ASK MAULANA — Your Questions, Answered

Some ulema might argue that the sort of interaction that you advocate may have a negative impact on the faith of madrasa students. What would you say? I don’t agree. Interaction, based on a spirit of scientific enquiry and learning, is a major source of change and progress. Through interaction with others, based on the quest for knowledge, you can refine your morals and learn to recognize and respect others as fellow human beings. This is precisely what Islam teaches us. To enable madrasas' and their students to interact with others and for them to come out of the four walls of their seminaries the best way is to inculcate in them the dawah spirit. For this, madrasas' can arrange seminars and conferences, to which they can invite people of other faiths as well as Muslims and others from colleges and universities. This sort of interaction will be a great means of promoting knowledge on both sides and will go a long way in dispelling mutual misunderstandings. Take my own example. Every day, I interact with people, of various social and religious backgrounds. I consider this a blessing. It provides me knowledge, sensitivity to the humanity of others, rich experiences and moral values. Would you recommend that madrasas' also teach their students about other faiths? Yes, madrasas' could also consider teaching their students the basics of other religions. This will enable them, as would-be ulema, to relate more comfortably with people of other faiths. It will also assist them in their dawah work. The teaching of other religions should aim at providing students an objective understanding of these faiths. The earlier approach, of denouncing other religions, must be given up. You must learn to objectively and truly understand your neighbour, even if you do not agree with him. I think bitter polemics are against the ethos of Islam. So, for instance, in my case, when I visit Hindu, Sikh, Christian shrines and other places of worship, I try to empty my mind of prejudices. I have learnt a lot from this. My intention in visiting such places and meeting people there is to learn, not to debate or to denounce others as inferior. As I see it, dawah is an expression of empathy for others, not hostility.