| ALLAH
Before we discuss the concept
and the term ‘Allah’, as introduced and explained
by Allah Himself, it will help understand the Truth, if different
other concepts about gods, deities, etc, etc, are mentioned
first, in this regard. There are innumerable conflicting conjectures
developed during the history of human thought. It is necessary
to understand them all and the subtleties involved, otherwise
one may slip or err easily into different layers of `Shirk’
and/ or `Kufr’, with regard to `Uluuhiyat’ and `Rubuubiyat’
of Allah. Different aspects of Rubuubiyat will be discussed
under the Part pertaining to the term `Rabb’.
In the first formulation of Faith (the first Kalimaah
`Tayyab’: “Laa Ilaaha Illallaahu”: `There
is no god save Allah’) and Surah 109, the approach is
that the mind is first cleared of all concepts, thoughts, and
conjectures about so called gods, deities, spirits, idols, etc,
etc. Then clear stand is taken on Truth. It is not just as a
matter of Faith but Fact which has been explained in detail
in the Quran with logic, reason and science.
Different
Concepts about gods and attributes
Egyptian:In
pre-historic Egypt, many tribal deities were given animal forms.
Towns worshiped a particular animal deity. As such many animals,
e.g. cats, crocodiles, etc, were considered as repositories
of the deity's divine powers. They were revered, mummified and
on death, buried in cemeteries. Geographical factors, however,
profoundly affected development of concepts of gods. Kings assumed
divinity and some of them even `became’ gods on death.
These two factors, geography and concept of divine kingship,
basically shaped religion there. The characteristics and cult-centres
of deities of conquered territories were absorbed by victors.
However sometimes theirs deities or some deities of neighbours
were incorporated in the Egyptian pantheon. It consisted of
tribal deities, state-gods, local gods, cosmic gods, etc. But
majority of people worshiped household gods. By the time of
the Old Kingdom (2600 BCE), priests attempted to rationalize
this multitude of gods. Some of them were grouped as families,
e.g.: i.Great and Little Enneads (nine gods)
of Heliopolis, ii.Ogdoad (eight gods) of Hermopolis,
iii. Divine Triads. `Amun',
originally a local god of Thebes, was elevated as the great
state-god of Egyptian empire. This was one of the most important
politico-religious moves to unite tribes and local powers into
unity of the empire (18th dynasty, 1550, BCE). In association
with `RE’ (god) its influence increased. It was worshiped
along with its consort `Mut' and son `Konshu'. So great was
its influence that it threatened sovereignty of the king. Pharaoh
Amenophis IV (1367-1350 BCE), repudiated the state-cult of `Amun-Re’.
Instead, he introduced exclusive `monotheism' of the `Aten'
(Atenism). In fact it was not a new name. The `Aten', sun's
disc, is mentioned long before this Pharaoh's rule. But he raised
its status to `sole god' and a universal source of life. He
also changed his name to `Akhenaten', and the traditional priesthoods
were disbanded. The counter-revolutionary king, Horemheb (1335-1308
BCE), however, obliterated the cult after Akhenaten's death.
It may be pertinent to clarify about the title Pharaoh
. This is an Egyptian word meaning `palace'. `Pharaoh' was the
title of the king of Egypt; an absolute, divine monarch. There
was a myth that he was begotten by the chief state-god. So there
was a divine heirship.
Ancient Near-eastern
Religions:Each city-state had its own deity
and temple, as indicators of their wealth. The cities eventually
recognized a supreme over-lord. Akhadians and Assyrians developed
the concept of universal rulership, and national unity was
emphasized among the state pantheons. Local gods, however
continued to exist along with great gods. Old Babylonians
generally believed that men were created solely to serve gods
and to supply their basic needs - food, drink, shelter, etc.
Sumerians introduced the concept of creative power of the
divine `Word'. Kingship was regarded
as divine and the king as the chief priest of the great state-god.
