yeAppreciation This book highlights points of convergence between Islam and the monotheistic devotional tradition of Vedic spirituality. Can followers of the Vedic wisdom find teachings akin to their own in Islam? And can followers of the Koran find like-minded teachings in the Vedic literature? Rasamandala das shows that they can. Stila Jayadvaita Swami Chairman Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International (BBT) Please find below my comments on this lovely book: This. illuminating study of the close kinship between Vedic scriptures and Islamic teachings will be of benefit to all those who seek the Truth, whatever Its form. It will not only help bring about greater understanding of the different traditions, something which is fervently to be wished for in this time - even more importantly, it points to the essential unity of all true traditions, and stresses our fundamental birthright as human beings. Stephen Hirtenstein Publications Director, Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi Society, Co-founder of Anga Publishing Author of The Unlimited Mercifier, the spiritual life and thought of Ibn ‘ArabiAcknowledgment I am very grateful to Krishna kirtana Devi Dasi and to Vanamali Devi Dasi for sponsoring the printing of this book. Iam much indebted to Srila Lokanatha Swami who inspired me to undertake this humble effort to unite those who seek the ultimate peace, harmony and truth, which lies only in understanding the essence of the Lord's message. Blue Lotus Research Institute for Vaisnava Inter-relationship rivi@pamho.net © 2014 Rasamandala das. All rights reserved. Books by the same author: Islam and the Vedas Reconciled Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony Printed and bound in India by Thomson Press India Ltd. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author. ~Rasamandala das ISLAM and the VEDAS Lost Harmony BLUE LOTUSDedication | To Srila Gopiparanadhana das, who showed a great example of humility Do not hear from persons lacking proper conduct. If your conduct is below, you should not publicly speak about the glories of the Lord. Close the door and discourse to yourself. Real glorification of the Lord begins when one's outside and inside are the same.” Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati ThakuraContents Introduction 1 CHAPTER ONE The succession 7 The key to harmony. History of Islam. Reverse conditions. CHAPTER TWO The challenge 25 Carrying over the succession. Unfavorable time. A terrible tragedy. The internal struggle. CHAPTER THREE The rise and the fall 43 A political fragmentation. The decline . The rise. CHAPTER FOUR Cultural decline 59 Eagerness to possess more. Misguided Knowledge. Doors to heaven. Misconceptions about God. CHAPTER FIVE What went wrong? 70 Maintaining the purity of faith. Painful reverses. Infiltration of ill fate. Spiritual inheritance. CHAPTER SIX A spiritual journey 87 The lower course. The middle course. Above sense enjoyment A perfect vision. Higher middle course. The foremost course.Unspoken wisdom. CHAPTER SEVEN The Vedic tradition 108 The stimulus. Common scriptural characteristics. The esoteric made easier in story form. Populating the universe. CHAPTER EIGHT Desiring prosperity 120 An outstanding threat. Hankering for prestige. Realizing his foolishness. CHAPTER NINE Eternal harmony 134 A Severe Test. In the name of belief. Avoiding destruction. Showing great tolerance. Abbreviations 154 Appendixes References 156 Bibliography 167Introduction All religious leaders of the world are very much anxious to deepen their own understanding of their own faith. This can be possible only by cleansing out all unsteady emotional feelings that are often the source of all disturbances. Hate, envy, doubt and fear create unhealthy atmosphere within any religious organization. In the intellect, many harmful misleading thoughts are stored. When challenged, one is ready to injure his own members. Blinded by wrong precepts, the surrounding is filled with great conflicts. In this lower spiritual dimension, harmony between followers is very difficult to achieve. In the history of Islam, overwhelming political tragedies in the form of civil wars between believers had afflicted the Muslim community. Similarly, in the Vedic tradition, due to Daksa's enmity towards Siva, overwhelming happenings took place. In this book, chapter one and two show how after the disappear- ance of Muhammad, overwhelming political tragedies took place. Chapter three entitled “The rise and the fall” shows that many Muslim empires that were constructed with great pain and perseverance, had all vanished. According to the Koran, due to a lack of spiritual culture, great civilizations have met with destruction. Progress is commonly seen in material terms such as good economy, adequate security, numbers of military campaigns and achievements in sciences, arts, and literature. A civilization may be flourishing economically and militarily, but spiritually degraded. Chapter four and five explains that once the revelation is not 1Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1534) along with his associates performing the congregational chanting of the holy names: Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in Navadvipa, West Bengal, India and inaugurated the congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord to teach pure love of GodIntroduction 3 understood as it is, cultural decline takes place. Due to material desires, different materially motivated misconceptions cover the process of acting for the pleasure of God. Followers have often failed in their attempt to merely act for the satisfaction of God. Thus, their cultural decline and political devastation becomes inevitable. Muhammad was aware of this important fact. So he valued no gold and built no palace for himself. He had no kingly furniture, pleasure and comfort. Muhammad set the highest example of combining a life ofa hermit with the position ofa king. Abu Bakr and Omar, the first and second rulers after Muhammad, emulated the example of Muhammad by following in his footsteps. In the Vedic tradition, the downfall of Vedic culture begins with the curse that put the great devoted King Pariksit to death. A child named Srigi, who was lacking in culture, and puffed up with spiritual power, wrongly cursed king Pariksit to die within seven days. It was through this inexperienced boy that ill fate found an opportunity to severely harm the entire Vedic cultural heritage. Chapter six shows that the Koran contains different processes. In an interreligious dialogue with a saintly Muslim that took place five hundred years ago, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu pointed out that the Koran contains fruitive activity, speculative knowledge, mystic power and union with the Supreme. The Koran confirms a similar apparent truth. “Zhere are among them some who wrong their own souls, some who follow a middle course, and some who, by Allah's will, are foremost in good deeds. That is the highest grace [Koran 35.32]”. The main point in chapter seven is that all scriptures of the4 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony world are divided into two categories, those that are directly given by the Lord and those compiled by holy men. The Koran was directly given by God through the angel Gabriel. Muslims take Muhammad's sayings as authoritative. Muslims also rely on decisions by consensus as well as a process of deducting truth through reasoning. Vedic literatures are similarly divided into Sruti and smrti. Scriptures that are directly given by God are called Sruti. After hearing this knowledge, the sages wrote their realizations by giving references from Ssruti. This is called smrti. The writings of the holy men are as important as the original scriptures given by God, because they explain them. Chapter eight explains that if one seeks from God, material benefits, there is a risk of becoming proud of such temporary material possessions and offending the servants of the Lord. David, an illustrious prophet, and king Dhruva both approached God with a motive to get an exalted kingdom. David and Dhruva were successful in pleasing God, while Daksa, one of Brahma's sons, when given a great responsibility failed to satisfy God. Daksa, performed elaborate sacrifices with the aim of achieving great material prosperity, but being self motivated, he failed to please the Lord. Chapter nine shows that although God is one, there are endless divisions between religious believers. Much energy is wasted in petty conflicts which result in an atmosphere filled with negative emotions. Following the Holy Scriptures, many persons have found great serenity while others have engaged in wars, destruc- tion, torture and assassination. This discrepancy of behavior is caused by dogmatic narrow mindedness. When belief becomes more important than the fact that everyone is an eternal soul relatedIntroduction _ to God, real religion is lost. In belief, there is the danger of separation and division. Thoughts that are based on belief divide humankind. They are dangerous for they destroy unity. Dogma causes division resulting in violence between companions. In order to avoid all shedding of blood, one has to learn tolerance. The path of intolerance is characterized by anger, enmity and violence between followers. For instance, due to his ambitious desire to achieve a great kingdom and his revengeful attitude towards his stepmother, Dhruva Maharaja, could not bring his whole family together to enjoy a harmonious life. As a reaction to insulting him, his stepmother along with his brother prematurely died. On the other hand, all enmity between Joseph and his brothers ended without any loss. Because of his high character, Joseph did not become arrogant. Although he was given a high post in Egypt, he did not misuse it. He remained a humble servant of God. He was not disturbed by the distress given by his brothers. He treated them with great love and respect. Due to his patience and forgiveness, Joseph could bring his whole family back to Egypt.In the intellect, many misleading thoughts are stored. To clear up all these misconceptions, new and fresh ideas have to be received from authorized sources. Except for oneself, none can perceive and check one's further progress. To brush aside any undesirable concept, one has tobe above the common spiritualist who sees everyday many happenings without examining their inner truth.CHAPTER ONE The succession The key to harmony There is no doubt that different people are situated in different levels of spiritual understanding. By their presence, knowledge and practical realization, some are able to create a cheerful atmosphere around them. Others, due to contrary emotional values, estimations and selfish interests, are inconsistent. In a lower spiritual level, emotions in relation to belief, principles and dignity are often flickering and imperfect. In that dimension, the standard of understanding the surroundings is often deficient. The magnitude of feelings, being impaired by doubt, fear, and dissatisfaction, are unsteady. Having ideas based on faulty distinctions, they are often the source of all disturbances. To reach a higher dimension, the seer has to give up the pride of old experiences, which are the basis of how he perceives things. He has to be aware that his flickering feelings, opinions and impressions are certainly not true statements. Those can change at any time. In the intellect, these misleading deceptive,8 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony thoughts are forcibly stored. To clear up all these misconceptions new and fresh ideas have to be received from authorized sources. One has to investigate how to eliminate these erroneous precepts and accept factual considerations. He has to analyze each question into different possibilities followed by a systematic rejection of any undesirable lower misconceptions of life. To find out the truth, a new insight has to arise from observing ordinary events. Except for oneself, none can perceive and check one's further progress. To brush aside any undesirable concept, one has to be above the common spiritualist who sees everyday many happenings without examining their inner truth. On the spiritual dimension varieties exist but they do not result in conflict. Each individual is related to God, the source of all harmony. As the spiritual is free from all kinds of sorrows, it is the key to all harmony. Just as the rising sun dispels darkness and brings auspiciousness everywhere, the spiritual drives away all conflicts. Materialistic propensities are very difficult to harmonize. They are often tainted with strong emotions that are filled with grief. On the spiritual level, whatever undesirable thing may happen is seen as an auspicious event handled by the good will of the Supreme. For instance, Joseph and Jacob accepted all events as the will of God. Jacob knew that, out of jealousy, his other sons planned to kill his darling small child Joseph, but Jacob never showed any enmity to his envious sons. As a small child, his brothers, out of jealousy, threw Joseph in a well. He was sold as a slave. He was unjustly put in the prison for many years. Yet, when Joseph became a great personality in Egypt, he did not show any hostility to his brothers who in such a crucial time needed his help. Rather, he received them with great respect and humility. HeThe succession 9 supplied them with whatever they needed. Because of the goodness exhibited by Jacob and Joseph in handling such a sensitive matter, Jacob's sons were greatly benefitted. With the passing of time, their enviousness towards their brother Joseph faded away. Jacob could have brutally damned the act of his sons to kill Joseph. By refraining from doing so, everything ended favorably. The main peculiarity of quarrel between followers is self aggrandizement. A follower wants to show his greatness to his family members, his community and his surroundings. Self aggrandizement is detrimental to the principle of dedication to God. To achieve such purpose, one is ready to manipulate the message and everything around him. The tendency of self aggrandizement is dangerous. It is self-destructive. No healthy contribution can come froma proud and boasting person. In sucha person, God is not the center, rather one's selfish interest is. Both Vedic literatures and the Koran aim to cut off all personal, communal or national self aggrandizement. Their conclusion is that the greatest is God and all others are menial servants. On a higher spiritual dimension, one is free from all kinds of manipulation based on self interest. This dimension is attained by the foremost. “There are among them some who wrong their