Author: Prof Dr. Syed Anwar Husain
Source: Our Faith, The Daily Sun
How much and how far Islam emphasizes an inclusive outlook on the part of its followers is manifested in its insistence on Ta’aruf, meaning knowing each other. Ta’aruf originates from the root word Arf, which appears in the Quranic verse Hujurat (49 : 13). Ta’aruf in Islam is a necessity, which is raised to being a binding rule. At the 14th convening of the World Council of the Islamic Call held in Tripoli on 21 September 2003, Ibrahim al – Ghuwelli, a Lybian scholar stated: “The need for Ta’aruf is deep-rooted, and what is happening is nothing but deviations of the original rules of human relations down the road of history.” Indeed, the need to know the other is instinctive in mankind; and Islam has simply has raised this human psyche to the plane of a principle integral to faith. In fact, the Islamic Ta’aruf is a recipe for dialogue – dialogue of civilizations, and which appears in sharp cootrast to the Huntingtonian Cassandra – like prognosis for the post-Cold War world conceptualised as “Clash of Civilizations.” Ta’aruf appears to be a philosophical rationale of divine prescription for humanity to reach out to others by every possible means, and create an order based on mutuality (not conflict) of interests and peaceful coexistence. It is, therefore, pertinent to consider this Islamic way as one of the potent means for conflict resolution alongside other frequently used political and diplomatic means. The political and diplomatic means are issue-specific and end up mostly in ephemeral results. On the contrary, such religious means seek to bring about change the mindset of the people in conflict, and thus have the potentiality for lasting change conducive for peace making.
Islamic perspective on other faiths:
A commonly held belief among human beings, although entirely wrong, is that his/her religion is right/best, and other religions are wrong/worst. Beliefs and mindsets such as these lead to intolerance, fanaticism and religious dissonance or militancy. But a Muslim is ordained to bear in mind that difference in religious affiliations exists because of the will and wisdom of Allah. Allah says: “And if thy Lord had willed, He verily would have made mankind one nation, yet they cease not differing” (Hood 11:118). He further says: “And were it not that Allah checks the people, some by means of others, there would have been demolished monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of Allah is much mentioned” (al-Hajj 22 : 40).
A benign and peaceful interfaith relationship is prescribed in many of the Quranic verses. For example it is revealed that, “Allah does not forbid you respecting those who have not made war against you on account of (your) religion, and have not driven you forth from your homes, that you show them kindness and deal with them justly; surely Allah loves the doers of justice Allah only forbids you respecting those who made war upon you on Account of [your] forth from your homes and backed up [others] in your expulsion, that you make friends (and ally) with them, and whoever makes friends with them, these are wrongdoers. (Mumtahinah 60:8-9). Other Quranic verses ordaining Muslims to respect religions other their own are more specific and poignant:
–“Let there be no compulsion in religion” (Baqarah 2 : 256);
– “The believers are but a single brotherhood. So make peace and reconciliation between your two brothers.” (Hujurat 49 : 10);
– “Commit no excess in your religion.” (Nissa 4 : 171);
– “Say thou art not one to overawe them by force.” (Qaf 50 : 45);
– “I worship not which ye worship–To you be your way. And to me mine. (Kafirun 109 : 1-6); and
– “Revile not ye those whom they call upon besides Allah, lest they act out of spite revile Allah in their ignorance” (An-am 6 : 108).
All Muslims are required to believe that the Gospel is a divine scripture revealed by Allah. They have an unshakable belief in that Jesus was certainly one of Allah’s messangers who endured untold sufferings to disseminate the messages of Allah. Muslims also believe that Mother Mary was chosen by Allah to be the most honorable among women. Not a good many Christians know that there is a full chapter devoted to Virgin Mary in the Holy Quran in which it is unequivocally declared: “O Mary! Allah hath chosen thee and purified thee ... chosen thee above the women of all nations.” (al-Imran 3 : 42).
