A Hindu is wondering: Which is better, Hinduism or Islam, and why?

Question

Praise be to Allah.

The best
religion is that which has proof that it is the religion with which the
Creator (may He be glorified and exalted) is pleased, and which He sent down
as light for humanity, to bring them happiness in their worldly lives and to
save them in the Hereafter. Proof or evidence must be very clear, so that
people can have no doubts about it or challenge it. Allah (may He be
glorified and exalted) knows what the liars and charlatans produce of flawed
evidence to support their lies; hence He chose to support His Messengers and
Prophets with comprehensive miracles and clear signs, which confirmed to
people the truthfulness of this man who has received revelation from his
Lord, so that they will believe in him and follow him.

Thus the
Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)
brought dazzling miracles, of which there are many, about which huge books
have been written. But the greatest of them is the Holy Qur’an, which
challenged the Arabs to produce anything like it in all aspects of its
perfection, because it contains the linguistic miracle that the eloquent
speakers of Quraysh – who had attained the pinnacle of eloquence, as
attested by all historians – could not produce the like of it. It also
contains the scientific miracle, as the Holy Qur’an – and also the Prophet’s
Sunnah – refer to some scientific facts before anybody knew about them, the
like of which humanity could not have known at that time except via divine
revelation. It also spoke of events in the distant past and of future
events, and Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) could not
have had prior knowledge of history, nor was there anyone in that land who
possessed this knowledge at all, apart from some remnants of the people of
the Book. It also contains the legislative miracle, as is seen in its
comprehensive system that covers personal manners and etiquette, rulings on
the family and personal matters, regulation of international relations and
rulings on social matters; it lay the foundations for principles of justice
and freedom among people; it affirmed of the concepts of this world, the
unseen and the Hereafter, and the concepts of eternal bliss or doom. All of
that came from an unlettered man who could neither read nor write, but his
enemies attested to his honesty and trustworthiness before his friends did.
Then this Qur’an became the basis on which the Muslims built the brilliant
Islamic civilisation that has lasted for more than fourteen hundred years.

The best
religion in our view is the religion which connects you to one force, which
is the force that created you and blessed you and has full control over the
heavens and the earth. It is the force that will have mercy on you and will
be with you in the Hereafter, if you believe in it and do righteous deeds.
It is Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, the One, the Unique, the
Self-Sustaining and All-Sustaining. (The best religion) does not connect you
to anything other than Him, for everything other than Him is created and
weak, and is in need of Him, may He be glorified. Thus man can liberate
himself from the bonds of servitude to anything but Allah, the True God, and
he can free himself from earthly connections that cause humanity
humiliation, wrongdoing, and persecution, all of which is done in the name
of the false religion that approves of the caste system [see the research
paper at-Tabaqaat fi’l-Mujtama‘ al-Hindoosi (Caste in Hindu society)
in the book by Dr al-A‘zami, Diraasaat (p. 4)], approves of servitude
to other than Allah, may He be exalted, and in fact approves of servitude to
animals such as cows and others. Man, whom Allah has honoured with reason
and the soul which is created by Him, becomes a prisoner to those animals
which he regards as holy, and reveres and venerates them, although they have
no power to bring him any benefit or ward off any harm; indeed they cannot
do that for themselves, let alone others.

The best
religion is that which offers an integrated system which guides man to the
way of happiness in this world and the Hereafter, because the aim of
religions is to achieve happiness, and that cannot be achieved without
guidance from Allah, may He be glorified and exalted. In Islam we find
guidance on all aspects of life: economic, political, social, familial and
psychological, in order to achieve this integrated happiness. When the
Muslims adhered to these teachings in the earliest period, they established
a prosperous life one the basis of justice and fair-mindedness. When they
became heedless, they lost the prosperity that Allah had granted to them.

The best of
religions is that which came latest in chronological sequence, confirming
what came before it of true religions, abrogating some of the
previously-revealed laws that were suitable to the time and place in which
they became widespread, and fulfilling the prophecies mentioned in those
religions, that spoke of a Prophet who would be sent at the end of time, and
described his signs and characteristics. The Holy Qur’an tells us that all
of the previous Messengers and Prophets knew of a Prophet who would be sent
at the end of time, whose name would be Muhammad, with whom Allah, may He be
glorified and exalted, would bring to an end the series of Messengers.
Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And
(remember) when Allah took the Covenant of the Prophets, saying: ‘Take
whatever I gave you from the Book and Hikmah (understanding of the Laws of
Allah, etc.), and afterwards there will come to you a Messenger (Muhammad
SAW) confirming what is with you; you must, then, believe in him and help
him.’ Allah said: ‘Do you agree (to it) and will you take up My Covenant
(which I conclude with you)?’ They said: ‘We agree.’ He said: ‘Then bear
witness; and I am with you among the witnesses (for this).’”

