Some Misconceptions about Women in Islam

Islam gave women rights and privileges at a time when only barbaric manners and
values dominated.
Yet, some people argue that Islam has alienated women in some domains. In fact, this belief
is a misconception. People who say so, may have read about it in a magazine or seen it on
TV. A quick examination of the issues judged as unjust to women will certainly correct the
misunderstanding.
Man as the head of the household:
Some people believe that a woman in Islam is regarded as inferior to man since the
Quran says (what means):
وَلِلرِّجَالِ عَلَيۡہِنَّ دَرَجَةٌ۬‌ۗ
men are a degree above them

"Men have one degree above women." [Quran 2: 228]


In the Quran it also says (what means): 
ٱلرِّجَالُ قَوَّٲمُونَ عَلَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بَعۡضَهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٍ۬ وَبِمَآ أَنفَقُواْ مِنۡ أَمۡوَٲلِهِمۡ‌ۚ
Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women)

"Men are the protectors and maintainers of
women, because Allaah has given the one more than the other and because men support
them from their means." [Quran 4:34]

This verse implies that it is a man's duty to support his wife, and not the reverse, but
this, in no way, makes him superior to her.
In fact, the rights and responsibilities of a woman are equal to those of a man but they
are not necessarily identical. Since men and women are not created identical, they have
different physical and emotional qualities, jobs and privileges. This does not mean that
women are inferior.
On the contrary, women are considered crucial members of society in Islam since they
are assigned the job of bringing up future generations. People today tend to look down at
housewives but, in fact, raising children is one of the most important and difficult tasks. The
way a mother brings up her child determines the way he will behave in the future. This duty,
which requires patience, love, understanding and wisdom was significantly assigned to
women in Islam because her nature suits this job.
Allaah The Exalted, in His Wisdom, has assigned a role for each member of the family so
that there would be no arguments concerning who should do what. If a sailboat has two
leaders, each will want to follow a path, leading ultimately to chaos and even a crash. In the
same manner, how many times have your parents fought over some decision because each
had their own point of view and wanted to apply it? This is precisely why it is preferable to
have one leader for each household. However, this does not give the leader the right to be a
dictator, or to neglect the role of his companion. This does not make him superior to other
members of his family. It just gives him a larger duty.

Inheritance:
Some people claim that Islam is unjust towards women because it entitles them to
inherit half of what men get. In fact, those people only know one side of the truth.
First, the principle of women inheriting half the money is only applicable in 45 percent of
the cases. In the other 55 percent, women inherit the same amount or sometimes even
more. For example, a mother and a father each inherit the sixth of their son's property when
they are not the only inheritors.
In addition, the laws of inheritance in Islam are proportional to the duties of spending.
Indeed, a man in Islam has the responsibility of supporting his family, his brother's children
(when his brother dies), his parents (when they retire and do not have an income), his
children from his previous marriage (if he has them) and his household, including his wife
and children. A woman, on the other hand, does not bear this responsibility. She has the
freedom to use the money she collects from her dowry or work as she pleases.
You might object here, saying that women today are working and helping their
husbands pay the expenses, which entitles them to share equality with men. In fact, you
should know that women's economic assistance to their husbands, which has become the
norm today, is only an answer to the females’ wishes. Islam does not oblige women to spend
on their households. It is a free choice many women have themselves taken today to feel
more liberated, so it does not entitle them to a bigger portion of the inheritance.
Polygyny:
Polygyny is one of the most questioned principles that Islam grants men and women.
Indeed, many people wrongfully accuse Islam of injustice because it allows a man to have up
to four wives. Nevertheless, like every instruction in the Quran, polygyny has a reason. You
see, Islam is a practical religion that acknowledges the needs and temptations of human
beings and provides laws that deal with them, thus preserving harmony and morality.
- Polygyny might be the solution for a couple if the wife is barren, the husband wants
children of his own and the option of separation does not appeal to both parties.
- If a woman is chronically ill and is unable to perform her marital duties. Polygyny may
also be the solution when the couple does not want divorce.
- Polygyny is the religion's answer to cases where some men have excessive sexual
needs that cannot be fulfilled by one wife. This in no way means that men should abuse this
right and use it whenever they fancy a woman. It is rather a chance Islam has provided to
prevent men from committing adultery. Many people who condemn polygyny cheat on their
wives, calling this phenomenon a 'swift affair.' Islam, at least, has offered the second woman
the option of being called 'a wife' rather than 'a mistress', especially in some countries where
women remarkably outnumber men.
- Polygyny may settle the problem of an increased number of unmarried women,
especially during wars.
However, polygyny has some limits and conditions to be met. Indeed, the Quran
instructs the man to be fair with his wives on all levels, including treatment, money, house,
etc. The only level where the man may have an uneven stance is the level of the feelings that
he cannot control:
The Quran says (what means):
وَلَن تَسۡتَطِيعُوٓاْ أَن تَعۡدِلُواْ بَيۡنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ وَلَوۡ حَرَصۡتُمۡ‌ۖ فَلَا تَمِيلُواْ ڪُلَّ ٱلۡمَيۡلِ فَتَذَرُوهَا كَٱلۡمُعَلَّقَةِ‌ۚ وَإِن تُصۡلِحُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورً۬ا رَّحِيمً۬ا
Ye will not be able to deal equally between (your) wives, however much ye wish (to do so). But turn not altogether away (from one), leaving her as in suspense. If ye do good and keep from evil, lo! Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.

 "You will never be able to do perfect justice
between wives even if it is your ardent desire, so do not incline too much to one of them [by
giving her more of your time and provision] so as to leave the other hanging [i.e. neither
divorced nor married]. And if you do justice, and do all that is right and fear Allaah by
keeping away from all that is wrong, then Allaah is Ever-Forgiving and All-Merciful." [Quran
4:129]

Finally, it is worth knowing that Islam gives a woman the right to refuse polygyny for
her husband by setting it as a condition during the marriage procedures. If this condition is
set, then the woman is granted divorce if her husband marries another while he is still
married to her.
You might ask, why could not there be polyandry (a woman having more than one
husband)? The answer is simple. Islam did not allow it because Allaah is All-Aware that it will
create a problem of kinship. This means that the child may not know who is actually his
father (it could be anyone of the four husbands). In addition to the psychological damage it
may cause, this problem also complicates the issue of inheritance. Even birds and animals do
not allow polyandry..

تو شب آفريدي چراغ آفريدم

 تو شب آفريدي چراغ آفريدم
سفال آفريدي اياغ آفريدم
بيابان و کھسار و راغ آفريدي
خيابان و گلزار و باغ آفريدم
من آنم کہ از سنگ آئينہ سازم
من آنم کہ از زھر نوشينہ سازم
اردو ترجمہ
* اے خدا تو نے رات بنائي اور ميں نے اس کے ليۓ چراغ بناۓ -
* تو نے مٹي پيدا کي اور ميں نے اس سے پيالہ بنايا -
*تو نے بيابان ، پہاڑ اور چراگاہ پيدا کۓ -
* اور ميں نے وہاں سڑکيں ، گلزار اور باغ بناۓ -
* ميں تو وہ ہوں جوپتھر سے آئينہ بناۓ -
* اور ميں وہ ہوں جو زہر سے مشروب بناۓ-

Dr. Zakir Naik . Universal Brotherhood

(Dr. Zakir) Alhamdulillah …(Arabic)… Respected Advocate Hegde, respected
Advocate Hingorane, my respected elders, and my dear brothers and sisters, I welcome
all of you with the Islamic greetings, Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barkatahu –
May Peace, Blessings and Mercy of Allah (swt)… of Almighty God, be on all of you.
The topic of this mornings’ talk is ‘Universal Brotherhood.’ There are various types of
brotherhoods – For e.g. brotherhood based on blood relationships, brotherhood based on
regions, on race, on caste, on creeds, etc. – But all these types of brotherhood – they are
limited. Islam Alhamdulillah, believes in Universal Brotherhood. It does not believe that
human beings have been created in castes or in different levels. And I started my talk by
quoting a Verse from the Glorious Qur’an, from Surah Hujurat, Chapter No. 49, Verse
No. 13, which describes the Islamic concept of Universal Brotherhood, in the best way. It
says …(Arabic)… Which means that…

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ۬ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلۡنَـٰكُمۡ شُعُوبً۬ا وَقَبَآٮِٕلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓاْ‌ۚ إِنَّ أَڪۡرَمَكُمۡ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتۡقَٮٰكُمۡ‌ۚO mankind! Lo! We have created you from male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct
‘O human kind, We have created you from a single pair of male and female, and
have divided you into nations and tribes, so that you shall recognize each other, not
that you shall despise each other, and the most honoured in the sight of Allah (swt)
is the person who has Taqwa – and Allah is all knowing, full of knowledge, and well
acquainted with all things.’
This Verse of the Glorious Qur’an says that…
‘O humankind, We have created you from a single pair of male and female’ – that
means the whole human race originates from a single pair of male and female. All
the human beings in the world – they have a common grandparent. And Allah (swt)
says that We have divided the human race into nations and tribes, so that they shall
recognize each other, not that they shall despise and fight amongst themselves.’

And the criteria for judgment, in the sight of Allah (swt) – this verse says… ‘Does not
depend on sex, caste, colour, creed or wealth – but it depends, on Taqwa – that is God
consciousness, that is piety, that is righteousness. Anyone who is more righteous, who is
more pious, who is more God-conscious, is honoured in the sight of Allah (swt) – and
Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted with all things. Further the Glorious
Qur’an says in Surah Ar-Rum, Ch. No. 30, V. No. 22, that…


‘And amongst His signs, is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the
variation in your languages, and your colours. Verily in that, is a sign for those who
know.’


The Glorious Qur’an says that Allah (swt) has created various types of languages and
different colours… black human being, white, brown, yellow – and these are signs. These
variations in colour and language, is not to despise each other, because every language
that you have on the face of the earth – it is a beautiful language. It may sound funny, if it

is unique to you – you may not have heard that language before – it may sound funny –
but those people who speak that language, for them it is the most beautiful language. So
Allah says… ‘He has created various languages and colours, so that you may recognize,
you may know each other. And the Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Israa, Ch. No. 17, V.
No. 70 …(Arabic)… That…
 وَلَقَدۡ كَرَّمۡنَا بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ
Verily we have honoured the children of Adam.

‘Allah (swt)… Almighty God, has honoured the children of Adam.’
Allah does not say that He has honoured only the Arabs or the Americans or a particular
race – but Almighty God has honoured all the children of Adam, irrespective of race,
caste, colour, creed or sex .And there are many faiths, there are many religions, who
believe that the humankind has originated from a single pair – that is Adam and Eve
(peace be upon them). But there are some faiths which say, that it is because of the sin of
the woman… that is Eve (May Allah be pleased with her), that the human beings are born
in sin – And they put the blame only on the woman, that is Eve, for the downfall of
human beings. In fact the Qur’an speaks about the story of Adam and Eve (peace be upon
them) in several places – but in all the places, the blame is equally put on both of them –
Adam and Eve (peace be upon them). And if you read Surah Araf, Ch. No. 7 : V, No. 19
to 27…

وَيَـٰٓـَٔادَمُ ٱسۡكُنۡ أَنتَ وَزَوۡجُكَ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ فَكُلَا مِنۡ حَيۡثُ شِئۡتُمَا وَلَا تَقۡرَبَا هَـٰذِهِ ٱلشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ 
And (unto man): O Adam! Dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden and eat from whence ye will, but come not nigh this tree lest ye become wrong-doers.


‘Adam and Eve (peace be upon them), they are addressed more than a dozen of
times’. And the Qur’an says that…‘Both of them disobeyed Allah (swt)… Almighty
God – both of them repented, and both were forgiven’.

Both are equally blamed for the mistake – there is not a single verse in the Glorious
Qur’an, which puts the blame only on Eve (May Allah be pleased with her). But there is a
Verse in the Glorious Qur’an in Surah Taha, Ch. No.20, V. No. 121,
 وَعَصَىٰٓ ءَادَمُ رَبَّهُ
 And Adam disobeyed his Lord
which says that
Adam (pbuh) disobeyed Allah (swt). But if you read the Qur’an, both are equally blamed
for not obeying Allah (swt) – they both repented and they both were forgiven. And
certain faiths – they say that…‘Because Eve disobeyed Allah (swt) and is responsible for
the sin of humankind’ – which Islam does not agree – ‘Allah (swt) cursed the woman,
and said that she will bear labour pains.’ That means – Pregnancy is a curse, according to
some people – which Islam does not agree at all. And the Qari recited the Verse from the
Glorious Qur’an, from Surah Nisa, Ch. No. 4, V. No. 1, which says
 وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى تَسَآءَلُونَ بِهِۦ وَٱلۡأَرۡحَامَ‌ۚ
h in Whom ye claim (your rights) of one another, and toward the wombs (that bare you)

… ‘Respect the womb
that bore you.’ In Islam, pregnancy does not degrade a woman – it uplifts a woman. And
the Qur’an says in Surah Luqman, Ch. 31, V. No. 14, that…

وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٲلِدَيۡهِ حَمَلَتۡهُ أُمُّهُ ۥ وَهۡنًا عَلَىٰ وَهۡنٍ۬ وَفِصَـٰلُهُ ۥ فِى عَامَيۡنِ
And We have enjoined upon man concerning his parents - His mother beareth him in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years 

‘O humankind, We have enjoined on you, to be good to your parents. In travail
upon travail, did your mother bore him, and in years twain, was his weaning.’ The
Qur’an says in Surah, Ahqaf, Ch. 46, V. No. 15…

وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ بِوَٲلِدَيۡهِ إِحۡسَـٰنًا‌ۖ حَمَلَتۡهُ أُمُّهُ ۥ كُرۡهً۬ا وَوَضَعَتۡهُ كُرۡهً۬ا‌ۖ
And We have commended unto man kindness toward parents. His mother beareth him with reluctance, and bringeth him forth with reluctance,

‘We have enjoined on the human
beings to be kind to the parents. In pain did his mother bore him, and in pain did
she give him birth.’

Pregnancy uplifts a woman – it does not degrade her. And in Islam, men and women are
equal. And according to a Hadith which is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari, Vol.No. 8, in the
Book of Adab, Ch. No. 2, H. No. 2… ‘A person came to the Prophet Mohammed (saw)…

Mohammed (pbuh), and asked him that… ‘Who is the person who deserves the
maximum love and championship in this world ?’ And the Prophet said…‘Your mother.’
The man asked…‘Who next?’ The Prophet said… ‘Your mother.’ The man asked…
‘After that who?’ The Prophet repeated for the third time… ‘Your mother.’ The man
asked… ‘After that who?’ Then the Prophet said… ‘Your father.’ In short 75% , ¾ of the
love and companionship of the children, are due to the mother. 25% , ¼ of the love and
companionship goes to the father. In short, the mother gets the gold medal, she gets the
silver medal, as well as the bronze medal – The father has to be satisfied with a mere
consolation prize. These are the teachings of Islam. In Islam, men and women are equal –
but equality does not mean identicality. There are many misconceptions – specially when
women are concerned in Islam. Many Muslims and Non Muslims – they have a
misconception, which can be removed if you understand the authentic sources – Qur’an
and the Sahih Hadith, correctly. As I mentioned, men and women are overall equal – But
equality does not mean identicality. Let me give you an example – that if in a class of
students, two student – Student ‘A’ and ‘B’ – they came out first – and both acquire 80
marks out of 100. But if you analyze the answer sheet, there are 10 questions, each
carrying 10 marks. In the first answer student ‘A’ gets 9 out of 10, student ‘B’ gets 7 out
of 10, so in question 1 student ‘A’ has a degree of advantage, than student ‘B’. In
question 2, student ‘B’ gets 9 out of 10, and student ‘A’ gets 7 out of 10 – In question 2,
student ‘B’ has a degree of advantage, than student ‘A’. In the remaining 8 questions,
both get 8 out of 10 – and if you total the marks of both the students, both get 80 out of
100. So if you analyse, both student ‘A’ and ‘B’ are over all equal. But in the answers to
some questions, student ‘A’ has a degree of advantage – In answers to some questions,
student ‘B’ has a degree of advantage – but overall, both are equal. Similarly in Islam,
men and women are equal. Brotherhood in Islam, does not only mean that the same sexes
are equal. The ‘Universal Brotherhood’ in Islam means, that besides race, caste, and
creed, even the sex are overall equal. Men and women are equal in Islam – but in some
aspects, the men have a degree of advantage – In some aspects, the women have a degree
of advantage – but overall both are equal. For example, if a robber enters my house, I will
not say that… ‘I believe in women’s right… I believe in women’s liberation – therefore
my sister, my wife, my mother, should go and fight the robber.’ Because Allah says in
Surah Nisa, Ch. 4, V 34,



that… ‘Allah has given men, more strength than the other’ – that
is, men have more strength than the women.’ So where strength is concerned, the men
have a degree of advantage – so since they have been given more strength, it is their duty
to protect the women – Here the men have a degree of advantage. Where love and
companionship is concerned, where children should give to their parents – the women
have a degree of advantage – As I mentioned earlier, the mother gets three times more
respect and companionship, than the father. Here the women have a degree of advantage
– but overall if you analyze, men and women are equal in Islam. And for more details,
you can refer to my video cassette – I have given a talk on ‘Women Rights in Islam –
Modernizing or Outdated ? It is Part I – that is the lecture, and Part II which is the
Question-Answer session. These discuss the issue in great detail, and many
misconceptions which are there in the minds of the human being, have been removed
here. And in this talk, I have divided the ‘Women’s Right in Islam’, under six broad
headings… Spiritual rights, Economic rights, Social rights, Legal rights, Educational
rights, and the Political rights. And I have described there, that overall, men and women
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are equal. The concept of Almighty God in Islam, of Allah (swt), is not that Almighty
God… Allah (swt), is the deity of a particular race or a particular group of people. But
the Qur’an says in Surah Fatihah, Ch. No.1, V. No. 2 …
ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ 
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds,
(Arabic)… ‘Praise be to the Lord
of worlds.’ Almighty God is referred to as ‘Rabbil Aalamin’ the Lord of the worlds.’ And
the last Surah of the Glorious Qur’an, that is, Surah Nas, Ch. 114, V. No.1 …
قُلۡ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلنَّاسِ (١)
Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, (1)

(Arabic)…
‘That say: I Seek refuge with the Lord of humankind’. Almighty God… Allah (swt) is the
Lord of the whole of humankind – not of a particular group of people, or a particular
race.And there are various Verses in the Glorious Qur’an which begin by saying
…(Arabic)… ‘O humankind’ …(Arabic)… ‘O humankind’ …(Arabic)… ‘O
humankind.’ And even the two Verses I quoted in the beginning of my talk – they began
with …(Arabic)… ‘O humankind.’ And the Glorious Qur’an also says in Surah Baqarah,
Ch. No. 2, V. No. 168 …(Arabic)…
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ كُلُواْ مِمَّا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ حَلَـٰلاً۬ طَيِّبً۬ا وَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ خُطُوَٲتِ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ لَكُمۡ عَدُوٌّ۬ مُّبِينٌ
O mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and wholesome in the earth, and follow not the footsteps of the devil. Lo! he is an open enemy for you.

