❖ Objections on the Spread of Islam in India: A Critical Analysis ❖
The objections raised regarding the spread of Islam in India are generally similar to those raised in other parts of the world concerning the expansion of Islam. A common claim is that Islam was propagated through force and the sword. Maulana Sayyid Abul A‘la Maududi has eloquently addressed the reality of this allegation:
"Islam was accused of bloodshed at a time when the Muslim sword had become rusted, and the European sword was drenched in the blood of innocents."
(Maududi, Al-Jihad fi al-Islam, p. 2, Maktabah Ma'arif, Azamgarh)
❀ Increasing Popularity of Islam
History testifies that Islam spread not only in India but throughout the world based on morality, justice, and humanitarian compassion.
❀ Role of Propaganda
According to Hindu intellectual Rajinder Narayan:
"The more propaganda was done against Islam, the more it spread."
(Da‘wat Delhi, 28 July 2003, p. 40)
✔ British Rulers:
They launched a systematic propaganda campaign against Islam to establish the superiority of Christianity.
✔ Hindu Nationalists:
Influenced by the British, Hindu extremist factions attempted to defame Islam, especially after independence, to establish Hindu dominance.
✔ Dr. Vincent A. Smith:
In his “History of India”, he portrayed Muslims as fanatical and oppressive rulers.
✔ Elliot and Dowson:
Their work “The History of India as Told by Its Own Historians” presented a distorted portrayal of Muslims, while describing British wars as “holy wars” and symbols of justice.
(The History of India as Told by Its Own Historians, H.M. Elliot Ed. by John Dowson)
✔ Jurji Zaydan, M.A. Tytler, and other orientalists also launched cultural attacks against Muslims.
According to Shibli Nomani, in "Tamaddun-e-Islami", Jurji Zaydan made biased attacks on Islam under the guise of praising Muslims.
(Shibli, Maqalat-e-Shibli, p. 133, Matba‘ Ma'arif, Azamgarh)
❀ Lack of Historical Evidence:
British historians often ignored authentic historical facts and instead relied on local traditions, which were dubious and unreliable.
❀ Promotion of Sectarianism:
Under the policy of “Divide and Rule”, the British fueled Hindu-Muslim animosity.
✔ Respect for Religions:
Muslim rulers respected temples and religious sites of other faiths. Elphinstone acknowledged that Muslims not only protected Hindu temples but also financially supported them.
(Elphinstone, A Short History of India)
✔ Muhammad bin Qasim:
In Sindh, he granted religious freedom to non-Muslims and only imposed jizyah.
(Bazm-e-Taimuriyah, Vol. 1)
✔ Sir Jadunath Sarkar:
Aurangzeb’s interest in religious scholarship, Qur'an transcription, and the compilation of Fatawa-e-Alamgiri reflect his religious sincerity and intellectual insight.
(History of Aurangzib, Vol. 5)
✔ Cambridge History:
This work acknowledges that under Muslim rule, Hindus were given complete freedom of worship.
"European orientalists, while writing about Islam, indulge in irrational bias and present a distorted image of Islam."
(Muhammad Asad, Islam at the Crossroads, p. 46)
✔ Maulana Shibli Nomani:
He rebutted the orientalists’ objections through works like “Sirat-un-Nabi” and “Huquq-uz-Zameen”.
✔ Maulana Rahmatullah Kairanwi:
His books “Izhar-ul-Haqq” and “Ahsan-ul-Hadith” effectively countered Christian propaganda.
◈ Background of the Objections
The objections raised regarding the spread of Islam in India are generally similar to those raised in other parts of the world concerning the expansion of Islam. A common claim is that Islam was propagated through force and the sword. Maulana Sayyid Abul A‘la Maududi has eloquently addressed the reality of this allegation:
"Islam was accused of bloodshed at a time when the Muslim sword had become rusted, and the European sword was drenched in the blood of innocents."
(Maududi, Al-Jihad fi al-Islam, p. 2, Maktabah Ma'arif, Azamgarh)
◈ The Reality Behind the Spread of Islam
❀ Increasing Popularity of Islam
History testifies that Islam spread not only in India but throughout the world based on morality, justice, and humanitarian compassion.
❀ Role of Propaganda
According to Hindu intellectual Rajinder Narayan:
"The more propaganda was done against Islam, the more it spread."
(Da‘wat Delhi, 28 July 2003, p. 40)
◈ Groups Raising the Objections
✔ British Rulers:
They launched a systematic propaganda campaign against Islam to establish the superiority of Christianity.
✔ Hindu Nationalists:
Influenced by the British, Hindu extremist factions attempted to defame Islam, especially after independence, to establish Hindu dominance.
◈ Historical Misrepresentation by English Historians
✔ Dr. Vincent A. Smith:
In his “History of India”, he portrayed Muslims as fanatical and oppressive rulers.
✔ Elliot and Dowson:
Their work “The History of India as Told by Its Own Historians” presented a distorted portrayal of Muslims, while describing British wars as “holy wars” and symbols of justice.
(The History of India as Told by Its Own Historians, H.M. Elliot Ed. by John Dowson)
◈ Intentions of the Orientalists
✔ Jurji Zaydan, M.A. Tytler, and other orientalists also launched cultural attacks against Muslims.
According to Shibli Nomani, in "Tamaddun-e-Islami", Jurji Zaydan made biased attacks on Islam under the guise of praising Muslims.
(Shibli, Maqalat-e-Shibli, p. 133, Matba‘ Ma'arif, Azamgarh)
◈ Propaganda Policies of the British
❀ Lack of Historical Evidence:
British historians often ignored authentic historical facts and instead relied on local traditions, which were dubious and unreliable.
❀ Promotion of Sectarianism:
Under the policy of “Divide and Rule”, the British fueled Hindu-Muslim animosity.
◈ Refutation of Objections: Tolerance of Muslim Rulers
✔ Respect for Religions:
Muslim rulers respected temples and religious sites of other faiths. Elphinstone acknowledged that Muslims not only protected Hindu temples but also financially supported them.
(Elphinstone, A Short History of India)
✔ Muhammad bin Qasim:
In Sindh, he granted religious freedom to non-Muslims and only imposed jizyah.
(Bazm-e-Taimuriyah, Vol. 1)
◈ Truthful Writings of English Historians
✔ Sir Jadunath Sarkar:
Aurangzeb’s interest in religious scholarship, Qur'an transcription, and the compilation of Fatawa-e-Alamgiri reflect his religious sincerity and intellectual insight.
(History of Aurangzib, Vol. 5)
✔ Cambridge History:
This work acknowledges that under Muslim rule, Hindus were given complete freedom of worship.
◈ Analysis of Orientalists' Intent by Allama Asad
"European orientalists, while writing about Islam, indulge in irrational bias and present a distorted image of Islam."
(Muhammad Asad, Islam at the Crossroads, p. 46)
◈ Scholarly Efforts of the Ulama
✔ Maulana Shibli Nomani:
He rebutted the orientalists’ objections through works like “Sirat-un-Nabi” and “Huquq-uz-Zameen”.
✔ Maulana Rahmatullah Kairanwi:
His books “Izhar-ul-Haqq” and “Ahsan-ul-Hadith” effectively countered Christian propaganda.
