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'''Hindu–Muslim unity''' is a religiopolitical concept in the Indian subcontinent which stresses members of the two largest faith groups there, [[Hindu]]s and [[Islam in India|Muslim]]s working together for the common good. The concept was championed by various kings of India, such as [[Akbar]],<ref name="MasaeliPrabhakar2018">{{cite book |last1=Masaeli |first1=Mahmoud |last2=Prabhakar |first2=Monica |title=India as a Model for Global Development |date=2018 |publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing |isbn=9781527518568 |page=30 |language=English}}</ref> leaders in the [[Indian independence movement]], such as [[Mahatma Gandhi]] and [[Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan]],<ref name="Bhave1997">{{cite book |last1=Bhave |first1=Y. G. |title=The Mahatma and the Muslims |date=1997 |publisher=Northern Book Centre |isbn=9788172110819 |page=39 |language=English}}</ref> as well as by political parties and movements, such as the [[Indian National Congress]], [[Khudai Khidmatgar]] and [[All India Azad Muslim Conference]].<ref name="Veeravalli2016">{{cite book |last1=Veeravalli |first1=Anuradha |title=Gandhi in Political Theory: Truth, Law and Experiment |date=2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781317130994 |page=84 |language=English}}</ref>  

'''Hindu–Muslim unity''' is a religiopolitical concept in the Indian subcontinent which stresses members of the two largest faith groups there, [[Hindu]]s and [[Muslim]]s working together for the common good. The concept was championed by various kings of India, such as [[Akbar]],<ref name="MasaeliPrabhakar2018">{{cite book |last1=Masaeli |first1=Mahmoud |last2=Prabhakar |first2=Monica |title=India as a Model for Global Development |date=2018 |publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing |isbn=9781527518568 |page=30 |language=English}}</ref> leaders in the Indian independence movement, such as [[Mahatma Gandhi]] and Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan,<ref name="Bhave1997">{{cite book |last1=Bhave |first1=Y. G. |title=The Mahatma and the Muslims |date=1997 |publisher=Northern Book Centre |isbn=9788172110819 |page=39 |language=English}}</ref> as well as by political parties and movements, such as the [[Indian National Congress]], Khudai Khidmatgar and [[All India Azad Muslim Conference]].<ref name="Veeravalli2016">{{cite book |last1=Veeravalli |first1=Anuradha |title=Gandhi in Political Theory: Truth, Law and Experiment |date=2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781317130994 |page=84 |language=English}}</ref>  

== History ==

== History ==

In Mughal India, the emperor [[Akbar]] advocated for Hindu-Muslim unity, appointing both Hindus and Muslims as officials in his court.<ref name="Bahadur1990">{{cite book |last1=Bahadur |first1=K. P. |title=Rasikapriya of Keshavadasa |date=1990 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=9788120807341 |page=i |language=English}}</ref> Akbar participated and promoted festivals of both Hinduism and Islam,<ref name="Bahadur1976">{{cite book |last1=Bahadur |first1=K.P. |title=Selections from Rāmacandrikā of Keśavadāsa |date=1976 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers |isbn=9788120827899 |page=1 |language=English}}</ref> he also created feasts such as [[Phool Walon Ki Sair]] to be celebrated by citizens of all faiths.<ref>{{cite book |title=Indian and Foreign Review, Volume 23 |date=1985 |publisher=Publications Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India |page=82 |language=English}}</ref>

In Mughal India, the emperor [[Akbar]] advocated for Hindu-Muslim unity, appointing both Hindus and Muslims as officials in his court.<ref name="Bahadur1990">{{cite book |last1=Bahadur |first1=K. P. |title=Rasikapriya of Keshavadasa |date=1990 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=9788120807341 |page=i |language=English}}</ref> Akbar participated and promoted festivals of both Hinduism and Islam,<ref name="Bahadur1976">{{cite book |last1=Bahadur |first1=K.P. |title=Selections from Rāmacandrikā of Keśavadāsa |date=1976 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers |isbn=9788120827899 |page=1 |language=English}}</ref> he also created feasts such as Phool Walon Ki Sair to be celebrated by citizens of all faiths.<ref>{{cite book |title=Indian and Foreign Review, Volume 23 |date=1985 |publisher=Publications Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India |page=82 |language=English}}</ref>

In the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857|First War of Indian Independence in 1857]], the Hindus and Muslims of India mobilized to fight the British.<ref name="Singh2007"/> Reflecting on this in 2007, [[Manmohan Singh]] stated that these events "stood as a great testimony to the traditions of Hindu-Muslim unity that held out as an example for subsequent generations".<ref name="Singh2007">{{cite web |title='1857 revolt tribute to Hindu-Muslim unity' |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/1857-revolt-tribute-to-hindu-muslim-unity/story-O63aYNEyG7j1CyALJOFYYI.html |publisher=[[Hindustan Times]] |language=English |date=10 May 2007}}</ref>