‘Oh humankind, eat of what is on the earth, good and lawful for you, and follow not
the footsteps of the devil, for he is to you an avowed enemy.’


Islam – in order for Universal Brotherhood to prevail in the world, it has a moral code…
it has a moral law, which helps in Universal Brotherhood prevailing throughout the
world, throughout the Universe. The Qur’an says in Surah Maidah, Ch. No.5, V. No. 32,
that…
مَن قَتَلَ نَفۡسَۢا بِغَيۡرِ نَفۡسٍ أَوۡ فَسَادٍ۬ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَڪَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعً۬ا وَمَنۡ أَحۡيَاهَا فَڪَأَنَّمَآ أَحۡيَا ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعً۬ا‌ۚ
whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind.



‘If anyone kills a person unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the
land, it is as though he has killed the whole nation – all the people. And if any
person saves a life, it is as though he has saved the whole of humankind – all the
people.’
The Qur’an says that if any person kills any human being – whether it be a Muslim or
Non Muslim – it does not specify the race or caste or colour or creed – If any person kills
any human being, unless it be for murder, or for spreading mischief in the land, it is as
though he has killed the whole of humanity. And if any one saves an human being,
whether it be a Muslim or Non Muslim, from any caste, colour or creed, it as though he
has saved the whole of humankind. The Qur’an has various laws of moral conduct, so
that Universal Brotherhood will prevail throughout the Universe. The Glorious Qur’an
says that…
‘No one should ever rob – it is a crime, it is a sin.’ Islam has a system of Zakat – that
is, any rich person who has a saving of more than the Nisab level, 85 grams of gold –
he or she should give 2.5 percent of that saving, every lunar year in charity. If every
human being in the world gives Zakat, poverty will be eradicated from this world –
there will not be a single human being who will die of hunger. And the Glorious
Qur’an says, that…‘You should love and help your neighbours.’
The Qur’an says in Surah Ma’un, Ch. No. 107, V. No. 1 to 7 …(Arabic)…
أَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِى يُكَذِّبُ بِٱلدِّينِ (١) فَذَٲلِكَ ٱلَّذِى يَدُعُّ ٱلۡيَتِيمَ (٢) وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ ٱلۡمِسۡكِينِ (٣) فَوَيۡلٌ۬ لِّلۡمُصَلِّينَ (٤) ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَن صَلَاتِہِمۡ سَاهُونَ (٥) ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ يُرَآءُونَ (٦) وَيَمۡنَعُونَ ٱلۡمَاعُونَ (٧)
Hast thou observed him who belieth religion? (1) That is he who repelleth the orphan, (2) And urgeth not the feeding of the needy. (3) Ah, woe unto worshippers (4) Who are heedless of their prayer; (5) Who would be seen (at worship) (6) Yet refuse small kindnesses! (7)


 That…
‘Seeth thou not the person who denies the day of judgement, and deals the orphan with
harshness, and encourages not the feeding of the indigent. Woe to those who are neglectful of their prayers, woe to those who pray only to be seen of men, who do not even provide neighbourly assistance.’ The Qur’an says that… ‘Woe
to those people who do not even provide neighbourly assistance.’

And our beloved
Prophet Mohammed (sws) said that…‘He is not a Muslim, who sleeps with his full
stomach, while his neighbours are hungry.’ That means, any person who sleeps with his
full stomach… that means… had a good meal, while his neighbours are hungry, is not
following the commandments of Allah, and His Rasul. The Glorious Qur’an says that…
‘Do not be a spendthrift.’ The Qur’an says in Surah Israa, Ch. No. 17, V. No. 26 and 27,
that…
وَلَا تُبَذِّرۡ تَبۡذِيرًا (٢٦) إِنَّ ٱلۡمُبَذِّرِينَ كَانُوٓاْ إِخۡوَٲنَ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينِ‌ۖ
and squander not (thy wealth) in wantonness. (26) Lo! the squanderers were ever brothers of the devils
(Note by Rehan, austerity measure of modern age europe)

‘Do not squander your wealth like that of a spendthrift, for verily spendthrifts are
the brothers of the evil one… of the Satan.’

If you are a spendthrift, you are bound to disturb the Universal Brotherhood – because
but natural, if a person squanders, it creates animosity, it creates enmity, it creates envy
between the brothers. A person should not rob, a person should give charity, a person
should provide neighbourly assistance – all these are moral conducts, mentioned in the
Glorious Qur’an. The Qur’an further says that…‘You should not bribe.’
The Qur’an says in Surah Baqarah, Ch. No. 2, V. No. 188, that…
وَلَا تَأۡكُلُوٓاْ أَمۡوَٲلَكُم بَيۡنَكُم بِٱلۡبَـٰطِلِ وَتُدۡلُواْ بِهَآ إِلَى ٱلۡحُڪَّامِ لِتَأۡڪُلُواْ فَرِيقً۬ا مِّنۡ أَمۡوَٲلِ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَأَنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ
And eat not up your property among yourselves in vanity, nor seek by it to gain the hearing of the judges that ye may knowingly devour a portion of the property of others wrongfully

‘Spend not your wealth on vanities and do not use it as a bait for judges, in order
that you may eat somebody else’s property.’
That means… ‘Do not use your wealth to bribe the people, so that you may eat up other
people’s wealth’ – Islam does not agree in eating up your brother’s wealth. And the
Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Maidah, Ch. No. 5, V. No. 90…(Arabic)
يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡخَمۡرُ وَٱلۡمَيۡسِرُ وَٱلۡأَنصَابُ وَٱلۡأَزۡلَـٰمُ رِجۡسٌ۬ مِّنۡ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ فَٱجۡتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ
O ye who believe! Strong drink and games of chance and idols and divining arrows are only an infamy of Satan's handiwork. Leave it aside in order that ye may succeed.

…
‘Oh you who believe …(Arabic)… Most certainly intoxicants and gambling
…(Arabic)… dedication of stones, divination of arrows …(Arabic)… these are Satan’s
handiwork …(Arabic)… Abstain from this handiwork, that you may proper.’


The Glorious Qur’an says that… ‘Abstain from having intoxicants, alcohol, drugs, from
gambling, from dedication of stones, divination of arrows – all these are Satan’s
handiwork.’ And we know that intoxicants is one root cause for various evils in the
society – it prevents the Universal Brotherhood form prevailing. And according to
statistics – it tells us that… ‘In America, on an average everyday, more than one thousand
nine hundred cases of rape take place – and in most of the cases, either the victim or the
rapist, is intoxicated.’ The statistics of America tell us that… ‘There is 8% of incest in
America.’ That means, every 12th or 13th person you come across in America, he has
committed incest – that is, having sexual relationship with close relatives – father and
daughter, son and mother, brother and sister – and majority… almost all the cases, it is
under the state of intoxication. AIDS is spreading in the world – one of the reason is
intoxicants. Therefore the Qur’an says…‘Intoxicants and gambling – it is a Satan’s
handiwork – Abstain form this handiwork, that you may prosper.’ If you abstain from

these evil things, Universal Brotherhood will be helped in prevailing throughout the
Universe. The Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Israa, Ch. No.17 : V. No. 32…

وَلَا تَقۡرَبُواْ ٱلزِّنَىٰٓ‌ۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ فَـٰحِشَةً۬ وَسَآءَ سَبِيلاً۬
And come not near unto adultery. Lo! it is an abomination and an evil way

‘Nor come close to adultery, for it is a shameful deed – It is an evil, opening other
roads to evil.’
Islam is against adultery, The Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Hujurat, Ch. 49 : V. No. 11
and 12 that …(Arabic)…
يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا يَسۡخَرۡ قَوۡمٌ۬ مِّن قَوۡمٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونُواْ خَيۡرً۬ا مِّنۡہُمۡ وَلَا نِسَآءٌ۬ مِّن نِّسَآءٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُنَّ خَيۡرً۬ا مِّنۡہُنَّ‌ۖ وَلَا تَلۡمِزُوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡ وَلَا تَنَابَزُواْ بِٱلۡأَلۡقَـٰبِ‌ۖ بِئۡسَ ٱلِٱسۡمُ ٱلۡفُسُوقُ بَعۡدَ ٱلۡإِيمَـٰنِ‌ۚ وَمَن لَّمۡ يَتُبۡ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ (١١) يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱجۡتَنِبُواْ كَثِيرً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعۡضَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِثۡمٌ۬‌ۖ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُواْ وَلَا يَغۡتَب بَّعۡضُكُم بَعۡضًا‌ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُڪُمۡ أَن يَأۡڪُلَ لَحۡمَ أَخِيهِ مَيۡتً۬ا فَكَرِهۡتُمُوهُ‌ۚ


O ye who believe! Let not a folk deride a folk who may be better than they (are), not let women (deride) women who may be better than they are; neither defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. Bad is the name of lewdness after faith. And whoso turneth not in repentance, such are evil-doers. (11) O ye who believe! Shun much suspicion; for lo! some suspicion is a crime. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you love to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Ye abhor that (so abhor the other)!

‘Oh ye who believe, let not some men among you laugh at the others – You may never
know, that the latter may be better than the former. Let not some women among you,
laugh at the other – You may never know, that the latter may be better than the former.
Do not defame one another, nor be sarcastic or call each other with nicknames. Avoid
suspicion, for in many cases suspicion is a sin. Do not spy on one another, do not
backbite, do not speak ill of one another behind their backs. Are you ready to eat the dead
meat of your brother ?’
The Qur’an says that…
‘If you backbite, if you slander any one behind their backs, it is as though you are
eating the meat of your dead brother.’
And eating the meat of your dead brother is a double sin – Eating dead meat itself is
prohibited – eating meat of your dead brother is double crime. Even the cannibals who
eat human beings, they do not eat the flesh of their brother. So if you backbite, if you
speak ill about somebody else behind their back, it is a double crime – it is eating the
meat of your dead brother. And the Qur’an, gives the answer… ‘Allah (swt) says… ‘Nay
you will abhor it… No one would like it.’ The Qur’an says in Surah Humuzah, Ch. 104 :
V. No. 1 …(Arabic)…
وَيۡلٌ۬ لِّڪُلِّ هُمَزَةٍ۬ لُّمَزَةٍ
Woe unto every slandering traducer
‘Woe to every kind of scandal monger and backbiter.’

All these laws of moral conduct given in the Glorious Qur’an and the Sahih Hadith – they
promote Universal Brotherhood. Besides talking about Universal Brotherhood, the
uniqueness about Islam is that, it practically demonstrates the Universal Brotherhood.
The Muslims are supposed to demonstrate the Universal Brotherhood, five times a day in
their Salah. When we offer Salah, we practically demonstrate the Universal Brotherhood.
It is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari, Vol. No.1, in the Book of Adhan, Ch. No.75, H. No.
692 that…
‘Hazrat Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) – he said that when we stood for
Salah, the shoulder of the companions touched with the shoulder of the companion –
our feet touched with the feet of a companion.’
The beloved Prophet said – it is mentioned in Sunnah Abu Dawood, Volume No. 1, in the
Book of Salah Ch. No.245, H. No.666, our beloved Prophet said…
‘Before starting the Salah… that straighten your rows, stand shoulder to shoulder,
and do not leave any gap or opening, for the devil.’ The Prophet said… ‘Stand close
to each other during Salah, and do not leave any opening for the devil.’
The Prophet was not referring to the devil which you see in the Onida TV Ad – You
know the Onida TV Ad… the devil with the two horns and a tail. The Prophet was not
referring to that devil – he was referring to devil of Racism, of Caste, of Colour, of
Wealth. Irrespective whether rich or poor, whether king or pauper, when you stand for
prayers… when you stand for Salah, stand shoulder to shoulder, so that the brotherhood
increases – The devil of Racism, of Caste, of Colour, of Creed, of Wealth, does not came
in between you. And the best example of International Brotherhood, is in the pilgrimage
of Islam – that is, during Haj. About two and a half million people from various parts of
the world – they come to Mecca to perform Haj. People from various parts of the world –
from America, from Canada, from U.K, from Singapore, from Malaysia, from India,
from Pakistan, from Indonesia – from various parts of the world they come. And the men
they are dressed up in two pieces of unsewn cloth – that is preferably white. You cannot
identify that the person standing next to you – whether he is a King or a pauper – It is the
best example of International Brotherhood. It is the biggest annual gathering of the world.
Two and a half million people gather every year – and the person standing next to you –
You cannot make out whether he is a King or a pauper. Irrespective whether you are rich
or poor, black or white – from whichever part of the world you are coming, you are
dressed in the same attire. And our beloved Prophet Mohammed (SAW) said in the
speech of his farewell pilgrimage as he said that… ‘There is only one God, and no Arab
is superior to a Non-Arab; nor is a Non-Arab superior to an Arab; a White is not superior
to a Black, nor a Black is over the White. The only criteria for superiority is taqwa… it is
righteousness, it is piety, it is God consciousness. Irrespective whichever race you belong
to, whichever colour you have – that does not make you superior – In the sight of Allah,
all are equal. Only if you are more pious, more God-conscious, more righteous, can you
be superior to the other human being. And when the Haj is performed, every person – he
recites…


لَبَّیْکَ اَللّٰھُمَّ لَبَّیْکَ لَبَّیْکَ لَا شَرِیْکَ لَکَ لَبَّیْکَ اِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَ النِّعْمَۃَ لَکَ وَ الْمُلْکَ لَا شَرِیْکَ لَک

ترجمہ :حاضر ہوں اے اﷲ میں حاضر ہوں میں حاضر ہوں تیرا کوئی شریک نہیں میں حاضر ہوں۔بے شک حمد تیرے ہی لائق ہے ساری نعمتیں تیری ہی دی ہوئی ہیں بادشاہی تیری ہی ہے اورتیرا کوئی شریک نہیں۔


‘Lab baik Allah humma lab baik …(Arabic)… They keep on repeating
…(Arabic)… Even when he comes back from Haj – that always remains in his mind
…(Arabic)… which means … ‘Here I am O my Lord; here I am. …(Arabic)… Here I am
– You have no partners – here I am. …(Arabic)… All praises are due to You – all
bounties are yours. …(Arabic)… To You belongs the whole dominion, the whole
Universe, and You have no partners.’ It is engrained in his mind, that …(Arabic)… ‘Here
I am O my Lord, here I am.’ And the corner stone of the Islamic faith is, the belief in one
and only sole Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe – He alone deserves worship.
And it is because of belief in one God, that there can be Universal Brotherhood. یعنی سب ایک ہی کنبے کے افراد ہیں

That
means, the same God has created all the human beings, irrespective whether you are rich
or poor, whether a male or female, whether black or white, whichever caste, colour, creed
you belong to all of them are equal – because they are created by one and only sole
Creator, Almighty God. Only if you believe in one God, can you practice Universal
Brotherhood. That is the reason that, all the major Religions which believe in the concept
of God – On a higher level they believe in the existence of one Almighty God. And
according to Oxford Dictionary, Religion means… ‘A belief in a super human controlling
power – A God, or Gods, that deserve worship and obedience’ So in short, if you want to

analyze any Religion, you have to understand the concept of God in that Religion. And
the best way to analyze the concept of God in any Religion, is not by looking at what the
followers are doing – because many of the followers themselves do not know what their
Religious Scriptures speak about Almighty God. The best way is, to analyze what the
Scripture of that Religion has to speak about Almighty God. And the Glorious Qur’an
says in Surah Al Imran, Ch. No. 3, V. No. 64 …(Arabic)…

قُلۡ يَـٰٓأَهۡلَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ تَعَالَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ ڪَلِمَةٍ۬ سَوَآءِۭ بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَكُمۡ أَلَّا نَعۡبُدَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ وَلَا نُشۡرِكَ بِهِۦ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعۡضُنَا بَعۡضًا أَرۡبَابً۬ا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَقُولُواْ ٱشۡهَدُواْ بِأَنَّا مُسۡلِمُونَ
Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to an agreement between us and you: that we shall worship none but Allah, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside Allah. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him)

‘Say: Oh people of the Book. …(Arabic)… that come to common terms as between
us and you.’ Which is the first term? …Arabic)… ‘that we worship none, but Allah.
…(Arabic)… that we associate no partners with Him. …(Arabic)… that we erect
not among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah. …(Arabic)… if then they
turn back …(Arabic)… Say ye: ‘Bear witness …(Arabic)… that we are Muslims,
bowing our will to Allah (swt).’