Muslims have been ordered to argue with tolerance with others, especially the people of scriptures (Jews and Christians). Allah says: “And argue not with the people of Scripture unless it be in [a way] that as better ... . “(Ankaa–boot 29 : 46). In this context Muslims are also instructed to resort to the best form of constructive dialogue when arguing with people of other faiths. As Allah says: “Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction and argue with them in the way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided” (an–Nahl 16 : 125).
While dealing with people of other faiths in accordance with the Quranic instructions Muslims are required to grant a special status to those of the Scripture. Islam allows a Muslim to have wife from among the people of the Scripture (i.e. Christians and Jews).
Such a sacred bond as marriage dictates that wife's kith and kin deserve kind treatment. Understood rightly, this means that Muslims are not barred from social interactions with Jews and Christians on the best possible terms. Buddhists would surely be happy to know that the Ficus Indica or the Bo – tree under which Lord Buddha obtained nirvana has been referred to in the verse titled Tin (95) in the Holy Quran. The renowned exegetist Abdullah Yusuf Ali even goes to the extent of concluding that, "If accepted it [the suggestion that Tin refers to the Ficus Indica] would cover pristine Buddhism and ancient Vedic religions from which it was an offshoot.
Reference is now made to the two Western testimonies bearing on Islamic attitude vis a vis other other faiths. In his Message of the Quran John Davenport testifies to the tolerant attitude of Islam in the following words: "Islam has never interfered with the dogmas of any faith – never established an inquisition. It offered its religion but never enforced it." This testimony is strongly corroborated in H A R Gibb and J H Kramers edited The Shorter Encyclopedia of Islam: "Even down to the time of the crusades there prevailed in Islam a tolerance towards the unbelievers, especially the Ahla-Kitab, such as is impossible to imagine in contemporary Christendom." If for some reason the contemporary Islam appears to be intolerant to other religions or religionists the fault is not with Islam, but Muslims, who, as followers of this religion, have either distanced themselves from or distorted pristine Islam for purposes certainly not holy or Islamic.
(To be continued)
Source: Our Faith, The Daily Sun
How much and how far Islam emphasizes an inclusive outlook on the part of its followers is manifested in its insistence on Ta’aruf, meaning knowing each other. Ta’aruf originates from the root word Arf, which appears in the Quranic verse Hujurat (49 : 13). Ta’aruf in Islam is a necessity, which is raised to being a binding rule. At the 14th convening of the World Council of the Islamic Call held in Tripoli on 21 September 2003, Ibrahim al – Ghuwelli, a Lybian scholar stated: “The need for Ta’aruf is deep-rooted, and what is happening is nothing but deviations of the original rules of human relations down the road of history.” Indeed, the need to know the other is instinctive in mankind; and Islam has simply has raised this human psyche to the plane of a principle integral to faith. In fact, the Islamic Ta’aruf is a recipe for dialogue – dialogue of civilizations, and which appears in sharp cootrast to the Huntingtonian Cassandra – like prognosis for the post-Cold War world conceptualised as “Clash of Civilizations.” Ta’aruf appears to be a philosophical rationale of divine prescription for humanity to reach out to others by every possible means, and create an order based on mutuality (not conflict) of interests and peaceful coexistence. It is, therefore, pertinent to consider this Islamic way as one of the potent means for conflict resolution alongside other frequently used political and diplomatic means. The political and diplomatic means are issue-specific and end up mostly in ephemeral results. On the contrary, such religious means seek to bring about change the mindset of the people in conflict, and thus have the potentiality for lasting change conducive for peace making.
Islamic perspective on other faiths:
A commonly held belief among human beings, although entirely wrong, is that his/her religion is right/best, and other religions are wrong/worst. Beliefs and mindsets such as these lead to intolerance, fanaticism and religious dissonance or militancy. But a Muslim is ordained to bear in mind that difference in religious affiliations exists because of the will and wisdom of Allah. Allah says: “And if thy Lord had willed, He verily would have made mankind one nation, yet they cease not differing” (Hood 11:118). He further says: “And were it not that Allah checks the people, some by means of others, there would have been demolished monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of Allah is much mentioned” (al-Hajj 22 : 40).
