or a single people. This Universal Brotherhood… that is the Brotherhood of faith – it spreads horizontally as well as vertically – and the corner stone of this faith in all the Religions, if you analyse – it is the belief in One Creator… one Almighty God. It is only because of this that Universal Brotherhood can prevail in the whole Universe – and this Universal Brotherhood of faith…it is far superior to the Brotherhood of blood relationship. The Qur’an says as I mentioned… ‘You should respect your parents’. The Qur’an says in Surah Isra Ch. No. 17, V. No. 23 and 24, that… ‘Allah (swt) has ordained for you, that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to your parents. And if any of them or both of them reach old age, do not say a word of contempt – do not even say ‘uff’ to them; But lower to them your wing of humility, and address them with honour. And pray to thy Lord: that cherish them, as they cherished me in childhood.’ That means, you have to love and respect your parents – and give them all honour and respect. But at the same time the Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Luqman, Ch. 31, V. No. 15 – After saying that ‘you have respect the parents’ – the Qur’an says… ‘But if they strive in making thee join partners with Me – who you have no knowledge of – that means of your parents force you to join partners with Almighty God, you do not obey them – but in this world deal with them with justice and compassion.’ That means your parents – you have to obey them, as long as they do not go against Almighty God… against the commandment of Allah (swt) – we have to obey them. If they go against the Commandment Allah (swt) – Almighty is more Superior. The Brotherhood of faith is Universal – It is for superior than Brotherhood of blood relationship. And the Qur’an says in Surah Al Tawbah, Ch. 9, V. 24, …(Arabic)… ‘Say whether it be for your father …(Arabic)… or your sons …(Arabic)… or your brothers …(Arabic)… or your spouses, your husbands and wives …(Arabic)… or your relatives.’ Allah is asking ‘What are your considerations? – Is it your fathers, are they your sons, your brothers, your spouses, husbands and wives, are they your relatives – of all these things for example, your fathers, or your sons, or your brothers, or your spouses, or your relatives ? And Allah continues …(Arabic)… ‘The wealth that you have amassed, the business in which you deal, the houses in which you live.’ Allah says… ‘What are your consideration? What are your consideration?’ And Allah continues …(Arabic)… If you love all these eight things more than Allah, His Rasul and doing Jihad… striving in the way of Allah – Allah says… ‘If your parents tell you to go against Allah (swt) – they may tell you to rob, they may tell you to cheat, they may tell you to bribe, they may tell you to kill people unnecessarily – if your parents give you guidance against the commandments of Allah (swt) – whether it be your sons, whether it be your brothers of your spouses, or your relatives, or you do deeds against Allah (swt), for the wealth that you are collecting, the businesses in which you deal, the houses in which you delight … Allah says…‘If you love all these eight things more than Allah, His Messenger, and striving in the way of Allah – Allah says …(Arabic)… ‘Wait’ …(Arabic)…‘Wait until Allah brings about His decision unto you, until Allah brings about destruction unto you …(Arabic)… and Allah guides not the perverted transgressors.’ When it comes to brotherhood of faith, it is far superior to brotherhood of relationship. And further the Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Nisa, Ch. No. 4, V. No. 135, that …(Arabic)… ‘O ye who believe, stand out firmly for justice, as witness to Allah (swt), even if it be against your self, against your parents, against your relatives, whether it be rich or poor, for Allah protects both.’ That means, if you have to stand for justice, as giving Shahadah, as giving witness to Allah (swt) – Allah says… ‘Stand for justice even if you have to speak against your self, against your parents, against your relatives, irrespective whether the people are rich or poor, for Allah protects all? That means where it comes to justice, where it comes to truth… justice is far superior to blood relationship. The brotherhood of faith supersedes all the other brotherhoods – And the brotherhood of faith… the Universal Brotherhood is based on the basic concept of belief in One Creator… One Almighty God… One Allah (swt), which is preached by all the Religions. And the Qur’an says, as I mentioned earlier in Surah Imran, Ch.3, V. No. 64, that …(Arabic)… ‘Come to common terms as between us and you.’Which is the first term? …(Arabic)… ‘that we worship none but Allah.’ Only believing in One Almighty God, is not sufficient – You should also worship only One Almighty God. And only if you believe and worship Almighty God, Who is One, will Universal Brotherhood prevail. Without the concept of one Almighty God, brotherhood and humanity cannot prevail, in the full world. And the Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Anam, Ch. No. 6, V.108 that… ‘Revile not those people, abuse not those people who worship gods besides Allah, lest in their ignorance, they will revile Allah (swt).’ I would like to end my talk by the giving quotation of the Glorious Qur’an, from Surah Nisa, Ch. No. 4, V. No. 1 which says …(Arabic)… That… ‘O human kind reverence your guardian Lord, Who has created you from a single person, and created like nature his mate, and has scattered like seeds countless men and women.’ …(Arabic)…
(Dr. Mohammed) Now we would have the presumably more interesting session… the Question-Answer session. Advocate Prabhakar Rao Hegde, Advocate Hingorane, DCP Saxena, distinguished guests present here today, our elders, brothers and sisters – We would after the Question and Answer session, request our distinguished guests to present their impressions on the topic, and their comments. Advocate Hegde, Advocate Hingorane, and DSP Saxena are kindly requested after the Question and Answer session, to pass your comments, so we have a better interaction of the session. To derive more benefit for all of us present here today, in the limited time we have available, we would like you to follow the following rules, in the Question-Answer session. Questions asked should be on the topic, Universal Brotherhood only, or on Islam and Comparative Religion, in context. Kindly state your question briefly, and to the point – This is a Question-Answer time, and not a lecture time .Only one question at a time, may be put forward to the speakers at your designated mike – for your second question, you would have queue up again at the mike for your second chance. Three mikes have been provided in the auditorium for the questions, two just next to the stage for the brothers – one on my right, and one on the left, and one up above in the balcony, for the sisters. Written questions on slip papers, would be given secondary preference after the questions on the mike have been handled. The volunteers would be having slips of papers – If you do not have them with you, you could ask them for it – and pass on the slips right upto the stage through the volunteers. Kindly state your name and profession before putting forward your question, to get a more appropriate response. Non-Muslim guests would be given first preference in putting forward their questions – I would request the volunteers at the mike to kindly handle that aspect. We will allow one question on each of the mikes, in clockwise rotation – one here, the mike below the stage, next that side, one on the sisters side, and so on.
(Dr. Mohammed) Yes brother.
(Q) Thank you Dr. Naik for your lucid explanation of Islam’s – ‘Concept of God.’ My simple question is – you have talked about racial brotherhood, linguistic brotherhood, blood brotherhood, and so on – and they are the disturbance of the concept of the Universal Brotherhood. But you have not talked on the concept of Kafir – I think which is one of most important disturbance of Universal Brotherhood in the world.
(Dr. Zakir) Can I have your name brother – so that I can answer you in a better way – Yes.
(Qtn. Contd…) Professor Nigad, from Bhiwnadi College.
(Dr. Zakir) The professor has asked a question, that I have spoken about various concept – I have explained the concept of Universal Brotherhood, and spoken that the concept of brotherhood based on blood relationship, on race, on caste, and creed, etc… they cause disturbance – I have not spoken on the concept of Kafir. Brother, Kafir is an Arabic word, which comes from the root word Kufr – which means ‘to conceal’… ‘to conceal’, ‘to hide’. It also means ‘to reject’, ‘to conceal’, and in context… in Islamic context, it means that… ‘Any person who conceals or rejects the truth of Islam’ – anyone who rejects the truth of Islam is called as a Kafir. Means anyone who rejects the truth of Islam – that there is one God, and Allah (swt), all that I spoke – he is a Kafir. Any Brotherhood besides the brotherhood of Universal Brotherhood of faith, and the Islamic Brotherhood – if it falls in other brotherhood, based on anything – there can be a hundred types of Brotherhood. Brotherhood based on particular region – whether it be India, whether it be Pakistan, whether it be America – all these other brotherhoods, that is not in the per view of the brotherhood of faith… believing in the concept of one God – disturbs the Universal Brotherhood, including if you say that the Kafirs… the Brotherhood of Kafirs. Do they disturb?… Yes they disturb. What is the meaning of Kafir ? – Anyone who rejects the truth of Islam. There are some Non-Muslims who ask me questions – and during Question-Answer, in one of the cassette, he said that…‘Why do the Muslims abuse us by calling… Kafir – and people say that their ego is hurt’. I said… ‘See Kafir is a Arabic word which means…‘A person who rejects the truth of Islam’ – It is a Arabic word. For a person who rejects the truth of Islam – in English, if I have to translate – He becomes a ‘Non-Muslim.’ So a person is a ‘Non-Muslim’, who rejects the truth of Islam – he is called as a Kafir. It is just a translation of the English word ‘Non Muslim.’ So if you say that…‘Do not call a Non-Muslim a Kafir’ – how can I do that? So if a person says…‘Why do you call me a Kafir ? Do not call me a Kafir’. So I can say that…‘You accept Islam – I will stop calling you a Kafir’. It is only a Arabic word for a Non-Muslim – Hope that answers the question.
(Q) Dr. Naik, I am Advocate Madhav Phadhke – you said in your speech that God is alive, imageless and formless, as stated in Hinduism. Then why you Muslims doing Haj Pilgrim – they worship Holy shrine, as the Hindus they worship ?
(Dr. Zakir) That is a very good question the brother has posed – that if Almighty God has got no image in Islam – Allah (swt) no form…then why do the Muslims – they worship the Holy Shrine…referring to the Kabah - in Haj Pilgrimage ? Brother, it is a misconception – No Muslim ever worships the Kaba – It is a misconception among the Non-Muslims, that we Muslims, we worship the Kabah. No Muslim worships the Kabah – we only worship Allah (swt), Who we cannot see in this world. What we do is, the Kabah is the Qibla – Qibla in Arabic means ‘The direction.’ Kabah is the Qibla, because we Muslims – We believe in unity, always unity. For example, if we want to pray to Almighty God… Allah (swt) – If we have to offer Salaah, some may say… ‘Let us face the North ; some may say…‘Let us face South’ ; some may say…‘East’ ; some say…‘West’. Where do we face? We believe in unity – So for unity, all the Muslims throughout the world, they are asked to face in the direction of the Qibla, that…is the Kabah – it is our direction – We do not worship it. And the first people who drew the world map, were the Muslims – and when the Muslims drew the world map, they drew with the South pole on top, and North pole down – and Kabah was in the center. The Westerners came and they turned the map upside down – North pole on top, South pole down. Alhamdulillah, yet the Kabah is in the center – Mecca is in the center. And since Mecca is in the center, any Muslim in any part of the world – if he is staying in North of Kabah, he faces towards the South; If he is staying in the South of Kabah, he faces towards the North. All the Muslims throughout the world, they face in one direction. Kabah is the Qibla… it is the direction – No Muslim ever worships it – No Muslim ever worships it. And when we go for Haj… to the pilgrimage, we circumambulate round the Kabah. We circumambulate around the Kabah, because everyone knows, that all circles have only one center – So we circumambulate round the Kabah, to testify that there is only one God – not because we worship it. And the statement of the second Khalifa of Islam, Hazrat Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, he said – it is mentioned in Sahih Muslim, in the book of Haj, Volume No. 2 – he said, Hazrat Umar may Allah be pleased with him, that… ‘I am kissing the black stone, that is the Kabah… Sange Aswad, only because my Prophet kissed it – otherwise this black stone can neither harm me, neither can it benefit me’. The second Khalifa of Islam… Caliph of Islam, Hazrat Umar, may Allah be pleased with him – he made it clear for eternity, that no Muslim ever worships the black stone – it can neither benefits us, neither can it harm us. And the best example is that, during the time of the Prophet – the Sahabas… the companions of the Prophet, they even stood on the Kabah, and gave the Adhan – Adhan is the call for prayers. People stood on the Kabah, and gave the Adhan. I am asking you…‘Which idol worshipper, will ever stand on the idol he worships.’So these are sufficient proofs, that no Muslim ever worships the Kabah. Kabah is the Qibla – and we worship only Allah (swt), Who we cannot see with the eyes. Hope that answers the question.
(Dr. Mohammed) Yes brother.
(Q). I am Dr. Vyas – a medical practitioner. We came here for having views on Universal Brotherhood – We did not come here for a Bhauddik on Islam. I would request you to tell us about brotherhood in this world. Now this is Universal Brotherhood – I would like to know whether there are brothers in other parts of the Universe ? We have brothers in India, so we talk of Indian brotherhood – and how brotherhood in this country, has affected the history of this country, during last one hundred years ?
(Dr. Zakir) The brother has asked a very good question, a very relevant question. He said that…‘You know, he has come here to hear about Universal Brotherhood – and what I spoke is about the brotherhood of the world only – and are there brothers in other parts of the Universe? Brother is a doctor Alhamdulillah – and if you heard my talk, if you paid attention to it brother, I said that…‘We believe in Almighty God, Who is the Lord of the worlds. Rabbul Aalamin…Lord of the worlds, means…‘Lord of the Universe, besides this world’.
(Qtn. Interruption…) Talk about brotherhood of this Universe, or Indian Brotherhood.
(Audience Interruption…) Ek do batein mai apke samne.
(Dr. Zakir) Bhaisab zara pehla main unko answer kar du… I will reply to him, and then I will come to your question – You are most welcome – I am here – I will reply to everyone – InshaAllah. First I will just reply to the elderly gentleman – he has asked a question – it is my pleasure to reply. He said…‘Talk about Brotherhood – that is the brotherhood.’ And Universal Brotherhood means, not only brotherhood of this world, but of the worlds, of the whole Universe. And according to the Glorious Qur’an, in Surah Shura, Ch. No. 42 V. No. 29, it says that…‘Allah (swt) has created the heavens and the earth, and has put creatures between them.’ That means, the Qur’an says that…‘There are living creatures besides this world.’ There are living creatures besides this world – Science has not reached that far, to prove that there is life besides this earth. You know Scientists – they are sending rockets and satellites and spaceships, to try and prove there is life on Mars, etc. It is not established – they say… ‘There are high chances.’ But the Qur’an says…‘There is life besides this earth’ – and I believe in it. So Universal Brotherhood does not only mean brotherhood in this world – it means brotherhood, even in the other worlds, as you rightly said – even brotherhood in India – even brotherhood in India – throughout the world. And for this brotherhood to prevail – if you heard my talk – I do not want to repeat the full talk again – that there should be a moral conduct – that no human being should kill any other human being, he should not rob, he should give charity, he should love his neighbours, he should not backbite, he should see to it that when he sleeps with a full stomach, even his neighbour is fed well, he should see to it that he does not have Alcohol – Alcohol prevents the brotherhood to prevail in the world, he should not backbite, he should not slander anyone. All this things promotes Universal Brotherhood not only in India, not only in the world, in the full Universe – May be possible that you did not pay attention to some portions of my talk. My talk Alhamdulillah, was focussed on the topic – and it did cover India, America, full world, as well as the Universe. And this can only take place – and all the Religions, if you believe in the concept that the Creator of all the human beings, of all the creatures – whether in India, or whether in America, or whether outside this world, is one Almighty God. And all the Religions basically speak in belief of one God, which I discussed in detail. For more details about ‘Concept of God’ – I have given this talk ‘Concept of God in Major Religions.’ It speaks more about the concept of God in other Religions, like Sikhism, and Parsism, etc. – and it deals in detail. If a person wants to have more knowledge on how it can prevail, you can avail of my cassette ‘Concept of God in Major Religions’ – It is available for sale outside in the foyer… brother.
(Q) Sabkatal Malani, Ulhas Nagar – I think Dr. Zakir is playing with words – It is jugglery of words only. Islam divides people of the whole world, in two – ‘one is Momin and the other is Kafir.’ Definitely we do not believe and trust in many things, which Islam says – So this brotherhood of Universal Brotherhood, is not possible, what Islam wants to enjoin in upon us. Islam only creates divisional forces – Even we can know Shias, Sunnis and seventy other castes in Islam itself.
(Volunteer) Please, question please.
(Qtn. contd…) Ha, I am putting the question.
(Dr. Zakir) No problem.
(Qtn. Contd…) Islam cannot give ‘Universal Brotherhood’ – It is only Hinduism, which can give Universal Brotherhood …(Sanskrit)… which you have just quoted. Islam does not recognize – Killing the cows, killing the Kafirs, talking their properties, loot, women folk… Islam tells. How brotherhood can come? And you talk of brotherhood – It is a jugglery of words only – Really speaking, you are talking Hinduism, in the name of Islam.
