When was hinduism born? I heard that after the disappearance of prophet Idrees, her wife and children were given a statue by Shaytan and told to worship that statue. Since that time, the number of mushrikeen started to increase. Is it true?
Also, has the Brahmins anything to do with Prophet Ibraheem and is it true that Prophet Ibrahim was the second greatest creature ever after Propher Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)?
Firstly:
Hinduism is a name given to a highly varied religious legacy that developed in India during the last three thousand years. Currently it represents the beliefs and practices of more than five hundred million Hindus, most of whom live in India and represent eighty percent of the total population.
Variation is the key to understanding the religious life of Hindus, because Hinduism is not a monolithic religion and it does not have a founder or a single set of beliefs or a single religious text that is accepted by all followers, and it does not have a single moral code or clergy system that all follow, or a single concept of God that forms the foundation of the religion. Rather it is a huge collection of traditions, practices and beliefs. End quote.
Mu‘jam al-Adyaan, ed. by John R. Henleys, (p. 306f).
For more information on Hinduism and its beliefs, please see: Mawsoo‘at al-Adyaan al-Hayyah, vol. 2, Adyaan Ghayr as-Samaawiyyah (2/52f); Adyaan al-Hind al-Kubra by Dr. Ahmad Shalabi.
On this website we have previously given a brief description of this man-made, polytheistic religion. Please see the answer to question no. 126472.
Secondly:
Brahmanism derives its name from two things:
1. It is named after Brahma, their god whom they worship; he is regarded as the supreme power and ultimate reality of this universe.
2. The status of the priestly caste, the Brahmins, who are the highest social caste in Hinduism.
See: al-Mu‘taqadaat ad-Deeniyyah ‘inda ash-Shu‘oob, by Jeffrey Barindar (385-386).
There is no connection between the Close Friend of the Most Gracious (Khaleel ar-Rahmaan) Ibraaheem (peace be upon him) and the Hindu Brahmins or any other polytheistic people, for Hinduism is a man-made religion, therefore it is to be included under the heading of religions that were not divinely revealed (non-Abrahamic religions).
See: Mawsoo‘at al-Adyaan al-Hayyah, R. S. Zeiner, vol. 2
They do not believe that Allah is the Lord of the Worlds, or that He sent down Books to mankind or that He sent Messengers to them, whether Ibraaheem (peace be upon him) or any other Messenger. So how can they be named after the Close Friend of the Most Gracious (Khaleel ar-Rahmaan) Ibraaheem (peace be upon him)?
Moreover, the adjectival form derived from the name of Ibraaheem is Ibraaheemi (Abrahamic), not Brahmin.
Thus it is clear that this attribution is wrong, both in terms of the meaning and in terms of the history of this religion, first of all, and in terms of the linguistic root of the word.
Ash-Shahrastaani (may Allah have mercy on him) pointed this out a long time ago, when he said:
There are some people who think that the Brahmins are named after Ibraaheem (peace be upon him), but that is wrong, for these people in particular deny the Prophets and Prophethood completely, so how can they believe in Ibraaheem (peace be upon him)?
End quote from al-Milal wa’n-Nihal (2/1270), Fathullah Badraan edn.
Allah protected His Prophet Ibraaheem (peace be upon him) and raised him in status lest any polytheists be associated with him or he with them, even by way of lying, just as He declared him to have nothing to do with any disbelieving nation, and He chose him for Himself, to be His Close Friend (Khaleel). Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Ibrâhim (Abraham) was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim Hanifa (Islâmic Monotheism - to worship none but Allâh Alone) and he was not of Al-Mushrikûn”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:67]
“Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrâhim (Abraham) and those with him, when they said to their people: ‘Verily, we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allâh, we have rejected you, and there has started between us and you, hostility and hatred for ever, until you believe in Allâh Alone’”
[al-Mumtahanah 60:4].
Thirdly:
What the questioner mentioned about the Prophet of Allah Idrees (peace be upon him) disappearing, and that the Shaytaan made a statue of him and commanded his wife and children to worship it, is a comment for which there is no basis, as far as we know.
The Holy Qur’an does not tell us the details of the message of Idrees (peace be upon him), or any details of his life; rather it only tells us that he was one of the Prophets of Allah. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) met him in the fourth heaven during his Night Journey (Isra’). Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And mention in the Book (the Qur'ân) Idris (Enoch).Verily! he was a man of truth, (and) a Prophet.
And We raised him to a high station”
[Maryam 19:56, 57].
See also question no. 136890
What is well-known is that shirk first appeared on earth among the people of Nooh (peace be upon him). It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said concerning the verse (interpretation of the meaning),
“And they have said: ‘You shall not leave your gods, nor shall you leave Wadd, nor Suwâ', nor Yaghûth, nor Ya'ûq, nor Nasr (these are the names of their idols)’”
[Nooh 71:23]:
These were the names of righteous men among the people of Nooh. When they died, the Shaytaan inspired their people to set up idols in the place where they used to gather, and call them by their names. So they did that, but those idols were not worshipped then, until those people died and knowledge was forgotten and lost, then they were worshipped.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (4920).
With regard to what the questioner mentioned, we do not know of any basis for it.
Fourthly:
Ibraaheem (peace be upon him) is the best of the Prophets and Messengers after our Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
The best of the Prophets after Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) is Ibraaheem al-Khaleel, as is proven in Saheeh Muslim from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) is “the best of mankind.” The scholars said likewise, including ar-Rabee‘ ibn Khuthaym who said: I do not give precedence to anyone over our Prophet, and I do not give precedence to anyone over Ibraaheem after our Prophet. End quote.
Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa (4/317)
See also: question no. 149310
And Allah knows best.
