A. C.

Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

on

Islam and Vaishnavism

"Certainly God will send to my sect at the end of every hundred years,
a person who will renew my religion."
Prophet Muhammad

"Chaitanya Mahaprabhu proved devotional Service from the Qur'an.

So it requires a devotee who can explain God from any godly literature."
Srila Prabhupada

Dedicated to an Eternal Spiritual Master

who can save the entire universe
Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Islam is also Vaishnavism

Islam means Submission
God sends His messengers
Parampara Disciplic succession
The Qur'an
The Qur'an is also shastra

7. The knowledge must be scientific

8. The Muslim religion is based on a conception of God
9. The Muslim religion is also bhakti-yoga
10. Guru Spiritual master
11. Hazrat Muhammad is shaktyavesha-avatara
12. Hazrat Muhammad is an acharya
13. Hazrat Muhammad is an authority
14. Hazrat Muhammad is a devotee of God
15. Hazrat Muhammad is a servant of God
16. Hazrat Muhammad is the perfect holy man
17. Hazrat Muhammad preached God-consciousness
18. Hazrat Muhammad teaches according to the class of men
19. Hazrat Muhammad could hear God
20. The Muslims are also Vaishnavas
21. A planet where pious Muslims go
22. Animal slaughter
23. God is a person
24. God is not formless
25. God can be seen
26. God is not material
27. Allah is a name of God
28. The ultimate goal is to love God
Introduction
The following is based on Srila Prabhupadas conversations:
Religion is meant for peace, not war.
Again and again God has sent His messengers to this material world to re-establish
religious principles. Different messengers have revealed different scriptures in different
languages accord-ing to time, place, circumstances and the intellectual capacity of the
people. In this way the Vedas, Avesta, Torah, Bible and Qur'an were made available for
the benefit of mankind, to bring them closer to God. Despite the different languages
and different ages in which these scriptures were presented, the knowl-edge and
guidance is essentially the same. That is:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

God is one
Everyone is a servant of God
Everyone has an eternal relationship with God
The primary duty of everyone is Service to God
The goal of human life is to develop love of God.

As far as the process of each scripture is concerned, some details and rituals differ, but
in essence it is all the same. Every messenger of God came to this mortal world to
remind us that we should always remember God, serve God and love God. Therefore,
religious principles are meant for peace and prosperity, not war. Vaishnavism, Hinduism,
Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Chris-tianity and Islam are all meant for uniting
people, not dividing them.

"In the vase there is a variety of flowers, and that variety helps us better appreciate the
idea of flowers. That is called unity in diversity," said Srila Prabhupada. But because of
misunderstanding, misinterpretation and deviation from the revealed scriptures,
hundreds and hundreds of sects have already appeared, even within the same religious
communities, what to speak of other communities. People quarrel, fight and kill each
other under the name of reli-gion. So much degradation. There is no peace and
prosperity on this earth. How can we gain the peace and prosperity that everyone is
searching for? In this dark age of quarrel and hypocrisy, God has sent us His most
merciful servant, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, to re-establish true
religious principles and unite all the religions under the non-sectarian, nonmaterial,
transcendental flag of love of God.
As a humble saint, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada never criticised any religion
or any bona fide representative of any religion. Some people say Srila Prabhupada was
a genius, some say a great religious teacher, some say a friend like no other, but Srila
Prabhupada said: "I am simply a servant of a servant of a servant of God." By reestablishing the Absolute Truth as it was, as it is, and as it always should be without
adding or subtracting anything from the way it was presented to him, he began an
international movement that has already united people of all religions, nations, ages,
etc.. Thanks to his compassion and struggle, souls from all walks of life: scientists,
businessmen, philosophers, laborers, housewives and students are all marching under
the united nations transcendental flag of love of God.
In this work we present Statements by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada on
Islam taken from his books, lectures and conversations. We sincerely hope it will help
people develop a proper understanding of interreligious connections, "unity in
diversity."

1. Islam is also Vaishnavism

Srila Prabhupada: Islam is also Vaishnavism.
Dr. Patel: Mohammedanism is not Vaishnavism.
Srila Prabhupada: No, no. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu talked with the Pathanas (Muslims).
He proved that "Yourreligion is Vaishnavism." (Moraing walk. Bombay, 17/02/74)
Srila Prabhupada: Then Islam is Vaishnava dharma (religion) in a crude form like
Christianity.
(Room conversation. Tehran, 14/03/75)
In these two Statements, Srila Prabhupada explains that the Isamic religion is also
teaching how to become a servant of only one God and surrender to Him with love and
devotion. One can cultivate the same knowledge in the Vaishnava religion but with
more detailed information. In Vaishnavism, one can learn how to develop his eternal
loving relationships with the Supreme Lord. Although Dr. Patel could not accept that
Islam is also Vaishnavism, Srila Prabhupada explained that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, in
his conversation with the Pathana Muslims, proved by quoting from the Holy Qur'an
that Islam is also Vaishnavism. At the end of his conversation all the Pathana Muslims,

including the great Muslim Scholar and prince Vijuli Khan, accepted the fact that
Vaishavism is a true religion teaching complete surrender to the will and desire of God,
which is the meaning of Islam. Later on in 197S, in Tehran, Srila Prabhupada explained
that Islam is a simplified form of the Vaishnava religion. Why? Because the Holy
Prophet Muhammad taught his people according to time, place, circumstances and their
intellectual level. He himself clearly said, "I received two kinds of knowledge: one of
these I taught but if I had taught them the other, it would have broken their necks."
(Nadarbeg K. Mizra, Reincarnation and Islam, Madras, 1927, p. 4)
According to the Muslim tradition, a part of the "Heavenly Book" which is kept under the
Throne of Allah was revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad in the Arabic language.
More than this, the Holy Prophet Muhammad once had miraj, or the experience of
"ascending" to heaven.
And after penetrating the 7th layer of heaven, he visited the Throne of Allah and
received divine knowledge from Him. This divine knowledge given by Allah to the Holy
Prophet Muhammad was in three parts:
1) The knowledge that Allah ordered the Holy Prophet Muhammad to conceal from
others and keep for himself
2) The knowledge that Allah allowed him to choose whether or not to conceal or reveal
to others
3) The knowledge that Allah ordered the Apostle to communicate to all members of his
ummah (community). (Geo Widengren. Muhammad, the Apostle of
God, and His Ascension. Uppsala, 1955, p. 108)
In this way, the Holy Prophet Muhammad got part of the unlimited spiritual knowledge
and at the same time was ordered by Allah to conceal some parts of this knowledge.
Thus from statements of the Holy Prophet and from his life, we can understand that he
withheld some confidential knowledge about the Supreme Lord. Therefore, Srila
Prabhupada said that Islam is simplified Vaishnavism. By these words Srila Prabhupada
had no intention to discredit the Islamic religion. He actually had all respect for Islam as
we will see later on. That is why he said that Islam is also Vaishnavism. But what Srila
Prabhupada meant is that not all aspects of Vaishnava philosophy were revealed by the
Holy Prophet Muhammad, as he himself states.

2. Islam means submission

Yoga student: In fact Muslims object to their religion being called Mohammedanism
because it implies that they worship Muhammad, whereas in fact they feel that they go
straight to God, to Allah, and that Muhammad simply was a messenger.
Srila Prabhupada: That's good.
Yoga student: And they call their religion Islam, which means submission.
Srila Prabhupada: That's very good.
Yoga student: The Muslim is he who submits.
(Room conversation. Tehran, 14/03/75)

Srila Prabhupada: Religion means to surrender to God. It doesn't matter what religion
you profess. It doesn't matter. But you must learn how to obey the Supreme Lord. That
is religion. Religion does not mean that you stamp some stereotype religion, "I am
Christian," "I am Hindu," "I am Muslim," "I am Buddhist," and then fight. That is not
religion. That is fanaticism. Religion means how one has become devoted to God. That
is religion.
You claim to be religious, or you claim to be Hindu or Christian or Buddhist. That's all
right But do you know what is God? Oh, everyone is silent. He does not know what is
God. And what is his religion? If you do not know what is God, a vague idea, that is not
religion. You must know what is God. Just like to become an American citizen, it
requires you to know something of the history of America. So ask an American citizen,
"What are you?"
"Now, I'm American."
"Who is your president?'
"I do not know."
What is this nonsense American? Would you like to hear from him, "I do not know who
is my president." Similarly, a human being professing some certain type of religion, but
if you ask him, "What is God?"
Religion must be in relationship with God; any religion. But ask him, "What is God?" No
answer. But religion means yato bhaktir adhoksaje by practising it, one becomes a
devotee of the Lord. That is religion, First-class religion. (Lecture on Srimad
Bhagavatam. 9/01/74)
Srila Prabhupada: Religion means obedience to God. Religion does not mean anything
else. You can manufacture so many formulas and theses. But the real meaning is
obedience to God. That is religion. Simple definition. If a man is obedient to God, it
doesn't matter to which religion he belongs. He may be Christian, he may be Hindu, he
may be Mussalman. It doesn't matter. Religion means obedience to God.(Lecture on
Srimad Bhagavatam. 12/12/73)
Here Srila Prabhupada again and again emphasised that religion means surrender to or
obedience to God. Islam also means full surrender to the will of God. Many times the
Holy Prophet Muhammad explained that everyone is a banda, or slave of Allah and
must obey His order. We should understand our original, constitutional position as
servants of God and by following His instructions we will develop our eternal loving
relationship with the Supreme Lord.
People should not just put arubber stamp on themselves, "I am Christian," "I am
Hindu," "I am Muslim" and then fight. This is not a religious activity but fanaticism born
from ignorance. Another meaning of Islam is "peace." Islam must bring peace, not war.
If someone under the name of Islam advocates war, this means he has misunderstood
or misinterpreted Islam. We should not be bewildered by such unscrupulous
interpreters, rather we should follow true, eternal Islam, which will bring universal
peace to the world. In the beginning of his preaching, the Holy Prophet Muhammad and
his followers were severely persecuted by Meccan leaders. The Holy Prophet tolerated
and taught his followers to be tolerant and forgiving towards their persecutors. Later on
when Meccan leaders decided to kill the Holy Prophet Muhammad, he escaped to
Medina. There the number of Muslims rapidly increased, and the Meccans decided to
march upon Medina and kill all the Muslims. This time the Holy Prophet got a revelation

from God that sanctioned fighting and killing for the purpose of protecting religious
principles. Thus it is stated in the sura "Al-Baqarah" or "The Cow" of the Holy Qur'an
(2.190-193):
"Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah
loves not transgressors. And slay them wherever you catch them, and turn them out
from where they have turned you out; for persecution is worse than slaughter, but fight
them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you,
slay them. Such is the reward of those who reject faith.
But if they cease, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And fight them on until there is
no more persecution and the religion becomes Allah's."
Prominent Muslim scholar Abdullah Yusuf Ali comments:
"War is permissible in self-defence, and under well-defined limits. When undertaken, it
must be pushed with vigour, but not relentlessly, but only to restore peace and freedom
for the worship of Allah. In any case, strict limits must not be transgressed: women,
children, old and infirm men should not be molested, nor trees and crops cut down, nor
peace withheld when the enemy comes to terms." (Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur-an,
Al-Madinah, 1411H, p. 79)
This is the actual meaning of Jihad, or Holy War. If an enemy is attacking one with
deadly weapons, with the intention to destroy or impede one's religious activities, one
can fight and kill for the protection of religious principles. However, nowadays, many
leaders are advocating war under the name of jihad. They are using religious terms to
promote political ambitions. They dress themselves as religionists, but actually they are
atheists. People should be very careful not to be victimised by such dishonest and
misguided leaders.
So, in Medina, the Muslims were attacked many times by Meccans and despite having
smaller numbers, they always emerged victorious. During these wars, the Holy Prophet
Muhammad gave special orders that Muslims should not kill monks, children, women,
old and helpless people. Once after battle, the Holy Prophet saw dead women on the
battlefield. He became very upset and chastised his followers.
Finally, despite severe persecutions and wars, the Holy Prophet Muhammad conquered
Mecca and entered the city with a huge army without shedding any blood or taking
revenge upon his persecutors; instead he forgave them. This is how the Holy Prophet
acted.
In conclusion, the Holy Prophet Muhammad said: "The most excellent Jihad is the
uttering of truth in the presence of an unjust ruler." (Mishkat, 17)
Muslims should learn from his example and follow his instructions without deviation.
Thus by following the orders of God revealed in the scriptures and surrendering unto
Him, everyone will become obedient servants of God and develop their loving
relationship with Him.
Once the Holy Prophet Muhammad shed light on another aspect of Jihad. He said:

"The most excellent Jihad (Holy War) is that for conquest of self."
(Abdullah Al-Mamun Al-Suhrawardy, The sayings of Muhammad, London, 1905, p. 27)
Here is a good description of Jihad. The Holy Prophet Muhammad himself explained that
Jihad means fighting and conquering the impurities of consciousness. It is not that one
should fight with the enemy on the outside. No. Actually, one should fight with the
enemies that is inside. Who are these internal enemies? They are lust, greed and anger.
These are three gates leading to hell. One should fight and conquer these enemies.
Jihad may require fighting in Allah's cause, as a form of self-sacrifice. But its essence
consists in:
1) true and sincere faith, which so fixes its attention on Allah, that all selfish or worldly
motives seem insignificant and fade away, and
2) enthusiastic and incessant activities, involving the sacrifice of one's life, or wealth, in
the service of Allah. Mere brutal fighting is opposed to the whole spirit of Jihad, while
the sincere scholar's pen or the preacher's voice or the wealthy man's contributions
may be the most valuable forms of Jihad. This is the inner, esoteric meaning of the term
Jihad, Holy War.

