Hindoo-Muslim Union [Hindu-Muslim Union]
by Maulana Sadr-ud-Din
The Light (Pakistan), 1st January 1922 Issue (Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 1–2)
It is a blessing that Hindoos [Hindus] and Muslims be united. But the foundation on which this union is raised, will determine whether it will be temporary, or of a permanent character. It is, therefore, worthwhile to consider what is being done with regard to the consideration of these two great nations of India. Up till now, the reciprocal measures adopted to knit together the ties of the two peoples, have been to vindicate the cause of the Khilafat on the part of the Hindoos [Hindus], and to have nothing to do with the killing of the cow on the part of the Muslims. Under the circumstances that are obtaining in India, these steps taken by the two communities have gone a great way to weld them together. Each nation has touched the tenderest part of the other by showing profoundest respect to the religious sentiments in respect to the “Sacred Institution of the Khilafat” and “the Sacred Animal Cow.” This has contributed, as it was bound to do, to create mutual sympathy and good-will of an unprecedented nature. As Muslims, who are required to make peace with God and peace with God’s creatures, we are highly satisfied with what has been accomplished, and are earnestly desirous of seeing the ties knit closer. That could be done if we were to avail ourselves of the principle, that underlies the present alliance. That principle evidently consists in cherishing and displaying reverence for the religious institutions of each other. Admitting that all the institutions of the one could not command respect of the other, we venture to suggest what is, in our opinion, better suited to bring about union of a more lasting nature. That principle is this. Believing that God is universal, His spiritual dispensation must likewise be universal. In other words, He who maintains the heavens and the earth, He who looks after the Hindoos [Hindus], the Jews, the Christians, the Sikhs, the Muslims and others, must be ministering to the spiritual needs of all the nations. To deny revelation to any one nation would be to deny the universality or unity of God. The Muslims, who are not without reason proud of the doctrine of the unity or universality of God, believe as a principle of their faith that God is the God of all the worlds and all the nations (vide the Holy Quran, Chapter 1:1). As a corollary to that, they are required by the Holy Prophet of Islam to believe in all the prophets, who were raised from time to time among the various nations of the world. To confine our belief to the Holy Prophet alone is to disbelieve his mission. The Prophet, who was the first and foremost Muslim, called upon us to believe as he himself believed
“‘in God, in the angels, in all the revealed books of God, and in all the Messengers sent by Him.” [The Holy Quran, 2:285]
We are likewise enjoined to refrain from making any invidious distinction between prophet and prophet. Our belief, according to the Holy Quran is that
“There is not a single nation to which a warner was not sent”; [The Holy Quran, 35:24]
“and for every nation there has been a guide.” [The Holy Quran, 16:36]
Accordingly, we, as Muslims, believe that Moses was raised among the Jews, as Jesus was commissioned to correct them when they had corrupted. Similarly, we believe that Baba Nanak Sahib was granted as a great religious guide to the Sikhs. In a like manner we believe that Lord Krishna, and Ram Chandraji Maharaj, whom we hold in very high esteem and reverence, were the most eminent religious guides who honoured the land of India. We believe accordingly that the Vedas are among those books which are Divinely inspired. Without such a belief on our part, we cannot rightly claim to be Muslims. This we think should be proclaimed repeatedly in order that our Hindu brethren may thoroughly understand us, and, appreciating our attitude towards their religions, maybe attracted towards us with a force of sincerity likely to be more enduring than anything else.
On the part of our Hindu brethren we are sure that there is no thoughtful person among them who will disbelieve the mission of such a prophet as has given us the most tolerant and enlightened tenets, as described above. If the Hindoos [Hindus] believe in the Holy Prophet as we believe in Lord Krishna and Rama Chandraji Maharaja, our union will be affected in such a manner as does not fear any rupture in the future. We have offered that suggestion in an earnest hope that our countrymen will give their best attention to it and will not fail to crystallise the alliance already achieved.