Some similarities and differences between Hinduism and Buddhism and the Islamic perspective on these

Similarity between Hinduism & Buddhism

1. Karma

Adherence of both in Hinduism and Buddhism believes in Karma. Karma is what determines fate of an individual during the next life. It is believed that every soul will evolve through the circle of births and rebirth – Samsara – until karmas are resolved. In Buddhist philosophy, the main problem is how Karma is possible as there is no self to be reborn.

Islamic perspective: People will be punished in the Hell fire due to the evil deeds which they have committed in this life and people will be rewarded in Paradise as a consequence of the righteous deeds in this life. Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “And to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, that He may requite those who do evil with that which they have done (i.e. punish them in Hell), and reward those who do good, with what is best (i.e. Paradise).” (An-Najm 53: 31)

2. Samsara

Continuous cycle of birth and rebirth is called Samsara. The reason behind Samsara is avidya (ignorance and wrong knowledge about reality). Both the Hindus and Buddhists believe in Samsara. Only way to get ridge and liberate from Samsara as per Buddhism is Buddhist path. In Hinduism Moksha (liberation from Samsara) is possible achieved by following ascetic practices.

Islamic perspective: There are many Quranic verses and Saheeh Hadith which talks about the life after death, but the continuous cycle of birth and death is against the Islamic teaching. Soul of His slaves will be restored by Allah and they will not die after this new creation. Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “He will sip it unwillingly, and he will find a great difficulty to swallow it down his throat, and death will come to him from every side, yet he will not die and in front of him, will be a great torment.” (Ibrahim 14:17)

3. Moksha and Nirvana

Nirvana or removing desires by following eight fold path is the ultimate goal of the life as per Buddhist believes. Literal meaning of Nirvana is “blowing out” or “extinction”. Extinguishing fire that cause suffering is called Nirvana. Nirvana is what leads to Moksha. Ultimate goal of human life in Hinduism is Moksha, that is liberation from the Samsara. So the concepts Moksha and Nirvana are similar philosophical concepts in Hinduism and Buddhism which free oneself from Samsara and saves from sufferings of this life.

Islamic perspective: Moksha and/or Nirvana is irrelevant to Muslims as there is no such thing as Samsara.


Differences between Hinduism & Buddhism

1. Incarnation

Hindus believes in Avatars. They consider Buddha as the seventh incarnation of Vishnu, but Buddhists don’t believe in incarnation and they don't consider Buddha to be a God.

Islamic perspective: Islam completely rejects the idea of incarnation of God Almighty and it is considered as Shirk. Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “Surely, they have disbelieved who say: "Allah is the Messiah ['Iesa (Jesus)], son of Maryam (Mary)." ” (Al Maida 5:72)

2. Concept of God

Buddhism does not have a concept of God and hence it is more like a philosophy rather than a religion. They even don't have a creational story, hence they are not considered as a universal religion. On other hand Hindus believes in Gods and they worship several idols.

Islamic perspective: “Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists” (Al Baqarah 2:255)

3. Revealed scriptures

Hinduism has a long history of literate tradition. They have two types of texts, namely Shruti and Smriti. Shruti are considered as divinely revealed sacred scriptures while Smriti scriptures being human origin are seen as that which is learned, remembered and written down in order to explain Shruti. However Buddhism does not have a divine scripture and the sayings of Buddah – the Sutras – were passed down orally for first four hundred years.

Islamic perspective: Vedas and Sutras are not the word of God, but we believe in the last and final message sent by Almighty Allah. Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “That (this) is indeed an honourable recital (the Noble Quran). In a Book well-guarded (with Allah in the heaven i.e. Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz). Which (that Book with Allah) none can touch but the purified (i.e. the angels). A Revelation (this Quran) from the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)”. (Al-Waqi'a 77-80)

4. Cast system

Hindus believe in cast system and also they believe one being in high cast or lower cast in this life is because of the deeds he/she committed in the life before. They would not want to help people of other cast (specially Shudras, the untouchables), as according to Hindu belief, one becomes a Shudra due to accumulation of bad deeds. It is mentioned in Rigveda book 10 hymn 90 verse 12 & Manu Smriti chapter 1 verse 31; “So that the world would prosper, Brahma created Brahmana from his mouth, Kshatriya from his arm, Vaishya from his thighs and Shudra from his feet”. Also it is mentioned in Manu Smriti Chapter 8 verse 413; "The Shudra has been created by Brahma to serve the Brahmin. Even if master frees the Shudra, he is not free since Shudra is slave by birth“. Manu Smriti chapter 8 verse 281 says "If a Shudra tries to sit down on the same seat as of Brahmin, he should be branded on the hip or his buttocks should be cut off”. On other hand, Buddhism does not have the concept of cast system. It is reported that the Buddha said: By birth one is not an outcaste, By birth one is not a Brahmin; By deeds alone one is an outcaste, By deeds alone one is a Brahmin.