Allah shows you a way how to speak with different people. It says …(Arabic)… ‘that
come to common terms as between us and you.’ Which is the first term? …(Arabic)…
‘that we worship none but Allah.’ …(Arabic)… ‘that we associate no partners with Him.’
So in order to understand the concept of God, in any Religion, we have to understand
what that Scripture has to speak about Almighty God. If you understand the concept of
God, you will understand the Religion. Let us first analyse the concept of God in
Hinduism. If you ask a common Hindu, who is a layman, that… ‘How many Gods are
there? Some may say… ‘Three’ – Some may say… ‘Hundred’ – Some may say…
‘Thousand’ – While others may say… ‘Thirty three Crores’… – Three hundred and thirty
million. But if you ask a learned person who is well versed with the Hindu Scriptures, he
will tell you that… ‘The Hindus should, actually worship only one God, and they should
believe only in one God.’ But the common Hindu, he believes in a philosophy known as
‘Pantheism.’ What the common Hindu says that…‘Everything is God – The tree is God,
the sun is God, the moon is God, the monkey is God, the human being is God, the snake
is God.’ What we Muslims say that…‘Everything is God’s – ‘G. O. D.’ with an
apostrophy ‘S’. Everything belongs to God – the tree belongs to God, the sun belong to
God, the moon belongs to God, the monkey belongs to God, the human belongs to God,
the snake belongs to God.’ So the major difference between the Hindus and the Muslims
is, that the common Hindu says…‘Everything is God’ – We Muslims say…‘Everything
is God’s – G.O.D. with apostrophe ‘S’. The only difference is apostrophe ‘S’. If we can
solve this difference of apostrophe ‘S’ – the Hindus and the Muslims – we will be united.
How do we do it ? Qur’an says …(Arabic)… ‘that come to common terms as between us
and you.’ Which is the first term? …(Arabic)… ‘that we worship none but Allah.’ The
most common Scriptures, which is the most widely read by the Hindus, is the Bhagvad
Geeta. If you read Bhagvad Geeta, Ch. 7, V. No. 20, it says that… ‘All those whose
intelligence has been stolen by material desires, they worship demi gods. That means
those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires – they worship gods, besides
the one true God. And if you read the Upanishads, which is the another scared Scripture
of the Hindus – it is mentioned in the Chandogya Upanishad, Ch. 6, Sec. No. 2, V. No. 1
…(Sanskrit)… ‘There is only one God, without a second.’ It is mentioned in the
Svetasvatara Upanishad, Ch. No. 6, V. No. 9, …(Sanskrit)… which means… ‘Of Him…
of Almighty God there are no Lords, neither does He have any parents.’ It is mentioned

in the Svetasvatara Upanishad, Ch. No. 4, V. No. 19, …(Sanskrit)… ‘Of Him there is no
likeness.’ It is mentioned in the Svetasvetara Upanishad, Ch. No. 4, V. No. 20, that… ‘He
has got of no form… no one can see Him with the eyes.’ Among the Scriptures of the
Hindus, the most sacred are the Vedas. There are basically four Vedas – the Rigveda, the
Yajurveda, the Samved and the Atharvaved. If you read the Yajurved it is mentioned in
Ch. No. 32, V. No. 3 …(Sanskrit)… ‘Of Him there is no image’ – Almighty God has got
no image. It is mentioned in the Yajurveda Ch. No. 40, V. No. 8 that… ‘Almighty God is
bodiless and pure’. And the next verse of Yajurveda, Ch. No. 40, V. No. 9,
…(Sanskrit)… ‘That they are entering darkness – those who worship the Asambhooti’ –
Asambhooti means the natural things like air, water, fire. And the verse continues…
‘They are entering more in darkness -those who worship the Sambhoot’ – Sambhooti are
the created things like chairs, tables, idols, etc. Who says that?… Yajurveda Ch. No. 40,
V. No. 9. Further if you read, it is mentioned in the Atharvaved, Ch. No. 20, Hymn No.
58, V. No. 3 …(Sanskrit)… ‘Verily great, is Almighty God.’ Amongst the Vedas, the
most sacred is the Rigved. It is mentioned in Rigved, Book No. 1, Hymn No. 164, V. No.
46, that… ‘Sages and saintly people call Almighty God, by various names.’ And if you
read Rigved, Book No. 2, Hymn No. 1, there are various attributes given to Almighty
God – One amongst them – It is mentioned in Rigved, Book No. 2, Hymn No. 1, V. No.
3, ‘Brahma.’ If you translate ‘Brahma’ into English, one of it’s meaning is ‘The Creator’
– If you translate into Arabic, it means ‘Khaliq.’ We Muslims have got no objection, if
someone calls Almighty God as Khaliq or Creator, or Brahma. But if someone says that
Brahma is Almighty God, who has got four heads, and on each head, is a crown – we
Muslims take strong objection to it. Moreover you are going against Svetasvatara
Upanishad, Ch. No. 6, V. No. 9, which says …(Sanskrit)… ‘Of Him there is no likeness.’
– You are giving an image to Almighty God. Another beautiful attribute given in Rigveda
Book No. 2, Hymn No. 1, V. No. 3, is ‘Vishnu.’ If you translate Vishnu into English –
one of it is meaning is ‘The Sustainer,’ the Cherished if you translate into Arabic it means
Rabb. We Muslims have no objection if someone calls Almighty God, as ‘Rabb,’ or
‘Sustainer’, or ‘Cherisher’ or ‘Vishnu’ – But if someone says that ‘Vishnu’ as Almighty
God, who has got four hands, and in one of his hands is a chakra… the discus, and in one
of his hands is a lotus, we Muslims take strong objection to it. Moreover you are giving
an image to Almighty God – You are going against Yajurved, Ch. No. 32, V. No. 3,
which says …(Sanskrit)… ‘Of Him there is no image.’ It is mentioned in Rigved, Vol.
No. 8, Ch. No. 1, V. No.1 …(Sanskrit)… ‘All praises are due to Him alone, worship Him
alone.’ It is mentioned in Rigved, Vol. No. 6, Hymn No. 45, V. No. 16, …(Sanskrit)…
‘There is only one God – Worship Him alone . And the Brahmasutra, the fundamental
creed of Hinduism is …(Sanskrit)… ‘Bhagwan Ek hi hai, dusra nahi hai, nahi hai, nahi
hai, zara bhi, nahi hai.’ ‘There is only one God, not a second one, not at all, not of all, not
in the least bit.’ So if you read the Hindu Scriptures, you should understand the concept
of God in Hinduism. Let us analyse the concept of God in Judaism. It is mentioned in the
Book of Deuteronomy, in the Old Testament, Ch. No. 6, V. No. 4 Moses (pbuh) he says
that …(Hebrew)… It is a Hebrew quotation which means… ‘Hear O Israel the lord our
God, is one Lord.’ It is mentioned in the Book of Isaiah, Ch. No. 43, V. No. 11… ‘I,
Even I, am Lord and besides Me, there is no Saviour.’ It is mentioned in the Book of
Isaiah, Ch. No. 45, V. No. 5… ‘I am Lord, and there is none else – there is no God
besides Me.’ It is mentioned in the book of Isaiah, Ch. 46, V.9…‘I am God and there is

none else; I am God and there is none like Me.’ It is mentioned in the Book of Exodus,
Ch. No. 20, V. No. 3 and 5, as well as in the Book of Deuteronomy, Ch. No. 5, V. No. 7
to 9, it says that… ‘Thou shall have none other gods besides Me.’ Almighty God is
speaking here that…‘Thou shall have none other gods besides Me. Thou shall not make
unto thee any graven image, of any likeness, of anything in the heavens above, in the
earth beneath, and in the water beneath the earth. Thou shall not serve them, nor bow
down to them, for I thy God, is a jealous God. So if you read the Old Testament, we
should understand the concept of God, in Judaism. Before I discuss the concept of God in
Christianity, I would like to make a few points clear – that Islam is the only Non-
Christian faith, which makes it certain article of faith, to believe in Jesus (pbuh). No
Muslim is a Muslim, if he does not believe in Jesus (pbuh). We believe that he was one of
the mightiest Messengers of Allah (swt), of Almighty God. We believe that he was the
Messiah… translated ‘Christ.’ We believe that he was born miraculously, without any
male intervention, which many modern day Christians today, do not believe. We believe
that he healed those born blind, and lepers, with God’s permission. We believe that he
gave life to the dead, with God’s permission. The Muslims and the Christians we are
going together – But there are some Christians who say… that Jesus Christ (pbuh), he
claimed Divinity.’ In fact if you read the Bible, there is not a single unequivocal
statement in the complete Bible, where Jesus (pbuh) himself says that he is God, or where
he says… ‘Worship me.’ In fact if you read the Bible Jesus (pbuh) himself says – it
mentioned in the Gospel of John, Ch. No. 14, V. No. 28, ‘My father is greater than I’;
Gospel of John, Ch. No. 10, V. No. 29, ‘My father is greater than all’; Gospel of Mathew,
Ch. No. 12, V. No. 28, ‘I cast out devil with the spirit of God’; Gospel of Luke, Ch. No.
11, V. No. 20, ‘I cast out devil with the finger of God’; Gospel of John, Ch. No. 5, V. No.
30, ‘I can of my own self do nothing, as I hear I judge, and my judgment is just, for I seek
not my will, but the will of my Father.’ Anyone who says that… ‘I seek not my will, but
God’s will’ – it means ‘Submitting his will to Almighty God.’ And if you translate into
Arabic it means ‘Islam’ – and anyone who submits his will to Almighty God, is called as
a ‘Muslim’. Jesus (pbuh) – he never came to destroy the law or the Prophets – In fact he
came to confirm them. And Jesus (pbuh) he says – it mentioned in the Gospel of Mathew,
Ch. No. 5, V. No. 17 to 20, he says that… ‘Think not that I am came to destroy the law or
the Prophets’ – All these quotations are from the Bible, from the King James Version.
Jesus (pbuh) says that… ‘Think not that I am come to destroy the Law and the Prophets. I
am come not to destroy, but to fulfill; for verily till the heaven and the earth pass, not one
jot or title shall pass away form the law, until all be fulfilled. And whosoever shall break
one of the least commandments and teach men to do so, shall be called least in the
kingdom of heaven; and whosoever shall keep them, and teach the same, shall be called
great in the Kingdom of Heaven. Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of
the Scribes and the Pharisees, in no way shall you enter the Kingdom of Heaven.’ Jesus
(pbuh) says, that if you want to go to Paradise, you have to follow each and every law of
the Old Testament – including that… ‘God is one; He has got no partners; you cannot
create any images of God.’ And Jesus (pbuh), he never claimed that he was Almighty
God – In fact he says that he was sent by God. It is mentioned in the Gospel of John, Ch.
No. 14, V. No. 24, Jesus (pbuh) says that… ‘The words that you hear are not mine, but
my Father’s, who has sent me.’ It is mentioned in the Gospel of John Ch. No. 17, V. No.
3… ‘This is life eternal; so that you may know there is only one God, and Jesus Christ

whom Thou has sent.’ It is mentioned in the Book of Acts Ch. No. 2, V. No. 22. that…
‘Hear O Israel, hear these words – Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God amongst
you, by wonders and miracles, which God did by him, and you are witness to it.’ It
says… ‘Jesus of Nazareth (pbuh), a man approved of God by wonders and miracles
which God did by him, and you are witness to it.’ And When Jesus (pbuh) was asked
that…‘Which is the first of the commandment?’ – he repeated what was earlier said by
Moses (pbuh). It is mentioned in the Gospel of Mark, Ch. No. 12, V. No. 29…
(Hebrew)… ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, is one Lord.’ So if you read the Bible, you
shall understand the concept of God in Christianity. Let us analyse the concept of God in
Islam. The best reply that any person can give you regarding the concept of God in Islam,
is quote to you Surah Al Ikhlas, Ch. No. 112, V. No. 1 to 4, which says …(Arabic)…
‘Say: He is Allah, One and only. …(Arabic)… Allah the Absolute and Eternal.
…(Arabic)… He begets not, nor is He begotten. … (Arabic)… There is nothing like
Him.’
This is a four line definition of Almighty God… of Allah (swt) – Any person saying that
he is Almighty God – if that person fits in this four line definition, we Muslims have got
no objection in accepting that person as Almighty God. The first is …(Arabic)… ‘Say:
He is Allah, One and only. Second is ..(Arabic)… Allah the Absolute and Eternal.
…(Arabic)… He begets not, nor is He begotten. and the fourth is …(Arabic)… And there
is nothing like Him.’ This Surah Ikhlas, Ch. No. 112, is the touchstone of theology.
‘Theo’ means ‘God’ – ‘logy’ means ‘Study’. Surah Ikhlas, Ch. No. 112, of the Glorious
Qur’an, is the touchstone of Theology. Anyone claiming to be Almighty God – if that
candidate fits in this four line definition, we accept him to be Almighty God. And for the
Universal Brotherhood to prevail, it is compulsory that you believe and worship only one
Almighty God. So anyone claiming to be Almighty God – If that person fits in this four
line definition, we have no objection in accepting that candidate, as Almighty God. You
know there are many false people who claim to be Almighty God – Let us analyse
whether they pass the test or not. And one among such persons, is Bhagwan Rajnish –
You know there are some people who claim that he was Almighty God. During one of
my lectures…Question-Answer time, there was a Hindu friend of ours, who told
that…‘The Hindus do not believe in Bhagwan Rajnish, as God.’ I told him…‘I do agree,
and I have read the Hindu Scriptures – No where does the Hindu Scriptures say that
Bhagwan Rajnish is God’ – What I said… ‘Some people say that Bhagwan Rajnish is
God.’ I know very well that Hinduism does not consider Bhagwan Rajnish, to be God.
Let us analyse the claim of such people who way that Bhagwan Rajnish is Almighty God.
The first test is …(Arabic)… ‘Say: He is Allah one and only ?’ Is Bhagwan Rajnish, one
and only? We know that are several human beings who claim to be Almighty God,
specially in this country – there are several such people claming to be Almighty God. Is
he one and only? But his followers, they say…‘No, he is one and only.’ Let us go to the
next test …(Arabic)… ‘Allah the Absolute and Eternal.’ Was Bhagwan Rajnish,
‘Absolute and Eternal?’ We know from his Biography that he was suffering form
Asthma, from chronic Backache, from Diabetes, Malitis. And he says that… ‘The
American government, when they arrested him – they gave him slow poisoning’ –
Imagine, Almighty God being slow poisoned. The third test is …(Arabic)… ‘He begets

not nor is He begotten.’ And we know from his biography, that Rajnish was born in
Madhya Pradesh, he had parents… mother and father, who later on became his own
disciples. And in the year 1981, Rajnish goes to America, and takes thousands of
Americans for a ride. And in the state of origin, he starts his own village, known as
Rajnishpuram – Later on the American Government, they arrest him and they put him
behind bars – and in 1985 he is deported… he is sent out of the country. He comes back
to India in 1985, and in the city of Poona, he starts his own center – the Osho Commune.
And if you go there, it is mentioned on the stone there, that… ‘Bhagwan Rajnish, Osho
Rajnish never born, never died – But, visited the earth from the 11th of December 1931,
to the 19th of January 1990.’ They forgot to mention that he was not given visas to 21
different countries in the world – Imagine Almighty God – He is visiting the earth, and
He requires visas. And the last test …(Arabic)… ‘There is nothing like Him’ – It is so
stringent that no one besides Allah (swt)… Almighty God can pass. The moment you can
compare Almighty God to anyone in the world… to anything in the world, he is not God.
For e.g. if suppose someone says that…‘Almighty God is a thousand times as strong as
Arnold Schwazzenegar’ – You know Arnold Schwazzenegger – the person who was
given the title ‘Mr. Universe’ – the strongest man in the Universe – If someone says at
the ‘Almighty God is a thousand times as strong as Arnold Schwazzenegar.’ The moment
you can compare Almighty God to anything in this world – whether it be Arnold
Schwazzenegger, or King Kong, or Dara Singh – whether it be a thousand times, or
million times – the moment you can compare Almighty God to anything in this world, He
is not Almighty God. …(Arabic)… ‘There is nothing like Him.’ This is a four line
definition of Almighty God, given in the ‘Glorious Qur’an, which is the touchstone of
theology. Otherwise the Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Isra Ch. No. 17 : V. No. 110
…(Arabic)…
قُلِ ٱدۡعُواْ ٱللَّهَ أَوِ ٱدۡعُواْ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنَ‌ۖ أَيًّ۬ا مَّا تَدۡعُواْ فَلَهُ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ‌ۚ
Say (unto mankind): Cry unto Allah, or cry unto the Beneficent, unto whichsoever ye cry (it is the same). His are the most beautiful names


‘Say call upon Him by Allah, or by Rehman – by whichever name you call upon
Him, to Him belongs the most beautiful names.’

You can call Allah (swt) by any name – but it should be a beautiful name – it should not
conjure up a mental picture. And there are no less than 99 attributes given in the Glorious
Qur’an, for Allah (swt) – Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim, Most Merciful, Most Beneficent – no
less than 99. We Muslims, we call Almighty God, by the Arabic name ‘Allah’ – and the
reason we prefer calling Almighty God, by the Arabic name ‘Allah’, instead of the
English word ‘God’, is because the English word ‘God’ – you can play mischief with that
word. For eg. If you add ‘S’ to God – it becomes ‘Gods’ – plural of God – There is no
plural of Allah. …(Arabic)… ‘Say… He is Allah one and only ?’ If you add ‘dess’ to
God…it becomes ‘Goddess’…that means a ‘female God.’ There is no gender to Allah
(swt) – He is neither male neither female… Allah (swt) has got no gender…Allah is a
unique word. If you add a ‘father’ to ‘God’…it becomes ‘God-father’ – he is my ‘God –
father’, he is my ‘guardian’ – There is nothing like ‘Allah-father’ or ‘Allah-Abba’ in
Islam. If you add a ‘mother’ to ‘God’, it becomes ‘God-mother’. There is nothing like
‘Allah-mother’ or ‘Allah-Ammi’ in Islam – ‘Allah’ is a unique word. If you prefix ‘Tin’
before ‘God’…it becomes ‘Tin-God’…meaning ‘fake-God’ – There is nothing like tin-
Allah in Islam. That is the reason, we Muslims – we prefer calling Allah (swt) by the
Arabic word ‘Allah’, instead of the English word…‘God.’ But if some people, some
Muslims, use the word ‘God’ for ‘Allah (swt)’, so that those who do not know the
concept of ‘Allah (swt)’ – if they can understand, I have got no objection – But the
appropriate word is ‘Allah’… it is much more preferred than the English word ‘God.’ In
Islam, the Universal Brotherhood does not only spread horizontally – i.e. it does not only
cover all the regions and all the people of the whole world and universe – it even goes
vertically. The Universal Brotherhood in Islam… the Universal Brotherhood of faith,
includes vertically, even the generation that came before you, that went in the past. The
Universal Brotherhood in Islam, includes the people living, and the people of past – You
are a single race… or a single people. This Universal Brotherhood… that is the
Brotherhood of faith – it spreads horizontally as well as vertically – and the corner stone
of this faith in all the Religions, if you analyse – it is the belief in One Creator… one
Almighty God. It is only because of this that Universal Brotherhood can prevail in the
whole Universe – and this Universal Brotherhood of faith…it is far superior to the
Brotherhood of blood relationship. The Qur’an says as I mentioned… ‘You should
respect your parents’. The Qur’an says in Surah Isra Ch. No. 17, V. No. 23 and 24, that…

وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَـٰنًا‌ۚ إِمَّا يَبۡلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلۡڪِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوۡ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّ۬ وَلَا تَنۡہَرۡهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوۡلاً۬ ڪَرِيمً۬ا (٢٣) وَٱخۡفِضۡ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحۡمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرۡحَمۡهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرً۬ا

Thy Lord hath decreed, that ye worship none save Him, and (that ye show) kindness to parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age with thee, say not "Fie" unto them nor repulse them, but speak unto them a gracious word. (23) And lower unto them the wing of submission through mercy, and say: My Lord! Have mercy on them both as they did care for me when I was little. 

