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Comparative
Religion
Parsism/Zoroastrianism
> Introduction
>
Concept of God
in Parsism
>
Prophet Muhammad in Parsi
Scriptures
Introduction
Zoroastrianism is an ancient Aryan religion
which originated in Persia more than 2500 years ago. Though it has
relatively few adherents, less than one hundred and thirty thousand in the
whole world, it is one or the oldest religions. The Iranian Prophet
Zoroaster was the founder of Zoroastrianism (also commonly known as Parsiism).
The sacred scripture of the Parsies is the Dasatir and Avesta.
Concept of God
in Parsism/Zoroastrianism
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God in Zoroastrianism is
known as ‘Ahura Mazda’.
‘Ahura’ means ‘the Lord’ or 'The Master' and ‘Mazda’
means ‘the Wise’; hence ‘Ahura Mazda’ means ‘the Wise
Lord’ or ‘the Wise God’. Ahura Mazda stands for God, in
a strictly monotheistic sense.
Qualities of God according to the Dasatir:
According to the Dasatir, Ahura Mazda has the following
qualities:
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He is One.
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He is without an origin or
end.
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He has no father or mother,
wife or son.
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He is without a body or
form.
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Nothing resembles Him.
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Neither the eye can behold
Him, nor the power of thinking can conceive Him.
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He is above all that you can
imagine.
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He is nearer to you than
your own self.
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Qualities of God
according to Avesta
According to the Avesta, the Gathas and the Yasna give
various characteristics to Ahura Mazda such as:
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Creator – Yasna 31:7 & 11
Yasna 44:7
Yasna 50:11
Yasna 51:7
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Most Mighty – the
Greatest
Yasna 33:11
Yasna 45:6
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Beneficent – Hudai.
Yasna 33:11
Yasna 48:3
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Bountiful – Spenta;
Yasna 43:4,5,7,9,11,13,15
Yasna 44:2
Yasna 45:5
Yasna 46:9
Yasna 48:3
Thus, in Zoroastrianism too, we
find a concept of an eternal, omnipotent God. Several verses
of Yasna praise the Lord as a Bountiful Creator.
Prophet Muhammad in Parsi Scripture
-
Prophet Muhammad in Zend Avesta
It is mentioned in Zend
Avesta Farvardin Yasht chapter 28 verse 129 (Sacred
Books of the East, volume 23, Zend Avesta Part II pg.
220):
"Whose name will
be the Victorious, Soeshyant and whose name will be
Astvat-ereta. He will be Soeshyant (The Beneficent one)
because he will benefit the whole bodily world. He will be
Astvat-ereta (he who makes the people, bodily creatures rise up)
because as a bodily creature and as a living being he will stand against
the destruction of the bodily (being) creatures to withstand the drug of
the two footed brood, to withstand the evil done by the faithful
(idolaters and the like and the errors of the Mazdaynians)".
This Prophecy
applies to no other person more perfectly than it does to Muhammad
(pbuh):
-
The Prophet was
not only victorious at Fatah Makkah but was also merciful when he let
go the blood thirsty opponents by saying:
"There shall be
no reproof against you this day".
- Soeshyant means the
‘praised one’ (refer Haisting’s Encyclopedia), which translated in
Arabic means Muhammad (pbuh).
- Astvat-ereta is
derived from the root word Astu which in Sanskrit as well as in
Zend means ‘to praise’. The infinitive Sitaudan in
present day Persian means praising. It can also be derived from the
Persian root word istadan which would mean ‘one who makes a
thing rise up’. Therefore Astvat-ereta means the one who
praised, which is the exact translation of the Arabic word
'Ahmed' which is another name for Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The
Prophecy clearly mentions both the names of the Prophet i.e. Muhammad
(pbuh) and Ahmed (pbuh).
-
The Prophecy
further says that he will benefit the whole bodily world and the
Qur’an testifies this in Surah Al-Anbiya chapter 21 verse
107:
"We sent thee
not, but as a mercy for all
creatures." [Al-Qur'an 21:107]
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Sanctity of Prophet’s Companions
In
Zend Avesta Zamyad Yasht chapter 16 verse 95 (Sacred Books of the East,
volume 23 Zend Avesta Part II pg. 308):
"And there shall
his friends come forward, the friends of Astvat-ereta, who are
fiend-smitting, well thinking, well-speaking, well-doing, following the
good law and whose tongues have never uttered a word of
falsehood."
-
Here too
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is mentioned by name as Astvat-ereta.
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There is also a
mention of the Prophet’s friends as companions who will be fighting
the evil; pious, holy men having good moral values and always speaking
the truth. This is a clear reference to the Sahabas – the
prophet's companions.
-
Prophet Muhammad in Dasatir
The sum and substance of the prophecy mentioned
in Dasatir is, that when the Zoroastrian people will forsake their
religion and will become dissolute, a man will rise in Arabia, whose
followers will conquer Persian and subjugate the arrogant Persians.
Instead of worshipping fire in their own temples, they will turn their
faces in prayer towards Kaaba of Abraham (pbuh) which will be
cleared of all idols. They (the followers of the Arabian Prophet), will
be a mercy unto the world. They will become masters of Persia,
Madain, Tus, Balkh, the sacred places of the Zoroastrians
and the neighbouring territories. Their Prophet will be an eloquent man
telling miraculous things.
This Prophecy
relates to no other person but to Muhammad (pbuh)
-
Muhammad will be the Last Prophet
It is mentioned in Bundahish chapter 30 verses
6 to 27 that Soeshyant will be the last Prophet implying that
Muhammad (pbuh) will be the last Prophet. The Qur’an testifies this in
Surah Ahzab.
"Muhammad is not
the father of any of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of Allah, and
the Seal of the Prophets: and Allah has full knowledge of all
things." [Al-Qur'an 33:40]
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