Major Religions Of The World

chp # 4
 Some major religions of the world are as
under:
1. Hinduism
2. Buddhism
3. Judaism
4. Christianity
5. Islam
Some major Religions of the world
• Hinduism:
• It is one of the ancient religions of the world.
Hinduism is defined as the complex of beliefs
and customs comprising the dominant religion
of India, characterized by the worship of many
gods, a caste system and belief in
reincarnation.
Some Important features of Hinduism
• Concept of three gods
• Birhama (creator)
• Veshnoge (preserver)
• Shavege (destroyer)

• Four types OF Veda’s:

• Veda is derived from Sanskrit word VID which means to know.
• Rig veda (oneness of God, creator)
• Sama veda (aim of life worship unlimited qualities) of Allah alone.
• Yajuar veda ( Forever life of God, owner of life and death) God
alone.
• Athra veda (worship only God, all human beings are equal by
birth)
Common factor between Hinduism and Islam

• Concept of oneness of Allah Almighty in the

books of Hindu religion.
• Creator, lord of east and west.
• Guidance is in the hand of Allah Alone.
Worship Allah Alone.
• Moral value and education.
 BUDDHISM
• Buddhism is defined as a religious teaching
propagated by the Buddha and his followers
which declares that by destroying
greed(excessive desires), hatred and
delusion(false believe), which are the cause of
all suffering, man can attain perfect
enlightenment (spiritual knowledge).
 Some important features of Buddhism

• Reform of Hindu Religion.

• Origin of Buddhism:
• Reformer and founder (Gautam Buddha)
• Real name: Siddhartha (Pious Person)
 Eight Principles Of Buddhism
• The Eightfold Path
• 1. Right view is the true understanding of the four noble truths.
• 2. Right aspiration is the true desire to free oneself from
attachment, ignorance, and hatefulness.
• These two are referred to as prajña, or wisdom.
• 3. Right speech involves abstaining from lying, gossiping, or
hurtful talk.
• 4. Right action involves abstaining from hurtful behaviors, such
as killing, stealing, and careless sex.
• 5. Right livelihood means making your living in such a way as
to avoid dishonesty and hurting others, including animals.
 Eight Principles Of Buddhism
• These three are refered to as shila, or morality.
• 6. Right effort is a matter of exerting oneself in regards to the
content of one's mind: Bad qualities should be abandoned and
prevented from arising again; Good qualities should be enacted
and nurtured.
• 7. Right mindfulness is the focusing of one's attention on one's
body, feelings, thoughts, and consciousness in such a way as to
overcome craving, hatred, and ignorance.
• 8. Right concentration is meditating in such a way as to
progressively realize a true understanding of imperfection,
impermanence, and non-separateness.
• The last three are known as samadhi, or meditation.
 Common value in Islam and Buddhism

• Respect for human life (Qasas is life)

• Security of property
• Importance of truth
• Security of Honor
• Prohibition from drugs
Comparative study of Islam and Buddhism

• Human Nature
• Concept of God
• Founder of Religion
• Belief on Dooms Day.
 JUDAISM
• Judaism is defined as the religion of the Jews,
based on the old testament and the Talmud having
as its central point a belief in one God. It is the
religions and cultural traditions of the Jews.
• Old name-children of Israel (meaning of Israel:
Slave of Allah). Those people who follow Prophet
Musa(A.B.U.H)
• Name of Prophet: Jacob (Yackoob)(A.B.U.H)
• Origin of homeland: kinan, Iraq
• Jewish in Egypt: Hazrat Yousuf(A.B.U.H)
 Four famous Gods of Jews
• Family God
• Worship of stone
• Worship of animals
• National God
• Prophet Musa(A.S) and his revealed book
Torah.
Comparative study of Judaism and Islam

