Can a Buddhist be a Muslim?

Answer 1

Answer from a Muslim.Dear my beloved brothers & sisters,

Strictly a Muslim cannot practice Buddhisme. But a Muslim can study Buddhisme only for general knowledge. Islam promote its followers to learn & get knowledge as much as possible because Islam is a religion to those who are thinking.

Muslim need to fully understand their religion in order to make them a better Muslim. All of the knowledge of other religion are an extra knowledge will only strengthen Muslim belive toward Islam if they are really study it & understand what was revealed by God Almighty (ALLAH S.W.T).

There is no 'strict Muslim' or 'not extremly strict Muslim' in Islam. As a Muslim, we have to hold tight the faith declaration that we have done. which is 'There is no God except ALLAH & Muhammad (peace be upon to him) is the messenger of Allah'. Which means a Muslim cannot against what God was revealed & Prophet's (P.B.U.h) teaching.

The meaning of Muslim linguistically mean "a man who bow or obey to God's will". Any Muslim who break the faith basic requirement will autmatically not longger being a Muslim and called a 'Murtad' which means out of Islam.

Any Muslim who introduce teaching that contradict God's Words are really in a great misleading.

Islam is a perfect religion & way of life. It will not outdated & suitable in any place, anytime even in the past, present & future.

Islam is the reasonable religion with practical teaching in any condition & any life aspect with great detail & also understandable. I.e economically, socially, educationally, technologically, marriage, charity, law, hygenically, dietry, philosophy & so on (present life & after life knowledge). Therefore all Muslim already have a perfect guidance (Al-Quran & Prophet tradition) to face anything peacefully. We don't even need other religion dogma or teaching to make us the best human being. But what a Muslim have to do is fully understand our true religion teaching & practicing it.

Honestly I'm also studying Buddhisme & always make discussion with my Buddhist best friend for general knowledge & dialouge. And finally as a Muslim,

we respect all religions & in Islam there is no compulsion in religion. My answer over here is not to insult anyone, but for clarification only. Thanks..

AnswerYES ! ( My Belief is) Since Buddhism is a PHILOSOPHY A MUSLIM can Study BUDDHISM...

It depends on how you interpret it. Buddhism is sometimes called "the faith of no faith," because there are no gods in Buddhism, but if you believe in Islam and study Buddhism, then you can make your own combination. Just go with whatever you want to believe.

It depends upon how strict a Muslim you are. If you are not extremely strict then yes, a Muslim and anyone else can look at Buddhism as a philosophy. But, if you are strict, then no, a Muslim must only follow their own philosophies and the ideas of their religion.

AnswerSince Buddhism is a Philosophy and not a Religion, then you can study Buddhism. It will definitely make you a better Muslim. Buddhism is all about ending sufferings. Sufferings afflicts both Theists and none Theist. In fact there are Christian-Buddhist, Jewish-Buddhist, Islam-Buddhist, etc...

ANSWER BY A BUDDHIST

Anyone can study Buddhism. The practices of meditation help many people of all races, religions, and cultures. You need not be a Buddhist to practice the beliefs of Buddhism. The main thing we care about is the relief of suffering for all beings, and I have no doubt that any religion would agree with that. No matter who you are, you can follow the Dharma. When it comes to just studying it, that is kind of silly. Can a Buddhist study the Muslim religion? Of course! Can a Christian? why not? study to your heart's content and if you decide you want to practice it, give it a try or so, then try meditating and I would suggest reading The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh. This book gives you good methods of meditation. For those with troubled pasts like me, read Noah Levine's book Dharma Punk or Against the Stream. The first is a biography that will keep you on the tip of your toes till the last page and the second is a very clear cut explanation of Buddhist beliefs, written in Levine's attention grabbing style. If you want more of a long read with better explanation and detail get The Buddhist Bible.Though we have no bible this is just a great book with information from many different Pali sources. And last but not least, Noah Levine's website has many audio downloads if you do not wish to read. For more go to Buddhistebooks.com and there are many other sources where you can even have actual free books shipped to you, or locate a retreat or local Budddhist Temple or Meditation Hall. namaste!

