The islamic ethos and the spirit of humanism (original) (raw)

Conference Sources of Pluralism in Islamic Thought, Casablanca 9-11 July 2018

2018

Reset Dialogues in partnership with the King Abdul-Aziz Al Saoud Foundation for Islamic Studies and Human Sciences and the Granada Institute for Higher Education and Research, are pleased to present this international symposium that was made possible also thanks to the support of Henry Luce Foundation’s Initiative on Religion in International Affairs, Nomis Foundation and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As a global religion, Islam and its jurisprudence have offered heterogeneous responses to a range of questions facing different faiths and communities. Modernity imposed new questions upon religious scholars, theologians and philosophers, demanding of them a new version of pluralism in the theological and political arenas. While doctrinal or philosophical exclusivism rejects “the other” in theory — and frequently in practice, too — inclusivism connotes the accommodation and toleration of difference. But if that means the reluctant acceptance of difference within a hierarchy of worldviews, inclusion may not be enough to create more egalitarianism within modern multicultural societies. Modern pluralism might come to mean, instead, a robust appreciation of human diversity and values.

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

An islamic Perspective on Pluralism

Salam: Quarterly to Promote Understanding, 2025

This paper explores the theological, historical, and contemporary perspectives on pluralism, emphasising its significance in fostering interfaith harmony and societal cohesion. Drawing from key Qur’anic verses on pluralism, prophetic practices, and scholarly interpretations in the early age of Islam, it highlights Islam’s recognition of diversity in race, ethnicity, and religion as a test of character and an opportunity for mutual understanding.

Islam and pluralism within the West: A collection of essays

Islam and pluralism within the West, 2014

Islam in the West is anchored in Western multicultural reality. Today, it is indispensable to understand the remarkable pluralistic legacy of Islam as a religion and culture and its contribution in the modern and a broader pluralistic and cosmopolitan world. The book analyses and synthesizes socio-historical aspects, and charts an orientation in respecting Islamic virtues and culturalreligious diversity, making a distinction against misinterpretations. By exploring the eternal values and the concepts of knowledge in Islam, the book plays a part in knowing more deeply about Islamic pluralism and improving interfaith understanding, highlighting also the significance of the Golden Rule.

Pluralism in Islam: A Comparative Study with Western Pluralism

This paper will discuss the acceptance of pluralistic values in Islam. The concept of pluralism and its dimensions promoted in Islam has been attested to by comments from the international community in various publications and forums. The Holy Quran commands Muslims to treat all people fairly. Islamic history provides many examples of toleration towards other faiths. Muhammad (PBUH), the last of Allah's Messengers, preached and practiced tolerance and acceptance towards non-Muslims in every walk of life. This paper also deals with a comparative analysis of Islamic and Western concepts of pluralism. It also focuses on the way Islamic concept of pluralism has been misinterpreted by some western scholars at different levels in different ways, for instance Islam is wrongly associated with violations of non-Muslim rights in an Islamic State and also, certain scholars believe that Muslims living in the West are not loyal to the community to which they belong. This paper discusses reasons for such distortions of the Islamic concept of pluralism at national and international levels. This paper will attempt to remove the apprehensions and misperceptions related to Islamic concept of pluralism. Views and suggestions from the audience will be appreciated in order to review and refine the recommendations I make. All of us have to share the planet Earth; no matter what religion we belong to. So why should we not do it gracefully-in the true, pluralistic way?

Pluralism in Islam

Pakistan Observer (Newspaper)

There have been various attempts, in the recent past and in the present as well, both by Muslims and non-Muslims scholars, to trace the roots of Pluralism in Islam—its tradition and history, and in its sources (Text and Traditions) as well. In this direction, the present article is an attempt to throw some light on the term Pluralism in Islamic perspective and to trace its roots both in Text (i.e., the Holy Qur’an), Tradition (Ahadith/traditions of the Prophet), with the support of some the modern (re)interpretations.

Religious Pluralism and Freedom in Islam

Freedom of Religion and Religious Pluralism , 2023

Religious pluralism and freedom are modern concepts, but these can be studied from different angles, including one that focuses on the theological and ethical concepts in the Qur’an, their interpretations in the commentaries and scholarships throughout history. This chapter seeks to offer an overview of the way the Qur’an addresses different religions and communities, the way Muslim commentators and scholars view the fate of the others , and the way they formulate ethical engagement with the others. It argues that Muslim normative views and attitudes toward religions and religious communities, religious pluralism, and religious freedom, are diverse and multi-dimensional.