RKUD 1320 WEEK 1

Overview of Qur’anic Perspective of Other Faiths and Religious Communities

  • The Qur'anic perspective on other religions is rooted in the Qur'an and the Prophetic Sunnah (s.a.w.).

  • Weitbrecht Stanton, an orientalist, states: "no scripture in the world teaches such a comparative religion as the Qur’an." (Refer to Stanton’s book, "The Teaching of the Quran," 1969, p. 71, cited by Dr. Kamar Oniah Kamaruzaman, Early Muslim Scholarship in Religionswissenschaft, p. 8).

Historical Background

  • The early era of Islam demonstrated a significant Muslim interest in understanding the beliefs and practices of other religions.

  • The relationship between Islam and other religious traditions must be contextualized within the historical setting of seventh-century Arabia.

Religious Traditions Addressed by the Qur'an

  • The following religious traditions were present during the time of the Prophet (s.a.w.):

    • Arabic Idol Worship (ʿAbadatul Asnam) - represented by the Arab Pagans (al-Wathaniyun)

    • Materialists (al-Dahriyun)

    • Ahl al-Kitab (People of the Book):

    • Israelites (Bani Isra’il)

    • Jews (Al-Yahud)

    • Christians (al-Nasara)

    • Sabians (Al-Sabi’ah)

    • Magians (Al-Majus)

Qur’anic Expositions on Idol Worshippers and Materialists

  • Idol Worshippers Expositions:

    • al-Najm (53:19–23): Mentions specific idols such as al-Lāt, al-‘Uzzā, and Manāt.

    • al-An‘ām (6:136–140) & al-Nahl (16:57–59): Discuss the practices of idol sacrifices, including infanticide.

    • al-‘Ankabūt (29:61–63): Highlights their partial belief in Allah as Creator but negates His role as Sustainer.

  • Materialists Expositions:

    • al-Jāthiyah (45:24): States: "Nothing destroys us except time (al-dahr)."

    • al-Qiyāmah (75:36–40) & Yā Sīn (36:77–83): Refute materialist denial of resurrection.

Understanding Sabians and Magians

  • Sabians (Sobiun):

    • Varied interpretations of their identity include followers of Prophet Yaḥyā, star-worshippers, or monotheists without specific scriptures.

    • Referenced in:

    • Surah al-Baqarah (2:62)

    • Surah al-Mā’idah (5:69)

    • Surah al-Ḥajj (22:17)

  • Majians (Magus):

    • Identified with the Zoroastrians, followers of the Persian prophet Zarathustra.

    • Mentioned in Surah al-Ḥajj (22:17).

The Qur'an and Recognition of Other Faiths

  • The Qur'an includes Jews and Christians alongside Ṣābi’ūn and Majūs in specific neutral contexts: Q. 22:17; 2:62; 5:69.

  • This recognition most likely stems from the aspects of monotheism and ethical elements present in their beliefs, despite distortions.

  • The Qur’an categorizes them as ahl al-kitāb-like communities, accepting divine reality and moral accountability, contrary to Arab musyrikun who deviated from tawḥīd (the Oneness of God).

Major Themes Addressed in the Qur'an Regarding Other Religions

  • Key Themes:

    • Scriptures and Holy Texts (kutub and suhuf)

    • Faith and Belief (aqidah and iman)

    • Ritual and Law (ibadah and shariah)

    • Missionary and Social Life (da’wah and muamalah)

    • Historical Events and Narratives (anba’ and qasas)

  • Exercise: Refer to the Qur'an to provide examples of verses corresponding to these themes.

Socio-Political Setting of Islam

  • During the time of the Prophet, Muslims acted as allies and protectors for minority communities known as Ahl al-Zimmah.

  • Relevant Hadith:

    • “Whoever harms a dhimmi (a non-Muslim under Muslim protection) harms me, and whoever harms me has offended Allah.” — Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī (9/205); also found in Abū Dāwūd (3052).

  • This encouraged protection and permissible practices of religion within an Islamic state, establishing governance and administration models for multi-religious societies, which included the imposition of Jizyah (poll tax).

Expansion of Islamic Caliphate

  • The growth of the Islamic Caliphate necessitated the study of al-Adyan (Religions) or al-Milal wa al-Nihal (Religions and Sects) as Muslims encountered various beliefs and worldviews.

Prophetic Nurturance and Recognition of Other Faiths

  • The Qur'an refers to Muhammad (a.s.w.) as a universal prophet, conveying monotheistic teachings to all humanity.

