Saturday, 19 September 2026

MUSLIMS & THE STRAIGHT PATH: Part - 2-C - Trinity in Islam

Muslims & The Straight Path  [Published 2010]

Part - 2-C

TRINITY IN ISLAM

Salfia was a group of Muslims following the Hanbali Fiqh (a school of thought among Muslims), which later became the base of developing the Wahabi thought. Salfia group was of the opinion that every view of theirs and solutions to all modern issues and problems can only be found in the light of Quran and Seerat (life) of Prophet and through no other means.

Though later, the Wahabis went overboard in attempting to carve out a sect of their believes, and framed the views that helped strengthen political power, it may be argued  that the earliest views of the Salfia, on which the foundations of later day Wahabism were laid, were sincere attempts to carve their view out of the verses of Quran.

Therefore, when the Quran talked out of an invisible, all pervading God, they believed in His Unity but at the same time, when the Quran talked of a throne, a particular abode, and of the face and hand of god, they accepted the same for God. Fact remains that all other sects of Muslims, who say that their God is Absolute and Invisible and critize the Salfias for their view that God has hands and face, has a throne at a particular place and so on, have never been truly able to give an acceptable reason why such verses and hadees (traditions), which are undoubtedly countless, appear in Quran and other authentic books of traditions. In other words, because of their inability to give a valid and digestible argument based on reason, such people are merely doing the act of looking the other way, when the Quranic verses appear to give such descriptions of God. Truly speaking, whatever view the Salfia group formed of God was in the light of the Quranic verses and authentic traditions and what they could infer from them within the framework of their limited knowledge.

The great differences that arose due to the Muslims’ inability to understand these verses of Quran can be understood from the case of attack on the famous Sunni historian, Mohammad ibn Jareer Tabari, by the followers of Hanbali fiqh in a mosque in Baghdad. When Tabari reached Baghdad, he went to the Jama Masjid of Hanbalis on a Friday. There people asked his view on Ahmad Hanbal and in particular the hadees (tradition) in which there is description of God sitting on arsh (the highest abode in the skies). Tabari’s reply was not contradicting Ahmad Hanbal but the Hanbalis felt that his view was far different. In his attempt to divert the issue, Tabari said that he has neither seen God nor met any of his companions who would have told me anything about this issue. When Hanbalis and Ahl-e-Hadees heard this, they started attacking him, threw their inkpots on him, and Tabari had to run away from a mob of about 1000 Hanbalis, who then attacked his house with stones so much so that a heap of stones accumulated outside his house. This continued until the Baghdad police of the time arrived and saved Tabari from these attackers.

Around 325 A.H., the differences between followers of Hanbali and Shafii fiqh (a school of thought among Muslims) had reached such heights that a Caliph had to pass a ruling that two followers of Abu Mohammad Barbahari won’t collect together and several of his followers were imprisoned. At the same time, followers of Barbahari instigated people to beat the Shafiites till death. This is to be remembered that Barbahari who died in hiding in 329 A.H. was the proponent of thought which was later given a more defined shape by Ibn Taimia and Mohammad Ibn Abdul Wahab (the founders of the Wahabi sect). Due to his similar views on God, Ibn Taimia (towards the end of 7th century A.H.) had to remain in prison for a good part of his life and fatwa was given that he was a Kafir by Shafii and Maliki ulemas. Ibn Taimia was released only when he declared in writing, on 25th Rabiul Awwal, 707 A.H., that the meaning of certain verses of Quran, particularly like ‘Ar-rahmano alal arshis tawaa’ (talking of God and his seat) were not clear and had to agree to his inability to understand these views saying that none but God knew their meaning and took back the earlier fatwa regarding God descending on earth and He seated on a throne in the heavens. Clearly, this was written by force and to get his release from prison and Ibn Taimia never changed his views as regards to interpretations of several Quranic verses.

Ibn Qaiyom, a disciple of Ibn Taimia writes in Kafiatush-shafiah that those in heavens will see the God above their heads, the way they see the moon and the sun. He further says that this has been narrated continuously since the time of Prophet Mohammad and only the one who’s Imaan (faith) is false denies this tradition. The verses that talk of seeing God in person are Surah Qiyamat (verse 22,23), Surah Baqarah (verse 223), Surah Ahzab (verse 44) and Surah Kahf (verse 110). At another place (see Tauzeehul Maqasid, Vol. II, Page 573) – commentary of Kafiatush-shafiah – Ibn Qaiyom writes that when the denizens of heaven will be enjoying their stay  there, a Noor (Light) will shine, which will be not be invisible to anybody and which will lighten the entire heaven, all will raise their head upwards and will get to know that this was the Noor of God which is not hidden from anybody, and in this manner they will see God above their heads, who will greet the denizens of heaven and then God will talk to them and at this time the denizens of heaven will see the God clearly.

