Journal of Positive School Psychology [Link]

com
2022, Vol. 6, No. 11, 496-501

Interfaith In Islamic State For Diversity & Harmony

Dr Abdul Aleem1 , Dr Ali Asghar Khan2 , Dr Hafiz Muhammad Sarwar3 , Dr Asjad Ali4
, Dr Khawar Mansoor5 , Talib Ali Awan6

1
Department of Islamic Thought & Civilization, University of Management & Technology Sialkot Pakistan
2
Assistant Professor, Institute of Islamic Studies, Mirpur University of Science & Technology AJK
3
Lecturer Islamic studies, university of Narowal Pakistan
4
Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Thought & Civilization, University of Management & Technology
Sialkot Pakistan
5
Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Thought & Civilization, University of Management & Technology
Sialkot Pakistan
6
PhD Scholar Islamic Studies UOG Gujrat Pakistan
Corresponding Email: globalwill2021@[Link]

Abstract

Interfaith discourse has gained popularity among Muslim states and civil society organizations during
the past 20 years as a way to interact with non-Muslims, particularly Christians. The objective is to
foster interpersonal ties among various religions and civilizations members. The idea of interreligious
discussion and how it relates to Islam are evaluated in this study. The study demonstrates how Islam,
which recognizes all earlier prophets as Prophets of Islam, plays a special role in fostering interreligious
communication by upholding justice, equal rights, and the freedom of religious beliefs and practices of
any religion, culture, and civilization. The greatest point in the study's conclusion is that Islam is a
complete religion supporting peaceful interreligious relations. In this world of various faiths and
traditions, it can be used as a model for reducing interreligious disputes and fostering interreligious
harmony and peaceful coexistence. We must identify the underlying causes of this issue and devise a
solution that brings together individuals from various religious and cultural traditions to engage in
meaningful interreligious conversation in the service of humanity as a whole. The world's interreligious
conflicts must be reduced, and interreligious dialogue is crucial for doing so. The most crucial factor
that must be taken into account is that every religion must be included in the policy-making process to
educate the people and inform them of their fundamental rights as members of society. The state must
use societal change and positive presentation to involve everyone in policy-making. They have the right
to live honorably thanks to their generous representation in governmental issues. Each person has the
right to assert their claim to a clear work description to individuals and their right to authorize land. The
state needs to address the problem of religious radicalism firmly. Therefore, having a multicultural and
multi-religious society is crucial for trade, the arts, and education. The state must protect its incredible
religious traditions and cultures to ensure that non-Muslims have a powerful and peaceful presence.

Keywords: Interfaith, Harmony, Islam, diversity, State

Introduction Since Muhammad was the Messenger of Allah

(Peace be upon him), Muslims have been
Islam, a monotheistic faith, espouses
essential in fostering interreligious cooperation.
compassion, tolerance, and love for all people. 1
. Numerous instances of conversation and
497 Journal of Positive School Psychology

interreligious relationships are also found in the based negotiation.7. These scholars believe
Holy Qur'an. Humans live in a multicultural interfaith discussion heals religious animosities
society. We encounter non-Christian to promote peace. Muslim, interfaith programs
neighbours, students, acquaintances, and aim to convert non-Muslims.
coworkers daily. Thus, interreligious
experience is part of daily existence. Muslims A Strategy for Interfaith Dialogue
worldwide believe Islam is the only path to
salvation.2. Muslims also believe they must The theological interpretation of the Gulen
convert others to Islam. Muslims claim limited Movement is quite open to interfaith
knowledge about Christianity and other discussion. This is one reason Gu Len and his
religions.3. Few think Islam and other faiths supporters began promoting interfaith
share much. Most Muslims have Muslim conversation far earlier than previous Muslim
acquaintances, even in countries with a large interfaith projects in the early 1990s. Gu Len
non-Muslim population. While Muslim- has met privately with prominent religious
Christian interfaith meetings and workshops figures, such as the Pope, the Patriarch of the
are widespread, few Muslims in other places Greek Orthodox Church, and the Chief Rabbi
attend them.4. Interreligious communication is of the Turkish Jewish Community.8. Gu Len's
vital to religious harmony. The world has seen initiative resulted in the establishment of the
countless tragedies. Few Muslims consider Journalism and Writers Foundation in 1994. It
religious conflict a major national issue. There has sparked several high-level discussions on
are many instances of peaceful interreligious various subjects, such as multiculturalism,
coexistence throughout Islamic history. One interfaith interaction, and secularism, between
such historical instance is early Muslim politicians, journalists, academics, and
sovereignty over Islamic Jerusalem. Another religious leaders. The movement has widely
illustration of the Islamic perspective on non- ignored interfaith engagement and has only
Muslims is a 2007 Common Word effort signed recently made contact with Alevis in Turkey.
by 138 eminent Muslim scholars. Islam has Studies among the interfaith volunteers for the
been misunderstood in the modern world due to Gu Len Movement indicate that they have
inadequate Islamic knowledge.5. More research assimilated an interpretation of Islam that
is required to reduce uncertainty on Islam's respects other religions and promotes interfaith
view of the interreligious discussion. Iran has cooperation. Interfaith activities have grown as
started interfaith meetings and groups in Doha, a result of the Gulen Movement's
Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Indonesia, internationalization. A network of
Libyan, Malaysia, Morocco, and Turkey. interreligious organizations, including those in
Muslim transnational civil-culture Great Britain (the Dialogue Society), Australia
organizations engage in interreligious (the Australian Crosscultural Society), the
engagement and partnership.6 The Gu goal Netherlands (Dialoog Academie), and
Movement, represented in 160 nations; the Indonesia (the Pacific Nations Social and
Asian Muslim Solidarity Network, in 18 Asian Economic Solidarity Association), to name a
nations; and Muhammadiyah of Indonesia, with few, helps the movement spread Gu Len's ideas
30 million adherents in South East Asia, are to the general public in addition to educational
examples of strong interfaith activity. Some institutions and the media.9. The movement has
scholars view interfaith engagement as faith- more than 50 loosely linked interfaith
Dr Abdul Aleem 498