Chinese
beliefs:In ancient China, along with belief
in local gods, there prevailed a belief in a Celestial Being,
dwelling in the sky. When Romans first came in contact with
China, they were told that it was governed by a celestial
government. In addition, every family worshiped their ancestors
also, who were regarded as intercessors with the Celestial
Being.
Japanese:In
the native Japanese pantheon, `Amaterasu-Omikami' literally
means `heavenly-highest-shining' deity, popularly known as
the sun goddess. She is believed to have been created, in
mythology, from the left eye of her father or from a mirror
held in his left hand, capable of spontaneous reproduction.
She became the chief `kami' (deity) after the activities moved
to earth, sending her grand son to secure the Eight-Island
country. The Japanese also combined `Amitabha' (Infinite Light,
a heavenly Budha) and `Amitayus (Infinite Life) into `Amida',
the Budha of Pure Land.
Budhism:`Budha'
is not a proper name. It denotes a state of being. It means:
the enlightened, the awakened, the state of having direct
knowledge of true nature of things or truth. But followers
gradually raised him in the position of a god with a system
of intensive devotion to his image. He was elevated to the
position of super-human – possessing three distinct
personalities: The personality of his teaching, worldly existence,
and real existence.
Budha-nature or `body' (Budha-kaya) is also described
in three levels: ‘Dharma-kaya' : Pure
essence of Budha-hood or `self-being body' or `the absolute
aspect', the truth `remaining within its own nature.' `Sambhoga-kaya'
: The `bliss-body' indicating `awakenedness' or truth, as
it is perceived in the realm of celestial bliss, that is,
the non-mortal realm. It is also translated as `glorious body'
or Budha-hood as it appears in glory and splendour in the
non-mortal realm. `Nirmana-kaya': The form `assumed' by Budha-hood
or the Budha-nature, when a historical manifestation occurs,
in the form of a human life. The essence of above doctrine
is that everything in the universe is non-permanent. There
is no enduring unchanging `personality' or `self' which may
form the basis of human person. But it is believed to be only
a temporary collocation of changing constitution and constituents.
Siddhartha (personal name), whose clan name was
`Gotama', lived in the 6th century BCE, is projected as the
example of the last level, known in the religious history
as `Sakyamuni Budha'. According to Budhist belief there have
been many such manifestations in the cosmic history and there
will be more. The image worship appears part of Budhism as
far back as 250 B.C. Although initially they avoided, but
in 2nd century CE, in India, iconic representation of historical
`Budha', known as `Budha-rupa ' was developed.
Hinduism:Inhabitants
of the land beyond Indus River were called `Hindus'. They
follow a number of different cults, e.g. of Durga, Kali, Krishna,
Rama, Shiva, Vishnu and many others. A distinctive feature
of Hindu cults is that many of the deities are female (devi).
In line with general concepts about gods and goddesses, Pravati,
the mountain goddess and daughter of Himalaya, is recognized
as wife of Shiva. Rama of `Ramayana' (the epic story of Rama)
is supposed to be the incarnation of Vishnu.
`Brahma’ is the first of the gods in the
Hindu `Trinity': Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the sustainer
of the worlds) and Shiva (the destroyer). Vishnu and Shiva
represent opposite forces, e.g. existence and annihilation,
light and darkness, and so on, respectively. Brahma is supposed
to keep balance between them. The key distinction between
`Brahman' and `Brahma', two gods, is that the latter has attributes,
whereas the former hasn’t. Brahma began the creation
by meditation and thought, thus producing the Golden Egg,
the first state in the world process. He is regarded as the
all-inclusive deity, behind all other gods in the pantheon.
Brahma, the creator, is not worshiped in India,
surprisingly, although represented iconographically. The only
temple to Brahma is located at Bhuvaneshwara, but no worship
is conducted there. Brahman is the ultimate. According to
Vedanta, god (Brahman) is not in the image of man, nor can
it be described by any human words or categories of thought.
