|
ZOROASTRIANS-PARSIS-MAGIANS
(I)
INTRODUCTIONS
Zoroastrianism is an ancient Aryan
religion that originated in Persia more than 2500 years ago. Though it has
relatively few adherents, less than one hundred and thirty thousand in the whole
world, it is one of the oldest religions. Zoroaster was the founder of
Zoroastrianism, also commonly known as Parsi-ism. It is also known as the
religion of fire worshippers and Magianism.
Pars Scriptures consist of 'Dasatir' and
Vesta' or 'Zend-Avesta'. Dasatir is further divided into two parts: 'Khurda
Dasatir' and 'kalan Dasatir'.
Avesta is further divided into 'Khurda
Avesta' and 'kalan Avesta' also known as 'Zend' or 'Maha-Zend'.
The religious scriptures of the Parsis
are found in two languages: Pahlawi (Pahlawi script resembles the present
Persian script) and Zendi. Besides these two scripts, some religious
literature is found in cuneiform writing.
Some Parsis consider the 'Zend Avesta'
to be more authentic than the Dasatir while the others consider Dasatir to be
more authentic.
ZEND
AVESTA IS DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS
1) The first part contains Vendid
2)
The second part contains Sirozahs, Yashts and Nyays.
3)The third part contains Gathas, Yasha, Visparad, Afrinagan Gahs
and miscellaneous.
DASATIR:
Dasatir means a book of
ten parts: 'Das' meaning 'ten' and 'tir' meaning 'a part'. Dasatir is also the
plural of Dastur, which means law or religious code.
GOTOP
(II)
CONCEPT OF GOD IN ZOROASTRIANISM:
God in Zoroastrianism
is known as 'Ahura Mazda'. 'Ahura' means 'The Lord' or 'The Master' and 'Mazda'
means 'the Wise'; hence 'Ahura Mazda' means 'the Wise Lord' or 'the
Wise God'. Ahura Mazda stands for God, in a strictly monotheistic sense.
Qualities of God according to the Dasatir:
According to the Dasatir, Ahura Mazda
has the following qualities:
(I) He
is One.
(ii)
Nothing
resembles Him.
(iii)
He
is without an origin or end.
(iv)
He
has no father or mother, wife or son.
(v)
He
is without a body or form.
(vi)
Neither
the eye can behold Him, nor the power of thinking can conceive Him.
(vii)
He
is above all that you can imagine.
(viii) He
is nearer to you than your own self.
GOTOP
(III)
Qualities
of God according to Avesta
According to the Avesta, the Gathas and
the Yasna give various characteristics
to Ahura Mazda such as:
(I) Creator-
-
Yasna
31:7&
11
-
Yasna
44:7
-
Yasna
50:11
-
Yasna
5l:7
(ii)
Most Mighty - the Greatest
(iii) Beneficent - 'Hudai'.
(iv) Bountiful - 'Spenta'
-
Yasna
43:4,5,7,9,11,13,15
-
Yasna
44:2
-
Yasna
45:5
-
Yasna
46:9
-
Yasna
48:3
Thus, in Zoroastrianism too, we find a concept of an
eternal, omnipotent God. Several verses of Yasna praise the Lord as a Bountiful
Creator.
GOTOP
(IV)
MUHAMMAD (PBUH) IN THE PARSI SCRIPTURES
1.
prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) in Zend Avesta
It is mentioned in
Zend-Avesta-Farvardin Yasht chapter 28 verse 129,
Sacred Books of the East, volume 23, Zend Avesta Part II pg. 220:
"Whose name will be
the Victorious. 'Soeshyant' and whose name will be 'Astvat-ereta'. He will be
Soeshyant (The Beneficent one) because he will benefit the whole bodily world.
He will be Astvat-ereta (he who makes the people). Bodily creature rise up
because as a bodily creature and as a living being he will stand against the
destruction of the bodily (being) creatures to withstand the drug of the two
footed brood, to withstand the evil done by the faithful (idolaters and the like
and the errors of the Mazdaynians)".
This Prophecy applies to
no other person more perfectly than it does to Muhammad (pbuh):
a)
The Prophet was not only victorious at Fatah Makkah but was also merciful
when he let go the blood thirsty opponents by saying:
"There shall be no reproof against
you this day".
b)
'Soeshyant' means the 'praised one' (refer Heisting's Encyclopedia),
which translated in Arabic means Muhammad (pbuh).
c)
Astvat-ereta is derived from the root word 'Astu' which in Sanskrit as
well as in Zend means to praise'. The infinitive 'Sitauidan' in present day
Persian means praising. It can also be derived from the Persian root word 'istadan'
which would mean 'one who makes a thing rise up'. Therefore Astrat-ereta means
the one who praised, which is the exact translation of the Arabic word 'Ahmed'
which is another name for Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The Prophecy clearly
mentions both the names of the Prophet i.e. Muhammad (pbuh) and Ahmed (pbuh).
d)
The Prophecy further says that he will benefit the whole bodily world and
the Qur'ân testifies this in Surah AI-Ambiva chapter 21 verse 107:
"We sent thee not, but as a mercy
for all creatures." [AI-Qur'ân 21:1 07]
2. Sanctity of Prophet's Companions:
In Zend Avesta Zamyad
Yasht chapter 16 verse 95, Sacred Books of the East, Volume 23 Zend Avesta Part II
pg. 308:
"And there shall
his friends come forward, the friends of Astrat-ereta, who are friends: well
thinking, well-speaking, well-doing, following the good law and whose tongues
have never uttered a word of falsehood".
a)
Here too Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is mentioned by name as 'Astratereta'.
b)
There is also a mention of the Prophet's friends as companions who will
be fighting the evil; pious, holy men having good moral values and always
speaking the truth. This is a clear reference to the SAHABAHS.
3.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in Dasatir:
It is mentioned in the Dasatir that,
'The sum and substance of the prophecy is, that when the Zoroastrian people will
forsake their religion and will become dissolute, a man will rise in Arabia. He
will be a mercy unto the world. They will become masters of Persia, Madain, Tus,
Balkh, the sacred places of the Zoroastrians and the neighboring territories.
Their Prophet will be an eloquent man telling miraculous things."
This Prophecy relates to no other person
but to Muhammad (PBUH).
4. Muhammad (pbuh) will be the
Last Prophet:
It is mentioned in Bundahish chapter 30
verses 6 to 27 that Soesyant will be the last Prophet implying that Muhammad (pbuh)
will be the last Prophet. The Qur'ân testifies this in Soorah Ahzab.
"Muhammad is not the father of any
of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of Allah, and the Seal of the Prophets:
and Allah has full knowledge of all things."
[AI-Qur'ân 33:40]
GOTOP
© You are granted the right to use and
display all the information on this site without any consent from me. You
may copy, distribute, print, link to any document, or translate to any
language without changing the
meaning of the contents.
| 
![Islaam pure and clear, that is according to the Qur'ân and the authentic Sunnah the way of the Salaf [ http://www.allaahuakbar.net ]](../image/question.jpg)
