By Noshir Dadrawala
ZARATHUSHTRIAN SAINTS AND MARTYRS series in the Jam-e-Jamshed Weekly
Being one of the oldest revealed religion of the world, Zarathushtrianism has influenced Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in a major way. Scholars of comparative religions believe that the concept of heaven and hell, resurrection, God and Satan etc., are all Zarathushtrian concepts borrowed subsequently by the Jews, Christians and Muslims.
Three Zarathushtrian priests (the three Majis) are said to have been present at the birth of Jesus Christ. Noted Scholar D.B. Macdonald in "Development of Muslim Theology, Jurisprudence and Constitutional Theory" (pg. 133) writes, "It was Dastur Dinyar, afterwards known as Salman (Solomon-e-Farsi, a learned Zoroastrian priest who helped Mahomed in writing, the Quran (The Quran XVI-105)"
Muhammad the Prophet of Islam was born at Mecca in 570 A.D. He took pride in the act that he was born in the reign of Noshirwan the Just Emperor of Zarathushtrian Iran. Muhammad began to preach in Mecca in 610 A.D. It is believed that the Prophet had constituted a council of advisers of whom Dastur Dinyar was an important member. It is said Prophet Muhammad had issued three 'Ahadnameh' or charters to guarantee protection of person, property, freedom of worship and exemption from the poll tax (the Jaziya) to
a) Farrukh-bin-Shakshan (the brother of Dastur Dinyar)
b) Bahram-bin -Khiradars and
c) The descendants of Adarbad Mahrespand.
Though the authenticity of these 'Firmans' is difficult to prove historically, they do bring out the liberal policy of tolerance ordained by the Prophet. In fact it is said that Muhammad and his son-in-law the Imam Ali had issued such charters to all the "Ahel-e-kitab" or "People of the Book" (i.e. those who followed the teachings of a revealed religion, a designation given to Zarathushtrians, Jews and Christians).
The three Zarathushtrian 'Ahadnameh' first came to light in 1851 more than twelve centuries after they were granted. Sorabji Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy the son of the first Baronet, Sir Jamsetji Jejeebhoy had them published-with the Arabic text and their translation in Persian and Gujarati. As said earlier, it would be difficult to establish with certainty the genuineness of these charters.
Dastur Dinyar or Salman-e-Fars was one of the most revered among the 'Ashab' (i.e. companions) of Prophet Muhammad. The prophet infact treated him as one belonging to his "inner circle". According to the 'Hadith' "Salman minna aht al-Bait" i.e. Salman is one of us". Dastur Dinyar survived the prophet and it appears he staunchly supported Ali and his family during the schism that followed Muhammad's passing away. In mystic circles it is believed that the Quran essentially deals with "tarikat" (spiritual - discipline) and "Sheriat" (law). Esoteric Islam began to blossom under Hazrat Ali under the influence of Salman-e-Fars.
The Ahadnameh granted to the brother of Salman-e-Fars is believed to have been written by Al Ibn Abu Talib under institutions from Prophet Muhammad. The Charter granted various rights and freedom as also protection to the coreligionists of Dastur Dinyar. The prophet is believed to have said, "Whosoever obeys this my command he will gain. The pleasure of God, but those who disobey will be accursed to the day of resurrection."
The Ahadnameh says, "Those who are generous to them (i.e. Zarathushtrians) is generous to me (i.e. Muhammad), and they will receive naught but good from God. And those who offends them, offends me, and I will be his enemy on the day of Judgement. His punishment is the fire of hell I withdraw my protection from him.
In the same 'Ahadnameh' the prophet says, "And it was said in the revelation received by me that paradise more impatiently desires the presence of Salman then Salman wishes to go there. Really, he is my intimate friend and adviser as well as to all Muslims. Salman is one of our family".
Unfortunately there is very little we know about Dastur Dinyar from Zarathushtrian texts except for the fact that he was also known as "Behzad" (the wellborn) and was the spiritual counsellor of Noshirwan-e-Adil. Mystics believe this Zarathushtrian Dastur was destined in Nature to influence the early development of the fifth and final major religion of the world (i.e. Islam).
It is Ironic that despite Dastur Dinyar's influence on early Islam and the charters issued by Prophet Muhammed, the Arab Muslims ultimately destroyed Zarathushtrian Iran and the coreligionists of the pious Dastur had to flee from their own motherland and seek refuge in India.
Strange are the ways of this world.
_____________________________
The Quran says:
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
The Avesta says:
In the name of God, the bestower, the giver, the benevolent!
The Islamic God, Allah, has 99 names.
The Zoroastrian God, Ahura Mazda, has 101 names.
[59.24] He is Allah the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner; His are the most excellent names; whatever is in the heavens and the earth declares His glory; and He is the Mighty, the Wise.
Khorda Avesta 0:5.
Then Zarathushtra said: 'Reveal unto me that name of thine, O Ahura Mazda! that is the greatest, the best, the fairest, the most effective, the most fiend-smiting, the best-healing, that destroyeth best the malice of Daevas and Men;
http://coulomb.ecn.purdue.edu/~bulsara/ZOROASTRIAN/101names.html
Khorda Avesta 0:16.
