basic features of hinduism

7/31/2019 Basic Features of Hinduism

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Basic Features of Hinduism:-

Concept of God

Main article:God in Hinduism

Hinduism is a diverse system of thought with beliefs

spanningmonotheism,polytheism,panentheism,pantheism, monism, andatheismamong others;[78][79][80]

[81]and its concept of God is complex and depends upon each individual and the tradition and

philosophy followed. It is sometimes referred to as henotheistic (i.e., involving devotion to a single

god while accepting the existence of others), but any such term is an overgeneralization.[82]

The Rig Veda, the oldest scripture and the mainstay ofHindu philosophydoes not take a restrictive view on

the fundamental question ofGodand the creation of universe. It rather lets the individual seek and

discover answers in the quest of life.Nasadiya Sukta(Creation Hymn) of the Rig Veda thus says[83][84]:

Who really knows?

Who will here proclaim it?

Whence was it produced? Whence is this creation?

The gods came afterwards, with the creation of this universe.

Who then knows whence it has arisen?

Most Hindus believe that the spirit or soul the true "self" of every person, called the tman is

eternal.[85] According to the monistic/pantheistic theologies of Hinduism (such asAdvaitaVedantaschool),

thisAtman is ultimately indistinct from Brahman, the supreme spirit. Hence, these schools are callednon-

dualist.[86] The goal of life, according to the Advaita school, is to realize that one's tman is identical to

Brahman, the supreme soul.[87] The Upanishads state that whoever becomes fully aware of the tman as

the innermost core of one's own self realizes an identity with Brahman and thereby

reaches moksha (liberation or freedom).[85][88]

In Bhaagawada Gita, for example, God is the sole repository ofGunas (attributes) also, as[94]

His hands and feet are everywhere, He looks everywhere and all around,His eyes, ears and face

point to all directions, and all the three worlds are surrounded by these.

The schools ofVedanta and Nyaya states thatkarma itself proves the existence of God .[89][90] Nyaya being

the school oflogic.

Karma and samsara

Main article:Karma in Hinduism

Karma translates literally as action, work, or deed,[104]and can be described as the "moral law of cause and

effect".[105] According to the Upanishads an individual, known as thejiva-atma,

develops sanskaras (impressions) from actions, whether physical or mental. The linga sharira, a body more

subtle than the physical one but less subtle than the soul, retains impressions, carrying them over into the

next life, establishing a unique trajectory for the individual.[106] Thus, the concept of a universal, neutral, and

never-failing karma intrinsically relates to reincarnationas well as to one's personality, characteristics, and

family. Karma binds together the notions offree willand destiny.

This cycle ofaction, reaction, birth, death and rebirth is a continuum called samsara. The notion of

reincarnation and karma is a strong premise in Hindu thought. TheBhagavad Gitastates:

As a person puts on new clothes and discards old and torn clothes,

similarly an embodied soul enters new material bodies, leaving the old bodies.(B.G. 2:22) [107]
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Samsara provides ephemeral pleasures, which lead people to desire rebirth so as to enjoy the pleasures of

a perishable body. However, escaping the world ofsamsara through moksha is believed to ensure lasting

happiness and peace.[108][109]It is thought that after several reincarnations, an atman eventually seeks unity

with the cosmic spirit (Brahman/Paramatman).

Goal of Life/Moksha

However, there is dual concept regarding Moksha:- The ultimate goal of life, referred to

as moksha, nirvana orsamadhi, is understood in several different ways: as the realization of one's union

with God; as the realization of one's eternal relationship with God; realization of the unity of all existence;

perfect unselfishness and knowledge of the Self; as the attainment of perfect mental peace; and as

detachment from worldly desires. Such realization liberates one from samsara and ends the cycle of rebirth.

