Islamic Belief in the Prophets who were not Jewish

(viii) The Prophets of Other Religions

So far we have talked only about the prophets of the Bible and the Quran. What about the prophets of other religions and nations? According to the Quran, God has sent His messengers to every nation:

“There is not a people but a Warner has gone among them” (35:25)
“For every nation there is a Messenger” (10:48)

The Muslims, therefore, believe that earlier religions were also founded by God’s messengers. Their teachings, however, were corrupted by their followers over the course of time. Below are given the names of some of the founders of other religions who could be equated to the prophets of the Quran and the Bible.

Luqman: mentioned in the Quran by name but his territory is unknown. According to some scholars he was the
Greek “Aesop” while according to others he was a Prophet in Abyssinia. Luqman does not correspond to any Biblical prophet.

Zoroaster:  The founder of Zoroastrianism, an ancient religion of Iran. Zoroaster’s period is roughly placed at around 1500 B.C.

Krishna, Ram Chandar: Krishna is known among the Hindus as an “Avatar” Ram Chandar or a manifestation of God. It appears that both Krishna and Ram Chandar were the Hindu equivalent of the Quranic nabis. They, however, were not the founders of the Hindu religion.

Mahavira: Founder of Jainism, Mahavira lived in India in the sixth century B.C. He tried to abolish the caste system that existed in Hinduism.

Buddha: Siddhartha Gautama Buddha was the founder of the Buddhist faith. He lived in India in the sixth Century B.C. The word ‘Buddha’ means the Enlightened One.

Confucius: Founder of Confucianism, a Chinese religion. Confucius lived in China in the fifth century B.C. His teachings placed great emphasis on social ethics.

Lao Tze: The founder of the Tao religion of China who lived in the sixth century B.C.

https://www.alislam.org/library/book/book-religious-knowledge/islam-religion-obedience/islamic-beliefs/

I appreciate the above article written by Jamaat Ahmadiyya, a very scholarly article indeed.

Regards

 

could there be a “prophet” among Zoroasterians at the same level as Zoroaster?

Post #59

Corthos said: ↑

In other words, those who strive to progress Zoroastrianism, spread it’s message, and contemplate on it’s deeper aspects and teach what they learn are ALL “prophets” of Zoroastrianism. They are “Inspired Teachers” =)

Paarsurrey said:

Do you consider them all of the same level and category of “prophets” as was Zoroaster? Please

Regards

Corthos likes this.

Post #60 Post #61

Corthos said: ↑

Hmmm… I can’t answer it in terms of what Zoroastrians believe, in all honesty. Keep in mind that my knowledge on the subject is extremely limited. I just started learning this myself, so I can’t speak for what Zoroastrians believe.

That said, if you are asking what I, Corthos, believe personally, then I will give you my extremely ignorant opinion. =)

I think truths are timeless. Zoroaster sung of the importance of things such as acceptance for people – regardless of their differences.

Whoever is very good to the righteous whether a relative, or a member of the community, or, O Lord, a member of the fellowship, or serves the living world with zeal, lives indeed in the domain of righteousness and good mind.

This verse is sensible to me. This is as true now as it was 3500 years ago. THIS is the test of a true teacher’s words. Do I consider him a prophet for this, however?

Hmmm… It’s a new idea to me. I’m used to the idea that prophets do amazing miracles and are blessed with supernatural powers. But, if these miracles are so powerful, then why is there no third party accounts for these miraculous things?

When Moses parts the Red Sea, you would think that Egypt or other neighbors near by would record this amazingly supernatural phenomenon. The only third party accounts of Jesus` miracles, that I’m aware of, were written by Josephus, and it’s generally accepted by scholars that the segments about Jesus were altered later by Christians (and are thus, false). If Mohamed split the moon, why didn’t any of the other star gazing peoples in the world write about something so astonishing that could be easily seen with the naked eye?

Moreover, these prophets have done/said things that just don’t agree with me… God killing the first born children of the people of Egypt via Moses (also not recorded)?! Jesus telling the Canaanite woman that he wouldn’t cure her daughter because “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” (in other words, racism), and Mohamed… Well… You get the point.

That’s not to say that they didn’t speak truths as well, and THAT would point to their worth as teachers (prophets). =) Then again, there have been many great men with startling truths… For example.

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” – Mark Twain

“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” -Ghandi

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” -Nelson Mandela

Ultimately, one shouldn’t look for truth to be proven by some supernatural feat, I feel, but it will be self evident in it’s timelessness. The person who contributes a stunningly profound truth isn’t more profound than the truth itself, but you still may want to pay attention to other things they might say…

So could there be a “prophet” at the same level as Zoroaster? I feel that is an irrelevant question, as truth is truth no matter who says it.