'These are my names.
'And he who in this material world, O Spitama Zarathushtra! shall recite and pronounce those names of mine either by day or by night;
17.
'He who shall pronounce them, when he rises up or when he lays him down; when he lays him down or when he rises up; when he binds on the sacred girdle [[kusti]] or when he unbinds the sacred girdle; when he goes out of his dwelling-place, or when he goes out of his town, or when he goes out of his country and comes into another country:
[7.180] And Allah's are the best names, therefore call on Him thereby, and leave alone those who violate the sanctity of His names; they shall be recompensed for what they did.
[20.8] Allah -- there is no god but He; His are the very best names.
Who has the best names? Allah or Ahura? Or are they the same God?
[59.22] He is Allah besides Whom there is no god; the Knower of the unseen and the seen; He is the Beneficent, the Merciful
[59.23] He is Allah, besides Whom there is no god; the King, the Holy, the Giver of peace, the Granter of security, Guardian over all, the Mighty, the Supreme, the Possessor of every greatness Glory be to Allah from what they set up (with Him).
Compare to the Avesta:
Yasna 1. I announce and carry out this Yasna for the creator Ahura Mazda, the radiant and glorious, the greatest and the best, the most beautiful, the most firm, the wisest, and the one of all whose body is the most perfect, who attains His ends the most infallibly, because of his Asha, to him who disposes our minds aright, who sends His joy-creating grace afar; who made us, and has fashioned us, and who has nourished and protected us, who is the most bounteous Spirit!
'I, Ahura Mazda, the Maker of all good things, when I made this mansion, the beautiful, the shining, seen afar (there may I ascend, there may I arrive!)
1. In the name of Ohrmazd, the lord, the greatest and wise, [the all-ruling, all-knowing, and almighty,
[0. Rejoicing unto the Creator Ohrmazd, Who is Radiant, Glorious and All-knowing, Wise, Capable and the Greatest, -- with good-thought, good-word, and good-deed in meditation, utterance and action, -- and unto all the spiritual Yazads and earthly Yazads.
What puts this all together is this:
http://tenets.zoroastrianism.com/zsaint33b.html
Muhammed had a close friend, Salman -e-Fars, who was a Zoroastrain high priest. He was called dastur Dinyar.
Now how the Avesta describes God is strikingly similar to the Quran's description. The names and adjectives used to describe God make it clearly evident that Salman influenced Muhammed and the Quran.
ZARATHUSHTRIAN SAINTS AND MARTYRS series in the Jam-e-Jamshed Weekly
Being one of the oldest revealed religion of the world, Zarathushtrianism has influenced Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in a major way. Scholars of comparative religions believe that the concept of heaven and hell, resurrection, God and Satan etc., are all Zarathushtrian concepts borrowed subsequently by the Jews, Christians and Muslims.
Three Zarathushtrian priests (the three Majis) are said to have been present at the birth of Jesus Christ. Noted Scholar D.B. Macdonald in "Development of Muslim Theology, Jurisprudence and Constitutional Theory" (pg. 133) writes, "It was Dastur Dinyar, afterwards known as Salman (Solomon-e-Farsi, a learned Zoroastrian priest who helped Mahomed in writing, the Quran (The Quran XVI-105)"
Muhammad the Prophet of Islam was born at Mecca in 570 A.D. He took pride in the act that he was born in the reign of Noshirwan the Just Emperor of Zarathushtrian Iran. Muhammad began to preach in Mecca in 610 A.D. It is believed that the Prophet had constituted a council of advisers of whom Dastur Dinyar was an important member. It is said Prophet Muhammad had issued three 'Ahadnameh' or charters to guarantee protection of person, property, freedom of worship and exemption from the poll tax (the Jaziya) to
a) Farrukh-bin-Shakshan (the brother of Dastur Dinyar)
b) Bahram-bin -Khiradars and
c) The descendants of Adarbad Mahrespand.
Though the authenticity of these 'Firmans' is difficult to prove historically, they do bring out the liberal policy of tolerance ordained by the Prophet. In fact it is said that Muhammad and his son-in-law the Imam Ali had issued such charters to all the "Ahel-e-kitab" or "People of the Book" (i.e. those who followed the teachings of a revealed religion, a designation given to Zarathushtrians, Jews and Christians).
The three Zarathushtrian 'Ahadnameh' first came to light in 1851 more than twelve centuries after they were granted. Sorabji Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy the son of the first Baronet, Sir Jamsetji Jejeebhoy had them published-with the Arabic text and their translation in Persian and Gujarati. As said earlier, it would be difficult to establish with certainty the genuineness of these charters.