[110][111]Due to belief in the indestructibility of the soul,[112] death is deemed insignificant with respect to the

cosmic self.[113] Thence, a person who has no desire or ambition left and no responsibilities remaining in life

or one affected by a terminal disease may embrace death by Prayopavesa.[114]

The exact conceptualization ofmoksha differs among the various Hindu schools of thought. For example,

Advaita Vedanta holds that after attaining moksha an atman no longer identifies itself with an individual but

as identical with Brahman in all respects. The followers ofDvaita (dualistic) schools identify themselves as

part of Brahman, and after attaining moksha expect to spend eternity in aloka(heaven),[115]in the company

of their chosen form ofIshvara. Thus, it is said that the followers ofdvaita wish to "taste sugar", while the

followers of Advaita wish to "become sugar".[116]

Objectives of human life

Main article:Purusharthas

See also:Initiation,Dharma,Artha,Kma, andMok a

Classical Hindu thought accepts the following objectives of human life, that which is sought as human

purpose, aim, or end, is known as thepuru rtha s:[117][118]

Dharma (righteousness, ethikos)

The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad views dharma as the universal principle of law, order, harmony, all in all

truth, that sprang first from Brahman. It acts as the regulatory moral principle of the Universe. It

is sat(truth), a major tenet of Hinduism. This hearkens back to the conception of the Rig Vedathat "Ekam

Sat," (Truth Is One), of the idea that Brahman is "Sacchidananda" (Truth-Consciousness-Bliss). Dharma is

not just law, or harmony, it is pure Reality. In the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad's own words:

Verily, that which is Dharma is truth, Therefore they say of a man who speaks truth, "He speaks the

Dharma,"or of a man who speaks the Dharma, "He speaks the Truth.", Verily, both these things are

the same.(Brh. Upanishad, 1.4.14) (2)

In theMahabharata,Krishna defines dharma as upholding both this-worldly and other-worldly affairs. (Mbh

12.110.11). The word Santana means 'eternal', 'perennial', or 'forever'; thus, 'Santana Dharma' signifies

that it is the dharma that has neither beginning nor end.[119]

Artha (livelihood, wealth)

Artha is objective & virtuous pursuit of wealth for livelihood, obligations and economic prosperity. It is

inclusive of political life, diplomacy and material well-being. The doctrine of Artha is calledArthashastra,

amongst the most famous of which is Kautilya Arthashastra.[120][121][122]
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2 2 1 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any

graven image, or any likeness of any

thingthat is in heaven above, or that is in

the earth beneath, or that is in the water

under the earth:

8 Thou shalt not make thee anygraven

image, orany likeness of any thingthatis in heaven

above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in

the waters beneath the earth:

2 2 1 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to

them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy

God am a jealous God, visiting the

iniquity of the fathers upon the children

unto the third and fourth generation of

them that hate me;

9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor

serve them: for I the LORDthy God am a jealous

God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the

children unto the third and fourth generation of them

that hate me,

2 2 1 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of

them that love me, and keep my

commandments.

10 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that

love me and keep my commandments.

3 3 2 7 Thou shalt not take the name of the

LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will

not hold him guiltless that taketh his

name in vain.

11 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy

God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless

that taketh his name in vain.

4 4 3 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it

holy.

12 Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the

LORD thy God hath commanded thee.

4 4 3 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all

thy work:

13 Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work:

4 4 3 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of

the LORD thy God: in itthou shalt not do

any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy

daughter, thy manservant, nor thy

maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy

stranger that is within thy gates:

14 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the

LORD thy God: in itthou shalt not do any work, thou,

nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant,

nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor

any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy

gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant

may rest as well as thou.

4 4 3 11 For in six days the LORD made

heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in

them is, and rested the seventh day:

wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath

day, and hallowed it.

15 And remember that thou wast a servant in the

land of Egypt, and thatthe LORD thy God brought

thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a

stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God

commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.

5 5 4 12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that

thy days may be long upon the land

which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

16 Honour thy father and thy mother, as the

LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days

may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee,


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in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

6 6 5 13 Thou shalt not kill. 17 Thou shalt not kill.

7 7 6 14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 18 Neither shalt thou commit adultery.

8 8 7 15 Thou shalt not steal. 19 Neither shalt thou steal.

9 9 8 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness

against thy neighbour.

20 Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy

neighbour.

10 10 9 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's

house,

21 Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife,

10 10 10 thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife,

nor his manservant, nor his maidservant,

nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing

that is thy neighbour's.

neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his

field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox,

or his ass, or any thingthat is thy neighbour's.

* All scripture quotes above are from theKing James Version. Click on verses at top of columns for otherversions.

