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Basic Beliefs of Hinduism & Islam
| Islam |
Hinduism |
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In Islam, belief in One God is the most important
belief. Allah in arabic refers to the One God. It is a known fact that
every language has one or more terms that are used in reference to God
and sometimes to lesser deities. This is not the case with Allah. Allah
is the personal name of the One true God. Nothing else can be called
Allah. The term has no plural or gender. This shows its uniqueness when
compared with the word god which can be made plural, gods, or feminine,
goddess. It is interesting to notice that Allah is the personal name of
God in Aramaic, the language of Jesus and a sister language of Arabic.
The One true God is a reflection of the unique concept that Islam
associates with God. To a
Muslim, Allah is the Almighty, Creator and Sustainer of the universe,
Who is similar to nothing and nothing is comparable to Him. (monotheism)
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Hinduism has many deities. This is much like
ancient Greek and Roman religions. The god Brahma is the creator of the
world. The god Vishnu who preserves the world through his many
incarnations. The god Shiva will destroy the world which will be rebuilt
by Brahma. In their Rig-Veda Book, we find prayers to some 70 objects,
each serving as a deity. The concept of god Brahma is similar to the
concept of Trinity in Christianity. The Brahma is responsible for all
workings of the world and everyone is a part of him. Different gods are
viewed as different aspects of him. (polytheism) |
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| In Islam, all humans are created equal. For example,
there is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, or vice versa.
Blacks and whites have no superiority over each other. The same holds
with any other nationality or ethnicity. Islam rejects characterizing
God in any human form or depicting Him as favoring certain individuals
or nations on the basis of wealth, power or race. He created the
human beings as equals. They may distinguish themselves and get His
favor through virtue and piety only. |
Hinduism has a caste system, with four major castes.
Members of each are required by strict religious laws to follow certain
hereditary occupations and to refrain from intermarriage or eating with
members of the other castes. The highest, or priestly and intellectual,
caste is that of the Brahmans. The remaining three in order are
Kshatriya (ruling or warrior caste), Vaisya (common artisan and
agricultural caste), and the Sudras (the low caste people). |
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| Muslims eat all wholesome and good food including meat
of cows (beef), lamb, goat, and chicken. |
Cow is a sacred animal and a deity for Hindus. Cows,
therefore, can not be killed or eaten in Hinduism. |
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| Muslims believe that each person has a body and soul.
At death, your body is separated from your soul. Your faith and actions
in this life will determine your fate in the Life After Death. There is
a Day of Judgment when this life will come to an end for every one, and
all humans from Adam to the last person, will be brought to a second
life, rejoining of your body and soul. On that Day, God will put people
in Hell or Heaven based on their beliefs and deeds of this life. |
Hinduism believes in body and soul. Your soul returns
to your body after your death. This cycle repeats seven times according
to some. Your status or caste in next life depends on your deeds of the
previous life. This is called Reincarnation in Hinduism. |
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