3. God sends His messengers

Srila Prabhupada: When our constitutional position or dharma has deteriorated due to
the contaminations of matter, the Lord Himself comes as an incarnation or sends some
of His confidential servitors. Lord Jesus Christ called himself the "son of God," and so he
is a representative of the Supreme. Similarly, Muhammad identified himself as a
servant of the Supreme Lord.
Thus whenever there is a discrepancy in our constitutional position, the Supreme Lord
either comes Himself or sends His representative to inform us of the real position of the
living entity. (On the Way to Krishna, Ch. 2)
Here Srila Prabhupada explains the universal law of the Supreme Lord. Whenever
religious principles deteriorated to the influence of the illusory material energy, God
sent some of His confidential servants like Jesus Christ or Hazrat Muhammad to inform
people of their real position as eternal servitors of God. In this way, Moses and Jesus
were sent to Jews and Hazrat Muhammad to Arabs to re-establish the eternal religious
principles that everyone is a servant of God and should serve Him with love and
devotion. Each messenger of God accepts the authority of the previous messengers and
scriptures.
The Holy Qur'an (2.285) expresses this principle in the following way:
"The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the
men of faith. Each one (of them) believes in Allah, His angels, His books and His
messengers. 'We make no distinction (they say) between any of His messengers.'"
The prominent Muslim scholar Abdullah Yusuf Ali comments:
"It is not for us to make any distinction between one and another of Allah's
Messengers: we must honour them all equally, though we know that Allah in His

wisdom sent them with different kinds of missions and gave them different degrees of
rank." (Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur-an, Al-Madinah, 1411 H, p. 132)
Thus the Holy Qur'an accepts all previous scriptures and messengers. It is explained
here that the messengers of God accept the Supreme Lord, His angels (who are
administrating material affairs), scriptures (sent by God through His different
representatives) and all of God's other messengers. They never discriminate between
any of His messengers, which means that they never say, 'This messenger is better
than another," or "We accept this messenger but do not care about that one." Thus we
should understand that God sends His messengers or representatives to different
nations to preach the Absolute Truth according to time, place and circumstances.
The Holy Qur'an (12.2) explains this point in the following verse of sura "Yusuf," or
"Joseph":
"We (Allah) have revealed it, a Lecture (Qur'an) in Arabic, that you (Muhammad) may
understand."
Allah explained here that He revealed the Qur'an in Arabic so that the Holy Prophet
Muhammad may understand it and convey it to other Arabs. Allah, time after time,
reveals His eternal message to different prophets in the appropriate language. Although
the linguistic expressions and terms are different, the essential knowledge is the same:
1)
2)
3)
4)

God is one
Everyone is the servant of God
We must serve and love God
And to do so, we must chant His holy name.

This is the universal message of God contained in all scriptures.

Furthermore it is stated in the sura "Al-Baqarah," or "The Cow" of the Holy Qur'an
(2.253):
"Those Messengers we endowed with gifts, some above others: to some of them Allah
spoke; others He raised to degrees (of honour)."
Thus, different gifts and different modes of procedure were given to Allah's messengers
through the different ages, and perhaps their degrees are also different. According to
the supreme plan of the Lord, different personalities appear in different parts of the
world to deliver the eternal message of God to the nations.
In the Tafsire Kassaf(Jild 3, Chapter 60) 4th Khalifoi Islam, son-in-law of the Holy
Prophet Muhammad, Hazrat Ali said:
"Allah-Taala sent one black coloured nabi (one who delivers the message of God) whose
name is not mentioned in the Qur'an." (Tafsire Madarek, Juj 2, Egypt, p. 65)
In the sura "Al-Baqarah," or 'The Cow" of the Holy Qur'an (2.136), we find the following
verse:
"Say you: 'We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, to Abraham, Ismail,
Isaac, Jacob, to the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all)
the Prophets from their Lord: we make no difference between one and another of them:
and we submit to Allah.'"

Here we have the creed of Islam to believe in:

1) the one universal God
2) the message that has come to us through the Holy Prophet Muhammad and the
signs (ayats) interpreted by him
3) the messages delivered by other prophets in the past. These are mentioned in three
groups:
(1) Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes; of these Abraham apparently had a
scripture
(2) Moses and Jesus, who each left a scripture
(3) other scriptures, prophets, or messengers of God, not specifically mentioned in the
Holy Qur'an. Their message in essence was one, and that is the basis of Islam.
In the Tarikhe Hatndan, Chapter Babul Kaf, the Holy Prophet Muhammad mentioned
one divine personality who descended in India. He described his colour and gave his
name. These are the words of the Holy Prophet Muhammad:
"In India one black coloured nabi advented and his name was Kahan."
In the opinion of the prominent Muslim scholar Alhaz Ahmad Tofic, the person
mentioned by the Holy Prophet Muhammad in the Tarikhe Hatndan is Krishna, who
appeared in India 5,000 years ago, whose colour was blackish and who delivered to
mankind the message of God, famously known as the Bhagavad-gita.
Another interesting piece of evidence was given by one of the close associates of the
Holy Prophet Muhammad, namely Ab'uhurairah. According to Ab'uhurairah, the Holy
Prophet of Islam said:
"Certainly God will send to my sect at the end of every hundred years, a person who
will renew my religion." (Mishcat-ul-Masabih, Calcutta, 1809, p. 62)
One example of such renewal is recorded in a very exciting conversation about the Holy
Qur'an between Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Abdullah Pathana about 500 years ago. In
this conversation the Hidden Treasure of Al-Qur'an was again revealed to mankind.
(Anyone interested can read The Hidden Treasure of Al-Qur'an by Dr. Akif Manaf J.)
Another incident involving Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took place when the Muslim King of
Bengal, Ala' uddin Saiyad Hussain Shah (1498-1511), heard of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's
influence in attracting innumerable people. He said: "Such a person, who is followed by
so many people without giving them charity, must be a prophet. I can surely
understand this fact."
Then Hussain Shah ordered the magistrate: "Do not disturb this prophet out of
jealousy. Let him do as he wills wherever he likes."
Later, in private, the King inquired from his minister, Dabir Khas, about this personality,
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Dabir Khas replied: "This prophet always desires your good
fortune. By his grace, all your business is successful. By his blessings, you will attain
victory everywhere. Why are you questioning me? Better that you question your own

mind. Because you are the King of the people, you are the representative of the
Supreme. Therefore you can understand this better than me."
The King said: "I consider Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to be a divine personality. There is no
doubt about it." (Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-Lila, Chapter 1, Texts 168-180)

4. Parampara Disciplic succession

Srila Prabhupada: If Muhammad is the servant of God and Jesus Christ is the son of
God, then where is the break of the disciplic succession. After all the disciplic succession
is beginning from God, so how do you find that there is no disciplic succession? If the
original tree has branches, twigs and leaves and they are in touch with the original tree,
it is all right. The test is whether the line is in touch with the Supreme that is all.
Although Muhammad and Jesus Christ appeared in the Kali Yuga (the present age of
quarrel and hypocrisy) their instruction is as it is because the persons to whom they
had to speak could not understand any more and they find it difficult to understand
even that much. (Letter 19/07/70)
Here Srila Prabhupada explains the very important con-ception of parampara from the
Vedic literatures. Parampara means disciplic succession, or chain of self-realised souls
who convey spiritual knowledge without adulteration. The absolute knowledge descends
through generations of spiritual masters and disciples. The topmost disciples become
preceptors and pass on the teachings to their disciples. Parampara, or disciplic
succession begins from God. The Holy Prophet Muhammad received knowledge of God
through the archangel Gabriel; therefore he is in the line of disciplic succession.
According to tradition, it was the practice of the Holy Prophet Muhammad to retire from
his family to a desert cave for meditation for one month every year. His place of retreat
was Hira, a desert hill not far from Mecca, and his chosen month was Ramazan
(December), the month of heat. It was there, one night towards the end of his stay,
that the first revelation came to him when he was forty years old. This happened on the
seventeenth day of Ramazan month (22nd of December, 610). That date is since named
Al-Gadir, "Night of Power".
Hazrat Muhammad was asleep when he heard a voice calling him. When he opened his
eyes, he saw a bright dazzling light and fell unconscious. When he regained
consciousness, he saw an angel in the likeness of a man, carrying a written document
enveloped in precious silk. The angel said, "Read!" He replied, "I cannot read." Indeed
he was illiterate.
The angel placed the document on his chest. Hazrat Muhammad felt as if a mountain
had fallen upon him and thought that he would die of suffocation. Then the angel lifted
the document and repeated, "Read!" He replied, "I cannot read" but again the angel
pressed him even stronger than before. A third time the angel commanded in a more
terrible voice, "Read!"
"What have I to read?'
The angel said:
"Read: In the name of your Lord Who created,

Created man from a clot.

Read: Your Lord is Most Bountiful,
Who taught by the pen,
Taught man that which he knew not."
(The Qur'an 96.1-5)
Hazrat Muhammad submissively repeated the words, and they remained "as if inscribed
in his heart." He went out of the cave, onto the hillside, and heard the same aweinspiring voice say, "O Muhammad! You are Allah's messenger, and I am Gabriel." Then
he raised his eyes and saw the angel standing in the sky above the horizon and again
the dreadful voice said, "O Muhammad! You are Allah's messenger, and I am Gabriel."
Hazrat Muhammad stood still. Due to the brightness of the light, he turned his face
away, but in whichever direction he would turn his face, the angel always stood there
confronting him. He remained standing there for a long time until the angel vanished.
Thus the Holy Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Holy Qur'an and
was appointed as a messenger of God. (Marmaduke Pickthall. The Holy Qur'an. New
Delhi, 1990, p. 5)
Srila Prabhupada gave the example of the tree: is given that if the branches, twigs and
leaves are in touch with the original tree, then nourishment is there. The test is
whether the line is in touch with the Supreme Lord. That is all. In this way, because the
Holy Prophet Muhammad is in touch with God through the archangel Gabriel, he is a
bona fide spiritual master.
The next point Srila Prabhupada made is that although Hazrat Muhammad appeared in
the modem age called Kali Yuga (Iron Age), or age of quarrel and hypocrisy, his
instruction is as it is. Because the persons to whom he had to speak could not
understand the whole truth and they even found it difficult to understand parts of that
truth, he had to speak according to the level of their intellectual capacities.
Therefore once, the Holy Prophet Muhammad said, "Speak to people according to the
level of their intellectual capacities. For if you speak all things to all men, some cannot
understand you, and so fall into errors." (Abdullah al-Mamun al-Suhrawardy. The
Sayings of Muhammad, London, 1905, p. 31)
In this connection, the prominent Muslim scholar Abdullah Yusuf Ali writes:
"While the basic principles of Allah's Law remain the same; its form, expression and
application have varied from time to time, e. g., from Moses to Jesus, and from Jesus to
Muhammad." (The Holy Qur-an. The Presidency of Islamic Researchers, Al-Madinah AlMunawarah, 1410 H., p. 1939)
Nava-yauvana: In Islam they say that God cannot come to this earth.
Atreya Rishi: God would not come to this earth.
Srila Prabhupada: God cannot speak? God cannot come. A very big man, he can
come, but He (God) cannot speak?
Atreya Rishi: They agree. He can speak and He can send representatives.
Srila Prabhupada: Because He has spoken to Muhammad, and Muhammad has come,
he is speaking the same thing. There is no need of God's coming. If
Muhammad is speaking on behalf of God, then that is all right. There is no need of

God's coming. This is parampara.

(Morning walk. Tehran, 12/08/76)
Again Srila Prabhupada mentions in his morning walk in Tehran that because God has
spoken to Hazrat Muhammad, and the Holy Prophet Muhammad is simply repeating the
same message on behalf of God, this is parampara, disciplic succession, or chain of
teachers.

5. The Qur'an
Srila Prabhupada: The revealed scripture of the Muslims is the Qur'an. (Chaitanyacharitamrita. Madhya-lila, 18.190)
Srila Prabhupada: Just like in your country there is the Bible or any other scripture.
We have got the Vedas. The Muslims, they have got the Qur'an. These scriptures can
help also because they are also authority. But you will find that one scripture is differing
from other scriptures in some details. Of course, on average there is no difference.
(Lecture, 25/04/69)
Srila Prabhupada: The Muslims accept the Qur'an. What is the purpose for all these
books of knowledge? They are to train us to understand our position as pure soul. Their
purpose is to restrict bodily activities by certain rules and regulations, and these rules
and regulations are known as codes of morality. (Beyond Birth and Death. Ch. 1)
Srila Prabhupada: According to the climate, according to the population, according to
the country, there are different books of knowledge. Just like in India the books of
knowledge are accepted as the Vedas, Vedic knowledge. In your European, American
countries the accepted books of knowledge are the Old Testament and the New
Testament. Similarly, the book of knowledge amongst the Muslims, (which) they have
accepted is the Qur'an. Actually, they are all books of knowledge; undoubtedly. There is
no doubt about it. But what are these books of knowledge? Religious scriptures!
Religious scriptures are meant for training you to (understand) the conception of life
that you are a pure soul, nothing more. They restrict your bodily activities under certain
conditions. That is called morality. (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita, 25/03/66)
Srila Prabhupada: This message (of God) may also be found in the Bhagavad-gita and
other Vedic literatures, in the Bible and the Qur'an in any bona fide scripture or it
may be heard from a realised soul. (On the Way to Krishna, Ch. 3)
Srila Prabhupada: According to the Vedic scriptures, if one can support his stand by
quoting from the Vedas, his argument is perfect. Similarly, when the Muslims support
their stand with quotations from the Qur'an, their arguments are also authorised.
(Chaitanya-charitamrita. Adi-lila, 7.155p)
Srila Prabhupada: If you purchase the Bhagavad-gita, if you purchase the Bible, if
you purchase the Qur'an, or... There are so many literatures. They are also authorised.
(Lecture on Bhagavad-gita, 16/12/66)

Srila Prabhupada: So in the Qur'an there is God-consciousness, in the Bible there is

God-consciousness, in the Vedas there is God-consciousness. (Lecture on Chaitanyacharitamrita, 24/02/71)
Srila Prabhupada: Vedas means the books of transcendental knowledge. Not only the
Bhagavad-gita, even the Bible or the Qur'an, they are also (books of transcendental
knowledge). (Lecture, 29/07/68)
Srila Prabhupada: If you find that by following some religious principles you are
developing your love of God, then it is perfect. It doesn't matter whether it is the Bible
or the Qur'an or the Bhagavad-gita; it doesn't matter. (Lecture, 18/10/68)
In the above statements, Srila Prabhupada, first of all, stresses that the holy Qur'an is a
revealed scripture or a book of transcendental knowledge. Then Srila Prabhupada
explains that according to the climate, population, and country there are different books
of knowledge, like the Vedas, the Torah, the Bible, and the Qur'an. Although one
scripture is differing from other scriptures in some details, on the whole the essence is
the same. Throughout the world all the bona fide scriptures explain the same Absolute
Truth in different languages and from different angles of view. The purpose of all these
scriptures or books of knowledge is to give us understanding about our position as a
pure soul. Their purpose is to restrict the bodily activities by certain rules and
regulations, and these rules and regulations are known as codes of morality. In all these
books, the message of God may be found. All of them are teaching God-consciousness,
awareness of God.
Finally, Srila Prabhupada said that if one finds that by following that particular religious
process he is developing love of God, then it is perfect. It doesn't matter where this
religious process is described, whether in the Bible or in the Qur'an or in the Bhagavadgita. This means that the main goal of human life is to develop love of God, not just
blindly following some religious principles or scripture and fanatically advertising them
without being conscious (aware) of the goal. The goal is love of God, not just following
religious principles or scriptures and forgetting the goal. Everyone must understand this
essential knowledge.

