Allah Sent Prophets To All Nations: A Reply To Mr. Sumit Paul

By T.O. Shanavas, New Age Islam

26 November 2022

I Did Not Expect Such Rambling And Desultory Response From Mr. Sumit Paul Who Claims To Be Religion Expert, I Have Experienced Such Response From Hate Mongers

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Initially I thought myself not to respond to Mr. Sumit Paul’s incoherent rambling essay to discredit my paper

Adam and Eve: The Spiritual, Not Biological, Parents of Human Species

When serious topics are discussed, I did not expect such rambling and desultory response from Mr. Sumit Paul who claims to be religion expert. I have experienced such response from hate mongers.

He stated that Islam came after Judaism and Christianity. Of course, his claim is based on the misconstrued definition of Islam, Muslim, and  Mo’min. I remind Mr. Sumit Paul that the Qur’an is the guiding light for Muslims for their faith and life style: “That is the Book, wherein is no doubt, a guidance to the God-conscious.” (Qur’an 2:2). “….Qur'an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong)…” Qur’an 2:185). So, the definition of Islam must come from the Qur’an.

The Qur’anic definition of Islam is rooted on tripartite belief: 1. God, 2. the Last Day, and 3. works righteousness (Qur’an 2:62. “.whoever believeth in Allah and the Last Day and doeth right - surely their reward is with their Lord, and there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.”.  Muslim means those who uphold the tripartite belief and Mo’min means those accept tripartite belief system along with life- style based on the Qur’an and the reported sayings of Prophet Muhammad (s) that abide  with the Quran. For more details I refer all to my article:  Divine Mercy and Qur’anic Definition of Islam, Muslim and Al- Momineen

Mr. Paul sates: “Islam and Semitic faiths believe that Adam and Eve existed roughly 10 to 12 thousand years ago.” I don’t know from where he cooked up this fake information 12,000 history of human species.  There is nothing in the Qur’an in support of Mr. Sumit Paul.  It is estimated that modern human was created from earlier species 200,000 years ago. And based on genetic studies Homo sapiens migrated out of Africa 78,000 years ago. Many early Muslims believed human species existed long time modern before Adam came.

Nasir al-Din Tusi (1201-1274) was a polymath, architect, philosopher, physician, scientist, and theologian. His Rawda-ye Taslim” is translated by S.Jalal Badkhchani. The translation is tattled “The Paradise of Submission.” According to Tusi, humankind existed long before Prophet Adam came. “As for [the proposition that] Adam was, from one point of view, first man in the first created world and, from another point of view, they profess that according to our understanding of his circumstances, the world and natural kingdoms—by which it has already been made clear that the human species has always existed in this world and always will—Adam cannot have been the first man in the first world.” (Ref: “The Paradise by Submission” by Nasir al-Din Tusi’s translated by S.Jalal Badakhchani. Page: 68-69).

Mr. Sumit Paul asked, “If Adam was the first prophet preaching Islam, what was the role of Eve?” none needs to take my word. Nasir al-Din Tusi Said: “As for Eve, who is referred as Adam’s spouse, she symbolizes the spiritual significance (Ma’ani) within that Shari’at, as she was aware of the esoteric principles and realities (Batin Wa Ma’ani) [of it].She knew that the task of executing the religious law of that cycle was to be accomplished by Adam and herself.” (Ref: “The Paradise by Submission” by Nasir al-Din Tusi’s translated by S.Jalal Badakhchani. Page: 71).

Mr. Paul claims also that “… the first monotheistic faith came into existence nearly 4 thousand years ago in the form of Zoroastrianism.” I did not expect such a cretinous “testimony” from Mr. Sumit Paul who claims to be an expert in comparative religion. It  evinces that his knowledge of the history of religion limited to  4,000 years. Sorry, being forthright. The history of monotheism (Tawhid) in the world is longer than 4,000 years. Most surprising example for belief in the monotheism  (Tawhid) prior to Zoroastrianism is the Australian Aboriginals who inhabited in the continent for about 130,000 years in isolation from rest of human species. (REF: India International Centre Quarterly. Vol. 18, No. 4, WINTER 1991. Page 6). Among Australian Aboriginals there are between five hundred to six hundred tribal units and each of them has their own independent history of social and religious development in complete isolation from each other except for occasional marginal contacts at the boundaries of their territories. It was not only the language barriers which stood in the way, but also their traditional aversion to socialize and communicate with outsiders, which had created an impassable barrier in the way of transfer of information from one to the other.

