Category: Conversations
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How to do Hindu-Muslim Dialogue
Dr. Saad Ismail engages Prof. Seyyed Hossein Nasr on how best to approach Hindu-Muslim dialogue in a manner that is both academically rigorous as well as spiritually cognizant of the wisdom of these rich traditions. Prof. Nasr has long maintained close ties as well as deep engagement with Indian thinkers, spiritual gurus, religious leaders from…
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The Limits of Spirituality Without Religion
Harry Oldmeadow was born in 1947 and as child spent nine years in India where his parents were missionaries. He studied at the Australian National University, Sydney University and St Johns College Oxford. He is currently the Coordinator of Religion and Spirituality Studies at La Trobe University Bendigo, in central Victoria, Australia. His principal interests…
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Ramana Maharshi’s Message for the Present
The Indian sage Ramana Maharshi (1879- 1950) is perhaps the most widely known Indian spiritual figure of the last century, second only to Gandhi. This new book offers a fresh introduction to the Maharshi’s life and teachings, intending to situate him within the non-dualistic traditions of Hinduism. It also delves into themes and questions particularly…
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How Not to Do Hindu-Muslim Dialogue
Dr. Nick Sutton, director of the Oxford Center for Hindu Studies, offers a critical and respectful response to some of the gross misrepresentations of Hindu Traditions knowingly or unknowingly employed by Zakir Naik in his talks on Hinduism and Islam. The figure of Zakir Naik remains a paradigmatic example of how not to go about…
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Who is a Hindu? What is Hinduism? Who is a Muslim? What is Islam?
Prof. Arvind Sharma and Dr. Saad Ismail continue their conversation on Hindu-Muslim dialogue. This conversation explores the central role of the historical encounter of the two traditions, and asks whether history is essential or accidental to our encounter. If history is accidental, then this opens up great possibilities for better interfaith relations in the present.…
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Islam and the Fate of Others: The Salvation Question
Can non-Muslims be saved? And can those who are damned to Hell ever be redeemed? Mohammad Hassan Khalil examines the writings of influential medieval and modern Muslim scholars on the controversial and consequential question of non-Muslim salvation. Discussing his illuminating study of four of the most prominent figures in the history of Islam: Ghazali, Ibn…
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Islam, Hinduism, and the Perennial Philosophy
Dr. Zachary Markwith joins Saad Ismail to discuss Hindu-Muslim convergences in the light of the perennial wisdom. Building on Dr. Markwith’s book One God, Many Prophets: The Universal Wisdom of Islam, they discuss the Perennialist/Traditionalist school of thought, what an Islamic universalism entails, and some common objections to the same. They discuss the philosophy of…
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Hindu-Muslim Dialogue: Prospects and Pitfalls
Prof. Arvind Sharma and Saad Ismail explore the prospects and pitfalls of Hindu-Muslim dialogue. Focusing on theology and philosophy, the discussion demystifies common misunderstandings about Hinduism among Muslims and tries to explain Hinduism in Muslim terms as well as on its own terms. Is Hinduism monotheistic or polytheistic? Can we even ask this question about…
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A Workshop on Hinduism For Muslims (Urdu)
Earlier this year, I was invited to deliver a series of public awareness talks conducted to raise consciousness among Muslims about Hindu traditions and to orient them to the requisite etiquette for inter-faith understanding.
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Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan’s Philosophy of Non-Violence and Pluralism
” “The Frontier Gandhi,” they called him. He was a towering man, a Muslim, and his heart was dedicated to non-violence. Abdul Ghaffar Khan was the Pashtun who tried to help give Islam a good name by living up to the best of its tenets. He was from the frontier region that is now called…
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