‘Allah (swt) has ordained for you, that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind
to your parents. And if any of them or both of them reach old age, do not say a word of
contempt – do not even say ‘uff’ to them; But lower to them your wing of humility, and
address them with honour. And pray to thy Lord: that cherish them, as they cherished me
in childhood.’

That means, you have to love and respect your parents – and give them all honour and
respect. But at the same time the Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Luqman, Ch. 31, V. No.
15 – After saying that ‘you have respect the parents’ – the Qur’an says…

وَإِن جَـٰهَدَاكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تُشۡرِكَ بِى مَا لَيۡسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلۡمٌ۬ فَلَا تُطِعۡهُمَا‌ۖ وَصَاحِبۡهُمَا فِى ٱلدُّنۡيَا مَعۡرُوفً۬ا‌ۖ
But if they strive with thee to make thee ascribe unto Me as partner that of which thou hast no knowledge, then obey them not. Consort with them in the world kindly



‘But if they strive in making thee join partners with Me – who you have no knowledge of – that
means of your parents force you to join partners with Almighty God, you do not obey
them – but in this world deal with them with justice and compassion.’

That means your
parents – you have to obey them, as long as they do not go against Almighty God…
against the commandment of Allah (swt) – we have to obey them. If they go against the
Commandment Allah (swt) – Almighty is more Superior. The Brotherhood of faith is
Universal – It is for superior than Brotherhood of blood relationship. And the Qur’an says
in Surah Al Tawbah, Ch. 9, V. 24, …(Arabic)

قُلۡ إِن كَانَ ءَابَآؤُكُمۡ وَأَبۡنَآؤُڪُمۡ وَإِخۡوَٲنُكُمۡ وَأَزۡوَٲجُكُمۡ وَعَشِيرَتُكُمۡ وَأَمۡوَٲلٌ ٱقۡتَرَفۡتُمُوهَا وَتِجَـٰرَةٌ۬ تَخۡشَوۡنَ كَسَادَهَا وَمَسَـٰكِنُ تَرۡضَوۡنَهَآ أَحَبَّ إِلَيۡڪُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَجِهَادٍ۬ فِى سَبِيلِهِۦ فَتَرَبَّصُواْ حَتَّىٰ يَأۡتِىَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَمۡرِهِۦ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَہۡدِى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلۡفَـٰسِقِينَ
Say: If your fathers, and your sons, and your brethren, and your wives, and your tribe, and the wealth ye have acquired, and merchandise for which ye fear that there will be no sale, and dwellings ye desire are dearer to you than Allah and His messenger and striving in His way: then wait till Allah bringeth His command to pass. Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.



…
‘Say whether it be for your father …(Arabic)… or your sons …(Arabic)… or your
brothers …(Arabic)… or your spouses, your husbands and wives …(Arabic)… or your
relatives.’
Allah is asking ‘What are your considerations? – Is it your fathers, are they your sons,
your brothers, your spouses, husbands and wives, are they your relatives – of all these
things for example, your fathers, or your sons, or your brothers, or your spouses, or your
relatives ? And Allah continues …(Arabic)…
‘The wealth that you have amassed, the business in which you deal, the houses in which
you live.’

Allah says…
‘What are your consideration? What are your consideration?’
And Allah continues …(Arabic)…
If you love all these eight things more than Allah, His Rasul and doing Jihad… striving in
the way of Allah – Allah says… ‘If your parents tell you to go against Allah (swt) – they
may tell you to rob, they may tell you to cheat, they may tell you to bribe, they may tell
you to kill people unnecessarily – if your parents give you guidance against the
commandments of Allah (swt) – whether it be your sons, whether it be your brothers of
your spouses, or your relatives, or you do deeds against Allah (swt), for the wealth that
you are collecting, the businesses in which you deal, the houses in which you delight …
Allah says…
‘If you love all these eight things more than Allah, His Messenger, and striving in
the way of Allah – Allah says …(Arabic)… ‘Wait’ …(Arabic)…‘Wait until Allah
brings about His decision unto you, until Allah brings about destruction unto you
…(Arabic)… and Allah guides not the perverted transgressors.’

When it comes to brotherhood of faith, it is far superior to brotherhood of relationship.
And further the Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Nisa, Ch. No. 4, V. No. 135, that
…(Arabic)…
 يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّٲمِينَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ شُہَدَآءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡ أَوِ ٱلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ وَٱلۡأَقۡرَبِينَ‌ۚ إِن يَكُنۡ غَنِيًّا أَوۡ فَقِيرً۬ا فَٱللَّهُ أَوۡلَىٰ بِہِمَا‌ۖ
O ye who believe! Be ye staunch in justice, witnesses for Allah, even though it be against yourselves or (your) parents or (your) kindred, whether (the case be of) a rich man or a poor man, for Allah is nearer unto both (them ye are).


‘O ye who believe, stand out firmly for justice, as witness to Allah (swt), even if it be
against your self, against your parents, against your relatives, whether it be rich or
poor, for Allah protects both.’


That means, if you have to stand for justice, as giving Shahadah, as giving witness to
Allah (swt) – Allah says… ‘Stand for justice even if you have to speak against your self,
against your parents, against your relatives, irrespective whether the people are rich or
poor, for Allah protects all? That means where it comes to justice, where it comes to
truth… justice is far superior to blood relationship. The brotherhood of faith supersedes
all the other brotherhoods – And the brotherhood of faith… the Universal Brotherhood is
based on the basic concept of belief in One Creator… One Almighty God… One Allah
(swt), which is preached by all the Religions. And the Qur’an says, as I mentioned earlier
in Surah Imran, Ch.3, V. No. 64, that …(Arabic)

قُلۡ يَـٰٓأَهۡلَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ تَعَالَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ ڪَلِمَةٍ۬ سَوَآءِۭ بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَكُمۡ أَلَّا نَعۡبُدَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ وَلَا نُشۡرِكَ بِهِۦ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعۡضُنَا بَعۡضًا أَرۡبَابً۬ا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَقُولُواْ ٱشۡهَدُواْ بِأَنَّا مُسۡلِمُونَ

Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to an agreement between us and you: that we shall worship none but Allah, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside Allah. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him)


… ‘Come to common terms as between
us and you.’Which is the first term? …(Arabic)… ‘that we worship none but Allah.’ Only
believing in One Almighty God, is not sufficient – You should also worship only One
Almighty God. And only if you believe and worship Almighty God, Who is One, will
Universal Brotherhood prevail. Without the concept of one Almighty God, brotherhood
and humanity cannot prevail, in the full world. And the Glorious Qur’an says in Surah
Anam, Ch. No. 6, V.108 that
وَلَا تَسُبُّواْ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَيَسُبُّواْ ٱللَّهَ عَدۡوَۢا بِغَيۡرِ عِلۡمٍ۬‌ۗ
Revile not those unto whom they pray beside Allah lest they wrongfully revile Allah through ignorance. Thus unto every nation have We made their deed seem fair. Then unto their Lord is their return, and He will tell them what they used to do


… ‘Revile not those people, abuse not those people who
worship gods besides Allah, lest in their ignorance, they will revile Allah (swt).’ I would
like to end my talk by the giving quotation of the Glorious Qur’an, from Surah Nisa, Ch.
No. 4, V. No. 1 which says …(Arabic)…

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفۡسٍ۬ وَٲحِدَةٍ۬ وَخَلَقَ مِنۡہَا زَوۡجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنۡہُمَا رِجَالاً۬ كَثِيرً۬ا
O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord Who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate and from them twain hath spread abroad a multitude of men and women


‘O human kind reverence your guardian Lord, Who has created you from a single
person, and created like nature his mate, and has scattered like seeds countless men
and women.’ …(Arabic)…



(Dr. Mohammed) Now we would have the presumably more interesting session… the
Question-Answer session. Advocate Prabhakar Rao Hegde, Advocate Hingorane, DCP
Saxena, distinguished guests present here today, our elders, brothers and sisters – We
would after the Question and Answer session, request our distinguished guests to present
their impressions on the topic, and their comments. Advocate Hegde, Advocate
Hingorane, and DSP Saxena are kindly requested after the Question and Answer session,
to pass your comments, so we have a better interaction of the session. To derive more
benefit for all of us present here today, in the limited time we have available, we would
like you to follow the following rules, in the Question-Answer session. Questions asked
should be on the topic, Universal Brotherhood only, or on Islam and Comparative
Religion, in context. Kindly state your question briefly, and to the point – This is a
Question-Answer time, and not a lecture time .Only one question at a time, may be put
forward to the speakers at your designated mike – for your second question, you would
have queue up again at the mike for your second chance. Three mikes have been provided
in the auditorium for the questions, two just next to the stage for the brothers – one on my
right, and one on the left, and one up above in the balcony, for the sisters. Written
questions on slip papers, would be given secondary preference after the questions on the
mike have been handled. The volunteers would be having slips of papers – If you do not
have them with you, you could ask them for it – and pass on the slips right upto the stage
through the volunteers. Kindly state your name and profession before putting forward
your question, to get a more appropriate response. Non-Muslim guests would be given
first preference in putting forward their questions – I would request the volunteers at the
mike to kindly handle that aspect. We will allow one question on each of the mikes, in
clockwise rotation – one here, the mike below the stage, next that side, one on the sisters
side, and so on.
(Dr. Mohammed) Yes brother.
(Q) Thank you Dr. Naik for your lucid explanation of Islam’s – ‘Concept of God.’
My simple question is – you have talked about racial brotherhood, linguistic
brotherhood, blood brotherhood, and so on – and they are the disturbance of the
concept of the Universal Brotherhood. But you have not talked on the concept of
Kafir – I think which is one of most important disturbance of Universal
Brotherhood in the world.
(Dr. Zakir) Can I have your name brother – so that I can answer you in a better way –
Yes.
(Qtn. Contd…) Professor Nigad, from Bhiwnadi College.
(Dr. Zakir) The professor has asked a question, that I have spoken about various concept
– I have explained the concept of Universal Brotherhood, and spoken that the concept of

brotherhood based on blood relationship, on race, on caste, and creed, etc… they cause
disturbance – I have not spoken on the concept of Kafir. Brother, Kafir is an Arabic
word, which comes from the root word Kufr – which means ‘to conceal’… ‘to conceal’,
‘to hide’. It also means ‘to reject’, ‘to conceal’, and in context… in Islamic context, it
means that… ‘Any person who conceals or rejects the truth of Islam’ – anyone who
rejects the truth of Islam is called as a Kafir. Means anyone who rejects the truth of Islam
– that there is one God, and Allah (swt), all that I spoke – he is a Kafir. Any Brotherhood
besides the brotherhood of Universal Brotherhood of faith, and the Islamic Brotherhood –
if it falls in other brotherhood, based on anything – there can be a hundred types of
Brotherhood. Brotherhood based on particular region – whether it be India, whether it be
Pakistan, whether it be America – all these other brotherhoods, that is not in the per view
of the brotherhood of faith… believing in the concept of one God – disturbs the Universal
Brotherhood, including if you say that the Kafirs… the Brotherhood of Kafirs. Do they
disturb?… Yes they disturb. What is the meaning of Kafir ? – Anyone who rejects the
truth of Islam. There are some Non-Muslims who ask me questions – and during
Question-Answer, in one of the cassette, he said that…‘Why do the Muslims abuse us by
calling… Kafir – and people say that their ego is hurt’. I said… ‘See Kafir is a Arabic
word which means…‘A person who rejects the truth of Islam’ – It is a Arabic word. For a
person who rejects the truth of Islam – in English, if I have to translate – He becomes a
‘Non-Muslim.’ So a person is a ‘Non-Muslim’, who rejects the truth of Islam – he is
called as a Kafir. It is just a translation of the English word ‘Non Muslim.’ So if you say
that…‘Do not call a Non-Muslim a Kafir’ – how can I do that? So if a person
says…‘Why do you call me a Kafir ? Do not call me a Kafir’. So I can say that…‘You
accept Islam – I will stop calling you a Kafir’. It is only a Arabic word for a Non-Muslim
– Hope that answers the question.
(Q) Dr. Naik, I am Advocate Madhav Phadhke – you said in your speech that God is
alive, imageless and formless, as stated in Hinduism. Then why you Muslims doing
Haj Pilgrim – they worship Holy shrine, as the Hindus they worship ?
(Dr. Zakir) That is a very good question the brother has posed – that if Almighty God
has got no image in Islam – Allah (swt) no form…then why do the Muslims – they
worship the Holy Shrine…referring to the Kabah – in Haj Pilgrimage ? Brother, it is a
misconception – No Muslim ever worships the Kaba – It is a misconception among the
Non-Muslims, that we Muslims, we worship the Kabah. No Muslim worships the Kabah
– we only worship Allah (swt), Who we cannot see in this world. What we do is, the
Kabah is the Qibla – Qibla in Arabic means ‘The direction.’ Kabah is the Qibla, because
we Muslims – We believe in unity, always unity. For example, if we want to pray to
Almighty God… Allah (swt) – If we have to offer Salaah, some may say… ‘Let us face
the North ; some may say…‘Let us face South’ ; some may say…‘East’ ; some
say…‘West’. Where do we face? We believe in unity – So for unity, all the Muslims
throughout the world, they are asked to face in the direction of the Qibla, that…is the
Kabah – it is our direction – We do not worship it. And the first people who drew the
world map, were the Muslims – and when the Muslims drew the world map, they drew
with the South pole on top, and North pole down – and Kabah was in the center. The
Westerners came and they turned the map upside down – North pole on top, South pole

down. Alhamdulillah, yet the Kabah is in the center – Mecca is in the center. And since
Mecca is in the center, any Muslim in any part of the world – if he is staying in North of
Kabah, he faces towards the South; If he is staying in the South of Kabah, he faces
towards the North. All the Muslims throughout the world, they face in one direction.
Kabah is the Qibla… it is the direction – No Muslim ever worships it – No Muslim ever
worships it. And when we go for Haj… to the pilgrimage, we circumambulate round the
Kabah. We circumambulate around the Kabah, because everyone knows, that all circles
have only one center – So we circumambulate round the Kabah, to testify that there is
only one God – not because we worship it. And the statement of the second Khalifa of
Islam, Hazrat Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, he said – it is mentioned in Sahih
Muslim, in the book of Haj, Volume No. 2 – he said, Hazrat Umar may Allah be pleased
with him, that… ‘I am kissing the black stone, that is the Kabah… Sange Aswad, only
because my Prophet kissed it – otherwise this black stone can neither harm me, neither
can it benefit me’. The second Khalifa of Islam… Caliph of Islam, Hazrat Umar, may
Allah be pleased with him – he made it clear for eternity, that no Muslim ever worships
the black stone – it can neither benefits us, neither can it harm us. And the best example
is that, during the time of the Prophet – the Sahabas… the companions of the Prophet,
they even stood on the Kabah, and gave the Adhan – Adhan is the call for prayers. People
stood on the Kabah, and gave the Adhan. I am asking you…‘Which idol worshipper, will
ever stand on the idol he worships.’So these are sufficient proofs, that no Muslim ever
worships the Kabah. Kabah is the Qibla – and we worship only Allah (swt), Who we
cannot see with the eyes. Hope that answers the question.
(Dr. Mohammed) Yes brother.
(Q). I am Dr. Vyas – a medical practitioner. We came here for having views on
Universal Brotherhood – We did not come here for a Bhauddik on Islam. I would
request you to tell us about brotherhood in this world. Now this is Universal
Brotherhood – I would like to know whether there are brothers in other parts of the
Universe ? We have brothers in India, so we talk of Indian brotherhood – and how
brotherhood in this country, has affected the history of this country, during last one
hundred years ?
(Dr. Zakir) The brother has asked a very good question, a very relevant question. He
said that…‘You know, he has come here to hear about Universal Brotherhood – and what
I spoke is about the brotherhood of the world only – and are there brothers in other parts
of the Universe? Brother is a doctor Alhamdulillah – and if you heard my talk, if you paid
attention to it brother, I said that…‘We believe in Almighty God, Who is the Lord of the
worlds. Rabbul Aalamin…Lord of the worlds, means…‘Lord of the Universe, besides
this world’.
(Qtn. Interruption…) Talk about brotherhood of this Universe, or Indian Brotherhood.
(Audience Interruption…) Ek do batein mai apke samne.

(Dr. Zakir) Bhaisab zara pehla main unko answer kar du… I will reply to him, and then I
will come to your question – You are most welcome – I am here – I will reply to
everyone – InshaAllah. First I will just reply to the elderly gentleman – he has asked a
question – it is my pleasure to reply. He said…‘Talk about Brotherhood – that is the
brotherhood.’ And Universal Brotherhood means, not only brotherhood of this world, but
of the worlds, of the whole Universe. And according to the Glorious Qur’an, in Surah
Shura, Ch. No. 42 V. No. 29, it says that…
وَمِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ خَلۡقُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا بَثَّ فِيهِمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ۬‌ۚ
And of His portents is the creation of the heaven and the earth, and of whatever beasts He hath dispersed therein.