• Common features
• Tauheed
• Prophethood
• Belief in judgment day
• Final result Islam(Allah is the self guardian of
the Holy Quran)
• Jews (Holy Book Torah) a lot of changes by
Jewish scholars.
 Children Of Israel
• Allah says that which translates as: “We have already written in
the book [of Psalms] after the [previous] mention [i.e., in the
Torah] that the land [i.e., the Holy Land of Palestine] is
inherited by My righteous servants.” (Al-Anbiyaa’: 105). The
children of Israel are the descendants of Prophet Ya’qoob (Jacob)
who was the son of Prophet Ishaaq (Isaac), son of
Prophet Ibraaheem(Abraham), peace be upon them all. Their
history in the Holy land started when Prophet Ibraaheem, peace
be upon him, migrated fromIraaq to Shaam (which comprises of
modern day Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan and parts of Iraq
and Saudi Arabia) where his son Prophet Ishaaq and grandson
Prophet Ya’qoob were born.
 Children Of Israel
• In Shaam Ya’qoob’s two wives gave birth to twelve of his children,
who he subsequently migrated with to Egypt due to Shaam being
struck with famine for many years. This migration was in response
to the invitation of his son Prophet Yousuf (Joseph), peace be upon
him. Allah says that which translates as: “And when they entered
upon Yousuf, he took his parents to himself [i.e., embraced them]
and said: ‘Enter Egypt, Allah willing, safe [and
secure].’” (Yousuf: 99). The children of Israel stayed in Egypt for
two hundred years and suffered from much oppression from the
Pharaohs during that time.
 Children Of Israel
• During the end of this two-hundred year period, Allah sent
Prophet Moosaa (Moses), peace be upon him, as His messenger to Pharaoh
and his people to call them to the worship of Allah, but Pharaoh refused
arrogantly. Moosaa, peace be upon him, left Egypt along with the children
of Israel and headed towards the Holy Land around 1350 BC. However
when Moosaa, peace be upon him, commanded the children of Israel to
enter the Holy Land, they refused to fight alongside him against the
polytheists who were there, as Allah says that which translates as: “And
[mention, O Muhammad], when Moses said to his people: ‘O my people,
remember the favor of Allah upon you when He appointed among you
prophets and made you possessors and gave you that which He had not
given anyone among the worlds. O my people, enter the Holy
Land [i.e., Palestine] which Allah has assigned to you and do not turn
back [from fighting in Allah’s cause] and [thus] become losers.’ They
said: ‘O Moses, indeed within it is a people of tyrannical strength, and
indeed, we will never enter it until they leave it, but if they leave it, then
we will enter.’ Said two wise men from those who feared [to disobey]
upon whom Allah had bestowed favor:
 Children Of Israel
• Enter upon them through the gate, for when you have entered it,
you will be predominant. And upon Allah rely, if you should be
believers.’ They said: ‘O Moses, indeed we will not enter it,
ever, as long as they are within it; so go, you and your Lord, and
fight. Indeed, we are remaining right here.’ [Moses] said: ‘My
Lord, indeed I do not possess [i.e., control] except myself and
my brother, so part us from the defiantly disobedient people.’
[Allah] said: ‘Then indeed, it is forbidden to them for forty
years [in which] they will wander throughout the land. So do not
grieve over the defiantly disobedient people.’” (Al-Maa’idah:
20-26).
 
 Children Of Israel
• Therefore, as a punishment from Allah, the children
of Israel were made to wander in the desert with Moosaa,
peace be upon him, for forty years. Moosaa, peace be
upon him, died during this period without ever entering
the Holy Land. Due to the Children of Israel being
forbidden by Allah to enter the Holy Land, Moosaa, peace
be upon him, asked Allah to allow him to be as close to it
as possible; in this regard,
• The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihiwasallam said: “Moosaa
asked Allah to bring him within a stones throw from the
Holy Land” (Bukhaari & Muslim).
 Children Of Israel
• After these forty years Yoosha’ Ibn Noon (Joshua), who was
appointed by Moosaa, peace be upon him, as his successor,
commanded the children of Israel to enter the Holy Land. This time
they complied and fought against the polytheists,

• The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said in regard to this: “One

of the Prophets went to battle, he reached close to the place (of
the enemy, i.e., Palestine) at around to the time of the ‘Asr prayer,
so he looked at the sun and said, ‘You are commanded (to set) and
I am commanded (to fight)’: ‘O Allah! Stop it from setting.’ So Allah
stopped the sun from setting.” (Bukhaari).
 
 CHRISTIANITY
• Christianity is defined as the religion of
Christian. Its beliefs and practices are of those
people who believe on Prophet
(Hazrat Essa)(A.B.U.H), one of the famous
Prophet from children of Israel.

• Birth of Prophet Essa (A.S)

• Sign of Allah and birth without a father.
 CHRISTIANITY
• Religious book:
• Bible (Injeel)

• Major belief of Christianity:

• Belief in Kaffarah (expiation of sins)
• Belief in Three Gods
• Belief on Baptism(purification concept in
Christianity)
 CHRISTIANITY
• Common belief of Christianity and Islam:
• Tauheed
• Prophethood
• Belief in dooms day
 ISLAM
• Meaning of Islam: To surrender, to obey.
• The focus of Islam is on the belief that, there is
no God but Allah and Mohammad(P.B.U.H) is
His Prophet. The followers of Islam are called
Muslims. According to Islamic beliefs it is the
last and final religion.
 ISLAM
• Basic Pillars:
• Tauheed and Prophethood of
Hazrat Mohammad (P.B.U.H).
• Prayers
• Fasting
• Zakat
• Hajj (Pilgrimage)
 ISLAM
• Basic elements of Faith:
• Belief in Allah Almighty
• Belief in Angles
• Belief in Prophets
• Belief in Holy Books
• Belief in Day of Judgment
• Belief in Divine Destiny (Good or bad)
 Introduction of Ayat-ul-Kursi
• The word Kursi has been used in this verse because this
ayat is called Ayat-ul-Kursi, which generally denotes,
government, authority, knowledge, sovereignty or rule.

