A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada on ISLAM – Islam is also Vaishnavism.

Srila Prabhupada: Islam is also Vaishnavism.
Dr. Patel: Mohammedanism is not Vaishnavism.

Srila Prabhupada: No, no. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu talked with the Pathanas (Muslims). He proved that “Your religion is Vaishnavism.” (Morning walk. Bombay, 17/02/74)

Srila Prabhupada: Then Islam is Vaishnava dharma (religion) in a crude form like Christianity.
(Room conversation. Tehran, 14/03/75)

In these two Statements, Srila Prabhupada explains that the Is­amic religion is also teaching how to become a servant of only one God and surrender to Him with love and devotion. One can cultivate the same knowledge in the Vaishnava religion but with more detailed information. In Vaishnavism, one can learn how to de­velop his eternal loving relationships with the Supreme Lord. Although Dr. Patel could not accept that Islam is also Vaishnavism, Srila Prabhupada explained that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, in his conversation with the Pathana Muslims, proved by quoting from the Holy Qur’an that Islam is also Vaishnavism. At the end of his conversation all the Pathana Mus­lims, including the great Muslim Scholar and prince Vijuli Khan, accepted the fact that Vaishavism is a true religion teaching complete surrender to the will and desire of God, which is the meaning of Islam. Later on in 197S, in Tehran, Srila Prabhupada explained that Islam is a simplified form of the Vaishnava religion. Why? Because the Holy Prophet Muhammad taught his people according to time, place, circumstances and their intellectual level. He himself clearly said, “I received two kinds of knowledge: one of these I taught — but if I had taught them the other, it would have broken their necks.” (Nadarbeg K. Mizra, Reincarnation and Islam, Madras, 1927, p. 4) 

–

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada on ISLAM

Ravanari Das, Ph.D.

DKBT – THE DABIR KHAS BOOK TRUST

“Certainly God will send to my sect at the end of every hundred years,
a person who will renew my religion.” (Prophet Muhammad)

“Chaitanya Mahaprabhu proved devotional Service from the Qur’an.
So it requires a devotee who can explain God from any godly literature.”
(Srila Prabhupada)

 

Dedicated to an Eternal Spiritual Master
who can save the entire universe

Contents

1. Islam is also Vaishnavism
2. Islam means Submission
3. God sends His messengers
4. Parampara — Disciplic succession
5. The Qur’an
6. The Qur’an is also shastra
7. The knowledge must be scientific
8. The Muslim religion is based on a conception of God
9. The Muslim religion is also bhakti-yoga
10. Guru — Spiritual master
11. Hazrat Muhammad is shaktyavesha-avatara
12. Hazrat Muhammad is an acharya
13. Hazrat Muhammad is an authority
14. Hazrat Muhammad is a devotee of God
15. Hazrat Muhammad is a servant of God
16. Hazrat Muhammad is the perfect holy man
17. Hazrat Muhammad preached God-consciousness
18. Hazrat Muhammad teaches according to the class of men
19. Hazrat Muhammad could hear God
20. The Muslims are also Vaishnavas
21. A planet where pious Muslims go
22. Animal slaughter
23. God is a person
24. God is not formless
25. God can be seen
26. God is not material
27. Allah is a name of God
28. The ultimate goal is to love God

Introduction

Religion is meant for peace, not war.

Again and again God has sent His messengers to this material world to re-establish religious principles. Different messengers have revealed different scriptures in different languages accord-ing to time, place, circumstances and the intellectual capacity of the people. In this way the Vedas, Avesta, Torah, Bible and Qur’an were made available for the benefit of mankind, to bring them closer to God. Despite the different languages and different ages in which these scriptures were presented, the knowl-edge and guidance is essentially the same. That is:

1. God is one
2. Everyone is a servant of God
3. Everyone has an eternal relationship with God
4. The primary duty of everyone is Service to God
5. The goal of human life is to develop love of God.