Answer 2

Technically no. All Buddhists are agnostics and don't believe in a single supreme being like Allah or God. Buddha is "the enlightened one", but this does not mean he is a god in the sense of many Western religions.

In the point of view of a Muslim. A buddist can be a Muslim if he analyses the buddist scriptures. Following is a extract for www.irf.net

1. Buddha prophesised the advent of a Maitreya:

A) Almost all Buddhist books contain this prophecy. It is in Chakkavatti Sinhnad Suttanta D. III, 76:

"There will arise in the world a Buddha named Maitreya (the benevolent one) a holy one, a supreme one, an enlightened one, endowed with wisdom in conduct, auspicious, knowing the universe:

"What he has realized by his own supernatural knowledge he will publish to this universe. He will preach his religion, glorious in its origin, glorious at its climax, glorious at the goal, in the spirit and the letter. He will proclaim a religious life, wholly perfect and thoroughly pure; even as I now preach my religion and a like life do proclaim. He will keep up the society of monks numbering many thousands, even as now I keep up a society of monks numbering many hundreds".

B) According to Sacred Books of the East volume 35 pg. 225:

"It is said that I am not an only Buddha upon whom the leadership and order is dependent. After me another Buddha maitreya of such and such virtues will come. I am now the leader of hundreds, he will be the leader of thousands."

C) According to the Gospel of Buddha by Carus pg. 217 and 218 (From Ceylon sources):

"Ananda said to the Blessed One, 'Who shall teach us when thou art gone?'

And the Blessed one replied, 'I am not the first Buddha who came upon the earth nor shall I be the last. In due time another Buddha will arise in the world, a holy one, a supremely enlightened one, endowed with wisdom in conduct, auspicious, knowing the universe, an incomparable leader of men, a master of angels and mortals. He will reveal to you the same eternal truths, which I have taught you. He will preach his religion, glorious in its origin, glorious at the climax and glorious at the goal. He will proclaim a religious life, wholly perfect and pure such as I now proclaim. His disciples will number many thousands while mine number many hundreds.'

Ananda said, 'How shall we know him?'

The Blessed one replied, 'He will be known as Maitreya'."(i) The Sanskrit word 'Maitreya' or its equivalent in Pali 'Metteyya' means loving, compassionate, merciful and benevolent. It also means kindness and friendliness, sympathy, etc. One Arabic word which is equivalent to all these words is 'Rahmat'. In Surah Al-Anbiya:

"We sent thee not, but as a mercy for all creatures."

[Al-Qur'an 21:107]

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was called the merciful, which is 'Maitri'.

(ii) The words Mercy and Merciful are mentioned in the Holy Qur'an no less than 409 times.

(iii) Every chapter of the Glorious Qur'an, except Chapter 9, i.e. Surah Taubah begins with the beautiful formula, 'Bismillah Hir-Rahman Nir-Rahim', which means 'In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful'.

(iv) The Word Muhammad is also spelt as 'Mahamet' or 'Mahomet' and in various other ways in different languages. The word 'Maho' or 'Maha' in Pali and Sanskrit mean Great and Illustrious and 'Metta' means mercy. Therefore 'Mahomet' means 'Great Mercy'.

2. Buddha's doctrine was Esoteric and Exoteric:

According to Sacred Books of the East, volume 11, pg. 36 Maha-Parinibbana Sutta chapter 2 verse 32:

"I have preached the truth without making any distinction between exoteric and esoteric doctrine, for in respect of truths, Ananda, the Tathagata has no such thing as the closed fist of a teacher, who keeps something back".

