RELIGIOUS HARMONY — Not Religious Uniformity

events have shown us that they all failed in their attempts to achieve the goal of religious harmony. Islam’s approach to the entire problem is much more realistic, in that it accepts ideological differences. Once having accepted these differences, it then advocates the policy of tolerance and respect for one another in everyday dealings. This is on a parallel with the principle expressed in the English saying: ‘Let us agree to disagree.’ This principle formulated by Islam is best described, not as ‘religious harmony’, but, rather, as ‘harmony among religious people’. In this connection, one of the commands of the Quran is that ‘there shall be no compulsion in religion’ (THE QURAN 2: 256). At another place, the Quran declares that ‘you have your religion and I have mine’ (THE QURAN 109: 6). It was as a result of this commandment that, when the Prophet Muhammad migrated to Madinah, he issued a declaration reaffirming his acceptance of the religion of Muslims for the Muslims and the religion of Jews for the Jews. In order to perpetuate an atmosphere of mutual harmony, the Quran commands the Muslims in their dealings with unbelievers: Do not revile those (beings) whom they invoke instead of God, lest they, in their hostility, revile God out of ignorance. THE QURAN 6: 108. This principle formulated by Islam is best described, not as ‘religious harmony’, but, rather, as ‘harmony among religious people’. This is a principle whose utility is a matter of historical record. It is evident that in the past, as well as in the present, wherever religious harmony has existed, it has been based on unity despite differences, rather than on unity without differences. It is not based on agreeing to agree, but, rather, on agreeing to disagree. One extremely revolutionary example of this principle is to be found in the life of the Prophet Muhammad. It concerns the conference of three religions which was held in the Prophet’s mosque in Madinah. A 60-member Christian delegation from Najd had come to Madinah to determine the situation there. They stayed at the Prophet’s mosque. Following them, the Jewish scholars of Madinah also came to the mosque. In this manner, the followers of three faiths (Islam, Christianity