As far as the process of each scripture is concerned, some details and rituals differ, but in essence it is all the same. Every messenger of God came to this mortal world to remind us that we should always remember God, serve God and love God. Therefore, religious principles are meant for peace and prosperity, not war. Vaishnavism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Chris-tianity and Islam are all meant for uniting people, not dividing them.

“In the vase there is a variety of flowers, and that variety helps us better appreciate the idea of flowers. That is called unity in diversity,” said Srila Prabhupada. But because of misunderstanding, misinterpretation and deviation from the revealed scriptures, hundreds and hundreds of sects have already appeared, even within the same religious communities, what to speak of other communities. People quarrel, fight and kill each other under the name of reli-gion. So much degradation. There is no peace and prosperity on this earth. How can we gain the peace and prosperity that everyone is searching for? In this dark age of quarrel and hypocrisy, God has sent us His most merciful servant, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, to re-establish true religious principles and unite all the religions under the non-sectarian, nonmaterial, transcendental flag of love of God.

As a humble saint, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada never criticised any religion or any bona fide representative of any religion. Some people say Srila Prabhupada was a genius, some say a great religious teacher, some say a friend like no other, but Srila Prabhupada said: “I am simply a servant of a servant of a servant of God.” By re-establishing the Absolute Truth as it was, as it is, and as it always should be without adding or subtracting anything from the way it was presented to him, he began an international movement that has already united people of all religions, nations, ages, etc.. Thanks to his compassion and struggle, souls from all walks of life: scientists, businessmen, philosophers, laborers, housewives and students are all marching under the united nations transcendental flag of love of God.

In this work we present Statements by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada on Islam taken from his books, lectures and conversations. We sincerely hope it will help people develop a proper understanding of interreligious connections, ” unity in diversity .”

 

1. Islam is also Vaishnavism

Srila Prabhupada : Islam is also Vaishnavism.

Dr. Patel : Mohammedanism is not Vaishnavism.

Srila Prabhupada : No, no. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu talked with the Pathanas (Muslims). He proved that “Your religion is Vaishnavism.” (Morning walk. Bombay, 17/02/74)

Srila Prabhupada: Then Islam is Vaishnava dharma (religion) in a crude form like Christianity.

(Room conversation. Tehran, 14/03/75)

In these two Statements, Srila Prabhupada explains that the Is­amic religion is also teaching how to become a servant of only one God and surrender to Him with love and devotion. One can cultivate the same knowledge in the Vaishnava religion but with more detailed information. In Vaishnavism, one can learn how to de­velop his eternal loving relationships with the Supreme Lord. Although Dr. Patel could not accept that Islam is also Vaishnavism, Srila Prabhupada explained that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, in his conversation with the Pathana Muslims, proved by quoting from the Holy Qur’an that Islam is also Vaishnavism. At the end of his conversation all the Pathana Mus­lims, including the great Muslim Scholar and prince Vijuli Khan, accepted the fact that Vaishavism is a true religion teaching complete surrender to the will and desire of God, which is the meaning of Islam. Later on in 197S, in Tehran, Srila Prabhupada explained that Islam is a simplified form of the Vaishnava religion. Why? Because the Holy Prophet Muhammad taught his people according to time, place, circumstances and their intellectual level. He himself clearly said, “I received two kinds of knowledge: one of these I taught — but if I had taught them the other, it would have broken their necks.” (Nadarbeg K. Mizra, Reincarnation and Islam, Madras, 1927, p. 4)

According to the Muslim tradition, a part of the “Heavenly Book” which is kept under the Throne of Allah was revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad in the Arabic language. More than this, the Holy Prophet Muhammad once had miraj, or the experience of “ascending” to heaven.

