The Islamic doctrine of Tawhid—the absolute Oneness of God—is often mistakenly viewed as exclusive. Yet, the Qur’an itself asserts that the truth is universal, proclaiming, “And there was never a nation but that there had passed within it a warner” (Qur’an 35:24).

When we examine the sacred scriptures of other traditions, we don’t find contradiction, but rather profound affirmation. The revered Indian text, the Bhagavad Gita (literally “The Song of God”—a title that resonates with the Psalms revealed to Prophet David), provides a stunning example of this shared spiritual heritage.

The Ancient Tradition of Divine Song

The presence of the Divine message in the Indian subcontinent is visible in its oldest texts. The Sāma Veda, one of the four principal Vedas, is fundamentally focused on hymns and melodies of worship. This tradition of praising the Creator through song directly aligns with the ancient prophetic methodology seen in the Psalms and the melodic recitation of the Qur’an.

The Gita itself references the Sāma Veda in its tenth chapter (Vibhuti Yoga), acknowledging continuity with this earlier, pure expression of sacred devotion. Many Muslim thinkers propose that ancient Indian sages were influenced by original prophetic teachings—messages whose names are lost to history but whose core call to monotheism left visible traces in their scriptures.

Submission: The Shared Foundation of Faith

The most powerful parallel between the Gita and the Qur’an lies in the central theme of surrender.

In the Bhagavad Gita, a powerful verse spoken by Krishna (through the voice of the sage Vyasa) states:

“The immoral, the foolish and the lower levels of humanity do not surrender unto Me; their discrimination degraded by illusion, they take refuge in demoniac nature.” (Bhagavad Gita 7:15)

Here, “surrender” is presented as the path of spiritual liberation—a purification of the self from the arrogance, ignorance, and rebellion that distance us from the Divine.

This concept finds its ultimate confirmation in the Qur’an:

“O you who believe, enter into Islam completely [and perfectly], and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.” (Qur’an 2:208)

The parallel is unmistakable: the Arabic word Islam literally means Submission—to surrender one’s will to the Will of God. Both scriptures emphasize complete surrender as the foundation of peace (salām) and spiritual success.

Deifying the Messenger: The Misinterpretation Across Ages

The challenge for all divine messages has always been human misinterpretation.

Across civilizations, people have often erred by deifying the messengers themselves. Just as later generations took the words of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) as a claim of divinity, many also mistook Krishna’s divine teachings as a self-declaration of godhood.

Yet, when examined closely, the core message of every true prophet or divine messenger was the same: Worship God Alone, and follow the path of righteousness.

“And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], ‘Worship Allah and avoid Taghut (false gods).’” (Qur’an 16:36)

True submission is, therefore, never directed to any created being—it is exclusively for the Creator Himself.

Conclusion: One Message, Many Vessels

The wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita and the revelation of the Qur’an are not in competition; they are echoes of the same primordial truth that all prophets taught.

The message remains consistent in every age: to abandon the rebellious (egoic) nature and align the soul with the Divine Will. The Qur’an describes this transformation vividly: “Whoever submits his face to Allah while being a doer of good has grasped the firmest handhold; and to Allah will be the outcome of all matters” (Qur’an 31:22).

The final Qur’anic revelation acknowledges and validates this shared spiritual lineage:

“Say: We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us, and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and what was given to Moses, Jesus, and the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we submit.” (Qur’an 3:84)

The sincere seeker of truth will find that the path of all genuine revelation leads to the same destination—the One, Eternal God.