Can Hindus and Buddhists be 'Ahle Kitab' (people of the book) according to Islam?
To answer this question, we must refer to the Muslim scholars and jurist consults (Faqih) who are expert and professional in giving the authentic definition of the people of the book, based on which we understand that who are, and who are not the people of the book.According to the Shiite Muslim scholars (Ayatollahs) and jurist consults (Faqih), like Ayatollah Khamenei, the people of the book are those people " who possess a heavenly scripture from those revealed to the Prophets (A), such as the Jews, the Christians, the Zoroastrians and similarly the Sabeans who, on the basis of our research, are among the People of the Book" [1]According to the Ayatollah Khamenei, the rule of the People of the Book applies to the followers of these religions, but it is not applicable to the Hindus and Buddhists etc. Therefore, the mentioned people (Hindus and Buddhists) cannot be considered as the people of the book.Ayatollah Sistani is one of the other Muslim scholar and professional who is of the view that The Ahlul Kitab are the Jews, the Christians and the Zoroastrians who are ritually pure (Tahir) as long as you do not know that they have become ritually impure (Najis) by coming into contact with an impure object. You can follow this ruling when dealing with them. [2]Based on the mentioned part of his verdict and ruling, Buddhists and Hindus cannot be counted as the people of the book.Notes:[1] Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei, REPLIES TO INQUIRIES ABOUT THE Practical Laws of Islam, p. 51. [2] Question & Answer » (People of the Book - Question & Answer - The Official Website of the Office of His Eminence Al-Sayyid Ali Al-Husseini Al-Sistani)
Is it true that Muslims view "People of the Book", including Christians, better than atheists?
“People of the Book” referred primarily to Jews, Christians and Sabians. Later it was extended to include Zoroastrians. Some Jurists also extended the term to include Hindus - because of the Vedas. - but most disagreed.Although in the peaceful “Meccan” verses they Jews and Christians were offered a place in paradise - this was later abrogated in the violent “Medinan” verses.Quran 9:29 "Fight against those who believe not in Allah, nor in the Last Day, nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth [i.e. Islam] among the people of the Scripture [Jews and Christians], until they pay their Jizyah[1] with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued."The Christians are severely condemned because of the belief in the Trinity which deviates from strict monotheism (tawhid). And shirk - joining anyone else to Allah - is the worst sin in Islam for which all Trinitarian Christians will surely burn in hell for all eternity.There are only a few verses which are positive towards Jews who are the original monotheists, but the majority endorse perpetual hatred and violence against them because they resisted the message of Allah. So Jews are all heading to hell along with the Hindus and Buddhists and RastafariansAtheists were not mentioned in the Quran because there were none in Arabia during the time of Mohammed. Although belief in God/Allah/Jehovah doesn’t guarantee you a place in paradise - militant non-belief i.e. atheism is a guaranteed ticket to the hottest of the fires of hell which have been kept ready and stoked for the past 1600 years.So the hierarchy of Islamic hatred and condemnation would be:–JewsHindus, Buddhists, Shintoists, animists etc.ZoroastriansChristiansAtheists[1] Jizyah is a monthly poll-tax upon all non-Muslims living in a Islamic state. The usual practice based on this verse was for the tax collectors to humiliate the non-Muslims by slapping them on the back of their heads or necks (see verse 8:12 and 47:4 ) whenever they lined up to pay the tax.
What does the average Iranian Muslim think of Zoroastrianism and her/his Zoroastrian heritage?
To this day, most people in Iran and neighboring countries celebrate Zoroastrian traditions as secularized holidays. While Zoroastrianism as a religion has been mostly replaced by Islam, it’s evolution as a cultural element is something I cherish, as do many Muslim Iranians.I also take pride that pre - Islamic Iran was Zoroastrian and monotheistic. In fact, the Qur’an says many things that refer to Zoroastrianism as a religion from the Lord.It says in the Qur’an:And [We sent] messengers about whom We have related [their stories] to you before and messengers about whom We have not related to you. And Allah spoke to Moses with [direct] speech.- Surah An-Nisa [4:164]Indeed, those who have believed and those who were Jews and the Sabeans and the Christians and the Magians (Zoroastrians) and those who associated with Allah - Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed Allah is, over all things, Witness.- Surah Al-Haj [22:17]Since Zoroaster preached monotheism, most Muslims believe he was one of the unmentioned Prophets of the Lord. This is also since Zoroastrians are mentioned with the other People of the Book. Even many Muslims believe that Cyrus the Great was mentioned as Dhul-Qarnayn in Chapter 18 of the Qur’an.However, I don’t appreciate how many people of South Asian polytheistic backgrounds and others of militant Iranian nationalism use Zoroastrianism as a political or nationalistic tool to push false propaganda and facts. It is incredibly disrespectful towards Zoroastrianism and Zoroastrians as well as Muslims and Islam.
