قرآن کا نظریہ عمومِ رسالت: بدھ مت کا تجزیاتی مطالعہ

Abstract

The history of the world bears witness to the fact that just as Allah Almighty arranged for the material needs of human beings, He also provided a comprehensive system for their intellectual, moral, and spiritual guidance. Accordingly, from the very beginning of human history, a continuous chain of prophets and messengers was established so that the light of truth might reach every nation and region. The purpose of this divine arrangement was to acquaint humanity with its Creator, to teach the distinction between good and evil, and to guide people toward the true purpose of life. The influence of this guidance became evident in different civilizations and societies. The Holy Qur’an clarifies this historical and universal reality through the doctrine of the universality of prophethood, declaring that there has been no community to which a guide and a warner was not sent by Allah. In light of this doctrine, when non-Semitic religions particularly Buddhism are examined analytically, an important question arises: whether the ethical teachings of Buddhism, its spirituality based on asceticism and meditation, and its concept of salvation are echoes of a previous revealed religion or merely the product of human thought. This research is based on this very question and presents an analytical study of Buddhism in the context of the Qur’anic doctrine of the universality of prophethood, in order to better understand the continuity and significance of divine guidance in the history of religions.