And after penetrating the 7th layer of heaven, he visited the Throne of Allah and received divine knowledge from Him. This divine knowledge given by Allah to the Holy Prophet Muhammad was in three parts:

1) The knowledge that Allah ordered the Holy Prophet Muhammad to conceal from others and keep for himself

2) The knowledge that Allah allowed him to choose whether or not to conceal or reveal to others

3) The knowledge that Allah ordered the Apostle to communicate to all members of his ummah (community). (Geo Widengren. Muhammad, the Apostle of

God, and His Ascension. Uppsala, 1955, p. 108)

In this way, the Holy Prophet Muhammad got part of the unlimited spiritual knowledge and at the same time was ordered by Allah to conceal some parts of this knowledge.

Thus from statements of the Holy Prophet and from his life, we can understand that he withheld some confidential knowledge about the Supreme Lord. Therefore, Srila Prabhupada said that Islam is simplified Vaishnavism. By these words Srila Prabhupada had no intention to discredit the Islamic religion. He actually had all respect for Islam as we will see later on. That is why he said that Islam is also Vaishnavism. But what Srila Prabhupada meant is that not all aspects of Vaishnava philosophy were revealed by the Holy Prophet Muhammad, as he himself states.

 

2. Islam means submission

Yoga student : In fact Muslims object to their religion being called Mohammedanism because it implies that they worship Muhammad, whereas in fact they feel that they go straight to God, to Allah, and that Muhammad simply was a messenger.

Srila Prabhupada : That’s good.

Yoga student : And they call their religion Islam, which means submission.

Srila Prabhupada : That’s very good.

Yoga student : The Muslim is he who submits.

(Room conversation. Tehran, 14/03/75)

Srila Prabhupada : Religion means to surrender to God. It doesn’t matter what religion you profess. It doesn’t matter. But you must learn how to obey the Supreme Lord. That is religion. Religion does not mean that you stamp some stereotype religion, “I am Christian,” “I am Hindu,” “I am Muslim,” “I am Buddhist,” and then fight. That is not religion. That is fanaticism. Religion means how one has become devoted to God. That is religion.

You claim to be religious, or you claim to be Hindu or Christian or Buddhist. That’s all right But do you know what is God? Oh, everyone is silent. He does not know what is God. And what is his religion? If you do not know what is God, a vague idea, that is not religion. You must know what is God. Just like to become an American citizen, it requires you to know something of the history of America. So ask an American citizen, “What are you?”

“Now, I’m American.”

“Who is your president?’

“I do not know.”

What is this nonsense American? Would you like to hear from him, “I do not know who is my president.” Similarly, a human being professing some certain type of religion, but if you ask him, “What is God?”

Religion must be in relationship with God; any religion. But ask him, “What is God?” No answer. But religion means yato bhaktir adhoksaje — by practising it, one becomes a devotee of the Lord. That is religion, First-class religion. (Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam. 9/01/74)

Srila Prabhupada: Religion means obedience to God. Religion does not mean anything else. You can manufacture so many formulas and theses. But the real meaning is obedience to God. That is religion. Simple definition. If a man is obedient to God, it doesn’t matter to which religion he belongs. He may be Christian, he may be Hindu, he may be Mussalman. It doesn’t matter. Religion means obedience to God.(Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam. 12/12/73)

Here Srila Prabhupada again and again emphasised that religion means surrender to or obedience to God. Islam also means full surrender to the will of God. Many times the Holy Prophet Muhammad explained that everyone is a banda, or slave of Allah and must obey His order. We should understand our original, constitutional position as servants of God and by following His instructions we will develop our eternal loving relationship with the Supreme Lord.

