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Hindus
are great believers in mysticism and often let their discrimination
disappear in face of claims of spiritual experiences or powers. This
Hindu gullibility to mysticism is perhaps nowhere more evident than
in their relationship with the Sufis or Islamic mystics. Many Hindus
have trouble with what they perceive as orthodox, fundamentalist or
militant Islam with its holy wars that have often targeted Hindus.
They don't like the exclusive rhetoric of Islam that Allah is the
only God, Mohammed is the last prophet, and the Koran is the
last revelation. They dislike the Sharia or traditional Islamic law
with its harsh punishments and religious intolerance. They have been
suspicious of the Islamic effort to create a Caliphate or
Pan-Islamic kingdom that would include India and eliminate Hinduism
altogether. But call Islam Sufi,
meaning mystical, and Hindus will uncritically accept whatever is
said, even if it hides the same old fundamentalism and militance
Hindus oppose.
They will bow down at the grave of a
Sufi saint without inquiring about what made the particular person
holy. In a number of instances it was his slaughter of the infidels
that was responsible for his sanctity, including the ancestors of
these self-same Hindus. Hindus fail to examine what Sufis have done
to Hindus historically and blind themselves to frequent Sufi
alliances with Islamic militance and aggression. All a Sufi has to
do is to appear a little tolerant and Hindus are quick to turn him
into a saint, regardless of what he actually does throughout his
life.
Author : David Frawley
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