(Dr. Zakir) The brother has made several comments. And Islam says…(Arabic)…‘For verily Allah is with those who are patient.’ For brotherhood to prevail, you should be patient – If I am not patient, there will be a fight between me and my brother. Islam says in Surah Baqrah, Ch. No. 2, V. No. 153 …(Arabic)…‘For verily Allah is with those who are patient.’ -And for brotherhood to prevail, you should be patient. And, I respect my elderly brother out here – He may be having a good study of Hinduism, but I am sorry that I disagree with him – his study of Islam is a bit weak – I would say. And I do agree with him, that Islam – there are two, types of people – one is a believer, Momin – and the other he said is a Kafir, according to him. In every Religion there are two types of people – even in Hinduism… A Hindu and a Non-Hindu; In Christianity… Christian and a Non-Christian ; In Judaism… a Jew and a Non-Jew ; In Islam… a Muslim and a Non-Muslim ; So where does Islam differ. And I am not here to criticize Hinduism – I am not here to criticize Hinduism. But since you are a learned speaker, I would like to speak on Hinduism, because I am a student of Comparative Studies. I have read the Vedas, I have read the Upanishads – but if just for a small comment… According to Vedas, it is mentioned that…‘The humankind have been created from four parts of Almighty God – from the head, it is the Brahmin; from the chest, is the Kshatriya; from the thigh, it is the Vayshyas, the business class; and from the feet is the Shudra – Caste system. I am not here to comment on these brother… I would not like to, I would not like to hurt the feelings of my Hindu brothers – Islam does not agree with that. I did not comment on those things – I did not criticize any religion, I did not criticize any religion – I did not say that this religion is wrong. But you, if you know your Veda very well, you should testify to the audience – Does not the Veda say that…‘From the head you have the Brahmins; from the chest you have the Kashtriya; from the thigh you have the Vayshyas, the business class, learned class, warrior class, business class? Shudras… the Shudras are supposed to be the downtrodden – And there are books written by Dr. Ambedkar – I do not want to go into the details, brother. Hinduism…I have learnt very well – I respect many aspects of Hinduism – certain aspect I do not agree – I have to say… because you have forced me to say. Qur’an says in Surah Anam, Ch 6, V. No. 108…‘Revile not those who worship gods besides Allah, lest in their ignorance, they will revile Allah (swt).’ What I spoke is the positive aspect of Hinduism – that is, they believe in the concept of one God. Regarding your question…‘That you know, the Muslims – they keep on killing people, they keep on killing Cows’… You said – Correct? You said that. See, every allegation requires an answer – the time does not permit – I will just pick up a few. Any other, you can come next and ask – I am here to clarify the misconception – it is my pleasure. Only if I clarify the misconception, will the person understand Islam better – Therefore in our sessions, we always have a Question-Answer session, and we welcome – and any one criticize us, I love it – More a person criticizes and more he is logically convinced, will he understand Islam better. That is what I do – Islam says spread the message of truth, with hiqmat. The Qur’an says in Surah, Nahl, Ch. 16, V.125 …(Arabic)… That is…‘Invite all to the way of thy Lord, with wisdom and beautiful preaching, and argue with them, and reason with them, in ways that are best and most gracious’. Regarding the concept of… ‘Can we have Non-Veg?’ – Talking about killing cows, etc. And there are many Non-Muslims who say…‘You know, you Muslims, you all are ruthless people, you all kill animals.’ Just for your information brother, a Muslim can be a very good Muslim, even by being a pure vegetarian. It is not compulsory that he should have Non-Veg, to be a good Muslim. But since the Qur’an says in several places… ‘You can have the cattle’ – Why we should not have ? The Qur’an says in Surah Maidah, Ch. No.5, V. No. 1 – It says that …(Arabic)… ‘Fulfil all your obligation – and lawful for you are all four footed animals, with exceptions named.’ Qur’an says in Surah Nahl, Ch. No. 16, V. No. 5, that… ‘Allah has created for you cattle, which are the signs – From it you derive warmth, and there are various benefits in it, and of their meat, you can eat.’ Qur’an repeats this in Surah Mominun Ch. 23, V. 21… ‘You can eat the meat of the cattle’. You know in Non-Veg – there are doctors available here – even I am a medical doctor – It is rich in protein, it is rich in iron, and it is very nutritious. In the other foods, the level of protein which get, in Non-Veg. – you cannot get in any other vegetarian food. Soya bean which is supposed to be the best form of protein in vegetable – it comes no where to close to the Non-Veg. protein. And regarding the concept of killing of cows – If you read the Hindu Scriptures – I am not here to criticize any Religion – the brother asked a question, I have to speak the truth – it permits a person to have Non-Veg. If you read the Hindu Scriptures, the Sages and Sants…they had Non-Veg… They even had beef. It is later on, due to the influence of the other Religions like Jainism, etc. that people were being influenced in the philosophy of Ahimsa…of not to kill animals – that they accepted this philosophy in the way of life. Otherwise, Islam is also for animal rights -I can give a talk only on animal rights. Islam is the Religion which says that…‘Do not overburden the animals, treat them nicely, give them food – But when required, they are even created for food.’ If you analyze the other Religions which believe in this philosophy…‘That you should not have Non-Veg.’ – This philosophy was based on the concept that…‘You should not kill animals, because they are living creatures – Therefore having Non-Veg. is a sin.’ I do agree with them – If any human being can live in this world without killing a single living creature, I would be the first one. The Universal Brotherhood in Hinduism, is that…‘Every living creature is your brother – every living creature, irrespective whether he is a animal or a bird or an insect.’ I am asking a simple question that…‘How can a person even survive for five minutes, without killing millions of his brothers?’ Those who know medical science, will understand what I am saying. That, whenever you breathe, there are millions of germs you are inhaling, and you are killing – that means in this Religion, you are killing your brothers to survive. The Universal Brotherhood in Islam is, every human being is your brother – brotherhood in faith is, every Muslim is a brother. Every living creature is not my brother – but we have to protect the living creature, should not harm them, should not unnecessarily torture them – but when required, you can have them for food. So when this philosophy says that…‘Having Non-Veg. is a sin, because you kill living creature’ – Today science tells us that…‘Even the plants have life’ – Do you know that? So the logic that…‘Killing living creatures is a sin’, has failed. So now they change the logic, and they say that…‘See plants have got life, but plants cannot feel pain – therefore killing the animals is a greater sin, as compared to killing plants. Do you know today science is advanced, and we have come to know, even the plants can feel pain – the plants can even cry, the plants even feel happy – so the logic that plants cannot feel pain, has failed. What is the thing – the cry of the plant cannot be heard by the human ear, because the human ear has a frequency of twenty cycles per second, to twenty thousand cycles per second. Anything between this, the human ear can hear – anything below or above, the human ear can not hear. For example, if a master blows a dog whistle – you know there are dog whistles – It is called as a silent dog whistle – It blows the whistle, which has a frequency of above twenty thousand cycles, and below forty thousand cycles, per second. The dog can hear upto forty thousand cycles per second – So when the master blows the whistle, the dog hears the whistle, but the human beings do not hear – It is called as a silent dog whistle. Similarly, the cry given out by the plant cannot be heard by the human being – but they also cry, they also feel pain. There was a brother of ours who argued with maximum, and he told me that…‘Brother Zakir, I agree with you, that the plants have got life, they can feel pain – but you know, the plants have got two senses less. They only have three senses – the animals have got five senses – therefore killing an animal is a greater sin, as compared to killing a plant. So I told him…‘Brother suppose you have a younger brother, who is born deaf and dumb – two senses less. After he grows up, if someone goes and kills him, will you tell the Judge: O me lord give the murderer a less punishment because my brother had two senses less? Will you say that? You will say: ‘Me lord give him double punishment because he killed a person who was innocent’. So in Islam the logic does not work like that – two senses or three senses. Islam says in Surah Baqarah, Ch. 2, V. 168…‘Eat of the good things that We have provided for you’ – That means, whatever is good and lawful, you can have. And that is the reason if you analyze, the cattle in the world – Allah (swt) has His way – Almighty God – the reproduction of the cattle is very fast, as compared to reproduction of the other animals and the human beings – they reproduce very fast. If I agree with you that no human beings should have any cattle, then we will have over population of cattle in the world. And regarding killing of cows, there is a book written by Maulana Abdul Karim Parikh ‘Gauhatya’… ‘Cow slaughter – Who is to blame?’ And if you analyze the people that deal in leather…leather of cows – more Non-Muslims, than Muslims. Leathers – the Jains…they deal in that – So the people who are responsible to benefit from the cow slaughter, are not the Muslims – the more of them are Non-Muslims. So if you know history well, and if you know logic also well, you will understand that Allah says…‘Eat of the good things We have provided for you’ – If you can have, there is no problem. And besides that if you analyze, the set of teeth of the herbivorous animals…the cow, the goat, the sheep – they only eat vegetables – they have a flat set of teeth. If you have analyze the set of teeth of the carnivorous animal – the lion, the tiger, the leopard, they have got sharp pointed teeth – they can only have Non-Veg. If you analyze the set of teeth of the human beings – if you go in the mirror and look at your teeth – we have pointed teeth, as well as flat teeth. If Almighty God wanted us to have only vegetables, why did He give us these pointed teeth? …For what? To have Non-Veg. If you analyze the digestive system of the herbivorous animal…the cow, the goat, the sheep – they have digestive system which can only digest vegetables. The digestive system of the carnivorous animal…the lion, the tiger, the leopard – they can only digest Non-Veg. The digestive system of the human being can digest both Non-Veg. and Veg. If Almighty God wanted us to have only Vegetables, why did He give us a digestive system that can digest both Veg. and Non-Veg. So scientifically if you analyze, Almighty God wanted us to have both, Veg. as well as Non-Veg. – Hope that answers the question. If you have any queries, any other misconception brother, it is my pleasure to reply. One misconception at a time – So that I can do justice to each of the misconception – Thank you brother.
(Dr Mohammed) Yes brother.
(Q) Hello Dr Naik Saheb – Yahan par jitni bhi batein hui, most probably English mein hui, aur yahan par sab itne padhe likkhe log nahi hai, ke wo ab sirf English samajh sake. Most probably to jo bhi apke lecture ya bhashan hone chahiye the na, wo yahan par logo ke bhashan mein hone chahi the.
(Dr. Mohammed) Excuse me, excuse me brother, excuse me brother, excuse me – let me coordinate. We have been called here – Zakir have been invited by the organizers here, to give a talk in English, and have a Question-Answer. That what questions you have to address, that I would request you to kindly after the program, address to the organizers.
(Qtn. Contd…) Question mera baki hai… question mera baki hai.
(Dr. Mohammed) Ha… then you put forward your question. Urdu mein bhi agar aap question put forward karege, Insha Allah agar speaker ko… he will explain it and answer it.
(Qtn. Contd…) Nahi bura hai Ved aur Shastra, nahi Qur’an bura hai. Bina samjhi batein, aur be samjha vyakhyan bura hai, samjho tum apni bato, aur sab ka dhyan bura hai, apne apne hisab se socho, ke us uska Prabhu ka samman nahi bura hai. Aur Universal Brotherhood ke pahle se, jaha bhi koi batein honi chahiye wahan per mazhab ki koi baat nahi honi chahiye. Mazhab se uper oothkar baat honi chahiye, kyon mazhab se upar utna hi, oos Allah taala ko pana hai – Oos Parmatma ko pana hai – Aur pehle, God ka meaning samjho, ke God ka meaning kya hai – God, Godess kuch nahi hota hai. G – O – D…that super power is controlling our nature. And that nature is having three parts…G-O-D, ‘G’ for Generator, ‘O’ for Operator, ‘D’ for Destroyer. That Nature is Generating us, that Nature is Operating us, that Nature is Destroying us. We are being Generated, we are being Operated, we are being Destroyed. Is mein Godess aur God ka meaning kuch bhi nahi hai, aur God ka assli meaning kuch bhi nahi hai. Allah taala god se ooper hai, Parmeshwar god se ooper hai, Parmeshwar god se ooper hai.
(Dr. Zakir) Thank you very much brother. The brother has summarized my lecture is a very short way – Alhamdulillah – I thank him. He rightly said there is no god and goddess – that is what I explained. He explained in Hindi, so that those who do not understand English, can understand – I would like to thank this brother. He explained very well – There is no god, there is no goddess – Allahtaala…Allah (swt) is Superior – and I agree with him – Thank you brother. And he rightly said, that there should not be different Religions. I agree with you – there should not be different Religions. Because Qur’an says in Surah Al Imran, Ch.3, V. No.19 …(Arabic)… ‘The only way of life acceptable, is the person who submits his will to Allah (swt).’ And I agree with you brother, that if you fight amongst yourself in Religion, there is bound to be differences – and there should be no differences. And the brother also made certain comments that Shias, etc., and different Religions, and there are seventy three firkas. I can give that answer – it requires time – If you want to know the answer, you can pose it – I will give you the reply for that also – Why…talking about different firkas, etc. But the brother rightly said that there should be only one Religion – One way of life – and that is submitting your will to Allah (swt). If you believe in that, there has to be Universal Brotherhood – if you do not believe in that, there is bound to be disharmony. Thank you very much brother.
(Dr. Mohammed) What we will start – We will start asking one question on the slip. And if anyone would like to ask questions, I would request them – Kindly stand on the mike, so you can put forward the question – Okay we will allow the gentleman there to ask the question. Any sister would like to ask some question, I would request you to kindly stand at the mike. If no one is standing at the time, I assume the question is not going to come from the mike, and I move forward to the next clockwise question. One question from the mike, one from the slips – Yes brother.
(Q) Zakir Bhai, I have a very simple question.
(Dr. Zakir) Your name ?
(Qtn. Contd…) Professor Devray – I have not studied any Religion – I do not believe in any Religion. And I my simple question is – Do you believe that there are different Religions, and there have to be different Religions ? Because in your lecture you said that…‘The Allah…The God Almighty, created all the people in the world, men and women, and He purposely divided them into different Religions, different regions, etc., etc., so that, they should not fight with each other, but they should understand each other. Will you kindly explain to me the purpose of the Crusades, and will you kindly explain to me your own statement, that the difference between Hinduism and the Islam Religion ? You said that it is ‘Hinduism’, and it is ‘Islam Religion’ – you never said that Hinduism is a Religion. The difference which you stated between Hinduism and Islam Religion was, that Hindus believe that everything is god, while Muslims believe that everything is God’s. If everything is God’s, why there is so much of killing, either in India or in any other part of the whole world…even in the Muslim countries also – Thank you very much.
(Dr. Zakir) The brother has asked a very good question, and he said that I said in my talk, that…‘The Almighty God has created the human beings, from a single pair…male and female, and have divided into different Religions.’ Brother never did I say that…‘Almighty God divided the people into different Religions?’ It is being recorded – I never said…‘Different Religions’. I said…‘Into different nations, and tribes – races and colours’ – not Religions. Allah says…‘There is only one Religion’. Almighty God never divides the people into different Religions – There is only one Religion. Into different nations and colours and variations in languages – So that you may recognize each other – that okay, this person comes from this particular race, from this region – Not Religion …Region – It is not Religion. So your statement of ‘Religion’ is not correct – other things is fine …different languages, different colours, different nations, I agree with that – so that they may recognize each other; not that they shall fight amongst each other. You said that…‘I never mentioned that Hinduism is a Religion.’ I again disagree with you. I said…‘Religion is a belief in Almighty God, according to Oxford dictionary. To understand Hinduism, to understand the Religion of Hinduism, you have to understand the concept of God. To understand the Religion of Judaism, you have to understand the concept of God, in Judaism. To understand the Religion of Christianity, you have to understand the concept of God, in Christianity. To understand the Religion of Islam, you have to understand the concept of God, in Islam’ – That is what I said. Regarding differences…Who has created? – Not Almighty God. Allah clearly say in Surah Anam, Ch. 6, V. 159. ‘Anyone who breaks the Religion into sects, Allah has nothing to do with him.’ You cannot divide the Religion – Anyone who divides, is in the wrong. You asked me…‘Why are people killing each other?’ That you have to ask them. Suppose as a teacher you tell the pupil…‘Do not copy.’ And yet they copy…who is to blame – the teacher or the student? The student. Here, Almighty God has given a free will to the human being, that you can do what you want – I have given you Guidance. The last and final Guidance, the last and final Revelation, is the Glorious Qur’an – the dos and do nots is mentioned here. And Allah says – and I mentioned in my talk in Surah Maidah, Ch. 5, V. 32…‘If anyone kills a human being – whether it be a Muslim or a Non Muslims, whether it be Hindu, Jew, Christian, Sikh, anyone – unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land, it is as though he has killed the whole of human race.’ ‘If he saves any human being, it as though he has saved the whole of humanity.’ So God Almighty does not like people killing each other – but if human beings do not want to follow, who is to blame? The human being.‘So this world’, the Qur’an says in Surah Mulk, Ch 16, V. No. 2, that… ‘This world – Allah has creates death and life, to test which of you is good in deeds.’ Allah has created death and life, to test which of you is good in deeds – Allah does not interfere – If He wants, He can. The Qur’an says…‘If Allah wanted, He could have made all the people believe’ – but then where is the test. If the teacher wants, he can easily pass all the students, irrespective whether they fail – Teacher can…But that will be bad. Then where is the free will of the student? If they are undergoing a test, and if someone does not give a right answer – yet the teacher passes…then a person who has studied hard, will object– that… ‘I slogged so much for the examination – this person, he is copying and he is cheating – he writes wrong answer, and he passes’. So the next batch, if the people release, that teacher passes every one, irrespective whether he gives right answer or wrong answer, then everyone will stop studying. Then you may get a degree…a medical degree, but that doctor when he passes in medical, when he comes out, he will not cure the people – he will kill the people. So therefore Allah (swt) has given the guidelines in the Glorious Qur’an… ‘Do not kill, do not harm others, love people, love your neighbour’ – All that, I said in my talk. But if people do not do, that means they are not following the Qur’an – let it be any one…Let it be anyone – whether it be America, whether it be Pakistan, whether it be any country in the world. People may say…‘See just by calling yourself a Muslim name, Abdullah or Zakir or Mohammed, you do not get ticket to Jannah. Just by saying that you are a Muslim, does not make you a Muslim. ‘Muslim’ is not a label – that okay, if I say…‘I am a Muslim’ – I am a Muslim. Muslim means…‘A person who submits his will to Allah (swt).’ Just by calling a person Zakir, Abdullah, Mohammed, Shakir…these people – if they act, if they submit their will to Allah, then they are Muslims. By calling themselves Muslims, as the Qur’an says…‘There are some people whose are lip service Muslims.’ So if people are killing, they are not following the guidance of the Qur’an. If they follow the guidance of the Qur’an, peace will prevail throughout the world – Hope that answers the question.
