IS QURAN DISCRIMINATING AGAINST THE IDOL WORSHIPPERS BY TOTALLY DENYING THEM HEAVEN?

A Hindu friend here, who regularly asks questions in my inbox, has put forth a situation and wants Mohammad Alvi to respond. Here is what my friend acronymed VAM has to write:

 

“Please consider this scenario- There are 3 people on a railway platform. One is an idol worshipper and the remaining two are strictly monotheists. Now one of the monotheists person beats another monotheist, drags him on the railway track while a train is approaching very soon. The idol worshipper guy extended his hand to help the victim as he sees the guy will get crushed if he do not help him. Tell me one thing, in that scenario, will you just deny his help just because he worships idol and get killed? Or will you take his help for saving his life in such terrific situation?

Why do Quran calls idol worshippers as worst of all creatures and insults them? Why a "Believer" man who commits a major sin (for example: murder, rape) will get temporary punishment in Hellfire, but he will be later welcome at Paradise after certain period; and an "Non Believer" man will be forever denied Paradise just because he worshipped an idol. If that is truly the concept in Quran then I'm extremely sorry to say, I do not agree with such a discrimination against Hindus.”
Mohammad Alvi responds from here! Dear friend, VAM! The first part of your question is easy to answer. You say that if the monotheist person is about to be killed by a fast approaching train and an idol worshipper extends his hand to help, will he deny his help just because he worships idol and get killed? Or will he take his help for saving his life in such a terrific situation?

 Answer is that the believer man should take the help of any person, even if he is a non-believer, to save his life. This is so because Islam has valued life extensively. And it has valued life of all creatures, even non-Muslims.  Life is a precious gift of God. We have been sent on earth to give a test and if we are capable of saving our life but do not save it, then we are devaluing the gift of God. That is why suicide is totally prohibited in Islam. You won’t find many Muslims committing suicide. Also putting oneself in situations where there is chance of death too has not been allowed.

This said and done, there is another aspect to the question that you have not asked. Let us reverse the situation. Suppose it is the non-believer who is about to be crushed by a moving train and he puts his hand across towards a believer in hope that he would pull him up. Should the believer save the life of the non-believer? Yes, it is obligatory on the believer Muslim to save the life of a non-believer. In fact, as per Islamic ruling, even if a person is offering prayers in front of God and he hears a cry that somebody is dying, say somebody is drowning, and he is sure that he would be able to save the person, then it is mandatory on him on leave the prayer and go and save him. It is mandatory even if the person is a non-believer or an open enemy of Islam.

You might ask why save an enemy? Answer is that he might be an enemy but he has not come to combat at point of time. He is a human being and that is most important. When Prophet Mohammad said you are not a Muslim if anybody upto 40 houses on either side of your house sleeps without food, he never talked of a believer or a non-believer. And when he said that you are not a Muslim if anybody feels threatened by your hand or tongue, then too he never talked of a believer or a non-believer.

I give you three examples from the lives of Ahlulbayt. Ali (regarding whom I am proving time and again from Vedas that the Noor of Marut [Rudra/Shiv] descended in human body in Arabia and he was called Ali) was appointed as the Caliph of Muslims. Muawiya, who had become extremely powerful while serving as Governor of Syria, waged a war against Ali. This war is called the battle of Siffin. There came a situation where Ali and Muawiya’s armies came face to face at a place where there was just one source of water. Muawiya’s forces fortified this source of water so that Ali’s forces die of thirst. And they literally reached a stage where they would die of water. Ali told his followers to attack Muawiya and try to capture the source of water. The attack was made and Ali’s forces gained control of water. Several people in Ali’s army wanted that water should be denied to Muawiya’s forces just as they had done to Ali’s forces. The war would have been easily won had Ali listened to his own people. But Ali lifted the siege from water saying that water is God’s gift to entire humanity and he cannot lay siege on God’s bounty. It was because victory could not be achieved in this war that led to Ali being finally killed by man who was said to have been sent by Muawiya. Had Ali been victorious in this war, the great losses that his forces had to face and the consequent killing of Ali himself would not have happened. But that is not the point. Islam does not allow the rights of even the non-believers to be usurped. Water is one right, right to live is the most important of rights.

