Short answer
Be a real friend, whether or not your friend ever becomes Muslim. Kindness is often remembered long after an argument is forgotten. Ask what your friend believes, because Hindus differ widely. Begin with the one Creator, whom many Hindus already affirm, and let the Qur'an speak for itself. Speak honestly and gently (16:125). Never mock a murti (a sacred image), a deity, a festival or a scripture (6:108). Do not bring up history or politics yourself. If your friend asks whether you are trying to convert them, say no: only God (﷾) guides hearts (28:56). You are making them aware of Islam in a friendly discussion, not a debate, and the choice is theirs (2:256). If they say no, end as Muslims are taught: "To you be your Way, and to me mine" (109:6). Then keep the friendship.
Full explanation
Be a true friend first
This guide is for Muslims with Hindu friends, neighbours or colleagues. Be a real friend, whether or not your friend ever becomes Muslim. Never befriend someone only to convert them. The Qur'an allows Muslims to deal kindly and justly with those who do not fight them over faith. It says that God (﷾) loves the just. People often remember a small kindness, such as a bottle of water handed over on a hot day, long after they forget every argument. Guidance is God's (﷾) to give, not yours. The Qur'an tells the Prophet (ﷺ), "thou wilt not be able to guide every one, whom thou lovest". Your part is to speak clearly and kindly, and to stay a friend whatever the answer.
“Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loveth those who are just.”
“It is true thou wilt not be able to guide every one, whom thou lovest; but Allah guides those whom He will and He knows best those who receive guidance.”
“Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.”
Ask what your friend believes
Do not tell your friend what Hindus believe. Ask, and let them tell you, because Hindus differ widely. Vaishnavas worship Vishnu, often in his forms as Krishna or Rama; in the Hare Krishna movement, Krishna himself is the Supreme. Shaivas worship Shiva as the Supreme, and Shaktas worship the Goddess (Devi) as the Supreme. Others follow Advaita, Shankara's teaching that the Self is one with Brahman, the highest reality. Some, like the Arya Samaj, a Hindu reform movement, worship one formless God (﷾) without images. Many keep the festivals and family customs but say little about God (﷾). So ask real questions: "What is God to you?" "How do you know right from wrong?" "What happens after death?" Then listen before you answer. God (﷾) made people into nations and tribes "that ye may know each other". Answer the friend in front of you, not a textbook.
“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).”
“Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance.”
Begin with the one Creator
Begin with who God (﷾) is. The Qur'an's short chapter al-Ikhlas says: "Say: He is Allah, the One and Only". He begets not, nor is He begotten, and none is like Him. Many Hindus already say that God (﷾) is one, and call Him Bhagwan, Ishvara or Paramatma. The Svetasvatara Upanishad, a Hindu scripture, says of God (﷾) that there is of him "neither parent nor lord". About 1030, the Muslim scholar al-Biruni studied the Hindus' own books with care. He reported their belief that God (﷾) is one, eternal and almighty, resembling nothing. Follow his example, and describe your friend's faith accurately and fairly. That shared ground is real. It is a start, not the whole. The question is not whether God (﷾) is one, but how He asked to be worshipped. In every prayer Muslims say: "Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek." Prayer and offerings belong to Him alone, who has no partner.
“Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him.”
“There is no master of his in the world, no ruler of his, not even a sign of him. He is the cause, the lord of the lords of the organs, and there is of him neither parent nor lord.”
“The belief of educated and uneducated people differs in every nation; for the former strive to conceive abstract ideas and to define general principles, whilst the latter do not pass beyond the apprehension of the senses, and are content with derived rules, without caring for details, especially in questions of religion and law, regarding which opinions and interests are divided. The Hindus believe with regard to God that he is one, eternal, without beginning and end, acting by free-will, almighty, all-wise, living, giving life, ruling, preserving; one who in his sovereignty is unique, beyond all likeness and unlikeness, and that he does not resemble anything nor does anything resemble him. In order to illustrate this we shall produce some extracts from their literature, lest the reader should think that our account is nothing but hearsay.”
“Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek.”
“Say: "Truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death, are (all) for Allah, the Cherisher of the Worlds: No partner hath He: this am I commanded, and I am the first of those who bow to His will.”
Let the Qur'an speak
You do not need clever arguments. Read the Qur'an with your friend, a little at a time. Surat al-Ikhlas takes a minute to read. The verse called Ayat al-Kursi (2:255) begins: "Allah! There is no god but He". It calls Him "the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal", and says, "No slumber can seize Him nor sleep". Then let your friend weigh it. The Qur'an asks to be read with care. Had it come from anyone other than God (﷾), it says, people would have found much contradiction in it. It also asks to be tested: produce a chapter like it. Claim nothing for it beyond what you know, and let it speak for itself.
“Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him.”
“Allah! There is no god but He,-the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory).”
“Do they not consider the Qur'an (with care)? Had it been from other Than Allah, they would surely have found therein Much discrepancy.”
“And if ye are in doubt as to what We have revealed from time to time to Our servant, then produce a Sura like thereunto; and call your witnesses or helpers (If there are any) besides Allah, if your (doubts) are true.”
“And pursue not that of which thou hast no knowledge; for every act of hearing, or of seeing or of (feeling in) the heart will be enquired into (on the Day of Reckoning).”
Common ground: values you share
Islam teaches kindness to parents, and puts it beside the worship of God (﷾). The Qur'an tells children to speak to their aging parents "in terms of honour". The Prophet (ﷺ) said that whoever believes in Allah (﷾) and the Last Day must honour his guest. The Qur'an praises those who feed the poor, the orphan and the captive "for the sake of Allah alone". It prescribes fasting, so that believers may learn self-restraint. And it says God (﷾) is close: "I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me". Many Hindu families keep customs that meet these values. They show great respect to parents and elders, and treat a guest with honour. Many give to those in need, keep fast days and pray every day. The Gita's sixteenth chapter opens with a list of virtues (16.1-3). Among them are truthfulness, an open hand and tenderness towards all that suffer. If your friend keeps such customs, say sincerely that you share these values: truthfulness, respect for parents, honour for guests, generosity and self-restraint. It is true. Then say gently where Islam differs. In Islam, each of these is worship of the One Creator alone. To whoever does good with faith, He promises "a life that is good and pure".
“Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour. And, out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: "My Lord! bestow on them thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood."”
Abu Huraira reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day must not harm his neighbour, must honour his guest, and must speak good or keep silent.
“And they feed, for the love of Allah, the indigent, the orphan, and the captive,- (Saying),"We feed you for the sake of Allah alone: no reward do we desire from you, nor thanks.”
“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint,-”
“When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way.”
“Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has Faith, verily, to him will We give a new Life, a life that is good and pure and We will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions.”
Gentle words and real questions
The Qur'an tells Muslims to invite with wisdom and beautiful preaching, and to argue in the best way. It forbids them to revile what others call on besides God (﷾). The Prophet (ﷺ) told Aisha to be gentle, for God (﷾) loves gentleness in every matter. He said he was not sent to curse, but as a mercy. So never mock a murti, a deity, a festival or a scripture. Never call your friend's scriptures fiction, and never joke about how a deity is shown, or about Sanskrit. Do not retell stories about the gods to score a point. Do not judge Hinduism by what some Hindus do; judge it by its teaching, as you ask others to judge Islam. Never shame anyone for not having read a scripture. Ask what bowing before a murti means to your friend, and listen. Some say it is a symbol that keeps the mind on God (﷾); others say God (﷾) is present in it. When it comes up, say plainly and kindly what Islam holds. All worship belongs to God (﷾) alone: "invoke not any one along with Allah". Take one point at a time, and stop when your friend has had enough.
“Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance.”
“Revile not ye those whom they call upon besides Allah, lest they out of spite revile Allah in their ignorance. Thus have We made alluring to each people its own doings. In the end will they return to their Lord, and We shall then tell them the truth of all that they did.”