(Qtn. Contd…) So Zakir Bhai, if a Hindu follows the principles of Qur’an, which are very similar to the principles given in the various Hindu Religious books, can a Hindu call himself as a Muslim – or on the other hand, can a Muslim call himself as a Hindu, because the very topic of your lecture is Universal Brotherhood ? I properly understood Dr. Vyas, when he asked his question.
(Dr. Zakir) Very good question – brother has asked a very good question – If you ask a clear question, I can give a reply – Alhamdulillah. Brother has asked a very good question – Can a Hindu following the principles of Islam in the Qur’an – and Hinduism, be called as a Muslim, and can a Muslim be called as a Hindu – Very good. Let us understand the definition of the word ‘Muslim’ and a ‘Hindu.’ As I said… ‘Muslim is a person who submits his will to Allah (swt)’… Almighty God. What is the definition of the word ‘Hindu’ – Do you know? Hindu is a geographical definition – Any one living in India, anyone living on this side of the Indus valley civilization – he is a Hindu. By definition, I am Hindu – do you know that? Hindu is a geographical definition – You ask anyone – According to Swami Vivekananda, ‘Hindu is a Misnoma’. Geographically I am an Indian – I am a Hindu, geographically. But Swami Vivekananda said that…‘They should be called as Vedantist – They should not be called Hindus – Vedantist. If so you ask me ‘Am I geographically ‘Hindu’ ? Yes I am geographically Hindu – I am. But if you ask me… ‘Am I a Vedantist, following the Vedas?’ I said that… “ ‘Those parts of the Vedas which conciliates with the Glorious Qur’an – I have got no objection in following those parts – for example, ‘That there is one God.’ ” But if you say…‘I believe that Almighty God created the Brahmins from the head, a different caste which are superior caste, the Kshatriyas from the chest’. It is Veda I am quoting. If you do not believe in the Veda, it is your problem brother – but this is the Veda, I am quoting. You can ask the scholars… of Vedic scholars – they are sitting here… they are sitting here – Vedas say that – Not I. ‘The Vyashyas from the thighs, and the Shudras from the feet.’ I do not agree with this concept – that is right. So if you ask me…‘Do you believe in this philosophy of Veda’ – I say… ‘No’. This particular philosophy…
(Qtn. Contd…) According to you, anybody who inhabits this land, is a Hindu ?
(Dr. Zakir) Yes.
(Qtn. Contd…) According to you.
(Dr. Zakir) Yes, yes… Geographically I… I said that – Yes. The brother has rightly said that… ‘Anybody who inhabits India, has to be a Hindu’ – but naturally. Any one living in America, is a citizen of America – he has to be American. Very good – Alhamdulillah – so anyone… living……
(Audience) Everyone is a Hindu here.
(Audience) Ye real brotherhood hai.
(Dr. Zakir) Yes, that is it. I agree with you brother – Geographically, everyone living in India, is a Hindu – So I completely agree with it. By the geographical definition if you say… if you say, that… ‘Anyone who lives in India is a Hindu’ – it is correct. Any scholar will agree…Anyone living in India is a Hindu…Geographically I am Hindu. But because I stay in India… can I be a Muslim? – Yes.
(Audience) Please maintain it.
(Dr. Zakir) Of course. So a person – Can a Muslim be a Hindu ? Yes – If the Muslim is living in India, he can be a Hindu – but if a so called Hindu lives in America, he is not a Hindu – Do you know that? – he is an American. So ‘Hinduism’ cannot be called a Universal Religion…according to scholars – Hindu is a Religion of India only – it is not a Religion – it is a geographical definition. According to Swami Vivekananda who is a great scholar – he is said… ‘Hinduism is a Misnoma.’ You know ‘Misnoma’ ? – Misnoma means a wrong label given – They should be called as Vedantist. So if you ask me… ‘Am I a Hindu’? I will tell you… ‘If Hindu is a person living in India, by all means I am a Hindu – But if you say ‘Hindu’ is a person who worships… as the person said you know – that if you believe in so and so gods, who have got forms, etc., and have got heads and hands, etc., then I am not a ‘Hindu.’ But if you mean a geographical definition – ‘Yes I am a Hindu.’ Similarly, ‘Can a Hindu be a Muslim’? Yes, an Indian can be a Muslim – A Hindu can be a Muslim. But if that Indian… if that Indian does idol worship, he cannot be a Muslim – Because the Qur’an says in Surah Nisa, Ch. 4, V. 48, and Surah Nisa, Ch. 4 V, 116, that ‘Allah (swt) never forgives the sin of committing shirk, associating partners’. Any other sin, if He wishes, He may forgive, but shirk He will never forgive.’ So an Indian, living in India – ‘Geographical Hindu’… can be a Muslim. But if that ‘Geographical Hindu’…‘Indian’, breaks any commandments… that is the basics of concept of God… believe in Prophet Mohammed (SAWS) – then he cannot be a Muslim. Any Muslim who follows the Qur’an and lives in India – he is an Indian Muslim. Hope it is very clear for you.
(Qtn. Contd…) Two things I want to make very clear – First, you might not have properly heard me.
(Dr. Mohammed) Brother… I thing as far as the Question-Answer session goes, we will allow normally one question. You put your question completely as a question, rather than lecture – and let the speaker answer. After the Question-Answer session is over… after the program is over – And when others who might not be interested in discussion – we will welcome discussion after the program…So every one else is not blocked up one question – and we give opportunities to many other people – Yes Advocate Hegde.
(Advocate Hegde) This is a Question-Answer session, and not a debate – What you are doing, is like a debate. If anybody has a question, the speaker will give the answer.
(Qtn. Contd…) We got the answer to our questions – But we are got not satisfied.
(Advocate Hegde) Then you can sit down and let someone else ask a question.
(Brother) Yes, it is alright … We do not mind – But, another question is.
(Dr. Mohammed) Brother, Brother excuse me, I will put forward the question on the slip – Mr. Mehta’s…
(Q) Why are most of the Muslims, fundamentalists and terrorists?
(Dr. Zakir) The question posed is, by brother Mehta…‘Why are most of the Muslims fundamentalists and terrorist?’ The question is posed… I give the answer – If you like it you take it, if you do not like it, leave it. Qur’an says in Surah Baqarah, Ch. 2, V. No. 256 …(Arabic)… ‘There is no compulsion in Religion - Truth stands out clear from error’. I have to present the truth to you – If you like it, you take…if you do not like it, reject it – No problem. ‘There is no compulsion is Religion’ …(Arabic)… Surah Baqarah Ch. 2, V. 256. Brother Mehta has asked a question, that…‘Why are most of the Muslim fundamentalist, why are they terrorist ? What is the meaning of the word…‘fundamentalist’? ‘Fundamentalist’ is a person who follows the fundamentals. For example… a person to be a good mathematician, he should know, he should follow, and practice the fundamentals of Maths. He should be a fundamentalist in the field of Maths, to be a good ‘Mathematician’. For a person to be good Scientist… he should know, he should follow, and practice the fundamentals of ‘Science’. He should be a fundamentalist in the field of Science, to be a good Scientist. For a person to be a good Doctor, he should know, he should follow and practice the fundamentals of medicine. He should be a fundamentalist in the field of medicine, to be a good Doctor. You cannot paint all fundamentalists with the same brush. You cannot say…‘All fundamentalists are bad’ or ‘All fundamentalists are good’. For example, you are fundamentalist robber, who is expert in the field of robbing. But, he is harmful for the society – he robs the people, and does not promote brotherhood – he is not a good human being. On the other, hand you a fundamentalist doctor – who follows and practices the fundamentals of medicine, and he cures the sickness of human beings – he is a good person, he helps the human being. So you cannot paint all fundamentalists with the same brush. Regarding…‘Muslims are fundamentalist’ – I am proud to be a fundamentalist Muslim, because I know, I follow and Alhamdulillah strive to practice the fundamentals of Islam – I am proud to be a fundamentalist Muslim. And every Muslim to be a good Muslim, should be a fundamentalist Muslim – otherwise he cannot be a good Muslim. Every Hindu to be a good Hindu, he should be a fundamentalist Hindu… otherwise he will not be a good Hindu. Every Christian, to be a good Christian, he should be fundamentalist Christian – otherwise he won’t be a good Christian. Regarding…‘Is a fundamentalist Muslim, good or bad?’ – That is the question. Alhamdulillah, the fundamentals of Islam – There is not a single fundamental of Islam, which is against humanity. So far, many of the brothers posed certain questions, because of the misconceptions – Because of the misconceptions you may think, that this teaching of Islam is wrong. Like brother said that… ‘Having cow is wrong’ – And I gave the answer – Brother said about certain thing, and I gave the answer. So a person who has lack of knowledge, he may think that there are certain fundamentals of Islam, which are wrong. But if anyone who has the knowledge of Islam – there is not a single teaching of Islam, which goes against humanity, goes against society. I challenge anyone – Not only this audience, in the full universe – to point out to me a single – a single teaching of Islam, which is against the basics of humanity – A single. Some people may feel bad, but as a whole the teaching of Islam is best for Universal Brotherhood, to promote humanity. There is not a single teaching, and I challenge again…anyone from the audience – they can ask me questions – I will clarify the misconception, Insha-Allah when the time comes. Brother, next question you can pose. One question at a time – when your turn was there you don’t reply. See the thing is that you have to follow certain rules – the mike was empty for half an hour – no one come up. I told the brother, you most welcome – you stand on the mike – No one comes – You can keep on asking one – one question – Every third question will be your question. No problem…You can ask as many… as much as the time, as the auditorium has been hired for – there is no problem – so I am proud to be a fundamentalist Muslim. But if you read the definition of ‘fundamentalism’ in the Webster’s dictionary, it says that… ‘Fundamentalism was a movement which was started in the early twentieth century, by a group of Christians… the Protestants in America, who protested and said that…‘Not only is the Bible… the teachings of Bible is, the word of God – but every letter of the Bible, is verbatim, the word of God’. So ‘Fundamentalism’ was first used for a group of Protestant Christians in America, who protested and said that…‘Every letter, word, of the Bible is the word of God’. If any human being who can prove that every word of the Bible is the word of God, then the movement is good. But if someone can prove that every word of the Bible is not the word of God, then the movement is not a good movement. But if you read the Oxford dictionary – What is the meaning of the word ‘Fundamentalist?’ ‘Fundamentalism’ according to Oxford dictionary means…‘Strictly adhering to ancient laws of any Religion, especially Islam’. In Oxford dictionary they write… ‘Especially Islam’. The word ‘Especially Islam’ is there in the latest edition of Oxford dictionary. That means…‘Fundamentalist’ – Immediately you think of a ‘Muslim’ – Why? The media is bombarding people that…‘You know… that these Muslims – they are fundamentalists, they are terrorists’. The moment you think of a ‘fundamentalist’ – immediately the people starting thinking of a ‘Muslim’ – Start thinking of the word ‘terrorist’. What is the meaning of the word ‘terrorist’? A ‘terrorist’ is a person who causes terror… who cause terror – And sometimes for peace to prevail, you may have to cause terror. When a robber sees the police, he is terrified – so for the robber, the police is the terrorist – Right or wrong? I am speaking English – I am not playing around with words – I am speaking English. ‘Terrorist’ is a person who causes terror. So for the robber, for the criminal, for the anti-social element, the police is a terrorist. In this context, every Muslim should be a terrorist – In context… Should be a terrorist, for the anti-social element. Whenever an anti-social element sees a Muslim, he should be terrified – Any robber sees a Muslim, he should be terrified, any rapist sees a Muslim, he should be terrified. But I do agree that ‘terrorist’ is a word normally used for terrorizing the common people, the innocent, people. In that context, no Muslim should be a terrorist – he should not terrorise innocent people. But where anti-social elements are concerned, where robbers are concerned, where criminals are concerned – as policemen are terrorists to the criminals – even the Muslim should be a terrorist to the criminal. And if you analyse, many a time, two different labels are given to the same person, for his same activity. For example, you know there were many Indians who fought for the freedom of India – When the Britishers ruled India, there were many Indians who fought for the freedom of India. The Britishers called them as ‘Terrorists… these people are terrorists’ – But we Indians, we call these freedom fighters, as ‘Patriots’ – Right or wrong? ‘Patriots’ – they fought for the freedom of the country. Same people, same activity – two different labels. The Britishers called them as ‘Terrorist’ – the Indian citizens call them as ‘Patriots’… ‘Freedom fighters’. Same activity, same person – two different labels. So before you give a label, you should first analyse, that which view do you adhere to. If you agree with the British view, that the British government had a right to rule over India, then you would call these people as ‘terrorists’. But if you agree with the Indian citizens, that the Britishers – they came to do business, and they started ruling us unlawfully, then you will call these people as freedom fighters. So before you give any label to any particular person, you should analyse which view do you have. Same people can be given two different views, by different people. In this context I would say…‘Every Muslim should be a fundamentalist, where Islam is concerned – because every teaching of Islam promotes human values, and humanity, and Universal Brotherhood’. Hope that answers the question.
(Q) I am doctor Devery, from Bhiwandi College. Well, every Religion is a supreme science of life. Nothing is wrong, so far as the principles of Religions are concerned – but the formulation of principles is a different thing, and execution of these principles, is a different thing. Actually where there is no relationship of blood – the relationship is to established by the Religions. Actually what we find – I quote …(Sanskrit)… Ees sansar mein shanti prastapit honein ke baad, ashanti mat phaylaon – yeh paygaam hamein mila hai. But actually what we find, what we realize, what we experience is this – the maximum blood is wasted only on account of the conflicts in the Religions. So where is the wrong? – I mean , what are your views about this? How would you reconcile the principles of Religion, and this chaos which arises on account of Religion? What are your views on this particular aspect – Thank you.
