Urdu Scholarship on Religions: A Study of Genres and Themes

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive overview of the extensive Urdu literature(books) available on world religions. It categorizes the writings into ten distinct types: comparative studies, biographies of religious founders, works focused on individual religions, academic textbooks, translations from other languages, studies on sacred scriptures, polemical literature, poetic works, writings on diverse theological topics, and literature promoting interfaith dialogue and harmony. The Urdu language, with its rich literary tradition, has played a significant role in documenting and discussing the beliefs, histories, and philosophies of various religions, including Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism. While Islam remains the most extensively covered topic, significant scholarly material also exists on other major faiths. It references several bibliographic sources and surveys to underscore the diversity and depth of this literary corpus. The study underscores the importance of religious understanding and mutual respect in today’s interconnected world. By mapping the thematic scope of Urdu religious writings, the article provides a valuable resource for researchers. It encourages further academic work in the field to foster interreligious awareness and harmony.