Is Interfaith Dialogue forbidden by Islam?
Interfaith dialogue or discourse has now become a
part of religious work, at least in Europe and the Americas. Traditional Muslims who
at one time opposed any dialogue with non-Muslims are now visible in
conferences and seminars focusing on pluralism and religious harmony. So is the
situation with many Christian and Jewish groups who never favored the idea of interfaith dialogue are not its parts.
However, there are still many in the Muslim and
Christian and Jewish communities, especially in the US and Europe who reject
it. Obviously, Christian and Jews have their own religious reasons for their
stand, but among Muslims who reject it argue that the Quran and Sunnah do not
permit Muslims to enter into any meaningful dialogue with non-Muslims including
those who are described in the Quran as people of the book.
Those who reject the interfaith dialogue say that
the Quran specifically addresses the issue of dialogue and friendship with
Christians and Jews and strongly prohibits Muslims from pursuing that.
“O you, who have attained to faith! Do not take the
Jews and the Christians for your allies: they are but allies of one another and
whoever of you allies himself with them becomes, verily , one of them; behold,
God does not guide such evildoers. 5:51”
Additionally, they quote
some of the statements that a few earlier Muslim scholars had attributed to
Prophet Muhammad as evidence of their rejection of interfaith dialogue. Some of
these statements are reproduced here.
Abu
Hurairah narrated: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)
said: “Do not precede the Jews and the Christians with the Salam. And if one of
you meets them in the path, then force them to its narrow portion.” (Tirmidhi,
Vol 5, Book 40, hadith 2700)
There are narrations on this subject from Ibn
'Umar, Anas, and Abu Basrah Al-Ghifari the Companion of the Prophet (ﷺ).
One of the early Muslim scholars said Abu 'Eisa said that “This Hadith is Hasan
Sahih. And regarding the meaning of this Hadith: “Do not precede the Jews and
the Christians": Some of the people of knowledge said that it only means
that it is disliked because it would be honoring them, and the Muslims were
ordered to humiliate them. For this reason, when one of them is met on the
path, then the path is not yielded to him, because doing so would amount to
honoring them.”
They also narrate the following statement to
justify their stand Abu Burda reported on the authority of his
father that Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said: “No
Muslim would die but Allah would admit in his stead a Jew or a Christian in
Hellfire. 'Umar b. Abd al-'Aziz took an oath: By One besides Whom there is no
god but He, thrice that his father had narrated that to him from Allah's Messenger
(ﷺ).
Abu
Musa Al-Ash'ari also reported a similar
hadith that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “On the
Day of Resurrection, Allah will deliver to every Muslim, a Jew or a Christian
and say: 'This is your ransom from Hellfire.”
Obviously, no one can deny that these statements are not in the Quran or in the books ofahadith (sayings attributed to the Prophet). They are there and they
have impacted the thinking of many Muslims. But do they really convey the
essence of the message of Islam? Does the Quran really prevent Muslims from
befriending Jews and Christians and people of other faiths? And does the
Prophet really want Muslims to humiliate Jews and Christians? And will God send
a Christian and a Jew to hellfire to free one Muslim sinner? If the answer is
affirmative, then the Muslims claim that God is all-merciful, and his messenger
was sent as a mercy to humankind and his message is for restoring the dignity of
humanity is just propaganda and Islam is yet another religion that promotes
hatred and anger against others.
Obviously, no one can deny that these statements are not in the Quran or in the books of
The reality is
that the verses of the Quran were interpreted in a specific context where even
the most pious scholars could not see the divine grace and mercy beyond their
own community. The Quran describes, itself a book for guidance and comfort to
humanity. It invites its adherents to work for the unity of humanity, not for
its division. It exhorts its believers to show respect to fellow human beings, regardless of their behavior or attitude.
The Quran
specifically reminds the believers that every human being deserves a dignified
existence. “NOW,
INDEED, We have conferred dignity on the children of Adam, and
borne them over land and sea, and provided for them sustenance out of the good
things of life, and favored them far above most of Our creation: “ 17:70
The
Quran acknowledges that good people who have their rewards with their Sustainer
are found in all religions.
