Interfaith Dialogue in Islam

characterized rather by love, compassion and charitableness. This is why Sufism became so popular in the medieval world. If the ruling class can take credit for the political expansion of Islam, the Sufis can take credit for the spiritual spread of Islam. In respect of method, Tasawwuf places great emphasis on meditation. Originally, the Sufis held that meditation was a form of reflection, contemplation and pondering over the world and nature, as was the case in the days of the Prophet and his Companions. However, later the Sufis developed it into a discipline. Generally, religious scholars regard it as a deviation from real Islam, but the Sufis do not subscribe to their views. They think that meditation facilitates the attainment of the higher stages of tazkiya (purification of the self), ihsan (excellence in worship) and marefat (realization of God)—the goals of Islam. Do Muslims love Jesus? I n Islam, the Prophet Jesus and the Prophet Muhammad have an equal position in terms of respect. Both were sent as a mercy to mankind, to guide them to the right path and to spirituality. The Quran says: Say, ‘We believe in God and in what has been sent down to us and to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes. We believe in what has been given to Moses, Jesus and the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them. It is to Him that we have surrendered ourselves.’ (Quran 3:84) As a Muslim what is your view on Hinduism? E very religion has special characteristics. Hinduism has a unique tradition of accepting plurality of truth without seeking to enforce change of belief system. The composite nature of the Indian society today is not by accident. It is directly due to the monistic way of thinking held by the majority of the Indian population. India believes in plurality, or in the words of Mahatma Gandhi, ‘the manyness of reality’. According to this religious philosophy, the Hindus believe that everything in the cosmos is an ansh, or part, of divinity. They believe in the concept of an indwelling god, that is, every human being has a content of divinity. Due to this concept, the Hindu mind accords the position of divinity to every man and woman. This is the genesis of the culture of tolerance in India. Hinduism does not advocate change of faith. It believes in the principle of mutual acceptance, that is, according to them, they are on the true path and so are others.