6. The Qur'an is also shastra

Srila Prabhupada: Now, Krishna says personally man-mana: "Always think of Me." Not
only that, anyone who is thinking of Krishna always, twenty-four hours, Krishna gives
him the certificate the topmost yogi. Yoginam api sarvesam mad-gatenantaratmana,
sraddhavan bhajate yo mam sa me yuktatamo matah. So Krishna says. This is called
theism, believing in the shastra (scripture). Any shastra.... All shastras; according to
time, circumstances, and people there are different shastras. The Bible is also shastra.
The Qur'an is also shastra. They are spoken according to the lime, according to the
circumstances. (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita, 03/02/75)
Srila Prabhupada: No, no. If one wants to follow the Qur'an, let him follow it strictly.
No halfway mixing.

Yoga student: Then preaching in Iran should be essentially to those people who have
fallen away from their traditional path.

Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Everyone is fallen. They are simply amending and concocting.
That is not good. Why should they amend? (Room conversation. Tehran, 14/03/75)
Srila Prabhupada: I know among the Muslims it is a system that small children are
taught the Qur'an. That is a very good system. (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita, 5/04/74)
Srila Prabhupada: I have seen in Delhi, near Jama Masjid (Mosque) the small Muslim
boys, they are reading the Qur'an. That is very good.' From childhood they should
learn, learn about God. (Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam, 10/11/73)
Here Srila Prabhupada explains that we have different shastras, or scriptures. If we say,
"Krishna says" or "God says" or "Allah says" that is theism, or belief in the scripture.
According to the time, place, circumstances and people, mankind received appropriate
scriptures, like the Bible or the Qur'an. They are spoken according to time, place and
circumstances.
Then Srila Prabhupada said that those who follow Islam they should strictly follow the
rules and regulations given in the Holy Qur'an; they should not amend and concoct.
Actually it is very dangerous to amend religious principles given in scriptures and
concoct new "religious" rules. Such concoctions will inevitably lead to degradation of
religion. Factually, during his preaching the Holy Prophet Muhammad warned his
followers many times of the danger of such deviations.
For example, Zi'ad-ibn-Lab'id said, "The Prophet repeated something about quarrel
and said: "It will appear at the time when knowledge leaves the world." I said, "O!
Prophet, how will knowledge leave the world, since we read the Qur'an and teach it to
our children, and our children to theirs, and so on till the day of resurrection?" Then the
Prophet said, "O Zi'ad! I supposed you to be the most learned man of Medina. Do the
Jews and Christians who read the Bible and Evangelists act on them?" (Mishcat-ulMasabih, Calcutta, 1809, p. 68)
Also Ab'u Masu'ub said: "The Prophet said to me, "Learn knowledge and teach
mankind, learn the Qur'an and teach it, learn the knowledge of religion and teach it to
mankind; for truly, I am a man who will quickly depart this life, and it is also near that
knowledge will be taken too, and contentions will appear to such a pitch that two
persons will disagree respecting a divine commandment, and nobody will be found who
can separate the true from the false." (Mishcat-ul-Masabih, Calcutta, 1809, p. 69)
Another time the Holy Prophet Muhammad said: "The time is near in which nothing will
remain of Islam but its name, and of the Qur'an but its mere appearance, and the
mosques of Muslims will be destitute of knowledge and worship; and the learned men
will be the worst people under the heavens; and conflict and quarrel will come from
them, and it will return upon themselves." (Abdullah al-Mamun al-Suhrawardy. The
Sayings of Muhammad, London, 1905, p. 49)

To conclude, the Holy Prophet Muhammad said: "Truly, the Israelites have divided into
72 sects but my people will be divided into 73 sects. All of them will go to the hell fire
except a few." (Selected Sayings of the Holy Prophet of Islam, Islamabad, 1991, p. 24)
Finally Srila Prabhupada appreciated that Muslims teach their small children the Qur'an.
"That is a very good system," Prabhupada said. From childhood people should learn
about God.

7. The knowledge must be scientific

Srila Prabhupada: If you want to study something, and suppose you are from India,
you can study the same subject in a foreign country for further enlightenment; to study
a subject matter more and more it is not necessary to remain in the same jurisdiction.
If I am actually anxious to know more and more, it doesn't matter whether I get the
knowledge from a Muslim, Hindu or Christian; it doesn' t matter. Knowledge is
knowledge. When a student goes from one country to another to get further
enlightenment on a subject matter, he does not think that "I'll have to learn it from
here, from my university." For knowledge, progress of knowledge, you can go to any
university. Because knowledge must be scientific. It is not restricted within the
jurisdiction of a particular university. So, we are seeing the sun. Everyone is getting
heat and light, but if anyone is interested (to) know how the heat is coming, how the
light is coming, what is the situation of the sun globe, whether there are living entities
or not these are subject matters too. So if we can get enlightenment about the sun,
we should not restrict ourselves to studying within the jurisdiction of our university, or
our country, or our society. If the knowledge is there, we should be prepared to go
forward. (Room conversation. Tehran, 14/03/75)
Here Srila Prabhupada explains that when one is looking for knowledge, it does not
matter in which country or at which university he studies. It also does not matter from
which teacher he learns Hindu, Christian, or Muslim. When someone approaches a
physician, he never asks who is the physician Muslim, Hindu or Christian. He explains
his problem and receives the remedy. Likewise, when somebody is searching for
knowledge he can obtain it from any university or any book. If someone wants to know
about the sun planet, he needs to study astronomical books. It does not matter
whether the author is Christian, Hindu or Muslim. Similarly, if one wants to know about
God he can study the different religious books like the Vedas, the Bible or the Qur'an.
He can learn from all these books and deepen his knowledge. He should not hamper his
progress in understanding God by restricting himself to studying only one particular
book.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad in his preaching activity paid great attention to the
process of acquiring knowledge. Once he said, "Go on a quest for knowledge even to
China."
Another time he said, "Excessive knowledge is better than excessive praying, and the
support of religion is abstinence. It is better to teach knowledge one hour in the night,
than to pray the whole night." (Abdullah Al-Mamun Al-Suhrawardy, The Sayings of
Muhammad, London, 1905, p. 29,49)

So, Hazrat Muhammad again and again stressed the importance of acquiring
knowledge.
Thus we must understand that God revealed Himself through different scriptures to
mankind. As the supreme Absolute Truth, God has unlimited attributes. His attributes
are revealed in different scriptures in different ways. Therefore we should carefully
scrutinise different religious books in order to perfect our knowledge of Him.

8. The Muslim religion is based on a conception of god

Srila Prabhupada: So, Aryan culture was practically all over the world. Aryan culture
is based on God-consciousness. So amongst the Aryans there is some conception of
religion; either Christian religion, Muslim religion, Buddhist religion, or Vedic religion, is
based on the conception of God. So according to time and country, the ways of
understanding may be a little different, but the aim is God-consciousness. That is Aryan
civilisation. So God is one; God cannot be two. So the features of God or angles of
vision of God may differ. (Room conversation. Tehran, 14/03/75)
Here Srila Prabhupada explains that there was a time when Aryan culture was all over
the world. The whole population of our planet followed one monotheistic religion.
Similarly it is stated in the sura "Al-Baqarah" or "The Cow" of the Holy Qur'an (2.213):
"Mankind was one single nation." Also stated in the sura "Yunus," or "Jonah" (10.19):
"Mankind was but one nation, but differed (later)."
The prominent Muslim scholar Abdullah Yusuf Ali comments: "All mankind was
created one, and Allah's Message to mankind is in essence one, a Message of Unity and
Truth. But as selfishness and egotism got hold of man, certain differences sprang up
between individuals, races, and nations, and in His infinite Mercy He sent them
messengers and messages to suit their varying mentality, to test them by His gifts, and
stir them up to emulation in virtue and piety." (The Holy Qur-an. The Presidency of
Islamic Researchers, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, 1410 H.,p.552
Furthermore, Srila Prabhupada explains that the Aryan civilisation was based on Godconsciousness. This means that the Aryans always followed some religion. Similarly,
Christianity, Islam and Hinduism are also based on the conception of God. According to
time, place, circumstances and people, the ways of understanding are different but the
aim is God-consciousness. So God is one, but the angles of vision of God differ. "Aryan"
does not refer to nationality, it refers to any person who is following a bona fide
religious process by which he is developing his God-consciousness. That is Aryan.

9. The Muslim religion is also bhakti-yoga

Srila Prabhupada: Even the Muslim religion. That is also bhakti-yoga (devotional
service). Any religion where God is the target, that is applied in bhakti (devotion).
(Lecture on Bhagavad-gita, 21/02/69)

Srila Prabhupada: Bhakti-yoga also exists among the Muslims, because God is the
target in the Muslim religion. (Path of Perfection)
Srila Prabhupada: There are many prayers in the Vedic scriptures and also in the
Bible and the Qur'an. Although the Christians and Muslims do not worship the Deity,
they offer prayers to the Lord, that is also bhakti. (Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, Ch. 15)
Srila Prabhupada: The Christians and the Muslims, they offer vandanam (prayers).
Although they do not worship the Deity, but they offer prayers to the Lord. That is also
good. That is also bhakti. (Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam, 04/12/74)
Srila Prabhupada: Muslims actually have singing kirtana (chanting) publicly. This I
have seen in India; they were holding kirtana with drum accompaniment. (Letter,
04/06/70)
Srila Prabhupada: They accept God. They are also our brothers because they accept
God. They are not atheist. Atheists don't accept God. "There is no God," says the
atheist. But here they are theists. They accept God. They want to please God. They go
to the church, go to the mosque, offer prayers. Prayer is also bhakti, devotional service.
The Christian way or the Muslim way is to offer prayer. The Muslims offer obeisances
and offer prayer. So that is also bhakti (devotion). The Christians also do that, so that is
also bhakti. And they accept God; we accept God. So there is no difference. But the
only point is who is that God. (Room conversation. Tehran, 14/03/75)
Here Srila Prabhupada explains that any religion where God is the target contains an
element of bhakti, devotion. Therefore Islam is also bhakti-yoga. The Muslims offer
obeisances and prayers. They want to please God. That is bhakti, or devotional service.
To further strengthen the relationship between Qur'anic teachings and Vedic teachings,
we will look into the process of worshipping God, or as it is otherwise known, the
processes of devotional service to Allah. According to the Vedic scriptures, there are
nine limbs or aspects of pure devotional service to die Lord:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Hearing the holy name, qualities and glories of the Lord

Chanting the holy name and glories of the Lord
Remembering the Lord
Serving the Lord
Worshipping the Lord
Praying to the Lord
Obeying the orders of the Lord
Maintaining friendship with the Lord
Surrendering everything unto Him.

We will be surprised when we compare these Vedic descriptions of the nine processes of
spiritual life with the process given in the Holy Qur'an. Because we will see that both
are talking about the same process of spiritual activities. So the Holy Qur'an states:
1. Hearing
"When My servants question you concerning Me, then surely I am near. I answer the

prayer of the suppliant when he cries unto Me. So let them hear My call and let them
trust in Me, in order that they may be led aright." (2.186)
2. Chanting
"So chant the name of your Tremendous Lord." (69.52) "Call upon Allah (Almighty), or
call upon Rahman (Compassionate), by whatever name you call upon Him (it is well).
For to Him belong the most beautiful names." (17.110)
3. Remembering
"Those who believe and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah: truly in the
remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest!" (13.28) "Therefore remember Me, I (Allah)
will remember you. Give thanks to Me and reject not Me." (2.152)
4. Serving
"Behold! Allah is my Lord and your Lord. So serve Him. That is the right path." (19.36)
5. Worshipping
"O mankind! Worship your Lord, Who has created you and those before you so that you
may ward off (evil)." (2.21)
6. Praying
"Seek help in patience and prayers. Truly, it is hard except for the humble-minded."
(2.45)
7. Obeying
"Obey Allah and the messenger, that you may find mercy." (3.132)
8. Maintaining friendship
"Those who take Allah, His messenger and the believers for friends, behold! The party
of Allah are victorious." (5.56)
9. Surrendering
"Behold! Religion for Allah is surrender (to His will and guidance)." (3.19)
From the above quotations, we can see that the process of the devotional service to the
Lord or bhakti-yoga mentioned in the Vedas is also mentioned in the Holy Qur'an.

10. Guru Spiritual master

Srila Prabhupada: Even within the Muslim religion there is such sentiment;
Muhammad and his dynasty, Hussain, they are treated very respectfully. So considering
all the points, respect to the guru (spiritual master) must be maintained. This is the
sum and substance of the instruction. (Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam, 05/10/76)
Srila Prabhupada: Even if we say "Muhammad," why not? Anyone who has preached
Krishna consciousness, maybe a little differently according to time and circumstances,
but anyone who has tried to preach God-consciousness, he is guru (spiritual master).
This is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's version. Anyone who preaches about the Supreme

Lord, he is guru. Maybe in a different way, according to time and circumstances.

