– Dr Syed Wahajuddin Hashmi
Hyderabad
Pandit Sundar Lal (1886-1981), hailing from Chhattisgarh, was a prominent figure in the Indian freedom movement. A devoted follower of Mahatma Gandhi, he was deeply committed to the cause of Hindu-Muslim unity. Over the course of his life, he authored several significant works, including Hazrat Muhammad Aur Islam, Gita and Qur’an, Hindu Muslim Ekta, and San Sattvan, among others. In recognition of his contributions, the Government of India established Pandit Sundar Lal University in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh.
One of his most well-regarded works, Hazrat Muhammad Aur Islam, written both in Urdu and Hindi was first published in February 1942 by Vaswani Press, Allahabad. The book was written as a sincere effort to promote communal harmony, particularly between Hindus and Muslims. The renowned freedom fighter and the then governor of Odisha Bishambhar Nath Pande (d. 1998) wrote the Foreword, attesting to the scholarly and social significance of the work.
Pandit Sunder Lal’s Hazrat Muhammad Aur Islam is a biographical narrative presented with deep reverence and a spirit of devotion that seeks to present the life, character, and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ through a lens of historical inquiry and devotional respect. The author adopts a descriptive and expository mode of writing, employing accessible yet richly embellished language. As the reader moves through the text, the author’s deep sense of devotion and love for the personality of the Prophet ﷺ become evident throughout the book.
The book covers key events and milestones in the life of the Prophet ﷺ, including:
- The Conquest of Makkah;
- Misaq-e-Madina (Charter of Madina);
- The Farewell Pilgrimage (Hajjat al-Wida’);
- The Prophet’s ﷺmarriages; and
- His passing (Wafat) and his lifestyle as guided by divine revelation.
A significant section of the book is devoted to a thematic distillation of Islamic teachings under the title “The Essence of the Islamic Religion”, where core doctrines and ethical principles are elucidated.
Another substantive segment titled “Teachings and Prayers” (Updesh aur Pararthanae) features 35 Hadiths (Prophetic traditions) related to political governance, social conduct, national affairs and spiritual guidance. This section also includes a focused and thoughtful discussion on two complex and frequently debated topics: the concept of Jihad and the permissibility of up to four marriages for Muslim men (Polygyny).
The concluding chapter, “Opinions of European Thinkers”, presents a selection of viewpoints from noted Western intellectuals – namely Thomas Carlyle, W.R. Skeen, Dr Leitner, and Major A.G. Leonard – each offering respectful and often admiring assessments of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. These inclusions are notable for broadening the inter-cultural perspective and asserting the global relevance of the Prophet’s moral and philosophical legacy.
Hazrat Muhammad Aur Islam remains a noteworthy interfaith work that not only reflects the inclusive spirit of Pandit Sundar Lal’s scholarship but also serves as a compelling example of respectful engagement with the life and teachings of the Prophet ﷺ of Islam from outside the Muslim tradition. At its core, it is a testament to how religious biography can be used as a bridge toward greater understanding and peace. Sunder Lal relies extensively on traditional Islamic historiography, referencing Hadith collections and Qur’anic exegesis. His citations of the Ṣiḥāḥ Sittah (the six canonical books of Hadith) as well as historical narratives from early Islamic historians such as al-Waqidi and Ibn Sa’d enhance the academic credibility of his narrative and indicate a serious engagement with Islamic primary sources.
Clarifying the Concept of Jihad in Islam
Among the most valuable contributions of Sunder Lal’s work is his unflinching response to demystify and correct common misconceptions about Islam – particularly the oft-repeated allegation that Islam spread by the sword or Jihad. He writes:
“Perhaps no other concept in history has been so profoundly misunderstood and misrepresented as that of Jihad.” He further adds, “The term ‘Jihad’ appears hundreds of times in the Qur’an in various contexts, yet nowhere in the entire text does it signify armed combat or fighting.”