People should not just put arubber stamp on themselves, “I am Christian,” “I am Hindu,” “I am Muslim” and then fight. This is not a religious activity but fanaticism born from ignorance. Another meaning of Islam is “peace.” Islam must bring peace, not war. If someone under the name of Islam advocates war, this means he has misunderstood or misinterpreted Islam. We should not be bewildered by such unscrupulous interpreters, rather we should follow true, eternal Islam, which will bring universal peace to the world. In the beginning of his preaching, the Holy Prophet Muhammad and his followers were severely persecuted by Meccan leaders. The Holy Prophet tolerated and taught his followers to be tolerant and forgiving towards their persecutors. Later on when Meccan leaders decided to kill the Holy Prophet Muhammad, he escaped to Medina. There the number of Muslims rapidly increased, and the Meccans decided to march upon Medina and kill all the Muslims. This time the Holy Prophet got a revelation from God that sanctioned fighting and killing for the purpose of protecting religious principles. Thus it is stated in the sura “Al-Baqarah” or “The Cow” of the Holy Qur’an (2.190-193):

“Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loves not transgressors. And slay them wherever you catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out; for persecution is worse than slaughter, but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who reject faith.

But if they cease, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And fight them on until there is no more persecution and the religion becomes Allah’s.”

Prominent Muslim scholar Abdullah Yusuf Ali comments :

“War is permissible in self-defence, and under well-defined limits. When undertaken, it must be pushed with vigour, but not relentlessly, but only to restore peace and freedom for the worship of Allah. In any case, strict limits must not be transgressed: women, children, old and infirm men should not be molested, nor trees and crops cut down, nor peace withheld when the enemy comes to terms.” (Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur-an, Al-Madinah, 1411H, p. 79)

This is the actual meaning of Jihad, or Holy War. If an enemy is attacking one with deadly weapons, with the intention to destroy or impede one’s religious activities, one can fight and kill for the protection of religious principles. However, nowadays, many leaders are advocating war under the name of jihad. They are using religious terms to promote political ambitions. They dress themselves as religionists, but actually they are atheists. People should be very careful not to be victimised by such dishonest and misguided leaders.

So, in Medina, the Muslims were attacked many times by Meccans and despite having smaller numbers, they always emerged victorious. During these wars, the Holy Prophet Muhammad gave special orders that Muslims should not kill monks, children, women, old and helpless people. Once after battle, the Holy Prophet saw dead women on the battlefield. He became very upset and chastised his followers.

Finally, despite severe persecutions and wars, the Holy Prophet Muhammad conquered Mecca and entered the city with a huge army without shedding any blood or taking revenge upon his persecutors; instead he forgave them. This is how the Holy Prophet acted.

In conclusion, the Holy Prophet Muhammad said: “The most excellent Jihad is the uttering of truth in the presence of an unjust ruler.” (Mishkat, 17)

Muslims should learn from his example and follow his instructions without deviation. Thus by following the orders of God revealed in the scriptures and surrendering unto Him, everyone will become obedient servants of God and develop their loving relationship with Him.

Once the Holy Prophet Muhammad shed light on another aspect of Jihad. He said:

” The most excellent Jihad (Holy War) is that for conquest of self .”

(Abdullah Al-Mamun Al-Suhrawardy, The sayings of Muhammad, London, 1905, p. 27)

Here is a good description of Jihad. The Holy Prophet Muhammad himself explained that Jihad means fighting and conquering the impurities of consciousness. It is not that one should fight with the enemy on the outside. No. Actually, one should fight with the enemies that is inside. Who are these internal enemies? They are lust, greed and anger. These are three gates leading to hell. One should fight and conquer these enemies. Jihad may require fighting in Allah’s cause, as a form of self-sacrifice. But its essence consists in:

1) true and sincere faith, which so fixes its attention on Allah, that all selfish or worldly motives seem insignificant and fade away, and

2) enthusiastic and incessant activities, involving the sacrifice of one’s life, or wealth, in the service of Allah. Mere brutal fighting is opposed to the whole spirit of Jihad, while the sincere scholar’s pen or the preacher’s voice or the wealthy man’s contributions may be the most valuable forms of Jihad. This is the inner, esoteric meaning of the term Jihad, Holy War.

