Religious Syncretism: Islam and Hinduism.

Syncretism in religion is the merging between two or more religions’ belief systems into a brand new concept, also known as the blending of the beliefs of different traditions into a particular religious belief system.

This could be due to a variety of reasons. The second scenario is commonplace in regions where multiple religions exist close to one another and play a role in the society or when a particular culture is sacked and the conquerors take their beliefs about religion along, yet they are not able to completely eliminate the traditional beliefs, or particularly, the traditional practices.

The beliefs or stories of different religions might include syncretic aspects, but those who adhere to these systems generally do not approve of the use of the label, specifically those who are part of “revealed” religious systems, like the Abrahamic religion, or any religion that has an exclusive way of life.

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The premise of Religious Syncretism entails the integration of two religions into a new, distinct system that incorporates elements from both religions. One example of this is the combination between Islam’s religious system and the Hinduism religion, which has grown up into a single faith that is now called Sikhism.

Sikhism is among the earliest syncretisms of religion established in the 15th century under Guru Nanak Dev Ji, and is a monotheistic faith.

Guru Nana was born in 1469 into a Hindu family from the Kshatriya caste. He had a typical childhood but he was unable to achieve success in many professions, he was able to find an obsession with the arts and religion.

When he was 19 at the time, he was married with two sons and a wife but he left his family for Sultanpur city to test his luck in the field of business. At the age of thirty, while sitting in a forest, the vision came to him that aimed to bring together two religions – Muslims and Hindus to form one religion.

The vision he had in his mind stated that he was chosen for a special purpose by God to spread the message that “there is no Muslim or Hindu religion’. With this, he started spreading the gospel of unity. The evangelism began in India and his dress consisted of a mixture of Muslim and Hindu clothes. He was successful in converting his followers, whom he referred to as Sikhs meaning followers (Singh 2006.).

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His unifying efforts were evident at the end of his life during a heated debate in the midst of him and his Muslim conversions as well as Hindu converts. The Muslims were keen to have him buried according to their custom, whereas the Hindus however, on the other hand, would prefer to have his body cremated. Nanak ended the debate by suggesting that both lay flowers on the body’s sides and the one whose flower arrangements remain fresh the next day will have the body.

He died peacefully asleep When both groups returned in the morning to find the flowers were blooming, but the body of Guru Nanak had disappeared. This is how Nanak ended the war in a unique manner and also bolstered the harmony between Muslims in the Hindu faith. Hindu.

Religious Syncretism Beliefs

When Islam joined along with the Hindu community in order to form one faith, Sikhism, they adopted beliefs that allowed them to join both communities, without favoring any one part. They believe there is just one God who doesn’t associate himself with a specific religion. They are of the firm belief that God is the God whom they revere is eternal as the creator and self-existent.

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It is estimated that 22 million Hindus and Muslims are believers in the Sikh religion. There are also people who belong to the Sikh community, such as Namdharis Ravidasis And Udasis who do not adhere to the established principles of the religion but are believed to be part of the Sikh community.

Syncretism in religion, then, is a way to unite two beliefs in one and is widely accepted. Research has revealed that the number of people joining Sikhism remains growing, with the doctrine of unification being accepted in accordance with the doctrines of Nanak.

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