Some people who are immersed in materialism and only think of worldly benefits might argue saam, daam and dand could be used in a war with enemy. That is to say, everything is fair in war. But Islam does not allow this. In fact, Sanatan dharm also does not allow this. Hindus present the saying of Kautilya when they say that saam, daam and dand (that is all means, right or wrong) are permissible in war. But they forget that Kautilya was not a religious authority of Sanatan dharma. Let us look at Krishna to find an answer. Krishna tells the onlookers who were not on either side that this is no path. Either come to this side or go to the side of the enemy. There can be no middle path between right and wrong. Thus, Krishna is even creating a situation where the onlookers might end up adding to the number of those in the enemy camp. But he is least bothered. And as he tells Arjuna, it is not important that the war is won. He says even if you kill or get killed, you are blessed. War may be won or lost, but principles cannot be sacrificed. Ali too did the same. He was the carrier of the Noor (Light) that was created at the beginning of cosmos. Noor’s job is to guide and lead us towards the path of righteousness and worship of God. He couldn’t be doing what those who were under the influence of Zulmat were doing. Zulmat’s purpose of creation is to mislead us from the path of righteousness and worship of God. Very much like the teachings of Krishna, Quran says that we are from God and we have to return to God. Husain (Agnidev of Vedas) added another line to it: we are agreeable to fate in all ways (even if death falls on us or we fall on death) and we won’t leave the side of righteousness.

Did you see? Who could be a greater disbeliever than one who came to fight Devata Ali himself? But the disbelievers too have the right to live with dignity and enjoy the bounties of life and also enjoy life.

A similar example can be given from the life of Husain, son of Ali. (I can give innumerable examples to prove that the Devata referred to as Agnideva in Vedas took birth in human form and was named Husain). By that time Muawiya’s son Yazid had gained control over the entire Muslim world. Islamic teachings of Prophet Mohammad were being trampled by Yazid openly, even though he ruled in the name of Islam. People were being butchered to death, territories were being annexed and Yazid indulged in all kinds of vices, so much so that he didn’t spared his dead father’s wife (who was like mother to him) and his step sister, he indulged in gambling, drinking and all other vices. Yazid wanted Prophet’s grandson and Ali’s son Husain to pay obeisance to him and acknowledge that he was the caliph of Islam. Husain refused and left Medina. He went to Makhah to perform Hajj and when he found that Yazid’s soldiers were present in plainclothes there as well and were looking for an opportunity to kill him in Makhah itself, he left Makhah and proceed towards Kufa. Husain was accompanied by his family members and few of his friends and had sufficient supplies of water and food with them. On the way, he was stopped by a battalion of Yazid’s army, which had 1000 soldiers. The battalion had travelled from a great distance without water in order to reach Husain and stop him from advancing further. The soldiers as well as the horses were dying of thirst. They had come to stop Husain but were themselves at the verge of being killed because of lack of water. Husain could have easily asked his relatives and friends to attack and kill them. Despite being the enemies who had come with no other purpose but to stop Husain’s companions from going further, Husain asked his companions to give water to all of them until their thirst was quenched. Even the horses were fed water. Some of them were in such worse situation that they were unable to drink water. Husain himself helped them drink water. 1000 soldiers and their horses were fed with water. Once their thirst was quenched, the commander of the battalion told Husain that he had been sent with an order to stop Husain and his companions from moving further. They forced Husain to set camps there itself. Later, more and more of Yazid’s forces arrived. Various accounts say the number ranged from 30000 to 2 lakh. Husain had about 150 companions. Yazid’s forces laid siege on the river and denied water to Husain and his companions. Even the 6-month old son of Husain was denied water. All the male companions of Husain were killed barbarically after 3 days of thirst.

