We all know by now that Prophet Muhammad's grandfather was the keeper/ caretaker of the Temple of Mecca.But this was well before Mecca became the chosen site to perform the Haj, what was Mecca before? In other words, which God was Prophet Muhammad's grandfather praying to?
By John Doe
JD: Let's start this by reading what Farish Noor wrote:
"...For a start, the word 'Allah' predates the revelation to the Prophet Muhammad and goes back to the pre-Islamic era. Christians had been using the word long before there were any Muslims. It is an Arabic word and thus common to all the peoples, cultures and societies where Arabic, in all its dialects, is spoken. It is also understood by millions of Arabic speakers to mean God, and little else. One could add that as it is an Arabic word, it therefore has more to do with the development and evolution of Arabic language and culture and less to do with Islam..."
Taken from: http://rix177holyspirit.blogspot.com/2007/12/origins-of-word-allah.html
JD: Let us then begin by asking why do Muslims Call God "Allah"?
Why do Muslims call God Allah? Dr. Zakir Naik
http://youtube.com/watch?v=XHeQroDdCWI&feature=related
The same Dr. Zakir Naik names Prophet Muhammad as a Hindu Prediction
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1GNciSqoz1U&feature=related
JD: Let's look at the Prediction from the Holy Scriptures themselves first, before there's any "fist-fight" outbreak here:
"...According to Bhavishya Purana in the Prati Sarag Parv III Khand 3 Adhay 3 Shloka 5 to 8.
"A Malecha (belonging to a foreign country and speaking a foreign language) spiritual teacher will appear with his companions. His name will be Mohammad. Raja (Bhoj) after giving this Maha Dev Arab (of angelic disposition) a bath in the Panchgavya and the Ganga water (i.e. purifying him of all sins) offered him the present of his sincere devotion and showing him all reverence said, "I make obeisance to thee. O ye! The pride of mankind, the dweller in Arabia, Ye have collected a great force to kill the Devil and you yourself have been protected from the malecha opponents."..."
JD: Who do you think these Great and Holy Texts describe? To a great degree, these Hindu texts were predicting the Great Prophet Muhammad.
JD: We all know by now that Prophet Muhammad's grandfather was the keeper/ caretaker of the Temple of Mecca. But this was well before Mecca became the chosen site to perform the Haj, what was Mecca before? In other words, which God was Prophet Muhammad's grandfather praying to?
The answer may be found in the extract below:
"...[Note: A recent archeological find in Kuwait unearthed a gold-plated statue of the Hindu deity Ganesh. A Muslim resident of Kuwait requested historical research material that can help explain the connection between Hindu civilisation and Arabia.]Was the Kaaba Originally a Hindu Temple?
By P.N. Oak (Historian)
Glancing through some research material recently, I was pleasantly surprised to come across a reference to a king Vikramaditya inscription found in the Kaaba in Mecca proving beyond doubt that the Arabian Peninsula formed a part of his Indian Empire. The text of the crucial Vikramaditya inscription, found inscribed on a gold dish hung inside the Kaaba shrine in Mecca, is found recorded on page 315 of a volume known as ‘Sayar-ul-Okul’ treasured in the Makhtab-e-Sultania library in Istanbul, Turkey..."
Web Reference: http://www.hinduism.co.za/kaabaa.htm
JD: Christians in Malaysia (SIB in particular) keep harping on the fact that the Word "Allah" was freely used by Christians well before Prophet Muhammad's birth. Hence, the “historical right” to use it in Malaysia today. Their "right-to-fair-use" resounds much like the clip below:
"...The Semitic roots of the word Allah extend back several thousand years to the Canaanite Elat, Hebrew El and Elohim, and Aramaic Alaha. These roots point toward unity, oneness, the eternal power which includes all of existence and of non-existence. In modern English this would generally be translated as God (which is old English, likely based on the Sanskrit word hu, meaning that which is worshipped, honored or adored)..."
taken from: http://wahiduddin.net/words/bismillah.htm
JD: This is the first instance of the mention that the word "Allah" is of Sanskrit origins.