own souls, some who follow a middle course, and some who, by Allah's will, are foremost in good deeds. That is the highest grace [Koran 35.32]. When one is free from any separate interest from God, all contradictions are cleared. One will find a universal harmony everywhere. He will see a divine arrangement for everyone. Handled by God's grace, one will work as an instrument without the necessity of any individual selfish calculation. By such kind10 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony of behavior, unlimited obstacles are removed. The right attitude is to reconcile all contradictions between believers through humility, service, and dedication, not exploitation. With God, compassion and mercy are overflowing. When one enters that realm, one realizes that the only necessity is to work for God's interest. While the Koran calls this dimension the foremost, Vedic literatures describe it as upasana-kanda, devotional service, the process of restoring the soul's relationship with God by rendering unalloyed service to the Lord. From the present position of egoistic boasting, the soul has to progress through higher spiritual states. All mistaken thoughts have to be given up and replaced by accurate ones. The correct ones are given by God in the revealed scriptures. The Lord's teachings are open to everyone. Some people understand them properly, whereas others have great difficulty to grasp their real meaning. This inability is caused by different material coverings which consist of various proportions ofignorance. How can one understand God if the eyes and the senses are overly attracted by the charms of different things? They have very little time to focus on God. A lustful human being looks fora beautiful body, a businessman looks for wealth, a householder for a bigger residence, a farmer for a larger field of crops, a ruler for the means to dominate his subject, a politician hankers for a great position and the religious hankers for heaven without God. In this way many prejudices cover one's attention. Busy with external transactions, the senses, the mind and intelligence are surcharged with other concerns. Conducting false dealings, undesirable alien elements cover the soul. The foes are all these false identifications. One is carried away by different waves ofThe succession i separate consciousness. Not fully connected with the Lord, having a separate interest, one is more or less separated from God. The Lord is prepared to give His grace to everyone, but one must be capable to receive it. He gives directions to everyone in terms of one's capabilities in taking guidance. When one refuses the Lord's guidance, one is entangled in the actions and reactions of his own actions. In the Vedas, activities that neglect the direction of God are called Vikarma. Yet, one may take guidance from the Lord with a motive to achieve a personal selfish goal. This dimension is called Karma-kanda, motivated activities for personal material gain. The present book 'Lost Harmony' will explain how on the lower course of action, Karma-kanda and Vikarma kanda level, devastating conflicts take place. Tragedies occur when patience, humility and compassion are lacking. After the disappearance of Muhammad, overwhelming political tragedies in the form of civil wars between believers afflicted the Muslim community. In Vedic literatures, due to Daksa's enmity towards Siva, a terrible tragedy happened. Here we are faced with two dimensions, a lower and higher. In a lower spiritual dimension, when one meets with the slightest difficulty, one takes shelter in intolerance. To solve any misfortune, extraordinary plans are made to skillfully manipulate and exploit the environment. The atmosphere becomes surcharged with intolerance, envy, vengeance, quarrel, pride and false prestige. Egocentric designs result in a hostile atmosphere between believers. After Muhammad's death, due to selfishness, millions of believers killed each other. On the other hand, Joseph did not resist the plans of God. He never lamented for his misfortune. He did not waste his time in quarreling, fighting or12 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony trying to harm his wicked brothers. He took help and patience in God. He concentrated all his thoughts on God rather than wasting his valuable energy to fight with the antagonistic environment. History of Islam For Muslims, Islam begins with Adam and Abraham. Along with his son, Ishmael, Abraham rebuilt what is now Mecca, one of the first shrines in the world. For Muslims, Islam is the original religion that is going all the way back to Adam, the first prophet sent by God. Muhammad is the last of a long line of prophets, including Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus. Muslims believe that Moses, David, Jesus, and others were prophets sent from God. As every known nation has a messenger from God, they accepted them all as messengers of God. God chose them to teach humanity and to deliver His divine message. The Koran mentions the names of some of them such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John the Baptist, and Jesus. In Islam, prophets are men selected by God to be his messengers. Muslims believe that prophets are human and not divine. Muhammad is the last of a long line of prophets. The Koran was revealed to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel on many occasions during a period of 23 years from 609 to 632, the year of his death.' The divine revelations were manifested through divine inspiration, which Muhammad sometimes uttered in the presence of his companions.’ Muhammad's words were preserved and passed on through oral tradition of the Arabic culture.’The followers of Muhammad memorized and documented the divine messages delivered to him on makeshiftThe succession 13 material, such as palm leaves, fragments of pottery and on the shoulder blades of camels.’ Some forty years after the passing away of Muhammad, they were transcribed in the written form that has been preserved to date without change.’ Muhammad's life and death marked the end of prophecy, since his prophetic mission satisfied for all time any need or demand for another prophet.” The history of Islam involves different factors. The principal one is the dilemma arising among believers regarding the problem of succession. With the death of Muhammad in 632, there was a need to choose a new leader to guide the Muslim nation. This marks the beginning of the division of Islam into so many religious sects and political factions. Unfortunately, confusion, rivalries, and unsettlement, as well as long civil wars among believers, followed. Since the start of Islam, there have been different factions and clans. There were four main ones: The Umayyad, the aristocratic batch of Mecca. The Hashemite, the clan of Muhammad, to which Ali and other prominent members of Muhammad's immediate blood family, belongs. And there were also the citizens of Medina’ called helper. When the chief leader of Mecca’ persecuted Muhammad, they invited him to reside in Medina. Then, also, the early believers, called immigrant’, who migrated from Mecca to Medina out of fear of being persecuted by the Umayyad clan. Before the advent of Islam, the Umayyad clan enjoyed a position of distinction, being in charge of the national flag of Mecca. They were the leading aristocracy of Mecca who fought the new faith till the last. To escape the Umayyad persecution, the Muslims were forced to emigrate first to Ethiopia, and later14 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony to Medina. In order to put an end to the new faith, the leaders of the Umayyad made repeated incursions on Medina, the capital city of Muhammad. Later, an encounter between the Umayyad clan and the follower of Muhammad took place at the battle of Badr. A year later, with thrice their previous strength, they attacked Medina, but lost. When Muhammad captured Mecca, the Umayyad clan finally embraced Islam. Forty years later, the Umayyad clan created the first kingdom of Islam that lasted for a century. After the death of Muhammad, his prominent companions used to elect a new leader. Later, kingship became a private affair when they selected their own sons as future rulers. With this deviant change, the Muslim community got more involved in wildness, wickedness, unsteadiness and conflicts. More division, civil wars, religious and political factions began. Beside the different political factions and rivalries, after the death of Muhammad, Islamic thought expanded in diverse directions. At the time of Muhammad, the only source of Islamic law was the Koran. To solve various religious matters that were confronted, Koranic verses, which were revealed during the era of prophethood, used to solve a particular inquiry. The Koran, which was sent as a revelation, would answer people's questions. Many Koranic verses would begin with the phrase “They ask you about wine and gambling [Koran 2. 219].” “They ask you concerning the new moon [Koran 2.189].” “They ask you how to spend (in charity) [Koran 2.215].” Muhammad used to give his own counsel on various religious matters. This became known as the sayings and actions of Muhammad. The source of Islamic law became not only the Koran. The sayings and actions ofThe succession 15 Muhammad, that are taken by Muslims as divine and authoritative, became the second most important source of assistance to Muslims. The dominating element was the personality of Muhammad. His authority was enough. Till his death, ten years later, he ruled his community as a prophet. He was there and people would come and ask him questions. His own wisdom was the best course of action. Such was the state of things during the ten years of Muhammad's rule. But with his death in 632, the situation changed. During the next twenty years, while the new Islamic state spread, it came into contact with new political systems and cultures. There was a need of specific guidance regarding matters not found in the Koran and the sayings of Muhammad. To deal with these new challenges, Muslims relied on decisions by consensus” as well as a process of deducting truth through reasoning". To resolve difficulties, theologians were employed. When faced with a new problem the caliph, Muslim ruler, would take the following steps in order to solve it: He would ask the theologians to first search for a specific quote in the Koran. Ifthere is no quote in the Koran, they would consult the sayings of Muhammad. If still they do not find the answer, they would then rely on decisions by consensus and deduction through reasonin| 2". The establishment of these new procedures became later the basis of Islamic legislation’. Additional expansion of Islamic thought was done in the form of canonical schools. At the time of Muhammad only one canonical school existed. At that time more emphasis was placed on the study of the Koran, while excessive quotation of the sayings of Muhammad was discouraged”. “We have neglected nothing in the Book [Koran 6.39]”. “If it had been16 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony Jrom any other than God, they would surely have found in it much discrepancy [Koran 4:82]”. These theological verdicts would often oppose each other. Decisions by consensus and reasoning are not free from human mistakes. There is also the risk to misuse these new finding for political aspirations. This happened when the Umayyad dynasty came to power. When the ruling power was converted into a family hereditary monarchy, many new practices were introduced. In this period, there was a notable increase of deduction through reasoning. The quoting of the sayings of Muhammad became widespread. There was an increasing tendency towards fabricated quotes of Muhammad's sayings. Under the Umayyad dynasty, the state encouraged the spread of forged sayings of Muhammad. How far the forgery of traditions had gone may be seen from the example of Awja, who confessed that he had himself put into circulation four thousand false sayings of Muhammad", At this period scholars divided into two major schools of thoughts”. One group valued more the Koran and the sayings of Muhammad". The other school of thought favored the extensive use of deductive reasoning”. These two schools evolved into a number of many new schools. Later all these schools of thoughts reduced into four major ones. To weed out all the false saying of Muhammad, six books, which came about by the end of the eleventh century, are regarded as the most authoritative important sources for Muslim tradition”. Reverse conditions Once the task of Muhammad was completed, he had to depart. The history of the world has shown that whenever a prophet dies, displeasure, fraudulence, irreligiosity and hypocrisy becomeSunna arent Ment Analogy ( Agreement Sey kee ue} eu irc Cora aCe Fees Re ue Isnad RS at) EN Shari'a Mone Wasa ENE) Tc) _ Source: Hodgson, Marshal G.S. The venture of Islam: Conscience History in a World Civilization. Vol. 1 Chicago,1974Early Muslim Schools of law Founding Leader Region School Al awza’i 744 Syria PNPM Abu Hanifa 767* Iraq Hanafi Malik b. Anas 795* Medina eld Al shafi’i 820* Egypt pS) ari Ibn Hanbal 855* Iraq Hanbali Dawud b. khalaf 883 Iraq Veal | * These schools became sunni madhhabs, Orthodox Schools of Law Source: Lapidus, Ira M .A History of Islamic Society, New York: Cambridge University Press, 1988 The prophet Muhammad died in 632. widespread among followers. At the time of Muhammad's death great disruptions took place. The whole peninsula of Arabia, a peninsula between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, was ina state of unrest and disorder. The tribes of the Arabs of the desert wished to revert to local leadership and split from Muslim faith. They claimed that they had submitted to Muhammad only. With his death, their allegiance to Islam ended. Tribe after tribe renounced the faith and rose in revolt. Others tribes refused to pay taxes to the central treasury. False pretenders, who claimed prophethood, created great disturbances. Except Mecca, apostasy affected the whole of Arabia. As a successor to Muhammad was to be elected, it was the beginning ofall confusions, rivalries and unsettlement. 