Muhammad also said Allah Akbar.
Dr. Patel: The only difference is that Muslims are trying to worship niranjana, nirakara
(formless), and we...
Srila Prabhupada: No, no, not nirakara. That is not...
Dr. Patel: Even Christianity considers His akara (form). God has form.
Srila Prabhupada: No, Muhammad also has got... Chaitanya Mahaprabhu argued from
the Qur'an and proved there is krishna-bhakti (love of God). He proved this with the
Pathans. Yes. (Morning walk. Bombay, 30/09/75)
Here Srila Prabhupada explains that anyone who preaches about the Supreme Lord is a
guru (spiritual master). The Holy Prophet Muhammad is the spiritual master for the
Muslims. Obeying the order of the spiritual master is very important in spiritual life.
Nobody can progress in God-consciousness without following the instructions of the
spiritual master.

11. Hazrat Muhammad is shaktyavesha-avatara

Srila Prabhupada: Buddha is shaktyavesha-avatara. We accept Lord Jesus Christ also as
shaktyavesha-avatara. Muhammad is also shaktyavesha-avatara. Shaktyavesha-avatara
means a living entity especially empowered and he preaches the philosophy on behalf
(of God). That is called shaktyavesha-avatara. (Room conversation. Geneva. 4/06/74)
Srila Prabhupada: Christ is also an empowered incarnation, shaktyavesha avatara.
Muhammad is also shaktyavesha avatara. Anyone who is preaching about God is an
empowered incarnation. (Morning walk. London, 11/03/75)
Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Because he said it, it must be correct. Muhammad is also
shaktyavesha-avatara. Shaktyavesha-avatara means a living entity who is especially
empowered to preach the glories of the Lord. Buddha is also shaktyavesha-avatara.
They are not ordinary human beings. They are especially empowered personalities."
(Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam, 17/12/70)
Srila Prabhupada: We accept, according to this avesha, avesha-avatara incarnation,
authorised incarnation, we accept, my Guru Maharaja accepted Lord Jesus Christ and
Hazrat Muhammad; this avesha incarnation (has) almost the same power. (Lecture on
Chaitanya-charitamrita, 13/12/66)
Here Srila Prabhupada explains that the Holy Prophet Muhammad is a living entity
especially empowered to breach the glories of the Lord. He is not an ordinary human
being. He is an especially empowered personality.

12. Hazrat Muhammad is anacharya

Srila Prabhupada: The Muslims, they follow the acharya (one who teaches by his own
example), Muhammad. That is good. (Room conversation. Melbourne, 20/05/75)
Srila Prabhupada: Similarly, the Muslims, if they follow the ideal life of Muhammad,
Hazrat Muhammad, they (will) get the result. (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita, 07/03/66)
Here Srila Prabhupada explains that the Holy Prophet Muhammad is an acharya, or one
who teaches by his own example. If Muslims follow the ideal life of Hazrat Muhammad,
they will attain perfection.

13. Hazrat Muhammad is an authority

Srila Prabhupada: We accept Muhammad's authority. That's a fact. He is authority.
(Room conversation. Tehran, 14/03/75)
Srila Prabhupada: So why are they disobeying the orders of Muhammad?
Yoga student: Yes. They follow. It's essentially the same practice as the...
Prabhupada: No, you cannot amend the words of Muhammad if you are a true
Musalman. (Room conversation. Tehran, 14/03/75)
Here Srila Prabhupada explains that the Holy Prophet Muhammad is a spiritual
authority. Muslims should strictly follow his order. Nobody should amend the words of
HazratMuhammad. Otherwise one will deviate from the straight path given by him.

14. Hazrat Muhammad is a devotee of God

Srila Prabhupada: And even Muhammad, he's also a devotee. It is not that we are
devotees and they are not devotees. Don't think like that. Anyone who is preaching the
glories of God, he is a devotee. (Lecture, 20/10/68)
Srila Prabhupada: Jesus Christ and Hazrat Muhammad, two powerful devotees of the
Lord (who) have done tremendous service on behalf of the Lord on the surface of the
globe. (Room conversation. Vrindavan, 02/11/77)
Srila Prabhupada: Jesus Christ and Muhammad, two powerful devotees of the Lord,
have done tremendous service on behalf of the Lord on the surface of the globe.
(Srimad Bhagavatam, 2.4.18p)
'
Here Srila Prabhupada explains that the Holy Prophet Muhammad is a powerful devotee
of the Supreme Lord. He has done tremendous service on behalf of the Lord on the
surface of this globe.
Hazrat Muhammad was born in August 29, 570 (VI century) in Mecca, Arabia. It was
the time when the population of the Arab peninsula was divided into many tribes. These
tribes constantly fought with each other. The general mass of people worshipped all
kinds of angels, goddesses, planets, spirits and concocted gods. Degradation had
reached such a degree that people were having sex with their own mothers, sisters and

daughters. To rectify the situation, to uplift the people from this animalistic way of life,
and to re-establish true religious principles God sent his messenger, the Holy Prophet
Muhammad. Muhammad means "praise," or "praiseworthy." People also called him
Amin, or the Truthful. By his preaching, the Holy Prophet Muhammad united the
Arabian tribes, gave them scriptures, rules and regulations, and began preparing them
for becoming pure devotees of the Supreme Lord.
15. Hazrat Muhammad is a servant of God
Srila Prabhupada: Muhammad, the inaugurates of the Islamic religion, I accept him as
an empowered servant of God because he preached God consciousness in those parts
of the world and induced them to accept the authority of God. He is accepted as the
servant of God and we have all respect for him. (Letter, 02/04/76)
Srila Prabhupada: Lord Jesus Christ appeared as the son of Godhead, Muhammad
introduced himself as the servant of Godhead, and Chaitanya presented Himself as the
devotee of Godhead. But whatever may be their identity, all such messiahs were of the
same opinion about one thing. They preached unanimously that there is no peace and
prosperity in this mortal world. (Message of Godhead. Ch. 1)
Srila Prabhupada: Muslim, servant of God, is to render service to the Lord. Oh, we are
engaged twenty-four hours in the service of the Lord. (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita.
16/12/68)
Here Srila Prabhupada explains that Hazrat Muhammad is an empowered servant of
God because he preached God- consciousness and induced the Arabs to accept the
authority of God. The Holy Prophet Muhammad said that everyone is banda, slave of
God. He induced people to worship only the Supreme Lord and give up their material
attachments.
16. Hazrat Muhammad is the perfect holy man
Srila Prabhupada: That you have to find out, but here it is already there. Why should
you go to some trouble to find out another holy man? The holy man never says,
Muhammad never said that "You chant my name." We have to test whether he is a holy
man or not. Here is the perfect holy man. He never said that "You chant my name." He
said "Chant Allah's name." That is a holy man. That is the test of a holy man. He does
not become God, he serves God. That is a holy man. (Roomconversation. Tehran,
14/03/75)
Here Srila Prabhupada explains that Hazrat Muhammad is the perfect holy man. The
Holy Prophet Muhammad never said, "Chant my name, praise me." He requested,
"Chant Allah's name, praise God." That is the test of a holy man. He always serves God
and invites others to serve God. The Holy Prophet Muhammad, despite being the
spiritual and state leader of the Arab empire, lived a very simple life. He requested bis
followers to never praise him, worship him, bow down before him, or worship his tomb
after his departure from worldly life. He inspired people to give all praises, all worship
and all adoration to God.

17. Hazrat Muhammad preached God-consciousness

Srila Prabhupada: So Jesus Christ, he also preached God-consciousness. And
Muhammad, Hazrat Muhammad, he also preached God-consciousness. Similarly, in
India, there were several acharyas, e.g. Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya. They
preached God-consciousness. (Lecture, 24/07/68)
Srila Prabhupada: Christian religion teaches God-consciousness. Jesus Christ preached
God-consciousness. He represented himself as a son of God. So we agree to this
principle. There is no controversy. Yes. Anyone who teaches God-consciousness, we
agree with the principle. Muhammad also, he preached God-consciousness. So we
welcome. There may be some difference in the process. That does not matter. But we
test a religion by the result, how people are becoming God-conscious. That's all.
According to Srimad Bhagavatam, it is said, sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir
adhoksaje, ahaituky apratihata yayatma suprasidati. It is said: "That is first-class
religious principle which teaches devotion to the Supreme Lord without any motive or
without being hampered by any material condition." God-consciousness is not such a
thing that if a man is materially poor he cannot advance. Everyone can advance.
Nothing material can check God-consciousness. And any religion which teaches this
principle, that is first-class. (Lecture, 26/06/71)
Srila Prabhupada clearly says that Hazrat Muhammad preached God-consciousness.
Sometimes scholars express loubts about the preaching mission of the Holy Prophet
Muhammad. But here we have a clear statement from a great religionist of this age that
Hazrat Muhammad preached God-consciousness.

18. Hazrat Muhammad taught according to the class of men

Srila Prabhupada: Muhammad also said, "From this day, there is no sex with your
mother." So just see, what class of men. So according to class of men, there should be
a teaching. (Room conversation. Geneva, 04/06/74)
Srila Prabhupada: Just like in the Qur'an it is said by Muhammad, "From this day you
should not have sexual intercourse with your mother." Just find out the condition of the
society. So we have to take account of the time, circumstances and society, and then
preach. So, to a society like that, it is not possible to understand the higher
philosophical things as presented in the Bhagavad-gita. (Lecture, 02/10/68)
Here Srila Prabhupada explains that Hazrat Muhammad taught according to the class of
men. Teachings should be given according to the intellectual capacity of the audience.
At the time of his preaching, the Holy Prophet Muhammad took account of the time,
place, circumstances and society. The condition of society was so degraded that Hazrat
Muhammad got the revelation which prohibited sexual intercourse with mothers,
daughters and sisters.
Thus, it is stated in the sura "An-Nisa," or "The Women" of the Holy Qur'an (4.23):
"Prohibited to you (for marriage) are: your mothers, daughters and sisters."

Once the Holy Prophet Muhammad said: "I was ordered to talk to the people with
consideration to their level of intelligence." (.Mohammad Peygambar: Hayati va
Kalamlari, O Gudratov, N. Gudratov, Baki, 1990, p. 71)

19. Hazrat Muhammad could hear God

Prithu-putra: From a story of the Qur'an, they say Muhammad once asked to see God,
and God's answer was, "You're not able to see Me."
Srila Prabhupada: That's all right. At least he could hear Him. So that is possible. It's
not necessary that one has to see Him, but one can hear Him. Now, you have said that
Muhammad heard Him, so God can speak. So you can hear. So where is the objection?
Prithu-putra: No objection.
Srila Prabhupada: If somebody can hear Him, somebody can see Him also. You cannot
deny this because they're all senses. To hear God means with my senses I can
appreciate Him. Similarly, eyes are also one of the senses. Now if somebody sees Him,
where is the objection? If somebody can hear Him then where is the objection if
somebody can see Him. Reasonably, there is no objection. In this way... So God is
omnipotent If some of His prophet devotees want to hear Him, they can do that, if they
want to see Him, they can do that. (Room conversation. Bhuvaneshwar, 30/01/77)
Here Srila Prabhupada, by using transcendental logic, explains that if Hazrat
Muhammad can hear God then he can also see God.
According to Abu Hurairah, when the Holy Prophet Muhammad ascended to the abode
of Allah, he penetrated countless numbers of veils and stood at a distance of two bows
from God and saw Him with his own eyes. That time God instructed him by 99,000
words and promised to fulfil whatever Muhammad would ask of Him.
One close associate of the Holy Prophet, Muadh-bin-Jabal, said: "The Prophet on one
occasion hindered our saying the morning prayers till we were near seeing the sun,
then he hastened out of his house, and the Tacbir was called aloud, then the Prophet
said prayers in haste, and when he had repeated the Salam, he said, "Sit in your
places, and I will inform you the cause of my being so late this morning. I got up early,
and performed the Wadu, and said prayers, agreeably to the wishes of Allah, and I felt
drowsy in my prayers, after which I awoke, and all of a sudden I saw my Creator in a
most lovely form, and he said, "O! Muhammad!" I said, "What do you command?' He
said, "What do the angels argue about?" I said, "I do not know." Then I saw my God
put the palm of his hand between my two shoulders till I felt my chest turn cold; then
everything in the world appeared clear before me, and I knew the whole. Again He
asked about disputations of the angels. I replied, "They dispute about deeds which
cover sin." (Mishcat-ul-Masabih, Calcutta, 1809, p. 155) Thus, the Holy Prophet
Muhammad not only heard God but also saw God.

20. The Muslims are also Vaishnavas

Srila Prabhupada: Christians and Muslims are also Vaishnavas, devotees, because they
offer prayers to the Lord. "O God," they say, "give us our daily bread." Those who offer

this prayer may not know very much and may be at a lower stage, but this is a
beginning, because they have approached God. Going to a church or mosque is also
pious. Therefore, those who begin in this way will one day become pure Vaishnavas.
(Teachings of Queen Kunti, Ch. 18)
Srila Prabhupada: Therefore I say that the Christians, they're also Vaishnavas; the
Muslims, they're also Vaishnavas. Because they're offering prayeryad-vandanam.
They offer prayer: "Oh God, give us our daily bread." They do not know very much, but
the beginning is there. Beginning is there because they have approached (God). That
going to the church or going to the mosque, that is also pious activity. One day they'll
come out pure Vaishnava. But that beginning is good. (Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam,
15/10/74)
Srila Prabhupada: Chaitanya Mahaprabhu proved devotional service from the Qur'an.
Yes. So, it requires a devotee who can explain God from any godly literature. (Morning
walk. Geneva, 6/06/74)
Here Srila Prabhupada explains that Muslims are also devotees of the Supreme Lord.
They follow, the order of God which descended to them through Hazrat Muhammad, to
pray five times a day. This process of offering prayers to God is devotional service.
Those who are sincerely praying to God will one day become pure devotees.
Actually Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the conversation with Abdullah Pathan proved that
the nine-fold process of devotional service is described in the Holy Qur'an. As a result of
hearing these explanations from Mahaprabhu, the Turkish soldiers, the Muslim scholar
Abdullah Pathan and the prince Vijuli Khan were inspired lb surrender their lives to the
Lord. Therefore, it requires a devotee who can explain God from any scripture.