“Verily,
those who have attained to faith [in this divine writ], as well as those who
follow the Jewish faith, and the Christians, and the Sabians -All
who believe in God and the Last Day and do righteous deeds shall have their
reward with their Sustainer, and no fear need they have, and neither shall they
grieve.” 2:62
“For, verily, those who have attained to faith [in this divine
writ], as well as those who follow the Jewish faith, and the Sabians, And the Christians - all who believe in God and the Last Day and do
righteous deeds - no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve.”
5:69
“Verily, as for those who have attained to faith [in this divine
writ], and those who follow the Jewish faith, and the Sabians, And the Christians, and the Magians,
[ On the one hand,] and those who are bent on ascribing divinity to
aught but God, [on the other,]
verily God will decide between them on Resurrection Day: for,
behold, God is a witness unto everything.” 22:17
How is it possible that the Quran would ask believers not to
befriend those who are described decent by the divine himself? In this verse, the
Quran specifically referred to the power elite at the time of the Prophet from
among Christians, Jews and polytheists who were bent on distorting the divine
guidance to serve their political and financial interests. The Quran warned the
believers that such people cannot be the allies of the truth because they can
compromise the truth for their gains. Did the Quran say that all Jews and all
Christians until the end of the time would remain the enemy of Muslims? This is
neither proved by history nor by any logic.
The Prophet understood the context of the divine message and that
led him to send the early Muslims to Ethiopia to seek refuge in a Christian
land under a Christian king.
Such was the respect for this Christian ruler, that the Prophet is
said to have observed the funeral prayer when the news of his death reached him. Even
though many Muslim scholars have tried to suggest that Negus had secretly
converted to Islam, an assertion that has no foundation in any historical
record of the time. It is also reported that the Ethiopian King was the one who
brought the Prophet and Umma Habiba in matrimonial relations where Umma Habiba's
husband who had accepted Christianity died.
How is it possible that God would ask Muslims not to befriend
Christians and Jews when the Quran clearly permits Muslim men to marry
Christian and Jewish women? Who could be a better friend than a wife?
Those who quote the ahadith saying that Muslims should not greet
Jews and Christians, and should squeeze them on the road and humiliate them
ignore the reality that the Prophet sent about 379 letters to non-Muslims and
they all began with greetings to them. The idea that Jews and Christian
pedestrians should be squeezed does not make any sense because when the Prophet
saw a Jewish funeral passing by, he stood in its honor. Also, when some of his
companions were furious at a non-Muslim for mistreating the Prophet, he
admonished them to be polite. There are several examples suggesting that the
Prophet paved the way for non-Muslims. It is obvious, that the statements
attributed to the prophet are not accurate and does not reflect his personality
or the Quranic message.
They also ignore the hadith that reminds Muslims of the origin of
the fasting on the tenth of Muharram as was the practice of Jews and Christians
of Medina.
As far as the hadith that says that God would send a Jews and Christian
to hellfire to save one Muslim from it is nothing but making a mockery of
justice and decency. The Prophet must never have said it even if all the chains
are suggesting accuracy because this statement conflicts the Quran and the
character of the Prophet.
The Quran clearly states that no one
will carry the burden of the other. Say: "Am I, then, to seek a sustainer
other than God, when He is the Sustainer of all things?" And whatever
[wrong] any human being commits rests upon him alone; and no bearer of burdens
shall be made to bear another's burden.
And, in time, unto your Sustainer you all must return: and then He
will make you. [ truly ] understand all that on which you were wont to differ. -
6:164. The Prophet would never say anything that goes against the Quran. The
idea that for the sins of Muslims, Christians and Jews will be consigned to
hellfire is blasphemy against God.
Neither the Prophet nor the Quran
prevents Muslims from developing cordial relations with people regardless of
their faith. The Quran warns people to avoid those who use people for their
financial and political gains. Such people can be found in all religions and
all communities.
Interfaith dialogue gives an opportunity to every
religious community to learn the truth about religions from those who claim to
represent it. It does not seek conversion. It seeks a better understanding and
those Muslims who misuse the Quran and the sayings of the Prophet, in fact, deny the verse of the Quran that says: O human beings! Behold, We have
created you all out of a male and a female, and have made you
into nations and tribes so that you might come to know one another. Verily, the
noblest of you, in the sight of God is the one who is most deeply conscious of
Him. Behold, God is all-knowing, all aware. - 49:13
