Is there any reference from Islamic teachings that Hinduism is considered as “polytheistic religion”?

Question

Sorry for such a long question description, but it became long due to several citations. In short, Why there is misconception of considering Hinduism as “polytheistic religion and why it is still being considered? Anything stated in Islamic philosophy?

I would like to state some of the facts I have found:

1. Myths that most of them believe in Hinduism by others, that there are 330 million Hindu gods, hence calling it as “polytheism” which is totally wrong. Read the myth number 1 & even 2 from this source

2. In short, there are similarities between Hinduism and Islam which you can refer from here on Wikipedia and here on Quora which states “The authentic scriptures of both religions teaches monotheism”.

3. It’s not yet cleared till now that Hinduism is a polytheistic religion read from here. Instead there are proofs that Hinduism is a monotheistic religion according to the sacred books which can be referred from here

I’m trying to get this answer because in a previous answer to my question where it was said that according to Quran 2:221 says that the Qur'an directly forbids marriage to a polytheist.

1. Even in addition, some countries like Tunisia and especially India according to Special Marriage Act, 1954 allows inter-religion marriages according to the abiding laws. Then why not it is acceptable in the religion itself?

2. Even here it was asked that Does the Qur'an prohibit Muslim women from marrying non-Muslim men or just Jews and Christians? says that “The majority of scholars say that Muslim men are allowed to marry Christian and Jews” according to the People of the Book. Additionally stated that “In later Islamic usage, the use of the term was later extended to even polytheistic Indians".

Also, it was said “The final point which many will argue against is a Muslim woman marrying Christian/Jew. Sadly there is no proof from Quran and Sunnah to back that up, but still many scholars would say it is not allowed.”

But, in another thread asking Why are Muslim women prohibited from marrying non-Muslims while Muslim men are allowed to? it says it is prohibited according to Quran 60:10 due to disbelievers but it’s nowhere stated that Hindus are disbelievers.

At last, in Book 46, Hadith 37 says

No baby is born but upon Fitra. It is his parents who make him a Jew or a Christian or a Polytheist.

Answer 1

Hinduism is loosely defined. We don't go about arguing what certain ancient Hindu scriptures "really teach", we consider what most Hindus believe. For the majority it does involve idolatry and polytheism, which is Shirk. For some it is monaltry\henotheism, which is again shirk. For some it may be monotheistic.

Even if we only consider truly monotheistic ones, it isn't permissible to marry them since permission to marry in Islam is on a white-list basis. The Quran explicitly only allows marriage to those non-Muslims who were given a Scripture by Allah:

والمحصنات من المؤمنات والمحصنات من الذين أوتوا الكتاب من قبلكم

chaste women from among the believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you

^{— Quran 5:5}

There is no tradition within Islam that holds that Hindus were given a scripture. According to most, the people of the book are only two groups: the Jews and Christians, based on 6:156.

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Muslim women are not allowed to marry all disbelievers:

فلا ترجعوهن الى الكفار لا هن حل لهم ولا هم يحلون لهن

do not return them to the disbelievers; they are not lawful [wives] for them, nor are they lawful [husbands] for them.

^{— Quran 60:10}

Regarding your comment that:

it’s nowhere stated that Hindus are disbelievers 

Disbelievers (Kuffar) means non-Muslims. The definition of a believer is enumerated in for example:

يا أيها الذين آمنوا آمنوا بالله ورسوله والكتاب الذي نزل على رسوله والكتاب الذي أنزل من قبل ومن يكفر بالله وملائكته وكتبه ورسله واليوم الآخر فقد ضل ضلالا بعيدا

O you who have believed, believe in Allah and His Messenger and the Book that He sent down upon His Messenger and the Scripture which He sent down before. And whoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day has certainly gone far astray.

^{— Quran 4:136}

Do Hindus believe that "There is no god except Allah" and everything else is His creation and servant (the Shadah)?

Do Hindus believe in the Prophethood of Muhammad (ﷺ) and the previous Prophets and Messengers like Jesus, Moses, Abraham (عليهم السلام اجمعين ) etc.?

Do they believe in the Divine revelation of the Torah, Psalms, Injeel and Quran ?

Do they follow the commandments of the Quran and the Prophet?

Do the believe in the angels like Gabriel, Michael, Israfil ?

Do they believe in the Day of Resurrection?

If they do then they are believers and Muslims, and there is no obstacle in marrying them. If they deny or are not clear on even one of these then they are disbelievers.