21. A planet where pious Muslims go

Hari-sauri: I think you mentioned last year when we were in Mayapur that you dreamt
once about a planet where pious Muslims go. You were telling Tamala Krishna and
myself. Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Yes. From Bhagavata there is.
(Here Srila Prabhupada seems to refer to the Bhagavata Purana's description of
planets) (Room conversation. Bhuvaneshwar, 30/01/77)
The Holy Qur' an gives the following description of a planet where pious Muslims go:
Gardens as hospitable homes (32.19); to dwell in beautiful mansions in eternal gardens
(9.72); lofty mansions one above another have been built (39.20). Among gardens
under which ariver always flows (3.15) are an abundance of fruits from which you shall
eat (43.73). Fruits of every kind will be easy to reach (55.54), like dates, pomegranates
(55.68); you shall eat with honour and dignity (37.42) in shades cool and everdeepening (4.57) reclining on carpets whose inner linings are of rich brocade (55.54).
You will sit on couches encrusted with gold and precious stones (56.15). Amid gardens
and fountains of clear, flowing water, in peace and security (15.45) rivers of milk, of
which the taste never changes, rivers of wine, a joy to those who drink, rivers of honey,
pure and clear are flowing (47.15). Among them are talk trees with flowers piled one

above another (56.29), lote trees that have no thorns (56.28). Cushions set in rows
(88.15). With no excessive heat or cold (76.13). Brothers will joyfully face each other
on raised couches, beside them companions of equal age (38.92). With no sense of
fatigue and never asked to leave (15.48). Free from headiness suffering and
intoxication (37.47) they will be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls (22.23), and
they will wear green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade, reclining on raised
thrones (18.31). The righteous will receive entertainment from Allah because from Allah
comes bliss (3.198). Served by youths of perpetual freshness (56.17), round will be
passed to them dishes and goblets of gold (43.71) to drink from clear-flowing fountains
(37.45) crystal white nectar of a delicious taste (37.46). Reclining on green cushions
and rich carpets of beauty (55.76) beside them will be chaste women, restraining their
glances with big eyes of wonder and beauty (37.48). Gardens wherein delights endure
(9.21). among them fair maidens good and beautiful (55.20) whom no man or jinn (the
evil spirit) has ever touched (55.74). We made them virgin pure, full of love for their
mates of equal age (56.36-37). Brothers would question one another; one will say: "I
had an intimate companion on earth who used to say, 'Do you really believe when we
die and become dust and bones, shall we indeed receive rewards and punishment?"*
He said: "Would you like to look down?" He looked down and saw his friend in the midst
of the hell fire (37.50-55)."
Once Hazrat Muhammad said: "If you desire me to be your leader in the Behisht
(Highest Heaven) then you should avoid six activities." (Mahammad Ali. Mahammad
Peygambarin Hayati, Baki, 1993, p. 155)
Thus we can understand that pious Muslims will attain the heavenly planet where
Hazrat Muhammad is now residing, and after the complete annihilation of this material
universe he will take them to the spiritual world.

22. Animal slaughter

Srila Prabhupada: Just like in Islam also, they have got some principles for animal
slaughtering. You know, those who have read the Qur'an, the Muslim religion allows
animal slaughter once in a year. It is called qurban. And they can slaughter animals
near the mosque. Similarly, in the Vedic religion also, the animals are allowed to be
slaughtered in some sacrifice. But no religion, either Islam or Hinduism, allows animal
slaughter in the slaughterhouses. There are some particular rules and regulations.
(Lecture on Bhagavad-gita, 20/07/66)
Srila Prabhupada: In Buddhism there is no animal killing. Although they are now killing
animals, but originally the Buddhist religion means non-violence. Christ also said, "Thou
shalt not kill." And Krishna says, ahitnsa (non-violence). So in no religion is the
unnecessary killing of animals allowed. Even in Islam, they also have qurban. Qurban
means they can kill animals once in a year near the mosque. So everywhere animal
killing is restricted. (Room conversation. Germany, 19/06/74)
Tamala Krishna: Srila Prabhupada, one time you were explaining that Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu, when He was speaking with the Kazi, He convinced him that the Qur'an
does not actually advocate meat-eating.

Srila Prabhupada: Yes. That's a fact. Because the Muslims, they also cannot eat meat
unless it is sacrificed near the mosque. There is no recommendation that you purchase
(meat) from the market or the animals be slaughtered in the slaughterhouses. (Morning
walk. Mayapur, 22/01/76)
Srila Prabhupada: So Chand Kazi also replied that "Cow killing is also not generally
recommended in the Qur'an." Actually, beef-eating or flesh-eating is not of the higher
stage. But those who are inclined to take flesh, for them it is recommended that instead
of killing many small animals, one big animal should be killed. So actually in Mecca,
Medina, they kill camels. That is also done near the mosque. So the substance of his
speech was that flesh-eating ultimately is not recommended. (Conversation. SanFrancisco, 5/04/67)
Here Srila Prabhupada explains that in Islam there are some principles for animal
slaughtering. The Muslim reli gion allows animal slaughter only as qurban, or sacrifice.
Such a sacrifice must be performed near the mosque. But Islam does not allow animal
slaughter in slaughterhouses. There are particular rules and regulations which must be
followed by those who hanker for meat.
In the Holy Qur'an, very clear instructions are given about what is intended as
human food:
"And We (Allah) said: O Adam! Dwell, you and your wife in the garden, and eat freely of
the fruits thereof where you will." (2.35)
"And give glad tidings (O Muhammad) unto those who believe and do good works, that
theirs are gardens underneath which rivers flow; as often as they are regaled with food
of the fruit thereof." (2.25)
"Allah is He Who created the heavens and the earth, and caused the water to descend
from the sky, thereby producing fruits as food for you." (14.32)
From these three ayats of the Qur'an, it is obvious that when Allah created Adam and
Eve, He gave them the fruits for food. And when the pious go to paradise, they will
have fruits as their food. Then, when Allah created the earth He "produced fruits as
food for mankind." Also, from the very life of the Prophet of Islam, we can see that His
daily food was bread, milk and palm-dates. Hazrat Muhammad often mentioned that
Islam means to treat every living entity as equal to oneself. One of the first statements
Hazrat Muhammad made on regaining Mecca was: "No one shall mistreat another. No
one shall kill any animal; not even the cutting of a tree shall be allowed in Mecca."
For those who are really attached to eating meat, Allah allowed the sacrifice of animals
such as sheep, goats and camels. Such less important animals could be sacrificed at the
proper place, by proper persons and in the proper way. Then the body of the animal
should be divided into seven parts, and six parts distributed to the poor people and
remainder could be eaten for oneself. Only then can it be classed as halal, or lawful
meat; otherwise, it is haram, or unlawful. So less important animals can be sacrificed
and eaten in the authorised way. The result of following this procedure is that lusty
desires for flesh eating will diminish and a person will then start eating only pure
foodstuff like fruits, grains and vegetables which are actually intended for human beings

by God. Allah allowed sacrificial meat but not the opening of slaughterhouses where
thousands of innocent animals are killed just to satisfy the tongue. It is very sinful and
brings a degradation to the whole human society.
For the general masses of people who are still unable to control then-senses (tongue)
provision for eating meat has been granted but it is not recommended. So rules and
regulations exist to slowly help one give up such bad habit. But for those who desire the
highest perfection of life, love of God, meat eating is forbidden.
For example, we can find the following ayats in the Holy Qur'an (5.3):
"Forbidden to you (for food) are meat of dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and
that on which has been invoked the name of other than Allah; and the dead through
beating; that which has been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong
fall, or by being gored to death; that which has been (partly) eaten by a wild animal;
unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form); that which is sacrificed on stone
(altars); (forbidden) also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is
impiety."
Thus we can understand from this verse of the Holy Qur'an that not any kind of meat is
permitted for eating. Only the meat of an animal which has been explicitly killed for
food with the Takbir, or the solemn mode of slaughter (zabh) in the name of Allah duly
pronounced on it. This means that killing animals for food is a personal affair. It does
not suggest opening slaughterhouses and killing hundreds of thousands of animals in an
organized way, everyday. Those who want to eat meat, should do it the proper way
which means killing only for one's own self, because everyone needs to take
responsibility for his own actions. On the Day of Judgment, all dead creatures will come
to life and will take vengeance on those who had either teased them or killed them.
This concession is given by Allah to those who cannot restrain from meat eating. By
eating halal, lawful meat they will gradually subdue their passion and give up meateating. This will help to develop fine spiritual sentiments, namely love for Allah.
Besides this, it is mentioned in sura "Al-Ma 'ida" that within the limits of Mecca, most
holy place, slaughtering of animals is prohibited:
"Animals of the chase are forbidden while you are in the Sacred Precincts or in the state
of pilgrimage." (The Qur'an 5.1)
This means that hunting of game is forbidden "while you are hurumun" i.e., while you
are
(1) in the Sacred Preciacts, Mecca or
(2) in the special pilgrimage garb (ihram).
It is also explained in the sura "AI-Ma 'ida" that:
"O you who believe! Kill not game while in the Sacred Precincts or in the state of
pilgrimage. If any of you does so intentionally, the compensation is an offering, brought
to the Ka'ba, of a domestic animal equivalent to the one he killed. As adjudged by two
just men among you; or by way of atonement, the feeding of the poor persons; or its
equivalent in fasts: that he may taste of the penalty of his deed. Allah forgives what

has past; but for repetition Allah will punish him for Allah is Exalted, and Lord of
Retribution." (Tlie Qur'an 5.95)
This means that if someone kills an animal inadvertently within the limits of Mecca, one
should then leave one of his pet animals there. In case one has no pet animals, one
should give in charity food equivalent in value to the price of the killed animal.
Otherwise the offender must fast as many days as the number of the poor who would
have been fed under the second alternative. Thus killing animals is a sin and therefore,
it is prohibited in a holy plrce like Mecca.
In sura "As-Saffat" of the Holy Qur'an (37.99-109) there is the following narration:
"He (Ibrahim) said: 'I will go to my Lord! He will surely guide me! O my Lord! Grant me
a righteous (son)!'
So We gave him the good news of forbearing son.
Then, when (his son) was old enough to work with him, (Ibrahim) said: 'O my dear son,
I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice you. Now see what is your view!' (The son)
said: 'O my father! Do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah so wills one of
the steadfast.'
So when they both submitted (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead
(for sacrifice),
We called out to him, 'O Ibrahim!
You have already fulfilled the dream!' Thus indeed do We reward those who do right.
For this was a clear test.
Then we ransomed him with a tremendous victim.
And We left for him among generations (to come) in later times:
'Peace and salutation to Ibrahim!"'
Thus Ibrahim (Abraham) was bom in Ur of the Chaldees, a place on the lower reaches
of the Euphrates, not a hundred miles from the Persian Gulf. Where the worship of the
sun, moon and stars was the prevailing form of religion. Ibrahim revolted against this
quite early in life.
They also had deities in their temples, which probably represented heavenly bodies and
celestial winged creatures. He was still a youth when he broke the false deities. After
this, he was marked down as a rebel and persecuted. He was thrown into the fire. But
the fire became cool by the order of Allah and Ibrahim was saved. Then he left his
ancestral lands, and avoiding the Syrian desert, came to the fertile lands of Aram or
Syria. This was the Hijrat (Flight) of Ibrahim. He left his people and his land, because
the Truth was dearer to him than the ancestral falsehoods of his people. He trusted
himself to Allah, and under Allah's guidance he laid the foundations for great people.
This was in the fertile land of Syria and Palestine when a boy was bom, the first-bom
son of Ibrahim, namely Ismail. The name itself is from the root Sami'a, to hear,
because Allah had heard Ibrahim's prayer (The Qur'an. 37.100). Ibrahim's age when
Ismail was bom from his maidservant Hajar was 86 (Gen. 16.16). The boy's character
was to be Halim, "forbearing". This title is also applied to Ibrahim {The Qur'an. 9.114;
11.75). It refers to the patient way in which both father and son cheerfully offered to
suffer any self-sacrifice in order to obey the command of Allah.