Salvation

Main article:Salvation

Paul of Tarsus, like Jews and Romanpagans of his time, believed that sacrifice can bring about new

kinship ties, purity, and eternal life.[58] For Paul the necessary sacrifice was the death of Jesus: Gentiles who

are "Christ's" are, like Israel, descendants of Abraham and "heirs according to the promise". [Gal. 3:29][59] The

God who raised Jesus from the dead would also give new life to the "mortal bodies" of Gentile Christians,

who had become with Israel the "children of God" and were therefore no longer "in the flesh".[Rom. 8:9,11,16][58]

Modern Christian churches tend to be much more concerned with how humanity can be saved from a

universal condition of sin and death than the question of how both Jews and Gentiles can be in God's

family. According to both Catholic and Protestant doctrine, salvation comes by Jesus'substitutionary death

and resurrection. The Catholic Church teaches that salvation does not occur without faithfulness on the part

of Christians; converts must live in accordance with principles of love and ordinarily must be baptized. [60]

[61]Martin Luther taught that baptism was necessary for salvation, but modern Lutherans and other

Protestants tend to teach that salvation is a gift that comes to an individual by God's grace, sometimes

defined as "unmerited favor", even apart from baptism.

Christians differ in their views on the extent to which individuals' salvation is pre-ordained by God.

Reformed theology places distinctive emphasis on grace by teaching that individuals are completely

incapable of self-redemption, but that sanctifying grace is irresistible.[62]In contrast Catholics, Orthodox

Christians andArminian Protestants believe that the exercise offree will is necessary to have faith in Jesus.

[63]

Eschaton
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Main article:Christian eschatology

The end of things, whether the end of an individual life, the end of the age, or the end of the world, broadly

speaking is Christian eschatology; the study of the destiny of humans as it is revealed in the Bible. The

major issues in Christian eschatology are the Tribulation, death and the afterlife, the Rapture, theSecond

Coming of Jesus,Resurrection of the Dead, Heaven and Hell, Millennialism, the Last Judgment, the end of

the world, and the New Heavens and New Earth.

Christians believe that the second coming of Christ will occur at the end of timeafter a period of severe

persecution (the Great Tribulation). All who have died will be resurrected bodily from the deadfor the Last

Judgment. Jesus will fully establish the Kingdom of God in fulfillment ofscriptural prophecies.[99][100]

Death and Afterlife

Most Christians believe that human beings experience divine judgment and are rewarded either with eternal

life oreternal damnation. This includes the general judgement at theResurrection of the dead as well as the

belief (held by Roman Catholics,[101][102]Orthodox[103][104] and most Protestants) in ajudgment particular to the

individual soul upon physical death.

In Roman Catholicism, those who die in a state of grace, i.e., without any mortal sin separating them from

God, but are still imperfectly purified from the effects of sin, undergo purification through the intermediate

state ofpurgatoryto achieve the holiness necessary for entrance into God's presence.[105]Those who have

attained this goal are called saints(Latin sanctus, "holy").[106]

Some Christian groups, including Anglicans, Lutherans and Seventh-day Adventists hold to mortalism, the

belief that the human soul is not naturally immortal, and is unconscious during the intermediate state

between bodily death and resurrection. These Christians also hold toAnnihilationism, the belief that

subsequent to the final judgement, the wicked will cease to exist rather than suffer everlasting torment.

Jehovah's Witnesses hold to a similar view.[107]

Baptism

Baptismis the ritual act, with the use of water, by which a person is admitted to membership of the Church.

Beliefs on baptism vary among denominations. Differences occur firstly, on whether the act has any spiritual

significance, some churches hold to the doctrine ofBaptismal Regeneration, which affirms that baptism

creates or strengthens a persons faith, and is intimately linked to salvation, this view is held by Catholic and

Eastern Orthodox churches as well as Lutherans and Anglicans, while others simply acknowledge it as a

purely symbolic act, an external public declaration of the inward change which has taken place in the

person. Secondly, there are differences of opinion on the methodology of the act. These methods

being:Baptism by Immersion; if immersion is total, Baptism by Submersion; and Baptism by

Affusion(pouring) and Baptism by Aspersion (sprinkling). Those who hold the first view may also adhere to

the tradition ofInfant Baptism.[117]

Criticism of Christianity

Main article:Criticism of Christianity

Criticism of Christianity and Christians goes back to theApostolic age, with the New Testament recording

friction between the followers of Jesus and the Phariseesand scribes(e.g. Mark 7:1-23 and Matthew 15:1-

20).[273] In the second century Christianity was criticized by the Jews on a various grounds, e.g. that the

prophecies of the Hebrew Biblecould not have been fulfilled by Jesus, given that he did not have a

successful life.[274]By the third century criticism of Christianity had mounted, partly as a defense against it,

and the 15 volumeAdversus Christianos by Porphyry was written as a comprehensive attack on

