Understanding Islam through Hadis

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Understanding Islam through Hadis is a book by Ram Swarup published in 1982. It was banned in India. ISBN 0-682-49948-X

The book is a study on the Sahih Muslim, the second most important collection of Hadiths. Ram Swarup says in the foreword that "we have quoted extensively and faithfully from it."

1 The ban
2 References
3 Further reading
4 External links

[edit] The ban

In 1983 Sita Ram Goel reprinted Ram Swarup's "Understanding Islam through Hadis" which sold out fast. (It was first published in 1982 in the USA.) The book was a summary of the Sahih Muslim Hadith, and consisted of extracts from the Hadiths. In 1987 he again reprinted the book, and published a Hindi translation of the book. Some Muslims thought that the book was offensive, and Goel was arrested by the police and bailed out after 18 hours in police custody.^[1] He recounted the situation:

Soon after we reached the Police Station, he shouted at me, "^[2] (who arst thou? what hast thou done? A big riot was about to break out)." I told him that I was nobody, and did not understand the accusation. He barked, "^[3] (Muslims are excited. They have heaps of bricks and stones piled up on the roofs of their houses, and firearms within. They can set the city on fire whenever they want). I asked him why the police had allowed them to collect and keep the arsenal. He snarled, "^[4] (put this question to your leaders, I am only a poor policeman trying to feed my family). I kept quite.^[5]

In 1990 the Hindi translation of the book became banned. In March 1991 the English original became banned as well. The criminal case against Goel for printing the book was dismissed after some years on 5 May 1997, but the book still remained banned.^[6]

Many Indian intellectuals have protested against the arrest of Goel.^[7] Arun Shourie commented on the criminal case:

No one has ever refuted him on facts, but many have sought to smear him and his writing. They have thereby transmuted the work from mere scholarship into warning. (...)The forfeiture is exactly the sort of thing which had landed us where we are: where intellectual inquiry is shut out; where our traditions are not examined, and reassessed; and where as a consequence there is no dialogue. It is exactly the sort of thing too which foments reaction. (...)"Freedom of expression which is legitimate and constitutionally protected," it [the Supreme Court] declared last year, "cannot be held to ransom by an intolerant group or people." (...)The "victories" in having Shah Bano reversed, in having Rushdie banned - "victories" which were loudly applauded by the "secularists"; the success in convincing political parties - with maps and lists - that Muslims would decide their fate in hundreds of constituencies; to say nothing of the "victories" of the violence in Punjab and Kashmir - the reaction is the cumulative result of these distortions in our polity.^[8]

[edit] References

^ Freedom of expression - Secular Theocracy Versus Liberal Democracy (1998, edited by Sita Ram Goel) ISBN 81-85990-55-7
^ tû kaun hai? yeh kyâ kiyâ? bahut baDi riot hote hote ruki hai
^ musalmân ubal rahen haiN. unke gharoN kî chhatoN par behisâb îNt patthar rakkhâ hai, gharoN ke bhîtar golâ bârûd: wê jab châheN shahar meN âg lagâ sakte haiN
^ yeh bât to apne netâoN se pûcho, meN to ek garîb policeman huN, bacchon kâ pet pal rahâ huN
^ Freedom of expression - Secular Theocracy Versus Liberal Democracy (1998, edited by Sita Ram Goel) ISBN 81-85990-55-7
^ Freedom of expression - Secular Theocracy Versus Liberal Democracy (1998, edited by Sita Ram Goel) ISBN 81-85990-55-7
^ Freedom of expression - Secular Theocracy Versus Liberal Democracy (1998, edited by Sita Ram Goel) ISBN 81-85990-55-7
^ Fomenting Reaction by Arun Shourie. 8 November, 1990. Freedom of expression - Secular Theocracy Versus Liberal Democracy (1998, edited by Sita Ram Goel) ISBN 81-85990-55-7