User:Owais Al Qarni/19
 Urdu cover | |
| Author | Hussain Ahmed Madani |
|---|---|
| Original title | ہمارا ہندوستان اور اس کے فضائل |
| Language | Urdu |
| Subject | Deobandi composite nationalism |
| Genre | Fazail |
| Publisher | Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind |
Publication date | 1941 |
| Publication place | India |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 32 |
| OCLC | 1124300275 |
| Preceded by | Composite Nationalism and Islam |
Our India and Its Merits (Urdu: ہمارا ہندوستان اور اس کے فضائل, romanized: Hamara Hindustan Aur Uske Fazail) is a booklet penned by Hussain Ahmed Madani in 1941, in the lead-up to India's independence. It aimed to contribute to the ongoing nationalism debate in India and develop his composite nationalism. The booklet served as a rebuttal to the Hindu nationalist claim that India was solely a sacred Hindu land and unsuitable for Muslims and Christians. Madani utilized the ancient Arabic literary genre of "Fazail" to extol India's virtues and assert an Islamic claim that superseded the Hindu nationalist argument.
Background
[edit]Approach
[edit]Madani persuasively posited that India is the second holiest place for Muslims, after Mecca, as Adam descended in Ceylon after his expulsion from Paradise. He supported this claim with historical evidence and showed that India was the site of the first revelation, mosque, and pilgrimage to Mecca. He further celebrated that Muslims have called India their homeland for thousands of years, and many of them are descendants of earlier inhabitants. By constructing a modern, linear narrative, Madani accorded Muslims a significant place in the history that defined the emerging nation. His pamphlet was an effort to inculcate modern nationalism's values among Muslims and foster acceptance of them by other Indians. The booklet employs sophisticated language to deliver a compelling message.