conversation organizations only in the United religious choice and expression freedom. A
States. These groups engage in grassroots further passage makes clear that a person's
activism and frequently work with religious and decision to adopt Islam is up to them: "And say,
civic leaders; they host interfaith gatherings, the truth is from your Lord; let him believe who
open lectures, and seminars on such topics as wills and let him doubt who wills"13. Islam
Gu's theories.10. They participate in events in holds that there is no one universal rule. Each
their neighborhoods under the auspices of nation received a distinct Messenger from God,
Abraham (such as Abrahamic interfaith meals) who sent them to every nation. The Messengers
or Noah (such as festivities of Noah's flood), were all equal in the eyes of God. The essential
trying to make these Hebrew Bible prophets a condition for Muslims is to believe in all of
focal point of their communication with non- God's Prophets and Messengers. Al-Qur'an
Muslims. They also arrange trips to Turkey to 4:150–151 warns of a humiliating penalty for
acquaint American religious, political, and those who acknowledge some of God's
academic elites with what they refer to as prophets while rejecting others. The Qur'an,
"Turkish/Anatolian Islam.11." therefore, promotes a broad perspective. All
previously revealed religions have their roots in
Islamic Viewpoint on Interreligious Islam. Al-Qur'an 3: 67 refers to Abraham
While people's ethnic, religious, and cultural (Prophet Ibrahim) as a Muslim for this reason.
identities are frequently used to identify them, Islam honors Jews and Christians by
their origins are always the same. All people mentioning them. Al-Qur'an 5:5 says that
must obey God's instruction to be attentive to Muslims may eat the food that the Ahl al-Kitab
themselves and the world around them. (Jews and Christians) consume. Although Islam
Therefore, human communication is rejects polytheism, it forbids attacking or taking
12
fundamental to natural inclination (fitra) . possession of polytheists' property. Instead,
Peace is sustained by the Islamic salutation Islam requires Muslims to take steps to protect
Assalamualaikum Rahmatan Lil Alamin themselves. In this way, Islam has provided a
(mercy for the entire globe) is the name given singular example of compassion, tolerance, and
to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in Al- interreligious concord.14. The Qur'anic
Qur'an. Islam upholds the idea that everyone teachings were put into practice by Prophet
can select and follow a religion. "For you, your Muhammad (PBUH). He visited sick people
religion, and for me, my religion," the Qur'an regardless of their religious background. Based
declares. Therefore, no one who practices on his example, Islamic history is full of
another faith may ever be forced to practice instances where Muslims and non-Muslims
Islam. The Qur'an instructs the Prophet in verse coexist in harmony.
40 on promoting Islam: "Your responsibility is
just transmitting the Message." God stated in The Qur’anic Explanation of
another verse, "If they turn away (O' Interreligious Dialogue
Muhammad), then the duty is upon you clearly
to express" .. Muslims have no authority to Regardless of their faith, language, or
impose their faith on others. They must allow nationality, all people are accountable to God
499 Journal of Positive School Psychology