In the First War of Indian Independence in 1857, the Hindus and Muslims of India mobilized to fight the British.<ref name="Singh2007"/> Reflecting on this in 2007, [[Manmohan Singh]] stated that these events "stood as a great testimony to the traditions of Hindu-Muslim unity that held out as an example for subsequent generations".<ref name="Singh2007">{{cite web |title='1857 revolt tribute to Hindu-Muslim unity' |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/1857-revolt-tribute-to-hindu-muslim-unity/story-O63aYNEyG7j1CyALJOFYYI.html |publisher=[[Hindustan Times]] |language=English |date=10 May 2007}}</ref>

The [[Lucknow Pact]] of 1916 was seen as an "important step forward in achieving Hindu-Muslim unity" during the era of the [[Indian independence movement]].<ref name="Pearson2011">{{cite book |title=The Pearson CSAT Manual 2011 |date=2011 |publisher=Pearson Education India |isbn=9788131758304 |language=English|quote=An important step forward in achieving Hindu-Muslim unity was the Lucknow Pact, 1916.}}</ref> [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]] advocated Hindu–Muslim unity in early years of his political career.<ref>{{cite book |last1=WELL |first1=IAN BRYANT |title=AMBASSADOR OF HINDU-MUSLIM UNITY  JINNAH'S EARLY POLITICS |publisher=Vanguard Books |isbn=8178241447 |url=http://www.vanguardbooks.com/browsetitle.php?isbn=8178241447&title=AMBASSADOR-OF-HINDU-MUSLIM-UNITY}}</ref> [[Gopal Krishna Gokhale]] stated that Jinnah "has true stuff in him, and that freedom from all sectarian prejudice which will make him the best ambassador of Hindu–Muslim Unity".{{sfn|Wolpert|pp=34–35}}

The Lucknow Pact of 1916 was seen as an "important step forward in achieving Hindu-Muslim unity" during the era of the Indian independence movement.<ref name="Pearson2011">{{cite book |title=The Pearson CSAT Manual 2011 |date=2011 |publisher=Pearson Education India |isbn=9788131758304 |language=English|quote=An important step forward in achieving Hindu-Muslim unity was the Lucknow Pact, 1916.}}</ref>  

Muslim scholars of the [[Deoband]] school of thought, such as [[Qari Muhammad Tayyib]] and [[Kifayatullah Dihlawi]], championed Hindu-Muslim unity and [[Opposition to the partition of India|called for a united India]].<ref name="MacLean2013">{{cite book |last1=MacLean |first1=Derryl N. |title=Cosmopolitanisms in Muslim Contexts |date=2013 |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |isbn=9780748656097 |language=English}}</ref>

Muslim scholars of the Deoband school of thought, such as Qari Muhammad Tayyib and Kifayatullah Dihlawi, championed Hindu-Muslim unity and [[Opposition to the partition of India|called for a united India]].<ref name="MacLean2013">{{cite book |last1=MacLean |first1=Derryl N. |title=Cosmopolitanisms in Muslim Contexts |date=2013 |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |isbn=9780748656097 |language=English}}</ref>

== Threats to Hindu-Muslim unity ==

== Threats to Hindu-Muslim unity ==

In the [[First War of Indian Independence]] (also known as the Indian Rebellion) in 1857, Hindus and Muslims in India joined together as Indians to fight the British.<ref name="Shodhganga2019">{{cite web |title=Madani and Composite Nationalism |url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/54426/5/06_contents.pdf |publisher=[[Shodhganga]] |accessdate=23 January 2019|page=207-211, 257-258}}</ref> The British became concerned about this rise in Indian nationalism and therefore tried to stir up communalistic feelings among Hindus and Muslims so that they might not again unite to try and overthrow crown rule.<ref name="Shodhganga2019"/> For example, [[Theodore Beck]], the principal of [[Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College]], had told [[Syed Ahmad Khan]] that Muslims should have no sympathy with the objectives of the [[Indian National Congress]] and "that Anglo-Muslims unity

In the First War of Indian Independence in 1857, Hindus and Muslims in India joined together as Indians to fight the British.<ref name="Shodhganga2019">{{cite web |title=Madani and Composite Nationalism |url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/54426/5/06_contents.pdf |publisher=[[Shodhganga]] |accessdate=23 January 2019|page=207-211, 257-258}}</ref> The British became concerned about this rise in Indian nationalism and therefore tried to stir up communalistic feelings among Hindus and Muslims so that they might not again unite to try and overthrow crown rule.<ref name="Shodhganga2019"/> For example, Theodore Beck, the principal of Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College, had told Syed Ahmad Khan that Muslims should have no sympathy with the objectives of the [[Indian National Congress]] and "that Anglo-Muslims unity

was possible, but Hindu-Muslims unity was impossible".<ref name="Shodhganga2019"/>  

was possible, but Hindu-Muslims unity was impossible".<ref name="Shodhganga2019"/>  

