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To: alt.magick.tyagi,alt.sufi,alt.islam.sufism,alt.religion.gnostic,talk.religion.misc,talk.religion.newage From: tyagi@houseofkaos.abyss.com (nagasiva) Subject: YahyaM: Brahma/Abraham Date: 12 Sep 1997 13:02:47 -0700 [from tariqas@world.std.com: YahyaM@aol.com] Pakmuh << I once believed the word 'Brahman' was the Indian pronounciation of 'Abraham' >> Allow me to quote Seyyed Hossein Nasr's discussion on this point. "...many Sufis in India called Hinduism the religion of Adam, and such an orthodox Naqshbandi saint as Mirza Mazhar Jan Janan considered the Vedas as divinely inspired. There was, in fact, in Islam a presentiment of the primordial character of Hinduism which moved many Muslim authors to identify Brahman with Abraham. This connection may seem strange linguistically but it contains a deep metaphysical significance. Abraham is, for Islam, the original patriarch identified with the primordial religion (al-din al-hanif) which Islam came to reassert and reaffirm. The connection of the name of the 'barahimah' (namely Hindus) with Abraham was precisely an assertion of the primordial nature of the Hindu tradition in the Muslim mind. The Sufi master `Abd al-Karim al-Jili writes in his al-Insan al-kamil: 'The people of the book are divided into many groups. As for the barahimah [Hindus], they claim that they belong to the religion of Abraham and that they are of his progeny and possess special acts of worship. . . . The barahimah worship God absolutely without [recourse to] prophet or messenger. In fact, they say there is nothing in the world of existence except that it be the created of God. They testify to His Oneness in Being, but deny the prophets and messengers completely. Their worship of the Truth is like that of the prophets before their prophetic mission. They claim to be the children of Abraham--upon whom be peace--and say that they possess a book written for them by Abraham--upon whom be peace--himself, except that they say it came from his Lord. In it the truth of things is mentioned and it has five parts. As for the four parts they permit their reading to everyone. But as for the fifth part they do not allow its reading except to a few among them, because of its depth and unfathomableness. It is well known among them that whoever reads the fifth part of their book will of necessity come into the fold of Islam and enter into the religion of Muhammad--upon whom be peace.' * Al-Jili distinguishes between Hindu metaphysics and the daily practice of the Hindus and identifies especially their metaphysical doctrines with the doctrine of Divine Unity in Islam. His reference to the 'Fifth Veda' signifies precisely the inner identity of the esoteric and metaphysical doctrines of the two traditions. He, like the other Sufis, sought to approach Hinduism through a metaphysical penetration into its mythological structure to reveal the presence of the One behind the veil of the many." [Note] *"Of course many authors of works on religious sects denied this connection, like al-Shahristani, who writes: 'There are those among the people who believe they [the Hindus] are called Barahimah because of their affiliation to Abraham--upon whom be peace. But this is wrong, for they are a people especially known to have denied prophecy completely and totally.' (al-Milal wa-al-nihal). Needless to say this theological criticism does not in any way detract from the metaphysical significance of the assertion of al-Jili." --Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Sufi Essays. 2nd ed. (Albany: SUNY Press, 1991), p. 139-140. -- (emailed replies may be posted);join the AMT syncretism!!;call: 408/2-666-SLUG! see http://www.abyss.com/tokus; "Clement of Rome taught that God rules the world with a right and a left hand, the right being Christ, the left Satan." - CGJung
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