18The succession 19 Description of the loyalty and disloyalty of these different factions is found in the Koran: “Certain of the desert Arabs around you (Muhammad) are hypocrites and obstinate. You do not know them [Koran 9.101]”. They are the worst in unbelief and hypocrisy. They are most fitted to be in ignorance of the command which the Lord has sent to His messenger [Koran 9.97]. They were false to the Lord and to Mohammad. While they were rich, they preferred to remain behind. The Lord has sealed their hearts. They are unable to understand the revelation [Koran 9.90]. Some of them look upon their payments as a fine, and watch for disasters for Mohammad [Koran 9.98]. It was not fitting for the people of Medina and the Bedouin to refuse to follow God's Messenger. They preferred their own lives. They did not suffer thirst, fatigue and hunger in the cause of God. They never received any injury from the enemy [Koran 9.120]. They did not spend for God, nor did they cross a valley [Koran 9.121]. Others have acknowledged their wrong-doings. They did mix good acts with wrong. Perhaps the Lord will turn unto them in mercy [Koran 9.102]. “Some of Arabs' desert, who believes in the Lord and the Last Day, look at their payments as pious gifts that bring them nearer to God and obtain the prayers of the messenger. Soon the Lord will admit them to His mercy [Koran 9.99].”” Before his death, Muhammad declared that “his work was completed. Now he has to engage in glorifying God, seeking His pardon”. Once he called Fatima, his daughter, and said, “my end is drawing near”. When she heard this, she burst into tears. He comforted her saying, “you will soon join me.” She, then, dried up her tears and smiled pleasantly. Six months after her father's20 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony death, she died. In his last illness, Muhammad got a severe headache. When the fever increased violently, he moved to the house of his favorite wife, Ayesha. After a week of illness, he told his followers. “God has given His servant the choice of this worldly existence or the eternal life. The servant has chosen eternal life.” Being too weak to lead the public prayers, three days before his death, he nominated Abu Bakr, a close friend and advisor, to do it. One day, he asked for a pen and paper to write his will. Omar, another of his companions, alleged that being ill, his brain is not working properly. Abu Bakr also agreed. Thereafter, Muhammad ordered both of them to leave the room. One night, undeterred by sickness, he explained that “suffering is expiation of sin. If the believer suffers but the scratch of a thorn, the Lord raises their rank. He wipes away their sins. Believers are tried according to their faith. Those, whose faith is strong, suffer more, while the affliction of weaker souls' is diminished”. One of his disciples asked, “who suffers the severest trials?” “Prophets and the righteous”, Muhammad said, “then, he mentioned one prophet who was destroyed by lice; another who was tried with severe poverty. Yet each of them exceedingly rejoiced in their affliction”. Then Muhammad asked his wife, Ayesha, “where is that gold which I have given you?” On replying that it was with her, he asked her to spend it at once in charity. Muhammad valued no gold and built no palace for himself. He had no kingly furniture, pleasure and comfort. He again asked for the money that was with her. She placed it into his hand, and counted six dinars. He directed that it should be divided among certain indigent families. Lying down he said, “now I am at peace. It would not be right to meet my Lord with this gold in myThe succession 21 possession.” Death was drawing near. His strength was rapidly sinking. Shortly after the sun passed the meridian, he passed away. Soon after Muhammad's death, Omar entered the apartment of Ayesha. He lifted up the sheet which covered the body and gazed at the body. All was so natural that Omar could not believe the truth. At first he thought that the prophet is not dead. He has only swooned away. Later, Omar gladly persuaded the crowd, who gathered in the Mosque, that Muhammad has not died. “As Moses remained hidden for forty days and returned after, so Muhammad will come back,” he told the crowd”. Omar came to his senses when Abu Bakr arrived and recited a Koranic verse, “Muhammad is no more than an apostle. Many were the apostles that passed away before him. What then if he was to die, or to be killed, will you turn back on your heels? [Koran 3:144]” While the near relatives were busy washing the corpse of Muhammad, a man came hastily running. He informed that the chief men of Medina” had assembled to elect a successor to Muhammad. After instructing the near relatives to take care of the corpse of Muhammad, Abu Bakr, in company with Omar, hurried to the hall where people had assembled. As Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, and the rest of Muhammad's family were busy with the burying of Muhammad's body, the meeting was held. They were about to elect a leader who does not belong to the tribe of the Koresh of which Muhammad is a descendent. Abu Bakr told them that, the Arabs will not recognize any leader elsewhere than in the tribe of the Koresh. Omar added, “did not the prophet himself command Abu Bakr to lead the prayers? All of us should pledge our allegiance unto Abu Bakr”. With the words of Omar, all opposition faded away. Abu Bakr becomes the22 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony successor of the departed prophet. He got the title, 'swccessor of the messenger’; a title that is only accepted by Sunni Muslims, a member of the branch of Islam that accepts the first four caliphs as rightful successors to Muhammad. While the people were swearing allegiance to Abu Bakr, some members of the Muslim community regarded Ali, the cousin and son in law of Muhammad, as the legitimate successor to Mohammed. The member of this Islamic branch called Shiite rejects the first three caliphs, Abu Bakr, Omar and Othman. According to them, Abu Bakr and Omar have plotted against Ali.” They met secretly with the tribal leaders of Mecca and Medina to elect Abu Bakr. To attend this political gathering, Abu Bakr had forsaken the funeral of Muhammad. Ali remained in the chamber of death. Ali thought, “Was it fitting to quarrel over a new successor even before the prophet was buried?” Ali thought that there was no need to fight for that position.” He delayed his pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr. As Ali did not have the support to be elected as a caliph, and for the sake of unity, he finally pledged allegiance.” Moreover, according to the Shiite Muslims, Muhammad had already appointed Ali in his lifetime as his successor. During his last pilgrimage, Muhammad declared by holding Ali's hand: “I am leaving two substantial things, the Koran and the members of my household”. This quote is accepted by all believers with different interpretation. The Shiite regards this statement as evidence that Ali is the legitimate successor to Muhammad. The Sunni take it as Muhammad's wish that Ali inherit his family responsibilities upon his death.” The Sufi interpret this declaration as the transfer of Muhammad's spiritual power and authority unto Ali.”The succession 23 The nearest and most intimate relatives supervised Muhammad's funeral. They washed his body and laid it down on the spot where he died. The body remained during the night until the time of burial. While the preparations were made for Muhammad's burial, people differed regarding the place of burial. Abu Bakr, the new elected leader, with whom the matter now rested, approved none of their proposals. He said, “I have heard Muhammad saying, prophets should be buried at the place where they die.” He gave the command that the grave should be dug where the body was still lying within the house of Ayesha. In the evening, the final rites were paid to the remains of Muhammad. A red mantle, worn by him, was first spread as a soil covering at the bottom of the grave. The body was lowered into its last resting place by the same near relatives who had washed and laid it out. Ayesha continued as before to live in her house, in the city of Medina, which is honored as the prophet's cemetery.”Sunni i Shia i} ofeTe [Vz Shafi’ Ismaili Bektashi Chishti Mawlawi Tijaniya Muridiya Shadhi WaT elesr= Sufism Nizari Qaramit SOURCE: Lapidus, Ira M. A History of Islamic Societies. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1988.CHAPTER TWO The challenge The Lord is all-powerful, and by His grace He can endow His servant with unlimited power. Conversely, when the Lord withdraws His power from anyone, that person becomes powerless. One should not be overconfident by possessing a few borrowed abilities. All power is derived from God, the source of all power. Supremacy lasts as long as God desires. It ceases to act as soon as the Supreme Lord withdraws it. As soon as an engineer stops supplying power from the electrical powerhouse, the bulbs are of no use. Similarly, in a moment's time power can be generated or withdrawn by the Supreme will of the Lord. The power which the Lord bestowed upon Muhammad and the believers was required to fulfill the Lord's design. Once the devise of the Lord has been completed, the Lord's new plan is to distinguish between the meek and the arrogant, light and darkness, the doubtful and the faithful.““You will be severely challenged, bitterly shaken as in a sieving mixed cooking pot, till your lower propensities become high and your high self esteem becomes low. Those who are humble will attain forward positions and those who are puffed up will go backward.” “We shall 2526 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony remove whatever of rancor may be in their breasts so that they will become as brothers, facing one another [Koran 15:48]”. Carrying over the succession Abu Bakr, a close friend and advisor to Muhammad, ruled from 632 to 634. He carried out the political and administrative functions previously exercised by Muhammad. After assuming power, Abu Bakr's first address was: “I have been given authority over you. I am not the best of you. IfI do well, help me; and if1 do wrong, set me right. Obey me so long as I obey God and His messenger. ButifI disobey them, you owe me no obedience”. Before his death, Mohammad, in person, had made all the arrangements to dispatch an army against the Christian Roman Empire in the Syrian frontier who threatened Arabia's borders' security. As Mohammad was sick, this has been postponed. Abu Bakr wanted to fulfill immediately Muhammad's wish. However, some of the companions asked him to withdraw his orders. Several tribes were in revolt. By sending the army to the Syrian border, these tribes may attack the capital city of Medina and put an end to the new faith. Abu Bakr's reply was: “Who am I to withdraw the prophet's order? Medina may stand or fall, the caliphate may live or die, but the prophet's word must be fulfilled”. Although the army was dispatched, when the rebel Bedouins tribes, advanced on Medina, they were confronted with a bold resistance. They turned their backs. Meanwhile, the army returned from its Syrian expedition. After securing the defense of Medina, by dividing the army into eleven battalions, Abu Bakr directed the campaign simultaneously on various fronts. Within a year, all the insurrections directed by false prophets and theThe challenge 27 rebellion of the several Arab tribes ended. The entire Arabian Peninsula was again unified and stabilized." To strengthen the Persian and Syrian frontiers, a long chain of wars was begun. During the reign of Omar, the second caliph, the subjugation of a part of the Roman and Persian Empires ended. Persia and Rome accumulated two formidable Empires. The Roman Empire in 117 included Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Palestine, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran Portugal, Spain, France, Monaco, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Greece, Austria, United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Croatia, Cyprus, Kosova, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, San Marino, Slovakia, Ukraine, Georgia, and Serbia. Because of the Empire's vast extent and long endurance, the institutions and culture of Rome had a profound and lasting influence on the development of language, religion, architecture, philosophy, law, and forms of government in the territory it governed, particularly in Europe. The Western Roman Empire collapsed in 476 under the Germanic warlord Odoacer”. The Eastern Roman or Byzantine Empire ended in 1453 with the invasion of the Muslims, Ottoman Turks.” The Persian Empire expanded to eventually rule over significant portions stretching from the Indus Valley in the east, to Thrace and Macedon on the northeastern border of Greece. The Persian Empire eventually controlled Egypt, now encompassing some one million square miles. It was one of the largest the world had ever seen. The very name of the Roman and Persian Empires inspired terror in the heart of the Arabs. They had a huge force with weapons, resources, organization and a rich treasury at theirdisposal. During the Muslim conquest lead by Omar, these two Empires lost Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Palestine, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Tran and Egypt. Abu Bakr's jurisdiction lasted for a little over two years and three months, ending with his death after an illness in 634. When the disease took a serious turn, he consulted with prominent companions for a suitable successor. Abu Bakr did not nominate one of his own sons, but the man, who had been his right hand. In his will Abu Bakr declared Omar, one of his chief advisers and secretary, as his successor. He also instructed to continue the conquests of Iraq and Syria. Omar was born in Mecca to the Banu Adi clan, which was responsible for arbitrations among the tribes.” Due to his autocratic nature, Omar was more feared than loved. After assuming the office, his address was: “I will be harsh and stern against the aggressor, but I will be a pillar of strength for the weak. 28The challenge 29 He that is weakest among you shall be in my eye the strongest, until I have vindicated for him his rights. He that is strongest I will treat as the weakest, until he complies with the law”.”