(Dr. Zakir) The Professor has asked a very good question, that in all Religions basically speak good things, but the implementation may be different – they teach good things. But today you see in the world – many people are fighting on the name of Religion – How can you solve this problem? It is a very good question – and part of the answer I gave in my talk. And I said that as far as Islam is concerned, we should not kill any human being – Surah Maidah, Ch. 5, V. 32. How can you see to it that we can come to common terms? – How can we solve the differences? That I also, I mentioned in my talk, in Surah Imran, Ch. 3, V. 64 which says that …(Arabic)… ‘that come to common terms as between us and you’. If suppose you have ten points, and I have got ten points – If out of those ten points, if five points are common, and five are different – I at least agree with those five points which are common – the differences, we will come to it later on. Qur’an says …(Arabic)…‘that come to common terms as between us and you’. Which is the first term? …(Arabic)… ‘that we worship none, but Allah’. …(Arabic)… ‘that we associate no partners with Him’. Say you rightly said…‘How to solve ?’ And I have given the methodology, how to solve…‘That come to common terms’. But the point to be noted here is, that many people who follow Religions, they do not know what their own Religious Scripture speaks – that is the problem. Many Muslims do not know what the Qur’an and Sahih Hadith speak; many Hindus do not know what Hindu Scriptures say; many Christians and Jews do not know what the Bible says. Who is to blame ? – Followers. Therefore I tell the people…‘You read your Scriptures’ The point of differences, we will come to it later on – at least come to the communalities. I have given a talk on ‘Similarities between Islam and Christianity’. I say…‘The things which we differ, we will come to it later on’. At least what your Bible and my Qur’an says – let us agree with those things which are common – Fight will be solved. What I am doing now – In my talk, did I ever criticize any religion? I was forced to reply, when certain brothers tried to ask certain questions – which I have to speak the truth. Other wise in my talk… you can take the video cassette – I did not criticize a single point on any Religion – I never spoke about the differences – I only came to common terms. Differences…I can give a talk on…‘Differences between Islam and Hinduism’; ‘Differences between Islam and Christianity’. I am a student of Comparative Religion – I can quote verses, Alhamdulillah from the various World Scriptures, talking about differences. I keep that when required…when someone tries to disturb the programme – We have to be well aware of these things. But I never use it in my talks – I never use it with the common man. I tell the common man… ‘You read your Scriptures – you will come closer to your Scriptures, and to Universal Brotherhood – Read your Scriptures. At least first believe in one God – the differences we will come to later on… the differences we will came to later on. Judaism says that, Christianity says that, Hinduism says that, Islam says that, Sikhism says that, Parsism says that…‘Believe in one God, and worship Him Alone’. Why do you worship other gods ? Come to that point… then come to other points. If we solve this problem of commonalities – If, even if there are three points common out of ten, at least agree on those common points – the other points we can agree to disagree – we will come to it later on. So if we come on the common points first, coming on the comparative studies, believe me most of the problems will be solved – Believe me… and that is what I am doing. I am going throughout the world, and I address audiences from Non-Muslims…and many of them, because they are not aware of their Scriptures… of our Scriptures, many people pose questions. Even Muslims are not aware of their Scriptures – So they pose questions which they are not aware of. So I educate them – I educate them about Qur’an, about Hadith… about Vedas, about Bible. And I quote – when I quote, I give the reference number – So no one can say… ‘Oh Zakir is pulling a fast one’. And all these Scriptures I quoted – it is available in the Islamic Research Foundation. Our library has the various translations of Vedas. We have hundreds of types of Bibles – more than thirty different versions of the Bible… we have – Alhamdulillah. So whichever sect you belong to – whether you are Jehovah’s Witness or Protestants or Catholics – I speak from their Scriptures. So if you say that…‘Zakir is wrong’ – You have to say that…‘the Holy Scripture is wrong’. I quote… and most of my talks are quotations – Quotations from various Scriptures. If you disagree with the Scriptures – that is your choice. If you want to disagree, you are most welcome to disagree – because Qur’an says …(Arabic)… There is no compulsion in Religion – Truth stands out clear from error. So I am presenting the truth of Hinduism to you – So if you want to agree… agree – Do not want to agree, do not agree. There is a Symposium… the third cassette from there – Symposium on ‘Concept of God on Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity’. People may call it a debate – A Hindu Pundit from Kerala and Calicut; A Christian father of Calicut; I myself presented the Islam’s view. Four and a half hours debate… it is available outside – Scholars of Hinduism, of Christianity – I am just a student…I am presenting my view – and it is for the audience to judge. I am talking about ‘Similarities’ – quoting their Scriptures – Chapter number, Verse number, Chapter number, Verse number. The best way to call all the human beings to unite, is find the commonalities – Speak about the differences later on. Hope that answers the question.
(Dr. Mohammed) The next question would be from the slip – Then if the sister will allow, there is one Raj Malhotra – he is asking…‘If Islam is a Religion of peace, then how come it was spread by the sword ?’
(Dr. Zakir) The question posed was…‘If Islam is a Religion of peace… how come it was spread by the sword.?’ Islam comes from the root word ‘Salam’, which means ‘Peace’. It also means ‘Submitting your will to Allah (swt)… Almighty God’. In short, Islam means… ‘Peace, acquired by submitting your will to Allah (swt)’. But as I mentioned earlier, everyone in the world does not want peace to prevail in the world. There are certain anti-social elements… for their own benefit, they do not want peace to prevail… the robbers, the criminals – If peace will prevail, they will go out of business – So for their own benefits, there are certain human beings, who do not want peace to prevail. So for such type of people, force may have to be used – therefore we have police, etc. So, Islam is for peace – but sometimes you may have to use force, to put the anti social elements in their place. And the best answer to this question…‘That Islam was spread by the sword’, is given by Delay See Olary – He is a Non-Muslim historian, of great repute. In his book – ‘Islam at the Cross Roads’, on page number eight, he says that… ‘History makes it clear, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping across the world, forcing Islam at the point of the sword, over conquered races, is the most fantastic absurd myth, that historians have ever repeated’ – Delay See Olary, page number eight – Book…‘Islam at the Cross Roads’. I am asking you a question that…‘We Muslims, we ruled Spain for about eight hundred years – later on the Crusaders came, and they wiped out the Muslims. There was not a Muslim who could openly give the Adhan… the call for prayers – We did not use any force. You know, we Muslims, we ruled the Arab lands for about fourteen hundred years – for a few years the Britishers came, for a few years the French came – but overall the Muslims were the lordship of the Arab land, for fourteen hundred years. Do you know, today there are fourteen million Arabs, who are Coptic Christians? ‘Coptic Christian’ means, they are Christians through generations since generations. If the Muslims wanted, they could have converted every Non-Muslim at the point of the sword – we did not do it. The fourteen million Arabs who were Coptic Christians, are giving witness, that Islam was not spread by the sword. You know India – India was ruled for hundreds of years by the Muslims – We did not use the sword… we did not use the sword. If few people do a wrong thing, you cannot catch up those people, and blame the Religion for that… If few people do not follow the Religion. You cannot say that Christianity is bad, because Hitler insinuated six million Jews. If Hitler insinuated six million Jews, burnt six million Jews, you can not blame Christianity for that – There may be black sheep in every community. But we Muslims, we ruled India for hundreds of years – If we wanted, we could have forced every Non-Muslim to convert, at the point of the sword. We did not do it – The Non-Muslims of India today… more than eighty percent – they are giving Shahada, they are giving witness – you Non-Muslims present here, are giving witness that Islam was not spread by the sword. You are giving witness – we had the power… we did not do it – Islam does not believe in that. Today the country which has the maximum number of Muslims, is Indonesia – Which Muslim army went to Indonesia? Which Muslim army went to Malaysia… which has fifty five percent of population of Muslims? Which Muslim army went to the east coast of Africa? – Which Muslim army? Which sword? Thomas Carlye gives the reply – Thomas Carlye… he writes in his book… ‘Heroes and Hero worship’ that… ‘You have to get this sword – Little good will it do, that he should spread with the sword. Every new opinion initially begins in the mind of one – One man in the whole world – One man against all the human beings. It will do little good, that he picks up a sword and propagates it.’ – Which sword? Even if we had the sword, we cannot use it – Even if we had the mental sword, we cannot use it. Qur’an says in Surah Baqarah, Ch. 2, V. 256 …(Arabic)… ‘There is no compulsion in Religion – Truth stands out clear from error’. Anyone who grasps the hands of Allah (swt) and rejects the evil, he has held the most strong hand hold, that never breaks. Anyone who believes in Allah… Allah will take him from darkness to light. Anyone who believes in the satan the evil one, he will take him from lightness to dark.’ Which sword? – Sword of the intellect. Qur’an says in Surah Nahl Ch. 16, V. 125 …(Arabic)… ‘Invite all to the way to thy Lord, with wisdom and beautiful preaching, and argue with them, and reason with them, in the ways that are best and most gracious.’ There was a article that came in the ‘Plain Truth’ Magazine – It was a reproduction of ‘The Readers Digest Al Manager Book’ 1986. It gave the statistics of the increase of the world Religions, between 1934 to 1984. In the 50 years, number one increase in major Religion’s was Islam; two hundred and thirty five percent; 235%. I am asking you… ‘Which war took place between 1934 and 1984, which converted millions of Non-Muslims to Islam? Which war? Do you know, today the fastest growing Religion in America, is Islam? – Who is forcing the Americans to convert at the point of the sword? The fastest growing Religion in Europe, is Islam – Who is forcing them at the point of the sword? Qur’an gives the answer in no less than three different places, in Surah Tawbah, Ch. 9, V. No. 33; In Surah As Saff, Ch. 61, V. No. 9; and Surah Fath, Ch. 48, V. 28, the Glorious Qur’an says …(Arabic)… Allah says that… ‘Allah has send His messenger with Truth, and with Guidance, so that it will prevail over all the other ways of life, over all the other religions.’ Islam is destined to supersede all, master them all, overcome them all. …(Arabic)… ‘Enough is Allah as a Witness’. And I would like to end this answer, by the giving the quotation of Adam Peirson. Dr Adam Peirson said that…‘People who fear that one day nuclear weaponry will fall in the hands of the Arabs; they fail to realize that the Islamic bomb has already been dropped – It fell the day Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) was born.’
(Dr. Mohammed) There is question from brother Sunil – he asks…‘When Islam preaches Universal Brotherhood, then how come Muslims themselves are divided into sects.’
(Dr. Zakir) The question posed is that, when Islam preaches Universal Brotherhood, how come Muslims are divided into various sects ? The answer is given in the Glorious Qur’an, in Surah Al Imran, Ch. No. 3, V. No. 103, it says …(Arabic)… ‘Hold to the rope of Allah strongly, and be not divided’. Which is the rope of Allah? The Glorious Qur’an, is the rope of Allah (swt). It says that the Muslims should hold to the rope of Allah… the Glorious Qur’an and the Sahih Hadith, and they should not be divided. And the Qur’an says as I mentioned earlier, in Surah Anam, Ch. 6, V. 159, that… ‘Anyone who divides the Religion into sects – you have nothing to do with him. Allah will tell him about their affairs, on the day of judgment’. That means, it is prohibited for anyone to make sects in the Religion of Islam. But when you ask, certain Muslims…‘What are you?’ Some say…‘I am a Hanifi’, some say…‘I am Shafi’, some say…‘I am a Hambli’, some say… ‘I am a Maliki’. What was our beloved Prophet ? Was he Shafi ?… was he Hambli ?… Was he Maliki ?… What was he ? He was a Muslim. The Qur’an says in Surah Al Imran, Ch. 3, V. 52 that… ‘Jesus (pbuh) was a Muslim.’ The Qur’an says in Surah Al Imran, Ch. 3, V. No. 67 that… ‘Abraham (pbuh) was a Muslim’. And what was our beloved Prophet? – He was a Muslim. The Qur’an says in Surah Fussilat, Ch. 41, V. No. 33 …(Arabic)… ‘Who is better in speech, than one who invites people to the way of thy Lord, works righteousness, and says I am if those who bow to the will Allah’. Those who way say…‘I am a Muslim’. So when anyone poses a question…‘What are you ?’ – You should say…‘I am a Muslim’. I have no objection if someone says…‘I believe in certain verdicts, certain views given by great scholars like Abu Hanifah, Imam Shafi, Imam Malik, Ahmed Ibn Hambal – May Allah be pleased with them all – I respect all these great scholars. If someone agrees with certain views of Imam Shafi sometimes, (may Allah be pleased with him) – Sometimes Abu Hanifah, (may Allah be pleased with him) – I have got no objection. But if anyone poses a question…‘What are you ?’ – You should say…‘You are a Muslim’. And as the brother said earlier, that Qur’an says – ‘There will be seventy three sects’. What he was referring to, is a saying of our beloved Prophet – It is mentioned in Abu Dawood, Hadith number 4579 – it says that…‘The Religion of Islam will be divided into seventy-three sects. But if you note the wordings of Prophet Muhammed (saws)… Muhammed (pbuh), he said that… ‘The Religion will be divided’ – He did not say… ‘You should divide the Religion’. He is prophesing – though the Qur’an says.. ‘Do not be divided’ – the Muslims are bound to divide. And there is another Hadith which is mentioned in Trimidi H. No. 171 – the beloved Prophet said…‘There will be seventy three firkas…Seventy three sects, and all will go to hell, except for one’. And the companions asked… ‘Which one?’ The Prophet said… ‘The one that is on the path of the Prophet, and the companions – One that follows the Qur’an and the Sahih Hadith. So anyone who follows the Qur’an and the Hadith, is on the true path – Islam does not believe in division. Every person… he is a Muslim – Anyone who follows the Qur’an and Sahih Hadith, is a Muslim – And Islam is against dividing the Religion into sects and divisions. So if you read the Qur’an and Sahih Hadith – Muslims should be united on the basis of Qur’an and Sahih Hadith. Hope that answer the question.
(Dr. Mohammed) Yes brother – We will allow two questions before we have the impressions of our chief guest, and the Presidential address by Advocate Hingorane – Yes brother.
(Q) I am a retired teacher…Laxman Dokras Guruji – I want to ask…‘What is the exact remedy to increase the Universal Brotherhood?’ For which subjects we have to give priority – either for Religion, or Sociology, or Politics – Will you please tell me… please kindly, what is?
(Dr. Zakir) The brother has asked a question that, what is the priority to spread Universal Brother – Is it Religion, is it Sociology, is it dealing with Politics? Brother I have given a talk based on that full topic – I do not have to repeat the same thing – My answer will be the same. The priority to spread Universal Brotherhood, in all the Religions, is…‘To believe in one God, and worship Him alone’ – that is the basic priority. I have repeated that in the talk, I have repeated in answers to several questions, and I am repeating it again. The basic priority is not Sociology or Politics – that come later on. Politics deals with ‘Brotherhood’ which is limited, Sociology…which is limited. Belief in one God, is Universal – He is the one who created all human beings, whether male or female, whether black or white, whether rich or poor. So if you believe in one God, and worship Him alone, then there will only be Universal Brotherhood – Hope that answers the question.
(Dr. Mohammed) The next question is something connected – One brother Prabhu is asking… ‘All the Religions basically preach good things – thus a person can follow any one of the Religions – it is one and the same?