Islamic perspective: Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa [i.e. one of the Muttaqun (pious - see V. 2:2). Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” (Al-Hujrat 49:13)


Reference

Thasneem & Bibi (2003): Comparitive Religion – Aqueeda 301 Module 12 to 21 Notes, baisnotes [Online]. Available at https://baisnotes.wordpress.com/. Accessed on 22nd December 2014, 22:05

Al-Hilali,M. & Khan,M. (1404 A.H.) Translation of the meaning of the noble Qur'an in the English language. King Fahd Complex for the printing of the holy Qur'an, Madinah, K.S.A

Buddha Dharma Education Association & BuddhaNet (2008) Life of the Buddha (Part Two) 24. The Buddha on the Caste System [Online]. Available at http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhism/lifebuddha/2_24lbud.htm. Accessed on 24th December 2014, 14:10

Qari Course Level 4 - Sample Questions

10. رخوة ގެ ލުޣަވީ މާނަ އަދި އިސްޠިލާޙީ މާނަ ލިޔޭ!

ލުޣަވީ މާނަ: ލުއިކަން ނުވަތަ ފަސޭހަކަން

އިސްޠިލާޙީ މާނަ: رخوة ގެ އަކުރުތައް އަދާކުރުމުގައި މަޚްރަޖުގެ މައްޗަށް ބުރަވެވޭ މިންވަރު ކުޑަވުމުން ނުވަތަ ނިކަމެތިވުމުގެ ސަބަބުން އަކުރު އަދާކުރުމުގައި އަޑު ދެމިގެން ދިއުމެވެ.

11. إستعلاء إستفال މިދެސިފަ ދީގެން އަކުރު އަދާކުރުމުގައިވާ ތަފާތަކީ ކޮބާ؟

إستعلاء ގެ ސިފަދީގެން އަކުރު އަދާކުރާއިރު أقصى اللّسان މަތީތައްޔާއި ދިމާއަށް އުފުލޭނެއެވެ. އަދި މިއަކުރުތަކުގެ އަޑު ހުންނާނީ މަތީ ތައްޔާއިދިމާއަށް މައްޗަށެވެ. އެހެންކަމުން އަކުރުގެ އަޑުން އަނގައިގެތެރެ ހުންނާނީ ފުރައިލެވިފައެވެ. އަދި އަކުރުގެ އަޑު ބަރުވާނެއެވެ. ނަމަވެސް إستفال ގެ ސިފަދީގެން އަކުރު އަދާކުރާއިރު أقصى اللّسان އޮންނާނީ މަތީތައްޔާއި ދުރުވެފައެވެ. އަދި އަކުރުގެ އަޑު އަނގަތެރެއިން ހުސްކޮށްލެވޭނެއެވެ. މިހެންކަމުން މިއަކުރުތަކުގެ އަޑު ހުންނާނީ ލުއިކޮށެވެ.

12. ނޭވާއާއި އަޑުގެ ތަފާތަކީ ކޮބާ؟

ނޭވައަކީ ފުއްޕާމެއިން އުފެދިގެން އަންނަ ވައެވެ. ނަމަވެސް އަޑަކީ ވައިގެ ބައިތައް އިންސާނާގެ ކަންފަތަށް ނަގައިގަނެވޭ ގޮތަށް ތެޅޭގެޅުމަށް ކިޔާނަމެކެވެ.

13. رخوة ގެ އަކުރުތަކަށް މިނަން ދެވުނު ސަބަބަކީ ކޮބައިކަން ބުނެދީ!

رخوة ގެ އަކުރުތަކަށް މިނަންދެވުނީ މިއަކުރުތައް އަދާކުރުމުގައި ފަސޭހަކަމުންނެވެ. އަދި މަޚްރަޖުގެ މައްޗަށް ބުރަވެވޭ މިންވަރު ކުޑަކަމުގެ ސަބަބުން އަޑު ނިކުތުމުގައި އެއްވެސް ވަރަކަށް ބަންދުވުމެއް ނުވާތީއެވެ.

14. إطباق ކުރުމާއި إستعلاء ކުރުމުގައިވާ ތަފާތުތަށް ލިޔޭ!

إستعلاء ކުރުމަކީ أقصى اللّسان މަތީތައްޔާއި ދިމާއަށް އުފުލުމެވެ. މަތީތަލީގައި ދުލުގެ ފަހަތް ޖެހުން ނުވަތަ ދުލުގެ ފަހަތާއި މަތީތައްޔާއި ވަރަށްބޮޑަށް ގާތްވުން ލާޒިމެއް ނުކުރެއެވެ. ނަމަވެސް إطباق ކުރުމުގައި أقصى اللّسان އުފުލި މަތީތަލީގައި ޖެހުން ނުވަތަ މަތީތައްޔާއި ވަރަށްބޮޑަށް ގާތްވުން ލާޒިމެވެ.

15. ق غ خ ص ض ظ ط މިއަކުރުތަކަށް إستعلاء ގެ އަކުރުތަކުގެ ނަމުން ނަންދެވުނު ސަބަބަކީ ކޮބާ!