Christianity, in part building on the pre-Christian concepts ofPlotinus.[275][276]
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i/Christianity#cite_note-106http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptismal_Regenerationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immersion_baptismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affusionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affusionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspersionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infant_Baptismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity#cite_note-116http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Christianityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolic_agehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phariseeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scribeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity#cite_note-272http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_Biblehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity#cite_note-273http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porphyry_(philosopher)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plotinushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity#cite_note-274http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity#cite_note-275


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By the 12th century, theMishneh Torah was criticizing Christianity on the grounds of idol worship, in that

Christians attributed divinity to Jesus who had a physical body. [277] In the 19th century, Nietzsche began to

write a series of attacks on the "unnatural" teachings of Christianity (e.g. avoidance of temptations), and

continued anti-Christian attacks to the end of his life. [278] In the 20th century, the philosopherBertrand

Russell expressed his criticism of Christianity in Why I Am Not a Christian, formulating his rejection of

Christianity in the setting of logical arguments.[279] Criticism of Christianity continues to date,

e.g. Muslim theologians criticize the doctrine of theTrinity held by most Christians, stating that this doctrine

in effect assumes that there are three Gods, running against the basic tenet of monotheism.[280]

Bible and Church and Feminine

45. 9. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman

for the man.

I Corinthians, 11/9

Many feministshave accused notions such as a male God, male prophets, and the man-centred stories in

the Bible of contributing to a patriarchy. [70]

Though many women disciples and servants are recorded in

thePauline epistles

, there have been occasions in which women have been denigrated and forced into a

second-class status.[71]

[72]

For example, women were told to keep silent in the churches for "it is a shame

for a woman to speak in the church."[1 Cor. 14:34-35]Suffragist

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

said in The Woman's

Bible that "the Bible in its teachings degrades Women from Genesis to Revelation".[73]

Incarnation

Main article:Incarnation (Christianity)

The earliest objections to incarnation come fromCelsusand Porphyry.[citation needed] Celsus found it hard to

reconcile Christian human God who was born and matured with his Jewish God who was supposed to be

one and unchanging. He asked "if God wanted to reform humanity, why did he choose to descend and live

on earth? How his brief presence in Jerusalem could benefit all the millions of people who lived elsewhere

in the world or who had lived and died before his incarnation?" [115]

One classical response is Lewis's trilemma, a syllogism popularised by C. S. Lewis that intended to

demonstrate the logical inconsistency of both holding Jesusof Nazareth to be a "great moral teacher" while

also denying his divinity. The logical soundness of this trilemma has been widely questioned .[116]

Second Coming

Main article:Second Coming

Several verses in the New Testament appear to contain Jesus' predictions that the Second Coming would

take place within a century following his death.[142]Jesus appears to promise for his followers the second

coming to happen before the generation he is preaching to vanishes. This is seen as an essential failure inthe teachings of Christ by many critics such asBertrand Russell.[143]

However, Preterists argue that Jesus did not mean his second coming [Matt. 16:28

] but speaks about

demonstrations of his might, formulating this as 'coming in his kingdom', especially the destruction of the

Jerusalem Temple 70 AD, which he foretold, and which definitely showed thatGod's nation are the

Christians and not anymore the Jews whom God did not protect anymore. At that time really only some of

his disciples still lived.[144] According to this viewMatthew 10:23 should be understood in the same way.[145]

Hell and damnation
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IV;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_suffragehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Cady_Stantonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Woman's_Biblehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Woman's_Biblehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Christianity#cite_note-72http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarnation_(Christianity)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celsushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porphyry_(philosopher)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Christianity#cite_note-114http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis's_trilemmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syllogismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._S._Lewishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Christianity#cite_note-115http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Cominghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Testamenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Cominghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Christianity#cite_note-141http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertrand_Russellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Christianity#cite_note-142http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preteristhttp://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Matt.%2016:28;&version=ESV;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supersessionismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supersessionismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Christianity#cite_note-143http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Matthew%2010:23;&version=31;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Christianity#cite_note-144


8/15

Christianity has been criticized as seeking to persuade people into accepting its authority through simple

fear of punishment or, conversely, through hope of reward after death, rather than through rational

argumentation or empirical evidence.[117]Traditional Christian doctrine dictates that, without faith in Jesus