Ibn Qaiyom also talks of God reciting Quran in the most beautiful voice that they have never heard of and has referred to a narration of Tibrani as per which the denizens of heaven will go in the presence of God twice each day and God will recite Quran in a never heard of beautiful voice.

Ibn Taimia died in prison in 728 A.H. but by that time had such a good number of followers that it is said that about 2 lakh people attended his funeral, some of whom drank the water used for his bathing, while others kept cloths touched to his dead body as relics. Despite the fatwas allowing killing of his followers and confiscating their property, a good number of followers of Ibn Taimia remained in Syria and later Mohammad Ibn Abdul Wahab, backed by the ruler of the day Mohammad bin Saud, created a sect out of Ibn Taimia’s teachings, about 4 centuries later.

Ibn Waradi states that Ibn Taimia only said what was apparent to him from Quran and hadees and what he said was already in the hearts of ulemas of yore and present but were afraid to bring that view in open. He says that Ibn Taimia was opposed by all the ulemas of Egypt and Syria but truly his view of God was based on his ijihaad (view framed after thoughtful analysis).

This narration confirms that even the Muslim ulemas had no choice but to agree that the meanings of several Quranic verses and traditions of Prophets were incomprehensible and never understood truly. Since we here are giving arguments totally from Quran and the authentic traditions of Prophet, we hope the educated Wahabis will be the first to accept them as true.  

The Shia scholars in Iran have gone out of the way to discard all the traditions and Quranic verses that the Wahabis site to base their arguments and it appears from their explanations to prove their view that they see these Quranic verses and hadeeses as mere rhetoric.

Muslims prone to attachments to their set beliefs won’t easily accept the arguments being given by us but we can confidently say that our argument, in the light of knowledge derived from study of Hindu scriptures, is totally based on the Quranic verses and is not contradictory to any verse of Quran. In fact, for the first time, we will be able to understand several verses of Quran, which we have been unable to do till now. Only those who accept our points of arguments will henceforth be able to say with confident that the Absolute God is truly One, UnManifest, Invisible, All-pervading and All-powerful and they will say so even when Quran appears to talk of God sitting on a throne, all beings presented before God on the Day of Judgment, a Kursee (seat) of God beyond Sidratul Muntaha (the highest point where any being can go), and God shaded by the clouds, at times, descending on earth among human being.

Reading our arguments in this regard, you will understand for the first time how seemingly contradictory verses of Quran like those below are both true and have their significance.

Wujooho yauma ezin nazeratan ila rabbaha nazerah 

(Surah Qiamat, verse 22,23)

And

La tud rekohul absaro wa hova yudrekul absar 

(Surah In’am, verse 103)

There are other traditions too that the Muslims will never understand truly unless they accept our explanations as true.

Hakim writes in Mustadrak that when Adam ate from the forbidden tree then he said: “God! I pray to you by the name of Mohammad and his haq (truly, whatever belongs to him) that you forgive me. Allah said O Adam, how did you recognize Mohammad? Adam said: “When I looked in the sky, I saw written: ‘There is no God but Allah, and Mohammad is His messenger.’ When I saw Mohammad’s name with Your name, I understood that he was greatly beloved of You.”

Ibn Khalliqan has quoted from Shebi in his historical narration saying that he saw something very curious. I, Abdullah ibn Umar, Ibn-e-Zubayr, Mus’ab ibn Zubayr and Abdul Malik ibn Marwan were in front of Kaa’ba and we said that one of us shall go to the ‘rukne Yamani’ and holding it shall pray from God and his prayer will surely be answered. Abdullah ibn Zubayr got up and prayed: “God! You are great and we look towards you for all our needs. I pray to you in the name of your Arsh’s (the highest abode in the skies) reputation, in the name of your face’s reputation and in the name of your Prophet’s reputation that I do not die but that I am the ruler and people salute me as Caliph.”

Sunan Ibn-e-Majah (one of the six authentic books of traditions) narrates from Abu Sayeed Khadri that the Prophet said that when you go out of your house for prayers, say this: “Allah, I pray to you by the haq (truly whatever belongs to them) of those who pray in your court and pray to you . . .”

