SHARED WISDOM

SOME FAQs RELATED TO INTERFAITH DIALOGUE It is reported that the Prophet Muhammad said, “The remedy for ignorance is asking questions.” (Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith No. 336) The spirit of enquiry is the hallmark of an open society, and the above saying of the Prophet aptly illustrates this principle. A culture of curiosity and open-mindedness can foster development in society by motivating its members to learn enthusiastically and enrich their understanding of issues. Awareness of one’s ignorance is half of the knowledge as it becomes a stepping-stone to seeking and finding answers. A questioning mind is like a flowing river replenished with fresh thoughts and ideas and continues on its journey. In this section, let us find answers to some frequently asked questions regarding inter-religious dialogue and harmonious living in multi-religious societies. Is Religion Necessary in Today’s World? Authentic religiousness is more than necessary for this world. One major reason for strife in the world is that people have become very materialistic. Religion should aim to make people spiritual instead of materialistic. To create a peaceful society, people need to become more spiritual. Religion is meant to be a spiritual discipline. The sole objective of religion should be to develop a person