މިއަކުރުތައް އަދާކުރާއިރު أقصى اللّسان މަތީތައްޔާއި ދިމާއަށް އުފުލޭތީއެވެ.

16. إنفتاح އާއި إطباق ގެ ލުޣަވީ މާނަ އަދި އިސްޠިލާޙީ މާނަ ލިޔޭ!

إنفتاح ގެ ލުޣަވީމާނައަކީ ވަކިވުން ނުވަތަ ދުރުވުމެވެ. އިސްޠިލާޙީ މާނައަކީ އަކުރު އަދާކުރުމުގައި ދުލާއި މަތީ ތައްޔާ ދުރުވުމާއިއެކު އަކުރުގެ އަޑު ދުލާއި މަތީތައްޔާއިދެމެދު ހިފެހެއްޓިފައި ނުވުމެވެ.

إطباق ގެ ލުޣަވީމާނައަކީ ތަތްވުން، ނުވަތަ ކައިރިވުން، ގާތްވުން، އެކުވުން ފަދަ މާނަތަކެވެ. އިސްޠިލާޙީ މާނައަކީ، އަކުރު އަދާކުރުމުގައި ދުލުގެ ބައެއް ނުވަތަ ބޮޑުބައެއް މަތީތަލީގައި ޖެހުން ނުވަތަ ވަރަށްބޮޑަށް މަތީތައްޔާ ގާތްވުމާއިއެކު ދުލާއި ތައްޔާދެވެމު އަޑު ހިފަހެއްޓިފައި ހުރުމެވެ.

17. إستفال ކުރުމާއި إتفتاح ކުރުމުގެ ތަފާތުލިޔޭ!

إستفال ކުރުމަކީ އަކުރު އަދާކުރުމުގައި ދުލުގެފަހަތް ނުވަތަ أقصى اللّسان މަތީ ތައްޔާ ދުރުވެ އަނގައިގެ ތެރޭގައިވާ ހުސްތަނަށް ތިރިކުރުމެވެ. ނަމަވެސް إتفتاح ކުރުމުގައި، ދޫ މަތީތައްޔާއި ދުރުވެފައި އޮތުމުން ފުދެއެވެ. أقصى اللّسان މަތީތައްޔާއި ދިމާއަށް އުފުލިފައި އޮތަސްވެސް إتفتاح ކުރެވޭނެއެވެ.

18. إذلاق ގެ ލުޣަވީމާނަ އަދި އިސްޠިލާޙީމާނަ އަދި ނަންދެވުނު ސަބަބު ލިޔޭ!

ލުޣަވީ މާނައަކީ ފަސޭހަކަމެވެ. އިސްޠިލާހީ މާނައަކީ، ދެތުންފަތުންނާއި ދުލުގެ ކައިރިފަށުން އަކުރުތައް ފަސޭހަކަމާއިއެކު ކިއުމެވެ. إذلاق ގެ އަކުރުތަކަށް މިނަން ދެވުނީ، މިއަކުރުތައް އަދާކުރުމުގައި ފަސޭހަކަމާއި އެކު އަވަސްކޮށް ދުލުގެ ކައިރިން ނުވަތަ ދެ ތުންފަތުގެ ކައިރިފަށުން އަކުރު ނިކުންނާތީއެވެ.

19. إصمات ގެ ލުޣަވީމާނަ އަދި އިސްޠިލާޙީމާނަ އަދި ނަންދެވުނު ސަބަބު ލިޔޭ!

ލުޣަވީ މާނައަކީ ކަމަކުން މަނާވެގަތުމެވެ. އިސްޠިލާޙީ މާނައަކީ، އަކުރުތައް އެއަކުރުތަކުގެ މަޚްރަޖުން އުނދަގޫކަމާއިއެކު ކިއުމެވެ. إصمات ގެ އަކުރުތަކަށް މިނަން ދެވުނީ رباعي ނުވަތަ خماسي ކަލިމައެއްގެ އަސްލުގައި ހަމައެކަނި إصمات ގެ އަކުރުތައް ހިމެނިގެންވާގޮތަށް ޢަރަބިބަހުގެ އެއްވެސް ކަލިމައެއް ނުވާތީއެވެ.

20. ز س ص އަށް ހަމައެކަނި ޙާއްޞަވާ ލާޒިމް ޞިފަތަކަކީ ކޮބައިކަން ބުނެދިނުމަށްފަހު އެނަންދެވުނު ސަބަބު ބުނެދީ!

ز س ص އަށް ހަމައެކަނި ޙާއްޞަވާ ލާޒިމް ޞިފައަކީ صفير އެވެ. އަދި صفير އަށް މިނަން ދެވުނީ، މި އަކުރުތައް އަދާކުރުމުގައި ދޫނި ސޫފާ ސޫފީގެ ގޮވުމުގައި އަޑާއި ވައްތަރު އަޑެއް އެކުލެވިފައިވާތީއެވެ.