Who are the ones who have prayed in the God’s court? We have already shown to you that the Manifest Self (Paramatma), the first of the creations, was also the first of the worshippers. This Manifest Self had taken the task of leading the entire creation towards the worship of One Imperishable and Absolute God.

See what II.1.20 of Mundaka Upanishad says:

As a spider moves along the thread, as small sparks come forth from the fire, even so from this Self come forth all worlds, all divinities, all beings. Its secret meaning is the truth of truth. Vital breaths are the truth and their truth is it (that has been told here).

It has been clarified here that the Manifest Self (Paramatma) took the task of creation further and all worlds, all divinities (Devatas) and all beings have come forth from it, just as a spider moves along the thread or as small sparks come forth from the fire. This knowledge, forgotten now to both Hindus and Muslims, is regarded as extremely important and the secret meaning of this utterance is termed as the truth of the truth.

If so much of importance is attached to this knowledge, even termed as having a secret meaning, it is obvious that solution to our quest lies somewhere here only. The divinities so described serve as a link between God and us. Guardians of faith, possessors of all knowledge, pure and truthful ones, these Divine Beings ceaselessly strive to lead us towards the right path. It is they who interact with the human beings on behalf of God, who whether they are in heaven or when they take birth as humans on earth endeavor to reveal to us the right way and to guide mankind with the sole aim that man follows their path to reach God.

All the subsequent creations, including the human beings, are inseparably linked with these Divine Beings (referred to as Devatas); even our spirit (atma or rooh in Arabic) is inseparably linked with the Manifest Self (Paramatma) comprising of these divinities.

Certain Upanishads describe these Devatas as rulers of our organs of sense and action. Others state that a part of our self, that is ceaselessly trying to lead us to the right path, is an extension of the Self of these Divine Beings. Consciousness is courtesy them. We are related to these beings to such a great extent that life is meaningless without them; in fact, Gita states that a person who is unable to cognize this Self within his self is dead even when he breathes and one who is aware of this relationship is alive, even when he is physically dead.

Chapter IV of Svetasvatara Upanishad describes the process of creation initiated by the Absolute God ‘He’ in these words:

IV.I. He who is one, without any colour, by the manifold exercise of his power distributes many colours in his hidden purpose and into whom in the beginning and at the end the universe is gathered. May He endow us with a clear understanding.

All the worlds emanated from the Absolute God (Mahesh or Allah) and will finally converge into Him at the end of the universe. Quran also confirms that that there was none but Allah in the beginning and none but Allah will remain in the end. Many colours in God's hidden purpose have been described in the Quran (Surah Al-Baqarah), as well, in these words:

(This is) God’s Colouring and who is better than God in Colouring; while Him (alone) do We worship.

There is one more point. The Upanishad describes these Devatas by the words: "That indeed is the pure". And Quran gives a verse where the God confirms to the purity of the Ahlul-bayts, who are actually 14 in number, having 7 names.

Innama Yoridullaho Leuzheba Ankumrrijsa Ahlalbaite wa Yotahhirakum Tathira

Verily Allah desires to keep away all blemishes from you, O Ahlul-bayt and keep you pure with perfect purification.

Heavenly world is possible only through the path of these door-keepers of heavenly world, as per Chhadogya Upanishad. And Mohammad said that Ali was the head of the men in the heavens, Fatima was the head of women in heavens and Hasan and Husain were heads of youths of the heavens. All these comprise the Ahlul-bayt. In another universally accepted tradition, Mohammad said that Quran and Ahlul-bayt will not get separated until they meet him in heavens. Intercession too has been ascribed to the Ahlul-bayt in few traditions; thus the doorkeepers.

That the Devatas too have seven names can be seen from references like ‘the seven moving tongues of fire’. Also, you have seen earlier from Paingala Upanishad that the Devatas are 14; at other places, the same Devatas are referred to as Manus who too are 14 in number. In Brhad-aranyaka Upanishad, you have seen that the Absolute God created a Manifest Self in the form of Light or Noor. This Manifest Self desired to have another Self, and thus were two Selfs. Then there is talk of another Self by the name Aditi, suggesting that this was a Devi (female version). Then Radhakrishana has said the words used suggest progeny; this is followed by references to two types of sacrifices by two Selfs created out of progeny. Thus, one became 5 which later became 14, but had only seven names.

