The Hermeneutics of Interfaith Relations (original) (raw)

The Qur’anic Model of Religious Pluralism: Its Relevance for Muslim-Jewish Relations Today

The aim of this paper is to promote better understanding between Muslims and the adherents of other religious traditions, in particular Jews, by discussing some ecumenical aspects of Islam that have not been well explained, or even understood, by many Muslims. It is thus addressed as much to Muslims as to Jews. I begin by distinguishing between true religion, which promotes peace, and militant religious exclusivism, which tends to be violent and divisive. I mention the growth of Islamophobia, which has many parallels with anti-Semitism. I give a brief account of the Jewish character of Medinan society and the scriptural inheritance shared by Jews and Muslims, concentrating on the story of Abraham; I mention some of the theological beliefs and ritual practices shared by Jews and Muslims; I suggest that the “Constitution of Medina” presupposes a concept of social and religious pluralism; I then explain the Qur’anic model of religious pluralism and the inter-faith principles that can be deduced from the Qur’an.

Preserving Unity and Avoiding Division: A New Approach to The Ethics of Disagreement in Islam

2024

The cultivation of a thriving Muslim civilization necessitates the rediscovery of the indispensable skills of engaging in respectful disagreement among Muslims. This competency holds the potential to effectively navigate potentially divisive situations and contentious issues. Al-Alwani's work sheds illuminating insight on the constructive dimensions of disagreement and elucidates how early Muslim societies embraced it as a revitalizing force. Nonetheless, as Islam underwent expansion and development, and the initial generations of Muslims passed away, theological and jurisprudential debates became prevalent, leading to a neglect of the overarching objectives and aspirations of the Ummah. These protracted and intense divisions and conflicts endured over centuries, adversely impacting the advancement, coherence, and potency of the Muslim civilization. The book in question presents numerous exemplary instances wherein celebrated historical figures and scholars within the Muslim community displayed tolerance and comprehension. It fervently urges contemporary Muslims to revive such a spirit of forbearance and understanding. By doing so, they can foster a sense of unity, comprehension, and advancement within the broader framework of the Muslim civilization.

Ethics of Pluralism and Religious Tolerance in Quranic Perspective

The advent of Islam as a universal religion guided people in all domains of life (social, economic and political). One of Islam"s excellent aspects is its generality and applicability to all human beings. Islam stresses on the unity of humanity, it also identifies human diversity and gives valuable principles to deal with ethnic, racial and religious differences in society. There are several verses in the Quran that underlines human pluralities. The pluralistic dimension of Islamic teachings has gained worldwide attention in our time. According to the Quran, all human beings are from the same soul but they have been created with differences. Furthermore, the Quran stresses the significance of religious freedom. There should be no compulsion in religion (Quran, 2:257) Faith is an individual choice; it is something which a man wishes to get in touch, not what is forcibly rendered upon him. To you be your way, and to me be mine (Quran, 109:3) If someone is made to believe a faith by force, it becomes hollow and without true conviction. Religious tolerance is the most important aspect to survive a nonviolent life for both individuals and society. The following research paper describes the ethics of religious tolerance and pluralism throughout the verses of Quran, which will serve as a resolution to the misinterpreted verses of Quran that Islam does not tolerate believers in the other religions and deny socio-religious harmony.

(Ed.) We and the Other: Muslim Non-Muslim Relations in Light of Islamic Jurisprudence

We congratulate Dr. Ali Mohiuddin Al-Qaradaghi for bringing this valuable scholarship to the public and we also laud the tireless efforts of the translator Dr. Syed Bashir Ahmad Kashmiri for the excellent rendering into English. No doubt this work will prove a useful guide for Muslims living everywhere and for non-Muslims as well to get an appreciation of the mainstream Muslim position on dialogue. The usual linguistic attempts at differentiating group identities between us and them are here distinguished from the everyday case by referring to sacred sources and read in such a way that the meanings are completely transformed. This approach neither calls for an appreciation of the other as he appears in an encounter. Nor does this approach require a radical decentering of the self in order to understand the perspective of the other. Rather, the main thrust of the book concerns the ethic and aesthetic underlying the encounter with the other as one confident in his own identity. The approach asks for empathy towards the other based on self-understanding. It does not prioritise the face-to-face encounter over the abstract other. It is firmly rooted in the interpretative understanding of the scriptural hermeneutics of Islam that led to the development of legal pluralism in the civilizational history of Islamic law. As the translator eloquently interprets from the original Arabic,“If the self itself is non-existent or irresolute, it cannot resist nor can it stand in the face of the Other; one is reminded here of the Quranic view of a Muslim self rooted in firm understanding of the divine.” This becomes the basis of interfaith dialogue and dialogue in general. Adeel Khan Managing Editor - Journal Religions/Adyan Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue August 9, 2014

RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE IN THE QURAN

Maulana Ferry Pratama, 2024

This study aims to examine the concept of religious tolerance in the Qur'an through a qualitative approach with text analysis and interpretation methods. The main focus is to identify and analyze relevant Qur'anic verses, such as QS Al-Baqarah (2):256, QS Al-Kafirun (109):6, and QS Al-Hujurat (49):13, in order to understand the messages about interfaith relations. Classical and contemporary interpretation approaches are applied to enrich the analysis, using references such as Tafsir al-Tabari, Tafsir al- Qurtubi, and the work of Quraish Shihab. Linguistic analysis is carried out to examine key words such as ikrah (compulsion) and diin (religion), while the study of asbabun nuzul (the reasons for the revelation of the verses) helps to understand the historical context of the verses. The maqasid sharia approach is used to explore the main objectives of sharia in maintaining religious freedom and respecting diversity. This study also includes a historical analysis, which examines the application of tolerance values by the Prophet Muhammad SAW in the Medina Charter and interactions with Jewish and Christian communities. A sociological approach is used to link the values of the Qur'an with the practice of religious tolerance in modern Muslim society. The results of the study are expected to provide a holistic understanding of religious tolerance in the Qur'an, both in historical context and its relevance today. These findings are expected to be a foundation for strengthening harmonious interfaith relations in a pluralistic society.

Islam, Muslims, and Religious Pluralism: Concepts, Scope and Limits

Pluralism in Islamic Contexts: Ethics, Politics and Modern Challenges (Springer, Philosophy and Politics - Critical Explorations, 2021), 1-32. , 2021

Abstract This paper overviews the meanings of especially religious pluralism in the Islamic intellectual and political tradition, past and present, with reference to some major scholarly works in tafsīr, theology, and philosophy. First, before high- lighting the importance of pluralism in modern studies of religion, from both his- torical and theological perspectives, brief reference to some classical “Islamic” texts on inter-and-intra comparative religions will be mentioned, not only to show that comparative religions and religious pluralism as scholarly disciplines are not inexistent in the tradition, but most importantly to show that religious pluralism could flourish in premodern times even when the episteme was dominantly “reli- gious” - to use the terms here with reservations. The point here is that the plurality of interpreting one tradition, and the neutral or biased interpretations of other tradi- tions, is a confirmation of religious pluralism, however problematic this confirma- tion might be in the political or theological spheres. Second, with reference to a few recent works in the field of “Islamic” intellectual history, tentative definitions on what Islam, Islamic, plurality, pluralism, and pluralization mean will be introduced. Third, examples of how pluralism is examined in contemporary Islamic thought are provided. Keywords Pluralism · Religious pluralism · Plurality · Pluralization · Inclusivism · Exclusivism · Cumulative tradition · Muslim world · Islamic world