Any religious scripture can be misinterpreted if it is taken out of context. The Quran is no exception.
The Qur’an teaches Muslims to love their non-Muslim brothers and sisters. It also urges them to treat their parents with kindness and righteousness. This reflects the ideal ummah envisaged by the Qur’an, which is loving and caring of its members.
1. It is a religion of peace
Many people believe that the Quran commands Muslims to hate and kill Hindus. This is totally false. Every text needs to be understood in its context. Taking any verse out of its context will result in misinterpreting it.
There is no mention of Hinduism in the Quran, but it does refer to other religions like Christianity. The Quran also teaches that God sent messengers to all the nations of the world in various ages. It also states that those who associate other names with Allah, worship idols or images, do not believe that heaven and earth were created in six days, and do not follow Islamic practices are considered to be unbelievers by the Quran.
In addition, the Quran mentions that Almighty God takes a human form to protect his creations and teach them. This concept is known as Avatar in Hinduism. However, this concept is not found in the most sacred Hindu scriptures, i.e., sruti, but is included in the later Hindu scriptures, such as the Upanishad and the Bhagavad Gita.
2. It is a religion of love
The Hindu concept of God is based on love and not on any other tenet. This love is a form of devotion. In this devotion, the bhakta does not attempt to identify with or adore a personal incarnation of God but, instead, loves all the different representations of God in his or her mind. It is this aspect of adoration that distinguishes the Hindu religion from Pantheism.
The bhakta also believes in the idea of non-duality and understands that all existence is part of the one consciousness. Consequently, it is possible for the bhakta to love the omnipresent God in different ways — for example, as a benevolent protector, as a loving father or mother, or as the savior of the world.
However, it is essential to note that Hindus believe in the doctrine of samsara (the cycle of life, death, and rebirth) and karma, which are both associated with the concept of love. Hence, those who follow the path of bhakti are no different than the mushrikin referred to in the Quran, and they will undoubtedly earn Allah’s wrath and punishment.
3. It is a religion of harmony
There are many similarities between Hinduism and Islam. Both have a belief in one unique eternal God. In fact, both believe that everything belongs to God. The difference lies in the apostrophe ‘s’. God means he owns everything, including trees, snakes, monkeys, and human beings. Muslims believe that Allah is the only true God, and there is none like Him.
Both religions also believe in several revelations sent by God at different ages. In Islam, these are known as the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and Hadith. However, the Qur’an is considered to be the last and final revelation from God. These other scriptures are supplementary to the Glorious Qur’an, and they cannot overrule or contradict it.
There are similarities between Islam and Hinduism in terms of their beliefs in Avatars (messengers). Both religions believe that God Almighty takes on a physical form to protect and guide His people. The concept of Avatar is found in the Hindu sacred scriptures, namely Shruti and Smrti. However, the idea of an Avatar is not present in the Muslim scriptures, namely the Qur’an and Sunnah.
4. It is a religion of truth
Any religious text can be misinterpreted if it is taken out of context. This is true for Hinduism as well. Therefore, one must always carefully read the verses that are quoted out of context. This way, they will have a better understanding of the truth behind these verses.
While the Quran mentions Jews and Christians in numerous places, it does not refer to Hindus directly at all. However, a recognition of Hinduism is implicit in the Quran. This is because the term mushrikin, or idol worshippers, is used to describe non-Abrahamic faiths in several verses. Unfortunately, many Islamophobic scholars have misused these verses to project a violent religion that permits the killing of Hindus.
Muslims believe that all human beings are created equal and should be treated with respect. They also believe that God is the only Creator of everything on earth, and He alone is worthy of all praise. They also think that the only true God is Allah. This is reflected in the Muslim prayer, which includes the words “Allahu akbar” (God is the greatest). Moreover, they believe that all humans should submit to Allah and obey His commands.
5. It is a religion of peace
Hindus believe in one God, the Creator of all things. They also think that the divine is not limited to an anthropomorphic form. They believe that human beings can become gods, but only after they have attained immortality and gained divine powers.
Among the Hindu attributes are ahimsa (noninjury) in thought, word, and deed. They practice seva, service to God and the world, temple worship, purification, pilgrimage, self-inquiry, and meditation. In addition, they follow a code of conduct, including adherence to vegetarianism, nonviolence, and personal discipline.
Some verses in the Qur’an mention fighting against those referred to as mushrikin (idol worshipers). However, the context is not clear. We need to read the verses before and after them to understand their whole meaning. If a verse is taken out of its context, it can be misinterpreted and misused to hurt others. Therefore, the best way to counter misunderstandings is to read the whole Qur’an. It is also helpful to have a good understanding of the history of Islam. It is essential to know that the Qur’an is not a book of hysterical fables and superstitions.