Interestingly, the first five of the Ahlul-bayt were Prophet Mohammad, Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Husain. Later, 9 lineal descendants in Husain’s progeny were included to make 14 Ahlul-bayt. These 14 also comprised group of 12 Imams; Fatima and Mohammad being the exceptions. The relationship that they had with each other was exactly similar to the relationship described in the aforementioned Upanishad. Prophet Mohammad clearly confirms his role as first of creations when he said:

I was the Prophet even when Adam was in the stage of creation.

And he confirms that Ali (his cousin, who later married his daughter Fatima) was also created at the same time:

I and Ali are the divisions of the same Noor.

And he said:

Fatima is of me and I am from Fatima

Unable to understand this complex relationship foretold in the Vedas, there is a very curious debate at one place in Hindu scriptures wherein the person is puzzled as to how can a father’s brother, who is like a father, marry his daughter. Several mythological stories got built so much so that even till date dictionary describes Aditi as one who married to Aditya, but also tells that she was born out of an incestuous relationship with her father (May God forgive those who misunderstood this sacred relationship owing to their ignorance). There are 12 vicegerents to the Prophet with Ali being the first and the dictionary describes Adityas to be 12; Aditya meaning ‘the sun’.

When Fatima and Ali got married, the mention of marriage in Brhad-aranyaka got completed. And two sons of Fatima were Hasan and Husain, who are mentioned in Brhad-aranyaka as two types of sacrifices. Interestingly, Hasan’s life was sacrificed through poison while Husain sacrificed his life through sword at Karbala. Nine descendants in Husain’s progeny, take the count to 14.

Lest somebody think that due to this division, their powers diminished or they became dissimilar, Brhad-aranyaka Upanishad states that all Devatas are alike:

I.5.13:

These are all alike, all endless. Verily, he who meditates on them as finite, wins a finite world. But he who meditates on them as infinite wins an infinite world.

And Mohammad said of them:

The first is Mohammad, the middle is Mohammad, the last is Mohammad, all are Mohammad.

And this knowledge is linked with salvation is talked about in once again in II.7:

He (who knows this) overcomes repeated death, death cannot get hold of him, death becomes his body, and he becomes one with these divinities.

You have seen earlier how Mohammad has linked Ahlul-bayt with heaven earlier. In another tradition he says:

One who dies with love of Ahlul-bayt dies a shaheed (i.e. he attains salvation; we will describe the term ‘shaheed’ later in this compilation).

Let us now see what the 7 names of 14 Ahlul-bayt are:

Mohammad, the Prophet

Ali, cousin and also son-in-law of the Prophet

Fatima, daughter of Mohammad (married to Ali)

Hasan, son of Ali

Husain, son of Ali

Ali, son of Husain

Mohammad, son of Ali

Jafar, son of Mohammad, son of Ali, son of Husain

Musa, son of Jafar

Ali, son of Musa

Mohammad, son of Ali, son of Musa

Ali, son of Mohammad, son of Ali, son of Musa

Hasan, son of Ali

Mohammad, son of Hasan.

As you read further, you will find that this is ‘the colouring of God’, that both Quran and the Upanishads talk about. This is also the ‘Golden Chain’ as per Tahirul Qadiri that emanated from the ‘Golden Egg’, as per the Upanishads.

Our view is that till the time of Krishna, people were far more knowledgeable about the identity of Devatas, to the extent that they had begun worshipping the Devatas, something that Krishna ridiculed tooth and nail. But in the succeeding period people forgot the identity of these Devatas and their true role in creation. Book ‘One God, One Religion’ has shown how the entire Vedas are supplications to these Devatas and the people of earlier times were, through prayers, beckoning these Devatas to come. The fact that all supplications of Vedas talk of their coming in future tense proves the point. 

What circumstances forced the worship or knowledge of Devatas to wane from our lives is not known with certainty. However, whether it was the Pandavas, the Kauravas or the revered saints of the time like Bhishma and Drona, all knew far more about the Devatas than what we know now. That is why Arjuna, who is asking questions wherever he does not understand a point, is silent when Krishna mentions Devatas, Prajapati (Lord of the peoples) or talks of Indra’s heaven in Gita. Truth is that Bhagavad-Gita has even allowed the worship of the Devatas to some extent, though terming it as ‘unorthodox’. This is in spite of the fact that the entire teachings of Gita revolve around establishing the worship of One Absolute God and negating all pseudo-gods that were being worshipped by the people of time.