Aisha reports that some Jews greeted the Prophet (ﷺ) with "death be upon you", and she cursed them in return. He told her to be gentle, for Allah loves gentleness in every matter. When she asked whether he had not heard what they said, he replied that he had answered them only with "and upon you".
Abu Hurayra reports that someone asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to curse the polytheists. He answered that he had not been sent as one who curses, but as a mercy.
“"And the places of worship are for Allah (alone): So invoke not any one along with Allah;”
Eating together
Sharing a meal is one of the easiest ways to talk. Many Hindus eat no beef, because they hold the cow sacred, and many eat no meat at all. A vegetarian meal is often the easiest to share. Never serve your friend beef, and never joke about the cow. Islam makes beef lawful but never requires it. The Prophet (ﷺ) once left a lawful dish uneaten, because it was not the food of his people. So a Muslim may leave beef aside out of courtesy, as long as he never claims God (﷾) forbade it. Explain halal simply: it means lawful, as Islam defines it. The Qur'an forbids pork, and it forbids intoxicants. Ordinary food from a Hindu friend or neighbour, which has not been offered to a deity and has nothing forbidden in it, may be eaten. Any meat must be halal. Meat that has been sacrificed to any deity is forbidden to Muslims (2:173; 5:3). Whether a Muslim may eat prasad, food first offered at a shrine, is a question to ask a qualified scholar. Before you eat, say bismillah, "in the name of Allah", as the Prophet (ﷺ) taught. If you must say no to something, say it kindly. The page "Why do Muslims eat beef, when Hindus hold the cow sacred?" explains more.
“O ye who believe! make not unlawful the good things which Allah hath made lawful for you, but commit no excess: for Allah loveth not those given to excess.”
Khalid ibn al-Walid reports that a roasted lizard (dabb) was served to the Prophet (ﷺ) in the house of Maymuna. He drew back his hand, and Khalid asked whether it was unlawful. The Prophet (ﷺ) said no; it was not found in the land of his people, so he did not like it. Khalid then ate it while the Prophet (ﷺ) watched.
“He hath only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that on which any other name hath been invoked besides that of Allah. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- then is he guiltless. For Allah is Oft-forgiving Most Merciful.”
“Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah; that which hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; that which hath been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form)”
“O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination,- of Satan's handwork: eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper.”
Umar ibn Abi Salama reports that, as a boy in the Prophet's (ﷺ) care, his hand roamed around the dish while he ate. The Prophet (ﷺ) told him to mention the name of Allah, to eat with his right hand, and to eat from the part of the dish nearest to him. He says he kept to this from then on.
“Revile not ye those whom they call upon besides Allah, lest they out of spite revile Allah in their ignorance. Thus have We made alluring to each people its own doings. In the end will they return to their Lord, and We shall then tell them the truth of all that they did.”
Festivals
Your friend may invite you at Diwali or another festival, or bring you sweets. Thank them warmly for the kindness. Muslims worship Allah (﷾) alone. So a Muslim does not take part in a puja, a rite of worship. He does not make an offering to a murti, or join a festival's religious rites. Questions about going to a friend's festival, greeting them on it, or accepting festival sweets are best asked of a qualified scholar. Whatever you decide, never mock the festival, and if you must say no, say it kindly.
“Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek.”
“"And the places of worship are for Allah (alone): So invoke not any one along with Allah;”
“Revile not ye those whom they call upon besides Allah, lest they out of spite revile Allah in their ignorance. Thus have We made alluring to each people its own doings. In the end will they return to their Lord, and We shall then tell them the truth of all that they did.”
