Hindu Temples What Happened to Them- Vol. 1 Preliminary Survey

1. Historical Accounts Detail Widespread Temple Destruction

Almost all medieval Muslim historians credit their heroes with desecration of Hindu idols and/or destruction of Hindu temples.

Consistent narrative. Across centuries and regions, Muslim historians documented the destruction of Hindu temples as a standard feature of conquest and rule. These accounts, written by chroniclers serving various dynasties, consistently portray iconoclasm as a praiseworthy act. They describe numerous instances of temples being razed, idols smashed, and sacred sites defiled.

Scale of destruction. The literary sources provide a glimpse into the vast scale of this activity, mentioning thousands of temples destroyed in specific campaigns. While numbers might be exaggerated, the sheer volume of such reports across different texts indicates a systematic and widespread practice. This wasn't isolated vandalism but a recurring pattern of behavior by Muslim rulers and their armies.

Geographic reach. These historical records cover a vast area, from Central Asia and Afghanistan to Bengal and South India. They show that temple destruction was not limited to one region or dynasty but was a common practice across the diverse Muslim sultanates and empires that ruled parts of the Indian subcontinent over time.

2. Epigraphic and Archaeological Evidence Confirms Destruction and Reuse

The materials of 27 idol temples, on each of which 2,000,000 Delhiwals had been spent were used in the (construction of) the mosque.

Stone witnesses. Inscriptions found on mosques and other Muslim monuments across India explicitly state that they were built on the sites of demolished temples, often using materials from those very temples. These epigraphic records serve as undeniable physical evidence corroborating the literary accounts. They detail:

• The number of temples destroyed for a single mosque (e.g., 27 for Quwwat al-Islam).
• The use of temple stones and idols in construction.
• The names of the builders and the dates of construction.

Archaeological findings. Modern archaeological surveys have unearthed numerous architectural and sculptural fragments from Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain temples embedded within Muslim structures or found in the debris of demolished sites. These findings, often showing deliberate mutilation of images, provide further tangible proof of systematic destruction. Examples include:

• Temple pillars and carvings in mosques.
• Idols used as building blocks or doorsteps.
• Ruins of temples found beneath later Muslim constructions.

Beyond coincidence. The widespread presence of temple materials and inscriptions referencing destruction across different regions and time periods makes it clear that this was a deliberate and consistent policy, not merely opportunistic reuse of abandoned buildings.

3. Islamic Theology Mandates Iconoclasm Against Pagan Worship

In the history of Islam, iconoclasm and razing other peoples� temples are not aberrations - stray acts of zealous but misguided rulers - but are central to the faith.

Divine command. The destruction of idols and pagan places of worship is rooted in the core tenets of Islam, derived from the Quran and the Sunnah (practice) of Prophet Muhammad. The concept of Tawhid (oneness of God) inherently rejects polytheism (Shirk) and its symbols. The Quran contains numerous verses condemning idols and their worship.

Jihad's objective. Jihad, often translated as "holy war," includes the mission to eliminate Shirk and establish the worship of Allah alone. This religious obligation provides the theological justification for attacking and destroying pagan temples and idols in lands not under Muslim rule (Dar al-Harb). The destruction is seen as a service to God.

Pious performance. Muslim rulers and commanders viewed iconoclasm not as a regrettable act of war or plunder, but as a meritorious religious deed. Inscriptions and historical accounts frequently describe these acts with pride, seeking divine approval and reward for purifying the land of infidelity.

4. Prophet Muhammad's Actions Set the Precedent for Idol Breaking

When the Prophet,� writes Ibn Ishaq, �prayed the noon prayer on the day of the conquest he ordered that all the idols which were round the Ka�ba should be collected and burnt with fire and broken up.

Sunnah as model. The actions of Prophet Muhammad himself serve as the primary example for Muslims to follow. His destruction of the idols in and around the Ka'ba upon conquering Mecca established a powerful precedent for iconoclasm. This act, recorded in detail in early biographies, became a central part of the Sunnah.

Beyond Mecca. Following the conquest of Mecca, the Prophet sent expeditions to destroy other prominent pagan temples and idols in the Arabian Peninsula. These actions further solidified iconoclasm as a mandated practice for the faithful. Examples include the destruction of:

• Al-Uzza temple in Nakhla.
• Al-Manat temple in Qudayd.
• Suwa' temple of the Hudhayl tribe.

Symbolic acts. Beyond mere destruction, the Prophet's actions included symbolic gestures like placing idols at the doorsteps of mosques to be trampled upon. These acts were intended to demonstrate the perceived powerlessness of the pagan deities and the triumph of Islam.

5. Pre-Islamic Arabia Had a Diverse, Non-Iconoclastic Religious Landscape

The pagan Arabs, however, had remained unaware of the menace advancing on them from all sides.

Rich pantheon. Contrary to later Islamic portrayals of pre-Islamic Arabs as primitive fetishists, historical and archaeological evidence reveals a complex and diverse pagan religion. They worshipped numerous deities, including personifications of abstract ideas, heavenly bodies, and nature powers, often with elaborate temples and rituals.

Tolerance and pluralism. Pre-Islamic Arab society, like other pagan cultures, was characterized by religious tolerance and pluralism. Different tribes and communities worshipped their own deities without seeking to impose their beliefs on others or destroy rival cults. This contrasts sharply with the exclusive and intolerant nature of monotheism.

