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Interfaith Dialogue: Islamic
Perspective
Prof. Abdul Majid*
In this paper we intend to
give an account of Islamic teachings about the relationship
of different faiths to Islam. We shall look into the idea
that whether Islamic teachings are accommodative of other
faiths or not? Whether Islam accepts diversity of religions
and cultures or not? What are the teachings of Islam about
the believers of other faiths? Is Jihad a hurdle in
the way of interfaith dialogue?
God calls to the Abode of Peace and He guides
whom He pleases to a straight
path (Al-Quran, 10:25)
Dialogue is a conversation among persons or groups who
differ on a subject, the primary purpose of which is for
each party to learn from the other. According to
Webster Dictionary ‘ dialogue’ is the act of talking
together, especially an open exchange of ideas made in an
effort by persons to understand each other’s viewpoints.
1
Interfaith dialogue is the act of talking together of the
bearers of different faiths in an open atmosphere in an
effort to understand each other’s views.
The Quranic Basis of Dialogue
In the
Quran Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is instructed to
call the People of the Book
(
The
Quran calls Christians and Jews as Ahli Kitab)
to come for a word which is common between you and us.2
There
we have a literal translation of "dialogue," i.e., a "word
between" (dia-logos) conversation partners. And there also
we have the presentation of a common platform of all
believers; for the special word between the believers of all
religions is belief in God.
Prophet Muhammad did not wish to found a new religion but
was driven by the desire to bring people back to the
original faith of Abraham. He knew that the various types
and sects of Christianity and Judaism all sprang from the
same source. Since they had come to differ amongst
themselves considerably, he saw his task (by the command of
Allah) in re-establishing the original Abrahamic religion,
called Islam. The word Islam means submission to the will
of God and peace . In that sense Islam is the same as
salam, which is the same as the Hebrew shalom,
meaning peace, with the special connotation of soundness
and wholesomeness.
So
Muhammad(PBUH) made it his mission to bring people back to
Islam in that original sense. He did not intend to
convert people to his own religion; he wanted to convert
them to the religion of Abraham. To this end the prototype
of Abrahamic religion had to be reconstructed. He was
first of all concerned to unite the various groups of
believers in God , a platform that was common to all .3
The
Holy Quran also confirms this fact. It refers repeatedly to
the previous scriptures, Torah and the Gospels, and claims
that its message does not differ from them. Instead , it
claims to confirm and clarify the messages delivered
through earlier prophets, and to correct misinterpretations
of those messages made by the followers of the prophets who
delivered them . The same din , the monotheistic
religion , therefore , was accurately revealed before , the
Quran affirms , but those communities who received messages
prior to the time of Muhammad became “doubtful and
disconcerted” (42: 13) about it. Some deliberately ignored
or abandoned the din (religion), others distorted it.
The confirmation and the clarification of divine message
was the mission of prophet Muhammad 4.
So
Muhammad did not bring a new din but came to
reestablish and confirm the prototype of Abrahamic
religion, monotheism. Many Quranic verses can be quoted to
authenticate this fact:
“And
who turns away from the religion of Abraham but such as
debase their souls with folly? Him We chose and rendered
pure in this world: and he will be in the Hereafter in the
ranks of the righteous”. (2:130) ,
They
say: "Become Jews or Christians if ye would be guided (to
salvation)." Say thou: "Nay! (I would rather) the religion
of Abraham the true and he joined not gods with Allah." Say
ye: "We believe in Allah and the revelation given to us and
to Abraham Isma`il Isaac Jacob and the Tribes and that given
to Moses and Jesus and that given to (all) Prophets from
their Lord we make no difference between one and another of
them and we bow to Allah (2: 135-136 ),
Say:
"Allah speaketh the truth: follow the religion of Abraham
the sane in faith; he was not of the pagans.(3: 95) , Who
can be better in religion than one who submits his whole
self to Allah does good and follows the way of Abraham the
true in faith? For Allah did take Abraham for a friend. (4:
125)
Prophet Abraham is the fountainhead of the present
monotheistic tradition, the Patriarch of the prophetic line,
and is revered alike by Jews, Christians and Muslims.
Say:
"Verily my Lord hath guided me to a way that is straight a
religion of right the path (trod) by Abraham the true in
faith and he (certainly) joined not gods with Allah." Say:
"Truly my prayer and my service of sacrifice my life and my
death are (all) for Allah the Cherisher of the Worlds:No
partner hath He: this am I commanded and I am the first of
those who bow to His Will. (6:162-163).
