Religions can be divided according to their source into two sections: Earthly, human religions which are not divine, but are determined and developed by human beings and are not revealed by Allah; such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Parsee and Paganism.These could not be further from the true religion. Rather their religion comes according to their own whims: }Have you seen him who takes his own lust (vain desires) as his ilâh (god), and Allâh knowing (him as such), left him astray, and sealed his hearing and his heart, and put a cover on his sight. Who then will guide him after Allâh? Will you not then remember?{(Al-Jâthiya:23)
It is not a divine religion. It is the religion of human whims. It is for that reason that you find these religions filled with superstition, hypocrisy, class distinction and contradictions.The Almighty says : }Had it been from other than Allâh, they would surely have found therein much contradictions.{(An-Nisâ’:82)
The second kind are the divine religions from Allah; such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The Creator ordained these religions and approved them. Allah says: }He (Allâh) has ordained for you the same religion (Islâm) which He ordained for Nûh (Noah), and that which We have inspired in you (O Muhammad pbuh), and that which We ordained for Ibrahîm (Abraham), Mûsa (Mosesý) and ‘Iesa (Jesus) saying you should establish religion (i.e. to do what it orders you to do practically), and make no divisions in it (religion) (i.e. various sects in religion). Intolerable for the Mushrikûn, is that to which you (O Muhammad pbuh) call them. Allâh chooses for Himself whom He wills, and guides unto Himself who turns to Him in repentance and in obedience.{(Ash-Shûra:13)
There is no doubt that earthly religions contain a wide range of ideas and human thought, which are tailored to suit the caprices of their legislators. People discover shortly afterwards, however, that such religions are not proper. They, therefore, try to develop them and continue in confusion and deviation.These religions have several characteristics, which include: Polytheism: everyday they invent a new god for themselves, for their gods are of their own making! They do not realize or think about the impossibility of the presence of other gods with Allah, for if there were more than one god, there would only be conflict and chaos. Almighty Allah says: }91. No son (or offspring or children) did Allâh beget, nor is there any ilâh (god) along with Him; (if there had been many gods), behold, each god would have taken away what he had created, and some would have tried to overcome others! Glorified be Allâh above all that they attribute to Him! 92. All-Knower of the unseen and the seen! Exalted be He over all that they associate as partners to Him!{ (Al-Mu’minûn:91-92)
Class distinction: the non-monotheistic religions are based on class distinction and enslavement, since the legislators of these religions give advantages to themselves, their community and to those whom they wish, which are not given to others.They do that only to achieve their goals and to enslave others. Allah says: }O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allâh is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa [i.e. one of the Muttaqûn (pious - see V.2:2). Verily, Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Aware.{(Al-Hujurât:13)
The Almighty forbids looking down upon others or mocking them: }Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former.{(Al-Hujurât:11)
Therefore, there is no distinction before Allah between a white person and a black one, nor between one race and another, nor one nationality and the other.Many of these earthly religions, on the other hand, are based on detestable class distinctions.
Contrary to natural instinct: earthly religions contradict the natural human instinct. They burden man with what he cannot tolerate, and are based on opposing and contradicting human nature and the sound mind. Followers of such religions have drifted far away from the straight path and have made complete alterations. Allah says: }So set you (O Muhammad SAW) your face towards the religion of pure Islâmic Monotheism Hanifa (worship none but Allâh Alone) Allâh’s Fitrah (i.e. Allâh’s Islâmic Monotheism), with which He has created mankind. No change let there be in Khalq¬illâh (i.e. the Religion of Allâh Islâmic Monotheism), that is the straight religion, but most of men know not{ (Ar¬-Rûm:30)
Superstition: it is the belief or the thought based on mere fantasies, without the existence of any mental, logical or scientific reason. Earthly religions contain myths which have neither evidence nor arguments to support them.What is built on a myth is certainly nothing but a falsehood. Allah, the Truthful, says: }Say, “Bring forth your proofs, if you are truthful.”{(An-Naml:64)
Discrepancies: those religions are full of contradictions. Each group is built upon the ruined remains of another which contradicts it, and then it develops such remains on this (conflicting basis). Allah, the Truthful says: }Had it been from other than Allâh, they would surely have found therein much contradictions.{(An-Nisâ’:82)
As for divine religions, they are a blessing from Allah to mankind. He revealed these religions to guide man, illuminate his way, establish proof against him on the Day of Resurrection, and keep him away from superstition and polytheism, as well as from contradicting common sense. It is for this reason that Allah sent messengers to convey the Word of Allah and His message: }Messengers as bearers of good news as well as of warning in order that mankind should have no plea against Allâh after the Messengers. And Allâh is Ever All¬Powerful, All¬-Wise.{(An-Nisâ’:165)
