Discovering Common Values across Religions

By Muhammad Sadir Nadvi

Translated into English by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam

22 February 2023

One of the Shared Values among All Religious Works Is The Idea Of One God

Main Points

1.      President Alok Kumar also emphasised the shared ideals of Hindus and Muslims in order to deepen the bonds of harmony.

2.      Maulana Syed Arshad Madani backed the continuation of the series on encouraging Hindu-Muslim relations.

3.      Is it possible for all religious adherents to embrace a single solution to a variety of problems that have been deemed unsolvable for centuries?

4.      We come to the conclusion that Tawheed is something that all of the religious texts have in common, and that there is only one God, which cannot ever be questioned.

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The subject of journalism and media for the past few days has been the discussion of interreligious talks and negotiations. It started with the column (dialogue) by the editor of the Urdu newspaper Inquilab, Wadud Sajid. The president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Mr Alok Kumar, voiced a number of criticisms in this column, but he also backed dialogue with Muslim organisations.

President Alok Kumar also emphasised the shared ideals of Hindus and Muslims in order to deepen the bonds of harmony. Maulana Syed Arshad Madani's interview, which answered many essential concerns raised during the preceding debate and backed the continuation of this series, served as the second important link in the same series (of interreligious dialogue).

Alok Kumar himself said in his interview that even sitting together solves many issues instantly, thus there is no better method for these two interviews to tackle Hindu-Muslim hostility, nationalism, mistrust, and misunderstanding than via communication and negotiation. In addition to this, discussions have been crucial in resolving complex issues, putting a stop to oppression and corruption, learning about various civilizations and cultures, and understanding one another.

A key question is whether there is a universal principle that all religious adherents should accept as the foundation for resolving many other problems that have been acknowledged as insoluble for millennia. When we quickly scan the writings of all religions to find the answer to this question, we notice that Tawheed is something that all of the books share (the concept of one God). Religions all share the idea of one God, which cannot be disputed under any circumstances.

There is only one God, according to the scriptures of religions that are regarded as being heavenly. In addition, Hinduism, though its adherents are claimed to have believed in 33 million different gods, cannot be without the idea of one God. The worship of one God alone, as opposed to numerous gods, is encouraged by a number of mantras. Here are several examples:

1.       He alone was and is the lord and Sustainer of all forms of created being. (Rig Veda 10.121.1)

2.       "Ekam evadvitiyam" [Chandogya Upanishad 6:2:1]

Translation: "He is One only without a second."

3.       "Na tasya pratima asti” [Svetasvatara Upanishad 4:19]

Translation: "There is no likeness of Him."

4.       "na tasya pratima asti” [Yajurveda 32:3]

 Translation: "There is no image of Him."

5.       "shudhama poapvidham" [Yajurveda 40:8]

 Translation: "He is bodiless and pure."

6.       "Ma Cid Anyad Vi Sansata Sakhayo Ma Rishanyata" [Rig-Veda 8:1:1]

 Translation: "O friends, do not worship anybody but Him, the Divine One. Praise Him alone."

7.       ‘Yah Pranato Nimisato Mahitvaika Idraja Jagato Babhuva. Ya Ise Asya Dvipadascatuspadah Kasmai Devaya Havisa Vidhema.’ (Rig Veda 10.121.3)

Translation: God is the only Supreme Lord controlling the Universe which consists of sentient and insentient beings. He holds them with his great glory and might. Moreover, He is the creator and overlord controller of all creatures, bipeds and quadrupeds, men and animals. Hence, May we devote ourselves with love and meditation to the Blissful Lord.  (Shri Panna Lal Parihar)

8.       ‘Sa Paryagacchukramakayamavranam Asnaviram Suddhamapapaviddham. Kavirmanisi Paribhuh Svayambhuryathatathyato Arthan Vyadadhacchasvatibhya Samabhy’ (Yajur Veda 40.8)

Translation: The Supreme Spirit overspreads All. Also, this Spirit is powerful and bright, incorporeal and devoid of form and does not assume any bodily shape. Moreover, He is purely perfect, without defect or ignorance and is beyond the contact of sin and is Omniscient and knows the innermost heart of every person. Also, He is the inward controller of all and the dispeller of evils. Further, He is all-supporting, all-pervading and a dispenser of fruits of action as per merit/principles. (Shri Panna Lal Parihar)

The Holy Quran declares that there has been a long line of Prophets since the creation of the world, starting with Hazrat Adam (peace be upon him) and that they have all proclaimed the same thing, meaning that there is only one Allah worthy of worship. The Qur'an also asserts that the Messenger of God has reached every nation on the planet. This demonstrated that Tawheed is the true value shared by all nations. They should therefore start by talking about it. The wall of enmity between them will automatically come down if everyone agrees on this concept and goes back to where they belong, which is their true home. The second most important value, after the idea of Tawheed, is universal humanity.

No one should dispute that all people are of the same race; regardless of how widely dispersed humans are in the world or how many borders exist between them. The Creator of mankind gave them such a diverse makeup that although there will always be disparities among people, nothing in the world will unify their brains. There may be minor differences of opinion among family members who live in the same home, but this does not imply that these differences of opinion result in animosity or the mistreatment of others.

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Urdu Article: Discovering Common Values across Religions مذاہب عالم میں مشترکہ قدر کی تلاش

 

URL:    https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/discovering-common-values-religions/d/129166

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