Once, after Ismail had grown up to the age of discretion, Ibrahim had a dream that he
now had to offer his only son in sacrifice. The command was conveyed to him via a
dream. It was a test of the devotion for both father and son. Ibrahim consulted his son.
The son readily consented, and offered to stand true to his promise if his self-sacrifice
was really required. Actually, the trial and sacrifice was demanded of both Ibrahim and
Ismail. Ibrahim had to sacrifice his only dearmost son and Ismail had to sacrifice his
dear life. Finally this sacrifice was about to take place in the valley of Mina, six miles
north of Mecca. Ibrahim was ready to sacrifice his son but his hand did not act. Then he
covered his eyes with cloth took a knife in his hand, and tried to kill Ismail. But at that
moment Allah replaced Ismail with a fine sheep or ram. So there was a ram instead of
his son. Thus the son was saved and the ram was sacrificed (some scholars say that the
ram was also saved).
Since that day, the 'Id Day or Day of Sacrifice came into practice. On this day in the
valley of Mina, six miles north of Mecca, a commemoration sacrifice is annually
celebrated as a rite of the Hajj on the tenth of Zul-Hijjah in Memory of this Sacrifice of
Ibrahim and Ismail. This festival is also celebrated by all Muslims around the world.
Hundreds of thousands of animals are annually slaughtered on this day. But let us
carefully consider what was the main object of Allah's teaching on that occasion. Did
Allah ask for Ibrahim's dearmost thing or did He ask for a ram? If Allah-Taala had liked
a ram, He would have asked the ram itself. But merely to examine the devotion of
Ibrahim and Ismail, He had ordered this sacrifice to test them both, and to save the son
of Ibrahim, He had replaced a ram for Ismail. Now, just think carefully, in order to
please Allah-Taala, instead of dedicating one's dearmost object, is it justifiable to
slaughter innocent animal?
This whole event is symbolical. As it is proclaimed in the Holy Qur' an (22.37): "It is not
their meat nor their blood, that reaches Allah; it is your piety that reaches Him."
Thus Allah does not require the flesh and blood of animals, much less of human beings.
No one should suppose that meat or blood is acceptable to God. It was a Pagan fancy
that Allah could be pleased by blood sacrifice. But Allah does accept the offering of our
hearts. Allah does not delight in flesh and blood. But He does desire the giving of our
whole being to Allah, the practical symbol of which is that we should give up something
which is very dear to us, if duty requires that sacrifice. It was indeed a great occasion,
when two men, the father and the son, showed the example of self-sacrifice in the
service of Allah which is needed to qualify one for the supreme goal of life. This
example made it clear that the only sacrifice which God requires from man is the
Surrender of his will and purpose i.e. Al-Islam.
Actually qurban, the animal slaughtering process ordained for Muslims, have an esoteric
and exoteric meaning. While qurban externally refers only to Muslim dietary laws,
inwardly qurban requires that we sacrifice our life to the devotion and service of God,
and that we sacrifice our beastly qualities instead of the life of an animal. "Qurban is
not slaughtering chickens and cows and goats," explains Bawa Muhaiyaddeen. "There
are four hundred trillion, ten thousand beasts here in the heart which must be
slaughtered. They must be slaughtered in the qalb [the inner heart]. After these things
have been slaughtered, what is eaten can then be distinguished as either halal
[permissible] or haram [forbidden]." Ultimately, the great ustad [preceptor] concludes,
"everything that is seen in the world is haram. What is seen in Allah [God] alone is

halal. Please eat that." (M. R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen, Asma' al-Husna: The 99 Beautiful
Names of Allah, 1979, p. 181)
In the traditional qurban, the prayer known as the Kalimah is recited to remove the
baser qualities of the animal. The recitation of the powerful Third Kalimah will not only
purify the animal slaughtered for consumption, but also all those involved with the
sacrifice, so that they will no longer want to slaughter animals. This will only work,
however, if the prayer is said with pure devotion.
In Islam, sacrificial animal slaughter is a detailed process. Factually, the whole
procedure is meant to minimize the killing of animals. Thus, Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
explains:
"While you recite the Kalimah, you must complete the severing in three strokes of the
knife, one for each recitation. The knife has to be swept around three times, and it
must not touch the bone. It must be extremely sharp, and the length is prescribed
according to each animal so much for a fowl, so much for a goat, so much for a
cow. ... Also, the animal must not regurgitate any food, and it must not make any
noise; otherwise, it becomes haram.
The person who holds the animal and the person who cuts it must always observe the
five times prayer. Therefore, it must be the Imam and the mu'azzin who perform the
qurban, because very often they are the only ones who regularly observe the five times
prayer. This also means that the qurban must take place near a mosque where two
such people can always be found. Before beginning the slaughter, they must first
perform their ablutions, and then they must recite the kalimah three times and feed
water to the animal which is to be sacrificed. The neck of the animal must be turned in
the direction of the Qiblah [Mecca], so that the eyes of the sacrificial animal look into
the eyes of the person who is doing the sacrifice. The person must look into the eyes of
the animal and then, saying the kalimah, he must cut the neck. And he must continue
to look into the eyes of the animal until its soul departs, repeating the Zikr all the while.
Then after the soul has departed, he must say the kalimah once again and wash the
knife. Only then can he move on to the next animal. He has to look into the animal's
eyes, he has to watch the tears of the animal, and he has to watch the animal's eyes
until it dies hopefully, his heart will change." (M. R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen, Asma' ulHusna: The 99 Beautiful Names of Allah, 1979, p. 182)
Once, Allah told the Holy Prophet Muhammad, "With this qurban the killing will be
greatly reduced, for where they used to kill 1,000 or 2,000 in one day, they will now be
able to slaughter only ten or fifteen animals. If they started after morning prayers, it
would be ten o'clock by the time they are ready to begin, and they could slaughter only
until eleven o'clock when they must prepare for the next prayer. In addition, it takes
about fifteen or twenty minutes for each animal, because he has to wait until the soul
has departed." This is how Allah instructed the Holy Prophet.
Then the people complained, "How can we do this? We can kill only so few! Our
enjoyments and our festivals are being curtailed."
But Allah said, "Each one of you does not need to sacrifice one animal; you do not need
to sacrifice one animal'for each family. In place of forty fowls, kill one goat. In place of

forty goats, kill ten cows. And in place of forty cows, kill ten camels. Sacrifice ten
camels and then share the meat among the different families." So in place of four
hundred animals only forty might be killed. The. killing was reduced by that much.
Thus, Allah passed down the commands to the Holy Prophet to reduce the taking of
lives.
So, the conclusion is that if one understands the qurban with wisdom, its purpose is to
reduce killing the poor animals. But if one looks at it superficially, its purpose is to
satisfy one's base desire for meat-eating.
Thus, the esoteric imperative behind Islamic dietary laws is that Muslims aspire after
compassion and mercy, first by minimizing the amount of animals one is able to kill (by
following all the regulations), and then, it is to be hoped, by giving it up altogether.
It is mentioned in sura "Al-An'am," or "Cattle" that: "There is not an animal on the
earth, nor a flying creature flying on two wings, but they are people like unto you."
(6.38)
Thus "animals living on the earth" include those living in the water fishes, reptiles,
crustaceans, insects, as well as four-footed beasts. Life on the wing separately
mentioned. "Tair," which is ordinarily translated as "bird," is anything that flies,
including mammals like bats. In our pride we may exclude animals from our purview,
but they all live a life, social and individual, like ourselves, and all life is subject to the
Plan and Will of Allah. We have no right to destroy or kill these creatures, even flies and
insects what to speak of birds and beasts. We cannot create, so how can we destroy?
The Holy Qur'an said that they are people like you. They are also citizens of this planet
and different countries. They are also under the protection of God and Governments. It
is the duty of government to protect its subjects, which includes the innocent helpless
animals, and punish those who torture and kill them.
It is clearly mentioned in the Holy Qur'an what kind of food Allah creates for the human
beings:
"Therewith He causes com to grow for you, and the olive and date-palm and grapes and
all kinds of fruit. Verily in this a sign for people who reflect." (16.11)
"A sign for them is the dead earth. We revive it and We bring forth from it grain so that
they eat thereof.
And We produce therein gardens of the date-palm and grapes, and We have caused
springs of water to gush forth therein.
That they may eat of the fruit thereof, and their hands made it not. Will they not, then,
give thanks?" (36.33-35)
"It is God Who sends down water out of the sky, and with it quickens the earth after it
is dead. Surely, in that is a sign for people who have ears to hear. In cattle, too, there is
a lesson for you: We give you to drink of what is in their bellies, between filth and blood
pure milk, sweet to those who drink. And we give you the fruits of the date-palms
and the vines from which you derive sweet-tasting liquid and fair provision. Indeed, this
is a sign for men of understanding. And your Lord inspires the bees, saying, 'Build your
homes in the mountains, in the trees and in the thatch of roots; then feed on every

kind of fruit and follow the ways of your Lord, so easy to go upon.' Then there comes
forth out of their bellies a liquid of various colors wherein is healing for men. Truly, in
this a sign for people who reflect." (16.65-69)
From these ayats it is obvious that Allah creates milk, honey, corn, grain, olive, dates,
grapes and all kinds of fruit as food for mankind. Verily it is a sign for people who have
an understanding. We should be thankful to Allah for His mercy and not ungratefully
shed blood of innocent helpless animals simply to please the uncontrolled tongue.
The Holy Qur'an (5.1) offers concessions as intermediary stages toward a pure and
spiritual diet:
"O you who believe! Eat of the good things with which we have supplied you, and give
God thanks if you are His worshippers. Only that which dies of itself, blood, and swine's
flesh, and that over which any others name than that of God's has been invoked, has
God forbidden you."
Here the Qur'an clearly states that pork is impure and that animal blood is not fit for
human consumption. The Muslims, then, run into a dietary contradiction: blood is
forbiddenit is impossible to completely separate blood from animal flesh so if one
eats meat, blood is being consumed as well. In the words of the Holy Qur'an, this,
indeed, is a "portent for people who think."
Ultimately, the Holy Qur'an encourages Muslims to eat wholesome, healthful foods. In
describing lawful and unlawful foods, the Holy Qur'an (7.157) emphasizes that "He [the
Holy Prophet] makes lawful to them the good things of life and he forbids them the bad
things."
Once the Holy Prophet Muhammad orders Hazrat Ah: "Don't make your stomach a
grave yard of innocent birds and animals."
From that day Hazrat Ali had faithfully followed this instruction.
Another time the Holy Prophet Muhammad said: "Whoever is kind to the lesser
creatures is kind to himself."
It is explained in the Hadith (traditions): Once the Prophet passed by certain people
who were shooting arrows at a ram, and hated that, saying, "Maim not the brute
beasts."
Another time, the Prophet, seen wiping the face of his horse with his wrapper, and
being questioned in regard to it, said, "At night I received a reprmand from God in
regard to my horse."
A man once robbed some eggs from the nest of a bird, whereupon the Prophet had
them restored to the nest. "Fear God in these dumb animals," said the Prophet, "and
ride them when they are fit to be ridden and get off them when they are tired."

Verily, are there rewards for our doing good to quadrupeds and giving them water to
drink?" asked the followers. And the Prophet answered, "There are rewards for
benefiting every animal having a moist liver." (M. Hafiz Syed, Thus Speak Muhammed,
Madras, 1962, p. 6.)
The Holy Prophet Muhammad always stressed the importance to show mercy to the
lesser creatures. We should deal with them as if they are our younger brothers. If
younger brother is less intelligent, it does not mean that we have right to kill him but
more so we have a duty to protect him. The father will never be happy if his elder, more
intelligent son will kill the youngest son because he is less intelligent and more weak.
Similarly, Allah is never happy when He observes humans killing and giving pain, and
suffering to His lesser creatures.
According to the Hadith, the Holy Prophet Muhammad said: "One who kills
unnecessarily, even a sparrow, will be questioned by Allah on the day of Judgment."
"One who takes pity on cutting the head even of a sparrow, and feels compassion
towards the sparrow, Allah will similarly show mercy towards him on the day of
Judgment."
"Killing any living beings besides those who are inflicting pain is forbidden." (O.
Gudratov, N. Gudratov, Multammad Peygambarin: Hayati va Kalamlari, Baki, 1990, p.
114,147)
"If the beasts will know about their inevitable death, as humans do, they will not eat
flesh." (Mahammad Ali, Muhammad Peygambarin Hayati, Baki, 1993, p. 150)
Biographies of the Holy Prophet Muhammad include narrations that clearly depict his
love for animals. For instance, Margoliouth, one of the Holy Prophet Muhammad's chief
biographers, writes, "His humanity extended itself to the lower creation. He forbade the
employment of towing birds as targets for marksmen and remonstrated with those who
ill-treated their camels. When some of his followers had set fire to an anthill, he
compelled them to extinguish it. ... Acts of cruelty were swept away by him." (V. A.
Holmes-Gore, These We Have Not Loved, London, 1946, pp.6-7.)
Other biographers, such as Dr. M. Hafiz Syed, point out that the Holy Prophet
Muhammad instructed those who eat meat to wash out their mouth before going to
pray. While it is certainly a Muslim custom to clean one's mouth before going to prayer,
many biographers say that only meat is emphasized in this connection and not any
other food. (M. Hafiz Syed, Thus Spake Muhammed, Madras, 1962, p. 6)
The Holy Prophet Muhammad always showed the greatest compassion "universal
compassion" and he exhorted his followers to do the same. A touching example from
his life shows how far his empathy extended. Awaking from a nap one afternoon, he
found a small, sick cat fast asleep on the edge of his cloak. The Holy Prophet cut off his
garment so that the cat could sleep undisturbed. Is this a man who would advocate the
unnecessary slaughter of harmless beasts? "Show sympathy to others," the Holy
Prophet Muhammad taught, "especially to those who are weaker than you." (Bilkiz
Alladin, The Story of Mohammed The Prophet, Delhi, 1979, pp. 12-13)