The above diagram shows a quick visual comparison of Sanskrit-based written languages. It is easy to see, and Sanskrit has been generally accepted as the basis for such written alphabets. The Sumerian type writing was also inserted to show comparative early handwritten forms with Mesopotamian influence; prior to the arrival of the Sanskrit texts, from Arabia till Cambodia, and Indonesia.
"...NOTED SCHOLAR and Sarva Dharma Ekta Manch secretary Abdullah Tariq claimed here on Sunday that Islam was a religion with an Indian origin. He said, “The first Prophet Hazrat Adam was born in India, according
to belief, and the last Prophet Hazrat Mohammad was born in Mecca.” He also said the study of the Vedas was the need of the hour. Tariq was expressing his views in a symposium organised by the UP Rabta Committee at Islamia College of Commerce entitled "Ved and Quran: How Near How Far". ..."
JD: You might say that this speaker was probably "pushing it". But then, look at the following extract:
"...Saudi Arabia (Pre – Islamic Period)
Because of the Saudi illiterate population, direct recording of Saudi Arabian history is almost non-existent. But from countries with historical contacts with Saudi Arabia, it is possible to make sense of the Saudi History. One recorded History, we can rely on is of the Hindu Vikrama Era (58 B.C. to 415 A.D.) whose Hindu Empire stretched from India to the Arabian Peninsula in the West (and also Eastwards). These Hindu Maharaja/s were greatly devoted to their Hindu Deities of Lord Siva {moon God-Allat} and his spouse, Goddess Durga {moon goddess-Allah}. The Maharajas gave thanks to their Godly Deities by building Siva temples in their honour, in all their territories {at least 7 in Saudi Arabia alone, including the Kaaba}. Even after their Empire fell, the Saudi Arabs faithfully devoted themselves to these Hindu Godly Deities/Temples as devote Hindus up to Muhammad’s time...."
Source: http://www.islamreview.com/articles/bioofmuhammad.shtml
JD: Some suggest that it is because of this Moon Goddess, Durga, that the Crescent is still found at the pinnacle of Mosques today. For most religions (of the past) to take root, the first order of the day was usually to learn the Language from its' country of Origin. In the case of Saudi Arabia, for her to have adopted Hinduism, it would have only made perfect sense for the Arabic Language to begin with Sanskrit as a starting point. Appropriate, since Saudi Arabia was mostly illiterate (see above), and Sanskrit was freely adopted by languages even in South East Asia. In fact, (almost) all "curly-whirly" written languages are of Sanskrit Origins. (see pix below)
And although the pronunciations today are drastically different, any competent linguist can easily trace its' root words to its origins; Sanskrit.
Note: Kawi scripts typically show a marriage between Sanskrit and modern Jawi Scripts. As words are formed alphabeltically, it can be written in almost any language. This is different from Egyptian, Sumerian or Chinese, where individual characters mean complete words. (see below for comparative)
Sumerian Scripts showing influence on both Pre-Sanskrit Arabic as well as Pre-Han Chinese Scripts. Anything prior to the Sumerian writing would be either Cunnieform, and Cave Men Drawings. Even Egyptian Heiroglyphics are a derivitive of Sumerian texts. Please consult your favourite Linguists for affirmation of this Chronology. (Alan F. Alford)
JD: Then I stumbled on this:
"...It might come as a stunning revelation to many that the word ‘ALLAH’ itself is Sanskrit. In Sanskrit language Allah, Akka and Amba are synonyms. They signify a goddess or mother. The term ‘ALLAH’ forms part of Sanskrit chants invoking goddess Durga, also known as Bhavani, Chandi and Mahishasurmardini. The Islamic word for God is., therefore, not an innovation but the ancient Sanskrit appellation retained and continued by Islam. Allah means mother or goddess and mother goddess..."
Source: http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=67526
I was then, as shocked as you are now.