He is an impersonal principle, and of neuter gender. Brahma
is personal and of masculine gender. Brahman-Aatman is a doctrine
about the connection between the universe and humanity i.e.,
the ultimate and the individual, God and man:"Truly,
He is the Inner (Aatman) of all".
"Many of the Upanishads assert the `Vedanta'
doctrine of `Advaita' (non-dualism), so that there is a unity
between `Aatman' and `Brahman', so that every Aatman, whether
in man, beast, fish, insect, or flower, is one with the Infinite.
If Brahman-Aatman alone exists, the objective and the subjective
may be said to be one".
(p.8, 20-21, Dictionary of Asian Philosophies,
St Elmo Nauman Jr).
Along with the concept of Unity of God, there is an endless
variety of demi-gods, so much so that almost every stone becomes
a god, every tree a godhead, and every shrine and every door
an object of worship. In this way polytheism has proliferated,
limitless. In India like, Greece, demi-gods were considered
as agents of the Supreme Being. Hinduism is an interesting
case for study as to how believers in the Oneness of the Supreme
Being created polytheism and pantheon! Consider this in the
background of following messages:
“Let us meditate on God, His Glorious Attributes,
Who is the basis of everything in this universe
as its Creator,
Who is fit to be worshiped, as
Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscient...”
Gayatri Mantra, Yajur Veda.
“He
who worships Me Alone, lives in Me.”
Bhagavad Gita 6-30
Still they went astray, far astray in polytheism!
Magism:Magians
(Majuusii) are mentioned in the Quran only once (22-17). Some
scholars believe that they were given revelation from God,
which they lost. “The Magians were a sect of ancient
philosophers which arose in the East at a very early period,
devoting much of their time to the study of the heavenly bodies.
They were the learned men of their time, and we find Daniel
the Prophet (promoted to the head of this sect in Chaldea.
(Dan. V. 11). They are supposed to have worshipped the Deity
under the emblem of fire; whilst the Sabians, to whom they
were opposed, worshipped the heavenly bodies. They held in
the greatest abhorrence the worship of images, and considered
fire the purest symbol of the Divine Being. This religious
sect was reformed by Zoroaster in the sixth century before
Christ, and it was the national religion of Persia until it
was supplanted by..(Islam). The Magians are now known in Persia
as Gabrs, and in India as Parsis. Their sacred book is the
Zend Avesta.”
(Thomas Patrick
Hughes, A Dictionary of Islam, p.310).
Supernatural
power was divided among two groups of deities: (i)
beings, who dispensed love and happiness - later represented
as forces of Ahura Mazda. Destructive forces were believed
to be out of control of Ahura Mazda, therefore He was not
all-powerful. (ii) dark forces, who worked
havoc in human life - later represented as forces of Angra
Mainyu (Hostile Spirit, the twin or the opposite spirit of
Ahura Mazda), an independent devil. Both beings are considered
to be existing from eternity. The world is considered as the
battle field between the two. When ultimately, good triumphs,
Ahura Mazda will become Omnipotent, it is believed. It is,
however, now denied, by most, that Angra Mainyu is a `being',
declaring rather that the concept represents an evil tendency
in man. They have again come to believe that Ahura Mazda is
Omnipotent.
The priests were called Mogosh, and the term was
also applied to fire worship itself. Iranians were called
by others as Mag or Mogosh – which Arabs pronounced
as Majuus.
Zoroasterianism:Zoroaster
preached against Magism and gave the message of Mazdaisana
with its belief in Ahura Mazda (In Pahlavi the two words coalesce
to form Ohrmazd) – ‘Wise Lord’, ‘Lord
Wisdom’ or ‘Lord of Light’ - God, with none
like unto Him, The Light, The Purity, The All-Wise, The Good,
The Creator of the mundane world and the Hereafter.