‘Allah (swt) has created the heavens and the earth, and has put creatures between
them.’
That means, the Qur’an says that…
‘There are living creatures besides this world.’
There are living creatures besides this world – Science has not reached that far, to prove
that there is life besides this earth. You know Scientists – they are sending rockets and
satellites and spaceships, to try and prove there is life on Mars, etc. It is not established –
they say… ‘There are high chances.’ But the Qur’an says…‘There is life besides this
earth’ – and I believe in it. So Universal Brotherhood does not only mean brotherhood in
this world – it means brotherhood, even in the other worlds, as you rightly said – even
brotherhood in India – even brotherhood in India – throughout the world. And for this
brotherhood to prevail – if you heard my talk – I do not want to repeat the full talk again
– that there should be a moral conduct – that no human being should kill any other human
being, he should not rob, he should give charity, he should love his neighbours, he should
not backbite, he should see to it that when he sleeps with a full stomach, even his
neighbour is fed well, he should see to it that he does not have Alcohol – Alcohol
prevents the brotherhood to prevail in the world, he should not backbite, he should not
slander anyone. All this things promotes Universal Brotherhood not only in India, not
only in the world, in the full Universe – May be possible that you did not pay attention to
some portions of my talk. My talk Alhamdulillah, was focussed on the topic – and it did
cover India, America, full world, as well as the Universe. And this can only take place –
and all the Religions, if you believe in the concept that the Creator of all the human
beings, of all the creatures – whether in India, or whether in America, or whether outside
this world, is one Almighty God. And all the Religions basically speak in belief of one
God, which I discussed in detail. For more details about ‘Concept of God’ – I have given
this talk ‘Concept of God in Major Religions.’ It speaks more about the concept of God
in other Religions, like Sikhism, and Parsism, etc. – and it deals in detail. If a person
wants to have more knowledge on how it can prevail, you can avail of my cassette
‘Concept of God in Major Religions’ – It is available for sale outside in the foyer…
brother.
(Q) Sabkatal Malani, Ulhas Nagar – I think Dr. Zakir is playing with words – It is
jugglery of words only. Islam divides people of the whole world, in two – ‘one is
Momin and the other is Kafir.’ Definitely we do not believe and trust in many
things, which Islam says – So this brotherhood of Universal Brotherhood, is not
possible, what Islam wants to enjoin in upon us. Islam only creates divisional forces
– Even we can know Shias, Sunnis and seventy other castes in Islam itself.
(Volunteer) Please, question please.
(Qtn. contd…) Ha, I am putting the question.
(Dr. Zakir) No problem.
(Qtn. Contd…) Islam cannot give ‘Universal Brotherhood’ – It is only Hinduism, which
can give Universal Brotherhood …(Sanskrit)… which you have just quoted. Islam does
not recognize – Killing the cows, killing the Kafirs, talking their properties, loot, women
folk… Islam tells. How brotherhood can come? And you talk of brotherhood – It is a
jugglery of words only – Really speaking, you are talking Hinduism, in the name of
Islam.
(Dr. Zakir) The brother has made several comments. And Islam says…(Arabic)…‘For
verily Allah is with those who are patient.’ For brotherhood to prevail, you should be
patient – If I am not patient, there will be a fight between me and my brother. Islam says
in Surah Baqrah, Ch. No. 2, V. No. 153 …(Arabic)…
 ٱسۡتَعِينُواْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ

O ye who believe! Seek help in steadfastness and prayer. Lo! Allah is with the steadfast

‘For verily Allah is with those who
are patient.’ -And for brotherhood to prevail, you should be patient. And, I respect my
elderly brother out here – He may be having a good study of Hinduism, but I am sorry
that I disagree with him – his study of Islam is a bit weak – I would say. And I do agree
with him, that Islam – there are two, types of people – one is a believer, Momin – and the
other he said is a Kafir, according to him. In every Religion there are two types of people
– even in Hinduism… A Hindu and a Non-Hindu; In Christianity… Christian and a Non-
Christian ; In Judaism… a Jew and a Non-Jew ; In Islam… a Muslim and a Non-Muslim
; So where does Islam differ. And I am not here to criticize Hinduism – I am not here to
criticize Hinduism. But since you are a learned speaker, I would like to speak on
Hinduism, because I am a student of Comparative Studies. I have read the Vedas, I have
read the Upanishads – but if just for a small comment… According to Vedas, it is
mentioned that…‘The humankind have been created from four parts of Almighty God –
from the head, it is the Brahmin; from the chest, is the Kshatriya; from the thigh, it is the
Vayshyas, the business class; and from the feet is the Shudra – Caste system. I am not
here to comment on these brother… I would not like to, I would not like to hurt the
feelings of my Hindu brothers – Islam does not agree with that. I did not comment on
those things – I did not criticize any religion, I did not criticize any religion – I did not
say that this religion is wrong. But you, if you know your Veda very well, you should
testify to the audience – Does not the Veda say that…‘From the head you have the
Brahmins; from the chest you have the Kashtriya; from the thigh you have the Vayshyas,
the business class, learned class, warrior class, business class? Shudras… the Shudras are
supposed to be the downtrodden – And there are books written by Dr. Ambedkar – I do
not want to go into the details, brother. Hinduism…I have learnt very well – I respect
many aspects of Hinduism – certain aspect I do not agree – I have to say… because you
have forced me to say. Qur’an says in Surah Anam, Ch 6, V. No. 108…

وَلَا تَسُبُّواْ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَيَسُبُّواْ ٱللَّهَ عَدۡوَۢا بِغَيۡرِ عِلۡمٍ۬‌ۗ

‘Revile not those who worship gods besides Allah, lest in their ignorance, they will
revile Allah (swt).’


What I spoke is the positive aspect of Hinduism – that is, they believe in the concept of
one God. Regarding your question…‘That you know, the Muslims – they keep on killing
people, they keep on killing Cows’… You said – Correct? You said that. See, every
allegation requires an answer – the time does not permit – I will just pick up a few. Any
other, you can come next and ask – I am here to clarify the misconception – it is my
pleasure. Only if I clarify the misconception, will the person understand Islam better –
Therefore in our sessions, we always have a Question-Answer session, and we welcome
– and any one criticize us, I love it – More a person criticizes and more he is logically
convinced, will he understand Islam better. That is what I do – Islam says spread the
message of truth, with hiqmat. The Qur’an says in Surah, Nahl, Ch. 16, V.125
…(Arabic)… That is…

ٱدۡعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِٱلۡحِكۡمَةِ وَٱلۡمَوۡعِظَةِ ٱلۡحَسَنَةِ‌ۖ وَجَـٰدِلۡهُم بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحۡسَنُ‌ۚ
Call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom and fair exhortation, and reason with them in the better way. 

‘Invite all to the way of thy Lord, with wisdom and beautiful preaching, and argue
with them, and reason with them, in ways that are best and most gracious’.

Regarding the concept of… ‘Can we have Non-Veg?’ – Talking about killing cows, etc.
And there are many Non-Muslims who say…‘You know, you Muslims, you all are
ruthless people, you all kill animals.’ Just for your information brother, a Muslim can be
a very good Muslim, even by being a pure vegetarian. It is not compulsory that he should
have Non-Veg, to be a good Muslim. But since the Qur’an says in several places… ‘You
can have the cattle’ – Why we should not have ? The Qur’an says in Surah Maidah, Ch.
No.5, V. No. 1 – It says that …(Arabic)…

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَوۡفُواْ بِٱلۡعُقُودِ‌ۚ أُحِلَّتۡ لَكُم بَہِيمَةُ ٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ إِلَّا مَا يُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡكُمۡ غَيۡرَ مُحِلِّ
O ye who believe! Fulfil your undertakings. The beast of cattle is made lawful unto you (for food) except that which is announced unto you (herein)

‘Fulfil all your obligation – and lawful for you are all four footed animals, with
exceptions named.’

Qur’an says in Surah Nahl, Ch. No. 16, V. No. 5, that…

وَٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمَ خَلَقَهَا‌ۗ لَڪُمۡ فِيهَا دِفۡءٌ۬ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ وَمِنۡهَا تَأۡڪُلُونَ
And the cattle hath He created, whence ye have warm clothing and uses, and whereof ye eat;


 ‘Allah
has created for you cattle, which are the signs – From it you derive warmth, and
there are various benefits in it, and of their meat, you can eat.’

 Qur’an repeats this
in Surah Mominun Ch. 23, V. 21…

وَإِنَّ لَكُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ لَعِبۡرَةً۬‌ۖ نُّسۡقِيكُم مِّمَّا فِى بُطُونِہَا وَلَكُمۡ فِيہَا مَنَـٰفِعُ كَثِيرَةٌ۬ وَمِنۡہَا تَأۡكُلُونَ
And lo! in the cattle there is verily a lesson for you. We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies, and many uses have ye in them, and of them do ye eat; (21)


 ‘You can eat the meat of the cattle’.

You know in Non-Veg – there are doctors available here – even I am a medical doctor –
It is rich in protein, it is rich in iron, and it is very nutritious. In the other foods, the level
of protein which get, in Non-Veg. – you cannot get in any other vegetarian food. Soya
bean which is supposed to be the best form of protein in vegetable – it comes no where to
close to the Non-Veg. protein. And regarding the concept of killing of cows – If you read
the Hindu Scriptures – I am not here to criticize any Religion – the brother asked a
question, I have to speak the truth – it permits a person to have Non-Veg. If you read the
Hindu Scriptures, the Sages and Sants…they had Non-Veg… They even had beef. It is
later on, due to the influence of the other Religions like Jainism, etc. that people were
being influenced in the philosophy of Ahimsa…of not to kill animals – that they accepted
this philosophy in the way of life. Otherwise, Islam is also for animal rights -I can give a
talk only on animal rights. Islam is the Religion which says that…‘Do not overburden the
animals, treat them nicely, give them food – But when required, they are even created for
food.’ If you analyze the other Religions which believe in this philosophy…‘That you
should not have Non-Veg.’ – This philosophy was based on the concept that…‘You
should not kill animals, because they are living creatures – Therefore having Non-Veg. is
a sin.’ I do agree with them – If any human being can live in this world without killing a
single living creature, I would be the first one. The Universal Brotherhood in Hinduism,
is that…‘Every living creature is your brother – every living creature, irrespective
whether he is a animal or a bird or an insect.’ I am asking a simple question that…‘How
can a person even survive for five minutes, without killing millions of his brothers?’
Those who know medical science, will understand what I am saying. That, whenever you
breathe, there are millions of germs you are inhaling, and you are killing – that means in
this Religion, you are killing your brothers to survive. The Universal Brotherhood in
Islam is, every human being is your brother – brotherhood in faith is, every Muslim is a
brother. Every living creature is not my brother – but we have to protect the living
creature, should not harm them, should not unnecessarily torture them – but when
required, you can have them for food. So when this philosophy says that…‘Having Non-
Veg. is a sin, because you kill living creature’ – Today science tells us that…‘Even the
plants have life’ – Do you know that? So the logic that…‘Killing living creatures is a
sin’, has failed. So now they change the logic, and they say that…‘See plants have got
life, but plants cannot feel pain – therefore killing the animals is a greater sin, as
compared to killing plants. Do you know today science is advanced, and we have come to
know, even the plants can feel pain – the plants can even cry, the plants even feel happy –
so the logic that plants cannot feel pain, has failed. What is the thing – the cry of the plant
cannot be heard by the human ear, because the human ear has a frequency of twenty
cycles per second, to twenty thousand cycles per second. Anything between this, the
human ear can hear – anything below or above, the human ear can not hear. For example,
if a master blows a dog whistle – you know there are dog whistles – It is called as a silent
dog whistle – It blows the whistle, which has a frequency of above twenty thousand
cycles, and below forty thousand cycles, per second. The dog can hear upto forty
thousand cycles per second – So when the master blows the whistle, the dog hears the
whistle, but the human beings do not hear – It is called as a silent dog whistle. Similarly,
the cry given out by the plant cannot be heard by the human being – but they also cry,
they also feel pain. There was a brother of ours who argued with maximum, and he told
me that…‘Brother Zakir, I agree with you, that the plants have got life, they can feel pain
– but you know, the plants have got two senses less. They only have three senses – the
animals have got five senses – therefore killing an animal is a greater sin, as compared to
killing a plant. So I told him…‘Brother suppose you have a younger brother, who is born
deaf and dumb – two senses less. After he grows up, if someone goes and kills him, will
you tell the Judge: O me lord give the murderer a less punishment because my brother
had two senses less? Will you say that? You will say: ‘Me lord give him double
punishment because he killed a person who was innocent’. So in Islam the logic does not
work like that – two senses or three senses. Islam says in Surah Baqarah, Ch. 2, V. 168…
‘Eat of the good things that We have provided for you’
– That means, whatever is good and lawful, you can have. And that is the reason if you
analyze, the cattle in the world – Allah (swt) has His way – Almighty God – the
reproduction of the cattle is very fast, as compared to reproduction of the other animals

and the human beings – they reproduce very fast. If I agree with you that no human
beings should have any cattle, then we will have over population of cattle in the world.
And regarding killing of cows, there is a book written by Maulana Abdul Karim Parikh
‘Gauhatya’… ‘Cow slaughter – Who is to blame?’ And if you analyze the people that
deal in leather…leather of cows – more Non-Muslims, than Muslims. Leathers – the
Jains…they deal in that – So the people who are responsible to benefit from the cow
slaughter, are not the Muslims – the more of them are Non-Muslims. So if you know
history well, and if you know logic also well, you will understand that Allah says…‘Eat
of the good things We have provided for you’ – If you can have, there is no problem. And
besides that if you analyze, the set of teeth of the herbivorous animals…the cow, the goat,
the sheep – they only eat vegetables – they have a flat set of teeth. If you have analyze the
set of teeth of the carnivorous animal – the lion, the tiger, the leopard, they have got sharp
pointed teeth – they can only have Non-Veg. If you analyze the set of teeth of the human
beings – if you go in the mirror and look at your teeth – we have pointed teeth, as well as
flat teeth. If Almighty God wanted us to have only vegetables, why did He give us these
pointed teeth? …For what? To have Non-Veg. If you analyze the digestive system of the
herbivorous animal…the cow, the goat, the sheep – they have digestive system which can
only digest vegetables. The digestive system of the carnivorous animal…the lion, the
tiger, the leopard – they can only digest Non-Veg. The digestive system of the human
being can digest both Non-Veg. and Veg. If Almighty God wanted us to have only
Vegetables, why did He give us a digestive system that can digest both Veg. and Non-
Veg. So scientifically if you analyze, Almighty God wanted us to have both, Veg. as well
as Non-Veg. – Hope that answers the question. If you have any queries, any other
misconception brother, it is my pleasure to reply. One misconception at a time – So that I
can do justice to each of the misconception – Thank you brother.
(Dr Mohammed) Yes brother.
(Q) Hello Dr Naik Saheb – Yahan par jitni bhi batein hui, most probably English
mein hui, aur yahan par sab itne padhe likkhe log nahi hai, ke wo ab sirf English
samajh sake. Most probably to jo bhi apke lecture ya bhashan hone chahiye the na,
wo yahan par logo ke bhashan mein hone chahi the.
(Dr. Mohammed) Excuse me, excuse me brother, excuse me brother, excuse me – let me
coordinate. We have been called here – Zakir have been invited by the organizers here, to
give a talk in English, and have a Question-Answer. That what questions you have to
address, that I would request you to kindly after the program, address to the organizers.
(Qtn. Contd…) Question mera baki hai… question mera baki hai.
(Dr. Mohammed) Ha… then you put forward your question. Urdu mein bhi agar aap
question put forward karege, Insha Allah agar speaker ko… he will explain it and answer
it.
(Qtn. Contd…) Nahi bura hai Ved aur Shastra, nahi Qur’an bura hai. Bina samjhi batein,
aur be samjha vyakhyan bura hai, samjho tum apni bato, aur sab ka dhyan bura hai, apne

apne hisab se socho, ke us uska Prabhu ka samman nahi bura hai. Aur Universal
Brotherhood ke pahle se, jaha bhi koi batein honi chahiye wahan per mazhab ki koi baat
nahi honi chahiye. Mazhab se uper oothkar baat honi chahiye, kyon mazhab se upar utna
hi, oos Allah taala ko pana hai – Oos Parmatma ko pana hai – Aur pehle, God ka meaning
samjho, ke God ka meaning kya hai – God, Godess kuch nahi hota hai. G – O – D…that
super power is controlling our nature. And that nature is having three parts…G-O-D, ‘G’
for Generator, ‘O’ for Operator, ‘D’ for Destroyer. That Nature is Generating us, that
Nature is Operating us, that Nature is Destroying us. We are being Generated, we are
being Operated, we are being Destroyed. Is mein Godess aur God ka meaning kuch bhi
nahi hai, aur God ka assli meaning kuch bhi nahi hai. Allah taala god se ooper hai,
Parmeshwar god se ooper hai, Parmeshwar god se ooper hai.
(Dr. Zakir) Thank you very much brother. The brother has summarized my lecture is a
very short way – Alhamdulillah – I thank him. He rightly said there is no god and
goddess – that is what I explained. He explained in Hindi, so that those who do not
understand English, can understand – I would like to thank this brother. He explained
very well – There is no god, there is no goddess – Allahtaala…Allah (swt) is Superior –
and I agree with him – Thank you brother. And he rightly said, that there should not be
different Religions. I agree with you – there should not be different Religions. Because
Qur’an says in Surah Al Imran, Ch.3, V. No.19 …(Arabic)…
إِنَّ ٱلدِّينَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡإِسۡلَـٰمُ‌ۗ
Lo! religion with Allah (is) the Surrender (to His Will and guidance).

‘The only way of life acceptable, is the person who submits his will to Allah (swt).’

And I agree with you brother, that if you fight amongst yourself in Religion, there is
bound to be differences – and there should be no differences. And the brother also made
certain comments that Shias, etc., and different Religions, and there are seventy three
firkas. I can give that answer – it requires time – If you want to know the answer, you can
pose it – I will give you the reply for that also – Why…talking about different firkas, etc.
But the brother rightly said that there should be only one Religion – One way of life –
and that is submitting your will to Allah (swt). If you believe in that, there has to be
Universal Brotherhood – if you do not believe in that, there is bound to be disharmony.
Thank you very much brother.
(Dr. Mohammed) What we will start – We will start asking one question on the slip.
And if anyone would like to ask questions, I would request them – Kindly stand on the
mike, so you can put forward the question – Okay we will allow the gentleman there to
ask the question. Any sister would like to ask some question, I would request you to
kindly stand at the mike. If no one is standing at the time, I assume the question is not
going to come from the mike, and I move forward to the next clockwise question. One
question from the mike, one from the slips – Yes brother.
(Q) Zakir Bhai, I have a very simple question.