Dastur Dinyar or Salman-e-Fars was one of the most revered among the 'Ashab' (i.e. companions) of Prophet Muhammad. The prophet infact treated him as one belonging to his "inner circle". According to the 'Hadith' "Salman minna aht al-Bait" i.e. Salman is one of us". Dastur Dinyar survived the prophet and it appears he staunchly supported Ali and his family during the schism that followed Muhammad's passing away. In mystic circles it is believed that the Quran essentially deals with "tarikat" (spiritual - discipline) and "Sheriat" (law). Esoteric Islam began to blossom under Hazrat Ali under the influence of Salman-e-Fars.
The Ahadnameh granted to the brother of Salman-e-Fars is believed to have been written by Al Ibn Abu Talib under institutions from Prophet Muhammad. The Charter granted various rights and freedom as also protection to the coreligionists of Dastur Dinyar. The prophet is believed to have said, "Whosoever obeys this my command he will gain. The pleasure of God, but those who disobey will be accursed to the day of resurrection."
The Ahadnameh says, "Those who are generous to them (i.e. Zarathushtrians) is generous to me (i.e. Muhammad), and they will receive naught but good from God. And those who offends them, offends me, and I will be his enemy on the day of Judgement. His punishment is the fire of hell I withdraw my protection from him.
In the same 'Ahadnameh' the prophet says, "And it was said in the revelation received by me that paradise more impatiently desires the presence of Salman then Salman wishes to go there. Really, he is my intimate friend and adviser as well as to all Muslims. Salman is one of our family".
Unfortunately there is very little we know about Dastur Dinyar from Zarathushtrian texts except for the fact that he was also known as "Behzad" (the wellborn) and was the spiritual counsellor of Noshirwan-e-Adil. Mystics believe this Zarathushtrian Dastur was destined in Nature to influence the early development of the fifth and final major religion of the world (i.e. Islam).
It is Ironic that despite Dastur Dinyar's influence on early Islam and the charters issued by Prophet Muhammed, the Arab Muslims ultimately destroyed Zarathushtrian Iran and the coreligionists of the pious Dastur had to flee from their own motherland and seek refuge in India.
Strange are the ways of this world.
_____________________________
The Quran says:
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
The Avesta says:
In the name of God, the bestower, the giver, the benevolent!
The Islamic God, Allah, has 99 names.
The Zoroastrian God, Ahura Mazda, has 101 names.
[59.24] He is Allah the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner; His are the most excellent names; whatever is in the heavens and the earth declares His glory; and He is the Mighty, the Wise.
Khorda Avesta 0:5.
Then Zarathushtra said: 'Reveal unto me that name of thine, O Ahura Mazda! that is the greatest, the best, the fairest, the most effective, the most fiend-smiting, the best-healing, that destroyeth best the malice of Daevas and Men;
http://coulomb.ecn.purdue.edu/~bulsara/ZOROASTRIAN/101names.html
Khorda Avesta 0:16.
'These are my names.
'And he who in this material world, O Spitama Zarathushtra! shall recite and pronounce those names of mine either by day or by night;
17.
'He who shall pronounce them, when he rises up or when he lays him down; when he lays him down or when he rises up; when he binds on the sacred girdle [[kusti]] or when he unbinds the sacred girdle; when he goes out of his dwelling-place, or when he goes out of his town, or when he goes out of his country and comes into another country:
[7.180] And Allah's are the best names, therefore call on Him thereby, and leave alone those who violate the sanctity of His names; they shall be recompensed for what they did.
[20.8] Allah -- there is no god but He; His are the very best names.
Who has the best names? Allah or Ahura? Or are they the same God?
[59.22] He is Allah besides Whom there is no god; the Knower of the unseen and the seen; He is the Beneficent, the Merciful
[59.23] He is Allah, besides Whom there is no god; the King, the Holy, the Giver of peace, the Granter of security, Guardian over all, the Mighty, the Supreme, the Possessor of every greatness Glory be to Allah from what they set up (with Him).
Compare to the Avesta:
Yasna 1. I announce and carry out this Yasna for the creator Ahura Mazda, the radiant and glorious, the greatest and the best, the most beautiful, the most firm, the wisest, and the one of all whose body is the most perfect, who attains His ends the most infallibly, because of his Asha, to him who disposes our minds aright, who sends His joy-creating grace afar; who made us, and has fashioned us, and who has nourished and protected us, who is the most bounteous Spirit!
'I, Ahura Mazda, the Maker of all good things, when I made this mansion, the beautiful, the shining, seen afar (there may I ascend, there may I arrive!)
1. In the name of Ohrmazd, the lord, the greatest and wise, [the all-ruling, all-knowing, and almighty,
[0. Rejoicing unto the Creator Ohrmazd, Who is Radiant, Glorious and All-knowing, Wise, Capable and the Greatest, -- with good-thought, good-word, and good-deed in meditation, utterance and action, -- and unto all the spiritual Yazads and earthly Yazads.
What puts this all together is this:
http://tenets.zoroastrianism.com/zsaint33b.html
Muhammed had a close friend, Salman -e-Fars, who was a Zoroastrain high priest. He was called dastur Dinyar.
Now how the Avesta describes God is strikingly similar to the Quran's description. The names and adjectives used to describe God make it clearly evident that Salman influenced Muhammed and the Quran.