SUBHODEEP MUKHOPADHYAY
Research & Consultancy
Book Details
Title: The Complete Hindu's Guide to Islam
Published: May, 2017/ Rev Ed: March, 2024
ISBN: 978-93-340-2948-2
Pages: 520
Keywords: Hinduism, Islam, Religious Studies
About the Book
Islam and Hinduism are different belief systems. It is not about one God, many deities, or so-called idol worship but beyond such superficial differences. Their core ideas and values are entirely different, and they operate out of different frames of reference. While the Muslim willingly agrees to this point of view, the Hindu obstinately denies differences and looks for commonalities where none exist. This confusion among modern Hindus regarding the nature and practice of Islam is the root cause of misunderstanding and the inability to engage with the Muslim community in a meaningful way.
This book pierces this veil of confusion and sheds light on Islam by bringing out the differences in a way Hindus can understand. It demonstrates that these systems do not preach the same message. Hinduism and Islam are not similar by any meaningful metric of similarity.
Divided into five parts, the book starts by defining the analysis framework: dharma-adharma, religion, history, and mythology. The second part provides an overview of Islam in terms of sects, monotheism, key personalities, prophets, angels, cosmology, and eschatology. The five pillars and six beliefs are discussed from a Sunni point of view. The third part provides an overview of concepts relevant to Hindus including jihad (holy war) and kufr (disbelief). Part four is a survey of Islamic societies in terms of economy, gender rights, sexuality, education, terrorism, and other contemporary viewpoints. The issue of love jihad is discussed in detail, and an entire chapter is devoted to it. Part five puts everything together and presents Pakistan and Bangladesh as case studies of Islamic states.
Elaborate explanations of Hindu ideas like dharma and adharma are provided to offer the necessary framework for comprehending and analyzing Islam. False equivalences like Ishvara and Allah are explored from an Advaita Vedanta point of view. Other misconceptions, such as Prophet-Avatar and Dharma Yuddha-Jihad, are also addressed. Numerous real life examples have been provided from across the globe. Throughout the research, a wide range of sources were consulted, totaling over a thousand, including books, journals, essays, corporate reports, agency reports, videos, social media posts, and news sources.
For Hindus seeking to learn about Islam, The Complete Hindu's Guide to Islam is an invaluable resource offering detailed insights into the theory and practice of Islam, drawing on scriptural examples, historical accounts, and contemporary practices.
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?
Why are Hindus considered the worst unbelievers (mushriks) who will suffer in hell (jahannum) for eternity?
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?
To answer, all such questions and much more, I present a fully revised and updated 520-page new edition of my book "The Complete Hindu's Guide to Islam" (2024).
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 over 1000 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.
Table of Contents
Introduction
PART 1: DEFINING THE ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK
CHAPTER 1: Setting the Stage
Religion of Peace
Ultimate Essence and Bomb-Blasts
America or Ghazni?
Terrorism versus Tabla
Does Islam etymologically mean Peace?
CHAPTER 2: Dogma of Self-Evidence
Defining Religion
Is Religion even Necessary?
Religion as an Abstraction of Christianity
Deen is not Religion
CHAPTER 3: Are all religions the same?
Religion and Sameness
Christianity vs Islam
Chalk and Cheese
CHAPTER 4: History, Mythology and Monotheism
History
Mythology
India and Hinduism
CHAPTER 5: Monotheism
PART 2: FOUNDATIONAL ASPECTS OF ISLAM
CHAPTER 6: Bird’s-eye View
Introduction
Sects, Schools, and Movements
Ibadi
Sunni
Ahmadi
Shia
Alawi
Five Pillars
Six Beliefs
CHAPTER 7: Prophets and Angels
Prophet Mohammed
Other Prophets
Avatar and Rishis
Angels
CHAPTER 8: Islamic Cosmology
Universe
Cosmos
Humans
End of Times
CHAPTER 9: Shariah: Way of Life
Beyond Nationhood
Polygamy, Divorce, and Nikah Halala
Crime and Punishment
PART 3: ISLAM, SANATAN DHARMA AND INDIA
CHAPTER 10: Ishvara is not equal to Allah
The Islamic idea of Oneness
Who is Ishvara?
CHAPTER 11: Non-Believers
Kufr and Kafirs
Dhimmi
Shirk
CHAPTER 12: Jihad: Theory and Practice
Cricket, Culture, and Jihadistan
Theory: What it is not
Jihad As It Is
CHAPTER 13: How Bharat Became Hindustan
Pre-Islamic Bharat
A Violent Encounter
Mahmud Ghazni (971-1030 CE)
Bakhtiyar Khilji (1150-1206 CE)
Alauddin Khilji (1266-1316 CE)
Akbar the Great (1542-1605 CE)
Nadir Shah (1688-1747 CE)
Thousand Year Jihad
CHAPTER 14: Jihad and Dharma
Mumin
Mujahid
Ghazi
Shahid
Dharma Yuddha is not the Same as Jihad
CHAPTER 15: Halal and Haram
Understanding the Framework
Fatwas
Halal Economy
PART 4: ISLAMIC SOCIETY
CHAPTER 16: Economy
General Survey
Ghettos
India: Largesse, Appeasement and “Suffering”
CHAPTER 17: Islamic Science and Madrassas
Science and Magic
The Role of Madrassas
CHAPTER 18: Education and Terrorism
Literature Review
Mini Case Studies
Dr Zakir Naik (India)
Anjem Choudary (United Kingdom)
CHAPTER 19: Gender
Worth Half a Man
Polygamy and Breeding
Sex Slaves
Sexual Abuse
Fatwas and their Impact
Fatwas on Rape Victims
Fatwa on Women’s Employment
Breastfeeding Fatwa
Football Fatwa
Other Fatwas
CHAPTER 20: General Survey of Women
Afghanistan
Bangladesh and Pakistan
Middle-east and North Africa
CHAPTER 21: Sexuality
Exploring the Gap
When Deviant Becomes the Norm
Homosexuality
CHAPTER 22: Love Jihad
Sikh and Christians Confront Love Jihad
Media and Academia Coverups
Sexual Grooming: An International Issue
PART 5: CASE STUDIES: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
CHAPTER 23: Pakistan
Brief History of a Failed State
Wahhabism and Increasing Radicalization
Kidnapping, and Forced Conversion and Sexual Abuse of Hindu Girls
Targeting Hindu-majority Areas
Attacks on Hindu Temples
Karachi
Other parts of Sindh
Islamabad
Punjab
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Prognosis
CHAPTER 24: Bangladesh
Attacks on Hindus
Early Islamization and the Role of Sufis
Bangladesh Liberation War
Consolidation of Wahhabism
Genocide of Hindus: An Ongoing Saga
1991 to 2000
2001 to 2010
2011 to 2020
CHAPTER 25: Terror Attacks and Mob Violence
Islamist Terror Attacks
Muslim Mob Violence and Riots
Conclusion
Roundup
How Hindus Need to Engage with Islam
How the Indian State Needs to Engage with Islam
Implement Guidelines for Naming Children
Discouraging Archaic and Oppressive Practices
Discouraging Specific Foreign Languages
Encouraging Shuddhikaran and Ghar-Wapasi
Bibliography
Books
Journals
Reports
Religious Texts
Videos and Social Media Posts
Media Sources
About the Author