Christ or in the Christian faith in general, one is subject to eternal punishment in Hell.[118]

Critics regard the eternal punishment of those who fail to adopt Christian faith as morally objectionable, and

consider it an abhorrent picture of the nature of the world. On a similar theme objections are made against

the perceived injustice of punishing a person for all eternity for a temporal crime. Some Christians agree

(seeAnnihilationism andTrinitarian Universalism). These beliefs have been considered especially

repugnant[119] when the claimed omnipotent God makes, or allows a person to come into existence, with a

nature that desires that which God finds objectionable. [120]

ISLAM

Articles of faith

Main articles:Aqidah andIman

The core beliefs of Islam are that there is only one God unitary and beyond comprehension and that

Muhammad is the prophet of God, the last in aseries of prophetsbeginning withAdam. The Quran is

upheld as the eternal, literal word of God, and revelations to earlier prophets, as seen in the Jewish Torah

and Christian Gospels, are believed to have become distorted by human intervention. Muslims believe that

the Quran was revealed to Muhammad through the angelGabriel, andbelief in angels as Gods servants is

part of the Islamic tradition. Belief in theDay of Judgment, when all people will undergo bodily

resurrection and be judged by God, is another core tenet. While Sunni and Shia Muslims adhere to these

basic beliefs, Shia also believe in the Imamate, the line ofinfalliblespiritual and political leaders who

succeeded Muhammad, beginning with his cousin and son-in-law,Ali.[22]

God

Main article:God in Islam

Islam's most fundamental concept is a rigorous monotheism, called tawhd (Arabic: ). God is described

in chapter 112 of the Qur'an as: [23]"Say: He is God, the One and Only; God, the Eternal, Absolute; He

begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him." (112:1-4) Muslims repudiate the

Christian doctrine of theTrinity and divinity ofJesus, comparing it topolytheism, but accept Jesus as a

prophet. In Islam, God is beyond all comprehension and Muslims are not expected to visualize God. God is

described and referred to by certain names or attributes, the most common being Al-Rahmn, meaning

"The Compassionate" andAl-Rahm, meaning "The Merciful" (See Names of God in Islam).[24]

Muslims believe that creation of everything in the universe is brought into being by Gods sheer command

Be and so it is.[25][26]and that thepurpose of existenceis to love and serve God.[2][27]He is viewed as a

personal God who responds whenever a person in need or distress calls Him.[25][28] There are no

intermediaries, such asclergy, to contact God who states We are nearer to him than (his)jugular vein[29]

Allh is the term with no plural orgenderused by Muslims and Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews

meaning the one God, while il h (Arabic: ) is the term used for a deity or a god in general. [30]Other non-

Arab Muslims might use different names as much as Allah, for instance "Tanr" in Turkish or "Khod"

inPersian.

Angels

Main article:Islamic view of angels
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Belief in angels is fundamental to the faith of Islam. The Arabic word for angel (Arabic: malak) means

"messenger", like its counterparts inHebrew(malakh) and Greek(angelos). According to the Qur'an, angels

do not possess free will, and worship God in total obedience.[31]Angels' duties include

communicating revelations from God, glorifying God, recording every person's actions, and taking a

person'ssoulat the time of death. They are also thought to intercedeon man's behalf. The Qur'an

describes angels as "messengers with wingstwo, or three, or four (pairs): He [God] adds to Creation as

He pleases..."[32]

Revelations

Main articles:Islamic holy books andQur'an

See also:History of the Qur'an

The Islamic holy books are the records which most Muslims believe were dictated by God to various

prophets. Muslims believe that parts of the previously revealed scriptures, theTawrat(Torah) andtheInjil(Gospels), had becomedistortedeither in interpretation, in text, or both.[4]TheQur'an(literally,

Reading or Recitation) is viewed by Muslims as the final revelation and literal Word of God and is widely

regarded as the finestpiece of literature work in theArabic language.[33][34][35]

Muslims believe that the verses of the Qur'an were revealed to Muhammadby God through the archangel

Gabriel (Jibrl) on many occasions between 610 CE until his death on June 8, 632 CE. [36]While Muhammad

was alive, all of these revelations were written down by his companions (sahabah), although the prime

method of transmission was orally throughmemorization.[37]After the death of Muhammad, it was compiled

in the time ofAbu Bakr, the firstcaliph, and was standardized under the administration ofUthman, the third

caliph.

