Answer
Assalamo alaikom Kushi,
This is a very important discussion, and it’s great that you are seeking to understand how to approach your friend with wisdom and good instruction as the Quran advises.
What Makes Islam Distinct?
You are right that other religions, including Hinduism, Christianity, and Buddhism, teach morality, goodness, and avoiding harm. Islam agrees with the universal good found in these faiths, believing that all prophets brought a core message of worshipping one God and being good.
However, the major distinction often discussed in the context of Islam’s proof is the preservation and unique nature of the Quran:
Muslims believe the Quran is the final, complete, and perfectly preserved Word of God (Allah), unlike the scriptures of many other faiths which, over time, have been acknowledged to have undergone various degrees of human editing, translation errors, or loss of original manuscripts.
The Quran, even to non-Arabic speakers, possesses a unique eloquence and structure that Arabs at the time of its revelation—who were masters of poetry—found impossible to imitate. The Quran itself issues a challenge: to produce a single chapter (Surah) like it (Quran 2:23).
After 1400 years, this challenge remains unmet. This is considered a fundamental miracle that is accessible to everyone, not just those who witnessed Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) personally.
The Quran contains verses about natural phenomena (e.g., embryology, cosmology, mountain functions) and historical narratives that are consistent with modern knowledge, despite being revealed 1400 years ago.
This is a profound and important conversation you are having with your friend. It touches upon the most fundamental questions of life, which require thoughtful and sincere discussion, not force or blind adherence.
Here is a structured approach to address your friend’s questions, focusing on the core unique claims of Islam and using rational arguments.
How Do I Help My Hindu Friend Believe in Islam?
To invite your friend sincerely, focus on shared human logic and the concept of God in both traditions.
Many Hindu scriptures speak of a single, ultimate reality (Brahman), which is formless, absolute, and beyond comprehension.
You can respectfully point out that Islam’s core message of Tawhıˉd is the clearest, most straightforward articulation of this Absolute Oneness—a logical conclusion for the Creator of everything.
Ask a question: If God is truly the Supreme, All-Powerful Creator, is it logical for Him to take a finite, limited, human form, or is He greater than His entire creation?
Proof for the Creator (Allah)
Everything that begins to exist must have a cause. The universe (the cosmos) began to exist. Therefore, the universe must have a cause. This cause must be uncaused and eternal, otherwise, we would have an infinite chain of causes with no beginning—a logical impossibility. Muslims believe this ultimate, uncaused, eternal cause is Allah.
Look at the incredible precision and balance in the universe—the laws of physics, the human eye, the perfect orbit of the Earth, the water cycle. It is highly improbable that such complexity and fine-tuning arose purely by random chance. A precise, complex, and beautiful creation necessitates a precise, intelligent, and powerful Creator/Designer.
Islam teaches that every person is born with an innate spiritual inclination (Fitra) to acknowledge one single Creator. Prophet Muhammad says: “No baby is born but upon Fitra. It is his parents who make him a Jew or a Christian or a Polytheist. A person said: Allah’s Messenger, what is your opinion if they were to die before that (before reaching the age of adolescence when they can distinguish between right and wrong)? He said: It is Allah alone Who knows what they would be doing. (Sahih Muslim)
Proof of the Prophet (peace be upon him)
Your friend asks, “how can I believe” in the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) if he didn’t witness him. The proof for his prophethood primarily rests on the miracle of the Quran itself and his character and historical impact:
Unlike previous prophets whose main miracles were physical and witnessed by only a few people (like Moses’ staff or Jesus’ healing), the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) main miracle is an accessible and enduring text—the Quran. If the Quran is proven to be a divine word, then the person who delivered it must be a true Messenger.
His life is arguably one of the most thoroughly documented in history (the Seerah and Hadith). He was known for his truthfulness and trustworthiness before his claim to prophethood (known as Al-Sadiq, Al-Amin).
It’s a rational question: why would a man who lived a life of exceptional integrity and was loved by his community suddenly spend 23 years enduring persecution and hardship just to invent a false religion?
“Religions are man-made, just be good”
Islam absolutely stresses being a good person. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The best of you are those who have the best manners.” (Sahih Bukhari)
If a sophisticated piece of technology (like a phone or a car) is created, wouldn’t it come with an instruction manual from the manufacturer? If the universe is created by an ultimate, intelligent designer (Allah), doesn’t it make sense that He would also send an instruction manual (revelation) to tell us how to use this life correctly, how to treat each other, and what is the ultimate purpose of our existence beyond just “being good”?
Defining “Good”: Without a divine standard, what is “good” becomes relative and changes with culture and time. Islam provides an objective standard of good (worshipping the One God and acting virtuously) that is consistent and universal.
If we are all just “good people” who “die, that is it,” then why do good? Why endure hardship for justice? Islam addresses the fundamental human need for ultimate justice and purpose—that our good deeds and beliefs are recorded and will be eternally rewarded or punished in the next life. This provides a profound meaning that a purely secular “be good and die” philosophy lacks.
So, in a nutshell, the most important step is to tell your friend that Islam is not about “blind faith.” It is about seeking knowledge and using the intellect God gave us. Encourage him to read the Quran for himself in a clear translation, with an open mind, focusing on its clarity, its justice, and its consistent message of Tawhid (the absolute oneness of God). God willing his heart will open to Islam..the path to true peace and salvation.