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Hinduism in the Middle East

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Hindus in the Middle East
Total population
3,062,645
(1.6% of population)
Regions with significant populations
 United Arab Emirates855,738 (2022)
 Saudi Arabia451,347 (2020)
 Kuwait425,950 (2020)
 Qatar422,118 (2022)
 Yemen297,103 (2022)
 Oman279,488 (2022)
 Bahrain165,706 (2020)
Religions
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Buddhism in the Middle East, Sikhism, Christianity in the Middle East
Hinduism by country
Africa
Asia
Europe
North America
Caribbean
Oceania
South America
Full list

According to the Book of Idols by the medieval Arab scholar Hisham ibn al-Kalbi, Hinduism was present in pre-Islamic Arabia. Ibn Al-Kalbi explains the origins of idol worshipping and the practice of circumambulation as rooted in India and Hinduism.[1]

Hinduism has been present in the form of ancient Hinduism or Vedic religion in other parts of the Middle East and influenced the Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism in ancient Persia. [2] Krishna, one of the avatars of Vishnu and prominent Hindu deity, figures prominently in some of religions in the region.[3]

While influencing ancient religions of Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism, the Hindu notion of reincarnation or transmigration of souls was incorporated in other smaller religions such as Yazidism as well as Druze.[4] Many religions in the Middle East, notable among them is Yazidism, draw heavily from common Indo-Iranian traditions, closely connected to Hinduism.[5] The Yarsani, followers of Yarsanism, believe that the Divine Essence has successive incarnations known as mazhariyyats (similar to the Hindu notion of avatars).[6]

At present, there is an influential and wealthy Hindu community, mostly of Indian, Nepalese and Sri Lankan heritage in Arab states of the Persian Gulf.[7] Many came due to the migration of Indians and Nepalese expatriates and employees to the area around the Persian Gulf.

The Indian expatriate community is the largest ethnic community in the UAE constituting 30% of the country’s population. The Indian community members -- from managers, doctors and technicians to engineers, IT experts and chartered accountants or business tycoons -- have left an indelible mark on the Gulf nation’s social and economic life.[8]

Hindu temples have been built in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and Oman.[9]

Demographics

[edit]

Distribution of Hindus among the Middle Eastern countries

  United Arab Emirates (32.2%)
  Saudi Arabia (15%)
  Kuwait (14%)
  Qatar (11%)
  Yemen (10%)
  Oman (9%)
  Bahrain (5.4%)
  Turkey (3%)
  Jordan (0.3%)
  Lebanon (0.2%)
Hinduism by country in the Middle East
Country Population (2020E) % of Hindus Hindu total
 United Arab Emirates 9,869,000 10%[10][11] 986,900
 Saudi Arabia 34,719,000 1.3%[12][13] 451,347
 Kuwait 4,259,500 10%[14] 425,950
 Qatar 2,113,000 15.9%[15][16] 335,967
 Yemen 29,710,300 1%[17] 297,103
 Oman 5,081,600 5.5%[18][19][20] 279,488
 Bahrain 1,690,900 9.8%[21][22] 165,708
 Turkey 84,339,067 0.1%[23][24] 84,340
 Jordan 10,185,500 0.1%[25] 10,186
 Lebanon 6,830,600 0.1%[26][27] 6,830
Total 197,438,267 1.6 3,062,645

Historical background

[edit]

Indian settlers came to live in Oman, creating settlements and practicing Hinduism. Arab sailors were using the southwest monsoon winds to trade with western Indian ports before the first century CE. An Arab army conquered Sindh in 711 and Arab traders settled in Kerala in the 6th century. In the opposite direction, medieval Gujaratis, Kutchis, and other Indians traded extensively with Arab and Somali ports, including Hormuz, Salalah, Socotra, Mogadishu, Merca, Barawa, Hobyo, Muscat and Aden. Arab merchants were the dominant carriers of Indian Ocean trade until the Portuguese forcibly supplanted them at the end of the 15th century. Indo-Arabian links were renewed under the British Empire, when many Indians serving in the army or civil service were stationed in Arab lands such as Sudan.[citation needed] The current wave of Indian immigration to the Arab states of the Persian Gulf dates roughly to the 1960s. Hinduism is also one of the fastest growing religions in the Middle East, mainly due to immigration from the Indian Subcontinent.[citation needed]

In 2001, Belgian speleologists discovered a large number of inscriptions, drawings, and archaeological objects on the Socotra island in Yemen[28][29] left by sailors who visited the island from the 1st century BC to 6th century AD. Most of the texts found were written in the Indian Brahmi script.[30]

Egypt

[edit]

There were about 2,700 Hindus in Egypt in 2010.[31] That number decreased to about 1535 in 2020.[32]

Oman

[edit]
Main article: Hinduism in Oman
Shiva temple in Old Muscat is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Middle East.