Till now, we have seen the concept of trinity or triad, as given in the Gita. We have seen that the one who is doing the talking in Gita is the Manifest Self (Paramatma) who is talking of an Absolute God, towards whom we all must submit ourselves in worship. This Absolute God is referred to in Third Person. The Manifest Self is the creator of the Devatas and the rest of creations emanated from the Devatas and it is they who manage the affairs of the universe; this has been clearly stated. The Manifest Self says that the worship of Devatas is the unorthodox way of worship and calls for complete submission to the Manifest Self while worshipping the Absolute God. What does complete submission to the Manifest Self means? This means that the Manifest Self (Paramatma) seeks blind obedience to the rules and regulations framed by it once the person has used his wisdom to identify the true path. Or in Upanishadic words, it means acknowledging and treating the Devatas (who together comprise the Manifest Self) as leaders of our organs of action and senses.

Muslims believe in the presence of one Imperishable, Invisible, Formless, Absolute God referred to as Allah. Quran says that when this Allah wished to create, He said ‘kun’ (let it be) and all the cosmos came into origin. Consequent to this ‘kun’, Quran talks of creation of Adam and says that Adam was created with ‘His’ own hands. Not much is described of the process of creation that ultimately resulted in the birth of first of the human beings (Adam). It is the Upanishads and Puranas which shed light on this intervening phase in greater detail. Only through their study, we will be able to understand the process which led to the creation of Adam. They talk of the formless (nirakar) Absolute creating a manifest (saakar) form - Manifest Self or Paramatma - and process further leading to creation of Brahma (also referred to as Prajapati or Vishva). Brahma divided manifold to create the Devatas and consequent to this the first of the human beings got created.

We will prove here that the aforementioned process is present in the Quran too, but Muslims, owing to their ignorance, and owing to the fact that they left the true preachers of Quran quite early, couldn’t understand the real teachings of Islam.

It was the Manifest Self of God that sent Prophets and appointed Messengers in this world when it saw that man had deviated from the true path that led to God. It is not possible for Muslims to deny that the Noor (spirit or light) of Mohammad was in existence from the time prior to the creation of Adam.

The Prophet said:

I was the prophet even when Adam was in the stage of creation.

Even Quran confirms this when Chapter Az-Zukhruf (Ornaments of Gold), verse 81 says:

Say (O’ Our Apostle Mohammad): “If there be for the Beneficent God any son, I am the first of the worshipers (to Him).”

A segment of Muslims use a quote of Mohammad to claim that it were the Noor (light) of the Pure and Infallible Ahlul-bayt which were shown to Adam at the time of his creation; something that is also referred to in the Quran. And we are of view that it was the Manifest Self in whose presence Prophet Mohammad went on the night of meraj (ascent) to heavens.

There are several questions that the Muslims cannot answer unless they believe in the presence of Manifest Self. Meraj (Prophet Mohammad’s ascent to the skies) is mentioned in Quran. Quran describes the location in detail, right till the presence of a tree and garden at the entrance. There is even description of Gabriel (the angel who accompanied Mohammad from earth to heavens) talking of his incapability of going any further and Mohammad went to face the ‘God’ alone. If the God of the Muslims is Invisible and All-Pervading, as they believe, why was it that their Prophet had to go to a particular place in the heavens to meet Him?

There are several traditions of Mohammad which talk of a seat of power for God. How can the Muslims explain these traditions when their God is invisible and unmanifest?

Mohammad is said to have split the moon in two and returned the sun, after it had set. If Mohammad was a common mortal man, as Wahabis claim him to be, how can such traditions be described?

On the Day of Judgment, it is said that the men and women will be presented before their God. If the God is invisible and present everywhere, in whose presence will all the people be presented?

As regards to the relationship of the Manifest Self (Paramatma, literally meaning ‘the highest spirit’) with the Prophets, Quran (Surah Ghafir, verse 15) clearly states that the rooh (atma or spirit) is responsible for all guidance. Allama Tabatabai too agrees to this but says in ‘Tafseer-e-Meezan’ that this rooh (atma or spirit) is put inside those chosen as rasools (Messengers). Another proof of this is that it was the rooh (atma or spirit) that was blown inside Adam – the Prophet. Surah Nabah (Ayat 37) of the Quran further states that rooh is a manifest identity and talks of a time when this rooh will stand with the angels in a queue. Unable to understand the real truth, Muslim scholars interpret this rooh (spirit) to be the Angel Gabriel, without even thinking for  a while that the same verse talking of rooh is referring to angels as a different entity.