(Qtn. Contd…) Professor Devray – I have not studied any Religion – I do not believe in
any Religion. And I my simple question is – Do you believe that there are different
Religions, and there have to be different Religions ? Because in your lecture you said
that…‘The Allah…The God Almighty, created all the people in the world, men and
women, and He purposely divided them into different Religions, different regions, etc.,
etc., so that, they should not fight with each other, but they should understand each other.
Will you kindly explain to me the purpose of the Crusades, and will you kindly explain to
me your own statement, that the difference between Hinduism and the Islam Religion ?
You said that it is ‘Hinduism’, and it is ‘Islam Religion’ – you never said that Hinduism
is a Religion. The difference which you stated between Hinduism and Islam Religion
was, that Hindus believe that everything is god, while Muslims believe that everything is
God’s. If everything is God’s, why there is so much of killing, either in India or in any
other part of the whole world…even in the Muslim countries also – Thank you very
much.
(Dr. Zakir) The brother has asked a very good question, and he said that I said in my
talk, that…‘The Almighty God has created the human beings, from a single pair…male
and female, and have divided into different Religions.’ Brother never did I say
that…‘Almighty God divided the people into different Religions?’ It is being recorded – I
never said…‘Different Religions’. I said…‘Into different nations, and tribes – races and
colours’ – not Religions. Allah says…‘There is only one Religion’. Almighty God never
divides the people into different Religions – There is only one Religion. Into different
nations and colours and variations in languages – So that you may recognize each other –
that okay, this person comes from this particular race, from this region – Not Religion
…Region – It is not Religion. So your statement of ‘Religion’ is not correct – other
things is fine …different languages, different colours, different nations, I agree with that
– so that they may recognize each other; not that they shall fight amongst each other. You
said that…‘I never mentioned that Hinduism is a Religion.’ I again disagree with you. I
said…‘Religion is a belief in Almighty God, according to Oxford dictionary. To
understand Hinduism, to understand the Religion of Hinduism, you have to understand
the concept of God. To understand the Religion of Judaism, you have to understand the
concept of God, in Judaism. To understand the Religion of Christianity, you have to
understand the concept of God, in Christianity. To understand the Religion of Islam, you
have to understand the concept of God, in Islam’ – That is what I said. Regarding
differences…Who has created? – Not Almighty God. Allah clearly say in Surah Anam,
Ch. 6, V. 159.

‘Anyone who breaks the Religion into sects, Allah has nothing to do with him.’

You cannot divide the Religion – Anyone who divides, is in the wrong. You asked
me…‘Why are people killing each other?’ That you have to ask them. Suppose as a
teacher you tell the pupil…‘Do not copy.’ And yet they copy…who is to blame – the
teacher or the student? The student. Here, Almighty God has given a free will to the
human being, that you can do what you want – I have given you Guidance. The last and
final Guidance, the last and final Revelation, is the Glorious Qur’an – the dos and do nots

is mentioned here. And Allah says – and I mentioned in my talk in Surah Maidah, Ch. 5,
V. 32…
 مَن قَتَلَ نَفۡسَۢا بِغَيۡرِ نَفۡسٍ أَوۡ فَسَادٍ۬ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَڪَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعً۬ا وَمَنۡ أَحۡيَاهَا فَڪَأَنَّمَآ أَحۡيَا ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعً۬ا‌ۚ
 whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind


‘If anyone kills a human being – whether it be a Muslim or a Non Muslims, whether
it be Hindu, Jew, Christian, Sikh, anyone – unless it be for murder or for spreading
mischief in the land, it is as though he has killed the whole of human race.’ ‘If he
saves any human being, it as though he has saved the whole of humanity.’

So God Almighty does not like people killing each other – but if human beings do not
want to follow, who is to blame? The human being.‘So this world’, the Qur’an says in
Surah Mulk, Ch 16, V. No. 2, that…
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلاً۬‌ۚ
Who hath created life and death that He may try you which of you is best in conduct


‘This world – Allah has creates death and life, to test
which of you is good in deeds.’ Allah has created death and life, to test which of you is
good in deeds – Allah does not interfere – If He wants, He can. The Qur’an says…‘If
Allah wanted, He could have made all the people believe’ – but then where is the test. If
the teacher wants, he can easily pass all the students, irrespective whether they fail –
Teacher can…But that will be bad. Then where is the free will of the student? If they are
undergoing a test, and if someone does not give a right answer – yet the teacher
passes…then a person who has studied hard, will object– that… ‘I slogged so much for
the examination – this person, he is copying and he is cheating – he writes wrong answer,
and he passes’. So the next batch, if the people release, that teacher passes every one,
irrespective whether he gives right answer or wrong answer, then everyone will stop
studying. Then you may get a degree…a medical degree, but that doctor when he passes
in medical, when he comes out, he will not cure the people – he will kill the people. So
therefore Allah (swt) has given the guidelines in the Glorious Qur’an… ‘Do not kill, do
not harm others, love people, love your neighbour’ – All that, I said in my talk. But if
people do not do, that means they are not following the Qur’an – let it be any one…Let it
be anyone – whether it be America, whether it be Pakistan, whether it be any country in
the world. People may say…‘See just by calling yourself a Muslim name, Abdullah or
Zakir or Mohammed, you do not get ticket to Jannah. Just by saying that you are a
Muslim, does not make you a Muslim. ‘Muslim’ is not a label – that okay, if I say…‘I am
a Muslim’ – I am a Muslim. Muslim means…‘A person who submits his will to Allah
(swt).’ Just by calling a person Zakir, Abdullah, Mohammed, Shakir…these people – if
they act, if they submit their will to Allah, then they are Muslims. By calling themselves
Muslims, as the Qur’an says…‘There are some people whose are lip service Muslims.’
So if people are killing, they are not following the guidance of the Qur’an. If they follow
the guidance of the Qur’an, peace will prevail throughout the world – Hope that answers
the question.
(Qtn. Contd…) So Zakir Bhai, if a Hindu follows the principles of Qur’an, which are
very similar to the principles given in the various Hindu Religious books, can a Hindu
call himself as a Muslim – or on the other hand, can a Muslim call himself as a Hindu,
because the very topic of your lecture is Universal Brotherhood ? I properly understood
Dr. Vyas, when he asked his question.
(Dr. Zakir) Very good question – brother has asked a very good question – If you ask a
clear question, I can give a reply – Alhamdulillah. Brother has asked a very good

question – Can a Hindu following the principles of Islam in the Qur’an – and Hinduism,
be called as a Muslim, and can a Muslim be called as a Hindu – Very good. Let us
understand the definition of the word ‘Muslim’ and a ‘Hindu.’ As I said… ‘Muslim is a
person who submits his will to Allah (swt)’… Almighty God. What is the definition of
the word ‘Hindu’ – Do you know? Hindu is a geographical definition – Any one living in
India, anyone living on this side of the Indus valley civilization – he is a Hindu. By
definition, I am Hindu – do you know that? Hindu is a geographical definition – You ask
anyone – According to Swami Vivekananda, ‘Hindu is a Misnoma’. Geographically I am
an Indian – I am a Hindu, geographically. But Swami Vivekananda said that…‘They
should be called as Vedantist – They should not be called Hindus – Vedantist. If so you
ask me ‘Am I geographically ‘Hindu’ ? Yes I am geographically Hindu – I am. But if you
ask me… ‘Am I a Vedantist, following the Vedas?’ I said that… “ ‘Those parts of the
Vedas which conciliates with the Glorious Qur’an – I have got no objection in following
those parts – for example, ‘That there is one God.’ ” But if you say…‘I believe that
Almighty God created the Brahmins from the head, a different caste which are superior
caste, the Kshatriyas from the chest’. It is Veda I am quoting. If you do not believe in the
Veda, it is your problem brother – but this is the Veda, I am quoting. You can ask the
scholars… of Vedic scholars – they are sitting here… they are sitting here – Vedas say
that – Not I. ‘The Vyashyas from the thighs, and the Shudras from the feet.’ I do not
agree with this concept – that is right. So if you ask me…‘Do you believe in this
philosophy of Veda’ – I say… ‘No’. This particular philosophy…
(Qtn. Contd…) According to you, anybody who inhabits this land, is a Hindu ?
(Dr. Zakir) Yes.
(Qtn. Contd…) According to you.
(Dr. Zakir) Yes, yes… Geographically I… I said that – Yes. The brother has rightly said
that… ‘Anybody who inhabits India, has to be a Hindu’ – but naturally. Any one living in
America, is a citizen of America – he has to be American. Very good – Alhamdulillah –
so anyone… living……
(Audience) Everyone is a Hindu here.
(Audience) Ye real brotherhood hai.
(Dr. Zakir) Yes, that is it. I agree with you brother – Geographically, everyone living in
India, is a Hindu – So I completely agree with it. By the geographical definition if you
say… if you say, that… ‘Anyone who lives in India is a Hindu’ – it is correct. Any
scholar will agree…Anyone living in India is a Hindu…Geographically I am Hindu. But
because I stay in India… can I be a Muslim? – Yes.
(Audience) Please maintain it.

(Dr. Zakir) Of course. So a person – Can a Muslim be a Hindu ? Yes – If the Muslim is
living in India, he can be a Hindu – but if a so called Hindu lives in America, he is not a
Hindu – Do you know that? – he is an American. So ‘Hinduism’ cannot be called a
Universal Religion…according to scholars – Hindu is a Religion of India only – it is not a
Religion – it is a geographical definition. According to Swami Vivekananda who is a
great scholar – he is said… ‘Hinduism is a Misnoma.’ You know ‘Misnoma’ ? –
Misnoma means a wrong label given – They should be called as Vedantist. So if you ask
me… ‘Am I a Hindu’? I will tell you… ‘If Hindu is a person living in India, by all means
I am a Hindu – But if you say ‘Hindu’ is a person who worships… as the person said you
know – that if you believe in so and so gods, who have got forms, etc., and have got
heads and hands, etc., then I am not a ‘Hindu.’ But if you mean a geographical definition
– ‘Yes I am a Hindu.’ Similarly, ‘Can a Hindu be a Muslim’? Yes, an Indian can be a
Muslim – A Hindu can be a Muslim. But if that Indian… if that Indian does idol worship,
he cannot be a Muslim – Because the Qur’an says in Surah Nisa, Ch. 4, V. 48, and Surah
Nisa, Ch. 4 V, 116, that
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغۡفِرُ أَن يُشۡرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغۡفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٲلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ‌ۚ


‘Allah (swt) never forgives the sin of committing shirk, associating partners’. Any
other sin, if He wishes, He may forgive, but shirk He will never forgive.’

So an Indian, living in India – ‘Geographical Hindu’… can be a Muslim. But if that
‘Geographical Hindu’…‘Indian’, breaks any commandments… that is the basics of
concept of God… believe in Prophet Mohammed (SAWS) – then he cannot be a Muslim.
Any Muslim who follows the Qur’an and lives in India – he is an Indian Muslim. Hope it
is very clear for you.
(Qtn. Contd…) Two things I want to make very clear – First, you might not have
properly heard me.
(Dr. Mohammed) Brother… I thing as far as the Question-Answer session goes, we will
allow normally one question. You put your question completely as a question, rather than
lecture – and let the speaker answer. After the Question-Answer session is over… after
the program is over – And when others who might not be interested in discussion – we
will welcome discussion after the program…So every one else is not blocked up one
question – and we give opportunities to many other people – Yes Advocate Hegde.
(Advocate Hegde) This is a Question-Answer session, and not a debate – What you are
doing, is like a debate. If anybody has a question, the speaker will give the answer.
(Qtn. Contd…) We got the answer to our questions – But we are got not satisfied.
(Advocate Hegde) Then you can sit down and let someone else ask a question.
(Brother) Yes, it is alright … We do not mind – But, another question is.
(Dr. Mohammed) Brother, Brother excuse me, I will put forward the question on the slip
– Mr. Mehta’s…

(Q) Why are most of the Muslims, fundamentalists and terrorists?
(Dr. Zakir) The question posed is, by brother Mehta…‘Why are most of the Muslims
fundamentalists and terrorist?’ The question is posed… I give the answer – If you like it
you take it, if you do not like it, leave it. Qur’an says in Surah Baqarah, Ch. 2, V. No. 256

لَآ إِكۡرَاهَ فِى ٱلدِّينِ‌ۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ ٱلرُّشۡدُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَىِّ‌ۚ
There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is henceforth distinct from error


…(Arabic)… ‘There is no compulsion in Religion – Truth stands out clear from error’

. I
have to present the truth to you – If you like it, you take…if you do not like it, reject it –
No problem. ‘There is no compulsion is Religion’ …(Arabic)… Surah Baqarah Ch. 2, V.
256. Brother Mehta has asked a question, that…‘Why are most of the Muslim
fundamentalist, why are they terrorist ? What is the meaning of the
word…‘fundamentalist’? ‘Fundamentalist’ is a person who follows the fundamentals. For
example… a person to be a good mathematician, he should know, he should follow, and
practice the fundamentals of Maths. He should be a fundamentalist in the field of Maths,
to be a good ‘Mathematician’. For a person to be good Scientist… he should know, he
should follow, and practice the fundamentals of ‘Science’. He should be a fundamentalist
in the field of Science, to be a good Scientist. For a person to be a good Doctor, he should
know, he should follow and practice the fundamentals of medicine. He should be a
fundamentalist in the field of medicine, to be a good Doctor. You cannot paint all
fundamentalists with the same brush. You cannot say…‘All fundamentalists are bad’ or
‘All fundamentalists are good’. For example, you are fundamentalist robber, who is
expert in the field of robbing. But, he is harmful for the society – he robs the people, and
does not promote brotherhood – he is not a good human being. On the other, hand you a
fundamentalist doctor – who follows and practices the fundamentals of medicine, and he
cures the sickness of human beings – he is a good person, he helps the human being. So
you cannot paint all fundamentalists with the same brush. Regarding…‘Muslims are
fundamentalist’ – I am proud to be a fundamentalist Muslim, because I know, I follow
and Alhamdulillah strive to practice the fundamentals of Islam – I am proud to be a
fundamentalist Muslim. And every Muslim to be a good Muslim, should be a
fundamentalist Muslim – otherwise he cannot be a good Muslim. Every Hindu to be a
good Hindu, he should be a fundamentalist Hindu… otherwise he will not be a good
Hindu. Every Christian, to be a good Christian, he should be fundamentalist Christian –
otherwise he won’t be a good Christian. Regarding…‘Is a fundamentalist Muslim, good
or bad?’ – That is the question. Alhamdulillah, the fundamentals of Islam – There is not a
single fundamental of Islam, which is against humanity. So far, many of the brothers
posed certain questions, because of the misconceptions – Because of the misconceptions
you may think, that this teaching of Islam is wrong. Like brother said that… ‘Having cow
is wrong’ – And I gave the answer – Brother said about certain thing, and I gave the
answer. So a person who has lack of knowledge, he may think that there are certain
fundamentals of Islam, which are wrong. But if anyone who has the knowledge of Islam
– there is not a single teaching of Islam, which goes against humanity, goes against
society. I challenge anyone – Not only this audience, in the full universe – to point out to
me a single – a single teaching of Islam, which is against the basics of humanity – A
single. Some people may feel bad, but as a whole the teaching of Islam is best for
Universal Brotherhood, to promote humanity. There is not a single teaching, and I
challenge again…anyone from the audience – they can ask me questions – I will clarify
the misconception, Insha-Allah when the time comes. Brother, next question you can
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pose. One question at a time – when your turn was there you don’t reply. See the thing is
that you have to follow certain rules – the mike was empty for half an hour – no one
come up. I told the brother, you most welcome – you stand on the mike – No one comes
– You can keep on asking one – one question – Every third question will be your
question. No problem…You can ask as many… as much as the time, as the auditorium
has been hired for – there is no problem – so I am proud to be a fundamentalist Muslim.
But if you read the definition of ‘fundamentalism’ in the Webster’s dictionary, it says
that… ‘Fundamentalism was a movement which was started in the early twentieth
century, by a group of Christians… the Protestants in America, who protested and said
that…‘Not only is the Bible… the teachings of Bible is, the word of God – but every
letter of the Bible, is verbatim, the word of God’. So ‘Fundamentalism’ was first used for
a group of Protestant Christians in America, who protested and said that…‘Every letter,
word, of the Bible is the word of God’. If any human being who can prove that every
word of the Bible is the word of God, then the movement is good. But if someone can
prove that every word of the Bible is not the word of God, then the movement is not a
good movement. But if you read the Oxford dictionary – What is the meaning of the
word ‘Fundamentalist?’ ‘Fundamentalism’ according to Oxford dictionary
means…‘Strictly adhering to ancient laws of any Religion, especially Islam’. In Oxford
dictionary they write… ‘Especially Islam’. The word ‘Especially Islam’ is there in the
latest edition of Oxford dictionary. That means…‘Fundamentalist’ – Immediately you
think of a ‘Muslim’ – Why? The media is bombarding people that…‘You know… that
these Muslims – they are fundamentalists, they are terrorists’. The moment you think of a
‘fundamentalist’ – immediately the people starting thinking of a ‘Muslim’ – Start
thinking of the word ‘terrorist’. What is the meaning of the word ‘terrorist’? A ‘terrorist’
is a person who causes terror… who cause terror – And sometimes for peace to prevail,
you may have to cause terror. When a robber sees the police, he is terrified – so for the
robber, the police is the terrorist – Right or wrong? I am speaking English – I am not
playing around with words – I am speaking English. ‘Terrorist’ is a person who causes
terror. So for the robber, for the criminal, for the anti-social element, the police is a
terrorist. In this context, every Muslim should be a terrorist – In context… Should be a
terrorist, for the anti-social element. Whenever an anti-social element sees a Muslim, he
should be terrified – Any robber sees a Muslim, he should be terrified, any rapist sees a
Muslim, he should be terrified. But I do agree that ‘terrorist’ is a word normally used for
terrorizing the common people, the innocent, people. In that context, no Muslim should
be a terrorist – he should not terrorise innocent people. But where anti-social elements are
concerned, where robbers are concerned, where criminals are concerned – as policemen
are terrorists to the criminals – even the Muslim should be a terrorist to the criminal. And
if you analyse, many a time, two different labels are given to the same person, for his
same activity. For example, you know there were many Indians who fought for the
freedom of India – When the Britishers ruled India, there were many Indians who fought
for the freedom of India. The Britishers called them as ‘Terrorists… these people are
terrorists’ – But we Indians, we call these freedom fighters, as ‘Patriots’ – Right or
wrong? ‘Patriots’ – they fought for the freedom of the country. Same people, same
activity – two different labels. The Britishers called them as ‘Terrorist’ – the Indian
citizens call them as ‘Patriots’… ‘Freedom fighters’. Same activity, same person – two
different labels. So before you give a label, you should first analyse, that which view do