In answering "The History of The Kaaba Part 1", please view here:
http://www.vnn.org/editorials/ET0001/ET25-5336.html
and “The History of The Kaaba Part 2” is here:
http://www.vnn.org/editorials/ET0002/ET21-5523.html
Other references are listed below:
http://krishnajkaaba.blogspot.com/2005/04/kaaba-hindu-temple-taken-over-by.html
http://www.israelforum.com/board/showthread.php?t=8743&page=1
http://www.islam-watch.org/AyeshaAhmed/Paganism-Hinduism-in-Islam.htm
http://www.faithfreedom.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=52607&sid=7b92389496c265ebf5926049a8367374
JD: So, if Saudi Arabia had a Hindu/ Pagan Past, then what about the term "Allah"?
Who first coined the name? If what some Muslims' claim is true, that the first Muslim was Adam, (some say it was Abraham), then all descendants of Adam would have a right to use the word Allah. But IMHO, that would not be theologically correct. Adam obviously did not speak Sanskrit, and since we can only trace the origins of the word “Allah” till its' Sanskrit origins, we have to come to accept that the Original word “Allah” can only be in reference to Durga, the Moon Goddess. How the Word got transformed and re-transformed and given new meaning(s) in its' subsequent days is a discussion for another time.
“...The cult of a Deity termed simply “The God” (Al-ilah) was known throughout southern Syria and northern Arabia in the days before Islam… It seems equally certain that Allah was not merely a God in Mecca but was widely regarded as the “High God,” the Chief and Head of the Meccan pantheon,…Thus Allah was neither an unknown nor an unimportant deity to the Quraysh when Muhammad began preaching his worship at Mecca...”
(The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World, ed. John L. Esposito, p 76-77).
"...The Japanese scholar Toshihiko Izutsu remarks that it is precisely because the name Allah was common to both the pagan Arabs and the Muslims that gave rise to the heated debates that arose between Muhammad and his adversaries. Likewise, Muhammad addressed his adversaries in the name of ‘Allah’ without bothering to explain what this name meant given their common understanding of ‘Allah’ as referring to the Supreme God..."
(God and Man in the Quran, Toshihiko Izutsu, pp. 100-117).
JD: My immediate question is to ask the Christian Community, as to why the sudden change of heart? On the one hand, Christian websites claim that “Allah” is a Pagan Moon God with irrefuttable proof. Then, the next moment, you claim to have “Historical Right” to use the Word Allah, even though it directly conflicts with all Christian Websites which insist that “Allah” is a Moon God. And they all seem to be able to provide “concrete evidence” of this; despite the fact that the Koran claims otherwise. Did you discover something that we all do not know of to have this sudden change of heart?
If not, then Please remove ALL Websites with all these so-called “evidence” that Allah is a Pagan Moon God.
My advise to the SIB, as clearly stated, please DO NOT USE the word "ALLAH" in reference to describing the Christian God. It is inappropriate, and theologically wrong, although (for a brief period) you may be Historically correct.
The “interpretive” word for God in Bahasa Malaysia is “Tuhan” (ie, Kepercayaan kepada Tuhan)
The “interpretive” word for Lord in Bahasa Malaysia is “Tuan” (ie, Ketuanan melayu)
The ArchBishop needs a netter Translator, and definitely a more competent Historian.
On the same note, BN might want to change the Selangor State Anthem,
“... Allah lanjutkan usia Tuanku...”, since you insist that no one else can use the word. Or, instruct non-Muslims of Selangor to sing every other word, and keep silent when the song reaches the word “Allah”.
The truth is, India (Aryan and Dravidic) had a very huge impact on the World. The oldest known Indian cultures existed in Mohenjodaro and Harappa. Evident in Language, customs, and culture. In fact, its' influence stayed in Asia for circa 15 centuries, and is still prevalent in Austronesian (formerly known as “malay”) Cultures today. Most notably in Bali, Indonesia.
Further reading of: “Influence of India on Malay Cultures” can be found here:
http://indiainteracts.com/members/2007/12/24/Suvarnabhumi-Influence-of-India-on-Malay-cultures/
In Summation:
Religions, Language and Cultures are much more integrated than most would like you to think.
That's one of the main reasons we all ask for inter-faith harmony instead of shouting "My God is better than your God".
Additional Reading:
http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&page=31&pid=122
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