In one popular Hadith (tradition), the Holy Prophet Muhammad is depicted as having
rebuked his followers for not showing universal compassion. "But we do show
compassion," they insisted, "to our wives, children and relatives." The Holy Prophet
Muhammad responded, "It is not this to which I refer. I am speaking of universal
mercy."
The Holy Prophet Muhammad's earliest biographers indicate that he preferred
vegetarian foods, saying that he liked milk diluted with water, yogurt with butter or
nuts, and cucumbers with dates. His favorite fruits, which he was known to subsist on
for weeks at a time, were pomegranates, grapes and figs, and he liked a morning drink
of soaked, crushed dates. He was particularly fond of honey, often eating it mixed with
vinegar, and he is quoted as saying that in a house where there is vinegar and honey,
there will certainly be the blessings of the Lord. He also liked a preparation called hees,
made from butter, dates and yogurt. According to extensive biographical accounts,
furthermore, the Holy Prophet Muhammad has been quoted as saying, "Where there is
an abundance of vegetables, hosts of angels will descend on that place."
The Holy Prophet Muhammad's death emphasizes the harmfulness of meat-eating. The
story goes that a non-Muslim woman invited the Holy Prophet and some of his
companions to a meal and served them poisoned meat. The Holy Prophet Muhammad
knew by spiritual insight that the meat was poisoned, for he spat out piece of meat
which he chewed, but one of his companions died on the spot Although it was not his
custom to eat any food prepared by non-Muslim, on this occasion, mysteriously, he did.
The poisoned meat put him in a sickbed for about two years, and finally, in A.D. 632, he
died. According to some scholars, the Holy Prophet Muhammad ate the poisoned meat
just to show the stubborn masses the harmfulness of meat-eating.
Those Muslims who go for Haj (pilgrimage) to Mecca, wear a simple garment of
unstitched cloth in two pieces which is called ihram. The putting on of the pilgrim garb
(ihram) is symbolical of his renouncing the vanities of the world. From the time he put
on this religious dress, absolutely no killing is allowed: not mosquitoes, bugs,
grasshoppers, or any other living creatures. If a pilgrim sees an insect on the ground,
he will gesture to stop his comrades from inadvertently stepping on it. After this and
until the end of the pilgrimage he must not wear other clothes, or ornaments, anoint his
hair, use perfumes, hunt, or do other prohibited acts. If any louse appears on that
ihram it is not thrown on the ground but allowed to remain where it is. If the throwing
away of an insignificant living being like louse is forbidden in Islam, just think how
much inauspicious is killing of animals.
It is said in Aine-Akbari that on several occasions such as from Friday to Sunday and
eclipse days, Akbar abstained from taking meat.
Saints of Islam have laid great stress on leading a noble life, a life of renunciation and
compassion, eating simple food and abstaining from meat. They themselves avoided
any meat-eating. Sheikh Ismail, Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, Hazrat Nizammuddin Aulia,
Bu Ali Qalandas, Shah Inayat, Mir Dad, Shah Abdul Karim etc., were Muslim saints
whose path was pious living, centered on self-restraint, love and affection for all and
vegetarian eating. They said:
"Ta bayabin dar bahishte aden ja, shajkate banumaye ba khalke Khuda"

"If you want to live in heaven for all time to come, then behave in a spirit of
compassion and sympathy with the entire creation of God."
The famous Muslim saint, Mir Dad, said that anyone who eats the flesh of any living
being shall have to repay it with his own flesh. He who breaks another living being's
bone shall have his own bones broken. Every drop of blood shed, will have to be
accounted for by one's own. Because that is the eternal law.
The great Muslim saint Sarmad condemned meat-eating by saying that the light of life
is asleep in metals, is dreaming in plants, is awake in animals and is completely alert in
human beings. Kabir, addressing Muslims, makes it clear that even fasting (Roza) is in
vain if its practitioner lets his tongue dictate the killing of living beings for the sake of
its taste. Allah will not be pleased this way.
During Silloh also no meat is taken, because it is said, that meat is a bad food which
disturbs the prayers. Everyone knows that meat-eating increases passion. It is very
difficult to pray and concentrate the mind on Allah in a passionate condition. Therefore
it is recommended by great saints of all ages that vegetarian food is much more
appropriate for spiritual practices. If one wants to increase peace of mind and
concentration on Allah, he should decrease or, better, stop meat-eating. It is practical
advice from which everyone will immensely benefit.
Summarizing the above-mentioned statements, we can easily and naturally conclude
that meat-eating is a great impediment on the path of self-realization. Those who are
sincerely trying for spiritual progress should restrain from meat-eating. On the path of
decreasing material attachments and increasing spiritual attachment to Allah,
restraining meat-eating is compulsory.
In the Qur'an not one single verse allows killing cows or bulls. But very clear instruction
is given about what is intended for human as food:
"And We (Allah ) said: O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in the Garden, and eat you
freely of the fruits thereof where you will." (2.35)
"And give glad tidings (O Muhammad) to those who believe and do good works, that
theirs are Gardens beneath which rivers flow; every time they are fed with fruits
therefrom." (2.25)
"Allah is He Who created the heavens and the earth, and causes water to descend from
the sky, thereby producing fruits as food for you." (14.32)
"Who has appointed the earth a resting place for you, and the sky a canopy; and
causes water to pour down from the sky, thereby producing fruits as food for you."
(2.22)
From these four ayats of the Qur'an, it is obvious that when Allah created Adam and
Eve, He gave them in food, the fruits. And when the pious will go to paradise, they will
have their food in the form of fruits. Then when Allah created earth, He "produced fruits
as food for" mankind. Also from the very life of the Hazrat Muhammad, we can see his

daily food was bread, milk and palm-dates. Sometimes in his life he sacrificed sheep or
camels, but never cows or bulls.
There is only one story in the Holy Qur'an (2.67-71) which describes the sacrifice of a
cow:
"When Moses said to his people: 'Allah commands you that you sacrifice a cow.'
They said: 'Do you make game of us?'
He answered: 'Allah forbid that I should be among the foolish!'
They said: 'Pray for us unto your Lord that He make clear to us what (cow) she is.'
(Moses) answered: 'He says, that the cow should be neither too old nor too young, but
of middling age; now do what you are commanded!'
They said: 'Pray for us unto your Lord that He make clear to us of what color she is.'
(Moses) answered: 'He says, that she is a yellow cow. Bright is her color; gladdening
beholders.'
They said: 'Pray for us unto your Lord that He make clear to us what (cow) she is. To us
are all cows alike; if Allah wills, we may led aright.'
(Moses) answered: 'He says, that she is a cow not trained to till the soil or water the
fields; whole and without a mark.'
They said: 'Now has you brought the truth.' Then they sacrificed her; though they
scarcely did it."
This story was accepted in Jewish traditions, which are themselves based on certain
sacrificial directions in the Old Testament. The cow story of Jewish tradition is based on
Num. 19.1-10, in which Moses and Aaron ordered the Israelites to sacrifice a red cow
without a spot. Thus Moses announced the sacrifice to the Israelites, and they treated
it. as a jest. When Moses continued solemnly to ask for the sacrifice, they put him off
on one pretext followed by another, asking a number of questions which they could
have answered themselves if they had listened to Moses's directions. Their questions
were carping criticisms rather than the result of a desire for information. It was a mere
thin pretence that they were genuinely seeking for guidance. When at last they were
driven into a corner, they made the sacrifice, but if they did this willingly then the
sacrifice would have been more efficacious for their purification from sin. The cow's
body was to be burnt and the ashes were to be kept for the purification of the
congregation from sin.
We can see and learn from this narration that the killing of a cow was very dangerous
and not part of the teachings. So much so that the people were very hesitant to commit
such an act even when the order came from the high authorities. Prophet Moses. So
this particular sacrifice was not carried whimsically but with due consideration. We
should understand also, the cow was not simply killed for the sake of eating but the
body of the cow was burnt and the ashes were to be used for the higher purpose of
purifying the people from their sins. It is very important to mention that in the present
age also, cow sacrifice is forbidden, because no qualified persons are available to
conduct such a sacrifices.
Thus by reading the Holy Qur'an, we can conclude that cow killing is not sanctioned in
the Holy Qur'an and the only cow sacrifice which has been described was not meant for
meat-eating but for purification from the sins.

The Iranian scholar Al-Ghazzali (1058-1 111 AD) was one of the most brilliant
philosophers of Islam. He has stated that besides pieces of bread whatever we eat is
simply to satisfy our urges. At the age of 28, he headed the institute of Islam at
Baghdad. His main book, Ihya Ulum ul-Din The Revival of Religious Sciences is highly
respected. In this book (part 2, page 23, lines 17-19), the detrimental effects of beef,
and the virtues of ghee and milk from a cow are stated as follows:
"The meat of cow is man (disease), its milk is safa (health) and its ghee
is dava (medicine)."
Is it not more intelligent to protect cows and use their milk and ghee for our benefit?
The cow is considered a mother of mankind because she gives us a valuable product
such as milk. As a mother feeds her child with her breast milk, similarly the cow feeds
mankind with her milk. It has been scientifically proven that if one regularly drinks cow
milk, his fine brain tissues develop. As a result of this, one's memory capacity
increases, thus favoring remembrance of Allah. Therefore the cow and its milk is very
important for proper development of human society and killing the cow is the greatest
sin. Those who are eager to eat meat, they can eat less important animals like sheep
and goats, but cows should be protected.
An Imam of the Shah Jehan Mosque in London, England, Al-Hafiz B. A. Masri says that
the Qur'an itself is very specific about prevention of cruelty to animals. Muslims, who
form one-third of the world's total population, need to begin a movement for the
prevention of cruelty to animals based on Islamic tenets. It was time to ensure that all
precepts laid down in the Qur'an against cruelty to animals were followed strictly
everywhere in the world. Therefore, he wants to start a unit of the Society for
Protection of Cruelty to Animals in the Islamic world. Animal welfare worker Al-Hafiz
Masri would love to see the world embrace vegetarianism.
In his book Islamic Concern for Animals, Al-Hafiz Masri has expressed sorrow about the
excessive killing of animals in the name of religion. Quoting from the Holy Qur'an
Majeed and the teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, he described all acts of
torturing of animals, and even keeping birds in cages as sinful. According to him, even
the cutting of trees is prohibited in Islam.
On page 18, the Imam Saheb has repeated the saying of the Holy Prophet Muhammad
as under:
"There is no one who kills even a sparrow or anything smaller, without its deserving it,
but God will question him about it."
"He who takes pity even on a sparrow and spares its life, Allah will be merciful on him
on the day of Judgment."
The Imam Masri is himself a vegetarian and advises everyone to adopt vegetarianism

23. God is a person

Srila Prabhupada: The concept is there as you told me: "God made the human being
in His own image." Then we can get the idea that God is a person like a human being.
He has got two hands, two legs, one head, because in His image we have been

(created). Now, if we study ourselves and increase that quality. Just like me. I can eat.
I can eat a certain amount of foodstuff, but God can also eat, but He can eat the whole
universe. So eating is there. But the difference of eating is there also. I can create one
airplane, but God has created very, very big airplanes like these planets, and they are
floating in the sky without any power crisis. That is God's creation. Here we are floating
airplanes or running cars with power, petrol, given by God. You cannot manufacture
petrol. Just like in your country, there is enough stock of petrol. But you have not
created it. So, who has created? Your creative power is to drill and get the stock. So,
you have got this much creative power. But you cannot create petrol. Otherwise, the
Americans would not have come here to beg for petrol. That is the difference. You can
create something by the ingredients given by God. You can create this table because
wood is given by God, the instrument is given by God, the intelligence is given by God,
and the hand is given by God; so in this way, you can create the table. Then whose
property will it be, your property or God's property? Whose property? If I give you
wood, the instrument and salary, then you create something, and ultimately the thing is
created, to whom should it belong? To you or to me? (Room conversation. Tehran,
14/03/75)
Allah, as revealed in the Holy Qur'an, is not an abstract being, but a being who has
haiyat (life), Urn (knowledge), qudrat (power), iradah (will) and who is able to kalam
(speak), basar (see) andsamaa (hear). He has life which is eternal, knowledge which
embraces everything, power which is insuperable, will which determines everything and
He is able to speak with the entire universe, to see and hear everything with no effort.
These attributes clearly indicate that Allah is not a person in the ordinary material
sense, but is the supreme transcendental person beyond our imagination and the
perception of our mundane limited senses.
It is recorded in a tradition from Bukhari and Muslim, that once the Prophet of Islam
said, "Allah-Taala (God Most High) created Adam in His own sura (form, image)." (Mir
Valiuddin, Love of God. Delhi. 1968 p. 74)
Once the Holy Prophet Muhammad said: "He who knows his own self, knows God."
(Abdullah Al-Mamun Al-Suhrawardy, The Sayings of Muhammad. London, 1905, p. 52)

24. God is not formless

Yoga student: The Sufis find love in these figures... For example, the Sufi ibn Araby,
through the face of a beautiful woman. Srila Prabhupada: Through the face of a
beautiful woman? Yoga student: Yes.
Srila Prabhupada: So, there the materialists also find. Yoga student: That is the
material aspect, absolutely.
Srila Prabhupada: Therefore in the Islamic religion, the form is rejected because it will
come to that. As soon as they think of form, they think of this material form, beautiful
face of woman. That is degradation. Therefore, we are strict not to conceive material
form. That is Vedic conception. Apa.ii-padah javano grahita: "He has no legs and no
hands." This means denying the form. And next the Vedas say, javano grahita: "He can
accept whatever you offer to Him." That means God has no material form, but He has

form; otherwise, how can He accept? How can He understand my love? So, therefore,
in original Islam the form is not accepted. So that is Vedic description, form and
formless. Formless means no material form, and form means spiritual form,
simultaneously.
Just like I and you. I am within the body, but I am not this body. This form is not I. But
where has the form of the body come into existence? (It exists) because I have got
form. The sweater has got a hand because I have got a hand. The sweater is the
covering. If I haven't got a form, then how can the sweater have a hand, the pants
have got legs? So the pants practically are not the legs. The real legs are within the
pants. Similarly, this (body) is not my form; this is like the pants, the legs of the pants
or the hands of the coat. The real form is within. That is not the material form.
If I could see the real form and you could see, then there would be no controversy
about the spirit. But they cannot see. Therefore, they say "formless." If it is formless,
then how has the outer form come to be? How can it be? The tailor makes the coat
because the man has got a form. As the coat has got hands, so it is concluded that the
man for whom the coat is made, has also got form. How can you say without form? The
difficulty is that we can see the form of the coat, but we cannot see the form of the
man. That is the defect with these eyes, not that God is formless. God is not formless.
Yoga student: God is seen in the form of the saints.
Srila Prabhupada: That is another (thing). That is secondary. But God has got form.
That is the conclusion. But we cannot see with our present eyes. Just like I see you.
What do I see you as? Your body. You see me my body. And when the body is there
and the soul is not there, then it is a lump of matter. You can kick it and nobody will
protest. If you smash a dead body with your legs and boots, nobody will say: "Why you
are doing this?" But so long as the soul is there, if the body is smashed like that,
immediately there will be a protest, "Why you are doing this?" So, the people have no
knowledge about the real form. Therefore, they say formless. (Room conversation.
Tehran, 14/03/75)
Nobody can deny the fact that Allah has spiritual eyes, ears, mouth, face and hands
because these bodily limbs of Allah are explicitly mentioned in the Holy Qur'an.
More than this, the Holy Qur'an mentions the sublime image of Allah, His realm and His
throne on which He sits. If Allah has spiritual eyes, ears, mouth, face and hands, how
can we deny that He has spiritual form? First of all, how can His limbs exist separately
and, secondly, if Allah is the source of everything and if all things belong to Him, how is
it possible that He does not have form? If He has all things, this means He has form
also. Otherwise, He would not be complete something would be missing. Of course,
He does not have a form which consists of material elements and deteriorates, like the
body we presently have. He has spiritual form which consists of pure spirit. His form is
not ordinary, but supreme, eternal, blissful, transcendental and beyond our imagination
and description.

