The Pantheistic Nature of God in Hinduism from an Islamic Perspective: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

Hinduism is often described as a monotheistic religion. Muslim scholars have examined it through the framework of Islamic Tawhid. Some regard Hinduism as polytheistic; others argue it contains monotheism. Some suggested that monotheistic ideas developed gradually within it. Although comparative studies between Hinduism and Islam have addressed certain aspects of monotheism, they have largely overlooked a systematic analysis of Pantheism in Hinduism from an Islamic perspective. Pantheism is commonly understood as the belief that God and the universe are identical. The central problem of this study concerns the presence of pantheistic concepts in Hindu scriptures that identify the divine with the universe. This notion appears to conflict with the monotheistic nature of Hinduism from an Islamic perspective. Despite numerous studies on monotheistic characteristics of Hinduism, limited attention has been given to a systematic examination of Hindu pantheism from an Islamic theological perspective. Therefore, this study analyses the pantheistic nature of God in Hinduism and evaluates its compatibility with the Islamic concept of divine oneness. The study finds that Hindu scriptures and Vedantic philosophies contain significant pantheistic elements that portray Brahman as the ultimate reality permeating all existence. From the Islamic perspective, these concepts contradict the doctrine of Tawḥīd, which affirms God's absolute transcendence and distinction from creation. Therefore, the study concludes that Hindu pantheism is fundamentally incompatible with Islamic monotheism, although both traditions acknowledge a form of divine nearness.