Muslim Treatment of Other Religions in Medieval Bengal

Mohammad Elius,Mohd ,Issa Khan,Abdul Muneem,Fadillah Mansor,Mohd Roslan Mohd Nor

doi:10.1177/2158244020970546

Mohammad Elius, Mohd + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244020970546

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Journal: SAGE Open	Publication Date: Oct 1, 2020
Citations: 1	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Malaya, University of Islamic Studies

Abstract

This research analyzes Muslim treatment of other religions in Medieval Bengal from 1204 to 1757 CE with a special reference to Muslim rulers and Sufi saints. The study is based on historical content analysis using a qualitative research design. The study shows the Muslim sultans and Mughals in the medieval period played a vital role in promoting interreligious harmony and human rights in Bengal. In addition, the Muslim missionaries and Sufis served as a force against religious hatred in society. The Muslim sultans and Mughals applied liberal and accommodative views toward non-Muslims. They did not force non-Muslims to accept Islam. Muslims and non-Muslims were integrated society, and they enjoyed full socioeconomic and religious rights. Moreover, Sufis conducted various approaches toward Muslims and non-Muslims as well. They promoted the message of equality and moral conduct among the diver’s faiths of the people. They also applied liberal, syncretic, and accommodative attitude in attracting non-Muslims to Islam in Bengal. The study concludes that most rulers were sympathetic and cooperative in dealing with the people of other religions.

Highlights

Societal integration is a top priority in Islam as it considers all humanity as a single-family called the ummah (Elius et al, 2019; Khair et al, 2012)
This study demonstrates how the medieval Muslim rulers contributed to establishing peaceful coexistence and interreligious harmony in Bengal
Sufis’s contributions in promoting peace and interreligious harmony in the Medieval Bengal are considered for the study

Summary

Introduction

Societal integration is a top priority in Islam as it considers all humanity as a single-family called the ummah (Elius et al, 2019; Khair et al, 2012). For this reason, Islam prohibits intervention in the rituals of other religions and asks to preserve their customs, beliefs, and property (Nor et al, 2018). Geographically distant from the heartland of the Islamic world, both east and west, is one of the largest linguistic groups among Muslims as Bangladesh has 90% of the population following Islam, and at the same time there are millions of Muslims living in West Bengal of India. The Medieval Bengal (1204–1757 CE) is not present Bangladesh and the West

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Conclusion