• In urdu language, we say Kusri denotes the authority to

rule. This ayat is famous with the name that is Ayat-ul-
Kursi. Some major qualities of Allah Almighty are
explained for which we cannot find any other example in
the entire Holy Quran. That’s the reason this ayat has been
declared as the most dominant ayat and so called chief
leader of the verses of Holy Quran and has a significance
value in the Holy Book.
 Ten Major points of Ayat-ul-Kursi
• The right of worship:
Allah Almighty has the right to be worshiped
only. No other God other than Allah can be
worshiped like those people, who worship
their own hand made gods. Some people
worship fire etc. this is strictly disliked by Allah
Almighty and the people who do so will be
subjected to punishment on the day of
judgment.
 Ten Major points of Ayat-ul-Kursi
• The self Maintainer and Self Subsisting:
This is one of the greatest quality of Allah Almighty that
He is the only self maintainer of the entire universe and
he alone can manage its operations, no one other than
Him is able to do so. Allah does not need any one’s help.
He is alive forever and He is ever lasting. There is no
concept of death for Him.

• In Surah Rehman( Ayat 26-27)

• Whatsoever is on it(the earth) will perish. And the face of
your Lord full of majesty and honor will remain forever.
 Ten Major points of Ayat-ul-Kursi
• No need for sleep or slumber:
It is the only quality of Allah Almighty that He
never sleeps or goes into slumber nor feel tired
which defines His uniqueness because no
person has the quality to be active and awake all
the time. This weakness exists in human beings
and other creatures. Allah Almighty is above it.
These qualities are evidence that Allah is
supreme and no one is above or equal to Him.
 Ten Major points of Ayat-ul-Kursi
• The real owner of everything:
Allah Almighty is the owner of everything as
He is the creator of this universe. He alone
runs this entire universe. The earth, sun, the
galaxy everything belongs to Allah even the
wealth we have is actually not ours we are just
the custodians and temporary owner of all the
wealth. Allah Almighty is the real owner. We
cannot hide anything from Him.
 Ten Major points of Ayat-ul-Kursi
• Nothing can happen without His permission:
This explains the power of Allah Almighty that
nothing in this world or nothing in this entire
universe can happen if Allah is not willing for
it. That is why all Muslims have a very strong
faith in Ayat-ul-Kursi which they recite daily
morning and evening to seek protection from
their Lord and to seek Allah’s help in each and
every phase of life.
 Ten Major points of Ayat-ul-Kursi
• Complete knowledge of the past, present and
future:
This is one of the supreme quality of
Allah Almighty that He knows about
everything. He knows what was in the past
and what will happen in future. He only knows
what has happened and what is going to
happen.
 Ten Major points of Ayat-ul-Kursi
• No one can comprehend His knowledge:
Allah Almighty knows everything of the past,
present and future. No one can comprehend
and encompass any knowledge of Him except
what He wills. This complete knowledge,
power and authority is only owned by Allah
Almighty.
 Ten Major points of Ayat-ul-Kursi
• The Real Administrator, Ruler and Controller of
everything:
Allah Almighty alone is real administrator in this
universe and the controller of everything. Anything
which happens in the world or in this universe is with
the willingness of Allah which tells us that this much
power and authority can be owned by one supreme
power and that is Allah Almighty and no one is equal
to or above Him. There is no partner in His kingdom.
He is the supreme ruler of the entire universe.
 Ten Major points of Ayat-ul-Kursi
• The perfect real Guardian of everything:
Guardian means the protector or in other words He
is the preserver of what He has created as He has
revealed the last book that is Holy Quran. Allah has
taken the responsibility for the protection of the
verses of Quran and no changes can be made till the
day of judgment. He is the only self-sufficient, no
strain for guarding. He feels no fatigue in guarding
the heavens and the earth. He does not want any
support to preserve them.
 Ten Major points of Ayat-ul-Kursi
• The most high and the most great:
The concept of oneness of Allah Almighty
shows us that the sovereignty over the entire
universe belongs to Almighty Allah and man is
the custodian of Allah’s property as He is the
most perfect and unique existence with the
remarkable qualities. No one is like Him or
above Him.
 Additional material available on:
• www.faithhousemanhattan.org
• www.religionfacts.com
• www.typesofreligion.com