In all the tribes of Australian aboriginal, without exception, there exists a belief in one Supreme Power, who is the first cause of all creation. They describe that entity with High Gods or All-Father. The term High Gods is not plural as it appears. In the aboriginal terminology, as we have plural pronoun for God in the Qur’an, High Gods is used to uphold the majesty of Supreme Creator. According to Sociologist Alfred William Howitt (1830-1908),  the Aboriginals’ All-Father was “evidently everlasting, for he exists from the beginning of all things.” (REF: Eliade, M. (1973) Australian Religions. An Introduction. Cornell University Press, Ithach, p.13). In Making of Religion, Andrew Lang (1844-1912) states that “… the Supreme Being of savage faith, as a rule, never died at all. He belonged to a world that knew not Death.” (REF: The Making of Religion.  By Andrew Lang. London: Longmans.  First edition 1887. Page 186). “In its highest aspect that ' simplest theology ' of Australia is free from the faults of popular theology in Greece. The God discourages sin,”(REF: J. Anthrop. Inst. xiii. p. 459). All 500-600 aboriginal tribes isolated even among them found to have supreme God, the cause of every cause, right from the beginning of their 130,000 years history. So, Mr. Sumit Paul’s 4,000 year Zoroastrianism cannot be the source of their faith.

Some western sociologists claimed the All-Father concept came 200 years ago from Christian invaders. The belief in Trinity is the  underpinning of Christian faith. If sociologists’ claim is true we would have seen integration of Trinity with the All-Father concept. None of the 400-600 isolated tribes have belief in Trinity as a part of their faith. Moreover, first British fleet arrived in 1788. Later established colony in Sydney. The colonization of over  8,000 islands and the Interior  and  took place much later. So, it is laughable claim that the belief in All-Father by 400-600 tribes came from Christianity.

Same history of acceptance oneness of God (Tawhid) existed among Indians of North and South America long before European colonialization of American continents. “Regarding American Indian world of religious conceptualization the supreme position is held by a divinity who surveys the course of events from his high abode in heaven” (REF: “The Religions of American Indians” by Åke Hultkrantz. University of California Press; First edition198. page 14). Fuegians are the indigenous inhabitants of Tierra del Fuego, at the southern tip of South America. “Characteristic of  Fuegian religion is the position of the Supreme Being which is in many respects a central one. Among the Yahgan he is called Watsauni’ewa, ‘the old, eternal, unchangeable one.’…Similar to the situation in Tierra del Fuego, we find rather well-defined concept of a Supreme Being…in north-central-California.”(REF: The Religions of American Indians.” Page 18-19). “Pomo tribes of Indians in Northern California has a Supreme Being named Dasan who “came out on ocean and turn into man. He intended to build the world. He talked, and by the power of his words, the world came into being. After this he made first people.” (REF: The Religions of American Indians.” Page 20

Inca, also spelled Inka, South American Indians’ God is called Viracocha. Here is the prayer of Inca people:

“Oh Viracocha, Lord of the world,

Whether you are male or female,

You are for certain the one

Who reigns over heat and creation,

…I wish you were not concealed these your sons,…

Where is your tribunal?

…Creator of the world

Creator of mankind,

….

Sun and moon,

Day and night,

Summer and winter,

They wander not in vain

But in prescribed order

To their determined place

To their goal

…

Ever-present  Viracocha!

You are unequalled on earth.

You exist from the beginning of the world

To its end

You gave life and courage to man when you said “let it be a man”

You gave same to the woman when you said “Let it be a woman.”

You created us and gave us soul

Watch over us that we live in health and peace

You may be in the highest heavens

Among the clouds

Give us long-lasting life,

Accept our offering

O Creator”

(REF: The Religions of American Indians.” page P96-98)

Some of the contents of the prayer is almost verbatim from the Qur’an.

The original population of Andaman Islands believed in one  Supreme Being. “Andamanese turned out quite embarrassingly rich in higher elements of faith…The people are Negitos,…Their religion…have no traditions of presence of aliens in the islands before recent arrivals. Their God, Puluga, is ‘like fire’ but invisible. He was never born, is immortal. By him were all things created, except powers of evil. He knows even the thoughts of your heart. He is angered by Yubda = sin, or wrong doing, that is falsehood, theft, grave assault, murder, adultery, To those in pain or distress…He is judge of the souls, and the dread of future punishment to some extent is said to affect their course of action in the present life…There is a story of Deluge caused by the moral wrath of Puluga.” (REF: The Making of Religion. Page 195 ).

The Dinkas of the Upper Nile  prays to the all-powerful Being, dwelling in heaven, whence he sees all things. He is called "Dendid" (great rain, that is, universal benediction?).' He is omnipotent, but, being all beneficence, can do no evil; so, not being feared.  The Dinkas have a strange old chant: ‘At the beginning, when Dendid made all things, He created the Sun, and the Sun is born, and dies, and comes again! He created the Stars, and the Stars are born, and dies, and come again! He created man, and man is born, and dies, and returns more! (REF: The Making of Religion.196)

The unity of God (Tawhid) of Islam is in Hindu Scriptures also:

"Ekam Evadvitiyam"

"He is One only without a second."