Muhammad (pbuh) on the commandment of Almighty God delivered the message and doctrine without making any distinction between esoteric and exoteric. The Qur'an was recited in public in the days of the Prophet and is being done so till date. The Prophet had strictly forbidden the Muslims from hiding the doctrine

3. Devoted Servitors of the Buddhas:

According to Sacred Books of the East volume 11 pg. 97 Maha-Parinibbana Sutta Chapter 5 verse 36:

"Then the Blessed one addressed the brethren, and said, 'Whosoever, brethren have been Arahat-Buddhas through the long ages of the past, they were servitors just as devoted to those Blessed ones as Ananda has been to me. And whosoever brethren shall be the Arahat-Buddhas of the future, there shall be servitors as devoted to those Blessed ones as Ananda has been to me'."

The Servitor of Buddha was Ananda. Muhammad (pbuh) also had a servitor by the name Anas (r.a.) who was the son of Malik. Anas (r.a...) was presented to the Prophet by his parents. Anas (r.a...) relates: "My mother said to him, 'Oh Messenger of God, here is your little servant'." Further Anas relates, "I served him from the time I was 8 years old and the Prophet called me his son and his little beloved". Anas (r.a...) stayed by the Prophet in peace and in war, in safety as well as in danger till the end of his life.

i) Anas (r.a.), even though he was only 11 years old stayed beside the Prophet during the battle of Uhud where the Prophet's life was in great danger.

ii) Even during the battle of Honain when the Prophet was surrounded by the enemies who were archers, Anas (r.a...) who was only 16 years old stood by the Prophet.

Anas (R) can surely be compared with Ananda who stood by Gautam Buddha when the mad elephant approached him.

4. Six Criteria for Identifying Buddha:

According to the Gospel of Buddha by Carus pg. 214:"The Blessed one said, 'There are two occasions on which a Tathagata's appearance becomes clear and exceedingly bright. In the night Ananda, in which a Tathagata attains to the supreme and perfect insight, and in the night in which he passes finally away in that ultra passing which leaves nothing whatever of his earthly existence to remain.' "

According to Gautam Buddha, following are the six criteria for identifying a Buddha.

i) A Buddha attains supreme and perfect insight at night-time.

ii) On the occasion of his complete enlightenment he looks exceedingly bright

iii) A Buddha dies a natural death.

iv) He dies at night-time.

v) He looks exceedingly bright before his death.

vi) After his death a Buddha ceases to exist on earth.

i) Muhammad (pbuh) attained supreme insight and Prophethood at night-time.

According to Surah Dukhan:

"By the books that makes thing clear - We sent it down during a blessed night."

[Al-Qur'an 44:2-3]

According to Surah Al-Qadar:

"We have indeed revealed this (message) in the night of power."

[Al-Qur'an 97:1]

ii) Muhammad (pbuh) instantly felt his understanding illumined with celestial light.

iii) Muhammad (pbuh) died a natural death.iv) According to Ayesha (r.a.), Muhammad (pbuh) expired at night-time. When he was dying there was no oil in the lamp and his wife Ayesha (r.a.) had to borrow oil for the lamp.

v) According to Anas (r.a.), Muhammad (pbuh) looked exceedingly bright in the night of his death.

vi) After the burial of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) he was never seen again in his bodily form on this earth.

5. Buddhas are only Preachers:

According to Dhammapada, Sacred Books of East volume 10 pg., 67:

"The Jathagatas (Buddhas) are only Preachers."

The Qur'an says in Surah Ghashiya:

"Therefore do thou give admonition, for thou art one to admonish. Thou art not one to manage (men's) affairs."[Al-Qur'an 88:21-22]

6. Identification of Maitreya by Buddha:

According to Dhammapada, Mattaya Sutta, 151:

"The promised one will be:

i) Compassionate for the whole creation

ii) A messenger of peace, a peace-maker

iii) The most successful in the world.

The Maitreya as a Preacher of morals will be:

i) Truthful

ii) Self-respecting

iii) Gentle and noble

iv) Not proud

v) As a king to creatures

vi) An example to others in deeds and in words".