(Dr. Zakir) The question posed is that…‘All the Religions basically teach good things – So you can follow any Religion – it is one and the same ?’ And I do agree with him in the first part of the question – that all Religions do basically preach good things. For example all Religions say…‘You should not rob, you should not molest a woman, you should not rape her’ – Hinduism says that, Christianity says that, Islam says that. But the difference between Islam and the other Religions is, that Islam – besides speaking of good things, it shows you a way how to implement those good things. Like all Religions speak about ‘Brotherhood’ – but Islam practically shows you – it demonstrates how to practice it in your day to day life – Salah, Hajj, etc. So Islam, besides speaking theoretically, it shows you a way how to practice it in your life. For example, Hinduism says…‘You should not rob’; Christianity says… ‘You should not rob’ ; Islam says…‘You should not rob’ – So what is the difference between Islam and the other Religions. Islam shows you a way how to achieve that state, in which people will not rob. Islam has a system of Zakat – that is, every rich person who has a saving of more than the Nisab level, 85 grams of gold – he or she should give 2.5% of that excess wealth, in charity, every lunar year. If every rich human being gives charity, poverty will be eradicated from this world – There will not be a single human being who will die of hunger. After this, the Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Maidah, Ch. No. 5, V. No. 38… ‘As to the thief, be it a man or a woman – chop of his of her hand, as a punishment from Allah (swt)’. Some people may say…‘Chopping of the hands…in this age of twentieth century – Islam is a barbaric Religion…It is a ruthless law’. And I know, that there are thousands of people who rob – So if you chop off all the people, then many people will lose their hands. But the law is so strict, that the moment you implement it, and if a person comes to know that his hands will be chopped off if he robs, immediately the thought of robbing will go away from his mind. Do you know, today America which happens to be one of the most advanced country in the world – Unfortunately it also has one of the highest rates of crime – Highest rate of robbery and theft. I am asking you a question…‘If you implement the Islamic Shariah in America – that is every rich person gives Zakat, 2.5% of his excess wealth in charity, and after that, if any man or woman robs – Chop off his or her hands’. I am asking you a question…‘Will the rate of robbery and theft in America – will it increase, will it remain the same, or will it decrease?’ It will decrease – It is a practical law. You implement the Shariah, and you get results. Let me give you another example – that most of the major Religions say that…‘You should not molest a woman, that you should not rape a woman’ – Hinduism says that, Christianity says that, Islam says the same. But Islam shows you a way how to achieve that state, in which people will not… men will not molest or rape a woman – Islam has a system of Hijab. People normally talk about Hijab for the woman – but Allah (swt) in the Glorious Qur’an first speaks about the Hijab for the man, and then for the women. The Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Nur Ch. No. 24, V. No. 30. that…‘Say to the believing man, that he should lower his gaze, and guard his modesty’. Whenever a man looks at a woman, and any brazen thought comes in his mind… any unashamed thought comes in his mind, he should lower his gaze. There was once a friend of mine, who was a Muslim friend, who was staring at a girl, for a long time. So I told him ‘Brother what are you doing? – It is prohibited in Islam to stare at a girl’. So he told me…‘Our beloved Prophet said that…‘The first glance is allowed – the second is prohibited’ – I have not yet completed half my glance. What did the, Prophet mean by saying ‘The first glance is allowed – the second is prohibited’. He did not mean that you could look at a woman, and stare continuously at her for twenty minutes, without blinking – What the Prophet meant…‘that if you look at a woman unintentionally’. ‘Intentionally do not look at her again…Do not feast on her’ – that is what the Prophet meant. The next verse speaks about the Hijab for the women – Surah Nur, Ch. 24, V. 31, says that…‘Say to the believing women, that she should lower her gaze and guard her modesty, and display not her beauty, except what appears ordinarily off, and to draw a head covering over the bosom. And display not her beauty, except in front of her husband, her father, her sons…’ etc. and a big list of mehram the close relatives, who she cannot marry, is given. And there are basically six criteria for Hijab. The first is the extent, which differs between the man and the woman. For the man, the extent is from the navel to the knee; for the woman, the complete body should be covered – the only part that can be seen, are the face and the hands, upto the wrist. Some scholars say…‘Even these should be covered’. The remaining five criteria are the same. The second is, the clothes they wear – it should not be so tight, that it reveals the figure. Third – it should not be transparent, so that you could see through. Fourth – it should not be so glamorous, that it attracts the opposite sex. Fifth – it should not resemble that of the unbeliever. Sixth – it should not resemble that of the opposite sex. These are basically six criteria for Hijab, mentioned in the Qur’an and the Sahih Hadith. And the Qur’an says in Surah Ahzab, Ch. 33, V. No. 59 – giving the reasons for Hijab. It says… ‘O Prophet, tell your wives and the believing women, that when they go abroad, they should put on the cloak – So that they shall be recognized, and it will prevent them from being molested.’ Qur’an says…‘Hijab has been prescribed for the women, so that it will prevent them from being molested’. And the Islamic Shariah says…‘If anyone rapes any women, he gets capital punishment’. People may say…‘Capital punishment, in this twentieth century – Islam is a barbaric Religion, it is a ruthless law…It is a barbaric Religion’. Do you know…America which happens to be the country which is supposed to be most advanced – it has one of the highest rate of rape? According to the statistics, it says that… ‘On an average, every day more than one thousand, nine hundred females are being raped everyday – Every 1.3 minutes, one female is raped.’ Since the time I am in this auditorium…it is more than two and half hours – How many rapes may have taken place… how many? More than a hundred, in America. I am asking you a question…‘If you implement the Islamic Shariah in America – that is, every man when he looks at a woman, he should lower his gaze – the woman should be properly dressed up in the Hijab – and after that, if any man rapes – Capital punishment’. I am asking you a question…‘Will the rape increase, will it remain the same, or will it decrease?’ It will decrease – it is a practical law – you implement the Shariah, and you and get results. And I have been asking this questions to Non-Muslims that…‘Suppose someone rapes unfortunately… your wife, or your mother, and if you are made the Judge – and if the rapist is brought in front of you – what punishment will you give?’ And believe me all of them said…‘We will put him to death’. Some went to the extent of saying…‘We will torture him to death’. So why do you have these double standards? Someone rapes somebody else’s wife… Capital punishment is barbaric law – Someone rapes your wife… You want to give him Capital punishment. Why these double standards? And do you know – In India, according to the statistics of Crime Bureau… It says that…‘Every 54 minutes, one case of rape is reported in India’. How many taking place?…Every few minutes – may be one case. And no wonder, if you have read the papers of about ten days back, on the 20th of October, the Home Minister of India, L. K. Advani – you know what he said? It came in headlines of ‘Times of India’… headlines – What it says, that… ‘Advani…Advani puts a death rap for rapes, and recommends an amendment in the law’ – Headline in ‘Times of India’, 20th of October – 10 days back. On Tuesday, one day before, 27th of October 1998, he said that…‘He wants death penalty for the rapist’. Alhamdulillah – What Islam has said 1400 years ago, L.K. Advani is saying that, and I am congratulate him for that – I am not here to promote any political party. I am not a Politician – but if someone speaks the truth, I have to appreciate it. And if you implement this, surely the rate of rape will diminish. May be the next Home Minister may implement the Islamic Hijab here also. So InshaAllah the rapes will be completely abolished. They are coming closer to Islam – I appreciate it. …(Arabic)…‘Come to common terms as between us and you’. Mr L.K. Advani realized that rape is increase in India – and he rightly recommended that the law should be amended – and death penalty should be put for the rapist – And I am for it – I am the first person Indian to support it. So if you analyse – Islam…besides speaking good things, it shows you a way how to achieve that state of goodness. Therefore I say, that Islam unlike other Religions which speak good things – it shows you a way how to achieve goodness. So therefore if I have to follow any Religion, I would follow a Religion which speaks good things and shows you a way how to achieve that good thing. Therefore it is rightly said in Surah Al Imran Ch. 3, V. No. 19 …(Arabic)… The only Religion acceptable in the sight of Allah (swt) is the person who submits his will to Allah (swt).
(Dr.Mohammed) Excuse me, we will not allow any further questions. Just one the basis of organisers, I have asked – Okay, he has requested that person also should be allowed – and two, three very brief questions – Yes you can put forward your question.
(Q) My name is, Manoj Raicha – my first question is under the name ‘Universal Brotherhood’, you are advertising Islam… and on the basis of that, please define your terms, when you are saying that ‘Universal Brotherhood’. You should – under the name ‘Universal Brotherhood’… you should accept brotherhood to all – whether ‘Muslims’… that is followers of Islam, and Non-Muslims… which you say ‘Kafir’, who do not – Otherwise for the term ‘Muslim brotherhood’ – it will be okay.
(Dr. Zakir) The brother has asked a question – that in the name of ‘Universal Brotherhood’, I am promoting Islam. Suppose if I have to say, that…‘You know the best cloth… I am promoting the best cloth in market.’ And suppose Raymonds, has to be the best cloth – So it is a fact, I am promoting Raymonds, if Raymond’s company is best.’ Any way I do not get any cut from Raymond – it is just an example…I am not a dealer of Raymonds. But if I say…‘The best cloth is Raymond’ – and if the talk is… ‘Which is the best cloth?’ I have to speak about that. Suppose I am giving a talk on…‘Who is the best doctor in the world ?’ – and if I have to take a person named ‘XYZ’ – and if he is a best doctor…I am promoting him… Yes. I am telling you that Islam is a Religion which speaks about ‘Universal Brotherhood’, and shows you a way how to achieve it. Regarding your question that – in ‘Universal Brotherhood’, can you call a Muslims and Non-Muslims as brothers – or only Muslim as brother? The ‘Universal Brotherhood’ of Islam is…‘All human beings are your brothers’ – I made it very clear in my talk – I am not mincing with words. I am very clear – may be, it may have slipped… you may not have heard it. I started my talk in Surah Hujurat, Ch. 49, V. 13. …(Arabic)… that… ‘O human kind, We have created you from a single pair of male and female, and I have divided you into nations and tribes, so that you shall recognise each other, not that you shall despise each other, and the most honoured in the sight of Allah, is the person who has takwa, who has righteousness, who has piety, who has God consciousness.’ In the Universal Brotherhood, all human beings – the person who as got piety, is one who has got takwah, righteousness. I have got two brothers – one is a good person – actually I have got one brother only – But suppose I have two brothers. One is a medical doctor – like this brother, and treating the patients, etc., curing – And the other brother is a drunkard, he is a rapist. Both are my brothers – Who is a better brother? A brother who is a doctor and treats the people, and does not cause harm to the society – the other brother…he is my brother, but he is not a good brother of mine. Similarly all human beings are my brothers – but those who are closer to me, are those who have takwa, who has righteousness, who has piety. Anyone who has piety, who has righteousness, who has God consciousness, is closer to me – It is very clear. I have said in my talk, and I repeat it – Hope that answers the question.
(Dr. Mohammed) Connected?
(Q) You have deferential Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. In all three Religions, there is good things for brotherhood – You have not explained brotherhood in Hinduism, brotherhood in Christianity?
(Dr. Zakir) The brother said that I have spoken good things about Islam… Universal Brotherhood – I have not spoken good things about Hinduism and Christianity. I did speak certain good things – I did not speak everything about brotherhood in Hinduism and Christianity, because people may not be able to digest it here. These things what I am saying, people cannot digest – I have to be patient. I know Christianity, I have studied the Bible; I have studied the Hindu Scripture ; if I speak on that – I am not here to create a rift. What I am here, to talk about the communalities – so what is common I spoke. Hinduism says…‘Do not rob’ – Christianity says…‘Do not rob’ – do not molest… do not rape’ – fine. Other things on Brotherhood – do you know, just a sample I am giving you – Jesus Christ (pbuh) said – it is mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew, Ch. No. 10, V. No. 5 to 6 – It says…I am quoting Chapter No., Verse No., quoting – there is no two doubts about it. He told the Apostles that…‘Go ye not in the way of the Gentiles – But rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel’. Who are the Gentiles? The Non Jews, the Hindus, the Christians… they are the Gentiles. ‘Do not throw pearls before pigs’… he calls us a pig – And you want me to speak about that? Jesus Christ (pbuh) says in the Gospel of Matthew, Ch. No. 15, V. No. 24 – he says that…‘I have not been sent but, to the lost sheep of the house of Israel’. I am quoting – Chapter No., Verse Number. So this means that, Religion is meant for the Jews – not for the whole Universe. In other Religions, the believe in monasticism… in monasticism. If you have to come closer to God, you have to renounce the world… you have to renounce the world – Most of the Major Religions… Hinduism says that…Christianity says that…‘To come closer to God, you have to renounce the world’. Qur’an says in Surah Hadith, Ch. 57, V. No. 27, that…‘It is against Monasticism’. Monasticism is not allowed in Islam – Our beloved Prophet said…‘There is no Monasticism’. It is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari, Vol. No. 7, in the Book of Nikah, Ch. No. 3, H. No. 4…‘O young people, whoever has the means to get married, should get married’ – Hadith says that. If I agree, that if you renounce the world, you came closer to Almighty God – and if every human being renounces the world today, then within a span of 100 to 150 years, there will not be a single human being alive in this world. If every one practices this law throughout the world, where is the Universal Brotherhood? Therefore brother, I am only come to talk about the good points – Unless you want to have knowledge about other Religions – it is my job – I have to speak the truth. Qur’an says in Surah Isra, Ch. No. 17, V. No. 81 …(Arabic)… ‘When truth is hurled against falsehood, falsehood perishes, for falsehood is by its nature, bound to perish’. Hope that answers the question.
(Dr. Mohammed) The chief guest has requested…‘Do not allow any further questions – nor from the mikes, neither from here’ – We now go into the next session. Now we will have the respected – Advocate Prabhakar Rao Hegde, presenting his impression – as a chief guest.
(Prabhaker Rao Hegde) Dr. Zakir Naik and friends – I limit my privilege to be here this morning, to hear this talk by Dr. Zakir Naik, the President of the Islamic Research Foundation – and I was really impressed by it. I am a Hindu, but do not go to the temple – neither introduce Religion in my politics – I belong to the Congress. Here, those who came to here Dr. Zakir Naik should have seen and realized that he is a person who has to do with Islam Religion – and he is asked to speak only on Islam Religion – and I feel it very unhappy, that some of the people who introduce Religion in politics, tried to obstruct his speech, by asking inconvenient questions ? May I ask them a question…‘Have they read Vedas, have they read Upanishads, have they read any of the Religious Scripts – or because it is convenient to be a Hindu, to come in power, they want to canvas Religion? My submission is… mostly respectful submission is…‘Here, I came to hear a Muslim scholar on the topic – what his Religion wants to convey – whether I accept or I do not accept, is another thing. But I will tell you, that the Hindu Religion is there for thousands of years, and Islam Religion has come fourteen hundred years back. It is a Religion which has come up, after seeing this torture done by other Religions, of the people of the world – And therefore that is the Religion which is more Socialistic – and has given the method also, how to implement. I remember in 1978, when I contested from Thane , from this Bhiwandi, I met my friend Ishaq Narbe…Advocate – and he gave me the translation of Qur’an in English, which I had gone through, before I contested election. I still remember that I read the contribution of the Muslims in the freedom movement of India – a book written by author. And I have to tell my friends here, who are talking about the Religion in Hinduism – that it was the Wahabis, who first stood against the British in 1833. It was not the Hindus that collected together to fight the battle of Independence – It was the Muslims who fought the battle of independence. It is unfortunate that we do not – both of us do not go together – It is unfortunate for this country that – But it is really equally unfortunate, that some persons want to canvas it, and make it a point in politics to introduce Religion. I am really impressed by the speech…I have learnt a lot – Not that I agree with whatever he has said. It is a way of thinking, and certainly deserves a serious consideration, and I am thankful to him – I thank you all.
(Dr. Mohammed) May I now request, respected Advocate K.R. Hingorane, to present his presidential address.
(K. R. Hingorane) Dr. Naik, Hegde Saheb, my friends, I am really honoured to have been asked to preside over this function – though ofcourse in a vacancy filling manner. But even then, I am really proud to be here, and associated with the thoughts which are expressed by Dr. Naik. I am not an expert on any Religion…either mine or of Dr. Zakir’s – but one thing I can claim, that I was born in a place, where Islam was first brought in to the shores of India – I come from Province known as Sind. For the first time in my life, I have heard a Muslim scholar – though I have heard so many Muslim Maulanas – who can understand and really read the things comparatively, not only from an exclusive point of view – as normally it is misunderstood by us…‘that Islam is a exclusive Religion, only meant for compartmental people, who believe in certain things – and who disbelieve in other things. When he said that…‘We should bring out the communalities, the common things between the different Religions first, and then disagree upon the points, which we do not agree upon’ – I think this one of the best statement that I have heard in my life. Once I have heard Dr. Radhakrshnan speaking in the same manner, on the comparative Religions of India – and after that, after about 50 years, I heard Dr. Naik’s speech – that there are certain common things. And really there are certain common things…and really there are certain common things, because when he spoke about the Taqwa – it is a Arabic word – I think that is the pronunciation, and he is said…‘It is God-consciousness’ – I was reminded of my own Shivaism…Kashmiri Shivaism, which also talks about the ‘God-consciousness, as being the fundamental force in life – that everything emanates from it; It is not born, it is not created, it is not come out of a womb of a woman, it is self evident swambho, it is there in existence since time immemorial – When the time has not started, Shiva was there’ – And when he talked about ‘God-consciousness’, I was reminded of that. Hinduism as such, is not restricted only to Vedanta’ or – The four Vedas are also very difficult to understand – Of course he has studied them – I bow before his scholarliness, and I feel that what he says is correct. And I quite agree with him, that Hindu word is a geographical connotation, and I am proud to say that it came into existence, because of the Sindh. When the foreigners came to India, they tried to cross the Indus River – specially Sikandar – and he said that ‘it is Sindhus’. It is… it was… it was told to him, that the name of this river was ‘Sindhu’ – and being an Iranian or a Unani, he could not pronounce ‘Sindhu’ – he said… ‘It is Hindu’. After ‘Hindu’, they called ‘Seven rivers’ – as after Hindu…‘Seven rivers’ – So I am proud that the word ‘Hindu’ has come, because the ‘Sindh’ was there. And really in India, we need this type of thing, because much misconception has gone there, that…‘Muslims are terrorists’ – Somebody asked the question. I mean, I think, this is the most reprehensible statement that was ever made, that…‘Muslims are terrorists’. This is all nonsense, and it should be curbed – and it is because of this, that we feel that we are so insecure in this country. You cannot read a Muslim as a ‘terrorist’, because he is a Muslim – he is a ‘fundamentalist’ – If he is a fundamentalist of the colour of Dr. Naik, I welcome him – I welcome him to my house. And you must also know – Of course, I have to talk about these things, which I never wanted… which I never wanted – because when I came, I have done some spiritual experience by his talk. But then recently, two three days back, there was news in the paper, that the front man for the person in Dubai, is a Hindu. I am referring to Dr. Ramesh Sharma – he is the man, who they claim to be the person who coordinated all the works of Dawood sitting in…Now whom will you say…‘A Hindu is a terrorist, or a Muslim is a terrorist’. Therefore please forget these things – forget about Muslims have been there – Bad things from Muslims were there – Bad things from Hindus were there – and they need to be improved. But you cannot say, or hold anything against Dr. Naik, for what Alauddin Khilji did in his time, or what Aurangzeb did to his brothers, or what Akbar did – These things are nonsense…These are facts of History, which you have to glance over. You want to live in this country – try to understand the common things between the party – bring them out. I request Dr. Naik to go into Hindu congregations, and try to make them understand what Islam stands for. And as per my personal belief is concerned, I think Islam is one of the greatest things that have happened to this world. Thank you very much for giving me this honour, and hearing me out.
(Dr. Mohammed) Now we will conclude with the vote of thanks by Maulana Ataullah.
(Maulana Ataullah). Assalamualaikum wa Rahmatullah wa barkatahu. Main zyada waqt na lete huain, Aqsa Educational Society ke janib se, aap sabhi hazrat ka beshumal shajre jalsa, mehman e khusasi, mukkarrery aur digre aye huan mahmano ka aur tamam samaeen ka Aqsa Educational Society ki janib se shukhriyaan ada karta hoon, aur Allah se dua karta hoon ke Allah tabaraka wa taala hamein nadir ayse mauke muhaiya kare, ke ham ek dusre ke saat mil karke baythe, aur ek doosre ko samaj ne ki koshish karein. Dr. Saheb ki takreer ka oonwan dakawlein Allama hali ke zuban wohi tha, ke yen pahela sabika tha Kitabe Huda ka… Ke makluk kumba hai sari Khuda ka – Khalaiq se rishte ho jisko, weli ka, who mahboob hai Khaiqe doosra ka’. Ab main phir ek bar mazid main, deedar hazrat ka shukriya karte huen aapse rukhsat hota hoon.
September 29, 2007
What is His Name?