Ancestors: be honest
Your friend may keep rites for parents and grandparents who have died, and may ask about them. Never promise, "You can pray for your grandparents' forgiveness." Give the answer the Qur'an gives. It speaks of those who joined others with God (﷾) in worship, even close family. It says it is not fitting for the Prophet (ﷺ) and the believers to pray for their forgiveness. The verse adds a condition: "after it is clear to them that they are companions of the Fire". So a Muslim does not ask God's (﷾) forgiveness for a relative who died outside Islam. That is a rule for his own prayers. It is not a verdict on the person. God (﷾) sends no wrath "until We had sent a messenger", and "Allah is never unjust in the least degree". No Muslim may declare any particular person's fate. That belongs to God (﷾). Then tell your friend the hopeful part. A person's deeds end at death, except lasting charity, useful knowledge and a righteous child who prays for him. If your friend becomes Muslim, that chain begins with them. Their own children's prayers, and their own lasting charity, can reach them after they die. The pages "How should we honour our ancestors?" and "What happens to people who never heard of Islam or of Jesus?" explain more.
“It is not fitting, for the Prophet and those who believe, that they should pray for forgiveness for Pagans, even though they be of kin, after it is clear to them that they are companions of the Fire.”
“Who receiveth guidance, receiveth it for his own benefit: who goeth astray doth so to his own loss: No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another: nor would We visit with Our Wrath until We had sent a messenger (to give warning).”
“Allah is never unjust in the least degree: If there is any good (done), He doubleth it, and giveth from His own presence a great reward.”
Abu Huraira reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) said that when a person dies, his deeds come to an end except three: lasting charity, knowledge that people benefit from, and a righteous child who prays for him.
Family and kindness to parents
Your friend may fear that a Muslim must leave the family behind. Tell them that Islam does not ask anyone to turn away from their family. The Qur'an says that if parents urge a child to worship others besides God (﷾), he should not obey them in that. Yet he must still "bear them company in this life with justice". The Prophet (ﷺ) told Asma to keep good relations with her mother, who was not Muslim. A Hindu who becomes Muslim changes whom he worships, not his parents, his people or his language. Some questions need a careful answer, such as a family wedding or a funeral rite. For those, your friend should ask a qualified scholar.
“"But if they strive to make thee join in worship with Me things of which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not; yet bear them company in this life with justice (and consideration), and follow the way of those who turn to me (in love): in the end the return of you all is to Me, and I will tell you the truth (and meaning) of all that ye did."”
“Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour. And, out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: "My Lord! bestow on them thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood."”
Asma, daughter of Abu Bakr, reports that her mother, who was still a polytheist (mushrika), came to visit her in the Prophet's (ﷺ) lifetime, hoping for her daughter's kindness. Asma asked the Prophet (ﷺ) whether she should keep good relations with her mother. He said yes: keep good relations with your mother.
If history or politics comes up
Do not bring up history or politics yourself. Leave aside past rulers, today's Indian politics and quarrels between communities. Your aim is to talk about God (﷾), not to argue about the past or about governments. This holds for every country, your own included. If your friend raises the news, listen kindly. Say honestly that you would rather talk about faith, and return to the big questions. The Prophet (ﷺ) was told to say: "This is my way: I do invite unto Allah".
“Revile not ye those whom they call upon besides Allah, lest they out of spite revile Allah in their ignorance. Thus have We made alluring to each people its own doings. In the end will they return to their Lord, and We shall then tell them the truth of all that they did.”
“O ye who believe! stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.”
“Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.”
“Say thou: "This is my way: I do invite unto Allah,- on evidence clear as the seeing with one's eyes,- I and whoever follows me. Glory to Allah! and never will I join gods with Allah!"”
“Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance.”
What not to use
Some popular arguments are weak or untrue. Leave them out, because a Muslim says only what he knows to be true (17:36). Do not say that Kalki is Muhammad (ﷺ), or that the Bhavishya Purana foretells him. In the Puranas, the Hindu books of sacred history, Kalki is a future descent of God (﷾). The Qur'an speaks of a man, the last of the prophets, who has already come. Do not claim other verses of the Vedas as prophecies of him either. Do not call Krishna, Rama or the Buddha prophets. The Qur'an says that there never was a people without a warner (35:24), so India's peoples had warners too. But it names no prophet sent to India, and it says God (﷾) has not told the story of every messenger (4:164). So no one can say who India's warners were. Do not say that no other scripture was ever kept by heart. The priests passed the Rig Veda down word for word, and scholars call it extremely well preserved. Do not argue over whether Rama or Krishna lived, or over the ages the old books give. Such arguments prove nothing either way, and they lead away from the real questions: who God (﷾) is, and how He asked to be worshipped. Do not say that Hinduism has no idea of right and wrong. Do not say that anyone who believes in one God (﷾) is already a Muslim; Islam also asks for belief in the Messenger (ﷺ). Do not use statistics about Hindus or about Muslims, good or bad. Do not name groups of Muslims, or set one against another. Do not say Islam completes Hinduism; lead with Islam's own answer. The proof is the Qur'an and the Prophet (ﷺ), not what any follower did.
