Posted on: 02 Mar 2023
[Shri Anil asked: Padanamaskaram Swami, please give answer to the following questions-At Your Lotus Divine Feet -anil. Questions on Bible]
1. If Adam was created perfect, why did he need a partner?
Swami replied:- To develop the human race, the female gender was created by God.
2. What did Jesus mean by the following reply?
[After fasting for 40 days the tempter came to Jesus and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ What did Jesus mean by that reply?]
Swami replied:- Bread pacifies hunger and generates energy. The word of God develops true devotion to God, which can make the devotee to live continuously even without food.
3. Matthew 22:14: For many are called, but few are chosen. Why did Jesus say so?
Swami replied:- Many write the examination and only one passes with 100% marks in spiritual field.
4. Why did Jesus not propagate divine knowledge further after the crucifixion?
[After Jesus rose up from death why He did not stay with His disciples and propagate the divine knowledge further in that part of the world, but instead went to the Himalayas and Kashmir?]
Swami replied:- The incarnation of God always tries for the reformation everywhere in the world. The entire world is created by God and hence, there is no selection of specific place on the earth for the divine activity.
5. Why did Jesus give the option of accepting or rejecting His preaching?
[In Bible, Jesus after preaching knowledge at the end used to say “The one who can accept this should accept it." Why did He give a choice to accept or not accept His preaching?]
Swami replied:- The verb ‘can’ indicates the ability and eligibility to digest this level of spiritual knowledge. The verb ‘should’ indicates the immediate action of implementing the knowledge in practice.
6. Why did Jesus say the second commandment is equivalent to first?
[Mathew: 22:35-40: Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked Him a question, tempting Him, and saying Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Why did Jesus say the 2nd commandment is equivalent to 1st commandment?]
Swami replied:- Second commandment is second and not first. The second commandment is necessary to make the people prepared to listen the spiritual knowledge through the soft path of love.
7. Is it true to say that a text has to pass the test of time to be treated as the word of God?
[Questions on Quran and Islam. In forum a person asked: Is the Quran the word of God? Are there any other texts that are the word of God? I heard Dr. Zakir Naik say a text has to pass the test of time in order to be treated as the word of God.]
Swami replied:- Time may be necessary or may not be necessary if very sharp logic tests the knowledge of God.
8. What should a Hindu do with a Quran given to him or her by a Muslim friend?
Swami replied:- If he is interested, he can read it and even if he is not reading it, there is no harm because the Quran is the same Gita presented in a different language. Practice is the ultimate goal.
9. If being gay is a choice and haram in Islam, then why are there gay animals? Why did Allah create them if it is terrible sin?
Swami replied:- Whether the soul is animal or human by the body, the mind decides the final race. All animals are animals only, but, in humanity both humans and animals exist.
10. Did Muhammad copy parts of the Torah and Bible, add some of His own stuff, and then publish the Quran?
Swami replied:- Same God in the form of various incarnations wrote the scriptures of different religions and the question of copying is meaningless.
11. Is Allah human-like, as He has eyes (Quran 20.39), a face (Quran 55.27), hands (Quran 39.67), and legs (Quran 68.42)?
Swami replied:- Angels don’t need scripture and there is no use of scripture in the case of demons. The middle level humanity is a mixture of angels and demons. Only for humanity, religions and scriptures are necessary. This is in the view of the majority. Very rarely there may be a demon in angels and there may be an angel in demons.
12. Does Quran 33:53 imply that it is more probable that Muhammad produced the Quran instead of Allah?
Swami replied:- Allah produced Quran through Mohammad.
13. Is the following an indication that Muhammad suffered for His devotees?
[I visited Allah's Messenger while He was suffering from a high fever. I said, "O Allah's Messenger! You have a high fever." He said, "Yes, I have as much fever as two men of you." I said, "Is it because You will have a double reward?" He said, "Yes, it is so. No Muslim is afflicted with any harm, even if it were the prick of a thorn, but that Allah expiates his sins because of that, as a tree sheds its leaves." Sahih al-Bukhari: 5648.
Question: Is this an indication that Muhammad suffered for His devotees?]
Swami replied:- Exactly.
14. Sleep is the brother of death, and the people of paradise do not die. What is the meaning of this Quranic verse?
Swami replied:- Angels of paradise neither sleep nor die.