تقدات الدينية الهندية القديمة في المصادر العربية الإسلامية (3-7 هـ/9-13 م)

Abstract

This study aims, through contents analysis method, to evaluate Muslim historians’ views and perceptions regarding the nature of ancient Indian religions. To do so, the study relies on Islamic Arabic sources and ancient Indian religious books, in addition to the contemporary historical sources as tools to understand the patterns of dealing with these religious beliefs from an Islamic point of view. Moreover, the study attempts to identify images that those Arabic sources created about the components of Indian religious life and thought for Muslim readers. The study also explores the system of knowledge and methodology of Muslim historians, based on which they dealt with ancient Indian religion. The most important results of this study can be summarized into the following points:The Muslim historians used various types of methodologies to study Indian beliefs and sects, such as historical, descriptive, analytical, critical, and argumentative methods, in addition to the analogical and comparative methods, whose principles were laid down by Al Biruni. Furthermore, to study religions and others’ beliefs Muslim historians established a particular scientific method and specific system of knowledge based on peaceful coexistence with others. The researcher came to the conclusion that Hinduism originated as a monotheistic religion, however the Hindus deviated and polytheism usurped the position of monotheism, which was the result of peoples’ inability to comprehend the non-symbolic philosophical and religious issues in Hinduism. It seems that polytheism occurred when people associated religious symbols and forms with God. Muslim historians did not accept that Hindus held the idea of unifying divinity [fikrat tawhid al uluhiyyah]. During the Abbasid period, the Muslim mind conceived India to be the main source of idol worship, from which this practice was disseminated throughout the world, including Arabian Peninsula. Some Muslim philosophers and historians, including Ibn Rawandi and Zakariyya al Razi were influenced by Brahmanic rationality to refute the traditional understanding of Islamic prophet hood.