“And pursue not that of which thou hast no knowledge; for every act of hearing, or of seeing or of (feeling in) the heart will be enquired into (on the Day of Reckoning).”
“When the practices taught by the Vedas and the institutes of law shall nearly have ceased, and the close of the Kali age shall be nigh, a portion of that divine being who exists of his own spiritual nature in the character of Brahma, and who is the beginning and the end, and who comprehends all things, shall descend upon earth: he will be born in the family of Vishńuyaśas, an eminent Brahman of Sambhala village, as Kalki, endowed with the eight superhuman faculties.”
“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of Allah, and the Seal of the Prophets: and Allah has full knowledge of all things.”
“Verily We have sent thee in truth, as a bearer of glad tidings, and as a warner: and there never was a people, without a warner having lived among them (in the past).”
“Of some messengers We have already told thee the story; of others We have not;- and to Moses Allah spoke direct;-”
Jamison and Witzel write that the Rig Veda has come down basically in only one extremely well preserved school, that of Shakalya, whose word-by-word analysis of the text (the Padapatha) is also handed down; the Bashkala and Mandukeya collections are lost. Their table of Vedic texts lists the surviving collections: one of the Rig Veda, three of the Sama Veda, six of the Yajur Veda (one of them partial) and two of the Atharva Veda, which they say differ considerably from each other. The table marks other texts as lost, such as the Paippalada school's Brahmana, which has no surviving text.
“Say: "O men! I am sent unto you all, as the Messenger of Allah, to Whom belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth: there is no god but He: it is He That giveth both life and death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the Unlettered Prophet, who believeth in Allah and His words: follow him that (so) ye may be guided."”
Pages to read together
This site has pages written for Hindu readers. Share the one that fits your friend. "I'm a Hindu: why should I consider Islam?" suits everyone. A friend who says God (﷾) is one can read "Do the Hindu scriptures teach that God is one?" Then try "If Hindus already believe in one God, why should they become Muslim?" A friend who worships through a murti can read "Is it right to worship God through an image?" A Vaishnava friend may start with "Did God become a man as Rama or Krishna?" A Shaiva or Vaishnava friend can read "Is Shiva or Vishnu the supreme God?" A friend who follows Advaita can read "Is the soul the same as God?" For questions about rebirth, read "Is karma just?" and "Did the Vedas teach reincarnation?" A friend who says all paths are one can read "Aren't all religions paths to the same God?" A secular friend can read "Is being a good person enough?" For a Sikh friend, use the guide "How do I talk about Islam with Sikh friends?" To show your friend how Muslims wash and pray, use the site's guides to wudu and salah. For yourself, the site's Dawah guide sets out the whole method.
“Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance.”
Islam's answer, and your part
In the end, invite your friend to Islam itself. Islam is a complete way of life (deen): belief, worship, law, family and character together. The page "What is Islam?" shows it in one place. The Qur'an asks to be tested: produce a chapter like it. It says the Prophet (ﷺ) was sent to all people, and calls him the Seal of the Prophets, the last of them. Your part is to speak clearly and kindly. There is no compulsion in religion, so the choice is your friend's. Who is better in speech than one who calls to God (﷾) and does good? Inviting is your part; guiding a heart is God's (﷾) alone. That is why, if your friend asks whether you are trying to convert them, the honest answer is no.
“This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.”
“O ye who believe! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly; and follow not the footsteps of the evil one; for he is to you an avowed enemy.”