you adhere to. If you agree with the British view, that the British government had a right
to rule over India, then you would call these people as ‘terrorists’. But if you agree with
the Indian citizens, that the Britishers – they came to do business, and they started ruling
us unlawfully, then you will call these people as freedom fighters. So before you give any
label to any particular person, you should analyse which view do you have. Same people
can be given two different views, by different people. In this context I would
say…‘Every Muslim should be a fundamentalist, where Islam is concerned – because
every teaching of Islam promotes human values, and humanity, and Universal
Brotherhood’. Hope that answers the question.
(Q) I am doctor Devery, from Bhiwandi College. Well, every Religion is a supreme
science of life. Nothing is wrong, so far as the principles of Religions are concerned –
but the formulation of principles is a different thing, and execution of these
principles, is a different thing. Actually where there is no relationship of blood – the
relationship is to established by the Religions. Actually what we find – I quote
…(Sanskrit)… Ees sansar mein shanti prastapit honein ke baad, ashanti mat
phaylaon – yeh paygaam hamein mila hai. But actually what we find, what we
realize, what we experience is this – the maximum blood is wasted only on account
of the conflicts in the Religions. So where is the wrong? – I mean , what are your
views about this? How would you reconcile the principles of Religion, and this chaos
which arises on account of Religion? What are your views on this particular aspect –
Thank you.
(Dr. Zakir) The Professor has asked a very good question, that in all Religions basically
speak good things, but the implementation may be different – they teach good things. But
today you see in the world – many people are fighting on the name of Religion – How
can you solve this problem? It is a very good question – and part of the answer I gave in
my talk. And I said that as far as Islam is concerned, we should not kill any human being
– Surah Maidah, Ch. 5, V. 32. How can you see to it that we can come to common terms?
– How can we solve the differences? That I also, I mentioned in my talk, in Surah Imran,
Ch. 3, V. 64 which says that …(Arabic)… ‘that come to common terms as between us
and you’. If suppose you have ten points, and I have got ten points – If out of those ten
points, if five points are common, and five are different – I at least agree with those five
points which are common – the differences, we will come to it later on. Qur’an says
…(Arabic)…‘that come to common terms as between us and you’. Which is the first
term? …(Arabic)… ‘that we worship none, but Allah’. …(Arabic)… ‘that we associate
no partners with Him’. Say you rightly said…‘How to solve ?’ And I have given the
methodology, how to solve…‘That come to common terms’. But the point to be noted
here is, that many people who follow Religions, they do not know what their own
Religious Scripture speaks – that is the problem. Many Muslims do not know what the
Qur’an and Sahih Hadith speak; many Hindus do not know what Hindu Scriptures say;
many Christians and Jews do not know what the Bible says. Who is to blame ? –
Followers. Therefore I tell the people…‘You read your Scriptures’ The point of
differences, we will come to it later on – at least come to the communalities. I have given
a talk on ‘Similarities between Islam and Christianity’. I say…‘The things which we
differ, we will come to it later on’. At least what your Bible and my Qur’an says – let us
agree with those things which are common – Fight will be solved. What I am doing now
– In my talk, did I ever criticize any religion? I was forced to reply, when certain brothers
tried to ask certain questions – which I have to speak the truth. Other wise in my talk…
you can take the video cassette – I did not criticize a single point on any Religion – I
never spoke about the differences – I only came to common terms. Differences…I can
give a talk on…‘Differences between Islam and Hinduism’; ‘Differences between Islam
and Christianity’. I am a student of Comparative Religion – I can quote verses,
Alhamdulillah from the various World Scriptures, talking about differences. I keep that
when required…when someone tries to disturb the programme – We have to be well
aware of these things. But I never use it in my talks – I never use it with the common
man. I tell the common man… ‘You read your Scriptures – you will come closer to your
Scriptures, and to Universal Brotherhood – Read your Scriptures. At least first believe in
one God – the differences we will come to later on… the differences we will came to
later on. Judaism says that, Christianity says that, Hinduism says that, Islam says that,
Sikhism says that, Parsism says that…‘Believe in one God, and worship Him Alone’.
Why do you worship other gods ? Come to that point… then come to other points. If we
solve this problem of commonalities – If, even if there are three points common out of
ten, at least agree on those common points – the other points we can agree to disagree –
we will come to it later on. So if we come on the common points first, coming on the
comparative studies, believe me most of the problems will be solved – Believe me… and
that is what I am doing. I am going throughout the world, and I address audiences from
Non-Muslims…and many of them, because they are not aware of their Scriptures… of
our Scriptures, many people pose questions. Even Muslims are not aware of their
Scriptures – So they pose questions which they are not aware of. So I educate them – I
educate them about Qur’an, about Hadith… about Vedas, about Bible. And I quote –
when I quote, I give the reference number – So no one can say… ‘Oh Zakir is pulling a
fast one’. And all these Scriptures I quoted – it is available in the Islamic Research
Foundation. Our library has the various translations of Vedas. We have hundreds of types
of Bibles – more than thirty different versions of the Bible… we have – Alhamdulillah.
So whichever sect you belong to – whether you are Jehovah’s Witness or Protestants or
Catholics – I speak from their Scriptures. So if you say that…‘Zakir is wrong’ – You
have to say that…‘the Holy Scripture is wrong’. I quote… and most of my talks are
quotations – Quotations from various Scriptures. If you disagree with the Scriptures –
that is your choice. If you want to disagree, you are most welcome to disagree – because
Qur’an says …(Arabic)… There is no compulsion in Religion – Truth stands out clear
from error. So I am presenting the truth of Hinduism to you – So if you want to agree…
agree – Do not want to agree, do not agree. There is a Symposium… the third cassette
from there – Symposium on ‘Concept of God on Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity’.
People may call it a debate – A Hindu Pundit from Kerala and Calicut; A Christian father
of Calicut; I myself presented the Islam’s view. Four and a half hours debate… it is
available outside – Scholars of Hinduism, of Christianity – I am just a student…I am
presenting my view – and it is for the audience to judge. I am talking about ‘Similarities’
– quoting their Scriptures – Chapter number, Verse number, Chapter number, Verse
number. The best way to call all the human beings to unite, is find the commonalities –
Speak about the differences later on. Hope that answers the question.

(Dr. Mohammed) The next question would be from the slip – Then if the sister will
allow, there is one Raj Malhotra – he is asking…‘If Islam is a Religion of peace, then
how come it was spread by the sword ?’

(Dr. Zakir) The question posed was…‘If Islam is a Religion of peace… how come it was
spread by the sword.?’ Islam comes from the root word ‘Salam’, which means ‘Peace’. It
also means ‘Submitting your will to Allah (swt)… Almighty God’. In short, Islam
means… ‘Peace, acquired by submitting your will to Allah (swt)’. But as I mentioned
earlier, everyone in the world does not want peace to prevail in the world. There are
certain anti-social elements… for their own benefit, they do not want peace to prevail…
the robbers, the criminals – If peace will prevail, they will go out of business – So for
their own benefits, there are certain human beings, who do not want peace to prevail. So
for such type of people, force may have to be used – therefore we have police, etc. So,
Islam is for peace – but sometimes you may have to use force, to put the anti social
elements in their place. And the best answer to this question…‘That Islam was spread by
the sword’, is given by Delay See Olary – He is a Non-Muslim historian, of great repute.
In his book – ‘Islam at the Cross Roads’, on page number eight, he says that… ‘History
makes it clear, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping across the world, forcing
Islam at the point of the sword, over conquered races, is the most fantastic absurd myth,
that historians have ever repeated’ – Delay See Olary, page number eight – Book…‘Islam
at the Cross Roads’. I am asking you a question that…‘We Muslims, we ruled Spain for
about eight hundred years – later on the Crusaders came, and they wiped out the
Muslims. There was not a Muslim who could openly give the Adhan… the call for
prayers – We did not use any force. You know, we Muslims, we ruled the Arab lands for
about fourteen hundred years – for a few years the Britishers came, for a few years the
French came – but overall the Muslims were the lordship of the Arab land, for fourteen
hundred years. Do you know, today there are fourteen million Arabs, who are Coptic
Christians? ‘Coptic Christian’ means, they are Christians through generations since
generations. If the Muslims wanted, they could have converted every Non-Muslim at the
point of the sword – we did not do it. The fourteen million Arabs who were Coptic
Christians, are giving witness, that Islam was not spread by the sword. You know India –
India was ruled for hundreds of years by the Muslims – We did not use the sword… we
did not use the sword. If few people do a wrong thing, you cannot catch up those people,
and blame the Religion for that… If few people do not follow the Religion. You cannot
say that Christianity is bad, because Hitler insinuated six million Jews. If Hitler
insinuated six million Jews, burnt six million Jews, you can not blame Christianity for
that – There may be black sheep in every community. But we Muslims, we ruled India
for hundreds of years – If we wanted, we could have forced every Non-Muslim to
convert, at the point of the sword. We did not do it – The Non-Muslims of India today…
more than eighty percent – they are giving Shahada, they are giving witness – you Non-
Muslims present here, are giving witness that Islam was not spread by the sword. You are
giving witness – we had the power… we did not do it – Islam does not believe in that.
Today the country which has the maximum number of Muslims, is Indonesia – Which
Muslim army went to Indonesia? Which Muslim army went to Malaysia… which has
fifty five percent of population of Muslims? Which Muslim army went to the east coast
of Africa? – Which Muslim army? Which sword? Thomas Carlye gives the reply –

Thomas Carlye… he writes in his book… ‘Heroes and Hero worship’ that… ‘You have
to get this sword – Little good will it do, that he should spread with the sword. Every new
opinion initially begins in the mind of one – One man in the whole world – One man
against all the human beings. It will do little good, that he picks up a sword and
propagates it.’ – Which sword? Even if we had the sword, we cannot use it – Even if we
had the mental sword, we cannot use it. Qur’an says in Surah Baqarah, Ch. 2, V. 256
…(Arabic)… ‘There is no compulsion in Religion – Truth stands out clear from error’.
Anyone who grasps the hands of Allah (swt) and rejects the evil, he has held the most
strong hand hold, that never breaks. Anyone who believes in Allah… Allah will take him
from darkness to light. Anyone who believes in the satan the evil one, he will take him
from lightness to dark.’ Which sword? – Sword of the intellect. Qur’an says in Surah
Nahl Ch. 16, V. 125 …(Arabic)…
ٱدۡعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِٱلۡحِكۡمَةِ وَٱلۡمَوۡعِظَةِ ٱلۡحَسَنَةِ‌ۖ وَجَـٰدِلۡهُم بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحۡسَنُ‌ۚ
Call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom and fair exhortation, and reason with them in the better way

‘Invite all to the way to thy Lord, with wisdom and beautiful preaching, and argue
with them, and reason with them, in the ways that are best and most gracious.’
There was a article that came in the ‘Plain Truth’ Magazine – It was a reproduction of
‘The Readers Digest Al Manager Book’ 1986. It gave the statistics of the increase of the
world Religions, between 1934 to 1984. In the 50 years, number one increase in major
Religion’s was Islam; two hundred and thirty five percent; 235%. I am asking you…
‘Which war took place between 1934 and 1984, which converted millions of Non-
Muslims to Islam? Which war? Do you know, today the fastest growing Religion in
America, is Islam? – Who is forcing the Americans to convert at the point of the sword?
The fastest growing Religion in Europe, is Islam – Who is forcing them at the point of the
sword? Qur’an gives the answer in no less than three different places, in Surah Tawbah,
Ch. 9, V. No. 33; In Surah As Saff, Ch. 61, V. No. 9; and Surah Fath, Ch. 48, V. 28, the
Glorious Qur’an says …(Arabic)… Allah says that…
هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَرۡسَلَ رَسُولَهُ ۥ بِٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ ٱلۡحَقِّ لِيُظۡهِرَهُ ۥ عَلَى ٱلدِّينِ كُلِّهِۦ‌ۚ
He it is Who hath sent His messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, that He may cause it to prevail over all religion


‘Allah has send His messenger with Truth, and with Guidance, so that it will prevail
over all the other ways of life, over all the other religions.’

Islam is destined to supersede all, master them all, overcome them all. …(Arabic)…
‘Enough is Allah as a Witness’. And I would like to end this answer, by the giving the
quotation of Adam Peirson. Dr Adam Peirson said that…‘People who fear that one day
nuclear weaponry will fall in the hands of the Arabs; they fail to realize that the Islamic
bomb has already been dropped – It fell the day Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) was born.’
(Dr. Mohammed) There is question from brother Sunil – he asks…‘When Islam
preaches Universal Brotherhood, then how come Muslims themselves are divided into
sects.’
(Dr. Zakir) The question posed is that, when Islam preaches Universal Brotherhood,
how come Muslims are divided into various sects ? The answer is given in the Glorious
Qur’an, in Surah Al Imran, Ch. No. 3, V. No. 103, it says …(Arabic)…
وَٱعۡتَصِمُواْ بِحَبۡلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعً۬ا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُواْ‌ۚ
And hold fast, all of you together, to the cable of Allah, and do not separate

 ‘Hold to the rope
of Allah strongly, and be not divided’. Which is the rope of Allah? The Glorious Qur’an,
is the rope of Allah (swt). It says that the Muslims should hold to the rope of Allah… the
Glorious Qur’an and the Sahih Hadith, and they should not be divided. And the Qur’an
says as I mentioned earlier, in Surah Anam, Ch. 6, V. 159, that…
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ فَرَّقُواْ دِينَہُمۡ وَكَانُواْ شِيَعً۬ا لَّسۡتَ مِنۡہُمۡ فِى شَىۡءٍ‌ۚ إِنَّمَآ أَمۡرُهُمۡ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُہُم بِمَا كَانُواْ يَفۡعَلُونَ

Lo! As for those who sunder their religion and become schismatics, no concern at all hast thou with them. Their case will go to Allah, Who then will tell them what they used to do. (159)

‘Anyone who divides the Religion into sects – you have nothing to do with him.
Allah will tell him about their affairs, on the day of judgment’.

That means, it is prohibited for anyone to make sects in the Religion of Islam. But when
you ask, certain Muslims…‘What are you?’ Some say…‘I am a Hanifi’, some say…‘I am
Shafi’, some say…‘I am a Hambli’, some say… ‘I am a Maliki’. What was our beloved
Prophet ? Was he Shafi ?… was he Hambli ?… Was he Maliki ?… What was he ? He
was a Muslim. The Qur’an says in Surah Al Imran, Ch. 3, V. 52 that  ‘Jesus (pbuh) was
a Muslim.’ The Qur’an says in Surah Al Imran, Ch. 3, V. No. 67 that… ‘Abraham (pbuh)
was a Muslim’. And what was our beloved Prophet? – He was a Muslim. The Qur’an
says in Surah Fussilat, Ch. 41, V. No. 33 …(Arabic)…
وَمَنۡ أَحۡسَنُ قَوۡلاً۬ مِّمَّن دَعَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحً۬ا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِى مِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ
And who is better in speech than him who prayeth unto his Lord and doeth right, and saith: Lo! I am of those who surrender (unto Him)


‘Who is better in speech, than one who invites people to the way of thy Lord, works
righteousness, and says I am if those who bow to the will Allah’.