 

3. God sends His messengers

Srila Prabhupada: When our constitutional position or dharma has deteriorated due to the contaminations of matter, the Lord Himself comes as an incarnation or sends some of His confidential servitors. Lord Jesus Christ called himself the “son of God,” and so he is a representative of the Supreme. Similarly, Muhammad identified himself as a servant of the Supreme Lord.

Thus whenever there is a discrepancy in our constitutional position, the Supreme Lord either comes Himself or sends His representative to inform us of the real position of the living entity. (On the Way to Krishna, Ch. 2)

Here Srila Prabhupada explains the universal law of the Supreme Lord. Whenever religious principles deteriorated to the influence of the illusory material energy, God sent some of His confidential servants like Jesus Christ or Hazrat Muhammad to inform people of their real position as eternal servitors of God. In this way, Moses and Jesus were sent to Jews and Hazrat Muhammad to Arabs to re-establish the eternal religious principles that everyone is a servant of God and should serve Him with love and devotion. Each messenger of God accepts the authority of the previous messengers and scriptures.

The Holy Qur’an (2.285) expresses this principle in the following way:

“The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of faith. Each one (of them) believes in Allah, His angels, His books and His messengers. ‘We make no distinction (they say) between any of His messengers.'”

The prominent Muslim scholar Abdullah Yusuf Ali comments :

“It is not for us to make any distinction between one and another of Allah’s Messengers: we must honour them all equally, though we know that Allah in His wisdom sent them with different kinds of missions and gave them different degrees of rank.” (Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur-an, Al-Madinah, 1411 H, p. 132)

Thus the Holy Qur’an accepts all previous scriptures and messengers. It is explained here that the messengers of God accept the Supreme Lord, His angels (who are administrating material affairs), scriptures (sent by God through His different representatives) and all of God’s other messengers. They never discriminate between any of His messengers, which means that they never say, ‘This messenger is better than another,” or “We accept this messenger but do not care about that one.” Thus we should understand that God sends His messengers or representatives to different nations to preach the Absolute Truth according to time, place and circumstances.

The Holy Qur’an (12.2) explains this point in the following verse of sura “Yusuf,” or “Joseph”:

“We (Allah) have revealed it, a Lecture (Qur’an) in Arabic, that you (Muhammad) may understand.”

Allah explained here that He revealed the Qur’an in Arabic so that the Holy Prophet Muhammad may understand it and convey it to other Arabs. Allah, time after time, reveals His eternal message to different prophets in the appropriate language. Although the linguistic expressions and terms are different, the essential knowledge is the same:

1) God is one
2) Everyone is the servant of God
3) We must serve and love God
4) And to do so, we must chant His holy name.

This is the universal message of God contained in all scriptures.

Furthermore it is stated in the sura “Al-Baqarah,” or “The Cow” of the Holy Qur’an (2.253):

“Those Messengers we endowed with gifts, some above others: to some of them Allah spoke; others He raised to degrees (of honour).”

Thus, different gifts and different modes of procedure were given to Allah’s messengers through the different ages, and perhaps their degrees are also different. According to the supreme plan of the Lord, different personalities appear in different parts of the world to deliver the eternal message of God to the nations.

In the Tafsire Kassaf(Jild 3, Chapter 60) 4th Khalifoi Islam, son-in-law of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, Hazrat Ali said:

“Allah-Taala sent one black coloured nabi (one who delivers the message of God) whose name is not mentioned in the Qur’an.” (Tafsire Madarek, Juj 2, Egypt, p. 65)

In the sura “Al-Baqarah,” or ‘The Cow” of the Holy Qur’an (2.136), we find the following verse:

“Say you: ‘We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, to the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) the Prophets from their Lord: we make no difference between one and another of them: and we submit to Allah.'”

Here we have the creed of Islam — to believe in:

1) the one universal God
2) the message that has come to us through the Holy Prophet Muhammad and the signs (ayats) interpreted by him
3) the messages delivered by other prophets in the past. These are mentioned in three groups:

(1) Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes; of these Abraham apparently had a scripture

(2) Moses and Jesus, who each left a scripture

(3) other scriptures, prophets, or messengers of God, not specifically mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. Their message in essence was one, and that is the basis of Islam.