“And if ye are in doubt as to what We have revealed from time to time to Our servant, then produce a Sura like thereunto; and call your witnesses or helpers (If there are any) besides Allah, if your (doubts) are true.”
“Say: "O men! I am sent unto you all, as the Messenger of Allah, to Whom belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth: there is no god but He: it is He That giveth both life and death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the Unlettered Prophet, who believeth in Allah and His words: follow him that (so) ye may be guided."”
“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of Allah, and the Seal of the Prophets: and Allah has full knowledge of all things.”
“Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.”
“Who is better in speech than one who calls (men) to Allah, works righteousness, and says, "I am of those who bow in Islam"?”
“It is true thou wilt not be able to guide every one, whom thou lovest; but Allah guides those whom He will and He knows best those who receive guidance.”
What your friend may say
Qur'an 2:256 — Surat al-Baqara (The Cow), verse 256
“Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.”
Cited for
Are you trying to convert me?
The response
No. I am making you aware of Islam, and we are just having a friendly discussion, not a debate. I cannot make anyone believe. The Qur'an tells even the Prophet (ﷺ) that he cannot guide everyone he loves, but God (﷾) guides whom He wills. It also says, "Let there be no compulsion in religion". So the choice is yours. Read, think and decide for yourself. If you decide Islam is not for you, I will say what the Qur'an teaches: "To you be your Way, and to me mine." Whatever you decide, I am still your friend.
Where it lands — The Muslim shares Islam in a friendly discussion and presses no one. The choice is the friend's, and if it is no, the friendship goes on.
Qur'an 72:18 — Surat al-Jinn (The Jinn), verse 18
“"And the places of worship are for Allah (alone): So invoke not any one along with Allah;”
Cited for
You think our gods and our murtis are wrong.
The response
I will never mock them; the Qur'an forbids Muslims to revile what others call on. But I will be honest with you: I believe all worship belongs to the One who made everything, so I pray to Him alone. I invite you to think about Him too.
Where it lands — Respect for the person and a clear answer about worship go together.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5537 — Kitab al-Dhaba'ih wa al-Sayd (Hunting, Slaughtering), hadith 5537
Khalid ibn al-Walid reports that a roasted lizard (dabb) was served to the Prophet (ﷺ) in the house of Maymuna. He drew back his hand, and Khalid asked whether it was unlawful. The Prophet (ﷺ) said no; it was not found in the land of his people, so he did not like it. Khalid then ate it while the Prophet (ﷺ) watched.
Cited for
Why do Muslims eat beef, when the cow is sacred to us?
The response
God (﷾) made beef lawful, but no Muslim has to eat it. The Prophet (ﷺ) once left a lawful dish uneaten, because it was not the food of his people. So I can leave beef aside when we eat together, out of respect. What I may not do is say that God (﷾) forbade it. And I will never mock what you hold sacred.
Where it lands — Courtesy at the table, and honesty about what God (﷾) has allowed.
Qur'an 23:115 — Surat al-Mu'minun (The Believers), verse 115
“"Did ye then think that We had created you in jest, and that ye would not be brought back to Us (for account)?"”
Cited for
I'm not very religious. I keep the festivals and try to be a good person.
The response
A good life matters, and Islam values it. But who made us, and what comes after death? The Qur'an asks, "Did ye then think that We had created you in jest"? Islam is a way of life with the Creator at its centre. To whoever does good and has faith, He promises "a life that is good and pure".
Where it lands — Goodness is welcomed, and the question of who made us still stands.
Qur'an 7:158 — Surat al-A'raf (The Heights), verse 158
“Say: "O men! I am sent unto you all, as the Messenger of Allah, to Whom belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth: there is no god but He: it is He That giveth both life and death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the Unlettered Prophet, who believeth in Allah and His words: follow him that (so) ye may be guided."”
Cited for
Islam is a foreign religion. My family has always been Hindu.
