A Hindu Response to Da'wa
Friday, February 5, 2010 at 9:13AMDa'wa - The invitation to convert to Islam
Hinduism is the most accepting and tolerant of all the world’s religions. It has a 2 thousand year record of living in harmony with all religions and never disparaging the beliefs of others. The early Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians all found refuge and the complete freedom to practice their religion in India. In fact the first post exile independent Jewish state was founded in Malabar, South India.
“Islam” is said to be the religion of peace. But “Islam” does not mean peace (although it comes from the same root slm) but submission to the will of Allah — and the will of Allah is the subjugation of the whole world to Islam. The Muslims invaded India, massacring the civilian population, looting, pillaging and demolishing thousands of temples and forcing tens of thousands of Hindus into conversion. Mosques were built on the most sacred of Hindu sites — the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya, one in Mathura on the birth-place of Krishna and one in the most sacred cities of all — Banares – right next to the Vishvanatha Mandir. The usual practice was to demolish the temple and then incorporate the temple masonry into the building of the Mosque to testify to the victory of Islam. After all this the Hindus still accepted their presence and were gracious to them. (In Saudi Arabia one cannot even bring a Bible or a Gita or rosary into the country let alone build a church or a temple!).
The pre-medieval 6th century Arab pagan tribes were a proud, chauvinistic, aggressive, unruly people living in harsh unpredictable conditions. They fought amongst themselves, raiding, robbing and pillaging each other, enjoying blood feuds lasting for generations, practising female infanticide and polygamy (because of the number of men killed in battle), and trading in slaves. Islam united them and brought about peace among the tribes. It provided a form of radical justice that was perfectly suited to them. Islam was perfect for the Arabian peninsular of the pre-medieval world.
One can argue that all the laws of the Quran as well as the massacres perpetrated by Muslims are also found in the Bible. But there is a difference. Since the Reformation and Enlightenment in Europe and the ascent of humanism there is not a single priest, minister or rabbi who advocates returning to the Mosaic law1. Islam has yet to undergo a “Reformation”. There are a few lone Imams and scholars that are calling for a more moderate interpretation of the Quran and a contextualising of some of the more hostile passages denouncing the “unbelievers — Jewish, Christian and Pagan,” and playing down certain aspects of Muhammad’s personal example. But as long as Islam is obsessed with it’s own sense of superiority over all other religions and political ideaologies, and that the Quran is the last and perfect Word of Allah, valid and current for all times and places then peaceful co-existence in the pluralistic and democratic societies of the West will be difficult. Unfortunately the voice of moderation in the Islamic world is weak and those who do speak out against the radicals live in fear of their personal safety.
Hinduism is the oldest of the major religions having sacred texts dating back 7000. Our religion is a truly universal religion in that it accepts the Truths that are found in all other religions. It inculcates absolute values of goodness, and kindness to all sentient beings. The Hindu Scriptures declare that any form of injury to another living being by word, deed or thought is sinful and all acts of kindness to all beings is considered as merit. Ahimsa or non-injury is declared to be the highest form of religion. There are 3 core values which define Hinduism — (1) non-aggression to any living being, (2) universal compassion and (3) generosity to all. Hinduism was the predominant religion throughout the whole of South East Asia for thousands of years but Hindus have never conquered any other people or spread their religion through violence. Hindus achieved excellence in mathematics, medicine, art, astronomy, music, drama, dance and all other forms of civilization. The Hindus have had a tradition of philosophical enquiry supported by vigorous logic and debate, welcomed criticism, encouraged free-thought and free expression of ideas. There is no concept in Hinduism of heresy, blasphemy or any history of sectarian persecution or repression. When we pray, we pray for the welfare of all sentient beings wherever they are. We pray that peace may prevail — even for the animals, birds, and trees. Why would we want to accept the invitation to Islam and abandon intellectual and spiritual freedom, universalism and compassion for sectarianism, discrimination and hate? It’s like inviting a free person to become a slave! Islam has absolutely nothing to offer us that can in anyway improve our lives. If it be said that Islam guarantees our salvation, we reply that our religion already does that, as well as affirming that all beings will eventually be liberated and attain unification with the Godhead. A concept of eternal separation from God and eternal damnation for most souls is an abomination in itself and affront to the perfection God and humanity!
Islam is a proselytizing faith and all men and women are “invited” (da’wa) to accept Islam. In this pamphlet I examine the articles of Islam from a Hindu perspective. Hindu philosophical methodology has always fostered doubt and encouraged debate. The Quran repeatedly invites us to examine the proofs and to discern truth from falsehood2. It is very quick to point out the doctrinal faults of the Jews, Christians and the Pagans in order to affirm its own superiority. So it is with this right of reciprocal criticism that I write this pamphlet. My intention is not to denigrate Islam but examine the “invitation” and to point out it’s fallacies from a Hindu perspective.
