Muslim and other religious communities: Interreligious tolerance and peaceful coexistence in the Quran and Sunnah

Abstract

This study explores Islamic principles about religious tolerance, engagement with adherents of other faiths, and harmonious coexistence in the modern period. The research focuses on textual analysis and historical interpretation of the Qur’an and Sunnah (Muhammad (Sm.)) concerning the freedom of religious views and practices and Muslim interactions with adherents of other faiths. Currently, several Western countries and Western-oriented scholars misrepresent Islam as a religion that advocates bloodshed, terrorism, anarchy, mischief, and chaos globally. They perceive it as a doctrine characterized by violence, terrorism, and intolerance. Islam has always compelled others to adopt its faith at whatever cost, despite its professed principles of peace and tolerance. Islam undervalues individuals of various faiths, including non-Muslims. Islam embodies the principles of peace, quiet, non-violence, and peaceful coexistence. Some Misconceptions and misinterpretations of Islamic text arose by some Western-oriented scholars regarding Jihad, Qital, Apostasy, Non-Muslim, Hudud, Ahlul Dimma, Darul Harb, Darul Islam, and jizya, etc. Islam is the religion of tolerance, tranquility, consideration, and peaceful coexistence. In the seventh century, Islam proved to the world certain valuable principles that are as applicable today as they were fourteen centuries ago. More than 85% of people worldwide are religious, with approximately 56% of them practising revealed religions, including Islam (24%), Christianity (31%), and Judaism (0.2%). Furthermore, a sizable section of the global population practices Dharmic faiths, which have most of their roots in South Asia; about 15% of people identify as Hindu, 7% as Buddhist, and 1% as members of more minor religions, including Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, and Baha'i Faith. Islam views itself as the culmination of all revealed religions, as it believes Allah sent x all prophets with the universal message of Tawhid (the oneness of God), Risalat (prophethood), and principles promoting civilization, equity, and humanity. These revealed religions' fundamental teachings are similar, emphasizing their common roots with universal messages. Similarly, Dharmic religions emphasize diversity and share fundamental principles like the oneness of God, spirituality, ethics, and peace. In this study, we would like to highlight the revealed religions and how to develop interrelationships among Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. This study examines Islamic theology as the ultimate revealed religion that promotes peaceful coexistence and interrelations among other religious communities, such as Christianity, Judaism, and other faiths based on revelation. We want to explain Islamic philosophy on the values of interdependence among several faiths and investigate strategies to foster interfaith understanding and improve mutual tolerance. Emphasizing Islamic fundamental moral values such as trust in the unity of Allah and shared ethical principles, we aim to promote communication, mutual respect, and communal cooperation to handle contemporary global problems. The twenty-first century is now upon us. The enormous advances in human intelligence and technology have raised research on the inner and physical worlds to very high heights. However, the majority of the new issues the globe is dealing with are artificial and include war, terrorism, arson, social crimes, injustice, and more. The incapacity of humans to promote tolerance and peace is the underlying cause of these. Islam is very often misrepresented today as a faith that encourages violence, terrorism, and war by Western academics, certain so-called Islamists, and Muslims who are more secular in their outlook. Many Muslim countries are afflicted by corruption, poverty, exploitation of the xi impoverished, illiteracy, discrimination, and various other societal ills. However, this does not reflect any inadequacy or shortcomings of Islam and its principles. Islam is effectively a religion of justice, fair play, tolerance, and fraternity among all people. This object discusses Islamic teachings on religious peace and tolerance for other faiths in the complex modern world. The various interpretations of the Quranic references and Sunnah of Muhammad (Sm. that are frequently cited regarding Jihad, peace, and interactions with non-Muslims are examined. Traditionalists, modernists, spiritualists, and average people's opinions of the sources above have been studied. Islamic outlook is the only rule that can teach human civilization how to achieve peace and sustainability. This research concludes by urging people to adhere to the moral teachings of Islam to live in a world of conflict and tolerance. The first chapter presents the necessity of Muslims' tolerance and peaceful coexistence with other religious people in contemporary ages. This chapter deals with the theme of the research output by evaluating the proposal, importance, reality, objectives, design, methodology, limitation, and planning. We denoted the various books, thesis, and articles, Tafsir, Hadith, etc., for elucidating the Islamic norms and philosophy for conducting the social behaviour of Muslims with other religious people through a nonviolent and congenial atmosphere. A literature review has been examined to determine the previous work's strengths and limitations. It is done through various processes, such as the Book's objectives, contribution, outcome, methodology, and criticism. We are discovering the limitations of these books, theses, and articles. I tried to draw a new way to pave the congenial atmosphere among Muslims and other religious peoples in the contemporary global era. xii The second chapter, "Conceptual Framework," is related and focuses on defining