Is it a myth that Muslim rulers in India destroyed thousands of temples?

 No, it is not a myth. Historical records indicate that some Muslim rulers in India did indeed destroy Hindu temples during their rule. While it’s essential to recognize the contributions of Indian Islam, including food, art, and architecture, there were instances of deliberate temple destruction.

Here are some key points:

1. Extent of Destruction:

   • Major Hindu temples in urban centers were deliberately targeted by certain Muslim rulers to assert their power in various regions of the subcontinent.
   • For example, the Somnath Temple in Gujarat faced destruction multiple times. It was first sacked by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1025 and later destroyed by Allauddin Khilji in 1299. It was rebuilt but faced destruction again in 1395 by the Muslim governor of Gujarat¹.

2. Variation in Attitudes:

   • Muslim rulers’ attitudes toward the native Hindu, Sikh, and Jain populations varied.
   • Akbar, the Mughal Emperor, demonstrated almost total tolerance and even patronized temples.
   • However, his great-grandson Aurangzeb exhibited extreme intolerance and demolished parts of the same temple in Vrindavan.
   • The attitudes toward conversion and tolerance also differed between rulers and clerics¹.

3. Conversion and Tolerance:

   • Mass conversion of Hindus to Islam by force was relatively uncommon due to the vast numerical superiority of Hindus and the persistence of various Hindu principalities.
   • While some defeated rulers were given the choice of conversion or death, the population was mostly left alone.
   • The belief that all Hindus were forcibly converted en masse is not accurate¹.

4. Selective Operation:

   • The historical record shows that temple desecration was not driven by a universal “theology of iconoclasm.”
   • Instead, it was a highly selective operation, targeting major temples in urban centers².

In summary, while acknowledging the rich contributions of Indian Islam, it is essential to recognize the historical reality of temple destruction during certain periods of Muslim rule in India¹³. The past is complex, and understanding it requires nuance and context⁴.