Notes and Comments: An Eye-Opener
The Young Islam, 15th August 1934 Issue (Vol. 1, No. 6, p. 2)
It is a well-established fact that the Hindu religion was meant only for a particular race in India. The vision of Hinduism was so narrow indeed that the Aryas of the Vedic period limited the world to the boundaries of the Himalayas. Even to this day perhaps there may be some orthodox Hindus who consider it a sin to cross over the seas. As for the teachings there are definite injunctions in the Hindu Scriptures that the sacred hymns are not even to be heard by those not belonging to the three castes of Hinduism. Violation of this strict injunction entails severest penalties such as molten lead to be poured into the ears of the person who may happen to have heard them or the amputation of his tongue to be carried out if he happened to remember and recite some hymns.
But with the change of times even Hindu orthodoxy has changed. We have been hearing of the Shuddhi movement in India. A local contemporary however publishes a report from the Secretary of The International Aryan League under the caption “Vedic literature issued in the Arabic language.” Describing the activities of the League the report says that the Arya Samaj has been duly registered under the laws of the Iraq Government. The Arya League is thus a recognized organization in Iraq. The report goes on to say that congregational prayers are held regularly, public lectures are arranged, Vedic lecturers are invited to make a propaganda tour, various Sanskars [rites of passage] are performed, and wherever Hindus want to marry local girls Shuddhi [purification ceremony] is performed. The principles of the Arya Samaj are published in six different languages.
The Muslim boasts of the love of his faith. The epithet of Rahmatul-il-Alamin (a mercy for the worlds) is always on his lips whenever he speaks of his Prophet [Muhammad (pbuh)]. He says the Quran is meant for the whole of the world. Does the Muslim ever ask within himself, “What have I done in my own country to let my Hindu neighbour realize the truthfulness of my religion?” It is a characteristic of the Muslim of today that he sits placidly and watches while the world moves on!