ABDULHAMID ABUSULAYMAN KULLIYYAH OF ISLAMIC

REVEALED KNOWLEDGE AND HUMAN SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF USUL AL-DIN AND COMPARATIVE RELIGION

SEMESTER 2 2023/2024

WORLD RELIGIONS II
RKUD 2321
SECTION 2

INTERNET ASSIGNMENT
A CONVERSATION WITH A HINDU

PREPARED BY:
NUR HANISQISTINA BINTI MOHD NIZAM (2214676)

PREPARED FOR:
ASSOC. PROF. DR. NUR SURIYA BINTI MOHD NOR
 INTRODUCTION

First of all, I find studying different religions to be really intriguing, which is why I was
able to register for Dr. Suriya's World Religion II (RKUD 2321) course this semester. I studied
about Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Taoism and Confucianism in relation to this topic. It's
really interesting to me to understand more about other religions and how they came to be, how
they spread and continue today, and, most importantly, how they follow their teachings in this
world. By taking World Religions II, I can have a deeper knowledge and comprehension of many
religions, as this topic contains more pertinent data and information about those religions'
histories. I have taken this lesson taught by [Link]. She is a scholar who is knowledgeable
about the history and teachings of different other religions, and the manner she teaches is
straightforward for me to grasp.

We are given an individual project at the start of class to find an online partner who
practices a different faith. For that reason, I made the decision to have a Hindu online partner.
Her name is Deeviya Darshini but she prefers to be called Deeviya and she’s Malaysian India .
She was my elementary school friend. We were also close friends in elementary school because
we lived in the same neighborhood. I also asked her to be my internet partner because I thought
she is Christian last semester when I registered for the subject World Religions I. Apparently she
professes Hinduism. I explained my purpose for this assignment to him ,and explained the
interview method and she agreed and wanted to work with me to complete this internet
assignment. I am so grateful to Allah that I found it easy to get in touch with an internet partner
and she was so eager to answer every question to help me understand her religion. She also gave
a very good cooperation about the submission period and patience with my response which was a
bit slow.

It took me a few weeks to complete this assignment and I would like to thank Dr. Suriya
for always helping and advising in completing this assignment. I was able to learn many new
things as I studied in the classroom but this experience gave me a deeper understanding of hindu
culture and beliefs.
1) INTRODUCTION
FIGURE 1: QUESTION 1 (24 MARCH 2024)

This is the first part of the conversation in which we introduce ourselves to each other
and at the same time explain to my internet partner the purpose of the conversation is for an
assignment. Deeviya is a second year student in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and she is
studying Software Engineering. She agreed to be my internet partner, and she also will try to
answer any questions I ask as best she can and be excited to talk about her culture.
2) What is her belief in God (The concept of God in her religion)

FIGURE 2: QUESTION 2

I give my view as a Muslim that my God is Allah and Allah is described as perfect,
omnipotent and eternal. Allah is the only God I worship as a Muslim.
From her explanation , she believes in all religions but she specifically chose Hinduism.
Hinduism encompasses a wide array of beliefs, including a supreme god and the Trimurti:
Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, representing creation, preservation, and destruction. These deities
have corresponding goddesses and various avatars, often appearing in human or animal forms to
convey messages. Also she said, there are numerous devas and devis with specific roles in
nature. Hinduism's connections with Buddhism add depth to its theology. The religion's richness
is reflected in its scriptures, temples, and diverse cultural practices, with worship primarily
centered around the Trimurti and their manifestations.
 FIGURE 3: EXPLANATION

She also explains that their God can have children and that the God who is like a peacock
and the other God who has the face of an elephant is the son of God Shiva and Parvati. She also
explains the Ishtadeva concept by which they can choose a God for them to worship. Deeviya
and family choose to worship Shivan and Parvati and their children, which are Ganesha and
Muruga .Only that was our conversation that night.
3) The ultimate goal in her life as a Hindu
FIGURE 4: QUESTION 3 (5 APRIL 2024)

The next question, I asked her about her main goal in life as a hindu. As a muslim, my
main goal is to enter Jannah or heaven, which is a place of goodness for people who have many
rewards and do good in this world by worshiping Allah and obeying the rules in Islam and not
doing what is forbidden in the sight of Islam. I also want to be stable in the world and in the
Hereafter.
She said that she believes in all religions, their goal is the same as my goal as a muslim.
She explains that as Hindus, their goal is to achieve moksha where their karma determines
whether they go to hell or paradise in the hereafter. In order to achieve moksha, they spend their
lives according to the path outlined in the Bhagavad Gita, following the guidance. Her ultimate
goal is to live according to both the precepts of other religions and those of hinduism. She also
thinks that we will all be judged in the hereafter for our good and bad conduct.
4) Her religious daily practices – from waking up to going to bed
FIGURE 5: QUESTION 4 (6 APRIL 2024)

I do explain this question also from my perspective as a Muslim, like we have to wake up
to perform Subuh prayer and my routine as a student. I will go to class and at midday we have to
perform Zuhr prayer and continue to class and will pray Asr in the evening. After that I will get
rest and go to eat. I will pray Maghrib from 7pm till 8pm, while waiting to pray Ishak I will
recite our holy scripture which is Al-Quran and I will perform Isha prayer and I'm gonna go to
sleep early at 10pm or 11 unless I have an assignment to do.