In the Tarikhe Hatndan, Chapter Babul Kaf, the Holy Prophet Muhammad mentioned one divine personality who descended in India. He described his colour and gave his name. These are the words of the Holy Prophet Muhammad:

“In India one black coloured nabi advented and his name was Kahan.”

In the opinion of the prominent Muslim scholar Alhaz Ahmad Tofic, the person mentioned by the Holy Prophet Muhammad in the Tarikhe Hatndan is Krishna, who appeared in India 5,000 years ago, whose colour was blackish and who delivered to mankind the message of God, famously known as the Bhagavad-gita.

Another interesting piece of evidence was given by one of the close associates of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, namely Ab’uhurairah. According to Ab’uhurairah, the Holy Prophet of Islam said:

“Certainly God will send to my sect at the end of every hundred years, a person who will renew my religion.” (Mishcat-ul-Masabih, Calcutta, 1809, p. 62)

One example of such renewal is recorded in a very exciting conversation about the Holy Qur’an between Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Abdullah Pathana about 500 years ago. In this conversation the Hidden Treasure of Al-Qur’an was again revealed to mankind. (Anyone interested can read The Hidden Treasure of Al-Qur’an by Dr. Ravanari Das)

Another incident involving Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took place when the Muslim King of Bengal, Ala’ uddin Saiyad Hussain Shah (1498-1511), heard of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s influence in attracting innumerable people. He said: “Such a person, who is followed by so many people without giving them charity, must be a prophet. I can surely understand this fact.”

Then Hussain Shah ordered the magistrate: “Do not disturb this prophet out of jealousy. Let him do as he wills wherever he likes.”

Later, in private, the King inquired from his minister, Dabir Khas, about this personality, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Dabir Khas replied: “This prophet always desires your good fortune. By his grace, all your business is successful. By his blessings, you will attain victory everywhere. Why are you questioning me? Better that you question your own mind. Because you are the King of the people, you are the representative of the Supreme. Therefore you can understand this better than me.”

The King said: “I consider Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to be a divine personality. There is no doubt about it.” (Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-Lila, Chapter 1, Texts 168-180)

 

4. Parampara — Disciplic succession

Srila Prabhupada: If Muhammad is the servant of God and Jesus Christ is the son of God, then where is the break of the disciplic succession. After all the disciplic succession is beginning from God, so how do you find that there is no disciplic succession? If the original tree has branches, twigs and leaves and they are in touch with the original tree, it is all right. The test is whether the line is in touch with the Supreme — that is all.

Although Muhammad and Jesus Christ appeared in the Kali Yuga (the present age of quarrel and hypocrisy) their instruction is as it is because the persons to whom they had to speak could not understand any more and they find it difficult to understand even that much. (Letter 19/07/70)

Here Srila Prabhupada explains the very important con-ception of parampara from the Vedic literatures. Parampara means disciplic succession, or chain of self-realised souls who convey spiritual knowledge without adulteration. The absolute knowledge descends through generations of spiritual masters and disciples. The topmost disciples become preceptors and pass on the teachings to their disciples. Parampara, or disciplic succession begins from God. The Holy Prophet Muhammad received knowledge of God through the archangel Gabriel; therefore he is in the line of disciplic succession.

According to tradition, it was the practice of the Holy Prophet Muhammad to retire from his family to a desert cave for meditation for one month every year. His place of retreat was Hira, a desert hill not far from Mecca, and his chosen month was Ramazan (December), the month of heat. It was there, one night towards the end of his stay, that the first revelation came to him when he was forty years old. This happened on the seventeenth day of Ramazan month (22nd of December, 610). That date is since named Al-Gadir, “Night of Power”.