He firmly argues that the term has been widely misinterpreted and refers to 15 Qur’anic verses that categorically condemn coercion and compulsion in matters of religion and highlights the Prophet’s ﷺ lifelong adherence to these principles:
“Qur’anic verses clearly show that throughout the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ entire life, not a single instance can be found where he ever compelled anyone to accept his religion through the use of force or coercion. He never initiated an attack on any tribe or community to convert them to Islam, nor did he ever engage in a single battle for the purpose of religious conversion. Instead, he granted others the same freedom in matters of religion that he sought for himself.”
This perspective not only reclaims the moral integrity of Islam’s message but also repositions the Prophet ﷺ as a champion of religious freedom long before such principles became enshrined in modern constitutions. He underscores the fact that neither the religion of Islam nor the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ endorsed or permitted forced conversion in any form.
Response to Prophet’s ﷺ Marriages
Pandit Sundar Lal thoughtfully addresses one of the most frequently raised criticisms by non-Muslims regarding the multiple marriages of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. He approaches the topic with a strong historical perspective, situating the Prophet’s marriages within the prevailing social and cultural norms of the time. By emphasising the reforms introduced by the Prophet ﷺ himself – especially the limitation on polygyny – Sundar Lal presents a compelling counter-narrative that blends historical context with moral and ethical insight. He writes:
“In India, the Hindu religious scriptures that are used in courts to decide matters related to Hindu customs have traditionally allowed a man to have as many wives as he wishes, is considered right till today. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ placed a limit on this old practice and permanently prohibited a man from having more than four wives.”
Sunder Lal explains that the Prophet’s ﷺ marriages were not acts of indulgence but strategic alliances that supported his broader social and spiritual mission. To support his argument, he refers to the Western Orientalist A.G. Leonard’s work, Islam: Her Moral and Spiritual Value, in which Leonard states:
“From the perspective of personal conduct, Muhammad (pbuh) was a man of the highest moral character. He was deeply immersed in the essence of life, to the extent that it would have been impossible for him to waste his strength in sensual pleasures. He understood that marriage was a powerful means of consolidating his influence and authority. It was this very objective that led Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to enter into multiple marriages – an essential part of his great mission.”
Sunder Lal’s treatment of this issue reflects his commitment to separating cultural bias from historical reality – a quality sorely needed in today’s public discourse.
The Conquest of Makkah: A Triumph of Forgiveness
Perhaps the most powerful section of the book is the author’s reflection on the Prophet’s ﷺ behaviour during the Conquest of Makkah. At a moment when vengeance would have been justified by most political standards, the Prophet ﷺ chose forgiveness. To illustrate this, the author cites Stanley Lane-Poole’s work, The Speeches and Table Talk on the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh):
“Those who had caused immense suffering to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) from the very beginning were now at his feet… It is at such moments that a person’s true character is revealed…. the day of his greatest triumph over his lifelong enemies came, and the Prophet (pbuh) forgave them all with an open heart. The Quraysh, who had tormented him for years, insulted him, and committed countless injustices, were all granted pardon by Muhammad (pbuh)…. not a single house was looted, nor was a single woman dishonoured.
Sunder Lal observes, “In the military history of that time, such conduct was truly unprecedented. The people of Mecca (read Makkah) were so deeply moved by the Prophet’s ﷺ immense compassion that even his staunchest enemies – including Abu Sufyan and the priests of the Ka’aba – embraced Islam.”
In essence, this book is a sincere expression of devotion to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and holds a distinguished place among the positive biographies of the Prophet ﷺ written by non-Muslims, offering a respectful and well-researched portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Sunder Lal was a lifelong advocate of Hindu-Muslim unity, he sought to bridge the growing rift between the two communities by highlighting what was noble and universal in the Islamic tradition.
In our polarised world, where religious misunderstandings and cultural divisions continue to sow discord, the century-old work of a Hindu scholar, Pandit Sunder Lal, offers a timeless message of empathy, respect, and unity. His remarkable book Hazrat Muhammad Aur Islam invites us to look beyond rhetoric and ideology and into the lived ethics of a man (Prophet Muhammad) who transformed his society through compassion, wisdom, and moral courage.