By Ahmed Deedat
This primitive man is higher in his Concept of God Almighty than the millions of civilized men and women, of both East and West who strut the world today!
AN AUSTRALOID: the aborigine of South Australia numbered about 300,000 when the Europeans first touched the shores of Australia. Today, after 200 years, he has been reduced to half that number, and only half of this “half” is pure-blooded.
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SAY: “CALL UPON ALLAH, OR CALL UPON RAHMAN BY WHATEVER NAME YE CALL UPON HIM (it is well): FOR TO HIM BELONG THE MOST BEAUTIFUL NAMES |
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Holy Qur’ân 17:110
CHAPTER ONE
BELIEF IN GOD UNIVERSAL
WHAT IS HIS NAME?
At the end of my public talk on the subject – “MUHUMMED (p.b.u.h) the Natural Successor to CHRIST (p.b.u.h.) at question time, a Christian Missionary posed the question: “What is His Name?” Meaning thereby as to the name of God. I stood up to answer. But before I opened my mouth, he spoke into the mike, provided for questioning, that he would answer his own question. I said, “You posed the question so the obligation is on me to reply to your question”. He said, “Yes, but I will answer the question.” (Laughter in the Audience). He was actually begging for an opportunity to be heard. Where else on earth would he get such a large audience, and that at the Muslim’s expense, to preach? I said, “Carry on!” (Give him enough rope to hang himself). After some rambling, he concluded that the name of God was “JESUS CHRIST!”
It was not the time, at that meeting; nor is it expedient here to discuss the subject fully – “IS JESUS GOD?” It is enough, for the moment, to say that in the language of Moses, Jesus and Muhummed (Peace be upon them all) the name of God Almighty is ALLAH! Proof will be provided in Chapter 4.
Belief in God is ingrained in the nature of man. As long as man existed on earth, the knowledge of God Almighty also co-existed. As Professor Max Fuller in his Hibbert Lectures said:
“RELIGION IS NOT A NEW INVENTION. IT IS, IF NOT AS OLD AS THE WORLD, AT LEAST AS OLD AS THE WORLD WE KNOW. THERE NEVER WAS A FALSE GOD NOR WAS THERE EVER A FALSE RELIGION, UNLESS YOU CALL A CHILD A FALSE MAN. ALL RELIGION, SO FAR AS I KNOW THEM, HAD THE SAME PURPOSE. ALL WERE LINKS IN A CHAIN WHICH CONNECTS HEAVEN AND EARTH, AND WHICH HELD, AND ALWAYS WAS HELD, BY ONE AND THE SAME HAND.”
This is truly a very charitable attitude; truly Islamic.
Allah subhanahuwata-aala (God Almighty) tells us in the Holy Qur’ân:
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AND THERE NEVER WAS A PEOPLE WITHOUT A WARNER HAVING LIVED AMONG THEM (In the past). |
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Surah Fatir 35:24
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AND TO EVERY NATION THERE WAS (sent) A GUIDE. |
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Surah1 Ra’d 13:7
1. Surah in Arabic means Chapter.
GOD NOT PARTIAL
If God Almighty is not partial to His creatures with regard to material blessings like – fresh-air, rain, sun- shine etc., why should He be partial in regard to His spiritual blessings (The Guidance of God)? He has not been partial! There is no nation or language group on earth who does not know God by some name. This knowledge was given by the Creator Himself through the lips of His chosen messengers. The names of a very few of these messengers we know, the rest have been lost or clouded in superstition.
Though all theology (knowledge of God) originated with God, mankind played fast and loose with those pure and holy concepts, adding frills and adornments where no embellishments was needed – it despoiled the language. In the words of Mrs. Ellen G. White, a “prophetess” of the 7th Day Adventist Movement, in her Bible Commentary it is said:
“LEARNED MEN HAD IN SOME INSTANCES CHANGED THE WORDS, THINKING THAT THEY WERE MAKING IT PLAIN, WHEN IN REALITY THEY WERE MYSTIFYING THAT WHICH WAS PLAIN.”1
In the Religious Annals of the world, the Jewish and Christian Scriptures called the Holy Bible abound with graphic examples of portraying God after man’s own pattern:
1. For further detailed references to Mrs. White, see my book – “Is the Bible God’s Word?”. Available free online.
IMPERFECT DESCRIPTIONS OF GOD
LIKE A MAN
And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.” (Genesis 11:5)
MOSES SEES GOD’S BACK PARTS?
“And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.” (Exodus 33:23)
WRESTLES WITH JACOB
“And He (God) said, thy name shall be called no more lacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and has prevailed.” (Genesis 32:28)
LIKE ONE DRUNK
“Then the Lord awakened as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.” (Psalm 78:65)
REGRETS MAKING MAN
“And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” (Genesis 6:6)
SMELLS SWEET FLAVOUR
“And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart…” (Genesis 8:21)
A CROUCHING LION
“He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up?” (Numbers 24:9)
DEVOURING FIRE
“And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.” (Exodus 24:17)
RESTED AND REFRESHED
” … in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested AND WAS REFRESHED.” 1 (Exodus 31:17)
Out of the Encyclopedia of 73 Books of the Roman Catholics and 66 Books of the Protestants called the “BIBLE”2, endless number of quotations can be culled to fill a book larger than this publication to illustrate man’s various imperfect descriptions of God. The above examples will suffice, I hope.
In the realm of the spirit, no nation has had as much opportunities as the children of Israel. And despite repeated warnings to the effect that: ‘THY GOD IS A JEALOUS GOD, HE SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GOD BEFORE HIM, NOT EVEN OF THE LIKENESS OF THE THINGS ON EARTH, OR IN THE HEAVENS ABOVE, OR IN THE WATERS BENEATH THE SEA … (Exodus 20:3-5), they took the golden calf for worship, and again and again reverted into idolatry. Nor is the bulk of Christendom any freer from this taint. Visit St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, or St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome and you will have very little to distinguish them from the Temple of Somnath in India. It is a question of Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee.3 you do not really have to go to England or Italy to verify my statement. Why not an inspection in loco to an Anglican or a Roman Catholic Cathedral in your own hometown!
1. “….and was refreshed”: to commemorate the Sabbath because God Almighty became tired and needed to be rejuvenated after His six days of hard labour – IS A STANDING INSULT TO GOD. Says the Holy Qur’ân:”…No slumber can seize Him nor sleep…His Throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them…” (Surah 2:255)
2. Why 66 of the one and 73 of the other? The book – “Is the Bible God’s Word?” explains.
3. Two characters from English Fairy Tales, who were identical in appearance.
CHAPTER TWO
THE CONCEPTS
In the religious terminology of the world, we will find that every “son of man” in his own way, in his own dialect has given some beautiful attributive name for the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth.
THE ZULU CONCEPT
In our own country, South Africa, the Zulus, a very virile and militant people – a nation akin to the Qureish of pre- Islamic Arabia – have given a name to God Almighty – uMVELINQANGI. This word when properly articulated in its own dialect sounds identical to the Arabic word Walla-hu-gani, meaning – “And Allah is Rich” (Bounteous). It also sounds like “Allegany” of the Red Indians of North America (Remember their ALLEGANY mountain). The Origin or real meaning of the word “Allegany,” is not commonly known to the American people. But ask any Zulu as to who or what this uMvelinqangi is and he will surely explain to you in Zulu: HAWU UMNIMZANI! UYENA, UMOYA OINGCWELE. AKAZALI YENA, FUTHI AKAZALWANGA; FUTHI, AKUKHO LUTMO OLU FANA NAYE.” Believe me, this is almost a word for word translation of Surah Ikhlas, Chapter 112 of the Holy Qur’ân.
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ALLAH, THE ETERNAL ABSOLUTE; HE BEGETTETH NOT, NOR IS HE BEGOTTEN: AND THERE IS NONE LIKE UNTO HIM. Holy Qur’ân 112:1- 4
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ALMOST ISLAMIC
Now, compare the above verses with my free translation of what the Zulu actually said:
“Oh Sir! He is a pure and Holy Spirit, He does not beget and He is not begotten, and further there is nothing like Him.”
Every African tribe, South of the Zambesi River, that is, in Southern Africa, have given different names to the Almighty – Tixo, Modimo, uNkulunkulu, etc., and each and every African language group will take pains to explain the same pure and holy concept as the Zulu. It is to the glory of the African nations that though they had no written languages, and hence no written records, therefore not being able to recount the names of their respective prophets, yet not a single one of the tribes ever stooped down to worshipping idols or images of either of men or animals, until the White man first introduced his religion and gave the African his anthropomorphic concept of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost, and brought the African down to bowing before the statues of Jesus, Mary, St. Joseph, St. Christopher and so on.
Out of the dozens of African tribes inhabiting this part of the world, not a single one of them ever made “umfanegisos” (images) of their God. Yet they were capable of carving out of wood, elephants and lions, and reproducing men and women also, in clay. Besides, the Zulus also had some knowledge of metallurgy. When questioned an old Zulu as to the reason, why the Africans did not make umfanegisos of their Gods, he replied, “How could we make images of Him (God Almighty) when we know that He is not like a man, He is not like a monkey, or an elephant or a snake: He is not like anything we can think of or imagine. He is a pure and Holy Spirit.”
LIKE THE ARABS
This term, uMVELINQANGI, though well known to the Zulus, was not commonly used. Again they were like the pagan Qureish of Pre-Islamic Arabia who knew the name Allah, but passed Him by, because they felt that He was too High, too Pure, too Holy to be approached, so they went for their substitutary and imaginary gods – their Al- Lats, AI-Uzzas and Al-Manats and a hundred besides. The Zulus too would not call upon uMvelinqangi directly, but he was better than the Arab of the Ayyam-ul-jahiliyya (days of ignorance), because he did not go after false gods; he only invoked the spirits of his ancestors to intercede with uMvelinqangi on his behalf, exactly as the Catholics do in invoking the Virgin Mary and the Saints.
The more common term used by the Zulus for their God is uNKULUNKULU which literally means – the Greatest of the Great or the Mightiest of the Mighty (Almighty). More colloquially when taking oath, they would exclaim “iNkosi phe-Zulu” meaning – the Lord Above (knows), or the God in Heaven (knows), or Heaven knows, that I am speaking the truth. The word “zulu” in the language of the Zulu literally means High Heaven, and they consider themselves to be superior to the numerous other tribes of Southern Africa, being in this respect like the Querish among the dwellers of the desert before Islam.
CONCEPT FROM THE EAST
The Hindi word for God Almighty is PRAMATMA. In Sanskrit, the language of ancient India, “Atma” meant the soul, and “Pram-atma” meant the Great and Holy Soul, or the Holy Spirit, which is really a beautiful description of the “Father” in Heaven. The Bible says, “God is Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Not in form, shape or size, but in SPIRIT.
Despite his pantheistic1 interpretation of the Divinity, the name the Hindu gives the Supreme Being, in his classical language, is OM (Aum), which means Guardian or Protector. A very suitable attribute about which the Muslim can have no misgivings.
1. “Pantheism:” a doctrine in which people believe that God is everything, and everything is God. The Muslim puts the right emphasis when he says – “EVERYTHING IS GOD’S!” Do you realise the stupendous difference this apostrophe ’s makes to the concept of God?
CONCEPT FROM THE WEST FROM THE WEST
The Anglo/Saxon and the Teuton in their own and other allied European languages call their object of worship “GOD” or words of similar sound and import, i.e.
God1 in English;
Got in Afrikaans (the language of the descendants of the Hollandse people in South Africa);
Gott in German; and
Gudd in Danish, Swedish and Norwegian languages.
The ancient Phoenicians called their God – ALLON – (not far from Allah if we could only hear it articulated), and the Canaanites ADO. The Israelites not only shared the word EL with the original people of Palestine, but borrowed the name of their chief deity – ADO and turned it into ADONAI, and everywhere the four-letter word YHWH occured in their Holy Scriptures, they read “Adonai” instead of “Yahuwa.” You will not fail to notice the resemblance between the Jewish Adonai and the heathen Adonis. ADONIS was a “beautiful godling loved by Venus” in the Greek pantheon.
1. The word “God” together with its ramification in contrast with the word Allah will be dealt with in Chapter 4
THE LATIN CONCEPT
In the Latin-dominated languages of Western Europe, where Latin had remained dominant in learning and diplomacy for centuries, the chief term used for God is DEUS:
Deus in Portuguese;
Dieu in French;
Dio in Italian;
Dies in Spanish;
Dia in Scotch and Irish; and
Duw in Welsh.
Surprisingly in all the languages above, Deus and all the similar sounding words mean heaven.
Moulana Vidyarthi, in his monumental work – “Muhammad in World Scriptures,”1 devotes a hundred pages to the names of God in the different languages. And out of a list of 155 attributive names, over 40 of them use the word “Heaven” or the “Above,” in their language in describing God. Though the Muslim chants the Asma-ul-husna (the most beautiful names), 99 as derived from the Holy Qur’ân with the crowning name, ALLAH; “Heaven” is not one of those ninety-nine attributes. Symbolically, heaven may be described as the abode of God, and in the words of Wordsworth in Tintern Abbey:
1. No student of Comparative Religion can afford to be without this book. It may become your priceless heir-loom.
WHOSE DWELLING IS THE LIGHT OF SETTING SUNS, AND THE ROUND OCEAN AND THE LIVING AIR, AND IN THE BLUE SKY, AND IN THE MIND OF MAN: A MOTION AND A SPIRIT THAT IMPELS ALL THINKING THINGS, ALL OBJECTS OF ALL THOUGHTS, AND ROLLS THROUGH ALL THINGS.
CONCEPT FROM BEYOND THE FAR EAST
Among all the 155 tantalising names of God in the various tongues, the one that tickled me most was – “A-T-N-A-T-U!” – and this I have adopted as a title of my book, instead of the original title promised – “What is His Name!” for this present publication.
WHAT IS SO FUNNY OR SO NOVEL ABOUT ATNATU?
The aborgine of South Australia calls his God “Atnatu” because some philosopher, poet or prophet had programmed him, that the Father in Heaven is absolutely free from all needs; He is independent; He needs no food nor drink. This quality, in his primitive, un-inhibited language, he conversely named ATNATU, which literally meant “the One without an anus – the One without any flaw” – i.e. the One from Whom no impurity flows or emanates. When I started sharing this novel idea with Hindu, Muslim and Christian friends, without exception, their immediate reaction was one of mirth, they giggled and laughed. Most of them not realising that the joke was on them. The boot was on the other foot. Though the word “anus” is a very small word, only four letters in English, most people have not heard it. One is forced to use the colloquial substitute which I hesitate to reproduce here, nor will I use the same in public meetings because of people’s hypersensitivity – because in the words of Abdullah Yusuf All, people “HAD PERVERTED THEIR LANGUAGE ONCE BEAUTIFUL, INTO JARGONS OF EMPTY ELEGANCE AND UNMEANING FUTILITY.”
Therefore to ease the situation, in a round-about-way let us say that where you have an “input,” you must allow for an “output.” The one who eats, must have the call of nature – the toilet or the bush – and our primitive friend smelt the need, which he could never attribute to his Creator. Therefore, he called his God – ATNATU! ‘The one without the excretory system or its tail end.
GOD EATS NOT!
This novel concept of God by primitive man, is not really altogether novel. God Almighty conveys the same truth to mankind, as in His Last and Final Revelation – The Holy Qur’ân – but in a language so noble, so sublime, as befitting its Author. But because of its very finesse, and refined manner of expression we have overlooked the Message. We are commanded to say to all those who wish to wean us from the worship of the One True God -
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SAY: “SHALL I TAKE FOR MY PROTECTOR ANY BUT ALLAH THE ORIGINATOR OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH? WHEN IT IS HE WHO FEEDS BUT HAS NO NEED TO BE FED.” |
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Surah An’am 6:14
In other words, we are made to declare that – “WE WILL NOT TAKE ANYONE AS OUR LORD AND PROTECTOR, OTHER THAN ALLAH, WHO IS THE WONDERFUL ORIGINATOR OF THE UNIVERSE.” And if any have misgivings about his so called “man-gods” or “god-men,” then bring him down to earth, for our God is the One who feeds but is not fed.1 He is not, in need of food. Does your man-god eat? Or doesn’t he? If he does, then he MUST submit to the call of nature – OUR GOD EATS NOT! How simple the logic, yet how stupendous the argument. Alas! We need primitive man to remind us of the potency of our weapons. We have lost the art or the knack of propagation, because for a good many centuries we have stopped preaching Islam to those around us.
The Christians are knocking at our doors. Only the spiritually blind and the “ostriches” in our midst cannot see. Kuwait had just one Arab Christian family about fifty years ago. Today there are 35 Churches in that little country. The Jehovah’s Witnesses, a Christian sect which originated in the U.S.A. a hundred years ago, are claiming that the 2nd largest group of Jehovah’s Witnesses outside their country of origin, is the Muslim country of Nigeria.