From Deeviya’s perspective, her religious ritual involves worshiping their deity every
morning at 7:30 a.m. or earlier by lighting an oil lamp (known as a kamatchi vilakku) and doing
pooja using sambrani, camphor, and incense sticks. They also conduct their daily prayers while
listening to devotional music. Some Indian homes would leave their oil lamps burning all day,
but according to the multiple scheduling, the oil lamps should be extinguished at 12 pm and relit
for the second pooja at 7:30 pm. But aside from Tuesdays, Fridays, and rare occasions, when it is
imperative to perform pooja and should also be vegetarian, it is not actually necessary to do so
every day. On other days, they are free to choose whether or not to perform pooja.
 FIGURE 6: CONVERSATION (7 APRIL 2024)

I asked her why they have to light up oil lamp, and she said they consider fire to be a
necessary component of most religious practices, including marriage, pooja, and funeral rites.
They see it as a representation of their god and their life, which is why every Indian home is
required to have a pooja room or space with an oil lamp. It also serves to purify and create a
sacred environment.

I asked her also if the Indians are not Hindu, is it compulsory for them to have their pooja
room or special area in their home because I was confused. She said that she believes that as long
as we have a god to worship, we do set apart a spot in our houses for that purpose. Christians
have their space for worshiping god, and Sikhs have their pooja room as well. Furthermore, as it
is thought to radiate happiness and be sacred in every manner, all vaastu-following Indians
would undoubtedly have at least a modest area set aside for pooja, or god worship. Same as me
as Muslim , we have to make sure to perform prayer in a clean and tidy space.
5) What are the scriptures of her religion? How often does she read the Scriptures?
FIGURE 7: QUESTION 5 (16 APRIL 2024)

The next question is about scriptures of religions and her view as Hindu, there four
primary vedas in Hindu scripture are the Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda, and Rigveda. Each
has a distinct purpose, although they are not closely adhered to in modern times instead, they
have been mixed together and altered. The Puranas, Mahabaratha, Bhagavad Gita, and
Ramayana are among the other scriptures that are still read and taught today. I ask her why the
scriptures are modified because Islam cannot change anything in the Quran and Hadith and it's
strictly prohibited. This is because it is difficult to attribute the evolution of Hinduism to a single
individual or entity because it has been shaped by a blend of cultures and other factors.
Nevertheless, they continue to regard the vedas as a fundamental source of knowledge while
simultaneously adjusting to the modern world.

From my view as Muslim the Quran is considered the sacred scripture of Islam. It serves
as a guide for Muslims on daily matters, including how to pray and what is required of us. The
other sources that we must use as a guide in life: the Hadith, or sayings of our prophet
Muhammad, as documented by the Islamic scholars who also happened to be our prophet's
relatives and friends. Thus, we may determine what is haram and what is halal based on these
two sources. Our holy scripture is written in Arabic, and like myself, I read it every Friday
because, although we Muslims think Friday is the best day of the week, a good Muslim reads
daily and retains the whole scripture but unfortunately I still does not have chance to remember
yet but Deeviya cheer me up to stay practice.

FIGURE 8: CONVERSATION

Then, she says that she frequently reads the scriptures on Tuesdays and Fridays after she does
pooja.
6) How often does she attend religious festivals or lessons on religion?
FIGURE 9: QUESTION 6 (18 APRIL 2024)

Then, how often she attends religions is sometimes because she was schooled by her
mother and didn't really enroll in religious classes, but she attended religious events frequently.
There are so many festivals because it's the birthday of their gods. For example, festivals are the
most known, which is Pongal, Tamil New Year and Deepavali.

As Muslim, and Islamic Revealed Knowledge student, I am close to lessons and frequently
learn islamic teaching deeper and for festivals it is based on my availability to attend like Eid Al
Fitri, Majlis Khatam Quran that in the holy month of fasting, Ramadan.
7) What are the problems, if any, for she in practicing her religion?
FIGURE 10: QUESTION 7 (23 APRIL 2024)

She answered that, you will be able to tell if something is customary or not when those
who offer cultural advice act differently or without following their own advice when performing
rituals or prayers. She hasn't had any issues adhering to the precise intricacies and customs based
on my religious practice.
For me, if I feel I have a problem with practicing my religion and disobey Allah's
command and do the wrong thing because of my own desire, Deeviya really agreed with me.