According to Islam, will all Christians and Jews go to hell?
Islam means surrendering to the will of God.And whoever desires other than Islam as religion - never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers. -Qur'an 3:85God sent Prophets to teach mankind how to worship Him; starting with Adam, including Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and the last of the messengers, Muhammad (peace be upon them all). Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews or Christians [before Prophet Muhammad] - those [among them] who believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness - will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve. - Qur'an 2:62Note that in the verse above, God is referring to Jews and Christians before Prophet Muhammad. So Jews and Christians those who came after Prophet Muhammad have to believe in Prophet Muhammad to be considered as followed of Islam by God.The Islamic position is that all of these prophets came with the same message, that there is no deity worthy of worship except the One True God, known in Arabic as Allah.The Christians and Jews who believe in just one God, and do not associate any partners with him, is following the basic principle of Islam.Allah means God in Arabic:They have certainly disbelieved who say, " Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary" while the Messiah has said, "O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Indeed, he who associates others with Allah - Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers. Qur'an 5:72If Christians believe Jesus(PBUH) is the God, Or he is the son of God, then they are disbelieving in Jesus(PBUH) himself, and they are either worshiping the WRONG God or associating a partner with God.So along with believing in One God, if they do good deeds, they may go to heaven.14 Bible Verses That Indicate Jesus Is Not GodMuhammad in the Bible, Torah, and Qur'anProofs of Muhammad's Prophethood in the new and old testament
Is Zoroastrianism right or is the hadith wrong?
In Zoroastrianism, there will be a bridge on Judgment Day, whose width will vary according to the righteousness of the person. The bridge is wide if the person's good thoughts, words and deeds in life were many, or narrow if the person's good actions were few. Those souls that successfully cross the bridge are united with Ahura Mazda (God). The others fall into "darkness" and must await the final renovation of the world before they too may cross over into paradise. This sounds like As-Sirat (the Path) in Islam, where the believers will cross the bridge on Judgment Day "within the twinkling of an eye, like lightning, like wind, like a bird, like the finest horses and camels. Some will escape and be safe, some will be lacerated and let go, and some will be pushed into the fire of Hell." (Sahih Muslim) Zoroastrianism exists since the 6th century BCE and Islam exists since the 7th century. Is Zoroastrianism right about Judgment Day, or is the hadith fake and inspired by the religion? What are your thoughts?
Islam considers practitioners of Judaism and Christianity 'people of the book'. How do Muslims view Buddhists, Sikhs, Hindus and Jains?
If I want to answer your question, I refer to the Muslim scholars and jurisconsults (Faqih) who are expert and professional in giving the authentic definition of the people of the book, as well as Islam's opinion with regard to them, based on the Quranic verses and Prophetic traditions or sayings.According to the Shiite Muslim scholars (Ayatollahs) and jurisconsults (Faqih), like Ayatollah Khamenei, the people of the book are those people " who possess a heavenly scripture from those revealed to the Prophets (A), such as the Jews, the Christians, the Zoroastrians and similarly the Sabeans who, on the basis of our research, are among the People of the Book" [1]According to Ayatollah Khamenei, the rule of the People of the Book applies to the followers of these religions, but it is not applicable to the Hindus and Buddhists etc. Therefore, the mentioned people (Hindus and Buddhists) cannot be considered as the people of the book.Ayatollah Sistani, one of the other Muslim scholars and professionals, is of the view that the Ahlul Kitab are the Jews, the Christians and the Zoroastrians who are ritually pure (Tahir) as long as you do not know that they have become ritually impure (Najis) by coming into contact with an impure object. You can follow this ruling when dealing with them. [2]Based on the mentioned part of his verdict and ruling, Buddhists and Hindus cannot be counted as the people of the book.Notes:[1] Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei, REPLIES TO INQUIRIES ABOUT THE Practical Laws of Islam, p. 51. [2] Question & Answer » (People of the Book - Question & Answer - The Official Website of the Office of His Eminence Al-Sayyid Ali Al-Husseini Al-Sistani)