* Asa leader, Omar was known for his simple and austere lifestyle. His food consisted of barley bread and dates and his drink was water. His dress was very simple. A Persian, who paid him homage as a conqueror, found him asleep on the steps of the mosque.” Omar proved to be the second founder of Islam by his genius as a leader, organizer, and devoted religious man. Through his leadership, the Muslim state was well organized. Under his rule, the Islamic Empire greatly expanded, acquiring the whole Persian Empire and more than two thirds of the Eastern Roman Empire. The conquest of the Eastern Roman Empire included Syria, Palestine, Eastern Anatolia, Armenia, Egypt and North Africa. The conquest of the Persian Empire included Bactria, Persia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Caucasus and Makran. Upon his death in 644, Omar appointed a committee of six persons to choose a successor.” With the death of Omar in 644, the aristocracy of Mecca, the Umayyad, that had so long fought against Muhammad and had only accepted Islam when their cause was hopelessly lost, had at last a chance to accede to power. Many generations back, there had been a continual struggle for supremacy between the Umayyad and the Hashim, the clan of Muhammad. In the victory of Muhammad and the election of the first two caliphs, the house of Hashim had conquered. Before the advent of Islam, the Umayyad enjoyed a position of distinction being in charge of the national flag of Mecca. Othman was the fourth male to adopt the new faith, after Ali, Zayd and Abu Bakr. When the persecutions by the Umayyad exceeded all bounds, Othman had to immigrate to Ethiopia. After remaining there for few years, he returned back to30 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony Mecca from where he again had to immigrate to Medina with the rest of the companions. Othman, a prominent figure in the advisory council, occupied an important position in the affairs of state of Abu Bakr and Omar. His advice was sought on all important matters. He acted as Abu Bakr's adviser and during the reign of Omar, Othman was a member of his advisory council. Othman assumed the role of leader of the Muslim Empire at the age of 70, from 644 to 656. Under his leadership, the empire expanded into Iran, Afghanistan and Armenia. When the whole of the former Persian Empire rebelled, Othman directed several military expeditions to recapture the provinces that are at present: Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Dagestan, Turkmenistan and Armenia.” When the Roman Byzantine Empire launched attacks, they were repulsed. North Africa was invaded. A naval force was built and Cyprus, Crete and Rhodes were captured. Unfavorable time It was not difficult for the believers to put an end to the unrest and disorder that had taken place in the peninsula of Arabia. The tribes who renounced the new faith and rose in revolt were quickly defeated. The false pretenders, who claimed prophet- hood, were routed. The formidable Persian and Roman Empires, whose power, weapons and organization would put terror in the hearts of the Arabs, were easily overpowered. However, brotherhood between believers was greatly damaged; not by the Romans or the Persians, but by followers. Quarrel entered and got a strong foothold on anyone who lacked discrimination or determination. At the slightest provocation, believers destroyedThe challenge 31 each other. Killing of prominent companions, relatives of Muhammad and top leaders became a common affair. Believers found many reasons to fight against each other. Their arguments may have been real or fantasy; in any case, the community fractured into different sects. What is certain is that the wars supposedly fought in the name of religion, were actually fought for the supremacy of certain clans or dynasties. While Moses was absent for only forty nights, his followers took a calf for worship [Koran 2:51]. Similarly, in the absence of Muhammad, misunderstanding and quarrel became prevalent. Also transactions and dealings between followers became polluted. In such a disappointing state of affairs, all harmony was lost. Some believers opted for neutrality, while others took arms against each other and got more entangled. After wronging themselves by taking the calf for worship, the Lord told the children of Israel: “The land will be out of their reach for forty years. In distraction they will wander through the land [Koran 2:92]”. Similarly, with the blood shedding between followers, they not only had to suffer for forty years; but great civil wars, assassination of prominent companions spread all over the Muslim country for centuries. As the Lord told the children of Israel: “J shall turn away from My revelations those who behave arrogantly on the earth in defiance of right. Even if they see all the signs, they will not believe in them. If they see the right way of conduct, they will not adopt it. If they see the way of error, they will choose it [Koran 7:146]”. “When Moses came back to his people, angry and grieved, he __ said, 'Evil is what you have done in my absence. You did turn away from the order of your Lord'. While seizing his brother Aaron by32 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony the head, dragging him toward him, he cast down the tablets. Aaron said, 'O son of my mother, the folk did judge me weak and almost killed me. Make not the enemies rejoice over my misfortune, nor count them amongst sinners.' [Koran 7:150].” While Moses was absent, for forty nights, Moses' brother, Aaron, was his successor. Although Aaron was a prophet and the brother of Moses, the foolish thought that his leadership was not strong enough. His folk almost killed him. From this incident, it can be understood how difficult the problem of succession is. Whoever the successor may be, he must be ready to face many challenges. Being wise and magnanimous, Aaron, asked Moses, “‘O brother, don't make of it a great affair. You have to rather forgive them”. Moses could understand that Aaron was a man of intelligence. He who possesses patience and forgiveness is truly bold. “Jf any show patience and forgive, that would truly be an exercise of courageous will and resolution in the conduct of affairs [Koran 42:43]”. Patience and forgiveness are seen by the wicked as weaknesses. Unfortunately, the impious are more attracted by the outward appearance of strength, power, and wealth. However, the Lord is more pleased by a humble, forgiving and tolerant attitude. The holy man knows that in the path toward God, one will be tried, as is gold in the furnace. Whoever lives in the fire of God will be saved from the flames. To stand in the heat of such fire, for God's sake, the believer has to humble himself with all his heart. No one can come out of difficult hardships without firm conviction. Faith gives the power to be righteous. He who believes with total conviction can distinguish between right and wrong action, between light and darkness. One may claim that he hasThe challenge 33 such conviction, but this feeling is another type of delusion when firm conviction is not yet achieved. One must fulfill the condition of being free from all offences at all times. The symptom of great conviction is to accept the plan of the Supreme Lord and follow it. Inevery case, before sitting down any plan, it is better to fall down before the Lord asking for help. The ramparts built by firm conviction against evil must be erected veritably as high as the heavens. Once they are properly constructed, no evil can escalate or penetrate them. Offences and faith cannot exist together. Faith gives strength to bear hardships with firmness. Faith dissolves all difficulties. It is faith and faith alone which delivers a man from offences and advances him into goodness. To test the faith of the believers, great havoc will happen among companions. Twenty-two years after the death of Muhammad, with the assassination of Othman, the third caliph, in 656, inauspiciousness will reach its peak. The whole atmosphere will became polluted by hostilities. Anarchy and vicious elements will became prominent. Crushing calamities of great magnitude gave an indication of unfavorable times. The Lord wanted to purge the believer from their material desires. He wanted to make them purer and stronger. Removing their impurities was indeed very painful. In the face of such calamities, even the most dedicated follower was easily disheartened. During that rough time, very few could react wisely. Outwardly, they could conquer great nations, but the Great War against the self had been neglected. Under the effect of their impurities, they sank low. Their ship was pounded by monstrous irritated waves that were coming down with torrents of lashing rain.34 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony Aterrible tragedy Man often overreacts angrily like amadman, using abusive lan- guage ready to wound and kill. He pretends to be kind, humble gentle and religious, but inside he is like a starving wolf. The wicked, being caught in the web of arrogance and anger, will wander around with great regret in his heart- being expelled from the community. To be treated with forgiveness, one should not afflict others, with hand and word. Herein lies the way to God. The oppressor, the unjust, the proud, the dishonest, the stubborn who does not forgive the transgressions of his brother cannot win God's favor. Evil is he, who is not willing to make peace among believers. Despite being the highest executive head and a senior follower of Muhammad, Othman was badly treated. Although he rendered so much service to the new faith, he was harshly killed. Believers could have taken into consideration his age, seniority, prestige and distinction as a leading companion, but the crowd was not prepared to forgive his ways and deeds. Because of a little discrepancy, he faced a very dangerous situation. “Othman appropriated wealth and did it badly. Believers protested against it and committed excess therein. With God lies the real judgment between the appropriators and the protester”.” The main accusation brought against Othman is the appointment of some of his relatives from the Umayyad clan in Syria, Iraq and Egypt as governors. Most notable was the appointment of, Othman's first cousin, Marwan, who later became a king in the Umayyad dynasty, as his top advisor and secretary. The father of Marwan accepted Islam at the last momentMan often overreacts angrily like a madman, using abusive language ready to rela Bela} PUM ee ices Ce oom Lu Co Pua PHC M rate aM mL) starving wolf, The wicked, being caught in the web of PU CUCL RU CU ue LiL PTL rae ea CM la Se lL} rete ce mi celia) the community. To be treated with Ree N USMC mee iste Ce Tan) hand and word. Herein lies the way to God. The oppressor, the unjust, the proud, the Pei emelm eM leer AN PRUE CCU EMC SM cen uit tms aL AL) God's favor. Evil is he, who is not willing to Rie leer elie36 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony when Mecca was captured. Later, he was banished by Muhammad for treachery. Not till the reign of Othman was he permitted to return. Under steady family pressure, Othman removed the governors of provinces who had fought with Muhammad, and put in their places his own relatives. Othman also appointed Walid, Othman's half-brother, as the governor of Kufa. He also consolidated Muawiya's governorship of Syria by granting him control over a larger area"' and appointed his foster brother Ibn Saa as the governor of Egypt. He gave away great tracts of state lands tohis family members. Some governors became unpopular with their fellow Muslims. For instance, while still under the effect of alcohol, the governor of Kufa in Iraq, Walid, lead the prayer.” When this ill feeling spread, many anonymous letters were written to some leading companions of Muhammad, complaining about the mishandling of power by Othman's family. As the indignation could no longer be restrained, this contributed to unrest in the empire. Finally Othman had to investigate the matter in an attempt to ascertain the authenticity of the rumors.” Reliable agents were sent to various provinces to investigate the matter. Their reports about the provinces of Iraq and Syria showed that everything was well. However, the emissary send to Egypt did not submit any report. He joined the opposing party in Egypt. To help solve the situation, Othman directed the people who had any grievance against his administration to assemble at Mecca during the annual pilgrimage. In response to his call, the opposition came in large delegations from various cities." Othman promised to do his best to redress the situation. At the end of the pilgrimage, the crisis deepened in Medina. AThe challenge 37 great contingent of people arrived in Medina to overthrow Othman. The rebels asked Ali and two other companions to succeed Othman, but they all refused. The rebels influenced the public opinion. Othman had only the support of his clan, the Umayyad, and a few people in Medina. The rest chose to be neutral. They preferred not to fight, but to watch how things will develop. The people of Egypt, the provinces of Iraq, Kufa and Basra senta letter to Othman asking him to stop all oppression and repent. Their aim was to improve the situation. Not taking their demands seriously, the matter took an unfortunate turn. Othman was confined within his house. In his speech in the mosque, he severely rebuked the rebels. People got further infuriated and threw stones on him. He fell unconscious. His coming and going was also banned. He approached Ali, to settle the matter for the situation was getting worse. For Ali, people's demands were justified. Othman consented to satisfy them and people dispersed at Ali's suggestion. However, the evil Marwan, a family member of Othman, convinced the caliph to tell a lie during his speech in the mosque. Othman told that because the news broadcast about the government was incorrect, people went back to their cities. Once he said this, there was great scream of dissatisfaction in the mosque. People asked him to repent. Being confused, he repented. After this, the people decided to go back to Egypt. On their way back, they saw a camel rider running very fast as though the enemy was chasing him. He was a servant of Othman who was going to see the governor of Egypt. As the governor was with them, they took the letter and read it. In the letter it was written that once the rebel contingent reaches Egypt, they should be arrested and killed.38 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony Taking Othman's servant with them, they immediately returned to Medina and showed the letter to the companions. On the letter, there was Othman's seal. The writing was made by his secretary, Marwan. When they inquired from Othman, he replied that he had no knowledge of this letter. They suggested to him that ifhe does not know what is going on in his office, he should resign from his post. He refused. They asked him to hand over Marwan, so that they could enquire from him about the letter. He rejected this demand. The condition again deteriorated. A companion” went to see Othman asking him to give up the caliphate. While he was just conversing, one of Othman's men killed him. Infuriated, the rebels asked that the killer should be handed over to them. Othman declined. The party laid a siege to the house of Othman who ordered his supporters to not shed blood between believers. Finding the gate of Othman's house strongly guarded, the opposition climbed the back wall and sneaked inside. They entered his room and struck blows at his head.