Interfaith Reconciliation

INTERFAITH RECONCILIATION Moreover, we must avoid judging any holy book by the conduct of its adherents. Rather than judging the Quran or the Bible, for instance, by what Muslims or Christians do, we should follow what the scriptures prescribe. Above all, we must respond to each other’s scriptures and communities with considerable tolerance of difference and appreciation of their virtues. In the modern world, several religions prevail. Now, the question arises about creating an atmosphere of unity among the adherents of various religions and facilitating interfaith bridge-building. Here I would like to quote a well-known Sufi formula: sulh-e-kul, which means ‘peace with all.’ This formula echoes a Quranic verse that teaches that ‘as-sulh khair,’ that is, ‘reconciliation is best’ (4:128). This means that in a situation where there is a conflict or controversy between two parties, peaceful reconciliation is the best policy. In every situation, we should strive to adopt a peaceful rather than violent method. The difference is a part of life, and religion is no exception in this regard. Now, the question is: How should one deal with religious differences? The Quran gives us a simple formula: “You have your religion, and I have mine.” (109:6) This principle, based on mutual respect between followers of different religions, may also be expressed in these words: “Follow one, and respect all.” This principle illustrates what can be called ‘the art of difference management.’ The essence of this teaching is that while one follows one religion, he respects all others. This principle of mutual respect can form the bedrock of