Page 246 - Islam and Far Eastern Religions
P. 246
244
for you to be arrogant in it. So get out! You are one of the abased.”
(Surat al-A‘raf: 11-13)
As revealed in these verses, Allah created mankind in the best
way, designating them to be the beneficiaries of the world and provid-
ing them with all they ever need. In Surat al-Bayyina our Lord de-
scribes those who believe and perform good deed as “the best of crea-
tures”. (Surat al-Bayyina: 7)
CONCLUSION
The Jain community has preserved its pagan beliefs for 2500 years
but was reformed to a great extent with the arrival of Islam on Indian
soil.
Whereas Jains were oppressed by Hindu rule, they attained great
freedoms during the reign of the Mogul emperor Ekber Shah. They
were at liberty to practice their religion freely and to live as they
wished by virtue of the environment of justice, compassion and peace
delivered by the morality of Islam. 110 Living side by side with Muslims
also gave them the opportunity to acquaint themselves with Islam
which caused some fundamental changes to their beliefs. Many new
Jain sects were formed influenced by the monotheistic beliefs central to
Islam. They left idolatry for such beliefs. This influence is described in
a book titled Jainism and Other Religions as follows:
“But the most prominent and lasting impact of Islam on the Jainas was in
the field of their practice of idol-worship. Considering the strict opposition of
the Muslims to idol-worship and their policy of destruction of idols, some
Jaina thinkers like Lonka Shah began to show their inclination towards non-
idolatry in Islam and ultimately it gave rise to the establishment of non-idol-
atrous sub-sects of Sthanakvasis among the Svetambara sect and of
Islam And Far Eastern Religions