Let us see the third and last example. Ali (Shiv of the Vedas) was fighting an enemy – who was known for his bravery and strength – in the battle of Khandaq (trench). The enemy was so famous for his valour and fighting skills that none from Prophet Mohammad’s camp had agreed to go to fight him. Only Ali agreed to fight. Great one-to-one fight ensued. During the fight, there came a situation when Ali had overpowered his opponent and was about to kill him when the opponent spat on Ali’s face. Normally, if this happens to a soldier, he would kill his opponent in a fit of rage. But Ali got down from the opponent’s chest and started walking to and fro. This gave the opponent a chance to get up and fight began once again. A little later, Ali again overpowered his opponent and killed him. Later, people asked Ali the reason for his action. He said he was fighting his opponent for a cause and it was he who had waged an attack. When the opponent spat, Ali got angry and he didn’t want to act in a fit of rage. Therefore he left him and gave him another chance to get up and fight.

In some of the wars that were forced on Ali, when the opponents were about to be killed, it had become a custom among them that they would disrobe and become naked. Even if they were the worst of enemies, Ali would spare them. He would not look at the naked person and turn his back. He never killed a person who was without arms and even if somebody had come to fight him, he never was the first attacker. If you have read the Gita thoroughly, you will know the reason for Ali’s acts. Gita has described in length the traits of a Purushottam and all Ahlulbayt totally fit the caricature of Purushottam described in Gita.

I am sure you have realized that a non-believer, even in an Islamic state, has all the rights to live and lead a decent life. Even if he is an idol-worshipper, that is his personal choice, and the state has no right whatsoever to force him to quit worshipping the idols. [When I tell the Islamic rulings, giving examples from the lives of Ahlulbayt, it doesn’t mean all Muslim rulers act as per the teachings of Islam. In fact, I am proving in my writings again and again that the militant Islam that was portrayed by Umayyad and Abbasid rulers in the name of Islam had nothing to do with the spiritual Islam preached by the Ahlulbayt]

Now we come to the second part of your question, regarding why Quran has severally critized idol-worship. You have asked why a non-believer will be denied paradise just because he worshipped an idol. You also said “if that is truly the concept in Quran then I’m extremely sorry to say, I do not agree with such a discrimination against Hindus.”

This is an important question. We will have to answer your question in stages.

First, Quran has not talked about the Hindus. Quran has talked about idol-worship as a sin. Can you show from any of the so-called Hindu scriptures viz. Veda, Gita and Upanishads that idol-worship is allowed? Sanatan dharm never sanctioned idol worship. If today you have even made idols of Sai Baba, there is no sanction of it in divine books.

But you may ask even if idol-worship is not sanctioned in the divine scriptures in which the Hindus believe in, why Quran shows such great displeasure at those who worship the idols? Let me say that Quran indeed critizes idol-worship but that is the personal belief of the idol-worshipper and the Muslims have no right to critize idol-worshippers, or ridicule them, punish or kill them.

But the question still remains: why is Quran so much against idol-worship that it clearly says they will have no place in heaven? To get the answer, we must understand the Divine Creation Plan once again. And remember, I am giving this creation plan from Hindu scriptures and not from Muslim scriptures.

Absolute, All-Pervading Non-Visible God viz. Mahesh or Ishwar desired that He creates and He created a Manifest Self. This Manifest Self was a Manifest Power created by God. Since It was the foremost creation, It had all the attributes and qualities of Gods. It has been called Vishnu or the Face of God (as per Quran). It has also been called Paramatma. Quran has called it Rooh and Jew and Christian scriptures have called it Holy Spirit. All mean one and the same. The Manifest Self started worshiping the Creator immediately after it was created. It worshipped extensively. Upanishad says the Manifest Self desired that there be more worshippers and God gave it the permission to create. The first Noor or Light was created when there was no light. That Noor led to the creation of 14 Manus or the 14 Devatas. They later became the progenitors of mankind. But perhaps it was the Divine Will that another power Zulmat or Tamas got created. This was the preparation that was being made for the creation of man. Man was not to be the angels, who are very much like Divine Robots and who do whatever has been asked from them to do. If they have been assigned some function, they continue doing it. But man was to be different. He was being born to give a test. He was being given a mind of his own and he was being given the choice to choose between right and wrong, truth and untruth. The purpose of creation of Noor was to guide man to the path of worship of God while the purpose of creation of Zulmat was to misguide. Both Noor and Zulmat are acting inside us and also from outside. Paramatma sent scriptures to man to guide him towards the desired path. All this while, Zulmat or Tamas was working extensively so that man does not identify Noor or Devatas. The Devatas too kept guiding. Prophets were chosen. But the Zulmat kept deviating the man. This continued. At times one or the other Devata descended in human body as avatar. Zulmat rallied its forces so that the teachings of avatars were corrupted. At times Prophets and Avatars were killed. Finally, all the Devatas who constitute the Manifest Self or Holy Spirit descended one after another at a sacred place in Arabia to guide mankind towards the path of worship of God.

