Hinduism as a Missionary Religion

Chapter V: Hinduism as a Missionary Religion: The Evidence from Medieval India

Chapter V Hinduism as a Missionary Religion The Evidence from Medieval India I Medieval India is distinguished by the singular fact of Muslim domination of the sub-continent.1 The establishment of Muslim rule was a gradual process, but by 1200 AD, Islam had established itself as a major if not the paramount power on the subcontinent—a dominance which was to wane only in the eighteenth century.2 It should also be added that Muslim power was first established in North India and then subsequently extended into the south.3 Almost all scholars of Hinduism realize that something radically different happened on the religious scene of India with the arrival of Islam in India. For “Islam did not in general offer a system of thought or a religious philosophy that could be appropriated by Hindus; it offered instead a radical alternative to Hinduism: submission to Allah as the one true God.”4 Hinduism had encountered proselytizing religions before, for both “Buddhism and Jainism were proselytizing religions, but since both believed fervently in the principle of ahi™så, that is, that it is clean contrary to dharma to injure any living creature, their propaganda on behalf of their faiths was on the whole pacific,”5 but “war against the Hindus was regarded as a sacred duty, for Islam, though tolerant of the ‘people of the Book,’ that is, the Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians who were considered to be recipients or true revelation, abominated idol-worship which was scathingly denounced in their sacred book, the Koran. Moreover, war against the unbelievers , if they refused conversion, was a sacred duty.”6 Thus—while the missionary activities of Buddhism and Jainism were generally pacific, and with the Hindu theistic philosophical renaissance in South India missionary activities had become more or less subdued—Islam was 93 94 Hinduism as a Missionary Religion more aggressive inasmuch as, put negatively, it sought to exterminate Hinduism; on the positive side, it aimed at the conversion of the Hindu population to Islam.7 It is also important to bear in mind that, while Hinduism had evolved a policy of even-handedness in the matter of dealing with different religious communities,8 Islam insisted “on the assumption of political order.”9 Thus, the assumption of political power by Islam in India was an extremely significant development, as it meant a departure from the policy of the neutrality of the state, by and large, in religious matters, to which the Hindus were accustomed. This attitude of neutrality had even been extended to Islam itself, when political power rested with the Hindus. Two instances may be here cited from Arab writers themselves in confirmation of the kind of treatment accorded to Musalmans by Hindu rulers: Idrisi, in the eleventh century, noted that the Arab traders who frequent Anhilvara in large numbers “are honourably received by the king and his ministers, and find protection and safety.” M. Ufi records that, when the Muslims at Cambay were attacked by the Hindus, Sidharaj (1094–1143 AD) punished his own offending subjects and subsidised the Musalmans in building a mosque by way of compensation.10 How is one to assess the missionary character of Hinduism in such a situation, when it is threatened by a religion of great vigor and force? For the Hindus, it was a fight for survival, and an effort of imagination is required to sense their demoralization.11 If, even in such a political climate, instances of missionary activity on the part of the Hindus could be cited, then it would surely be difficult to deny its missionary character. It should also be noted that, when a religion is losing its adherents to another religion, reconversion of those who were converted away might as much be a proof of missionary zeal as the conversion of new members to the religion. II The earliest Islamic incursion into India is represented by the Arab invasion in Sind.12 “The conquest of Sind was effected by Muhammad ibn Qasim in AD 712, and thenceforth for centuries that country remained under Arab rule.”13 The Hindu king, Dahir, died resisting the raid14 . Two points are of interest here about this raid. Firstly, the 95 The Evidence from Medieval India “privilege of the Zimmi (Hebrews and Christians) were extended to the Hindus and Buddhists of Sind”15 by the Muslims, even if for reasons of practical accommodation rather than...