The author of ''[[Composite Nationalism and Islam]]'', [[Maulana Husain Ahmad Madani]], a Deobandi Muslim scholar and proponent of a united India, argued that the British were attempting to "scare Muslims into imagining that in a free India Muslims would lose their separate identity, and be absorbed into the Hindu fold", a threat that "aim[ed] at depoliticizing the Muslims, weaning them away from struggle

The author of ''[[Composite Nationalism and Islam]]'', Maulana Husain Ahmad Madani, a Deobandi Muslim scholar and proponent of a united India, argued that the British were attempting to "scare Muslims into imagining that in a free India Muslims would lose their separate identity, and be absorbed into the Hindu fold", a threat that "aim[ed] at depoliticizing the Muslims, weaning them away from struggle

for independence."<ref name="Shodhganga2019"/> In the eyes of Madani, support for a [[two-nation theory]] resulted in the entrenchment of British imperialism.<ref name="Shodhganga2019"/>

for independence."<ref name="Shodhganga2019"/> In the eyes of Madani, support for a two-nation theory resulted in the entrenchment of British imperialism.<ref name="Shodhganga2019"/>

In the same vein, Kashmiri Indian politician and Supreme Court judge [[Markandey Katju]] wrote in ''[[The Nation (Pakistan)|The Nation]]'':<ref name="Katju2013">{{cite web |author1=[[Markandey Katju]] |url=http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/columns/02-Mar-2013/the-truth-about-pakistan |publisher=[[The Nation (Pakistan)|The Nation]] |title=The truth about Pakistan|accessdate=29 January 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110103720/http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/columns/02-Mar-2013/the-truth-about-pakistan |archivedate=10 November 2013 |language=English}}</ref>

In the same vein, Kashmiri Indian politician and Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju wrote in ''The Nation'':<ref name="Katju2013">{{cite web |author1=[[Markandey Katju]] |url=http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/columns/02-Mar-2013/the-truth-about-pakistan |publisher=[[The Nation (Pakistan)|The Nation]] |title=The truth about Pakistan|accessdate=29 January 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110103720/http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/columns/02-Mar-2013/the-truth-about-pakistan |archivedate=10 November 2013 |language=English}}</ref>

{{quotation|Up to 1857, there were no communal problems in India; all communal riots and animosity began after 1857. No doubt even before 1857, there were differences between Hindus and Muslims, the Hindus going to temples and the Muslims going to mosques, but there was no animosity. In fact, the Hindus and Muslims used to help each other; Hindus used to participate in Eid celebrations, and Muslims in Holi and Diwali. The Muslim rulers like the Mughals, Nawab of Awadh and Murshidabad, Tipu Sultan, etc were totally secular; they organised Ramlilas, participated in Holi, Diwali, etc. Ghalib’s affectionate letters to his Hindu friends like Munshi Shiv Naraln Aram, Har Gopal Tofta, etc attest to the affection between Hindus and Muslims at that time. In 1857, the ‘Great Mutiny’ broke out in which the Hindus and Muslims jointly fought against the British. This shocked the British government so much that after suppressing the Mutiny, they decided to start the policy of divide and rule (see online “History in the Service of Imperialism” by B.N. Pande). All communal riots began after 1857, artificially engineered by the British authorities. The British collector would secretly call the Hindu Pandit, pay him money, and tell him to speak against Muslims, and similarly he would secretly call the Maulvi, pay him money, and tell him to speak against Hindus. This communal poison was injected into our body politic year after year and decade after decade.<ref name="Katju2013"/>}}

{{quotation|Up to 1857, there were no communal problems in India; all communal riots and animosity began after 1857. No doubt even before 1857, there were differences between Hindus and Muslims, the Hindus going to temples and the Muslims going to mosques, but there was no animosity. In fact, the Hindus and Muslims used to help each other; Hindus used to participate in Eid celebrations, and Muslims in Holi and Diwali. The Muslim rulers like the Mughals, Nawab of Awadh and Murshidabad, Tipu Sultan, etc were totally secular; they organised Ramlilas, participated in Holi, Diwali, etc. Ghalib’s affectionate letters to his Hindu friends like Munshi Shiv Naraln Aram, Har Gopal Tofta, etc attest to the affection between Hindus and Muslims at that time. In 1857, the ‘Great Mutiny’ broke out in which the Hindus and Muslims jointly fought against the British. This shocked the British government so much that after suppressing the Mutiny, they decided to start the policy of divide and rule (see online “History in the Service of Imperialism” by B.N. Pande). All communal riots began after 1857, artificially engineered by the British authorities. The British collector would secretly call the Hindu Pandit, pay him money, and tell him to speak against Muslims, and similarly he would secretly call the Maulvi, pay him money, and tell him to speak against Hindus. This communal poison was injected into our body politic year after year and decade after decade.<ref name="Katju2013"/>}}