Religious Pluralism and Islam
 

Assalam alaykum,

My understanding is that religious pluralism is the belief that other religions--while not the true religion--nevertheless contain within them a saving path for sincere devotees. I would appreciate your comments on whether religious pluralism has a place in Islam.

Wassalam

I am anxious to hear your thoughts on this subject...

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In order to understand the complexities of our times we need to train our thought patterns to fly under the shadow of the book of Allah (SWT). A few verses of the Qur'aan adequately explain the situation:

1. We as Muslims believe that many of the present religions, faiths and dogmas are a corrupted form of the original revelations from Allah (SWT) and by definition there are bound to still some “truth” in it. Allah (SWT) has given us the criterion for ascertaining that truth “
   
   
   • [5:48] We have sent down to you the Book with truth, confirming the Book before it, and a protector for it...”
   
   
   In this verse the word protector means that the “truth” from previous revelations has been preserved and can be checked according to the present benchmark which is the “Quraan.”
2. We as Muslims also believe that the only true religion of Allah (SWT) is Islam and salvation is only in it and it clearly dictated in the Qur’aan
   
   
   • [3:19] Truly, the (recognized) religion in the sight of Allah is Islam . Those who have been given the Book did not differ (among themselves) until after the knowledge had come to them, (and all this) due to envy against each other. Whoever denies the verses of Allah, then, Allah is swift at reckoning.
   • [3:20] Then, if they argue with you, say: .I have submitted myself to Allah, and (so did) those who have followed me.. And say to those who have been given the Book, and to the unlettered: .Do you submit?. If they submit, they will be on the right path. Yet, if they turn back, then you have only to convey the message. Allah is watchful over (all of) His servants.

So in my humble view we don't believe that Religious Pluralism has a place in Islamic Shariah.
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It's not their religions which will save them no. Islamically other religions are false/ corrupted and there is saving path in them. However, people who are ignorant of Islam may be saved, as how can you be expected to become Muslim without being given an accurate representation of Islam.

Citation

Assalum alaykum,

Thank you, Colonel.

Jazakallah khair

Assalam alykum,

Thank you for your post. I confess to having read all but one of the aforementioned authors in your citation. Even though most of my life I have been a Christian, I also studied other religions extensively (except Islam until I was in my fifties!!), including different versions of Christianity. I have also met many good and sincere people, including the Shin Buddhist authority Taitetso Unno and Benedictine monks, etc. I recognized that they were following what light they understood. The result of it is that I am more favorably disposed towards these faiths, whose scriptures I knew quite well at one time. A saying of Muhammad (SAWS) is: "Wisdom is the believer's straying camel; he takes hold of it wherever he finds it." As such there is indeed much truth and wisdom in the religions. When I read Schuon, I recognized that his grasp of world religion was genuine, and I enjoyed Understanding Islam tremendously. Sorry to digress--old age.

Ashadu an la ilaha illa 'llah
Ashadu ana Mohammedan rusulu 'llah

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Islam is the most pure religion if it comes to the human fitra.
We generally speak of other religions as changed over time.
God allowed that to happen since they were meant for a specific context during human
history. The Hindu scriptures speak of One God multiple times for example.

Islam on the other hand came when globalisation started, there was a need for a universal
belief. Every religion will recognize something familiar in Islam.

The Taoist says: 'Everything comes from the Tao, everything returns to the Tao'.
(2:156) when a misfortune comes to them, they say, "We are God's and we shall certainly return to Him,''

We are of the belief that when someone understands Islam very well and what it means, he/she should accept it. We Muslims have a great responsibility in preserving this pure form of Tawhid, so that this pure Light (Islam) will always shine for humanity.
We should always keep this Light clean and pure instead of sharing the dust that has been placed on other dim Lights. This of course doesn't mean that we shouldn't respect or tolerate other religions, but we should always invite others to a more pure form. It's a part of our responsibilities as a Muslim. If we neglect doing that, then we have to explain a lot to God.

Ultimately it's God who is the Judge, He knows that which people conceal and reveal.

(64:4) He knows what is in the heavens and the earth, and knows what you conceal and what you disclose. God even knows what lies hidden in the breasts of people.

Brother ISOK,

Thank you for your thoughts on this subject.

Jazakallah khair

http://discussworldissues.com/forums...es/wasalam.gif my Brother,

Its always lovely and refreshing to speak to you.

Your post sort of answers the question itself. There is "goodness" in all religions and even in conventional and contemporary ethics and morality and there are good people everywhere even those who are not Muslims who live a good honest and hard work life.

Nevertheless, salvation is dependent on declaration of Shahada and acceptance of the creed as dictated by Allah (SWT).

Its like a Mexican citizen standing on the border and asking to be “let in” because he is a good, moral and upright human being and saying that there are plenty of “bad Americans on the other side” and since he is superior he should be let in!

Paradise is for those who first submit to the creed as dictated by Allah (SWT) and then the actions are judged.

To be an American you have to be born or naturalised and then you enjoy the benefits of being an American (rapidly diminishing http://discussworldissues.com/forums...nnah_smile.gif)...

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In my humble opinion brother, the analogy you draw is a bit harsh.
The question should rather be: Why is it good to be an American?

If we take a look at the cosmos, we can see that it's organised and controlled.
There are laws to which matter has submitted. Without this submission the universe would be a chaos, nothing would be able to exist. We might not realise but each of us have submitted.

- We can't jump of a building without killing ourselves.
- We can't jump into a volcano without burning.

Our body has submitted, but there is one thing that is free within our reality to choose, it's our
consciousness. I can think of something bad without reprocussion, without consequences.
So we are free to choose within this reality.

The point is that we should submit our consciousness since everything else has already submitted.
What makes us think that we can just wander around and do whatever we like?
Doing that will destroy other realities and seeing the self as centre of intelligence.

It's no wonder that in societies where religion dissapears, nature gets destroyed.
Islam is the most pure way to submit, it's submission to find peace.
Not just peace for you but also for other's.

The Qur'an answers this question in the second Surah.

(2:11) Whenever it is said to them, "Spread not disorder on the earth", their reply is, "We only seek to put things aright".

(2:12) Beware! they do spread disorder but they realize it not.

(2:13) And when it is said to them, "Believe sincerely as the other people have believed", they reply, "Should we believe as fools have believed?"
Beware! they themselves are the fools, but they know it not.

The cosmos and all that is in it has submitted, so should we.

Assalam alaykum Colonel,

You are a straight-shooter and I appreciate your being available to us newer reverts, especially as I accumulated the baggage of a lifetime Christian. Alhamdulillah that this old man found the true religion! Looking forward to more of your posts.

Wassalam

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Good to always speak to you as well. I am here to guide myself my brother.

Someday Insha'Allah we will meet up and have a drink of....Hmm...

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