Bhagwan Rajneesh Fails the First Test of Surah Ikhlaas - Dr Zakir Naik
Dr. Zakir Naik applies the first test of Surah Ikhlas to Bhagwan Rajneesh, who was believed by many to be God. He argues that Rajneesh fails this test because he was not 'one and only,' as thousands of others have also claimed to be God, particularly in India.
Summary
In this short clip, Dr. Zakir Naik addresses the claim made by many people that Bhagwan Rajneesh (also known as Osho) is almighty God. He begins by clarifying a misunderstanding, noting that he never claimed Hindus as a whole believe Rajneesh is God — rather, he said 'many people' believe this, and he is aware that Hindu scriptures do not identify Rajneesh as God.
Dr. Naik then proceeds to subject Rajneesh to the first criterion of Surah Ikhlas (Chapter 112 of the Quran), which states that God is 'one and only.' He poses the question: Is Bhagwan Rajneesh the one and only? His answer is no. He points out that hundreds and thousands of individuals throughout history — and especially in India — have claimed to be God, meaning Rajneesh is not unique in this claim. By this logic, Rajneesh fails the very first test laid out in Surah Ikhlas, disqualifying him from being considered God under this Islamic theological framework.
Key Insights
- Dr. Zakir Naik clarifies that he never said Hindus believe Rajneesh is God — he said 'many people' believe this, and he is aware that Hindu scriptures do not support Rajneesh's divinity.
- Dr. Naik applies the first test of Surah Ikhlas — that God is 'one and only' — as a framework to evaluate whether Bhagwan Rajneesh can legitimately be considered God.
- Dr. Naik argues that Rajneesh fails the first test of Surah Ikhlas because he is not the only person to have claimed divinity — hundreds and thousands of others have made the same claim.
- Dr. Naik specifically highlights India as a country where thousands of individuals have claimed to be God, undermining the uniqueness of Rajneesh's claim.
- Dr. Naik anticipates a counterargument that Rajneesh is 'unique,' suggesting he is prepared to address the claim of uniqueness as a separate point beyond simply being 'one and only.'
Topics
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