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Book Details

Title: Om and Crescent: The Battle for Peaceful Coexistence
Published: July 2024 

ISBN: 978-9356488403

Pages: 564 (Paperback)

Keywords: Hinduism, Islam, Religious Studies 

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About the Book

Om and Crescent: The Battle for Peaceful Coexistence explains Islam from a Hindu perspective. This book sheds light on the similarities and differences between these two faiths in a way Hindus can understand.

 

Read this book if you want to:

  • Understand Islam from the standpoint of Advaita Vedanta.

  • Compare and contrast religious concepts, such as Ishvara-Allah, Dharma Yuddha-Jihad, Avatar-Masiha, and many more.

  • Intellectually empower yourself on interfaith dialogue based on Dharma.

 

The book is divided into five parts: 

  • The first part talks about dharma and monotheism.

  • The second part provides an overview of key Islamic ideas.

  • The third part delves into specialized concepts like jihad and kufr.

  • Part four is a survey of Islamic societies.

  • Part five presents Pakistan and Bangladesh as case studies.

The book concludes by providing practical solutions for how Hindus and Muslims should engage with each other.

 

This book is an essential read for social scientists, policymakers, and scholars interested in the past, present, and future of Hindu-Muslim relations.

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Why should Hindus read this book?

  • Why do Muslims offer namaz on the road while mosques remain empty?

  • Why has the Hindu population declined in Islamic states like Pakistan and Bangladesh while Muslim population in India continues to grow?

  • Why did every Muslim ruler in India without exception persecute Jains, Buddhists and Hindus?

  • What is love jihad? Is it fiction as some claim? Or deadly reality?

  • How is it that terrorists and moderates quote the exact same Quranic verses to justify violence and non-violence respectively?

  • Does Islam mean peace?

  • Why do Sunnis consider Shias kafirs and persecute them? 

  • What do terms like deobandi, barelvi, salafi, wahhabi and taliban mean?

  • What is a fatwa? What do the terms halal and haram mean?

  • Is halal finance a big scam and should India impose a ban on it?

  • Does camel urine have magical powers as claimed by many scholars of Islam? 

 

This book answers all such questions and much more.

I have an immense respect for the Muslim community: they are clear about who they are, what they represent and what they want. There is nothing wishy-washy about their intent, unlike many Hindus and secularists, who are always confused about their identity and look for commonalities in religions where none exists.

I have explained Islam specifically for Hindus using what I call the 3D model: dharma, data and difference. Wherever I have alluded to Hindu concepts I have used an Advaita Vedanta approach. The book is extensively researched with numerous bibliographic references: books, journals, reports, news sources, videos and social media posts. I have taken care to provide citations for all my claims.

I am positive that Hindus will find this book an invaluable resource to understand and engage with Islam. The book cuts through all the confusion surrounding religions, peace, God vs gods, Ishvara vs Allah, Ganga-jamuni tehzeeb, national integration, good-Muslim vs bad-Muslim and presents a clear no-nonsense picture of Islam for followers of dharma.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Confessions of an Astika-Atheist

PART 1: INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1: Setting the Stage

Religion of Peace

Conundrum of Ultimate Essence

America or Ghazni?

Terrorism versus Tabla

Etymologically Speaking

CHAPTER 2: Religion, that is Monotheism

God with a Capital ‘G’

Azaan

Historical Revelations

Mosques and Mandirs

Temples for All?

PART 2: FOUNDATIONAL ASPECTS OF ISLAM

CHAPTER 3: Bird’s-eye View

Introduction

Sects, Schools, and Movements

Five Pillars

Six Beliefs

CHAPTER 4: Prophets and Angels

Prophet Mohammed.

Other Prophets

Avatar and Rishis

Angels

CHAPTER 5: Islamic Cosmology

Universe

Cosmos

Humans

End of Times

CHAPTER 6: Shariah: Way of Life

Beyond Nationhood

Marriage Laws

Crime and Punishment

PART 3: ISLAM, SANATAN DHARMA AND INDIA

CHAPTER 7: Ishvara is not equal to Allah

The Islamic idea of Oneness

Who is Ishvara?

CHAPTER 8: Non-Believers.

Kafir

Dhimmi

Mushrik

CHAPTER 9: Jihad: Theory and Practice

Cricket

Theory: What it is not

Jihad As It Is

CHAPTER 10: How Bharat Became Hindustan

Bharat.

Clash of Civilizations

Thousand Year Discord

CHAPTER 11: Jihad and Dharma.

Mumin

Mujahid

Ghazi

Shahid

Dharma Yuddha is not the Same as Jihad

CHAPTER 12: Halal and Haram

Understanding the Framework

Fatwas

Halal Economy

PART 4: ISLAMIC SOCIETY

CHAPTER 13: Economy

General Survey

Ghettos

India: Largesse, Appeasement and “Suffering”

CHAPTER 14: Islamic Science

Science and Magic

The Role of Madrassas

CHAPTER 15: Education

Literature Review

Mini Case Studies

CHAPTER 16: Gender: Introduction

Worth Half a Man

Polygamy

What the Right Hand Possesses

Violence

Fatwas and their Impact

CHAPTER 17: Gender Challenges

Afghanistan

Bangladesh and Pakistan

Middle-east and North Africa

CHAPTER 18: Sexuality

Exploring the Gap

When Deviant Becomes the Norm

Homosexuality.

CHAPTER 19: Love Jihad: Fact or Fiction?

Unlikely Allies

Media and Academia Coverups

Grooming: An International Issue

PART 5: CASE STUDIES: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

CHAPTER 20: Pakistan

Brief History of a Failed State

Wahhabization

Intersectional Violence

Minorities: In the Crosshairs

Disappearing Devalayas

Prognosis

CHAPTER 21: Bangladesh

Dharma under Siege

The Role of Sufis

Bangladesh Liberation War

Pluralism: Where art Thou?

Sectarianism: An Ongoing Saga

CHAPTER 22: India

Terror Attacks

Mob Violence and Riots

 

Conclusion

Roundup

How Hindus Need to Engage with Islam

How the Indian State Needs to Engage with Islam

Bibliography

Books

Journals

Reports

Religious Texts

Videos and Social Media Posts

Media Sources

Acknowledgments

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