8) What are her views on the family institutions – should it be improved and strengthened?
FIGURE 11: QUESTION 8 (25 APRIL 2024)
 Deeviya’s opinion is that family structures should be strengthened since we spend so much
time on electronics at home or when we are attending college. From a religious standpoint, there
is no need but she believes that it should typically be strengthened.
For me this question is kinda confusing but it is extremely important in Islam, and in order
for a family to live in peace, everyone must practice the teachings of the religion.

9)Is she concerned about globalization and its impact on her religion and community?
FIGURE 12: QUESTION 9 (2 MAY 2024)

We have to be concerned about changes in globalization toward our religion because it

impacts things like social, politics and understanding of religion because of advances in
[Link] may facilitate the dissemination of false information about Islam, such as cults
or the interpretation of sacred texts for personal gain. For this reason, Islamic teachings should
concern all those who adhere to Islam.
Deeviya is also aware that globalization may lead to changes in one aspect of society:
religious beliefs and practices. Even if there may be concerns about how globalization may
impact Hinduism, for instance she believes that their faith is resilient and adaptable. Hindus must
uphold the core principles and beliefs of our religion while taking use of the opportunities that
globalization presents for intercultural dialogue and interaction. Ultimately, Hindus need to find
a balance between embracing change and preserving our traditions in order to effectively handle
the difficulties posed by globalization.
10) How can the ethical teachings of her religion contribute to improving the social situation?
FIGURE 13: QUESTION 10 (4 MAY 2024)

Deeviya said that one of their teachings is "matha,pitha,guru and deivam," which
translates to "mother, father, teacher, and god." As a result, we primarily honor and thank their
parents and teach in front of [Link], respect for these three roles is something they
should always uphold, no matter what or where. The Bhagavad Gita, which explains living
ethics, teaches how to treat others, think, feel, and most importantly, trust and justice. It is similar
to the Qur'an in that each phrase and chapter discusses how they develop their character and
navigate life.

I consider it the same way as the Quran because in Islam we are required to abide by its
teachings and they have an impact on our day-to-day existence, which includes interacting with
other people. Not only that, but Muslims think that the highest values and behaviors come from
the prophet Muhammad, thus we must emulate him and learn from him.
11) What does she think about the role of religion in today’s (contemporary) life? – e.g.
important, insignificant or irrelevant and what she wants it to be?
FIGURE 14: QUESTION 11 (6 MAY 2024)

The fact that their religion not only teaches them the good aspects of life and traditions,
but also instills strict discipline in us, is evident in the prevalence of immoral acts and behavioral
problems in the face of overwhelming technology and cultural acceptance. For example, the
ability to understand the right and wrongs during rituals or prayers can also be adapted when
making decisions in life. The matter of concept only varies but the acts. In her view it's
significant, and since hinduism is a very broad religion, she decided to follow. Her family does
practice Hinduism, but she also wants to be a Buddhist or Sanskritist. There are moments when
reading about the history of Hinduism such as the Ramayana, Mahabharatha, and Tamadun
Indus.
From my view, yes, religion plays a significant role in modern life. As an example, Islam
plays a vital role in guiding Muslims spiritually and in maintaining their sense of community and
identity. I also think that other religions have important roles in the lives of their adherents.

FIGURE 15: ENDING OF CONVERSATION (7 MAY 2024)

At the previous class, Dr. Suriya had asked a question in class, whether the religion of
islam is missionary religion or not because Islam strongly emphasizes all Muslims are caliphs
and preachers to spread da’wah to other religions. So I wonder if Hinduism is also missionary
religion. Deeviya answers me with the answer is no as far as she is aware, hinduism doesn't
involve conversions. Instead, it's primarily passed down through traditions and lineage that they
follow from their father. For example, if her father is Tamil, then she would be Tamil; if he is
Hindu but speaks Telugu, then she would speak Telugu. That's how she noticed it. It's all within
hinduism alone. she had observed some people change to other faiths, hinduism doesn't offer any
ceremonies or rituals for conversion; instead, it is passed on via families.

CONCLUSION

As for the conclusion, I'm happy that we had a smooth talk and that I was able to answer
every question. Since we live in a diverse world with many different ethnic groups, cultures,
countries, and so on, I personally think that this sort of project has opened my eyes to learning
about various religions. One nation that allows its citizens to freely select their faith is Malaysia.
I have the chance to learn about the distinctiveness of every religion in the world as a student,
but as Muslims, we should naturally recognise that Islam is the only really pure faith. I think that
the development of a strong brotherhood between Muslims and non-Muslims might have certain
advantages, particularly in resolving some problems that need to be resolved in order to advance
and succeed in life.

Then, to live in a peaceful, respectful and harmonious life, everyone should learn how to
have a relationship with other religions because it could avoid unnecessary arguments that lead
to unwanted situations. Furthermore, when all people around the world could accept each
religion then it would be fine for them to sit together proposing any sharing idea especially in
study, job affairs and so on due to non-bias at all. At last, I appreciate and thanks to those who
are willing to assist me in completing this assignment because without them I could not finish an
internet assignment easily. Thanks also to Dr Suriya for the teaching and guide to complete this
assignment.