Inter-faith relations
By Haider Zaman
The report about the initiative of some leaders to seek a common path for promoting harmony and tolerance among the followers of various religions could be the most welcome message of the 21st century. We, as Muslims, being the followers of the last monotheist religion which remains intact in all respects, should play a leading role in this noble cause.
No other religion has as much potential for promoting inter-faith harmony as Islam. This is evident from its very name which is neither associated nor interlocked with any person, people or place. And from its very meaning which in the literal sense implies "submission" and in the Quranic sense implies "submission to the Will of Allah" (2:128) (3:85) the Cherisher and Sustainer of all (1:1).
Submission to the will of Allah was the main theme of every monotheist religion by whatever name called (3:19). Islam was, in fact, not prescribed for Muhammad (peace be upon him) alone. As the Quran says, "He laid down the same religion for you as He enjoined on Noah: that which We revealed to you which We enjoined on Ibrahim, Moses and Jesus Christ" (42:13). Thus, depending on the context, the reference to Islam in the Quran, can also be taken as reference to the religions of all the Prophets of Allah.
The Quran being the latest in the series of Divine scriptures confirms all the scriptures that were revealed before it (3:3). It enjoins belief in all the Divine scriptures and Prophets of Allah in the same way as it enjoins belief in itself and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) (2:177).
It further says "those who deny Allah and His Messengers and (those who) wish to separate Allah from His Messengers saying we believe in some and reject others and (those who) wish to take middle course, they are in truth not believers" (4:150,151). It means that when the Quran speaks of belief or faith in Allah, it automatically implies faith in Allah and all His Prophets without any distinction.
This is evident from another Quranic verse which says "whoever among the Muslims, or Jews or Sabaeans or the Christians believes in Allah and the Day of Judgment and does the righteous deeds will have no cause for fear or grief" (5:69).
According to a saying of the Prophet, anyone among the followers of other scriptures who having belief in His own Prophet also believed in him i.e. in Muhammad, will be entitled to double reward (Bokhari). That is why, the Quran specifically refers to the existence of righteous people (3:113,114) and people on the right course (5:65,66) among the followers of other scriptures.
The Quran does not exhibit any kind of hostility or animosity towards other scriptures or monotheist religions, nor does it hold their laws (sharia) in contempt.
Rather it exhorts the followers of other scriptures to follow their own law (sharia) (5:44-47), wishes them to be true to their religions (5:65,66) provides indication about how to promote cooperation and better understanding between Muslims and the followers of other scriptures (29:46) and emphasizes the protection of all places where the name of Allah is taken whether they be mosques, churches, monasteries or synagogues (22:40).
When the Romans, who were Christians, were defeated by the Persians, the Muslims of Makkah got very disappointed as the idolaters started joking with them that in the same way in which the Persians defeated the believers in the Unity of Allah, they (the idolaters) too will defeat the Muslims if they fought with them.
During this period, a few verses of surah Ar-Room of the Quran were revealed which predicted that very soon the Romans will emerge as victors and on that day the Muslims will rejoice (30:3,4). And the Romans did emerge as victors as predicted by the Quran.
The Quran says "To each among you We have prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah willed, He would have made you a single people but His plan is to test you in what He has given you. So strive as in race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah" (5:48).
The verse clearly says that it is Allah's own plan that to each of the people has been given their own law (sharia) so that He may test them in what has been given to them. Hence, it is not for them to hate, or fight with, each other on account of any differences in their laws (sharia). Their ultimate goal is one and the same i.e. return to Allah, for which they should strive as in race in all virtues.
The Quran further says "O people of the Book, come to common terms as between us and you that we worship none but Allah, that we associate no partner with Him, that we raise not from amongst ourselves lords and patrons other than Allah" (3:64).
Through this verse the Quran invites the followers of all scriptures to develop a common understanding on one point and that is the Unity of Allah. It does not preach any of them to relinquish their religions but exhorts them to have a common understanding on one point, a point that is common to their religions, the Unity of Allah.
There are some verses of the Quran which exhort the Muslims not to take their friends and patrons from among the people of other scriptures (5:51,57). But each of these exhortations pertained to the peculiar situation prevailing at that particular time.
In fact, the conditions at that time were so volatile that the friends of today could be the foes of tomorrow and vice versa. Quranic verses were revealed cautioning the Muslims as to who their friends and foes were at the particular time.
For example, another verse said that nearer to Muslims in love were the Christians (5:82). Hence the verses (5:51,57) should not be taken in the sense that the Muslims were forbidden from taking the followers of other scriptures as their friends for ever or on account of their religions.
The Quran did allow the Muslims to fight with the people of other scriptures but the object was certainly not to force them to accept Islam but was to make them acknowledge the sovereignty of the newly created Muslim state and to pay tax (jizyah) as its citizens (9:29). The first Caliph fought against those of the Muslims who refused to pay zakat.
The charter of Madinah in which the Muslims and Jews were declared as one ummah (Ibn-i-Hisham) could be one living example of cooperation and peaceful co-existence of Muslims and the followers of other scriptures. Besides, the Prophet allowed the members of the Christian delegation of Najran to pray in the mosque.
In his letter addressed to the four Himyarite princes who had accepted Islam, the Prophet particularly stressed that if a Jew or Christian desired to retain his religion he shall be allowed to do so provided he agreed to pay tax (jizyah) (Ibn-i-Ishaque). All the letters addressed by the Prophet to the Christian heads of states and tribes started with due emphasis on the common elements of faith.
In regard to other religions i.e. religions other than the monotheist religions, the Quran also preaches observance of the same degree of tolerance and forbearance. It does not even allow reviling of idols and such other things or objects which the followers of such religions may be worshipping as their lords or patrons (6:108).
In short, there can be no better lesson of tolerance, harmony and co-existence than the one spelled out by the three verses of the Quran which say "there is no force or compulsion in regard to religion" (2:256)," (telling the Prophet) you are not there to compel them into believing" (50:45) and "(asking the Prophet to tell the unbelievers) for you is your religion and for me is mine" (109:6).