and the occurrences in their immediate forth, "O Muhammad," "O followers of the
surroundings. God's goal includes dialogue as a book!"
key component. The Qur'an declares that
everyone has the right to choose and practice He also argues that although the verse refers
their own faith. When Prophet Muhammad specifically to the People of the Book, its
(PBUH) was still residing in Mecca, the implementation would be general and wider
Qur'anic prohibition on religious discrimination today. There are scriptures in the Qur'an
was first revealed. When Prophet Muhammad designed to encourage every man and warn him
(PBUH) was in Mecca, certain idolaters made a against certain things.
deal with him: if he worshiped their gods for a
year, they would worship Allah the following The Interfaith Initiative of Saudi Arabia
year. In response to their request, the 109th
Qur'anic chapter was revealed. These are the Saudi Arabia is a newcomer to the
true expressions of religious freedom in Islam, interreligious conversation. 2012 saw the
as stated in the verses "Your religion is for you, establishment of the Vienna-based Abdullah
and my religion is for me" (Al-Qur'an 18: 29) Bin Abdulaziz Center For international
and "Truth comes from your God, and those Interfaith dialogue and Intercultural Dialogue
who want to believe—let them believe, and (KAICIID). In light of the Saudi Arabian
those who do not, let them do so" (Al-Qur'an government's stated allegiance to Wahhabi
18: 29). In his Jami al-Qur'an, he explains that Islam, ongoing religious inequality against non-
we should not enforce Islam on anyone, but Muslims and Shia Muslims, and historical
rather. A thorough idea of unity is conveyed resistance to interfaith engagement, the
here by reminding man of the origin of country's interfaith initiative seems remarkable.
15
humankind. Argues that the unity of humanity's . These reasons may account for the
origin is the foundation of their equal kingdom's later adoption of interreligious
opportunity in Islam, regardless of their dialogue than the Gulen Revolution and A
language and racial individuality. Al-Qur'an 4:1 Shared Word.
says that all people, no matter what religion or
culture they follow, came from Adam and Recommendations
Hawwa (Eve). The United States should work to make this
Because of this, nobody has the entitled to globe a place where individuals may live in
demand superiority over others; everyone peace despite their differences in culture and
should start debating with each other through religion. This world should be the type of world
common understanding, not suspiciousness or everyone is currently dreaming about. It must
hatred, and work to create an atmosphere of be considered that the issue of interfaith peace
harmony. The Arabs really aren't better in the world can only be fully addressed when
compared to the non-Arabs, white to black as the state also addresses the issue of politics. The
well as black to white, except for the degree of state would have to forfeit the whole idea of a
moral superiority; therefore, no one has the society given to us by divine knowledge if it
right to claim supremacy over others. Muslims went completely secular, as several people
are encouraged to cultivate friendly attitudes recommended. In secular civilizations, men and
toward followers of different faiths. Speak women may pose issues for the state. These
issues can range from serious economic
Dr Abdul Aleem 500

hardships in the form of super debts and super aiding, protecting, and giving non-Muslims
interests to biological gender imbalances, a lack their due dignity and rights rather than
of respect within the name of equality, and encouraging Muslims to attack non-Muslims.
many other issues. Since we are intended to live Islam was more widely embraced during
in a community, the only way is for us to peaceful times and by nonviolent means.
respect all other faiths. The state can deliver
The "Hudaybiyyah" Treaty, which allowed for
justice to the people if we can propagate the
engagement and conversation between
message of interreligious tolerance. The
Muslims and non-Muslim groups, is the turning
Declaration on the Removal of All Forms of
point in interreligious dialogue in Islam. The
Judgment in Contravention of All Religions
four virtuous caliphs, in particular, negotiated
requires Muslim societies to ensure that all
several deals with non-Muslims and granted
decrees adhere to these obligations. In
them all their due rights, including preserving
particular, the Universal Declaration on Social
their temples, churches, and synagogues. A
and Cultural Rights and the Intergovernmental
classic case of respect, tolerance, and interfaith
Covenant on Political and Civil Rights both
dialogue peace is how "Umar" treated followers
require the state to take immediate action to
of various religions. "Umar" treated non-
implement and endorse them.
Muslims according to Islamic teachings. Justice
Conclusion and fairness were always his prescriptions for
According to the study, having many religions those who practiced different religions.
is not unique. Muslims must remain united Numerous Muslims and non-Muslims have
despite differences and embrace them with erroneous interpretations of the Islamic idea of
honesty, love, and collaboration to please God. jihad. The "Dhimmi" system has evolved since
Islam acknowledges interreligious cooperation the time of the Prophet Muhammad (phub)
as a worldwide religion. The Prophet's depending on economic, political, and social
behavior, the Qur'anic perspective, and early factors. It is unfair to suggest that Islam is a
Muslim monarchs' treatment of non-Muslims, religion of the sword or that it spread through
particularly "Umar," all demonstrate that violence based on the comparatively few
members of different religions have been given interruptions in Islamic history. In conclusion,
the same opportunities as other human beings. Islamic teachings on interreligious dialogue can
In Islam, the interaction between Muslims and be effectively applied to end all violence,
non-Muslims is valued highly. Despite the distrust, and conflicts among religious groups.
distinctions between Islam and other beliefs, References
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