25. God can be seen

Srila Prabhupada: Now, suppose Muhammad has heard God. He is a prophet. So

whatever he is saying about his experience, you are accepting. Similarly, if somebody
has seen Him, if he says that "God is like this," why should you not accept? In this way
you can say. God can be seen, as God can be heard. You cannot say that God cannot be
seen.
Prithu-putra: No, what they say is that He Himself doesn't come down here. He can be
seen, but He doesn't come down. That is their point. Srila Prabhupada: He doesn't
come down. He's already there. He does not come down. Just like the sun. The sun
does not come down before me, but you can see it. In this way give them
enlightenment. The sun doesn't require to come down, but the sun is so bright and so
prominent that you can see it. Similarly, God doesn't require to come down. He's
already present. Simply we have to make our eyes (able) to see Him. When one is
competent enough by developing his love for God, he can always see Him. God is
visible everywhere. He's everywhere. So there is no difficulty to see Him. But simply
one has to possess such purified eyes to see Him. Otherwise, He can be seen
anywhere. He can even be seen within the atom. That is God. He is present
everywhere, but we must have the purified eyes to see Him, we must have the purified
ears to hear Him. Otherwise, God is everywhere. (Room conversation. Bhuvaneshwar,
30/01/77)
Srila Prabhupada: No. When there is talk, then you can talk reasonably, that "If God
can be heard, God can be seen also, God can be touched also, by different prophets."
(Room conversation. Bhuvaneshwar, 30/01/77)
'
The Holy Qur'an (75.22-23) states, "Some faces that day, will beam (in brightness and
beauty), Looking towards their Lord."
The meaning of these ayats is that when righteous people come to Allah, they will be
able to see their Lord and their faces will beam bright and be full of beauty at the bliss
of seeing their Lord. Thus Allah is not an abstract power or energy, but the supreme
living being who has His supreme form. For righteous people will be able to see Him on
the Day of Judgment.
The author of Jowhara (p.107-112) says: "It is possible to see Allah in this world as well
as in the next. In this world it has been granted to Muhammad only. In the future world
however all believers will see Him; some say only His eyes, others say His whole face,
others say every part of His body." (Klein F. A., The Religion of Islam. Delhi, 1987, p.
55)
Once Hazrat Ali was asked: "Did you see the Lord?"
Hazrat Ali replied: "I would not worship Allah if I have not seen Him!" (Qur'ana dair 101
sual, Baki, 1992, p. 13)
Once the Holy Prophet Muhammad said: "You should worship God as if you see Him.
Because if you don't see Him, He surely sees you." (Ibid, 2.37)
"If one wants to see Allah, then Allah also wants to see him." (Mahammad Peygambar.
Kalamlar, Baki, 1990, p. 34)

In conclusion, Abuhurairah said: "The Prophet said, 'When the angels go to the court of
God, God asks them, (while knowing better than they) 'What do my servants say and
do?' Then the angels said, 'They remember You with purity, greatness, praise, and
respect.' And God said, 'Have they seen Me?' The angels replied, 'No, they have not
seen You.' Then God said, 'What would their condition be if they had seen Me?' The
angels replied, 'If they had seen You, they would be more strenuous in worshipping
You, and in holding You mighty and glorious; and they would be more excessive in
repeating Your immaculate attributes." (Mishcat-ul-Masabin, Calcutta, 1809, p. 535)

26. God is not material

Srila Prabhupada: That is in Islam. That means God is not material. That is the idea.
Because here the idea is when I make something, an image or picture, that is material.
So there is a prohibition of accepting God as material. But if you go to a higher stage,
then you'll understand that if God is everything, then nothing is material. That is
Vaishnava philosophy. If God is everything, then where is matter? He is spiritual.
Material means when you cannot understand God. That is material. Everything is sky.
When it is covered by clouds, we call it cloudy. Similarly, clouds have no existence. They
only come to cover for a while, but the sky is eternal. Similarly, God is eternal. When
you are covered by some maya (illusion), you cannot see, you cannot understand God,
that is material. So, any philosophy which does not help in the understanding of God is
material. That is material. Otherwise, there is no material. Where is material if God is
everything? Do you see?
All spirit. All the sky. Everywhere is sky, but when it's covered, it is called cloudy.
Similarly, when God is covered by some nonsense ideas, then it is material. Otherwise,
there is no material. Therefore, for those who are too much absorbed in materialistic
ways, there is a restriction. So, don't attempt. Because he will think that God's name is
just like his son's name and his daughter's name. Therefore, there is a restriction.
(Room conversation. Columbus, 12/05/69)
It is explained here that God and His energies are eternally spiritual. Only when the
soul is covered by illusion is this same energy considered material. When energy is used
for the service of God it remains spiritual, but as soon as the same energy is used for
satisfying selfish desires, it becomes material.
Once The Holy Prophet Muhammad exclaimed: "God says, 'O man, only follow My laws,
and you shall become like unto Myself.'" (A. M. Allapichai, Just a Peep into the Muslim
Mind. Madras, 1946, p. 47)

27. Allah is a name of God

Srila Prabhupada: So what is this, Hare Krishna? Hare means the energy of the Lord,
and Krishna means the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So, it is a prayer. There are
three words only: Hare, Krishna and Rama. They have been arranged in sixteen words:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare,
Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare

So our movement is that we request you to take up these sixteen words not sixteen
words, three words, Hare, Krishna and Rama. But these are arranged in such a way
that there are sixteen words. So, anyone can take them by heart, these three words,
and chant them. It is universal. And if you think that "Oh, Krishna is the name of a
Hindu god," if you have got any objection, then you may not chant Krishna, but you
must have a name for God.
Just like the Muslims call Him Allah, the Jews call Him Jehovah, or somebody calls Him
something else. That doesn't matter. If you think that "Why should I chant the Indian
name Krishna, Sanskrit name Krishna?" So, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says that there are
millions and billions of names of God. If you think that this Krishna name is not very
suitable, you can accept any name. That doesn't matter. Our proposition is you chant
God's name. That is our proposal. Therefore, it is universal. If you like, you can chant
Jehovah or you can chant Allah, but we request you that you chant God's name. Is it
very difficult? It is not at all difficult.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said that there are innumerable names of God according to
different languages, different countries, different societies. And each and every one of
them has the potency of God Himself. If there is a God, He must be Absolute.
Therefore, there is no difference between His name and He Himself. Just like in the
material world, in the world of duality, there is a difference between the name "water"
and the substance water. The name "water" is different from the substance water. If
you are thirsty and you simply chant, "Water, water, water, water," your thirst will, not
be quenched. You require the substance water. That is material, but spiritually, the
name Krishna or the name Allah or the name Jehovah is as good as the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. (Lecture, 15/06/68)
Srila Prabhupada: So I pleaded to the Muslim audience, "You can chant the name of
Allah also. It's not necessary to have to chant the Krishna name, but any name
indicating the Supreme Lord can be chanted." (Lecture, 20/03/75)
Srila Prabhupada: That's all right. Then our request is that you chant the name of God.
So if Allah is the name of God, you chant Allah, don't chant Krishna. We say this. (Room
conversation. Tehran, 14/03/75)
Srila Prabhupada: Just like Allah. If this name indicates God, then it is this word "Allah"
which is as good as God. There is no difference. The Allah, the conception of Allah
means the Great, is it not? So God is Great. So by chanting Allah, I am meaning God,
the Supreme Person. So it is as good (as God). And actually in the Mosque, they chant
Allah-u-Akbar, like that, so far as I've heard. So, that prayer, if it is not God's name,
then what is the use of this prayer? That is God's name. Similarly, the Hindus may
chant Hare Krishna, they're indicating to the same personality. It may be in a different
language but it is as good as God because God is absolute. This name is authorised
because Muhammad said, "You chant Allah." So it is authorised, because he is God's
representative.
Therefore my request is, or our request is that you chant the name of Allah. We don't
say that you have to chant Krishna. You chant the Holy name of God. If Allah is an
approved name of God then you chant it. That is our request. We don't force you to
chant the name of Krishna. No, we don't say that. If somebody says, "Jehovah is the

name of God," that's all right, then you chant Jehovah. "Allah is the name of God,"
that's all right, you chant it We simply request that you chant the holy name of God.
That's all. If you have got it, we don't force you to chant the name of Krishna. That is
not our way. We accept, if Allah is God's name then it is as good as the name "Krishna."
We are not so sophisticated that you have to chant this Krishna's name. No, we say:
"Harer nama." That is the shastra (scripture). Harer noma means the name of the Lord.
So, there are many thousands of names; that's a fact. So, we request you actually
chant the name of God. Pick from millions of God's names. Whatever you like, you pick
and chant. That is our propagation.
In this age of quarrel and disagreement, God realisation is very difficult. But if you
chant the Holy name of God, then you'll gradually realise Him. This is our program. So,
we don't force you to chant this name "Krishna," No. Shastra (scripture) says, harer
nama chant the holy name of God. That is our program.
Lady: Before your asked about something else. I want to ask, how could you meet the
Supreme being by chanting...?
Srila Prabhupada: Yes. By chanting.
Lady: ...by chanting of a worldly name, tuned into a prayer... Srila Prabhupada: This is
not a worldly name. Why do you make that mistake? God's name is not worldly. Lady:
Because if you really know the tuning of God...
Srila Prabhupada: Do you think Allah is a worldly name?
Lady: We recognize it is before Krishna...
Srila Prabhupada: That's all right, you recognize it. Allah is not a worldly name. It is
given by the authority, Muhammad. So you have to chant it, if you know God.
Lady: But he didn't really mean Allah is the name of God.
Srila Prabhupada: Why do you say that he didn't mean?
Lady: Because...
Srila Prabhupada: That is your say. Muhammad did not say, "What I say, I did not
mean."
Lady: No, the name of God. He didn't mean Allah.
Srila Prabhupada: You say. Who cares for your word? Muhammad said this is the name
of God. We have to accept, that's all.
Lady: So why...?
Srila Prabhupada: You cannot say, "He didn't mean." You are not a private secretary of
Muhammad, (laughter)
Lady: So then how do they say that the name of God rests in God...
Srila Prabhupada: No, these things are not accepted.
Lady: Was before God...
Srila Prabhupada: Don't talk childish.
Lady: Was God.

Srila Prabhupada: (Whatever) Muhammad said that is authority. That we accept. We

accept Muhammad as the representative of God. Whatever he says, we accept; that's
all. What you mean, that is your business. But he is the authority; he said, "This is the
name of God. You chant, you pray." Allah of God. That's all. That is authority. (Room
conversation. Tehran, 14/03/75)
When the Holy Prophet Muhammad was asked about the most excellent Iman (faith),
he answered: "To love him who loves God, and hate him who hates God, and to keep
your tongue employed in repeating the name of Allah." (Abdullah al- Mamun alSuhrawardy, The Sayings of Muhammad. London, 1905, p. 24)
Once the Holy Prophet said: "Pray to God morning and evening, and employ the day in
your avocations." (Abdullah al-Mamun al-Suhrawardy, The Sayings of Muhammad.
London, 1905, p. 2)
In the opinion of Islamic theologians, Allah has 100 names but only 99 of them are
revealed in different verses of the Holy Qur'an. The 100th name of Allah is hidden.
Those who come to know this name can perform miracles. (O Gudratov, N. Gudratov,
Mohammad Peygambar: Hayati va Kalamlari. Baki, 1990, p. 18)

28. The ultimate goal is to love God

Srila Prabhupada: The test of any scripture is how one is developing love of God. If you
find that by following some religious principles you are developing your love of God,
then it is perfect. It doesn't matter whether it is the Bible or the Qur'an or the
Bhagavad-gita; it doesn't matter. We have to see what is the fruit. If the fruit is that
people are developing love of Godhead, then it is perfect. Don't try to understand
whether "this is good, this is good, and this is bad." No. Try to understand by the result.
If you see the fruit, then it is first class. So, it doesn't matter whether it is the Bible or
the Gita, if you can develop love of Godhead by reading the Bibie, it is first class. And if
you can develop love of Godhead by (reading) the Bhagavad-gita, it is first class. And if
you do not, then neither the Bible, the Qur'an or the Bhagavad-gita will have an effect
on you. (Lecture, 18/10/68)
Srila Prabhupada: Then God is the greatest, and we are finite, limited. We are not the
greatest. And our business is to serve Him. What is that? Yoga student: Our business is
to serve Him. Precisely as was said last night, our business is to satisfy Him. Srila
Prabhupada: That's it.
Yoga student: There is a tradition, and there's a body of forty traditions, which are
called the sacred traditions, one of which says that these are the words of God as
enunciated through Muhammad. One of them says, "The more you strive towards Me,
the more you love Me, the closer I come to you." Srila Prabhupada: Oh, that's it. Then
the ultimate goal is how to love God. Yoga student: Yes.
Srila Prabhupada: That is very good. That is our philosophy. This is the highest goal of
life, how one has developed his love for God. And Bhagavatam says, "That is first-class
religion which trains the followers how to love God and serve Him." That is first-class
religion. (Room conversation. Tehran, 14/03/75)

Once the Holy Prophet Muhammad said: "O Lord, grant to me the love of You; grant me
that I love those that love You; grant me that I may do the deeds that win Your love;
make Your love dearer to me than my soul, family and wealth." (Abdullah Al-Mamun AlSuhrawardy, The Sayings of Muhammad. London, 1905, p. 128)

THE END