Polytheism or Monotheism, Hindus, Muslims or Christians - The Aim of Life is Salvation, Moksha and Forgiveness
By Arman Neyazi, New Age Islam
4 August 2021
Religions May Seem To Differ From Each Other but At the
End, All of Them Revolve Around the Same Essence of Winning a Heavenly Life
Hereafter
Main Points:
1.
Human beings quest
for a heavenly life is remembered with different names as Moksha in
polytheistic religions and Allah’s Forgiveness (بخشش) in monotheistic
religions.
2.
Every act of
kindness, compassion and love for the fellow human being is a form of worship
to God that is returned by Him in the forms of rewards in here and hereafter.
3.
Worship is religious
beliefs, social activities and contribution to the welfare of society and
fellow human beings.
4.
Each of us is born
with a natural belief in the ‘Oneness of God’ that is called a state of ‘Fitra’
in Arabic.
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Religions may seem to differ from each other but in the end,
all of them revolve around the same essence of winning a heavenly life
hereafter. All the religions command their followers either through their holy
books or through their prophets to acknowledge the greatness of their lords in
every aspect of life. The religions expect their followers to ask for
forgiveness of the misdeeds committed by them to rectify their mistakes and
hope for a divine life after they are gone from this world. Human beings quest
for a heavenly life is remembered with different names as Moksha in
polytheistic religions and Allah’s Forgiveness (بخشش) in monotheistic
religions.
Allah the Most Gracious and the Creator of the whole
universe has ingrained our personality with His remembrance, love and worship.
Worship to our Creator with the belief in His Greatness is the core of all the
traits that the followers of all the religions believe. Humankind’s life in
here and hereafter is based on His remembrance and His ‘forgiveness’, call it
‘Moksha’ in Hinduism, ‘Resurrection’ in Christianity or Allah’s Forgiveness (بخشش) in Islam.
The universe, this planet earth, nature, the environment and
all other things that it consists of is a mystery for us. The scientific and
technological inventions, the social norms and our religious cultural duties
are all performed by us on the guidance of Allah, the Creator as we ask for His
guidance in prostration or otherwise. Those among us who ask for the Creator’s
mercies are granted the power to perform their duties in the interest of His
people. Those are the people who take the route of ‘service to His people to
receive His blessings are thus blessed with rewards in here and hereafter.
Worship: The Way of Receiving God’s Blessings
Every religion stresses worship to receive the blessings of
the Creator of the universe. Consider the following verses from the Holy Quran
and Bible and Shloka from the Bhagwad Geeta and Guru Granth Saheb:
“Indeed, We have sent a
messenger to every nation (saying), ‘Worship God and avoid false gods...”
(Qur’an, 16:36)
“Neither
is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved.” - Acts 4:12
Fix your mind on Me, be devoted
to Me, worship to Me, bow down to Me, you shall even come to Me; truly this is
my pledge to you, for you are dear to Me. (BG 18.65)
"Those who meditate on God
attain salvation. For them, the cycle of birth and death is eliminated." When
God judges that the soul is ready, he allows it to merge with him after death.
(Guru Granth Sahib)
All the prophets, Auliya, Sufis, Rishis and all other
religious leaders have stressed the need to prostrate in front of God to
receive His forgiveness, salvation and Moksha, whatever words we use, for a
heavenly abode hereafter that is the aim of every human soul on earth.
But there are various other ways of worship to Him other
than that meets our eyes. Every act of kindness, compassion and love for the fellow
human being is a form of worship to God that is returned by Him in the forms of
rewards in here and hereafter. Allah the All-Knower, guides us on to the
righteous path and creates easiness in our works when we tread on the path of
His commands. According to Islam and all other religions, worship is the act
that is performed for the pleasure of Allah, the Creator of this universe and
everything it contains.
Worship is religious beliefs, social activities and
contribution to the welfare of society and fellow human beings.
Ask for Allah’s Guidance and He Bestows upon You
Allah has blessed us with innumerable ingrained qualities of
positivities like wisdom and intellect and has commanded us to use them
according to our understanding. The human being is capable of much more than
what he achieves by using His bestowed intellect on His guided righteous path.
Take the example of our mind, scientists say that it weighs about 3 pounds and
contains around 10 billion neurons (cells that carry information). It is an
unsolved myth but it is said that no one, including the greatest of the
scientists and social scholars, has ever been able to use more than 10 per cent
of their brain capabilities. In the light of this myth, we can rest assure as
the saying goes, ‘sky is the only limit’. Consider the following verse of the
Holy Quran in which Allah, the Most Gracious says:
...He would have made you one community, but His Will is
to test you with what He has given you. So compete with one another in doing
good. To Allah, you will all return. — Quran 5:48
Therefore learn from the signs of Allah and use the
intellect and wisdom granted to you in the righteous path for His forgiveness
and heavenly life hereafter.
