The Concept of God in Major Religions serves as the foundational cornerstone of all theological inquiry, human morality, and existential purpose. In this monumental and world-renowned lecture delivered by the distinguished comparative religion scholar Dr. Zakir Naik, the fundamental nature and attributes of the Almighty are scrutinized strictly through the primary sacred scriptures of the world’s major global faiths: Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Rather than relying upon common cultural traditions, prevailing sectarian customs, or human speculation, Dr. Zakir Naik establishes an objective methodology based upon the authentic original scriptures of each faith. By comparing the Vedas and Upanishads of Sanatana Dharma, the Torah and Tanakh of Judaism, the Old and New Testaments of Christianity, and the Holy Quran of Islam, Dr. Naik provides definitive scriptural evidence that all major religions originally taught pure, unadulterated monotheism—the worship of one supreme, uncreated Creator without image, idol, or partners.
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The Core Thesis: Analyzing the Concept of God in Major Religions
In his opening address, Dr. Zakir Naik articulates that while humanity appears divided into thousands of diverse sects and theological traditions, a rigorous academic examination reveals that the root of all classical scriptures points to a single, transcendental Divine Being. The deviations observed in modern practice, according to Dr. Naik, are the result of human interpolations, allegorical misinterpretations, and priestly innovations across millennia.
“Dr. Zakir Naik states verbatim: ‘The best way to understand the concept of God in any religion is not to look at the practice of its followers, because followers can be biased, misguided, or ignorant of their own faith. The only objective way is to study the authentic scriptures of that religion. If you analyze the Hindu scriptures—the Vedas and Upanishads—they proclaim: *Ekam Evadvitiyam* (God is only one without a second) and *Na Tasya Pratima Asti* (There is no image or likeness of Him). If you examine the Bible, Jesus Christ (pbuh) reiterated the Shema: *Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord*. And in the Glorious Quran, Allah SWT proclaims the definitive touchstone of theology in Surah Al-Ikhlas: *Say, He is Allah, the One and Only*.'”
This comparative framework allows sincere seekers of truth to bridge philosophical chasms and understand the shared universal reality of divine revelation. Related theological discourses can also be explored in our comprehensive analysis of spiritual discipline in Touba Aur Astaghfar Ki Fazilat.
1. Concept of God in Hinduism According to the Vedas and Upanishads
While contemporary popular Hinduism is frequently perceived as polytheistic or pantheistic, Dr. Zakir Naik quotes directly from the most authoritative sacred texts of Sanatana Dharma—the Shruti scriptures (the Vedas and Upanishads)—demonstrating that the highest Hindu philosophical texts uphold strict monotheism:
| Scriptural Source | Sanskrit Proclamation | Theological Meaning & Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| Chandogya Upanishad 6:2:1 | Ekam Evadvitiyam | “God is only one without a second.” This verse unequivocally denies plurality in the Divine essence. |
| Svetasvatara Upanishad 4:19 | Na Tasya Pratima Asti | “There is no likeness of Him, no image, no picture, no statue, no sculpture.” (Repeated in Yajurveda 32:3). |
| Svetasvatara Upanishad 6:9 | Na Casya Kascij Janita Na Cadhipah | “Of Him there are no parents, nor is there any lord over Him; He has no master and no father.” |
| Rigveda 1:164:46 | Ekam Sad Vipra Bahudha Vadanti | “Truth (God) is one, though the sages call Him by various descriptive names.” |
Dr. Naik highlights that Brahma Sutra, the fundamental text of Vedanta philosophy, explicitly states: “Ekam Brahm, dvitiya nasteen neh na nasteen kinchan” (“There is only one God, not the second, not at all, not in the least bit”). Hence, the philosophical summit of Hindu scripture rejects anthropomorphism and polytheistic worship.
2. Concept of God in Judaism: The Shema Yisrael
Judaism maintains one of the strictest monotheistic traditions in human history. Dr. Zakir Naik points out that in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) and the Torah, the Almighty is described as an indivisible unity. In the Book of Deuteronomy, the central declaration of Jewish faith—the Shema—is proclaimed:
Deuteronomy 6:4: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (Hebrew: Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad).
Furthermore, in the Book of Isaiah, the Lord categorically affirms the exclusivity of His divine sovereignty and rejects any co-equal deities:
Isaiah 43:10-11: “Before Me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after Me. I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no savior.”
Isaiah 45:5: “I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from Me there is no God.”
Exodus 20:3-5: “You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.”
3. Concept of God in Christianity: Did Jesus Claim Divinity?
Dr. Zakir Naik conducts a meticulous textual analysis of the Gospels and the New Testament. He challenges the orthodox Christian doctrine of the Trinity by examining whether Jesus of Nazareth (peace be upon him) ever made an unambiguous, unequivocal claim of divinity in the canonical Bible:
- The Greatest Commandment: When asked which is the first commandment of all, Jesus answered in Mark 12:29: “The first of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord.” Jesus reiterated the exact monotheistic formula of Moses.
- Subordination to the Father: In John 14:28, Jesus explicitly declared: “My Father is greater than I.”
- Dependence on Divine Power: In John 5:30, Jesus said: “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”
- Refusal of Ultimate Goodness: In Matthew 19:16-17, when a man addressed him as ‘Good Master’, Jesus responded: “Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God.”
Dr. Naik underscores that throughout the 66 books of the Protestant Bible and the 73 books of the Catholic Bible, there is not a single unequivocal statement where Jesus Christ himself says: “I am God” or “Worship me”.
4. The Concept of God in Islam: Surah Al-Ikhlas as the Touchstone of Theology
In islam, the concept of God is defined with supreme clarity and uncompromising purity under the theological principle of Tawheed (Divine Oneness). The ultimate touchstone of Islamic monotheism is encapsulated in Surah Al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112 of the Holy Quran):
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
Translation:
1. Say, “He is Allah, [who is] One.
2. Allah, the Eternal Refuge (Absolute, Self-Sufficient).
3. He neither begets nor is born.
4. Nor is there to Him any equivalent.” (Surah Al-Ikhlas, 112:1-4)
Dr. Zakir Naik terms this chapter the “four-line definition of Almighty God”. Any candidate claiming to be God must pass these four infallible criteria. If any entity fails even one of these four tests, that entity cannot be the supreme Creator of the universe. In our examination of prophetic devotion in Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi Aur Ishq e Rasool, this pure devotion to the One True God is demonstrated as the bedrock of Islamic conviction.
Synthesis and Comparative Conclusion
The comparative study of the Concept of God in Major Religions reveals a profound, undeniable harmony at the foundational level of classical human spirituality. When stripped of cultural accretions, sectarian traditions, and historical distortions, the scriptures of Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all point toward the identical divine reality: an eternal, omnipotent, non-corporeal, unique Creator who alone is worthy of praise, obedience, and total submission.
Dr. Zakir Naik’s lecture serves as an indispensable intellectual bridge for interfaith dialogue, religious scholarship, and truth-seeking individuals worldwide. For further studies on overcoming spiritual distractions and focusing the heart entirely upon the Creator, explore our practical guide on Ghussa Control Karne Ka Tarika and spiritual purification.
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