Prophets

Muslims identify the prophets of Islam (Arabic: nab ) as those humans chosen by God to be his

messengers. According to the Qur'an[42]the descendants of Abraham and Imranwere chosen by God to

bring the "Will of God" to the peoples of the nations. Muslims believe that prophets are human and not

divine, though some are able to perform miracles to prove their claim. Islamic theology says that all of God's

messengers preached the message of Islamsubmission to the Will of God.

Resurrection and judgment

Main article:Qiyama

Belief in the "Day of Resurrection", Yawm al-Qiymah (Arabic: ) is also crucial for Muslims. They

believe the time ofQiymah is preordained by God but unknown to man. The trials

and tribulationspreceding and during the Qiymah are described in the Qur'an and the hadith, and also in

the commentaries ofscholars. The Qur'an emphasizes bodily resurrection, a break from the pre-Islamic

Arabian understanding of death.[44]

On Yawm al-Qiymah, Muslims believe all mankind will be judged on their good and bad deeds. The

Qur'an lists several sinsthat can condemn a person tohell, such as disbelief(Arabic: Kufr), and

dishonesty; however, the Qur'an makes it clear God will forgive thesins of those who repent if He so wills.

[45]Good deeds, such as charity and prayer, will be rewarded with entry to heaven. Muslims view heavenas

a place of joy and bliss, with Qur'anic references describing its features and the physical pleasures to come.

Mystical traditions in Islam place these heavenly delights in the context of an ecstatic awareness of God. [46]

Yawm al-Qiymah is also identified in the Qur'an as Yawm ad-Dn (Arabic: ), "Day of Religion";[47]as-

s ah (Arabic: ), "the Last Hour";[48] and al-Qri ah (Arabic: ), "The Clatterer."[49]

Predestination

Main article:Predestination in Islam
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In accordance with the Islamic belief inpredestination, or divine preordainment (al-qad wa'l-qadar), God

has full knowledge and control over all that occurs. This is explained in Qur'anic verses such as "Say:

'Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us: He is our protector'..." [50] For Muslims,

everything in the world that occurs, good or evil, has been preordained and nothing can happen unless

permitted by God. According to Muslim theologians, although events are pre-ordained, man possesses free

will in that he has the faculty to choose between right and wrong, and is thus responsible for his actions.

According to Islamic tradition, all that has been decreed by God is written in al-Lawh al-Mahfz, the

"Preserved Tablet".[51]

Five pillars

Main article:Five Pillars of Islam

The Pillars of Islam (arkan al-Islam; also arkan ad-din, "pillars of religion") are five basic acts in Islam,

considered obligatory for all believers. The Quran presents them as a framework for worship and a sign ofcommitment to the faith. They are (1) the shahadah (creed), (2) daily prayers (salat), (3) almsgiving (zakah),

(4) fasting duringRamadan and (5) the pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj) at least once in a lifetime.

The Shiaand Sunni sects both agree on the essential details for the performance of these acts.[52]

Testimony

Main article:Shahadah

The Shahadah,[53] which is the basic creedof Islam that must be recited underoath with the specific

statement: "'ahadu 'al-l il ha ill -ll hu wa 'ahadu 'anna mu ammadan ras lu-ll h ", or "I testify

there are no deities other than God alone and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God." This

testament is a foundation for all other beliefs and practices in Islam. Muslims must repeat the shahadah in

prayer, and non-Muslims wishing to convert to Islam are required to recite the creed.[54]

Fasting

Main article:Sawm

Further information:Sawm of Ramadan

Fasting, (Arabic: awm ), from food and drink (among other things) must be performed from dawn to

dusk during the month of Ramadhan. The fast is to encourage a feeling of nearness to God, and during it

Muslims should express their gratitude for and dependence on him, atone for their past sins, and think of

the needy. Sawm is not obligatory for several groups for whom it would constitute an undue burden. For

others, flexibility is allowed depending on circumstances, but missed fasts usually must be made up quickly.