Islamic Attitude Towards other Religions
(Some common points and values shared by the People of the
Book and Muslims)
Besides Abrahim as the common ancestor of all believers and
among prophets respected by all , there are many beliefs and
values which are common Muslims and the People of the Book (Ahli
Kitab). In the Quran , God enjoins Muslims to say to
the people of the Book:
“And
argue not with the People of the Scripture unless it be in
(a way) that is better, save with such of them as do wrong;
and say: We believe in that which hath been revealed unto us
and revealed unto you; our God and your God is One, and unto
Him we surrender”. (29: 46)
All the true followers of
these great religions believe that God has created the
entire universe out of nothing and that He dominates all
that exists with His omnipotence; believe that God is the
originator and creator of man and all living things and
that man posses a soul granted him by God; believe in the
life -after-death, heavens and hell and angels ; and that
God has created humans with certain destiny and purpose;
believe that besides Jesus, Moses or Muhammad , God sent
many prophets and messengers as Noah, Abraham, Joseph,
David, Salmon throughout history and they love all these
prophets. In many verses of the Quran , Muslims are advised
not to make any division or distinction among prophets :
“Say
(O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed
unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and
Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that
which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the Prophets
received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any
of them, and unto Him we have surrendered”(2: 136)
“The Messenger believes in what has been sent down to him by
his Lord, and so do the believers. Each one believes in God
and His angels and His Books and His Messengers. We do not
differentiate between any of His Messengers. They say, “We
hear and we obey. Forgive us, our Lord! You are our
journey’s end.” (2: 285)
Special respect and reverence has been shown in the Quran
for righteous people of the Book:
“They are not all alike. Among the People of the Book there
is an upright community who recites the revelation of God
during the night and fall prostrate before Him. They believe
in God and the Last Day, enjoin what is right and forbid
what is evil, and vie with one another in good works. They
are of the righteous. And whatever good they do, its reward
will not be denied them. God knows those who fear [Him]”.
(3:113-115)
The Quran also says that:
“the closest and the most affectionate towards the Muslims
are those who say: "We are Christians:" because amongst them
there are priests and monks and because they are not
arrogant. When they listen to that which has been revealed
to the messenger (Muhammad), you see their eyes overflow
with tears because of their recognition of the Truth. They
say: Our Lord, we believe. So count us among the
witnesses.” (5: 82-83)
The
Holy Quran makes it clear leaving no room for any doubt that
the Muslims have to regard the Torah, Psalms and the
Gospel as book of God revealed to Moses, David and
Jesus(May God send His blessings on them) respectively :
“He
has sent down the Book to you with truth, confirming what
was there before it. And He sent down the Torah and the
Gospel as guide.” ( 3:3-4)
“We
sent down the Torah containing guidance and light, and the
Prophets who had submitted themselves gave judgment by it
for the Jews as did their scholars and their rabbis by what
they had been allowed to preserve of God’s Book, to which
they were witnesses”. (5:44)
“And
in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary confirming
the law that had come before him: We sent him the Gospel:
therein was guidance and light and confirmation of the law
that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to
those who fear Allah” (5: 46)
Let
the people of the Gospel (Injeel) Judge by what Allah
hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by (the light
of) what Allah hath revealed they are (no better than) those
who rebel. (5: 47)
The
Quran consists of revelations in continuation of that , and
confirming that , which was revealed in the scriptures
before it, the Torah and the Injeel (the Gospel):
“To
thee We sent the Scripture in truth confirming the scripture
that came before it and guarding it in safety; so judge
between them by what Allah hath revealed and follow not
their vain desires diverging from the truth that hath come
to thee. To each among you have We prescribed a Law and an
Open Way. If Allah had so willed He would have made you a
single people but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath
given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal
of you all is Allah; it is He that will show you the truth
of the matters in which ye dispute”. (5: 48)
Muslims love Jesus, believe in all his miracles and noble
morality and believe in his ascension , and have faith that
he will come back to the world again to save humanity . The
Qur'an is definite in its assertion that Jesus is alive and
that he will come back again to this world. Prophet
Mohammed, Peace be upon him announced in great detail that
Jesus would come back to the earth miraculously in the last
days and bring peace, justice and happiness by uniting
Christians and Muslims in a common religion and morality.
This is God's great and wonderful promise and no doubt it
will be fulfilled.
This
fact is also stated several times in the New Testament that
Jesus will return to earth.
"So
Christ …will appear a second time… to bring salvation to
those who are waiting for him." (Heb. 9: 28)
In the holy Quran Jesus is not
mentioned as Son of God but he is called as he was , that
is, the Prophet created miraculously by God without
father; he is the "word of God". Allah says in the Quran:
“O
People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion
nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. The
Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was a messenger of Allah, and
His word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him.
So believe in Allah and His messengers, and say not "Three".
Cease! (it is) better for you! Allah is only One God” (4:
171)
The
Qur’an instruct Muslims to respect Jewish and Christian
places of worship, monasteries, churches and synagogues,
if God had not driven some people back by means of others,
monasteries, churches, synagogues and mosques, where God’s
name is mentioned much, would have been pulled down and
destroyed. God will certainly help those who help Him – God
is All-Strong, Almighty. (Qur’an, 22:40 )
As the
People of the Book have moral sense and know what is lawful
and what is not. For this reason, meals prepared by the
people of book are lawful for Muslims to eat. In the same
way, permission has been given to Muslims to marry a women
of People of the Book. On this subject Quran says:
“Today
all good things have been made lawful for you. And the food
of those given the Book is also lawful for you and your food
is lawful for them. So are chaste women from among the
believers and chaste women among the People of the Book ,
once you have given them their dowries in marriage, not in
fornication or taking them as lovers (without marriage). But
as for anyone who disbelieve, his actions will come to
nothing and in the hereafter he will be among the losers.” (
5: 5 )
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