Fact is that Muslims know very little about the constitution of this ‘Spirit’, even though Quran has talked about it on few occasions. The spirit mentioned here is nothing but the Divine Spirit (Paramatma) or the Manifest Self created by God as an intermediary between man and the Absolute UnManifest God.

Chapter Al-Hajj (verse 16) of Quran states the concept of avatar in these words:

And thus have We sent it down, as signs manifest, and that verily God guideth whomsoever He intendeth.

And verse 32 says:

That (shall be so); And whoever respecteth the signs of God verily it is (the reflection) of the piety of the hearts.

Verse 51 even talks of a punishment to strive to invalidate the signs of God:

And those who strive to invalidate Our signs they shall be the inmates of the flaming (Hell) fire.

Verse 52 confirms that Satan has tried to enforce error whenever apostles or prophets came to deliver the message. But it is confirmed that eventually God will annul all the work of Satan and the signs of God will get firmly established in the heart of people.

And We sent not before thee (O’ Our Apostle Mohammad!) any apostle or prophet, but when he recited (the message) the Satan did cast his recitation (to create error); But annulleth God that which the Satan casteth, then God doth establish His signs; And verily God is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

Interestingly, third Brahmana (Chapter) of Brhad-aranyaka Upanishad tells how, when the demons knew that the Devatas would overcome them, they tried to pierce evil everywhere. This is so because the demons were created for this purpose alone. Initially they succeeded in corrupting the knowledge from the speech, eye, ear, mind and life-breath but when the demons wished to obliterate the knowledge from the vital-breath, they themselves were vanquished and the Devatas were victorious.

Surah Al-Baqarah too talks ill of those who disbelievers in God's signs:

And verily We sent down unto thee clear signs, but none disbelieveth in them but the perverse.

Those Muslims who claim that by sending down a sign, sending down of Quran is meant should note the following verse of Surah Ad-Dukhan, which talks of signs in plural:

And when he cometh to know any of Our signs he taketh it in jest; These shall have a disgracing chastisement.

Behind them is hell, and shall avail them not aught of what they did earn, nor those whom they took as guardians besides God, and for them shall be a grievous chastisement.

Eventually, signs of God are the same as the Light of God or the spirit that descended on earth. Man would try to cause harm to these signs but God will punish the infidels and He will perfect His Light. Surah al-Bara'at says:

Intend they that they put out the Light of God with (the blow of) their mouths, and disdaineth God save that He perfecteth His Light, though may detest it the infidels.

It is evident that God Himself saw to it that His Light (Noor) was perfect. And it is said that the infidels won’t like this knowledge to come to the forefront. Since God had already perfected this Light (Noor) of His, the verse of purity was revealed regarding the Ahlul-bayt, who were truly the bearers of that Noor on earth. Had there been no tradition of Mohammad linking himself and the self of Ali to that Noor, there was reason to disbelieve.

Innama Yoridullaho Leuzheba Ankumrrijsa Ahlalbaite wa Yotahhirakum Tathira

Verily Allah desires to keep away all blemishes from you, O Ahlul-bayt and keep you pure with perfect purification.

Now see the succeeding verses from an Upanishad in succession:

I.2. 

Time, inherent nature, necessity, chance, the (five) elements, the womb or the person be considered as the cause? It cannot be a combination of these because of the existence of the soul. Even the soul is powerless in respect of the cause of pleasure and pain.

I.3. 

Those who followed after meditation and contemplation saw the (Devatma-sakti) self-power of the Divine hidden in its own qualities. He is the one who rules over all these causes from time to the soul.

I.4. 

Him (the self-power or Devatma-sakti), whose one rope is manifold.

See how clearly this Upanishad states that the self-power (devatma-sakti) created by Brahman (the God) is one that moves this universe. It is stated that the rope of this self-power is manifold, thereby confirming that more than one Devatas comprise this self-power. You have also seen earlier that Svetasvatara Upanishad had said:

All these affairs, including life and death, creation and destruction, and sending of the Messengers to lead us to the worship of Absolute God are in the hands of the Devatma-sakti; the Manifest Self with manifold rope (several Devatas).

Quran says:

Hold fast, all of you together, to the cord (rope) of Allah.

