Editor's Note: This is the fifth entry in a series on  "Why Muslims must engage in interfaith dialogue". The series contains excerpts from the author's presentation at the international symsposiom on “Islam and the New Era of ASEAN Countries: Unity of Worldview towards Shared Prosperity” held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on June 4-5, 2013. 

Previously: Interfaith dialogue key to resolving the Mindanao conflict

The main objective of interfaith dialogue is understanding. By understanding beliefs and practices of others we learn to appreciate the value of diversity. We are reminded of what Allah says in the Holy Qur’an: “If Allah had willed, He would have made you one nation, but that He may test you in what He has given you; so compete in good deeds. To Allah is your return all together, then He will inform you about that in which you used to differ”. (Surah al-Maidah 5: 48)

Interfaith dialogue is not winning over the other or coming to a total agreement or a universal religion. The ideal is communication in order to bridge the gulfs of mutual ignorance and misunderstandings among the different cultures of the world. It means letting them speak out their own insights in their own languages. Hence, mutual respect rather than disrespect will be the outcome.
 

Be open and willing to listen without judgment on the spiritual journeys, views, and experiences of people from other religions as opposed to debating which religion is right or wrong, which inhibits real listening, learning, and dialogue in such situations. After all, everybody claims that his/her religion is right, the only accepted religion in the sight of God. 

Personally, I appreciate and admire those people who hold on to that principle. For one, if I didn’t believe that my religion is the only one accepted in the eyes of Allah, I should have left  Islam and find another one. But, with certainty, I believed, affirmed and confirmed that Islam is the one and only accepted religion in the presence of Allah. 

Allah made this clear when He said: “Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam” (Surah al-Imran 3: 19) In verse 85 of the same Surah, Allah emphasized that “Whosoever find a religion other than Islam it will never be accepted of him and will be among the losers in the Day Hereafter.” In surah al-Maidah 5, verse 3, Allah declared, “This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed my favor upon you and have chosen Islam as your religion.” As a matter of fact, this is the very reason why I am proud to be a Muslim, then and now, and until I die insha Allah. I am sure, the Christians, the Jews and other faiths would claim the same and say so. 

However, our personal beliefs should not become a hindrance to respect other’s beliefs. The final judgment will be on the Day Hereafter. And the one who will judge us is no other than Almighty Allah Himself, The Ever-Just.

Do not try to convert anyone from his or her religion to yours. This goes against the importance of respecting people’s diverse religions and being open to learning about them. As mentioned earlier, guidance is from Allah alone, not from us. 

Respect the diversity of traditions. Let people from any religion speak for themselves, from their own experience, about what it means to practice their religion. Avoid pretending you know better than him/her about his/her religion. I had a bad experience during our interethnic dialogue training in Dekalb, Illinois, USA. The travel was quite long that if I were to wait to reach our destination to perform my combined obligatory prayers, I will be missing them. So I asked my companions to give me some space for prayer. Unexpectedly, someone said, I think your lord, Allah, is understanding, too, like my God. Honestly, I was upset but responded to him with courtesy: “Please do not talk about my religion as I know better about Islam than you do.”

Allow the possibility of some common spirituality that underlies all the diversity of religions through which that spirituality expresses itself. Realize that one can enrich one’s own spiritual-religious life by being open to learning from other traditions without having to leave one’s own tradition. Understand that human beings – throughout prerecorded time and recorded history, in different cultures and civilizations around the world – have sought to reflect on the deeper meaning and purpose of life to honor the unknown and mysterious, and to connect to something spiritual and eternal beyond this transient material world and life. This search for deeper meaning and connection unites us all. 

COMING UP: Interfaith dialogue is not debate

Alzad Sattar is Undersecretary at DepEd-ARMM, Secretary General at Basilan Ulama Supreme and Islamic Studies Professor at Basilan State College.