Oman has an immigrant Hindu minority. The number of Hindus has declined in the 20th century although it is now stable. Hinduism first came to Muscat in 1507 from Kutch. The original Hindus spoke Kutchi. By the early 19th century there were at least 4,000 Hindus in Oman, all of the intermediate merchant caste. By 1900, their numbers had plummeted to 300. In 1895, the Hindu colony in Muscat came under attack by the Ibadhis. By the time of independence, only a few dozen Hindus remained in Oman. The historical Hindu Quarters of al-Waljat and al-Banyan are no longer occupied by Hindus. The most prominent immigrant Hindus, are Visoomal Damodar Gandhi (Aulad Kara), Khimji Ramdas, Dhanji Morarji, Ratansi Purushottam and Purushottam Toprani. The only Hindu crematorium is located in Sohar, northwest of Muscat.[33]

Temples

[edit]

Hindu temples once located in Ma'bad al Banyan and Bayt al Pir no longer exist after the area's redevelopment in the mid-1970s.[33] The only active Hindu temples today are the Shiva temple complex in Muscat (locally known as Motishwar Mandir),[34] and the Krishna temple located in Darsait.[35]

Qatar

[edit]

Hindus make up 15.9% of Qatar. There are an estimated 422,118 Hindus in the country.[36][37] Many Hindus are from South and Southeast Asia.[38][39]

Saudi Arabia

[edit]
Main article: Hinduism in Saudi Arabia

Saudi authorities interpret Hindu icons as idols, and idol worship is strongly condemned in Sunni Islam. This is likely the foundation for the stringent position of Saudi authorities when it comes to idol-worshipping religious practice.[40]

United Arab Emirates

[edit]
Main article: Hinduism in the United Arab Emirates

South Asians in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) constitute the largest ethnic group in the country.[41] Over 2 million Indian migrants (mostly from the southern Indian states of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Coastal Karnataka and Tamil Nadu) are estimated to be living in the UAE, constituting 28% of the total population of the Emirates as of 2017.[42] A majority of Indians live in the three largest cities of the UAE — Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. From the estimated 2 million migrants, 1 million are from Kerala and 450,000 from Tamil Nadu, thus constituting a majority of the Indian community in the UAE. The population of Indian migrants in the UAE had grown from 170,000 in 1975 to an estimated value of 750,000 in 1999. By 2009, this value had grown to an estimated value of 2 million. A majority of Indians in the UAE (approximately 50%—883,313 in 2011) are from the South Indian state of Kerala, followed by migrants from Tamil Nadu. The majority of Indian migrants to UAE are Muslim (50%), followed by Christian (25%) and Hindu (25%). Estimated Hindu population in UAE is between 6-10%.[43]

Temples

[edit]

In 1958, permission were given to build the Hindu Temple, Dubai in Bur Dubai in a complex that included Shiva Mandir, Krishna Mandir, and Gurudwara. In January 2024, a new Hindu Temple, Dubai opened in Jebel Ali and the existing Shiva Mandir and Gurudwara were moved to this new location. Krishan Mandir is still housed in the original complex in Bur Dubai.[44]

Majority of Hindus living in UAE practice their religion within their homes.[45] The new temple, BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi, had its foundation stone laying ceremony in April, 2019.[46][47] The inauguration ceremony of the temple took place on 14 February 2024.[48]

Yemen

[edit]
Main article: Hinduism in Yemen

There are about 200,000 Hindus in Yemen.[49] Many of them are from India and Nepal.[50]

Hindu temples

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Akasoy, Anna (2019-03-06). "Islam and Buddhism: The Arabian Prequel?". Entangled Religions. 8: 1–32. doi:10.13154/er.v8.2019.1-32. ISSN 2363-6696. Archived from the original on 2024-08-20. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  2. ^ "Jainism – Posadha", Buddhism and Jainism, Encyclopedia of Indian Religions, Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, p. 585, 2017, doi:10.1007/978-94-024-0852-2_100387, ISBN 978-94-024-0851-5, retrieved 2024-07-09
  3. ^ Baha'i Faith. 2020. doi:10.4135/9781529714401.n46. ISBN 978-1-4739-4220-2. Retrieved 2024-07-09. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
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  29. ^ Robin, C.; Gorea, M. (2002). "Les vestiges antiques de la grotte de Hôq (Suqutra, Yémen) (note d'information)". Comptes rendus des séances de l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres (in French). 146 (2): 409–445. doi:10.3406/crai.2002.22441.
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