islamforwest.org: Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD

Indian as well as Western scholars have now accepted the period between 3200 and 3100 BC as the period in which Lord Krishna lived on earth. The birthday or Janmashtami of Lord Krishna fell on Friday, August 10, 2012 or yesterday.  The day was celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm in India especially Mumbai.

Krishna is often described and portrayed as an infant or young boy playing a flute as in the Bhagavata Purana,[2] or as a youthful prince giving direction and guidance as in the Bhagavad Gita.[3] The stories of Krishna appear across a broad spectrum of Hindu philosophical and theological traditions.[4] They portray him in various perspectives: a god-child, a prankster, a model lover, a divine hero and the Supreme Being.[5] The principal scriptures discussing Krishna’s story are the Mahabharata, the Harivamsa, the Bhagavata Puranaand the Vishnu Purana.

As the Muslim Times is a blog to foster Universal Brotherhood, I thought it is befitting to say something on this occasion, which is of great importance to a billion Hindus and which will bring the Muslims and the Hindus together in Universal Brotherhood.

So, today I want to especially share three writings with you.  Firstly an article from the Huffington Post, by Qasim Rashid, author of The Wrong Kind of Muslim.  The article is titled: The Honorable Lord Krishna: A Prophet Of Allah.  It states:

Hindus worldwide will soon observe Krishna Janmashtami, a celebration of Lord Krishna’s birth. While many recognize the differences between Islam and Hinduism, few may appreciate that according to Islamic principles and Prophet Muhammad, Lord Krishna was a true Prophet of God.

The obvious question that emerges is that if the same God sent Lord Krishna and Prophet Muhammad, why do Islam and Hinduism have notable theological differences? Simply put, Islam only argues that the original core teachings of Hinduism and Islam are the same — the unity of God and the obligation to serve mankind. Furthermore, nothing in the Quran, Sunnah or Hadith declares that Lord Krishna was not a prophet. Thus, this short article offers nine points to consider — together — that Lord Krishna is a true prophet of God, a prophet whom Muslims also revere along with their fellow Hindu neighbors.

1. First, the Quran is the only ancient scripture that specifically mentions and praises other faiths. While the Quran mentions Jews and Christians specifically, in numerous places, likewise, it mentions Hindus in a group known as the Sabians. Sabians refer to non-Abrahamic traditions — Hindus, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, Taoists, etc. Thus, recognition of Hinduism exists in the Quran.

more: