Hindu-Muslim Unity In Abul Kalam Azad’s Writings With Specific Reference To Al-hilal And Tarjuman Al-qur’an

Maulana Abul Kalam Ghulam Muhiuddin Azad (1888-1958) was a champion of Hindu-Muslim unity in nineteenth century India. He contributed significantly to liberate India, to develop a comprehensive education for all Indians, and economic stability. His tremendous contribution was as one of the most outstanding journalists, Islamic scholars, educationists, and leaders of modern India of his time. He was more concerned with Muslim religious, political, and educational reforms, and the propagation of Indian Muslim unity. The aspect of his life struggle and thoughts of religion and journalism has received less attention on Hindu-Muslim relations from scholars compared to the reforms of his political thought and agenda. He struggled to unite all Indians to liberate all Indians from the British Raj and emphasized on common religious and cultural values as a means of propagating others in the
spirit of unity. He presented his massage of the unity through al-Hilal and Tarjuman al-Qur`an against a backdrop of tempestuous Hindu-Muslim relations and recurring communal riots that characterized modern India. The primary aim of the present study is to investigate Azad’s inclusive vision of Hindu-Muslim unity and inter-religious and intercultural understanding as means to its consciousness as reflected in his al-Hilal and Tarjuman al-Qur`an. It seeks to explain why he advocated such a bold vision and how he expected to achieve the goal of Hindu-Muslim relations in a multi-religious and multi-cultural India. Highlighted in this article are the salient features of Hindu-Muslim relations during his time that influenced their development. The article also discusses the magnitude and applicability of his thoughts and ideas on Muslim-Hindu relationships for contemporary India.