Hazrat Muhammad was asleep when he heard a voice calling him. When he opened his eyes, he saw a bright dazzling light and fell unconscious. When he regained consciousness, he saw an angel in the likeness of a man, carrying a written document enveloped in precious silk. The angel said, “Read!” He replied, “I cannot read.” Indeed he was illiterate.

The angel placed the document on his chest. Hazrat Muhammad felt as if a mountain had fallen upon him and thought that he would die of suffocation. Then the angel lifted the document and repeated, “Read!” He replied, “I cannot read” but again the angel pressed him even stronger than before. A third time the angel commanded in a more terrible voice, “Read!”

“What have I to read?’

The angel said:

“Read: In the name of your Lord Who created,

Created man from a clot.

Read: Your Lord is Most Bountiful,

Who taught by the pen,

Taught man that which he knew not.”

( The Qur’an 96.1-5 )

Hazrat Muhammad submissively repeated the words, and they remained “as if inscribed in his heart.” He went out of the cave, onto the hillside, and heard the same awe-inspiring voice say, “O Muhammad! You are Allah’s messenger, and I am Gabriel.” Then he raised his eyes and saw the angel standing in the sky above the horizon and again the dreadful voice said, “O Muhammad! You are Allah’s messenger, and I am Gabriel.” Hazrat Muhammad stood still. Due to the brightness of the light, he turned his face away, but in whichever direction he would turn his face, the angel always stood there confronting him. He remained standing there for a long time until the angel vanished. Thus the Holy Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Holy Qur’an and was appointed as a messenger of God. (Marmaduke Pickthall. The Holy Qur’an. New Delhi, 1990, p. 5)

Srila Prabhupada gave the example of the tree: is given that if the branches, twigs and leaves are in touch with the original tree, then nourishment is there. The test is whether the line is in touch with the Supreme Lord. That is all. In this way, because the Holy Prophet Muhammad is in touch with God through the archangel Gabriel, he is a bona fide spiritual master.

The next point Srila Prabhupada made is that although Hazrat Muhammad appeared in the modem age called Kali Yuga (Iron Age), or age of quarrel and hypocrisy, his instruction is as it is. Because the persons to whom he had to speak could not understand the whole truth and they even found it difficult to understand parts of that truth, he had to speak according to the level of their intellectual capacities.

Therefore once, the Holy Prophet Muhammad said, “Speak to people according to the level of their intellectual capacities. For if you speak all things to all men, some cannot understand you, and so fall into errors.” (Abdullah al-Mamun al-Suhrawardy. The Sayings of Muhammad, London, 1905, p. 31)

In this connection, the prominent Muslim scholar Abdullah Yusuf Ali writes :

“While the basic principles of Allah’s Law remain the same; its form, expression and application have varied from time to time, e. g., from Moses to Jesus, and from Jesus to Muhammad.” (The Holy Qur-an. The Presidency of Islamic Researchers, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, 1410 H., p. 1939)

Nava-yauvana : In Islam they say that God cannot come to this earth.

Atreya Rishi : God would not come to this earth.

Srila Prabhupada : God cannot speak? God cannot come. A very big man, he can come, but He (God) cannot speak?

Atreya Rishi : They agree. He can speak and He can send representatives.

Srila Prabhupada : Because He has spoken to Muhammad, and Muhammad has come, he is speaking the same thing. There is no need of God’s coming. If

Muhammad is speaking on behalf of God, then that is all right. There is no need of God’s coming. This is parampara.

(Morning walk. Tehran, 12/08/76)

Again Srila Prabhupada mentions in his morning walk in Tehran that because God has spoken to Hazrat Muhammad, and the Holy Prophet Muhammad is simply repeating the same message on behalf of God, this is parampara, disciplic succession, or chain of teachers.