“ At last, in 655, Othman fell under the daggers of conspirators led by Muhammad, a son of Abu Bakr, the second caliph, who was a religious fanatic strangely different from his father. Othman was 82 years old when he died. The rebels stayed around Othman's house in order to prevent the dead body from being carried to the graveyard. A fier the body had been in the house for three days, the body was lifted at dusk and buried in non Muslim cemetery. In the confusion that followed the deed, the rebels approached. Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of the prophet, but he declined their offer. He suggested that instead of having a chief leader, the community can be lead by a board counsel.” Other prominent companions were also approached, but they refused the rebels’The challenge 39) offer. The rebels warned that if'a caliph is not selected within one day, they will apply drastic action. The Muslim gathered together to appoint a caliph. When some companions and the residents of Medina urged Ali to accept the offer, he finally agreed. The internal struggle Due to political reasons, the fight between believers continued leading to great internal struggle. Ali, a highly pious, devoted religious person, was not able to redress the situation. He was overpowered by Muawiya, the governor of Syria. He has to face great resistance from Muawiya who had held the governorship of Syria for a long time. There, the Umayyad influence was supreme. Muawiya was a statesman by nature, and had molded his province into an almost independent kingdom. The Syrian army was devoted to him, and could be depended upon to have no other interests than his. From the beginning of Ali's reign, Muawiya was been biding his time. He did not give his allegiance, but was waiting for the hour to strike on the pretext of taking revenge for Othman's killing. In actuality, he was only eager to get power for himself. In this specific period of Islam, evil in the form of Muawiya won against virtue, Ali. Although Muawiya was a very much qualified administrator, with his arrival to power, the purity of the faith further deteriorated. Ali, at the age of ten, was the first male to accept the new faith. When Muhammad announced that anyone who assists him will become his brother, trustee and successor, only Ali stepped forward. At that time he was fourteen years old. Muhammad repeated the call three times. Three times Ali stepped forward. While the Koresh plotted to kill Muhammad, Ali risked his life by40 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony sleeping in Muhammad's bed to let him escape safely.” Ali survived the plot, but risked his life again by staying in Mecca to carry out Muhammad's instructions. Muhammad designated Ali as one of the scribes to write down the text of the Koran. During two decades, whenever a Koranic text was revealed, Ali would write it down. Ali is a central figure in the mystic traditions known as Sufism. Most of the Sufi orders trace their lineage through him to Muhammad.” He took part in almost all the military battles. Muhammad once told that God had ordered him to give his daughter, Fatima, in marriage to Ali. From Fatima, Ali had two sons, Hassan and Hussain. Muhammad has no sons. Except for Fatima, none of Muhammad's daughters gave birth to a child. Muhammad considered Ali's sons as his own sons. Ali was elected by those who killed Othman, so he did not have enough power either to control nor punish them.’ During his entire reign, he encountered defiance and civil war. When he was asked to punish the killer of Othman, he replied, “How can I do it while those who assaulted him are in the height of their power. They have superiority over us, not we over them.” When the majority of Medina's population gave their pledge to Ali, Muawiya refused Ali's legitimacy as a caliph. Ali tried to remove Muawiya from his governorship of Syria, but Muawiya refused. On the pretext of seeking justice for the murder of his uncle, Othman, he fought Ali. At first, Ayesha, the wife of Muhammad, along with some companions, wanted to avenge the murderers of Othman. Since Ali had not taken any action against the killers of Othman, the two parties met in a battle. During this confrontation, Aliemerged victorious.” Ali could not prevent Muawiya's army from occupyingThe challenge 41 provinces such as Egypt, Yemen and other areas.’ After a week of combat, Muawiya's army was almost defeated. To cause confusion in Ali's army, Muawiya asked his soldiers to hold the Koran in their hands. This created a great division in Ali's army. Some wanted to stop while others wanted to continue the war. When Ali asked his men to continue the battle, they rebelled against his order. This caused a split in Ali's army as well as in the Muslim community. As result, Ali's army fell apart. The part of Ali's army who could not accept Muawiya broke away in protest and rebellion. They regarded Muawiya as unduly elected and a mere usurper. They drifted and split into innumerable sub-sects. They were called Kharijites because they went out from among the other Muslims. For centuries they continued to be a thorn in the side of all established authority. Numberless revolts, assassinations and plundering marked their history. Crushed to the ground again and again, again and again they recovered, They were Arabs of the desert; and the desert was always there as arefuge. Upon the assassination of Ali in 66 1°, Muslims pledged their allegiance to his son, Hassan, but his name does not stand on the roll as a caliph. Muawiya refused Hassan's legitimacy as a caliph. He summoned his forces to fight against him. To avoid further divisions, Hassan appealed to his men to give up fighting. Some of his troops rebelled and attacked him leading to more deviating sects. To avoid the agonies of another civil war, Hassan signed a treaty with Muawiya and resigned from the caliphate. One of the important points of the treaty is that, after his death, Muawiya, will not designate his son as a successor.” Muawiya incited one of Hassan's wives to poison her husband”; this leads to Hassan's death in 669.42 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony His brother Hussain refused to pledge allegiance to Yazid, the new king and son of Muawiya. * Yazid was challenged by Ali's second son Hussain, resulting in Islam's second civil war. Yazid's forces mercilessly killed Hussain and seventy members of his family including children and women, spawning the largest schism in Islam. With Yazid, the son of Muawiya as a new king, the caliphate is converted into a family hereditary monarchy, from 680 to 692. This was a period of general political and military disorder which afflicted the Islamic empire. Later, the Umayyad dynasty gained complete authority and power.CHAPTER THREE The rise and fall Many powerful civilizations are very much eager to build up temporary empires, exploit, and dominate other nations without being willing to reestablish their relationship with God in harmony with other living beings. Many wealthy and powerful empires brought under their control great civilizations. To exploit the resources of the world for personal gratification, powerful kings, helped by their clans and parties, were ambitious to rule the world. Pharaoh, Caesar, Napoleon, Saladin, and Alexander the Great ascended to power. They established their supremacy throughout the world for some time, then, they were lost into oblivion. They could not keep their conquered booty forever. In illusion, they thought that they could be happy in their schemes of building great empires. The laws of nature are so cruel that they set fire to all their designs. In their foolishness, they forgot that material happiness is often followed by material distress, One may bring under his control the whole world, but there is no possibility of abiding in that position eternally. Great personalities have ascended to power, and soon or later, they are lost in oblivion. That is the history of the world. 4344 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony A political fragmentation In the history of the world, many wealthy and powerful empires were developed with great fervor. They were ruled by powerful kings. In the name of religion, but in actuality to satisfy their own whims, ambitious leaders produced great empires. They thought that they will be happy by increasing the size of their nation. They forget that whatever is produced will be destroyed in due course of time. Great Empires were constructed with great pain and perseverance, but they all vanished. “Whatever is produced by the materialist with great pain and labor for so- called happiness, the Supreme Lord, as the time factor, destroys, and for this reason the conditioned soul laments [SB 3.30.2]”. “After them succeeded a generation who inherited the book, but they chose the vanities of this world [Koran 7:169]”. “After them followed an evil generation who neglected prayers and followed their lust. They meet with destruction [Koran19:59]”. “Do they not see how many great civilizations the Lord destroyed? They were given great strength that was not given to you. Abundant rain and fertile streams poured out from the skies. Because of their sins, the Lord destroyed them, and raised in their place new civilizations [Koran 6:6]”. In the history of Islam many great dynasties and powerful empires were developed with great enthusiasm. And in due course of time, they all vanished. Among them are the Umayyad , the Abbasid , the Mongol and the Ottoman Empire. The Umayyad dynasty lasted for a century, from 661 to 750. It derives its name from Umayya, the grandfather of Muawiya. It covered more than five million square miles making it one of the largest MuslimPe Empire in the world.” By the time of the last caliph of the Umayyad house, the whole empire was more or less in rebellion, partly Shiite and partly Kharijite. The Abbasid dynasty, with the help of the Muslim Shiite, overthrew the Umayyad Dynasty from power in 750. Internal revolts and local dissent led to the downfall of the Umayyad dynasty. The Shiite, Kharijite and the dissatisfaction of non Arab citizens in respect to Arabs, created the support base necessary for the Abbasid revolt in 748. The Abbasid killed almost the entire ruling Umayyad family. The sole surviving member founded a rival dynasty at Cordova, Spain in 756. In 929 his descendant assumed the title of caliph. The Abbasid dynasty descends directly from Abbas, the youngest uncle of Muhammad. They considered themselves the true successors of Muhammad as opposed to the Umayyad. Once in power, the Abbasids, being Sunni , denied any support from the Shiite belief and the Shiites were overthrown. Forsaking their Shiite supporters, they fortified a trend towards absolute monarchy that led to numerous conflicts and different dynasties such as the Fatimid, the Idrisid®, the Ugaylid® and the Hamdanid®. While rival Sunni created dynasties such as the Aghalib”, the Marabit®, the Muwahhid™, and the Hafsid™. 4546 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony The Abbasid dynasty flourished in the fields of arts, sciences and medicine for two centuries making Baghdad their capital. This period was an Islamic golden age that lasted from 750 to 1258. Philosophers, scientists and engineers of the Islamic world contributed enormously to the field of knowledge. Despite the unique prosperity of the widespread Abbasid Empire, the political unity of Islam began to crumble soon after their accession to power. Between 750 and 800 the Abbasid leadership was overcome by many internal political challenges. The Abbasid governors of different provinces had broken away from the empire to create separate kingdoms.” They exerted their autonomy by making their positions hereditary.” The Abbasid were forced to cede power to local Muslim dynasties who nominally acknowledged their authority. The division of the Abbasid rule begins with the rise of their Shiite rivals such as the Fatimid and Buyid. Thus began the political fragmentation of the Abbasid Empire that soon gave rise to numerous local ruling Muslim dynasties who eventually establish kingdoms and empires. These rival dynasties pushed the boundaries of the Muslim world on their own authority, and gave rise to the Mamluk and Turkish dynasties that fought the crusades. The Talanid was the first independent dynasty in Egypt from 868 to 905 to break away from the central authority of the Abbasid dynasty. In 868, Talin, a Turkish officer, established himself in Egypt and took Syria the following year.” In 935, Ikhshid, a Turkish soldier, was installed by the Abbasid as a governor, but he established his own hereditary Ikhshid dynasty of Egypt that ruled from 935 to 969 on behalf of the Abbasids. The Ikhshid dynasty was defeated by another dynasty, the Fatimid, who conquered and made Cairo, Egypt their capital in 969.” The Fatimid, MuslimThe rise and fall 47 Shiite descendent from Muhammad's daughter Fatima, who had married Ali, the fourth caliph, proclaimed that they were the true caliphs of Islam. The Fatimid dynasty originated among the Berbers of eastern Algeria who were converted into Shiite Islam in 909. With a Berber army, the Fatimid conquered Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Palestine, Syria, Egypt and, for a short time, Baghdad. In the latter part of the tenth century, the Seljuk- Turkish nomads, who migrated from Central Asia into the Abbasid lands, and were converted to Islam, annexed most of Persia. They gained control over Baghdad in 1055, Iraq, Syria, Palestine and annexed most of Asia Minor-at present the Asian part of Turkey, from the Byzantines. A new and powerful enemy appeared to fully crush the Abbasid Empire to pieces. The great stormy hordes of Mongol forces, that had first ravaged Afghanistan, and Iran, completely devastated Baghdad in 1258. The invasion left Baghdad in a state of total destruction. The famous city of 'A thousand and one nights', Baghdad, was literally razed to the ground. The caliph was packed up and trampled to death. As a result Baghdad remained depopulated and in ruins for several centuries. Mosques, palaces, libraries, hospitals and grand buildings were burned to the ground. The Mongol destruction of Baghdad was a psychological blow from which Islam never recovered.” The signs of internal weakness took some time to become evident, but by the tenth century it had become quite clear that decadence had affected the Arabs. In the eleventh century, the decline and deterioration of the Arabs reached its lowest limit, consequently creating a power vacuum in the heart of the Islamic world. The golden age of Islam came to an end in 1258 with the Mongol invasion. With the vast destruction of manuscripts that were48 