The response
The Qur'an says the Prophet (ﷺ) was sent to all people: "O men! I am sent unto you all". God (﷾) made nations and tribes "that ye may know each other". The Qur'an counts the variety of languages among His signs. A Hindu who becomes Muslim changes whom he worships, not his parents, his people or his language.
Where it lands — The message was always for every people, and accepting it changes a person's worship, not his family.
Qur'an 9:113 — Surat al-Tawba (The Repentance), verse 113
“It is not fitting, for the Prophet and those who believe, that they should pray for forgiveness for Pagans, even though they be of kin, after it is clear to them that they are companions of the Fire.”
Cited for
So your religion says my grandparents are in hell.
The response
For those who died outside Islam, a Muslim does not ask God's (﷾) forgiveness (9:113). That is a rule for his own prayers. It is not a verdict on your grandparents. The verse gives its condition: "after it is clear to them that they are companions of the Fire". The Qur'an also says God (﷾) sends no wrath "until We had sent a messenger" (17:15). He is "never unjust in the least degree" (4:40). No Muslim may declare any particular person's fate. That belongs to God (﷾).
Where it lands — Islam states its rule for prayer openly, and leaves each person's fate to a God who wrongs no one.
Qur'an 17:15 — Surat al-Isra (The Night Journey), verse 15
“Who receiveth guidance, receiveth it for his own benefit: who goeth astray doth so to his own loss: No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another: nor would We visit with Our Wrath until We had sent a messenger (to give warning).”
Cited for
If my grandparents may be safe because no one told them, why are you telling me?
The response
We do not say they are safe or lost; that is for God (﷾), who knows what reached each person. But the message is now reaching you. The same verse says: "Who receiveth guidance, receiveth it for his own benefit: who goeth astray doth so to his own loss". I tell you because I believe it is true, and I want that good for you.
Where it lands — The message is a gift to whoever it reaches, and a choice for whoever hears it; God (﷾) judges each person justly.
Perspectives
What a friend may say
A Hindu friend may say that all paths lead to the same God, or that they already believe in one God. Some add that the murti is only a symbol.
All paths lead to the same God. The sages give many names to what is One.
Rebuttal
The Gita itself does not say that all worship ends in the same place. Krishna says that devotees of other gods do worship him, but "irregularly". They do not know him truly, "therefore do they fall". And "Those who make vows to the gods go to the gods" (9.23-25). Religions also give opposite answers. One says God (﷾) is born as a man; the Qur'an says He is never begotten (112:3). Opposite answers cannot all be true.
I already believe in one God, so I need nothing more.
Rebuttal
Belief in the Creator was never the whole of it. The Qur'an speaks of people who, asked who created the heavens and the earth, answer "Allah". Yet it asks how they are turned away from the truth (29:61). Knowing that a Maker exists is not yet worshipping Him alone, and Islam asks that He alone be worshipped (1:5; 72:18).
The murti is only a symbol that keeps my mind on God.
Rebuttal
Some compare the murti to a photograph of someone they love. But a photograph shows what someone looks like. The Upanishad says no one sees what God (﷾) looks like: "His form cannot be seen, no one perceives him with the eye" (Svetasvatara 4.20). So an image cannot show Him. And the Qur'an says God (﷾) is close and hears every caller Himself (2:186), so no image is needed to reach Him.
The Islamic perspective
Invite with wisdom and gentleness, honestly and one point at a time. Start from the Creator and from what you share. Leave each person's fate to God (﷾), and leave the choice to your friend.
Muslims are told to invite with wisdom and beautiful preaching. They are told not to revile what others call on besides God (﷾).
God (﷾) loves gentleness in every matter, and the Prophet (ﷺ) was sent as a mercy, not to curse.
Islam teaches kindness to parents, honour to guests, feeding the poor, fasting and prayer. All are part of worshipping God (﷾) alone.
A Muslim does not ask God's (﷾) forgiveness for those who died outside Islam (9:113). No one is punished before a messenger reaches them (17:15), and no Muslim may declare any particular person's fate.
Only what is known to be true is used: no one may claim what he does not know.
There is no compulsion in religion; the Muslim conveys, and the choice is the listener's.