THE QURAN’S MATRIX OF INTERFAITH DIALOGUE

Abstract

Islamic view of interfaith dialogue is radically different from modern secular approach. While the Quran invites religious other to share the burden of shared responsibility i.e., to develop a just world order, the theme and thrust of secular conception of interfaith dialogue is to oust religion from the business of state and society. However, to the Quran success [falah] or failure [khusran] lie in collective human endeavor i.e., moral solidarity of humanity to build just world order. The fulcrum of the Quran’s narrative of interfaith dialogue is economic and democratic organization of world society based on grand ethical principle of Tawhid which demands relentless human egalitarianism smacking of no elitism. To the Quran the multi-religious world or diversity of religions despite their same origin is rooted in divine mystery so that they should compete for goodness. Secularism inspires self-narcissism which leads to lunatic economic competition hence, secular view of interfaith dialogue does not cede space to religion to shape socio-economic and political life of state and society. For Muslims, the basis of interfaith dialogue lie in how the Quran and the Prophet engaged Judaism and Christianity in his 23 years prophetic career, on what terms and what broader contours and principles for future it left as guiding principles. On the other, as modern secular West developed on the ashes of religion it is natural for it to dance about the calves of modernity i.e., secularism and nationalism etc. Its secular vision of interfaith dialogue is to diminish religion for secular materialistic ends. This paper explores the Sitz im Leben which shaped Western attitude to religion along with the Quran’s normative discourse on interfaith dialogue.