In Indonesia, the largest Muslim populated country in the world, there are over 6000 full-time Christian missionaries (Muballighs), not priests, parsons or ministers attached to their respective Churches, but propagators (Crusaders) of their Faith to the non-Christians – harassing “the heathen,” as they call them. These Christians missionaries have more private air-strips of their own than the Indonesian Government has. They have mission ships that anchor off the islands, because Indonesia is a country of over 2000 islands, which have no harbour or docking facilities. They invite the native for refreshment and entertainment on board the ship and subtly initiate them into their blasphemy. In their operation code named “over-kill,” they are aiming to make Indonesia a Christian Nation by the turn of the century. Of the over 60 000 missionaries raising dust throughout the world, more than half of them occupied in Africa. Africa the only Muslim continent today, is now being assailed by these modern day Crusaders who aim at making it a Christian continent, this again, by the turn of the century. Our armour, sword and sheild in this battle of Faiths are in the Qur’an, we have been chanting it for centuries to accumulate sawab (spiritual blessings) only; but now we must bring them forth into the battlefield.
1. Feedeth but is not fed: true, both literally and figuratively
DID JESUS EAT FOOD?
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CHRIST THE SON OF MARY WAS NO MORE THAN A MESSENGER; MANY WERE THE MESSENERS THAT PASSED AWAY BEFORE HIM. HIS MOTHER WAS A SAINTLY WOMAN. THEY BOTH ATE EARTHLY FOOD. SEE! HOW CLEAR WE MAKE FOR THEM OUR MESSAGES. YET SEE! HOW THEY ARE DELUDED AWAY FROM THE TRUTH, Holy Qur’ân 5:78 |
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The House of Islam acknowledges that Jesus Christ, the son of Mary was one of the mightiest of Messengers of God. It acknowledges that he was born miraculously, without any male intervention; that he was the Messiah; that he gave life to the dead, by God’s permission; and that he healed the blind and the lepers, by God’s permission – BUT DID HE NOT EAT FOOD? “And they gave him (Jesus) a piece of broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he (Jesus) took it, and did eat before them.” – (Luke 24:42-43)
Further, the mother of Jesus was a woman of truth, a pious and saintly woman – BUT DID SHE NOT EAT FOOD? Can’t you see the implications? Do we need an Australoid (the aborigine of South Africa) to remind us? Indeed, we do! In this battle for the hearts and minds of people, we need his “Atnatu.” In his simple rustic language, in his childish puerile way, he is telling the world that his God eats not. That the one who eats can never be his God, because he would not be ATNATU. Our primitive brother had no inhibitions. He called a spade a spade.
THE “MOHAMMEDANS”?
The Westerner is an adept at concocting names. When he invented the incandescent lamp, he called his light- bulbs or globes, “MAZDA LAMPS.” Mazda happens to be the “god of light’ of the Zoroastrians. In South Africa today, the European is making a great success with the sale of his “RAMA” Margarine. Rama happens to be the “man-god” of a substantial number of our population here. The white man calls himself, Christian, because he is a worshipper of Christ. He calls the worshipper of Buddha a Buddhist, and with the same logic he calls the Muslim a “Mohammedan” presuming that he is a worshipper of Muhummed. But the fact of the matter is, there is no such creature among the thousand million Muslims of the world.
Let us assume that there were such a lunatic, a worshipper of Muhummed (May the Blessings of Allah be upon him) who would in his misguided zeal be called a “Mohammedan.” Now if this so-called “Mohammedan,” in his zeal, went among the primitives of South Australia and with all fan-fare preached his “Mohammedenism,” urging this poor, backward nation, and asked them to accept Muhummed as their god. You could then well imagine this child of nature asking our deluded brother, “Was Muhummed ‘Atnatu’?” The answer will of course be, “No!;” even from our lunatic. What about the heroes and heroines of the world who are worshipped today by the millions of civilised men and women in our own day?
Present your candidates one by one to the native – Why don’t you try with your real or imagined “man-gods” or “goddesses” – and he will hit you for a “sixer” (over the boundary, as in cricket) everytime with his “boomerang,” with his “ATNATU!” Is he not higher in his concept of God than the millions in Europe and America, and in Asia and Africa?
PROGRESS IN REGRESSION!
Just picture the American who lands on the moon, and his tribe who sit at home monitoring happenings on thelunar surface and also in the world by means of their satellites, like “gods” with a finger on every pulse. Marvelous, isn’t it? Remember the Bay of Bengal Tragedy? The Americans warned Pakistan about the impending tidal wave. Remember the Ramadaan War in 1973? The Americans warned Israel that the Arabs were on the move. But neither heeded the warning. These same Americans, despite all their depravity wield a power greater than all the “man-gods” put together. Yet this mighty nation and their counterparts in Europe and the world, are worshipping men and monkeys – Nay! The very devil himselfl (“The Satan Cult”) How is, this possible?
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SHAITAN (Satan) HAS MADE THEIR DEEDS FAIR SEEMING TO THEM. AND HE (the Devil) IS THEIR PATRON TODAY. Holy Qur’ân 16:63 |
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Hero and Hero-worshipping is ingrained in man. If he will not worship God, then he will worship something else. But worship he must. What can be better than a handsome man or a beautiful woman, who is one of his own kind? Anthropomorphism, a system in which man conceives of God after his own likeness is traditional. It is modern as well as ancient. Mankind thinks of God as one like himself, in his own image. Does not the Christian Bible say, in the very first chapter of the very first Book?
“And God said, Let us make man in our own image…” – (Genesis 1:26)
As to the word “image,” God is not talking about a physical, human likeness, which is not far from a certain family of apes. Little wonder that Darwin claimed that the monkeys are our ancestors! No! We are made in the spiritual image of the Beneficent. We are one with Him in attributes. The Holy Prophet Muhummed (p.b.u.h.) said, ‘IMBUE THYSELF WITH DIVINE ATTRIBUTES.” As Allah is Holy, we must be holy. As He is just, justice being his attribute, we must imbibe justice. As He is Merciful, we must portray mercy, and so on with each of the 99 attributes of God from the Book of Allah – The Holy Qur’an. None can be one with God physically, because He is not a physical Being.
THE THREE HYPOSTASES OF THE TRINITY
The poor1 benighted Christians misunderstood the word “image” as well as the word “us” in the preceding quotation at the very beginning of the Bible. Christians interpret the word “us” to imply the existence of a combination of “Father, Son and Holy Ghost” of their Holy Trinity. They fail to realise that in Hebrew as well as in Arabic there are two types of plurals. There is a plural of numbers as well as that of respect and honour. Here is a plural of honour which you might not have noticed: – the quotation from the Holy Qur’ân about Jesus and his mother, observe the words – “SEE! HOW CLEAR WE MAKE FOR THEM OUR MESSAGES.” No Muslim ever understood by these plurals, a plurality in the Godhead, neither did any Christian Arab or Jew. Ask any Jew who knows Hebrew as to the number of gods in his Hebrew “US” from the first chapter of his Torah, and he will confirm without any hesitation what I am telling you.
1. Poor? Yes, spiritually. Because materially they are the most affluent people on earth.
THE GODS OF APARTHEID1
The deluded souls among mankind not only imagined God in their own likeness physically, but they also gave him a racial bias and racial characteristics:
“ETHIOP GODS HAVE ETHIOP LIPS
BRONZE CHEEKS AND WOOLLY HAIR;
THE GRECIAN GODS ARE LIKE THE GREEKS
AS KEEN-EYED, OLD AND FAIR.” – (Anonymous)
The Greeks and the Romans jettisoned their Minervas, Appolos and Hercules’ and opted for the newest of “man-gods” two thousand years ago, namely, Jesus Christ. These Romans became the pioneers of their mythology couched in a fresh garb to the nations of Western Europe who were tiring of their Thors and Wodenses and so took on the new creed with alacrity.
In turn the Europeans inflicted their tri-theology on their colonies. They gave a man-god, more handsome than the “gods” of the natives. And look how they have transformed him in pictures, sculptures and in the movies. He has blond hair, blue eyes, handsome angular features like those of Jeffrey Hunter in the film “King of Kings.” But no! He does not look anything like the Jew with his proverbial polly-nose. The new “god” is more English/German/Scandinavian, in his bone structure. A white, “man-god,” as against a blue2 “man-god.” (Rama and Krishna are usually painted blue in Hindu religious pictures). Compare the portraittures and you will pity the subjected people for falling “out of the frying pan into the fire.”
1. Apartheid: A political philosophy of keeping races apart in South Africa
2. Rama and Krishna are usually painted blue in Hindu religious pictures.
MUSLIMS’ DUTY
We Muslims really have done nothing for the benighted millions of the world. We should rescue them from their shirk1, or else they will take us down with them to perdition, here as well as in the hereafter. There are many millions more worshiping man-gods today on Allah’s good earth, than those worshipping the one true God – Allah subha-nahu-wa-ta aala. The miseries in the Muslim world exist because of our utter neglect in sharing the Din-ul-lah (The Religion of God) with the nations of the world. Propagation of the Faith is the Awwal (the first) Fard (obligation) of the Muslim. Discount this Pillar of Islam at your own peril. You know that Allah’s whip makes no noise. How can you play your part! Simply by memorising a single verse of the Holy Qur’ân. The one from page 15 of this booklet. Write it down on a piece of cardboard, together with its meaning, and memorize the words of Allah with the meaning – phrase by phrase – as you see it, and do not let the card go out of your pocket or your handbag until you have transferred it into your God-given computer, the brain. With just this one verse, and with the aborgine’s boomerang (his “Atnatu”) you are set to rout every breed of anthropomorphism inflicting Allah’s creatures. This is your privilege and the destiny of Islam. Allah says:
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…THAT HE MAY MAKE IT (ISLAM) PREVAIL OVER ALL (FALSE) RELIGION, HOWEVER HATEFUL THIS MAY BE TO THOSE WHO ASCRIBE DIVINITY TO OTHER THAN ALLAH |
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Do you really believe Allah’s promise?
…THE PROMISE OF ALLAH IS TRUE…
Holy Qur’ân 4:122
1. Shirk: A theological Arabic term implying the association of other beings with Allah. A most heinous sin in Islam
CHAPTER THREE:
WHO IS JEHOVAH?
Astonishing as it may sound, it is an admitted fact that prior to the sixteenth century, the word “Jehovah,” was unheard of. Whenever the origin of this word appeared in its true Hebrew form in Jewish Scriptures (read from right to left as in Arabic) Yet, Huh, Wav, Huh; or Y.H.W.H. these four letters were preceded by a substitute word “Adonai,” to warn the reader that the following word was not to be articulated. The Jews took meticulous care in repeating this exercise in their “Book of God” six thousand, eight hundred and twenty-three times – interpolating the words “Adonai” or “Elohim.” They sincerely believed that this awesome name of God was never to be pronounced. This prohibition was no ordinary affair: it called for a penalty of death on one who dared to utter it, and this taboo has been more successful than all the “DO’s” and “DON’T’s” of the Ten Commandments put together.
If Jehovah is the name of God Almighty, and if the 27 Books of the New Testament were inspired by Him, then it is an anomaly of the highest order, that He (Jehovah) signally failed to have His Own Name recorded in “His Word” (N.T.) the Christian addition to the Jewish Bible. The Christians claim that they have in their possession over twenty-four thousand so-called “originals” of their Holy Writ in the Greek language, and yet not a single parchment has “Jehovah” written in it. Curiously this “name of God” (?) has been sacrilegiously replaced by the Greek words ky’ri.os and the.os’, which mean ‘Lord’ and ‘God.’ Yet, miracle of miracles – Alleluya! – no devil or saint has been able to eliminate the word “ALLAH” from the so-called New Testament of the Christians.
NEW FANGLED DOCTRINES
A hundred years ago, all of a sudden, more than a hundred new cults and denominations of Christiandom mushroomed in the United States of America. The Seventh Day Adventists, the Christian Scientists, the Menonites, the Christiadelphins, The Jehovah’s Witnesses and the like. The founder of the last named cult, a Judge Rutherford, about whom the orthodox Christians say that he was no “Judge.” This Judge was a voracious book-worm and a prolific writer. He stumbled across the word “Jehovah” which tickled him immensely, and he made a religion out of it.
Judge Rutherford, followed by Charles T. Russell created a new “church,” which in its system of organisation and administration is second to none in the world. There is very much we Muslims can learn from their enthusiasm and methodology. Read, “Thirty Years a Watchtower Slave” by Schelin. It is not their theology I am enamoured with but their modus operandi (the way they operate). Read, how this incorrigible sect came very close to conquering Germany before Hitler. Read, about their second come- back in West Germany. Think, why they are making a most concerted effort in Nigeria. Will the system or religion that prevails in Nigeria, be utlimately the norm of the rest of Africa! This giant is the hero of the majority of the African people south of the Sahara. Muslims must reflect.
VIRILE SECT
The “Jehovah’s Witnesses,” have made the most phenominal progress of all the religious sects of the past hundred years, on a percentage basis. The Bahaies are moving at a snails-pace in comparison, actually receding in ratio with the other Christian off-shoots. These “Witnesses” are the fittest in their fight against the other Christians as well as against the Muslims. Simply because they programme themselves five times a week in their “Kingdom Halls,” and what they learn they implement during the week-ends. We Muslims are supposed to be “programmed” five times a day in our daily Salaat, but we have lost the true purpose of this Pillar of Islam. Our Salaat is for earning Sawaab (spiritual blessings) only.
They have made the word JEHOVAH famous. They knock at people’s doors, asking the question – “What is His Name?” The orthodox Christian replies – “God.” They say, “God is not a name, it is an object of worship. What’s His Name?” “Father,” says the orthodox as a second try. “Is your father God?” Of course not! So what is His Name? “JEHOVAH! is His Name,” says the “Witness” to both Muslims and non-Muslims alike. He has become a professor of this one word. He has made it into a religion.
THE “TETRAGRAMMATON”
Why not for a change ask him, a question or two. Ask him where he got the word Jehovah from? He will surely reply – “From the Holy Bible.” What does it say? Does it spell out the word J-e-h-o-v-a-h? “No,” he will reply. “There is a ‘tetragrammaton‘ in the Bible from which the word Jehovah is derived.” What is a tetragrammaton? No one seems to have heard this highly mystical term. In the University of Illinois in the U.S.A. I asked a gathering of students and lecturers whether any one had heard this jaw-breaker! Not one of them knew its meaning! But every Jehovah’s Witness seems to know, even the commonest of them. They have really specialised – ours is a world of specialisation. They are Professors of the one word – Jehovah.
What then is a “tetragrammaton!” The Jehovah’s Witness replies, “Y H W Hi!”
“No!” “What I want to know from you is, what does the word tetragrammaton mean?” You will find him most reluctant in explaining. Either he does not really know, or he is feeling embarrassed in replying. “Tetra,” in Greek means FOUR, and “grammaton,” means LETTERS. It simply means “a four letter word.”
Can you read into Y H W H the word Jehovah? I cannot. “No!”, says the Jehovah’s Witness, “we ought to add vowels to these four consonents to produce the sound. Originally, both Hebrew and Arabic were written without the vowel signs The native of each language was able to read if even without those vowels. Not so the outsider, for whose benefit the vowels were invented.
THE “J” SICKNESS
Let us add the vowels as the “Witness” suggests. YHWH becomes YeHoWaH. Juggle as you like but you can never materialise Jehovah! Ask him, from which hat he drew his “J”. He will tell you that “this is the ‘popular’ pronunciation from the 16th century.” The exact sound of the four letters YHWH is known neither to the Jews nor to the Gentiles, yet he is ramming JEHOVAH down everyones throats. The European Christians have developed a fondness (sickness) for the letter “J” They add J’s where there are no Jays. Look!
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Yael |
he converts to |
Joel |
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Yehuda |
to |
Juda |
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Yeheshua |
to |
Joshua |
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Yusuf |
to |
Joseph |
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Yunus |
to |
Jonah |
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Yesus |
to |
Jesus |
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Yehowa |
to |
Jehovah |
There is no end to the Westerner’s infatuation for the letter “J.” Now in the busy streets of South Africa, he charges people who carelessly cross them for “jay-walking,” but nobody charges him for converting Jewish (Yehudi) names into Gentile names.
The letters Y H W H occur in the Hebrew (Jewish) Scriptures 6 823 times, boasts the Jehovah’s Witness, and it occurs in combination with the word “Elohim;” 156 times in the booklet called Genesis alone. This combination YHWH/ELOHIM has been consistently translated in the English Bible as “Lord God,” “Lord God,” Lord God,” ad infinitum.
COMMON ORIGIN
What is YHWH; and what is ELOHIM? Since the lews did not articulate the word YHWH for centuries, and since even the Chief Rabbis would not allow the ineffable to be heard, they have forfeited the right to claim dogmatically how the word is to be sounded. We have to seek the aid of the Arab to revive Hebrew, a language which had once died out. In every linguistic difficulty recourse has to be made to Arabic, a sister language, which has remained alive and viable. Racially and linguistically, the Arabs and the Jews have a common origin, going back to Father Abraham.1
Note the startling resemblance between the languages, very often the same sounding words carry identical meaning in both.