[60]

Etiquette and diet

Main articles:Adab (behavior)andIslamic dietary laws

Many practices fall in the category ofadab, or Islamic etiquette. This includes greeting others with "as-

salamu `alaykum" ("peace be unto you"), saying bismillah ("in the name of God") before meals, and using

only the right hand for eating and drinking. Islamic hygienic practices mainly fall into the category of

personal cleanliness and health. Circumcision of male offspring is also practiced in Islam. Islamic burial

rituals include saying the Salat al-Janazah ("funeral prayer") over the bathed and enshrouded dead body,

and burying it in agrave. Muslims are restricted in their diet. Prohibited foods include pork products,

blood,carrion, and alcohol. All meat must come from a herbivorous animal slaughtered in the name of God

by a Muslim, Jew, or Christian, with the exception of game that one has hunted or fished for oneself. Food

permissible for Muslims is known as halal food.[69]
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JAINISMCompassion for all life, human and non-human

, is central to Jainism.

Main principles

Jainism encourages spiritual development through cultivation of one's own personal wisdom and reliance

on self control through vows (Sanskrit:, vrata).[16]The triple gems of Jainism - right vision or view

(Samyak Darshana), right knowledge (Samyak Gyana) and right conduct (Samyak Charitra) - provide the

path for attaining liberation from the cycles of birth and death. When the soul sheds its karmic bonds

completely, it attains divine consciousness. Those who have attained mokshaare called siddhas, while

those attached to the world through their karma are called samsarin. Every soul has to follow the path, as

explained by the Jinas and revived by the tirthankaras, to attain complete liberation ornirvana. Jains do not

believe in acreatordeity that could be responsible for the manifestation, creation, or maintenance of this

universe. The universe is self regulated by the laws of nature. Jains believe that life exists in various forms

in different parts of the universe including earth. Jainism has extensive classification of various living

organisms including micro-organisms that live in mud, air and water. All living organisms have soul and

therefore need to be interacted with, without causing much harm.

Jains believe that to attain enlightenment and ultimately liberation from all karmic bonding, one must

practice the following ethical principles not only in thought, but also in words (speech) and action . Such a

practise through lifelong work towards oneself is called as observing theMahavrata ("Great Vows"). These

vows are:

Ahimsa (Non-violence) to cause "no harm" to living beings (on the lines of "live" and "let live").

The vow involves "minimizing" intentional as well as unintentional harm to another living creature.

There should even be no room for any thought conjuring injury to others, let alone talking about it or

performing of such an act.[17] Besides, it also includes respecting the views of others (non-absolutism

and acceptance of multiple views).

Satya (Truthfulness) to always speak of truth such that no harm is caused to others. A person

who speaks truth becomes trustworthy like a mother, venerable like a preceptor and dear to everyone

like a kinsman. Given that non-violence has priority, all other principles yield to it whenever there is a

conflict. For example, in a situation where speaking truth would lead to violence, it would be perfectly

moral to remain silent (for you are neither being untrue, nor causing violence by way of truth)

Asteya (Non-stealing) not to take into possession, anything that is not willingly offered. It is the

strict adherence to one's own possessions without desiring for the ones that belong to others. One

should remain satisfied by whatever is earned through honest labour. Any attempt to squeeze material

wealth from others and/or exploit the weak is considered theft. Some of the guidelines for this principle

follow as under:

Always give people fair value for their labor or product.

Not to take into possession materials that are not earned or offered by others.

Not to take materials into personal possession that have been dropped off or forgotten by

others.

Not to purchase materials as a result of being cheaper in value, if the resultant price

reduction is a result of improper method of preparation. For instance, products made out of raw

materials obtained by way of pyramid schemes, illegal businesses, stolen goods, etc., should be

strictly prohibited

Brahmacharya (Celibacy) to exercise control over senses (including mind) from indulgence. The

basic intent of this vow is to conquer passion, thus preventing wastage of energy in the direcition of

pleasurable desires. During observance of this vow, the householder must not have a sensual
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relationship with anybody other than one's own spouse. Jain monks and nuns practice complete

abstinence from any sexual activity.[18]

Aparigraha (Non-possession, Non-materialism) to observe detachment from people, places and

material things. Ownership of an object itself is not possessiveness; however, attachment to the owned

object is possessiveness. For householders, non-possession is owning without attachment, becausethe notion of possession is illusory. The basic principle behind observance of this vow lies in the fact

that life changes. What you own today may not be rightfully yours tomorrow. Hence the householder is

encouraged to discharge his or her duties to related people and objects as a trustee, without excessive

attachment or aversion. For monks and nuns, non-possession involves complete renunciation of

property and human relations.[19]

Jains hold that the universe and its natural laws are eternal, and have always existed in time. However, the

world constantly undergoes cyclical changes as per governing universal laws. The universe is occupied by

both living beings (jva) and non-living objects (Ajva). The samsarin soul incarnates in various life formsduring its journey over time. Human, sub-human (category catering to inclusion of animals, birds, insects

and other forms of living creatures), super-human (heavenly beings) and hellish-beings are the four forms

ofsamsarinsoul incarnations. A living being's thoughts, expressions and actions, executed with intent of

attachment and aversion, give rise to the accumulation of karma. These influxes of karma in turn contribute

to determination of circumstances that would hold up in our future in the form of rewards or punishment.

