Islamic Civilisation (1925) by Munshi Premechand full Text.
Munshi Premchand's "Islamic Civilization" (1925) is a short essay that explores the relationship between Hindus and Muslims in India, highlighting mutual misunderstandings and advocating for a deeper understanding of each other's beliefs and practices. It emphasizes the importance of justice, tolerance, and equality within the Islamic faith and draws parallels with Hindu values of non-violence.
Elaboration:
Premchand's essay points out that despite centuries of coexistence, Hindus and Muslims in India often viewed each other with suspicion and prejudice. He argues that this lack of understanding stems from relying on baseless reports and stereotypes rather than genuine knowledge.
The essay delves into Islamic teachings, citing the Prophet's sermon on justice and equality, emphasizing that these principles apply to all, regardless of their social standing. It also highlights instances of Muslim rulers' tolerance and broadmindedness, including the appointment of non-Muslims to positions of authority based on merit.
Premchand further draws parallels between Islamic principles of equality and those championed by figures like Karl Marx, arguing that the concept of equality was first preached and practiced by Muhammad.
The essay concludes by advocating for a more nuanced understanding of Islamic civilization, emphasizing its contributions to justice, tolerance, and the pursuit of equality. Premchand's work serves as a call for interfaith dialogue and a deeper appreciation of the shared values between Hindus and Muslims in India.
Munshi Premchand and Islam:
Below is a short article 'Islamic civilisation' written by Munshi Premchand (1925), a celebrated Indian Hindu writer. His medium of writing was both Urdu and Hindi. We may easily see love and respect of Islam in his writing. The theme of this small article is 'equality in Islam'. He tried to explain this with three very relevant examples. He made mention about 'emphasis of equality in Prophet's last sermon at Arafat', he wrote about 'slaves who became Muslim rulers' (Slave dynasty of India) and he also compared Islam and the Bolshevik communist revolution. (Bolshevik revolution was a very attractive political movement of Premchand's time). He did not live to see the outcome of the Bolshevik revolution, which only lasted for seventy years.
I would highly recommend my friends to both read and share this rare piece of writing by Premchand. We ought to spread his message of peace and amicable coexistence of two communities for centuries in the subcontinent. This rare piece is as relevant now as it was in the year 1925.
This article was originally published in Hindi 'Pratap' magazine. In the year 1995, India Today Hindi edition, reprinted this article in special literary edition.
"Islamic Civilisation" (1925) By Premchand
Although Hindus and Muslims have coexisted for a thousand years in India, they do not understand each other. They are an enigma for each other. Carried away by baseless reports they fight with each other. For Hindus. Muslims embody all evils and they appear as shorn of any virtue of mercy, faith, tolerance and forbearance. In an equal measure, Muslims look upon Hindus as pagans and animal like … True, Muslims have been guilty of great injustice, even while invoking their faith. But, have Hindus, though being votaries of nonviolence, not indulged in large-scale violence.
The Prophet’s Sermon on the Mount Arafat is a life-giving message which would always invigorate Islamic life. This sermon permeates with a deep and genuine concern for justice. Justice applies to all be they the king or the subject, the rich or the poor … Instances of tolerance and broadmindedness exemplified by Muslim rulers are unprecedented in history. They routinely appointed non-Muslims to august offices of state on the criterion of merit alone.
Although Karl Marx and Russians are credited for the principle of equality. It was Muhammad who preached and practiced it first. He never laid any claim to a special position. He professed and practiced perfect equality. Islam is justifiably proud of its treatment of slaves. As soon as a slave embraced Islam, he became a free person. And there have been many slave rulers in Muslim history. Which code of life can boast of granting women the right to property which Islam does. Islam firmly believes in equal opportunities. Islam attaches much significance to the principle of fraternity.
Islam is the only faith that has forbidden usury. (చక్రవడ్డి) It goes without saying that usury has given rise to numerous evils and problems in the society. Few can rival Muslims in their contribution to knowledge. Muslims are inspired by the ideals of freedom. It has achieved amazing success owing to its teachings of equality and fraternity.
Hindus are, of course, free to reorganise and restructure their social life. However, it should be done without fanning differences with Muslims.
Islamic Civilization
By Munshi Prem Chand
Hindus and Muslims have coexisted in India for about a thousand years. They are, nevertheless, still unable to speak with one another in a courteous manner. A Hindu is a mystery to a Muslim, and a Muslim is a mystery to a Hindu. Neither Hindus nor Muslims have the opportunity to investigate the truth of Islam or the reality of Hinduism. They're ready to fight over the worthless discussion.
Hindus think that Muslims are responsible for the world's woes because they lack mercy, faith, morals, and limits. Hindus, according to Muslims, are stone worshipers, thread wearers, and head-dyed animals. It's as though their religions are constructed on the foundations of hatred and animosity. We don't want to remark on Hindu-Muslim animosity at this time; instead, we want to assess how accurate Hindus' assessments of Muslim civilisation are.
No religion, as far as we know, has placed as much emphasis on justice as Islam has. Islam is predicated on fairness, and there is equal justice for kings and subjects, rich and poor. There are no exceptions for anyone, and there is no favouritism. Hundreds of stories exist in which the powerless have triumphed over the most powerful authorities when it comes to the power of justice. There are several examples of kings sacrificing their princesses, wives, and even themselves for the sake of justice.
Whenever the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) sent people to preach Islam, he used to say, “When people ask you what is the key to heaven? You should say that it is the worship of Allah and good deeds.”
In the days when the flag of Islam was flying from Cuttack to the Danube and from Turkestan to Spain, the Muslim kings had no equal in generosity. Non-Muslims were frequently appointed to positions of governmental authority.
Even the university chancellors were Christians and Jews. The sole requirements for the job were merit and qualification. It was unrelated to religion in any way. Every school had the phrase "the foundation of the earth is only four things: the wisdom of the wise, the prayer of the virtuous, the power of the courageous, and the justice of the ruler" carved on the door.
Who in the world has been the leader of a religion other than Muhammad (peace be upon him) who has made it a sin to bow before anyone other than God? There was no discriminatory place for a king in the community that Muhammad (peace be upon him) created. Only one caliph was chosen to govern. There was no stipend, salary, manor, or state for this elected caliph. It was purely for the sake of honour that the caliph held the office. The caliph, like everyone else, had to work hard to make a living. While overseeing a big country, such great men who the great kings admired patched shoes, wrote books and taught children for a living.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) never claimed to be the leader of any group. His treasury portion was the same as that of a regular soldier. He had to sometimes suffer so much as a result of the coming of guests that he had to sell his personal belongings. Despite that, he never thought of increasing his share?
Will a cleaner not be proud when he finds himself praying in line with the aristocrats and dignitaries of his city? This sense of fraternity is responsible for the global triumph of Islamic civilization.
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The article about Islamic civilization by Munshi Prem Chand was first published in Pratap in 1925.
(Translated From Urdu By Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi)