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony translated from Greek to Arabic in libraries, gradually the majority of Muslim scholars, except the Shiite and Sufis, concluded that the Islamic civilization had reached its apogee and that all the Islamic philosophical and religious quests” needed, have been accomplished. It was widely believed that the destruction at the hands of the Mongols was retribution from God for the speculations made by Muslim scholars. By an emerging Muslim consensus, the gates of Islamic philosophical and religious quests were closed. After sacking Baghdad, the Mongol conquered Damascus then headed toward Egypt. There the Mongol forces were rooted by the Mamluk- Turkish army, in 1260. After their defeat, the Mongols soon converted to Islam, beginning an era of Turkish and Mongol expansion of non-Arab Muslim rulers. The Mamluk Turks were soldiers of slave origin that became a powerful military caste in various Muslim societies. The story of military slavery in Islamic societies begins with the Abbasid caliphs of the 9th century. Salves were purchased while still young from areas near the Caucasus, Georgian, Armenia, Sudan, and north of the Black Sea. Their training consisted of strict religious and military education. By the middle of the 9th century, these slaves become a dominant military element. After the fragmentation of the Abbasid Empire, these military slaves became the basis of military power throughout the Islamic world. Their power increased until they claimed the sultanate in 1250 in Egypt. The Mamluk Sultanate survived until 1517, when it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire. The rise of the Ottoman begins with the decline of the Roman Empire in late 11th century. The Middle East was dominated byThe rise and fall 49 the power of the Fatimid and the Roman Byzantine Empire. By the end of the 13th century, neither of the two was able to maintain power. The Fatimids were toppled by the Kurdish Ayyubid whilst the Roman Byzantines were severely weakened by the Seljuqs Turks. Power shifted to the Mamluk by the 14th century and then back to the Turks in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. As the Turks steadily gained ground in Anatolia, the local Christian population converted to Islam, further reducing any chances of a successful Christian conquest.” The fall of Constantinople, the largest city and former capital of the Roman Christian Byzantine Empire, came as a shock to the Pope who ordered an immediate counter-attack in the form of a crusade. A shift in power, from a singular Christian European society to an Islamic influence, occurs. With the Ottoman hold on Constantinople, further conquests in Europe and the Middle East began. Ottoman power reached a peak in the mid-17th century. For the Turks, it was the beginning of a new era of power. Despite further invasions and attacks by crusaders from the west and Mongol-Turkish tribes from the east, the Turks slowly emerged as a superpower under the Ottoman dynasty. With Istanbul, formally Constantinople, as their capital city, the Ottoman Empire lasted for six centuries, from 1299 to 1923. The empire controlled territory in southeastern Europe, southeastern Asia and North Africa. It contained 29 provinces and numerous vassal states. During 1683, the power of the Ottoman Empire went into a fast decline. Later, a series of wars were fought between the Russian and Ottoman empires from the 18th to the 19th century. By the mid-19th century, the Ottoman Empire was called the 'sick man’.The European colonization of the Muslim lands started in the mid-18th century. Great Britain officially annexed Egypt in 1882, Sudan and Cyprus in 1878, Yemen, the city of Medina , portions of northern Syria and portions of northern Iraq in1919. France occupied Tunisia in 1881 and Algeria in 1830. Italy occupied Libya in 1912. In the Balkans, the nationalistic cries for independence became a bigger problem for the militarily incompetent Ottomans. In 1875 Serbia, Montenegro, Wallachia, Moldavia and Bulgaria unilaterally declared their independence from the Empire. The Ottomans were also ordered to evacuate the parts of the former Russian Empire in the Caucasus, which they had gained towards the end of the first World War. This includes present-day Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan . The Ottoman Empire came to an end in 1922. The last sultan left the country. The Republic of Turkey was officially proclaimed in 1923 and became merely one of the successor states of the Ottoman Empire. The decline There have been many great powerful kings who conquered other kingdoms. Despite their power and influence, they could not attain service to God. Why? These great kings could not even conquer over their false bodily consciousness. Thus they simply created enmity with rival kings, fought with them and died without achieving God [SB 5.14.40]. The decline of past spiritual orders along with their royal dynasties has many causes. According to the Koran, due to a lack of spiritual culture, great civilizations have meet with destruction. “Afier them followed an evil generation who neglected prayers and followed their lust. They meet with destruction [Koran19:59]”. The fall of any 50The rise and fall 51 civilization is mainly due to irreligious leadership. When a leader is cruel, lusty, proud, envious, and self motivated, grand civilizations crumbled. In the Abrahamic religion, the Pharaoh was a cruel dictator king. In Vedic literatures, there are detailed descriptions of events that lead to decline. In this context, the account of King Vena is given. The story of King Vena is given as follows: After King Anga married Sunitha, the daughter of death personified; an extremely irreligious boy named Vena was born. Vena, who was born in the dynasty of Adharma- irreligion, was very cruel. His grandfather, Adharma, was a son of Brahma, the first created living being. Brahma did not only have saintly sons but also evil ones. Being born in the dynasty of Adharma, Vena had all the bad qualities of falsity, bluffing, cheating, greed, cunning, anger, envy, quarrel and harsh speech. The boy was so cruel that while playing with young boys of his age he would kill them very mercilessly [SB 4.13.41]. After seeing the cruel and merciless behavior of his son, King Anga punished him in different ways to reform the child, but he was unable to bring him to the path of gentleness. He thus became greatly aggrieved. Being wise, the king thought. “A good son may create great attachment for home, whereas with a bad son, one can easily cut all attachments to household affairs [SB 4.13.46]”.Thinking like that, king Anga became completely indifferent to household life. In the dead of night, he got up from bed while his wife was deeply sleeping. He gave up all attraction for his greatly opulent kingdom. Unseen by anyone, he very silently left his home and went towards the forest to worship God [SB 4.13.47]. When it was understood that the king had left home,52 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony all the citizens, priests, ministers, friends, and people began to search for him. They were very disappointed that they could not find him. The great sages then installed Vena on the throne. All the ministers, however, disagreed with this. When King Vena ascended to the throne, he became very proud of his royal position. By virtue of his false prestige, he considered himself to be greater than anyone. He began to misuse his power and insult great personalities. The whole kingdom went into ruination. When the sages saw that King Vena was most irresponsible, cruel and atrocious, they consulted with each other about the situation. While concealing their real anger, the great sages approached King Vena. They pacified him with sweet words and then instructed him that the head of state should set an example by living a religious life. By doing so, the general public will attain happiness not only in this life but also in the life after death. They told him that the duty of a pious king is to protect the citizens from thieves and rogues as well as from ministers who exploit innocent citizens. King Vena rejected their advice. He accused the saintly sages of being inexperienced and without perfect knowledge. He asked the sages to worship him because there was no personality superior to him [SB 4.14.28]. The foolish king thought of himself to be very learned, and insulted the great sages. Being brokenhearted by the king's words, the sages became very angry at him. They immediately cursed him to death. Being the most dreadful and sinful person, the sages thought, if king Vena lives, he will certainly turn the whole world into ashes in no time. The sages were so powerful that after cursing him, he immediately met with death. The sage then enthroned Prithu, a pious king.The rise and fall 53 In the Abrahamic religion, the Pharaoh was a cruel dictator king. “Pharaoh was an arrogant dictator on the earth [Koran 10:83].”” Abraham had two sons, Ishmael, and Isaac. The son of Isaac, Jacob, moved from Canaan to Egypt with His twelve sons. After living peacefully for many generations in Egypt, the Pharaoh enslaved the Hebrews. Because of their birth as Jew, he oppressed, demeaned and disgraced them. “Zhe Pharaoh was puffed up in the land. He divided its people into caste system oppressing a faction, killing their males and sparing their females. Indeed he was a mischief maker [Koran 28:4]”. The Pharaoh soothsayers predicted the birth of a male child who would be the cause of the Pharaoh's downfall. The ruling Pharaoh thus ordered the killing of all new-born Hebrew males. To protect her son from the Pharaoh's wrath, Moses’ mother put him in a basket and set him adrift on the Nile. “We inspired Moses' mother to suckle the child. In case of threat cast him into the river. Do not grieve; I will surely bring him back to you making him a messenger [Koran 28:7]”. He was discovered by the Pharaoh's wife, Asiya, who adopted him. “Pharaoh's family adopted Moses who will be their enemy causing them great sorrow. Pharaoh, Haman and their hosts were wrongdoers [Koran 28:8]”. He became a powerful statesman, second only to the Pharaoh. However, this changed when in rescuing a Hebrew, he accidentally killed an Egyptian. The Pharaoh then ordered the arrest of Moses, but he escaped into the desert. Later, the Lord ordered Moses and his brother, Aaron, to embark for Egypt and face the cruel Pharaoh. The Pharaoh was a great, affluent emperor. He was an expert manager. His army, power, opulence and administration was worthy of the good name of his forefathers. Consequently, there54 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony was nothing lacking in his opulence and administration. But on the principle of justice, the Hebrews had to be given freedom. God became personally involved in this fight. To show how powerful, intelligent and just God is, He sent Moses with a stick in his hand. Of course to have the faith and determination to stand near the powerful Pharaoh, Moses was given God's wisdom. “When he reached his full strength, I bestowed on him wisdom and knowledge [Koran 28:14]”. The task was so difficult for Moses that he prayed to the Lord to relieve his mind from all anxieties and to give him the power to speak words that would pierce the heard- hearted heart of the Pharaoh. “O my Lord, relieve my mind, ease my task, remove the impediment of my speech so that they may understand what I say, and give me as minister Aaron, my brother, add to my strength through him, and make him share my task so that we may celebrate Your glory [Koran 20:25-33]”’. Since, in the Pharaoh's kingdom, everything was going well, he was very much puffed up with arrogance. As he has no idea of who God is or knowledge of His qualities, he falsely claimed to be God. “Pharaoh said: 'O Chiefs, there is no God but myself’. '0 Haman, build me a tower that Imay ascend the heavens, and look upon the God of Moses because I think that he is a liar' [Koran 28:38]”. Tf you take any God beside me, I will put you in prison’ [Koran 26:29]”. The foolish king Vena also claimed to be God. He said: “Those who, out of gross ignorance, do not worship the king, who is actually the Supreme Personality of Godhead, experience happiness neither in this world nor in the world after death [SB 4.14.24]. To show the Pharaoh who the real God is, God disturbed Egypt with great calamities. Severe plagues hit Egypt along with drought and famine. In their distress, the people of Egypt began to doubt the divinity of the Pharaoh. His soothsayers: The rise and fall 55 asked him to let the Hebrews go out from Egypt. He agreed this time. But the Lord wanted to make more fun out of him. News came to the Pharaoh that Moses and his people had lost their way in the Sinai desert. The Pharaoh ordered the best of the Egyptian army to pursue the Hebrews to the shore of the sea, to re-enslave them. To show a small portion of His power to the ignorant Pharaoh, the Lord split the sea. The Hebrews then safely crossed the sea. The Pharaoh's army wanted to follow the Hebrews and recapture them. As soon as the Jews safely reached the other side, the sea closed and the whole Egyptian army drowned. The Pharaoh's tyrannical strength was crushed. This is an illustration of how the fall of any powerful civilization is mainly due to irreligious leadership. After this, the Pharaoh accepted God as a reality. “We took the children of Israel across the sea. Pharaoh with his hosts followed them with oppression and enmity. When drowning overtook them, Pharaoh said: 'I believe that there is no god except He, in whom the children of Israel believe, and now I submit unto Him [Koran 10:90]”. The rise Progress is commonly seen in material terms such as good economy, adequate security, numbers of military campaigns and achievements in sciences, arts, and literature. A civilization may be flourishing economically and militarily, but spiritually degraded. Human civilization is meant to develop a culture that satisfies the needs of the soul. A society based on the knowledge that one is spirit- related to God, results in a blooming civilization with the highest quality of human life. Animal culture is meant to solely satisfy the demands of the body. Under material illusion, grand civilizations crumble due to a vacuum of spiritual values. AWe took the children of Israel across the sea. Pharaoh with his hosts followed them with oppression and enmity. When drowning overtook them, Pharaoh said: 'I believe that there is no god except He, in whom the children of Israel believe, and now I submit unto Him [Koran 10:90)”.The rise and fall 57 civilization detached from God is just like a separated hand or leg being detached from the