The Verses from the Holy Quran, the Bible and Shlokas from
the Bhagwad Geeta and Guru Granth Saheb describing the aim of life and the way
of achieving it.
Verses from The Holy Quran on One’s Aim of Life
“To
Him belongs whosoever is in the heavens and the earth; all obey His will.”
- (Qur’an, 30:26)
…Who
has created life and death so that He may try you which of you are best in
deeds… - The Holy Quran 67:2
And among the people there is
he who sells himself for the pleasure of Allah, and Allah is Kind to His
worshippers. - The Holy Quran 2:207
“And to Allah belongs the
dominion of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is over all things competent.”
- Quran 3: 189)
“And
We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him”.
(50:16)
[Remember] when your Lord
extracted from the loins of Adam’s children their descendants and made them
testify (saying): ‘Am I not your Lord?’ They said: ‘Yes, we testify to it.’ (Quran, 7:172)
“Know that the life of this world is but
amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and
competition in increase of wealth and children ... (Quran 57:20)
“Satan’s plan is to incite enmity and hatred
among you with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of
Allah and regular prayer. Will you not then abstain?” (Quran, 5:91)
(The Hour shall come) that He
may reward those who believe and do righteous deeds. Theirs shall be
forgiveness and a generous provision. - (Q34:4)
As for those who worked
against Our Signs in order to frustrate them, they shall suffer a painful
chastisement. - (Q34:5)
(O Prophet), those who have
knowledge see clearly that what has been revealed to you from your Lord is the
Truth and directs to the Way of the Most Mighty, the Immensely Praiseworthy
Lord. - (Q34:6)
Verses from the Holy Bible
“For by grace you
have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of
God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” - Ephesians 2:8-9
“For He made Him
who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God
in Him.” - 2 Corinthians 5:21
“Sirs, what must I do
to be saved?” So they said, “Belief on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be
saved, you and your household.” - Acts 16:30-31
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and
believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but
has passed from death to life." - John 5:24
"Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed
be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in
heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also
have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil." - Matthew 6:9-13
"Behold, I stand
at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come
into him and eat with him, and he with me." - Revelation 3:20
"But that you may know that the Son of Man has
authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick
up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it,
they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to
men." - Matthew 9:6-8
"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is
Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you
will be saved. For it is with your heart
that you believe and is justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess
and are saved." - Romans 10:9-10
"When the
disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then
can be saved?" Jesus looked at them
and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are
possible." - Matthew 19: 25-26
David said, “…for you have been my help, and in the shadow
of your wings I will sing for joy.” How can you get to that place? Where,
instead of wandering aimlessly through life, you’re actually singing for joy
(or just making a joyful noise if you’re not the singing type)? (Psalm 63:7)
Shlokas from the Holy Bhagwad Geeta and the Holy Guru
Granth Sahib
It is far better to discharge one’s prescribed duties, even
though faultily, than another’s duties perfectly. Destruction in the course of
performing one’s own duty is better than engaging in another’s duties, for to
follow another’s path is dangerous. Bhagavad Gita 3.35
Abandoning all Dharmas (of the body, mind and intellect),
take refuge in Me alone; I will liberate you from all sins, do not grieve. (BG 18.66)
..."the worshippers of gods go to gods; the worshippers
of Pitras (deceased ancestors) go to Pitras; the worshippers of ghosts (who
offer Pind) go to ghosts i.e. become ghosts; those who follow scripture-based
(according to Holy Vedas and Gita) way of worship, they come to me i.e. they
enjoy for some more time in heaven and Great Heaven etc. made by
Kaal." (Bhagwat Geeta: 9-25)
“After that one
should properly search for the supreme place i.e. Satlok of that Supreme God.
Having gone where, devotees do not return to the world, and the Param Akshar
Brahm, from whom the ancient creation–nature has originated.” (Bhagwat Geeta: 15-4)
The Lord is the provider of all peace and comfort. There is
no other at all." (Guru Granth Sahib)
People of the world, don't berate death! Few know how to die
Serve your Sovereign, and the path ahead will be easy to tread Tread the easy
path, earn its fruits, and seek praise hereafter Offer the fruits you earn
here, merge with Truth, and receive your earned honour In the Master's mansion,
you will enjoy His love We wouldn't berate death if we knew how to die! (GG
579)
Human beings aim of life to achieve the Creator’s
forgiveness and reward of heavenly life hereafter is the same irrespective of
his religious beliefs. According to a Hadees each of us is born with a natural
belief in the ‘Oneness of God’ that is called a state of ‘Fitra’, an Arabic
word that is usually translated in English as ‘innate nature’ and then are
divided into different religious beliefs according to our social disposition.
Consider the following Hadees:
The Prophet of God said,
“Each child is born in a state of
‘fitra,’ but his parents make him a Jew or a Christian. It is like the way an
animal gives birth to a normal offspring. Have you noticed any young born
mutilated before you mutilate them?” (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
And Allah Knows the Best.
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Arman Neyazi is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com.
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