[al-Anbiya’
21:81].

Hence we find
in the remnant that was not distorted of the previous religions clear
prophecies that speak of this noble Prophet. The Torah and the Gospel are
full of them, but there is no need to quote them here. Rather what concerns
us is that which is mentioned in the holy books of the Hindus of clear
prophecies that speak of our Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah
be upon him). These prophecies do not necessarily mean that all of these
books are sound or true; rather they point to a few words of truth remaining
in them, that was taken from the Messages and Prophets that were sent a long
time ago.

These texts
have been quoted by Dr Muhammad Diya’ ar-Rahman al-A‘zami in his valuable
book Diraasaat fi’l-Yahoodiyyah wa’l-Maseehiyyah wa Adyaan al-Hind
(Studies in Judaism, Christianity and Indian Religions), p. 703-746,
especially since the author is a doctor from India who is able to read those
books that have not been translated into Arabic as far as we know.

1.

“At that time
in the city of Shambhala (which means the safe land or place of peace), in
the house of a man whose name is Vishnu Bhagat (meaning ‘Abdullah or slave
of God), who is pure of heart, in his house will be born Kalki (meaning one
who is pure and free of sins and iniquities).”

Bhagavata
Purana,
2/18

It is
well-known that the name of the father of our Prophet Muhammad (blessings
and peace of Allah be upon him) was ‘Abdullah (meaning slave of Allah or
servant of God), and in the Qur’an, Makkah (Mecca) is called the safe land.

2.

“Kalki will be
born in the house of Vishnu Bhagat, from his wife Soomati, whose name means
the woman of peace and security, which is the meaning of the name Aaminah.”

Kalki
Purana,
2/11

It is also
well-known that the name of the mother of our Prophet Muhammad (blessings
and peace of Allah be upon him) was Aaminah bint Wahb.

3.

“He will be
born on the twelfth of the month called Madhva (also known as Chaitra,
spring month) [which means the month that is beloved to people, which is the
month of ar-Rabee‘ (lit. “spring”)].”

Kalki
Purana,
2/15

The books of
the Prophet’s biography clearly state the date of his birth, which was the
twelfth of the month of Rabee‘ al-Awwal, although there are differences of
opinion among the scholars.

4.

“Kalki will
have eight characteristics, as follows:

Pragya
(foretell the future)

Culinata (one
of the noblest of his people)

Indridaman
(self-control)

Shrut (receive
revelation)

Prakram
(physical strength)

Abhu bhashita
(speaks little)

Dan (generous)

Kritagyata
(acknowledges kindness).”

All of them
are a few of the attributes of Sayyiduna Muhammad (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) which were acknowledged by all the Arabs who knew him,
whether they entered Islam or remained disbelievers.

5.

“He will ride
on a horse from which light comes, and no one can compete with his awe and
beauty; he will be circumcised; and will destroy hundreds of thousands of
wrongdoers and disbelievers

Bhagavata
Purana,
12-2-20

Circumcision
is not practised by the Hindus; rather it is an Islamic obligation upon the
males of the ummah of Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).

6.

“With the help
of four of his companions he will destroy the devil, and the angels will
come down to earth to help him in his battles.”

Kalki
Purana,
2/5-7

The four
companions of our Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) are the
Rightly-Guided Caliphs who ruled after him. The scholars of Islam are
unanimously agreed that they are the best of mankind after our Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).

7.

“After he is
born, he will go to the mountains to learn from Parasurama (meaning the
great teacher), then he will go to the North, then he will return to his
birthplace.”

Kalki
Purana

This is how
the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was: he secluded
himself in the cave of Hira’ until Jibreel came down to him with the
revelation; then he migrated to the north, to al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, then
he returned to Makkah as a conqueror.

8.

“The people
will be enchanted with the fragrance that comes from his body, for the
fragrance of his pure body will mix with the air, and will delight the
people.”

