Sacred Texts of World Religions
By Aslam Abdullah
CA

Religious texts are foundational to understanding various faiths' beliefs, values, and practices. Here's an overview of sacred religious scriptures from major world religions:

Taoism: Tao Te Ching and Zhuangzi

• Tao Te Ching : Written by Laozi, this foundational text outlines the principles of Taoism, emphasizing the importance of living in harmony with the Tao (the Way), natural simplicity, and non-action (wu wei).
• Zhuangzi : This is another important Taoist text attributed to the philosopher Zhuang Zhou. It contains parables and teachings that explore the relativity of human experience and the Daoist philosophy of detachment from worldly concerns.

Confucianism: The Five Classics and Four Books

• The Five Classics : Traditionally attributed to Confucius, these ancient texts include works on poetry, history, rituals, and philosophy.
• The Four Books : These are core texts for Confucian study, including the Analects (a collection of sayings attributed to Confucius), the Mencius, the Doctrine of the Mean, and the Great Learning. These works focus on ethics, governance, and proper conduct.

Zoroastrianism: Avesta

• Avesta : The sacred text of Zoroastrianism, containing hymns, prayers, and rituals. The most crucial section is the Gathas, hymns attributed to the Prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra), expressing his teachings on dualism, ethics, and the struggle between good and evil.

Jainism: Agamas

• Agamas  are the canonical scriptures of Jainism, based on the teachings of Lord Mahavira. These texts provide guidance on ethics, cosmology, and the path of non-violence (ahimsa) and asceticism.

• Hinduism: The Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and more
• Vedas : The oldest and most authoritative Hindu scriptures, composed in Sanskrit and divided into four collections: Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda, are hymns, chants, and rituals for the gods.
• Upanishads : These philosophical texts explore the nature of reality, the self (Atman), and the universe (Brahman) and form the basis of Vedanta philosophy.
• Bhagavad Gita : This 700-verse dialogue between Prince Arjuna and the deity Krishna explores concepts of duty (dharma), devotion (bhakti), and God's nature.
• Ramayana and Mahabharata : Epic poems that tell the stories of divine incarnations (Rama in the Ramayana and Krishna in the Mahabharata) and elaborate on moral and spiritual lessons.

Buddhism: Tripitaka and Sutras

• Tripitaka (Pali Canon) : The earliest and most authoritative scriptures in Theravada Buddhism, divided into three "baskets" (pitaka):
• Vinaya Pitaka : Rules for monastic discipline.
• Sutta Pitaka : Teachings and sermons of the Buddha.
• Abhidhamma Pitaka : Philosophical and doctrinal analysis.
• Mahayana Sutras : In Mahayana Buddhism, additional scriptures like the Lotus Sutra and the Heart Sutra offer further teachings on compassion, wisdom, and the path to enlightenment.

Judaism: Tanakh and Talmud

• Tanakh : The Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament in Christianity. It consists of three parts: Torah (Law), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings).
• Torah : The first five books, also known as the "Pentateuch," are the core of Jewish law.
• Talmud : A central text in Rabbinic Judaism, the Talmud is a compilation of interpretations and discussions of Jewish law and ethics by ancient rabbis. It consists of the Mishnah (oral laws) and the Gemara (commentary on the Mishnah).

Christianity: The Bible

• Old Testament : Shared with Judaism, it includes books of law (Torah), history, prophecy, and poetry. It tells the story of creation, the history of Israel, and the covenant between God and the Jewish people.
• New Testament : Specifically Christian, it contains the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) that narrate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It also includes the Acts of the Apostles, epistles (letters) written by Paul and other apostles, and the Book of Revelation.

Islam: The Qur’an and Hadith

• Qur’an : The central religious text of Islam, believed to be the word of God (Allah), as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad by the archangel Gabriel. It has 114 chapters (surahs) and includes discourses on all aspects of life, including theology, morality, law, and personal conduct.
• Hadith : The hadith is a collection of Prophet Muhammad's sayings, actions, and approvals. It is essential for interpreting the Qur’an and provides detailed guidance on Islamic practices and jurisprudence.

Sikhism: Guru Granth Sahib

• The Guru Granth Sahib is the central religious scripture of Sikhism, regarded by Sikhs as the final, sovereign, and eternal living Guru. It contains hymns and poetry by Sikh Gurus and various saints (Bhagats) from different backgrounds, promoting devotion to God, equality, and moral righteousness.

Baha'i Faith: Kitab-i-Aqdas and Kitab-i-Iqan

• Kitab-i-Aqdas : The most essential book in the Baha'i Faith, written by Baha'u'llah, outlining religious laws, moral principles, and teachings for individual and social conduct.
• Kitab-i-Iqan : A critical theological work explaining the unity of all religions and the role of prophets in revealing divine guidance.

• (Dr Aslam Abdullah is a resident scholar at Islamicity.org and editor-in-chief of the Muslim Observer newspaper. He is also the Indian Islamic Heritage Project director of the American Federation of Muslims of Indian origin and the interim President of the World Council of Muslims for Interfaith Relations, WCMIR.)