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Re: Maya in Islam?
>X-News: soc.religion.hindu:1888
>From: vijia@pop.jaring.my (Singam)
>Subject:Maya in Islam?
>Date: 26 Feb 1996 08:37:02 GMT
>Message-ID:<4grrfe$3es@babbage.ece.uc.edu>
>The Moderator may have a difficult time with this article as he may
>get blasted for allowing something that is not about Hinduism. But I
>would like to suggest that it is relevant for Hindus to be aware that
>there are common views between religions.
>
>The Quran says:
>
> Know that the life of this world is only play, an idle talk,
> and pageantry, and boasting among you, and rivalry in respect
> of wealth and children; as the likeness of vegetation after
> rain, whereof the growth is pleasing to the husbandman, but
> afterward it drieth up and thou seest it turning yellow, then
> it becometh straw. And in the Hereafter there is grievous
> punishment, and (also) forgiveness from Allah and His good
> pleasure, whereas the life of the world is but matter of
> illusion.
> (57:20, translated by M.M.Pickthall)
>
>So the concept of Maya is not exclusively Hindu.
>
>Peace.
>
>
> SV Singam
>Minden, Penang
I agree that the above verse is Muhammad William Marmaduke Pickthall's
translation. There could be some worthy speculations on this verse.
First, Islam clearly tells its followers (Muslims) to recognize life as
*real*. (See the preface written by Abdullah Yusuf Ali in his translation
of Al_Quran.) Therefore, one might agree that Islam emphasizes on the
realistic (confined within five senses) aspect of life. What Islam tells
is that in this materialistic world, one would do better if one followed
the Allah's message - as is in the Quran. The above verse merely shows
that Islam accepts the " unreal " part of existence.
Secondly, the above verse is not explicit about Maya - as Shankaracharya
is. That is maya is accepting the perishable as eternal. The concept is
more intellectually profound than the above Quranic revelation.
Thirdly, and more appropriate historically, Muhammad (570-632 A.D.) might
have known about other religions and viewpoints. This inspiration might
also have motivated him to ponder on the " unrealistic " aspect of life.
That is what happens after humans die ?
Maya is *exclusively* a Hindu concept and propounded by Hindu scholars
(read rishis) throughout the millenia.
If some other religious belief system borrows the idea and incorporates
it, then that does not mean the new religion is also an originator of the
idea. It merely means that the new-religion (Islam) accepts something
that was existent before it.
- cheers,
deb chatterjee
(a good samaritan)
P.S.: The moderator did a correct thing to post this in SRH.