Zoroaster did not introduce a new God, but rather
exalted the popular Lord to a unique position as the wholly
Good, Sole Creator; Who is Alone worthy of absolute worship
- Whom he spoke of as his Friend and Teacher, A Judge and
Helper of man, Who is characterized by Wisdom and Benevolence,
and created the seven creations which together
make up the whole of the Good Creation. Good is characterized
by order, stability and harmony. It replaced the concept of
demi-gods with angels known as Amish Sapind and Yezta who
implemented the will of Ahura Mazda. The dark forces of satan,
(‘the Lie’, ‘the Evil Spirit’) were
represented by Angrame Niyush (Angra Mainyu). It is considered
to be the author of death, and made demons to help him, such
as `Aka Manah', (`Bad Thought'), and `Druj', (`the Lie').
A. K. Azad in Tarjumaanul Quran, has made an interesting
comparison of various terms used not only differently but
in opposite meanings. “The teaching of Zoroaster seems
to furnish a counterpart to the Vedic faith of the Indo-Aryans
. One and the same term becomes current in Iran and India
with opposite meanings. Ahura of the Avesta
is the Asura of the Yajur Veda. The term was at first used
in a good sense in the Rigveda but later on it came to denote
the evil spirit. The Indra of the Vedas became the Ingra of
the Avesta. In the Vedas it signified the god of the sky;
in Avesta it meant the devil of the earth. In India and Europe
the term Dev, Deus and Theus referred to God but in Iran Dev
came to be used for a goblin. The god of one becomes
the satan of the other! Similarly the Yama of India,
the god of death came to be applied in Iran to the god of
love and humanity. And then this very Yama of Iran became
Jem and finally Jemshid, the Emperor of Iran.".
Due to later corruption, Zoroastrianism is often
described as `dualism' because of dual concept of Ahura Mazda
(the wholly Good God) and Angra Mainyu (the opposing evil).
In fact it is not dualism in the sense of matter and spirit,
both of which are believed to be created by God. The concept
of `Zurvan' (Time), was the first major cause of heresy within
Zoroastrianism. Under Babylonian influence, `Time' was speculated
as the source and controller of all things. Zurvan was thought
to be the father of the `twins', Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu.
It therefore followed that if `Time' controls everything then
man has no free will and that Ahura Mazda is not the sole
creator and alone worthy of absolute worship.
At the time of advent of Islam, in Iran, it was
a veritable jumble of Magian, Greek, Babylonian and Zoroastrian
beliefs, all coloured in their outward bearing by the Magian
concepts, as the national religion.
Judaism:This
generally means the religion of the Jewish people in the period
following the destruction of the 2nd Temple in 70 CE, to be
distinguished from the religion of the Biblical and the 2nd
Temple periods. For the present discussion we are not going
into details. But it is important to distinguish Judaism from
Zionism. The later is the Jewish nationalist movement, the
aim of which was the setting up of a Jewish state (Israel)
in the holy land as a homeland for Jews.
From the beginning of Israeli history, they believed
in Yahweh (the God of hosts or armies of Israel, or hosts
of heaven). He was taken as the God of Israel, the Creator
and Maker of the universe. Common worship created sense of
unity among tribes of Israel. Some of them identified Him
with `El', the head of Canaanite pantheon. It may be clarified
that here we are not highlighting the religion preached by
Moses (Peace be upon him), but later concept identified as
Judaism.
The Judaic concept was wholly racial. The Jehovah
of the Genesis was turned into the tribal God of Israel. But
gradually this concept again widened as God of all nations,
as in `Joshua '. The elements of jealousy, terror and vengeance
were emphasized and shown dominant in Him, e.g., based on
the misplaced emphasis in the interpretation of one of the
Ten Commandments:
“Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven
image or
a likeness of anything
that is in heaven above or
that is in the earth beneath or
that is in the water under earth.
“Thou
shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them;
for, I am the Lord , thy God .
I am a jealous God
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the
children
unto the third and fourth generation of them
that hate me.” (Exodus 20- 4 & 5 )
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