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HEBREW |
ARABIC |
ENGLISH |
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Elah |
Ilah |
god |
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Ikhud |
Ahud |
one |
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Yaum |
Yaum |
day |
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Shaloam |
Salaam |
peace |
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Yahuwa |
Ya Huwa |
oh he |
YHWH or Yehova or Yahuwa all mean the very same thing. “Ya” is a vocative and an exclamatory particle in both Hebrew and Arabic, meaning Oh! And “Huwa” or “Hu” means He, again in both Hebrew and Arabic. Together they mean Oh He! So instead of YHWH ELOHIM, we now have Oh He! ELOHIM.
1. For a closer affinity between Arabs and Jews read Genesis 16:12 and 25:18, and for a further elucidation, see “What the Bible says about Muhammed.”
CHAPTER FOUR
ALLAH IN THE BIBLE
The suffix “IM” of the word “ELOHIM” is a plural of respect in Hebrew.
(Remember that in Arabic and Hebrew there are two types of plurals. One of numbers and the other of honour as in Royal proclamations. Since the plural of honour is uncommon in the language of the European, he has confused these plurals to connote a plurality in the “godhead,” hence his justification for his Doctrine of the Holy Trinity – the Father, Son and Holy Ghost).
Hence ELOHIM = ELOH + IM. Now I want you to perform an exercise. Do you see the words: YA-HUWA ELOH-IM? Place your left hand index finger on the first two letters “YA” meaning oh! and the other index finger on the “IM” a plural of respect. What you now have remaining in Huwa Eloh or Huwa Elah. El in Hebrew means god, and Elah or Eloh also stands for the same name – god. Therefore, “Huwa el Elah” or HUWA ‘L LAH, which is identical to the Qur’ânic expression – Huwal lah hu (meaning: HE IS ALLAH) of the verse QUL HUWAL LAH HU AHUD
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SAY: |
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HE IS ALLAH |
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HE IS ONE |
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Holy Qur’ân 112:1
The above exercise proves that El, Elah and Elohim are not three distinctly different words. They all represent the single Arabic word Allah. This is not my wishful thinking. Please see below. It is a photostatic reproduction of a page from the English Bible, edited by Rev. C. I. Scofield, D.D., with his Bible Commentary· This Doctor of Divinity is well respected among the Bible Scholars of the Christian world. He is backed in his “NEW AND IMPROVED EDITION” of this translation by a galaxy of eight other D.D.’s:
Rev. Henry G. Weston, D.D., LL.D., President Crozer Theological Seminary.
Rev. W. G. Moorehead, D.D., President Xenia (U.I,) Theological Seminary.
Rev. lames M. Gray, D.D., President Moody Bible Institute.
Rev. Elmore Harris, D.D., President Toronto Bible Institute.
Rev. William !. Erdman, D.D., Author “The Gospel of John,” etc.
Rev. Arthur T. Pierson, D.D., Author, Editor, Teacher, etc.
Rev. William L. Pettingill, D.D., Author, Editor, Teacher.
Arno C. Gaebelein, Author “Harmoney of Prophetic Word,” etc.
I have not listed the above luminaries to awe you. They have been unanimous in supporting Rev. Scofield in his “New and Improved” commentary.
Please note that in their comment No. 1 below left, they concur that – “Elohim, (sometimes El or Elah meaning God)” and alternatively spelled “Alah” (line three, third word). All the eight D.D.’s above could not have been blind in dittoing the spelling “Alah” for God. How far were they from the Arabic word spelled – ALLAH – in English, I ask you dear reader? This is Allah’s handiwork, but the Devil (I must give him a capital “D,” he deserves it) was not slow in making a quick come-back through his agents. He succeeded in firing all the D.D.’s responsible for that debacle, and had them replaced by nine others with more impressive degrees than the previous lot. You will find them in the recent reproduction of “The New Scofield Reference Bible.” You will not be able to lay your hands anymore on the Bible with “Alah” in it. The Devil has seen to that.
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MY ONLY PLEA
I had made some public statements regarding my discovery of the word “Alah” as alternatively spelled from the usual Christian spelling “Elah.” My plea to the Christians was this that spell the word as you like, with an “A” or an “E”, with a single “L” or double “LL’s”, but for goodness sake pronounce the word correctly, as we Muslims do. Because even with its proper Anglicised spelling -
A L L A H: “IT IS SO FAR FROM ITS ARABIC ORIGINAL, WHEN PRONOUNCED WITH A THIN ENGLISH CONSONANT AND FEEBLE VOWELS, THAT MANY AN ARAB MUSLIM WOULD FIND IT UNRECOGNIZABLE.” Says Rev. Kenneth Cragg, the Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem in his book, “The Call of the Minaret,” page 36.
As much as the Englishman has the right to dictate to us as to how his language is to be sounded, surely we Muslims have as much right to demand a common courtesy when taking the name of God. We do not wish the word Allah to go into limbo like the “Yahuwa” of the ]ews. More than 6000 times the formula “YAHUWA ELAH,” or ya”HUWA ALAH,” or “HUWALLAH,” (He is Allah!) occur in the Hebrew manuscripts of the Jewish Bible, commonly called the “Old Testament,” by the Christians. If this fact is openly acknowledged by the learned men of Christianity and broadcasted as Rev. Scofield had done then the day for Muslims and Christians to worship God together would not be far distant. But the Devil will not have it. Vested interests are involved. Instead of prenouncing the word ALAH correctly, they would rather have the whole word omitted.
QUICK ABROGATION
“Now You See It” – “Now You Don’t” is an old, old gimmick in the West. Compare the above and see how cleverly, how deftly the new band of missionaries expunged the word “Alah” from the “Authorised King James Version” of the Scofield translation of the Bible1.
As a guide to one of the largest Mosques in the Southern Hemisphere, the JUMA MUSJID, Durban, my companions and I are often asked by the tourists, “Why Allah?” “Is He another God?” The answer of course is “NO!” There is not another god. The Muslim creed, the Kalima is: “There is no god except Allah!” makes this explicit; every Muslim must utter this unequivocal statement. And the second half of the Kalima: “Muhummed is the Messenger of Allah,” excludes even Muhummed (p.b.u.h.) from being associated with Allah in His Divinity. We are made to say, so to say – NOT EVEN MUHUMMED is god, or object of worship. It is Allah, and Allah alone who is the Only Tue God.
1. For further examples of the Christian gymnastics in the Bible, see Chapter 4 in my book – “Is the Bible God’s Word?”.
UNIQUE NAME FOR UNIQUE GOD
“We Muslims prefer the Arabic word Allah to the English word God, because this English word God is often misused or misapplied,” I explain to my non-Muslim visitors to the mosque, on their so-called “Oriental Tour” as arranged by the Durban Publicity Bureau, I continue, “On your last port of call, you will be ending off at a Hindu house of Prayer, called a Temple, and there, you might rightfully point out to your children the idols and the images found, as ‘the gods of the Hindus’, and if a Hindu overhears you; he will not mind, he will not be offended, because what you said to your child is actually what he believes. Then, again, we speak of the gods of ancient Greece; of gods and goddesses, who ate and drank, who wrangled and plotted; carried away the wives of other gods.
“Further, in English, if some gentleman was to look after somebody’s child as a guardian, we would say that he is a “godfather” to the child, and the woman – a “god- mother” to the child. And if one tried to be a bit too funny, a bit too clever, one would say -’What do you think of yourself, are you a tin god!‘ We spell god with a capital “G” (God), and we spell god with a small “g” (god), which creates in your minds grades and grades of divinities.”
This Arabic word, Allah, is never used in any other sense. There is no such thing as an “Allah-father” or an “Allah-mother” or a “Tin-Allah.” ALLAH is a unique word for the only God. Arabic, like every other language, also has its rules of grammar, but in Arabic you cannot make a plural form for Allah, nor can you make a feminine of Allah. All this is very unlike the English word, God. If you want to make a plural, just add an “s” (Gods); You can make God feminine by adding “dess” (goddess); and you can make God diminutive by adding “ling” (godling). Look at the sheer mockery the Westerner has made of the word “GOD,” and how his fertile imagination has run riot and havoc in denigrating the Glory and Majesty of the Incomparable Creator, sustainer and Cherisher of all the worlds as recorded in the Oxford Dictionary:
You have a variety of choices in the list above. Take your pick like that old woman who lit one candle to St. Michael and another to the Devil. So that whether she went to Heaven or to Hell she would have a friend.
Jupiter the god of Heaven
Pluto the god of Hell
Mars the god of War
Neptune the god of the Sea and
Zeus the god-father of them all
with his many wives and many children. His Hercules, his Appolo, his Horus, his Isis and Osiris.
Sheer mythology and rank blasphemy, but to a people who believed in mythology, mythology was no mythology; it was empirical truths. And this terminology of the West lended itself well to paganistic theology, with their “gods” and “goddesses.” BUT ALLAH IS FREE FROM ALL CORRUPTIONS. YOU CAN DO NOTHING WITH THIS WORD IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE ARAB. YOU CANNOT MANIPULATE IT IN ANY WAY!
PEARLS OF FAITH
Here is a passage of great sublimity, summing up in marvelous terse verses the Asma-ul-Husna, the Most Beautiful names of Allah.
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HE IS ALLAH, BESIDES WHOM THERE IS NO OTHER GODS; |
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WHO KNOWS (ALL THINGS) BOTH SECRET AND OPEN; |
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HE IS MOST GRACIOUS, MOST MERCIFUL |
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HE IS ALLAH, BESIDES WHOM THERE IS NO OTHER GOD; |
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THE SOVEREIGN, |
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THE HOLY ONE, |
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THE SOURCE OF PEACE (AND PERFECTION), |
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THE GUARDIAN OF FAITH, |
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THE PRESERVER OF SAFETY, |
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THE EXALTED IN MIGHT, |
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THE IRRESISTIBLE, |
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THE SUPREME: |
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GLORY TO ALLAH: (HIGH IS HE) |
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ABOVE THE PARTNERS THEY ASCRIBE TO HIM |
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HE IS ALLAH, |
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THE CREATOR |
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THE EVOLVER, |
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THE BESTOWER OF FORMS (OR COLOURS) |
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TO HIM BELONG THE MOST BEAUTIFUL NAMES: |
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ALL THAT IS IN THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH, DOTH DECLARE HIS PRAISES AND GLORY. |
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AND HE IS THE EXALTED IN MIGHT |
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THE WISE. |
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Holy Qur’ân 59:22-24
Where is there in the religious literature of the world anything to compare with this!
“ALLAH” IN EVERY BIBLE AND IN EVERY LANGUAGE
There is no difficulty in our agreeing that in the languages of the world, every nation has given a distinctive name to God. Most of these names are attributive names, describing some aspect of God. But the proper name for God Almighty in the Semitic languages, i.e. in the mother-tongues of Moses, Jesus and Muhummed (Peace be upon them all) is ALLAH! This name is still extant in the Christian Bible in every language of the world. The Christians are boasting that they have translated their Bible into over fifteen hundred languages, more specially the translation of the New Testament. In every Gospel that I have scrutnised in the various languages I find the word “Allah” preserved – English or Afrikaanz, Zulu or Swahili. Why not check up in your own dialect to prove me wrong. I would love to hear from you.
If what I claim is Gospel Truth, then how is it that the whole Christian world of over 1 200 000 000 people have not been aware of it. This is what effective programming or brain-washing can do. They have been trained NOT to see the obvious. Did not Jesus bewail:
“Seeing, they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.” (Matthew 13:13).
FROM THE LIPS OF JESUS
I ask my Christian visitors, “Do you remember your Gospel narrative, that when Christ was supposed to have been on the cross, he cried out with a loud voice:
“ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI? which is, being interpreted, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34).
The above is a translation from the Greek manuscripts “ACCORDING TO ST. MARK.” Obviously his Hebrew has a Greek accent. Because, his so-called originals were written in Greek. But listen to Matthew, who is supposed to have written his Gospel originally in Hebrew, which was aimed at the Jews. St. Jerome, an early Christian father of the 4th and 5th centuries after Christ, testifies as follows:
“MATTHEW, WHO IS ALSO LEVI, AND WHO FROM A PUBLICAN CAME TO BE AN APOSTLE, FIRST OF ALL THE EVANGELISTS, COMPOSED A GOSPEL OF CHRIST IN JUDEA IN THE HEBREW LANGUAGE AND CHARACTERS, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE OF THE CIRCUMCISION1 WHO HAD BELIEVED.”
Naturally, Matthew’s accent would be more Semitic (Hebrew and Arabic) than that of Mark. Matthew records the same scene as Mark 15:34, but note the variation of the dialect:
Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI? that is to say, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me’? (Matthew 27:46).
Please memorise the words – “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani.” (Eli – pronounced like L and I in English) Utter the words – ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI; ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI, to your Christian friends and neighbours and ask them whether these words – “Eli, Eli,” sounds like “Jehovah, Jehovah!” to them? No! is the answer if they are not deaf. Ask further, whether “Eli, Eli,” sounds like “Abba, Abba!” (meaning father, father! in Hebrew) to them! Again the reply will be “No!” if they are not deaf. Can’t they see that the cry is to Allah? “Eli, Eli – Elah, Elah, Allah, Allah!” Let them hear these words from your lips and watch their reactions. No honest per- son can help agreeing with you.
1. Of the circumcision: means those who had been circumcised. Referring to the Jewish converts to Christianity.
ALLELUYA!
Now ask your Christian friend, if he had heard the word – “ALLELUYA.” No Christian worth the name will fail to recognise it. Whenever the Christian goes into ecstasy, he exclaims – “Alleluya! Alleluya!”, just as we Muslims might exclaim the Takbir – “Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!” Ask him, what is Alleluya? Take him to the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament, Chapter 19; we are informed there that John the disciple of Jesus, saw a vision, in which he heard the angels in heaven singing, Alleluya, Alleluya. Ask him again, what is Alleluya! Is it “hip, hip, hooray; hip, hip, hooray!” Are angels in heaven singing – hip, hip, hoorays to God? Every time when God creates a new galaxy, do the angels exclaim – “hip, hip, hooray!” When He explodes a super-nova, do the angels say, “hip, hip, hooray!”? How absurd!
Then what is Alleluya! The last syllable “YA” is a vocative and an exclamatory particle in both Arabic and Hebrew meaning “OH!” In other words YA = OH, (the vocative); and YA = (!), a note of exclamation, or an exclamatory particle, or as is more commonly known an exclamation mark.
The Semite, both Arab and Jew, begins with the exclamatory particle or exclamation mark. The Westerner, in his language ends with the exclamatory particle or exclamation mark, eg. Stop! Go! Fire! Bang!
Let us repeat the above Tasbih (words of praise) as an Arab or a Jew: ALLE-LU-YA will be YA-ALLE-LU because, as explained above, YA is always at the beginning in both Arabic and Hebrew.
YA ALLE LU would be YA ALLA HU: Meaning, “OH ALLAH!” (You are the Only Being Who deserves worship and Praise) “OH ALLAH!” (You are the Only Being Who deserves worship and Praise).
Unbiased Christians will not fail to recognise Allah as none other than his – El, Eli, Alle, Elah, Alah, Allah. Call upon Him by any name, for His are the Most Beautiful names, as long as those names are not contaminated and as long as they do not conjure up in our minds the images of men or monkeys howsoever glorified they might have been.
THE CONCEPT OF “GOD THE FATHER”
There are many beautiful attributes of God, which are common to both the Holy Qur’ân and the Holy Bible. A lengthy thesis can be written on this. But a very interesting facet I have discovered in this that among the 99 attributes of God given to us in the Holy Qur’ân the word “Father” is not one of them. If the Holy Prophet was the author of the Holy Qur’ân as his adversaries allege, then how could he have avoided the term – Father – for God, for twenty-three years of his prophetic life! Abb, meaning father in Arabic (Abba in Hebrew), is an easier word than Rabb, meaning Lord and Cherisher; yet the attribute Rabb abounds in the Last and Final Revelation of God. The reason for the omission of the word Abb (father) for describing God Almighty is obvious: MANKIND HAD DENIGRATED THAT BEAUTIFUL CONCEPT OF THE LOVING Father in Heaven to being the Father of the “only begotten son”1 - to being physically like a human being, because begetting is an animal act, belonging to the lower animal functions of sex.
1. John 3:16
UNIQUE TO THE QUR’AN AND CONCLUSION
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SAY: “SHALL I TAKE FOR MY PROTECTOR ANY BUT ALLAH THE ORIGINATOR OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH? WHEN IT IS HE WHO FEEDS BUT HAS NO NEED TO BE FED.” |
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Surah An-am 6:14
No creature who is ever in need of earthly food can be “ATNATU!” If you can make the worshippers of the “man-gods” to apply this touchstone to their heroes, you can retrieve millions from the impending Hell-fire. Learn a lesson from the Australoid (give him one last look on the frontispiece), who despite his abject primitiveness still stands high above the millions of the civilised men and women of both East and West who strut the world today.
GLORY BE TO ALLAH! |
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And Peace and Salutations upon His Messenger Muhummed for conveying the Message of God to mankind. May Allah make us worthy to be his followers, Ameen!