It gives a mental impression that a rope is hanging from the heaven so that those who are below on the ground (earth) may climb up, by holding it, and reach the presence of the Lord to seek His nearness.

Abu Sa-id Khudri reports that he heard the Holy Prophet saying:

I leave behind me, among you, two ropes. If my people hold fast to these two ropes, after me, they shall not go astray. They are the book of Allah, hung from the heaven unto the earth, and my Ahlul-bayt. One of them is greater than the other. Be it known that these two shall never be separated from each other; and joined together, they shall meet me at the spring of Kausar (in heaven).

Tafsir Kabir and Durr al Manthur

In another similar declaration, known as hadees-e-Saqalain, the Prophet stated:

My Ahlul-bayt, among you, are like the ark of Nooh (Noah). He who sails on it will be safe, but he who holds back shall perish.

Another interesting observation is that Upanishads confirm that the rest of beings were created through the Devatas (Noor or Light). You are invited to read Hadees-e-Kisa (given later in this compilation) in which God says that He created the moon, the sun, the stars and all things merely in love of his Ahlul-bayt (the creations from Noor).

Thus we see that both the Hindu and Muslim scriptures are unanimous that a direct relationship was created between the selfs of all the animate and non-animate life on earth and the Manifest Self whose constituents are the fourteen Pure Ones – the Devatas, who had seven names. It is this Manifest Self which does the talking in Quran and Gita and it is Its self-imposed duty to lead all creations to the worship of Absolute God.

Chapter IX-34 of Matsya Purana again shows a link between Devatas and Manus:

I have explained to you something about the past and future Manus, O King! Similarly commencing from the age of Devatas, in the 994th age, the afore-mentioned fourteen Manus rule in succession. In their time, they play their part in the creation of the moveable and immoveable objects, and afterwards attain final rest with Brahma, at the end of the age. They (the Manus), after 1000 ages, shall be absorbed in Brahma and be joined to Vishnu.

The very fact that Quran decided not to talk about the intervening period till the creation of Adam can be understood from the fact that it has also not talked about the creation prior to Adam though the conversation of Angels with God at the time of creation of Adam is ample proof that there were certain creations prior to creation of human beings. The angels had asked the God whether He was going to create someone who would cause bloodshed on the earth. This and the fact that Satan is traced to one such earlier creation is ample proof that there are certain things that Quran has not referred to purposefully.

As there is not much information available, Muslims find it difficult to explain why words like ‘creating with one’s own hands’ are described, why there is mention of a God’s seat in front of which all beings will be produced on the Day of Judgment and why Mohammad had to go to a particular place high up in the heavens, to be present in front of His Creator. If the God is Formless and All-Pervading, how can these accounts and many others that have come to us as part of Prophet Mohammad’s sayings, be true. Answer to this apparent paradox lies in believing that there indeed is a Manifest Self of God, which is responsible for framing all the rules, all the obligations, all the rites and rituals of the True Path, so that the created beings come to the path of worship of the Absolute Formless God. It is the Manifest Self from where the creation further proceeded and kept on expanding, first through creation of Devatas and then through the creation of the rest of beings, who all are irrevocably linked somehow with the Noor (Devatas). And Devatas are the manifest proofs of God who are given the task of running the affairs of the cosmos.

Accepting this would solve the puzzle to all the questions.

But how can the Muslims, who have been criticizing the concept of triad or trinity for past fourteen hundred years, accept this merely because some unknown writer is saying so? How can the Muslims accept a ‘foreign’ belief, which was until now related to the Hindus and to some extent Christians, without some concrete proofs? We will have to give proofs from Quran itself, the most authentic of Muslim books and one that is undoubtedly divine in origin for the Muslims to accept what we are saying.

This is to be noted that the literary genius of Quran itself is said to be a miracle and no Muslim can ever say that Quran could have a grammatical or syntax error or flawed construction in the sentences. In fact, Quran itself presented its shortest chapter as challenge to all humanity and said that if anybody is of view that Quran is not divine and was the product of Mohammad’s own imagination, then he is invited to compose one chapter equal in eloquence and literary genius to the shortest chapter of Quran (al-Kausar), merely having five lines.

Let us now see whether the Quran too talks of the presence of Absolute God and Manifest Self as two distinct identities where it is desirable to worship the Absolute God and abide by the path laid for us by the Manifest Self (Paramatma) - the manifest form of the Absolute God that further carried forth the process of creation. 

No comments:

Post a Comment