Now with the rise of Islamic radicalism and chauvanism, Hindus are once again being targeted and attacked on the internet. This is not a conflict that we initiated or want, but we have a right and the intellectual duty to defend ourselves against false accusations and the promotion of false and delusional ideologies. The Holy Quran supports us in this endeavour:—
8:22 For the worst of beasts in the sight of Allah are the (metaphorically) deaf and the dumb
— those who don’t use their intellect.
The Muslims aver that the Quran is the final Revelation of Allah, every word of it is the word of God, eternal and perfect. Hindus believe that the Gita is the eternal and perfect word of God spoken directly to his disciple Arjuna over 3000 years before Islam. Neither claim can be objectively substantiated and both are ultimately based on personal faith alone. If the god of the Hindus is same as the god of the Muslims then two opposing and incompatible revelations have been made, according to time, place and circumstance. If they are different gods then the revelation of one must be objectively superior to the other — it is up to the discerning reader to decide.
The articles of Islam that we are invited to accept are in black text and the Hindu response is in blue text. The boxes contain quotes from the Word of God revealed to the Hindus in the Gita.
1 In fact the prophet denounced the Jews of Arabia for failing to implement the Mosaic law of stoning for adulterers in the 6th century!
2 8: 8. That He might justify Truth and prove Falsehood false, distasteful though it may be to those in guilt.
Continue reading A Hindu Response to Da'wa (invitation to convert to Islam).
Reader Comments (5)
Buddist in india were forced to convert in Hinduism.
"You are Wrong" - I had missed your post as the Teachings Comments RSS feed must not been working. I only received a notification today that a comment had been made.
I would encourage you and all future posters to use real names etc. Let's have an open, honest and civil conversation about these interesting teachings/articles that Sri Rama Ramanuja Ācārya has posted on the website.
Also, provide evidence and references to support your claim. In a logical, scientific and intelligent discussion/debate you must at least provide these two things.
now , its clearly understand, that u r in wrong openion. please read the ORIGINAL HISTORY. and dont dip ur self in the soup of britishers..
u should agree that even vedas declared that Muhammad( sas) is the last prophet., and he is KALKI .. There is only one God , and He never born or never come to earth. u as a hindu , one should follow Muhammed(sas) teachings, and submit himself to Allah.
may God al-mighty give good thinking to all of u..
you are wrong
because the bigning of the world was india a hundu country?
no
hinduism was come to india like other religion
all the Universe are created by the one God
so worship only to him
his name in hindi- bagwan , urudhu -khuda, english - god, arabic -allah, malayalam -eeswaran, thamil- kadavul
many messengers come from him. all of them tell to us worship only the God who created the universe and everything
but we missunderstand them after their death .some of us started to worship them
think by good brain we have many proofs to understand it
Dear "you are wrong".
Hindus may have forced buddhists to convert to Hindu beliefs in the past (though I can hardly imagine a more forlorn quest than forcing someone to "change" their beliefs). This does not make the path of Hinduism a bad thing: rather it makes some followers of Hinduism in error for those actions.
The same might be said of Islam: that many bad deeds have been done in the name of Islam. However, that is no basis to claim that Islam is inherently "bad".
I personally find other reasons why Islam is disagreeable, as I'm given to the understanding that a person on the path to God consciousness should perhaps reflect some of the traits that God Himself exhibits, such as being the well wisher of all and merciful. This would therefore preclude wanting to kill millions of people, treat certain groups of people (i.e. women) as if they're chattels or sub-human, have a range of cruel punishments (mutilations and murder) for "crimes" which are born of an irrational perspective, killing and eating animals and wishing to impose yourself on others by killing or subjugation, just for starters. A person on the path to God consciousness is not given to such a shallow understanding of his or her situation as to get wildly angry and wanting to burn, kill or maim others at every circumstance which he or she might find disagreeable. These are common traits across the breadth and width of Islam. They are not common traits among practicing Hindus (or Buddhists).
I also understand that the Supreme Godhead is a person and that Islam fails to even really know who God is. How can I worship and serve and have a relationship with someone I don't know?
Of course "Hindu" is an invented name for a variety of paths and what our concern should be is that we engage in sanatana dharma - our eternal occupation - starting right now as the surrendered servant of Bhagavan: Sri Krishna, and His devotees, offer our lives to Him, live simply, be harmless to all living entities, accept our karma, be equal to all and abandon practices and activities which are not favourable to this path.
I hope that I haven't offended you in any way but rather helped diffuse your anger.
Hare Krishna