DA’WAH THROUGH INTER-FAITH DIALOGUE AND ENGAGEMENTS

RKUD 3030 / METHODS OF DA‘WAH

RKUD 3030-METHODS OF DA'WAH 1

TOPIC: 14

Inter-Faith Dialogue

Inter-faith dialogue is another way of inviting both, Muslims and non-Muslims to the Straight Path of the Almighty Allah (s.w.t.), Who alone deserves complete:

1. Submission;

2. Obedience; and

3. Worship; Din al-Islam, which has been assigned by Allah

(s.w.t.) as the only way of life meant for all mankind through which a double sided communication took place between the Creator, Allah (s.w.t.) and the Creature (Man – whom Allah favoured him above all other creatures).

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Cont…

Since Allah (s.w.t.) granted to man freedom of choice – and therefore, everyone will be responsible ,حري7ة اإلختي7ارfor the voluntary choice he/she has made for himself/herself.

A Muslim, based on his/her choice, has embraced Din al-Islam as the only way of life, and has accepted willingly the responsibility to convey the Divine Message of Allah (s.w.t.) to others.

The message can be conveyed through different ways. The day-to-day dialogue is considered as a fruitful means of communicating Islamic Teachings.

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Dialogue could be of different nature, based on the subject and those who are involved in such dialogue. Thus, dialogue can be named as:

1. Intra-Religious Dialogue;

2. Inter-Religious Dialogue;

3. Intra-Faith Dialogue;

4. Inter-Faith Dialogue;

5. Civilizational Dialogue;

6. Cultural Dialogue;

7. Political Dialogue, and so on.

RKUD 3030-METHODS OF DA'WAH

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Cont…

+ل آن1 م1ن ك.- ر5 ..ذ:ا ال5ق.- اس1 ف1ي ه: A.ن:ا ل1لن ف5 Aر د5 ص.: ل:ق.: ﴿و:وراK )اإلس.راء: :ك5ث.:ر- الن.Aاس1 إ1الA ك-ف.- أ:ب:ى أ ث.:لV ف.: (89﴾م:

And We have explained to man, in this Qur’an, every kind of similitude: yet the greater part of men refuse (to receive it) except with ingratitude!

Qur’an is a heavenly collection of God’s commands for humankind as a whole (not for the Muslims alone), and it is God’s Communication to all the creatures of the Heavens and the Earth.

It is also the Book of wisdom containing all the necessary verdicts and principles for man’s judgments in order to achieve harmony and happiness both in this world and the here after.

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Concept & Development of Interfaith Dialogue (IFD)

The Qur’anic verses that shed light on the subject of inter-religious and inter-faith dialogues are as follow:

:و ب1ه1 و:ه.- اح1 ال: ل1ص.: ق.: ر ف: ه-﴿و:ك.:ان: ل.:ه- ث:م.: ر- او1 ي-ح.:راK )الكه.ف.: زj ن:ف.: أ:ع.: االK و: ن.ك: م.: ر- .م1 ا أ:ك5ث.: :ن.: ﴾أ

34) And he had property (or fruit) and he said to his

companion, in the course of mutual talk: I am more than you in wealth and stronger in respect of men.“ Here said to his companion, ( ه- ر- Yuhairuhu) in the course of – ي-حا:و1a mutual argument (dialogue): ‘More wealth have I than you, and more honour and power in (my following of) men.’

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Cont…

:و ب-ه- و:ه.- اح1 ال: ل.:ه- ص.: ه-﴿ق.: او1ر- ت: ي-ح.: ر5 أ:ك:ف.: Vة ابV ث-مA م1ن نjط5ف.: ك: م1ن ت.-ر: ل:ق.: ب1ال.Aذ1ي خ:

Kال ج- وAاك: ر: )37 (الكهف: ﴾ث-مA س: His companion said to him, during the dialogue with

him: "Do you disbelieve in Him Who created you out of dust (i.e. your father Adam), then out of Nutfah (mixed semen drops of male and female discharge), then fashioned you into a man? Here (-ه – ي-حا:و1ر-Yuhawiruhu) in the course of the mutual argument (dialogue) with his companion.RKUD 3030-METHODS OF DA'WAH

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Cont…

The last verse that indicates the subject of inter-religious and inter-faith dialogue through a terminological usage is as follows:

ك: ف1ي اد1ل.- و5ل: الAت1ي ت-ج: ه- ق.: A.ع: الل م1 د5 س.: ﴿ق.:ع- م: ه- ي:س.5 A.الل ه1 و: A.ت:ك1ي إ1ل:ى الل ت:ش.5 ا و: ه.: و5ج1 ز:

ا ك-م...: او-ر: ير ت:ح.: يع ب:ص...1 م1 ه: س...: A...الل. Aإ1ن ﴾(1)المجادلة:

Allah has indeed heard (and accepted) the statement of the woman who pleads with thee concerning her husband and carries her complaint (in prayer) to Allah: and Allah (always) hears آ) ك-م: او-ر: Tahawurakumaa) the arguments (dialogue) between – ت:ح:both sides among you: for Allah hears and sees (all things).

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Who is the initiator of IFD?

The interfaith dialogue was initially done by Christian Missionary workers to convince Muslims on their cordial relation with other religious groups with the idea of religious dialogue.

Purpose was to show the interfaith relationship sounds good, and attempt to reduce tension among religious believer. (Sohirin M. Solihin, 2008)

Later it was regarded as one of the mission to convert Muslims into their own religion.

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Level of IFD

IFD is divided in different levels;

Local National Regional International

RKUD 3030-METHODS OF DA'WAH - MOHAMMAD NAZMUS SAYADAT

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Cont…

In the world level IFD is done under the platform of international religious peace conference.

In the initial stage, Church leaders gave the freedom to Muslim participants and invited all Muslim leaders regardless of religious attitude or school of thought.

Today, they only choose liberal and secular Muslim scholars who are regarded as having non-hostile attitude toward Christian mission.

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DA‘WAH & IFD

Da‘wah through IFD can be regarded as one means of channeling the true Islamic message among different religious adherents. The Muslims have to preach Islam to others through inter-religious and inter-faith dialogues, and they have to bear in mind that:

1.All men are equally the object of the Islamic Da‘wah.

2.The Muslim cannot rest until all men have achieved divine purpose related to their creation.

3.Priorities: The nearer being always the first entitled to the Muslim’s efforts; but the most distant being finally just as entitled to those efforts as the nearest.

4.The first condition Islam lays for such effort is that it involves no force or compulsion.

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Cont…

5. The Qur’an specifies the means of persuasion to be used (Q 16:125), knowing the trickery of inter-human relations and the possibility of brainwashing, pressuring, etc.

6. If non-Muslims are not convinced, the Muslim will leave them alone. But certainly the Muslim is to try again and never give up.

7. As long as resistance is ideational, the Muslim is bound to respect it.

8. The recourse to violence is justified only to put an end to the violent obstruction, never to force the non-Muslims into conversion to Islam.

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Cont…

9. All men are equal members of a universal religious brotherhood under the concept of din al-fitrah (original religion).

10. Rather than seeking to find out how much other religions agree with each other, if at all, let us see how far both religious traditions agree with din al-fitrah.

11. Seeking the historical development of religious traditions whether they are in agreement with din al-fitrah or not, rather than assuming that each religion is Divine.

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Basis for Inter-Faith Dialogue

Respect for other religions The right and freedom to choose and

practice one’s religion Understanding and acceptance of the

common values expressed by all religions The existence of a common understanding

amongst the different religions The ability to practice one’s religion

without fear or worry (Osman Bakar,2010 in Islam and Democracy)

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