Author: Mehrullah Azizi
An Analysis of the History and Beliefs of Buddhism (part 21)
Beliefs and Ideas of Buddhism
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Denial of Prophethood
a) Explanation of the Belief
In the previous section, we discussed Buddhist beliefs regarding God—how the concept of divinity is set aside in this tradition and how some followers elevated Buddha to the level of worship, even believing in a form of divine manifestation within him. We observed that this perspective differs fundamentally from the Islamic concept of pure monotheism and that Buddhism has followed a separate path in understanding God and worship.
In this section, we move further to examine and critique key doctrinal beliefs such as prophethood and belief in the Hereafter (resurrection). These beliefs are directly connected to human destiny, reward and punishment, life after death, and the cycle of existence. Concepts such as karma, reincarnation, and ultimate liberation are central to Buddhist thought and define human life as part of a continuous cycle. We will explain these ideas in a simple and clear way and compare them with the Islamic perspective.
Belief in prophethood is one of the most fundamental and decisive issues in religious doctrine. Studying its place in Buddhism is therefore very important. In Buddhism, there is no concept of a prophet. They do not base their beliefs on a Creator God or on prophets; rather, such concepts are essentially absent or denied.
Buddhism is not a revelation-based religion; instead, it is enlightenment-centered. Its foundation lies in human awakening and discovering truth through inner spiritual experience and personal effort. As mentioned earlier, because it is not based on divine revelation, even Buddha himself initially remained silent regarding God and prophethood.
In Buddhism, Buddha is not regarded as a prophet. Rather, he is seen as a teacher, guide, and leader—not a mediator between God and humanity. He taught what he personally experienced and realized, and he never claimed prophethood or divine revelation. This differs from figures like Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, who claimed to receive revelation from God.
In general, Buddhism not only lacks the concept of prophethood as divine revelation, but it also has no framework for accepting a “messenger sent by God.” Therefore, it does not formally affirm or deny the prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH); rather, it simply does not include it within its belief system. As a result, the prophethood of all prophets—especially Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)—is not accepted in Buddhism.
b) Response and Critique
From the Islamic perspective, all human beings are required to believe in both monotheism and prophethood. Without accepting these two, a person cannot be considered a true believer or one who attains salvation.
“يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ” Translation: O mankind, worship your Lord who created you and those before you, so that you may become righteous. [1]
This verse emphasizes that all people must believe in and worship Allah alone. “فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ النَّبِيِّ الْأُمِّيِّ” Translation: So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered Prophet. [2]
This verse shows that belief in Allah (Tawhid) and belief in His messenger are inseparable and both are necessary.
It is an established principle that anyone who does not believe in the prophethood of the prophets—especially Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)—is considered a disbeliever and will be a loser in both this world and the Hereafter. “إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يُفَرِّقُوا بَيْنَ اللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ … أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ حَقًّا” Translation: Indeed, those who disbelieve in Allah and His messengers and seek to differentiate between them… they are truly disbelievers. [3]
Faith in prophets, angels, and divine scriptures is among the essential pillars of Islam.
“آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّن رُّسُلِهِ” Translation: The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and so have the believers; all believe in Allah, His angels, His books, and His messengers, making no distinction between any of them. [4]
وَلَٰكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالْكِتَابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ. Translation: True righteousness is to believe in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets. [5]
“وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا بَعِيدًا” Translation: Whoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day has indeed gone far astray. [6]
Allah has clearly affirmed the prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in many verses: “وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ” Translation: Muhammad is only a messenger; messengers have passed away before him. [7]
وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ Translation: Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (SWT). [8]
“وَآمِنُوا بِمَا نُزِّلَ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَهُوَ الْحَقُّ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ” Translation: Believe in what has been revealed to Muhammad; it is the truth from their Lord. [9]
“أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِهِمْ أَنَّا أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ” Translation: Is it not sufficient for them that We revealed to you the Book that is recited to them? [10]
“قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا” Translation: Say: O mankind, I am the Messenger of Allah to all of you. [11]
The Prophet (PBUH) also explained his position among the prophets: «مثلی و مثل الأنبیاء من قبلی كمثل رجل بنى بيتاً فأحسنه وأجمله إلا موضع لبنة من زاوية من زواياه، فجعل الناس يطوفون به ويعجبون له ويقولون: هلا وُضعت هذه اللبنة؟ قال: فأنا اللبنة، وأنا خاتم النبيين» Translation: My example and the example of the prophets before me are like a man who built a house, making it perfect and beautiful, except for the place of one brick in one of its corners. People began to walk around it, admiring it, and saying: ‘Why has this brick not been placed?’ He said, “I am that brick, and I am the Seal of the Prophets. [12]
Some Western scholars have also acknowledged the truthfulness of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The Scottish philosopher Thomas Carlyle wrote that accusing the Prophet of falsehood is one of the greatest injustices and that his mission was founded upon truthfulness and sincerity. [13]
Based on the textual and rational evidence presented above, Buddhism is clearly in error regarding the concept of prophethood and falls among belief systems that deny divine messengers.
To be continued…
Previous Part
Sources:
- Al-Baqarah: 21.
- Al-A‘raf: 158.
- An-Nisa: 150–151.
- Al-Baqarah: 285.
- Al-Baqarah: 177.
- An-Nisa: 136.
- Aal-e-Imran: 144.
- Al-Fath: 29.
- Muhammad: 2.
- Al-‘Ankabut: 51.
- Al-A‘raf: 158.
- Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 3342.
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, p. 109.
