Is Manu the Same as Prophet Nooh (AS)? A Critical Analysis of Manu Dharma Shastra in Light of Islamic Teachings

Introduction

Across cultures and religions, stories of a great flood and a righteous man who saved humanity exist with remarkable similarities. In Hinduism, this man is known as Satyavrata Manu, while in Islam, he is recognized as Prophet Nooh (AS). Some scholars and comparative religion researchers have tried to draw parallels between the two. But a crucial question remains:

If Manu is Nooh (AS), then is the Manu Dharma Shastra a divine book of revelation? Or is it a man-made document falsely attributed to a prophet?

This article explores that question from both historical and Islamic perspectives.

Who Was Manu in Hinduism?

• Satyavrata Manu is regarded as the progenitor of mankind after a massive flood.
• He is considered the first man and lawgiver.
• Manu Smriti or Manu Dharma Shastra is a Sanskrit text attributed to him.

However, modern historians agree:

• The Manu Smriti was compiled between 200 BCE and 200 CE.
• It was not written by Manu himself, but by Brahmin scholars in his name.
• It deals with social laws, caste hierarchy, duties of women, kingly conduct, and ritual purity.

Who Was Nooh (AS) in Islam?

• Prophet Nooh (AS) is one of the earliest prophets in Islam.
• His story appears in multiple chapters of the Quran, especially Surah Nuh.
• He was sent to call people to Tawheed (monotheism).
• A great flood was sent as punishment, and Nooh (AS) built an ark by Allah’s command.

Important Islamic Beliefs:

• Prophets preach divine guidance revealed by Allah — not human-made laws.
• No prophet, including Nooh (AS), ever promoted casteism, discrimination, or gender-based inequality.

Is Manu the Same as Nooh (AS)?

There are some symbolic similarities:

Feature	Satyavrata Manu	Prophet Nooh (AS)
Survived a Great Flood	Yes	Yes
Saved Mankind	Yes	Yes
Built a Boat/Ark	Yes	Yes
Guided by God	Claimed (Hindu texts)	Confirmed (Quranic Wahi)

However, the message and character of both differ sharply.

The Truth About Manu Dharma Shastra

Aspect	Reality
Author	Brahmin scholars (not a prophet)
Time of Composition	~200 BCE to 200 CE
Nature	Man-made legal and social code
Contents	Caste rules, gender laws, rituals, duties
Divine Status (Islam view)	Not a revelation or heavenly book

Does Manu Dharma Shastra Represent Nooh (AS)?

Absolutely Not.

• The teachings of Nooh (AS) were rooted in divine justice, equality, and oneness of Allah.
• The Manu Smriti, in contrast, promotes social inequality, brahmin supremacy, and oppression of women and lower castes.
• Therefore, attributing Manu Smriti to Nooh (AS) is a false equivalence and has no basis in Islamic theology.

Conclusion

Even if some scholars wish to claim that Manu was Nooh (AS), the Manu Dharma Shastra cannot be considered divine. It is a man-made social code crafted in a time of rigid hierarchy and inequality.

Islam teaches that only those books revealed by Allah (like the Torah, Gospel, and Quran) are divine — and the Manu Smriti is not one of them.

Final Verdict:

“Manu Dharma Shastra is a man-made text and has no link to Prophet Nooh (AS) or divine revelation.”

What Existed Before Manu? Why Hindu Scriptures Don’t Mention Prophet Adam (AS)

By Fazlullah for RAHAMATABAD.COM

Date: 21 April 2025

Introduction

Sanatan Dharma (commonly called Hinduism) presents Manu as the first man or lawgiver in its cosmic cycles. However, it strangely does not mention Prophet Adam (AS) — the first human in Islamic, Christian, and Jewish belief.

This brings us to a deeper question:

If Manu came later, what existed before Manu? And why is Adam (AS), the true first man, absent in Sanatan texts?

Who Was Adam (AS) in Islam?

• First human created by Allah, from clay.
• Placed in Paradise with Hawwa (Eve).
• Sent to Earth after disobeying.
• Considered the first prophet and father of humanity.

Who Was Manu in Hinduism?

• Often called the first man in Hindu tradition.
• Svayambhuva Manu is the first of 14 Manus in each Kalpa (cosmic cycle).
• Born from Brahma, the creator.
• Credited with writing Manusmriti (Laws of Manu).

But Manu is not the first creation — he appears within a created world.

The Real Question: What Came Before Manu?

Perspective	Explanation
Islamic View	Adam (AS) was the first man ever, created before any laws, civilizations, or traditions.
Hindu View	Manu appears after the creation of the universe by Brahma. Hindu texts do not describe what happened before Manu in detail.
Missing Link	Hinduism starts cosmic stories after the world is made. It doesn’t clearly explain the first human’s creation from nothing — only creation cycles.

Why No Mention of Adam (AS) in Hinduism?

1. Sanatan texts begin after a cosmic beginning – no record of a “first human” from nothing.
2. No Prophet System – Hinduism has avatars and rishis, not prophets.
3. Loss or Rewriting of Original Message – Early monotheism possibly replaced by mythology over time.
4. Cyclical vs Linear Time – Hindu belief in infinite cycles contradicts the Islamic concept of a clear beginning.

Did People Believe Only After Manu?

Yes — in Hinduism, the lawgiver Manu introduces moral code (Dharma), implying:

• No formal religion or guidance existed before him.
• All religious memory before Manu is erased or ignored in Hindu texts.

But in Islam, religion began with Adam (AS), and continued through a chain of prophets.

Conclusion

• Hindu texts start with Manu, but don’t explain what existed before him.
• Prophet Adam (AS) is absent in Hinduism because:
  • Their scriptures begin after creation.
  • The original monotheistic message was lost.
  • There’s no place for the concept of a first prophet.

Islam alone preserves the truth of Adam (AS) — the father of mankind, the first prophet, and the first human created by God.

Final Thought

“The absence of Adam (AS) in Sanatan texts proves they are not from the first creation. They begin after Manu — but true humanity began with Adam (AS).”