These are my opinions, but they are subject to change. I like keeping an open mind as I figure these things out, heh…. Especially since I have only just started to read the Avesta. I really wish I had more time to devote to this stuff. XP

Paarsurrey said:

The things that Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Jesus, Socrates, Muhammad, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) etc., said as they got-enlightened from the source of Word of Revelation from Truth as they were in communion and converse with the Truth are not subject to change as they were/are 100% correct, instead humanity needs to travel in time to reach them to get peace.

Zoroastrians could believe anything they like when they could not keep the treasure that was revealed on Zoroaster, secure and pristine they have no authority to change his words, instead they themselves need to change to his words.

Regards

Thread : “Muslims, Do you consider Zarathustra as a Prophet?”Post #59, Post #60 , Post #61

http://www.religiousforums.com/threads/muslims-do-you-consider-zarathustra-as-a-prophet.183211/page-4#post-4589424

Religion of Zoroaster: Desatir

<http://www.religiousforums.com/&gt; Thread :Religion of Zoroaster: Desatir.

Please click the post # below to view,comment and or join discussion on the topic.

Post #1

What is the latest research about Desatir?
(One could view and access it @ http://www.rahamasha.net/uploads/2/3/2/8/2328777/dasatir.pdf)
Topic open for the Theists and Atheists alike.
Regards

Post #2

Paarsurrey wrote:

The British Cyclopaedia of the Arts, Sciences, History, Geography … – Google Books

Regards

Post #3

Paarsurrey wrote:

“Iran sinks before the hordes of Arabs.”

“The death of Khusru Parviz, who had waged the last war in the standing rivalry with the West, heralded the collapse of the Persian empire. The death-knell of the national greatness had been struck when with the advent of the weak kings on the throne the commanders, who felt the allegiance of the army to them rather than to the person of the king, persuaded the army to revolt. Rival princes strove to assert their respective rights to the throne. Court intrigues and strifes became rife. The long wars with the Romans in the far West and the Eastern hordes near at home, whose inroads were facilitated by the unfavourable geographical position of Persia, had exhausted the national resources. Famine and plague had extended their ravages over the whole country. Unbridled luxury, with all its concomitant vices, was imported from foreign lands, and the simplicity of life inculcated by Zarathushtra and zealously upheld by the Dasturs was abandoned. The masses did not escape the contagion of the luxury and vice of the nobility, and the love of simplicity was replaced by a feverish worship of pleasure. The simple habits fostered by agricultural pursuits were on the wane; and the entire social fabric of Iran was seriously dislocated. The springs of patriotism were sapped, and the bravery with which the Persians of old had faced their national foes was weakened. The age of valour had given place to an age of weakness and decay.”​

M.N. Dhalla: History of Zoroastrianism (1938), part 6

This happened as per the prophecy of Zoroaster mentioned in Desatir, that got fulfilled.
The Zoroastrians should appreciate.
Regards

Post #4

Paarsurrey wrote:

I have asked many Zoroastrians if Zoroaster prophesied for the downfall of Zoroastrian rule and downfall of the Zoroastrian religion. Nobody could answer. Zoroaster was a truthful prophet, it is impossible that he would have not mentioned these events.
Right?
Regards

Did Zoroaster prophecy fate of Zoroastrians at hands of Arabs?

Please view my post and comment on it.
https://sharukheruchbamboat.wordpress.com/2015/02/22/zoroastrianism-the-rise-and-fall-and-the-migration-of-the-early-settlers/comment-page-1/#comment-61

May 21, 2015 at 19:53

paarsurrey wrote:

Quote “After this, the Persian Empire saw the rise and fall of the Sassanian dynasty in 224 BC, but was overthrown by the Arabs. The Empire was quickly Islamicized under the Umayyad Caliphate. Zoroastrians came under some serious social pressures to convert to Islam. It was at this time that Zoroastrians decided to look for another safe haven and resulted in a large-scale migration.”Unquote.

My Comments

Zoroaster was a truthful prophet/messenger of Ahura-Mazda (G-d), did he prophecy of such a fate to the Zoroastrians and subsequent migration?

Regards

Prophets: Krishna, Buddha, Moses, Zoroaster, Jesus

http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/3827858-post80.html
Please click the above link to know the context of discussion and join the discussion.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinayaka

“paarsurrey, I feel you will continue to project your idea about what a prophet is onto Hinduism, even if 100 Hindus came here and told you Hinduism doesn’t have prophets. So you will always have your ‘truth’ and we will always have ours.

This is the result of subconscious mind (memory mind) conditioning, and quite understandable. You’ve read or been told over and over that all religions have prophets, so have come to believe it.” Unquote

Paarsurrey wrote:

This sub-forum is not DIR; when somebody writes here, it implies that one wants an open discussion.

There are Hindu denominations who think that Krishna definitely made a prophecy for the latter days; and I quoted it from a Hindu site.