whole body. No actual satisfaction is experienced by anyone. The leaders’ attempts to bring about peace and prosperity, without putting God in the center, are illusory. Due to their attraction for material gain, incompetent leaders are incapable of offering solutions. Solutions to the problems of this world are found by knowing how to achieve real happiness as a spirit soul in one's relationship with God. The highest ultimate objective for leaders is to spiritually elevate the general mass of people. Spiritual upliftment has to be established as a priority, even at the sacrifice of economic progress. If there is no spiritual upliftment, a great conflicting atmosphere is created. The leader will fail in the burdensome responsibility entrusted to him. He will be entangled in awful actions, losing his sense of discrimination. A civilization flourishes by establishing its relationship with God not by extensive industrialization, militarization and manipulation. Life is never made comfortable by artificial needs, but by plain living and high thinking. A society that attempts to exploit, manipulate and dominate others will surely become entrapped by the reaction of such abusive attempts. A nation engaged simply in beastly sense gratification without spiritual knowledge, causes unrest and dissatisfaction in people's mind. In a state where the government allows people to engage in all sorts of irreligious activities, people cannot be happy, despite opulent economic progress. Their activities are never auspicious, their life is perpetually miserable. The spiritual way of life is that the Lord should be constantly remembered and never forgotten. Life should be molded in such a way that while eating, sleeping, walking and working one cannot remain without thinking of God.58 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony Vedic literatures describe King Prthu's qualities as a leader. King Prthu engaged everyone in the pursuit of religious principles giving those principles all protection [SB 4.16.4]. He was very kind to all citizens. Even though a poor person would trample over his head by violating the rules and regulations, he was forgiving. He was as tolerant as the earth itself [SB 4.16.7]. He remained neutral regarding all matters of glorification or vilification paid to him [SB 4.16.12]. He was neutral to both his son and the son of his enemy. If the son of his enemy is not punishable, he will not punish him, but if his own son is punishable, he will immediately punish him [SB 4.16.13]. He was firmly situated in truth and rendered all service to old men. Giving respect to all, he was always merciful to the poor and innocent [SB 4.16.16]. He respected all women as if they were his own mother and treated his own wife as the other half of his body. He was just like an affectionate father to his citizens. He acted as the most obedient servant of the saintly persons who always spread the glories of the Lord [SB 4.16.17]. He considered all living entities as dear as his own self [SB 4.16.18]. As a king, he saw all material varieties as meaningless because their basic principle is nescience [SB 4.16.19]. He did not aspire to rule for political or diplomatic considerations. He was always fair and just. In this way, he was able to eradicate all kind of mental anxieties of the citizens.CHAPTER FOUR Cultural decline The Lord is the source of unlimited happiness. He is the agent that eliminates all distress. Being the most important and valuable object to be attained, He is the supreme goal for the truly learned persons. “My prayer, my service, my life and my death are for God, the cherisher of the worlds [Koran 6.162]”. While searching for flickering happiness apart from God, the fire of material existence burns everyone. God's instructions are like a cooling stream of water that lessens the scorching heat of material life. Due to neglecting God's guidance, a decline in spiritual values occurs, causing painful hopelessness in modern civilization. “Anyone whose work is not meant to elevate him to religious life, anyone whose religious ritualistic performances do not raise him to renunciation, and anyone situated in renunciation that does not lead him to devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, must be considered dead, although he is breathing (SB 3.23.56)”. Cultural decline takes place once the revelation is not understood as it is. Due to material desires, different materially motivated misconceptions cover the process of acting for the 5960 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony pleasure of God. Followers have often failed in their attempt to merely act for the satisfaction of God. Thus their cultural decline and political devastation becomes inevitable. The reason why people fail to follow the instructions of God is given in Vedic literatures. Due to an eagerness to accumulate material possessions, one neglects his soul [Sri Isopanisad 3]. Misguided knowledge [Sri Isopanisad 9], desire for heavenly enjoyment [Sri Isopanisad 12], and misconceptions about God [Sri Isopanisad 12] are the major factors of cultural decline. Eagerness to possess more Cultural progress has to be seen in relation to the purification of the eternal soul. Superfluous achievement related to the temporary material body is not a symptom of advancement. Material possessions, however appealing they may be, cannot last forever. At the time of quitting the material body, one has to unwillingly give up such possessions. After all, all one's assets, including his body, will be destroyed in due course of time. “A// that is with you will vanish and what is with God will endure [Koran 16.96]. “If any do wish for transitory things of this life, the Lord is ready to grant them. But in the end they will be disgraced and rejected [Koran 17.18]”. “Fair in the eves of men is the love of things they covet. Women, sons, heaped-up hoards of gold and silver, horses branded and cattle and well-tilled land. Such are the possessions of this world's life. Nearness to Allah is the best of the goals [Koran 3.14].” Man wants to satisfy his sense. Conversely, despite his eagerness to work hard for material gain, he is always threatened with unlimited anxieties. Material endeavors are like an illusoryCultural decline 61 dream. One dreams to be a powerful king living in an opulent palace, but once he wakes up, he realizes that he is neither a king nor living in a palace: “Let them eat and enjoy life while false hopes enchant them [Koran 15.3]”. “Cling heavily to the earth, taking pleasure in the life of this world rather than the Hereafter [Koran 9: 38]”. “The life of this world is nothing but comfort and illusion [Koran 3:185]. Know that your worldly possessions and children are just a temptation for you and with God is the greatest reward [Koran 8:28]. “They believe that to gratify the senses is the prime necessity of human civilization. Thus until the end of life their anxiety is immeasurable. Bound by a network of hundreds of thousands of desires and absorbed in lust and anger, they secure money by illegal means for sense gratification [Bg.16.11-12]. A degraded civilization, which mainly engages in satisfying the senses, has no spiritual values. Its basis principle is sense enjoyment. Too much endeavor seeking material possessions diverts one from reaching God. “What is the use of enjoyments other than the Lord's grace? All material achievements are subject to be annihilated simply by amovement of the eyebrows of Lord Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead [SB 3.23.8]”. “Let not their wealth or their sons dazzle you. In reality the Lord's plan is to punish them with these things that their souls depart in denial [Koran 9.55]”. “Know that your possessions and your progeny are but atrial. With Allah lies the highest reward [Koran 8.28)”. Man is selflessly busy collecting unnecessary worldly possessions. They bury gold and silver without spending it in the way of God [Koran 9.34]. One day their treasure will be heated62 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony and branded on their bodies [Koran 9.35]. For instance, ifa bag of rice is placed in a public place, birds will eat few grains and go away. A human being, however, will take away the whole bag to store it in his house. Collecting more than necessary is prohibited, for one neglects his soul. “The killer of the soul, whoever he may be, must enter into the planets known as the worlds of the faithless, full of darkness and ignorance [Sri \sopanisad 3]. “Miserable is the price for which they have sold their souls [Koran 2.90]”. Maintenance of the body has to be done in a way that is favorable for spiritual elevation. Very hard labor for the comfort of the transitory material body is a futile waste of valuable time. Man has been given higher intelligence for understanding God and one's relationship with Him. The real purpose of life is to inquire about the Absolute Truth. If all endeavors are not meant for this purpose, human society is no better than animal society. Unfortunately, modern civilization misuses their intelligence to produce many unnecessary and unwanted things for bodily satisfaction. Factories, slaughterhouses, brothels and liquor shops are unnecessarily artificial amenities. Even though economic development is required, it should only be allowed for supplying the bare necessities of life. When man gives up this mentality of over endeavoring for material possession, all enmity between individuals and nations will cease. All problems of economical and political instabilities will be solved. This awakening happens by proper spiritual education and practice. Misguided knowledge The Lord has given a perfect process of how to act for His pleasure and worship Him accordingly. However, over the courseCultural decline 63 of time, the factual truth about this revelation becomes tainted by the nature of the receivers. “Due to the great variety of desires and natures among human beings, there are many different theistic philosophies of life, which are handed down through tradition, custom and disciplic succession. There are other teachers who directly support atheistic viewpoints [SB 11.14.8]. “Those who inherited the Book after them are in suspicious doubt concerning it [Koran 42:14]”. Due to the continual change of receiver and received, the original teaching of the revelation becomes veiled. Because of the different nature, experiences, feelings, realizations and taste of the receivers, unauthorized concocted paths are created. In general, people are attached to different aspects of the scriptures that suit their particular taste. The purpose of the revelation is to awaken one's eternal relationship with God. Once this principle is put aside, the revelation becomes misunderstood, misinterpreted and corrupted. The original teaching becomes affected by wrong precepts. Concocted explanations and judgments are taken as factual knowledge. When the receivers are diverted by material possessions and heavenly enjoyment, the purity of the revelation is gradually lost. Ignorance is undoubtedly harmful, but misguided knowledge in the form of concocted scriptural interpretations is even more detrimental. The fact that more emphasis is placed on material advancement to the exclusion of the spiritual aspect is understood as ignorance. Working day and night in different industrial, economical, altruistic and political activities for the profitless pursuit of sense gratification, is surely ignorance. One, who claims that the aim of scriptures is material or heavenly enjoyment, is considered to be in the greatest darkness of nescience. To promote such ideas is detrimental. “Those who64 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony engage in the culture of nescient activities shall enter into the darkest region of ignorance. Worse still are those engaged in the culture of so-called knowledge [Sri Isopanisad 9]”. The factual truth about the revelation is to awaken one's eternal relationship with God. What alters the revelation and leads to a cultural decline is the lack of proper religious practices and behavior. Faith becomes weaker by making mischief on earth [Koran 2.11-12]. Not treating with kindness other beings”, not speaking fairly to others [Koran 2.83] being violent” [Koran 2.84-85], maltreating God's messenger [Koran 2.87-97-98- 101-104] and being puffed up with pride are some example of mischievous work depicted in the Koran. It is said about the people of the Book™: “You command people to be pious and righteous and you forget (to practice it) for yourselves, while you recite the Scripture [Koran 2.44]. Among them some are hypocrite [Koran 2.76]. Others are ignorant about the knowledge of the Book. They do nothing but conjecture [Koran 2.78]. Others try to change the teaching of the Book for some material gain [Koran 2.79]. “These are the people who buy the life of this world at the price of the Hereafter [Koran 2.86]”. The Lord has puta seal in their heart, ear and eyes [Koran 2.7]. “Jn their heart is a disease; and Allah has increased their disease [Koran 2.10]”. Deaf, dumb, and blind, they will not return to the path [Koran 2.18]. Doors to heaven Man adores that part of scriptures that promise material enjoyment. Indeed, by performing pious activities, heavenly enjoyment is achieved in the next life. To reach the heavenlyCultural decline 65 planets, one has to perform various pious deeds, in the form of prayers, charity, fasting and pilgrimage to the Holy Mosque, and also refrain from evil. Although such promises are pleasing to the mind, material enjoyment is a great obstacle. It diverts one from the goal. Blinded by such heavenly enjoyment, one thinks that the kingdom of God is nonexistent. As a result, the purity of the revelation is gradually lost. The real truth is that God and His kingdom are factual. Even the pious gods who dwell in the heavenly planets have fallen short of achieving that eternal abode. As stated in Vedic literatures and the Koran: The foolish who admire the enjoyment of the heavenly planets should take note that even the demigods, who are permanent residents of heaven, are always looking to the eternal abode of the Supreme Lord (Rg Veda 1.22.20)”. “The gods have no power to relieve or to avert your distress. Those, whom they invoke, themselves seek the way to their Lord. Which one of them shall be the nearest? They hope for His grace and fear His chastisement [Koran 17:56-57]”. “Allah asked the residents of paradise if they were happy. They answered, 'Yes, our Lord, You have rewarded us with so much happiness’. The Lord told them, ‘Shall 1 bestow upon you something greater than that?' They inquired: 'What could be better than that?' He told them, 'My pleasure is the greatest achievement. I am never displeased with one who experiences The statement that the heavens eternally exist is deplorable. According to the Koran and Vedic literatures, the heavens are subject to annihilation. At the time of the annihilation, the heavenly planets, the earth and the hellish planets are destroyed. A new creation starts again. “One day the earth will be changed to a different earth, and so will be the heavens [Koran 14.48]”. “The66 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony sun and moon will be joined together [Koran 75:9]”. “The sky is split asunder [Koran 84:1]”. The Kingdom of God, which lies beyond the coverings of the material universe, is eternal. In the Kingdom of God, there is no need of sun and moon. This proofs that It is never subject to creation or destruction. “That supreme abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by fire or electricity. Those who reach it never return to this material world [Bg. 15.6].” “I am the light of the sun and the moon [Bg.7:8]”. “Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth [Koran 24:35]”. “Itis He who gives the sun its radiance, the moon its luster [Koran 10:5]” “He is the source of light in all luminous objects [Bg.13:18]”. Moreover, because of his hankering for immortality and heavenly enjoyment, Adam was misled. He could have desired God. In his foolishness, he thought that heavenly enjoyment and immortality are more valuable than the worship of the Almighty God. “Satan suggested, 'Your Lord has forbidden you to go near this tree that you may not become angels or immortal.’ [Koran 7:20]”. Adam was more anxious for heavenly enjoyment and immortality than to re-establish his eternal relationship with God.We took a covenant with Adam, but he Jorgot. We found on his part no firm resolution [Koran 20:115]”. The heavenly planets are temporary places full of envy, greed and pride. When the Lord asked Adam to dwell in the garden, Satan out of envy deceived him. He suggested that Adam could be immortal by approaching the tree. This hankering of Adam for immortality proves that the heavenly planets are not eternal. Blinded by his hankering for immortality, Satan lured Adam. “Satan whispered to him saying, 'O Adam, shall I lead you to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that will never waste away'?” [Koran 20.120] They both (Adam and Eve) ate of the tree. Then, snesCultural decline 67 their private parts appeared to them, so they covered themselves with the leaves of paradise. Thus did Adam disobey His Lord, so he went astray [Koran 20.121]”. Adam, Satan and Eve had to leave heaven and take birth on earth. “The Lord said, 'Get down, with enmity among you. On earth will be your dwelling place and means of livelihood for some time' [Koran 2.36]”. Believers openly and strongly reject any worship of the gods. Yet, the gods along with their planets are neither false nor imaginary. The heavenly planets are under the jurisdiction of the gods. The desire to attain heaven is an indirect recognition of the existence of the gods. To directly worship the gods or hanker after their planets is pantheism. Although believers boldly declare the supremacy of God, their belief is a mixture of monotheism and pantheism. One who desires to be transferred to heaven is on the same level as one who directly prays to the gods. When service to God is contaminated either by the desire to achieve heaven or by directly worshipping the gods, monotheism is lost. Once monotheism is lost, a religious and social decline takes place. Before the advent of Islam a great decline took place. The revelation of Muhammad was meant to reestablish the supremacy of God and His kingdom. Unfortunately, out of ignorance, the real purport of the revelation was obscured. The desire to attain heaven had again taken a significant position. Thus a cultural decline was unavoidable. Instead of becoming enlightened, the community dwelled in gross ignorance. “Those who are engaged in the worship of demigods enter into the darkest region of ignorance [Sri lsopanisad 12]”.68 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony Misconceptions about God To believe in God is excellent. When such confidence is backed up with knowledge about God one's conviction is steady. Doubts arise due to an unclear concept of God. Real knowledge is to know that every soul has an eternal relationship with God. The Lord is the eternal master, and all souls are eternally His servants. As soon as one serves the Lord, he has a direct relationship with Him. In service there is a need of two individuals, God, the master and the individual soul, the servant. The Koran clearly mentions God's faculties of seeing: “Allah sees well what you do.” [Koran 2:233], hearing: “Allah hears all things.” [Koran 2:224], speech: “When Your Lord said to the angels: “I am going to place generation after generation on the earth.” [Koran 2:30], personal power: “Allah is strong, almighty.” [Koran 22:40], a living one: “The living, the eternal.” [Koran 2:255], having a personal will: "Doer of what He will." [Koran 85:16], as having knowledge: “Nota leaf falls but He knows it.”[Koran 6:59], as the best person: “Ts not Allah the best of judge?” [Koran 95:8]. When the realization that God as a living being is neglected, the principles of religion deteriorate. For instance, two hundred years after the advent of Islam, Muslims obviously wanted to understand God. Thus the sitting of Allah on the throne [Koran 7:54], and the possibility of seeing Allah on the Last Day [Koran 75:22] came up. Instead of just quoting the above Koranic verses to show that God is personal, metaphorical explanations were given. Misinterpretations that God's hands are His blessing, His eyes are His knowledge, His face is His essence and His seating on the throne is His omnipotence were given. Although on the day of resurrection it is explained that, the believer will look towardsCultural decline 69 their Lord with radiant faces [Koran 75:23]. The idea of God having a pure spiritual body or any characteristics such as color, form, movement and localization in space was denied. The misconception of an impersonal God came up with the translation of Greek literatures. During the time of Muhammad and the rightly guided first four caliphs, no one would dare think or speak about God as impersonal or formless. A political controversy happened with the rise of the Umayyad dynasty to power, while a theological controversy developed with the Abbasid dynasty. During the seventh century a new group of Muslims theologians and philosophers took the responsibility to clarify philosophical challenges. With the introduction of Greek culture during the 'golden age of Islam’, the original Islamic knowledge becomes obscured with an impersonal concept of God. According to Vedic literatures, to think that God is impersonal is the greatest type of ignorance: “Those who are engaged in the worship of demigods enter into the darkest region of ignorance, and still more so do the worshipers of the impersonal Absolute [Sri Isopanisad 12]”. Due to a lack of combining religion and philosophy, the Koran was understood in contradictory ways. In one part, the traditional theologians disregarded the use of philosophical arguments. In the other part, the philosophers neglected to validate their conclusions with the teaching of the Koran and Muslim tradition. Just two hundred years after the establishment of Islam, enormous philosophical concoctions were brought by leading Muslim scholars. With the misconception of a formless or impersonal God, Islamic cultural decline begins. This decline reaches its peak when the great Mongol forces completely devastated Baghdad in 1258, ending the Muslim golden age.CHAPTER FIVE What went wrong? Great spiritual leaders who possessed extraordinary behavior, practical knowledge of scriptures and full dedication to the will of God have taken birth. With their flawless character, they could turn even a stone hearted person into a holy man. The strength of their influence was so great that it could melt man's heart into new shapes. These include Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, and in Vedic literatures, the powerful great sage Narada. These are only a few names among hundreds of thousands of Abrahamic prophets and Vedic sages. Once these high-minded spiritual leaders left this world, their followers became greatly bewildered. Under the sway of ignorance, bodily identification, desire for power and prestige, the original teaching of these selfless servants became almost lost. Nations often raise questions after their immorality has already destroyed them. When the development of human consciousness into godly consciousness is damaged, and the system of peaceful and progressive life is politically, socially and religiously disturbed, man wanders: What went wrong? Everyone knows that smoking and wine is bad for health, yet so 70What went wrong? 7 many people still smoke and drink. Once their health is completely damaged, then they give them up. Similarly, worldly ambition, fratricidal strife, and wrongdoing destroyed the old bond of brotherhood. The so-called educated, religious scholars are purchased for the meanest price. Although they are restricted from accepting such services, they have assumed an enlivened position while denying all moral religious codes. Consequently, alamentable deterioration of social and moral rules occurred. Maintaining the purity of faith The purpose of a king's going out to conquer other nations is not for self-aggrandizement, the conquered booty, aggression, domination and territory expansion. The real purpose should be to see if people are spiritually educated. The goal of dominating other nations is to purge out the state from all immoral activities. Wickedness in human society is the root causes for all kinds of quarrel. Morality is a lasting necessity in civilized society. Distinctions between purity and impurity, piety and impiety, religiosity and irreligiosity must somehow be ascertained. A learned person constantly distinguishes between favorable and unfavorable, safe and unsafe, healthy and unhealthy, profitable and unprofitable. The rise of Islam begins when the priests of Mecca were misusing their power, worship and collection of funds. Their activities diverted the common man from the path of God. The priests of Mecca were obstructing people from the Holy Mosque although they were not its appointed guardians [Koran 8:34]. They were receiving funds and spending it for their own personal maintenance and were turning men away from God [Koran 8:36].The powerful great sage Narada holding his musical instrument, the vina, glorifying the Lord.. He is one of few names among hundreds of thousands of Abrahamic prophets and Vedic sages. They were the worst creatures, they denied the truth and they did not believe [Koran 8:55]. They were treacherous and they broke treaties [Koran 8:58]. The Lord sent his servant Muhammad to redress the situation. His message was not gladly welcomed. While trying to avoid a direct confrontation, the new faith faced 72What went wrong? i} growing opposition and persecution that the believers had to hide or immigrate to other countries. To replace them, a battle was necessary. Many battles took place within a brief period of ten years in which vast territories were subjugated by the Muslims. Other Muslim dynasties achieved more expansions. With the defragmentation and decline of the formidable Muslim empire, again the question arises: what went wrong? According to Vedic tradition, when lots of wealth is accumulated in the treasury of the state department, falsity, intoxication, lust, pride, envy and enmity among followers results [SB 1.17.39]. False pride and a high estimation of one's own material values of life, diverts human civilization from God. Gradually corruption, conspiracy and hypocrisy in the principles of religion take place. “After them followed an evil generation who neglected prayers and followed their lust. They meet with destruction [Koran19:59]”. The root cause of quarrel among followers is the desire to exploit the institution's resources. To exploit the treasury's resources, new sects and self-interested groups arise. To reestablish true religion, the funds of treasury should be spent in the propagation of spiritual knowledge. When spiritual wisdom is prevalent, naturally there is little chance that quarrel among followers infiltrates. Muhammad was conscious of this important fact. Therefore, he valued no gold and built no palace for himself. He had no kingly furniture, pleasure and comfort. His life was that of a hermit with a kingly position. Had Muhammad begun his career as a conscious impostor, he would never have won the faith and friendship of his followers. The following narration shows how he was simple, consistent and sincere. Once, when Muhammad was74 Islam and the Vedas Lost Harmony lying on a mat in his small room, a disciple was moved to tears when he saw how little the prophet possessed. Muhammad asked, “why are you weeping?” He replied, “O messenger, how can I not cry? This mat has left marks on your body and I can see you have only a few possessions. Caesar is leading an opulent life, while you, the chosen messenger of God, have nothing”.” It has already been shown that at the time of his death, Muhammad gave two major instructions: It would not be right to meet the Lord with gold in one's possession and one should rejoice and tolerate all worldly afflictions sent by the Lord. For Muhammad, “suffering is an atonement of sin. If the believer suffers but the scratch of a thorn, the Lord raises his rank. He wipes away his sins. Believers are tried according to their faith. If faith is strong, so are sufferings. If one is weak, they are proportionately diminished”. Abu Bakr and Omar, the first and second caliphs, emulated the example of Muhammad by following in his footsteps. They were known for their simple and strict lifestyle. When they became leaders, they did not fill their houses with gold and silver. Whatever they got, they deposited it in the public treasury. They lived in a state of self-imposed poverty and extreme simplicity. They never felt inclined to luxuries. Whatever they earned, they spent it in the way of the almighty God or dedicated it for the spiri- tual welfare of mankind. Raised to kingship, Abu Bakr retained the same simplicity of life, the same simple dress, the same simple house, the same simple food. To him no work, however humble, was beneath his dignity. Like the prophet, earthly kingship had brought not the slightest change in him. Muhammad set the highest example of combining a life of a hermit with the position of a king. Abu Bakr faithfully walked in