The Muslim Minority and Communal Harmony in India: A Study of the Views of Wahiduddin Khan

Abstract

The partition of the Indian subcontinent placed her religious harmony at stake. In postindependence India, one of the most crucial issues was to maintain communal harmony between the Muslim minority and non-Muslim majority. Renowned Muslim Scholars and organisations came forward and expressed their concerns on the issue. However, Wahiduddin Khan (1925-2021) suggested a different methodology, contrary to his contemporaries. Through the application of descriptive and content analytical methods, this study investigates Khan’s ideas of communal harmony in post-independence India. The study found that Khan emphasised da’wah and peace activism. Contrary to his preceding views, he blamed the Muslim populace for communal disharmony in the country. Further, based on his reading of the Treaty of Ḥudaibiyyah, he recommended Muslims take a unilateral and passive step to establish communal harmony in the country and assumed it to be the only possible way for the Muslim minority. This study observes that Khan’s understanding of Ḥudaibiyyah is questionable as he ignored all other significant incidents of the sīrah. Nevertheless, his views on the unity of religion remains significant.