Similarities between Islam and Zoroastrianism
Beliefs
Islam and Zoroastrianism have many similar beliefs. Zoroaster is considered to be a Persian Prophet by the Zoroastrians. He did teach monotheism and called people to worship one God known as “Ahura Mazda”, but in Arabic we call him Allah. His teachings were later corrupted by his followers. Even though they worship fire, the Zoroastrians for some apparent still refer to themselves as “Monotheist”.
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was the last and final messenger of Allah (God). The Muslims have not associated any partners in worship with Allah. It is the religion of solely worshiping the one true God, Allah.
Many of Zoroaster’s teachings match with the Quran. For example
Islam and Zoroastrianism have many similar beliefs. Zoroaster is considered to be a Persian Prophet by the Zoroastrians. He did teach monotheism and called people to worship one God known as “Ahura Mazda”, but in Arabic we call him Allah. His teachings were later corrupted by his followers. Even though they worship fire, the Zoroastrians for some apparent still refer to themselves as “Monotheist”.
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was the last and final messenger of Allah (God). The Muslims have not associated any partners in worship with Allah. It is the religion of solely worshiping the one true God, Allah.
Many of Zoroaster’s teachings match with the Quran. For example
- The creation of the universe, God created the heavens, earth, water, plants, animals, humans, etc….
- Mankind was born of a single pair, which is known as Mashya and Mash yana. Which could possibly be Adam (pbuh) and Hawah.
- He believed in One God, which was new to the Persians.
- He called God as “Ahura Mazda” which means Wise Lord.
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in the Parsi Scriptures
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) has been prophesized in the Parsi Scriptures several times. He was told to be a Prophet to come in the future.
“His name will be Astivitareata (Victorious), he shall be called as soeshyant (A person who is praise worthy)” (Zend Avesta Farvadin Yasht Chapter 28 Verse 129).
And we know from the biography of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) that he was victorious in the conquest of Makkah. The word soeshyant in the Avesta language according to the Hasting encyclopedia means “A person who is praise worthy” and the name Muhammad in Arabic means “A person who is praise worthy”. This 100 percent refers to the Final messenger Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). So Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is mentioned by name in the Parsi scriptures. Plus the word Astivitareata also means “A person who praises” which is the second name of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) known as “Ahmed”. Which also means “A person who praises”.
“His friends will come, the friends of Astivitareata (Ahmed) who will be fighting against the evil. They will be well thinking, well speaking and well doing. And there tongue will not utter a single falsehood.” (Zend Avesta Zamyad Yasht Chapter 16 Verse 95).
This is talking about the Sahaba (friends of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)). It says that that his friends will be good people, well thinking, and would speak good things. They would also do good things and never say any falsehood, meaning that they would not lie. If you look at the life stories of all the Sahaba they were truthful and didn’t lie.
“That the soeshyant (Muhammad in Arabic) shall be the last Prophet” (Bundahish Ch. 30 verse 6-27).
And we know that the Quran confirms this Prophecy.
“Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets. And ever is Allah, of all things, Knowing.” (Surah Al-Ahzab Ch.33 Verse 40)
It is also mentioned in the Dasatir “When the Parsis (Zoroastrians) will forsake the religion and they will become desolate because they went far away from the teachings of the religion, a man will arrive from the dessert his followers will defeat the Persians and will conquer the arrogant Persians. They will be a mercy to humankind; they will not worship the fire in the temple. But will pray in the direction towards the house of God which will be free from Idols. They will be masters and rulers of Persia and there prophet will be an eloquent person who will do miraculous things”. This has to refer to no one other then the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) because Zoroastrianism has become minute religion that not many people follow. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was from the dessert and ended up conquering Persia. He also got rid of the Idols from the Kabah in Mecca.
“His name will be Astivitareata (Victorious), he shall be called as soeshyant (A person who is praise worthy)” (Zend Avesta Farvadin Yasht Chapter 28 Verse 129).
And we know from the biography of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) that he was victorious in the conquest of Makkah. The word soeshyant in the Avesta language according to the Hasting encyclopedia means “A person who is praise worthy” and the name Muhammad in Arabic means “A person who is praise worthy”. This 100 percent refers to the Final messenger Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). So Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is mentioned by name in the Parsi scriptures. Plus the word Astivitareata also means “A person who praises” which is the second name of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) known as “Ahmed”. Which also means “A person who praises”.
“His friends will come, the friends of Astivitareata (Ahmed) who will be fighting against the evil. They will be well thinking, well speaking and well doing. And there tongue will not utter a single falsehood.” (Zend Avesta Zamyad Yasht Chapter 16 Verse 95).
This is talking about the Sahaba (friends of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)). It says that that his friends will be good people, well thinking, and would speak good things. They would also do good things and never say any falsehood, meaning that they would not lie. If you look at the life stories of all the Sahaba they were truthful and didn’t lie.
“That the soeshyant (Muhammad in Arabic) shall be the last Prophet” (Bundahish Ch. 30 verse 6-27).
And we know that the Quran confirms this Prophecy.
“Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets. And ever is Allah, of all things, Knowing.” (Surah Al-Ahzab Ch.33 Verse 40)
It is also mentioned in the Dasatir “When the Parsis (Zoroastrians) will forsake the religion and they will become desolate because they went far away from the teachings of the religion, a man will arrive from the dessert his followers will defeat the Persians and will conquer the arrogant Persians. They will be a mercy to humankind; they will not worship the fire in the temple. But will pray in the direction towards the house of God which will be free from Idols. They will be masters and rulers of Persia and there prophet will be an eloquent person who will do miraculous things”. This has to refer to no one other then the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) because Zoroastrianism has become minute religion that not many people follow. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was from the dessert and ended up conquering Persia. He also got rid of the Idols from the Kabah in Mecca.
