Bridge building Muslims and Christians; excerpts and edited from the article of Jamal Badawi: To start with, and we must be frank about it, the Quran makes it incumbent on the Muslim to convey Allahs message in its final form, the Quran, to all humanity. We are not talking about conversion. Indeed, to turn to Islam, the religion of all the prophets in its final form, is not to turn ones back on the preceding Prophets. It is an augmentation, rather than a conversion, because it does not involve changing ones basic spiritual nature. In the Quran, pure human nature is a Muslim nature, which knows its Lord and wishes to submit to Him. The Quran states, Let there be no compulsion in religion. (al-Baqarah; 2:256) My substitute for the term conversion is reversion in the sense of a return to the pure monotheism in which we were all created. Thus the Muslim is taught to be tolerant toward others. Indeed, the Quran not only prohibits compulsion in religion, but it prohibits aggression as well, although it allows defense: Fight it, the cause of Allah those who fight you, but commit no aggression; for Allah loves not transgressors. (al-Baqarah; 2:190) In addition, we find that within this broad rule of dealing with non-Muslims the People of the Book is a special term accorded to Jews and Christians in the Quran. Why People of the Book? Because the Muslim makes a clear distinction between a polytheist or an atheist and those who follow the prophets who originally received revelations from Allah. Even though a Muslim might point out areas of theological difference, we still believe in the divine origin of those revelations in their original forms. How should a Muslim treat these People of the Book? Says the Quran: Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for [your] Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loves those who are just. Allah only forbids you, with regard to those (others] who fight you for [your] Faith, and drive you out of your homes and support (others] in driving you out, from turning to them [for friendship and protection]. It is such as turn to them [in these circumstances], that do wrong. (al-Mumtahinah; 60:8-9) In the world today all believers in Allah are facing common dangers: atheism, materialism, secularism or democracy and moral decay. We must work together. Allah says in the Quran: ... If Allah had so 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 a race in all virtues. The return of you all is to Allah; it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which you dispute. (al-Maidah; 5:51) I hope, feel, and trust that there is sufficient common ground for Muslims and Christians to meet, understand each other, join hands and move together in the Path of Truth, Peace, and Justice, the Path of Allah.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 07:57:01 +0000
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