If some or many or all Hindus consider Krishna a god; not withstanding that approach, he made a prophecy for future that stands fulfilled now; so in this sense he is a truthful prophet and I love him and believe in his truthfulness.

This prophecy has many parallels.

Likewise Jesus made a prophecy for the latter days; his Second Coming in the End of times; and everybody here knows that Christians consider Jesus a god, not withstanding that approach, he made a prophecy that stands fulfilled now, so in this sense Jesus is a truthful prophet and I love him and believe in his truthfulness.

Likewise Buddha; though not all Buddhists worship him as god. I consider Buddha also a truthful prophet and I love him and believe in his truthfulness.

Likewise Zoroaster; but his followers definitely don’t worship him and are monotheists and I have read many of their scriptures, very beautiful scriptures. So I have no reason not to believe in his being a truthful prophet and no reason not to believe in his truthfulness.

Likewise Moses; though the Judaism people don’t consider him god; but definitely in “image of G-d”. And Judaism people also wait for a Moshiach.I consider Moses also a truthful prophet and I love him and believe in his truthfulness.

Likewise… and likewise and likewise…

Where do I err please?

Since some other non-Hindus; probably or most probably Christians also written here.

Should the globe be divided into many parts; one created and ruled by Krishna and another created and ruled by Jesus. Should we reasonably and rationally divide the humanity in pieces and the infinite pieces as there are said to be 32000+ denominations of Christianity and innumerable (exact figure not known, please tell me exactly) denominations of Hinduism and other religions .

While apparently there is no difference between a human in the East or human in the West and North and South.

My questions are addressed to everybody and open for response to everybody.

To make it clear; I am and Ahmadi peaceful Muslim

Regards

Why Ahmadi peaceful Muslim?

Believer or Not?

paarsurrey on May 21, 2014 at 4:03 pm said:
I am an Ahmadi peaceful Muslim.

Believer or Not?

AtheistEnglishmanon May 21, 2014 at 4:32 pm said:
Why do you feel the need to insert ‘peaceful’ in the description?

Believer or Not?

paarsurrey on May 21, 2014 at 7:49 pm said:

We Ahmadiyya peaceful Muslims have the diversity the world needs.

We do not eliminate or exterminate or abhor any human beings. We do not say that Jesus’ or Krishna’s or Buddha’s or Zoroaster’s or Moses’ ways were wrong. We respect them all and say that the above persons were truthful persons and they must have received messages from Allah. But their people did not and could not secure the Message which was the same for every race and region.

The obscure Word with them could be rejuvenated and reconstructed to the original Message but with a lot of effort, as the Renovators would do to an ancient building or monument.

While the same Creator rules the Universe now that ruled in the ancient times; He has mercifully re-sent the Message through Muhammad, respecting the ancient scriptures but encompassing the same in Quran in a compact manner. So the reality and diversity are not compromised but maintained in a graceful way- which is the need of the hour.

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad 1835-1908 as a truthful Successor of Muhammad is doing this work with peaceful discussion and dialogue.

Regards

God of Moses,Buddha,Krishna, Zoroaster, Socrates, Jesus and Muhammad is the same God in attributes

The viewers should access the following link to know the context of the post; and then they should form their own sincere and independent opinion.

Yahweh’s Dreadful Power Problem

PAARSURREY says:
April 4, 2014 at 4:13 pm

@JOHN ZANDE says:April 3, 2014 at 10:58 pm
“Why’s that, Paar? Isn’t the god of the Qur’an (which is the god of the Pentateuch) omnipotent?”

No that is not the perspective of Islam/Quran/Muhammad.

One reason of the revelation of Quran was that the Torah was got corrupted by the Jewish clergy. This is clearly mentioned in Quran. Hence new revelation was needed for guidance.

The other reason was that the Torah at the times of Muhammad did not contain the reason part. Quran provides the reason-content under an elaborate system. It is not commandments only; it is commandment with the wisdom.

We, Muslims are in fact happy that the archaeologists have now proved the points that Quran had mentioned about the Torah.

There is an elaborate system of explanations of the attributes of the One-True-God.

One would observe that invariably Quran provides an attributes of God at the end of a verse; the event hints at the attribute under which action of God took place.

In this meaning the whole Quran explains all attributes of God and as to how these attributes work without contradiction with other attributes; and which attributes overtakes the others.

We can say that God of Moses,Buddha,Krishna, Zoroaster, Socrates, Jesus and Muhammad is the same God in attributes.

Thanks and regards

Yahweh’s Dreadful Power Problem

PAARSURREY says:
April 4, 2014 at 4:31 pm

I think I mentioned these things; but perhaps you did not get it.

Should I quote as to what I wrote about it.

I mentioned that all the archaeological excavations have been done with reference to the cities and places mentioned in the Bible; not with reference to Quran.