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) Friends in Parsi Scriptures
"The most powerful amongst the Companions of the Soeshyant, O Zaratushtra, are those of the men of the primitive law, or those of the 'Soeshyant' (Muhammad in Arabic), who are to restore the world." (Farvardin Yasht. Ch. 13 Verse 17)
This talks about Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) restoring order to the world, and we know from the biography of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) that he did this and got rid of the evil practices of the Pagans of Mecca. We also know that his Sahabas were by his side all the time.
“We homage the good, strong, beneficent Fravashes of the faithful, who fight at the right hand of the reigning Lord . . . They come flying unto him, it seems, as if they were well-winged birds. They come in as a weapon and as a shield, to keep him behind and to keep him in front, from the enemy unseen, from the female varenya fiend, from the evil-doer bent on mischief and from that fiend who is all death, Angra Mainyu (Abu Lahab). It will be, as if there were a thousand men watching over one man, so that neither the sword well-thrust, nor the club well-falling, nor the arrow well-shot, nor the spear well-darted, nor the stones flung from the arm shall destroy him." (Farvardin Yasht, Ch. 63, Verses 70-72)
This is talking about the time when the Sahabas were defending the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) from the polytheists who were throwing stones at him. The Sahabas actually surrounded the Prophet from all corners, so that he would not get hurt. They were literally shielding the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
“Whose name will be, the Victorious, 'Soeshyant' and whose name will be 'Astvat-ereta.' He will be Soeshyant (Muhammad (ﷺ)) because he will benefit the whole bodily world. He will be Astvat-ereta (Ahmed) because as a bodily creature and as a living being he will stand against the destruction of the bodily being to withstand the idolaters and the like and the errors of the Mazdaynians." (Ibid Ch. 28 Verse 129.)
We know from the biography of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) that he stood up against the idolaters of Mecca in many battles and the Quran says “And We have not sent you, [O Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)], except as a mercy to the worlds” (Surah Al-Anbiya Ch. 21 Verse 107)
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was sent for the worlds. He also corrected the errors of the Idolaters of Mecca and the Mazdaynian Persians. Which no other Prophet did before him did.
“Mayest thou burn in this house! Mayest thou ever burn in this house! Mayest thou blaze in this house! Mayest thou increase in this house! Even for a long time, till the powerful restoration of the world, till the time of the good, powerful restoration of the world." (Atash Nyayish Verse 9).
This is talking about when Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was born that the fire would cease to burn in the fire temples. And we know that the fires in the temples were extinguished when Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was born.
This talks about Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) restoring order to the world, and we know from the biography of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) that he did this and got rid of the evil practices of the Pagans of Mecca. We also know that his Sahabas were by his side all the time.
“We homage the good, strong, beneficent Fravashes of the faithful, who fight at the right hand of the reigning Lord . . . They come flying unto him, it seems, as if they were well-winged birds. They come in as a weapon and as a shield, to keep him behind and to keep him in front, from the enemy unseen, from the female varenya fiend, from the evil-doer bent on mischief and from that fiend who is all death, Angra Mainyu (Abu Lahab). It will be, as if there were a thousand men watching over one man, so that neither the sword well-thrust, nor the club well-falling, nor the arrow well-shot, nor the spear well-darted, nor the stones flung from the arm shall destroy him." (Farvardin Yasht, Ch. 63, Verses 70-72)
This is talking about the time when the Sahabas were defending the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) from the polytheists who were throwing stones at him. The Sahabas actually surrounded the Prophet from all corners, so that he would not get hurt. They were literally shielding the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
“Whose name will be, the Victorious, 'Soeshyant' and whose name will be 'Astvat-ereta.' He will be Soeshyant (Muhammad (ﷺ)) because he will benefit the whole bodily world. He will be Astvat-ereta (Ahmed) because as a bodily creature and as a living being he will stand against the destruction of the bodily being to withstand the idolaters and the like and the errors of the Mazdaynians." (Ibid Ch. 28 Verse 129.)
We know from the biography of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) that he stood up against the idolaters of Mecca in many battles and the Quran says “And We have not sent you, [O Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)], except as a mercy to the worlds” (Surah Al-Anbiya Ch. 21 Verse 107)
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was sent for the worlds. He also corrected the errors of the Idolaters of Mecca and the Mazdaynian Persians. Which no other Prophet did before him did.
“Mayest thou burn in this house! Mayest thou ever burn in this house! Mayest thou blaze in this house! Mayest thou increase in this house! Even for a long time, till the powerful restoration of the world, till the time of the good, powerful restoration of the world." (Atash Nyayish Verse 9).
This is talking about when Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was born that the fire would cease to burn in the fire temples. And we know that the fires in the temples were extinguished when Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was born.
In Dasatir Epistle of Sasan one:
This is a clear sign that Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was a true Prophet of God. Because this mentions that the Zoroastrians will leave the teachings of their religion and become dissolute, a man from Arabia will conquer the Persians and defeat the arrogant Persians. Instead of worshipping the fire, he will direct them to face the house of Ibrahim (Abraham) which will be free of Idols (Kabah). It also says that the followers of the Arabian Prophet will be a mercy to the worlds. They will become rulers of Persia and its surrounding areas and the Prophet will be an eloquent person who will do miraculous things.
Bibliography
- "Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in the Parsi Scriptures." Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in the Parsi Scriptures. Islam Awareness. Web. 3 May 2015.
- "Mohammad (SAWS) in Zoroastrian Scriptures! Dr Zakir Naik." Peace TV. YouTube. Web. 3 May 2015.