Interfaith Unity – Creating Mutual Understanding and Respect

It’s December everyone, and that means Christmas is just around the corner. It’s time for the streets to be adorned with lights, houses to be filled with evergreen trees, and arms to be heavy with the weight of present.

*sniff arrogantly and turn my hijab-clad head* So disgraceful. Right?

Not quite.

Islam teaches us to show kindness and generosity towards all of humanity, however Muslims have a hard time mustering up that spirit with Christians, when all the experience they have with the religion is friends who go to Church only on Sundays, and preachers on the streets, waving their pamphlets about Jesus their Lord and Savior.

That being said, a person should not treat unjustly the one who has a religion different than their own, believing that they, being Muslims will automatically go to heaven, and they being non-Muslims, to hell. It is entirely possible that a devoted Christian is closer to faith than a Muslim who has strayed. This is confirmed when Allah says, “And do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best, and except for those who commit injustice among them, and say ‘we believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you. And our God and your God is one, and we are Muslims (in submission) to Him.’” (29:46)

Another example of the tolerance in religion can be learned from the example of Umar Farooq (may Allah be pleased with him).

During the Caliphate of Umar, the Christian leaders of Jerusalem declared that they would submit to the caliph, if he would come and personally guarantee their religious freedom. Umar accepted, and when he reached Jerusalem, he was taken to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher – one of the most sacred churches. It is believed in Christianity that Isa (PBUH) was buried there after his crucifixion. 

Sometime later, the time for prayer approached and Umar started to leave to offer prayer when the Church leaders invited him to pray inside. This offer was declined saying, “The Qur’an recognizes Jews and Christians as Ahl-al-Kitab (People of the Book) and provides them full freedom of religion. If I offer prayer inside the Church, tomorrow Muslims may usurp it because of my offering prayers and turn it into a Mosque.”

We should understand that Islam is a religion of tolerance and through proper teaching people will appreciate Islam for what it is, instead of it being against other religions.

So the next time you see a man on the street, preaching his religion, or a friend with a cross necklace, smile and engage in a friendly conversation – it might lead to a mutual relationship of respect and understanding.

The history of Al-Khilafah Ar-Rashidah Textbook by IQRA International Educational Foundation