Bhagavata
Purana,
2/2/21

9.

“The first one
to slaughter and offer sacrifices will be Ahmadu and he will become like the
sun.”

Sama Veda,
3/6/8

10.

“A spiritual
teacher will come with his noble companions and will become famous among the
people by the name of Mahaamad. The ruler will come to him saying: O desert
dweller, O destroyer of the devil, performer of miracles, innocent of all
evil, adhering to the truth, speaking of the knowledge of God and loving
Him, peace be upon you, I am your slave and will live beneath your feet.”

Bhavishya
Purana,
3/3/5-8

11.

“During these
stages, when the time comes for the emergence of good for all mankind, then
truth will be established and darkness will end with the appearance of
Muhammad, and the light of understanding and wisdom will shine.

Bhagavata
Purana,
2/76

These texts
clearly mention the name of Muhammad or Ahmad, both of which are names of
the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). Allah, may He be
exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“…and
giving glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me [‘Eesa], whose name
shall be Ahmad …”

[as-Saff
61:6].

12.

“Agni Devi,
bringer of the bright laws, We have placed you in the middle of the earth to
offer sacrifices.”

Rig Veda,
3/29/4

13.

In the
Hotar Veda (Rig Veda), on several scattered pages, there is
mention of the foretelling of Narashans (meaning the praiseworthy man). He
is described as the most handsome person on earth; his light will enter
every house; he will cleanse the people of sin and iniquity; he will ride
camels; he will have twelve wives… “Listen, O people! Narashans will be held
in high esteem… Narashans will be praised, he will migrate from among sixty
thousand and ninety people… I have given Mamaha one hundred gold coins, ten
garlands and three hundred horses.”

In the Seerah
(biography of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)), the
names of his wives are given and they add up to the number mentioned.

14.

“A man who
lived a virtuous life came to the ruler Bhoja, ruler of Sindh, in the dead
of night, and said to him: O king, your religion (arya dharma)
supercedes all the religions in India, but by the decree of the greatest
God, I shall cause to prevail the religion of a man who will eat all kinds
of good things; he is circumcised and has on his head no braid that hangs
down or is tucked up, and he has a long beard. He will bring about a great
upheaval, and will call out loudly to the people. He will eat all kinds of
good things apart from the flesh of swine. His religion abrogates all other
religions. We call them Musalay. The greatest God is the One Who revealed
that religion to him.”

Bhavishya
Purana,
3/3/3/23-27

We say that
the call to prayer (adhaan) and avoiding pork are among the most
prominent distinguishing characteristics of Islam. Its followers are called
Muslims, not Musalay, but these are similar words with the same origin.

We also say to
you that the implications of the words of the Hindu scholars allow you to
believe in the teachings of Islam and the religion that was brought by the
Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), because
Hinduism – according to their scholars – is distinguished by its lack of
bias and its search for the truth, so your Hinduism will not be affected
whether you believe in God or not; what matters is that you continue to seek
the truth.

The Indian
leader Gandhi said:

“One of the
advantages of Hinduism is that it does not have a distinct doctrine. If I
were to be asked about it, I would say that its doctrine is not to be biased
and to seek the truth in good ways. As for belief in the existence of the
Creator or otherwise, it is all the same. No Hindu is required to believe in
the Creator; he is a Hindu whether he believes or not.”

He also said:

“One of the
advantages of Hinduism is that it gave up all beliefs, but it encompasses
all major beliefs and the main principles of other religions.”

Taken from his
book, Hindu Dharma; quoted from Dr. al-A‘zami’s book Diraasaat
fi’l-Yahoodiyyah wa’l-Maseehiyyah wa Adyaan al-Hind, p. 529-530

For more
information, please see the answer to question no.
126472

Why don’t you
take that as your starting point in studying Islam, look at its positive
characteristics and virtues, and try to find out that which distinguishes it
from all other religions, because it is the religion that abrogates all that
came before it. The Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah
be upon him) was foretold by all the Messengers and Prophets who came before
him. The matter is very serious, because the Holy Qur’an tells us that the
only way to salvation is Islam, the religion of Tawheed (monotheism,
affirmation of the Oneness of Allah). Allah, may He be glorified and
exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And
whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him,
and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers”

[Aal
‘Imraan 3:85].

For more
information, please see the answer to question no.
175339

And Allah
knows best.