Is Zoroastrianism Truly the World's First Monotheistic Religion?
"Worship of fire is a natural act of man because fire has played a crucial role in the survival of human civilization. It is a source of light, heat, and energy."
Similar claims are found in Christianity, Hinduism, and other religions, where the worship of various deities is justified as natural. The unique feature of Islam is that it liberated humanity from the worship of all creation and commanded exclusive worship of Allah alone.
Zoroaster states:
"O Fire, O son of Ahura Mazda, accept our prayers."
These words clearly indicate that fire is not just symbolic but is regarded as a bearer of divine powers, and seeking help through fire is a common religious practice in Zoroastrianism.
"O Fire, O son of Ahura Mazda, grant us knowledge, wisdom, and happiness."
This prayer proves that in Zoroastrianism, fire is not a mere symbol but is worshipped like a deity, with supplications and spiritual requests made to it.
✘ "O Ka'bah, forgive me"
✘ "O sacred fire, help me"
In Islam, Tawhid means to worship Allah alone, without any intermediaries. In contrast, other religions consider created entities as means to reach God, which is a clear manifestation of polytheism.
All praise is due to Allah, and peace be upon all the Prophets and Messengers.
Background
Followers of the Zoroastrian (Persian) religion claim that Zoroastrianism is the world's first monotheistic religion, and that it is mistakenly perceived as fire worship. They argue that fire is only symbolic in their faith, representing the divine light and wisdom of God. However, a deeper analysis of their scriptures and prayers reveals a different reality.Is Fire Merely a Symbol?
A Persian scholar states:"Worship of fire is a natural act of man because fire has played a crucial role in the survival of human civilization. It is a source of light, heat, and energy."
Similar claims are found in Christianity, Hinduism, and other religions, where the worship of various deities is justified as natural. The unique feature of Islam is that it liberated humanity from the worship of all creation and commanded exclusive worship of Allah alone.
Fire as a Religious Symbol
Describing fire as a mere metaphor in the Persian religion is a deceptive simplification. According to Zoroaster’s scripture “Gathas”, fire is not just a symbol of light but is attributed spiritual and divine status. Fire is seen as a manifestation of “Asha” (righteousness) and is believed to embody divine attributes.Zoroaster states:
"O Fire, O son of Ahura Mazda, accept our prayers."
These words clearly indicate that fire is not just symbolic but is regarded as a bearer of divine powers, and seeking help through fire is a common religious practice in Zoroastrianism.
Monotheism or Polytheism?
In the Zoroastrian religion, ascribing divine attributes to fire turns it into an object of worship, making it a form of polytheism rather than monotheism. If such beliefs are accepted as monotheistic, then by that standard, Judaism, Christianity, and Hinduism could also be classified as monotheistic—despite their seeking aid from various deities. However, this contradicts the core essence of Tawhid (Islamic monotheism).Degrees of Sacred Fire
According to Persian texts, three levels of sacred fire exist, each associated with different social classes and levels of spirituality. Rituals are performed to purify and sanctify this fire, and it is kept away from worldly uses, such as cooking, to maintain its sacred status.Analysis of Zoroastrian Prayers
At the end of a Persian scholar’s article, a well-known Zoroastrian prayer is presented, in which help is directly sought from fire:"O Fire, O son of Ahura Mazda, grant us knowledge, wisdom, and happiness."
This prayer proves that in Zoroastrianism, fire is not a mere symbol but is worshipped like a deity, with supplications and spiritual requests made to it.
Comparison: Islam and Other Religions
Islam strictly prohibits the worship of any creation. Among Muslims, no form of prayer includes phrases such as:✘ "O Ka'bah, forgive me"
✘ "O sacred fire, help me"
In Islam, Tawhid means to worship Allah alone, without any intermediaries. In contrast, other religions consider created entities as means to reach God, which is a clear manifestation of polytheism.
Final Words
The objective of this article is not to insult any religion, but to critically examine doctrinal beliefs. It is possible that Zoroaster was a Prophet of Allah, and his original teachings were based on Tawhid, but his followers later distorted these teachings and turned them into forms of polytheism.All praise is due to Allah, and peace be upon all the Prophets and Messengers.
