Hindu Muslim Relations and Destruction of Hindu Temples: History and Rhetoric

العلاقات بين الهندوس والمسلمين وتدمير المعابد الهندوسية: التاريخ والخطاب

Abstract

This paper revisits the complex history of Hindu-Muslim relations in the Indian subcontinent, focusing particularly on the historical narratives surrounding the destruction of Hindu temples. While historians have often emphasized episodes of temple desecration, this study argues that such an approach provides only a partial view of the broader historical reality. The paper highlights that numerous authentic and documented instances exist where Muslim rulers, including the Delhi Sultans and Mughal emperors, endowed, patronized, and even commissioned the construction or reconstruction of Hindu temples. By systematically examining both destruction and construction records, this research aims to offer a more balanced understanding of the political, cultural, and religious dynamics that shaped Hindu-Muslim interactions over several centuries. The paper further explores the varied motives behind temple desecrations—ranging from political strategy to expressions of power—while emphasizing that these actions cannot be generalized as religiously motivated. A comprehensive survey of primary historical sources reveals that records of endowment, patronage, and construction significantly outnumber those of destruction, challenging monolithic narratives of conflict. This nuanced reassessment encourages a rethinking of Hindu-Muslim relations during the Muslim rule in India, viewing them not solely through the lens of confrontation but also through cooperation, coexistence, and shared cultural synthesis that characterized much of the subcontinent’s history.