5. The Qur’an

Srila Prabhupada : The revealed scripture of the Muslims is the Qur’an. (Chaitanya-charitamrita. Madhya-lila, 18.190)

 

Srila Prabhupada : Just like in your country there is the Bible or any other scripture. We have got the Vedas. The Muslims, they have got the Qur’an. These scriptures can help also because they are also authority. But you will find that one scripture is differing from other scriptures in some details. Of course, on average there is no difference. (Lecture, 25/04/69)

 

Srila Prabhupada : The Muslims accept the Qur’an. What is the purpose for all these books of knowledge? They are to train us to understand our position as pure soul. Their purpose is to restrict bodily activities by certain rules and regulations, and these rules and regulations are known as codes of morality. (Beyond Birth and Death. Ch. 1)

Srila Prabhupada : According to the climate, according to the population, according to the country, there are different books of knowledge. Just like in India the books of knowledge are accepted as the Vedas, Vedic knowledge. In your European, American countries the accepted books of knowledge are the Old Testament and the New Testament. Similarly, the book of knowledge amongst the Muslims, (which) they have accepted is the Qur’an. Actually, they are all books of knowledge; undoubtedly. There is no doubt about it. But what are these books of knowledge? Religious scriptures! Religious scriptures are meant for training you to (understand) the conception of life that you are a pure soul, nothing more. They restrict your bodily activities under certain conditions. That is called morality. (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita, 25/03/66)

Srila Prabhupada : This message (of God) may also be found in the Bhagavad-gita and other Vedic literatures, in the Bible and the Qur’an — in any bona fide scripture — or it may be heard from a realised soul. (On the Way to Krishna, Ch. 3)

 

Srila Prabhupada : According to the Vedic scriptures, if one can support his stand by quoting from the Vedas, his argument is perfect. Similarly, when the Muslims support their stand with quotations from the Qur’an, their arguments are also authorised. (Chaitanya-charitamrita. Adi-lila, 7.155p)

Srila Prabhupada : If you purchase the Bhagavad-gita, if you purchase the Bible, if you purchase the Qur’an, or… There are so many literatures. They are also authorised. (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita, 16/12/66)

Srila Prabhupada : So in the Qur’an there is God-consciousness, in the Bible there is God-consciousness, in the Vedas there is God-consciousness. (Lecture on Chaitanya-charitamrita, 24/02/71)

Srila Prabhupada : Vedas means the books of transcendental knowledge. Not only the Bhagavad-gita, even the Bible or the Qur’an, they are also (books of transcendental knowledge). (Lecture, 29/07/68)

Srila Prabhupada : If you find that by following some religious principles you are developing your love of God, then it is perfect. It doesn’t matter whether it is the Bible or the Qur’an or the Bhagavad-gita; it doesn’t matter. (Lecture, 18/10/68)

In the above statements, Srila Prabhupada, first of all, stresses that the holy Qur’an is a revealed scripture or a book of transcendental knowledge. Then Srila Prabhupada explains that according to the climate, population, and country there are different books of knowledge, like the Vedas, the Torah, the Bible, and the Qur’an. Although one scripture is differing from other scriptures in some details, on the whole the essence is the same. Throughout the world all the bona fide scriptures explain the same Absolute Truth in different languages and from different angles of view. The purpose of all these scriptures or books of knowledge is to give us understanding about our position as a pure soul. Their purpose is to restrict the bodily activities by certain rules and regulations, and these rules and regulations are known as codes of morality. In all these books, the message of God may be found. All of them are teaching God-consciousness, awareness of God.

Finally, Srila Prabhupada said that if one finds that by following that particular religious process he is developing love of God, then it is perfect. It doesn’t matter where this religious process is described, whether in the Bible or in the Qur’an or in the Bhagavad-gita. This means that the main goal of human life is to develop love of God, not just blindly following some religious principles or scripture and fanatically advertising them without being conscious (aware) of the goal. The goal is love of God, not just following religious principles or scriptures and forgetting the goal. Everyone must understand this essential knowledge.

 

The Hidden Treasure of Al-Qur’an

The Most Beautiful (99) Names of Allah

Vegetarianism in Islam