Islam and Other Religions

Islam and Other Religions

Prof. Shahul Hameed Consultant to Discover Islam Section

Say: We believe in God, and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in (the Books) given to Moses, Jesus, and the Prophets from their Lord: We make no distinction between one and another. (Aal `Imran 3:84)

As is borne out by this command of God in the Qur'an, Muslims must believe in all the prophets of God previously sent to humanity. This means that they are not permitted to show any disrespect to any prophet or to the religion he taught to his followers. To a Muslim, religious belief must come out of a person's free choice, as God has also commanded not to use any kind of coercion in the matter of religion:

Let there be no compulsion in religion, truth stands out clear from error. (Al-Baqarah 2:256)

It is the conviction of a religion's adherents, not the compulsion they can impose on others, that establishes its moral force on earth. This was a principle evident in the life and practice of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) as well as the Consbreastution of Madinah which he drew up with the multi-religious community of Madinah.

This document guaranteed the freedom of worship to all religious communities. This was the spirit of the Qur'an that shines into the hearts of all its perceptive readers: the spirit of tolerance and understanding. Allah says in the Qur'an that He has made people into nations and tribes so that they can know and deal with each other in an equal temper of kindness and generosity:

O humankind! We created you from a single pair of a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know and deal with each other in kindness (not that you may despise each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God (is he who is) the most righteous of you, and God is Knower, Aware. (Al-Hujurat 49:13)

The above verse emphasizes the point that in Islam there is no place for intolerance, prejudice, or bigotry based on color, race, nationality or any such considerations. This all-encompbutting tolerance of Islam applies to all elements of life and all affairs of Muslims.

The Muslim's acceptance of the Jews and Christians (referred to in the Qur'an as People of the Book) as authentic religious communities is made clear:

And dispute not with the People of the Book, except with means better (than mere disputation), unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong and injury. (Al-`Ankabut 29:46).

This verse tells Muslims that they should take all measures to avoid dispute, anger or other negative feelings between themselves and others.

A Historical Context

In his book, More in Common Than You Think: Bridge Between Islam and Christianity, Dr. William Baker explains how Muslims view the Torah and the New Testament as inspired revelations of God and how Islam neither targeted the Jews nor Judaism.

In his article "The Prophet of Islam and the Jews: Basis of Conduct, Acceptance, Respect and Cooperation", Fysal Burhan quotes Dr. Baker: "It is a fact of history that when the Jews were being persecuted in Europe during the middle ages they found peace, harmony, and acceptance among the Muslim people of Spain. In fact, this was the era of Jewish history that they themselves refer to as "the golden age."