A Critical Study of Jain Scholarship on Muslim Concept of Soul in Colonial Era: The Case Study of Champat Rai’s Work

Abstract

This paper presents a critical analysis of Champat Rai Jain's interpretation of the Islamic concept of the soul through the lens of Jain scholarship, focusing on his influential work The Lifting of the Veil, later translated as “The Gems of Islam”. Champat Rai, a notable Jain scholar of colonial India, sought to bridge the philosophical and theological divides between Jainism and Islam amidst a period of religious and socio-political tension. By examining Qur’ānic verses, ḥadīth, and Ṣūfī traditions, this study explores his portrayal of the soul as an inherently divine and omniscient entity, which resonates with aspects of Ṣūfī mysticism yet contrasts with orthodox Islamic views that regard the soul as created and distinct from God. The research employs a comparative methodology, systematically analysing Rai’s text against primary Islamic sources and prominent mystical works, while also considering Jain doctrines on the soul’s nature, immortality, and liberation. Rai’s syncretic approach draws on mystics such as Manṣūr Al-Ḥallāj and poets like Rūmī, blending Vedantic, Jain, and Ṣūfī ideas to argue for a shared spiritual essence between Jainism and Islam. The findings reveal that while Rai’s work offers a unique interfaith perspective, it departs significantly from Islamic orthodoxy, particularly regarding divine unity and the soul’s autonomy. This study underscores Rai’s ambitious yet controversial contributions to interreligious dialogue, as he aimed to reinterpret Islamic mysticism within a Jain philosophical framework, fostering an intellectual understanding between the two traditions despite inherent doctrinal divergences.