For all of our problems, questions and roubles in life, the Quran provides us ith hope, answers and inspiration. The Holy Words of Allah should and will continue to inspire us in more ways than we may possibly comprehend – and in the hopes of helping us all under-stand the importance of community, solidarity and kindness. Characteristically, Islam is usually classified as violent, intolerant, oppressive, obscurantist and opposed to enlight-enment. My aim in this article is to clarify one of the dimensions of this biased opinion. I will, with the help of God, demonstrate the way Islam treats living in harmony. Here is what the Quran tells us about interfaith peace and dialogue: “And we have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it. So judge between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth. To each of you, we pre-scribed a law and a method. Had Allah willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you; so race to [all that is] good. To Allah is your return altogether and He will [then] inform you concerning that over which you used to differ.” [Quran, 5:48] Here the Quran reminds us that our lives and societies are all designed and prescribed by Allah’s Will – meaning that all we should do is the best we can as Muslims, respect our peaceful differences, and let Allah be the sole Judge as He is. “O mankind, indeed we have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.” [Qu-ran, 49:13] The Quran explains here that we are different from each other not to fight and argue, but to understand and even celebrate – we must realize that we must stay united as a wider community not in spite of but because of our diversity.
“There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So who-ever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.” [Quran, 2:256] The religion of Islam does not allow someone to be forced into a religion – we cannot force or expect everyone to follow the religion of Islam. We must, therefore, respect and understand that there is much to be said in judging the character of a person before their declared religion. “…And do not let the hatred of a people for having obstructed you from al-Masjid al-Haram lead you to transgress. And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperte in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.” [Quran, 5:2] Here the Quran tells us to focus on cooperating with others on the path of righteousness and piety – in whatever we do in life. This means that we must continue to uphold the mor-als of compassion and goodness above all else. “Perhaps Allah will put, between you and those to whom you have been enemies among them, affection. And Allah is competent, and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” [Quran, 60:7] While we acknowledge that Allah Knows the best, it is important to remember that we cannot live our lives with preconceived stereotypes or notions about those who may seem different from us. We must continue to be the first ones to offer our hands of peace and solidarity – the rest is up to Allah. Although the idea of religious liberty and toler-ance is a new issue in the West initiated by philosophers of the 18th century like John Locke and M. Voltaire, it has always been a simple fact for Muslims, clearly declared in their religion.
A glance at Islamic literature fully supports the idea of religious coexistence. Islam not only respects other divine religions and acknowledges their rights, but also prohibits any forms of contempt towards them. Any Islamic state is also obliged by Shariah to provide welfare and support to the followers of other divine religions equal to the Mus-lims. Judaism, Christianity and Islam have a great deal in common: they are all based on monotheism and are committed to increasing justice in the world, and accountability before God. Their historic roots go back to Prophet Abraham and, as such, they are often described as ‘Abrahamic Faith’. They are also the basis of great world civilizations. Therefore, despite the followers of other religions who consider themselves the chosen nation and the only saved ones, Islam considers all of the divine religions as different grades of one school. From the Islamic point of view, each new divine religion has been the upgraded version of the previous one, prescribed to complete its teachings. In the year 2 A.H. the Prophet of Islam (S) signed a treaty with the Christians of Sinai Land which was written by Imam Ali (a). A part of that treaty reads: “I (Prophet Muham-mad) promise that I will not change their priests and monks nor do I expel them from their worshipping places. I do not prohibit their pilgrims from their travels, nor do I destroy their churches. I do not convert any churches to mosques and whichever Muslim does so has violated God’s covenant… Muslims should not force them to do anything. They must be kind to them and respect them all… Should their churches require any repair, Muslims should help them as much as they can and they should allow Christians to practice their rituals…” This is the true face of Islamic practices and attitudes to establish peace and co-existence in society. The horrible incidents of desecrating the Holy Books, and Burning the Worship places have no room in Islam.
—The writer is PhD in Islamic Studies, author and academic writer & lecturer at NUML, Islamabad. He can be reached at [email protected]