and explaining the key terms necessary to the broader discussion of religion, coexistence, and social harmony. Through the operational definitions, this chapter provides a structural understanding of core concepts such as Islam, religion, relationships, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence cited in the Quran and Sunnah. An analysis is conducted to determine the significance of each term in the context of Islamic teachings and broader societal contexts, particularly in the context of interactions between Muslim and non-Muslim communities. The chapter establishes the foundation for examining how these concepts influence interfaith relations and contribute to promoting peace and tolerance by establishing these definitions. This chapter also defined religion as monotheistic or Abrahamic, avoiding shirk and emphasizing ethical norms regarding socio-political and financial matters with other religious sects. This chapter intends to explore the terms of spiritual harmony and peaceful coexistence cited in the Quran and Sunnah. Quranic Ayah and Siyar of Muhammad (Sm) have been explored for data collection for the interaction among all religious people regarding socio-religious and financial aspects. The third chapter is titled 'Quranic View on Muslims' Relations with Other Religions in Tolerance and Peaceful Coexistence.' It is based on the Quranic lessons that support the ideas of humanity, justice, equality, compassion, peacefulness, tolerance, and harmonic cohabitation among all religious communities. This chapter focuses on Quranic rules for its adherents to engage with other religious people, including tolerance, mutual understanding, socio political sustainability, and peaceful coexistence. This object deals with the Quranic instruction to the Muslims for honour, dignity, and respect for other religious people with the standards of avoiding compulsion in their religious faith and maintaining ethical behaviour of religious tolerance and interreligious xiii harmonies. Quranic behaviours have also been examined in this chapter, with particular attention paid to Madina society's significant contribution to social and political stability and sustainable development. The debate will provide valuable insights into the contemporary global age, implementing the faith of religious tolerance and mutual respect for individual freedom of choice. The fourth chapter on 'Prophetic Approaches to Muslims' Behavior with Other Religions in Tolerance and Peaceful Coexistence' is intended to look for the siyar of Muhammad(Sm.) regarding the social aspect of human behaviour, especially in the matter of war, peace, business transaction, mutual international respect, and peaceful coexistence. The Prophet Muhammad (Sm.) demonstrated religious harmony through his teachings, actions, and guidance in various aspects of life. His teachings are collected in numerous Hadith and Seerah books. Hadith collections (e.g., Bukhari, Muslim) focus on specific sayings and actions of the Prophet, which are fundamental to Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh) and religious practice. Seerah's works (e.g., Sirat Ibn Hisham, Ar-Raheeq Al Makhtum) provide an overall context of the Prophet's life, struggles, and methodology in spreading Islam. In this chapter, some Hadith collections al sihah al-Sittah, i.e. the six essential authentic collections of Hadith and Seerah books, have been discussed and explored a set of manners for Muslims to other religious communities such as (1) Tolerance of Islamic Practices (2) Prohibition against religious insults, (3) Prohibition of forced conversion in Islam, (4) Respect for non-Muslim beliefs and rituals, interfaith relation and dialogue, (5) Peace reconciliation and Warfare, (6)War ethics, (7) Rights of prisoners, (8)Business transaction ethics, (9)Humanitarian conducts with family and neighbourhood, and consideration to all. xiv The fifth chapter focuses on 'Misconception about Islamic attitude toward religious harmony and its refutation'. It shows that some scholars often misinterpret and mislead Islam regarding the acute comprehension of Islamic text and fail to understand the rich intellectual tradition of the Quran and Sunnah, which has hampered Islamic philosophy, science, and ethics. This misleading arose regarding the selective explanation and reinterpretation of the Quranic verse, Sunnah, and al-Sihah al-Sitta, along with the prominent Hadith books overlooking the historical and social context by some scholars. Furthermore, most Muslim scholars failed to contribute significantly to philosophy, science, civilization, and ethics. Therefore, understanding Islam is essential for recognizing the diversity of religious harmony among people of all faiths and properly explaining Islamic texts. In this chapter, we will find out the prevailing misconceptions and misleading held by some Western-oriented scholars regarding Islamic thought, i.e. Jihad, Qital, Darul Harb, Darul Islam, Apostasy's punishment, Ahlud Dimmah, Ahlul Ah'd, Tasamuh, Adawat only for non-muslim and provide reasoned refutation. We will examine the historical context, religious issues, and socio-political dynamics that create the interfaith dialogue and mutual respect to bridge the gap among all religious sects. The ending session significantly examines the overall findings of this research study. This attempt will encourage excellent research with proper methodology and necessary information that help to scrutinize the gap among the communities of revealed religions and how to build mutual understanding and respect for all. This final stage highlights some West-oriented scholars' misconceptions and misunderstandings regarding the Quranic terms and the Sunnah of Muhammad (Sm.). Islamic norms always call for human brotherhood and universalism that ensures human security, dignity, equity, justice, human rights, religious freedom and freedom of will.