Hinduism is a Non-missionary Religion
We do not find in the history of Hinduism anyone who claimed the existence of the concept of Da`wah in Hinduism or who proved that it is a religion based on calling others to accept it.
T.W. ARNOLD says in this regard:
“The six great religions of the world may be divided into missionary and non-missionary; under the latter head fall Judaism, Brahmanism and Zoroastrianism, and under the former Buddhism, Christianity and Islam.”(1)
Islam is a Missionary Religion
On the contrary, we find Islam since the first day of its advent, declared that Islam is based on calling others to its faith and doctrine. In addition to that the principles of Da`wah and its regulations are well defined in the Glorious Qur’an and Sunnah.
T.W. ARNOLD says in this regard:
“The duty of missionary work is no after-thought in the history of Islam, but was enjoined on believers from the beginning, as may be judged from the following passages in the Qur’an,—which are here quoted in chronological order according to the date of their being delivered.”(2)
Thomas Arnold here quotes many verses in the Glorious Qur’an that denote calling to Islam, such as the verse: ” Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best.” (An-Nahl16: 125)
The most important principle of D`awh is not to compel any one to accept Islam; this was explained in the Glorious Qur’an itself. And this principle is followed by every inviter working in the field of da`wah. However, Hindu religion never knew any da`wahactivity over its long history. That is why Hinduism has no idea, principle, rule or regulation for Shuddhi or calling others to Hinduism.
In fact, when they saw Muslim inviters calling people to Islam and bringing countless people into Islam in crowds they became inspired and began calling people to Hinduism under the name of Shuddhi, though they do not have or do not follow any rule or regulation, rather, they violate human rights and go against the law of India about the freedom of religion.
The long report is enough to indicate the scale of conversion, the active involvement of Hindu organizations in the exercise, open programmes of conversion in big gatherings and the lure of better worldly life and opportunities. There is also a visible expression of excitement, happiness and aggression.
There is another report which tells how Hindutva activists created horrible conditions for a family that converted to Islam resulting in the “Gharwaapasi”:
Four men of a family who were arrested on Wednesday in Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri for converting to Islam have done a U-turn. On Thursday, hours after being released by the police, they embraced Hinduism at a local temple in presence of Bajrang Dal activists.
Religious conversions are allowed in the state only if they are not forced. The people converting have to declare that it is voluntary and seek the state’s permission.
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“There is no compulsion in religion.” (The Glorious Qur’an)
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Tularam Jatav, his son Keshav and relatives Maniram and Makhubhai Jatav converted to Islam nine months ago.
So on Tuesday, these four men accompanied seven of their family members who wanted to convert to Islam to the district magistrate to seek his approval, but activists from Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad protested and tried to convince the family to give up the idea. A day later, they again took their relatives to the magistrate but were arrested and booked under Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act 1968.
”Seven other family members, including three women, were detained for questioning, if found guilty, the men would have been sent to jail for two years.”(1)
Yogi Sikand, a social scientist who converted to Islam several years back and married a Muslim girl later, has also written on the subject, and has described how certain communities like Rajputs and Jats, particularly in Rajasthan and Haryana, are vulnerable to the efforts of the Hindutva organizations.
These communities living in the midst of a dominant and aggressive Hindu majority find hard to resist the pressures built on them by Hindutva forces. Once back in the Hindu fold, they are offered lucrative jobs and other supports. The numbers of such conversions, according to the writer, are large.
The Hindutva ideologues and political leaders are busy proving that the number of Muslim boys marrying Hindu girls is much greater than the number of Hindu boys marrying Muslim girls. This may be true. But the reasons are not what they are trying to prove.
If Muslim boys are marrying Hindu girls, the reason is simply that Muslim boys come into contact with greater number of Hindu girls than Muslim.
Why do Hindu girls prefer to marry Muslim boys?
Not only Hindu girls are more in number, they also tend to be more open to love marriages. Muslim families resist love marriages more than Hindus. Majority of Muslims also tend to have stronger religious convictions than majority of Hindus. Moreover, love marriages with Muslim boys are solemnized without any dowry, and this may be one of the reasons why Hindu parents tend to accept these marriages.
As far as the issue of converting to Islam is concerned, I know many Hindu men and women who have converted to Islam without a love affair. Most of them had to face serious threats from the Hindutva activists. I know some Hindus who did not convert to Islam despite the fact that they loved it just because of the social complications it created. The truth is that if any Hindu is accepting Islam in India, this is not due to any pressure from Muslims but despite the pressure by Hindu organizations and families against converting.
Islam does not encourage conversion for worldly desires
Muslims have already clarified in no uncertain terms that if there are any cases of deceitful marriages involving Muslims, they do not support them and all these cases must be dealt with in accordance with the law of the country. This is another matter that many laws relating to such marriages need to be revisited. Deceptive marriages are increasingly becoming the order of the day in the country, and an overwhelming majority of these marriages has nothing to do with religion or caste.
The conversion for the sake of allurements like money and under compulsion has no place in Islam. Such “Muslims” are no Muslims in the sight of Allah. But it appears that conversions from Islam to Hinduism for similar reasons are openly relished by the Hindutva lobbies.
The campaigns against “Love Jihad” and “forced conversion to Islam” are only aimed at justifying their own sinister plans for the future. They have no love for their religious principles; they are only interested in dominating the country through consolidation of Hindus on the plank of hatred. Mercifully for the country, the true Hindus who love their religion are too many to let these forces prosper for long. But the dangers loom large on the solidarity of the nation.
Footnotes:
(1) W. ARNOLD, LONDON CONSTABLE & COMPANY Ltd.1913, p. 11
(2) Ibid.
(3) http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/men-arrested-for-converting-to-islam-become-hindus-again-587039 (Last accessed on 19-11-2014).
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Source: Taken from ummid.com with modifications.
Source: Taken from ummid.com with modifications.
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