Jain scholars have explained in-depth methods and techniques that are said to result in clearance of past

accumulated karmas as well as stopping the inflow of fresh karmas. This is the path to salvation in Jainism.

A major characteristic of Jain belief is the emphasis on the consequences of not only physical but also

mental behaviours.[20]One's unconquered mind tainted with anger, pride (ego), deceit, and greed joined with

uncontrolled sense organs are powerful enemies of humans. Anger comes in the way of good human

relations, pride destroys humility, deceit destroys peace, and greed destroys good judgement. Jainism

recommends conquering anger by forgiveness, pride (ego) by humility, deceit by straight-forwardness, and

greed by contentment.[21]

The principle of non-violence seeks to minimize karmas that limit the capabilities of one's own soul. Jainism

views every soul as worthy of respect because it has the potential to become siddha(paramatma"highest

soul"). Because all living beings possess a soul, great care and awareness is essential in one's actions.

Jainism emphasizes theequality of all life, advocating harmlessness towards all, whether great or small.This policy extends even to microscopic organisms.

Jainism acknowledges that every person has different capabilities and capacities to practice and therefore

accepts different levels of compliance for ascetics and householders. The Great Vows are prescribed

forJain monastics while limited vows (anuvrata) are prescribed for householders. Householders are

encouraged to practice five cardinal principles of non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy, and non-

possessiveness with their current practical limitations, while monks and nuns have to observe them very

strictly. With consistent practice, it is possible to overcome the limitations gradually, accelerating spiritual

progress.[22]

[edit

]Core beliefs

Every living being has a soul.[23]

Every soul is potentially divine, with innate qualities of infinite knowledge, perception, power, and

bliss (masked by itskarmas).

Therefore regard every living being as you do yourself, harming no one and being kind to all living

beings.

Every soul is born as a heavenly being, human, sub-human orhellish beingaccording to its own

karma.
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Every soul is the architect of its own life, here or hereafter.[24]

When a soul is freed from karmas, it becomes free and attains divine consciousness, experiencing

infinite knowledge, perception, power, and bliss (Moksha).[25]

The triple gems of Jainism("Right View, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct") provide the way to

this realisation.[26] There is no supremedivine creator, owner, preserver, or destroyer. The universe is

self-regulated, and every soul has the potential to achieve divine consciousness (siddha) through its

own efforts.

Non-violence (to be in soul consciousness rather than body consciousness) is the foundation of

right view, the condition of right knowledge and the kernel of right conduct. It leads to a state of being

unattached to worldly things and being non-judgmental and non-violent; this includes compassion and

forgiveness in thoughts, words and actions toward all living beings and respecting views of others (non-

absolutism).

Jainism stresses the importance of controlling the senses including the mind, as they can drag one

far away from true nature of the soul.

Limit possessions and lead a life that is useful to yourself and others. Owning an object by itself is

not possessiveness; however, attachment to an object is possessiveness. [27]Non-possessiveness is the

balancing of needs and desires while staying detached from our possessions.

Enjoy the company of the holy and better-qualified, be merciful to afflicted souls, and tolerate the

perversely inclined.[28]

Four things are difficult for a soul to attain: 1. human birth, 2. knowledge of the laws governing the

souls, 3. absolute conviction in the philosophy of non-violence, and 4. practicing this knowledge with

conviction in everyday life activities.

It is, therefore, important not to waste human life in evil ways. Rather, strive to rise on the ladder of

spiritual evolution.

The goal of Jainism is liberation of the soul from the negative effects of unenlightened thoughts,

speech, and action. This goal is achieved through clearance of karmic obstructions by following

thetriple gems of Jainism.

Namokar Mantra is the fundamental prayer in Jainism and can be recited at any time of the day.

Praying by reciting thismantra, the devotee bows in respect to liberated souls still in human form

(arihants), fully liberated souls for

basic features of hinduism

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