Even before the Mughal Sultanate started, the lamps of Hindu-Muslim unity were already lit in India. Kabir and Nanak were the symbols of Hindu-Muslim unity
The emperors and kings ruling India neither adopted Islamic methods nor tried to establish the same kind of power as was in the days of Khilafat-e-Rashida who built big forts and magnificent mosques. The conduct of the Prophet Muhammad, his family members or the Sahaba (Prophet’s companions) was neither reflected in the character of these emperors nor was there any glimpse of Islamic practices in their palaces. Some rulers promoted dance, music and other arts, fully adopting the culture of India.
Most battles of Muslims rulers took place among themselves and not Hindu rulers
Some communal elements see the war of Muslim rulers with Hindu kings or rulers as Hindu-Muslim wars whereas most of the battles of Muslim rulers took place with Muslim rulers themselves. If you look at the history of India, After the death of Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the first ruler of the Sultanate of the Mamluk dynasty, Aram Shah took over the kingdom but he was killed by Aibak’s son-in-law Iltutmish within a few days. Then Razia Sultan rose to power but she was removed from the throne by Altunia, who was defeated by Bahram Shah and then Balban, and later Muiz ud din Qaiqabad (1269 – 1 February 1290, reigned 1287–1290) after Bahram Shah.
Return of the Muslim Empire and the Mughal Era
After the Mamluk dynasty, the Khilji dynasty got the Sultanate. Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq ended the Khilji dynasty. The Sultanate of Tughlaq was attacked by Amir Timur, and it is evident that Timur attacked a Muslim ruler and to counter him, the Muslim army was killed in the field on the northern side, that is, Muslims were killed on both sides. After immense bloodshed, Timur did not rule India and returned back to his country after handing over his power to the Sayyid dynasty in his place.
Interestingly, the rulers of the Sayyid dynasty reigned for 36 years and then they relinquished their power and handed their rule over to the Lodhis. The Lodhi dynasty ruled the country for 76 years. Meanwhile, Babur invaded India from India from Central Asia establishing the Mughal Sultanate.
Muslim-Hindu Unity was strong even before the Mughal Sultanate began
The fascinating truth is even before the Mughal Sultanate started, the lamps of Hindu-Muslim unity were already lit in India. There was a great poet in Banaras called Kabir Das whom Hindus considered as Hindu and Muslims considered to be a Muslim. Kabir Das was brought up in a Muslim family and his adopted parents were weavers.
It is said that he was born into a Hindu family who had abandoned him. The poetry of Kabir Das was so powerful with stronger messages that Hindus and Muslims were against him in his life but later started considering him as their icon.
When Kabir Das died in Maghar, there was a dispute between Muslims and Hindus for his last rites revealing his great popularity among them. Kabir Das had become a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity.
Stories report that when the sheet was removed from the corpse of this great poet, mysteriously, there were some flowers in place of his corpse. In wonder, the Hindus and Muslims divided the flowers in half and performed the last rites accordingly. It is a very less known fact that there is a section of people who consider Kabir Das as their deity called Kabir Panth.
Baba Guru Nanak Dev illuminated Hindu-Muslim unity
One great person known over the globe who illuminated the lamp of Hindu-Muslim unity in India is Baba Guru Nanak Dev. Baba Nanak’s life was also completely devoted to humanity, that’s why Hindus and Muslims looked upon him with respect. His life was so exemplary in saintly goodness that Hindus considered him to be of their religion and Muslims considered him to be of their religion. He was born in Nankana Sahib and died in Kartarpur, Punjab.
When he died, a similar fight arose between the Hindu and Muslim community who both wanted to perform his last rites as it happened at the time of Kabir Das’s death. Once again, a miracle transpired and the holy body of this saint of God turned into flowers after death, after which half of the flowers were kept in the tomb and half were handed over to the fire.
Baba Nanak Dev also taught the world the message of monotheism and humanity. Baba Guru Nanak was loved by Hindus and Muslims so much that some people from both religions started following the teachings of Baba Guru Nanak, due to which the foundation stone of a new religion was laid in India. Today we all know and recognize this religion as the Sikh religion and the people as the Sikh community. The first Guru and founder of this community is Baba Nanak DevJi.
In the next section, I will continue the story of Babur’s attack and Ibrahim Lodhi’s confrontation with him.
(To be continued)