Pagan virtues. Pre-Islamic Arabs valued virtues like bravery, loyalty, generosity, and hospitality. While they lacked a written religious code, their moral ideals were preserved in their poetry. They were fiercely independent and proud of their heritage, resisting attempts by monotheistic neighbors to convert them.

6. Monotheism, Introduced by Judaism and Christianity, Brought the Concept of a Jealous God

Like Jehovah of the Bible, Allah also advances his claim to be the one and only God.

Exclusive deity. The concept of a single, jealous God who demands exclusive worship and tolerates no rivals is central to Judaism and Christianity, and was adopted by Islam. This stands in stark contrast to the inclusive and pluralistic nature of pagan pantheons. The Bible, in particular, contains numerous commandments from Jehovah to destroy the altars, idols, and sacred sites of other nations.

Scriptural mandate. The Bible provides the theological blueprint for iconoclasm, portraying the destruction of pagan worship as a divine command and a necessary step for the faithful. This scriptural tradition, inherited and amplified by Islam, laid the groundwork for systematic temple destruction.

Historical precedent. The history of Judaism and Christianity, as recorded in the Bible and other sources, includes instances of violence against pagan religions and their followers. These historical precedents, though often framed as divine retribution, demonstrate the practical application of monotheistic intolerance before the advent of Islam.

7. Economic and Political Motives Are Insufficient Explanations for Iconoclasm

Coming to the economic and political motives for the destruction of Hindu temples, it does not need an extraordinary imagination to see that the Marxist thesis is contrived and farfetched, if not downright ridiculous.

Religious zeal primary. While plunder and political subjugation were often consequences of conquest, the primary motivation for temple destruction, as stated by Muslim chroniclers themselves, was religious zeal. They explicitly mention fulfilling divine commands and earning religious merit by destroying symbols of infidelity.

Inconsistent application. If economic gain were the main driver, Muslim rulers would have targeted wealthy mosques and dargahs as well, which they did not. Similarly, if political motives were paramount, temples would only have been destroyed in areas of rebellion, which was not the case. Destruction occurred widely, even in areas under firm Muslim control.

Desecration's purpose. Acts like placing idols on mosque doorsteps or using temple materials in construction served a symbolic purpose of demonstrating the triumph of Islam over paganism, which cannot be explained by purely economic or political logic. These were acts of religious assertion and humiliation.

8. Modern Historians Distort History to Deny or Downplay Islamic Iconoclasm

Marxist politicians masquerading as historians have been the major contributors to this conspiracy of silence.

Selective narrative. Certain modern historians, particularly those with Marxist or secularist leanings, are accused of deliberately downplaying or denying the religious motivation behind temple destruction. They often attribute these actions solely to economic or political factors, ignoring or dismissing the clear statements of medieval Muslim sources.

Suppression of evidence. This distortion involves ignoring or reinterpreting epigraphic and literary evidence that explicitly mentions religious motives for iconoclasm. It creates a sanitized version of history that aligns with a predetermined ideological agenda, often to promote a narrative of pre-colonial communal harmony.

Political motivation. The criticism suggests that this historical revisionism is politically motivated, aimed at avoiding uncomfortable truths about the nature of Islamic expansion and preventing contemporary communal tensions, even at the cost of historical accuracy.

9. Comparing Islamic Iconoclasm to Alleged Hindu Actions is a False Equivalency

This placing of Hindu kings on par with Muslim invaders in the context of iconoclasm suffers from serious shortcomings.

Disproportionate scale. The scale of temple destruction by Islamic invaders, documented in thousands of instances across centuries and regions, is vastly disproportionate to the handful of alleged instances of Hindu rulers destroying Buddhist or Jain shrines. The evidence for the latter is often debated and lacks the explicit theological justification found in Islam.

Lack of theological basis. Hinduism, unlike Islam, does not have a theological mandate for iconoclasm or the destruction of other faiths' places of worship. While isolated acts of violence may have occurred in history, they were not driven by a core religious doctrine or celebrated as pious deeds.

Different intent. The intent behind the actions differs fundamentally. Islamic iconoclasm was often aimed at eradicating paganism and asserting religious dominance, whereas alleged instances of Hindu violence were not part of a systematic, theologically driven campaign against other religions.

10. Facing Historical Truth is Necessary for Honest Dialogue and Understanding

What we need most in this country is an inter-religious dialogue in which all religions are honest and frank about their drawbacks and limitations.

End denial and concealment. The book argues that evasion and concealment of historical facts, particularly regarding Islamic iconoclasm, hinder genuine understanding and dialogue between communities. Acknowledging the past, even uncomfortable aspects, is crucial for moving forward.

Understand motivations. Facing the truth about the religious motivations behind historical actions allows for a deeper understanding of the ideologies involved. This is necessary for meaningful inter-religious dialogue, which cannot occur if historical realities are suppressed or distorted.

Beyond politics. The issue of historical temple destruction should not be reduced to political point-scoring or used to fuel communal tensions. Instead, it should be approached with intellectual honesty and a commitment to understanding the past as it was, based on available evidence.

Last updated: May 16, 2025