From Vedas to the Quran: How the World’s Religions Were Born
From the ancient hymns of the Vedas to the divine verses of the Quran, let's trace humanity ’s spiritual journey and the origins of the world’s major religions.
Swati Dubey 
In prehistoric times, humans worshipped natural elements such as the sun, fire, rain, and wind, believing these forces held divine power over life and survival. Spirituality began as a way to understand the mysteries of existence — birth, death, and creation. As societies evolved, rituals, offerings, and temples became central to communal life, reflecting gratitude and reverence toward nature. Over time, this simple nature worship transformed into organized systems of belief, marking the beginning of religion as a structured expression of faith.
Hinduism is the world’s oldest religion, dating back over 4,000 years, and originated in the Indian subcontinent. Its spiritual foundation is laid by the Vedas — the Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda — which contain hymns, rituals, and philosophies that guided early Indian civilization. The religion introduced profound ideas such as karma (the law of action and consequence), dharma (righteous duty), reincarnation, and moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death). Unlike most religions, Hinduism has no single founder; it evolved through the wisdom of countless sages and teachers over centuries. Its philosophy later inspired new faiths like Buddhism and Jainism, which emphasized enlightenment, peace, and non-violence. Around the same time, in ancient Persia, Zoroastrianism emerged, teaching devotion to one God, Ahura Mazda, and the eternal struggle between good and evil. Meanwhile, in the Middle East, Judaism developed as one of the earliest monotheistic religions, laying the foundation for Christianity and Islam in later centuries.
From Judaism came Christianity, founded on the teachings of Jesus Christ, who preached love, forgiveness, and compassion. A few centuries later, Islam emerged in Arabia, where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) received divine revelations compiled in the Quran, emphasizing faith in one God (Allah), justice, peace, and equality. In India, Sikhism arose in the 15th century through Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who taught the message of Ik Onkar (One God) and service to humanity. Though the world’s religions differ in beliefs and rituals, their essence remains the same — the pursuit of truth, morality, and spiritual connection. From the sacred hymns of the Vedas to the divine verses of the Quran, the journey of religion reflects humanity’s timeless quest for peace, purpose, and the divine truth that unites all.
