Hindu Deities Applauded by Muslim Scholars
By Dr. Zafar Darik Qasmi, New Age Islam
28 Feb. 25
It should be Indian people's joint effort to strive for the development and prosperity of our country. Our society has lately been crippled both in religious and secular field. Hatred and enmity are prevalent everywhere. Human virtues like brotherhood, equality, solidarity and fraternity have almost vanished in recent years.
India has a history of unity in diversity. There have been many poets, writers who have sung praises for the country’s Ganga-Jamuni civilisation in which both Hindus and Muslims have participated. Among those who wrote on the subject was Amir Khusro. With his poetry, he instilled the glory of India and its love within the hearts of innumerable people. The central them of Hazrat Amir Khusro's poetry is Indian culture and tradition. He praises the unity in the social diversity. He told us that India can be made strong and powerful only when we fully understand its social system.
Amir Khusrau was an Indo-Persian Sufi singer, poet and scholar | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
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Another such personality was Mughal Prince Dara Shikoh. He repeatedly emphasised in his writings that there should be no prejudice against religions and sects in India. Rather we should understand each other's religion. It is not appropriate to make any comment without understanding someone's civilization, system, ideology and dharma.
Prince Dara Shikoh's writings also give the message that when we read things that are contrary to our ideas, thoughts and beliefs, we should read them without the lens of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. The reason why there is a lack of unity and scarcity of moral values among the followers of religions today is that we form an opinion against any other ideology before studying it. This is why we are unable to give any positive message about it.
(From Files_Prince Dara Shikoh)
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Prince Dara Shikoh had studied Hinduism with great diligence and rising above prejudice and traditional thought. This is why a clear concept of balance, moderation, equality and tolerance is found in it. His contribution to interfaith dialogue and understanding is without parallel.
Khawaja Hassan Nizami, by writing his book "Krishna Jeevan", not only enriched India socially but he also embellished the life of Sri Krishna for the first time in Urdu. He gave the message that Muslims do not nurse any prejudice against respected and great personalities of other religions.
(Krishna Jeevan, a book authored by Khwaja Hassan Nizami)
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The truth is that Khawaja Sahib was a Muslim. Despite being a Muslim, the respect with which he has shown his impartiality by considering the greatness of a leader of Hindu religion is extraordinarily amazing. This book is written for Muslims. But a person of any religion and belief can benefit from it. It seems appropriate to state here that there is no other book in Urdu of this style and glory on the life of Sri Krishna.
From Files_Khawaja Hassan Nizami
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These are some manifestations of the thinking and impartiality of our elders which are flickering on the horizon of Indian society. These social traces and impressions, traditions and values are a lesson for those people who market hatred and enmity in the name of religion and dharma. They make people fight in the name of Hindus and Muslims. They consider that playing the dirty game of politics in the name of religion is their key success.
Therefore, India will be strong and stable materially and economically only when the people living in Indian society have stability in their thinking, expand their thoughts. An environment of tolerance and endorsement is established.
From the above facts and evidence, it can be concluded that Khawaja Hassan Nizami's book on Shri Krishna’s life is important in many respects. One is that he has critiqued the respected personalities of other religions with utmost tolerance and justice in their works. Khawaja Hassan Nizami compiled and codified the circumstances of Lord Sri Krishna over a long period of about twenty years.
Secondly, the thoughts and ideas of the above-mentioned individuals will put a stop to the baseless rumours that were spreading among the public and private sectors about the sacred personalities of Hinduism. Finally, such efforts will restore the democratic and constitutional values of India, and will pave the way for mutual trust, communication, and tolerance between the two nations, Hindus and Muslims, which will certainly save our generations from the end of religious hatred. The identity of a pluralistic society is that each religion should be studied, their merits and demerits should be kept in mind, and the lesson of sanctity and respect for religions should be spread so that an atmosphere of peace and harmony can be established on the face of the earth.
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Dr. Zafar Darik Qasmi is an Author and columnist
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/hindu-deities-applauded-by-muslim-scholars/d/134745
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