The Development of Islamic Thought in Post-Independent India (Perkembangan Pemikiran Islam Era Pasca Kemerdekaan India)

Abstract

Post-Independent India is considered as an ethnically diverse multi-ethnic and multireligious republic. Muslims as a minority are granted constitutional rights. However, the environment of the country was communalized against Muslims. Numerous Hindu organizations disagree with Muslim minority rights especially their existence with different identity. They want to change the secular constitution of India and turn it to a Hindu state. Nevertheless, to eradicate and to put an end to this demand the contemporary Muslim scholars want to create an environment of mutual-relationship as an inevitable remedy for a peaceful co- existing between Muslims and Hindus. For this purpose, Muslims are asked to develop a healthy relationship with the people of other faiths; and they must contribute towards the development of the state; and they should convey the true message of Islam to them. This paper aims at shedding light on the role of Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi who recognized the pulse of the time and worked continuously through his writings and organizational activities for religious harmony. In this paper, our study covers Nadwi's works and activities. Nadwi's views for interreligious dialogues, communal harmony and Muslim identity will be explored and analysed. This study follows qualitative approach and depends on books, articles, online academic materials. The finding shows that Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi has enormously contributed to the development of Islamic thought in post-independent India. Keywords: Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi, Payame Insaniyat, co-existence, Muslim Personal Law Board, Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat. Abstrak India era pasca kemerdekaan dianggap sebagai republik multi-etnik dengan kepelbagaian agama. Sebagai kumpulan minoriti, penduduk Islam diberikan hak-hak dalam perlembagaaan negara. Namun begitu, situasi dalaman negara lebih menjurus kepada meminggirkan komuniti Islam. Sebahagian besar organisasi-organisasi agama Hindu menolak hak-hak Muslim minoriti ini terutamanya daripada segi hak keberadaan mereka yang wujud dengan pelbagai identiti. Tujuan mereka adalah untuk menukar perlembagaan India yang bersifat sekular kepada bentuk negara Hindu secara totok. Demi membasmi dan menghentikan desakan golongan ini, cendekiawan-cendekiawan Islam masa kini merasakan perlunya membina kerjasama dua hala sebagai satu cara penyelesaian mutlak agar keamanan dalam hubungan saling hidup bersama dapat dicapai di antara penganut-penganut Islam dan Hindu. Bagi tujuan ini, penganut Islam disarankan agar membina hubungan yang sihat dengan penganut agama lain; menyumbang kepada kemajuan negara; dan menyampaikan risalah Islam sebenar kepada mereka. Artikel ini bertujuan memberi pencerahan tentang peranan berterusan yang dilakukan oleh Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi yang sedar akan keperluan ini dan melalui penulisan dan aktiviti-aktiviti organisasi, beliau berusaha memperjuangkan keharmonian beragama. Maka pandangan Nadwi tentang dialog antara agama, (dan) keharmonian komuniti dan identiti Muslim dikenalpasti dan dianalisis. Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah kualitatif di mana sumber utamanya ialah buku, artikel, dan kajian ilmiah yang diakses secara atas talian. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi telah memberikan sumbangan besar dalam perkembangan pemikiran Islam pada era pasca kemerdekaan India. Kata kunci: Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi, Payame Insaniyat, hubungan saling hidup Bersama, Badan Undang-Undang Peribadi Islam, Majlis Mesyuarat Muslim.