  • Prophets Mentioned in the Qur'an: 25 prophets and messengers, including those who received revelations (Bani Kutub) such as Ibrahim, Musa, Daud, Isa, and Muhammad (peace be upon them).

  • Exercise: Identify Qur'anic verses indicating the divine revelations given to the respective prophets.

Reliability of Previous Scriptures to Muslims

  • Previous scriptures are deemed no longer reliable. The Qur'an encourages followers of these scriptures to accept:

    • Islam as their Din (way of life)

    • Qur'an as their Kitab (Book)

    • Muhammad (a.s.w.) as their Nabi and Rasul (Prophet and Messenger)

  • Issues concerning Judaism include discussions on:

    • The idea of chosen people

    • The promised land

    • Legal and ethical codes

    • Authority of Jewish rabbis

  • Issues surrounding Christianity focus on:

    • Theological concepts, such as the Trinity

    • The divinity of Christ

    • Religious practices, including monasticism

    • Influence of clergy in theological development and law formulations.

Da’wah and Interfaith Relations

  • The concept of da’wah in Islam promotes a non-coercive approach to conveying the religion, ensuring the right and freedom of other religions to co-exist.

  • It explores relationships between Christians, Jews, and Muslims, and the dynamics with pagan communities.

  • Historical narratives from Prophet Adam (a.s.) to Prophet Muhammad (a.s.w.) support these relationships.

The Prophetic Sunnah on Other Religions

  • The sayings (hadith) and practices (sunnah) of the Prophet serve as guidance for understanding other religions, reflective of the sociopolitical-religious climate of his time.

  • The major communities encountered were:

    1. Pagan Arabs

    2. Jews

    3. Christians

    4. Minor communities of Sabians and Magians.

Specific Hadiths on Jews

  • Case of Adultery:

    • When a group of Jews presented a case of adultery to the Prophet (pbuh), he instructed them to recite from the Torah for affirmation. This highlighted the authenticity and importance of their scripture. — Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (no. 1700).

  • Recognition of Humanity:

    • Upon witnessing a Jewish funeral, the Prophet (pbuh) stood and asked, “Was he not a human soul?” — Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (no. 1312), Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (no. 961).

Specific Hadiths on Christians

  • In events involving a delegation from Najrān (Christians), the Prophet allowed them to pray in his mosque facing east, showcasing respectful interfaith accommodation. — Reported by Ibn Hishām in Sīrah al-Nabawiyyah, vol. 1, p. 575.

Specific Hadiths on Idol Worshippers

  • The Prophet (pbuh) identified image-makers as those most liable for punishment on the Day of Resurrection, emphasizing the gravity of engaging with idols. — Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (no. 5950), Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (no. 2109).

Conceptual Clarifications

  • Definition of ‘samawi’: It literally means “heavenly religion,” but it is a later term not specifically used in the Qur'an. It generally refers to Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, religions thought to be divinely revealed.

  • Dīn samāwī vs al-dīn al-waḍʿī:

    • Dīn samāwī indicates a religion granted through divine revelation;

    • Al-dīn al-waḍʿī refers to religions formed by human efforts, such as paganism.

Emergence of the Term ‘Samawi’

  • This term appeared in:

    • Post-Qur'anic Arabic literature

    • Islamic theological discussions (ʿilm al-kalām)

    • Writings focused on comparative religion (ʿilm al-milal wa’l-niḥal).

  • Al-Shahrastānī classifies religions into:

    • adyān samāwiyyah: (heavenly religions with revelation)

    • adyān waḍʿiyyah: (humanly crafted religions, e.g., paganism).

Semantic Differentiation

  • Samāwī vs Semitic:

    • Semitic refers to ethnolinguistic categories derived from Biblical genealogies, not distinctively theological.

    • The term "Semitic" classifies languages such as Arabic, Hebrew, and Aramaic, which have shared linguistic characteristics, not necessarily shared religious truths.

  • Historical Context of Semitic Peoples:

    • Semitic religions, majorly Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, arose amongst Semitic peoples (Arabs, Hebrews).

    • Not all Semitic traditions correlate to samāwī; examples include ancient Assyrian and Canaanite polytheistic traditions.

Mentioned Prophets Sent to the Arabs before Muhammad

  • Prophet Hūd was sent to ‘Ād (Southern Arabia).

  • Prophet Ṣāliḥ was sent to Thamūd (Northern Arabia).

  • Prophet Shuʿayb was sent to Madyan (Northwestern Arabia).

  • Prophet Ismāʿīl was sent to Jurhum / Northern Arabs (Makkah).