 If you remember from where it all began, Manifest Self had worshipped Ishwar (God) extensively and had desired there be more worshippers. It was only then that God had allowed further creation. The purpose of our creation is to worship Ishwar – the One God of the Universe. Muslims call that One God as Allah.

 Worship of One God had always been the chief goal of Devatas (who descended one after another at Arabia and were called Ahlulbayt). This indeed is the purpose of our creation. Krishna was not fighting the Kauravas for the throne of Hastinapura. The reason for the fight was that the people of the time had started worshipping the Devatas of Vedas. They had also started worshipping others, including demons and rakshasa. Krishna told them that none but God has to be worshipped. They didn’t agree and came to fight Krishna himself. Those who believe that it was a worldly war are on the wrong. Mahabharat was a religious war where the Kauravas (aided by great number of Brahmins and revered priests) were worshipping those other than God and were worshipping those who were actually God’s creatures whereas Krishna wanted that worship of God should be restored. Pandavas too at a time worshipped the deities that the Kauravas worshipped. That is why Arjuna says that there was a time when he used to make fun of Krishna (Krishna’s teachings). And that is why Krishna had to show the image to Arjuna of Paramatma devouring all those who were being worshiped by the Kauravas. Even Devatas were devoured. But Krishna knew that Devatas were part of the Creation Plan and they comprised the guiding forces. Therefore, he kept their value and sanctity. He said anyone who eats without offering part of his food to the Devatas is a thief. He talked of Indra’s heaven and of Brihaspati. But he also said that Devatas are not to be worshipped. Neither is anybody else to be worshipped other than God or His Manifest Form – the Paramatma.

Did you see? Krishna was the first who fought the idol-worshippers. Krishna it was who said with force that worship has to done only of God or His Manifest Self. He even told Arjuna to fight and kill those on the opposite side, without caring for the fact that there were his relatives, cousins and revered Gurus. He told Arjuna that it doesn’t matter whether he killed or got killed. This proves that it was a religious war. You don’t get killed and occupy the throne of Hastinapura. Krishna said that those in the opposite camps were already dead (because they were disbelievers) and if Arjuna was to kill them, he would only perform a ritual. Their spirit had already reached the nadir from where there could be no coming back. Quran says that there is a level of decline from which the spirit becomes incapable of reaching higher level. Quran calls such people already dead and says they are deaf, dumb and blind and no guidance can reach them. Gita too calls such people already dead. If such was the level of their spirit, then Arjuna merely performed a ritual by cutting off their bodies from the face of this world.

Did you see, Krishna made such a vicious attack on those who worshipped anybody else but God that he didn’t care for his own life or the life of his companions? It is a pity that we again got misled by Zulmat and began to worship idols of Krishna himself. The express purpose of our creation is clear. We are to worship none but the One God of the Universe. It is this reason that the Manifest Self had given when it was allowed creation of mankind. And when I am proving time and again that the Devatas, whose purpose is to guide mankind towards the path of worship, descended themselves in human form and were called Ahlulbayt, you can yourself imagine why Quran - the book that was revealed to Mohammad, the first of the Ahlulbayt and who is none but Indradeva of the Vedas – outrightly rejected idol worship.

[PS: While talking about the Divine Creation Plan, several facts that I have reached upon after years of my study have been told. It is possible some of you may have some doubts about any of the points given by me. If you have those doubts, feel free to ask and I will respond with the reason for my views from the scriptures themselves.]