[REF: The Principal Upanishad by S. Radhakrishnan page 447 and 448] and

[Sacred Books of the East, volume 1 ‘The Upanishads part I’ page 93]

"Na Casya Kascij Janita Na Cadhipah."

"Of Him there are neither parents nor lord."

[REF: The Principal Upanishad by S. Radhakrishnan page 745] and

[Sacred Books of the East, volume 15, ‘The Upanishads part II’ page 263.]

"Na Tasya Pratima Asti"

"There is no likeness of Him."

[REF: The Principal Upanishad by S. Radhakrishnan page 736 & 737] and

[Sacred Books of the East, volume 15, ‘The Upanishads part II’ page no 253]

“He (God) is called neither the second, nor the third nor yet the fourth.

He is called neither the fifth, nor the sixth, nor yet the seventh.

He is called neither the eighth, not the ninth nor yet the tenth.

He takes care of all that breathes and of all that does not breathe.

He has got all this conquering power.

He is the One, One alone and only One.

All these luminous forces of nature become one in Him.

(REF: Atharva Vada  XII 4. 19-21)

I have shown that isolated populations,  separated in continents by oceans, mountains and other barriers have faith in oneness of God (Tawhid). The widespread belief in one supreme all-powerful creator (Tawhid) among 500-600 Australian aboriginal, all  living separately incommunicado, various tribes of Indians in north and South America, people of Andaman Island, Hindus of India, and others bolsters the Qur’anic revelation that God sends prophets  to all nations to teach religion of Islam. 

The original Homo sapiens were in Africa before some migrated to other parts of the world 78,000 years ago. So, first Prophet, Adam, was in Africa. Based on the Qur’an Adam was the first prophet of God, and so he is the spiritual parent of Human species. The name given to him supports his African origin. The name “Adam” is derived from two Arabic root words, Adim and Udama. Adim means surface of the earth, and Udama means dark-complexioned. (Ref: lane’s Arabic-English Lexicon. Vol. 1, p 31.). The literal meaning of Adam, therefore, is a dark-skinned person who lives on the surface of the earth. This, too, supports the fact that Adam was created on earth and not in Paradise, and was of African origin.

If many of the lowest “savages” known to us entertain of a Supreme Being such as we find among Fuegians, Australians, Bushmen, and Andamanese, Hinduism, others, the idea of monotheism started with Zoroastrianism is wrong. This belief of unity of God (Tawhid) in many continents is a proof that God sent prophets to all nations. Africans were the parental community of Homo Sapiens (modern man). Adam was sent there with the message of Islam, and so Adam, being the first prophet of God who lifted human species from animality to humanity with divinely prescribed ethical rules and regulation, is called spiritual parent of humanity.

Obviously, if religion began in a form of relatively pure and moral, it must degenerate under priests who 'exploit' the lucrative, and can see no money or power or both in the pure elements of belief and practice. We have seen the lucrative elements in Christianity, Islam, Hinduism etc  were exploited by the clergy, to the neglect of ethics, was precisely the complaint of the Reformers or Prophets. From these lucrative elements the creed of the prophets was free. We cannot possibly, then, expect to find the 'original' state of religion among a people subdued to a money or power grubbing priesthood or rulers. Let me quote from history of Christianity and Islam. The Council of Nicaea was an assembly of religious delegates arranged by emperor Constantine I between May in AD 325, which defined the Christian Church doctrine and beliefs, particularly relating to the holy trinity and relationship between God and Jesus, as is still accepted today. Similarly in the  case of Islam it’s  corruption started with war after Caliph Umar Ibn Khattab and establishment of royal family rule.

Finally, Mr. Sumit Paul, the expert of comparative religion, must answer a simple question: How could 400-600 primitive social tribes of Australian aboriginals, various Indian tribes in north and South America, Africa , Hindus of India, and other places conceive the same idea of the One Supreme Eternal Creator, Tawhid of Islam, independently?

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T.O. Shanavas is a native of Kerala, but is now based in the USA. He is the author of “Islamic Theory of Evolution The Missing Link Between Darwin and The Origin of Species.” Co-author of the book, And God Said, "Let There Be Evolution!": Reconciling The Book Of Genesis, The Qur'an, And The Theory Of Evolution. Edited by Prof. Charles M. Wynn and Prof. Arthur W. Wiggins.

URL:   https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/allah-prophets-nations-religion-human-species/d/128496

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