Hindus and Muslims believe that Hinduism and Islam are fundamentally incompatible religions. The external differences in the practices of worship in both religions are at the basis of this notion.
Islam believes in the oneness of God and opposes idol worship, whereas Hinduism’s core tenet is an image of idol worship.
Key Takeaways
- Hindus believe in multiple gods, while Muslims follow monotheism, worshipping one God, Allah.
- Hindus follow the caste system, dividing society into different social classes, whereas Muslims promote social equality.
- Muslims observe five daily prayers and follow the Five Pillars of Islam, while Hindu rituals and practices vary significantly across sects and regions.
Hindus vs Muslims
Hindus are polytheistic, meaning they believe in multiple gods and goddesses, having a vast collection of religious texts such as Vedas and Upanishads. Muslims are monotheistic, believing in one God (Allah), following the Quran, which they believe is the word of Allah revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
Polytheism, pantheism (the belief that God is the cosmos itself, as well as the rules and things that exist in nature), and monotheism are all options for Hindus (the belief that God is the universe itself, as well as the laws and substances that exist in nature).
A Hindu can be an atheist or a humanist, but there is no priestly hierarchy, infallible religious authority, governing organization, or lone pioneering holy man.
Muslims believe that God is eternal, sublime, and absolutely one (tawhid); that God is unparalleled, self-subsistent, and neither produces nor is produced or given rise to; that Islam is the universal and complete manifestation of a primal faith taught via a series of prophets that include Abraham, Ishmael, Solomon, and Christ; and that earlier lessons and insights have been modified or perverted through time (tahrif).
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Hindus | Muslims |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Hindus are a group of religious people who adhere to Hindu religion, beliefs, traditions and customs. | Muslims are those who follow Islamic culture. |
| God Worship | Hindus worship numerous gods (polytheism), the most significant of which are Shiva, Vishnu, and Shakti | Muslims worship just one God, Allah. |
| Food Restriction | Hindus do not eat cows since they believe they are sacred. | Muslims do eat cows but not pigs because they believe they are filthy. |
| Afterlife concept | Hindus believe in the afterlife. | Muslims believe that after death, the spirit and physical body are separate. |
| Prayers and fasts | Muslims participate in a variety of religious activities, including morning prayer and Roza, a five-time-a-day prayer regimen. | Hindus fast during religious events such as Durga Puja, Navratri, and so on. |
What is Hindus?
Hindus can practice polytheism, pantheism (the belief that God is the cosmos itself, as well as the laws and substances that exist in nature), or monotheism (the belief that God is the universe itself, as well as the laws and substances that exist in nature).
A Hindu can also be an atheist or a humanist, but there is no priestly order, indisputable religious authorities, ruling body, or solitary pioneering holy man.
Because Hindutva involves such a wide range of rituals and ideas, it’s impossible to come up with a comprehensive definition.
We will never be capable enough of classifying the enormity of this faith, regardless of how hard we attempt to grasp and describe it.
We can never be able to decode its origins or roots. A Hindu can make allusions to ideas from many Indian and non-Indian forms of worship, embrace or establish his or her own unique beliefs, and yet can consider himself as a Hindu.
Despite the fact that Hinduism contains a vast range of concepts, Hindus share philosophical foundations such as karma(work), dharma, and moksha or nirvana, even if their perspectives differ.
Hindus also share literature such as the Vedas, which include incorporated Upanishads, and the grammar of rituals or traditions such as marriage and baby-birth ceremonies and funeral rites.
Some Hindus perform one or more types of devotion or worship, embrace mythology and classics, important events, affection and reverence for master and family, and other traditional practices, and embark on pilgrimages to spiritually significant destinations.
What is Muslims?
Muslims are those individuals who follow or practice Islam which defines the core principle of monotheism. The Quran, Muslims’ sacred book, is regarded as the exact word of God as communicated to Muhammad, the Islamic messenger and prophet.
A sizable proportion of the Muslim population adheres to Prophet Muhammad’s (sunnah) guidelines. It is registered in the religious or traditional resources(hadith).
Muslims believe that God is eternal, sublime, and absolutely one (tawhid); that God is unparalleled, self-subsistent, and neither produces nor is produced or given rise to; that Islam is the comprehensive and global expression of a prehistoric faith revealed via a succession of prophets, including Abraham, Ishmael, Solomon, and Christ, and that these previous messages and revelations have been partially changed or corrupted over time (tahrif).
Islam’s core doctrinal premise is the believer’s obedience to Allah’s will, which is encapsulated in the Arabic name Islam, which means “surrender.
Allah is regarded as the one and only God, the world’s creator, preserver, and nurturer. The sacred text, the Quran, which Allah delivered to his prophet, Muhammad, conveys Allah’s purpose, which human beings must adhere to.
In Islam, Mohammed is the final prophet in a sequence of prophets, and his teaching both completes and closes the “revelations” attributed to previous predictions.
Main Differences Between Hindus and Muslims
- Hindus are a group of religious people who adhere to Hindu religion, beliefs, traditions, and customs, on the other hand, Muslims are those who follow Islamic culture.
- Hindus worship numerous gods (polytheism), the most significant of which are Shiva, Vishnu, and Shakti. On the contrary, Muslims worship just one God, Allah.
- Hindus do not eat cows since they believe they are sacred, but Muslims do eat cows but not pigs because they believe they are filthy.
- Hindus believe in the afterlife, whilst Muslims believe that the soul and body are separated after death.
- Muslims participate in a variety of religious activities, including morning prayer and Roza, a five-time-a-day prayer regimen, whereas Hindus fast during religious events such as Durga Puja, Navratri, and so on.
Last Updated : 13 July, 2023
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Chara Yadav holds MBA in Finance. Her goal is to simplify finance-related topics. She has worked in finance for about 25 years. She has held multiple finance and banking classes for business schools and communities. Read more at her bio page.
What an informative article, it’s always good to know the differences between religions
I totally agree, it’s a very interesting topic
The explanation was neutral and very educative
I liked how it explained things clearly and concisely
I don’t believe in the similarities of religions, but this article was interesting
Agreed, but it’s good to know and understand them
Everyone has their own beliefs
I don’t care about other religions
These religions are very interesting and have deep roots
Yes, the article was written in a very interesting way
Absolutely, it was very well written and presented
This improves our understanding of different cultures