Page 37 - Islam and Buddhism

Buddhism: An Idolatrous Religion

idolater reveres whatever image, relic, or object that he associates

with God more highly than he does God Himself, directing toward it
all his love and respect, interest and adoration. The Qur'an (15: 96; 17:
39; 51: 51) refers to this perverse way of thinking as "setting up an-
other god together with God."

The Islamic religion is based on the belief in the oneness of God
(tawhid). God often repeats the phrase La ilahe illahu ("there is no other
God but He"), which is the first condition of faith. Therefore, the most
basic meaning of shirk is deviating from this truth into the mistaken
idea that there are other beings besides God who possess "power and
might." In the Qur'an, our Lord makes Himself known by describing

His attributes and tells us in many verses in the Qur'an that there is no
other god but He. In verse 59: 22-24, God reveals His sublime names
in these words:

He is God—there is no god but Him. He is the Knower of the
Unseen and the Visible. He is the All-Merciful, the Most
Merciful.
He is God—there is no god but Him. He is the King, the Most
Pure, the Perfect Peace, the Trustworthy, the Safeguarder, the
Almighty, the Compeller, the Supremely Great. Glory be to God
above all they associate with Him.

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