There is not a single site that has been excavated with reference to Quran.

Every branch of knowledge has its limitations; archaeology is also not 100% correct.

Regards

No founder of a revealed religion ever opposed science or scientific endeavors

Science on religion looks at science vs religion

paarsurrey
MAR 24, 2014 @ 14:37:36

I think science and religion work in different realm; so there is no contradiction in science and religion if correctly interpreted.

No founder of a revealed religion like Buddha, Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, Socrates, Jesus and Muhammad ever opposed science or scientific endeavors.

Religious people have served science very much; this fact cannot be denied.

Religion is a path that leads to God; this path is not physical or material; so science has nothing to do with it.

I think everybody reasonable must have to agree with it.

Thanks and regards

There is no slavery in Quran; absolutely none

Hermeneutics

PAARSURREY says:
March 21, 2014 at 9:59 pm

@JOHN ZANDE says:March 21, 2014 at 8:46 pm

“Clearly there must be some sanction somewhere, else Islam wouldn’t have such a vibrant history of slavery. Christianity, of course, is no better. One’s as archaic as the other.”

It is the rulers that do such things; they do things in the name of religion; and exploit people under cover.

Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Jesus, Socrates, Muhammad (and Mirza Ghulam Ahmad- the rightful successor of Muhammad in our present era) gave no teachings to make others a slave. There is no such teaching in Quran; I am absolutely certain about it.

Other founders of religions- the Messengers Prophets of the One-True-God whose names I have given above- their followers are exhorted to defend them in this connection in the first place.

If they fail to defend them; then I will defend them also after purification of their scriptures as per principles outlined in Quran.

Please get help from other Atheists/Agnostics/Skeptics/Humanists who have read Quran themselves; to kindly quote just a single verse, repeat a single verse, from Quran in this connection. Please don’t give a list; if one has a list then select ONE verse that justify your viewpoint the most, for discussion here.

One could contact the person who wrote the article on the subject from the link provided by one and get help from him, if he can help.

Thanks and regards

Hermeneutics

PAARSURREY says:
March 22, 2014 at 4:59 pm

@BOBBIERILEYJR says:March 22, 2014 at 12:12 am
“Most telling is that slavery is still practiced in the Sudan, Niger, Mauritania and a few other corners of the Muslim world.” Unquote

It has got nothing to do with Quran/Islam/Muhammad. There is no commandment or teaching in Quran to make one a slave.
I think it will be clear to one if one listens the following Friday Sermon from Mirza Masroor Ahmad- the Head of the World-Wide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

He is the fifth rightful Successor to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) – The Promised Messiah – The Second Coming:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVBxj5rVA8k?feature=player_embedded&w=640&h=360%5D

The original Sermon was delivered in Urdu; its translations are available in following languages:

Urdu, English, Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Bosnian, Bulgarian, French, German, Indonesian, Malayalam, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, Tamil, Turkish

Please click the language of your choice by accessing the following link:

http://www.alislam.org/friday-sermon/2011-11-25.html

Hermeneutics

PAARSURREY says:
March 23, 2014 at 9:19 pm

@BOBBIERILEYJR says: March 22, 2014 at 8:01 pm
“A fatwa” Unqoute

A fatwa means an opinion. Opinions could differ; it could be and is an unsubstantiated opinion and not supported by the context verses of Quran or other verses of Quran.

A fatwa is not a verse of Quran; and is not binding on others.

If a sinful Mullah believes wrongly for his vested interest; he is responsible for it not Quran/Islam/Muhammad.

You have referred to Chapter 23; please read the following four pages in its verse 23:7 for its explanation:

http://www.alislam.org/quran/tafseer/?page=1781&region=E1&CR=
http://www.alislam.org/quran/tafseer/?page=1782&region=E1
http://www.alislam.org/quran/tafseer/?page=1783&region=E1
http://www.alislam.org/quran/tafseer/?page=1784&region=E1

It will make things clear for you.

Regards

“Religion and the former intellectual capital of the world”

I wrote following comments: blog “Enquiries on Atheism” : topic “Religion and the former intellectual capital of the world”; link below:

http://atheistenquiry.org/
http://atheistenquiry.org/2014/02/19/religion-and-the-former-intellectual-capital-of-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-4568

paarsurrey
February 24, 2014 • 4:06 pm

@ ALLALLT
I think you get the phenomenon wrong. Muhammad ;and I don’t deny great personages before him also like Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Socrates and Jesus, they all through Word of Revelation from the One-True-God, opened hearts and minds of the people for love of knowledge and truth and hence there was an explosion of great civilizations through them; later when people lost track of that truthful path revealed on such personages and enunciated by them and concentrated on the worldly and material benefits from the rulers of the time; the treasure of knowledge was lost .