Islam and Peace
Co-existence of Religions in India
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the Indian people. Later, Muslims ventured on to
Indian soil and, with their advent, Islam began to
spread here. But, leaving aside certain exceptional
incidents, no clash or confrontation took place
between Hinduism, Christianity and Islam.
The underlying reason for this is quite specific. It is
the remarkable flexibility of their beliefs and
teachings. This, indeed, is the basis for the spirit of
accommodation which has made possible the
continuing co-existence of the various religious
groups in this country.
So far as Hinduism, the religion of the majority, is
concerned, it serves as the ultimate example of
religious flexibility, with its unique concept of the
manyness of reality. Its credo amounts to saying, ‘I
am right and you are also right.’ It is, thanks to this
particular belief that Hindus have such deep respect
in their hearts for other religions. For them, all
religions are manifestations of the same Truth.
Although neither Christianity nor Islam entertain
this plural concept of Truth, they both subscribe to
another tenet which is also conducive to harmony,
namely, respect for other religions. Christianity and