Those who way say…‘I am a Muslim’. So when anyone poses a question…‘What are
you ?’ – You should say…‘I am a Muslim’. I have no objection if someone says…‘I
believe in certain verdicts, certain views given by great scholars like Abu Hanifah, Imam
Shafi, Imam Malik, Ahmed Ibn Hambal – May Allah be pleased with them all – I respect
all these great scholars. If someone agrees with certain views of Imam Shafi sometimes,
(may Allah be pleased with him) – Sometimes Abu Hanifah, (may Allah be pleased with
him) – I have got no objection. But if anyone poses a question…‘What are you ?’ – You
should say…‘You are a Muslim’. And as the brother said earlier, that Qur’an says –
‘There will be seventy three sects’. What he was referring to, is a saying of our beloved
Prophet – It is mentioned in Abu Dawood, Hadith number 4579 – it says that…‘The
Religion of Islam will be divided into seventy-three sects. But if you note the wordings of
Prophet Muhammed (saws)… Muhammed (pbuh), he said that… ‘The Religion will be
divided’ – He did not say… ‘You should divide the Religion’. He is prophesing – though
the Qur’an says.. ‘Do not be divided’ – the Muslims are bound to divide. And there is
another Hadith which is mentioned in Trimidi H. No. 171 – the beloved Prophet
said…‘There will be seventy three firkas…Seventy three sects, and all will go to hell,
except for one’. And the companions asked… ‘Which one?’ The Prophet said… ‘The one
that is on the path of the Prophet, and the companions – One that follows the Qur’an and
the Sahih Hadith. So anyone who follows the Qur’an and the Hadith, is on the true path –
Islam does not believe in division. Every person… he is a Muslim – Anyone who follows
the Qur’an and Sahih Hadith, is a Muslim – And Islam is against dividing the Religion
into sects and divisions. So if you read the Qur’an and Sahih Hadith – Muslims should be
united on the basis of Qur’an and Sahih Hadith. Hope that answer the question.
(Dr. Mohammed) Yes brother – We will allow two questions before we have the
impressions of our chief guest, and the Presidential address by Advocate Hingorane –
Yes brother.
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Page - 37
(Q) I am a retired teacher…Laxman Dokras Guruji – I want to ask…‘What is the
exact remedy to increase the Universal Brotherhood?’ For which subjects we have
to give priority – either for Religion, or Sociology, or Politics – Will you please tell
me… please kindly, what is?
(Dr. Zakir) The brother has asked a question that, what is the priority to spread
Universal Brother – Is it Religion, is it Sociology, is it dealing with Politics? Brother I
have given a talk based on that full topic – I do not have to repeat the same thing – My
answer will be the same. The priority to spread Universal Brotherhood, in all the
Religions, is…‘To believe in one God, and worship Him alone’ – that is the basic
priority. I have repeated that in the talk, I have repeated in answers to several questions,
and I am repeating it again. The basic priority is not Sociology or Politics – that come
later on. Politics deals with ‘Brotherhood’ which is limited, Sociology…which is limited.
Belief in one God, is Universal – He is the one who created all human beings, whether
male or female, whether black or white, whether rich or poor. So if you believe in one
God, and worship Him alone, then there will only be Universal Brotherhood – Hope that
answers the question.
(Dr. Mohammed) The next question is something connected – One brother Prabhu is
asking… ‘All the Religions basically preach good things – thus a person can follow any
one of the Religions – it is one and the same?
(Dr. Zakir) The question posed is that…‘All the Religions basically teach good things –
So you can follow any Religion – it is one and the same ?’ And I do agree with him in the
first part of the question – that all Religions do basically preach good things. For example
all Religions say…‘You should not rob, you should not molest a woman, you should not
rape her’ – Hinduism says that, Christianity says that, Islam says that. But the difference
between Islam and the other Religions is, that Islam – besides speaking of good things, it
shows you a way how to implement those good things. Like all Religions speak about
‘Brotherhood’ – but Islam practically shows you – it demonstrates how to practice it in
your day to day life – Salah, Hajj, etc. So Islam, besides speaking theoretically, it shows
you a way how to practice it in your life. For example, Hinduism says…‘You should not
rob’; Christianity says… ‘You should not rob’ ; Islam says…‘You should not rob’ – So
what is the difference between Islam and the other Religions. Islam shows you a way
how to achieve that state, in which people will not rob. Islam has a system of Zakat – that
is, every rich person who has a saving of more than the Nisab level, 85 grams of gold –
he or she should give 2.5% of that excess wealth, in charity, every lunar year. If every
rich human being gives charity, poverty will be eradicated from this world – There will
not be a single human being who will die of hunger. After this, the Glorious Qur’an says
in Surah Maidah, Ch. No. 5, V. No. 38…
وَٱلسَّارِقُ وَٱلسَّارِقَةُ فَٱقۡطَعُوٓاْ أَيۡدِيَهُمَا جَزَآءَۢ بِمَا كَسَبَا نَكَـٰلاً۬ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ۬
As for the thief, both male and female, cut off their hands. It is the reward of their own deeds, an exemplary punishment from Allah. Allah is Mighty, Wise. (38)

‘As to the thief, be it a man or a woman – chop of his of her hand, as a punishment
from Allah (swt)’.

Some people may say…‘Chopping of the hands…in this age of twentieth century – Islam
is a barbaric Religion…It is a ruthless law’. And I know, that there are thousands of

people who rob – So if you chop off all the people, then many people will lose their
hands. But the law is so strict, that the moment you implement it, and if a person comes
to know that his hands will be chopped off if he robs, immediately the thought of robbing
will go away from his mind. Do you know, today America which happens to be one of
the most advanced country in the world – Unfortunately it also has one of the highest
rates of crime – Highest rate of robbery and theft. I am asking you a question…‘If you
implement the Islamic Shariah in America – that is every rich person gives Zakat, 2.5%
of his excess wealth in charity, and after that, if any man or woman robs – Chop off his or
her hands’. I am asking you a question…‘Will the rate of robbery and theft in America –
will it increase, will it remain the same, or will it decrease?’ It will decrease – It is a
practical law. You implement the Shariah, and you get results. Let me give you another
example – that most of the major Religions say that…‘You should not molest a woman,
that you should not rape a woman’ – Hinduism says that, Christianity says that, Islam
says the same. But Islam shows you a way how to achieve that state, in which people will
not… men will not molest or rape a woman – Islam has a system of Hijab. People
normally talk about Hijab for the woman – but Allah (swt) in the Glorious Qur’an first
speaks about the Hijab for the man, and then for the women. The Glorious Qur’an says in
Surah Nur Ch. No. 24, V. No. 30. that…
قُل لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ يَغُضُّواْ مِنۡ أَبۡصَـٰرِهِمۡ وَيَحۡفَظُواْ فُرُوجَهُمۡ‌ۚ
Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest

‘Say to the believing man, that he should lower his gaze, and guard his modesty’.


Whenever a man looks at a woman, and any brazen thought comes in his mind… any
unashamed thought comes in his mind, he should lower his gaze. There was once a friend
of mine, who was a Muslim friend, who was staring at a girl, for a long time. So I told
him ‘Brother what are you doing? – It is prohibited in Islam to stare at a girl’. So he told
me…‘Our beloved Prophet said that…‘The first glance is allowed – the second is
prohibited’ – I have not yet completed half my glance. What did the, Prophet mean by
saying ‘The first glance is allowed – the second is prohibited’. He did not mean that you
could look at a woman, and stare continuously at her for twenty minutes, without
blinking – What the Prophet meant…‘that if you look at a woman unintentionally’.
‘Intentionally do not look at her again…Do not feast on her’ – that is what the Prophet
meant. The next verse speaks about the Hijab for the women – Surah Nur, Ch. 24, V. 31,
says that…

وَقُل لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنَـٰتِ يَغۡضُضۡنَ مِنۡ أَبۡصَـٰرِهِنَّ وَيَحۡفَظۡنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبۡدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنۡهَا‌ۖ وَلۡيَضۡرِبۡنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِہِنَّ‌ۖ وَلَا يُبۡدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ ءَابَآٮِٕهِنَّ أَوۡ ءَابَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ أَبۡنَآٮِٕهِنَّ أَوۡ أَبۡنَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوۡ إِخۡوَٲنِهِنَّ أَوۡ بَنِىٓ إِخۡوَٲنِهِنَّ أَوۡ بَنِىٓ أَخَوَٲتِهِنَّ أَوۡ نِسَآٮِٕهِنَّ أَوۡ مَا مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَـٰنُهُنَّ أَوِ ٱلتَّـٰبِعِينَ غَيۡرِ أُوْلِى ٱلۡإِرۡبَةِ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ أَوِ ٱلطِّفۡلِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمۡ يَظۡهَرُواْ عَلَىٰ عَوۡرَٲتِ ٱلنِّسَآءِ‌ۖ وَلَا يَضۡرِبۡنَ بِأَرۡجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعۡلَمَ مَا يُخۡفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ‌ۚ وَتُوبُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ

And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands' fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons, or their brothers or their brothers' sons or sisters' sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigour, or children who know naught of women's nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed. (31)

‘Say to the believing women, that she should lower her gaze and guard her modesty,
and display not her beauty, except what appears ordinarily off, and to draw a head
covering over the bosom. And display not her beauty, except in front of her
husband, her father, her sons…’

etc. and a big list of mehram the close relatives, who she cannot marry, is given. And
there are basically six criteria for Hijab. The first is the extent, which differs between the
man and the woman. For the man, the extent is from the navel to the knee; for the
woman, the complete body should be covered – the only part that can be seen, are the
face and the hands, upto the wrist. Some scholars say…‘Even these should be covered’.
The remaining five criteria are the same. The second is, the clothes they wear – it should
not be so tight, that it reveals the figure. Third – it should not be transparent, so that you

could see through. Fourth – it should not be so glamorous, that it attracts the opposite sex.
Fifth – it should not resemble that of the unbeliever. Sixth – it should not resemble that of
the opposite sex. These are basically six criteria for Hijab, mentioned in the Qur’an and
the Sahih Hadith. And the Qur’an says in Surah Ahzab, Ch. 33, V. No. 59 – giving the
reasons for Hijab. It says…
يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ قُل لِّأَزۡوَٲجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَآءِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ يُدۡنِينَ عَلَيۡہِنَّ مِن جَلَـٰبِيبِهِنَّۚ ذَٲلِكَ أَدۡنَىٰٓ أَن يُعۡرَفۡنَ فَلَا يُؤۡذَيۡنَۗ
O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed.

‘O Prophet, tell your wives and the believing women, that when they go abroad,
they should put on the cloak – So that they shall be recognized, and it will prevent
them from being molested.’
Qur’an says…
‘Hijab has been prescribed for the women, so that it will prevent them from being
molested’.
And the Islamic Shariah says…‘If anyone rapes any women, he gets capital punishment’.
People may say…‘Capital punishment, in this twentieth century – Islam is a barbaric
Religion, it is a ruthless law…It is a barbaric Religion’. Do you know…America which
happens to be the country which is supposed to be most advanced – it has one of the
highest rate of rape? According to the statistics, it says that… ‘On an average, every day
more than one thousand, nine hundred females are being raped everyday – Every 1.3
minutes, one female is raped.’ Since the time I am in this auditorium…it is more than two
and half hours – How many rapes may have taken place… how many? More than a
hundred, in America. I am asking you a question…‘If you implement the Islamic Shariah
in America – that is, every man when he looks at a woman, he should lower his gaze –
the woman should be properly dressed up in the Hijab – and after that, if any man rapes –
Capital punishment’. I am asking you a question…‘Will the rape increase, will it remain
the same, or will it decrease?’ It will decrease – it is a practical law – you implement the
Shariah, and you and get results. And I have been asking this questions to Non-Muslims
that…‘Suppose someone rapes unfortunately… your wife, or your mother, and if you are
made the Judge – and if the rapist is brought in front of you – what punishment will you
give?’ And believe me all of them said…‘We will put him to death’. Some went to the
extent of saying…‘We will torture him to death’. So why do you have these double
standards? Someone rapes somebody else’s wife… Capital punishment is barbaric law –
Someone rapes your wife… You want to give him Capital punishment. Why these double
standards? And do you know – In India, according to the statistics of Crime Bureau… It
says that…‘Every 54 minutes, one case of rape is reported in India’. How many taking
place?…Every few minutes – may be one case. And no wonder, if you have read the
papers of about ten days back, on the 20th of October, the Home Minister of India, L. K.
Advani – you know what he said? It came in headlines of ‘Times of India’… headlines –
What it says, that… ‘Advani…Advani puts a death rap for rapes, and recommends an
amendment in the law’ – Headline in ‘Times of India’, 20th of October – 10 days back.
On Tuesday, one day before, 27th of October 1998, he said that…‘He wants death
penalty for the rapist’. Alhamdulillah – What Islam has said 1400 years ago, L.K. Advani
is saying that, and I am congratulate him for that – I am not here to promote any political
party. I am not a Politician – but if someone speaks the truth, I have to appreciate it. And

if you implement this, surely the rate of rape will diminish. May be the next Home
Minister may implement the Islamic Hijab here also. So InshaAllah the rapes will be
completely abolished. They are coming closer to Islam – I appreciate it.
…(Arabic)…‘Come to common terms as between us and you’. Mr L.K. Advani realized
that rape is increase in India – and he rightly recommended that the law should be
amended – and death penalty should be put for the rapist – And I am for it – I am the first
person Indian to support it. So if you analyse – Islam…besides speaking good things, it
shows you a way how to achieve that state of goodness. Therefore I say, that Islam unlike
other Religions which speak good things – it shows you a way how to achieve goodness.
So therefore if I have to follow any Religion, I would follow a Religion which speaks
good things and shows you a way how to achieve that good thing. Therefore it is rightly
said in Surah Al Imran Ch. 3, V. No. 19 …(Arabic)…
إِنَّ ٱلدِّينَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡإِسۡلَـٰمُ‌ۗ
Lo! religion with Allah (is) the Surrender (to His Will and guidance).
The only Religion acceptable in
the sight of Allah (swt) is the person who submits his will to Allah (swt).
(Dr.Mohammed) Excuse me, we will not allow any further questions. Just one the basis
of organisers, I have asked – Okay, he has requested that person also should be allowed –
and two, three very brief questions – Yes you can put forward your question.
(Q) My name is, Manoj Raicha – my first question is under the name ‘Universal
Brotherhood’, you are advertising Islam… and on the basis of that, please define
your terms, when you are saying that ‘Universal Brotherhood’. You should – under
the name ‘Universal Brotherhood’… you should accept brotherhood to all –
whether ‘Muslims’… that is followers of Islam, and Non-Muslims… which you say
‘Kafir’, who do not – Otherwise for the term ‘Muslim brotherhood’ – it will be
okay.
(Dr. Zakir) The brother has asked a question – that in the name of ‘Universal
Brotherhood’, I am promoting Islam. Suppose if I have to say, that…‘You know the best
cloth… I am promoting the best cloth in market.’ And suppose Raymonds, has to be the
best cloth – So it is a fact, I am promoting Raymonds, if Raymond’s company is best.’
Any way I do not get any cut from Raymond – it is just an example…I am not a dealer of
Raymonds. But if I say…‘The best cloth is Raymond’ – and if the talk is… ‘Which is the
best cloth?’ I have to speak about that. Suppose I am giving a talk on…‘Who is the best
doctor in the world ?’ – and if I have to take a person named ‘XYZ’ – and if he is a best
doctor…I am promoting him… Yes. I am telling you that Islam is a Religion which
speaks about ‘Universal Brotherhood’, and shows you a way how to achieve it.
Regarding your question that – in ‘Universal Brotherhood’, can you call a Muslims and
Non-Muslims as brothers – or only Muslim as brother? The ‘Universal Brotherhood’ of
Islam is…‘All human beings are your brothers’ – I made it very clear in my talk – I am
not mincing with words. I am very clear – may be, it may have slipped… you may not
have heard it. I started my talk in Surah Hujurat, Ch. 49, V. 13. …(Arabic)… that…
‘O human kind, We have created you from a single pair of male and female, and I have
divided you into nations and tribes, so that you shall recognise each other, not that you
shall despise each other, and the most honoured in the sight of Allah, is the person who
has takwa, who has righteousness, who has piety, who has God consciousness.’

In the Universal Brotherhood, all human beings – the person who as got piety, is one who
has got takwah, righteousness. I have got two brothers – one is a good person – actually I
have got one brother only – But suppose I have two brothers. One is a medical doctor –
like this brother, and treating the patients, etc., curing – And the other brother is a
drunkard, he is a rapist. Both are my brothers – Who is a better brother? A brother who is
a doctor and treats the people, and does not cause harm to the society – the other
brother…he is my brother, but he is not a good brother of mine. Similarly all human
beings are my brothers – but those who are closer to me, are those who have takwa, who
has righteousness, who has piety. Anyone who has piety, who has righteousness, who has
God consciousness, is closer to me – It is very clear. I have said in my talk, and I repeat it
– Hope that answers the question.
(Dr. Mohammed) Connected?
(Q) You have deferential Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. In all three Religions,
there is good things for brotherhood – You have not explained brotherhood in
Hinduism, brotherhood in Christianity?
(Dr. Zakir) The brother said that I have spoken good things about Islam… Universal
Brotherhood – I have not spoken good things about Hinduism and Christianity. I did
speak certain good things – I did not speak everything about brotherhood in Hinduism
and Christianity, because people may not be able to digest it here. These things what I am
saying, people cannot digest – I have to be patient. I know Christianity, I have studied the
Bible; I have studied the Hindu Scripture ; if I speak on that – I am not here to create a
rift. What I am here, to talk about the communalities – so what is common I spoke.
Hinduism says…‘Do not rob’ – Christianity says…‘Do not rob’ – do not molest… do not
rape’ – fine. Other things on Brotherhood – do you know, just a sample I am giving you –
Jesus Christ (pbuh) said – it is mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew, Ch. No. 10, V. No. 5
to 6 – It says…I am quoting Chapter No., Verse No., quoting – there is no two doubts
about it. He told the Apostles that…‘Go ye not in the way of the Gentiles – But rather go
to the lost sheep of the house of Israel’. Who are the Gentiles? The Non Jews, the Hindus,
the Christians… they are the Gentiles. ‘Do not throw pearls before pigs’… he calls us a
pig – And you want me to speak about that? Jesus Christ (pbuh) says in the Gospel of
Matthew, Ch. No. 15, V. No. 24 – he says that…‘I have not been sent but, to the lost
sheep of the house of Israel’. I am quoting – Chapter No., Verse Number. So this means
that, Religion is meant for the Jews – not for the whole Universe. In other Religions, the
believe in monasticism… in monasticism. If you have to come closer to God, you have to
renounce the world… you have to renounce the world – Most of the Major Religions…
Hinduism says that…Christianity says that…‘To come closer to God, you have to
renounce the world’. Qur’an says in Surah Hadith, Ch. 57, V. No. 27, that…‘It is against
Monasticism’. Monasticism is not allowed in Islam – Our beloved Prophet said…‘There
is no Monasticism’. It is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari, Vol. No. 7, in the Book of Nikah,
Ch. No. 3, H. No. 4…‘O young people, whoever has the means to get married, should get
married’ – Hadith says that. If I agree, that if you renounce the world, you came closer to
Almighty God – and if every human being renounces the world today, then within a span
of 100 to 150 years, there will not be a single human being alive in this world. If every
one practices this law throughout the world, where is the Universal Brotherhood?
Therefore brother, I am only come to talk about the good points – Unless you want to
have knowledge about other Religions – it is my job – I have to speak the truth. Qur’an
says in Surah Isra, Ch. No. 17, V. No. 81 …(Arabic)…
وَقُلۡ جَآءَ ٱلۡحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ ٱلۡبَـٰطِلُ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱلۡبَـٰطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقً۬ا
And say: Truth hath come and falsehood hath vanished away. Lo! falsehood is ever bound to vanish

‘When truth is hurled against falsehood, falsehood perishes, for falsehood is by its
nature, bound to perish’.