A benign and peaceful interfaith relationship is prescribed in many of the Quranic verses. For example it is revealed that, “Allah does not forbid you respecting those who have not made war against you on account of (your) religion, and have not driven you forth from your homes, that you show them kindness and deal with them justly; surely Allah loves the doers of justice Allah only forbids you respecting those who made war upon you on Account of [your] forth from your homes and backed up [others] in your expulsion, that you make friends (and ally) with them, and whoever makes friends with them, these are wrongdoers. (Mumtahinah 60:8-9). Other Quranic verses ordaining Muslims to respect religions other their own are more specific and poignant:
–“Let there be no compulsion in religion” (Baqarah 2 : 256);
– “The believers are but a single brotherhood. So make peace and reconciliation between your two brothers.” (Hujurat 49 : 10);
– “Commit no excess in your religion.” (Nissa 4 : 171);
– “Say thou art not one to overawe them by force.” (Qaf 50 : 45);
– “I worship not which ye worship–To you be your way. And to me mine. (Kafirun 109 : 1-6); and
– “Revile not ye those whom they call upon besides Allah, lest they act out of spite revile Allah in their ignorance” (An-am 6 : 108).
All Muslims are required to believe that the Gospel is a divine scripture revealed by Allah. They have an unshakable belief in that Jesus was certainly one of Allah’s messangers who endured untold sufferings to disseminate the messages of Allah. Muslims also believe that Mother Mary was chosen by Allah to be the most honorable among women. Not a good many Christians know that there is a full chapter devoted to Virgin Mary in the Holy Quran in which it is unequivocally declared: “O Mary! Allah hath chosen thee and purified thee ... chosen thee above the women of all nations.” (al-Imran 3 : 42).
Muslims have been ordered to argue with tolerance with others, especially the people of scriptures (Jews and Christians). Allah says: “And argue not with the people of Scripture unless it be in [a way] that as better ... . “(Ankaa–boot 29 : 46). In this context Muslims are also instructed to resort to the best form of constructive dialogue when arguing with people of other faiths. As Allah says: “Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction and argue with them in the way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided” (an–Nahl 16 : 125).
While dealing with people of other faiths in accordance with the Quranic instructions Muslims are required to grant a special status to those of the Scripture. Islam allows a Muslim to have wife from among the people of the Scripture (i.e. Christians and Jews).
Such a sacred bond as marriage dictates that wife's kith and kin deserve kind treatment. Understood rightly, this means that Muslims are not barred from social interactions with Jews and Christians on the best possible terms. Buddhists would surely be happy to know that the Ficus Indica or the Bo – tree under which Lord Buddha obtained nirvana has been referred to in the verse titled Tin (95) in the Holy Quran. The renowned exegetist Abdullah Yusuf Ali even goes to the extent of concluding that, "If accepted it [the suggestion that Tin refers to the Ficus Indica] would cover pristine Buddhism and ancient Vedic religions from which it was an offshoot.
Reference is now made to the two Western testimonies bearing on Islamic attitude vis a vis other other faiths. In his Message of the Quran John Davenport testifies to the tolerant attitude of Islam in the following words: "Islam has never interfered with the dogmas of any faith – never established an inquisition. It offered its religion but never enforced it." This testimony is strongly corroborated in H A R Gibb and J H Kramers edited The Shorter Encyclopedia of Islam: "Even down to the time of the crusades there prevailed in Islam a tolerance towards the unbelievers, especially the Ahla-Kitab, such as is impossible to imagine in contemporary Christendom." If for some reason the contemporary Islam appears to be intolerant to other religions or religionists the fault is not with Islam, but Muslims, who, as followers of this religion, have either distanced themselves from or distorted pristine Islam for purposes certainly not holy or Islamic.
(To be continued)
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