### Introduction
"You know, all religions are the same. It doesn't matter which religion you follow; it’s all okay."
"See! One can reach a destination in several ways, by taking different routes. Similarly, to reach one God, we can follow any religion—be it Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, etc."
"You follow your religion and be a good Hindu/Muslim/Christian."
These are a few oft-repeated statements made by many people when discussing religion. A lot of us hold such beliefs, and we preach the same. But just ask yourself one question: is what I’m saying correct or wrong? Whenever we make a statement, we MUST strive to find its truthfulness.
### Simple Analysis
Let’s analyze this issue in a simple way. When you ask a Hindu, "How many Gods are there?" the reply is usually, "One." Similarly, if you ask a Christian, "How many Gods are there?" the answer is, "One." In the same manner, a Muslim will also say there is only one God.
So, if Hindus, Muslims, and Christians all believe that there is ONLY ONE GOD, then how come there are so MANY RELIGIONS for God?
Isn't this surprising?
We say, we believe, and we preach that God is one—yet we say that there are so many religions of God. So, something is wrong in our understanding. Please note that by "religion," we are referring to a way of life based on God's commandments.
### The Right Perspective
Now, let me offer an alternative idea. How can we reconcile the concept of one God with the existence of multiple religions? Did God create so many religions? Can we follow any religion and still attain salvation? Let's end the suspense.
The Almighty God is one and only one. He is unique in His attributes, and there is nothing like Him. We can refer to Him by His different attributes. He is THE CREATOR, THE SUSTAINER, MOST MERCIFUL, MOST COMPASSIONATE, etc.
For the guidance of mankind, Almighty God reveals His words to His chosen person. This chosen person is called a messenger or prophet. Almighty God does not come down to Earth; rather, His messengers/prophets spread His teachings. There have been many messengers and prophets of God. These messengers/prophets were normal human beings like us, but they were extremely devout to God.
The first person on Earth, Prophet Adam, was the first prophet. After him, there were many prophets, such as Prophet Noah, Prophet Solomon, Prophet David, Prophet Zakaria, Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist), Prophet Yunus (Jonah), Prophet Yusuf (Joseph), Prophet Ayub (Job), Prophet Moses, Prophet Jesus, and Prophet Muhammad. These were all prophets of God who delivered the same fundamental teachings from Him. The key point here is that none of them brought a new religion, nor were they the founders of any religion. The religion of God was established by God Himself, and there has always been only ONE religion of God. Prophet Muhammad was the last and final messenger of God, and the teachings he propagated had the capacity to spread worldwide. With the advent of Prophet Muhammad, scientific advancements made it possible for God's teachings to reach every corner of the globe.
### But Why So Many Religions?
As I mentioned earlier, all these messengers brought the same fundamental teachings from God. Almighty God communicated with the prophets in a highly advanced way, revealing His words to them. These revelations were the true word of God. The duty of the messengers was to propagate these words.
In this series, there were several revelations from God. The **Holy Vedas** are considered to be the earliest revelation. The **Torah**, **Zabur**, and **Injeel** (Gospel) were revealed to Prophets Moses, David, and Jesus, respectively. Today, these revelations are collectively called the Bible. Similarly, the **Holy Quran** is the last revelation from Almighty God, revealed to the final messenger, Prophet Muhammad. The Quran was revealed 1400 years ago.
#### Holy Vedas
The Vedas are considered the earliest revelations. They are so old that the exact time of their revelation is uncertain. The majority of the Indian community, who call themselves Hindus, associate themselves with the Vedas. Within Hinduism, different sects offer varying dates for the revelation or existence of the Vedas. For instance, Swami Dayanand Saraswati, the founder of Arya Samaj, claimed that the Vedas have existed for more than 19,600,000 years, while another sect, Brahma Kumaris, claim that the Vedas have existed for less than 5,000 years. Moreover, we do not know the circumstances or context behind the revelation of various verses in the Vedas, and the reason is obvious—they are extremely old. As such, we cannot be 100% certain about the authenticity of the Vedas today. Although they were originally the words of God, after the passage of thousands of years, they can no longer be considered the original, pure word of God.
Long after the Vedas, various books were written by scholars of Hinduism, such as the **Upanishads**, **Puranas**, **Ramayana**, **Mahabharata**, and **Manusmriti**. Modern-day Hinduism is derived more from these later scriptures than from the Vedas. Those who follow the teachings and culture provided by these texts are called Hindus, and thus we find Hinduism to be a distinct religion.
#### Holy Bible
Prophet Moses was given the Torah (Book of Laws) by Almighty God. He preached and practiced the laws given by God and followed the religion of God. After him, Prophet David was given the revelation called Zabur. Similarly, Prophet Jesus was given the Injeel (Gospel). All these revelations came from the same Almighty God. However, these revelations were not preserved in their original form. We no longer have the original Torah, Zabur, or Injeel. The current Bible contains 66 books in the Protestant Bible and 73 books in the Catholic Bible, with numerous versions such as the **King James Version** (1611), **Roman Catholic Bible**, **Revised Standard Version** (1952), and **International Standard Version**. These different versions vary in the number of verses, with some words added or deleted across the versions. The latest Bible is based on the oldest available manuscripts, which are dated 200-300 years after the departure of Prophet Jesus. As a result, we cannot claim that the present Bible is 100% the word of God. People who associate themselves with the Bible are called Christians, and present-day Christianity is a mixture of some biblical teachings and those of the Church, leading to the evolution of Christianity as a distinct religion.
#### Holy Quran
In the desert of Arabia, in 570 AD, a man named Muhammad was born. He was granted prophethood at the age of 40, when the first revelation was given to him. Over the next 23 years, the Quran was gradually revealed, and Prophet Muhammad passed away in 632 AD after the Quran's complete revelation. It was then compiled into a book. The Quran is the only holy book that claims it is a part of the faith to believe in previous messengers and previous revelations from God. The Quran also proclaims repeatedly that it is the word of God and that the religion of God has always been one and the same. Prophet Muhammad never claimed to have brought a new religion. The Quran confirms that Prophet Muhammad was a prophet like other prophets and that it has been revealed for the guidance of all mankind. Since it was revealed only 1400 years ago—during a period covered by modern history—minute details regarding the Quran, its revelation, and its preservation have been well-documented.
The Quran has been preserved in its entirety, and millions of people have memorized the whole text since the time of Prophet Muhammad. Its verses have been transmitted without alteration, and its teachings are fully preserved. Those who follow the teachings of the Quran call themselves Muslims.
### Conclusion
All revelations came from the same Almighty God, but only the Quran remains in its pure form today. The Quran provides a complete code of life, addressing social, spiritual, economic, and political aspects of existence. The life history and teachings of Prophet Muhammad are also preserved. The Quran is free from error and serves as guidance for all mankind. While earlier revelations like the Vedas and Bible were originally the word of God, they have been altered over time and no longer exist in their pure form. Idol worship and the belief in Prophet Jesus as God, for example, are teachings that deviate from God's religion.
By following the last revelation, the Quran, mankind can return to the true and singular religion of God.
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